Classic crime and mystery fiction

Book SynopsisVillage life can be deadly... A move to rural Oxfordshire is not the peaceful existence the London couple are looking for in A Touch of Morality, Ann Granger''s ninth English village crime novel in the Mitchell & Markby series. The perfect read for fans of Agatha Raisin, Agatha Christie and ITV''s Midsomer Murders.''To be savoured'' - Publishers Weekly When Sally Caswell persuaded her scientist husband Liam to move from London to the quiet of rural Oxfordshire it was in the hope of a more peaceful existence. But so far the move has led to nothing but discord. Liam''s sabbatical book project is not going well so, frustrated and isolated, he quarrels incessantly both with Sally and with their next-door neighbour, the crotchety pensioner Bodicote whose unruly goats are a constant source of contention. But then a mysterious package arrives that gives the couple real cause for anxiety. It appears that Liam is being targe

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Book SynopsisTo mark the publishing centenary of Freeman Wills Crofts, The King of Detective Story Writers', this is one of six classic crime novels being issued in 2020 featuring Inspector French, coming soon to television.Trade Review‘Rightly heralded as outstanding even for him . . . in literature we call it Croftsmanship.’ – Observer

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Book SynopsisNgaio Marsh's most popular novel begins when a young New Zealander's first contact with the English gentry is the body of Lord Wutherford with a meat skewer through the eyeThe Lampreys had plenty of charm but no cash. They all knew they were peculiar and rather gloried in it. The double and triple charades, for instance, with which they would entertain their guests like rich but awful Uncle Gabriel, who was always such a bore. The Lampreys thought if they jollied him up he would bail them out yet again.Instead, Uncle Gabriel met a violent end. And Chief Inspector Alleyn had to work our which of them killed himTrade Review‘The brilliant Ngaio Marsh ranks with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers’Times Literary Supplement ‘Brilliantly readable… first class detection.’Observer ‘Ngaio Marsh transcended the detective genre by the power of her writing and the rich variety of characters who people her novels.’P.D. James ‘Ngaio Marsh is among the most brilliant of those authors who are transforming the detective story from a mere puzzle into a novel with many other qualities.’Times Literary Supplement ‘The finest writer in the English languange of the pure, classical puzzle whodunnit. Among the crime queens, Ngaio Marsh stands out as an Empress.’The Sun

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Book SynopsisThe first book featuring Ben, the lovable, humorous ex-sailor and down-at-heels rascal who can't help running into trouble.Ben is back home from the Merchant Navy, penniless as usual and looking for digs in fog-bound London. Taking shelter in an abandoned old house, he stumbles across a dead body and scarpers. Running into a detective, Gilbert Fordyce, the reluctant Ben is persuaded to return to the house and investigate the mystery of the corpse which promptly disappears! The vacant No.17 is the rendezvous for a gang of villains, and the cowardly Ben finds himself in the thick of thieves with no way of escape.Ben's first adventure, No.17, began life in the 1920s as an internationally successful stage play and was immortalised on film by the legendary Alfred Hitchcock. Its author, J. Jefferson Farjeon, wrote more than 60 crime thrillers, eight featuring Ben the tramp, his most popular character.Trade Review‘There may be contemporary story writers who are equals of Mr Farjeon in the ability to put the reader swiftly and wholly under the spell of the eerie and uncanny, but they have not come within our reading.’ NEW YORK WORLD ‘Jefferson Farjeon writes thrills enhanced by good writing, good humour, and good character sketches.’ SUNDAY TIMES

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Book SynopsisOne private island. Seven guests. One killerThe perfect holiday. The perfect murder. The perfect beach read.Get away from your problems.Multimillionaire Robert Rathwell and his entourage arrive at their private Greek island. White sand, turquoise water, the perfect place to relax. But this is no ordinary family, and this holiday will be their last.Get away from your life.The next morning, a scream shatters their peaceful world. Someone has been murdered, his body arranged to make it look like suicide. Everyone has a motive and, under the burning sun, secrets quickly simmer to the surface.Get away with murder.Soon the guests see a darker, more violent side to paradise. Because the Rathwells don't just own the island; they own the people on it. And they can do whatever they like maybe even commit murderTrade Review‘The perfect summer thriller. Sun, sea, secrets and murder, The Getaway twists and turns with a plot as scorching as the setting.’ Chris Whitaker ‘Full of ingenious twists and turns, The Getaway grabs hold and never lets you go. A killer summer read.’ Phoebe Morgan ‘An ideal summer book set on an idyllic private island where everyone has secrets and seemingly no one can be trusted. Twisty and tense – a great read.’ Catherine Cooper ‘Beautifully set on the Greek island that is home to the dysfunctional Rathwell family, The Getaway is deliciously twisted and compelling, the tension building until just when you think you know what's going on, there's yet another twist. A highly recommended summer read.’ Debbie Howells ‘A superb book which maintained the mystery and intrigue throughout and kept me guessing the who and why. The revealing of the character's secrets and fears are excellently done and the overall majesty and secrecy play out very well.’ James Delargy PRAISE FOR ROSS ARMSTRONG: ‘Quirky, offbeat, stylish and original. I loved it’ Mick Herron ‘Ross Armstrong has created a brilliant hero in Tom, and this novel is an enjoyable addition to the psychological thriller genre. Five Stars’ Heat ‘Like Christopher Nolan’s Memento, Ross Armstrong delivers a twisty mystery through the perspective of a fractured brain. Original and gripping. Tom Mondrian, and his unique outlook, will stay with me’ Peter Swanson ‘An eerily atmospheric reworking of Hitchcock’s Rear Window’ Guardian ‘Addictive and eerie, you’ll finish the book wanting to chat about it’ Closer ‘Ross Armstrong will feed your appetite for suspense’ Evening Standard ‘Unreliable narrator + Rear Window-esque plot = sure-fire hit’ Sun ‘A dark, unsettling page turner’ Claire Douglas, author of Local Girl Missing

