Classic crime and mystery fiction

Book SynopsisThe truth could ruin everything.A decade ago, the bodies of nine people were discovered at Black Valley Farm. The only suspect vanished without a trace.Clare has spent ten years living a lie, but a new podcast on the murders threatens to bring her carefully built life crashing down. Because someone else has listened to the podcast.Someone who knows Clare is lying, and who will stop at nothing to ensure the truth never comes to light.An absolutely unputdownable crime thriller. Perfect for fans of C. L. Taylor, Tim Weaver and T Orr. Munro.Praise for Black Valley Farm ‘Black Valley Farm kept me turning the pages and with intricate plotting and memorable characters this is a thrilling read.’ Patricia Gibney, author of the Detective Lottie Parker Series‘Chilling and compulsive, this darkly menacing tale is full of suspense that keeps on building – everything you want from a crime thriller.’ Marion Todd, author of the DI Clare Mackay Series‘A dark visceral thriller where nobody and nothing is what it seems. Bugler has evoked a terrifying world where power over the most needy leads to the most shocking outcomes.’ Graham Bartlett, author of Force of Hate‘Twisting and shocking. A sinister community, dangerous politics and a host of complex characters make this heart-thumping thriller a truly engrossing read.’ Heather Critchlow, author of Unsolved‘The twists keep coming... The final resolution is so perfect it moved me to tears.’ Chris Curran, author of When the Lights go out‘Wow! What a great book. I loved every moment of it. Just when I thought I had it all figured out (yet again) there was another twist.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review‘Black Valley Farm is a fascinating read, and the plot kept me turning the pages well into the night. I thought I figured it out, but the author weaved in some good twists that proved me wrong!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review‘A fresh new take on a thriller! I couldn’t put this one down and highly recommend it!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review‘Fantastic! I thought the plot was excellent, and there are a couple of twists in the story that you don’t expect.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review‘Completely mesmerising. I was hooked from the first page. You will think you have this figured out but it gets real twisty. Just fantastic.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

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Book SynopsisPart XXXII featuring contributions from: Hal Glatzer, Arianna Fox, Terry Golledge, David Marcum, Craig Janacek, James Gelter, Mike Hogan, Arthur Hall, Tracy J. Revels, Will Murray, Roger Riccard, Tim Symonds, Wayne Anderson, Alan Dimes, Mike Chinn, Paul Hiscock, Ian Ableson, a poem by Kevin Patrick McCann,  and forewords by Jeffrey Hatcher, Roger Johnson, Emma West, Steve Emecz, and David Marcum. Parts XXXI, XXXII, and XXXIII 2022 Annual 61 New Holmes Adventures Collected in Three Companion Volumes. In 2015, the first three volumes of The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories arrived, containing over 60 stories in the true traditional Canonical manner, revisiting Holmes and Watson in those days where it is "always 1895" . . . or a few decades on either side of that. That was the largest collection of new Holmes stories ever assembled, and originally planned to be a one-time event. But readers wanted more, and the contributors had more stories from Watson''s Tin Dispatch Box, so the fun continued. Now, with the release of Parts XXXI, XXXII, and XXXIII, the series has grown to nearly 700 new Holmes adventures by over 200 contributors from around with world. Since the beginning, all contributor royalties have gone to the Undershaw school (formerly Stepping Stones) for special needs children at Undershaw, one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle''s former homes, and to date the project has raised nearly $100,000 for the school - as well as helping provide a world-wide awareness of its mission. As has become the tradition, this new collection of 61 adventures features Holmes and Watson carrying out their masterful investigations from the early days of their friendship in Baker Street to the post-War years during Holmes''s retirement. Along the way they are involved in dozens of fascinating mysteries, all progressing along completely unexpected lines. Join us as we return to Baker Street and discover more authentic adventures of Sherlock Holmes, described by the estimable Dr. Watson as "the best and wisest . . . whom I have ever known."  61 new traditional Holmes adventuresin three simultaneously published volumes The game is afoot! All royalties from this collection are being donated by the writers for the benefit of the preservation of Undershaw, one of the former homes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

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Book SynopsisIn the 1980''s and 1990''s, the late Terry Golledge wrote ten Holmes masterful pastiches that perfectly captured Dr. Watson voice, as well as Holmes''s personality and methods. Mr. Golledge passed away in 1996 before these stories could be published. In early 2022, Terry''s son, Niel Golledge, reached out to Sherlockian editor David Marcum, who was electrified to read such wonderful previously lost tales about The Heroes of Baker Street. Now all of these valuable and sublime new additions to The Great Holmes Tapestry, once unknown except to a very few, are collected in an important new volume and available to the world.A Recollection (Introduction)I. The Pihdarus PapersII. The Case of the Woman at MargateIII. The Grosvenor Square Furniture VanIV. The Merton FiendsV. The Addleton TragedyVI. The Crown of LightVII. The Adventure of the Silk ScarfVIII. The Bickstone Lodge Affair (A Novella)IX. The Adventure of the Lonely SoldierX. The Riverfront AffairAll royalties from this collection are being donated for the benefit of the preservation of Undershaw, a school for special needs students located at one of the former homes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

