The Deepest Grave
Written by Harry Bingham — This sixth book in the series featuring one of crime fiction’s most compelling heroines opens with DS Fiona Griffiths bored as hell in her Cardiff nick. It has been 453 days since her last proper corpse when, oh joy of joys, a…
Fierce Kingdom
Written by Gin Phillips — If you want to write a psychological thriller as compelling as this Gin Phillips debut, here’s how. If you’re a parent- or can imagine being one, construct your worst nightmare scenario. Include all the situations you’ve imagined where you and…
Wolves in the Dark
Written by Gunnar Staalesen — A knock comes in the night and a hungover Varg Veum answers the door. Police detective Hamre has come, this time not for help, but rather with a warrant for Veum’s arrest. Both men are fast closing in on retirement age,…
Bad Blood by Brian McGilloway
There is an impressive sweep to this novel that raises the deeply divisive social issues of racism and homophobia while throwing in a dash of Brexit to spice the mix. If that wasn’t enough it does all this against the backdrop of a Northern Ireland…
Dis Mem Ber
Written by Joyce Carol Oates – This collection of mostly longish short stories features Oates’s sly humour and penchant for the off-kilter. There’s something just a little bit obsessive, just a little wrong about many of the protagonists who appear. Sometimes, there’s a lot wrong. Someplace along…