Monday, December 02, 2019

Crime Review Update: 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 Simon Lelic 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 DIRTY DOZEN by Lynda La Plante, reviewed by John Cleal

Detective Sergeant Jane Tennison is posted to the Sweeney, the Flying Squad, rocked by corruption allegations and notoriously misogynistic. She must not only prove herself to her male colleagues, but also tackle some of London’s most vicious armed robbers.


GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL by Michael Robotham, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor

Cyrus Haven’s already troubled mind is spread thin, investigating a horrific murder case and helping a girl who needs saving from herself.


JOE COUNTRY by Mick Herron, reviewed by Arnold Taylor

The 'Slow Horses' are going through their daily Slough House routine when they suddenly have to obey a call to arms. Louisa Guy is approached by the former wife of Min Harper, now dead, and informed that Min's son, Lucas, has gone missing. Since Louisa had had what was for her a romantic affair with Min, she decides she has to act.


MAIGRET’S CHILDHOOD FRIEND by Georges Simenon, reviewed by Chris Roberts

An old schoolmate calls on Maigret to inform him of a murder and expects some allowance to be made for old acquaintance despite the fact that he is clearly the prime suspect.


THE BAD FIRE by Quintin Jardine, reviewed by Linda Wilson

A case from nine years ago turns out to be anything but cold, as Alexis Skinner finds out to her cost.


THE ALPHABET MURDERS by Lars Schutz, reviewed by Viv Beeby

When the body of a man is found brutally murdered in a wildlife part and tattooed with a letter A, criminal profilers Jan Grall and Rabea Wyler are thrown into a deadly game of cat and mouse.


AFTER SHE’S GONE by Camilla Grebe, reviewed by Ewa Sherman

Psychological profiler Hanne and her partner investigator Peter arrive in an isolated town in dense forests to investigate a cold case. She tries to keep her dementia secret, writing everything in a diary. Within days the couple vanishes, adding to the tensions between local inhabitants, police and the refugees relocated to the area.


AMERICAN SPY by Lauren Wilkinson, reviewed by John Cleal

FBI intelligence officer Marie Mitchell is assigned to target Thomas Sankara, the charismatic revolutionary president of Burkina Faso.


THE ESCAPE ROOM by Megan Goldin, reviewed by Madeleine Marsh

Four Wall Street high-flyers find themselves trapped together in an elevator escape room with one instruction – to get out alive.


MAN ON ICE by Humphrey Hawksley, reviewed by Chris Roberts

A change of leadership in both the White House and the Kremlin provides anopportunity for ambitious men. A miss-step could lead to nuclear annihilation, and a man on the ice becomes the key.


NO MERCY by Joanna Schaffhausen, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor

Ellery’s fellow victims of violent crimes may not help her with the therapy she desperately needs. They may be the death of her.


DEEP DIRTY TRUTH by Steph Broadribb, reviewed by Linda Wilson

When bounty hunter Lori Anderson is offered a deal by the boss of the Miami Mob, she has little choice but to agree, as to turn it down would put a price on her family’s heads, as well as her own. She has to snatch someone from FBI custody. No pressure, then.


THE CANARY KEEPER by Clare Carson, reviewed by John Cleal

A young woman finds a body on the banks of the Thames. When corrupt police try to frame her for involvement in the death, she retraces the dead man’s steps to the Orkneys to prove her innocence.


C’EST LA VIE by Pascal Garnier, reviewed by Chris Roberts

Writer Jean-Francois Colombier accompanies his son on a trip to Lille and is unexpectedly plunged into a nightmare.


SONGS ABOUT A BOY by Chris Russell, reviewed by Linda Wilson

World famous boyband Fire&Lights are on the brink of a messy break-up as tensions between lead singer and songwriter Gabriel West and band member Olly Samson boil over. Charlie Bloom, the band’s young photographer, blames herself and just wants to wind back the clock to happier times.


THIS DARK LITTLE PLACE by AS Hatch, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor

Daniel, Victoria, Ruby. Three disturbed people, two toxic relationships, one murder.


WITCHFINDER by Andrew Williams, reviewed by John Cleal

The British Secret Service is in chaos as the hunt for traitors snowballs after the defection of Burgess, Maclean and Philby


BAD TURN by Zoe Sharp, reviewed by Linda Wilson

Charlie Fox is jobless, homeless and blacklisted in the close-knit world of close personal protection, so when a new job finally comes her way, she’s in no position to refuse, even if all her instincts are telling her to run and not to look back.


GHOST VIRUS by Graham Masterton, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor

The horrific vision of the woman who killed herself with acid will never leave DC Jerry Pardoe’s mind. But soon it will have to make space for worse images.


BREAKING DAD by James Lubbock (with Warren Fitzgerald), reviewed by Chris Roberts

James Lubbock tells the story of his life, of parents whose sexual orientation led them to part, and of his father the drug dealer.



Best wishes

Sharon


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