16) Hell's Gate by Laurent Gaudé So this is a strange and intriguing novella by Prix Goncourt-winning French novelist Laurent Gaudé - it starts out with a sort of fairly standard-ish character on something of a mission to avenge someone or something. It turns out the death he is seeking to avenge is, well, his own… Continue reading Year 5 / Book 16: Hell’s Gate
Category: crime
Year 5 / Book 15: The Plea
15) The Plea by Steve Cavanagh I think it's understandable when the entire world feels at sea to reach out for things that are familiar and bring order: for some that is a crossword, for others a film they've watched 50 times before, and for others still a crime thriller in which the good guys win… Continue reading Year 5 / Book 15: The Plea
Year 5 / Book 14: Shroud for a Nightingale
14) Shroud for a Nightingale by PD James PD James is a wonderful writer, often underrated and forgotten these days, but the quality of the writing in her Adam Dalgliesh crime novels is wonderful. Which is why I dived into this for some escapism from a coronavirus world - wrong move! Firstly, the hospital where this… Continue reading Year 5 / Book 14: Shroud for a Nightingale
Year 5 / Book 13: Joe Country
12) Joe Country by Mick Herron And we are back at Slough House with the Jackson Lamb-led band of outcasts and misfits from the world of espionage and intelligence. If you haven't been reading this series, then I heartily recommend - as I've written before, like Le Carre with a touch more thriller and a… Continue reading Year 5 / Book 13: Joe Country
Year 5 / Book 12: After You Die
13) After You Die by Eva Dolan I'm a great fan of Eva Dolan's Zigic & Ferreira series of police procedurals (you can read my review of the previous episode here: Tell No Tales), and much enjoyed the first two I'd ploughed through. This third installment starts pretty bleakly: a woman is found murdered, and… Continue reading Year 5 / Book 12: After You Die
Year 5 / Book 11: She Said
11) She Said by Jodi Kantor & Megan Twohey If you are a podcast fan, then I heartily recommend The Tip Off which interviews journalists and talks to them about big stories that emerged from tip-offs or small leads. It's fabulous and extremely high quality stuff (the R Kelly episode a while back is extraordinary). One… Continue reading Year 5 / Book 11: She Said
Year 5 / Book 9: Dark Sacred Night
9) Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly Michael Connelly has been at this game for a long time - with Harry Bosch, Micky Haller (the Lincoln Lawyer) and now Reneé Ballard as his well-known leading characters. I haven't read one for a while but this felt like a decent return to form. It brings together… Continue reading Year 5 / Book 9: Dark Sacred Night
Year 5 / Book 8: The Skeleton Road
8) The Skeleton Road by Val McDermid Val McDermid is best known for her Tony Hill & Carol Jordan series, but as I mentioned in my review of A Darker Domain last year, I've always preferred those featuring Karen Pirie - who has always felt to me like a more grounded and rounded protagonist; and… Continue reading Year 5 / Book 8: The Skeleton Road
Year 5 / Book 6: Uniform Justice
6) Uniform Justice by Donna Leon Here is the requisite Brunetti novel for this year's reading. Without looking back, I think I've almost certainly described how opening a Donna Leon novel on holiday is the literary equivalent of donning some slippers in front of an open fire: comfortable, relaxing and makes you feel completely at ease.… Continue reading Year 5 / Book 6: Uniform Justice
Year 5 / Book 4: Scrublands
4) Scrublands by Chris Hammer This Australian crime thriller has been on my list for a while, after it featured in quite a few different 'recommended' lists and review articles. It is centred round a journalist Martin Scarsden, who is returning to the scene of a shocking serial murder the year after it happened - he… Continue reading Year 5 / Book 4: Scrublands
Dog-eared Man: a book a week 