Tag: Crime fiction

The Chemist by A. A. Dhand

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Have you ever read a book that you can immediately see as a film? ‘The Chemist’ by A. A Dhand is just one of those books. And, to me, that is a very well-written book, as you can feel like you are really involved in what is going on.

Now, this book is possibly not for the faint-hearted; as you know, I do not read blurbs, so everything about this book’s story was a surprise to me. And it needs to stay like that in my post, too, but I will say that it tackles some really tough topics, such as drug abuse, human trafficking, grief, loss and living in some of the toughest conditions imaginable, under the control of some really terrible people.

This is not a light-hearted story, and there are some really harrowing moments, but there is also some light in the dark, as you learn what people are willing to do to help those who are truly in need (even if you are not always in agreement with what they may do – but desperate times must lead to some really desperate measures).

I absolutely loved this book, which seems a strange thing to say about quite a tough thriller, but it was a brilliant read. And it is a fantastic buddy read. It is a book that the characters you love, you really love, and the characters you hate, you really hate, and you just have to know what is going to happen next.

Idris Kahn is the Chemist, who looks after the local community, most commonly handing out methadone to those who need it. Then, one night, as he attempts to help someone he loves, his life is turned upside down as he ends up stuck between two rival gangs and some of the most dangerous men in Leeds. And, from that moment, you never quite know what is going to happen next. But what you do know is that you hope that Idris and those he loves will be OK.

This book was so incredible that I am already excited for the publication of the next story, ‘The Kingpin’, because I just have to know what is going to happen to Idris Kahn next. A. A. Dhand has definitely become an autobuy author for me, and I am really looking forward to what stories he will be bringing us in the future.

Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I was in the mood for cosy crime, as well as needing to make sure that I am shifting books from the tbr pile. So I picked up ‘Guilty by Definition’ by Susie Dent, which is certainly a cosy crime novel.

A setting in beautiful Oxford (which is always a good backdrop for a crime story), amongst an academic institution, always seems to make this scenario even more perfect (in this case, the offices of the Clarendon English Dictionary). Martha has returned to England after some time abroad, and her return seems to reignite an interest in the disappearance of her charasmatic older sister Charlie several years before. As coded messages start being sent, first to the offices of the Clarendon English Dictionary, and then to others who were aware of the unsolved case of Charlie’s disappearance, Martha and her friends seem to be drawn into trying to solve the mystery of what had really happened that summer several years before.

As it is written by Susie Dent, words are a very important feature of this story, and that was something I found incredibly interesting. I just wish I could remember everything that the book taught me. But also, this is a great cosy crime novel. I found myself keen to see where the story was going and what the solution would be. But it is not a novel for anyone looking for a thrilling read. This is a crime/mystery story of secrets, lies and hidden clues, not a thriller of chills.

However, if you need a cosy read for the next autumn months (sorry, yes I said it, but that is usually everyone’s favourite cosy crime season) and you have not picked this one up yet, then I recommend you keep it on your radar. Although, I am late to the party, so you may have already read it.

It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Audiobooks are not always easy to review as I find that, as much as I know what is going on, my attention can sometimes wander. However, that was not the case with ‘It’s Not What You Think’, which I chose as it is by Clare Mackintosh, who I know writes books that will not disappoint (and a friend had told me that they had read their physical copy in a day).

This book is a brilliant crime/thriller and the narrators of the audiobook are excellent. At no point did I lose focus as I listened to this book, as I just had to know where the story was going. What appears to start as a ‘simple’ case of murder, becomes something so much more complex. The secrets just keep revealing themselves, making each of our key characters question everything they know – and making you realise that maybe you never really know someone. And it is never a good idea to jump to conclusions…

Clare Mackintosh always manages to not only create brilliant strong female lead characters, but she manages to use details in her story from the current world we are living in, that then really drag you into a story, and possibly play on some of our biggest fears.

I have tp admit that I did work out one of the twists, but it did not take away from the story in any way. In fact, it really emphasised the idea that maybe you never really know someone, however close to them you may be – even if it is the closest you can be.

It is quite hard to write about this book without spoilers, but I am absolutely adamant that I am not giving anything away. Other than that, if you have been a fan of the other books that Clare Mackintosh has written, then you will almost certainly be a fan of this one. I pretty much binged this, as much as you can an audiobook during a busy day-to-day life, and I am still thinking about it now, and have already recommended it to so many people I know who love a good crime/thriller – audiobook or physical reads.

Body of Lies by Jo Callaghan

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

When one of your Booksta and Book Club buddies knows how much you love a series of books that they share the newest one with you, you know you have found your tribe. My excitement when ‘Body of Lies’ by Jo Callaghan landed on my doormat was extreme – this is a book from an autobuy author for me and one that has been one of my most anticipated reads for 2026.

Kat and Lock are two of my favourite detectives in the current crime fiction world and knowing that this is our last meeting with them is quite something as a reader. However, this novel is just as wonderful as I thought it would be. Jo Callaghan has given this series the conclusion that it deserves, and I know that she will always be an autobuy author for me.

