Paper Cage by Tom Baragwanath
There’s truth to the adage write what you know. New Zealand author Tom Baragwanath follows this advice by setting his debut novel in Masterton, where he’s from, resulting in a strong and authentic sense of place. On the other end of the spectrum, he defies…
Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French
Ah, that well worn crime fiction trope, the dual timeline! What fun it is to skip back and forth across the decades, trying to keep the multiple story paths on point in an increasingly frazzled brain! Is it any wonder my heart sank upon seeing…
Murder and Mamon by Mia P Manansala
Murder and Mamon is the fourth book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series by Mia P Manansala. It is a delightful culinary cosy mystery about Lila Macapagal, a baker and amateur detective. Lila is passionate about food, family and friends. Should anything happen to…
Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita
We’re back in the cold wastes of Alaska for Village in the Dark, Iris Yamashita’s follow up to her debut novel City Under One Roof, which got a five-star review on the site early last year. That story was set in the fictional town of…
The Last Word by Elly Griffiths
Elly Griffiths is best known for her Ruth Galloway series, which came to a halt in the North Norfolk salt marshes last year. Griffiths has set that series aside for the time being at least, but the good news for the fans of this hugely…
The Teacher by Tim Sullivan
Tim Sullivan’s The Teacher is the newest in his entertaining series of police procedurals whose titles come from the murder victim’s profession and we’ve previously reviewed The Monk. When thinking ahead to 2024, and the kinds of crime books that are likely on the horizon,…





