Crime and Thriller Roundup: A Dive into Recent Releases
This week's crime and thriller roundup features a diverse selection of novels that explore secrets, manipulation, and suspense across various settings and eras. From suburban barbecues to spy islands, these books offer gripping narratives for fans of the genre.
The Barbecue at No 9 by Jennie Godfrey
Jennie Godfrey's second novel, The Barbecue at No 9, centers on a family gathering during the iconic Live Aid concert on July 13, 1985. Set in a new-build cul-de-sac in England, the story unfolds as neighbors converge for a barbecue hosted by the Gordon family. Through this event, readers delve into the complex backstories of characters like teenage Hanna, who plans to escape her preoccupied father and ambitious mother, mysterious Australian newcomer Rita, and ex-soldier Steve, whose paranoia is heightened by a shadowy watcher.
Unlike traditional whodunnits, this novel is a slow-burn exploration of friendship, community, and family secrets. It examines the choices and lies people craft to protect themselves and others, all set against a nostalgic soundtrack that enhances the atmospheric vibe. Godfrey's debut, The List of Suspicious Things, established her talent for nuanced storytelling, and this follow-up continues that trend with rich character development and emotional depth.
A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by MK Oliver
MK Oliver's debut novel, A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage, introduces Lalla Rook, a manipulative and empathy-lacking mother living in Muswell Hill, north London. With her banker husband and two children, Lalla enjoys a privileged life but craves more—specifically, a larger house in Hampstead and a spot at an exclusive school for her daughter, Nelly, who shows early signs of antisocial behavior.
The plot thickens when Lalla murders an intruder just before her son's birthday party, only to discover the victim might have been digging into her dark past. This satirical thriller combines murder, blackmail, and body disposal with twisty plotting and lavish lifestyle details, offering a darkly comedic take on suburban ambition. Told with gusto, it serves as a perfect antidote to winter gloom, blending humor with suspense.
A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford
Set in the late 1970s in Glasgow's Possilpark district, Frances Crawford's debut, A Bad, Bad Place, portrays a community plagued by poverty, crime, and sectarianism. The story alternates between the perspectives of 12-year-old Janey, who discovers a young woman's body while walking her dog, and her grandmother Maggie, who has raised Janey since a gas explosion killed her immediate family.
Janey hesitates to reveal all she knows to the police, becoming entangled in adult machinations, while Maggie, harboring her own secrets, struggles to protect her granddaughter amid limited choices. The dead woman's ties to a criminal family add layers of danger. This coming-of-age mystery blends trauma, grief, and magical thinking with flashes of humor and pathos, creating a well-observed narrative that builds real suspense.
Holy Boy by Lee Heejoo
Translated by Joheun Lee, Holy Boy by Lee Heejoo taps into the timely theme of parasocial relationships, as highlighted by Cambridge Dictionary's 2025 word of the year. The novel follows four women with obsessive connections to a K-pop idol, who band together to kidnap him and hold him captive in a mountain mansion near Seoul.
As their backstories unfold, the reasons for their delusions become clear, but complications arise when an unexpected visitor disrupts their plans. While the premise is compelling and Lee Heejoo excels at building unhinged tension and foreboding, the translation suffers from stilted and overliteral language, occasionally confusing the narrative. Despite this, the book offers a fascinating look at obsession and identity in modern culture.
A Stranger in Corfu by Alex Preston
Alex Preston's latest novel, A Stranger in Corfu, reimagines the small Ionian island of Vidos as a "spyland"—a sunlit purgatory for compromised MI6 agents, akin to Mick Herron's Slough House. Set in 1995, six years after the Berlin Wall's fall, the story follows Nina Woolf, who is sent to the island suffering from PTSD.
When shots are fired at her and an older agent, initially blamed on local poachers, the plot deepens as another agent is found drowned, suggesting the past is catching up. The narrative then rewinds 50 years to a group of Oxford students dedicated to advancing communism within the British establishment. This tale of betrayal, disillusionment, and ideological cost is both compelling and humane, blending espionage with emotional resonance.
These recent releases showcase the versatility of the crime and thriller genre, from family dramas to espionage tales, each offering unique insights into human nature and suspenseful storytelling.
