Classic crime and mystery fiction
Little, Brown Book Group Jamaica Inn
Book SynopsisAN UNFORGETTABLE STORY OF MURDER, MYSTERY AND PASSION, FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF REBECCA.'Jamaica Inn is a first-rate page-turner' THE TIMES'Daphne du Maurier has no equal' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'Jamaica Inn is a novel about nothing less than pure evil ... with an eerie and shocking kind of power, in the novel's astonishing final act' JULIE MYERSON, GUARDIAN In the bitter November wind, Mary Yellan crosses Bodmin Moor to Jamaica Inn. Her mother's dying wish was that she take refuge there with her Aunt Patience. But when Mary arrives, the warning of the coachman echoes in her mind. Jamaica Inn has a desolate power and behind its crumbling walls, Patience is a changed woman, cowering before her brooding, violent husband. When Mary discovers the inn's dark secrets, the truth is more terrifying than anything she could possibly imagine and she is forced to collude in her uncle's murderous schemes. Against her will, she finds herself powerfully attracted to her uncle's brother, a man she dares not trust.Jamaica Inn is a dark and gripping gothic tale that will remind readers of two other great classics, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. This was also made into a film, also called Jamaica Inn, directed by Alfred Hitchcock.Trade ReviewJamaica Inn is a first-rate page-turner * The Times *For, ultimately, Jamaica Inn is a novel about nothing less than pure evil. Not the lumpen, drunken, thuggish evil that men like Joss can effect, but something much worse - a force that Du Maurier only begins to put into words, with an eerie and shocking kind of power, in the novel's astonishing final act -- Julie Myerson * Guardian *A perfect fusion of gothic romance and a young woman's rite of passage in the vein of Twilight and Wuthering Heights * Independent *Daphne du Maurier has no equal * Sunday Telegraph *Jamaica Inn is perhaps the most accomplished historical romance ever written * Good Book Guide *A dark tale. A brilliant thriller * Daily Express *A dark tale. A brilliant thriller * Daily Express *
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Penzler Publishers The Greene Murder Case
Book Synopsis
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HarperCollins Publishers The Floating Admiral
Book SynopsisAgatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, G.K. Chesterton and nine other writers from the legendary Detection Club collaborate in this fiendishly clever but forgotten crime novel first published 80 years ago.Inspector Rudge does not encounter many cases of murder in the sleepy seaside town of Whynmouth. But when an old sailor lands a rowing boat containing a fresh corpse with a stab wound to the chest, the Inspector''s investigation immediately comes up against several obstacles. The vicar, whose boat the body was found in, is clearly withholding information, and the victim''s niece has disappeared. There is clearly more to this case than meets the eye even the identity of the victim is called into doubt. Inspector Rudge begins to wonder just how many people have contributed to this extraordinary crime and whether he will ever unravel itIn 1931, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and ten other crime writers from the newly-formed Detection Club' collaborated in publishing a unique crime novel. In a literary game of consequences, each author would write one chapter, leaving G.K. Chesterton to write a typically paradoxical prologue and Anthony Berkeley to tie up all the loose ends. In addition, each of the authors provided their own solution in a sealed envelope, all of which appeared at the end of the book, with Agatha Christie's ingenious conclusion acknowledged at the time to be enough to make the book worth buying on its own'.The authors of this novel are: G. K. Chesterton, Canon Victor Whitechurch, G. D. H. Cole and Margaret Cole, Henry Wade, Agatha Christie, John Rhode, Milward Kennedy, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ronald Knox, Freeman Wills Crofts, Edgar Jepson, Clemence Dane and Anthony Berkeley.Trade Review"The plotting is ingenious, the pace sustained, the solution satisfying." New York Times Book Review “Amazingly, the story steers along very well despite so many different hands at the tiller. Christie’s solution is typically ingenious.” Mark Campbell, The Pocket Essential Agatha Christie "These members of the Detection Club collaborate with skill in a piece of detection rather more tight-knit than one had a right to expect. There is enough to amuse and to stimulate detection; and the Introduction by Dorothy Sayers and supplements by critics and solvers give an insight into the writers' thoughts and modes of work." Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor, A Catalogue of Crime
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HarperCollins Publishers The Ngaio Marsh Collection 2 Death in Ecstasy
Book SynopsisCommemorating 75 years since the Empress of Crime’s first book, the second volume in a set of omnibus editions presenting the complete run of 32 Inspector Alleyn mysteries.
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers By the Pricking of My Thumbs
Book SynopsisAn old woman in a nursing home speaks of a child buried behind the fireplaceWhen Tommy and Tuppence visited an elderly aunt in her gothic nursing home, they thought nothing of her mistrust of the doctors; after all, Ada was a very difficult old lady.But when Mrs Lockett mentioned a poisoned mushroom stew and Mrs Lancaster talked about something behind the fireplace', Tommy and Tuppence found themselves caught up in an unexpected adventure involving possible black magicTrade Review‘The most macabre and eerie Christie I have read for a long time.’Sunday Express ‘All beautifully plotted in the way that Mrs Christie is famous for. The title is from Macbeth: “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.” Wicked indeed!’Best Sellers ‘Ladies disappearing from homes of rest, sinister empty houses, hints of gang-leaders mixed with black magic – mystery at the usual high Christie level.’Evening Standard ‘Devised with fiendish ingenuity in the classic Christie cast.’Illustrated London News
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HarperCollins Publishers Murder in the Mews Poirot Cover may vary
Book SynopsisMurder, stolen plans, a mysterious death and a menage a trois four intriguing novellas featuring Hercule PoirotHow did a woman holding a pistol in her right hand manage to shoot herself in the left temple? What was the link between a ghost sighting and the disappearance of top secert military plans? How did the bullet that killed Sir Gervase shatter a mirror in another part of the room? And who destroyed the eternal triangle' of love involving renowned beauty, Valentine Chantry?Hercule Poirot is faced with four mystifying cases Murder in the Mews, The Incredible Theft, Dead Man's Mirror and Triangle at Rhodes each a miniature classic of characterisation, incident and suspense.Trade Review“All four tales are admirable entertainment… her solutions are unexpected and satisfying”Daily Mail
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Flame Tree Publishing A Study in Scarlet (A Sherlock Holmes Mystery)
Book SynopsisLittle treasures, the FLAME TREE COLLECTABLE CLASSICS are chosen to create a delightful and timeless home library. Each stunning, gift edition features deluxe cover treatments, ribbon markers, luxury endpapers and gilded edges. The unabridged text is accompanied by a Glossary of Victorian and Literary terms produced for the modern reader. Launching Sherlock Holmes to an adoring readership A Study in Scarlet was the first of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's enduring stories starring his enigmatic detective and his sidekick Dr Watson. Also includes the short story 'The Man with the Watches'.
