New issue of Crime Review

We feature new 20 reviews in each issue of Crime Review (
www.crimereview.co.uk), together with a top industry interview. This time
it’s author James Carol in the Countdown hot seat:



We’re on Twitter at:

Crime Review: @CrimeReviewUK

Linda Wilson: @CrimeReviewer

Sharon Wheeler: @lartonmedia



This week’s reviews are:

THE THIRD NERO by Lindsey Davis, reviewed by John Cleal

Flavia Albia must expose a plotter at the heart of Rome’s government who
could plunge the city and empire into civil war.



THE GIRL FROM VENICE by Martin Cruz Smith, reviewed by Arnold Taylor

One night, whilst fishing in the Venice lagoon, a young man, Cenzo, comes
across a girl’s body. It turns out that she is still alive but in great
trouble and he finds himself compelled to help her.



QUIETER THAN KILLING by Sarah Hilary, reviewed by Linda Wilson

While DI Marnie Rome and DS Noah Jake investigate a seemingly random series
of violent attacks in London, Marnie also has to come face to face with the
demons from her own past.



MURDER NEVER KNOCKS by Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins, reviewed by
John Cleal

Out-of-town killers seem to be lining up for a crack at tough PI Mike
Hammer as violence follows him and his beautiful partner Velda into the
poshest of all crime scenes.



LIVE BY NIGHT by Dennis Lehane, reviewed by Chris Roberts

When Joe Coughlin and the Bartolo brothers raid a back-room card game, they
are surprised to find a party of thugs working for one of the biggest
gangsters in town. Joe falls in love with the girl serving drinks.



DEAD WOMAN WALKING by Sharon Bolton, reviewed by Linda Wilson

The lone survivor of a hot air balloon crash has to go on the run to stay
ahead of the ruthless killer responsible for the disaster.



HIDDEN KILLERS by Lynda La Plante, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor

Jane Tennison, newly promoted to DC, is about to earn a reputation as
either a young, tenacious detective or a thorn in the Met’s side when she
digs her claws in to two seemingly open-and-shut cases.



THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS by John Connolly, reviewed by John Barnbrook

David desperately misses his dead mother, despises his new stepmother and
detests his new half-brother. These emotions attract the attention the
Crooked Man who draws David into a dark and disturbing land where he must
grow in strength and determination in order to survive. 

THE HOUSE OF FOUR by Barbara Nadel, reviewed by Chris Roberts

Inspector Cetin Ikmen investigates the death of four siblings, each living
on a separate floor of a single apartment building, stabbed by the same
hand.



MURDERBILIA by Craig Robertson, reviewed by Linda Wilson

The son of a prominent MSP is murdered and hung from a bridge in full view
of a train load of commuters. Despite being officially off the case and at
home on sick leave, DI Rachel Narey is determined to uncover the identity
of the killer.



CAST IRON by Peter May, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor

Forensic expert Enzo Macleod is reviewing the murder of a 20-year old girl,
another French cold case that stretches back half a lifetime.



THE ROYAL GHOST by Linda Stratmann, reviewed by John Cleal

A scandalous booklet attracts the attention of spiritualist Arthur Wallace
Hope – and also young Mina Scarletti, a writer of horror stories and
investigator of psychic phenomena, who suspects fraud.



THE DROWNING CHILD by Alex Barclay, reviewed by Chris Roberts

FBI Special Agent Ren Bryce is called to Tate, Portland, when 12-year-old
Caleb Veir is reported missing, but the locals are reluctant to spill their
secrets.



BURNED AND BROKEN by Mark Hardie, reviewed by John Cleal

A DI, the subject of an internal investigation, is found burned to death. A
vulnerable young woman, fresh from the care system, tries to discover the
truth about the death of her friend.



SOMETIMES I LIE by Alice Feeney, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor

She can hear every word. She knows she is in danger. There is nothing she
can do.



HAWKWOOD by Jack Ludlow, reviewed by John Cleal

After the two great battles of the 100 Years War, newly-knighted Sir John
Hawkwood, hoping to make his fortune, joins a mercenary band.



FIND ME by JS Monroe, reviewed by Jim Beaman

A young man is convinced that his girlfriend didn’t commit suicide and that
she is still alive and in danger.





A THOUSAND CUTS by Thomas Mogford, reviewed by Chris Roberts

Spike Sanguinetti acts for a man accused of assault and finds links to
wartime events which even now remain mysterious, with connections to people
he knows well.



THE TUNNEL by Carl-Johan Vallgren, reviewed by Ewa Sherman

Danny Katz searches for the killer of his former drug dealer Ramón. While
following the faint trail of Ramón’s missing girlfriend Jenny, Katz is
pulled into the darkest corners of Stockholm’s porn industry.



WITH MALICE by Eileen Cook, reviewed by Linda Wilson

Jill wakes up in hospital with the last six weeks of her life missing.
Something terrible has happened. She just wishes someone would tell her
what it is.



Best wishes


Sharon