Brief Book Reviews UK

Brief Book Reviews - otherwise known as "an old guy reviews the book that he has read this week "!

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Brief Book Review - The Shadow Step by Mark Billingham

A Brief Book Review of The Shadow Step by Mark Billingham.

Published as a hardback edition in the United Kingdom by Sphere on 2nd July 2026.

It's another outing for Blackpool's finest, quirkiest and most insubordinate detective DS Declan Miller.

Declan and partner Sarah are tasked with solving a murder case where the man who has confessed to the murder clearly hasn't committed the crime.

Things quickly escalate with a ruthless drugs Queenpin getting involved, along with her minder/fixer, a deranged ex squadie and a rival crime gang.

With another murder and a kidnapping to solve can Declan ignore his ballroom dancing , pet rats and discussions with his dead wife to solve the crimes ?

Another great , witty thriller from Mark Billingham !

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Brief Book Review - The Parkwood Murders by Chris Chibnall

A Brief Book Review of The Parkwood Murders by Chris Chibnall.

Released as a hardback edition in the United Kingdom by Michael Joseph on 16th July 2026.

It's another outing for DS Nicola Bridge - once a detective fighting major crime in a large city , now working in rural Dorset.

The book kicks off with a body being found floating in a swimming pool at at rural holiday village - The Parkwood Holiday Village.

Nicola , along with colleagues DC Harry Ward and DC Mel Hardman are sent to investigate the murder. With nearly 400 people on site and forensic evidence being slim due to the number of people that use a swimming pool Nicola and team have their work cut out to nail the perpetrator !

A number of suspects emerge - the park general manager who is hiding a secret , the arrogant ropes instructor , a guest clearly not telling the truth about his whereabouts and the mother of a lady that went missing from the park five years ago.

Another great murder mystery from Chris Chibnall - well worth a read ! #books #booktumblr #bookreviews #bookreview

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Brief Book Review - Getting Away With Murder by Shari Lapena

A Brief Book Review of Getting Away With Murder by Shari Lapena.

Published as a hardback edition by Bantam in the United Kingdom on 16th July 2026.

Jill and Ted Westcott have ploughed a lot time , money and effort into their Brownstone home in Brooklyn Heights, New York.

It is their pride and joy with top of the range materials used - the sort of home you see in glossy magazines.

When Ted's inheritance money runs out after a spending a fortune on the house and making some bad investments they are left with a dilemma as to how to keep the house and their current lifestyle.

Jill and Ted ponder the possibility of a family member ( Ted's brother Greg) passing away and his money going to Jill and Ted.

This is a tale of murder ,blackmail, character , trust and inheritance - with all the main characters being tested as never before.

So it's more of a "whydunnit" than a "whodunnit". !

Another great thriller from Shari Lapena - well worth a read !

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Brief Book Review - It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell

A Brief Book Review of It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell.

Published as a hardback edition in the United Kingdom by Century on 2nd July 2026.

Twice divorced Jane Trevally is at at crossroads in her life - wondering whether or not to sell her dilapidated country pile , Roseberry Hall.

Jane takes her four dogs for a walk to contemplate her future when she spots a stray white dog, a Westie. With no owner to be found Jane takes the dog to her local vet who finds that he is called Hugo and lives in London near Hampstead Heath.

Jane , with stepson Dexter takes Hugo back to London but when approaching his home she feels desperately uneasy - she knows his house ! .

25 years ago Jane was picked up by a stranger in a bar , taken to this house and became aware that she was possibly trapped - she managed to get out but has always been haunted by this house with the very bad vibes.

Thus the tale unfolds , Jane looking to solve the mystery of the roaming dog , it's disappearing owner and the house on Hampstead Heath.

Another great psychological thriller from Lisa Jewell.

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Brief Book Review - Bad Deeds by Andrew Hunter Murray

A Brief Book Review of Bad Deeds by Andrew Hunter Murray.

Released as a hardback edition in the United Kingdom by Hutchinson Heinemann on 11th June 2026.

It's another adventure for Al the interloper , previously seen in the author's previous book - A Beginners Guide To Breaking and Entering.

Al has now gone legit and is working with friends Jonny, Em(ara) and Elle - their company Prometheus does Security Audits and Penetration Testing for large companies needing third party security audits.

All is well until Al is fired from the company, breaks up with his girlfriend and needs somewhere to live. He picks up a job with a real estate company that his colleagues had previously refused - big mistake !

Soon Al is in remote northern Scotland following the trail of a man that supposedly fell to his death with no witnesses in sight.

