Crime Fiction Links of the Week for August 29, 2026

 

It's time again for Crime Fiction Links of the Week, our weekly round-up of interesting links about crime fiction from around the web, this week with Lanterns, Vigil, Furious, The Whisper Man, tributes to Peter Cullen, Tim Curry and Dolly Parton and much more.
 

Crime fiction in general: 

• CrimeReads shares ten new crime novels coming out this week. 
• CrimeReads shares their favourite true crime books coming out in August 2026. 
• Henry Wise shares seven crime novels that take readers to extraordinary, uncharted regions 
• Holly Craig explains why thriller readers love reading about characters who are trapped 
• Paul French shares mysteries set on Fire Island, New York.
• Amelia Nierenberg reports about the popularity of crime fiction in Iceland. 
• Matthew Sorrento talks about the connection between horror and crime.  
• Gabbi Calabrese explains what kids can learn from reading mysteries
• Francesca Regulado remembers Keigo Higashino. 

 

Film and TV:  

• Paul Hirons looks ahead at crime dramas coming out this autumn and winter. 
• Phil Hoad calls The Secret Woman a Danish amnesia thriller 
• Catherine Bray notes that in Rise of the Footsoldier: Retribution the never-ending hardman-on-a-mission franchise heads to Ibiza 
• Garrick Webster shares his thoughts on series 2 of Ludwig. 
• Paul Hirons shares his thoughts on the first two episodes of series 2 of Bookish. 
• Chris Jenkins shares his thoughts on series 4 of Professor T.  
• Martin Edwards shares his thoughts on Good Boy. 
• Ben Rosenstock shares his thoughts on the latest episode of The Shards.
• Jack Seale calls The Murder Detective a remarkable documentary about the killers of the Northern Irish journalist Lyra McKee 
• Leslie Felperin calls Hanging by a Wire a tense, skilfully assembled survival documentary.
• Sarah Dempster calls Rainbow Warrior a gasp-inducing documentary. 
• Michael Hogan interviews Tony Grisoni, screenwriter of the 2009 historical crime drama Red Riding Trilogy, and actor Mark Addy, one of the stars.
• Martin Edwards revisits the 1945 noir film Leave Her to Heaven. 
• Paul Hirons revisits the 1994 medieval crime drama Cadfael. 
• Martin Edwards revisits the 2007 noir film https:No Country for Old Men.
• Emma Fraser revisits the 2013 espionage series The Americans and its continuing impact. 
• Caroline Siede revisits the 2017 action film Atomic Blonde. 
• Tatiana Siegel takes a look at the actors who are rumoured to be in the running to play the next James Bond.  

 

Tributes to Peter Cullen:

• Canadian actor Peter Cullen, who voiced Optimus Prime in many incarnation of Transformers over more than forty years as well as Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, Venger in Dungeons and Dragons, K.A.R.R. in Knight Rider, Red Skull in Spider-Man, the titular characters in Predator and King Kong, Ramrod and Commander Eagle in Saber Riders and the Star Sheriffs, Thaedus in Invincible and many others, has died aged 85. 
• Isaiah Colbert remembers Peter Cullen. 
• Devin Meenan remembers Peter Cullen. 
• Justin Carter remembers Peter Cullen's forty-two year career as the voice of Optimus Prime. 
• Witney Seibold remembers Peter Cullen's final role as Thaedus in Invincible. 
• Cora Buhlert remembers Peter Cullen, Tim Curry and Dolly Parton. 

 

Tributes to Tim Curry:

• British actor and singer Tim Curry, best known for his role as Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show as well as for his roles in It, Legend, Annie, Clue, The Hunt for Red October, The Shadow, The Three Musketeers, Muppets Treasure Island, Home Alone 2, The Hunt for Red October, Loaded Weapon, Criminal Minds and many others, has died aged 80. 
• Jeremy Mathai remembers Tim Curry. 
• Laurence Phelan shares his five favourite Tim Curry roles. 
• The AV-Club list their favourite Tim Curry performances. 
• Peter Bradshaw remembers Tim Curry's most famous role as Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. 
• Jeremy Smith remembers Tim Curry's role as Darkness in Legend. 
• The Guardian shares photos from Tim Curry's lengthy career. 

