As the wet weather rolls across Thai skies this season, what could be better than curling up with a mug of hot chocolate, accompanied by your favourite crime thriller novel to inspire that page-turner in you. Here is a list of the five best crime fiction and mysteries to sink your teeth into.
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We are starting off certainly dark as I introduce an award-winning, classic female-rage novel and New York Times Best Seller, Gone Girl. Nick’s wife, Amy, is missing, and he’s a suspect. The story is told by Nick, then Amy, but who’s telling the truth? This psychological thriller written about a missing person takes a dark and disturbing turn as both Nick and Amy and their relationship are put under the microscope.
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Laura Lippman has certainly made her mark when it comes to great crime writing with her long-running private-eye series featuring Tess Monaghan. But when it comes to stand-alone masterpieces, none have impacted and delivered a more powerful and breathtaking performance than the thriller And When She Was Good. The story looks into the stilted life of a suburban mother who holds a professional role as a successful lobbyist whilst running an equally successful high-class escort service. The sudden death of a madame throws her life into turmoil as she falls deeper into the darkness consisting of ex-cons, shady businessmen and corrupt figures from all corners of her world. This story brilliantly operates under two parallels that exist inside her worlds—the dark and disturbing life she has chosen, and her own struggles dealing with aging, trauma, sex and the reckoning of her sins.
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Another favourite author to add to your repertoire is Harriet Tyce. An acclaimed novelist, she first made headlines with her award-winning novel, Blood Orange, and certainly hasn’t disappointed in her second release, The Lies You Told. The story follows barrister Sadie Roper who has moved back to London so her 10-year-old daughter Robin can attend the same school she did as a child. In her attempt to get Robin settled and prepared for the everyday politics of the school gate mischiefs, Sadie becomes distracted both by her estranged husband and her new role as a junior brief on a case involving a male teacher and his teenage student. As if all that wasn’t enough to deal with, Sadie and Robin have just moved into Sadie’s late mother’s house, a place that holds dark secrets and damaging memories of her childhood. With loads of misdirection and heart-stopping twists, this psychological thriller is a real page-turner, one you will find difficult to put down.
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Jeffery Deaver is the master when it comes to writing thrillers that make you second-guess at every page turn. The Never Game is the first of a new series featuring enigmatic investigator Colter Shaw. He comes from a survivalist family and makes his living as “a reward seeker”, travelling around the country to solve crimes. When he comes across a father distraught with the mysterious disappearance of his teenage daughter, Shaw is hired to find her. However, when a second victim is kidnapped, Shaw realises the crimes are connected to a sinister video game where victims are abandoned in the middle of nowhere with five random objects they must use to get out alive.
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From the award-winning crime fiction writer Peter James comes this thrilling, race-till-the-end, Roy Grace masterpiece. The story picks up in Brighton where a gangster is on trial for conspiracy and murder. Things seem normal except for one person seated in the gallery observing the jurors with interest. What is uncovered is a plot to interfere with at least two of the jurors in order to get the gangster acquitted—but which two? When Roy Grace is called to investigate the murders, he finds clear links with the trial realising how powerful the accused gangster really is. This story goes all the way to the top and is a must-read for any crime-thriller fanatic.
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