Death Writ Large by Susie Dent

 

The death of an Oxford scholar is considered to be suicide, however DI Caldwell suspects there is more to the case as a result of the strange writing found at the scene. With the help of Martha Thornhill and her colleagues at the Clarendon English Dictionary, he unearths a tale of revenge.

Death Writ Large by Susie Dent takes place just over a year after the events of Guilty By Definition, the first book in the series (you can read my review here). As with the first book, I approached this with a little trepidation, expecting a slow read. I'm really not sure why I was so worried; the plot is gripping, the pace is brisk, and all the cryptic clues are clearly explained.

Being set in and around Oxford, the descriptions of the city are appealing. I've only visited once, very briefly, but would like to do so again, taking in some of the places mentioned. 

Martha and her colleagues, Safi and Alex, are asked to help in the suspected murder because of strange runes left at the scene. Martha immediately recognises them as being a language invented by writer James Naylor, a contemporary of Tolkien. The victim used to be part of an elitist group who were fans of the writer, and the other members of the group immediately become suspects. None of this group is likeable, they continue to look down on everyone, considering them inferior. I had little sympathy for them when it became obvious that they were also being targeted.

There are enough secondary characters to keep you guessing, although I did begin to have my suspicions as to who was responsible about halfway through. Even though I'd guessed who the villain was, I was completely fooled by the reason. The conclusion is tense, with the danger having you on the edge of your seat.

Death Writ Large by Susie Dent will be published on 13th August 2026 in hardback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Zaffre for a review copy.

Author Details

Susie Dent is a writer and broadcaster on language. She recently celebrated thirty years as a co-presenter and the resident word expert on Channel 4’s Countdown, and also appears on the show’s comedy sister 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Susie comments regularly on TV and radio on words in the news, and is the author of several non-fiction books on words and language.

The Killer's Mark by M. W. Craven

 

Teenager Esmerée Blue seeks the help of Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw to find her mother, a person she long thought was dead. The quest leads to a dark and dangerous confrontation for everyone involved.

The Killer's Mark by M. W. Craven is the eighth book in the Washington Poe series, a series that just keeps getting better and better. The author has taken the books in a new direction, with Poe having left the police force and set up as a private investigator with his friend Tilly Bradshaw. This makes this book an ideal starting point for anyone new to the series, but I really would recommend reading the series right from the beginning so you can see how the characters have developed.

Even though the duo has set up business as 'Gumshoes For Hire', Poe is reluctant to actually take on any cases until a teenage girl asks for help. Esmerée explains how she lived in New York with her mother, Océane, who was the mistress of an extremely wealthy man, until her mother murdered the man and fled, leaving Esmerée to fend for herself. Esmerée has always believed her mother to be dead, until she recently caught a glimpse of her in a pornographic film.

Having previously been involved in the hunt for serial killers, fans of the series will be used to the dark tones that frequently appear, and The Killer's Mark is no different. The villain of the piece this time around is the Triads, an organised crime group that has almost mythical status within the UK, easily causing fear at the mere mention of them. 

There are times when you would assume Poe and Tilly are going to be hampered as they no longer work for the NCA and cannot rely on the backup it provided. No longer constrained by the rules he had to follow as a police officer (and let's be honest, Poe and rules had a very flimsy relationship), we see a much more gung-ho side to Poe, and as a result, some decidedly tricky situations to be extracted from. Thankfully, the pair have a network of ex-colleagues and friends they can call on. Tilly's work for the security services plays a prominent role in the storyline.

With Poe now being his own boss, he no longer needs to think before he speaks; fans know that kowtowing to authority was not one of his strengths. As a result, the level of sarcasm is high. Add to the mix a feisty American teen, and I found myself laughing out loud repeatedly.

As the conclusion approaches, the pace never lets up, and the level of danger seems to increase exponentially. Shocking revelations are uncovered, with a satisfying resolution leaving so much scope for the future.

