Freida McFadden, Valentin Musso, Joyce Maynard: familiar names are taking centre stage this week in the world of crime fiction. Which one will you read first?
With the start of a new month comes a wave of exciting new crime releases. This week’s selection ranges from claustrophobic locked-room suspense and family drama to dark speculative fiction and contemporary investigations. These six novels paint a picture of a world where tension arises as much from intimate relationships as from a society out of balance.
The 6 crime selection of the week – 4 May 2026
The Intruder, by Freida McFadden
An isolated house, a storm, a stranger appearing out of the night: Freida McFadden returns to the kind of setting she handles so brilliantly. From the very first pages, an uneasy atmosphere takes hold. Casey takes in a young woman covered in blood, but inconsistencies soon begin to undermine this act of compassion.
The author plays skilfully with perception, setting up a relentless chain of events. As always, the reader moves forward uncertainly, torn between empathy and suspicion. A taut and gripping read that reminds us why Freida McFadden has become one of the leading figures in psychological thrillers today.
Sanctuary, by James Cleary
This speculative thriller shifts to an entirely different scale. In a near future devastated by climate disasters, an elite group shelters in a luxurious bunker while the rest of the world struggles to survive.
As tensions rise, divisions between the privileged and the abandoned become increasingly clear. The novel examines power dynamics, morality and the limits of survival. A dark and unsettling read rooted in very contemporary anxieties.
The Influencer, by Joyce Maynard
With this thriller inspired by real events, American author Joyce Maynard tackles society’s modern obsession with online visibility. A young couple’s trip, carefully designed for social media, spirals into tragedy when the young woman is found dead.
The novel shifts between multiple perspectives, constantly blurring certainty. Through themes of fascination, voyeurism and manipulation, the author captures with precision the darker side of an era in which everyone is desperate to tell their own version of the story.
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