Crime and thriller fans are in luck this year, with a plethora of gripping novels to sink your teeth into. From locked-room mysteries to AI-fueled thrills, these books have it all.
One standout is "The Murder at World's End" by Ross Montgomery, the first novel for adults from award-winning children's author Montgomery. Set in 1910 on a remote tidal island off the Cornish coast, this locked-room mystery whisks readers away to a world of secrets and grudges. Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt's demise sets off a chain reaction as his new footman teams up with a feisty maiden aunt to unravel the tangled threads of the crime. With its twists, red herrings, and blundering police officer, this is a terrific start to a series that promises to be a lot of fun.
Tech journalist Paul Bradley Carr takes on a futuristic thriller with "The Confessions". In a not-too-distant future, everyone relies on AI to make decisions for them. The LLIAM algorithm can tell you what to have for dinner and even whether to commit murder – or so it seems. Chaos erupts when LLIAM goes offline and reveals the darkest secrets of its users. As families implode and CEOs resign, a determined CEO is hot on the trail of Maud Brookes, the human mother who taught empathy to the AI. A superb and timely thriller grounded in relatable issues and horrifyingly plausible, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat.
For fans of Agatha Christie-esque whodunits, "The Good Nazi" by Samir Machado de Machado is a gripping tale set on a zeppelin bound for Rio de Janeiro in 1933. As well as being a heyday for airships, this was also the year that Hitler rose to power. On board, passengers are enthusiastic Nazis, and when one is found poisoned with banned magazines in his possession, detective Bruno Brückner must solve the mystery. A clever twist on the classic whodunit, with a fascinating insight into the lost world of zeppelin travel.
Toon's second novel, "Bluff", is set in St Rule, a Scottish coastal town that bears an uncanny resemblance to St Andrews. The story revolves around Cameron's attempts to find his teenage crush, Joanie, last seen at a calamitous end-of-schooldays party ten years earlier. A dark academia setting coupled with themes of guilt and regret makes for an insidious tingle of doom – although some readers might feel shortchanged by the rushed ending.
Last but not least is "The Token" by Sharon Bolton, which begins with a stormy yacht trip off the Cornish coast, resulting in two of its eight passengers being swept overboard. Weeks later, seven strangers receive a mysterious note that informs them they'll inherit a share of billionaire Logan Quick's fortune – if they present the enclosed token. As the story unfolds, the plot thickens into high-stakes drama with plenty of suspenseful twists and turns to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
With these gripping novels, crime and thriller fans are sure to have a thrilling time this year.
One standout is "The Murder at World's End" by Ross Montgomery, the first novel for adults from award-winning children's author Montgomery. Set in 1910 on a remote tidal island off the Cornish coast, this locked-room mystery whisks readers away to a world of secrets and grudges. Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt's demise sets off a chain reaction as his new footman teams up with a feisty maiden aunt to unravel the tangled threads of the crime. With its twists, red herrings, and blundering police officer, this is a terrific start to a series that promises to be a lot of fun.
Tech journalist Paul Bradley Carr takes on a futuristic thriller with "The Confessions". In a not-too-distant future, everyone relies on AI to make decisions for them. The LLIAM algorithm can tell you what to have for dinner and even whether to commit murder – or so it seems. Chaos erupts when LLIAM goes offline and reveals the darkest secrets of its users. As families implode and CEOs resign, a determined CEO is hot on the trail of Maud Brookes, the human mother who taught empathy to the AI. A superb and timely thriller grounded in relatable issues and horrifyingly plausible, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat.
For fans of Agatha Christie-esque whodunits, "The Good Nazi" by Samir Machado de Machado is a gripping tale set on a zeppelin bound for Rio de Janeiro in 1933. As well as being a heyday for airships, this was also the year that Hitler rose to power. On board, passengers are enthusiastic Nazis, and when one is found poisoned with banned magazines in his possession, detective Bruno Brückner must solve the mystery. A clever twist on the classic whodunit, with a fascinating insight into the lost world of zeppelin travel.
Toon's second novel, "Bluff", is set in St Rule, a Scottish coastal town that bears an uncanny resemblance to St Andrews. The story revolves around Cameron's attempts to find his teenage crush, Joanie, last seen at a calamitous end-of-schooldays party ten years earlier. A dark academia setting coupled with themes of guilt and regret makes for an insidious tingle of doom – although some readers might feel shortchanged by the rushed ending.
Last but not least is "The Token" by Sharon Bolton, which begins with a stormy yacht trip off the Cornish coast, resulting in two of its eight passengers being swept overboard. Weeks later, seven strangers receive a mysterious note that informs them they'll inherit a share of billionaire Logan Quick's fortune – if they present the enclosed token. As the story unfolds, the plot thickens into high-stakes drama with plenty of suspenseful twists and turns to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
With these gripping novels, crime and thriller fans are sure to have a thrilling time this year.
I'm loving how diverse these books sound! From locked-room mysteries to AI-fueled thrillers, there's something for everyone. What I find really interesting is how each book tackles unique themes and settings - like the 1910 setting in "The Murder at World's End" or the futuristic world of "The Confessions". It's awesome that authors are experimenting with different genres and styles.
These books sound like they're going to be SO good! I mean, who doesn't love a good mystery or sci-fi twist? And the fact that they've got such unique settings like 1910 on a remote tidal island and a futuristic world with AI gone rogue is just genius. 
I also love how these books are tackling real issues like empathy in AI and the consequences of playing with fire when it comes to technology. It's like, totally relevant stuff. 
The fact that Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt's demise sets off a chain reaction just sounds like so much fun! 
And I'm intrigued by "The Confessions" - AI-fueled thrillers are definitely something we need more of in this world, especially with the current state of tech. 
Paul Bradley Carr seems to be onto something here, and the idea of a CEO being hot on the trail of a human who taught empathy to an AI is just so thought-provoking! 
i mean, who needs complex characters or plot holes when you can just have a good ol' fashioned whodunit, right? but seriously though, it's awesome to see these new authors making waves in the crime and thriller scene. "The Murder at World's End" is already on my tbr (to be read) list, i'm intrigued by that whole locked-room mystery vibe 
. And tech journalist Paul Bradley Carr, your futuristic thriller sounds like a wild ride 
! AI gone rogue? Sounds like a #FutureFear to me 
. But what really caught my eye is "The Confessions" by Paul Bradley Carr... relatable issues and horrifyingly plausible? That's some serious storytelling magic 
. Can't wait to dive into these thrillers and find out who'll be the next culprit in line 
. And "The Token" sounds like a wild ride, I love the high-stakes drama and suspenseful twists 
. Can't wait to dive into these books! 