Classic crime and mystery fiction

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book Synopsis** The first Biographic of a fictional character ** The Biographic series presents an entirely new way of looking at the lives of the world's greatest thinkers and creatives. It takes the 50 defining facts, dates, thoughts, habits and achievements of each subject, and uses infographics to convey all of them in vivid snapshots. Each Biographic title is designed to be as entertaining as it is informative. Timelines not only pinpoint significant dates, but set them in the context and culture of their times. Dynamic maps locate biographical events alongside other points of interest. Character traits are illuminated by visual comparisons. Many people know that Sherlock Holmes was an enigmatic detective who, with his companion Dr Watson, pursued criminals through Victorian and Edwardian England. What, perhaps, they don't know is that he investigated 60 fully documented cases, including 37 murders; that 46 of those cases began in his offices at 221B Baker Street; that only three of them involved his nemesis Moriarty; and that in his later years Holmes spent his time beekeeping on the Sussex Downs. Biographic: Sherlock presents an investigative guide to his life and work, with an array of clues and observations converted into infographics to reveal the detective behind the detection. SELLING POINTS: . Sherlock Holmes through 50 defining facts, thoughts, habits and achievements . Entertaining and informative infographics . Stylish gift for lovers of classic fiction 150 illustrations

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Book SynopsisIn this illuminating dialogue, the authors who gave us James Bond and Jules Maigret discuss (among other things) their approaches to the craft of writing, the origins of their characters' names, and the critical reception of their novels

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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.

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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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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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Book SynopsisCommemorating 75 years since the Empress of Crime's first book, the fourth volume in a set of omnibus editions presenting the complete run of 32 Inspector Alleyn mysteries.SURFEIT OF LAMPREYSThe Lampreys were a peculiar family. They entertained their guests with charades - like rich Uncle Gabriel, who was always such a bore. The Lampreys thought if they jollied him up he would bail them out of poverty again. But Uncle Gabriel meets a violent end, and Chief Inspector Alleyn had to work out which of them killed himDEATH AND THE DANCING FOOTMANIt begins as an entertainment: eight people, many of them adversaries, gathered for a winter weekend by a host with a love for theatre. It ends in snowbound disaster. Everyone has an alibi - and a motive as well. But Roderick Alleyn soon realizes that it all hangs on Thomas, the dancing footmanCOLOUR SCHEMEIt was a horrible death -lured into a pool of boiling mud and left to die. Roderick Alleyn, far from home on a wartime quest for enemy agents, kn

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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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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

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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.

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Book SynopsisCommemorating 75 years since the Empress of Crime's first book, the ninth volume in a set of omnibus editions presenting the complete run of 32 Inspector Alleyn mysteries.CLUTCH OF CONSTABLESAccording to Chief Superintendent Roderick Alleyn, ''the Jampot'' is an international crook who regards murder as ''tiresome and regrettable necessities''. But Alleyn''s wife Troy has shared close quarters with the Jampot on a pleasure cruise along the peaceful rivers of ''Constable country'' and knows something is badly wrong even before the two murders on boardWHEN IN ROMEWhen their guide disappears mysteriously in the depths of a Roman Basilica, the members of Sebastian Mailer''s tour group seem strangely unperturbed. But when a body is discovered in an Etruscan sarcophagus, Superintendent Alleyn, in Rome on the trail of an international drug racket, is very much concernedTIED UP IN TINSELWhen a much disliked visiting servant disappears without trace after playing Santa Claus, foul play is at onTrade Review‘The incomparable Ngaio Marsh.’Daily Express ‘Mrs Marsh’s work has the hallmark of the master. She is at the top of her form. Definitely first-class plus.’Queen ‘The finest writer in the English language of the pure, classical puzzle whodunit. Among the crime queens, Ngaio Marsh stands out as an Empress.’The Sun

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Book SynopsisA classic crime novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, The King of Detective Story Writers', featuring Inspector French, coming soon to television.The new Sir Geoffrey Buller is earning his living in Chicago when he unexpectedly inherits his title, an English baronetcy, and Forde Manor in Surrey, complete with its vast collection of priceless works of art. His widowed housekeeper, who knows a thing or two, is surprised to discover that Sir Geoffrey is having his pictures cleaned. But then disaster strikes! A devastating fire, a missing artist and a lot of insurance money from a mosaic of detail, Inspector French must reconstruct the pattern of a most cunning and complex crimeTrade Review“Good, sound, absorbing … and Inspector French, comforting as ever.”Observer “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

