Portobello Book Blog

Continuing my Top Reads of 2018 today with a couple of cracking crime reads. Well, it’s a bit of a cheat really for my second choice as you’ll see in a minute!

In this standalone novel, the action begins with a shockingly violent scene. A businessman is viciously attacked in his own home in front of his wife. The attacker hands himself into the police very soon after and confesses to the crime. The book then explores exactly why this crime took place from the points of view of those three characters. It’s a really gripping read, so well plotted. This book means it’s three years in a row that a book from Joanne Spain has featured in my top reads list! It was a real pleasure to meet her earlier this year at Bloody Scotland. You can read my full review here: The Confession

My next choice is the one that’s a bit of a cheat as it’s actually a trilogy. To be fair though, there is no way you could read Episode One without immediately wanting to read Episode Two. And then Episode Three! Also in my defence, the trilogy is now available to buy as one bundle for Kindle. Dark of Night is a real edge-of-the-seat read which is fast-paced, full of twists and turns as police try to solve the murder of Lorna and so does her friend Ruari. Honestly, couldn’t put these books down and really you have to read them all. Excellent crime writing from CS Duffy who certainly knows how to write a cliffhanger. You can read my review of Episodes One and Two here and Episode Three here.

Have you read any of these books? What has been your favourite crime read this year?