KindlePrintReviews

Requiem in Yquem

Written by Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noel Balen, translated by Sally Pane — The Winemaker Detective Series seems to be one of the most popular offerings from independent publisher Le French Book, which translates a wide range of French crime fiction, from eco-thrillers to police procedurals and…
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CIS: Rediscovering Margaret Millar

It’s not that Margaret Millar was ever completely forgotten. She was admired by Truman Capote, Agatha Christie and Evelyn Waugh. She is often cited by modern crime writers like Laura Lippman and Gillian Flynn as a great influence. Millar features regularly on lists of top suspense or mystery…
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Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke

Trust Attica Locke to write something timely, urgent and true about troubled race relations in present-day America. As she has said in interviews, she wrote Bluebird, Bluebird before President Trump’s election, an event which has changed the book without her having to alter a single…
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CIS: We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin came out last year, and since this biography the American crime author seems to be enjoying a bit of a revival. For the first time in many years, all of Jackson’s novels and story collections are…
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All the Wicked Girls

Written by Chris Whitaker — Chris Whitaker’s debut, Tall Oaks, was a heady mix of humour and tragedy, with a very believable American setting even though the author is British. In his latest, Whitaker stays true to small town America and the theme of teenagers yearning…
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Passport to Murder

Written by Mary Angela — One perenially popular subsection of the American cosy crime fiction bookshelf is the campus novel. This may be because so many readers have an association with college or plan to study at some point. There’s plenty of potential for a…
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Kill the Father

Written by Sandrone Dazieri — If you missed this pacy Italian thriller when it came out in hardback earlier this year, now is your chance to catch up with it in paperback. This is crime fiction which successfully blends the serial killer, police chase and conspiracy…
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The Adversary

Written by Emmanuel Carrere, translated by Linda Coverdale — This true crime story of deception culminating in murder has fascinated reporters and filmmakers for the past 20 years. Two French films, a Spanish one, a Channel 4 documentary, and several crime shows including Waking the Dead…
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