A.E.Goldin: Death on the Pearl River, Pushkin Press, pubdate: September 2026,

I loved this historical crime novel, particularly the protagonist Ben Canaan, who comes from a East end Jewish family.  The story is set in London during the time of the opium trade and moves on to Hong Kong and China where Ben is sent by the foreign office to solve a string of murders. All victims are tied to prominent trading firms and the Pearl river. It is full of good old fashioned suspense, tightly plotted with many twists and turns. If you are looking for a Sherlock Holmes type of mystery in exotic settings,  this is a great choice. The second book in a series, to be continued, looking forward to it. I read the proof.

 Hannah Rothschild: The Baroness. The search for Nica, the rebellious Rothschild, Virago

If you love biographies about unusual women and jazz, this is it. Hannah Rothschild's biography about the black sheep in her family, her great-aunt Nica, who had it all, a handsome husband, children and a trust fund, only not to give a damn, running off to New York after hearing Thelonious Monk's revolutionary music. She became one of the most important supporters for jazz musicians and Thelonious especially until his death, known as the baroness in the NewYork jazz scene. I found the biography absolutely fascinating and entertaining, really well researched, including the history of the Rothschild family. An extraordinary life of a rebellious character, loved it! 

 Daniel Silva: Ransom, Harper Collins, available,

Vintage reliable Gabriel Allon material, practising his art resoration brilliance on old masters again,  only to be whisked away from his Cornwall estate by a pleading billionare whose wife has disappeared during a weekend away with her girlfriends. 

In true Allon fashion the search for her unravels a lot of questionable activities, intrigues and secrets,  no more details as it would spoil this perfect beach read. 

Jonathan Ames: The Past without Pictures, Pushkin Vertigo, pub date: October 2026,

Written in the tradition of a crime noir novel, the protagonist, a rookie homicide detective, Maria, kills a young teenager on her first assignment and learns that her father, a convicted fellon who killed a child during a drunk driving accident, has also been killed the same. day. She decides to look into her fathers murder when attending his funeral and all hell breaks loose. There are parts of the novel that are gripping and well plotted but all in all I felt there was something missing, maybe the plot could have been more developed.  A thrilling short novel I read on a long journey, thank you for the early proof Pushkin

 C.J. Box: The Crossroads, Head of Zeus/ Bloomsbury , ebook available

Big fan of the Joe Pickett series, always a great armchair trip to Wyoming but this novel almost sees the end of Joe Pickett when he is shot in an ambush receiving serious head injuries leaving him barely alive. 

His daughters April, Sheridan and Lucy start an investigation of their own into the last days and hours of their fathers activities, not trusting the new sheriff, hoping to find out who wants their father dead. This novel is one of the better Joe Pickett books, really enjoyed the narration which gives a refreshing emphasis to the women in Joe's life.

 Garry Disher: Under the Cold Bright Lights, c format paperback, Profile Books, 16. July pub date

Garry Disher is considered the king of the Australian noir crime novel. I am a big fan of his Paul Hirsch mysteries but his stand alone novels are all excellent. Under the Cold Bright Lights being his latest, has a very unusual twist I did not expect, first feeling ambivalent about it but decided it is actually a brilliant change in the plot, will not reveal more as it would ruin the reading. 

 The protagonist of the novel, Sergeant Alan Auhl, a retired homicide cop, decides retirement is too boring for him and has now joined the cold case unit. There are a lot of details with the cold cases and characters to keep tabs on as a reader but the major shift comes from Auhl himself and that's all I will say. Coming in July, a great holiday mystery with very likeable characters.

 Addie Citchens: Dominion, Europa Editions, 9781787706156, paperback

Shortlisted for the Womens Prize for fiction, recommended by publishing friends: this is one of the most powerful novels I have read in a while. Wow.

Brilliantly narrated by two very different women, Diamond and Priscilla, who both love the same man, Wonderboy/ Manny/Emmanuel, one the girlfriend, the other the mother, both rooted in the deep Southern US  church communities and its patriachial structure, I found myself immediately drawn in by this often funny, yet heartbreaking drama, and the masterful writing,  read the novel in two days. Go buy it, its an incredible read.