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Book Synopsis1888 - In the midst of the murderous phrenzy plaguing the streets of Whitechapel, a case of mistaken identity, a courier''s dispatch containing a coded message, and an urgent request from Scotland Yard draw Sherlock Holmes into a case that uncovers criminal schemes fixed on removing the heads of the governments of England, France, and the German Empire. Convinced these events are not simply calamitous coincidences, Holmes goes to his brother Mycroft, reasoning such endeavors must be orchestrated by a single malicious mastermind. With his trusted colleague, John Watson, at his side, as well as a rogues gallery of characters, old and new, Holmes throws himself into the fray. With international implications, this case tests Holmes'' abilities to their very limits, as he doggedly pursues the identity of the man behind the malevolence, and the destruction of such a Sinister House. 

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Book SynopsisIn the early- and mid-1880s, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, the forerunner of the modern IRA, waged a bombing campaign that terrorized the citizens of London for more than four years. Explosives were detonated in such places as the Tower of London, the House of Commons, Victoria station and at the London Bridge. The bombings were carried out in an attempt to secure Ireland''s freedom from England. The Fenians, as they were called, hoped citizens would put pressure on the government to resolve the dispute.Implored by the government to end the reign of terror, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson take up residence in a doss house in Whitechapel, which would achieve even greater notoriety a few years later courtesy of Jack the Ripper, posing as dock workers in order to learn more about the shadowy group and ingratiate themselves with its members. When Holmes learns a new bomb-maker is on the way and the bombings will increase in frequency, he understands time is running out.Despite proving his bona fides by bombing 10 Downing Street, Holmes is still held at arm''s length by the group''s leader Michael. As plans for the extensive new bombing campaign are formulated, Holmes realizes that he must act quickly in order to stop the terror. However, as clever as Holmes is, Michael is his match. The Devil''s Disciples pits Holmes against an adversary who is every bit as cunning as he - but far more ruthless.

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Book SynopsisSupernatural hounds, a family curse, a mysterious cipher and the return of a deadly enemy . . . Sherlock Holmes will have to utilize every skill he has to solve the two classic mysteries collected here. The Hound of the Baskervilles sees Holmes and Dr Watson travel to the misty wilds of Dartmoor to confront a devilish apparition, while in The Valley of Fear the pair investigate a gruesome murder that may be the work of the dastardly Professor Moriarty himself.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. In this edition, Sherlock scholar David Stuart Davies provides both an illuminating afterword and a fascinating chronology of the Sherlock Holmes stories.

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Book SynopsisIn Sherlock Holmes: The Dark Mysteries, Sherlock Holmes expert David Stuart Davies has selected the cases of the great detective that best reflect Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's deep interest in the supernatural. The first is the terrifying novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, followed by nine Gothic adventures: 'The Sussex Vampire', 'The Creeping Man', 'Shoscombe Old Place', 'The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax', 'The Veiled Lodger', 'The Devil's Foot', 'The Blanched Soldier' and 'The Cardboard Box'. All of the stories are accompanied by their original illustrations.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. With an introduction by the collection's editor, David Stuart Davies.

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Book SynopsisThe inspiration for A Haunting in Venice now a major motion picture.When a Hallowe'en party turns deadly, it falls to Hercule Poirot to unmask a murdererDuring a night of party games, Joyce Reynolds boasts that she once witnessed a murder. No one believes her, but then she is found drowned, face down in an apple-bobbing tub.Set against a night of trickery and the occult, Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver must race to uncover the real evil responsible for this ghastly murder.Hallowe'en Party is the sensational Agatha Christie novel that inspired the brand new feature film directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh. This special edition is introduced by its screenwriter, Michael Green.Trade Review‘A thundering success… a triumph for Hercule Poirot.’–Daily Mirror ‘Complex and sinister, with echoes of old legends and no flagging of the accustomed verve.’–Sunday Telegraph

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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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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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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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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