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HarperCollins Publishers The Secret Adversary A Tommy Tuppence Mystery
Book SynopsisAgatha Christie's first Tommy & Tuppence book is a thrill-packed novel of international intrigue, murder and suspense.Tommy and Tuppence, two young people short of money and restless for excitement, embark on a daring business scheme Young Adventurers Ltd.Their advertisement says they are willing to do anything, go anywhere'. But their first assignment, for the sinister Mr Whittington, plunges them into more danger than they ever imaginedTrade Review‘Refreshingly original.’Times Literary Supplement
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HarperCollins Publishers A Man Lay Dead Enter a Murderer The Nursing
Book SynopsisCommemorating 75 years since the Empress of Crime's first book, the first volume in a set of omnibus editions presenting the complete run of 32 Inspector Alleyn mysteries.A MAN LAY DEADSir Hubert Handesley''s extravagant weekend house-parties are deservedly famous for his exciting Murder Game. But when the lights go up this time, there is a real corpse with a real dagger in the back. All seven suspects have skilful alibis so Chief Detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn has to figure out the whodunitENTER A MURDERERThe crime scene was the stage of the Unicorn Theatre, when prop gun fired a very real bullet; the victim was an actor clawing his way to stardom using bribery instead of talent; and the suspects included two unwilling girlfriends and several relieved blackmail victims. The stage is set for one of Roderick Alleyn''s most baffling casesTHE NURSING HOME MURDERA Harley Street surgeon and his attractive nurse are almost too nervous to operate. Their patient is the Home Secretary and they both have very good personal reasons to want him dead. The operation is a complete success but he dies within hours, and Inspector Alleyn must find out why
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Penguin Books Ltd Tokyo Express
Book Synopsis'An irresistible Hitchcockian gem: a fiendishly-plotted crime novel told in crisp, elegant prose' Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train 'Matsumoto was Japan's Agatha Christie' Laura Hackett, The Sunday Times 'It was a puzzle with no solution. But he did not lose heart.' In a rocky cove in the bay of Hakata, the bodies of a young and beautiful couple are discovered. Stood in the coast's wind and cold, the police see nothing to investigate: the flush of the couple's cheeks speaks clearly of cyanide, of a lovers' suicide. But in the eyes of two men, Torigai Jutaro, a senior detective, and Kiichi Mihara, a young gun from Tokyo, something is not quite right. Together, they begin to pick at the knot of a unique and calculated crime... Now widely available in English for the first time, Tokyo Express is celebrated around the world as Seicho Matsumoto's masterpiece - and as one of the most fiendish puzzlesTrade ReviewTokyo Express is an irresistible Hitchcockian gem: a fiendishly-plotted crime novel told in crisp, elegant prose -- Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the TrainJapan's Agatha Christie. A gloriously complex case of a supposed double suicide that, at just 160 pages, you can whizz through in a day. -- Laura Hackett * The Sunday Times *This classic of postwar Japanese crime fiction was banned in its day for its 'decadent western ideas'. Now, the fascinatingly detailed investigations of Inspector Torigai echo those of Simenon's Maigret in a pared-down narrative shot through with political critique * Financial Times *A labyrinth of convincing alibis and false leads... Matsumoto's classic status is richly deserved * Daily Mail *The appearance in English of Japanese crime classics such as Seicho Matsumoto's Tokyo Express is long overdue * The Sunday Times, Best Crime Books of 2023 *The debut novel of bestselling writer Seicho Matsumoto, first published in Japan in 1958 and never out of print, is an ingeniously plotted railway mystery * Guardian *Seicho Matsumoto's brief and perennially popular Tokyo Express is a masterpiece of concision and tight plotting. . . exceptionally well paced and palpably tense, both features admirably preserved by Jesse Kirkwood in this fresh translation -- Bryan Karetnyk * TLS *Tense, enigmatic, thrillingly weird - a glorious find -- Kevin Barry, author of Night Boat to TangierAn absolute corker of a read -- so brilliantly shrouded in mystery that it was impossible to put it down -- Lisa Hall, author of Between You and MeA fiendishly complex case. A deep understanding of human nature drives this intricately plotted masterpiece of Japanese crime writing. A timely and welcome opportunity for a new generation to discover Seicho Matsumoto -- Brian McGilloway, author of The Empty RoomThe Simenon of Japan. . . a legendary writer * Le Monde *Matsumoto is a necessity, reading him is like having a bowl of rice you never get tired of -- Masato Ara
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HarperCollins Publishers A Spy Like Me
Book SynopsisThe stunning new spy thriller that blows the world of James Bond wide open!Six days. A bomb goes off at the BBC. But this is just the beginning. In six days'' time, terrorists will strike again.Three agents. With James Bond captured, three of MI6''s toughest Double O agents race from Venice to Afghanistan to Dubai to stop the terror.One chance to find James Bond.As the Double Os close in, they find themselves unexpectedly inching closer to 007. Now the race is on to stop the terrorists and save Britain's finest spy.What readers are saying about A Spy Like MeReading A Spy Like Me is just like being immersed in the world of Bond, with travel, gadgets and glamour galore'I gasped aloud at the ending be prepared for a thunderbolt!!'Wow! What a fantastic, gripping read this was. Pure Bond from start to finish. I'm blown away by how good this book was!'Immensely enjoyable, a real joy to read and difficult to put down'This story moves between a number of different locations and certainly kee
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Penguin Books Ltd The Long Goodbye
Book SynopsisA classic novel by Raymond Chandler, the master of hard-boiled crime, The Long Good-Bye is the sixth novel featuring laconic PI Philip MarloweDown-and-out drunk Terry Lennox has a problem: his millionaire wife is dead and he needs to get out of LA fast. So he turns to his only friend in the world: Philip Marlowe, Private Investigator.He''s willing to help a man down on his luck, but later, Lennox commits suicide in Mexico and things start to turn nasty. Marlowe finds himself drawn into a sordid crowd of adulterers and alcoholics in LA''s Idle Valley, where the rich are suffering one big suntanned hangover.Marlowe is sure Lennox didn''t kill his wife, but how many more stiffs will turn up before he gets to the truth?''Anything Chandler writes about grips the mind from the first sentence'' Daily Telegraph''One of the greatest crime writers, who set standards others still try to attain'' Sunday Times''Chandler is an original stylist, creator of a character as immortal as Sherlock Holmes'' Anthony Burgess
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HarperCollins Publishers A Daughters a Daughter
