Classic crime and mystery fiction
HarperCollins Publishers SWAN SONG A Gervase Fen Mystery
Book SynopsisAs inventive as Agatha Christie, as hilarious as P.G. Wodehouse - discover the delightful detective stories of Edmund Crispin. Crime fiction at its quirkiest and best.When an opera company gathers in Oxford for the first post-war production of Wagner''s Die Meistersinger its happiness is soon soured by the discovery that the unpleasant Edwin Shorthouse will be singing a leading role. Nearly everyone involved has reason to loathe Shorthouse but who amongst them has the fiendish ingenuity to kill him in his own locked dressing room?In the course of this entertaining adventure, eccentric Oxford don and amateur sleuth Gervase Fen has to unravel two murders, cope with the unpredictability of the artistic temperament, and attempt to encourage the course of true love.Trade Review.
£9.49
British Library Publishing The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books
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.
£21.25
British Library Publishing Silent Nights
Book SynopsisThis book introduces readers to some of the finest Christmas detective stories of the past. Martin Edwards' selection blends festive pieces from much-loved authors with one or two stories which are likely to be unfamiliar even to diehard mystery fans
£8.54
British Library Publishing The Cheltenham Square Murder
Book SynopsisIn the seeming tranquility of Regency Square in Cheltenham live the diverse inhabitants of its ten houses. One summer's evening, the square's rivalries and allegiances are disrupted by a sudden and unusual death - an arrow to the head, shot through an open window at no. 6.
£8.99
British Library Publishing Scarweather
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.'
£8.54
British Library Publishing Sussex Downs Murder British Library Crime
Book SynopsisTwo brothers, John and William Rother, live together at Chalklands Farm in the beautiful Sussex Downs. Their peaceful rural life is shattered when John Rother disappears and his abandoned car is found. Has he been kidnapped? Or is his disappearance more sinister -
£9.49
Titan Books Ltd Sherlock Holmes - Cry of the Innocents
Book SynopsisA mysterious Catholic priest arrives at 221B Baker Street, only to utter the words 'if corpe' before dropping dead. Though the man's death is attributed to cholera, when news of a similar case reaches Holmes, he is convinced that the priests have been poisoned. He and Watson learn that the men were on a mission from the Vatican to investigate a miracle; but surely no miracle could lead to murder?Trade Review"The original plot line is refreshing, and the portrayals of the leads are generally faithful to the Sherlock Holmes canon." -- Publishers Weekly"Fresh and engaging" -- San Francisco Book Review
£7.59
Headline Publishing Group The Hound of the Baskervilles
Book SynopsisTerrifying, thrilling and addictive - the celebrated tale of chilling murder, played out on the bleak, eerie wilds of a West Country moor
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Another Little Christmas Murder
Book SynopsisA classic country house mystery republished for the first time in nearly seventy years. Perfect for fans of Murder at the Old Vicarage and Partners in Crime.When Dilys Hughes finds herself snowbound in the middle of a bleak and lonely stretch of Yorkshire, she has no option but to accept help from passing motorist Inigo Brown, who is on his way to visit his uncle.Arriving at his uncle''s remote country house, Wintry Wold, the couple encounters a less than warm welcome from Inigo''s new young aunt, Theresa. Why is she reluctant to let Inigo see his uncle, and is he really as ill as they are told?As the snowstorm brings more stranded strangers to their door, Dilys starts to realise that all is not as it seems at Wintry Wold. When the morning brings news of the death of Inigo''s uncle, Dilys sets out to investigate - was it a natural death, or was it murder?Trade ReviewKeeps one guessing The Sunday Times
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co The Weed That Strings the Hangmans Bag
