New Mystery and Thriller Titles You May Have Missed

Lately I've been talking a lot about forthcoming releases, with monthly posts looking at hotly anticipated titles. But sometimes it's nice to take a peek at some of the recently released titles that aren't getting a lot of hype, whether because you're looking to find an under-appreciated gem, or simply because you'd like to avoid a holds queue.

I've been impressed of late with the number interesting looking mysteries and thrillers that have come across my desk on their way to the new book shelves. Many of them are a part of established series, so if you like these, you can look forward to a the rest of the series as well. Here's a few you might want to check out.

The Last King of Brighton
by Peter Guttridge.

A violent crime in modern day Brighton, leads investigators to another in the early 1960s. A police procedural with noir vibes and (according to BookList magazine) "literate bad guys". My interest was piqued by this great jacket quote from Lee Child: "I don't need the competition, but honesty demands I confess - this is a great thriller" The Last King of Brighton is volume 2 in a trilogy, following 2010's City of Dreadful Night: some reviews suggest this is one where starting at the beginning makes the most sense.

A Bad Night's Sleep
by Michael Wiley.

Another new edition to a series that you may not have already picked up on, this one featuring Chicago PI Joe Kozmarski. The lead is a disgraced ex-cop and in this latest he joins a burglary team in an effort to uncover police corruption. The Chicago setting is rich in this gritty noir series. Read The Last Striptease first, if you want to start at the beginning.

The Taint of Midas
by Anne Zouroudi.

The next book in a series which we've mentioned here on the Reader previously, Zouroudi's the Seven Deadly Sins Mystery Series. Set in the Greek Islands, several installments of the series are already available in the UK, but the 2nd one is the latest on this side of the ocean. With a lead detective described as a "Greek Poirot" the latest installment investigates greed. From the library catalogue: "For over half a century the beautiful Temple of Apollo has been in the care of the old beekeeper Gabrilis. But when the value of the land soars he is forced to sign away his interests - and hours later he meets a violent, lonely death."

I've talked about the Akashic Books Noir Series on the blog before. It's an idea I really love. Collections of noir short stories, set in cities and countries around the world that give you a bit of local flavour with your thrills. A few more of these have arrived recently, giving you a glimpse into the darker side of some well known US locales including San Diego Noir, Cape Cod Noir and Pittsburgh Noir. The library known owns more than 30 titles in the series!