 

Tributes to Dolly Parton:

• Dolly Parton, American singer, actress, literarcy advocate, philanthropist, theme park owner and all around wonderful person, has died aged 80. 
• Alexis Petridis notes that Dolly Parton turned country music clichés in their head. 
• Joe Stone remembers Dolly Parton as an LGBTQ icon. 
• Margaret Sullivan shares a tribute to Dolly Parton. 
• Dave Simpson and Owen Myers share tributes to Dolly Parton from fellow singers and musicians. 
• Jonathan Klotz remembers Dolly Parton's memorable guest appearance on The Orville. 
• Olivias Rutigliano shares a guide to the crime movies of Dolly Parton.  
• The fashion editors of The Guardian remember Dolly Parton's unique fashion sense.  
• The AV-Club follows Dolly Parton through the decades.  
• The Guardian shares photos from Dolly Parton's long life and career. 
• Emma Joyce reports that Dolly Parton gave permission to test experimental cancer drugs on her, hoping that even if she could not be saved, her death would help others.  
• Becca Andrews reports that mourners are flocking to Dollywood, Dolly Parton's theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. 
• The Guardian shares photos of fans remembering Dolly Parton around the US. 
• Watch a video tribute to Dolly Parton from her family. 

 

Comments on series 3 of Vigil:

• Rachel Aroesti calls series 3 of Vigil twisty, explosive and rather boring.  
• Paul Hirons shares his thoughts on the first two episodes of series 3 of Vigil. 

 

Comments on Lanterns and the DC Cinematic Universe in general:

• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on "Trust Fall”, the latest episode of Lanterns. 
• Gavia Baker-Whitelaw shares her thoughts on "Trust Fall”, the latest episode of Lanterns. 
• Dennis Perkins shares his thoughts on "Trust Fall”, the latest episode of Lanterns. 
• Germain Lussier shares his thoughts on "Trust Fall”, the latest episode of Lanterns. 
• Vanessa Armstrong interviews Aaron Pierre who plays John Stewart in Lanterns. 
• Jarrod Jones explains the comic history of the Manhunters, who appear to be the main antagonists in Lanterns.  

 

Comments on The Whisper Man:

• Benjamin Lee calls The Whisper Man a cheaply made and increasingly uninteresting thriller
• Joe Roberts reports that The Whisper Man is one of Netflix's greatest streaming hits.

 

Comments on Furious:  

• Paul Hirons declares that Furious has it all. 
• Kayleigh Donaldson shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Furious.

 

Writing, publishing and promotion: 

• Dorthe Nors talks about striving to write emotionally resonant fiction
• John Self shares some tricks of the book trade to create bestsellers. 

 

Awards: 

• The longlist for the 2026 Petrona Award has been announced. 
• The shortlist for the 2026 Ned Kelly Awards have been announced.
• The winner and runner-up of the 2026 Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition have been announced. 

 

Interviews: 

• Deborah Kalb interviews Tess Gerritsen. 
• Ayo Onatade interviews Jo Callaghan. 
• Scott Simon interviews Robert Harris. 
• Ayo Onatade interviews Sarah Vaughan. 
• Vaseem Khan and Abir Mukherjee interview Hazell Ward.
• Gabriela Stiteler interviews Bruce Robert Coffin. 
• Garrick Webster interviews Jessica Housand.
• Paul Burke interviews David Fennell. 
• Garrick Webster interviews James B. Petrie. 
• Barbara Peters interviews Kemper Donovan 
• Elaine's Literary Salon interviews Lynda Allen. 
• Alex Dueben interviews Robyn Gigl. 
• Debbi Burke interviews Rick Bleiweiss. 
• Sisters in Crime interview Stacey Horan. 
• Tara DeWitt interviews Liana de la Rosa 
• Grace Topping interviews James M. Jackson. 

