Cracking Thriller Recommendation

[Smartypoppet]

I read The Artemis File by Adam Loxley earlier this year and am struggling to find anything to match it. So am looking for a contemporary British thriller please (the American stuff is too gung-ho for me and the Scandinavian is too dark and dreary) and obviously it should be a real page-turner with a cracking plot and lots of twists. But preferably not a psychological thriller thanks - have got a bit tired of all the samey Nicci French, Gillian Flynn type stuff.

Almost anything by John Le Carre (Single & Single or The Perfect Spy? though I like all his books)!

Try Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd. Set in London.

Oh yes ‘Ordinary Thunderstorms’ is good too!

The Spy Who Came In From the Cold is not exactly contemporary but it's bloody brilliant and very British.

William Boyd is a good writer. Thanks for that recommendation @highlandcoo and @ElaineMarieBenes. Think I'll order that today.

Thanks for the recommendations. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) I have already read Ordinary Thunderstorms, which I enjoyed, and also quite a few by Le Carre. So any more recommendations would be gratefully received. Anything similar to The Artemis File by Adam Loxley or Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz would be great.

He's not contemporary but have you read any Graham Greene? I love his thrillers. Try The Third Man (wonderful story) or Brighton Rock or The Comedians which is more of a literary novel with some political danger thrown in, but it's brilliant. Or Our Man in Havana if you want a more humorous less suspense driven spy story.

Have you read Robert Galbraith's (JK Rowling) Cormoran Strike series? They are fun.

Just had a thought - Sarah Hilary's police procedurals are much more thrillerish than most. No Other Darkness or Someone Else's Skin.

Thanks monkeyonthetable. Have not heard of Sarah Hilary before but have just looked at Amazon reviews and they look great Have ordered Someone Else's Skin so thanks again for taking time to recommend!

I saw the review of 'Best Recent Thrillers' in The Guardian today and noticed they were recommending the latest (not out yet) by Louise Candlish. Has anyone ready any of her previous and would you also recommend? And if so, which one is best to start with?

Have you read Firefly by Henry Porter? I loved it. His follow up White Hot Silence was good but not as wonderful as Firefly.

Nicci French

Sorry you said no Nicci French

I know you said British but I've really enjoyed the Tana French Dublin crime novels.

I enjoyed Blood Orange by Hariette Tyce.

Thank you everyone for the recommendations. Gosh, Amazon reviews are so contradictory aren't they but on the strength of those have ordered a Sarah Hilary and a Tana French - plus a Louise Welsh recommended to me elsewhere - that should keep me going through the summer!

I haven't finished it so I hope the ending doesn't let it down but I am addicted to "The Chain" by Adrian McKinty at the moment. Although as a parent it terrifies me.

Mick Heron - Slow Horses, or any of his novels

Simon Kernick? Quite violent though.

Ooh, not heard of Simon Kernick before so thank you for that, I will definitely get one of his and try it out! Have read all of Mick Heron's which I enjoyed but thanks again for taking time to recommend.

I've just read and loved American Dirt. More literary than your average thriller but one of the most gripping accounts of fleeing from the threat of being murdered that I've ever read.

Highly recommended.

I've never heard of the Artemis File but just looked it up and definitely going to get it, thanks OP! Have you read I Am Pilgrim?

Currently reading The Assistant by SK Tremayne it's brilliant I can't put it down!

Ohffs66 - you are welcome. The Artemis File is the best thriller I have read in ages so very happy to recommend. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Yes, I read "I Am Pilgrim" a few years ago when it first came out!

I'm reading MA Comley's justice series arm.

In the past have enjoyed the LJ Ross series.

Have you read Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie series? Not fast-paced but well written and original in style I think.