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Book SynopsisA witty, intricately-plotted exploration of a sudden fall from grace, the Penguin Classics edition of Wilkie Collins''s No Name is edited with an introduction and notes by Mark Ford.Magdalen and her sister Norah, beloved daughters of Mr and Mrs Vanstone, find themselves the victims of a catastrophic oversight. Their father has neglected to change his will, and when the girls are suddenly orphaned, their inheritance goes to their uncle. Now penniless, the conventional Norah takes up a position as a governess, but the defiant and tempestuous Magdalen cannot accept the loss of what is rightfully hers and decides to do whatever she can to win it back. With the help of cunning Captain Wragge, she concocts a scheme that involves disguise, deceit and astonishing self-transformation. In this compelling, labyrinthine story Wilkie Collins brilliantly demonstrates the gap between justice and the law, and in the subversive Magdalen he portrays one of the most exhilarating heroine

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Book SynopsisThe profession he had always yearned for did not actually exist... he imagined a cross between a doctor and a priest, a man capable of understanding another's destiny at first glance. The very first investigation by eager young police secretary Jules Maigret leads him to a wealthy Paris family's dark secrets.Trade ReviewPraise for Georges Simenon:“One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.” —The Guardian “These Maigret books are as timeless as Paris itself.” —The Washington Post “Maigret ranks with Holmes and Poirot in the pantheon of fictional detective immortals.” —People “I love reading Simenon. He makes me think of Chekhov.” —William Faulkner “The greatest of all, the most genuine novelist we have had in literature.” —André Gide “A supreme writer . . . Unforgettable vividness.” —The Independent (London) “Superb . . . The most addictive of writers . . . A unique teller of tales.” —The Observer (London) “Compelling, remorseless, brilliant.” —John Gray “A truly wonderful writer . . . Marvelously readable—lucid, simple, absolutely in tune with the world he creates.” —Muriel Spark “A novelist who entered his fictional world as if he were a part of it.”lle —Peter Ackroyd “Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century.” —John Banville"Gem-hard soul-probes . . . not just the world's bestselling detective series, but an imperishable literary legend . . . he exposes secrets and crimes not by forensic wizardry, but by the melded powers of therapist, philosopher and confessor" ― Times (London)"Strangely comforting . . . so many lovely bistros from the Paris of mid-20th C. The corpses are incidental, it's the food that counts." ― Margaret Atwood"One of the greatest writers of the 20th century . . . no other writer can set up a scene as sharply and with such economy as Simenon does . . . the conjuring of a world, a place, a time, a set of characters - above all, an atmosphere." ― Financial Times"Gripping . . . richly rewarding . . . You'll quickly find yourself obsessing about his life as you tackle each mystery in turn."-- Stig Abell ― The Sunday Times (London)

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Book SynopsisInternational bestselling author Jean-Luc Bannalec's Commissaire Georges Dupin and his team head to Breton paradise in An Island of Suspects.An August heat wave has all of Brittany in its grasp, and the only chance to cool down for Commissaire Georges Dupin is his daily swim in the ocean. Until one morning his routine is interrupted because a body has been found in the harbor with clear signs of foul play. Patric Provost was from one of the long-established families on the island of Belle-Ile, Breton's biggest and most famous island. Provost owned and operated a company dealing in an island delicacy: the famous Belle-Ile-sheep. As Bretons say, the sheep season themselves while they're eating, grazing on salty, iodine-rich meadows, full of wild herbs, directly by the ocean. In Dupin's culinary ranking, this lamb comes right behind entrecote. And that's saying something.Dupin has barely stepped foot on the utopia-like island before it comes to light that

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Book Synopsis'Extraordinary... one of her finest novels' Guardian"If everybody in the world didn't keep watching to see what everybody else did, we'd all go berserk."Jenny believes that sighting an owl is a portent of death. When she spots a stranger looking in through her window one night, she believes that he is an omen too. But fate doesn't work in the way that either of them expect.This novel of suspense and paranoia draws on Highsmith's own experience of being a stalker.Trade ReviewPatricia Highsmith has an extraordinary talent for the sinister, and this is well revealed in The Cry of the Owl, one of her finest novels -- Robert Nye * Guardian *Patricia Highsmith is a craftsman who has made the suspense novel her own domain * The Times *The basic nightmare situation - to be accused of a crime you did not commit and be unable to prove your innocence- is the subject of The Cry of the Owl... It's Kafka with a vengeance... compulsive * Spectator *A rare talent, a remarkable novelist... her books are written in elegant and lucid prose -- John Mortimer