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Book SynopsisA brand-new Sherlock Holmes mystery from the author of Sherlock Holmes: The Vanishing Man. It is 1897, and Sherlock Holmes is investigating a murder that took place during a society ball. Holmes and Watson rush to the scene, but are shocked by the flippant attitude of the ball's hosts: the wealthy Ernest Moncrieff and his new wife Gwendolen. Suspicion naturally falls upon the party guests, but the Moncrieff family and their friends are more concerned with the inconvenience of the investigation than the fact that one of them may have committed murder. But behind the superficial facade, Holmes and Watson uncover family secrets going back decades, and a mysterious blackmailer pulling the strings...Trade Review"Sherlockians and Wildeans alike will embrace Purser-Hallard. " -Publishers Weekly Starred Review... "Amusing cross-over pastiche ...plot and dialogue are thoroughly appropriate. " -Sherlockians and Doyleans

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Book SynopsisThe stunning new spy thriller that blows the world of James Bond wide open!Six days. A bomb goes off at the BBC. The country is in chaos, but this is just the start. A global terrorist organisation is plotting a series of deadly attacks. MI6 has just six days' warning for when the next one will strike.Three agents. With James Bond missing, three of MI6's toughest Double O agents race across the world to stop the attacks. From Venice to Australia to Dubai, they soon uncover a vast network of 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

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Book SynopsisThe first novel in the acclaimed VAN DER VALK series - now a major new ITV series starring Marc Warren''Masterful'' SUNDAY TIMES''Freeling''s Inspector Van der Valk is less rugged than Rebus, less parsonical than Dalgliesh, more Morse than Frost, and more Maigret than any of them. Marvellous'' - Anita Brookner''Freeling is a joy to read'' TLS''You''re in for a treat'' COSMOPOLITANA woman, Elsa, is brutally murdered in her Amsterdam apartment. Her ex-lover, Martin, is seen outside the building around the time of the crime. The witness who saw him? A policeman.It looks like a straightforward case - but police inspector Van der Valk is not convinced. Despite all the evidence - and the fact that Martin originally denied he was at the apartment - he believes Martin is not guilty of murder. Instead of charging him, Van der Valk takes him on a tour: a tour of the investigation; a tour of Martin''s own past; Trade ReviewA slim, intense story of sexual obsession. It changed my ideas about the possibilities of crime fiction -- Ann Cleeves, author of the bestselling VERA novelsFreeling is the only British novelist of consequence to have tackled modern Europe * DAILY TELEGRAPH *There can be no doubt Mr Freeling is a genuinely masterful novelist * SUNDAY TIMES *Elegant style and continually interesting narrative which give his novels their special flavourHe was the most thoroughly European of British crime writers * GUARDIAN *Freeling's Inspector Van der Valk is less rugged than Rebus, less parsonical than Dalgliesh, more Morse than Frost, and more Maigret than any of them. MarvellousFreeling is a joy to read * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *Freeling writes like no one else * LA TIMES *If you've never heard of Nicolas Freeling you're in for a treat. Read one and you'll want to get all the Freelings * COSMOPOLITAN *No one writing in the field can equal Freeling's depth and variety * NEW YORK NEWSDAY *The air of civilised urbanity that runs through Freeling's books is to most detective novels what Henry James is to Zane Grey * NEW YORK TIMES *

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Book SynopsisDr John Watson has compiled an outstanding selection of his esteemed colleague's cases. A daring, difficult and downright perplexing bunch of conundrums, puzzles, and riddles, all written in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's great stories. This book deeply involves the reader in the solving of puzzles - and crimes! More than 200 puzzles are included, from seemingly simple riddles to more complicated brain-busting logic puzzles. Tips and tricks for solving "the Sherlock way" are included, as well as all answers and explanations.Table of ContentsMore than 200 puzzles are included, from seemingly simple riddles to more complicated brain-busting logic puzzles.

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Book SynopsisFrom the foggy back streets of London to the heat and dust of Agra, this second novel of the sleuthing duo focuses on stolen Indian treasure, presents the darker side of Sherlock Holmes, and introduces the future Mrs Watson.Trade ReviewThere are few characters from the Victorian era that can possibly have the same resonance today than a certain Sherlock Holmes who, along with his able assistant Dr Watson, and an assorted cast of inept policemen and nefarious villains still regularly seeps into modern life and parlance. The concept of any amateur detective these days being ‘Sherlockian’, the famous deerstalker, violin, pipe and casual drug use, and oft-misquoted lines and ‘catchphrases’ are among the many legacies that show how much Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous creation will forever be ingrained in the psyche of the nation. And so it was with huge interest that I heard about a new collection of the complete works, released by Baker Street Press. No matter how many times I’ve read the canon, it still fascinates me to this day and demonstrates what a truly remarkable character Conan Doyle created, despite his somewhat hit and miss results outside of the Holmes stories. This collection of nine hardback books is just utterly beautiful to behold. There’s something special, perhaps even more so in this day and age, about holding a quality version of one of your favourite books and simply immersing yourself in it. And this new release delivers more than any that I’ve ever had my hands on. Each of the nine books features the original cover illustrations from the 1920s, which more than makes up for the fact that there are no illustrations inside. Each of the four standalone novels and five collections of short stories are here, acting as the perfect retro antidote to the most recent recreation of the stories, the really quite awful series starring Benedict Cumberbatch, for which I appreciate I’m in a large minority for taking a serious dislike to. The collection begins with A Study in Scarlet, which I have to say isn’t a favourite of mine, neither is The Sign of Four that followed, and for me it’s when the short stories kick in that I find Holmes at his mercurial best, and his frustrating worst, as Conan Doyle struggled to satisfy the insatiable demand at the time for the monster that he had created. Despite ‘killing off’ a character who had become the bane of his life, Conan Doyle thankfully brought Holmes back to life after his seeming demise at the Reichenbach Falls, and the stories have seldom been far from the public’s mind, especially through the films of Basil Rathbone and the peerless depiction by Jeremy Brett in the 1980s and 1990s. I really cannot recommend this new set highly enough to those with even a passing interest in the original stories, through to those who already have several copies of the Sherlock Holmes stories on their bookshelves. If you think you have the definitive version of the books, then think again, as Baker Street Press have outdone themselves with this release. -- https://www.on-magazine.co.uk/arts/book-review/crime/sherlock-holmes-deluxe-classic-series/

