On the Radar — Bernard Minier is one of several French writers who has taken the American noir novel format and given it a Gallic flavour that’s difficult to beat. In fact, he draws in themes, characters and storylines from around Europe, and he usually manages to work in a freezing cold setting too. We’re leading off with his new novel, Night, this week, and we’ve also got a post-WWII thriller, new Scottish crime fiction, a crucified judge and a deep psychological thriller from the US.
These all look interesting, but what’s been your favourite book of the year so far? Let us know in the comments below.
Night by Bernard Minier
This is exciting news. Bernard Minier’s The Frozen Dead was made into a television series that’s available on Netflix, exposing the French author to a worldwide audience. Now, his novel Night has been translated and it’s out on 7 February. Commandant Servaz is back, and he’ll soon be working on a case involving a woman murdered in a Norwegian church, a photo of an oil rig and a young boy in the Austrian Alps. Working with Detective Kirsten Nigaard, Servaz believes he’s on the trail of serial killer and old adversary, Julian Hirtmann, which ties this story back to The Frozen Dead. There could be a bit of blood in this one…
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The Elegant Lie by Sam Eastland
Back in 2015 we reviewed Sam Eastland’s The Beast in the Forest and the author has released a slew of novels since then. In The Elegant Lie, the action takes place in 1949 Cologne where Hanno Dasch is running a successful black market operation under the noses of – or perhaps complicit with – the Allied and Russian occupation forces. The Americans are trying to infiltrate Dasch’s operation and perhaps even recruit him to spy on the KGB. Disgraced US agent Nathan Carter is deemed fit for the job in a story that appears to have a Third Man feel to it. Out 7 February.
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Song of the Dead by Douglas Lindsay
OK, here’s a grim one. Can you imagine being held prisoner for a decade and having some of your organs harvested? That appears to be what’s happened to John Baden when he walks into a Scottish police station with a story and a half. DI Ben Westphall is given the case, and as he gets deep into it, some of his suspects start turning up dead. There’s a cold case mystery and a link to an Estonian forest for him to contend with as well. You’ll be able to read it from 7 February.
Pre-order now on Amazon
Marked for Death by Tony Kent
The crucifixion of a retired Lord Chief Justice? That’ll get people’s attention even more than the Daily Mail calling the justices of the Supreme Court traitors. And it’s a story that journalist Sarah Truman is investigating, while DCI Joelle Levy is the police detective assigned to the case. Any criminal judge is bound to have plenty of enemies out there, which makes it a difficult job. For Sarah Truman, however, there’s a bit of a surprise when the trail leads in the direction of her own boyfriend, an ambitious young barrister. Released 7 February.
Pre-order now on Amazon
An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Released last month for Kindle, this collaboration between Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is a high concept psychological thriller that deals with obsession. It involves a young woman called Jessica Farris who signs up for a psychological study with one Dr Shields. At first it seems like it will involve answering some questions, but soon Dr Shields is asking Jessica to go on outings wearing specific outfits. As the tasks grow more and more controlling, Jessica’s paranoia ramps up. Is she hiding something, and does Dr Shields know what that is? In print from 7 February.
Pre-order now on Amazon
