The Private Lie When Private Eye Sam Dyke sets out to help his son find a missing girlfriend, the canny sleuth falls fouls of a pair of Liverpool gangsters. But with a stock in trade involving bribery, murder and finger-snipping, Dyke will have to keep his wits about him if he’s to avoid going the…
Category: murder
‘The Hellbound Heart’ by Clive Barker
The Hellbound Heart Clive Barker’s superlative novella tells a gruesome tale of greed, love and desire, as the hedonistic Frank determines to explore the intricacies of a strange and magical box. Given that the book prompted a great movie series (Hellraiser et al) which Barker also directed, I’m puzzled that it’s taken me this long…
‘In the Woods’ by Tana French
In the Woods As a twelve-year-old, Adam Ryan played in the woods with his pals, Peter and Jaime. But Adam was found later, traumatised and alone, and his friends were never seen again. Now an adult with a new name (Rob) and a different accent, detective Adam enjoys a close relationship with his work partner…
‘Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead’ by Owen Mullen
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead When whistle-blower Gavin Law goes missing, Glasgow PI Charlie Cameron sets out to track him down. But Charlie soon discovers there’s a lot more to the mystery than he first thought. Could a surgeon who left a woman brain-damaged have killed Law to keep him quiet? Or has the…
‘Couples who Kill: Elytte and Miranda Barbour’ by Kathryn McMaster
Couples who Kill: Elytte and Miranda Barbour Personal ads on Craigslist cover a whole range of subjects, but for Troy LaFerrara who enjoys casual sex, the young couple who answer his advert are seeking more than a bit of adult fun. After agreeing to meet Elytte and Miranda Barbour, LaFerrara is found in a dark…
‘Corrupt Bodies’ by Peter Everett
Corrupt Bodies (Audiobook) When Peter Everett accepted a job as Superintendent of Southwark Mortuary, he soon found he’d taken on a lot more than a run-down building with funding issues and a host of outdated equipment – he’d also lumbered himself with a well-established tradition of corruption…
‘61 Hours’ by Lee Child
61 Hours Winter in South Dakota. A bus load of old folks on a touring holiday. And one hitchhiker – Jack Reacher. When the bus skids off the road and crashes, Reacher helps out and soon finds himself awaiting temporary lodgings in a small-town police station. But something’s wrong in this town –…
‘Murder Games’ by Brigitta Moon
Murder Games Novelist Dawn Knight is a best-selling author and nets herself an interview on a popular talk show. But Dawn’s new novel has a problem as it seemingly reveals the real killing of an out-of-towner. With the police studying the novels as possible blueprints to murder, can they catch the killer before it’s too…
‘She Kills’ by Lex Lander
She Kills Unable to forget about her rescuer André Warner, Liza Power sets off to France to find him. But Warner’s home in Andorra is vacant and his boat is now occupied by a couple of dubious-looking characters. And to make matters worse, Liza’s movements attract attention that puts her mission in jeopardy – with…
‘Murder at Mistletoe Manor’ by Holly Tierney-Bedord
Murder at Mistletoe Manor Innkeeper Klarinda Snow gets confused when a bunch of guests turn up bearing mysterious invitations for an all-expenses-paid night at Mistletoe Manor. Following an anonymous delivery of cash to pay for the rooms, the situation doesn’t get any less opaque when Klarinda realises most of the guests seem to know each…
Colin Garrow 