The Dog Sitter Detective by Antony Johnston
From Scooby Doo to Sherlock Hound, Kommissar Rex to The Littlest Hobo, canines are no strangers to the fictional crime-solving business. It’s no surprise really, given dogs’ uncanny ability to sniff their way into trouble at every turn, and it’s equally unsurprising that a number…
Back to the Dirt by Frank Bill
Imagine the full spectrum of crime, mystery and thriller stories. Over on the left you’d slot tidy Miss Marple and the cosies. But hang onto your hat now as we veer way off to the right where, literally at the other end of that spectrum,…
When We Fall by Aoife Clifford
It’s with great reluctance that Alex Tillerson is spending time in the strangely insular Australian coastal town of Merritt – and there are many reasons why she really doesn’t want to be there. For starters, the place brings back unhappy memories of childhood visits to…
Cast a Cold Eye by Robbie Morrison
Some TV shows open a door for crime fiction, and surely the popularity of Peaky Blinders, though entirely fictional, reminds us that ganglands are as old as cities and didn’t arrive with the Krays in 1960s London. Scottish author Robbie Morrison’s 2021 debut crime novel,…
Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward
Help! I’m Wilder Harlow and I’m trapped in this review. Before that, my prison was more substantial and somewhat of a labyrinth, although perhaps telling you that Looking Glass Sound was like a prison is a white lie. My time in Catriona Ward‘s book depicts…
Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor
The title of Cranor’s second novel refers to the snapping, snarling almost feral animals which protect Jeremiah Fitzjurls’ junkyard. It could easily allude to the two warring families at the heart of this extraordinary rural noir novel, whose conflict spans a generation. Joanna Fitzjurls will…
A Truth for a Truth by Carol Wyer
Since her writing took a little diversion from romantic comedy to crime, Carol Wyer has amassed an impressive roster of police procedural titles, all featuring female DIs. Robyn Carter was followed by Natalie Ward, and then troubled, grieving Kate Young stepped into the Staffordshire fray….