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Book SynopsisThe very first case for Oxford-based sleuth Gervase Fen, one of the last of the great Golden Age detectives. As inventive as Agatha Christie, as hilarious as P.G. Wodehouse, this is the perfect entry point to discover the delightful detective stories of Edmund Crispin crime fiction at its quirkiest and best.A pretty but spiteful young actress with a talent for destroying men's lives is found dead in a college room just yards from the office of the unconventional Oxford don Gervase Fen. Anyone who knew the girl would gladly have shot her, but can Fen discover who did shoot her, and why?Published during the Second World War, The Case of the Gilded Fly introduced English professor and would-be detective Gervase Fen, one of crime fiction's most irrepressible and popular sleuths. A classic locked-room mystery filled with witty literary allusions, it was the debut of a new writer who calls himself Edmund Crispin' (in reality the choral and film composer Bruce Montgomery), later described byTrade Review‘The Case of the Gilded Fly couldn't be more British if it came packaged with fish and chips’ New York Sun ‘One of the last exponents of the classical English detective story … elegant, literate, and funny’ The Times ‘A classic detective story and a ludicrous literary farce’ Guardian ‘Beneath a formidable exterior he had unsuspected depths of frivolity’ Philip Larkin

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Book SynopsisFrom the Collins Crime Club archive, the sixth Inspector French novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, once dubbed The King of Detective Story Writers'.A MURDER MYSTERY WITHOUT A CLUEWhen Sir John Magill, the wealthy Irish industrialist, fails to show up at his home town on a well-publicised visit, neither his family nor the Belfast police can explain his disappearance. Foul play is suspected when his bloodstained hat is discovered, and Scotland Yard is called in. With his characteristic genius for reconstruction, Inspector French evolves a gruesome theory about what happened to the elderly man, but his reputation and that of Scotland Yard will depend on finding out who was responsible . . .Trade Review‘Nobody takes more trouble to get every detail absolutely correct. This most workmanlike of sleuths unravels a really satisfying puzzle.’ DAILY MAIL “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 NICOLSON, DAILY EXPRESS

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Book SynopsisThis new selection of 12 of the best Sherlock Holmes stories is designed to give a full sense of their world, taking Holmes's career from its early days to its close. It includes the book-length The Sign of the Four and an introduction and notes by Barry McCrea that give a sense of the different currents running beneath the stories' surface.Table of ContentsIntroduction ; Note on the Text ; Select Bibliography ; A Chronology of Arthur Conan Doyle ; The Sign of the Four ; A Scandal in Bohemia ; The Red-Headed League ; A Case of Identity ; The Man with the Twisted Lip ; The Blue Carbuncle ; The Speckled Band ; The Musgrave Ritual ; The Greek Interpreter ; The Dancing Men ; The Six Napoleons ; His Last Bow ; Explanatory Notes

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Book SynopsisFrom the Collins Crime Club archive, the second Inspector French novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, once dubbed The King of Detective Story Writers'.THE RETURN OF INSPECTOR FRENCHWhen young Maxwell Cheyne discovers that a series of mishaps are the result of unwelcome attention from a dangerous gang of criminals, he teams up with a young woman who is determined to help him outwit them. But when she disappears, he finally decides to go to Scotland Yard for help. Concerned by the developing situation, Inspector Joseph French takes charge of the investigation and applies his trademark methods to track down the kidnappers and thwart their intentions . . .Trade 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 NICOLSON, DAILY EXPRESS

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Book SynopsisIn this absorbing new entry in the acclaimed New York Times bestselling series, Scotland Yard’s Ian Rutledge is caught up in a twisted web of vengeance and murder.On the north coast of Cornwall, an apparent act of mercy is repaid by an arrest for murder.Trade Review"It's that melancholy tone, the legacy of the trenches, that gives Todd's polite rural mystery such uncommon depth." -- Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review on NO SHRED OF EVIDENCE "Fans already mourning the end of "Downton Abbey" can easily get their English fix by following Rutledge and Hamish on their rounds." -- Wilmington Star News on NO SHRED OF EVIDENCE "Poirot was one name, Holmes was another, and Rutledge deserves to be in that classic pack of crime solvers." -- Suspense Magazine on NO SHRED OF EVIDENCE "NO SHRED OF EVIDENCE is the latest in Charles Todd's consistently rewarding historical mysteries about British Detective Inspector Ian Rutledge. Over the course of a dozen and a half books, Todd has brilliantly, gradually revealed the many sides of this complex, melancholy man." -- Seattle Times Book Review "The mother and son team, who write as Charles Todd, deftly capture the atmosphere of post World War I England in this complex mystery which will appeal to fans of British mysteries." -- Iron Mountain Daily News on NO SHRED OF EVIDENCE

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Book SynopsisOld sins cast long shadows...Thirty years on from a horrific series of child murders in London, Josephine Tey sets out to write a novel about the crimes'' perpetrators: Amelia Sach and Annie Walters, the notorious Finchley baby farmers. Meanwhile, her friend, Inspector Archie Penrose is investigating the sadistic murder of a young seamstress, found dead amid preparations for a star-studded charity gala. The girl''s death seems to be the result of a long-standing domestic feud, but Archie is unconvinced; and when a second young woman is involved in an horrific accident soon afterwards, the search begins for a vicious killer who will stop at nothing to keep the past where it belongs...