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Book SynopsisAn old woman in a nursing home speaks of a child buried behind the fireplaceWhen Tommy and Tuppence visited an elderly aunt in her gothic nursing home, they thought nothing of her mistrust of the doctors; after all, Ada was a very difficult old lady.But when Mrs Lockett mentioned a poisoned mushroom stew and Mrs Lancaster talked about something behind the fireplace', Tommy and Tuppence found themselves caught up in an unexpected adventure involving possible black magicTrade Review‘The most macabre and eerie Christie I have read for a long time.’Sunday Express ‘All beautifully plotted in the way that Mrs Christie is famous for. The title is from Macbeth: “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.” Wicked indeed!’Best Sellers ‘Ladies disappearing from homes of rest, sinister empty houses, hints of gang-leaders mixed with black magic – mystery at the usual high Christie level.’Evening Standard ‘Devised with fiendish ingenuity in the classic Christie cast.’Illustrated London News

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Book SynopsisA beautiful heiress is fatally poisoned in a West End restaurantSix people sit down to dinner at a table laid for seven. In front of the empty place is a sprig of rosemary in solemn memory of Rosemary Barton who died at the same table exactly one year previously.No one present on that fateful night would ever forget the woman's face, contorted beyond recognition or what they remembered about her astonishing life.Trade Review“The denoument will probably come as a surprise to nine readers out of ten”New York Times “SPARKLING CYANIDE is the one … which I should take with me to a desert island; for I find in it a seriousness and a psychological insight unparalleled in the author’s other works.’ Times Literary Supplement

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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 SynopsisA Caribbean resortStrangers thrown togetherIs there evil in paradise?Major Palgrave enjoys an audience, and, in Miss Marple, he discovers a captive audience too polite to walk away.But midway through recounting the tale of a multiple murder, he stops suddenly when something, or someone, catches his eye.Then, when he's found dead the following day, Miss Marple suspects that someone wanted to silence the talkative major. Permanently.Never underestimate Miss MarpleThere's no such thing as a disappointing Agatha Christie: there are only good ones and better ones.'Naomi AldermanLivelieness . . . infectious zest . . . as good as anything Miss Christie has done.'ObserverTrade Review‘Without a doubt, the greatest mystery writer of all time’ – Ragnar Jonasson ‘A hundred years after her first novel, and we are all still standing in her shadow’ – Andrew Taylor ‘She gives us an insight into human nature that few, if any, have surpassed’ – Susan Lewis ‘Dame Agatha has sold more books than all besides Shakespeare and the Bible’ – David Baldacci ‘All crime fiction writers around the globe owe Agatha Christie a massive debt’ – Peter James ‘Reading a perfectly plotted Agatha Christie is like crunching into a perfect apple: that pure, crisp, absolute satisfaction.’ – Tana French

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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 SynopsisDoesn''t every marriage have a dark side?Beautifully written, chilling and absorbing' Adele Parks, Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author of Lies Lies Lies and Just My LuckHer best novel yet Twisty, malevolent and gripping' Lisa Jewell, No. 1 bestselling author of The Family UpstairsTo the outside world Hannah married the perfect man. Behind the closed doors of their imposing home it's a very different story. Nathan controls everything Hannah does. He chooses her clothes, checks her receipts, and keeps her passport locked away. But why does she let him?Years before, in the midst of a relentless storm, the tragic events of one night changed everything. And Hannah has been living with the consequences ever since. Keeping Nathan happy. Doing as she's told.But the past is about to catch up with them.Set against the unforgiving backdrop of a Cornish fishing port in the 90s, this is a devastating exploration of the power of coercive control in a marriage where nothing is quite as it seemsPraiTrade Review Praise for The Storm: ‘Beautifully written, chilling and absorbing’ Adele Parks ‘Amanda Jennings is a writer on the ascendant and The Storm is her best novel yet. This twisty, malevolent and gripping story of a controlling husband and his oddly compliant wife was virtually impossible to put down. The dark and craggy Cornwall backdrop is exquisitely drawn and the sense of foreboding that runs through the whole novel is masterfully done’ Lisa Jewell ‘A dark, sinister story with a cracking twist’ The Sun ‘Evocative and affecting’ Crime Monthly ‘Chilling and atmospheric … will keep you gripped in its clutches until the final page’ My Weekly ‘The Storm is an evocative story of coercive control and the decisions – often disastrous – that we make in order to protect the ones we love. Amanda Jennings is a fantastic storyteller and she’s at her very best here: warm-hearted, darkly atmospheric, and wholly addictive' Lucy Atkins ‘Suspenseful, beautifully written, and utterly compelling’ Alice Feeney ‘A brilliant book. Gripping, intelligent, and beautifully written’ Cass Green ‘This deftly tackles the issues surrounding coercive control in a way that feels both authentic and surprising, while the twists and turns just keep on coming’ Heat ‘Vivid and evocative, the beautifully drawn characters and Cornish setting will linger in your mind long after you’ve turned the final page of The Storm’ Lucy Dawson 'Unravelling the secrets that lie beneath a toxic marriage. The Storm is both beautifully crafted and chilling. A compelling tale you won't want to put down’ Colette McBeth 'A claustrophobic, brooding, atmospheric novel about the secrets that lie at the heart of a toxic relationship. No one writes complicated, conflicted characters like Amanda Jennings’ Tammy Cohen

