Comical (humorous) crime and mystery

Book SynopsisFrom the Italian crime legend, Andrea Camilleri, comes The Potter's Field, winner of the CWA International Dagger Award and the thirteenth instalment in the Inspector Montalbano series.While Vigàta is wracked by storms, Inspector Montalbano is called to attend the discovery of a dismembered body in a field of clay. Bearing all the marks of an execution style killing, it seems clear that this is, once again, the work of the notorious local mafia. But who is the victim? Why was the body divided into thirty pieces? And what is the significance of the Potter's Field?Working to decipher these clues, Montalbano must also confront the strange and difficult behaviour exhibited by his old colleague Mimi, and avoid the distraction of the enchanting Dolores Alfano – who seeks the inspector's help in locating her missing husband. But like the Potter's Field itself, Montalbano is on treacherous ground and only one thing is certain – nothing is quite as it seems . . .'Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb' - Sunday TimesThe Potter's Field is followed by The Age of Doubt, the fourteenth in the series.Trade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *For sunny views, explosive characters and a snappy plot constructed with great farcical ingenuity, the writer you want is Andrea Camilleri * New York Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writes . . . utterly gripping * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisThe Other End of the Line is the twenty-fourth darkly humorous Inspector Montalbano mystery from the international bestselling author Andrea Camilleri. In Inspector Montalbano’s coastal town of Vigàta, a surge of migrants have been coming in by boat, and all the town’s hands are on deck to help the arrivals. At the heart of the scene are the police – on the lookout for the people smugglers responsible – and long night-shifts are rendering Inspector Montalbano and his officers exhausted. Then one night, while Montalbano is enduring yet another gruelling stint at the port, a separate crime is committed – unexplained, unexpected, and unpleasant. Elena, the dressmaker at the town’s famous tailors, has been found dead – slaughtered by her own scissors . . . As a swell of desperate people arrive in search of a better life, Inspector Montalbano finds himself trying to unravel the mystery of who murdered the dressmaker. But as he makes his enquiries, the Inspector can’t help but wonder: what will happen if he keeps tugging on this thread? And what will he find at the end of the line?Trade ReviewMontalbano’s colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction’s greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe’s greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisPaper Moon is the thrilling ninth instalment in the warm and witty Inspector Montalbano series, by Italian author Andrea Camilleri.As he gets older, Inspector Montalbano is plagued by existential questions. But he doesn't have much time to wax philosophical before the gruesome murder of a man – shot in the face at point-blank range with his pants down – commands his attention.Add two evasive, beautiful women as prime suspects, dirty cocaine, dead politicians, mysterious computer codes, and a series of threatening letters, and things soon get very complicated at the police headquarters in Vigàta . . .Paper Moon is followed by the tenth book in the Sicilian crime series, August Heat.'Montalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction' – Guardian

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Book Synopsis''A great writer'' James Baldwin''Part vision, part satire, part farce ... a wholly original, unholy cross between the craft of fiction and witchcraft'' The New York TimesA plague is spreading across 1920s America, racing from New Orleans to New York. It''s an epidemic of free expression, carried by black artists, and its symptoms are an uncontrollable urge to dance, sing, laugh and jive. The state will stop at nothing to suppress the outbreak, but, deep in the heart of Harlem, private eye and Vodum priest Papa LaBas has other ideas - and, possibly, the key to everything. A freewheeling, explosive blend of jazz, ragtime, ancient myth, magic and conspiracy thriller, this anarchic postmodern classic is a satire for our times.Trade ReviewIshmael Reed's extraordinary and expansive collage novel [is] a conduit for his surging torrent of interrelating arguments about race, religion, history, music and literature ... it reminds readers of the charged relationship between medium and message, issuing an avant-garde challenge to read and to think as innovatively as they way in which the novel is written. Mumbo Jumbo is urgent, imaginative, hilarious, and deeply attuned to the exigencies of social and cultural capital. -- Rona Cran * Times Literary Supplement *A dazzling classic ... exhilarating ... like jazz, the novel feels improvisatory and ambitious [...] It is a funny book about conspiracy theories that nonetheless feels serious and true. A philosophical and ingenious American race satire -- Guardian

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Book SynopsisAngelica's Smile is the seventeenth novel in the gripping and darkly funny Inspector Montalbano mysteries by Andrea Camilleri.When members of Vigàta's elite are targeted in a series of perfectly executed burglaries, Inspector Montalbano reluctantly takes the case. It soon becomes clear however that more links these privileged few than simply their lost possessions . . . It isn't long too before Montalbano finds himself taken with one of the victims, the captivatingly beautiful young Angelica. But as the detective's attraction grows - until he can think of little else – a series of strange, anonymous letters claiming responsibility for the thefts begin to arrive . . .With the allure of Angelica beginning to consume him and his relationship with Livia under threat, Montalbano must focus his mind to solve this perplexing investigation before events spiral out of all control.Angelica's Smile is followed by the eighteenth book in the Sicilian mystery series, Game of Mirrors.Trade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE COMEDY WOMEN IN PRINT AWARD''Sharp, funny . . . the best sort of murder mystery'' Tatler''A perfect antidote to all the real-life craziness going on'' Daily MailSir Ecgbert Tode of Tode Hall has survived to a grand old age - much to the despair of his younger wife, Emma. But at ninety-three he has, at last, shuffled off the mortal coil.Emma, Lady Tode, thoroughly fed up with being a dutiful Lady of the Manor, wants to leave the country to spend her remaining years in Capri. Unfortunately her three tiresome children are either unwilling or unable (too mad, too lefty or too happy in Australia) to take on management of their large and important home, so the mantle passes to a distant relative and his glamorous wife.Not long after the new owners take over, Lady Tode is found dead in the mausoleum. Accident? Or is there more going on behind the scenes of TodTrade ReviewFans of PG Wodehouse and Agatha Christie should bag this madcap comedy whodunnit . . . Outrageous and over-the-top, a perfect antidote to all real-life craziness going on * Daily Mail *It's sharp, funny and just the right amount of farcical - the best sort of murder mystery * Tatler *I couldn't put it down -- Santa MontefioreWhat a triumph! It gave me enormous pleasure to read, plus of course a few appropriate shudders. [In the Crypt] lightens the darkness in a way that is both dark and light -- Antonia FraserAn irresistible champagne bubble of pleasure and laughter -- Rachel JohnsonAgatha Christie but with a bit of Julian Fellowes's Snobs and Downtown Abbey thrown in . . . A masterclass in how to write a rollicking good read -- Sarah VineA jolly farce that never takes itself too seriously * Red Magazine *Fizzles, crackles and sparklesAn irresistible, high-camp crime caper - deliciously entertainingA perfect antidote to wintry gloom * The Literary Review *An effervescent madcap whodunnit * Metro *A country-house murder mystery with nods to Agatha Christie and Evelyn Waugh. From the deceased's name (Sir Ecgbert Tode of Tode Hall) to the art deco cover, it's a delightful treat * The Lady *A work of sublime silliness. The knife-edge between crime and comedy is a tricky one, but Daisy Waugh negotiates it magnificently. The story is preposterous, as it should be in a book of this kind, and the author is clearly less interested in the finer points of crime plotting than she is in sharp observations and social satire. The result is a delightful book, witty, pacy and beautifully written.This is a marvellous rollicking read with brilliantly drawn characters. I finished it within 24 hours -- Mary KillenShe's spot on; she's skewered her targets brilliantly -- Imogen Edwards-JonesOne imagines that Waugh had nearly as much fun writing it as we do reading it * Catholic Herald *This whodunnit, set in a twisted version of PG Wodehouse's terrain, is deeply funny * Morning Star *

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Book SynopsisPoet-sleuth Geoffrey Chaucer is caught up in the chaos of the Peasants'' Revolt as he attempts to track down a brutal killer.June, 1381. Embarking on his annual pilgrimage to Canterbury, Geoffrey Chaucer and his fellow travellers are forced to turn back when confronted with a horde of armed and angry peasants, intent on marching to London. Returning to the city to warn the authorities of the approaching danger, the pilgrims hole up at the Tabard Inn and prepare for the coming invasion.That same night, a woman''s body is fished out of the River Thames, her throat cut. When he discovers that the victim was the wife of one of his fellow pilgrims, Chaucer determines to investigate. Could the woman''s henpecked husband be responsible for her death? A jealous business rival? Or was she murdered by one of the pilgrims? Does a cold-hearted killer lurk within the Tabard? As the army of rebellious peasants approaches, Chaucer finds himself in a ra

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Book Synopsis''Full of twists, the emphasis is on comedy . . . but the extraordinary Holmes can pull the heartstrings too.'' THE TIMESThe McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts - a luxurious, clandestine college dedicated to the fine art of murder where earnest students study how best to delete their most deserving victim.Who hasn''t wondered for a split second what the world would be like the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then you''ve probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death.The campus of this Poison Ivy League college-its location unknown to even those who study there-is where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmate...and where one''s mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder of someone whose death will make the world a much better place to live.Prepare for an education you''ll never forget. A delightful mix of witty wordplay, breathtaking twists and genuine intrigue, Murder Your Employer will gain you admission into a wholly original world, cocooned within the most entertaining book about well-intentioned would-be murderers you''ll ever read.''A case study in the droll amusements of homicide, Rupert Holmes''s send-up of higher education and even higher crimes and misdemeanors will keep you up at night-alternately turning pages and checking to make sure the front door is locked.'' Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked''With dry humor and an eye for hidden clues, Rupert Holmes imagines a secret Hogwarts-like school that teaches the fine art of pulling off the perfect (and perfectly deserved) murder. An utterly creative and deliciously diabolical read.'' Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author''A college with a degree in Homicide? Only Rupert Holmes could make murder laugh-out-loud funny. This book isn''t clever-it''s fiendishly clever. And the twists and tricks and endless surprises make me want to sign up for another semester!'' R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps and Fear StreetTrade ReviewAlthough this beautifully designed DIY manual is full of twists, the emphasis is on comedy . . . but the extraordinary Holmes can pull the heartstrings too. * THE TIMES *A funny, fast-paced, flip-the-playbook mystery in which three ordinary citizens are trained in murder on a luxurious hidden estate . . . a fantasy academy laid out like a combination of Hogwarts, Downton Abbey, and a White Lotus-style resort. . . . Holmes can clearly do anything. * THE LOS ANGELES TIMES *How has no one thought of this before? Murders set at an imaginary academy set up to train murderers . . . Holmes delights in wordplay that includes puns, literary terms, cultural references, and twists. . . . As Holmes takes hairpin turns from irony back to sincerity for his three McMasters pupils, his zany storytelling will delight fans of The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett, all Sherlock Holmes stories, and even those who love tales of arcane and Gothic institutions. * NPR *

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Book SynopsisIntroducing 14th century poet Geoffrey Chaucer as a memorable new amateur sleuth in the first of an ingeniously-conceived medieval mystery series. April, 1380. About to set off on his annual pilgrimage, Comptroller of the King''s Woollens and court poet Geoffrey Chaucer is forced to abandon his plans following an appeal for help from an old friend. The Duke of Clarence, Chaucer''s former guardian, has been found dead in his bed at his Suffolk castle, his bedroom door locked and bolted from the inside. The man who found him, Sir Richard Glanville, suspects foul play and has asked Chaucer to investigate.On arrival at Clare Castle, Chaucer finds his childhood home rife with bitter rivalries, ill-advised love affairs and dangerous secrets. As he questions the castle''s inhabitants, it becomes clear that more than one member of the Duke''s household had reason to wish him ill. But who among them is a cold-hearted killer? It''s up to Chaucer, with his sharp wits and eye for detail, to root out the evil within.

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Book SynopsisHotel Beresford: a grand old building, just outside the city, where any soul is welcome, and strange goings-on mask explosive, deadly secrets. A chilling, darkly funny sequel to Will Carver's bestselling The Beresford… ‘Superbly paced and remarkably inventive, a book that demands to be read in a single sitting’ M.W. Craven ‘Delightfully dark and wickedly inventive … with characters that stick around long after the final page is turned, whether you want them to or not’ S J Watson ‘Multi-layered and masterfully written, this darkly humorous tale will both shock and entertain’ Heat magazine Book of the Month ______________ There are worse places than hell… Hotel Beresford is a grand, old building, just outside the city. And any soul is welcome. Danielle Ortega works nights, singing at whatever dive bar will offer her a gig. She gets by, keeping to herself. Sam Walker gambles and drinks, and can't keep his hands to himself. Now he's tied up in a shoe closet with a dent in his head that matches Danielle's broken ashtray. The man in 731 has been dead for two days and his dog has not stopped barking. Two doors down, the couple who always smokes on the window ledge will mysteriously fall. Upstairs, in the penthouse, Mr Balliol sees it all. He can peer into every crevice of every floor of the hotel from his screen-filled suite. He witnesses humanity and inhumanity in all its forms: loneliness, passion and desperation in equal measure. All the ingredients he needs to make a deal. When Danielle returns home one night to find Sam gone, a series of sinister events begins to unfold. But strange things often occur at Hotel Beresford, and many are only a distraction to hide something much, much darker… For fans of Chuck Palahniuk, Bret Easton Ellis, Jennifer Egan and Jonathan Franzen __________________ ‘From the wondrous mind of Will Carver … a tour de force that covers life, death and everything beyond’ David Jackson Praise for Will Carver ‘One of the most exciting authors in Britain’ Daily Express 'A smart, stylish writer' Daily Mail ‘Incredibly dark and very funny’ Harriet Tyce ‘Unlike anything you’ll read this year’ Heat ‘Impossibly original, stylish, sinister and heartfelt’ Chris Whitaker ‘Weirdly page-turning’ Sunday Times ‘Ambitious, dark and funny’ Mike Gayle ‘A highly original state-of-the-nation novel’ Literary Review ‘Oozes malevolence from every page’ Victoria Selman ‘Arguably the most original crime novel published this year’ Independent ‘Mesmeric’ Guardian ‘Memorable for its unrepentant darkness…’ Telegraph ‘Perceptive and twisted in equal measure’ CultureFly ‘Pitch-dark, intelligent and utterly addictive' Michael Wood 'Unflinching, blunt and brutal' Sam Holland ‘Equally enthralling and appalling’ James Oswald ‘One of the most compelling and original voices in crime fiction’ Alex North

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times-bestselling Stephanie Plum mystery from megaselling Janet Evanovich

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Book Synopsis The Cook of the Halcyon is the penultimate novel in the Inspector Montalbano mystery series from the master of Sicilian crime, Andrea Camilleri.Moments later the all-white schooner, which looked like a hospital ship, began to pass ever so slowly before him, as if wanting to show itself off in all its beauty. The name on the prow said: Halcyon.Two deaths – the suicide of a recently fired worker and the murder of an unscrupulous businessman – lead Inspector Montalbano to the Halcyon, a mysterious ship that visits Vigàta’s port each day. With very few crewmen, no passengers, and a stern large enough to land a helicopter, it piques the Inspector’s interest straight away. In the midst of this, a rare trip to Genoa to visit Livia ends with the Vigàta police department in disarray, and Inspector Montalbano’s position as the head of the commissariat in jeopardy. It will be up to Montalbano to fix the damage done.Trade ReviewMontalbano’s colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction’s greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe’s greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisTibor Fischer was born in Stockport in 1959 of Hungarian parents. Brought up in South London, where he now lives, he was educated at Cambridge and worked as a journalist. He was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for his first novel, Under the Frog, which also won the Betty Trask Award, and he was nominated as one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists.Trade ReviewHilarious, fast-moving stuff * Independent *Not since Woody Allen has philosophy had such a hilarious application * Guardian *A fast-paced, off-beat thriller... It's a zany novel with depth and a fresh, almost controversial prose style that gives you the creeping impression that you have just hitched a lift with one hell of an imagination * List *Acerbic, dashingly inventive, very funny indeed -- Christopher Hitchens * Mail on Sunday *Fischer has a unique ability to hinge the most unlikely concepts together... charcoaling ideas to gem-hardened, irresistibly funny insights * Time Out *

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Book SynopsisMovie premieres, murder charges and celebrity shenanigans? It''s all in a day''s work for New Jersey prosecutor turned LA family lawyer Sandy Moss.Copperman knows how to entertain - Publishers Weekly Starred ReviewFormer New Jersey prosecutor Sandy Moss moved to a prestigious Los Angeles law firm to make a new start as a family lawyer. So it seems a little unfair that Seaton, Taylor have created a criminal law division specifically for her. Just because she''s successfully defended two murder trials, it doesn''t mean she likes them!But when abrasive Hollywood movie director Robert Reeves is accused of murdering a stuntman on set, Sandy finds she can''t say no when he demands her help. Robert might be an unpleasant, egotistical liar, but something tells Sandy that he''s innocent - even if no one else can see it.At least this time, she reassures herself, her charismatic, adorable, and oh-so annoying TV star boyfriend Patrick

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Book SynopsisThe Scent of the Night is the sixth comic detective novel in the Inspector Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri.Montalbano learned how hard it was to put on a wetsuit while in a dinghy speeding over a sea that wasn't exactly calm. Mimì, at the helm, looked tense and worried."Getting seasick?" the inspector asked him at one point."No. Just sick of myself.""Why?""Because every now and then I realize what a stupid shit I am to go along with some of your brilliant ideas."When an angry octogenarian holds a terrified and lovelorn secretary at gunpoint, Inspector Montalbano is reluctantly drawn into the case. The secretary's boss, a financial advisor, has vanished along with several billion lire entrusted to him by the good citizens of Vigàta. Also missing is the advisor's young colleague, whose uncle just happens to be building a house on the site of Inspector Montalbano's very favourite olive tree . . .Ably abetted by his loyal and eccentric team, Montalbano, the food-loving, commitment-phobic inspector, returns for another delicious investigation served up in vintage Camilleri style.The Scent of the Night is followed by the seventh book in the series, Rounding the Mark.Trade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisSet in Sicily, Game of Mirrors is the eighteenth exciting instalment in the humorous Inspector Montalbano mysteries by Andrea Camilleri.When Montalbano comes to the aid of his new neighbour, Liliana Lombardo, after the engine of her car is interfered with, the inspector can little imagine where this innocuous event will lead. It soon transpires that the young woman – beautiful, intelligent and rather vague about the whereabouts of her husband – is being targeted by someone with a grudge against her. But is Liliana's growing interest in Montalbano simply a product of the detective's innate charm? Or is she trying to lead him astray – and into trouble?Meanwhile the inspector finds himself drawn into another mystery when a bomb explodes outside an empty warehouse in the Sicilian city of Vigàta. But who was the bomb intended for? And why was it left in such a peculiar place? As Montalbano and his colleagues investigate the street's residents - some of whom have suspicious mafia links - they begin to receive a barrage of false clues from an anonymous source.As Liliana's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and leaks around the case threaten Montalbano's reputation; the sense of danger grows. The inspector soon realizes that, with this investigation, he is being led into a hall of mirrors, where there is danger at every turn and nothing is quite clear . . .Game of Mirrors is followed by the nineteenth Inspector Montalbano novel, Blade of Light.Trade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisWATERSTONES BEST CRIME BOOKS OF 2023 PICK'A terrific read - murder, arson and a cat who is so much more than he seems!' – J. M. Hall, author of A Spoonful of MurderThe Cat Who Solved Three Murders by L T Shearer is a charming cosy crime read for fans of Richard Osman and S. J. Bennett.Retired police detective Lulu Lewis’s life changed forever when she met a street cat named Conrad. There’s something very special about Conrad, but it’s a secret she has to keep to herself.When Lulu takes her narrowboat to Oxford, she is planning nothing more stressful than attending a friend’s birthday party. And drinking a few glasses of Chardonnay.But a brutal murder and a daring art theft means her plans are shattered – instead she and Conrad find themselves on the trail of a killer . . .A killer who may well strike again.'A charming, off-beat story with some great characters and wonderful locations' – S. J. Bennett on The Cat Who Caught a KillerTrade ReviewA terrific read - murder, arson and a cat who is so much more than he seems! -- J. M. Hall, author of A Spoonful of MurderA charming, off-beat story with some great characters and wonderful London locations. I’m sure it will make readers long for their own canal boat, and quite possibly – if they don’t already have one – their own talking cat. Conrad is a delight -- S. J. Bennett on The Cat Who Caught a KillerA captivating, charming and gentle tale, perfect for all those who love their crime cozy -- Peter James on The Cat Who Caught a KillerCharming and original. This book is the cat’s whiskers -- Anthony Horowitz on The Cat Who Caught a Killer