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Book Synopsis''The father of contemporary European detective fiction'' Ann Cleeves It was indeed a photograph, a picture of a woman. But the face was completely hidden, scribbled all over in red ink. Someone had tried to obliterate the head, someone very angry. The pen had bitten into the paper. There were so many criss-crossed lines that not a single square millimetre had been left visible.On the other hand, below the head, the torso had not been touched. A pair of large breasts. A light-coloured silk dress, very tight and very low cut.Sailors don''t talk much to other men, especially not to policemen. But after Captain Fallut''s body is found floating near his trawler, they all mention the Evil Eye when they speak of the Ocean''s voyage.Penguin is publishing the entire series of Maigret novels in new translations. This novel has been published in a previous translation as The Sailors'' Rendezvous.''Compelling, remorseless, brilliant'' John Gray''One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century'' Guardian ''A supreme writer . . . unforgettable vividness'' IndependentTrade Review‘One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century…Simenon was unequalled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.’ — The Guardian'I love reading Simenon. He makes me think of Chekhov.' — William Faulkner'The greatest of all, the most genuine novelist we have had in literature' — André Gide‘A supreme writer…unforgettable vividness’ — The Independent 'Superb... The most addictive of writers... A unique teller of tales' — The Observer‘Compelling, remorseless, brilliant.’ — John Gray'A truly wonderful writer... marvellously readable - lucid, simple, absolutely in tune with the workd he creates' — Muriel Spark'A novelist who entered his fictional world as it he were a part of it' — Peter Ackroyd'Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century' — John Banville

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Book SynopsisAgatha Christie's seasonal Poirot and Marple short story collection, reissued with a striking new cover designed to appeal to the latest generation of Agatha Christie fans and book lovers.First came a sinister warning to Poirot not to eat any plum pudding then the discovery of a corpse in a chest next, an overheard quarrel that led to murder the strange case of the dead man who altered his eating habits and the puzzle of the victim who dreamt his own suicide.What links these five baffling cases? The little grey cells of Monsieur Hercule Poirot!Trade Review'There is irresistible simplicity and buoyancy of a Christmas treat about it all' Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisA classic winter's crime novel by one of the most highly regarded exponents of the genre.Victor Harleston awoke with uncharacteristic optimism. Today he would be rich at last. Half an hour later, he gulped down his breakfast coffee and pitched to the floor, gasping and twitching. When the doctor arrived, he recognised instantly that it was a fatal case of poisoning and called in Scotland Yard.Despite an almost complete absence of clues, the circumstances were so suspicious that Inspector Hanslet soon referred the evidence to his friend and mentor, Dr Lancelot Priestley, whose deductions revealed a diabolically ingenious murder that would require equally fiendish ingenuity to solve.Trade Review‘One always embarks on a John Rhode book with a great feeling of security. One knows that there will be a sound plot, a well-knit process of reasoning and a solidly satisfying solution with no loose ends or careless errors of fact.’DOROTHY L. SAYERS in THE SUNDAY TIMES ‘Death at Breakfast is full of John Rhode’s specialties: a new and excellently ingenious method of murder, a good story, and a strong chain of deduction.’DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘John Rhode well deserves his reputation as a constructor of almost flawless detective story plots. To read any of his tales is a very agreeable intellectual exercise.’DAILY MAIL

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Book SynopsisSummer. 1930. The hottest day of the year. And Dr Bickleigh has murder in mind.A classic crime masterpiece from ''One of crime fiction''s greatest innovators'' Independent''A fascinating insight into a troubled mind, and a gripping thriller'' GuardianOn a balmy summer''s day in 1930 the great and the good of the county are out in force for the annual, much-anticipated tennis party at the Bickleighs, although not everyone has much enthusiasm for the game. The tennis party exists for other reasons - and charmingly mannered infidelity is now the most popular pastime in the small but exclusive Devonshire hamlet of Wyvern''s Cross.Which is why, in his own garden, the host, Dr Edmund Bickleigh, is desperately fighting to conceal the two things on his mind: a mounting passion for Gwynyfryd Rattery - and the certain conviction that he is going to kill his wife . . .Trade ReviewIn MALICE AFORETHOUGHT Francis Iles created the modern crime novel -- Peter LoveseyA fascinating insight into a troubled mind, and a gripping thriller, the novel has been twice adapted for television with Hywel Bennett and Ben Miller in the main part * GUARDIAN *This classic crime novel, with its focus on the mindset of a murderer, set the genre in a new direction * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *A pioneer of psychological suspense fiction with a seasoning of cynical wit * MYSTERY SCENE *Psychologically convincing and beautifully paced, with a nifty twist at the last minute * THE BOOKSELLER Top 10 Crime Novels to Read Before you Die *One of crime fiction's greatest innovators * INDEPENDENT *