Book SynopsisA classic novel of desire and jealousy.Ann Prentice falls in love with Richard Cauldfield and hopes for new happiness. Her only child, Sarah, cannot contemplate the idea of her mother marrying again and wrecks any chance of her remarriage. Resentment and jealousy corrode their relationship as each seeks relief in different directions. Are mother and daughter destined to be enemies for life or will their underlying love for each other finally win through?Famous for her ingenious crime books and plays, Agatha Christie also wrote about crimes of the heart, six bittersweet and very personal novels, as compelling and memorable as the best of her work.Trade Review‘Concentrates on situations which arise out of the high tensions in life.’ Max Mallowan ‘A fascinating discovery … an often painful psychological study of the relationship between a mother and her daughter.’ Daily Telegraph
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HarperCollins Publishers One Two Buckle My Shoe Poirot
Book SynopsisA dentist lies murdered at his Harley Street practiceThe dentist was found with a blackened hole below his right temple. A pistol lay on the floor near his outflung right hand. Later, one of his patients was found dead from a lethal dose of local anaesthetic. A clear case of murder and suicide. But why would a dentist commit a crime in the middle of a busy day of appointments?A shoe buckle holds the key to the mystery. Now in the words of the rhyme can Poirot pick up the sticks and lay them straight?Trade Review“The Empress of the crime novel”Daily Express 'A swift course of unflagging suspense leads to complete surprise.'New York Times
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Headline Publishing Group The Sherlock Holmes Puzzle Collection
Book SynopsisJoin the world's greatest fictional detective and use your own powers of deduction to solve these ingenious enigmas. This remarkable collection features all kinds of puzzles to suit all tastes and levels of logical skill – from 'elementary' to 'impenetrable'. 'You know my methods, apply them' Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four. Table of Contents150 specially commissioned conundrums from master puzzle-smith Tim Dedopulos.
£14.24
Pan Macmillan The Daughter of Time
Book SynopsisVoted the top crime novel of all time by the UK Crime Writers’ Association, The Daughter of Time is Josephine Tey’s last and most successful book.Complete and unabridged. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is introduced by writer David Stuart Davies.Inspector Alan Grant is laid up in hospital with a spinal injury and he’s bored. Renowned for his ability to read a face, he passes the time looking at old portraits and one which particularly grabs his attention is of Richard III, the supposed arch villain who killed his own nephews, ‘the princes in the tower’. But Grant doesn’t accept the face in the portrait is the face of a villain so he sets out to investigate what really happened. An unusual premise for a crime novel perhaps, but nevertheless an extremely clever and engrossing one, brilliantly plotted and written with enormous charm and erudition.Trade ReviewA detective story with a very considerable difference. Ingenious, stimulating and very enjoyable * The Sunday Times *
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HarperCollins Publishers Cat Among the Pigeons Poirot
Book SynopsisUnpleasant things are going on in an exclusive school for girls things like murderLate one night, two teachers investigate a mysterious flashing light in the sports pavilion, while the rest of the school sleeps. There, among the lacrosse sticks, they stumble upon the body of the unpopular games mistress shot through the heart from point blank range.The school is thrown into chaos when the cat' strikes again. Unfortunately, schoolgirl Julia Upjohn knows too much. In particular, she knows that without Hercule Poirot's help, she will be the next victimTrade Review‘Immensely enjoyable.’ Daily Express ‘To read Agatha Christie at her best is to experience the rarefied pleasure of watching a faultless technician at work, and she is in top form in Cat Among the Pigeons.’ New York Times
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HarperCollins Publishers Evil Under the Sun Poirot
Book SynopsisThe perfect holidayFor a passionate crimeIt was not unusual to find the sun-loving Arlena Stuart stretched out on a beach, face down. Only, on this occasion, there was no sunshe had been strangled.Ever since her arrival, the air had been thick with sexual tension. Each of the seaside guest had a motive to kill her, including Arelena's new husband.But Hercule Poirot suspects that this apparent crime of passion' conceals something much more evil.Trade Review‘I never cease to admire the fertility of Agatha Christie’s imagination. Her characters are vivacious and entertaining.’Sunday Times ‘She springs her secret like a land-mine’Times Literary Supplement
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HarperCollins Publishers Postern of Fate
Book SynopsisA poisoning many years ago may not have been accidental after allTommy and Tuppence Beresford have just become the proud owners of an old house in an English village. Along with the property, they have inherited some worthless bric-a-brac, including a collection of antique books. While rustling through a copy of The Black Arrow, Tuppence comes upon a series of apparently random underlinings.However, when she writes down the letters, they spell out a very disturbing message:M a r y J o r d a n d i d n o t d i e n a t u r a l l yAnd sixty years after their first murder, Mary Jordan''s enemies are still ready to killTrade Review‘The Beresfords are wonderfully revived. Smooth, beautifully paced, and effortlessly convincing.’New York Times ‘Past and present interlock impressively… this is a genuine tour de force.’Observer
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HarperCollins Publishers A Caribbean Mystery
Book SynopsisA Caribbean resortStrangers thrown togetherIs there evil in paradise?Major Palgrave enjoys an audience, and, in Miss Marple, he discovers a captive audience too polite to walk away.But midway through recounting the tale of a multiple murder, he stops suddenly when something, or someone, catches his eye.Then, when he's found dead the following day, Miss Marple suspects that someone wanted to silence the talkative major. Permanently.Never underestimate Miss MarpleThere's no such thing as a disappointing Agatha Christie: there are only good ones and better ones.'Naomi AldermanLivelieness . . . infectious zest . . . as good as anything Miss Christie has done.'ObserverTrade Review‘Without a doubt, the greatest mystery writer of all time’ – Ragnar Jonasson ‘A hundred years after her first novel, and we are all still standing in her shadow’ – Andrew Taylor ‘She gives us an insight into human nature that few, if any, have surpassed’ – Susan Lewis ‘Dame Agatha has sold more books than all besides Shakespeare and the Bible’ – David Baldacci ‘All crime fiction writers around the globe owe Agatha Christie a massive debt’ – Peter James ‘Reading a perfectly plotted Agatha Christie is like crunching into a perfect apple: that pure, crisp, absolute satisfaction.’ – Tana French
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HarperCollins Publishers The Burden
