Features

A classic revisited: Death of a Citizen

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Published in 1960, Death of a Citizen marked the beginning of the story Donald Hamilton’s counter agent/assassin Matt Helm. It would eventually spread over 27 novels, concluding with The Damagers, which came out in 1993. Books in the series have sold more than 20 million…
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Features

WIN The Devil's Ribbon by DE Meredith

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On 25 February Allison & Busby is releasing the UK printing of The Devil’s Ribbon by DE Meredith. And we’ve got five signed copies up for grabs. Set back in 1858, when forensic science was in its infancy, The Devil’s Ribbon sees Professor Adolphus Hatton and…
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Features

French crime fiction: five to discover

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French readers are voracious consumers of crime fiction. One in five books sold in France is a polar – a shortening of roman policier, which means crime novel. All the major publishing houses have an imprint or series specialising in crime fiction or noir novels, usually…
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Features

Serial killer novels: 10 of the best

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The traditional definition of a serial killer is a person who has killed three or more people. Individuals who can single-handedly spread this kind of death and destruction have been a terrifying part of our collective conscience for centuries. Jack the Ripper, the Zodiac Killer,…
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Features

My Bloody Valentine: five mysteries to love

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It’s Valentine’s Day and whenever there’s romance in there air, a crime of passion is always a possibility. Still we thought we’d put our thinking caps on and find some crime fiction, mixed with an appropriately amorous vibe, just for the ladies out there who…
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Features

Peter Temple's Australia

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Imagine prose written by a journalist who has been cudgeled by hard-nosed editors into saying as much as possible in the fewest words. Then add the imagination of a poet and the compassionate humility of a medieval saint. Swirl these strands together and you have…
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