Status: 21.09.2023, 09:54 a.m.
By: Sven Trautwein
Thrillers and autumn go together immensely. Not only on television there are new episodes of "Tatort", also new thrillers appear.
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Feel-good thrillers, so-called cozy thrillers, are extremely popular with readers. The books offer exciting entertainment, one or the other mystery that needs to be solved and less the dark and brutal description of the crime. To relax a little in autumn, these crime novels are ideal, whose representatives include, for example, Agatha Christie or, more recently, Richard Osman ("The Thursday Murder Club"). We present four new cosy thrillers here.
"The Houseboat Detective Agency" is one of four cozy thrillers in the fall of 2023 that should be read. © Loop Images/Imago/S. Fischer Verlage (Montage)
What is a cozy murder mystery?
A "cozy mystery" (also spelled "cozy mystery" or "cozy crime") is a subgenre of the detective novel that is characterized by a cozy and rather relaxed atmosphere. In these crime novels, the focus is not on the depiction of violence and brutality, but rather on entertainment and guesswork. Preferably in one of the favorite places to read. Often, regional thrillers can also be found among the cosy thrillers. In Germany, publisher Hermann-Josef Emons made them known. The following four titles are not only a lot of fun in autumn:
Amy Achterop "Tödlicher Grund" – Die Hausboot-Detektei Band 2
After the first volume "Tödlicher Genuss", which became a bestseller, the second cozy thriller of the houseboat troupe around Arie, Maddie, Jack, Jan and Elin is now available. The third volume has already been announced for March 2024. As in the first volume, Amy Achterop creates a feel-good atmosphere. She succeeds in this with the lovable characters and the somewhat unusual setting of a detective agency on a houseboat. Reading and investigating is fun. A light holiday read, not only for autumn.
Even the most carefree lounging on deck must come to an end at some point. It's autumn in Amsterdam. And without heating oil, it will be uncomfortable even on the most beautiful houseboat. The order situation is meager. Until a supposedly boring case challenges the amateur detectives: Their client is suddenly found dead and turns out to be a whistleblower. The respected expert on deep-sea mining of raw materials was on the verge of ruining her company. Murder?
Blurb/S. Fischer Publishers
Amy Achterop "Tödlicher Grund" – Die Hausboot-Detektei Band 2
2023 S. Fischer Verlag, ISBN-13 978-3-596-70679-2
Price: Paperback 12 €, 304 pages
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Klaus-Peter Wolf "A Murderous Couple – The Promise"
East Frisia is at the top of the list when it comes to regional crime novels. According to the publisher's website, there are more than 460 crime novels set in the holiday region of East Frisia, each with almost 70 investigators. In order to land a trick here, not only an exciting plot is required, but also sympathetic characters and the setting. Klaus-Peter Wolf has shown how it works in his previous East Frisian thrillers. "A Murderous Couple" marks the beginning of a new crime series written by him. Here, too, a second volume has been announced for 2024.
A thirteen-year-old schoolboy is dead. Died of a heroin overdose. The one responsible for this has just been acquitted. For lack of evidence. And because many witnesses could not remember. Because the police made mistakes. So the one they also call the Dutchman was able to leave the courthouse a free man. I won't let him get away with that, thinks Dr. Bernhard Sommerfeldt. I'm going to have to pay him a visit. And his future wife suspects that the tranquil life in East Frisia will not work out anytime soon.
Blurb/S. Fischer Verlag
Klaus-Peter Wolf "A Murderous Couple – The Promise"
2023 S. Fischer-Verlage, ISBN-13 978-3-596-70755-3
Price: Paperback 13 €, 464 pages
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S. J. Bennett "A Most Royal Murder"
The Queen investigates for the third time and thus acts as the Miss Marple of entertainment. The author, who has always had a great interest in the British royal family, humorously shows how to create an interesting character. So: Grab it and retreat to your favorite place to read and enjoy!
A shocking discovery on the beach of Sandringham House leaves only one conclusion for the Queen of England: old Edward St. Cyr was the victim of murder! There are plenty of suspects – including the royal groom, a shady land broker, an aristocratic neighbour and several relatives of the dead man – which doesn't make the case any easier for Queen Elizabeth and her quick-witted assistant Rozie. The search for clues finally leads the two ladies to the old moated castle Godwick Hall. But how do the pieces of the puzzle fit together? And do Rozie and the Queen puzzle fast enough to save the next victim?
Blurb/Droemer
S. J. Bennett "A Most Royal Murder"
Translated by Werner Löcher-Lawrence
2023 Droemer, ISBN-13 978-3-426-22742-8, 336 pages
Price: Hardcover 20 €, E-Book 14,99 €
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Lars Haider: "Someone has to do the job"
The editor-in-chief of the Hamburger Abendblatt, Lars Haider, presents an entertaining crime thriller: Reporter Lukas Hammerstein had imagined it all quite differently. It was supposed to be a relaxed sabbatical. But it doesn't come to that. A humorous thriller that makes you want to explore the Hanseatic city of Hamburg in these footsteps. As Hörzu says: "Tongue-in-cheek, with local colour". The title of the book is based on the song title of the same name by Udo Lindenberg and, together with the dachshund lady Finchen, makes him one of the real stars of the book. What more could you ask for?
Hamburg, 2017: The Elbphilharmonie is open, the Rolling Stones play in the Stadtpark, the Schanzenviertel is on fire at the G20 meeting – and Lukas Hammerstein can't take it anymore. The reporter has worked all year and is looking forward to a sabbatical. If only it weren't for dachshund lady Finchen, who took Lukas in without knowing that the dog has a little damage ... And it gets worse: a journalist is murdered, the police are at a loss. Lukas has no choice, because: "Someone has to do the job" – as it says in a song by his good friend Udo.
Blurb/Hoffmann and Campe
Lars Haider: "Someone has to do the job"
2023 Hoffmann und Campe, ISBN-13 978-3-455-01630-7
Price: Paperback 18 €, 384 pages
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If you prefer the harder crime thrillers from time to time, we will introduce you to what is behind the Nordic Noir genre. Here we have put together another five books for you to relax, which are not only fun on vacation.