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Book SynopsisDetective Kubu’s world is shattered when his father is violently murdered. Defying orders, he sets off on the killers’ trail … with shocking consequences… ‘This fifth mystery featuring Detective Kubu is another fast-moving procedural notable for its warm characterizations and vivid sense of place. A natural for fans of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency' Booklist ‘A wonderful, original voice – McCall Smith with a dark edge and even darker underbelly’ Peter James 'Impossible to put down. Kubu’s painstaking detecting skills make him a sort of Hercule Poirot of the desert … This series can be recommended to a wide gamut of readers’ Library Journal _______________ 'There's no easy way to say this, Kubu. Your father's dead. I'm afraid he's been murdered.’ Faced with the violent death of his own father, even Assistant Superintendent David ‘Kubu’ Bengu, Botswana CID's keenest mind, is baffled. Who would kill such a frail old man? The picture becomes even murkier with the apparent suicide of a government official. Are Chinese mine-owners involved? And what role does the US Embassy have to play? When grief-stricken Kubu defies orders and sets out on the killers’ trail, startling and chilling links emerge, spanning the globe and setting a sequence of shocking events in motion. Will Kubu catch the killers in time … and find justice for his father? Set amidst the dark beauty of modern Botswana, A Death in the Family is a thrilling insight into a world of riots, corruption and greed, as a complex series of murders present the opera-loving, wine connoisseur detective with his most challenging – and personal – case yet. _______________ ‘The perfect combination of “I don’t want it to end” and “I can’t put it down”. Great African crime fiction’ Deon Meyer ‘My favourite writing duo since Ellery Queen’ Ragnar Jónasson ‘Bengu is a wonderful creation, complex and beguiling. The exotic smells and sounds of Botswana fill the pages as well as the changes and struggles of a country brimming with modern technology yet fiercely clinging to old traditions. Compelling and deceptively written...’ New York Journal of Books ‘Richly atmospheric … a gritty depiction of corruption and deception’ Publishers Weekly ‘Under the African sun, Michael Stanley’s Detective Kubu investigates crimes as dark as the darkest of Nordic Noir. Call it Sunshine Noir, if you will – a must read’ Yrsa SigurðardóttirTrade Review'A wonderful, original voice - McCall Smith with a dark edge and even darker underbelly' Peter James * 'Under the African sun, Michael Stanley's Detective Kubu investigates crimes as dark as the darkest of Nordic Noir. Call it Sunshine Noir, if you will - a must read' Yrsa Sigurdardottir * 'Detective David "Kubu" Bengu is a wonderful creation, complex and beguiling. The exotic smells and sounds of Botswana fill the pages as well as the changes and struggles of a country brimming with modern technology yet fiercely clinging to old traditions. Compelling and deceptively written ...' New York Journal of Books * 'Kubu returns with a vengeance - but what is prowling in the darkness of Botswana is more dangerous than the four-legged predators. Then there are the Chinese who just may be the most dangerous of all ... I love it!' Charles Todd, award-winning author of the Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford mysteries

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Book SynopsisA gripping and suspenseful Albert Campion mystery by one of the queens of crime, Margery Allingham. This Macmillan Collector's Library edition of Sweet Danger features an afterword by international bestselling crime writer, Val McDermid.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.Aristocratic detective Albert Campion is called upon by the British government to establish ownership of the tiny, oil-rich principality of Averna on the Adriatic Coast. The titled but impoverished Fitton family lay claim to it, but the deeds are nowhere to be found. With the help of his loyal chums and sidekick, retired cat burglar Magersfontein Lugg, Campion must pit his wits against a criminal financier and his heavies in order to unearth the truth.

