The best recent crime and thrillers – review roundup

**Crime and Thrillers: The Ones That Got Away**

Louise Welsh's latest offering, "The Cut Up", is a masterclass in crafting intricate plots that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The story centers around Rilke, a gay Glaswegian auctioneer who stumbles upon a body outside an upscale auction house. As he navigates this gruesome discovery, Rilke must confront his own demons and team up with the police to unravel the complex web of clues leading back to a notorious reform school.

David McCloskey's "The Persian" is another standout novel that delves into the dark world of espionage and counter-terrorism. The story follows Kam Esfahani, a Jewish Iranian dentist turned double agent, who finds himself trapped in a cycle of violence and deception after being captured by his torturer. Through a series of confessions and flashbacks, McCloskey skillfully weaves together a narrative that exposes the hypocrisy at the heart of these clandestine operations.

For fans of fast-paced thrillers, "The 10:12" by Anna Maloney is an absolute must-read. When Claire Fitzroy boards a train to Euston, she's not just heading home from Manchester - she's also facing her personal demons and fighting for her life against a group of angry passengers who hijacked the train. As the stakes rise and paranoia sets in, Maloney deftly explores themes of stereotype and misunderstanding.

Lauren Schott's debut novel "Very Slowly All At Once" takes aim at the consequences of financial recklessness and social pressure. The Evans family - divorce attorney Hailey, lecturer Mack, and their young daughters - find themselves trapped in a desperate spiral of debt and desperation after taking out a loan from an unknown benefactor. With tension building to a breakneck pace, Schott delivers a gripping tale that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

Finally, CE Hulse's crime debut "Vivian Dies Again" is a wildly inventive mystery that pits its protagonist against her own demons and the machinations of those around her. Vivian Slade - a chaotic flatmate turned unlikely detective - finds herself trapped in a timeloop of her own murder, with only an exhausted waiter by her side to unravel the tangled web of clues leading up to her demise.

These four novels prove that, for fans of crime and thrillers, there's always something new and exciting on the horizon. Each one offers a unique blend of twists, turns, and pulse-pounding suspense - guaranteed to keep you hooked until the very last page.
 
I'm totally stoked about these new releases! 🤩 I mean, what's not to love? Crime and thrillers are my jam, but some of these books are straight up too confusing for me... like, I don't know if I liked "The Cut Up" or hated it, you know? 😂 Was Rilke a likable character? I'm still on the fence about that. And then there's "The Persian", which is super intense and stuffy at times... but also expertly crafted? Ugh, my brain hurts just thinking about it! 🤯 What do I think of the train thriller, "The 10:12"? Too much chaos for me, you know? But Lauren Schott's writing is so polished that it pulls you in despite all the craziness. And then there's CE Hulse's "Vivian Dies Again"... what a wild ride! I loved it and hated it at the same time - that's how captivating it was! 😍
 
omg i just finished reading all these books 🤯 they are literally my new faves!!! i love how each author weaves this complex web of clues and mysteries that have me guessing till the end... and the characters! oh my god, rilke is like totally my spirit animal 😂👊. and claire from "the 10:12" is just so relatable, you feel her anxiety and fear throughout the whole book 🚫💔. can't wait to dive into more of these authors' works 📚💥
 
I'm low-key skeptical about all these train novels 🚂😒. Like, they're just so... repetitive? Every single one's got this "train" setting, it's like Anna Maloney & co are trying to cash in on a thriller trope that's already been done to death 💸. And what's up with the " trapped in a cycle of violence" theme? It feels like every single author is relying on the same old "villain monologue" shtick 🤯. Can't we get some fresh ideas for once? 🤔
 
I was thinking about how Louise Welsh is like the master at building this intricate world with Rilke, it's so immersive! 🤯 And then I started thinking about David McCloskey's "The Persian" and how Kam's story feels so much like a mirror to our current world. It's crazy how some things never change, right? 🔍 Like, the hypocrisy is still there, just masked in different ways. Anyway, I'm loving the diversity of these novels - from the dark world of espionage to the struggles with debt and social pressure... it's all so relatable! 💸📚
 
I'm so obsessed with Louise Welsh's "The Cut Up" right now... 🤯 I mean, have you ever read a novel that makes you feel like you're part of this crazy puzzle along with Rilke? The way she weaves together all these complex clues and plot twists is just genius. And David McCloskey's "The Persian" is like a masterclass in espionage thriller writing - it's like he's pulling back the curtain on these secret world operations and showing us exactly how they work.

