If you are the kind of person who can think of no better way of seeing out the rest of the year than by curling up with a book which keeps you turning the pages, then I come with good news: November brings with it a terrific selection of crime and thriller releases.
For starters, there is the return of Jack Reacher in the 30th book by Lee Child (this one written with his brother Andrew), and new work from crime fiction giant David Baldacci. Then there are some incredible mysteries written by newer authors – don’t miss Francine Toon’s atmospheric Bluff – and even a novel billed as a Japanese Thursday Murder Club.
But that is not all. Here is our pick of the books to get lost in this month…
Exit Strategy by Lee Child and Andrew Child
Poor Jack Reacher can’t catch a break. In his 30th outing in the Childs’ novels, his mission begins with a coffee stop and spirals into a deadly chain of events when a note found in his pocket sets him on a dangerous path.
Bantam, £22
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
A remote research base, a stranger washed ashore, and a family guarding secrets. McConaghy’s eco-thriller blends suspense and atmosphere – it is no wonder it has already made serious waves in the US.
Canongate, £9.99
Bluff by Francine Toon
Set against Scotland’s eerie coastline, this dual-timeline mystery follows Joanie’s disappearance and Cameron’s search for answers a decade later. Toon layers unease and memory, crafting a chilling, slow-burn novel.
Doubleday, £16.99
Executive Power by Tom Clancy
When the US president’s son goes missing in Africa, he must choose between country and family. Clancy’s trademark geopolitical tension meets personal stakes in a story that tests both ideals and blood ties.
Sphere, £25
The Last Grave by TF Muir
A body in the River Clyde pulls DCI Andy Gilchrist deep into Glasgow’s criminal underworld. Gritty and fast-moving, Muir’s latest Scottish noir is steeped in moral murk and procedural authenticity.
Constable, £25
Murder at Christmas by GB Rubin
Part golden-age whodunnit, part interactive gamebook, 100 per cent Christmas gift in the making. Step into 30s England as Dr Kinn Tenor and solve the crime in this choose-your-own-adventure.
Simon & Schuster, £11.99
My Grandfather, the Master Detective by Masateru Konishi
Billed as a Japanese Thursday Murder Club, this sweet mystery pairs a young teacher with her sharp-minded grandfather, whose memory may be fading, but whose instincts endure.
Macmillan, £16.99
The Burning Grounds by Abir Mukherjee
Captain Sam Wyndham returns to Calcutta, drawn into the shadows following a murder. Mukherjee’s eye for period detail and ear for dialogue bring this world vividly, dangerously alive.
Harvill Secker, £18.99
Unlucky for Some by Tom Wood
Victor, the world’s deadliest assassin, is wounded and cornered in Malmö. With enemies closing in, he must fight to survive. Brutal, efficient and relentless, this is a pure hitman thriller with cinematic flair.
Sphere, £25
The Token by Sharon Bolton
Seven strangers inherit a billionaire’s fortune — and a deadly invitation. Trapped on a doomed cruise, they must face their pasts and each other. Bolton spins a sleek, high-stakes mystery of greed and guilt.
Orion, £22
Nash Falls by David Baldacci
Walter Nash’s orderly life collapses when the FBI enlists him to infiltrate a global crime ring. Baldacci blends domestic drama with corporate espionage in a taut story of loyalty, deception and survival.
Macmillan, £22
The Shame Game by LD Smithson
Anonymous messages force friends to destroy each others’ lives in order to keep their own secrets buried. This dark, compulsive premise is a modern morality tale wrapped in pure suspense.
Penguin, £9.99
The Afterparty by Ruth Kelly
A glamorous Amsterdam reunion turns sour when one woman disappears and another becomes the prime suspect. Kelly keeps the tension high and the emotions raw in this sleek, modern missing-person thriller.
Pan, £9.99
The Lake by Jørn Lier Horst
Detective William Wisting connects two long-cold disappearances after new evidence surfaces on opposite sides of a drained lake. Calm, methodical, and quietly gripping — classic Nordic noir precision.
Michael Joseph, £18.99