Book SynopsisA superb novel of possessive love.Laura Franklin bitterly resented the arrival of her younger sister Shirley, an enchanting baby loved by all the family. But Laura''s emotions towards her sister changed dramatically one night, when she vowed to protect her with all her strength and love. While Shirley longs for freedom and romance, Laura has to learn that loving can never be a one-sided affair, and the burden of her love for her sister has a dramatic effect on both their lives. A story of consequences when love turns to obsessionFamous for her ingenious crime books and plays, Agatha Christie also wrote about crimes of the heart, six bittersweet and very personal novels, as compelling and memorable as the best of her work.Trade Review‘Sometimes you haven’t the right currency. And then someone else has to pay…’ Agatha Christie ‘The art of story-telling that would be at home in the woman’s magazine.’ Times Literary Supplement
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Faber & Faber A Taste for Death
Book SynopsisTHE MULTIMILLION-COPY BESTSELLING ADAM DALGLIESH SERIES FROM THE QUEEN OF ENGLISH CRIME' (Guardian) A legend.' VAL MCDERMIDP. D. James took the classic crime novel and turned up the dial.' MICK HERRONOne of the best mysteries I have had the pleasure to read.' 5* reader reviewPERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS__________________________________________________________________________________No one joins the murder squad who hasn't a taste for death.Two men lie in a welter of blood in the vestry of St Matthew''s Church, Paddington. Their throats have been brutally slashed. One is Sir Paul Berowne, a recently-resigned government minister; the other is a homeless man known only as a local alcoholic. Their deaths will be the first case for Commander Dalgliesh's new team, who have been tasked with investigating crimes of particular sensitivity. But as the Berowne family''s veneer of prosperous gentility begins to crack and Dalgliesh uncovers more about the dead men, he struggles to keep his customary objectivity. Can he get to the bottom of the ugly and dangerous secrets swirling this case in time to prevent yet another death?__________________________________________________________________________________A cunningly compulsive work . . . with a breathless, bravura finale of heart-pounding suspense.' Sunday TimesSplendidly suspenseful . . . a triumph and a treat.'' GuardianIt's oh so compelling. Enjoy.' Sunday Telegraph**Now a major Channel 5 series**__________________________________________________________________________________READERS LOVE THE ADAM DALGLEISH SERIES:Adam Dalgleish is one of the best characters in modern detective fiction.' 5* reader reviewIf you are not already an Adam Dalgliesh fan, I urge you to become one . . . James can describe a scene or delineate a character with precision and depth, like no other writer I have read . . . I usually stay up all night to read a P. D. James novel once I start one.' 5* reader reviewI would never give less than 5 stars to any P. D. James book. She is one of a kind, always constant, always wonderful writing, always great characters, and always a good mystery that you cannot put down.' 5* reader reviewP.D. James writes mysteries for ordinary people. Her characters are relatable and her hero is dynamic. But don''t expect cell phones or computers. Her stories are strictly old school, which is what I love about them.' 5* reader reviewCrime writing at its very best!' 5* reader reviewPRAISE FOR P. D. JAMES:P. D. James is the crème de la crème of crime writers. Her books are shrewd puzzles, full of wit and depth.' IAN RANKINNobody can put the reader in the eye of the storm quite like P. D. James.' SUNDAY EXPRESSOne of the literary greats. Her sense of place was exquisite, characterisation and plotting unrivalled.' MARI HANNAHJames manages a depth and intelligence that few in her trade can match.' THE TIMESThere are very few thriller writers who can compete with P. D. James at her best.' SPECTATOR The queen of English crime.' GUARDIAN
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Simon & Schuster Ltd Iced
Book SynopsisTHRILLERS THAT RACE FROM THE VERY FIRST PAGE . . . 'Felix Francis' novels gallop along splendidly' Jilly Cooper ‘From winning post to top of the bestseller lists’ Sunday Times Miles Pussett is a former steeplechase jockey. Now he gets his adrenaline rush from riding down the Cresta Run, a three-quarter-mile Swiss ice chute, head first, reaching speeds of up to eighty miles per hour. Finding himself in St Moritz during the same weekend as White Turf, when high-class horseracing takes place on the frozen lake, he gets talked into helping out with the horses. It is against his better judgement. Seven years before, Miles left horseracing behind and swore he would never return. When he discovers something suspicious is going on in the races, something that may have a profound impact on his future life, Miles begins a search for answers. But someone is adama
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Hodder & Stoughton Busmans Honeymoon
Book SynopsisThe thirteenth book in Dorothy L Sayers'' classic Lord Peter Wimsey series, introduced by crime writer Natasha Cooper - a must-read for fans of Agatha Christie''s Poirot and Margery Allingham''s Campion Mysteries. They plan to have a quiet country honeymoon. Then Lord Peter Wimsey and his bride Harriet Vane find the previous owner''s body in the cellar.Set in a country village seething with secrets and snobbery, this is Dorothy L. Sayers'' last full-length detective novel. Variously described as a love story with detective interruptions and a detective story with romantic interruptions, it lives up to both descriptions with style.''She brought to the detective novel originality, intelligence, energy and wit.'' P. D. JamesTrade ReviewI admire her novels . . . she has great fertility of invention, ingenuity and a wonderful eye for detail - Ruth RendellD. L. Sayers is one of the best detective story writers. - Daily TelegraphA truly great storyteller - Minette Walters
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HarperCollins Publishers Inspector French Fatal Venture Book 15
Book SynopsisA classic crime novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, The King of Detective Story Writers', featuring Inspector French, coming soon to television.When Morrison first heard of old Stott's idea to purchase an ocean liner and run her as a tourist ship in sheltered waters off the British Isles, he was most enthusiastic. In fact, he accepted a job on board. But when he discovered the true purpose of Stott's floating paradise, Morrison's delight turned to foreboding. And when murder struck the vessel, he wasn't alone. A certain Inspector from Scotland Yard had been travelling incognito, almost as if a nasty spot of trouble had been expectedTrade Review“A detective novel by Mr. Wills Crofts is always an event to those who know … Mr. Crofts is among the few muscular writers of detective fiction. He has never let me down.”HAROLD NICHOLSON, Daily Express “An extremely original story … Crofts is to be congratulated on yet another instance of his unfailing ingenuity.”Times Literary Supplement
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British Library Publishing The Wheel Spins
Book SynopsisFirst published in 1936 and adapted for the screen as The Lady Vanishes by Alfred Hitchcock in 1938, Ethel Lina White's suspenseful mystery remains her best-known novel, worthy of acknowledgement as a classic of the genre in its own right.