The Killer's Mark by M. W. Craven will be published on 13th August 2026 in hardback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Multi-award-winning author M.W. Craven was born in Carlisle but grew up in Newcastle. He joined the army at sixteen, leaving ten years later to complete a social work degree. Seventeen years after taking up a probation officer role in Cumbria, at the rank of assistant chief officer, he became a full-time author. He is an instant Sunday Times bestseller and, for his Cumbria-set Washington Poe series, a recipient of the 2019 Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger, the 2022 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, the 2023 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and the 2025 Fingerprint Crime Book of the Year. The series has now been translated into thirty languages and sold over one million copies.

Dissection Of A Murder by Jo Murray

 

Barrister Leila Reynolds is given a career-defining case to defend, that of a man who is accused of murdering a crown court judge. Two things stand in her way: the accused refuses to say anything, and the prosecuting barrister is her husband.

I've wanted to read Dissection Of A Murder by Jo Murray ever since early reviews started appearing online. Not only is the author from my neck of the woods, but it's great to see a legal thriller set in the north-east.

The prologue draws you in, entices you with intrigue, and offers the hint of mitigation. You are immediately desperate to know more about the mysterious events. The storyline then moves rapidly as we are introduced to the main characters and the plot is explained. Jack Millman, a bouncer at a nightclub, is accused of the murder of Anton Smythe, a crown court judge. Jack refuses to say anything other than that he wants Leila Reynolds to defend him. 

Leila is a successful barrister, but she has never been involved in a murder case before. She struggles to understand why Jack would request her. We soon discover that Leila has defended Jack before, unsuccessfully. Maybe this is her chance to make things right. The outlook looks bleak, though; not only is Jack refusing to cooperate with his legal team, but the prosecution is to be led by the highly experienced Julian Kesler, her husband.

I loved the friction that was introduced by having a husband and wife on opposing sides of a legal case; it was illuminating to see how they separated their personal and professional lives. Julian did not come across as a particularly likeable character; having been Leila's mentor, he cannot accept that she will ever be his equal or superior. 

As the date of the trial quickly approaches, Leila suspects she is being stalked by someone she was close to in the past, someone who could upset the life she has built. It is never quite clear who this mysterious person is, which all adds to the puzzle. A stalker, a desperate search for answers, a personal life spiralling out of control, and a man who remains tight-lipped all keep the story moving at a rapid pace. Although I'd guessed the major twist early on, I couldn't quite figure out how all the pieces slotted together. As the conclusion approached, I was shocked by each revelation, and I did enjoy the way in which the story ended.

Author Details

Jo grew up in Teesside during the 90s when working class girls were told they probably shouldn’t try to become barristers. Thankfully, she ignored everyone. After studying Classics at Newcastle University, she went to law school and did just that. Jo was a criminal barrister before leaving the profession to look after her two children. She lives in North Yorkshire.

The Blackbird Conspiracy by Tariq Ashkanani

 

When Callie Munro discovers her colleague and friend has been murdered, she's convinced he must have known his killer. As she hunts for the reason behind the attack, she uncovers a government conspiracy that puts her own life at risk.

I loved the first book in the Callie Munro series, The Night Watcher (you can read my review here), so I approached the second book in the series with high expectations and lots of excitement. The Blackbird Conspiracy from Tariq Ashkanani turned out to be even better than the first book.

The book opens shortly after the events of the previous book. Callie is still coming to terms with the horror of what happened, but she knows she has to work if she's to survive, and work will keep her occupied. A visit to her friend Martin, who helps Callie with the technical side of her job as a private investigator, leads to the horrifying discovery of his body.

Martin's home was a fortress, so Callie is convinced he knew his killer. As she digs into possible reasons for his murder, she uncovers a video, one that someone is keen to keep secret. Callie is tenacious. As we found in the first book, she refuses to back down from anything. Her obstinacy leads her in to ever increasing danger. The writing is sparse, and as a result, the pace never lets up. I found myself holding my breath as I quickly turned the pages. Not only is Callie trying to avoid a brutal killer intent on covering up a conspiracy, but she's also staying one step ahead of the police, who have determined she's a prime suspect in her friend's murder.

