CANBERRA WEEKLY 8 MAY 2025: NEW BOOKS BY ANTHONY HOROWITZ, DARCY TINDALE AND MICHAEL BENNETT
This week in the Canberra Weekly I reviewed three very good new crime novels by Anthony Horowitz, Darcy Tindale and Michael Bennett.
The exquisitely produced Moonflower Murders was one of my favourite television shows from 2024. Based on Anthony Horowitz’s eponymous novel, it was a delightful mystery featuring book editor Susan Ryeland and the fictional amateur detective Atticus Pünd. Marble Hall Murders, (Century, 8 April 2025), is the third book in the series and is another literary treat by Horowitz.
In the Canberra Weekly I said;
“Hot on the heels of the marvellous television adaption of Anthony Horowitz’s Moonflower Murders, comes a delightful new mystery featuring book editor Susan Ryeland.
Susan’s previous experience with the late Alan Conway’s novels about the famous detective, Atticus Pünd, resulted in her nearly being killed, twice! Now she has reluctantly been persuaded to work on a Pünd ‘continuation’ novel. The new book is by Eliot Crace, grandson of the late bestselling children’s author Miriam Crace. When Eliot tells Susan that Miriam was deliberately poisoned and that the identity of the killer is hidden inside the book, Susan knows she’s in trouble again. Good literary fun!”
I really enjoyed Marble Hall Murders and it is up there with my favourite crime novels of 2025, so far.
I did a longer review a few weeks back: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/new-british-crime-fiction-2025-marble-hall-murders-by-anthony-horowitz-and-the-other-people-by-c-b-everett/
Darcy Tindale made a solid crime writing debut with her first rural noir story, The Fall Between, and she has now followed it up with the even better Burning Mountain, (Penguin, 29 April 2025).
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Eighteen years ago, five teenagers went for a hike up Burning Mountain in the Upper Hunter Valley, but only four came back. Despite an intensive police search, fifteen-year-old Oliver was never seen again. Now a skull has been unearthed on the mountain and the old mystery is re-ignited. Detective Rebecca Giles’ father had been in charge of the original investigation into the disappearance of Oliver, now it is up to her to finally find out what really happened.
Burning Mountain makes good use of the familiar bush noir tropes to produce an engaging and enjoyable outback mystery that will keep you guessing.”
I quite enjoyed Burning Mountain and thought that it was a good follow-up by Darcy. I did a longer review last month here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/outback-noir-may-2025-vanish-by-shelley-burr-and-burning-mountain-by-darcy-tindale/
From across the other side of the Tasman Sea comes Carved In Blood, (Simon & Schuster, 30 April 2025), by the very talented Michael Bennett.
Michael has quickly developed a strong following as the result of his first two novels about Auckland detective Hana Westerman, Better The Blood and Return To Blood, and seems set to cement his reputation with Carved in Blood.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Award winning New Zealand author Michael Bennett returns to Auckland with the third book in his acclaimed series about Māori detective Hana Westerman.
When Hana’s ex-husband, a high flying Detective Inspector, is shot in an apparent random hold-up, Hana offers to return to the police force to help with the investigation. An early lead indicates that the crime is linked to a Chinese crime syndicate, but that is thrown into doubt when an anonymous caller suggests that it was a set-up. Carved In Blood is a superior piece of crime fiction with gritty characters, vivid locations, astute plotting and a strong sense of culture.”
Carved In Blood really shines through its depiction of life and culture in present day Auckland. The characters are richly developed and give a good sense of the diversity of modern Māori culture. I thought that the plotting was not as complex as in Better The Blood, but it certainly held attention and the final chapters nicely set up the series for future episodes. The Acknowledgements is also quite moving and interesting. In all, a very good crime novel.
So three good crime novels for your May reading.
Thanks to the publishers and the Canberra Weekly for the review copies of the books. The above reviews, and others, can also be found on the Canberra Weekly/Daily website: https://canberradaily.com.au/