Crime fans rejoice, as 2025 has already produced some phenomenal thrillers that are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Among them is "The Murder at World's End" by Ross Montgomery, a locked-room mystery set in 1910 on a remote tidal island off the Cornish coast.
Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt's murder sets off a chain reaction as his loyal footman and his mistress Decima embark on an investigation to uncover the killer. What ensues is a thrilling tale of twists and red herrings that will keep you guessing until the very end. Montgomery's witty dialogue, coupled with the intricate web of secrets and grudges, makes this novel a superb start to a series.
If you're looking for something even more thought-provoking, then "The Confessions" by Paul Bradley Carr might be up your alley. Set in a near-future world where AI has taken over our lives, this tech journalist's second novel takes us on a wild ride of chaos and despair. When the LLIAM algorithm, designed to teach empathy, suddenly goes offline, the consequences are catastrophic. With secrets revealed left and right, families fall apart, and the world teeters on the brink of collapse.
In stark contrast to the apocalyptic tone of "The Confessions", we find ourselves in a zeppelin bound for Rio de Janeiro in "The Good Nazi" by Samir Machado. As the 1930s come alive with Hitler's ascent to power, this Brazilian author takes us on a gripping thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end.
Last but not least, we have Francine Toon's "Bluff", set in St Rule, Scotland, where the lines between guilt and regret become blurred. When an 18-year-old girl returns home after a calamitous end-of-schooldays party, she finds herself entangled in a web of dark academia and confusion.
Last up is Sharon Bolton's "The Token", which starts with two people being swept off their yacht during a stormy night, only to unravel the events leading up to that fateful trip. As seven strangers receive a mysterious token that promises them a share of billionaire Logan Quick's fortune, they find themselves in a high-stakes game where survival is just a ticket away.
There you have it – five crime thrillers that promise an unforgettable ride this year.
Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt's murder sets off a chain reaction as his loyal footman and his mistress Decima embark on an investigation to uncover the killer. What ensues is a thrilling tale of twists and red herrings that will keep you guessing until the very end. Montgomery's witty dialogue, coupled with the intricate web of secrets and grudges, makes this novel a superb start to a series.
If you're looking for something even more thought-provoking, then "The Confessions" by Paul Bradley Carr might be up your alley. Set in a near-future world where AI has taken over our lives, this tech journalist's second novel takes us on a wild ride of chaos and despair. When the LLIAM algorithm, designed to teach empathy, suddenly goes offline, the consequences are catastrophic. With secrets revealed left and right, families fall apart, and the world teeters on the brink of collapse.
In stark contrast to the apocalyptic tone of "The Confessions", we find ourselves in a zeppelin bound for Rio de Janeiro in "The Good Nazi" by Samir Machado. As the 1930s come alive with Hitler's ascent to power, this Brazilian author takes us on a gripping thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end.
Last but not least, we have Francine Toon's "Bluff", set in St Rule, Scotland, where the lines between guilt and regret become blurred. When an 18-year-old girl returns home after a calamitous end-of-schooldays party, she finds herself entangled in a web of dark academia and confusion.
Last up is Sharon Bolton's "The Token", which starts with two people being swept off their yacht during a stormy night, only to unravel the events leading up to that fateful trip. As seven strangers receive a mysterious token that promises them a share of billionaire Logan Quick's fortune, they find themselves in a high-stakes game where survival is just a ticket away.
There you have it – five crime thrillers that promise an unforgettable ride this year.