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Book SynopsisThe second novel from the celebrated author of one of the most famous mystery classics ever written, Trent''s Last Case.James Randolph is murdered early one evening and his body is found a few hours later. When the police arrive they discover that Randolph''s safe has been ransacked and discarded wrapping paper litters his bedroom floor.Perhaps by chance or perhaps by design, Trent seems to have been the last person, other than the murderer, to see Randolph alive. But this is only one aspect amongst many which connect Trent with the murder and stimulate his interest: his friend Inspector Bligh is the detective in charge of the investigation, and then a long-time friend readily and perplexingly confesses his guilt. As much as he respects the abilities of Inspector Bligh, Trent''s personal knowledge has him doubting the confession and intent on finding the truth.Trade Review‘I won't waste time saying that the plot is sound and the detection satisfying. Trent has not altered a scrap and reappears with all his old humour and charm.’ Dorothy L. Sayers

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Book SynopsisThe definitive companion to the POIROT novels, short stories, films and TV appearances, now revised and updated.My name is Hercule Poirot and I am probably the greatest detective in the world.''The dapper, moustache-twirling little Belgian with the egg-shaped head, curious mannerisms and inordinate respect for his own ''little grey cells'' has solved some of the most puzzling crimes of the century. Yet despite being familiar to millions, Poirot himself has remained an enigma until now.From his first appearance in 1920 to his last in 1975, from country house drawing rooms to opium dens in Limehouse, from Mayfair to the Mediterranean, Anne Hart stalks the legendary sleuth, unveiling the mysteries that surround him. Sifting through 33 novels and 56 short stories, she examines his origins, tastes, relationships and peculiarities, revealing a character as fascinating as the books themselves.This new edition has been updated to include new information about original publication dates, newspTrade Review'Thorough and perceptive … a genuinely studious (but thoroughly readable) work.'DAILY MAIL 'Constantly lively, often amusing.'INDEPENDENT

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Book SynopsisAn all new audio recording of DEATH ON THE NILE narrated by Kenneth Branagh, director and star of 20th Century Studios' upcoming Death on the Nile feature film. The tranquillity of a cruise along the Nile is shattered by the discovery that Linnet Ridgeway has been shot through the head. She was young, stylish and beautiful, a girl who had everything until she lost her life.Hercule Poirot recalls an earlier outburst by a fellow passenger: I'd like to put my dear little pistol against her head and just press the trigger.' Yet in this exotic setting nothing is ever quite what it seemsKenneth Branagh reprises both his directorial role and that of the iconic detective in the upcoming film adaptation of Death on the Nile. Listen to the book now, and see the thrilling mystery come to life on the big screen soon!Trade Review“The construction is flawless.”Daily Mail “Must be read twice, once for enjoyment and once to see how the wheels go round.” The Times “The main alibi is of the first brilliance … the descriptive work hits, as it were, the Nile on the head.” Observer “A peach of a case for Poirot. I take my hat off to the author for as ingenious an alibi as can well be imagined.” Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisTo mark the publishing centenary of Freeman Wills Crofts, The King of Detective Story Writers', this is one of six classic crime novels being issued in 2020 featuring Inspector French, coming soon to television.Trade Review‘Exactly what a detective novel should be – ingenious, lucid, reasonable, intricate and exciting.’Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisA sensational wartime crime novel about a BBC announcer who abuses his position to commit crimes against the rich and famousBy day Ernest Bisham is a velvet-voiced announcer for the BBC; the whole country recognises the sound of his meticulous pronouncements. By night, however, Mr Bisham is a cat-burglar, careless about his loot, but revelling in the danger and excitement of his running contest with Scotland Yard. But as he gets away with more and more daring escapades, there will come a time when he goes too far . . .When Donald Henderson's Mr Bowling Buys a Newspaper caused something of a sensation, his publishers were keen to capitalise on their author's popularity, quickly reissuing The Announcer (originally published under his pen-name D. H. Landels') with the more alluring title A Voice Like Velvet. Despite a small edition of just 3,000 copies, it was his best reviewed work, as suspenseful and offbeat as his earlier success.This Detective Club classic includes an introduction by Trade Review‘Skilfuly written and quietly suspenseful’–Martin Edwards ‘Combines a psychopathic study with [an] effective hare and hounds adventure’–Kirkus Reviews ‘Ah, just the sort of book I like’–Daily Express ‘People who have a weakness for stories about gentlemen crooks—and judging by the popularity of Raffles, Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford, etc., there are thousands of them—will be delighted to make the acquaintance of Ernest Bisham.’

