On the Radar — Feeling the chill of winter? Maybe it’s the excuse everyone needs to hibernate on the sofa with your favourite genre – crime fiction, what else? And while you do that, here are four books to look forward to. If you’re a fan of American crime author Sue Grafton, and her heroine Kinsey Millhone, there’s a treat on the way. But we start in Scotland with a new case for Logan McRae before heading down to Blackpool where a dig turns into a murder mystery for archaeologist Ruth Galloway…

Close to the Bone by Stuart MacBride
On 13 January, Logan McRae embarks on his eighth investigation. He’s on the hunt for a killer who leaves nothing to chance in ensuring that his first victim is well and truly dead. Chained to a stake, the victim has been strangled, stabbed and left with a burning tyre rounds their neck. McRae’s already got a heavy case load, together with a pile of paperwork, a new sergeant to break in, and a visitor who keeps leaving an unusual calling card outside his home – little knots of bones. Then a second body turns up.
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Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths
Archaeologist Ruth Galloway has been called in to help by friend Dan Golding after he makes a discovery which he believes will change archaeology forever. When Dan is killed in a fire, he leaves Ruth one clue – the tomb of the Raven King. Meanwhile, DCI Nelson is up north discovering his roots and catching up with his old mate, Sandy Macleod, who is investigating Dan’s death and believes that there is more to it than meets the eye. Threats from neo-Nazis and academics hiding secrets; it’s not long before Ruth finds herself being drawn into the mystery. Dying Fall is out in print on 31 January, and already available for Kindle.
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Marked by David Jackson
Released on 3 January, Marked follows on from The Helper and sees New York detective Callum Doyle investigating the murder of a young girl. Her raped and tortured body has been found in the East Village and Doyle is convinced he knows who the killer is. “The more he pushes his prime suspect, the more he learns that the man is capable of pushing back in ways more devious than Doyle could ever have imagined,” says the press release. The return of an old adversary is also promised in this latest novel by CWA Debut Dagger-winning author David Jackson.
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Kinsey and Me by Sue Grafton
It’s been over 30 years since Sue Grafton first introduced us to PI Kinsey Millhone. With the series nearing the end of the alphabet, Kinsey and Me is a collection of short stories, which take us back to the early years of Kinsey’s career. However, this book is as much about Grafton herself as it is about Kinsey, and includes a set of previously unpublished short stories that are fictionalised accounts from Grafton’s own life. This is an opportunity for Kinsey fans to learn more about their favourite PI and gain an insight into the mind of the author that penned her stories. Kinsey and Me is out on 17 January.
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