NEW BRITISH CRIME JUNE 2025: MARK BILLINGHAM, MARK ELLIS and A. A. DHAND
Three very different British crime novels to start your June 2025 reading off with.
Mark Ellis’ series about World War II detective Frank Merlin is a bit of an overlooked gem. His latest, Death Of An Officer (Headline, 29 May 2025), is the sixth book in the series and is another enjoyable tale.
The book opens in 1943 with Merlin investigating the murder of a respected Indian doctor. He seemed well liked by his colleagues and clients and there are no obvious suspects. A strange incident, however, leads Merlin and his team to the leader of a local black market gang, which takes the investigation down some unexpected paths and another murder.
This is a well constructed crime novel with a strong focus on its historical setting. The characters are credible and interesting, and I particularly liked the return of American Bernie Goldberg from the earlier books. As always, the well described milieu of wartime London, especially the criminal activities that proceed unhindered by the war, helps to ground story, and Ellis delights in the inclusion of interesting small details and references to real people.
The opening sections require some concentration, as Ellis shifts the point of view around a bit and introduces a rich array of characters. There are also several plot strands to keep track of. However, it all works out and the various elements smoothly converge into a satisfying mystery and a good conclusion.
Strongly recommended for fans of historical mysteries.
Death Of An Officer was released in Australia and the United Kingdom on 29 May 2025. Thanks to the author for a copy of the book for review.
Mark Billingham’s What The Night Brings, (Sphere, 24 June 2025), brings back his popular detective DI Tom Thorne after a three year absence.
The book opens with a routine arrest for Thorne. As he leaves the crime scene he notices four officers eating doughnuts, that were apparently anonymously left by an appreciative member of the public.
The next day, three of those officers are dead, the fourth is fighting for her life and Thorne finds himself thrust into the sensitive investigation. The murders are only the first in a series of attacks on the police and as Thorne and Nicola Tanner investigate they find that the killings may be payback for a terrible betrayal. While on the side, detective Dave Holland is persistently investigating another death that no one seems to care about.
What The Night Brings is a powerful novel that deals with controversial current issues in Britain around police criminal activity and violence against women. The plotting is assured as ever by Billingham, and story builds to a compelling and emotionally charged conclusion. Despite encompassing a number of different sub-plots and strands, the book mainly moves at a good pace and the darkness of the story is occasionally lightened by good flashes of humour. The characters are well fleshed out, and very inclusive in their diversity, and it is always good to again make the acquaintance of the regular members of the Thorne cast, especially the pathologist Phil Hendricks.
In all, What The Night Brings is another stellar piece of crime fiction by Billingham and a very entertaining read.
What The Night Brings is released in Australia on 24 June 2025 and in the United Kingdom on 19 June 2025. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of the book for review.
A. A. Dhand is best known for his highly praised Harry Virdee series, which has recently made its way to television screens. His latest novel, The Chemist (HQ, 22 May 2025), draws upon Dhand’s professional experience as a pharmacist and is a gripping stand-alone addition to his criminal canon.
Idris Khan is a pharmacist working in a deprived area in Leeds, doling out methadone to addicts and doing his best to make ends meet in his business where there are many bills he can’t pay. The locals trust Idris with their secrets, and he knows more than his mild manner suggests. So when his childhood sweetheart, Rebecca, doesn’t turn up for her daily methadone dose, Idris is worried. Worried enough to go looking for her in the most dangerous part of the city, alone. A simple caring step that leads to murder and places Idris into the middle of a turf war between the two most powerful drug cartels in Yorkshire. Now, he must use every bit of intelligence and cunning he has to keep those he loves safe.
The Chemist is dark crime thriller that moves along at a fast, almost breathless pace at times. Khan’s spiral into increasingly dangerous situations, and moral compromises, makes for gripping reading and Dhand certainly knows how to maintain a high level of suspense.
The characters are all strongly written and Khan is an engaging central character, despite his flaws. The secondary characters are also well developed, particularly Khan’s sad collection of methadone clients. The setting is darkly vivid, and Dhand really makes you feel the desperation that drives the people living in the rundown area known as The Mews. The background information on the pharmacy industry, and its rules and regulation, is also interestingly woven into the story.
The structure of the novel is well considered, with an attention grabbing introduction and then a wild race through the events and the bad decisions that led to it, followed by an exciting conclusion.
I really enjoyed The Chemist and quickly devoured it over a couple of sessions. Some slight suspension of disbelief is needed at times, but not enough to detract from the enjoyment. A word of warning however, it is definitely not one for the idealists among us.
The Chemist was released in the United Kingdom on 22 May 2025 and will be released in Australia on 18 June 2025. Thanks to the Canberra Weekly and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book.