Mick Herron was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, lives in Oxford, and works in London. His short fiction regularly appears in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, and he is a contributing editor to the monthly book trade publication Bookdealer.
The Blue Hour (2024) Paula Hawkins "Reminiscent of du Maurier: art, islands, missing spouses ... A compelling piece of work, hard to put down."
Creation Lake (2024) Rachel Kushner "An immersive novel about an agent provocateur embedded within a group of environmental activists in south-western France, and slowly becoming mesmerized by the group elder's theories about Neanderthals. It's seductive, entrancing, and quite off the wall."
The Examiner (2024) Janice Hallett "Insanely readable. Hallett is an absolute original, a complete one-off."
Sharp Glass (2024) Sarah Hilary "[Sarah Hilary does] claustrophobic obsession better than anyone . . . It's strange and compelling, and no one else could have written it."
Any Human Power (2024) Manda Scott "This book opened up and swallowed me whole - the characters, the plot, the writing, everything. It's the most exciting, involving thriller I've read in an age, and I can't recommend it highly enough."
Cahokia Jazz (2023) Francis Spufford "Francis Spufford has discovered a new riff on a favourite tune, and in exploring it has created something wholly unique. Cahokia Jazz is extraordinary."
The New Wife (2023) J P Delaney "I loved it. JP Delaney has a gift for the unputdownable story ... One twist in particular left me open-mouthed. Brilliant stuff. This'll be in a lot of holiday luggage come the summer."
The Last Goodbye (2023) (David Raker Missing Persons, book 12) Tim Weaver "These books are unputdownable."
To Battersea Park (2023) Philip Hensher "To Battersea Park is an imaginative tour de force. The first great lockdown novel, and perhaps the only one we'll need."
Paris Requiem (2023) (Detective Eddie Giral, book 2) Chris Lloyd "A thoughtful, haunting thriller."
Queen & Country (2022) (Charles Thoroughgood, book 7) Alan Judd "A masterful storyteller with an intricate knowledge of his subject."
The Plant Hunter (2022) T L Mogford "An old-fashioned adventure yarn with all the virtues of the genre, The Plant Hunter engages, informs and entertains, while taking the reader to distant, unexpected places. Highly recommended."
The Interview (2022) C M Ewan "Fierce read, with heart, muscle and an out-of-sight twist."
A Killing in November (2022) (DI Wilkins Mysteries, book 1) Simon Mason "This is a terrific crime novel, with a startlingly original protagonist we're going to see a lot more of. Oxford's mean streets just got meaner."
1979 (2021) (Allie Burns, book 1) Val McDermid "A new series from Val McDermid promises to be an event - and 1979 delivers. Full of wit, thrills and incisive social observation and features a marvellous new character to follow through the years to come."
The Cover Wife (2021) (Claire Saylor) Dan Fesperman "The narrative choreography demanded by Fesperman's split timelines is expertly handled, and the dilemma faced by Helen, in particular – whether to be a good employee or a good citizen – illustrates the kind of weight that the spy novel, in the right hands, is capable of bearing."
Box 88 (2020) (Box 88, book 1) Charles Cumming "BOX 88 is a wonderful spy novel; Charles Cumming’s most ambitious – and his best – yet."
Fifty-Fifty (2020) (Eddie Flynn, book 5) Steve Cavanagh "Eddie's back! Steve Cavanagh writes the best hooks in the business."
Pine (2020) Francine Toon "If there's any doubt that the Gothic thriller is enjoying a boom, Francine Toon's debut should settle the matter. PINE, a moving study of memory and loss, is both spooky and tender; drenched in a sense of place and yet eerily timeless."
The Whisper Man (2019) Alex North "A novel about the dark places that are recognisably our own, The Whisper Man plays on our emotions as much as on our fears. A tremendous calling card for the brilliant Alex North."
Firefly (2018) (Paul Samson, book 1) Henry Porter "A welcome return ... Firefly is both timely and terrific."
The Craftsman (2018) (Craftsman Trilogy, book 1) Sharon Bolton "Sharon Bolton raises the bar with each new book. The Craftsman goes to some very dark places, and will have readers looking nervously over their shoulders with every page they turn."
Killing State (2018) (Michael North, book 1) Jude O'Reilly "Fast-paced and packed with action ... A series hero to watch."
Need to Know (2018) Karen Cleveland "Gripping, tense, and packed full of insider knowledge. A need-to-read."
My Little Eye (2017) (Starke & Bell, book 1) Stephanie Marland "The first novel in what promises to be a riveting new series, My Little Eye is a one-sitting read: gripping, clever and worringly plausible."
Last Stop Tokyo (2017) James Buckler "A fine debut - fast-paced and bleak, with a vivid setting and gut-wrenching twists."
The Night Visitor (2017) Lucy Atkins "The tension is immediate and unrelenting; the sense of unease palpable . . . a gripping, Rendellesque read."
The Irregular (2017) (Irregular Spy, book 1) H B Lyle "A fine first entry in what promises to be a great new series. Wiggins is a captivating hero, and Lyle draws his Edwardian backstreets in convincing color. The game is most definitely afoot."
Brothers in Blood (2017) (Zaq & Jags, book 1) Amer Anwar "An engaging hero, a cunning plot, and a fascinating journey into Southall's underworld. We'll be hearing a lot more from Amer Anwar."
Before It's Too Late (2015) (DI Will Jackman, book 1) Jane Isaac "An involving and clever plot; a sympathetic protagonist. In a crowded field, Jane Isaac writes like a seasoned professional."
