The best crime and thriller books of 2022
Ajay Chowdhury and Ian Rankin are among the authors of this year’s standout novels, including cosy escapes, dodgy cops and a murder told backwards
And then there were more: Knives Out, Agatha Christie and nonstop murder mystery boom
Classic murder yarns are back on our screens, inspired by the queen of crime fiction, but given a fresh twist to keep audiences on their toes
The best recent crime and thriller writing – review roundup
Former cases, former boyfriends and former tenants return to haunt new works by Louise Penny, Nicci French, Charlotte Northedge and BA Paris
Holly Throsby on her ‘anti-crime’ novel, inspired by the Lynette Dawson murder investigation
The musician turned novelist’s latest book came from a tiny detail in the high-profile case, and the regional Australia that she now calls home
‘It’s a therapeutic genre for me’: Iceland’s PM releases debut crime novel
Katrín Jakobsdóttir joins long list of fiction-writing politicians with book that came together during Covid pandemic
Crossword book club: Have His Carcase by Dorothy L Sayers
A classic whodunnit with a crosswordy code is our latest reading suggestion for those who relish puzzles
The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer review – the sleuth is out there
The much-loved comic proves adept at noirish fiction in a debut whose surrealist humour sets it apart
Peter Robinson obituary
Author of the Inspector Alan Banks series and welcome presence at crime fiction festivals around the world
The best recent crime and thrillers – review roundup
The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer; Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths; Queen High by CJ Carey; Blue Water by Leonora Nattrass; Silverweed Road by Simon Crook
Peter Robinson, creator of the Inspector Banks novels, dies aged 72
The Leeds-born novelist whose work included poetry and short stories as well as his bestselling thrillers will be remembered as a master of plot and character
Agatha Christie by Lucy Worsley; Marple: Twelve New Stories – review
With a keen historian’s eye, Lucy Worsley pieces together the queen of crime’s life, work and misunderstood episode of mental illness, while Val McDermid, Natalie Haynes and others put a fresh spin on Miss Marple
‘The Dry completely changed my life’: Jane Harper, Australia’s queen of crime
When the author’s debut novel was published she had no idea it would sell millions and lead to a boom in ‘outback noir’. She reflects on her success and her new Aaron Falk mystery
The best recent crime and thrillers – review roundup
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith; The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly; The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman; Sometimes People Die by Simon Stephenson; Marple: Twelve New Stories by Val McDermid and others
‘Feminist icon’ Miss Marple returns in 12 new authorised mystery stories
Agatha Christie’s detective faces a dozen fresh cases in newly commissioned work by authors including Val McDermid, Dreda Say Mitchell, Kate Mosse and Natalie Haynes
An old smock and 60 cigs a day: Peter James learns tricks of art forger’s trade
The bestselling crime writer spent time with a former master faker as he researched his latest novel