Book SynopsisCosy crime historical mysteries featuring Flavia de Luce - the teenage amateur sleuth you'll never forget. Perfect for fans of Midsomer Murders and Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.Trade ReviewPraise for the cosy crime Flavia de Luce Mysteries - perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders: The Flavia de Luce novels are now a cult favourite * Mail on Sunday *Certain to become a national treasure * Daily Mail *Delightfully entertaining * Guardian *Flavia is enchanting * New York Times *A breath of fresh air to the world of period-piece sleuthing * Independent *Flavia is mercilessly addictive * Daily Telegraph *A clever, witty and totally gripping read with lots of surprises * Essentials *At once precocious and endearing. Flavia is a marvellous character. Quirkily appealing, this is definitely a crime novel with a difference * Choice *It's like entering the lost world of the Mitford sisters where the girls are allowed to run completely wild * Crime Squad *Hilarious, eccentric and mischievous * Deadly Pleasures *Engaging, entertaining, bright and breezy; and above all, great fun! * Good Book Guide *The intricate plot unfolds neatly against a charming period backdrop of 1950s England, while the precocious but indomitable Flavia is so original a character that the book is a joy to read. * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers SLEEPING MURDER Book 4 Marple
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
£11.39
HarperCollins Publishers The Mystery of the Blue Train
Book SynopsisAgatha Christie's classic Hercule Poirot railway mystery, reissued in a beautiful new classic hardcover edition designed to appeal to the latest generation of Agatha Christie fans and book lovers.You could, perhaps, love a thief, mademoiselle, but not a murderer!'When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to wake serene Ruth Kettering from her slumbers. But she will never wake again for a heavy blow has killed her, disfiguring her features almost beyond recognition. What is more, her precious rubies are missing.The prime suspect is Ruth's estranged husband, Derek. Yet Poirot is not convinced, so he stages an eerie re-enactment of the journey, complete with the murderer on boardTrade Review“The Empress of the crime novel.”Sunday Express
£13.49
Penzler Publishers A Puzzle for Fools: A Peter Duluth Mystery
Book Synopsis
£10.42
Pan Macmillan Malice Aforethought
Book SynopsisMalice Aforethought is one of the earliest and finest examples of the inverted detective story – we know who committed the crime, the question is, will he get away with it?Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition features an afterword by crime writing expert and award-winning writer Barry Forshaw.Dr Edmund Bickleigh and his insufferable wife Julia are hosting a tennis party where gossip rivals tennis as the most interesting sport. The seemingly genteel doctor is unable to tolerate Julia’s incessant henpecking any longer, and as his passion for the mysterious Madeleine Cranmere grows so does his resolve to murder his wife . . . Set in stuffy 1920s England and told from the perspective of the devious Dr Bickleigh himself, Malice Aforethought is impeccably plotted and darkly comic.Trade ReviewA fascinating insight into a troubled mind, and a gripping thriller, the novel has been twice adapted for television with Hywel Bennett and Ben Miller in the main part -- ‘1,000 novels everyone must read: Crime’ * Guardian *This classic crime novel, with its focus on the mindset of a murderer, set the genre in a new direction * Publishers Weekly *A pioneer of psychological suspense fiction with a seasoning of cynical wit * Mystery Scene *
£9.49
Felony & Mayhem Season of Snows and Sins
Book Synopsis
£10.99
Graphic Arts Books The Old Man in the Corner
Book SynopsisAt a local tea shop, a lady journalist encounters a brilliant detective who’s able to decode and solve some of the city’s most complicated crimes. This is a thrilling narrative that hinges on the unique dynamic between its two protagonists. Polly Burton is a young journalist who stumbles across an elderly man at a London tea shop. She soon discovers his peculiar personality and dazzling intellect. Through a series of conversations, they discuss the city’s most infamous criminal cases. With superior deductive skills, the old man’s able to solve each mystery without leaving the comfort of his chair. Some of the stories featured in this vibrant collection include “The Theft at the English Provident Bank,” “The Fenchurch Street Mystery” and " The Regent's Park Murder." The Old Man in the Corner is Baroness Orczy’s take on the detective genre, which highlights a quirky and unexpected hero. Fans of Sherlock Holmes will adore these clever stories led by the surprisingly perceptive sleuth. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Old Man in the Corner is both modern and readable.
