August thriller and mystery roundup
Small town murders, international crime rings, dark academia or locked room mysteries - there's thrills for all tastes in our August crime roundup.
Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown
Maya returns to Princeton for her college reunion and for her younger sister Naomi's graduation. However, the celebratory weekend turns into a nightmare when Naomi is found dead, a death the police rule as an accident. Suspicious, Maya begins her own investigation, which leads her back to the exclusive Sterling Club and the even more secretive Greystone Society within it—the same circles she was involved in during her own time at Princeton. Maya comes to realise that Naomi's death is eerily similar to another student's death from her past, forcing her to confront the secrets she has kept for years.
The Body Next Door by Zane Lovitt
When his neighbour Claire Corral goes missing from Carnation Way, the recently divorced Jamie, back home caring for his father with dementia, isn't immediately concerned. However, her disappearance soon connects to a body found next door thirteen years ago, leading Jamie to suspect that his father may know more than he's letting on. Lovitt blends humour with suspense, exploring themes of hidden pasts, the unreliability of memory (especially with Jamie's father's dementia), and the unsettling truth about what we really know about our neighbours.
This is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen
In this Gilmore Girls meets Knives Out" style locked-room mystery an unlikely sleuthing duo of acerbic septuagenarian Mimi and her estranged granddaughter, Addie are trapped with a raf tof suspicious characters after the host is murdered at a lavish house part. Mimi and Addie must use their unique skills—Mimi's love for crosswords and Addie's brilliance as a video game designer—to uncover the killer. Full of witty dialogue, engaging intergenerational dynamic, and a fresh take on the classic whodunit, This is Not a Game will appeal to readers of Kristen Perrin and Richard Osman.
Dirty Money by Charlotte Philby
Ramona Chang is an investigative journalist turned private detective with a target on her back. DS Madeleine Farrow is a high-flying agent at the Serious Crimes Investigations Department.. Ramona's case involving an upmarket escort agency takes a dark turn, requiring information from those in power while Madeleine's global corruption investigation is blocked from within, forcing her to seek outside help. Their cases collide, forcing these unlikely allies to navigate London's underbelly of lies and deception to deliver justice for multiple victims. An explosive new series from the spy thriller writer.
Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall
Local publican Jim Tiernan is found dead, tied to a chair in the middle of a road with a stag's antlers on his head. Detective Nicola Bridge, a seasoned CID detective who has recently returned to her hometown from Liverpool for personal reasons, is tasked with unravelling this bizarre case. As she and her junior partner, DC Harry Ward, investigate, they discover that beneath Fleetcombe's picturesque façade lies a tangled web of secrets, lies, and hidden motives amongst the close-knit community. A compelling and atmospheric small town police procedural from the creator of Broadchurch.
Murder on Line One by Jeremy Vine
In the seemingly quiet Devon town of Sidmouth, Edward Temmis, a late-night radio talk show host has recently been sacked after a personal tragedy. His life takes a new, unexpected turn when he's approached by Stevie, whose devoted grandmother, a former listener, died under suspicious circumstances. Convinced her death wasn't accidental, Stevie enlists Edward's help. Along with Edward's old flame, Kim, they uncover a wider pattern: other elderly listeners of Edward's show have also been targeted by a sinister scam. The trio races against time to expose the culprits behind these crimes. A cosy thriller with elements of humour and a more serious exploration of grief, loneliness, and financial exploitation of the elderly.
One Dark Night by Hannah Richell
In the quiet town of Thorncombe, a chilling local legend speaks of haunted woods, silent birds, and a ghostly girl in white who lures people to their doom. But when a girl, dressed in white, is discovered dead in an old stone folly the morning after Halloween, the line between myth and reality blurs. Police detective Ben Chase, with a teenage daughter of his own, is acutely aware of the danger. Was this a tragic prank, or a sinister, ritualistic murder? As his investigation deepens and the threat creeps closer to his own family, it becomes terrifyingly clear: no one in Thorncombe is safe until the killer is caught. Will appeal to readers of Alice Feeney and Christian White.
The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer
In 1926, on the perilous Yorkshire cliffs, young, impoverished Celie Sheppard discovers an "impossible" scarlet egg while men risk their lives stealing seabird eggs. This unique find profoundly alters her future and those around her. A century later, in a remote Welsh cottage, Patrick Fort finds his friend Nick and his mother tied up, robbed of a carved case containing that very red egg. Their relentless pursuit to retrieve it pulls them into the brutal world of illegal egg trafficking, leading them to uncover a legendary, priceless collection of eggs previously lost to history, now inexplicably resurfacing. Bauer's signature blend of dark humour, compelling characters (especially the determined Patrick and the resilient Celie), and a strong sense of place shine through.