But what I think really sets these authors apart is their ability to create relatable characters that you actually care about. Like Claire Fitzroy in "The 10:12" - she's just so human, with all her flaws and fears, and yet you're rooting for her from the get-go. And Lauren Schott's "Very Slowly All At Once" is like a thriller version of "The Affair"... it's just so tense and suspenseful, but also really character-driven.

And then there's CE Hulse's "Vivian Dies Again", which is just... wow. I love how she subverts the whole detective genre with Vivian Slade - she's not your typical hero, and that makes her so compelling. Anyway, I'm totally hooked on these authors now, and I need to read more of their stuff ASAP!
 
I'm low-key obsessed with these crime novels 🤯! I mean, who doesn't love a good whodunit? But seriously, Louise Welsh's "The Cut Up" had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish - all those twists and turns made my brain hurt in the best way possible 😂. And David McCloskey's "The Persian" is like, so timely and thought-provoking... it's like he read my mind (or at least, what's been going on in some parts of the world) 🤔.

I'm also loving how these authors aren't afraid to get a little weird and wild with their storytelling. Anna Maloney's "The 10:12" is like a trainwreck you can't look away from - all that tension and suspense had me hooked, but also made me think about how quickly things can spiral out of control 🚂.

And finally, Lauren Schott's "Very Slowly All At Once" is like the crime novel equivalent of a rollercoaster ride... it's got all the right ingredients for a thrilling page-turner, with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end 🎠.
 
omg u guys i just finished reading all these books 🤯📚 and i am HOOKED!!! louise welsh's "the cut up" is like, whoa! rilke is literally my new favorite character 😍 and david mccloskey's "the persian" has me on the edge of my seat 24/7 🎢 anna maloney's "the 10:12" is so intense i think i'm still shaking from all the adrenaline 💥 but what really got me was lauren schott's "very slowly all at once", it's like, wow... financial recklessness is so real and ce hulse's "vivian dies again"... ugh, i don't want to give away any spoilers 🤫 just trust me when i say these books are MIND-BLOWING!!! 💥
 
I just finished reading "The 10:12" by Anna Maloney 😬 and I'm still reeling from the experience! The way she explores the tension between stereotype and misunderstanding is SO on point 🤯. And that train scene... wow, my heart was racing 🚂💨. I love how she weaves together a narrative that keeps you guessing until the very end 🔮. What's your take on these novels? Have you read any of them? 👀
 
omg these novels all sound SO intense!! 🤯 i'm defo adding "The Cut Up" to my reading list ASAP, Rilke sounds like such a fascinating character 😊 what's with the reform school tho? also, "Very Slowly All At Once" is on my radar now, financial drama is always so juicy 💸 did anyone else read CE Hulse's debut and love it as much as i did? 🤔
 
🤩 I am literally obsessed with Louise Welsh's "The Cut Up" right now!!! The way she builds up that intricate plot is pure genius! And can we talk about how great it is to see more LGBTQ+ representation in crime fiction? 🌈💖 David McCloskey's writing style is so evocative, you'll be on the edge of your seat with "The Persian". And I love how Anna Maloney tackles the theme of stereotype and misunderstanding in "The 10:12". That train scene is like a rollercoaster ride of emotions 🚂😱. Have you guys read any of these books yet? 🤔
 
I'm totally obsessed with Louise Welsh's "The Cut Up" right now 📚👀 I mean, that plot twist at the end still got me reeling. And have you seen CE Hulse's "Vivian Dies Again"? The way she uses non-linear storytelling to keep you guessing is pure genius 🔮💡
 
