Those who love the crime and true crime genre are always on the lookout for new releases. Whether it’s fictional stories about detectives following the trail of a killer or a true crime book about a real-life serial killer, readers are ready to take the plunge. Let’s look at some of the most anticipated crime books from the past few years.
Sarah Weinman: The Real Lolita
The author of this book aimed to find the story behind the Lolita of fiction, and she did. Weinman examines the abduction of Sally Horner by a pedophile and the connection to the author of Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov. There’s a bit of guesswork done by the author, but she reaches some very likely conclusions.
Michelle McNamara: I’ll Be Gone in the Dark
McNamara has a self-admitted obsession with the Golden State killer and had researched the subject extensively, showing links between crime locations and interviewing multiple people in her search. Although the author passed away suddenly in 2016, her book was instrumental in the arrest of the killer. A fascinating read for true crime addicts.
David Baldacci: Long Road to Mercy
David Baldacci is a prolific fiction writer and fans eagerly anticipated this book. This is the story of an FBI agent whose sister was abducted from their childhood bedroom. This is a new character in Baldacci’s long list of novels, fans will be intrigued by the protagonist’s investigation into a murder in the Grand Canyon and her own sister’s disappearance.
Peter James: Dead at First Sight
Fans of Peter James’ Roy Grace will be thrilled with this new installment. This book deals with a very timely subject, internet scams. While many scams do not cause physical harm, this one does, and the results are deadly. A must-read for fans of crime novels and those fascinated by the allure of online scams.
Laura Shepherd-Robinson: Blood & Sugar
Fans of historical crime fiction will be mesmerized by this novel set in the late 1700s. A body, branded and mutilated, is found at a dock and Captain Harry Corsham is charged with finding the killer. This is Shepherd-Robinson’s debut novel.
Sarah Pinborough: Behind Her Eyes
This crime novel appears to be pretty straightforward, a woman begins an affair with her new boss only to become friends with his wife. On the surface, this may not appear to be very interesting, but as the book progresses the story takes an intriguing turn that readers will not soon forget. What starts out as a forgettable story turns into one that will keep you up at night.
Val McDermid: Insidious Intent
Prolific crime novelist Val McDermid thrills us in this tale of lonely women who are lured to their deaths by someone who appears to be a love interest. This book is part of the series of books that follow Dr. Tony Hill and Investigator Carol Jordan as they solve crimes and try to keep their hands off each other. This book is a must for followers of this series.
Thomas Mullen: Dark Town
Dark Town is a crime novel set in the South, before the civil rights era. The book follows the story of two African American officers who are investigating the death of a young woman. Not only do they have to solve the crime, but they have to deal with the racist attitudes of their fellow cops.
Jane Harper: The Dry
This novel is the story of an Australian who returns home for the funeral of his friend who shot his family and then himself, or so it is believed. This does not sit well with the protagonist, Aaron Falk, who feels that something is off with the story he is being told and enlists the help of a compassionate police officer. Little does he know that the true story is much more complicated and involves his own father.
While there are many more crime books that have been written in the past few years, this is just a taste to whet your appetite for more. The ability for more authors to self-publish has given readers many more options and exposure to both well-known and unknown authors of crime books, which is of great benefit to both authors and their readers.