Mystery surrounds Callie; she was abandoned as a baby. The quest to find her birth mother still plays a part in the storyline, but it never breaks the pace of this adrenaline-fueled thriller. The secrecy surrounding the conspiracy proves to be both shocking and entirely probable, but it's the aftermath that will leave the reader gasping as events take an extremely dark turn. I can't wait to see what happens next.

The Blackbird Conspiracy by Tariq Ashkanani will be published on the 14th August 2026 in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a review copy.

Author Details

Tariq Ashkanani is a writer based in Edinburgh, Scotland. His debut thriller, Welcome to Cooper, won the Bloody Scotland Debut Award and was shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger. His third book - THE MIDNIGHT KING - won the Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Award.

When he's not writing, his dulcet tones can be heard interviewing other writers on the podcast Page One, which he co-hosts.

The Last Time I Saw Her Alive by Kate Riordan

 

Rain thought she'd escaped the bohemian lifestyle of Tanglewood, the estate she grew up on. When her job forces her to return, she is swept up in a murder that forces her to confront her past.

The Last Time I Saw Her Alive by Kate Riordan is a slow burner. Much of this is down to the setting. Imagine a counter-culture music festival set in the grounds of a manor house during the height of summer. Added to this, the time period means that the ubiquitous smartphone plays no part in the story. You immediately begin to feel languid. 

Rain grew up on the grounds of Tanglewood, raised by her single mother, Angie. Allowed to run wild, it wasn't the idyllic childhood you would expect. Rain craved normality, conformity, and the knowledge of who her father is. As soon as she had the chance to escape, she left for university, hoping never to return. 

The production company Rain now works for is making a documentary about the alternative music scene of the late 60s. When a murder happens during the build-up to the 30th anniversary of The Gathering, a famous music festival that took place at Tanglewood, Rain is tasked with gathering some footage. Rain has always kept her upbringing a secret, so her boss doesn't know how close she is to the people involved.

Rain's reluctance to return to her childhood home explains much of her behaviour in the first half of the novel. She doesn't want to interact with anyone; she simply wants to get the information she needs and leave. This is understandable when we are introduced to her mother. Angie isn't a likeable character; for her, Rain always took second place to her lover, Karl, another thoroughly unpleasant character. Rain has always suspected Karl to be her father, but is too meek to demand answers.

As Rain gathers information about the murder, she uncovers a long-buried secret; there was the possibility a similar murder took place thirty-years ago. Those who were at Tanglewood thirty-years ago deny anything happened, but this spurs Rain on, and memories begin to resurface. 

After the somnolent start, the action in the second half of the book picks up, with Rain wondering who she can trust as virtually everyone who was around thirty-years ago becomes a suspect. I couldn't figure out who the villain was until the big reveal, which then brought about other surprising revelations.

The Last Time I Saw Her Alive by Kate Riordan will be published on 30th July 2026 in hardback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph publisher for a review copy.

Author Details

Kate Riordan is a writer and author coach for The Novelry. Kate is the bestselling author of seven novels, including The Heatwave, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick, and Sunday Times bestseller The Girl in the Photograph. She has also written Summer Fever, The Shadow Hour, The Red Letter, The Stranger, and most recently The Liars under the pseudonym Katherine Fleet. As a journalist, she wrote for the Guardian, The Sunday Times, Red, Stella and Grazia.

Kate lives in a very old cottage in a Cotswolds valley where she writes her novels between waiting on two rescue dogs.

One Of Us Is Guilty by Steve Cavanagh

 

When the mistress of a wealthy political candidate is found dead, suspicion falls on the politician's wife, Vanessa. Eddie Flynn is hired to defend Vanessa, but throughout the case, he's convinced something just isn't right.

One Of Us Is Guilty by Steve Cavanagh is the tenth book in the Eddie Flynn series. With each book, Flynn seems to have a knack for getting himself into ever more dangerous situations, and this book is no different. From the opening pages, it looks as if Eddie has finally reached the end of the road. The story then jumps back four months to show us how he has ended up in such a dire situation.