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Book SynopsisThe complete series of Ngaio Marsh reissues concludes with the re-publication of this 20th anniversary edition of this, her final novel.Peregrine Jay, owner of the Dolphin Theatre, is putting on a magnificent production of Macbeth, the play that, superstition says, always brings bad luck.But one night the claymore swings and the dummy's head is more than real: murder behind the scene.Luckily, Chief Superintendent Roderick Alleyn is in the audienceTrade Review‘Faithful to the hallowed conventions of English detection… a fine swansong.’Observer ‘As always she writes most elegantly.’Daily Telegraph ‘Still, quite simply, the greatest exponent of the classical English detective story.’Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisBodies from the Library brings into the daylight the forgotten, the lost and the unknown, and the latest volume is another indispensable collection for any bookshelf.The sixth volume of Bodies from the Library includes the usual eclectic mix of pre- and post-war stories by classic crime and thriller writers. Unearthed from ephemeral publications, newspapers and magazines, some of these lost' stories are by authors who have appeared in previous volumes, with others who are new to the series:We welcome back to the Library familiar Golden Age detective writers in the form of stories by Christianna Brand, Alice Campbell, Joseph Commings and Cyril Hare, a previously unknown novella by Anthony Gilbert, a short novel by Margery Allingham, and a hitherto unpublished Detection Club radio play by John Rhode.We also welcome for the first time George Bellairs, Victor Whitechurch and Andrew Garve, with E. C. Bentley's Greedy Night' providing a humorous parody of Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey

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Book SynopsisMila and her husband Ethan are on their way to her sister''s wedding at a luxurious ski resort. As they drive through the mountains, surrounded by snow covered forests, Mila feels like everything is finally going to plan. When the car engine suddenly stops and won''t start again. Stranded, with night closing in, they make their way on foot back to where they saw a sign for some cabins. When they finally reach them, they find the windows boarded up and the buildings in disrepair. They have the eerie sense they shouldn''t be there. With snow falling more heavily, they have no choice but to break into one to spend the night. In the morning when Mila wakes, Ethan is gone. Now she is all alone. Or is she?--Trade ReviewReaders are gripped by Sarah Goodwin: ‘Wow! This just got under my skin from the start and I couldn't put it down… The creepy atmosphere and tension are built so gradually and so well that it literally has you looking over your shoulder the whole time!… I flew through it in a day and loved every second’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Suspense, twists, deceit… I had my heart in my mouth the whole time’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘IT WAS SO GOOD’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Utterly unputdownable… You’re going to love every single twisty page!!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘INTENSE… My heart was pounding’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I started this book today and finished it in one sitting. I literally could not put it down’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘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!!’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow! I read this way too quickly, I really didn't want it to end… Amazing… Loved it!’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘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!!’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book SynopsisCorruption, murder, beauty and innocence . . . ''Great crime fiction started with Hammett'' James Ellroy''Not just the first of the tough school of crime-writing but the best'' THE TIMESNed Beaumont is a tall, thin, moustache-wearing, TB-ridden, drinking, gambling, hanger-on to the political boss of a corrupt Eastern city.Nevertheless, like every Hammett hero (and like Hammett himself), he has an unbreakable, if idiosyncratic, moral code. Ned''s boss wants to better himself with a thoroughbred senator''s daughter; but does he want it badly enough to commit murder? If he''s innocent, who wants him in the frame? Beaumont must find out.Trade ReviewNot just the first of the tough school of crime-writing but the best * THE TIMES *Great crime fiction started with Hammett -- James EllroyHe is master of the detective novel, yes, but also one hell of a writer * BOSTON GLOBE *He put these people down on paper as they are, and he made them talk and think in the language they customarily used -- Raymond ChandlerHis name remains one of the most important and recognisable in the crime fiction genre. Hammett set the standard for much of the work that would follow * INDEPENDENT *The dean of the school of hard-boiled fiction * NEW YORK TIMES *One of the foremost practitioners of the hard-boiled detective story * SCOTSMAN *

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Book SynopsisWritten by award-winning crime writer and president of the Detection Club, Martin Edwards, this book tracks the history of classic crime fiction and serves as a companion to the British Library's internationally acclaimed series of Crime Classics.

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Book SynopsisThis unorthodox novel from 1934 is by a gifted crime writer who, wrote Dorothy L. Sayers, 'handles his characters like a "real" novelist and the English language like a "real" writer - merits which are still, unhappily, rarer than they should be in the ranks of the murder specialists.'

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Book SynopsisTerrifying, thrilling and addictive - the celebrated tale of chilling murder, played out on the bleak, eerie wilds of a West Country moor

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Book SynopsisA strange houseA ghost from the pastAs soon as she moves into Hillside, Gwenda knows there's something strange about this house.A sealed room. A hidden door. The apparition of a young woman being strangled.But strangest of all this all seems quite familiar.As her friend Jane Marple investigates, the answer seems to lie in a crime committed nearly twenty years ago.The killer may have gotten away with murder. But Miss Marple is never far behind.Never underestimate Miss MarpleReading a perfectly plotted Agatha Christie is like crunching into a perfect apple: that pure, crisp, absolute satisfaction.'Tana FrenchMiss Marple is spry, shrewd and compassionate.'Sunday TelegraphTrade 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 SynopsisJim Henderson is one of six guests summoned by the mysterious Edwin Carson, a collector of precious stones, to a weekend party at his country house, Thrackley.