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Book SynopsisBodies from the Library brings into the daylight the forgotten, the lost and the unknown, and the 2023 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, before five thriller writers including Geoffrey Household and Dennis Wheatley round off the collection with an unusual and exciting round-robin novella.And, whether this is your first encounter with Bodies or a return to the Library, we welcome you, the reader. Complete with revealing biographies of all 16 featured authors by Tony Medawar, we hope you will find this to be an indispensable collection for your bookshelf.Trade Review‘The tales are chosen with care, and the series has become essential to anyone interested in Golden Age crime.’ Christopher Fowler ‘An annual treat – almost like the summer version of a Christie for Christmas.’—Kate Jackson, author of The Pocket Detective and Cross Examining Crime ‘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 ‘A veritable treasure trove of classic short stories’—Daily Mail ‘Tony Medawar triumphs again with this treasure trove of lost Golden Age gems.’—John Curran, author of The Hooded Gunman ‘In bringing to public awareness some of the forgotten, neglected, or simply unknown stories that the great and the good of the form produced, these collections have become a source of great excitement, and a must-read for even the most ardent student of the Golden Age.’—The Invisible Event

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Book SynopsisI was invested in this book from the first page. It literally drew me in immediately and my attention never waned. Classic thriller with a dynamic main character!' NetGalley reviewer, ?????His secret could destroy them, but her truth is even harder to bearOne year ago, my husband Jack left. I've longed for the moment he would walk through the door and tell me all he ever wanted was to be with me.Now he's back, but this isn't the reunion I had dreamt ofJack has been in a hit and run accident. He doesn't remember we aren't together, has no clue about his other family, and no recollection of the phone call he made before the crash I made a terrible mistake that I can't put right. All I can do is get out.Jack is different to the man that walked out and I'm certain he's hiding something too.But I finally have my husband by my side, and with Jack suffering from amnesia, surely the easiest thing would be to stay quietBut can you really trust a man who simply vanished from your life? And shou

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Book SynopsisThe complete collection of published short stories of Edmund Crispin, together in one volume for the first time.Trade Review‘A terrific book. If you haven't read Crispin before, and in particular if you're a fan of short stories, you're in for a treat.’ MARTIN EDWARDS ‘The ideal bedside book: read for ten minutes, go to sleep with a smile and a shiver—thanks to the immense wit and effortless storytelling knack of Edmund Crispin.’ Kirkus Reviews ‘The neatest dirty tricks since Poirot packed it in … The least of these fables are expert; the best gleam with an effortless wit and cheeriness.’ Philadelphia Inquirer ‘His books are full of high spirits and excellent jokes, with constant literary allusions and an atmosphere of bibulous good humour. But at times the mood turns darker, and Crispin is capable of passages of both genuine suspense and ingenious deduction.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Crispin is noted for an ability to embellish clever story lines with Marx Brothers touches.’ New York Times ‘Rightly elevated to classic status.’ New York Sun

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Book SynopsisThis is Mike Phillips's best novel, brutal and caring, totally authentic' The TimesSent from London to New York to bring a dying friend's message to his daughter, Mary, Sam Dean arrives in Queens, steeped in a mesh of Caribbean and Hispanic culture, looking forward to reconnecting with family and old friends.But his relaxing holiday turns dark when Mary disappears, and Sammy is caught up in a world of murder, sex, and corrupt politics that threatens to turn his world upside down.Melded with social commentary around race, class and gentrification, Point of Darkness is a gripping thriller, still eerily relevant.Trade ReviewPraise for Mike Phillips‘This is Mike Phillips’s best novel, brutal and caring, totally authentic’The Times ‘Phillips delivers his seamy tale with an enviably warm spareness of effect’Sunday Times ‘An incisive study of immigrant experience wrapped up in a gripping thriller’Times Literary Supplement ‘The Best British thriller in years… A novel that seems to have been written for a purpose; it deals with the black British community as something other than a problem or a political cliché’Marie Claire ‘Could have come from the pen of the master, Raymond Chandler’Today A thriller which maintains pace and provides excitements rooted in reality … a winner’Guardian ‘There’s much here to suggest that Phillips could be one of our bravest, most incisive social commentators’Mail on Sunday Phillips’ depictions of urban London share more with Harlem and Los Angeles than the English drawing rooms of P.D. James and Ruth Rendell’Financial Times ‘Phillips… gives a mean streetwise documentary edge to his hero’s hunt for a witness’Sunday Express ‘Mr Phillips writes in a precise uncluttered style that suits the detective novel’s ritualistic form. But it is the sensibility of his hero – a black man – that lends freshness to the form itself’The New York Times Book Review ‘As a political thriller it has something to say about multi-cultural Britain that is both revealing and intelligent … a good novel, deftly handled and deserving of praise’Time Out

