Three compelling new crime novels are now available, offering readers a diverse range of settings and styles, from a discreet love hotel in Vienna to a charming Irish village and a transatlantic liner.
Murder at the Hotel Orient
Murder at the Hotel Orient by Alessandra Ranelli (Baskerville £16.99, 336pp) introduces Sterling Lockwood, the impeccably groomed night-time concierge at Vienna's discreet love hotel, the Hotel Orient. She is accustomed to guests using false names to conceal their identities from spouses—every patron of this palace of debauchery harbors secrets. Lockwood is the guardian of these confidences. However, when two clients, 'Mr and Mrs Lime', are murdered, her reputation and that of the hotel are jeopardized, compelling her to launch her own investigation. She ventures into Vienna's grand coffee houses in pursuit of the killer. This striking debut blends a classic murder mystery with an erotic tale, showcasing a writer of exceptional promise.
A Plot to Die For
A Plot to Die For by Ardal O'Hanlon (Simon & Schuster £20, 480pp) follows TV gardener Finn O'Leary—imagine Monty Don, but less successful—as he returns to Abbeyford in Ireland to care for his ageing and partially demented mother. He soon becomes entangled in a murder case when an alto-baritone at his mother's choir practice drops dead during a spirited rendition of What The World Needs Now. Finn sets out to solve the murder, enlisting the help of his mother's formidable carer, Happiness. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of Abbeyford's quest to win the prestigious all-Ireland Tidy Towns competition. Written with a wry sense of humour and admirable skill, O'Hanlon manages to make murder funny without diminishing its gravity. This is delicate storytelling infused with wit and charm: quite wonderful.
Quite Ugly One Evening
Quite Ugly One Evening by Chris Brookmyre (Abacus £22, 400pp) marks the return of unconventional investigative journalist Jack Parlabane, who first appeared in Brookmyre's debut three decades ago. In this latest instalment, Parlabane goes undercover on a liner crossing the Atlantic to spy on a media family intent on exploiting the renaissance of a 1960s TV puppet show through a fan convention on board. However, things go awry. In mid-Atlantic, he finds himself locked in a stateroom with a body covered in his blood. Can he escape? Packed with insight and cynicism, this is Brookmyre at his best.