With various bad actors trying to stop Al and his colleagues finding out the truth can Al avoid being the next one over the edge ....?

A really good murder mystery , well paced and full of observational and self deprecating humour.

Well worth a read !

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Brief Book Review - Shrink Solves Murder by Philppa Perry

A Brief Book Review of Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry.

Published as a hardback edition by Hutchinson Heinemann in the United Kingdom on 7th May 2026.

Dr Patricia Phillips , a psychotherapist , lives on the South Coast of England in Ivy Cottage , Westlinke.

When a body is found near Beachy Head , a well known spot for suicides the local police put this down to another unfortunate suicide. It transpires that the body is Pat Phillips three 'o' clock appointment,Henry Clayton and Pat is not convinced that this is a suicide.

With her friend Prichard helping her Pat begins to look closer at the locals , convinced that foul play is involved.

A really good cosy crime debut novel from Philippa Perry - great characters, good plot , humour and insights into the behaviour of the suspects !

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Brief Book Review - Hope Rises by David Baldacci

A Brief Book Review of Hope Rises by David Baldacci.

Released as a hardback edition in the United Kingdom on 9th April 2026 by Macmillan.

It's a second outing for Walter Nash/Dillon Hope .

After turning informant for the FBI against a global criminal empire headed by mastermind Victoria Steers he has lost all to her and seeks revenge.

Nash/Hope becomes involved with Steers and soon begins to find that his attitude to her changes - whilst seeking revenge and wanting to seek vengeance he also sees a different side to Steers which give him mixed feelings.

A good plot , believable characters and plenty of action - another good effort from David Baldacci.

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Brief Book Review - The Detective by Matthew Reilly

A Brief Book Review of The Detective by Matthew Reilly.

Published as a hardback edition in the United Kingdom on 23rd April 2026 by Orion.

Private Detective Sam Speedman is a different sort of detective - he is particular about certain things - clothes/food and always eats at the same place every day ( Hooters) . He is exceptionally well prepared all the time and counts the number of times he has been called a " four eyed" so and so due to his poor eyesight.

A different type of detective is needed though for the case he is trying to solve - parents of a girl missing since 2018 are still hopeful that he will find her but when a DNA trace pings on a recent case relating to the missing girl Sam springs into action .

He discovers that four girls went missing in 2018 and that there are historical similarities to the case. The case takes Sam into the isolated corners of the deep South where he comes up against a lot of powerful and influential people keen to stop his investigation.

A well written , action packed murder mystery.

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Brief Book Review - Ironwood by Michael Connelly

A Brief Book Review of Ironwood by Michael Connelly.

Released as a hardback edition in the United Kingdom by Orion on 19th May 2026.

It's another outing for Detective Sergeant Stilwell on Catalina Island.

This time we see a drugs bust going spectacularly wrong with Stilwell benched as he was a witness to the incident.

Whilst sorting out the "lost and found" at the Sub Station he finds a backpack , handed in two months ago. Upon further investigation he finds that the owner went missing four years ago and thus this needs investigating.

Cue a collaboration with the LAPD Open Unsolved Unit headed up by another Connelly favourite Renée Ballard. Stilwell and Ballard come up against a clever killer who plays a cat and mouse game with them.

Another great murder mystery from Michael Connelly , well paced with believable characters , well worth a read !

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Brief Book Review - It's Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh

A Brief Book Review of It's Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh.

Released as a hardback edition by Harper Collins in the United Kingdom on 26th March 2026.

Nadeeka is worried that her partner Jamie is having an affair . Tell tale signs appear , flimsy excuses for working late at the office , hiding his phone and being generally distracted.

When she calls him and hears a woman's voice in the background she is determined to call him out for his duplicity.

On arriving home she finds that Jamie has been murdered in their own home - was Jamie up to something far worse than infidelity ?

A well written , twisty murder mystery , well worth a read !

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Brief Book Review - The Antique Hunter's Murder At The Castle by C.L.Miller

A Brief Book Review of The Antique Hunter's Murder At The Castle by C.L.Miller.

Released as a hardback edition in the United Kingdom by Macmillan on 12th February 2026.

This is the author's third book following on from the previous books , Antique Hunter's Guide To Murder and Antique Hunter's Death On the Red Sea.

It's another adventure for Freya Lockwood and Aunt Carole - The Lockwood Antique Hunters Agency.

After forgeries are found in Boston ,USA - Freya and Carole are on a mission to recover stolen art which was featured in Freya's mentor Arthur Crockleford's journal.

Team member Bella finds a trail to a remote Scottish castle and follows the lead.

