On the Radar — With a murderer who’s basing his crimes on those found in some of the classics of our favourite genre, how could we not lead off with Peter Swanson’s latest novel – Rules for Perfect Murders? The author always brings interesting concepts to his novels, as we’ve seen in the past. But that’s not all we’ve got. There’s a Caribbean mystery, a new Joe Ide novel and The Recovery of Rose Gold – a book that everyone seems to be talking about. Read on and choose your next crime novel…
Rules for Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson
Great news for Peter Swanson fans – his new book is out on 3 March. This is an author who loves to surprise his readers, and this time the drama centres around a bookshop, of all things. FBI agent Gwen Mulvey is on the hunt for a serial murderer who seems to be taking his inspiration from the crimes depicted in classic mystery novels – including Agatha Christie’s The ABC Murders, Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train and Donna Tartt’s The Secret History. Her investigation leads her to mystery bookshop Old Devils, whose owner, Malcolm Kershaw, once wrote an online article titled My Eight Favourite Murders. Can the killer be stopped before they reach their dream total? Here’s our review of a great guide to golden age crime by Martin Edwards.
Pre-order now on Amazon
Black Rain Falling by Jacob Ross
From the island of Grenada, author Jacob Ross brings us the latest mystery in his Michael ‘Digger’ Digson series. Black Rain Falling is set on the fictional Caribbean island of Camaho, and sees the forensics expert working to prove the innocence of his colleague, Miss Stanislaus, after she kills an assailant in self-defence. It seems that someone wants Stanislaus put away, but soon Digger and his friend are working on a new roadside murder and uncovering a trail of corruption on the island. It’s out 5 March – don’t miss it.
Pre-order now on Amazon
Hi Five by Joe Ide
The fourth book in the series about Isaiah Quintabe, a modern Sherlock Holmes from Long Beach, California, is already out for Kindle, but you can grab it in print on 5 March. IQ is about to face his trickiest case yet – Christiana Byrne is the daughter of the biggest arms dealer on the West Coast and the only witness and number one suspect in the murder of her boyfriend, found dead in her Newport Beach boutique. Trouble is, Christiana has multiple personalities, and no one personality saw the incident in its entirety. It’s going to be a tough ask for Isaiah to piece together what actually happened and prove his client is innocent. Read our review of the audiobook of the second in this series, Righteous.
Pre-order now on Amazon
The Recovery of Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel
The complex relationship between a mother and her daughter has been at the heart of many a gripping crime novel. Debutante author Stephanie Wrobel takes things a step further in this psychological thriller, which comes out on 5 March. Rose Gold Watts is in for a shock when she reaches 18. For all of her life, her mother has cared for Rose, who is in a wheelchair and practically lives at the hospital, so complex are her allergies. But it’s all a sham, and Rose’s mother Patty ends up in jail because of her deceptions. Then Patty is released and Rose agrees to take her in. Maybe Revenge is a dish best served cold… The book is entitled Darling Rose Gold in the US.
Pre-order now on Amazon
How a Woman Becomes a Lake by Marjorie Celona
This book has an unusual title, and it’s an unusual crime novel. Slipping into the literary fold, How a Woman Becomes a Lake is about how an old lady called Vera Gusev goes missing in the woods when out for a walk on New Year’s Day. Her last action, apparently, was to make a call to the Whale Bay police saying she’s found a boy. In fact, two boys were out on the lake that day with their father – perhaps they hold the key to why Vera went missing, and why there was a muffled scream on the line just before it went dead when she made that call. On sale from 5 March.
Pre-order now on Amazon
Read about last week’s new crime novels here.