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Book SynopsisOh My God!! Had me gripped instantly A MUST read!' NetGalley reviewer ?????A devoted wife and motherBella has the perfect life with her husband Jack and their two children until the ex who stalked her years ago is released from prison.A tragic past that haunts herNow Bella is convinced he's back to hurt her, and sees him everywhere but no one else can see that anything is wrong.One last chance to put it behind herWith her family away for the weekend, Bella determines to leave the past in the past but she's about to discover the danger is closer to home than she ever imaginedA gripping and unputdownable thriller for fans of The Perfect Couple, The Marriage Lie and The Housemaid.Readers LOVE The Weekend Alone!Wow! The twist in this really came out of nowhere for me I had inklings that all was not as it seems but was not expecting quite the reveal I got!' NetGalley reviewer ?????A wonderful twist filled thriller! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.' NetGalley reviewer ?????A master

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Book SynopsisDon't miss the new, totally addictive psychological thriller from Sarah Goodwin, with bombshell twists that will leave you stunned. Fans of The Sanatorium, The Paris Apartment and One of the Girls will be hooked from the very first page.You can''t outrun the pastSummer, 2022. When Meg and Cat are forced to take a dangerous shortcut home one night, they notice two men silently following them. Suddenly running for their lives, they scramble into an abandoned building to hide and wait for help.for what's done in the dark will come to lightOne year later. Attempting to escape the horrors of that fateful night, Meg barricades herself into a safehouse at the edge of a crumbling sea cliff. As a storm rages outside, a blackout plunges the house into darkness. But Meg's not alone.and someone wants revenge.This is a twisty locked-room thriller for fans of Sarah Pearse, Lucy Foley and Jane Harper that will leave you breathless. Readers are gripped by The Blackout:I literally could not put this bTrade 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 SynopsisA movie starA deadly cocktailA murderWhen glamorous Marina Gregg came to live in St Mary Mead, tongues were sure to wag.But, with a local gossip's sudden death, has one tongue wagged a bit too much?As the police chase false leads, and two more victims meet untimely ends, Miss Marple starts to ask her own questions.What secrets might link a peaceful English village and a star of the silver screen?Never underestimate Miss MarpleChristie's ingenious plots and fiendish twists set the bar for all of us who follow in her footsteps.'Ruth WareThe pieces finally drop into place with a satisfying click.'Times Literary SupplementTrade 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 SynopsisWhen Ernest Fletcher is found bludgeoned to death in his study, everyone is shocked and mystified: Ernest was well-liked and respected, so who would have a motive for killing him?Enter Superintendent Hannasyde who, with consummate skill, begins to uncover the complexities of Fletcher''s life. It seems the real Fletcher was far from the gentleman he pretended to be. There is, in fact, no shortage of people who wanted him dead.Then, a second murder is committed, with striking similarities to the first, giving a grotesque twist to a very unusual case.

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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?Trade 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 SynopsisFor Willi Kufult, prison life means staying out of trouble, keeping his cell clean, snagging a precious piece of tobacco - and dreaming of the day of his release.Then he gets out.As Willi tries to make a new life for himself in Hamburg, finding a job and even love, he still cannot escape his past. Gradually he becomes sucked into a world of drink, desperation and deceit, and with one terrible act, he is ensnared in a noose of his own making...Hans Fallada''s dark and moving 1934 novel brilliantly describes a seedy criminal underworld of shabby lives and violent deeds, showing how our actions always catch up with us.Trade ReviewFallada is a unique novelist, a writer of great sweetness and charm whom historical circumstances forced to take an interest in violent turmoil -- Philip Hensher * Independent *

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Book Synopsis“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 GuardianThe first-ever English publication of Georges Simenon’s compelling novel about summer escape and elusive obsessions“The island itself. Its throbbing heat as if in a belljar under the sun, the scorpion in his son’s bed, the deafening sound of cicadas.”During his first holiday on the island of Porquerolles, Dr. Mahé caught a glimpse of something irresistible. As the memory continues to haunt him, he falls prey to a delusion that may offer an escape from his conventional existence—or may destroy him. Taut, insightful, and impossible to put down, this is the first English translation of The Mahé Circle, Simenon’s dark, malevolent depiction oTrade ReviewOne of Georges Simenon's most powerful roman durs - the non-Maigret novels in which ordinary lives are suddenly, and at times seemingly inexplicably, unsettled and irrevocably changed. Written in Simenon's spare signature style, it's unputdownably gripping -- John Gray * Guardian *Sublime . . . as good, in its unforced and unemphatic way, as anything in Proust or even Flaubert . . . a sort of masterpiece -- John Banville * New York Review of Books *Extraordinary . . . Simenon is one of the most important writers of the 20th century . . . In 150 high-pressure pages, it gives insights into the world, the mind and the horrible frustration of a French country doctor that most writers would struggle to convey with 10 times the word-count -- Sam Jordison * Independent *

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Book SynopsisWith the police closing in, enemies circling, and his conscience weighing him down Arjun realises he is no longer just hiding a mistakeâhe is caught in a deadly game of power and deception where every choice has consequences. As the truth edges closer, he must decide whether to keep running or fight.