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Titan Books Ltd Death Comes at Christmas
Book Synopsis18 festive stories of murder and mystery in the grand tradition of Christmas crime fiction, from the masters of the genre.Including the New York Times bestselling JT Ellison, USA Today bestseller Sam Carrington, Sunday Times bestseller C.L. Taylor, and many more...
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Canelo A Blind Eye: A twisty and gripping detective thriller
The Scots Magazine Book of the Month May 2023‘Tartan Noir at its nail-biting, brutal, bloody best’ Helen Fields, author of The InstitutionCan DI Clare Mackay unravel a dead man’s secrets?Harry Richards, a local solicitor, is found in his car, throat slit.DI Clare Mackay is on the case. She soon learns that Harry was not the upstanding man he seemed to be. Finding the killer should be easy.Then the wife of one of Harry’s colleagues is discovered dead in her car, and Clare realises there is something more sinister at play…Can she find out who’s behind the murders before they turn their attention to her?An utterly gripping addition to the bestselling crime series by much-loved Scottish author, Marion Todd. Perfect for fans of Alex Gray, Caro Ramsay and the Karen Pirie series.Praise for A Blind Eye ‘Grips you from the start and never lets you go. Todd sparkles in what could be her best tartan noir yet.’ The Sun‘Marion Todd masterfully weaves mystery and intrigue through every page. Top tier Scottish crime fiction.’ JD Kirk, author of the DCI Logan Crime Thrillers‘The central characters feel like being in the company of old friends while the brisk plot and the immediacy of the writing really draw the reader along. An enthralling and engaging read.’ Caro Ramsay, author of the Detectives Anderson and Costello Mystery series‘Clever and intriguing, with a cast of characters to root for – a brilliant St Andrews set mystery!’ Susi Holliday, author of The Hike‘A smart plot, wonderful St Andrews setting, and a main character who feels real and engaging all make for a hugely enjoyable read.’ Lisa Gray, author of Lonely Hearts‘A deeply absorbing mystery, brimming with complex characters, sinister secrets and ingenious reveals. One of the best crime novels I’ve read this year.’ B.P. Walter, author of The Dinner Guest‘If you’re looking for a fabulous, fast-paced murder mystery, don’t miss this absolute gem!’ Carla Kovach, author of Her Deadly Promise‘Like a literary Michelin star chef, Marion serves up a tale full of surprise and delight: a recipe of murder and deception that gets more delicious with each page.’ Morgan Cry, author of Six Wounds‘Marion Todd goes from strength to strength... Every bit as cunning, twisty and satisfying as I would expect from such a talented writer.’ Alison Belsham, author of Her Last Breath‘Pacy and enthralling, keeps you turning the pages at great speed... reminds me of the brilliant crime drama Unforgotten.’ The Scots Magazine‘I love this series so much! Marion’s writing is brilliant and I look forward to each instalment with anticipation. The story was gripping and I couldn’t stop reading!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review‘Once again, Marion has written a gripping story full of plot twists and turns. The threads of the plot are woven skillfully and the story is fast paced.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review‘An engaging, fluid and well thought out pacy police procedural with a solid mystery at heart, a deftly crafted cast of wholly credible characters, a firm sense of place and a compelling plot. The series shows no signs of flagging whatsoever.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
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HarperCollins Publishers They Came to Baghdad
Book SynopsisAgatha Christie's international mystery thriller, reissued with a striking new cover designed to appeal to the latest generation of Agatha Christie fans and book lovers.Baghdad is the chosen location for a secret summit of superpowers, concerned but not convinced, about the development of an, as yet, unidentified and undescribed secret weapon.Only one man has the proof that can confirm the nature of this fantastic secret weapon a British agent named Carmichael. Unfortunately the criminal organisation responsible for the weapon's development will stop at nothing to prevent him entering Baghdad and presenting his proof to the assembled delegates. Can Carmichael enter the city against such odds?Into this explosive situations appears Victoria Jones, a girl with a yearning for adventure who gets more than she bargains for when a wounded Carmichael dies in her arms in her hotel room.Now, if only she could make sense of his last words LuciferBasrahLefarge'Trade Review‘A very human heroine, whose powers of invention, just like those of her creator, never fail her’Times Literary Supplement ‘The acknowledged queen of detective fiction.’The Observer
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HarperCollins Publishers BLACK COFFEE Poirot
Book SynopsisSugar and cream?Or a lethal dose of poison?The inventor of a powerful new explosive,Sir Claud Amory, is somewhat disconcerted when the chemical formula goes missing the situation worsened by the knowledge that the thief is one of Sir Claud's house-guests. A relative? Or a friend'?Whoever the culprit, Sir Claud decides to give them a sporting chance which is more than someone gives him. As the doors are locked and the lights turned off, rather than return the formula, one of the guests adds something to their host's coffee . . .Adapted as a novel by Charles OsborneTrade Review‘A lively and light-hearted read which will give pleasure to all those who have long wished that there was just one more Christie to devour’Antonia Fraser, Sunday Telegraph ‘Reads like authentic, vintage Christie. I feel sure Agatha would be proud to have written it’Mathew Prichard, Agatha Christie’s grandson
£9.49
Faber & Faber Death Comes to Pemberley
