Best police procedural books to add to your reading list

Reading lists

The Killer Inside

The gripping and masterfully-crafted new thriller from award-winning author Matthew Frank 
 
'Tense and twisty . . . completely gripping. I ignored children, a ringing phone, hunger, everything just to devour the last hundred pages' KAREN PERRY, Sunday Times bestselling author of YOUR CLOSEST FRIEND 
________ 
 
Julian Sinclair is a serial killer. 
 
Charming, manipulative, deadly. He hunted girls for sport, and it's high time justice was served. 
 
But when Sinclair's conviction is thrown out in court, DC Joseph Stark and DS Fran Millhaven are forced to protect the man they're sure is guilty from those who would rather see him pay in blood. 
 
Then another girl dies. 
 
And Sinclair can't have killed her from his hospital bed . . . 
 
Is a killer lurking in someone they never suspected? 
 
And have they had the wrong man all along? 
________ 
 
'A clever compelling spiderweb of a plot' JANE CORRY, bestselling author of My Husband's Wife 
 
'A gripping, pacy read with a "one more chapter" compulsiveness' LAURA MARSHALL, bestselling author of Friend Request 
 
'Seriously good . . . a tightly plotted thrilling page turner of a book' JAMES OSWALD, author of the Inspector McLean series 
 
'Matthew Frank is a master at juggling light and darkness . . . while serving up satisfying plots with plenty of twists' SARAH HILARY, award-winning author of the Marnie Rome series 
 
'Nail-bitingly tense' Susi Holliday, author of The Last Resort

A clever compelling spiderweb of a plot, weaving together the complex yet realistic minds of the underworld and the police.

Jane Corry, bestselling author of My Husband's Wife

Matthew Frank writes so well and in DC Joe Stark he has developed a complex hero, remote yet relatable, decent yet conflicted. Equally compelling is Stark's nemesis, the sinuous Julian Sinclair with his reptilian charm. Tense and twisty, with a rich cast of characters, The Killer Inside is completely gripping. I ignored children, a ringing phone, hunger, everything just to devour the last hundred pages.

Karen Perry, bestselling author of Your Closest Friend

The Killer Inside is a gripping, pacy read with a "one more chapter" compulsiveness.

Laura Marshall, bestselling author of Friend Request

Nail-bitingly tense plotting, with characters you can't help but root for, The Killer Inside is a standout addition to this compelling series

The Killer Inside is the definition of a page turner. Matthew Frank gives us cops torn by the prospect of protecting a killer who cheated justice. They know he has done it but proving it is another thing. Then another girl dies while their man is still in hospital. What if they had the wrong man all along? DC Stark is a terrific creation. The kind of character you want more from and soon please.

Howard Linskey, best-selling author of The Chosen One

Seriously good . . . The Killer Inside is an excellent addition to a fine series, and Joe Stark is coming into his own as a fascinating and multi-layered character, as are the rest of the team. Matthew has written a tightly plotted thrilling page turner of a book

James Oswald, author of the Inspector McLean Series

Matthew Frank is a master at juggling light and darkness. His Joseph Stark books explore the legacy of trauma and injury, while serving up satisfying plots with plenty of twists. In this latest, the stakes are horribly high for his hero who, beset by demons and danger, nevertheless acquits himself with courage and a fine line in dry wit.

Sarah Hilary, award-winning author of the Marnie Rome series

A gripping murder story ... Frank brilliantly maintains a balance between the demands of a complex plot and his character's difficulty in returning to civilian life

Outstanding characterisation, passion, perfect dialogue and pinpoint plotting

Well researched and totally convincing

Joe Stark is such a terrific hero, full of flaws and compassion and the sort of quiet heroism that you rarely see these days, even in fiction. One of those books I want to bulk buy and press into the hands of everyone I know. The writing is top-notch, the action sequences are superlative, the characters crackle off the page and the dialogue whips and zings like bullets in the dust. Read it!

