November thriller roundup
Craven's tightly plotted storylines, with engaging and likeable characters, truly villainous bad guys and plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing are some of the best crime thrillers around today. This is the sixth book in Craven's Washington Poe series featuring the titular grumpy detective and his math genius partner Tilly Bradshaw set in the wilds of the English Lake District. Bloody, shocking and full of twists this is peak British crime.
If you're new to Poe and Tilly, start with The Puppet Show.
The Forest of Lost Souls by Dean Koontz
Vida is a young woman with a deep connection to the natural world, who lives in a remote cabin surrounded by a vast, ancient forest. When a series of mysterious deaths occur in the nearby town, Vida becomes entangled in a dangerous conspiracy involving powerful, greedy and corrupt individuals who seek to exploit the forest's hidden secrets. As she delves deeper into the mystery, Vida discovers a dark force that threatens to consume the forest and everything it represents. For those who like a slow-burn environmental thriller rich in atmosphere and suspense. .
A Guilty Secret by Philippa East
A Guilty Secret unfolds in two timelines: the present day and the year 2003. In the present, Finn and Mhairi, once married, now estranged, are drawn back together by the tragic death of their friend Kate, and as they delve into the circumstances surrounding her passing, they uncover a shocking secret from their past. Flashing back to 2003, we see the as teenagers at an exclusive boarding school in the Scottish Highlands, their seemingly idyllic existence shattered by a reckless act that has far-reaching consequences. As the truth about that fateful night begins to unravel, the friends are forced to confront the guilt and lies that have haunted them for years.
First Wife's Shadow by Adele Parks
Smart successful woman meets handsome widower, sounds like a dream come true, right? Not long after Emma meets Matthew, the red flags start to fly, but Emma, besotted, can't see them. But also she can't shake the feeling that she is playing second fiddle to his dead wife Becky. Obsessed by the idea of this woman she never met, Emma's sanity starts to fray. But are the strange occurrences and unsettling incidents signs of an actual haunting, of gaslighting by Matthew, or, is she actually going insane? A finely wrought psychological thriller.
17 years after a young private chef is jailed for the brutal murder of the Primrose family in small town Cambridge, a true-crime podcaster and a prison psychologist revisit the case. As the pair uncover new evidence in the violent slaughter that casts a different light on the events, twists and turns in the story may reveal a new danger. A superbly crafted thriller from one of our favourite crime authors.
Better Left Dead by Catherine Lea
New Zealand has a rich thriller writing scene at the moment, and Catherine Lea's Nyree Bradshaw series has attracted praise from around the world. When a local woman, already living on the fringes of society is found garroted, Detective Bradshaw and her team discover an interconnected web of secrets and lies, past grudges and complex relationships. Nyree, a character haunted by personal tragedy, brings a unique perspective to the case. Her determination to uncover the truth is fueled by a desire for justice and a need to redeem herself from past mistakes. For fans of Michael Bennett's Hana Westerman series.
In the wake of his brother's untimely death, Livia's husband Scott falls down a rabbit hole, immersing himself in a the 'truther' ideology putting untold strain on their young family. Three years later, Livia is on trial for attempted murder. A dramatic mix of courtroom and domestic drama, Norman's newest work captures a family torn apart by suspicion, mistrust and disinformation.
Your Dark Secrets by Elle Marr
Addison Stern is a high-powered and ambitious PR executive with a powerful and wealthy client base. Her former colleague and lover, Connor Windell is a private investigator just trying to survive in the tough streets of Las Vegas. When a client's disappearance leads to a web of secrets and corruption, and the body count grows, the two find themselves drawn into a dangerous conspiracy that threatens their lives and the lives of those they love. A heady mix of thrills and romance
