The best books out in March
March is a time for spring cleaning both your home and your reading list. As we say goodbye to the last of the winter months and the cold evenings cooped up indoors, we can look forward to brighter days spent with some exciting new crime reads.
This month promises a dark psychological drama about love, hate and forgiveness, a gripping thriller from the author behind Netflix shows The Stranger and Safe, plus a dark and unsettling debut about a toxic mother-daughter relationship – just in time for Mother’s Day!
So as you take stock and plan ahead for the next few weeks, make sure you have plenty of time set aside to make your way through our pick of the best books out in March.
The best books out in March 2020:
The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben
out 19 March
Already binged The Stranger and Safe on Netflix? Get your next Harlan Coben fix with The Boy from the Woods, the gripping new thriller from the king of twists and turns. This is a first class must-read that’s guaranteed to keep you guessing from start to finish, and we cannot recommend it enough. Read an extract here.
The Recovery of Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel
out 5 March
Rose Gold Watts believed she was sick for eighteen years. Turns out her mother was just a really good liar. If you loved Lullaby, Good Me Bad Me and Sharp Objects, this chilling debut about a toxic mother-daughter relationship is for you. It’s a creepy, unsettling tale of reconciliation and revenge and we promise you’ll struggle to put it down. Find out how Munchausen syndrome by proxy inspired the book.
Keeper by Jessica Moor
out 19 March
When Katie Straw’s body is pulled from the waters of the local suicide spot, the police think she must have taken her own life. But the residents at the women’s refuge where Katie worked disagree – they know this was murder. Told in alternating chapters by the case detective, the women piecing together the mystery and Katie herself, this is an addictive, powerful read from a fresh new voice in crime fiction.
20th Victim by James Patterson
out 5 March
The Women’s Murder Club face the fight of their lives against what appears to be a band of vigilante serial killers in the latest thriller in this unmissable series. This is a fast-paced, entertaining, roller coaster read full of twists you won’t see coming. Prepare to be reading this one long into the night!
Keep Him Close by Emily Koch
out 19 March
In this page-turning psychological thriller about love, hate and forgiveness, Alice keeps her identity secret when she befriends the mother of her son’s killer – with dramatic consequences. It’s a rich, multi-layered story told through quality writing, and if, like us, you loved Emily’s debut If I Die Before I Wake, you won’t want to miss this. Read an extract from the book here.
Rules for Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson
out 5 March
Crime fiction fans will adore this entertaining, fun mystery about a series of unsolved murders that bear an eerie resemblance to crimes in classic mystery novels – from The ABC Murders to Strangers on a Train. It’s hugely clever and suspenseful and you’ll find yourself racing through it glued firmly to the edge of your seat.
Without A Trace by Mari Hannah
out 19 March
When DCI Kate Daniels finds out the love of her life was onboard a transatlantic flight that disappeared out of the sky, she won’t rest until she uncovers what happened – unaware that there are some very dangerous people watching her. With tension that builds and builds, Mari’s latest page turner balances action and emotion perfectly, resulting in a hugely compelling read.
The Second Wife by Rebecca Fleet
out 5 March
In this dark, menacing thriller, Rebecca Fleet shows us a suspenseful, twisty yet emotionally devastating portrait of a family in turmoil. With a plot that propels you through at record pace and tension that grips you from the start, this is one that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. Read an extract from the book here.
Black River by Will Dean
out 12 March
Relentless reporter Tuva Moodyson returns in Will Dean’s third dark, atmospheric and absorbing novel. Set in Sweden and following on from Dark Pines and Red Snow, Black River is a brilliantly crafted mystery complete with a cast of sinister characters and wonderful descriptions that you’ll want to savour.
Trace Elements by Donna Leon
out 5 March
A woman’s cryptic dying words in a Venetian hospice lead Guido Brunetti to uncover a threat to the entire region in Donna Leon’s haunting new novel. Complex and thought-provoking, this is an intricate tale expertly told, and it won’t fail to transport you to the streets of Venice. Meet the unforgettable characters in Donna Leon’s Brunetti books here.
Victim 2117 by Jussi Adler-Olsen
out 5 March
In the latest Department Q novel, the death of a refugee sets off a chain of events that throws Copenhagen’s cold cases division into a deeply dangerous – and personal – investigation. Packed with action, Victim 2117 is a well-plotted, moving and entertaining thriller that pulls you in slowly but surely and then refuses to let go.
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
out 31 March
My Dark Vanessa is a disturbing, uncomfortable and seriously gripping story about manipulation, grooming and victimhood. Exploring the damage and trauma that haunts Vanessa following a toxic relationship in her youth, this is certainly not a book for the faint-hearted – but it’s one that you’ll want to discuss with everyone you know once you’ve finished it.
The pick of the paperbacks
These beauties have already hit the shelves in hardback and are newly available in paperback this month.
One Way Out by A A Dhand
Have we missed any of the best books out in March 2020? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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