 

Reviews:

• Sonja van der Westhuizen reviews The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• Lesa Holstine reviews These Ancient Bones by Heather Graham 
• Jen Lucas reviews Ghost Notes by Doug Johnstone 
• Blue Book Balloon reviews Ghost Notes by Doug Johnstone
• Lesa Holstine reviews The Shadow Friends by Tess Gerritsen 
• In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel reviews Crow Moon by Suzy Aspley 
• Mandie Griffiths reviews In The Dark by Lina Areklew 
• Vicki Weisfeld reviews Seeing Red by Damien Boyd 
• Lesa Holstine reviews Hidden Currents by Claire Booth 
• Mike Parker reviews The Burn Line by Jonathan Sims  
• Ali Karim reviews Tell Me Something True by Michael Robotham  
• Mary Picken reviews They Say A Girl Died Here by Sarah Pinborough
• Janet Webb reviews Good Girls Die Bored by Elizabeth Little 
• Ali Karim reviews The Wreckers by George Makana Clark  
• Doreen Sheridan reviews Honey by Imani Thompson 
• Marlene Harris reviews The Tailor by Tim Sullivan
• Sharon Richardson reviews The Queen of Florida by Jeff Bercuson 
• Mandie Griffiths reviews Invitation from a Dictator by Rory Clements 
• Cathy Akers-Jordan reviews Murder at Rosecliff by Alyssa Maxwell:
• Robin Agnew reviews The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury.
• Erin Britton reviews A Fatal Legacy by Charlotte Vassell 
• Doreen Sheridan reviews Eight Enchanting Elixirs by Lynn Cahoon and tries a recipe from the book, 

 

Classics reviews: 

• Kate Jackson revisits the 1931 Asey Mayo mystery The Cape Cod Mystery by Phoebe Atwood Taylor  
• Erin Britton revisits the 1936 mystery The Magic-Lantern Murders by Carter Dickson 
• Kate Jackson revisits the 1948 Arthur Crook mystery Lift Up the Lid a.k.a.The Innocent Bottle by Anthony Gilbert  
• Martin Edwards revisits the 1951 mystery A Press of Suspects a.k.a. By-Line for Murder by Andrew Garvey.  
• In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel revisits the 1951 Kosuke Kindaichi mystery The Devil’s Flute Murders by Seishi Yokomizo, translated by Jim Rion 
• B.V. Lawson revisits the 1985 mystery anthology The Ethnic Detectives, edited by Martin Greenberg and Bill Pronzini  
• In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel revisits the 1988 locked room mystery The Labyrinth House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji translated by Ho-Ling Wong  
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 2009 Dagmar Shaw technothriller This is Not a Game by Walter Jon Williams 
• Jen Lucas revisits the 2015 David Raker crime novel What Remains by Tim Weaver 

 

Con and event reports:

• B.V, Lawson lists several mystery and crime author appearances and signings at bookstores around the US. 
• James Hibberd reports that the popular X2 rollercoaster at the theme park Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, has been shut down after two riders suffered traumatic brain injuries. 

 

Research: 

• Sana Qadar explains why serial killers seem to be disappearing. 
• Alexander Nazaryan shares Michael Connelly's theory that the so-called Zodiac Killer killed Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia. 
• Cora Buhlert reports about the shooting of Red Army Fraction member Petra Schelm in Hamburg, West Germany, in 1971 and a botched bank robbery in Munich, West Germany, also in 1971. 
• Kent Heckenlively discusses some theories regarding the Watergate scandal. 
• Louise Trager profiles Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in the UK. 
• Madeline Martin profiles Matthew Hopkins, the seventeenth century Witchfinder General, and his deadly witch hunts. 

 

Free online fiction: 

• "A Matter of Privilege" by F.I. Goldhaber in The Five-Two.

 

Trailers and videos: 

• Watch a trailer for series 4 of Blue Lights. 
• Watch a trailer for Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence 
• Watch a trailer for A Talent for Murder.  
• Watch a trailer for Marble Hall Murders.  
• Watch a trailer for season 2 of The Gentlemen.
• Watch a trailer for 12 12 12. 
• Watch a trailer for Unabomber.