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Book SynopsisThe brand new adventure from the author of A Betrayal in Blood, in which Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are faced with a fiendish locked room mystery. A FAMILY SECRET It is 1894, and after a macabre seance at a country estate, a young woman has been found dead in a locked room. When Dr Watson is invited to a weekend party where a seance is planned, he is prepared to be sceptical. James Crain, heir to the estate of Crain Manor, has fallen in with a mysterious group of Spiritualists and is determined to prove the existence of the paranormal. Confronted with a suspicious medium and sightings of the family ghost, Watson remains unconvinced - until James's sister, Lady Esther, is found dead in a room locked from the inside. Holmes is called to investigate the strange events at Crain Manor, but finds that every guest harbours a secret. Holmes and Watson must uncover the truth, and test the existence of the supernatural...Trade Review"A complex and satisfying mystery, complete with family secrets, business intrigue, a touch of supernatural trickery, and the laser-focused observations of the inimitable Holmes makes for an enjoyable addition to the Holmes canon." - San Francisco Book Review

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Book SynopsisThe lady in black was really responsible for the whole affair, according to Joe Trayne''s story...When someone asks for assistance with a dead man, the sensible option is to walk away. But when club owner Joe Trayne meets Wendy Bond on a warm summer''s night in London, his curiosity gets the better of him.Joe accompanies Wendy into her flat off Conduit Street, only to find himself alone after she mysteriously disappears. But it''s what she leaves him with that''s most disturbing: a large box . . . and a body inside it.After he flees the scene, Joe finds he can''t stop thinking about Wendy and her unfortunate guest. As he sets about tracking her down, he finds himself at the centre of not just one but several cases of murder. Can Joe solve the crime before he becomes the next victim?

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Book SynopsisWhen the body of a bushman with puzzlingly young organs is stolen from the morgue and a local witch doctor goes missing, Detective Kubu becomes involved in a life-threatening case. ‘Richly atmospheric … a gritty depiction of corruption and deception’ Publishers Weekly ‘The African Columbo … a smart satisfyingly complex mystery’ Entertainment Weekly ‘A wonderful, original voice – McCall Smith with a dark edge and even darker underbelly’ Peter James _______________ When the body of a Bushman is discovered near the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, the death is written off as an accident. But all is not as it seems. An autopsy reveals that, although he’s clearly very old, his internal organs are puzzlingly young. What’s more, an old bullet is lodged in one of his muscles … but where is the entry wound? When the body is stolen from the morgue and a local witch doctor is reported missing, Detective ‘Kubu’ Bengu gets involved. Kubu and his brilliant young colleague, Detective Samantha Khama, follow the twisting trail through a confusion of rhino-horn smugglers, foreign gangsters and drugs manufacturers. And the deeper they dig, the wider and more dangerous the case becomes… A fresh, new slice of ‘Sunshine Noir’, Dying to Live is a classic tale of greed, corruption and ruthless thuggery, set in one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, and featuring one of crime fiction’s most endearing and humane heroes. _______________ ‘Detective David “Kubu” Bengu is a wonderful creation, complex and beguiling. Compelling and deceptively written’ New York Journal of Books ‘My favourite writing duo since Ellery Queen’ Ragnar Jónasson ‘Dying to Live is a skilfully plotted story of greed and its consequences; making the case for Detective Kubu absorbing, like the Botswana backdrop' ShotsMag ‘Under the African sun, Michael Stanley’s Detective Kubu investigates crimes as dark as the darkest of Nordic Noir. Call it Sunshine Noir, if you will – a must read’ Yrsa Sigurðardóttir ‘Intelligent, dark and compelling - among the best of today’s crime fiction’ Quentin Bates ‘Fascinating, dark and beautifully written … Kubu is a detective worth knowing. More please!’ Northern CrimeTrade Review* 'A wonderful, original voice - McCall Smith with a dark edge and even darker underbelly' Peter James * 'Under the African sun, Michael Stanley's Detective Kubu investigates crimes as dark as the darkest of Nordic Noir. Call it Sunshine Noir, if you will - a must read' Yrsa Sigurdardottir * 'Detective David "Kubu" Bengu is a wonderful creation, complex and beguiling. The exotic smells and sounds of Botswana fill the pages as well as the changes and struggles of a country brimming with modern technology yet fiercely clinging to old traditions. Compelling and deceptively written ...' New York Journal of Books

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Book SynopsisTo celebrate the 100th anniversary of G. K. Chesterton’s Father Brown mysteries, BBC One Daytime has commissioned a new 10-part drama series for January 2013 to bring the priest-turned-detective back to life. BBC Books will be publishing a new edition of the original and complete short stories to tie-in to transmission.Set in the early-twentieth century, Father Brown's world is quintessentially English; crime scenes await in country houses, rural parish churches and quaint gardens as well as foggy London streets and shadowy railway stations. Father Brown may be a kindly cleric, but his bumbling nature disguises a detective mind to rival Sherlock Holmes... The character of Father Brown, brought to life by Mark Williams, is based on a real parish priest and the idea that priests, through hearing Confession, know the worst of human nature more than anyone, including the police. Father Brown uses his experiences to put himself into the mind of the criminal to solve each mystery and catch the perpetrators.

