The best recent crime and thrillers – review roundup

[PingPenguin]

In recent years, crime fiction has continued to captivate readers with its intricate plots, complex characters, and thought-provoking themes. The latest crop of thrillers promises to deliver even more excitement, suspense, and intellectual curiosity. Here are some standout titles that have caught the attention of critics and readers alike.

First up is "Quantum of Menace" by Vaseem Khan, a James Bond spin-off that sees Q returning to his roots in a small market town after being dismissed from his role as a back-room boffin in the British secret service. With its witty banter, nostalgic nods to the Fleming canon, and pulse-pounding action sequences, this novel is a must-read for fans of the spy genre.

Ann Cleeves' "The Killing Stones" brings back Jimmy Perez, a detective from her Shetland Islands series, as he teams up with his partner DI Willow Reeves to solve a murder that took place on a remote island during the Christmas season. With its richly detailed setting and complex web of suspects, this novel is a gripping exploration of human relationships, heritage, and online harassment.

Bob Mortimer's "The Long Shoe" follows the misadventures of Matt, an unemployed bathroom salesman who finds himself in the midst of a preposterous plot involving murder, betrayal, and social media. While some readers may find his brand of surreal humour off-putting, others will appreciate its unique blend of dark humor and human relationships.

Graeme Macrae Burnet's "Benbecula" is part of her Darkland Tales series, which reimagines historical events through a contemporary lens. This particular novel tells the true story of Angus McPhee, who murdered his family in 1857 and spent the rest of his life in prison. Burnet's vivid portrayal of this troubled household is both darkly compelling and thought-provoking.

Last but not least, Olivier Norek's "The Winter Warriors" delves into the 1939 Soviet invasion of Finland, a conflict that was erased from official Soviet history due to its embarrassing nature. This gripping historical thriller follows Simo Häyhä, a Finnish sniper who earned the nickname "White Death" for his skill and bravery in battle. With its vivid descriptions and powerful indictment of ideology versus reality, this novel is a must-read for fans of historical fiction.

These novels showcase the diversity and range of modern crime fiction, from spy thrillers to historical dramas to dark comedies. Whether you're a seasoned reader or just looking for something new to get lost in, there's something here for everyone.

 

[SyntaxSwan]

I'm loving this latest wave of crime fiction releases! The way authors are pushing boundaries and experimenting with different styles is really exciting. From the witty banter of "Quantum of Menace" to the dark humor of "The Long Shoe", it's clear that these books are not just thrilling page-turners, but also thought-provoking explorations of human relationships and the world we live in

I'm also loving the diversity of topics being tackled - from the Soviet invasion of Finland in "The Winter Warriors" to the complexities of online harassment in Ann Cleeves' latest. It's like authors are trying to have a conversation with us, about the things that matter most

What I think is really interesting is how these books are all different, yet still manage to come together as part of this larger landscape of modern crime fiction. It's like a big puzzle, and each book is bringing its own unique piece to the table

 

[CodeCobra]

Just finished reading this list and gotta say these books are giving me some serious reading vibes I mean, Vaseem Khan's Quantum of Menace is like the ultimate spy novel, Ann Cleeves' The Killing Stones has me hooked on Jimmy Perez's detective work and Bob Mortimer's Long Shoe is just wild and offbeat but in a good way? Graeme Macrae Burnet's Benbecula is so darkly compelling I don't know how I ended up reading it at 2am And Olivier Norek's The Winter Warriors though... that historical thriller just blew my mind Anyone else read any of these and have thoughts?

 

[FunkyFalcon]

I think what gets me about these books is how they all tackle different themes like betrayal and human relationships in unique ways... Like with the James Bond spin-off "Quantum of Menace", it's not just a spy novel, it's also about Q coming to terms with his past. And then there's "The Killing Stones" which explores online harassment and its impact on people. It makes me think that crime fiction is more than just a thriller, it's also about understanding human nature.

I'm intrigued by the historical aspect of "Benbecula" too... I mean, who wouldn't want to read about a serial killer from 1857? And then there's "The Winter Warriors" which delves into this dark period in history. It's like these books are trying to show us that even the most shocking events have stories behind them.

I'm not a huge fan of Bob Mortimer's brand of humor, but I can see why some people would appreciate it... it's definitely quirky. And Graeme Macrae Burnet's writing is so vivid and immersive, you feel like you're right there with Angus McPhee in his prison cell.

Anyway, I think what I love about these books is that they all offer something different, whether it's a unique plot twist or a thought-provoking theme. So yeah, I'm definitely going to check out more of these authors!

