We feature 20 new reviews in each issue of Crime Review ( www.crimereview.co.uk), together with a top industry interview. This time it’s author James Oswald in the Countdown hot seat: http://crimereview.co.uk/page.php/interview/4845 We’re on Twitter at: Crime Review: @CrimeReviewUK Linda Wilson: @CrimeReviewer Sharon Wheeler: @lartonmedia This week’s reviews are: PRUSSIAN BLUE by Philip Kerr, reviewed by Chris Roberts Bernie Gunther takes flight from a Stasi apparatchik in 1956, putting him in mind of his 1939 investigation into a murder at the Berchtesgaden. MASK OF SHADOWS by Oscar de Muriel, reviewed by John Cleal London’s top luvvies bring the Scottish Play – and its curse – north of the border and create a scene of chaos and corpses for paranormal investigators Inspectors Frey and ‘Nine Nails’ McGray. MAIGRET AND THE TALL WOMAN by Georges Simenon, reviewed by Arnold Taylor Maigret receives a surprise visit from a former prostitute he had arrested many years before. She tells a strange story and asks for his help. FROST AT MIDNIGHT by James Henry, reviewed by Linda Wilson DI Jack Frost has a wedding and a murder to contend with in Denton during the hot summer of 1983. And then a woman goes missing. THE CITY IN DARKNESS by Michael Russell, reviewed by Chris Roberts In 1939, neutrality distances Ireland from the struggle in Europe, but the Irish Special Branch have plenty of concerns about what is happening at home. WRITTEN IN BONES by James Oswald, reviewed by Linda Wilson DI Tony Maclean is given the unenviable job of discovering why a former bent copper has ended up impaled on top of a tree in an Edinburgh park. ROGUES’ HOLIDAY by Margery Allingham writing as Maxwell March, reviewed by John Cleal Inspector David Blest, unhappy when his superiors curtail his investigation into the apparent suicide of a young man-about-town, takes a break at a posh seaside hotel, where the distinguished lawyer, whose account of events leaves him dissatisfied, is also staying UNDER THE HARROW by Flynn Berry, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor Nora is expecting a home-cooked dinner with her sister. That will never happen again.
MISTRESS OF THE JUST LAND by David Ashton, reviewed by John Cleal Jean Brash, a child of the streets, now madam of Edinburgh’s finest brothel, sets out to discover who killed an unpopular judge and left his body in her cellar. DOG FIGHT by Michael J Malone, reviewed by Linda Wilson An underground fight ring is sucking in former soldiers living on the streets with promises of big money. But the risks are high and there’s no easy way out. DEATH GOING DOWN by MarÃa Angélica Bosco, reviewed by Chris Roberts A beautiful young woman is found dead in the lift of a luxury Buenos Aires apartment block. Inspector Ericort and his assistant Blasi try to find out why. ARROWOOD by Mick Finlay, reviewed by John Cleal A missing-person case for down-at-heel private eye William Arrowood and his friend Norman Barnett spirals into an investigation of sexual exploitation, perversion, murder and terrorism. CHAMELEON PEOPLE by Hans Olav Lahlum, reviewed by Ewa Sherman Inspector Kolbjørn Kristiansen’s quiet evening is shattered when a young cyclist turns up at his apartment. He has run away from a crime scene but proclaims his innocence, even though he’s in possession of a bloodied knife used to kill a prominent politician. BLACKOUT by Marc Elsberg, reviewed by Jim Beaman Someone is wiping out electrical power all over Europe. Can Piero Manzano stop the blackout before it’s too late? BLACK NIGHT FALLING by Rod Reynolds, reviewed by John Cleal Reporter Charlie Yates answers a plea from a former colleague and is plunged into a stew of small town corruption and murder. SIREN by Annemarie Neary, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor Roisin Burns has spent the last 25 years hiding out in New York, living, breathing and creating memories of herself as Sheen. But it is all a lie. THE WATERS OF ETERNAL YOUTH BY Donna Leon, reviewed by Sylvia Maughan Commissario Brunetti is asked to investigate the case of a young girl who nearly drowned 15 years ago. Brain damage has left her trapped in the mindset of the young girl. He must find out how she came to be in the water, and whether she fell or was pushed. THE BLACK PANTHER by Gordon Lowe, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor January 1975. A girl is missing. But this is no teenage prank, as her mother and the whole of Britain is about to find out. THE MISSING HOURS by Emma Kavanagh, reviewed by John Barnbrook Selena Cole disappears leaving her two young daughters alone in a playground. Meanwhile, on an isolated mountain road, the body of a young man is found. Against a background of commercial kidnap and rescue work, the police investigation leads to some surprising connections. THE CRUELTY by Scott Bergstrom, reviewed by Linda Wilson When Gwen Bloom’s diplomat father goes missing, she’s forced to take matters into her own hands if she ever wants to see him again. Best wishes Sharon
With an unprecedented hurricane in the Appalachian Mountains that no one could have expected and wildfires in the West and rampant deforesta...
Posts
All Comments
