The best recent crime novels – review roundup
The Woman in the Woods by John Connolly; The Hunger by Alma Katsu; Paper Ghosts by Julia Haeberlin; American by Day by Derek B Miller; Body & Soul by John Harvey
The perfect crimes: why thrillers are leaving other books for dead
While literary novels are sidelined, crime fiction is fast developing as the most versatile narrative of our times
It’s no mystery that crime is the biggest-selling genre in books
Sales of crime novels in the UK have soared, overtaking general fiction for the first time. But this thrilling genre can be a comfort, too
Macbeth by Jo Nesbø review – Shakespeare reimagined
Scandinavia’s king of crime turns the tragedy into a deliciously oppressive page-turner
Top 10 books about miscarriages of justice
From the Central Park Five to little Briony’s destructive decision in Atonement, here are some of the most affecting real and fictional tales of injustice
Rebus: Rankin’s gritty Scottish detective to make stage debut
Author has worked with playwright Rona Munro for complex cop’s stage bow
Tony Parsons: ‘The first half of my 20s was screaming madness’
The author, 64, talks about how yoga is intimidating for men, why everyone needs a personal trainer and how his 40s brought him more stability
The best recent thrillers – review roundup
Greeks Bearing Gifts by Philip Kerr; The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton; All the Beautiful Lies by Peter Swanson; One Clear Ice-Cold January Morning at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century by Roland Schimmelpfennig; Bitter by Francesca Jakobi; Pandora’s Boy by Lindsey Davis
Macbeth by Jo Nesbø review – something noirish this way comes
Jo Nesbø’s retelling of Macbeth as a gritty crime thriller suffers from not pushing Shakespeare’s play far enough
Fresh voices: 50 writers you should read now
Which debut novel should you reach for this spring? Here’s our guide to the most exciting voices in fiction, politics, SF, graphic novels and more
Philip Kerr obituary
Writer best known for his crime fiction books featuring the Berlin private detective Bernie Gunther
Philip Kerr, author of Bernie Gunther novels, dies aged 62
Literary world mourns versatile author of historical thrillers, children’s books and non-fiction
Money in the Morgue by Ngaio Marsh and Stella Duffy review – Inspector Alleyn returns
This skilfully completed ‘continuation novel’, set in a New Zealand hospital, is an exquisite reminder of the brilliance of Marsh’s London detective
Top 10 runaway mothers in fiction
From Nancy Mitford’s ‘the Bolter’ – so named for her serial monogamy – to the mother of Kramer vs Kramer, here are the best mums on the run
Val McDermid: ‘I probably have too great an appetite for cheese’
The crime writer, 62, talks about spending too much time gaming, having a sense of her worth and why she fasts for two weeks every year