Books
12 addictive new thrillers to read this autumn
A rainy autumn afternoon calls for a gripping book to get lost in – and nothing beats a crime novel. There’s something oddly comforting about following along as a keen mind (or two) unravels the clues, puts the suspects through their paces and solves whodunnit.
If you’re looking for a real page-turner you can read in one sitting, we can help: we’ve rounded up the most exciting new books hitting the shelves this autumn, each guaranteed to keep you glued to the page. So, cancel your plans and grab a blanket, because it’s the season to get reading…
New crime books to binge this autumn
Exit Strategy by Lee Child and Andrew Child
Exit Strategy by Lee Child and Andrew Child
Nothing gets the heart thumping like a new Jack Reacher novel. Unbelievably, this is the 30th book in the series and sees Reacher on a new mission to save the mysterious man who slipped a cryptic message into his pocket, asking for help.
The good news for fans is that this is Reacher at his best: a razor-sharp mind and that compelling mix of toughness and dry wit that makes the books so addictive to read.
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
Elizabeth, Joyce and the gang of crime-solving retirees are back for a fifth instalment of The Thursday Murder Club series and the latest book is just as entertaining as its predecessors.
When a fellow guest seeks Elizabeth out at a wedding, with a story about his life being in danger, she feels the old spark again and gathers the team in the Jigsaw room. It’s then a race against time to track down a missing tech wizard, solve a cryptic puzzle and find a hidden bitcoin fortune before anyone gets hurt.
The Cleaner by Mary Watson
The Cleaner by Mary Watson
If you love dark and twisty thrillers, this one is for you. After a seemingly chance encounter, Esmie accepts a job as a cleaner at The Woodlands, a mansion house in a posh neighbourhood in a small Irish university town. But does she have a sinister ulterior motive?
The author does a beautiful job of ramping up the tension, chapter by chapter, until you’re reading through your fingers. You won’t be able to put this one down!
Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz
The fiendishly clever mysteries in this brilliant series, which started with Magpie Murders (also a hit BBC series starring Lesley Manville), are made to be wolfed down in one go.
The clues to a real-life murder lie within the pages of a crime novel, and it’s down to the book’s editor Susan Ryeland to find the links and work out who killed a famous children’s author 20 years ago.
The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha
The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha
You can feel the stress coming off the page in this slow-burn thriller. The wealthy Agarwal family meet on a luxury private island off the west coast of Scotland so patriarch Raj can decide how to split his petrochemicals empire between his three children.
But with a family this dysfunctional, bitter secrets, betrayals and back-stabbing come bubbling to the surface and the weekend ends in murder. The TV rights have recently been bought for this book, and we can’t wait to see it on our screens.
To Love a Liar by L. V. Matthews
To Love A Liar by L. V. Matthews
Chris Fletcher is an undercover policeman lying low while he awaits the verdict on an inquest into his ex-lover’s death. His wife Jill has always stood by him, despite the secrets he has kept from her over the 20-plus years they’ve been married. But when she goes missing, Chris is under further suspicion.
We love a thriller than does something unexpected and this taut, pacy read delivers surprises throughout.
Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon
Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon
When bestselling crime writer Harlan Coben announced this partnership with Reese Witherspoon earlier in the year, a few eyebrows were raised – but the two have created magic together.
The story follows Maggie, a former Army surgeon who is grieving the loss of her husband and the removal of her medical license. When she accepts an off-the-books job performing surgery on a high-profile client, she’s hoping for a fresh start – but then her patient disappears and Maggie finds herself a target. Expect knife-jack twists and turns, and a few familiar faces from Coben’s previous works…
The Revenge of Odessa by Frederick Forsyth and Tony Kent
The Revenge of Odessa by Frederick Forsyth and Tony Kent
This long-awaited sequel to the classic spy thriller The Odessa File continues the story 50 years on. Published in the shadow of Forsyth’s passing, it’s everything you’d expect from the master storyteller: lots of action and intrigue, set against the world of international politics.
A terrorist attack during a soccer match leads Georg (grandson of The Odessa File’s main character, Peter Miller) to uncover a geopolitical plot by the Odessa group as it attempts to destabilize the German and American governments.
The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery
The Murder At World’s End by Ross Montgomery
If you enjoy a witty take on the classic whodunnit (think Knives Out) you’ll love this smart murder mystery from bestselling children’s author Ross Montgomery.
The unlikely detectives in this 1910s-set story are under-butler Steven and foul-mouthed octogenarian lady of the house, Miss Decima. Together they must work out who killed the Viscount of Tithe Hall – seemingly shot dead by a crossbow and arrow while inside a sealed room. With secret corridors, historic grudges and treachery aplenty, this fun read will keep you guessing.
The Burning Grounds by Abir Mukherjee
The Burning Grounds by Abir Mukherjee
The latest book in the Wyndham and Banerjee series sees Captain Sam Wyndham and former Bengali policeman Surendranath Banerjee pulled into the dark and glamorous world of Indian Cinema.
There’s not one but two cases to investigate: the murder of a prominent Indian businessman, whose body is found on the so-called burning grounds, and a missing woman, Banerjee’s cousin Dolly. The culture clash between white British colonials and Indians who want self-determination adds layers to this intricately plotted and gripping mystery.
All Her Fault by Andrea Mara
All Her Fault by Andrea Mara
An eight-part series based on this gripping thriller will be airing on Sky and NOW from 7th November, starring Sarah Snook (of Succession fame), so this one to read now before it hits the small screen.
The premise is heart-in-mouth stuff: a woman goes to collect her child from a playdate, but a stranger answers the door and says she’s never heard of the child… This pulse-pounding thriller starts with a bang and keeps the reader on tenterhooks until the last page.
The Shame Game by L. D. Smithson
The Shame Game by L. D. Smithson
This nail-biting psychological suspense novel starts with the most brilliant premise: would you betray a friend in order to save your own skin? This high-concept thriller is almost unbearably tense at times, but you can’t help turning the pages long into the night.
Author L. D. Smithson is a psychologist in her other life, and you can tell from the detail that has gone into how each character reacts as they get pushed to their absolute limit.
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