Category: crime fiction
+ crime fiction, folklore, gothic, Gothic mystery, grief, Historical fiction, humour fiction, Iceland, Iceland noir, Ireland, List, murder mystery, mystery, political thriller, politics, Scandi noir, superstition, thriller, witchcraft
My Top 10 Books of 2026 – Part Three
Here are ten of my favourite books of 2026 Part Three, excluding audiobooks, of which there are loads so far. As usual a disparate selection, with a fair bit of superstition thrown in, and my usual Gothic, plus Iceland, Ireland and politics. Where Are The Kings by Donal Ryan What a remarkable book this is. Ryan deals with suicide and mental health in such … Read More My Top 10 Books of 2026 – Part Three
The Last Tenant by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir (Forbidden Iceland #6) translated by Victoria Cribb
When the remains of a young woman and a baby are uncovered on a derelict farm, Detective Elma is drawn into a disturbing investigation, as a young mother settling in Akranes realises danger may be closer than she ever expected… The multi-award-winning, international bestselling Forbidden Iceland series continues… `She uses complex plots to explore how monsters are made and demonstrate that “evil can lurk … Read More The Last Tenant by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir (Forbidden Iceland #6) translated by Victoria Cribb
The Knitting Circle by Jane Murray
St. Barnabus’ church in Middlehurst runs a fortnightly Knitting Circle, which is well attended until one of the group is murdered in the choir stalls during one of the Knitting Circle sessions. When investigating officers D.I. Jack Cunliffe and D.C. Gil Brennan arrive, they discover the dead woman, Lorraine Prendergast wasn’t particularly well liked and a number of potential killers soon cross paths with … Read More The Knitting Circle by Jane Murray
Knit One, Heist One by Donna Moore
Janus Lodge isn’t your typical retirement community. Sylvia Abercrombie and her knitting-obsessed gang of octogenarians are feisty, foul- mouthed, and fiercely protective of their home. So when a shady developer plots to evict them and build a ‘gentlemen’s club’, they hatch an audacious plan to save their sanctuary – by starting a secret knitwear empire with a scandalous twist. #KnitOneHeistOne X/Twitter @BadsvilleBroad @noexitpress #RandomThingsTours @annecater @RandomTTours Instagram @badsvillebroad @noexitpress … Read More Knit One, Heist One by Donna Moore
+ child abuse, childhood, crime fiction, Detective novel, family, fiction, lies, murder, murder mystery, mystery, obsession, police drama, review, secrets, thriller
You’ll Be Sorry by Lisa Gardner
The Dixon family house was once a crown jewel of the White Mountains. Perched on a cliff with breathtaking views, it promised summer adventures, winter skiing, and family gatherings around a roaring log fire. Until late one August night, when both parents and their four children vanished, leaving behind a trail of bloody footprints, and a mystery that has endured for generations. Thirty years … Read More You’ll Be Sorry by Lisa Gardner
Day of Wrath by Otho Eskin
When Washington, DC homicide detective Marko Zorn is called to the city’s Cathedral, he finds a gothic scene: A bloodied corpse lies below the balcony, clutching a tarot card in its right hand. It’s not just any corpse but that of the Cardinal Archbishop of Washington. And that card? A clue to the dead prelate’s mysterious past in the mountains of Mexico, where he … Read More Day of Wrath by Otho Eskin
Confessions of a Crime Writer by Louise Mangos
A budding crime writer, a death at a literary festival and a satirical peek into the world of publishing Handsome, debonair Nigel Inchcock is a talented crime writer working on the next global bestselling thriller. Or so he believes. In his early thirties and still living with his ageing mother, his writing career is taking time to kick-start, hampered by his warped sense of … Read More Confessions of a Crime Writer by Louise Mangos
Crime in the Gym by Catherine Moloney
Bromgrove folk are dying to join Fitness for All. A friendly little gym where everyone’s welcome. And everyone’s a suspect. Paralympian Jack Donahue has always been the gym’s devastatingly handsome poster boy. Until now. Jack is found dead in the weights room. Bludgeoned with the same dumbbell that helped sculpt his world-class biceps! Detective Gil Markham is called to investigate, with his loyal — and gloriously tactless — sidekick … Read More Crime in the Gym by Catherine Moloney
Buyer Beware by Catherine Ryan Howard
If these walls could talk, they’d scream… When Ellie moves into 1 Delaney Row, all she has to her name is the house, a small suitcase and the terrible secrets she’s desperate to keep. But what she doesn’t know is that her new home is already hiding someone else’s secrets – and the people determined to keep them are watching her. #BuyerBeware X/Twitter @cathryanhoward #RandomThingsTours @annecater @RandomTTours … Read More Buyer Beware by Catherine Ryan Howard
+ adventure, childhood, crime fiction, domestic abuse, fiction, lies, marriage, murder, review, secrets, thriller
How To Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield
Wild meets The Wife Between Us in this page-turning thriller, set in the treacherous final stretch of the Appalachian Trail – an addictive tale of passion, betrayal, control and what it means to survive. Emma Sharp knows the rules of survival. From being raised by a doomsday-fearing father and hardened by the startup world, she has learned how to endure – especially in her … Read More How To Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield
+ crime fiction, folklore, Historical fiction, humour fiction, List, murder mystery, mystery, superstition, thriller, WW2
My Top 10 Books of 2026 – Part Two
Here are ten of my favourite books of 2026 Part Two, excluding audiobooks, of which there are loads so far. As usual a disparate selection, with a fair bit of superstition thrown in, but only one Gothic this time. It was a difficult decision as I had to leave out two more that could have been on this list. The Tradwife’s Lie by Bella Ellwood-Clayton … Read More My Top 10 Books of 2026 – Part Two
The Death Row Club by VA Vasquez
A darkly twisted and wonderfully original debut thriller for fans of Riley Sager and Jessica Knoll – at an annual weekend getaway for the adult children of serial killers, the participants begin to wonder if somebody’s continuing the family tradition when one of their number turns up dead. Plenty of people have lousy parents, but Nicola Fischer’s father has just been convicted of murdering … Read More The Death Row Club by VA Vasquez
