Popular European Crime Books

Find crime books written by authors from Europe for the next part of the Read Around The World Challenge. (219)

171.

The Last Crossing by Brian McGilloway EN

Rating: 5 (1 vote)
Description:
*LONGLISTED FOR THE THEAKSTON OLD PECULER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2021* 'Poetic, human and gripping... reminded me of Bernard MacLaverty's early work. Yes, it's that good' Ian Rankin 'Moving and powerful, this is an important book, which everyone should read' Ann Cleeves 'The Last Crossing is not only a riveting story about loss and guilt in a fractured society, it is also an important work. Beautifully written and lingers long in the memory' Steve Cavanagh Tony, Hugh and Karen thought they'd seen the last of each other thirty years ago. Half a lifetime has passed and memories have been buried... continue

172.

The Legacy : A Thriller by Yrsa Sigurdardottir EN

Rating: 4 (2 votes)
Country: Europe / Iceland flag Iceland
Description:
Required to both question and protect a traumatized seven-year-old girl who is the only witness to a murder, rookie detective Huldar and psychologist Freyja navigate elusive clues left behind by an unusually slippery killer.

173.

The Lost Girls of Rome by Donato Carrisi EN

Rating: 4 (1 vote)
Country: Europe / Italy flag Italy
Description:
A young girl has mysteriously disappeared in Rome. As rain lashes the ancient streets, two men, Clemente and Marcus, sit in a café near the Piazza Navona and pore over the details of the case. They are members of the ancient Penitenzeri - a unique Italian team, linked to the Vatican, and trained in the detection of true evil. But they are not alone. Sandra - a brilliant forensics expert with a tragic past - is also working on the case. When her path crosses theirs, not only do they make headway in the case of the missing girl, but they also uncover a terrible secret world, hidden in the dark r... continue

174.

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides EN

Rating: 3 (21 votes)
Country: Europe / Cyprus flag Cyprus
Description:
We all keep secrets. Even from ourselves. 'A thrilling, heart-in-throat ride' STEPHEN FRY 'An absolute jaw-dropper' LUCY FOLEY 'Elegant, sinister, stylish' CHRIS WHITAKER 'Grips from start to finish' HARRIET TYCE * * * * * YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE MAIDENS. The Maidens are Cambridge University's most exclusive society, whose members are selected by the charismatic professor of Greek tragedy, Edward Fosca. A SECRETIVE SET OF THE BRIGHTEST, MOST CAPTIVATING STUDENTS. When one of the Maidens is murdered, grieving young therapist Mariana Andros is drawn back to the idyllic campus where she was o... continue

175.

The Man from Beijing by Henning Mankell EN

Rating: 4 (1 vote)
Country: Europe / Sweden flag Sweden
Description:
In the aftermath of the 2006 massacre of 19 people in a Swedish village, Judge Birgitta Roslin, a granddaughter of two of the victims, discovers the 19th-century diary of a gang leader that reveals the case's eerie connections to the abuse of Chinese slave workers. By the award-winning author of the Kurt Wallander mysteries.

176.

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman EN

Rating: 5 (1 vote)
Country: Europe / England flag England
Description:
The second installment in the beloved and New York Times bestselling series from Richard Osman, also author of We Solve Murders “It’s taken a mere two books for Richard Osman to vault into the upper leagues of crime writers. . . The Man Who Died Twice. . . dives right into joyous fun." —The New York Times Book Review Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim—the Thursday Murder Club—are still riding high off their recent real-life murder case and are looking forward to a bit of peace and quiet at Cooper’s Chase, their posh retirement village. But they are out of luck. An unexpected visitor—an old pal ... continue

177.

The Master of the Day of Judgment by Leo Perutz EN

Rating: 3 (1 vote)
Description:
Vienna, 1909. When the celebrated actor Eugen Bischoff is found dead in his garden pavilion, suspicion falls immediately on Baron von Yosch, a well-to-do army officer who was once the lover of the dead man’s wife. By all appearances—the door was locked from the inside when the two shots rang out—the actor took his own life, but someone, or something, drove him to it. The baron sets out to learn all he can about the actor’s death in order to clear his name. Meanwhile, within a few days, similar apparent suicides are reported. What started out as a straightforward quest to establish Bischoff’s l... continue

178.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie EN

Rating: 5 (3 votes)
Country: Europe / England flag England
Description:
One of Agatha Christie’s most famous novels, featuring her beloved detective Hercule Poirot—and her most surprising twist. The story that made Agatha Christie famous ends with one of her most dramatic twists. The villagers of King’s Abbot are shocked when a wealthy local widow commits suicide and the very next day her fiancé, Roger Ackroyd, is stabbed to death. Dr. James Sheppard, the local physician, discovers the body of his friend and narrates the ensuing hunt for the killer. All the guests and staff at Ackroyd's country house seem to have solid alibis—except for his missing stepson. But as... continue

179.

The Murderer’s Ape by Jakob Wegelius EN

Rating: 5 (1 vote)
Country: Europe / Sweden flag Sweden
Description:
A captivating mystery adventure story, with gorgeously detailed black-and-white illustrations throughout ‘I don't know when I last read a book with such pure and unalloyed pleasure. It's ingenious, it's moving, it's charming, it's beautiful, it's exciting, and most importantly the characters are people I feel I know like old friends. I thank Jakob Wegelius wholeheartedly for giving me several hours of joy." - Philip Pullman Sally Jones is not only a loyal friend, she's an extraordinary individual. In overalls or in a maharaja's turban, this unique gorilla moves among humans without speaking bu... continue

180.
The Murderess

The Murderess by Alexandros Papadiamantis EN

Rating: 5 (1 vote)
Country: Europe / Greece flag Greece
Description:
The Murderess is a bone-chilling tale of crime and punishment with the dark beauty of a backwoods ballad. Set on the dirt-poor Aegean island of Skiathos, it is the story of Hadoula, an old woman living on the margins of society and at the outer limits of respectability. Hadoula knows about herbs and their hidden properties, and women come to her when they need help. She knows women’s secrets and she knows the misery of their lives, and as the book begins, she is trying to stop her new-born granddaughter from crying so that her daughter can at last get a little sleep. She rocks the baby and roc... continue