Lightning Men by Thomas Mullen:
It’s not an easy read, and I don’t mean the writing, I mean the subject. Dark, gritty.
Part social history, part crime, and violent crime at that. Lightning Crime explores the complexity of relationships in the southern states of America in the 1950s, or perhaps in any chaotic unstable inner city ‘whenever’.
White officer Rakestraw joins Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith from Atlanta’s Negro Officer precinct to face the Klan, gangs and family. Working on many levels the story is never forgotten as it swirls in the relentlessness of the world as it was in Atlanta – back then.
Pub Abacus pb £8.99
Ultima by L.S. Hilton
The conclusion the the international bestselling phenomenon that began with Maestra, the premise seems to be, if you can’t beat them, kill ’em.
This is, as the previous two in the trilogy have been, dark, decadent and shocking. Incisive writing, a sharp humour, a driving plot – what could be better. And by the way, why not start thinking about who Judith Rashleigh really is, and is she really this killing machine? I’m not telling you.
pub: Zaffre hb £12.99 ebook £8.99
Here’s another that welcomes us into safe hands:
Insidious Intent by Val McDermid
Anything by McDermid is going to be good, and this is. A quiet night on a quiet road, but not for long. A car engulfed in flames, a burned body… DCI Carol Jordan and psychological profiler Tony Hill realise this is more than just an accident. The hunt begins for someone who believes he is untouchable, invisible and all the rest. More and more women are found, and more must be at risk. I see and hear the great Robson Green in the role, and know I’m going to be in for a bumpy ride, but probably get out safely at the end. Probably…
Pub: Sphere pb £7.99
Finally Mark Billingham – Love Like Blood. Such a cracker, but then his novels usually are.
DI Tom Thorne and DI Nicola Tanner investigate a series of brutal killings in London. – arghhh.
Nicola is personally involved when her partner is one of the victims, and Thorne puts himself in danger when he is drawn into the disturbing world in which families will do ANYTHING to protect their honour. It is a world that seems real, and sadly probably is. Quite unputdownable, quite unbearable.
pub Sphere. pb £7.99
Milly Adams writes for Random House, as does her alter ego Margaret Graham.