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Book SynopsisThis collection includes some of the detective's greatest cases, such as 'Silver Blaze' and 'The Naval Treaty', the emergence of Professor Moriarty, and even one case which Holmes fails to solve.Table of ContentsIntroduction Note on the Text Select Bibliography Chronology THE MEMOIRS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES Silver Blaze The Cardboard Box The Yellow Face The Stockbroker's Clerk The 'Gloria Scott' The Musgrave Ritual The Reigate Squire The Crooked Man The Resident Patient The Greek Interpreter The Naval Treaty The Final Problem Explanatory Notes

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Book Synopsis“The matchless French crime novelist” -- Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker“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 GuardianA battle of wills between Inspector Maigret and an adversary from the past When a friend’s brother-in-law is accused of murdering his daughter’s lover, Maigret sets out for a small French town to help and upon arrival is plunged into an atmosphere of animosity. He soon finds himself tangled up in a case that may ruin the very people whom he has come to aid and must face an old enemy—an ex-police officer nicknamed “Inspector Cadaver”—who seems to be doing everything in his power to obstruct Maigret’s investigations.Trade 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... marvelously readable - lucid, simple, absolutely in tune with the works he creates." - Muriel Spark "A novelist who entered his fictional world as if he were a part of it." - Peter Ackroyd "Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century." - John Banville

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne 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 * Guardian *A supreme writer . . . unforgettable vividness * Independent *The most addictive of writers . . . a unique teller of tales * Observer *

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Book SynopsisThis new selection of stories featuring Inspector Maigret - three of which are published in English for the first time - takes the detective from a mysterious death in a Cannes hotel to a love triangle in the Loire countryside and a bitter rivalry within a Parisian family.Written during the Second World War, just a few years after Simenon had published what was intended to be his last novel featuring Inspector Maigret, these tales of human frailty and deceit distil the atmosphere, themes and psychological intensity that make Simenon''s famous detective series so compelling. Translated by Ros Schwartz''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'' Boyd Tonkin, TimesTrade ReviewOne 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. -- John Banville * Financial Times *Simenon's supreme virtue as a novelist, to burrow beneath the surface of his characters' behaviour; to empathise . . . it is this unfailing humanity that makes the Maigret books truly worth reading -- Graema Macrae Burnet * Guardian *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 -- Boyd Tonkin * Times *Compelling...tense...readers will surely race through each story with relish -- Martin Bentham * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisThe final novel in the trailblazing Harlem Detective series, set in a New York City at boiling pointBawdy and tough-talking, wickedly funny and wantonly sensual, Blind Man With a Pistol is a surreal joyride through Harlem in a heatwave. Detectives Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson are side-tracked from investigating a series of organised race riots when a white man with a cut throat and no trousers falls dead at their feet. Told in a thrilling chaos of impressions over the course of one day and one night, this case will take Jones and Johnson into the pounding heart of Harlem.

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Book SynopsisFast-paced and hard-boiled, this Harlem Detectives novel follows a pile of stolen money or it would if anyone could find it Alberta Wright drops dead on the street during a sermon by the charismatic con man Sweet Prophet. Her partner rushes home to avoid the cops, only to find her apartment looted by someone looking for her stash of cash. But soon it becomes apparent that there are number of players in the race for Alberta's dough. Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones are called in to investigate, but they know full well the bodies haven't stopped dropping yet.

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Book SynopsisThe Lady in the Lake is a classic detective novel by the master of hard-boiled crime, available as a Penguin Essential for the first time.Derace Kingsley''s wife ran away to Mexico to get a quickie divorce and marry a Casanova-wannabe named Chris Lavery. Or so the note she left her husband insisted. Trouble is, when Philip Marlowe asks Lavery about it he denies everything and sends the private investigator packing with a flea lodged firmly in his ear. But when Marlowe next encounters Lavery, he''s denying nothing - on account of the two bullet holes in his heart. Now Marlowe''s on the trail of a killer, who leads him out of smoggy LA all the way to a murky mountain lake . . .''Anything Chandler writes about grips the mind from the first sentence'' Daily Telegraph ''One of the greatest crime writers, who set standards others still try to attain'' Sunday Times''Chandler is an original stylist, creator of a character as immortal as Sherlock Holmes'' Anthony BurgessTrade ReviewChandler seems to have created the culminating American hero: wised up, hopeful, thoughtful, adventurous, sentimental, cynical and rebellious -- Robert B. Parker * The New York Times Book Review *Raymond Chandler invented a new way of talking about America, and America has never looked the same to us since -- Paul AusterRaymond Chandler is a star of the first magnitude -- Erle Stanley Gardner[T]he prose rises to heights of unselfconscious eloquence, and we realize with a jolt of excitement that we are in the presence of not a mere action tale teller, but a stylist, a writer with a vision -- Joyce Carol Oates * New York Review of Books *Raymond Chandler is a master * New York Times *Philip Marlowe remains the quintessential urban private eye * Los Angeles Times *Anything Chandler writes about grips the mind from the first sentence * Daily Telegraph *Nobody can write like Chandler on his home turf, not even Faulkner. . . A great artist * The Boston Book Review *

