Exclusive Books Recommends for July is jampacked with crime reads of every shape and flavour – reflecting the world-wide trend of this genre’s ever-expanding reach and appeal.
Alongside the more classic whodunits and thrillers, more and interesting sub-categories enrich the selection – from domestic noir to legal thrillers, and a range of narratives from wider cultural, social, and geographical perspectives. The protagonists and settings have become more eclectic, the mysteries and crimes more layered. The inclusion of diverse authors also means authentic voices and distinct storytelling styles. The Scandinavian noir trend – ala Stieg Larsson – has paved the way for other regional influences, such as Latin Noir, Asian Noir, and now, even African noir.
A lovely addition from EBR July to the cosy crime posse is Mrs Sidhu’s Dead and Scone, by BBC scriptwriter, Suk Pannu. Mrs. Sidhu – unofficial Aunty to everyone, caterer, and amateur sleuth from Slough – spices up the lives of Berkshire’s elite with both her mouth-watering dishes and her sharp detective skills, particularly when a therapist is found dead in the quiet village and a dastardly raffle revealed.
The Many Lives of Veronica Hawkins, by Kristina Perez is a twisty thriller about the shocking disappearance of beautiful, sophisticated, and very, very rich, Veronica, the epitome of Old Hong Kong. Was it murder? Suicide? A terrible accident? What really happened to Veronica Hawkins? Somebody knows but nobody’s telling. ‘Toxic female friendship meets an edge-of-your seat thriller.’ – Carlie Walker, author of The Takedown.
For a spy-thriller packed with adventure, grab Whisper of Death, by David Lambkin. Paul Morgan, a washed-up novelist, is wasting his life away in Zanzibar. But his luck changes when he meets Angelika, a young orphan girl, and her guardian, a retired British spy …who sets Morgan off on the trail of the psychopathic British spymaster who betrayed him.
This shift towards psychological crime fiction is fueled by readers’ curiosity about the darker corners of the human nature. The psychological thriller – The Housemaid is Watching, by Frieda McFadden, herself a practicing physician specializing in brain injury, as well as penning numerous books. How far will one woman go to protect the life she has so carefully constructed? A roller-coaster read!
Not conventionally in the ‘crime oeuvre’ but perhaps in the sense of great crime perpetrated against humanity, The Forgotten Names, by Mario Escobar Golderos, is based on the true story of one ordinary woman who risked everything to reunite Jewish children with the true names, names they lost when were smuggled out from under the Nazi regime during WWII. The Forgotten Names reminds the world of the impact that one person can have in the face of overwhelming odds.
Because the truth is often stranger than fiction, readers are entranced by real world crime – books, podcasts and TV series abound. In The Dirty Secrets of the Rich and Powerful, James-Brent Styan casts the spotlight on economic inequality and unpacks historical and ongoing business shenanigans, many of which are not quite as straight as they should be.
Budding crime-solvers and young sleuths are now spoilt for choice – the staggering array of crime fiction for all ages offers so many fun options of page-turning reading for kids.
Two perfect choices for 6-9 year olds: Agent Harrier 01: This book will Self-Destruct, by Ben Sanders, is a hilarious caper with canine spy extraordinaire. Be careful not to bark up the wrong tree, Harrier – it looks like something very fishy could be ahem apaw . . . Agents of SUIT – From Badger to Worse, by John Patrick Green features Bongo and Marsha, super-spy Badgers, and just the bumbling agents to crack this pineapple-flavored case wide open.
For the young-at-heart, crime has even crept into the world of thought-bending puzzles and baffling brain-teasers. Join Deductive Logico in Murdle – even more Killer puzzles, by GT Karber, as he solves the riddles of the suspiciously disorderly Investigation Institute, wanders the eerie corridors of a tech billionaire’s desert retreat and engages with AI supercomputer MORIARTY to uncover the secrets of TekTopia – before it’s too late!
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