When Eddie is approached to represent Vanessa Vanderpool, alarm bells immediately begin to ring for both him and the reader. Vanessa has married into one of America's wealthiest families. Why have they engaged the services of Eddie and not some huge Manhattan law firm?

As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the head of the Vanderpool family is willing to sacrifice Vanessa for the sake of his son's reputation and future political career. Fans of the series will be well aware that behaviour like this is like a red rag to a bull as far as Eddie is concerned. He's determined to get his client acquitted, however Vanessa seems to be holding back. At times, it's almost as if she wants to be found guilty. It's impossible to figure out what dark secrets are being hidden.

Eddie is supported by the usual cast of characters: Harry, Bloch, and Lake, who all play an invaluable role. Bloch and Lake, in particular, are involved in some tense situations. If you like your action bloody, then you will find the story highly satisfying.

There are some lighter moments. As usual, there is a minor case which is used to highlight the skills Eddie picked up as a conman; he's an expert at reading people and manipulating them. The vast majority of the tale, however, is dark. We see Eddie pushed to his limit and reacting physically. Eddie isn't soft, but his behaviour this time around is extreme.

Towards the conclusion, the twists begin to appear, and although one in particular seemed to be obvious, author Steve Cavanagh fools the readers. Overall, I found the conclusion surprising, one that I would never have guessed at in a million years. However, the general theme of the story shows how much privilege and power the extremely wealthy hold.

One Of Us Is Guilty by Steve Cavanagh will be published on 30th July 2026 in hardback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a review copy.

Author Details

Steve Cavanagh has sold over a million copies of his novels in the UK alone and over four million worldwide. His third novel, The Liar, won the CWA Gold Dagger for Crime Novel of the Year 2018. Thirteen won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2019. Twisted, Fifty-Fifty, The Devil’s Advocate and The Accomplice were all Sunday Times Top 10 bestsellers and his three most recent books – Kill For Me Kill For You, Witness 8 and Two Kinds of Stranger – were all Sunday Times Top 5 bestsellers.

All Killers Aboard by David Fennell

 

Struggling writer Martha is forced to take a job as a ghost-writer for Jacqui Dulac, a TV star still living off the fame of her long-cancelled show. Martha has to join Jacqui on board a luxurious cruise liner as it crosses the Atlantic. What neither of them knows is that the liner is also hosting a convention for serial killers.

Author David Fennell has penned one of my favourite thriller series of recent years, the DI Grace Archer books, so as soon as I spotted All Killers Aboard, I just knew I had to read it. I was also intrigued by this new direction, a comedic murder mystery. Would the author be able to pull it off?

I really didn't need to worry, as the author has managed to tread the fine line between dark humour and the macabre with seeming ease. Characters are well fleshed out, without spending too much time on the backstories of the serial killers, and this keeps the momentum flowing. The array of killers is varied, from "Mom and Pop" teams, through to mysterious men in black garb, all passing as passengers aboard the ship. To add to the suspense, there are "normal" passengers, but fans of thrillers will know to watch for people pretending to be something they're not.

There are some truly comical moments, with one in particular reminiscent of a perverse version of "Weekend At Bernie's", however David Fennell's twisted imagination is never far away, and there are still some darker moments that will make you wince.

Martha and Jacqui are a great double act. The start of their relationship is prickly. Jacqui was once a huge TV star, but is now considered a has-been and is living off her fame; she expects subservience and fawning. Millennial Martha is not going to grovel to anyone; she quickly learns how to handle Jacqui's demands. I loved the way that by the conclusion, their relationship had become almost like a mother and daughter. I do hope we haven't seen the last of this pairing.

All Killers Aboard by David Fennell will be published on 30th July 2026 in hardback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for a review copy.

Author Details

David Fennell was born and raised in Belfast. He left for London at the tender age of eighteen and jobbed as a chef, waiter and bartender for several years before starting a career as a writer in the software industry. He is now a full time author of six books including the multi-award nominated SLEEPER series. His third novel, the bestselling THE ART OF DEATH, marked the beginning of a popular new crime series. His latest book, A VIOLENT HEART, is out now.