We need to read about trauma – the perpetrators as well as the victims
As the new Staunch prize sets out to reward thrillers that shun brutality against women, the Ghost Wall author explains how she writes about violence
Tombland by CJ Sansom review – royals and revolting peasants
In Shardlake’s seventh case, the whodunnit is a pretext for an amiable historical tale of unrest in 16th-century Norfolk
Michael Connelly’s crime fiction career honoured with Diamond Dagger
The Crime Writers’ Association presents its top honour to the bestselling creator of Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller
How Agatha Christie’s wartime nursing role gave her a lifelong taste for poison
Many of the writer’s novels involve murder by toxic substance. First world war records detail where she got the inspiration
The best recent crime novels – review roundup
Tombland by CJ Sansom, When Trouble Sleeps by Leye Adenle, Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly, Trap by Lilja Sigurðardóttir and Bright Young Dead by Jessica Fellowes
Can the language of the Vikings fight off the invasion of English?
Icelandic has retained its literary vigour since the Sagas, but TV and tourism are a growing threat
James Patterson says saving libraries is down to readers
Speaking during Libraries Week, the thriller writer, who has donated large sums to fund reading in schools, says ‘it really starts with the people’
The Way of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry review – pastiche Victoriana
An anaesthetist’s assistant and a plucky housemaid team up in a historical crime caper from husband-and-wife team Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman
Ex-IRA man’s novel adds to intrigue over Northern Bank heist
Ricky O’Rawe’s book has echoes of 2004 Belfast raid, which remains unsolved
The Piranhas by Roberto Saviano review – teenage mafiosi in Naples
The author of Gomorrah channels his mafia knowledge into a lurid story about a boy’s quest for power
Liam McIlvanney wins Scottish crime fiction award named after his father
Prize renamed in 2016 to honour the late ‘godfather of tartan noir’ William McIlvanney goes to his son for The Quaker, based on the Bible John murders
The best recent crime novels – review roundup
The Corset by Laura Purcell, Brothers in Blood by Amer Anwar, All This I Will Give to You by Dolores Redondo, Half Moon Bay by Alice LaPlante, Wild Fire by Ann Cleeves
Not the Booker: The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan review – thriller lost in plot
Opening with a powerful, sensitively drawn portrait of two bereaved children, this book’s drama soon becomes mechanical
How novelist Dominick Donald followed killer John Christie into London’s Great Smog
The debut author explains how some very dark history provided him with the seeds for his gripping thriller Breathe
Lethal White by Robert Galbraith review – twists, turns and tangled emotions
JK Rowling’s wonderfully complex detective confronts devious politicians, a lovestruck colleague and the perils of unwanted fame