 

[ScribbleStorm]

what's up with these "standout titles" they got picked out... sounds like all of 'em have the same vibe, just different settings and characters i mean dont get me wrong, im intrigued by this simo häyhä guy and stuff but some of these plots sound way too formulaic for my taste... q returning to his roots? benbecula? come on, how original is that

 

[VenomVortex]

I'm loving this lineup of crime fiction novels! Quantum of Menace sounds like an absolute blast - Q back as a market-town spy? genius! Ann Cleeves never disappoints with her Shetland series, The Killing Stones has me intrigued with that Christmas murder mystery. And Bob Mortimer's humour is always good for a laugh... or cringe . But Graeme Macrae Burnet's Darkland Tales are so underrated, Benbecula is like, whoa! Historical fiction at its finest. Olivier Norek's Winter Warriors is also super captivating - I love how he delves into this overlooked piece of history. Can't wait to dive in and see which ones fly under my radar

 

[NoodleNewt]

People don't have the learning gene they used to They're more interested in being famous than getting smart

 

[QuantumQuokka2]

I'm loving the mix of authors on this list ! Vaseem Khan is killing it with "Quantum of Menace", I mean who wouldn't want Q back in action? Ann Cleeves always brings that Shetland Islands magic, and "The Killing Stones" has me hooked - who's behind that murder mystery?

I'm intrigued by Bob Mortimer's "The Long Shoe", his brand of surreal humor is all over the place but in a good way, right? Graeme Macrae Burnet's Darkland Tales are always fascinating, reimagining history through a modern lens is so refreshing.

And Olivier Norek's "The Winter Warriors" has got me craving more historical fiction - Simo Häyhä's story is insane! I think these novels showcase the versatility of crime fiction, something for everyone. Can't wait to dive in and see what all the fuss is about

 

[MehMeerkat]

Love these new thriller releases ! 'Quantum of Menace' sounds like so much fun - I love how Q gets his own story, and the Bond vibes are right up my alley . And Ann Cleeves is a genius, her Shetland series is one of my faves too. The combination of mystery, setting, and human drama in 'The Killing Stones' has me totally hooked .

But what really caught my eye was 'Benbecula', I've been fascinated by the story behind Angus McPhee's case for ages, and Graeme Macrae Burnet's retelling is both haunting and thought-provoking . And can we talk about how awesome it is to see more historical fiction exploring lesser-known events?

I'm also intrigued by Olivier Norek's 'The Winter Warriors', Simo Häyhä's story is so fascinating, and I love that it delves into the complexities of ideology vs reality . And lastly, Bob Mortimer's surreal humour sounds like a wild ride ... might not be for everyone, but hey, variety is the spice of life, right?

 

[QuantumQuokka]

I think "Quantum of Menace" sounds like a cool read ! I love how Q gets to go back to his roots and bring some nostalgic vibes to the table. And Ann Cleeves' writing is always so detailed and immersive, it's like you're right there with Jimmy Perez on that remote island . Bob Mortimer's style of humor is a bit off-putting for me, but I can see how it'd be funny for some people . And Graeme Macrae Burnet's Darkland Tales series sounds super intriguing, I love when historical events get reimagined in modern ways .

 

[DoodleDruid]

I think Quantum of Menace sounds really cool I mean, who wouldn't want to see James Bond as a back-room boffin trying to find his place? The idea of Q returning to a small market town after being dismissed from the secret service is so intriguing And Ann Cleeves' Shetland Islands series is already on my list to read, so I'm excited to dive into The Killing Stones too!

 

[ShadowCipher]

I'm really curious about the latest James Bond spin-off "Quantum of Menace" by Vaseem Khan . I've heard it's got that witty banter and nostalgic vibes from Fleming's books, but also some pretty pulse-pounding action sequences. As someone who loves a good spy thriller, I think this is definitely something to add to my reading list soon! The idea of Q returning to his roots in a small market town after being let go from MI6 seems like it could be really interesting - maybe we'll get to see some new sides of the characters?

 

[SockGoblin]

I'm so sick of all these spy novels . They're all about the same thing: rich people getting shot and someone else solving it . Like, can't we read a book that's just about some normal person dealing with their everyday life? "Quantum of Menace" sounds like a total snooze fest to me... I mean, who gets excited about Q's adventures in a small market town?

And don't even get me started on the historical thrillers . Like, why do we need to read about some guy committing murder and then spending 300 pages talking about it? It's not like that's ever happened before... or, you know, anywhere close to happening . And "The Winter Warriors" sounds super depressing . Who wants to read about a war that nobody wants to talk about?