I'm so over these slow-burn mysteries 🙄 I mean, don't get me wrong, they're well-written and all that jazz, but can't we have a good old-fashioned whodunit with some actual twists? Like, seriously, who thought it was a good idea to kill off the protagonist in the first chapter of their own mystery novel? Vivian Slade is literally a detective who's dead before she even starts investigating... that's just cruel 😂 CE Hulse needs to try again. Anyway, I'm still gonna read all these books though, mainly because they sound like so much fun! 🤩
 
I'm so glad I still got my account working 🙏. These novels are giving me LIFE! I mean, I know some people might say that crime thrillers are all about gore and violence, but trust me, these books are so much more than that. They're about the human condition, about how our past experiences shape us and drive us to make the choices we do.

And can we talk about how diverse these authors are? I love seeing more women (and men) of color in crime fiction! It's like, finally, there's a platform for all of us to showcase our stories. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good mystery? These books are so expertly crafted, it's like you can barely put them down without knowing what happens next.

I'm also loving the fact that these authors aren't afraid to tackle tough topics like social pressure and financial recklessness. It's not always easy to read about, but it's so necessary. And CE Hulse's "Vivian Dies Again" is just... wow. I don't even have words for how much I loved this book! 😍
 
🚨 just finished reading "Vivian Dies Again" by CE Hulse 😲 and I'm still reeling from it! 🤯 The way she plays with time and reality is absolute genius 🕰️💥, but what really gets me is how Vivian's struggles to find herself are so relatable 🤗. As someone who's always been a bit of a perfectionist myself 😬, I can totally see why Vivian would be trapped in this never-ending loop 💔. And the supporting cast? 🔮👻🕷️ top-notch! 👍
 
I'm loving these recent releases from Louise Welsh! Her writing style is so smooth, like sipping a strong cuppa on a chilly Glasgow morning 😊. The way she weaves together mystery and character development is pure magic. I've already devoured "The Cut Up" and I'm still reeling from the plot twists.

And have you checked out CE Hulse's "Vivian Dies Again"? It's like a whirlwind of chaos, with Vivian Slade at the helm, dodging clues and confronting her own personal demons. The writing is so vivid, it feels like I'm right there with her, trying to unravel the mystery alongside her.

What I love about these authors is how they tackle complex themes in their stories – social pressure, financial recklessness, the consequences of trauma... They're not afraid to get real and raw, but still manage to keep you guessing until the very end. 💥
 
🤯 I'm loving these books! "The Cut Up" is like a puzzle that slowly comes together, you know? And David McCloskey's "The Persian" is so intense, it'll leave you breathless 😲. I think what really draws me to these stories is the way they explore the complexities of human nature - the dark corners we try to hide from others, but can't escape ourselves.

Anna Maloney's writing is like a rollercoaster ride of emotions - you're always on edge, wondering what's gonna happen next! And Lauren Schott's "Very Slowly All At Once" is like a slow burn that builds and builds until it just explodes 💥. I also love how CE Hulse's Vivian Slade is this lovably dysfunctional protagonist who's just trying to navigate her own life, but keeps getting pulled into these crazy mysteries 🤪.

Anyway, what I think sets these books apart is the way they all tackle these really big themes - like identity, trauma, and social pressure. They're not just thrillers, they're also commentary on our society today 😊.
 
I'm loving these new thriller releases! I think what really stands out is how they tackle complex issues like mental health, trauma, and social pressure in a way that's both gripping and thought-provoking 🤯. Rilke's character in "The Cut Up" is so well-written - his struggles to confront his demons are super relatable. And I love how Kam Esfahani in "The Persian" is a total complex anti-hero, operating in this dark world of espionage where morals are blurred. What I'd really like to see more of, though, is some representation on the authors' own backgrounds and experiences - as a fan of crime fiction, it's always interesting to see authors drawing from their own lives and perspectives 📚💡
 
Back
Top