This week, Jeff Popple reviews three thrillers to read over the long weekend. More of Jeff’s reviews can be found on his blog: murdermayhemandlongdogs.com
Falling by T. J. Newman
Simon & Schuster, $29.99
Falling is a terrific thriller to read this long weekend, provided you are not flying anywhere! Former flight attendant T. J. Newman has written a scary tale about a pilot on the Los Angeles to New York flight who is put into an impossible situation when a terrorist seizes his family and threatens to kill them unless he crashes his plane. The pilot, Bill Hoffman, has less than six hours to thwart the terrorists on the ground, and in the air, and save his family and passengers. This is a thrill-a-minute read that rushes through some good twists to the final tense conclusion. Recommended.
Still by Matt Nable
Hachette, $32.99
A more sedate and substantial read is Still by actor and author Matt Nable. Set in in a harshly described Darwin in 1963, it features a determined cop who has to face deep-seated corruption as he tries to determine the truth about a series of brutal murders. This is a very evocative novel that excels in its characterisations and depictions of life in Darwin. Although it is set 60 years ago, the themes are just as relevant today and Nable does a masterful job of pulling his story together. A superbly written and credible novel that is a must for fans of Jane Harper’s The Dry.
Dead Ground by M. W. Craven
Constable, $32.99
M. W. Craven is a rising star on the British crime scene and his award-winning series about Detective Washington Poe and civilian data analyst Tilly Bradshaw is a firm favourite with readers. Dead Ground opens with Poe summoned to a backstreet brothel in Carlisle, where a man has been beaten to death. It seems to be a simple assault and well outside Poe’s normal area of expertise, but it soon becomes clear that sinister forces are at work and Poe finds himself caught up in a complex case involving old crimes and new security threats. A confident and enjoyable crime thriller ideal for the long weekend.
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