£7.59
Faber & Faber The Long Shadow A Christmas Story with a
Book SynopsisTimes Book of the Month: a spine-chilling classic festive Christmas crime mystery from beloved author of Waterstones Thriller of the Month, Uncle Paul.''Brilliant ... Such clever, witty writing.'' Elly Griffiths''Fremlin packs a punch.'' Ian Rankin''A master of suspense.'' Janice Hallett''Glorious ... Got me hooked.'' Ruth RendellJolted from sleep by the ringing of the telephone, Imogen stumbles through the dark, empty house to answer it. At first, she can't quite understand the man on the other end of the line. Surely he can't honestly be accusing her of killing her husband, Ivor, who died in a car crash barely two months ago.As the nights draw in, Imogen finds her home filling up with unexpected guests, who may be looking for more than simple festive cheer. Has someone been rifling through Ivor's papers? Who left the half-drunk whiskey bottle beside his favourite chair? And why won't that man stop
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Money in the Morgue The New Inspector Alleyn
Book SynopsisRoderick Alleyn is back in this unique crime novel begun by Ngaio Marsh during the Second World War and now completed by Stella Duffy in a way that has delighted reviewers and critics alike.Shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger Award 2018.It's business as usual for Mr Glossop as he does his regular round delivering wages to government buildings scattered across New Zealand's lonely Canterbury plains. But when his car breaks down he is stranded for the night at the isolated Mount Seager Hospital, with the telephone lines down, a storm on its way and the nearby river about to burst its banks.Trapped with him at Mount Seager are a group of quarantined soldiers with a serious case of cabin fever, three young employees embroiled in a tense love triangle, a dying elderly man, an elusive patient whose origins remain a mystery and a potential killer.When the payroll disappears from a locked safe and the hospital's death toll starts to rise faster than normal, can the appearance of an EnglTrade Review'Stella Duffy performs a remarkable act of ventriloquism with New Zealand's Queen of Crime. I defy readers to see the join' VAL McDERMID ‘A proper Golden Age set up of suspects and plot, a wonderful sense of place and period, and a real frisson of being with Alleyn himself! I can’t imagine anyone doing it better – Stella Duffy is the natural successor to Dame Ngaio’ KATE MOSSE ‘Ngaio Marsh fans rejoice! After 35 years Alleyn is back in a new mystery – and both are as good as ever’ JOHN CURRAN ‘Marsh and Duffy have created A Midsummer Night’s Dream with corpses, clues and Kiwi accents. Ingenious indeed’ ANDREW TAYLOR, THE SPECTATOR ‘Fans all over the world will, I’m sure, hope that there are more stories to come.’ SOPHIE HANNAH, THE GUARDIAN ‘I absolutely love Ngaio Marsh! She's probably my favourite golden age doyenne’ A.J. FINN, author of The Woman in the Window ‘A more appropriate ‘completist’ author could hardly have been wished for’ MIKE RIPLEY, SHOTS Magazine ‘One of the most successful resurrections of another author’s character I’ve come across.’ DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘Clever stuff. Ngaio Marsh would give it nine out of ten’ DAILY MAIL ‘Duffy captures Marsh’s style, dialogue and mood brilliantly’ THE TIMES ‘A complicated tale, so well completed by Stella Duffy that I was quite unable to see the join’ LITERARY REVIEW “A taut atmospheric whodunit … Duffy’s facility at injecting wit into fair-play detecting will make Marsh fans hope she’ll continue the series.” PUBLISHERS WEEKLY “Though tart noir specialist Duffy might seem an unlikely choice to flesh out the skeleton Marsh left behind, fans will be hard-pressed to find the joint between the two writers.” KIRKUS REVIEW “An extraordinary literary tag-team completed 75 years after it began.” THE LISTENER (NZ)
£9.49
Penzler Publishers Death from a Top Hat: A Great Merlini Mystery
Book Synopsis
£10.42
British Library Publishing Weekend at Thrackley
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.
£8.54
British Library Publishing Murder by Matchlight
Book SynopsisThis atmospheric mystery set against the backdrop of 1945 blackout London sees Lorac's CID man MacDonald pit his considerable wits against a host of characterful suspects. Also includes the Lorac short story, 'Permanent Policeman'.
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd The Pitards
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 the brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories. * Guardian *Fierce, bleak and compellingly written . . . with pitiless landscapes of hopeless longing, random cruelty and galloping fate warmed only by the twilit lyricism of doomed desire. These are novels of eye-opening, spine-tingling control and intensity. -- Boyd Tonkin * The Independent *The romans durs are extraordinary: tough, bleak, offhandedly violent, suffused with guilt and bitterness, redolent of place . . . utterly unsentimental, frightening in the pitilessness of their gaze, yet wonderfully entertaining. -- John BanvilleA supreme writer . . . unforgettable vividness. * Independent *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 * Guardian *Fierce, bleak and compellingly written . . . with pitiless landscapes of hopeless longing, random cruelty and galloping fate warmed only by the twilit lyricism of doomed desire. These are novels of eye-opening, spine-tingling control and intensity. -- Boyd Tonkin * The Independent *The romans durs are extraordinary: tough, bleak, offhandedly violent, suffused with guilt and bitterness, redolent of place . . . utterly unsentimental, frightening in the pitilessness of their gaze, yet wonderfully entertaining * John Banville *A supreme writer . . . unforgettable vividness * Independent *
£8.54
Pushkin Press Vanish in an Instant
Book SynopsisVirginia Barkeley is a nice, well brought-up girl. So what is she doing wandering through a snow storm in the middle of the night, blind drunk and covered in someone else's blood? When Claude Margolis' body is found a quarter of a mile away with half-a-dozen stab wounds to the neck, suddenly Virginia doesn't seem such a nice girl after all. Her only hope is Meecham, the cynical small-town lawyer hired as her defence. But how can he believe in Virginia's innocence when even she can't be sure what happened that night? And when the answer seems to fall into his lap, why won't he just walk away?
