Books
Debut crime novels to watch out for in 2023
As we welcome in a new year, we can’t wait to discover the exciting new authors bursting onto the crime thriller scene in 2023.
Top titles on our radar include a deliciously dark tale of revenge, toxic friendships and deadly secrets, an absorbing summer read about the sinister side of paradise and the first in a gripping new legal series by a very familiar face.
So get ahead of the curve this year and make sure these thrilling new books are at the top of your reading list. Here’s our pick of debut crime novels to watch out for in 2023.
13 of the best debut crime novels coming our way in 2023:
The Things We Do To Our Friends by Heather Darwent
The Things We Do to Our Friends by Heather Darwent
out 12 January
When Clare, a girl hiding from her past, arrives at university for a fresh start, she’s lured in by a mysterious foursome who are far from your typical students.
This deliciously dark tale of revenge, toxic friendships and deadly secrets is compulsive from start to finish.
The Cloisters by Katy Hays
The Cloisters by Katy Hayes
out 19 January
The Secret History meets Ninth House in this sinister, atmospheric novel that has a cunning, brilliantly crafted mystery at its heart.
It’s a captivating debut about obsession and the ruthless pursuit of power from an exciting new voice in fiction.
The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell
The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell
out 19 January
Charlotte Vassell’s debut sees Detective Caius Beauchamp come up against aristocrats and the upper classes – but as he searches for the truth beneath the luxury, a wall of staggering wealth threatens to shut down his investigation before it’s begun.
Full of twists and turns, this is a gripping police procedural packed with suspense, social commentary and the wit of Knives Out.
Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose
Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose
out 30 March
Ciara, Lauren and Mishti are three mothers, friends, wives. But beneath the veneer, they are not the women you expect – and neither are the secrets they keep…
Exploring the sinister side of suburbia, Dirty Laundry tells a tale of lies, desire and the secrets that can make or break a marriage. Hugely entertaining and suspenseful from start to finish, it’s perfect for fans of Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere.
Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater
Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater
out 27 April
When Roach – bookseller, loner and true crime obsessive – develops a morbid obsession with the bookshop’s latest recruit Laura, it becomes clear that she is prepared to infiltrate her life at any cost.
Chilling, unsettling and addictive, this debut is packed with suspense and tension that builds and builds.
The Girls of Summer by Katie Bishop
The Girls of Summer by Katie Bishop
out 25 May
A woman comes to terms with the fact that a passionate love affair she had as a teenager had a dark side in this powerful debut that explores themes of consent and power, abuse and victimhood, memory and trauma.
If you raced through My Dark Vanessa and The Girls, this is the novel for you. A guaranteed conversation starter, it’s a thought-provoking debut ideal for book clubs.
The Interpreter by Brooke Robinson
The Interpreter by Brooke Robinson
out 8 June
When it seems there may be a miscarriage of justice in one of her cases, interpreter Revelle puts everything at risk, deliberately mistranslating an alibi to get to verdict she wants. But someone knows what she’s done – and they want justice.
Impossible to put down, this novel will hook you in from page one and leave you desperate to find out what happens next.
Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum
Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum
out 8 June
Did you binge-watch Big Little Lies and White Lotus? This whip-smart, darkly comedic and propulsive debut about infidelity, backstabbing, and murderous intrigue should be top of your reading list.
With an evocative, sun-drenched setting and memorable characters, Bad Summer People is a page-turning treat that makes for the perfect escapist read.
The Trial by Rob Rinder
The Trial by Rob Rinder
out 22 June
Meet Adam Green: misfit, purveyor of justice and barrister-in-training, working on a trial which will push him – and the justice system itself – to the limit…
The Trial is the first legal thriller in a gripping new series by barrister and broadcaster Rob Rinder. Drawing on Rinder’s own experiences and told with his trademark wit and satire, it’s courtroom drama at its finest.
Speak of the Devil by Rose Wilding
Speak of the Devil by Rose Wilding
out 22 June
Seven women stand in shock in a seedy hotel room; a man’s severed head sits in the centre of the floor. Each of the women has a very good reason to have done it, yet each swears she did not.
A dark portrait of love, loyalty and manipulation, Speak of the Devil explores the roles in which women are cast in the lives of terrible men – and the fallout when they refuse to stay silent for one moment longer.
The Dive by Sara Ochs
The Dive by Sara Ochs
out 20 July
What was supposed to be a life-changing experience on the beautiful coast of Koh Sang soon takes a dark and deadly turn for scuba diving instructor Cass.
The Guest List meets The Beach in this absorbing summer read about the dark side of paradise. It’s a truly gripping thriller that will transport you to Thailand from the comfort of your armchair or sun lounger.
Reykjavik by Katrín Jakobsdóttir and Ragnar Jonasson
Reykjavik by Ragnar Jonasson and Katrín Jakobsdottír
out 17 August
When a teenager disappears without a trace, the mystery becomes Iceland’s greatest unsolved case – until, thirty years later, a journalist begins his own investigation…
An ice-cold mystery haunts Reykjavík in this heart-stopping read. Ragnar has been a favourite crime author of ours for some time, but it’s his co-author – the Icelandic Prime Minister herself! – who bursts onto the crime fiction scene here with this new novel. We can’t wait to get our hands on it.
Her by Mira V Shah
Her by Mira V Shah
out 23 November
Rani dreams of being like her neighbour Natalie. With her expensive clothes, beautiful house, adoring husband and high-powered job, she has everything Rani wants. But is Natalie’s perfect-seeming life too good to be true?
Full of twists, with a pace that doesn’t let up, this compelling, addictive psychological thriller is one you won’t forget in a hurry.
Have we missed any great debut crime novels heading our way in 2023? Let us know in the comments below!
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