Forgetting Zoe by Ray Robinson

An unsettling story about a child kidnapping leaves just enough to the imagination, says Alison Flood

The News Where You Are by Catherine O’Flynn

The prize-winning author stares again into the dark heart of Birmingham, but to diminishing effect, writes Olivia Laing

Could Miles Franklin turn the Booker prize to crime?

In the week when the crime writer Peter Temple took Australia's top literary prize, the Miles Franklin award, Alison Flood examines whether a detective novel could ever win the Booker

It’s no crime to be funny

Colin Bateman: Crime fiction used to entertain us with double acts such as Holmes and Watson – but when and why did it lose its sense of humour?

Author Henning Mankell aboard Gaza flotilla stormed by Israeli troops

Fears for safety of bestselling Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell after surprise attack results in at least 10 deaths

Theakstons prize: women close the gap in crime

Longlist for major UK crime writing award shows more even gender balance, with Susan Hill, Val McDermid and Martina Cole in running

Innocent by Scott Turow

America's foremost legal-thriller writer puts his most famous defendant back on trial, writes Alison Flood

Blood Harvest by SJ Bolton

This adept thriller writer's third novel, set in a remote corner of the Pennines, is her creepiest yet, says Alison Flood

Maps and Legends by Michael Chabon

Comic books, crime fiction, ghost stories… In a series of essays, novelist Michael Chabon argues that entertainment should be the primary role of fiction, writes Olivia Laing

Crime novelist sued for setting plot around Paris landmark

Lalie Walker wrote latest thriller as a tribute to a Montmartre fabric store, but store's owners say the book is defamatory

61 Hours by Lee Child

Just when thriller addicts thought they had seen the last of the great heroes, Jack Reacher strikes again, writes Euan Ferguson

Stieg Larsson – by the woman who shared his life

The first film of the Swedish writer's work is about to open in Britain, his books are smashing sales records round the world, and an ex-colleague has written a book questioning his reputation. Now the woman who shared Larsson's life tells Rachel Cooke of the grief she suffered, and her crusade to guard his flame