This month sees the publication of three exceptional new thrillers that promise to keep readers on the edge of their seats. From a high-stakes train hijacking to ancient manuscript mysteries and sophisticated espionage, these novels deliver pulse-pounding narratives and complex characters.
The 10:12: A Deadly Commute
The 10:12 by Anna Maloney (Raven Books, £16.99, 320pp) launches readers into a full-throttle thriller set aboard a train travelling from Manchester to London. The protagonist, Claire Fitzroy, is a fiftysomething art history lecturer whose ordinary journey transforms into a nightmare when armed men seize control of the carriage.
The hijackers issue a chilling ultimatum: bombs will detonate if anyone attempts to pull the emergency brake. In a moment of desperate courage, Claire fights back, utilising a kitchen knife she has just received as a gift to kill one of the assailants. What initially appears as an act of heroism under extreme pressure soon becomes fraught with ambiguity.
A Question of Motive
As the case moves towards court, Claire's actions are scrutinised. Could she be perceived not as a saviour, but as an attention-seeking vigilante? Maloney, an experienced television writer, crafts a narrative that reads like the blueprint for a compelling six-part series. The tension coils like a python, ensuring readers are fully invested in this deadly, explosive mission from the first page to the last.
The Burning Library: Secrets in the Script
Gilly Macmillan's The Burning Library (Baskerville, £18.99, 304pp) ventures into The Da Vinci Code territory with a thrilling tale of ancient texts and hidden agendas. The story centres on Dr Anya Brown, a talented young palaeographer blessed with an eidetic memory. This rare ability allows her to recall images with extraordinary precision after mere seconds of observation, making her a renowned interpreter of ancient manuscripts.
Her expertise attracts the attention of the Institute of Manuscript Studies at St Andrews University, which invites her to translate age-old texts. Unbeknownst to Anya, this invitation is a recruitment manoeuvre by the ancient Fellowship of the Larks, a society determined to stealthily position women in seats of power.
A Clash of Secret Orders
Opposing the Fellowship is the secretive Order of St Katherine, which believes women should wield influence from the shadows. Members of this rival order are prepared to kill to protect their philosophy. Macmillan proves herself every bit as thrilling a writer as Dan Brown, weaving a complex web of conspiracy, academia, and danger that will captivate fans of intellectual mysteries.
The Persian: A Spy's Dilemma
David McCloskey solidifies his reputation as one of the world's premier spy novelists with The Persian (Swift, £20, 400pp). This fourth novel offers brilliant insight into modern tradecraft, confirming the author's position at the pinnacle of the espionage genre.
The protagonist, Kamran 'Kam' Esfahani, is a Persian Jewish dentist from Stockholm who dreams of relocating to California. To finance this fantasy, he agrees to spy for Israel's Mossad within Iran. His mission takes a devastating turn when he is captured and subjected to brutal torture.
Truth or Deception?
Forced to write confession after confession under duress, Kam's ordeal raises a profound question: Is he revealing the truth, or is this merely another layer of deception in a world built on lies? McCloskey's narrative is utterly gripping, masterfully exploring the psychological and physical toll of espionage while delivering a sophisticated, tension-filled plot that will satisfy the most discerning thriller enthusiasts.