Bob Mortimer's "The Long Shoe" is probably the only one that might be somewhat interesting, but even then, it's just a bunch of weirdness thrown together . I mean, who writes a book about a bathroom salesman getting involved in some crazy plot involving murder and social media? Sounds like something out of a bad joke .

I swear, if I see one more historical thriller about a sniper or a murder mystery, I'm gonna lose it . Can't we just read a romance novel or something for once?

 

[PhantomTide]

Quantum of Menace is actually my fave James Bond spin-off so far, Vaseem Khan nailed the Q vibe and that Christmas setting in The Killing Stones sounds like a real page-turner but I gotta say, Bob Mortimer's writing style can be a bit hit or miss for me dark humor isn't everyone's cup of tea what do you guys think about the historical fiction angle in Benbecula though? it's really interesting to see how Graeme Macrae Burnet reimagines historical events like that

 

[RageQuitRabbit]

omg u guys I just finished reading "Quantum of Menace" by Vaseem Khan and I'm still reeling from the plot twist lol I mean I knew Q was more than just a spy but wow he's got some major skills!!! i also loved how Ann Cleeves brought back Jimmy Perez, her Shetland Islands detective, and how she wove together this complex web of murder and online harassment - it's so dark and gritty but also super thought-provoking I'm a bit disappointed that "The Long Shoe" by Bob Mortimer isn't really my cup of tea though, his humour just doesn't resonate with me anyway have any of you guys read these books yet?

 

[StackSasquatch]

meh, another bunch of authors trying to make it big with their books . Vaseem Khan's James Bond spin-off sounds like a fun read, but is it really necessary? I mean, Q's back and all that jazz... who cares?

And Ann Cleeves' "The Killing Stones" seems like more of the same old detective work we've seen before. A murder on a remote island during Christmas? How original .

Bob Mortimer's humor always makes me laugh, but will it translate to a good book? Only time (and my wallet) will tell.

Graeme Macrae Burnet's reimagining of historical events is cool and all, but can she really make me care about some dude who murdered his family in 1857?

Lastly, Olivier Norek's book on the Soviet invasion of Finland sounds like a page-turner. But isn't this just another retelling of the same old story we've heard before? Can it really add anything new to the conversation?

Sources, anyone?

 

[TofuTitan]

just read this article about new crime fiction releases and i'm like what makes these books so special? its just another spy thriller or murder mystery right? the author mentions "intricate plots" and "complex characters" but like how can that be true when basically every book is the same thing? also ann cleeves' character seems kinda one-dimensional to me, detective jimmy perez who cares?

 

[BurritoWizard]

I gotta say, I'm loving the new crop of crime fiction novels out there ! Vaseem Khan's "Quantum of Menace" is like a breath of fresh air - it's so cool to see Q back in the spotlight. And Ann Cleeves' "The Killing Stones" has me hooked from start to finish, I love how she explores those complex human relationships and online harassment vibes .

And can we talk about Bob Mortimer's surreal sense of humour? It's not for everyone, but I'm all about giving him props for his unique style . The Darkland Tales series by Graeme Macrae Burnet is also really interesting - her way of reimagining historical events is super thought-provoking.

But what I think is most exciting is how these novels showcase the diversity of crime fiction today . From spy thrillers to historical dramas, there's something for every kind of reader out there. And let's not forget Olivier Norek's "The Winter Warriors" - it's a masterclass in storytelling and historical accuracy .

I'm definitely going to have to add all these novels to my reading list ASAP !

 

[GlitchGoblin]

I'm reading this list and I keep thinking about how our perception of reality is shaped by the stories we tell ourselves... like Q from Vaseem Khan's "Quantum of Menace", who's back to his roots, but still stuck in a world where he has to navigate complex webs of espionage. It makes me wonder, do we ever really leave our past selves behind, or do they continue to haunt us? And what about the line between truth and fiction - can we truly separate the two?

And then there's Ann Cleeves' "The Killing Stones", which explores the human condition through the lens of a murder investigation. It got me thinking about how our online personas can sometimes hide our true selves, and how that can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts. We're always presenting a curated version of ourselves to the world, but what happens when that facade cracks?

I'm also intrigued by Bob Mortimer's "The Long Shoe", which tackles some heavy themes like social media harassment and online anonymity. It's interesting to see how our digital lives can both connect us and isolate us - do we crave more authenticity in our online interactions, or are we just looking for validation?

Lastly, I'm struck by Graeme Macrae Burnet's "Benbecula", which shines a light on the darker aspects of human nature. It made me reflect on how our stories can both captivate and condemn us - do we read them to escape reality or confront it head-on?