Book SynopsisThe world is classic Jane Austen. The mystery is vintage P.D. James. The year is 1803, and Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet have been married for six years. There are now two handsome and healthy sons in the nursery, Elizabeth's beloved sister Jane and her husband Bingley live nearby and the orderly world of Pemberley seems unassailable. But all this is threatened when, on the eve of the annual autumn ball, the guests are preparing to retire for the night when a chaise appears, rocking down the path from Pemberley's wild woodland. As it pulls up, Lydia Wickham - Elizabeth Bennet's younger, unreliable sister - stumbles out screaming that her husband has been murdered. Two great literary minds - master of suspense P.D. James and literary icon Jane Austen - come together in Death Comes to Pemberley, a bestselling historical crime fiction tribute to Pride and Prejudice. Conjuring the world of Elizabeth Bennet and Mark Darcy and combining the trappings
£8.09
Faber & Faber The Lighthouse
Book SynopsisTHE MULTIMILLION-COPY BESTSELLING ADAM DALGLIESH SERIES FROM THE QUEEN OF ENGLISH CRIME' (Guardian) A legend.' VAL MCDERMIDP. D. James took the classic crime novel and turned up the dial.' MICK HERRONA whodunit which takes murder seriously.' GUARDIANPERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS__________________________________________________________________________________He thought of Combe as a place of violent emotions of danger.Combe Island, off the Cornish coast, is a restful retreat for the rich and powerful until one of its distinguished visitors is murdered, and the peace of the island is shattered. Commander Adam Dalgliesh is called in to solve the mystery quickly and discreetly, but at a difficult time for him and his depleted team. No sooner have they begun to unravel the complicated motives of the suspects when there is a second brutal killing.But there is another danger just as insidious and potentially as fatal as murder on the island, which puts Dalgliesh at even greater risk . . .__________________________________________________________________________________P. D. James on top form . . . you will love it.' SpectatorOutstanding in characterisation and the plot is crafted with consummate skill. The setting was idyllic and chilling at the same time. . . Gripping and a rewarding read. Brilliant.' 5* reader reviewJames''s precision can be as deftly murderous as the weapons her killers wield.' New York Times**Now a major Channel 5 series**__________________________________________________________________________________READERS LOVE THE ADAM DALGLEISH SERIES:Adam Dalgleish is one of the best characters in modern detective fiction.' 5* reader reviewIf you are not already an Adam Dalgliesh fan, I urge you to become one . . . James can describe a scene or delineate a character with precision and depth, like no other writer I have read . . . I usually stay up all night to read a P. D. James novel once I start one.' 5* reader reviewI would never give less than 5 stars to any P. D. James book. She is one of a kind, always constant, always wonderful writing, always great characters, and always a good mystery that you cannot put down.' 5* reader reviewP.D. James writes mysteries for ordinary people. Her characters are relatable and her hero is dynamic. But don''t expect cell phones or computers. Her stories are strictly old school, which is what I love about them.' 5* reader reviewCrime writing at its very best!' 5* reader reviewPRAISE FOR P. D. JAMES:P. D. James is the crème de la crème of crime writers. Her books are shrewd puzzles, full of wit and depth.' IAN RANKINNobody can put the reader in the eye of the storm quite like P. D. James.' SUNDAY EXPRESSOne of the literary greats. Her sense of place was exquisite, characterisation and plotting unrivalled.' MARI HANNAHJames manages a depth and intelligence that few in her trade can match.' THE TIMESThere are very few thriller writers who can compete with P. D. James at her best.' SPECTATORThe queen of English crime.' GUARDIAN
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers PERIL AT END HOUSE Poirot
Book SynopsisAgatha Christie's ingenious murder mystery, reissued with a striking new cover designed to appeal to the latest generation of Agatha Christie fans and book lovers.Nick Buckley was an unusual name for a pretty young woman. But then she had led an unusual life. First, on a treacherous Cornish hillside, the brakes on her car failed. Then, on a coastal path, a falling boulder missed her by inches. Later, an oil painting fell and almost crushed her in bed.Upon discovering a bullet-hole in Nick's sun hat, Hercule Poirot decides the girl needs his protection. At the same time, he begins to unravel the mystery of a murder that hasn't been committed. Yet.Trade Review“The actual solution is quite unusually ingenious.”Times Literary Supplement
£11.39
British Library Publishing Murder as a Fine Art
Book SynopsisA classic mystery reprinting for the first time since the 1950s copies of the original are extremely scarce. One of our reader favourites of the Crime Classics series returns, with the third Carnac novel starring Julian Rivers to join the Crime Classics series. From a London political setting, sending up the machinations of the civil service and
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co The Friends of Eddie Coyle
Book Synopsis'The best crime novel ever written' - Elmore LeonardTrade ReviewThe best crime novel ever written -- Elmore LeonardA portrait of life on the street as realistic as any ever written -- Dennis LehaneHiggins deserves to stand in the company of Chandler and Hammett as one of the true innovators in crime fiction -- Scott TurowHiggins writes about the world of crime with an authenticity that is unmatched * WASHINGTON POST *If you haven't read George V. Higgins you can't call yourself a fan of crime fiction -- Val McDermidNo one ever did it better * NEW YORK TIMES *
£10.48
HarperCollins Publishers The Tuesday Club Murders
Book Synopsis Follow the ingenious mysteries of the ‘Tuesday Night Club’ with this hardback special edition of Agatha Christie’s beloved classic. Trade Review‘The plots are so good that one marvels… most of them would have made a full-length thriller’– Daily Mirror ‘Without a doubt, the greatest mystery writer of all time’ – Ragnar Jonasson ‘A hundred years after her first novel, and we are all still standing in her shadow’ – Andrew Taylor ‘She gives us an insight into human nature that few, if any, have surpassed’ – Susan Lewis ‘Dame Agatha has sold more books than all besides Shakespeare and the Bible’ – David Baldacci ‘All crime fiction writers around the globe owe Agatha Christie a massive debt’ – Peter James ‘Reading a perfectly plotted Agatha Christie is like crunching into a perfect apple: that pure, crisp, absolute satisfaction.’ – Tana French