£8.54
Penzler Publishers Golden Age Locked Room Mysteries
Book Synopsis
£10.42
Titan Books Ltd Kill Me If You Can
Book SynopsisMike Hammer hits his 75th anniversary hard, after the disappearance of Velda, in this brand new case set between Kiss Me, Deadly and The Girl Hunters, based on an unproduced screenplay from Mickey Spillane’s archives. Celebrating the 75th anniversary of Mike Hammer, and including five brand new short stories, read the lost story of Velda's disappearance after Kiss Me, Deadly. A thrilling ride for fans new and old.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR KILL ME IF YOU CAN"[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"Collins, a first-rate storyteller who started his own career with paperback originals, adds some narrative finesse to what he calls the "Hammerverse" but remains true to Spillane's essence. This volume also includes five previously unpublished Hammer stories, adding extra pizzazz to what is a fitting celebration of a genre giant." -BooklistPRAISE FOR MAX ALLAN COLLINS"Max Allan Collins is the closest thing we have to a 21st century Mickaey Spillane." - ThisWeek (Ohio)"Collins’ witty, hardboiled prose would make Raymond Chandler proud." - Entertainment WeeklyPRAISE 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)
£16.19
Felony & Mayhem Johnny Under Ground
Book Synopsis
£10.99
Faber & Faber Funeral Rites
Book SynopsisWidely considered an outstanding and unique figure in French literature, Genet wrote five novels between 1942 and 1947, now being republished by Faber & Faber in beautiful new paperback editions.Jean Genet began to write his third novel in 1943, but it was to be changed utterly by the death of Jean Decarnin.
£9.49
Faber & Faber Sleep No More
Book SynopsisThe Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories contained four of these perfectly formed stories, and this companion volume contains a further six, published here together for the first time.As the six murderous tales unfold, the dark motive of revenge is revealed at the heart of each.
£9.49
Titan Books Ltd Sherlock Holmes - The Red Tower
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
£7.59
Little, Brown Book Group The Death Box
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?
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Death at Breakfast
Book SynopsisA classic winter's crime novel by one of the most highly regarded exponents of the genre.Victor Harleston awoke with uncharacteristic optimism. Today he would be rich at last. Half an hour later, he gulped down his breakfast coffee and pitched to the floor, gasping and twitching. When the doctor arrived, he recognised instantly that it was a fatal case of poisoning and called in Scotland Yard.Despite an almost complete absence of clues, the circumstances were so suspicious that Inspector Hanslet soon referred the evidence to his friend and mentor, Dr Lancelot Priestley, whose deductions revealed a diabolically ingenious murder that would require equally fiendish ingenuity to solve.Trade Review‘One always embarks on a John Rhode book with a great feeling of security. One knows that there will be a sound plot, a well-knit process of reasoning and a solidly satisfying solution with no loose ends or careless errors of fact.’DOROTHY L. SAYERS in THE SUNDAY TIMES ‘Death at Breakfast is full of John Rhode’s specialties: a new and excellently ingenious method of murder, a good story, and a strong chain of deduction.’DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘John Rhode well deserves his reputation as a constructor of almost flawless detective story plots. To read any of his tales is a very agreeable intellectual exercise.’DAILY MAIL
£9.49
Orenda Books Dying to Live
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
£8.54
Orion Publishing Co Malice Aforethought
Book SynopsisSummer. 1930. The hottest day of the year. And Dr Bickleigh has murder in mind.A classic crime masterpiece from ''One of crime fiction''s greatest innovators'' Independent''A fascinating insight into a troubled mind, and a gripping thriller'' GuardianOn a balmy summer''s day in 1930 the great and the good of the county are out in force for the annual, much-anticipated tennis party at the Bickleighs, although not everyone has much enthusiasm for the game. The tennis party exists for other reasons - and charmingly mannered infidelity is now the most popular pastime in the small but exclusive Devonshire hamlet of Wyvern''s Cross.Which is why, in his own garden, the host, Dr Edmund Bickleigh, is desperately fighting to conceal