Book Reviews

Over the course of his long career, James Hadley Chase (pseudonym of Rene Lodge Brabazon Raymond) wrote nearly ninety novels. They covered the spectrum of thriller writing from spy novels to private eyes to tough American gangster tales to a whole host of books about men falling for sexy women… Read more: TRASHY TUESDAY: JAMES HADLEY CHASE FEMME FATALES

A quick wrap up of three recent British releases that offer very different takes on the crime novel. C. B. Everett, aka Martyn Waites, has followed up last year’s dream-like The Other People, with another highly original tale about identity and crime, which will keep you curiously turning the pages… Read more: BRITISH CRIME WRAP-UP: MAY 2026 – NEW BOOKS FROM CHRIS BROOKMYRE, C. B. EVERETT & STUART MACBRIDE

Popular Australian paperback publisher Horwitz usually focussed their war story output on salacious tales of military endeavours, often involving the violation of pretty Australian nurses by Japanese soldiers or notorious Nazi sex camps. As well, they produced a lot of less sensational war stories, primarily penned by ‘Australia’s Greatest Novelist… Read more: TRASHY TUESDAY: “TRUE TALES OF COURAGE AND DARING” – 1960S AUSTRALIAN PAPERBACK MILITARY HISTORY FROM HORWITZ

This week in the Canberra Weekly I reviewed two dark crime novels by John Connolly and New Zealander Gavin Strawhan, and an engaging non-crime book by Anna Johnston. First up of the crime novels is Gavin Strawhan’s Slash, (Allen & Unwin). I really enjoyed Strawhan’s first novel, The Call, and was not… Read more: CANBERRA WEEKLY 21 MAY 2026: NEW CRIME THRILLERS by JOHN CONNOLLY and GAVIN STRAWHAN

In Ironwood, (Allen & Unwin, 19 May 2026), Michael Connelly successfully returns to Catalina Island for the second book in his series about Detective Stillwell. Last year Connelly started a new series about Stilwell, no first name, from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, who had been ‘exiled’ to a… Read more: IRONWOOD by MICHAEL CONNELLY

May and early June brings a very entertaining trio of books, each of which offers something a little different. John Connolly’s Charlie Parker series certainly has some staying power! The twenty-third book in the highly acclaimed series, A River Red With Blood (Hodder & Stoughton, 5 May 2026), has just been released… Read more: MAY MAYHEM: NEW CRIME NOVELS BY JOHN CONNOLLY, JO MURRAY and MIKE RIPLEY

This week in the Canberra Weekly I reviewed a trio of very good suspense thrillers by three of Australia’s best female crime writers, just in time for a late Mother’s day gift. First up is Sarah Bailey’s evocative pre-COVID crime thriller, Click (Allen & Unwin). In the Canberra Weekly I… Read more: CANBERRA WEEKLY 7 MAY 2026: NEW AUSTRALIAN CRIME FICTION by DERVLA McTIERNAN, NATALIE CONYER & SARAH BAILEY

Some very good crime novels, especially from ‘downunder’ authors, are coming our way in June and July 2026. The senior ‘long dog’, Toby, who just turned 11, has picked out the best of the ones currently lying on the floor of the study. Short publisher synopses below. All release dates… Read more: BOOK HAUL: NEW CRIME RELEASES FOR JUNE/JULY 2026

Early May 2026 brings a wealth of new Australian crime fiction, most of which is set in non-outback locations for a change! After a string of books set in Ireland and America, celebrated crime novelist Dervla McTiernan, who moved to Perth fourteen years ago, has finally based her first novel… Read more: AUSTRALIAN CRIME ROUND UP – MAY 2026: NEW BOOKS BY DERVLA McTIERNAN, DAVE WARNER, REBECCA LIM and HOLLY CRAIG

My April 2026 reading has been dominated by two very good thrillers by father and daughter writing teams! Both are very suspenseful and have a touch of the extra-ordinary about them. Short reviews below. Douglas Preston’s Extinction (2024) was a good fun read that showcased his ability to mix Crichton-like speculative ideas… Read more: 2026 THRILLERS: PARADOX by DOUGLAS & ALETHEIA PRESTON and WITCH HUNT by RICHARD & BERNADETTE O’RAWE