Here's a review roundup of recent crime and thrillers in a journalist's style:
The world of whodunits has never been more thrilling. This year has brought us a slew of gripping mysteries that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
First up is "Murder at World's End" by Ross Montgomery, a locked-room mystery set in 1910 on a remote tidal island off the Cornish coast. When Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt is discovered dead, his new footman-turned-investigator must navigate a web of secrets and grudges to uncover the truth. This is a terrific start to a series that promises to be a lot of fun.
Another standout is "The Confessions" by Paul Bradley Carr, which takes place in a near-future world where AI has become omnipresent. When the LLIAM algorithm suddenly goes offline, chaos erupts as families and leaders are forced to confront their darkest secrets. This superb thriller grounds its issues in relatable ones and features horrifyingly plausible scenarios.
In "The Good Nazi" by Samir Machado de Machado, a zeppelin on its final journey from Berlin to Rio de Janeiro becomes a microcosm of the toxic world of 1930s Germany. When one passenger is found poisoned, detective Bruno Brückner must navigate a complex web of allegiances and deceit to uncover the truth.
On another note, Francine Toon's "Bluff" follows Cameron as he returns home on Christmas Eve to discover that his teenage crush, Joanie, has disappeared without a trace. As he delves deeper into her past, dark secrets begin to surface, threatening to destroy everything in its path.
Finally, there's "The Token" by Sharon Bolton, which begins with a dramatic boat trip gone wrong off the coast of Cornwall. Seven strangers receive mysterious notes informing them that they'll inherit a share of billionaire Logan Quick's fortune, but what starts as a godsend quickly turns into a liability. With expertly constructed suspense and high-stakes drama, this one will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Overall, these recent crime and thrillers have brought us some truly unforgettable stories. Whether it's whodunits, near-future sci-fi or historical mysteries, there's something for everyone in this roundup.
The world of whodunits has never been more thrilling. This year has brought us a slew of gripping mysteries that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
First up is "Murder at World's End" by Ross Montgomery, a locked-room mystery set in 1910 on a remote tidal island off the Cornish coast. When Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt is discovered dead, his new footman-turned-investigator must navigate a web of secrets and grudges to uncover the truth. This is a terrific start to a series that promises to be a lot of fun.
Another standout is "The Confessions" by Paul Bradley Carr, which takes place in a near-future world where AI has become omnipresent. When the LLIAM algorithm suddenly goes offline, chaos erupts as families and leaders are forced to confront their darkest secrets. This superb thriller grounds its issues in relatable ones and features horrifyingly plausible scenarios.
In "The Good Nazi" by Samir Machado de Machado, a zeppelin on its final journey from Berlin to Rio de Janeiro becomes a microcosm of the toxic world of 1930s Germany. When one passenger is found poisoned, detective Bruno Brückner must navigate a complex web of allegiances and deceit to uncover the truth.
On another note, Francine Toon's "Bluff" follows Cameron as he returns home on Christmas Eve to discover that his teenage crush, Joanie, has disappeared without a trace. As he delves deeper into her past, dark secrets begin to surface, threatening to destroy everything in its path.
Finally, there's "The Token" by Sharon Bolton, which begins with a dramatic boat trip gone wrong off the coast of Cornwall. Seven strangers receive mysterious notes informing them that they'll inherit a share of billionaire Logan Quick's fortune, but what starts as a godsend quickly turns into a liability. With expertly constructed suspense and high-stakes drama, this one will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Overall, these recent crime and thrillers have brought us some truly unforgettable stories. Whether it's whodunits, near-future sci-fi or historical mysteries, there's something for everyone in this roundup.
you know how sometimes you're just trying to escape into a good story and these books are literally masterclasses in suspense i mean "Murder at World's End" is so clever with that locked-room mystery setup and "The Confessions" is like totally freaky in a relatable way it's not just some sci-fi nonsense its got real-world issues and implications 
I'm loving this new wave of whodunits! 
They're so much fun to try and guess whodunit. But what really caught my attention is how these stories are tackling some serious issues like AI gone rogue (sounds crazy but totally plausible, right?) and the darker side of human nature. It's amazing how authors can make you feel uneasy without even being preachy about it. And I'm intrigued by the historical settings - a 1910 tidal island murder mystery? That sounds like a wild ride! 
And I gotta say, 2025 is already off to a great start! I love how each of these stories offers something different - from whodunits with historical twists (Murder at World's End) to sci-fi thrillers that tap into our darkest fears (The Confessions). And the ones set in more recent times are just so intriguing, like The Token, which has me dying to know what those mysterious notes hold 
like "Murder at World's End" sounds like the ultimate cozy mystery set in 1910... but what if its not just about solving a murder, but also unraveling the web of secrets and lies that led to it? 
is it a commentary on how we're already living in that world, but just not realizing it?
... who wouldn't want to inherit a share of billionaire's fortune, but at what cost? 
are the mysterious notes just a ploy to get them to do something for their new "benefactor"?
The idea of AI going offline and causing chaos is literally giving me the heebie-jeebies 
. And can we talk about how relatable it is that the story grounds its issues in real-world concerns? 
I need to get my hands on "The Confessions" ASAP! 
and i'm also intrigued by "The Confessions" - AI becoming omnipresent is such a cool concept 
but at the same time so scary what if our AIs did just become too smart for us? 
. And can we talk about the characters? So complex and multi-layered! 
. I'm so glad someone finally talked about these books! I read "Murder at World's End" and it was SO good!!! The locked-room mystery genre is one of my faves and Ross Montgomery did an amazing job with it. I loved how the author wove all those secrets and grudges together to create this super suspenseful story. I'm now dying to try out the other books on the list, esp "The Confessions" - AI gone rogue sounds like a wild ride! 
And what's up with all these perfect psychopaths who are somehow also likable? Give me a break! 
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It's great to see authors exploring different genres and styles. The Token also caught my attention - it sounds like a real nail-biter, what with the mysterious notes and all 
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. Whether it's AI gone rogue or historical mysteries, they're all tapping into some deeper anxieties we have about our lives today. That's what makes them so compelling, I think 
. That being said, Francine Toon's writing is top-notch as always, so even if the plot didn't totally blow me away, I was still entertained 
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! Bolton really knows how to ratchet up the stakes. Overall, though, it's a solid lineup of mysteries that'll keep you on your toes... even if not all of them were quite my cup of tea 
but "The Confessions" is like something we're gonna face in the future with AI taking over 
also can't wait to see how Cameron deals with his teenage crush's disappearance in "Bluff" 
and adding a boat trip gone wrong off the coast of Cornwall takes it to a whole new level 
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I mean, 1930s Germany is a super sensitive topic. "Bluff" and "The Token" both caught my eye - there's something about being pulled into these characters' dark worlds that just feels so addictive 
i'm so sorry i missed it! anyway i gotta say that "The Confessions" by Paul Bradley Carr sounds like my jam