£13.49
Pushkin Press The Daughter of Time
Book SynopsisWho really killed the princes in the tower? Was Richard III truly the ogre of legend and Shakespeare's play. - a wicked uncle who murdered his nephews to steal the crown of England? Inspector Alan Grant is not so sure. Laid up in hospital with a broken leg, he becomes obsessed with unravelling this most enduring of historical mysteries. As he investigates with the help of an enthusiastic young American scholar, he unearths long-buried intrigues and comes to a startling conclusion.Trade Review'As interesting and enjoyable a book as you will meet in a month of Sundays' - Observer'One of the best mysteries of all time' - New York Times'First-rate mystery, ably plotted and beautifully written' - Los Angeles Times'A detective story with a very considerable difference. Ingenious, stimulating and very enjoyable' - Sunday Times'One of the permanent classics in the detective field' - Anthony Boucher
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers The Thirteen Problems
Book SynopsisThis new mini hardback edition completes the series of collectable Miss Marple hardbacks the first time all 14 Marple books have had their own uniform hardback series.A weekly dinner partyTen amateur sleuthsThe Tuesday Club murdersOn a quiet Tuesday in St Mary Mead, a group of friends gather for dinner.A policeman, a clergyman, a solicitor, an author, an artist, and an unassuming lady with a shrewd gaze Miss Jane Marple. Conversation naturally turns to crime.Each recounts a seemingly unsolvable mystery. Each thinks they know the answer.But it's the one they least expect who understands the true nature of each wicked actNever underestimate Miss MarpleBillions of readers can't be wrong.'Dreda Say MitchellThe plots are so good that one marvels . . . most of them would have made a full-length thriller.'Daily MirrorTrade Review‘Without a doubt, the greatest mystery writer of all time’ – Ragnar Jonasson ‘A hundred years after her first novel, and we are all still standing in her shadow’ – Andrew Taylor ‘She gives us an insight into human nature that few, if any, have surpassed’ – Susan Lewis ‘Dame Agatha has sold more books than all besides Shakespeare and the Bible’ – David Baldacci ‘All crime fiction writers around the globe owe Agatha Christie a massive debt’ – Peter James ‘Reading a perfectly plotted Agatha Christie is like crunching into a perfect apple: that pure, crisp, absolute satisfaction.’ – Tana French
£11.69
Profile Books Ltd Murder Under the Sun
Book Synopsis'So great ... it's criminal' SAGA'With Cecily Gayford in charge, we are on safe ground' DAILY MAILFrom beneath the beach umbrella, all might seem idyllic - children playing, sunbathers relaxing, ice slowly melting in a cocktail glass. But look a little closer, and all is not as it seems ... In these classic crime stories of midsummer murder and madness, the mercury is climbing - and so is the body count. Prepare to spend this summer holiday with some shady characters (in sunny places) and immerse yourself in tales of mystery and depravity at home and abroad.Just remember - there might be nothing new under the sun ... but murder is the most ancient art of all.
£9.49
Pushkin Press The Man in the Queue
Book SynopsisA clever mystery classic from one of Britain's greatest and most original crime writers, the author of The Daughter of Time In 1920s London, the packed queue for the city's most popular musical comedy is growing impatient. When the theatre doors open at last and the crowd surges forward, a man falls to the ground, dead-silently stabbed with a stiletto. Who killed him before melting away unseen into the night? As Inspector Alan Grant investigates, the mystery turns into a breathless manhunt leading from London all the way to the Scottish highlands and back, before at last a truth is revealed that shocks even the canny detective himself. This is an unforgettable classic from crime writing's golden ageTrade Review'My favourite detective of all time' - Daily Express'Josephine Tey has always been absolutely reliable in producing original and mysterious plots with interesting characters and unguessable endings' - Spectator'All the Tey magic... Superb!' - San Francisco Chronicle
£8.54
Wordsworth Editions Ltd Sweeney Todd: The String of Pearls
Book SynopsisFully revised Second Edition. With a new Introduction and Bibliography by Dick Collins. The exploits of Sweeney Todd, ‘The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’, have been recounted many times in plays, films and musicals, but the origins of the character largely were forgotten for many years. The String of Pearls - the original tale of Sweeney Todd, a classic of British horror - was first published as a weekly serial in 1846-7 by Edward Lloyd, the King of the Penny Dreadfuls. One of the earliest detective stories, it became an important source for Bram Stoker's Dracula, but it was after over 150 years of obscurity that it appeared first in book form in the Wordsworth edition published in 2005. The one great mystery that has surrounded the book is who the author was - or was it possibly the work of more than one man? In his new introduction to this fully revised second edition, Dick Collins, by means of detailed research of contemporary records, has established finally the identity of the creator of this legendary figure. So here is the original story of the terrifying owner of that famous London barber-shop, and the secret recipe for Mrs Lovett's delicious pies…
£5.90
HarperCollins Publishers The Mysterious Affair at Styles
