We’ve heard of murder on the dance floor before, but murder at the book club is definitely more our rhythm. It’s perfect for crime fiction lovers who adore the culture of reading and discussing mystery books. So let’s get our news report underway with that very topic in our lead book this week – The Woman from the Book Club, a debut by Carrie Hughes. Plus there’s some festive crime solving to take us from Helsinki, Finland all the way to Nova Scotia, Canada.
The Woman from Book Club by Carrie Hughes
Ah, book club – a place where more time is spent gossiping than actually talking about the tome in question. And tongues are certainly wagging when perfect wife Emma is shockingly arrested at a meeting, accused of murdering her husband. The remaining members are aghast – and they’re soon putting their heads together in the hope of finding the real killer. Because Emma can’t be guilty. Or can she? As hidden secrets are revealed, none of the book clubbers are prepared for the plot twist that awaits them. Find out more in The Woman from Book Club by Carrie Hughes, out now.
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The Christmas Cracker Killer by Alexandra Benedict
Festive mystery maven Alexandra Benedict is back and as an early gift, The Christmas Cracker Killer is out now. Puzzle compiler Edie O’Sullivan leaves her Grinch days behind when she wins a two-day Christmas break at a fancy hotel on a remote Scottish island. It’s going to be fun – with winter walks, roaring fires and even a wee dram or two… until a guest dies in suspicious circumstances and Edie’s unique skills are needed if the killer is to be found. As the death toll grows, Edie must solve the cryptic clues left in the victims’ Christmas crackers before she falls prey to the murderer too.
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The Winter Job by Antti Tuomainen
Finnish author Antti Tuomainen has carved a niche for himself with his singular take on Nordic noir – and there’s much to entertain his fans in The Winter Job, out now. It’s set in Helsinki, 1982, and in the run-up to Christmas recently divorced postal worker Ilmari Nieminen finds himself in a pretty pickle. He’s promised his daughter a piano but with only six days until Santa comes Ilmari is out of ideas and devoid of cash. Which is why he jumps at the chance of a last-minute job to transport a valuable antique sofa to Kilpisjärvi, the northernmost town in Finland. Sounds simple, but as the road trip progresses, Ilmari gets the feeling that he may be in serious trouble…
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The Christmas Magpie by Mark Edwards
The latest instalment of Mark Edwards‘ popular Magpie series adds tinsel and turkey into the mix – and death, of course. The Christmas Magpie is out now, and it finds Noel and Dani settling into their new home and looking forward to a flawless festive season. But are the neighbours as nice as they first appear? Strange gifts begin to arrive on their doorstep, and it feels like they’re being watched. After tragedy strikes at a Christmas party, it looks like their suspicions could be on the money, but with everyone seemingly obsessed with a notorious killer housed at the nearby women’s prison, it might be safer to stay on the sidelines.
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The Secret of the Saucer by Kris Bertin and Alexander Forbes
The latest in the Hobtown Mysteries graphic novel series that melds sci-fi with crime features members of an after-school Teen Detective Club in small-town Nova Scotia, where conspiracy and reality tangle during election season. As the mayoral race hots up, the arrival of a flying saucer and a chaotic Ape Lord being pursued by the local Knitting Circle have the teen sleuths of Hobtown unsure if they’re coming or going. The first-ever fully coloured edition from creators Kris Bertin and Alexander Forbes, The Secret of the Saucer is published on 25 November.
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Click here to read about last week’s new novels.
