Ian Rankin's latest standalone thriller, The Heights (Orion, £25), explores themes of gentrification and community displacement through the investigation of a suspicious death. DS Gillian Gish is assigned to the case of Dwayne Hogarth, a night-shift security guard found dead in a luxury tower block overlooking London’s Hyde Park. Residents, including a young singer and a gangster’s wife, prove unhelpful, and the developer faces financial woes. As revelations emerge and a second corpse appears, Rankin’s storytelling maintains high standards, with Gish emerging as a relatable lead worthy of her own series.
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The Mortons by Scott Westerfeld and Justine Larbalestier (Viking, £18.99) delves into the dark side of an American family entwined in murder and fraud. Jessica Morton, the family's hopeful successor, reflects on the necessity of brutality to thrive. Tasked with proving her coldness through the care of pet rabbits, Jessica's violent tendencies manifest early. However, a summer internship brings complications, leading her to question her family's values. While the narrative is vibrant and humor-infused, some readers may find the violence and its portrayal of numerous characters disorienting.
Alys Cummings’s debut novel, Murder Most Cryptic (Michael Joseph, £16.99), opens with a shocking event at an addiction recovery meeting when a man named Laurence collapses and dies, leaving behind a cryptic crossword clue: Murder. The attendees, quicker to suspect foul play than the authorities, embark on a quest to unravel the mystery with a blend of unreliable narration and emotional backstories enhancing the plot. The puzzle element serves as a clever addition for readers, with answers provided at the end.
AJ West's The Deadly Inheritance of Everest Macdonald (Orenda, £20) offers a historical mystery that reinterprets the 1897 murder of actor William Terris outside the Adelphi theatre. Set against the backdrop of World War I, Everest is charged with uncovering her uncle's death’s truth through family history intertwined with themes of blackmail, romance, and vendettas. This atmospheric and well-researched novel captivates with its melodrama and historical intrigue.
Gillian Slovo’s Inheritance (Peepal Tree, £12.99) addresses generational trauma in post-apartheid South Africa. After her sister Gail's suicide linked to Deborah Harrison’s novel about their family history, Deborah, who has lived with the belief that their mother murdered their father, receives a will instructing her to find their long-absent mother. As she navigates this journey, Deborah's understanding of their family’s past becomes increasingly complex. The novel weaves themes of memory, trauma, and reconciliation into a moving narrative.