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Book SynopsisThis anthology of rare stories of crime and suspense brings together 15 tales from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction for the first time in book form, including newly discovered stories by Dorothy L. Sayers and Edmund Crispin that have never previously been published.With the Golden Age of detective fiction shining ever more brightly thanks to the recent reappearance of many forgotten crime novels, Bodies from the Library offers a rare opportunity to read lost stories from the first half of the twentieth century by some of the genre's most accomplished writers.This second volume is a showcase for popular figures of the Golden Age, in stories that even their most ardent fans will not be aware of. It includes uncollected and unpublished stories by acclaimed queens and kings of crime fiction, from Helen Simpson, Ethel Lina White, E.C.R. Lorac, Christianna Brand, Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, to S.S. Van Dine, Jonathan Latimer, Clayton Rawson, Cyril Alington and Antony and Peter Trade Review‘Ingenious, unique and perfectly curated’ Dorset Book Detective ‘This is one of the best mixed anthologies I’ve come across … If you’re already a vintage crime fan, then this is one to grab; and if you’re new to the genre, then you’ll find this a very enjoyable way to introduce yourself to some of the greats. Highly recommended!’ FictionFanBlog ‘Rather like a box of chocolates … The sheer variety of tales means there will be something for everyone.’ Cross Examining Crime ‘The prize gems of this entertaining and informative anthology must be a previously unpublished Dorothy L. Sayers (featuring Lord Peter Wimsey) and Edmund Crispin (featuring Gervase Fen). If for those alone, it is worth stepping over the bodies in the library to grab this volume off the shelf.’ Mike Ripley ‘I think I've learned more from [Tony Medawar’s] researches than from the research of any other Golden Age fan’ Martin Edwards, doyouwriteunderyourownname.blogspot.co.uk ‘A stunning array of lost stories’ Puzzle Doctor, classicmystery.wordpress.com

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Book Synopsis'Vera Morris is one of those unexpected gems who turn up occasionally on the crime fiction scene' Mystery PeopleYou can run but you can't hide . . .Laurel Bowman has started a new life as a teacher on the isolated Suffolk coast while she tries to get over the murder of her sister. But it seems she cannot escape from death.When the headmaster's wife is murdered, the detective in charge, idiosyncratic DI Frank Diamond, soon has a list of suspects. He is no stranger to Laurel, but despite their troubled past, together they start to unravel the truth.Then the murderer strikes again and Laurel must fight, not just for justice, but for her life.Readers LOVE Vera Morris's Anglian Detective Agency series:'I sat up to past midnight reading this book' *****'Full of twists and turns' *****'A book you just know you are going to like from the 1st page' *****'A perfect detective novel' *****'I started it early one morning and had finished it by bed-time that same day!' *****'A super read' *****'This book stands head and shoulders above the rest in this overcrowded genre' *****'Absolute must read' *****Trade Review"This book will take you on a riveting journey through life's toughest emotions, with an ending you will yearn to reach." -- Harry Keeble, Bestselling author of Baby X, Little Victim and Hurting Too Much

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Book SynopsisWinter 1964. After a hit-and-run accident nearly kills her mother, Mike Hammer's partner (both in life and the PI business), Velda Sterling, learns her father is not who she thought he is. Seeking to uncover her true, troubling heritage, Velda and Mike travel to Phoenix, Arizona-and sunny Dreamland Park, where retired law enforcement officers protect and corral notorious criminals held under Witness Protection. Mike and Velda find themselves swept up in escalating violence, fueled by the missing millions from an armored-car robbery, which leads them to a deadly midnight confrontation in a cemetery-where secrets are buried and open graves await.Trade Review"The amusing conceit of a town for snitches allows full rein for Hammer's signature blend of violence, chastely described lust, and revenge served cold, with several surprising twists thrown in as a bonus. Like the denizens of its imagined retirement community, you just can't keep this franchise down." Kirkus PRAISE FOR MICKEY SPILLANE Mike Hammer is an icon of our culture. - The New York Times A superb writer. Spillane is one of the century's bestselling authors. - The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) PRAISE FOR MAX ALLAN COLLINS [Collins] has no problem serving up Hammer the same way Spillane did, with plenty of mayhem, violence, and sex, dished out in straight-ahead, no-frills prose, right on target, so direct, with no room for sissy stuff like digressions, detours, or doubts. Hammer is a shark that needs to keep swimming to survive, and Collins tosses plenty of chum into these waters... It's the real deal, folks: primo, primal detective fiction. Pass the peanuts. - Mystery Scene Max Allan Collins is the closest thing we have to a 21st century Mickey Spillane. - ThisWeek (Ohio) Collins' witty, hardboiled prose would make Raymond Chandler proud. - Entertainment Weekly

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Book SynopsisJenny Windell is obsessed with murder mysteries, so when she discovers her estranged aunt dead at her country home, the stage is set for her own investigation. Worried that being the first at the scene of the crime will make her a suspect and ruin her inquiry, she flees. On the run, she befriends Derek Fenton, the dashing younger brother of acclaimed crime writer Archibald Fenton, and persuades him to join her in her attempts to solve the crime and outsmart dim-witted Inspector Marigold. An affectionate send-up of the classic Golden Age murder mystery, this charming comedy is A. A. Milne at his most delightful.

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Book SynopsisRita, a small, tough Scottish make-up artist, is on Madeira investigating who killed Kim-Jim, an American make-up supremo. Also anchored off the island is Dolly, the yacht of Johnson Johnson with whom Rita teams up to get to the bottom of this foul deed. Rita’s fighting spirits are aroused despite the danger. She is not one for quitting, even when she learns she is caught up in an international drug-smuggling ring. But she also discovers that dealing with the maddeningly enigmatic Johnson Johnson is, by no stretch of the imagination, plain sailing.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE DOLLY MYSTERY SERIES ‘The Dolly novels are… delicious, funny, ingenious, glamorous, clever’ Listener'Dunnett tempts her fans with buried clues and red herrings that keep them reading and rereading the books’ New York Times'[Dunnett’s] women are among her strongest characters' Guardian

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Book SynopsisAgatha Christie's ingenious mystery thriller, reissued with a striking new cover designed to appeal to the latest generation of Agatha Christie fans and book lovers.Lucy Angkatell invited Hercule Poirot to lunch. To tease the great detective, her guests stage a mock murder beside the swimming pool. Unfortunately, the victim plays the scene for real. As his blood drips into the water, John Christow gasps one final word: Henrietta'. In the confusion, a gun sinks to the bottom of the pool.Poirot's enquiries reveal a complex web of romantic attachments. It seems everyone in the drama is a suspect and each a victim of love.Trade Review“A grade-A plot – the best Christie in years”San Francisco Chronicle

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Book SynopsisHamburg State Prosecutor Chastity Riley and her friends are held hostage in a hotel bar by twelve armed men set on revenge, in a searing, breathtakingly original, and unexpectedly moving new thriller from the ‘Queen of Krimi’ ***WINNER of the CWA Crime in Translation Dagger 2022******WINNER of the German Crime Book of the Year Award*** ‘Simone Buchholz writes with real authority and a pungent, noir-ish sense of time and space … a palpable hit’ Independent ‘Reading Buchholz is like walking on firecrackers … a truly unique voice in crime fiction’ Graeme Macrae Burnet ‘[A] nerve-racking narrative … [with] a cunning climax that is shocking and deeply romantic’ The Times ____________________ Twenty floors above the shimmering lights of the Hamburg docks, Public Prosecutor Chastity Riley is celebrating a birthday with friends in a hotel bar when twelve heavily armed men pull out guns, and take everyone hostage. Among the hostages is Konrad Hoogsmart, the hotel owner, who is being targeted by a young man whose life and family have been destroyed by Hoogsmart’s actions. With the police looking on from outside their colleagues’ lives at stake and Chastity on the inside, increasingly ill from an unexpected case of sepsis, the stage is set for a dramatic confrontation and a devastating outcome for the team all live streamed in a terrifying bid for revenge. Crackling with energy and populated by a cast of unforgettable characters, Hotel Cartagena is a searing, relevant thriller that will leave you breathless. _____________________ Praise for the Chastity Riley series 'Combines nail-biting tension with off-beat humor ... Elmore Leonard fans will be enthralled' Publishers Weekly 'Buchholz doles out delicious black humor ... interwoven in a manner that ramps up the intrigue and tension' Foreword Reviews ‘Modern noir, with taut storytelling, a hard-bitten heroine, and underlying melancholy peppered with wry humour … there’s a fizz, a poetry and a sense of coolness’ New Zealand Listener ‘The coolest character in crime fiction … Darkly funny and written with a huge heart’ Big Issue ‘Fierce enough to stab the heart’ Spectator ‘A stylish, whip-smart thriller’ Herald Scotland ‘Combines slick storytelling with substance … like a straight shot of top-shelf liquor: smooth yet fiery, packing a punch with no extraneous ingredients watering things down’ Mystery Scene ‘Caustic, incisive prose. A street-smart, gutsy heroine. A timely and staggeringly stylish thriller’ Will Carver ‘With plenty of dry humour and a good old dash of despair, Simone Buchholz is an unconventional, refreshing new voice’ Crime Fiction Lover ‘With brief, pacy chapters and fizzling dialogue, this almost feels like American procedural noir and not a translation’ Maxim Jakubowski ‘There is a fantastic pace to the story which keeps you hooked from the first sentence all the way to the end a unique voice that delivers a stylish story’ NB Magazine ‘A smart and witty book that shines a probing spotlight on society’ CultureFly ‘Fans of Brookmyre could do worse than checking out Simone Buchholz, a star of the German crime lit scene who has been deftly translated into English by Rachel Ward’ Goethe Institute ‘By turns lyrical and pithy, this adventure set in the melting pot of contemporary Hamburg has a plot and a sensibility that both owe something to mind-altering substances. Lots of fun’ Sunday Times ‘Great sparkling energy, humour and stylistic verve and the story itself is gripping and pacey’ Rosie Goldsmith ‘A must-read, stylish and highly original take on the detective novel, written with great skill and popping with great characters’ Judith O’Reilly ‘Constantly surprising an original, firecracker of a read’ LoveReading

