Crime Fiction Lover

Translated by Laurel Taylor and Hitomi Yoshio — There has been a small but rich vein of Japanese crime fiction translated into English for decades but it has grown in popularity recently. Some examples reflect classic the Golden Age of mystery reimagined for a Japanese…

Welcome back to the wonderful world of crime novels and our weekly new books column. There are some fascinating novels on the bill today, including the latest from Andrew Lowe, a wonderful-looking novel set in Taiwan by Ed Lin, and the latest from Clare Mackintosh….

The Primrose in Stacy Hackney’s new cosy mystery is a residential hotel in Richmond, Virginia for people 55 and over. Whatever you might expect, these folks are not ready for a retiring lifestyle. For them, the best time of the day is the cocktail hour,…

New Zealand author Vanda Symon is known primarily for her Sam Shephard books but began a new series in 2022 with Faceless, featuring Max Grimes. Reaper is the followup to that novel about the former policeman who now lives on the streets of Auckland. This…

Alice Leigh’s debut is pitched as a coming-of-age dark academia thriller, leaving her with big expectations to fulfil. While it contains all the essential ingredients of the subgenre, its style and themes align more closely with young adult fiction. The setting of High Hill Manor…

It really looks like a packet of instant noodles, doesn’t it? And that’s fitting because this is the fifth Taipei Night Market novel from Ed Lin, and its protagonist is a chef at a food stall. I’m betting Jing-nan serves noodles and stinky tofu (we…