So, there are no spoilers here, so I am basically not going to say much about this book, which I realise is probably going to make this a very short post. But, what I am going to say is that our crime fighting duo are together on the case of the murder of a local MP, who appears to be embroiled in the AI debate that is around us all the time. As they attempt to solve the case, things take a turn, and the case becomes a matter of life and death – maybe in more ways than one.

I am simply urging you to read this book if you have been a fan of the others. And, if you have not read any of the Kat and Lock stories yet, why not? Pick them up now before the final book is published, because you will not be disappointed at all; these are crime stories, but there is so much more to them, too – and I for one am going to be going back to the beginning to relive it all again, because they are just brilliant.

Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

As I love the idea of reading a book that is set somewhere that I am visiting, I finally picked up my first Donna Leon book when I visited The Aldeburgh Bookshop. The aim was to read this when I was in-visit, however, I ended up reading it when we had moved on to Florence – at least we were in the same country…

And, as I read it, I decided that I have left it far too long to pick up a book by Donna Leon. I absolutely loved this piece of crime fiction: a police procedural in style. It took me to the classic crime genre, reminding me of my favourites, like Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse. However, it was quite nice to read about a detective who does not seem (so far) to have a particular demon haunting him, other than his potential dislike for social hierarchy. He definitely seemed to lean to the left.

By he, I of course mean Commissario Brunetti. A likeable main character who loves his city of Venice. Especially as Venice becomes not just the setting but almost a character in the book. After all, it is a city that can steal your heart and it is full of fascinating stories everywhere you look.

In this story, I solved it just slightly ahead of Commissario Brunetti, and I am okay with that, as this is a traditional crime story, and I enjoyed following the clues to find a solution. This does not mean that this is a simple story, as there are some quite complex characters, but it means that it is a book that wants to be a crime story, and you follow Brunetti as she solves his crime.

There are twists as the case unfolds, and some dark themes, but this is not a thriller – this is a true crime story, and that was exactly why I enjoyed it. It has not been written to shock, it has been written to be a good story. And that story has stood the test of time, as I did not realise how long ago this book had actually been published (1992) – the bonus of that, of course, is that I have so many Donna Leon books to read – and that makes me very happy.

To Love A Liar by L.V. Matthews

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

As we have clearly spotted, I love a thriller or crime story. So, when ‘The Book Taster’ picked ‘To Love A Liar’ by L.V. Matthews, I knew I was likely to be thrown into a book I would love. And…I was.

This is a brilliant thriller which reveals surprise after surprise and, just as you think you have got to grips with the story, another curve-ball comes out of nowhere and smacks you in the face. To the point that I had to message a friend and ensure that I had correctly understood the series of events. This is not a criticism of the narrative but, in fact, praise of it, because it was just a rollercoaster of a read.

I am honestly stumped in how to review this book, as the joy for me was that I actually did not know anything about this novel, which meant that every single moment was a surprise – and I think that is how it should be read. In fact, I am hoping that my words will just make you pick it up without the blurb, so you can simply experience the joy of reading this book.

There was also the clever use of mixed media to tell the story. There was the use of social media posts to add to the story, and I think this was a very clever way to additionally engage readers with the narrative. But it also shows how the way that news and information is shared has changed so much – how quickly fake or false ideas can spread, and how much people are willing to have an opinion when they think they can hide behind a screen. I think this also causes the reader to reflect on the significance of this to the story, and how the narrative can be changed.

This is a book that I will be recommending to anyone who is listening – especially those readers I know who are fans of the thriller and crime novels – the twistier the better.

Human Remains by Jo Callaghan

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

‘Human Remains’ is the third time that we meet Kat and Locke, our Warwickshire murder-solving duo. And it did not disappoint – in fact, far from it. I was not expecting to have quite so many feels as I read this book – but it happened.

As my posts have to be spoiler free, I cannot possibly reveal how a police procedural novel about solving murders could create quite so much of an emotional reaction, but it happens and you are just going to have to read it to find out why. But you also should read it because it is just as brilliant as the two books that came before it.

This time we catch up with Kat and Locke as a body is discovered by a local fisherman. A body that has been there for quite some time. As Kat (I love that I am on first-name terms with this character) and her team investigate who the victim may be, they uncover a whole host of local history, which leads them to solve another, much older mystery along the way. However, as you can imagine, nothing about this story is quite so straightforward as it would seem, and Kat is soon forced to face up to her past – rightly or wrongly.

This is just a page-turner of a read, because you feel like you are back amongst old friends as they work their next case. Even Locke feels like a friend, even though he is AI and we all know he can not work or express himself as a human. However, Jo Callaghan very cleverly deals with him learning to be that little bit more human and the questions that could raise as he does so. A fascinating debate for the modern age – and a real moral debate you will have with yourself as the book develops.

I think it is just fair to say that I absolutely loved this book; I read past my bedtime to make sure I finished it, and a learned a little bit of Warwickshire history too. I really can’t wait for the next time we will be in the company of Kat, Locke and the team; even though we know it will be the last, it just means I will have to go back to the beginning and start again.