Things take a turn for the worse when the laird is found murdered , antique silver is missing and Bella is the prime suspect !

Another enjoyable cosy crime caper ! #bookreviewchannel #bookreviews #books #briefbookreviews

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Brief Book Review - The Weekend by T.M.Logan

A Brief Book Review of The Weekend by T.M.Logan.

Released as a hardback edition by Zaffre ( an imprint of Bonnier Books) in the United Kingdom on 26th February 2026.

Six friends are taking a New Year's break at a cottage in the Yorkshire Dales. A storm rolls in when they are out walking and they take shelter in an abandoned mine.

They find a backpack in the cave - open it and see more money than they have ever seen in their lives !

They decide to hand the money in to the police the next day but on their return to the cottage some of them have doubts - should they hand the money in or should they keep it ?

Soon divisions occur between the friends and a tale of secrets , treachery ,and greed follows.

A well written , "what would I do " thriller !

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Brief Book Review - In The Shadows by Chris Macdonald

A Brief Book Review of In The Shadows by Chris Macdonald.

Published as a hardback edition in the United Kingdom by Michael Joseph on 5th February 2026.

Chelsea 1977 - rock icon Nereus Forbes is found dead behind a locked door.

The verdict - Suicide , the whispers - Murder.

Decades later , Winter Harris , daughter of Graham Harris , one of the deceased former band mates is haunted by the online rumours that her father murdered Nereus.

Winter delves into the world of seventies rock - full of fame, envy and betrayal to try and find the truth behind the demise of Nereus.

But as old secrets emerge she finds that she is being followed and watched , how far will someone go to keep the past buried ?

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Brief Book Review - The Family Friend by Claire Douglas

A Brief Book Review of The Family Friend by Claire Douglas.

Released as a hardback edition in the United Kingdom by Michael Joseph on 12th March 2026.

When Imogen is told that she has inherited a country house near Bath she thinks it must be a mistake.She last saw it's owner , reclusive artist Dorothea Rose, sixteen years ago during a tragic summer that changed her life forever.

Imogen and partner Josh move to the country house but soon Imogen starts to worry .After finding a box with her name on in Dorothea's study containing some clues she begins to think that perhaps Dorothea was telling her something about her death and perhaps secrets about Imogen's family and history.

Is Imogen now in danger ?

Is this inheritance not quite the gift that she imagined ?

Another fine psychological ,twisty thriller from Claire Douglas !

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Brief Book Review - And The Corpse Wore Tartan by Stuart MacBride

A Brief Book Review of And The Corpse Wore Tartan by Stuart MacBride.

Released as a hardback edition in the United Kingdom by Macmillan on 12th February 2026. A spin off from the successful Logan McRae series described by the author as " Homage to the golden age of detective fiction".

A Highland hotel , a dead politician and one killer hangover..... The great and not so good are gathered at the Skirivour Castle Hotel in the Scottish highlands for the wedding of the year.

All is going well until the father of the bride is found impaled on a stag's head in the hotel lobby.

A storm has come in , knocking out phones and internet and keeping the guests stranded at the hotel.

Can DS Roberta Steel , aided only by an inexperienced Constable and a world weary Sergeant solve the mystery ?

Move over Miss Marple.....

A modern day murder mystery full of wit and humour !

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Brief Book Review - The Lost Women by Tim Weaver

A Brief Book Review of The Lost Women by Tim Weaver.

Published as a hardback edition in the United Kingdom on 26th February 2026 by Michael Joseph.

It's another adventure for David Raker - Missing Persons Investigator. Raker is hired by a TV personality to find her husband who has recently had surgery - upon removing the dressings she finds it's not her husband !

Raker and sidekick Colm Healy delve into the mystery and find links to a previous mystery where three women ,making a documentary about a missing student all disappeared.

As the tale unfolds , a villain who has previously crossed swords with Raker is threatening Raker and Healy - giving them 48 hours to solve both mysteries.

Another first class effort from Tim Weaver !

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Brief Book Review - The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith.

A Brief Book Review of The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith (A Strike Novel)

It's another mystery for Private Investigators Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott to solve , this time a dismembered corpse is found in the vaults of a silver shop with links to the Freemasons.

The police have identified the body as one of a known criminal but some people are convinced that this is not the case. One of whom , Decima Mullins , hires Strike and Robin to prove that the body in the vault is her partner Rupert Fleetwood.

When they find that other people are also missing Strike and Robin have a real mystery on their hands trying to solve the mystery of the body in the vault.

A well paced , multi faceted mystery , well worth a read !

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