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Book SynopsisThe second in the acclaimed Lydmouth crime series, set on the Welsh/English border in the years after World War IITrade ReviewTaylor's Lydmouth series is turning the classical detective story into a complex picture of our own past * Independent *Andrew Taylor is one of the most interesting, if not the most interesting novelist writing on crime in England today * Spectator *The people depicted here are real and believable and the drabness and genteel facade of Fifties England is skilfully brought to life. Taylor is, as always, adept at showing the reality beneath the surface * Sunday Telegraph *How skilfully he recreates the atmosphere of the time through innuendo, attitude and detail . . .Taylor is the master of small lives writ large and he has carved a classic detective story * Frances Fyfield *The most under-rated crime writer in Britain today * Val McDermid *

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Book SynopsisThe third in the acclaimed Lydmouth crime series, set on the Welsh/English border in the years after World War IITrade ReviewTaylor's Lydmouth series is turning the classical detective story into a complex picture of our own past * Independent *'Part baffling mystery, part social commentary, The Lover of the Grave is so atmospheric you can practically feel the ice on the inside of the windows'Liverpool Daily Post'The tensions, both emotional and sexual, that run through this deftly plotted novel stretch the reader's nerves almost to breaking point'Val McDermid, Manchester Evening NewsAndrew Taylor is one of the most interesting, if not the most interesting novelist writing on crime in England today * Spectator *'This absorbing tale is only the third of Taylor's Lydmouth Mysteries, yet already they rank among the finest of English rural whodunit/whydunits..'Shropshire StarThe people depicted here are real and believable and the drabness and genteel facade of Fifties England is skilfully brought to life. Taylor is, as always, adept at showing the reality beneath the surface * Sunday Telegraph *'A nicely satisfying read'The Irish TimesHow skilfully he recreates the atmosphere of the time through innuendo, attitude and detail . . .Taylor is the master of small lives writ large and he has carved a classic detective story * Frances Fyfield *'Andrew Taylor was given the thumbs up long ago for beautifully crafted, well written narratives combining sublety, depth and that vital 'Oh my God what is the hell is going to happen next' factor, which is the driving force of the story-teller... The Lover of the Grave... makes you long to read the next tale'Frances Fyfield Express on SaturdayThe most under-rated crime writer in Britain today * Val McDermid *'A good, meaty story in the best classic tradition'Birmingham Post'This absorbing tale is only the third of Taylor's Lydmouth mysteries, yet already they rank among the finest of English rural whodunit/whydunits'Cumberland Evening News and Star'Taylor evokes and stays faithful to the narrow convention and dingy austerity of the 1950s, He is an excellent writer who has conjured up an understated and grimy drama. Very praiseworthy'?'Quite definitely a cut above the usual whodunnit'Yorkshire Post-

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Book SynopsisThe sixth in the acclaimed Lydmouth crime series, set on the Welsh/English border in the years after World War IITrade ReviewAn absorbing read * Susanna Yager, Sunday Telegraph *Taylor is building up a nice fan base for his series of mysteries set in the village of Lydmouth just after the Second World War . . . DEATH'S OWN DOOR will appeal to those who love a traditional English mystery novel * Irish Times *Taylor's Lydmouth series is turning the classical detective story into a complex picture of our own past * Independent *Page turningly complicated plots * The Oxford Times *The most underrated crime writer in Britain today * Val McDermid *

