M W Craven's latest novel, The Killer's Mark, sees Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw return in what is hailed as the eighth and best book in the million-selling series. The duo, now freelance private investigators in Carlisle, take on the case of a missing mother identified in a porn film by a tattoo on her foot.
The Killer's Mark by M W Craven
Having left the National Crime Agency, Poe and Tilly have gone freelance, with a sign reading "gumshoes for hire" on their Carlisle office door. Clients have been scarce, partly due to Poe's idiosyncratic manner. When foul-mouthed 15-year-old Esmerée Blue arrives seeking her missing mother, presumed dead but now identified in a porn film by a tattoo on the sole of her foot, they take the case.
Five years earlier, a horrifying secret hidden within a tamper-proof safe unleashed a huge investigation. Poe and Tilly, described as "the most unconventionally entertaining duo in crime writing," are unwittingly sucked into the fallout. Murder, mayhem and Triads ensure in this addictive tale. Craven's trademark mix of dark humour and drama is so compelling it "should come with a health warning." Rated 9/10.
The British Agent by Simon Conway
Simon Conway's new thriller follows MI6 operative Agent Chuff, dispatched to Ukraine to investigate the end destination of sophisticated British weapons feared trafficked to third parties. After an ambush leaves three lethal Starstreak man portable air defence system missiles stolen, Chuff must track them down before they can be used in an atrocity in the US.
The mission takes her deep undercover, facing conspiracy theorists, insurrectionists and Washington spymasters. Conway, a former Army officer, weapons expert and aid worker, delivers an extraordinarily believable, globe-spanning thriller. The pace never lets up, described as "weapons grade brilliance packed between two covers." Rated 8/10.
The Derelicts by Paul Mosley
Debut author Paul Mosley's The Derelicts is an achingly funny and compelling book celebrating veterans' rugby and all team sports. It resonates with anyone who has played amateur sport past their sell-by date. The narrative follows the Derelicts' stumbling progress through a season of muddy mismatches, with glory in the detail of characters described as "half-man, half-Guinness" or "a medical curiosity."
Mosley's rich turn of phrase and facility with language belie his career as a lumbering prop forward. The book touches on all aspects of the game, from losing players to a senior side before kickoff to inedible post-game comestibles, the dark arts of the scrum, and pre-match applications of oils and potions. Highly recommended, rated 8/10.
City of Traitors by Alex Gerlis
Alex Gerlis's City of Traitors brilliantly captures the geo-political jostling over control of Europe in the latter stages of the Second World War. Set over half a dozen countries with a sprawling cast of fictional and real characters, it weaves multiple story strands into a thrilling, satisfying read.
At its heart is 'Archie', a British Soviet agent feeding information to the UK and Russia, but in no doubt who his real masters are. Seven men are suspected of being the traitor, but waiting for a mistake has borne no fruit. As the Red Army approaches Germany from the East and the Allies from the West, a dramatic showdown amid the rubble of Berlin ensues. Rated 9/10, it is "pulse-raisingly brilliant."