Sarah Hilary, author of Under the Skin and No Other Darkness

Detective Sergeant Fran Millhaven is just one of the best women copper characters you'll ever meet between the covers of a book . . . but Stark is the heart of this narrative. I am so looking forward to meeting him again . . . the moment Stark crosses over from soldier to CID detective is beautiful to behold. The action scenes, too, are terrific. Riveting

Dana Stabenow, author of A Cold Day for Murder

Skilfully plotted, with a great clarity of style

Alison Joseph, Chair of the Crime Writer's Association

Matthew Frank lives in Kent with his wife and three young sons. Between family life and work as an architect he tries to squeeze in a bit of mountain biking, scuba diving and midnight writing. 
 
Find out more at www.matthewfrank.co.uk

Julian Sinclair is a serial killer - charming, manipulative, deadly. He hunted girls for sport, and it's high time justice was served. 
 
But when Sinclair's conviction is thrown out in court, DC Joseph Stark and DS Fran Millhaven find themselves forced to protect the man they're sure is guilty from those who would see him pay in blood. 
 
Then another girl dies. And Sinclair can't have killed her from his hospital bed. 
 
Is a killer lurking inside someone they never suspected? 
 
And have they had the wrong man all along?

If I Should Die

**WINNER of the 2014-2015 Waverton Good Read Award** 
If I Should Die is the astounding debut from British author Matthew Frank. 
 ---------- 
When a homeless man walks into Greenwich police station and confesses a killing, it should be the admission that cracks open a murder enquiry. Instead, he stumbles out on to the street and collapses, bleeding from a stab wound he's attempted to repair himself . . . 
 
 The newest member of the Met's murder investigation team, twenty-five year-old Afghan veteran Joseph Stark, doesn't believe the man's story. Yet it becomes clear that Stark and the down-and-out share a connection. And that this could provide the key to unlocking the case. 
 
Soon, the young detective and his colleagues are drawn deeper into a dark, disturbing world as dangerous as anything Stark has known on the frontline. And where there's enough at stake for a man to risk everything . . . 
 
 If I Should Die is the first title in a new crime series, and outstanding characterization, pitch perfect dialogue and precision plotting mark out Matthew Frank as a debut writer to watch. With the introduction of series character and ex-soldier police detective Joseph Stark, fans of Ian Rankin's Rebus novels will be hooked from the word go. 
 
 Praise for If I Should Die: 
 
'Skilfully plotted, with a great clarity of style . . . such an original newcomer' Alison Joseph, Chair of the Crime Writer's Association 
 
'A gripping murder story ... Frank brilliantly maintains a balance between the demands of a complex plot and his character's difficulty in returning to civilian life ... an accomplished first novel' Sunday Times 
 
'Well researched and totally convincing, this is the first of several Stark books. Great news if they're as good as this' Sunday Mirror 
 
'A powerful debut ... intensity, outstanding characterisation, passion, perfect dialogue and pinpoint plotting' Crime Review

**WINNER of the 2014-2015 Waverton Good Read Award** 
If I Should Die is the astounding debut from British author Matthew Frank. 
---------- 
When a homeless man walks into Greenwich police station and confesses a killing, it should be the admission that cracks open a murder enquiry. Instead, he stumbles out on to the street and collapses, bleeding from a stab wound he's attempted to repair himself . . .

A gripping murder story ... Frank brilliantly maintains a balance between the demands of a complex plot and his character's difficulty in returning to civilian life ... an accomplished first novel

Well researched and totally convincing, this is the first of several Stark books. Great news if they're as good as this

A very powerful novel.  The writing is so good that it is difficult to believe that this is a debut

A highly assured debut ... we'll look forward to the next

A great debut introducing an unusual lead character - I'm looking forward to reading more in the series - 5*s

Detective Sergeant Fran Millhaven is just one of the best women copper characters you'll ever meet between the covers of a book . . . but Stark is the heart of this narrative. I am so looking forward to meeting him again . . . the moment Stark crosses over from soldier to CID detective is beautiful to behold. The action scenes, too, are terrific.  Riveting

Skilfully plotted, with a great clarity of style. I really enjoyed it

A great debut introducing an unusual lead character

Quite simply the best start to a new crime series - and the best debut - I've read in years. Joe Stark is such a terrific hero, full of flaws and compassion and the sort of quiet heroism that you rarely see these days, even in fiction. One of those books I want to bulk buy and press into the hands of everyone I know. The writing is top-notch, the action sequences are superlative, the characters crackle off the page and the dialogue whips and zings like bullets in the dust. Read it!

