Top 5 crime books of 2022, chosen by Mark Edwards

No Place to Run author Mark Edwards chooses his pick of the crime novels published this year.

1. Five Decembers by James Kestrel

An old-fashioned epic of a crime novel, set during World War II, which starts with a brutal murder in Hawaii before moving to Tokyo via Hong Kong. An utterly gripping action thriller with a lot of heart.

2. The Whisper House by CS Green

When police are called in to investigate a disturbance at a house with a dark past, it soon becomes clear this is not your usual domestic case. A spooky mix of police procedural and conjuring-style horror that’s perfect for Halloween.

3. The Island of Lost Girls by Alex Marwood

Island noir is a big thing at the moment, and this ripped-from-the-headlines thriller is the best of the lot. Young girls are being lured to a paradise island where entitled men lie in wait. Topical, chilling and beautifully written. 

4. The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

You just can’t go wrong with Lisa Jewell and this, the sequel to The Family Upstairs, is a treat. It starts with the discovery of a bag of human bones by the Thames and is full of memorable characters all of whom seem like real people. 

5. The Hike by Susi Holliday

Susi Holliday sends two sisters and their other halves up a mountain in Switzerland and has enormous fun making them argue, bicker and generally behave like the most toxic bunch ever. A swift, fun read with a killer twist.

On September 30, Mark Edwards will be at Capital Crime festival (September 29-October 1)

No Place To Run by Mark Edwards is out now (Thomas & Mercer, £8.99). You can buy it from  The Big Issue shop on Bookshop.org, which helps to support The Big Issue and independent bookshops.

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