Book SynopsisAgatha Christie's first ever murder mystery, now presented as a sumptuous special edition hardback.Beware! Peril to the detective who says: It is so small it does not matter Everything matters.'After the Great War, life can never be the same again. Wounds need healing, and the horror of violent death banished into memory.Captain Arthur Hastings is invited to the rolling country estate of Styles to recuperate from injuries sustained at the Front. It is the last place he expects to encounter murder. Fortunately he knows a former detective, a Belgian refugee, who has grown bored of retirementThe first Hercule Poirot mystery, now published with a previously deleted chapter and introduced by Agatha Christie expert Dr John Curran.Trade Review‘Almost too ingenious … very clearly and brightly told.’Times Literary Supplement ‘Very well contrived.’Sunday Times ‘Altogether a skilful tale and a talented first book.’Daily News ‘The most ingenious and absorbingly interesting tale of sensations and mystery we have read for a long time.’Bookman ‘Well written, well proportioned, and full of surprises. Lovers of good stories will, without exception, rejoice in this book.’The British Weekly
£13.49
Profile Books Ltd Murder in Midsummer: Classic Mysteries for the
Book SynopsisA rock pool with a deadly secret. A bank holiday heatwave dominated by the murder of an unknown man. A sun-drenched picnic that ends in a sinister locked-room mystery. And an Adriatic holiday interrupted by a beautiful couple ... who aren't quite who they seem to be. All these, and many more, can be found in these classic stories of summertime murder and mayhem, featuring masters of the genre from Dorothy L. Sayers to Arthur Conan Doyle. From St Mark's Square in Venice to the English seaside, their tales will puzzle, entertain and prove that - no matter how far you travel - there's no rest for the wicked. Selected by Cecily Gayford
£8.54
Faber & Faber The Feast
Book SynopsisThis summer holiday vintage crime classic exploring the mystery of a buried Cornish hotel invites us to solve the puzzle as detectives: perfect for fans of Celia Fremlin''s Uncle Paul, Agatha Christie, or Richard Osman ...''I am loving it!'' Nigella Lawson''Hilarious and perceptive ... Perfect.'' Daily Mail''Entertaining, beautifully written, and profound.'' Tracy Chevalier''Tense, touching, human, dire, and funny ... A feast indeed.'' Elizabeth Bowen''Kennedy is not only a romantic but an anarchist.'' Anita Brookner''Oh boy, what a treat; wonderfully sharp and funny ... Page-turningly good!'' Lissa Evans''So full of pleasure that you could be forgiven for not seeing how clever it is.'' Cathy RentzenbrinkCornwall, Midsummer 1947. Pendizack Manor Hotel is buried in the rubble of a collapsed cliff. Seven guests have perished, but is it murder, and what brought this strange
£9.49
British Library Publishing Blood on the Tracks
Book SynopsisBoth train buffs and crime fans will delight in this selection of fifteen railway-themed mysteries, featuring some of the most popular authors of their day alongside less familiar names. This is a collection to beguile even the most wearisome commuter.Table of ContentsThe Man with the Watches - Arthur Conan Doyle The Mystery of Felwyn Tunnel - L. T. Meade and Robert Eustace How He Cut His Stick - Matthias McDonnell Bodkin The Mysterious Death on the Underground Railway - Baroness Orczy The Affair of the Corridor Express - Victor L. Whitechurch The Case of Oscar Brodski - R. Austin Freeman The Eighth Lamp - Roy Vickers The Knight's Cross Signal Problem - Ernest Bramah The Man with No Face - Dorothy L. Sayers The Railway Carriage - F. Tennyson Jesse Mystery of the Slip-Coach - Sapper The Level Crossing - Freeman Wills Crofts The Adventure of the First-Class Carriage - Ronald Knox Murder on the 7.16 - Michael Innes The Coulman Handicap - Michael Gilbert
£9.89
HarperCollins Publishers Black As Hes Painted Last Ditch Grave Mistake
Book SynopsisCommemorating 75 years since the Empress of Crime's first book, the tenth volume in a set of omnibus editions presenting the complete run of 32 Inspector Alleyn mysteries.BLACK AS HE''S PAINTEDCalled in to help with security arrangements for a presidential reception at a London embassy, Chief Superintendent Alleyn ensures the house and grounds are stiff with police. Nevertheless, an assassin strikes, and Alleyn finds no shortage of help, from Special Branch to a tribal court and a small black cat named Lucy LockettLAST DITCHYoung Rickie Alleyn has come to the Channel Islands to write, but village life seems tedious until he finds the stablehand in a ditch, dead from an unlucky jump. But Rickie notices something strange and his father, Chief Superintendent Roderick Alleyn, is discreetly summoned to the scene, when Rickie disappearsGRAVE MISTAKEWith two husbands dead, a daughter marrying the wrong man and a debilitating disease, it is no wonder that Sybil Foster took her own life. But
£15.29
Pushkin Press The Honjin Murders
Book Synopsis 'The Japanese Agatha Christie' Sarah Cox, on BBC2's Between the Covers 'The master of ingenious plotting' Guardian 'Dazzling' New York Times ______FROM THE FATHER OF JAPANESE CRIME_____In the winter of 1937, the village of Okamura is abuzz with excitement over the forthcoming wedding of a son of the grand Ichiyanagi family. But amid the gossip over the approaching festivities, there is also a worrying rumour - it seems a sinister masked man has been asking questions about the Ichiyanagis around the village.Then, on the night of the wedding, the Ichiyanagi family are woken by a terrible scream, followed by the sound of eerie music - death has come to Okamura, leaving no trace but a bloody samurai sword, thrust into the pristine snow outside the house. The murder seems impossible, but amateur detective Kosuke Kindaichi is determined to get to the bottom of it.
£12.34
HarperCollins Publishers Moonstone The
Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its range of best-loved, essential classics.The horrid mystery hanging over us in this house gets into my head like liquor, and makes me wild.'Centred around a glorious yellow diamond that carries with it a menacing history, The Moonstone tells the story of Rachel Verinder, who inherits the stone on her eighteenth birthday. That very evening, the diamond is stolen and there begins an epic enquiry into hunting down the thief. At the same time, three Indian men, Brahmin guardians of the diamond are attempting to reclaim the stone in order to return it to their sacred Hindu Idol.Told from the perspective of 11different characters, Wilkie Collins' tale of mystery and suspicion was considered the first modern English detective novel at its time of publication.
£6.01
