On the Radar — No, not Linwood Barclay. This time we’re talking about Jack Barclay a London cop created by Harry Dunn. Our weekly news page also brings you short stories, the latest in Romanian crime fiction, a delicious-looking cosy, a touch of pulp and some decent-looking crime thrillers too…
Forever Evil by Harry Dunn
This is the second outing for Dunn’s London PI Jack Barclay. People who lift stones should not be surprised at what they find underneath, and Barclay has to mix with some unpleasant people as he searches for a man who has gone missing immediately after being released from prison. He does his best to walk the proverbial mean streets and keep his integrity intact. In 2013, we reviewed the first Jack Barclay novel Smile of the Viper. Out on 24 September for KIndle, later in the autumn as a paperback.
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On the Road with Del and Louise by Art Taylor
This is a collection of six connected short stories by the Virginia-based academic. In a modern version of the classic picaresque tale, Louise is swept off her feet by Del – just after he has robbed the 7/11 store where she works. Their adventures take them across America, in and out of frequent tangles with the police, but bringing them closer together with every escapade. Published on 15 September.
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Dishing the Dirt by MC Beaton
MC Beaton means one of two things – either Hamish Macbeth or Agatha Raisin. This time, it’s another escapade involving Ms Raisin, the current queen of cosy crime. The Cotswold village of Carsely is thrown into turmoil, first by the arrival of a controversial psychotherapist with a knack of uncovering awkward secrets, and second by an alarming series of mysterious deaths. When the psychotherapist is the latest fatality, Agatha finds that she is the prime suspect. This is available on 15 September, but if you want a review of an earlier MC Beaton novel see Death of a Kingfisher.
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Her Final Breath by Robert Dugoni
In this Seattle-set police procedural, homicide cop Tracey Crossthwaite faces her toughest challenge as she tries to track down a serial killer nicknamed The Cowboy. A menacing note left at a crime scene sends chills down Crossthwaite’s spine as she realises that the killer knows who she is, and that she may be on his list. Meanwhile, Captain Johnny Nolasco is determined to undermine her at every step. Is it just male chauvenism, or does it mask a darker secret? Out on 15 September.
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The Greek Connection by Bogdan Hrib
Bogdan Hrib is one of the nicest guys in crime fiction, and we reviewed the first translation of his work, Kill the General, a while back. Now there is an edition of his debut novel on the way, which first came out in 2007 under the title Filiera Grecească. Bucharest journalist Stelian Munteanu is enjoying a holiday in the sun in Greece when he he is drawn into the investigation of the death of a Russian girl. His pursuit of the truth takes him across Eastern Europe, and the final showdown takes place in France. Published on 15 September.
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Dark Waters by Chris Goff
Set in the turbulent world of mistrust, deceit and counter accusations that makes up Israeli-Arab relations, this thriller sees US agent Raisa Jordan in Tel Aviv trying to track down whoever ordered the death of a fellow agent. With an official visit by the US Secretary of State only days away, the stakes are as high as they can be. Is the stage being set for an assassination with worldwide repercussions? Can Raisa Jordan prevent a catastrophe? Out on 15 September.
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When The Music’s Over by Aidan Thorn
The 13th of the month is coming, and so is another book from Number Thirteen Press. September’s offering is a debut novel about a former gangster who is sucked back into his old life when a nightclub owner turns killer and sends his business partner to the local crematorium. This novel is particularly notable for being set in Birmingham, which seems to be rather neglected as a crime location, given its size and economic importance. Available on 13 September.
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Fit to be Tied by Mary Calmes
This is book two in the Marshals series, and as the name suggests, the featured characters are Deputy US Marshals Miro Jones and Ian Doyle. We have had occasional appearances by gay men in crime fiction before – Milo Sturgis in Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware books, for example – but I can’t recall a series where the main protagonists are partners in their personal lives as well as professionally. So, expect a fair helping of romance alongside a backbone of police procedure, as the pair tackle a serial killer who has escaped from jail and now has Miro as his number one target. Published on 18 September.
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