Into the Fire by G. D. Wright

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I spotted ‘Into the Fire’ by G. D. Wright on Bookstagram a number of times and it has a rather attractive cover, so I felt I had to give it a go.

This book starts rather dramatically with our hero (or so we think), Steve, rescuing a baby boy from a house fire. Creating a media frenzy, as you would expect, Steve, the quiet, unassuming family man, is thrown into the spotlight and is the centre of a media circus. This leads to the secrets of Steve’s past coming to light – and the question soon becomes: is Steve a hero or a villain?

Told from multiple perspectives, we see the story unfold, and how it impacts a number of different characters, including the detective (always great to have a strong female detective), who has a connection to the current case and a cold case. This is not so much a whodunnit but a whydunnit: why is Steve both a hero and villain? Why have things about his past stayed hidden for so long? Why does anyone do some of the things that they do – especially the most extreme?

There is also a clear study of multiple relationships – family, friend, perpetrator and victim; professional, police and public. And the idea of trust is considered throughout the book: who do we trust and why do we trust them?

A moment at the very end of the book is a twist I was not expecting, although the author resvisits the clues for you and, actually, other readers may have picked it up, but I did not. I was not sure this twist was needed as it happened but, as I finished the book, I could understand this decision and why it was as it was, and actually what it brought to the story. Even if in the moment it was a little bit of a shock, and felt as though it might be there just for shock factor.

It always seems strange to say that I enjoyed a book with some dark subjects and events, but this was a good read; I would advise that maybe you should check the trigger warnings before you read this, as, for some people, it may be a slightly more difficult read.

I would certainly read more G. D. Wright books, and have already looked up what else has been written – because, as we know, you can never have enough books.

Other People’s Houses by Clare Mackintosh

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

It was a joy to be reunited with to be reunited with Ffion and Leo for the third of the books from Clare Mackintosh in the DCI Ffion Morgan series. And, this third one was just as good as I was expecting it to be, in fact maybe even better.

‘Other People’s Houses’ was a fantastic study of character, as well as being a great murder mystery/police procedural story. Each chapter is told from a different viewpoint, changing between Ffion and her case, Leo and his case, and Leo’s ex-wife and her attempts to find her position with the residents of a rather posh area of town, The Hill. Their experiences and stories all become entwined as two seemingly unrelated cases – a murder and set of break-ins – soon reveal that they have more in common than it first appears.

I find the books of Clare Mackintosh to be compulsive reading; I could not put this down, as I was not just intrigued by all the mystery surrounding the events in the book, but I was also keen to see how the relationships between characters would develop. There is, of course, Leo and Ffion, who we have followed through the previous two books. But now there is another dynamic with Leo’s ex-wife thrown more into the mix, also with how she interacts with all those who live on The Hill, and that interesting look at almost how ‘the other half live’. And, maybe, we should be careful what we wish for, or who we look up to.

No spoilers, as always, with a book that has something that needs to be revealed or has a twist. But this book had me on the edge of my seat as we got closer to the conclusion of the story. I had to just keep reading until I knew where we were going with the story.

I did not solve this one before the characters, but I worked out a couple of clues as we went, although not enough to reach the full solution – and I am okay with that. I do not read these books to try and actively solve them; if I spot some clues, then I am happy.

I really hope this is not the last we hear of Ffion and Leo; I think there is one more story in there for these two as their lives have changed from the first book to now.

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

‘How to Solve Your Own Murder’ must be one of the best titles for a book that I have ever heard of. And, it is the perfect title for this book, too. My IRL book club had this as a title we could pick, but it lost out to another choice. However, I decided that I would give it a go anyway. I knew this would be a book that would make for a good buddy read, too, because – let’s be honest – we all want to discuss ideas when it comes to crime and thriller fiction.

I thought this book was great. Its title and cover suit it perfectly, and it reminded me of traditional cosy crime – which was exactly what I needed it to be. There are all the usual ingredients of that very genre: an old house, an eccentric family member (or two), a village of colourful characters, and plenty of secrets. It was just wonderful, and such a tribute to that traditional cosy crime story ,but brought bang up to date.

After sixty years, a prediction from a fortune teller comes true and Frances Adams is found murdered at her home in the countryside. She has managed to avoid such a fate for all that time, but finally the prediction has caught up with her. Her great-niece Annie takes it upon herself to try and solve her great-aunt’s murder, and everything that led to such a tragic outcome. I mean, she does also have her inheritance at stake, as the last great act of Frances Adams is to leave a will offering her millions to whoever it is that can solve her murder.

This leads to a rather fun crime caper as we follow Annie and the colourful cast of characters from the village, past and present, in trying to be the first to solve the crime.

I enjoyed the dual timeline as we read some of Frances’ notes on the events of the past that may have led to the events of the present. I understand that some readers found this a little confusing, possibly because we start in the past, but I did not find that as I read it. In fact, it all added to the story for me, because you felt you were really getting all the clues as Annie did.

I think if you are a fan of the TV show ‘Midsomer Murders’, or have read the books of Richard Osman or Anthony Horowitz, then you will probably be a fan of the first of the Castle Knoll Files. I will definitely be reading the second book, just with the usual caveat: so many books, so little time.