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Book SynopsisA special release of the very first crime novel by John Rhode, introducing Dr Priestley, the genius detective who would go on to appear in more than 70 bestselling crime novels during the Golden Age.When Harold Merefield returned home in the early hours of a winter morning from a festive little party at that popular nightclub, the Naxos', he was startled by a gruesome discovery. On his bed was a corpse.There was nothing to show the identity of the dead man or the cause of his death. At the inquest, the jury found a verdict of Death from Natural Causes' perhaps they were right, but yet . . . ?Harold determined to investigate the matter for himself and sought the help of Professor Priestley, who, by the simple but unusual method of logical reasoning, succeeded in throwing light upon what proved to be a very curious affair indeed.This Detective Club classic is introduced by crime writing historian and expert Tony Medawar, who looks at how John Rhode, who also wrote as Miles Burton and as Cecil Waye, became one of the best-selling and most popular British authors of the Golden Age.Trade Review‘One always embarks on a John Rhode book with a great feeling of security. One knows that there will be a sound plot, a well-knit process of reasoning and a solidly satisfying solution with no loose ends or careless errors of fact.’DOROTHY L. SAYERS in THE SUNDAY TIMES ‘He must hold the record for the invention of ingenious ways of taking life.’SUNDAY TIMES ‘John Rhode never lets you down. A carefully worked out plot, precise detection, with no logical flaws or jumping to conclusions, and enough of character and atmosphere to carry the thing along.’FRANCIS ILES in the DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘Any murder planned by Mr Rhode is bound to be ingenious.’ OBSERVER ‘John Rhode well deserves his reputation as a constructor of almost flawless detective story plots. To read any of his tales is a very agreeable intellectual exercise.’DAILY MAIL

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Book SynopsisThis classic locked-room mystery with a closed circle of suspects is woven together with a thrilling story of escape from an Italian POW camp, as the Second World War nears its endgame and a handful of British prisoners prepare to flee into the Italian countryside.Trade Review`Any book by Michael Gilbert is a treat' - Daily Telegraph

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Book Synopsis''Held me completely in its thrall until the very last line' SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN, bestselling author of PandoraA well-researched and thoroughly convincing page-turner' LAURA SHEPPERSON, bestselling author of The HeroinesA SUNDAY TIMES HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTHJune, 1878. The body of a boy is pulled from the depths of the River Thames, suspected to be the beloved missing child of the widely admired Liberal MP Ralph Gethin.Four months earlier. Harriet is a young maid newly employed at Finton Hall. Fleeing the drudgery of an unwanted engagement in the small village where she grew up, Harriet is entranced by the grand country hall; she is entranced too by her glamorous mistress Clara Gethin, whose unearthly singing voice floats through the house. But Clara, though captivating, is erratic. The master of the house is a much-lauded politician, but he is strangely absent. And some of their beautiful belongings seem to tell terrible stories.Unable to ignore her growing unease, HarriTrade Review‘A page-turning epistolary novel which takes us on a weaving tale of intrigue, full of heart, that held me completely in its thrall until the very last line. Bravo!’ Susan Stokes-Chapman, number one bestselling author of Pandora ‘A dark slice of the sort of gothic nineteenth-century readers were warned against. Thrumming with tension and posing chewy questions about power and complicity, within two pages it had me in its grip and I couldn’t bring myself to look away. Uneasy, unsettling, and unputdownable.’ Lianne Dillsworth, author of Theatre of Marvels ‘A well-researched and thoroughly convincing page-turner’ Laura Shepperson, bestselling author of The Heroines ‘An atmospheric historical thriller with layer upon layer of secrets and twists that kept me guessing right through to the novel’s exquisite ending. Simultaneously enthralling and unsettling, this book examines the darkness beneath the surface of Victorian society with deft and unflinching brushstrokes. I can’t wait to read more from Hester Musson.’ Katie Lumsden, author of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall

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Book SynopsisAuthor of over fifty books, Georgette Heyer is the best-known and best-loved of all historical novelists, making the Regency period her own. Her first novel, The Black Moth, published in 1921, was written at the age of fifteen to amuse her convalescent brother; her last was My Lord John. She wrote twelve detective stories, which earned her much critical acclaim and the title 'Queen of Crime.' Georgette Heyer died in 1974 at the age of seventy-one.Georgette Heyer's mystery novels:April 2006Death in the Stocks - 0099493624; Behold, Here's Poison - 0099493640; They Found Him Dead - 0099493632; A Blunt Instrument - 0099493659September 2006Envious Casca - 0099493667; Detection Unlimited - 0099493748; Duplicate Death - 0099493756; No Wind of Blame - 0099493675January 2007Penhallow - 0099493683; Footsteps in the Dark - 0099493691; Why Shoot a Butler? - 0099493721; The Unfinished Clue - 009949373XTrade ReviewPraise for Georgette Heyer's mystery novels:'We had better start ranking Heyer alongside such incomparable whodunit authors as Christie, Marsh, Tey and Allingham' * San Francisco Chronicle *'Rarely have we seen humour and mystery so perfectly blended' * New York Times *'Sharp, clear and witty' * The New Yorker *'Heyer's characters and dialogue are an abiding delight to me ... I have seldom met people to whom I have taken so violent a fancy from the word "Go"' * Dorothy L. Sayers *

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.

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Book SynopsisThis anthology of rare stories of crime and suspense brings together 18 tales from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction for the first time in book form, including uncollected stories by Ngaio Marsh and John Dickson Carr. The Golden Age of detective fiction had begun inauspiciously with the publication of E.C. Bentley's schismatic Trent's Last Case in 1913, but it hit its stride in 1920 when both Agatha Christie and Freeman Wills Crofts latterly crowned queen and king of the genre had crime novels published for the first time. They ushered in two decades of exemplary mystery writing, the era of the whodunit, the impossible crime and the locked-room mystery, with stories that have thrilled and baffled generations of readers.This new volume in the Bodies from the Library series features the work of 18 prolific authors who, like Christie and Crofts, saw their popularity soar during the Golden Age. Aside from novels, they all wrote short fiction stories, serials and plays and although moTrade Review‘Tony Medawar triumphs again with this treasure trove of lost Golden Age gems.’—John Curran, author of The Hooded Gunman 'For the third year running it has been an annual treat – almost like the summer version of a Christie for Christmas.' Kate Jackson, author of The Pocket Detective

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Book SynopsisA letter from beyond the graveOne last requestAn unsolvable crimeWhen Miss Marple receives a letter from the recently deceased millionaire Jason Rafiel, she's not sure what to make of it.Knowing her deductive skills, he challenges her to solve a crime. If she does so, she will inherit 20,000.The only problem is that he has failed to mention who was involved, or where, and when the crime was committed. Jane Marple is intrigued.Never underestimate Miss MarpleSorry Poirot, but I'm team Marple every time. A mind to rival the great Sherlock Holmes and much handier with a knitting needle yet patronised and underestimated by those around her, her invisibility is her superpower. That and her uncanny understanding of the darkest depths of human nature . . .'Lucy FoleyHer gift is pure genius.'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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Book Synopsis''A white-knuckle descent from champagne and caviar to blood and murder. Toxic friendships, jealousy, private helicopters I loved it! Lord of the Flies in a cocktail dress!'' RACHEL WOLF, Author of Five Nights- WHEN THE TRUTH SURFACESNew Year's Eve, 2023. When Hannah and her friends rent a luxury yacht in an Italian marina, they party in style under the stars until they pass out.WHO WILL SINKThe next morning, they are horrified to find they have been cut adrift into the open ocean, with no sight of land and no fuel in the engine. And that's when the first person goes missingAND WHO WILL SWIM?The Yacht is a twisty locked-room thriller that will have fans of The White Lotus, Lucy Foley and Amy McCulloch addicted from the very first page!- Readers are totally gripped by THE YACHT:''Had me hook, line and sinker. I was obsessed!'' ?????''Leaves your heart in your throat!'' ?????Claustrophobic and electrifying!' ?????''Had me up until the early hours!'' ?????I didn't see the ending coming.Trade Review‘A Sarah Goodwin novel never fails to impress, but THE YACHT is by far her best yet. Fast-paced and brilliantly written, it had a real Lord Of The Flies vibe, with each one of her well crafted, animalistic characters swiftly descending into chaos. Every page left me wanting more, every word crafted with harrowing brutality.’ – NICKY SHEARSBY, author of Black Widow 'A white-knuckle descent from champagne and caviar to blood and murder. Toxic friendships, jealousy, private helicopters – I loved it! Lord of the Flies in a cocktail dress!' – RACHEL WOLF, author of Five Nights Readers LOVE Sarah Goodwin: ‘Wow! This just got under my skin from the start and I couldn't put it down! I flew through it in a day and loved every second’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Suspense, twists, deceit… I had my heart in my mouth the whole time’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘IT WAS SO GOOD’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Utterly unputdownable… You’re going to love every single twisty page!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘INTENSE… My heart was pounding’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I started this book today and finished it in one sitting. I literally could not put it down’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Definitely a five-star read. I couldn't put this one down. It never failed to keep me on the edge of my seat… Such a great ending too!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow! I read this way too quickly, I really didn't want it to end… Amazing… Loved it!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘You'll be on the edge of your seat, racing to finish this book… I read this book one afternoon. I simply could not put it down. I cannot wait until a friend reads this book because I want to discuss it… Get a copy now!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book SynopsisYou're trapped underground. There's no way out. And there's a killer on the looseFull of twists and amazing turns that will have you guessing till the very end!' ????? reader reviewWhen former Detective Inspector Jess boards the London Underground, it should be just a few short stops home. But as the tube barrels towards Baker Street, it's brought to an abrupt stop, and they're plunged into the darkness.And then she hears the screeching.Jess pushes through into the driver's cabin. There, she finds his lifeless body, and stab wounds in his neck, still bleeding.With no escape from the train, and in the pitch black, Jess is thrust into a deadly game. In a race against the unknown murderer, Jess must unravel the sinister truth before the killer commuter strikes againA nail-biting, addictive thriller, perfect for fans of Lucy Foley and Sarah Pearse. I was hooked from the first page!' ????? reader reviewKept me totally captivatedaddictive' ????? reader reviewMy heart was poundingI absolutely dreaded what was going to happen next' ????? reader review

