Six mysteries that capture the essence of London

Caz Frear grew up in Coventry, England, and spent her teenage years dreaming of moving to London and writing a novel. After fulfilling her first dream, it wasn’t until she moved back to Coventry thirteen years later that the second finally came true. She has a degree in History & Politics, and when she’s not agonizing over snappy dialogue or incisive prose, she can be found shouting at Arsenal football matches or holding court in the pub on topics she knows nothing about. Sweet Little Lies is her first novel.

Frear's new book is Stone Cold Heart, her second novel featuring DC Cat Kinsella.

At CrimeReads the author tagged six mysteries that capture the essence of England's capital, including:

The Poison Tree, by Erin Kelly

Erin Kelly’s debut is an expert character study; a suspense-filled story about the intensity of female friendships and the magic of falling in love for the first time. In the summer of 1997, Karen, a high-achieving, strait-laced graduate, meets Biba, a beautiful but damaged actress, along with her doting brother, Rex, and the three form an intense bond that will end in murder before the summer is out. London, specifically Highgate (North London) swelters and shimmers throughout this novel, taking on an almost magical quality. The crumbling mansion where Biba and Rex live, and where Karen revels in her new exciting world, is a distinct character in itself—dank and imposing; a spooky oasis in the heart of Queen’s Wood.

Read about another entry on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue