On the Radar — It’s 3 January, a big day for new releases, and if you head to our Reviews section you can catch up on titles from Stuart Neville, Kathy and Brendan Reichs and KN Shields, and many more titles are out today. But January has plenty more to offer, and whether you like Ann Cleeves’ Shetland series, Thai heat, or Linwood Barclay’s intense North American brand of crime fiction, this week’s new books column has something for you…
Inspector Jimmy Perez is back to investigate a fifth case and it’s the murder of journalist Jerry Markham. Originally a Shetlander, the reporter’s body is found in a traditional Shetland boat outside the Fiscal’s house, and young DI Willow Reeves has been drafted in to head up the investigation. Perez has been out of the loop somewhat since his fiancée’s death, but when he hears about the case he decides to get involved. Markham had few friends left in Shetland, but could it be his latest story that got him killed rather than the long line of people he’d upset before he moved down to London? Dead Water is out on 31 January.
Pre-order now on Amazon
This book takes us to Thailand and is the ninth in the Dr Siri Paiboun mystery series by British writer Colin Cotterill. When the French government decide to declassify documents relating to their defeat at Dien Bien Phu, it unearths yet more well kept secrets and in the process put the life of Dr Paiboun’s wife in danger. In order to keep her safe from the killer who is stalking her, he decides to take her away for a romantic working weekend, but when he meets the a beautiful witch known as the Used-To-Be-Woman, he finds himself in danger of succumbing to her charms. The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die is out on 31 January.
Pre-order now on Amazon
Also out on 31 January is the latest offering from Canadian thriller writer Linwood Barclay. Keisha is a psychic but her talent is more for parting people from their money than actually seeing the future. She’s about to land herself in a whole heap of trouble. Her latest target is the husband of a woman who disappeared a week ago. But when she goes to visit him, and shares her latest vision, little does she realise that she is closer to the truth that she knows and her mark is more than a little rattled by her revelations. The question is, how much danger has she put herself in?
Pre-order now on Amazon
British author MR Hall is back with the fifth in his Jenny Cooper series. She’s a coroner investigating the suicide of an aid worker, just back from Africa, who jumps off a bridge. But did he jump, or is something more sinister to blame? Then the daughter of Cooper’s friend dies of a rare type of meningitis. Perhaps the cases are linked somehow, with connections going back all the way to events during the Cold War. It promises to be a captivating and haunting book, so watch for our review. The Chosen Dead is released 31 January.
Pre-order now on Amazon
Charm City is a nickname for Baltimore, which was self-published author Dick Ellwood’s beat when he served in the police department there. He’s used this experience to write short stories and this, his first novel. It’s the story of two friends who grew up, served in the Marines, and joined the police together. The trouble for Nick starts when Frank decides to take the fight to the bad guys on the streets of Charm City. Can their career’s survive Frank’s offensive? Can their friendship? It’s out now.
Buy now on Amazon
Happy New Year to all our readers!