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Book SynopsisSHERLOCK HOLMES IS NOT ONLY THE MOST FAMOUS CHARACTER IN CRIME FICTION BUT THE MOST FAMOUS CHARACTER IN ALL OF FICTION.''Holmes has a timeless intelligence that puts him head, shoulders and deer-stalker above all other detectives'' Alexander McCall Smith_______________This complete volume contains four novels and fifty-six short stories about the most engaging detective of all time, with a foreword by crime writer Ruth Rendell.Sherlock Holmes, together with his faithful sidekick Doctor John H. Watson, proves himself as the quintessential detective. Time after time his pits his extraordinary wits and courage against foreign spies, blackmailers, cultists, petty thieves, murderers, swindlers, policemen (both stupid and clever), and his arch-nemesis Moriarty.Continuing to enthral millions in film and TV adaptations, Arthur Conan Doyle''s creation has inspired readers and writers of crime stories for well over a century. Join their ranks with this collection._______________''The immense talent, passion and literary brilliance that Conan Doyle brought to his work give him a unique place in English letters. Personally, I''d walk a million miles in tight boots just to read his letters to the milkman'' Stephen Fry''Now, as in his lifetime, cab drivers, statesmen, academics, and raggedy-assed children sit spellbound at his feet. No wonder, then, if the pairing of Holmes and Watson has triggered more imitators than any other duo in literature'' John Le CarréTrade ReviewHolmes is a mesmerising creation and Conan Doyle a master storyteller * The Times *The immense talent, passion and literary brilliance that Conan Doyle brought to his work gives him a unique place in English letters... Personally, I'd walk a million in tight boots just to read his letters to the milkman. -- Stephen FryWhy do people still read Sherlock Holmes in an age of DNA testing and electron microscopes? It's elementary. Holmes has a timeless intelligence that puts him head, shoulders and deer-stalker above all other detectives -- Alexander McCall SmithI read every Sherlock Holmes story...they have certainly found a permanent place in English literature -- Winston ChurchillThe world's most famous detective -- Ruth RendellThe brilliance of the stories lies in the relationship between Holmes and Watson, which is both funny and touching -- Jonathan CoeNow, as in his lifetime, cab drivers, statesmen, academics, and raggedy-arsed children sit spellbound at his feet... No wonder, then, if the pairing of Holmes and Watson has triggered more imitators than any other duo in literature -- John Le Carre

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Book SynopsisThe Penguin English Library Edition of The Five Orange Pips and Other Cases by Arthur Conan Doyle''He is the Napoleon of crime, Watson ... He sits motionless, like a spider in the centre of its web, but that web has a thousand radiations, and he knows well every quiver of each of them''Sherlock Holmes, scourge of criminals everywhere, whether they be lurking in London''s foggy backstreets or plotting behind the walls of an idyllic country mansion, and his faithful colleague Dr Watson, solve these breathtaking and perplexing mysteries. In Arthur Conan Doyle''s The Five Orange Pips and Other Cases we encounter some of his most famous and devilishly difficult problems.The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.

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Book SynopsisThe Penguin English Library editionA dense yellow miasma swirls in the streets of London as Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson accompany a beautiful young woman to a sinister assignation. For Mary Marston has received several large pearls - one a year for the last six years - and now a mystery letter telling her she is a wronged woman. If she would seek justice she is to meet her unknown benefactor, bringing with her two companions. But unbeknownst to them all, others stalk London''s fog-enshrouded streets: a one-legged ruffian with revenge on his mind - and his companion, who places no value on human life . . .

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