the two things on his mind: a mounting passion for Gwynyfryd Rattery - and the certain conviction that he is going to kill his wife . . .Trade ReviewIn MALICE AFORETHOUGHT Francis Iles created the modern crime novel -- Peter LoveseyA fascinating insight into a troubled mind, and a gripping thriller, the novel has been twice adapted for television with Hywel Bennett and Ben Miller in the main part * GUARDIAN *This classic crime novel, with its focus on the mindset of a murderer, set the genre in a new direction * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *A pioneer of psychological suspense fiction with a seasoning of cynical wit * MYSTERY SCENE *Psychologically convincing and beautifully paced, with a nifty twist at the last minute * THE BOOKSELLER Top 10 Crime Novels to Read Before you Die *One of crime fiction's greatest innovators * INDEPENDENT *
£8.99
HarperCollins Publishers The Paddington Mystery
Book SynopsisA special release of the very first crime novel by John Rhode, introducing Dr Priestley, the genius detective who would go on to appear in more than 70 bestselling crime novels during the Golden Age.When Harold Merefield returned home in the early hours of a winter morning from a festive little party at that popular nightclub, the Naxos', he was startled by a gruesome discovery. On his bed was a corpse.There was nothing to show the identity of the dead man or the cause of his death. At the inquest, the jury found a verdict of Death from Natural Causes' perhaps they were right, but yet . . . ?Harold determined to investigate the matter for himself and sought the help of Professor Priestley, who, by the simple but unusual method of logical reasoning, succeeded in throwing light upon what proved to be a very curious affair indeed.This Detective Club classic is introduced by crime writing historian and expert Tony Medawar, who looks at how John Rhode, who also wrote as Miles Burton and as Cecil Waye, became one of the best-selling and most popular British authors of the Golden Age.Trade Review‘One always embarks on a John Rhode book with a great feeling of security. One knows that there will be a sound plot, a well-knit process of reasoning and a solidly satisfying solution with no loose ends or careless errors of fact.’DOROTHY L. SAYERS in THE SUNDAY TIMES ‘He must hold the record for the invention of ingenious ways of taking life.’SUNDAY TIMES ‘John Rhode never lets you down. A carefully worked out plot, precise detection, with no logical flaws or jumping to conclusions, and enough of character and atmosphere to carry the thing along.’FRANCIS ILES in the DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘Any murder planned by Mr Rhode is bound to be ingenious.’ OBSERVER ‘John Rhode well deserves his reputation as a constructor of almost flawless detective story plots. To read any of his tales is a very agreeable intellectual exercise.’DAILY MAIL
£10.44
Penzler Publishers The Mad Hatter Mystery
Book Synopsis
£12.50
British Library Publishing Death in Captivity
Book SynopsisThis classic locked-room mystery with a closed circle of suspects is woven together with a thrilling story of escape from an Italian POW camp, as the Second World War nears its endgame and a handful of British prisoners prepare to flee into the Italian countryside.Trade Review`Any book by Michael Gilbert is a treat' - Daily Telegraph
£9.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Family Game
Book Synopsis'Classy and ingenious new thriller' BA PARIS ‘Millionaires, marriage and murder make for a potent cocktail in this compelling tale set among the super-rich of New York’s elite’ TM LOGAN ‘Instantly compelling and filled with ingenious twists and brilliant characters. This is sublime thriller writing’ BP WALTERTHE RULES 1. Listen carefully 2. Do your research 3. Trust no one 4. Run for your life Harriet Reed is newly engaged to Edward Holbeck, the heir to an extremely powerful American family. When Edward’s father hands her a tape of a book he’s been working on, she is desperate to listen. But as she presses play, it’s clear that this isn’t a novel. It’s a confession to murder. Feeling isolated
£8.54
Pan Macmillan Last Seen Wearing
Book SynopsisColin Dexter has won many awards for his novels including the CWA Gold Dagger and Silver Dagger awards. In 1997 he was presented with the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for outstanding services to crime literature. Colin's thirteenth and final Inspector Morse novel, The Remorseful Day, was published in 1999. He died in 2017 at his home in Oxford.
