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.

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

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

Stella Rimmington? Former director general of MI5 turned author.

Another vote for Blood Orange and The Assistant. Just raced through Blood Orange and The Assistant has me gripped too.

Have just borrowed T M Logan's 29 Seconds from the library for the weekend

@Peachypips78

I was just about to say the Jackson Brodie books, but you said it thrice!

I think they are well written, atmospheric and have good characterisation.

The Cormoran Strike series is amazing, I raced through them and am now annoyed I have to wait to Sept for number 5!

Thank you again everyone for all the recommendations. There are quite a lot that I hadn't heard of before, which is great, and I will check them all out.

Those people is a good read.

The One.

Just wondered if anyone has read 'The Spy & The Traitor' by Ben MacIntyre? A friend (of a friend) recommended it to me and the reviews look great but as ever, any MN views would be really appreciated. Thanks.

@EauDeChlorine, husband and I both read Blood Orange and didn’t really enjoy it as we didn’t like any of the characters. Interesting to find someone who did. Opinions vary.

Yes, I've seen some very mixed reviews for Blood Orange so decided not to try that one. It is personal taste of course. I have tried reading Captain Corelli's Mandolin about four times but always give up after about six chapters - I just find the whole thing so dull and boring. But I have friends (whose taste I usually share) who think it is one of the best books they have ever read. Ditto Harro Potter - really can't see what all the fuss is about!

Yes, I have read The Spy and the Traitor and have recommended it to a few people. I have also never finished Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (started it twice).

I do, however, like Harry Potter...

Opinions seem to vary on Blood Orange. Personally I absolutely loved it. Any recommendations for something similar very much appreciated. I seem to like books with mixed reviews. One of my other favourites is Tideline by Penny Hancock. Again very mixed opinions on that one.

I’ve just discovered Louise Candlish and have been ripping through her back catalogue. Highly recommend Our House - if you enjoy that, you’ll like her others too.

Another fan here of Blood Orange-It drew me in as I loved reading about the chaotic lifestyle of Alison and watching her try to maintain a successful career as a barrister and a compassionate mother and wife.

Other authors I've enjoyed;
T M Logan-all four titles he's written so far
Michelle Frances- as above!
B A Paris
Rachel Abbott
Mark Edwards.

Also happy to hear of similar authors to try

If you like B A Paris and Rachel Abbott you should try C L Taylor. I took "Behind Closed Doors" (Paris), "Only The Innocent" (Abbott) and "The Accident" (Taylor) all on holiday a few years ago and "The Accident" was by far the best in my opinion. But all similar in terms of genre and style. Hope that helps.

Hi Smarty

That's really helpful, thank you.

I do keep looking at C L Taylor's titles on the library shelves but for some reason have never got round to borrowing any.

I'll rectify that on my next visit

Not usually my thing (historical rather than contemporary) but I keep getting recommended the Shardlake series by C J Sansom. Are there any fans out there and if so, are they genuine, page-turning, plot-twisting thrillers or are they more historical novels with a bit of thriller thrown in? Might an over-commitment for me if the latter...

I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes.

Louise Candlish is great. Agree Our House is very good. Have you tried mark edwards? I also like The One by John Mars.

I'm also enjoying Louise Candlish at the moment.

Platform 7 by Louise Doughty (author of Apple Tree Yard) was also good.

And if you have ordered Tana French dublin murder squad make sure it's the first in the series, I'm very jealous you haven't read them yet, I loved them and The Wytch Tree which is fabulous. For any other TF she has a new release I noticed yesterday in November. I've preordered.

Not usually my thing (historical rather than contemporary) but I keep getting recommended the Shardlake series by C J Sansom. Are there any fans out there and if so, are they genuine, page-turning, plot-twisting thrillers or are they more historical novels with a bit of thriller thrown in?

Not page-turning thrillers so much as historical detective novels I would say OP. If you're interested in an atmospheric depiction of Tudor London it helps. I really enjoyed them.

Rosamund Lupton.

I have only read one- I can't remember the exact number (Three Hours possibly) but it was one of those you finish in a day and such blessed relief from "best friend turns into psycho" stuff that seems to fill the shelves this days.

I think I avoided RL because her name makes it sound like she should be writing "one last summer of love in the Cornish tearooms" kind of stuff

I've read some Louise Candlish and Rachael Abbott and filed both in my "good kindle crime" shelf on Goodreads (there is also a "best friend turns psycho churned out dross" shelf, so while I can't remember the plots, they are superior modern psycho thrillers!

I enjoyed the first Cormoran Strike, but I'm afraid she lost me forever with Silkworm.

I like Shardlake but would agree that though they are nominally crime, they're more historical fiction than thriller.

Love both Graham Green and John Le Carre. Of their time, and classics.