Sarah Hilary, author of Under the Skin and No Other Darkness

A powerful debut ... intensity, outstanding characterisation, passion, perfect dialogue and pinpoint plotting

A homeless man walks into Greenwich police station and confesses to murder, an admission that should have cracked open a murder enquiry. Instead, he stumbles out on to the street and collapses, bleeding from a stab wound. 
 
 The newest member of the Met's murder investigation team, twenty-five year-old Afghan veteran Joseph Stark, doesn't believe the man's story. Yet it becomes clear that Stark and the down-and-out share a connection that could unlock the case. 
 
 The young detective and his colleagues are drawn deeper into a dark, disturbing world, where there's enough at stake for a man to risk everything.

Between the Crosses

Between the Crosses is another sophisticated and brilliantly crafted crime novel, featuring Afghan army veteran and Detective Constable Joseph Stark. 
 
First book If I Should Die was the WINNER of the 2014-2015 Waverton Good Read Award. Previous winners include Mark Haddon, Marina Lewycka, Tom Rob Smith and Rachel Joyce. 
 
*** 
 
No longer a trainee but a freshly-minted Detective Constable, Joseph Stark finds himself working a double homicide. Thomas and Mary Chase were shot dead in their London home, and first impressions are that this is a burglary-gone-bad. 
 
But Stark is unconvinced. Burglary-murders are usually a tragic case of unfortunate timing, but this feels like something else entirely. And when evidence arises to link this murder to a twenty year old cold case the hunt is well and truly on. 
 
Following If I Should Die Joseph Stark's second investigation is a clever, action-packed and entertaining mystery. 
 
Praise for Matthew Frank: 
'Stark is such a terrific hero' Sarah Hilary 
 
'A gripping murder story . . . Frank brilliantly maintains a balance between the demands of a complex plot and his character's difficulty in returning to civilian life . . . an accomplished first novel' Sunday Times on If I Should Die 
 
'Well researched and totally convincing, this is the first of several Stark books. Great news if they're as good as this' Sunday Mirror on If I Should Die

No longer a trainee but a freshly-minted Detective Constable, Joseph Stark finds himself working a double homicide. Thomas and Mary Chase were shot dead in their London home, and first impressions are that this is a burglary-gone-bad. 
 
But Stark is unconvinced. Burglary-Murders are usually a tragic case of unfortunate timing, but this felt like something else entirely. And when evidence arises to link this murder to a twenty year old cold case the hunt is well and truly on. 
 
Following If I Should Die this second novel starring Joseph Stark continues to deliver pitch perfect characterization and complex plotting.

Matthew Frank

JANE CORRY, bestselling author of My Husband's Wife

Seriously good . . . a tightly plotted thrilling page turner of a book

JAMES OSWALD, author of the Inspector McLean series

Tense and twisty . . . completely gripping. I ignored children, a ringing phone, hunger, everything just to devour the last hundred pages

KAREN PERRY, Sunday Times bestselling author of YOUR CLOSEST FRIEND

Lucinda Drummond, art history expert, was beautiful, clever, successful and loved. 
 
When she is found at the bottom of her museum's Tulip Staircase during the pinnacle event of her career, people are as shocked as they are suspicious. 
 
Who could have wanted her dead? 
 
Detectives Joe Stark and Fran Millhaven are quick on the case, leading them into a world of high art and extravagant wealth that proves far more twisted than they could have imagined. 
 
As the bodies begin to mount, and the case grows ever more complex, Stark and Fran must race discover the perpetrator - before the next victim falls . . .

Matthew Frank

Books by Matthew Frank

Series by Matthew Frank

Joseph Stark

Articles featuring Matthew Frank

Best police procedural books to add to your reading list

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