The best books out this month

If you’re looking for a new crime book to lose yourself in this month, you’ve come to the right place. There are plenty of new thrillers due to hit the shelves in April, plus a host of shiny new paperbacks from some of our favourite authors. So, whether you’re looking for the latest whodunnit from Anthony Horowitz, or a psychological thriller from Shari Lapena, there’s something for every crime fiction lover on our list below…

New crime books out this month:

The Spy by Ajay Chowdhury
out 4 April

Detective Kamil Rahman is working for the Met Police when he gets a call from MI5 asking him to infiltrate a terrorist organisation and prevent an attack. Meanwhile, local restauranteur Anjoli is investigating a young boy’s disappearance and the cryptic clues he left behind. Time is running out for them both – can they save the boy, and the country, before it’s too late? The Spy is the latest fast-paced novel in the hugely popular Kamil Rahman series.

The Gathering by C J Tudor
out 11 April

In a remote Alaskan town, a boy has been brutally murdered, reminding locals of a similar crime 25 years prior. As a detective and the sheriff delve into the town’s history, they uncover dark, supernatural secrets and wonder: are they hunting a bloodthirsty killer, or something even darker? This thriller from the acclaimed author of The Chalk Man is tinged with horror and is perfect for fans of Stephen King.

A Beginner’s Guide to Breaking and Entering by Andrew Hunter Murray
out 25 April

Blending murder, intrigue and comedy, Andrew Hunter Murray’s latest novel is a fun thriller with a unique premise. It follows Al, a young man who navigates the housing crisis by living in wealthy people’s second homes while they are away. Everything is going to plan until he and his friends break into a home and find a dead body. Now on the run, Al and his group must stay one step ahead of the police and solve the crime to clear their names.

Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz
out 11 April

A quiet gated community in Richmond upon Thames is shaken to its core by the neighbour from hell: Giles Kenworthy, with his noisy children, loud parties, and plans for a swimming pool in his garden. When Giles is found murdered, his neighbours each fall under suspicion and former detective Daniel Hawthorne is put on the case. But how can you solve a murder when everyone has the same motive? Anthony Horowitz’s latest novel in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series is an innovative whodunnit.

Private Monaco by James Patterson
out 25 April

Jack Morgan has been invited to Monaco to set up a new office for the Private detective agency. But the glamorous vacation is cut short when his partner Justine is abducted. The kidnappers have sent him clear instructions: if he wants to save the woman he loves, he will have to kill someone. Jack soon becomes entangled in a dangerous plot that builds to a climax at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Blending high glamour with fast-paced action, it’s no surprise that James Patterson’s Private series is a Sunday Times bestseller.

Clickbait by L C North
out 11 April

For over a decade, the Lancasters have been celebrity royalty, with their own reality show to boot. But when an old video emerges from one of the family’s legendary parties, they become infamous. Because there, caught on film, is missing teenager Bradley Wilcox; witnesses had claimed Bradley left the Lancaster home on the night of the party, but the video tells a different story. Now, true crime investigator and YouTuber Tom Isaac is on the case.

The pick of the paperbacks

These titles have already hit the shelves in hardback and are newly available in paperback this month.

Have we missed any of the best new books out this month? Let us know in the comments below! For more reading recommendations, take a look at our best books of 2024 so far.