Southern Man by Greg Iles (Hemlock)
Readers undeterred by the Proustian length of Iles’ sprawling epic will find this a crime novel of a special kind. Arson ravages the fiefdom of Natchez Mayor Penn Cage while racial tensions grip the United States – tensions that are exploited by an unscrupulous presidential candidate. A novel that is as sharp as a state of the union and a gripping page-turner.
Boys who hurt by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir, translated by Victoria Cribb (Orenda)
The latest installment in the Forbidden Iceland series will make your blood run cold and your pulse race. Detective Elma, who has just returned from maternity leave, becomes involved in a gruesome murder case. The leisurely pace of Icelandic crime (Ægisdóttir does not exaggerate her country’s modest crime rate) does not preclude a growing tension, which is handled with aplomb.
The wrong hands by Mark Billingham (Sphere)
Putting long-serving cop Tom Thorne on temporary leave after two decades, Billingham has reinvigorated himself. This second outing from the less-than-skilled detective Declan Miller is as entertaining as its predecessor, and the humour is turned up to the max (though there’s no shortage of gruesomeness – even the title is a macabre joke).
Tell us what you think
Are you taking any of these books with you on your summer vacation this year? Which ones? And which titles did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.
That’s why we lied by Karin Slaughter (HarperCollins)
The basic elements of escapist crime fiction: clever staging, vivid characterization and (crucially) flawless plotting are omnipresent in Karin Slaughter’s 25-year career, and her latest work is the author in full formMurder and a family’s evil past abruptly interrupt the honeymoon of detective duo Will Trent and Sara Linton.
Between two worlds by Olivier Norek, translated by Nick Caistor (MacLehose)
A hard-hitting, relentless Gallic crime novel with an insightful social history twist: Norek’s 18 years in the Police Judiciare were the precursors to a writing career and several literary prizes. A young lieutenant in the Calais police risks his life to protect a migrant and pays a high price for it.
Coming soon to the Summer Books 2024 …
All week, FT writers and critics share their favourites. Some highlights include:
Monday: Business by Andrew Hill
Tuesday: Economics by Martin Wolf
Wednesday: Environment by Pilita Clark
Thursday: Fiction by Laura Battle and Andrew Dickson
Friday: Story by Tony Barber
Saturday: FT journalists choose their favourite book of 2024 so far
Sunday: Politics by Gideon Rachman
Join our online book group on Facebook at FT Books Café
