CANBERRA WEEKLY 14 APRIL 2022: THRILLS FOR EASTER
This week in the Canberra Weekly I reviewed three thrilling reads for the Easter long weekend.
First up is the most original and enjoyable crime novel I have read so far this year, Benjamin Stevenson’s Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone (Michael Joseph). A witty and very modern take on the classic Murder Mystery, it is a terrific read.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Benjamin Stevenson’s Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone is the most original crime novel you will read this year. Revolving around an unusual family reunion in the Snowy Mountains, it is a funny and clever novel, that plays homage to the classic British murder mystery. In between the rising body count and the revelation of old family secrets, Stevenson’s reluctant sleuth, Ernie Cunningham, amusingly reflects on the rules of detective fiction and offers plenty of witty asides. A cross between Agatha Christie, Daniel Craig’s Knives Out and Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, it is the ideal Easter weekend read.”
I also did a longer piece a few weeks back: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/everyone-in-my-family-has-killed-someone-by-benjamin-stevenson-penguin-29-march-2022/
A very good read that I can highly recommend.
Also on the odd side, is Kotaro Isaka’s Three Assassins (Harvill Secker).
Isaka is the author of Bullet Train, which is soon to hit the big screen as a Brad Pitt movie. Written before Bullet Train, Three Assassins is an engaging fast paced read that takes you on a whirlwind ride through the underbelly of Tokyo.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Also offering some wild, off-beat fun is Kotaro Isaka’s Three Assassins. Isaka’s Bullet Train proved a popular success last year, and the movie version of it, starring Brad Pitt, is due to hit cinema screens shortly. Three Assassins takes a similar approach to Bullet Train and is a fast paced tale of vengeance.
Suzuki used to be an everyday sort of guy, until the murder of his wife. Now he has left behind his life as a teacher and finds himself in a deadly battle with three oddball assassins and the Japanese gang responsible for his wife’s death. An enjoyable high octane read.”
I also did a longer review earlier this week: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/three-assassins-by-kotaro-isaka-harvill-secker/
Rounding off the trio is The Foot Soldiers (Hodder & Stoughton) by veteran British author Gerald Seymour. Seymour is the master of the topical thriller and The Foot Soldiers is one of the best books he has done in recent years.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“More serious thrills are provided by veteran British writer Gerald Seymour.
The Foot Soldiers is a slow burn of a thriller that centres on the defection of a low level Soviet spy. The agent does not possess any startling secrets, but his defection sets in place a deadly Russian operation and reveals the presence of a ‘mole’ in MI6. Nondescript Jonas Merrick is called in from his caravan holiday to work through the possible suspects and finds himself involved in dangerous battle of wits. The pace is occasionally slow, but the tension is high throughout, and the book builds to a terrific climax. Recommended.”
I also did a longer piece a few weeks ago: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/march-murders-spies-lies-and-flawed-cops-by-gerald-seymour-lynda-la-plante-and-tessa-wegert/
So, a selection of interesting, slightly offbeat, thrillers to read over the long Easter weekend.