August is a big month for crime and thriller fans, with major releases landing from all corners of the genre. Adam Kay, best known for his darkly comic medical memoir, This Is Going to Hurt, makes an unexpected (and razor-sharp) leap into fiction with his debut murder mystery, A Particularly Nasty Case. Adele Parks marks a milestone with her 25th thriller in 25 years – a pace matched only by her ability to keep readers hooked.
And then there’s Sheepdogs by Elliot Ackerman, a gripping CIA crime novel already on the fast track to TV – you really don’t want to miss this one. So whether you’re after psychological twists, insider intrigue, or classic whodunnit tension, here is what to read this month…
A Particularly Nasty Case by Adam Kay
Dr Eitan Rose suspects a hospital consultant’s death wasn’t natural – but even after a second doctor dies, no one believes him. Battling personal demons, he seeks to uncover the truth.
Orion, £20
Sheepdogs by Elliot Ackerman
Washed-up CIA operatives Skwerl and Cheese are pulled into a chaotic mission. From covert gigs to global conspiracies, this razor-smart thriller is already TV-bound – and totally addictive.
Viking, £16.99
Body Count by Julie Mae Cohen
Saffy kills bad men. It’s just her thing. But now someone is onto her – and they might be worse than her victims. Twisted and full of bite, this one is for readers who like their crime fiction with a dose of dark humour.
Zaffre, £16.99
Wolf Hour by Jo Nesbo
Detective Bob Oz dives into a string of killings in wintry Minnesota, but these murders don’t look like gang violence – they look like something else entirely. A taut standalone from the king of Nordic noir.
Harvill Secker, £22
Our Beautiful Mess by Adele Parks
Fran’s pregnancy should be good news – but her mother senses something is very wrong with the man involved. Parks’ 25th book in as many years reminds us why she is the reigning queen of domestic suspense.
HQ, £16.99
Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
Serial killer Lottie Jones is ageing, tired and very nearly exposed. When a young journalist comes sniffing around, Lottie must decide: kill again, or finally let it all unravel? Sharp, sly and darkly hilarious.
Michael Joseph, £16.99
The Cut by Richard Armitage
When not starring in Harlen Coben dramas, Armitage is writing twisty stories himself. The Cut follows a father whose son is cast in the lead of a film – and the storyline feels unnervingly familiar to his own past.
Faber, £18.99
The Cut Throat Trial by SJ Fleet
The debut novel from The Secret Barrister, written under another pen name, is a courtroom thriller in which three teens are found covered in blood beside a murdered, 74-year-old man – but deny any involvement.
Picador, £20
The Picasso Heist by James Patterson
Art student Halston wants justice for her imprisoned father. So when a Picasso goes on auction, she sees it as her chance to make the kind of money that will help free him – by pulling off a heist with a team of misfits.
Century, £20
The Rivals by Jane Pek
Claudia Lin’s job at a dating detective agency turns dangerous when clients start dying and tech giants fight to keep their secrets buried. A mystery for the digital age that’s spiky, smart and full of heart.
Verve, £10.99
The Samurai and the Prisoner by Honobu Yonezawa
Trapped in a castle under siege, a samurai must solve a string of eerie crimes among his men. A chilling, cerebral mystery set in 16th century Japan, which blends history with suspense.
Sphere, £15.99
Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner
In Arizona, Frankie Elkin digs into the disappearance of an Afghan refugee no one seems to care about. But this case is personal – and deadly. A tense, timely thriller with emotional heft and gripping twists.
Century, £18.99
I Want Everything by Dominic Amerena
A young writer becomes obsessed with an elderly woman he believes is a missing literary icon, but chasing her story leads him into a spiral of secrets. A novel full of brilliantly written misdirection.
Scribner, £14.99
The Peak by Sam Guthrie
In this high-stakes thriller set over 24 hours, written by a former diplomat, three Mandarin words whispered to a politician set off a global meltdown. Soon after, he is dead – and it’s up to his closest ally to piece it all together.
HarperCollins, £16.99