£9.49
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations
Clive Merrison and Michael Williams star as Holmes and Watson in this collection of of twelve stories from the unique fully dramatised BBC Radio 4 canon, based on Arthur Conan Doyle's original short stories. The twelve dramatisations are A Scandal in Bohemia; The Red-Headed League; A Case of Identity; The Boscombe Valley Mystery; The Five Orange Pips; The Man with the Twisted Lip; The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle; The Adventure of the Speckled Band; The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb; The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor; The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet; The Adventure of the Copper Beeches.
£34.56
Ebury Publishing The Complete Father Brown Stories
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.
£14.24
Alma Books Ltd New Arabian Nights: Annotated Edition
Book SynopsisStevenson published this collection of his early fiction in 1882, after the pieces had appeared in various magazines. The first half features two popular detective-story cycles, The Suicide Club and The Rajah’s Diamonds, which deal with a macabre secret society and the intrigues and escapades involving exotic jewels. The second half brings together unrelated pieces, including the seminal ‘The Pavilion on the Links’ – described by Conan Doyle as the first short story in the world – which is set in a cottage surrounded by quicksand and tells the story of two old friends who become rivals for the affection of a woman. An eclectic, entertaining compilation, New Arabian Nights represented a milestone in Stevenson’s creative development and confirmed his reputation as one of the finest storytellers in the English language.Trade ReviewFrom my very childhood Robert Louis Stevenson was an incarnation of happiness for me. -- Jorge Luis BorgesTable of ContentsContains: The Suicide Club, Story of the Young Man with the Cream Tarts, Story of the Physician and the Saratoga Trunk, The Adventure of the Hansom Cabs, The Raja's Diamond, Story of the Bandbox, Story of the Young Man in Holy Orders, Story of the House with the Green Blinds, The Adventure of Prince Florizel and a Detective, The Pavilons on the Links, A Lodging for the Night, The Sire de Maletroit's Door, Providence and the Guitar.
£7.99
HarperCollins Publishers Bodies from the Library 2
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
£8.99
Penzler Publishers The Chocolate Cobweb
Book Synopsis
£10.42
HarperCollins Publishers Inc No One Will Miss Her
Book SynopsisBlade-sharp, whip-smart, and genuinely original ?a thriller to refresh your faith in the genre, your belief that a story can still outpace and outsmart you.? A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in The WindowClever and surprising...The superb character-driven plot delivers an astonishing, believable jolt.?Publishers Weekly (starred review)Deserves two big thumbs up. Readers will be gripped by this astonishing story in which one gasp-inducing twist follows on the heels of another. A unique page-turner that just begs to be turned into a movie. ?Booklist (starred review)Sly, sinister...a white-knuckled read. There are gasp-worthy surprises, of course, and the exquisite and lurid twists will reveal themselves in time.--Vanity FairA smart, witty, crackling novel of psychological suspense in which a girl from a hardscrabble small town meets a gorgeous Instagram influencer from the big city, with a murderous twist that will shock even the most savvy reader.On a beautiful October morning in rural Maine, a homicide investigator from the state policepulls into the hard-luck town of Copper Falls. The local junkyard is burning, and the town pariah Lizzie Oullette is dead?with her husband, Dwayne, nowhere to be found. As scandal ripples through the community, Detective Ian Bird?s inquiries unexpectedly lead him away from small-town Maine to a swank city townhouse several hours south. Adrienne Richards, blonde and fabulous social media influencer and wife of a disgraced billionaire, had been renting Lizzie?s tiny lake house as a country getaway?even though Copper Falls is anything but a resort town.As Adrienne?s connection to the case becomes clear, so too does her connection to Lizzie, who narrates their story from beyond the grave. Each woman is desperately lonely in her own way, and they navigate a relationship that cuts across class boundaries: transactional, complicated, and, finally, deadly. A Gone Girl for the gig economy, this is a story of privilege, identity, and cunning, as two devious women from opposite worlds discover the dangers of coveting someone else?s life.Both amusingly satirical and darkly bloody.?The Washington PostTrade Review"Countless thrillers have patterned themselves on Gone Girl in the decade since Gillian Flynn transfixed readers and transformed the literary landscape; rare is the suspense novel that summons the same dark magic even as it twists itself into a bold new shape. No One Will Miss Her is just such a book: blade-sharp, whip-smart, and genuinely original—a thriller to refresh your faith in the genre, your belief that a story can still outpace and outsmart you." — A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window “Both amusingly satirical and darkly bloody.” — Washington Post "Deserves two big thumbs up. Readers will be gripped by this Byzantine and astonishing story in which one gasp-inducing twist follows on the heels of another. A unique page-turner that just begs to be turned into a movie." — Booklist (starred review) "A clever and surprising psychological thriller...The superb character-driven plot delivers an astonishing, believable jolt." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) "A story that will completely throw you for a loop just when you think you know what’s going on, No One Will Miss Her is an expertly written book with characters you’ll find so interesting and a plot that is equally intriguing." — Seattle Book Review "Rosenfield fills the thriller with more twists than a talented gymnast, portrays her characters with razorlike precision, writes with brutal beauty and invests what could have been an improbable plot with well-earned plausibility." — Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star “A blistering thriller...Rosenfield so deftly engineers her novel’s central twist, which falls ax-like toward the book’s midsection, that her plotting rises to the level of architecture… Lizzie Ouellette, eternally unappreciated, [is] ready for her close-up.” — Portland Press Herald "This suspenseful, well-plotted tale will be a winner for mystery book clubs and readers who enjoy stories about the haves and the have-nots." — Library Journal
£10.44
Random House USA Inc The Big Four
Book Synopsis
£9.90
Headline Publishing Group Some Particular Evil: The Anglian Detective
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
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Blood Games
Book SynopsisLoved it, loved it, loved it. This book has such a powerful storyline, you could really imagine it being real.' NetGalley Reviewer, ?????THREE MURDERS. ONE MISSING BOY. THE GAME IS JUST BEGINNINGWhen a body is found at the edge of Chellow Dene reservoir Detective Nikki Parekh and DC Sajid Malik are quick to arrive.This is the third murder in the space of a few weeks. Each murder has a completely different MO, but there is one common theme all the victims are teenagers. The dead boy reminds Nikki of her nephew, and she feels more helpless than ever.But then another boy goes missing. And this time his parents have been sent a threatening package too. The pattern is different again is the killer just playing a game?Can Nikki find the strength to uncover the shocking truth before the killer strikes again?From the Queen of Northern Noir, comes another absolutely nail-biting crime thriller! Fans of Angela Marsons, Patricia Gibney and Elly Griffiths will love this rip-roaring read!Readers LO
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Death Under a Little Sky The new debut rural
Book SynopsisThe stunningly written, evocative new debut crime thriller you won’t want to miss!Trade Review‘Tense but patient, fast but thoughtful, and twisty but substantial – this is a truly excellent debut, and I want the next installment now’ Lee Child ‘I LOVED this. I found it totally immersive, and couldn’t wait to squeeze some time from my day to return to it. The writing is very classy and the conclusion came as a surprise, which is always a treat’ Ann Cleeves ‘Gloriously atmospheric and masterfully plotted with such a strong sense of place, this is a huge treat for crime fiction lovers. I can’t wait for the next instalment!’ Lucy Foley ‘Stylish…a more than promising debut’ The Times ‘Stylishly written by a skilled wordsmith, and an absorbing tale’ Sun ‘A vivid, atmospheric debut’ Daily Mail ‘A cosy crime read with an appealing protagonist’ Guardian ‘A pitch-perfect blend of psychological thriller and classic detective fiction, rich with smart plotting and characters so real we feel we know them’ Jeffery Deaver ‘Brilliant, gripping, fantastic … I can’t put it down’ Chris Evans ‘An atmospheric, often meditative, and beautifully written crime novel’ Vaseem Khan ‘An outstanding debut’ Jeffrey Archer ‘With his awkward but likeable hero, a compelling relationship between Jake and Livia, and the skillfully realized setting, Abell’s new career in crime fiction is off to a promising start’ Daily Mirror ‘A joyful dive into the detective genre…I was charmed and engrossed’ Observer ‘A tense and twisty crime thriller’ iPaper ‘A deep, searching novel, as preoccupied with human nature and ordinary evil as it is with detection’ A. J. Finn, author The Woman in the Window ‘A brilliant debut. Perfect to get lost with next to the fireside’ Dermot O’Leary ‘A truly clever, deeply unsettling and beautifully written mystery’ Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the End ‘Mesmerizing prose…and a devilishly constructed plot’ PW starred review
£14.99
