CrimeFictionLover

As crime fiction lovers, we’re always thrilled when an author comes up with ‘the perfect crime’. Often, it’s an unsolvable murder. With indie author Chris Dolley’s latest novel, The Last Hostage, out this week, we have a gang of kidnappers who are nigh on uncatchable. They’re the cleverest the Wessex force has ever dealt with. Masks and voice distortion to hide their identities. Fastidious methods that leave no trace. Secret, soundproofed locations. Payment in gold. And an MO that changes all the time. The problem for them is that the police and crime commissioner has put DI Shand on the case, who is equally clever and uses methods nobody expects of a policeman. If you’re in pursuit of ‘the perfect crime’, The Last hostage is certainly one to try. Kindle link.amazon/B06TTtIq9 Paperback link.amazon/B08FNwd6U

Do you write short crime fiction stories? The new independent online magazine Dead Ringer Press, founded by @ZacharyColbert, is seeking submissions. Find out more here: crimefictionlover.com/2026/1…

The Crime Fiction Lover Awards 2026 – open for nominations crimefictionlover.com/2026/1…

🇬🇧West Country detective DCI Shand is back and if you haven’t met him yet, perhaps now’s the time. In Chris Dolley’s new novel, The Last Hostage, Shand is pitted against a gang of kidnappers who know how to outwit the police. On the surface, perhaps Shand is someone they’d never fear. He’s well-studied, he knows police procedure and all the theory. He knows what the rules are. But he’s also the sort of person who, if it’s going to lead to a collar, always sees a way around the rules. A previous case has left him with a bad reputation, his colleagues don’t trust him and his DCI wants him sacked, but Shand doesn’t care about any of that. Not if the lives of hostages are at risk. That’s why you’re in for such an entertaining read… Kindle link.amazon/B06TTtIq9 Paperback link.amazon/B08FNwd6U

👀Here’s a heads up for anyone who loves authentic British police procedurals that take you away to lesser-known places. This week, Heleyne @hhammersley66’s Invisible is just 99p for #Kindle – so get ready to dive into the mystery of a dead swimmer with DI Kate Fletcher and her team in Thorpe, South Yorkshire. 🏊The body is discovered on the River Don and before long there’s been another killing. Kate has been out of the game for a while, everything seems to have changed at work, but her former DS has a strong suspect. What they don’t have is the evidence, so it becomes a race against time to build a case before the killer slips away… and kills again! Digital and print copies available here: mybook.to/vDgJm

New today: We review @annamaloney's excellent debut thriller, which is all about events that took place on the 10:12 from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston... Strangers on a train and then some! The 10:12... crimefictionlover.com/2026/1… Review by @vsk8s

New today: We talk to thriller author Nicholas Harvey about his AJ Bailey diving adventure series set in the Cayman Islands – anything to get out of the cold, wet and wind – starting with Twelve Mile Bank, out from @vincibooks on 11 Nov. crimefictionlover.com/2026/1…

👉Don't forget to nominate your favourite crime novels, author and crime show in the Crime Fiction Lover Awards 2026. Here's the nomination form, it's free and only takes a few minutes to complete: tinyurl.com/yc59k7pb Categories include: 🏅Book of the Year 🏅Best Debut 🏅Best in Translation 🏅Best Indie 🏅Author of the Year 🏅Best Crime Show If you haven't nominated yet, we want to hear from you. Noms close on 4 Nov. Previous winners include @ellygriffiths @JoWallaceAuthor Michael @Connellybooks Abir Mukherjee @radiomukhers Graham Bartlett @gbpoliceadvisor SA Cosby, Ian Rankin @Beathhigh and many more!

If you love Slow Horses, you’ll love these books too… crimefictionlover.com/2026/0…

Meet the author: Jean Thesquare crimefictionlover.com/2026/0… ...and step into the Sultryverse they've created

The UK weather has turned in a big way so it’s time to settle in with a gripping mystery and Heleyne @hhammersley66 is ready to take you to Yorkshire for her latest police procedural. DI Kate Fletcher returns from six months leave to land the case of a dead swimmer, but part of the challenge is what’s changed while she’s been away. New people, new attitudes and nobody feels comfortable – but the case needs to be solved. However, soon it’s not just one murder they’re dealing with. The race is on because it looks like the killer could strike again. Invisible, book six in the series, arrived last month and is on special this week – 99p on #Kindle. Find out more here: mybook.to/vDgJm

New on the site: We talk to thriller author @terryrbacon about his new book, Storm Damage, where your protagonist is a blues saxophonist. There's lots of action in store, and in this interview a fascinating parallel is drawn between investigating a crime and jazz improv. crimefictionlover.com/2026/1…

Our former contributor @ZacharyColbert has launched Dead Ringer Press, an online magazine championing new voices in crime fiction. You can check it out here: deadringerpress.com

🥳🎉Happy publication day to Chris Dolley – his new novel The Last Hostage is out now!👏📚 Chris is a New York Times bestselling author for a book about how he solved the theft of his identity, which took place across four European countries. And he’s also a sci-fi and fantasy author. But he’s been writing crime fiction for years as well and this is his second novel about the enigmatic detective DI Shand who is given an assignment to catch a gang of kidnappers who are always one step ahead of the law and who take their ransoms in gold bullion. Where others have failed, can Shand succeed? He enters a battle of wits with the kidnappers, and a battle of wills with his employers, becoming the relentless force driving the story on. Chances are you won’t put it down until you’re done. Kindle link.amazon/B06TTtIq9 Paperback link.amazon/B08FNwd6U

First look: The Fresh Cut by Antti Tuomainen crimefictionlover.com/2026/0… Black humour, a gripping crime thriller with a touching character-led story as well. One to check out...

Short, sharp fun for October with Warm Bodies by John Marrs crimefictionlover.com/2026/1… This is a great little read for Halloween week (is that a thing?)