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Book SynopsisThe seventh in the acclaimed Lydmouth crime series, set on the Welsh/English border in the years after World War IITrade Review'Andrew Taylor's latest addition to his "Lydmouth" murder series perfectly evokes that innocent world of the 1950s. The book is wonderfully redolent of that era, except that it has psychological depth instead of Christie-type cliches. Taylor builds a gripping story, as redolent of the period as brown linoleum. His subtle exploration of provincial society, with its gruesome underbelly, makes this a powerful extension to the series.' - IndependentHow skilfully he recreates the atmosphere of the time through innuendo, attitude and detail rather than dogged description . . . Taylor is the master of small lives writ large * Frances Fyfield, Express on The Suffocating Night *'This is top of the class. Taylor's re-creation of the 1950s is absolutely convincing.' - Sue Baker's Top 10 crime & thriller titles, Publishing NewsThe most underrated crime writer in Britain today * Val McDermid *Andrew Taylor is one of the most interesting, if not THE most interesting novelist writing on crime in England today * Harriet Waugh, Spectator *Taylor is an excellent writer * The Times *The people depicted here are real and believable and the drabness and genteel facade of Fifties England is skilfully brought to life. Taylor is, as always, adept at showing the reality beneath the surface * Sunday Telegraph *CALL THE DYING is expert, ingenious and absorbing, with its eye trained on horizons lying in wait * Spectator *Full of nostalgic detail, this is old-fashion crime at its best * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe eighth in the acclaimed Lydmouth crime series, set on the Welsh/English border in the years after World War IITrade ReviewA brilliant take on the classic golden-age mystery updated with contemporary candour and enhanced by Taylor's ability to make characters rounded and real through his intuitive understanding of obsolete habits... a gripping and intelligent novel; highly recommended. * Literary Review *'A brilliant take on the classic golden-age mystery updated with contemporary candour and enhanced by Taylor's ability to make characters rounded and real through his intuitive understanding of obsolete habits... a gripping and intelligent novel; highly recommended.' * Literary Review *Andrew Taylor's Lydmouth series becomes more impressive with each book... Taylor's special skill is getting under the skill of his characters and creating a vivid portrait of even the dullest setting. It's a very accomplished novel. * Sunday Telegraph *'Andrew Taylor's Lydmouth series becomes more impressive with each book... Taylor's special skill is getting under the skill of his characters and creating a vivid portrait of even the dullest setting. It's a very accomplished novel.' * Sunday Telegraph *'This murder tale is anything but formulaic' * Mirror *Atmospheric * Daily Mail *'Atmospheric' * Daily Mail *Striking . . . A considerable achievement. * Tangled Web *'Complex and absorbing' * Woman & Home *Complex and absorbing * Woman & Home *'Andrew Taylor is remarkably prolific - it doesn't seem five minutes since his last stand-alone novel appeared - but what is even more remarkable is that his productivity does not have the least adverse effect on the quality of his writing. On the contrary, this latest entry in the excellent Lydmouth series is arguably even stronger than its predecessor, the admirable 'Call for the Dying'. In this book, Richard Thornhill comes under pressure as never before when a tragedy from his brief service as a police officer in Palestine comes back to haunt him. The mystery element of the story is handled with Taylor's usual skill, and there are a couple of neat twists, but what I found striking was the way this talented writer made me care a great deal about such questions as who would accompany whom at the local charity dance. He draws us completely into the remote world of 1950s rural England and makes what happens there matter very much. A considerable achievement.' * Tangled Web *'Taylor's novels are always intelligent, well-structured and engrossing reads.' * Yorkshire Post *'The strength of Andrew Taylor lies in his characters and their complex emotions... Taylor never disappoints and Naked to the Hangman is no exception.' * Harriet Waugh, Spectator *'Enthralling' * Observer *'Detective Inspector Thornhill returns in this splendid new novel in the Lydmouth series.... Andrew Taylor brilliantly captures the atmosphere of 1950s England with a superb plot and complex and believable characters. This is classic crime writing that will delight even the most jaded reader.' * Waterstone's *'Andrew Taylor's Lydmouth novels have shaped the classic detective story into something cleverer, a magnifying glass on periods of recent history. Naked to the Hangman is no exception.' * Belfast Telegraph *'This is the eight title in Andrew Taylor's excellent series of detective stories set in the fictional Anglo-Welsh border town of Lydmouth in the aftermath of the Second World War... A fine addition to the series.' * Mail on Sunday *'Detective Inspector Thornhill returns in this splendid new novel in the Lydmouth series... Andrew Taylor brilliantly captures the atmosphere of 1950s England with a superb plot and complex and believable characters. This is classic crime writing that will delight even the most jaded reader.' * Waterstone's Books Quarterly *So well-rounded . . . no plot from Taylor is ever without complications and twists * Sunday Express *I am a fan of Andrew Taylor, who continues to evoke provincial England brilliantly in his Lydmouth novels * The Sunday Times *This murder tale is anything but formulaic * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisSharon Bolton (previously S. J. Bolton) is the author of six critically acclaimed novels. She has been shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger for Crime Novel of the Year, the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and the CWA Dagger in the Library. Sharon lives near Oxford with her husband and young son. For more information about the author and her books, or to check out her addictive blog, visit www.sharonbolton.com. You can also join her on at www.facebook.com/SJBoltonCrime.Trade ReviewBolton rules the world of psychological thrillers -- Nina Sankovitch * Huffington Post *Ingenious * Washington Post *Nail-biting, spine-tingling, up-till-4a.m.-because-you-need-to-know-how-it-finishes tension! * fictionfan blog *Close-to-the-bone red herrings skillfully strewn across the detectives’ paths, convincing cop-shop procedure, and perceptively drawn secondary characters help push this contemporary crime novel ahead of the pack . . . Bolton looks deep into the lost-soul madness of a killer and makes her vision all too horribly real. * RT BookReviews *Bolton sets aside the gothic-tinged atmosphere of her early novels in favor of a more visceral sensibility, exerting immediate and continuing pull by stepping in and out of an unnamed killer’s mind . . . a nail-biting thriller * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisTHE MULTIMILLION-COPY BESTSELLING ADAM DALGLIESH SERIES FROM THE QUEEN OF ENGLISH CRIME' (Guardian) A legend.' VAL MCDERMIDP. D. James took the classic crime novel and turned up the dial.' MICK HERRONShe has never written better.' SUNDAY TELEGRAPHPERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS__________________________________________________________________________________I don't think I'm being fanciful there is something strange about this death.When the body of a theology student is found on a desolate stretch of coast in East Anglia, his wealthy father demands that Scotland Yard re-examine the verdict of accidental death. Commander Adam Dalgliesh reluctantly agrees to visit the young man''s theological college, St Anselm''s a place he visited as a boy. He expects no more than a nostalgic return to old haunts and a straightforward examination o

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Book SynopsisA darkly humorous depiction of fraught family ties, The Murder of My Aunt was first published in 1934.

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Book SynopsisFirst published in Britain in 1949, Brand’s exuberant novel is still regarded as one of the great masterpieces of the classic mystery genre for its fiendishly constructed puzzle, memorable setting, dumbfounding acts of misdirection and thrilling denouement.

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