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Book SynopsisA classic British crime novel from the Golden Age one of the first to feature a serial killer by the founder of the Detection Club, marking 50 years since the death of the author.Investigating the disappearance of a vicar's daughter in London, the popular novelist and amateur detective Roger Sheringham is shocked to discover that the girl is already dead, found hanging from a screw by her own silk stocking. Reports of similar deaths across the capital strengthen his conviction that this is no suicide cult but the work of a homicidal maniac out for vengeance a desperate situation requiring desperate measures.Having established Roger Sheringham as a brilliant but headstrong young sleuth who frequently made mistakes, trusted the wrong people and imbibed considerable liquid refreshment, Anthony Berkeley took his controversial character into much darker territory with The Silk Stocking Murders, a sensational novel about gruesome serial killings by an apparent psychopath bent on targetingTrade Review‘Detection and crime at its wittiest – all Berkeley’s stories are amusing, intriguing and he is a master of the final twist.’Agatha Christie ‘Anthony Berkeley is the supreme master not of the “twist” but of the “double-twist”.’ Milward Kennedy in the Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisThe new Sherlock Holmes novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Age of Odin. It is 1890, and in the days before Christmas Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson are visited at Baker Street by a new client. Eve Allerthorpe - eldest daughter of a grand but somewhat eccentric Yorkshire-based dynasty - is greatly distressed, as she believes she is being haunted by a demonic Christmas spirit. Her late mother told her terrifying tales of the sinister Black Thurrick, and Eve is sure that she has seen the creature from her bedroom window. What is more, she has begun to receive mysterious parcels of birch twigs, the Black Thurrick's calling card... Eve stands to inherit a fortune if she is sound in mind, but it seems that something - or someone - is threatening her sanity. Holmes and Watson travel to the Allerthorpe family seat at Fellscar Keep to investigate, but soon discover that there is more to the case than at first appeared. There is another spirit haunting the family, and when a member of the household is found dead, the companions realise that no one is beyond suspicion.Trade Review"Atmosphere, setting, plot and style combine in a compelling tale" Sherlock Holmes Journal"Compelling and inherently fascinating" Midwest Book Review"Lovegrove has nailed the tone and rhythm of Conan Doyle's storytelling to a tee" Starburst"This is a wonderful, joyous Christmas treat" Starburst"A beautiful book that you'll want to revisit year after year" CultureflyPraise for The Thinking Engine“An enjoyable read that respects Conan Doyle’s canon.” Crime Scene““The plot, like the device, is ingenious, with a chilling twist… an entertaining, intelligent and pacy read.” The Sherlock Holmes Journal“The world of 19th century academia with its snobbery, petty conflicts and student pranks is brought to life vividly.” Baker Street BabesPraise for Gods of War“For fans of the non-canon Holmes stories, this one’s a must-read.” Booklist “This is an atmospheric mystery which shows just why Lovegrove has become a force to be reckoned with in genre fiction. More, please.” Starburst“It’s set by the seaside and is the story of a failed holiday… but I will recommend it even if you’re not going to the sea this summer, as it is very enjoyable at any distance from the ocean.” Baker Street BabesPraise for The Stuff of Nightmares"Lovegrove deftly weaves social commentary on religion, family, love and war into the contest between theocracy and humanism." Publishers Weekly (starred review)“The novel is perfectly structured and characters are introduced with flair and humanity. The overall effect is of a tremendously accomplished thriller which leaves the reader in no doubt that they are in the hands of a confident and skilful craftsman.” Starburst“This is delicious stuff, marrying the standard notions of Holmesiana with the kind of imagination and we expect from Lovegrove.” Crime Time

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