Book Reviews
Most of the reviews on this website are written by members of our Oundle Crime book group, and if you enjoy reading crime fiction and thrillers and want to find out more about the group, click here. Having said that, we love posting reviews of other literary genres, so if you’d like to write something about a book you’ve enjoyed, please send your review to us at join@friendsofoundlelibrary.org.uk
Our book reviews are rated from 1 to 5 Stars, where 5 Stars is outstanding. To find out more about our scoring system, scroll down to the bottom of this page. Below are our latest reviews, and if you click through to one you’ll find our 6-month archive. Finally, if you decide to buy a book linked to our website, we may earn commission from Bookshop.org – an online retailer that supports independent bookshops.
17 July 2026
Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
This 2025 thriller is really cleverly plotted. The tension builds slowly and the ending is very satisfying indeed, even if it’s a little ambiguous! 4+ Stars
10 July 2026
Turn the Dial for Death by Jeremy Vine
The follow-up to Jeremy Vine’s debut novel (Murder on Line One) that was published last year. This is less accomplished but would qualify as good holiday reading.
3 July 2026
Oundle Crime recommends
June was the Crime Writers’ Association Crime Reading Month, and in the National Year of Reading it was Jury June, so many of the books Oundle Crime recommend this month have been nominated for 2026 awards ….
28 June 2026
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
A standalone novel by an author whose books get better and better. An unusual story and an excellent plot that’s full of menace, with well-drawn characters and an ending that’s as shocking as it is unexpected.
19 June 2026
The Last Ride by Nick Louth
Book 2 in Nick Louth’s series about DI Jan Talantire, and it’s a cracker. A twisty, sharp and clever story that makes it difficult to put the book down.
12 June 2026
Mudlarking by Lara Maiklem
A lyrical description of mudlarking on the River Thames, which takes the reader from Richmond down to the estuary. Full of interest and beautifully written.
7 June 2026
Other People’s Houses by Clare Mackintosh
Book 3 in the DC Ffion Morgan series has two different police forces working on two different and separate investigations … until they realise the two cases are linked. An entertaining page-turner …
30 May 2026
Oundle Crime recommends
A smörgåsbord of seven novels, including Golden Age classic crime, recent bestsellers and a smattering of books that have been made into films … because in the Year of Reading, this was Movie May.
24 May 2026
The Castle by John Sutherland
Yes, it’s an action thriller. Yes, it’s obviously fiction. But the author’s career as a high-ranking police officer and hostage and crisis negotiator gives this novel a real whiff of authenticity and it’s a great story!
15 May 2026
Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards
Written in the tradition of Golden Age crime fiction this mystery is full of twists and clues for the reader, and there are also interactive puzzles to solve along the way.
What’s in a Star?
Deciding why you like an author or have enjoyed a book is, of course, entirely subjective, and everyone who comes along to meetings of Oundle Crime has different tastes. So how do we try to get some consistency in our Star ratings? Well, after some discussion, we’ve come up with the following:
- 5 Stars: Outstanding and unforgettable. A book you can’t wait to tell others about.
- 4 Stars: A good book with an interesting, layered story. Will still remember after a month.
- 3 Stars: Not good or bad, just an average story and characters. You enjoyed reading it, but might not remember it after a month.
- 2 Stars: Poorly written, superficial and probably a bit of a yawn. Forgettable.
- 1 Star: Rubbish through and through. A book you wish you hadn’t read and don’t want to remember!
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