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Book SynopsisTina Rossi, the world’s leading coloratura soprano, has travelled to Edinburgh, ostensibly to sing in the Festival, in reality to meet her lover, top scientist Kenneth Holmes. But instead of finding Kenneth at their rendezvous, she discovers an unknown corpse. Enter Johnson Johnson, a famous but enigmatic portrait painter whose yacht Dolly is about to sail in a race to the Hebrides where Holmes was conducting his top-secret research. Soon Tina and Johnson are sailing the high seas to investigate Holmes' disappearance, but as Dolly nears Rum, the race has become one for life rather than prize money…Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE DOLLY MYSTERY SERIES ‘The Dolly novels are… delicious, funny, ingenious, glamorous, clever’ Listener'Dunnett tempts her fans with buried clues and red herrings that keep them reading and rereading the books’ New York Times'[Dunnett’s] women are among her strongest characters' Guardian

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Book SynopsisWhen Sarah Cassells, a young British woman who has just completed her training as a chef, hears of her father’s violent death on Ibiza, she refuses to believe it is suicide. She heads to Ibiza to investigate and soon gets caught up with an art dealer; two beautiful jet-setters; a remarkable American woman who is not what she seems – and with Johnson Johnson, the mysterious portrait painter who shows up on his yacht, Dolly. As Ibiza prepares to celebrate Holy Week with the traditional processions, events become more and more macabre…Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE DOLLY MYSTERY SERIES ‘The Dolly novels are… delicious, funny, ingenious, glamorous, clever’ Listener'Dunnett tempts her fans with buried clues and red herrings that keep them reading and rereading the books’ New York Times'[Dunnett’s] women are among her strongest characters' Guardian

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Book SynopsisMotherland meets Midsomer Murders in this fresh and funny mystery about a group of soon-to-be mums who turn detective when there's a murder at their antenatal class. 'Cosy crime at its finest!' JANICE HALLETT'A sharply witty debut' SIMON BRETT'The epitome of fun and witty cosy crime' iPAPER**DON'T MISS THE NEXT MOTHERS' MURDER CLUB MYSTERY: DEAD TIRED. AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW!**For Alice and her partner Joe, moving to the sleepy Cotswold village of Penton is a chance to embrace country life and prepare for the birth of their unexpected first child. He can take up woodwork; maybe she'll learn to make jam. But the rural idyll they'd hoped for doesn't quite pan out when a dead body is discovered at their local antenatal class and they find themselves suspects in a murder investigation.With a cloud of suspicion hanging over the heads of the whole group, Alice sets out to solve the mystery and clear her name, with the help of her troublesome dog, Helen. However, there are more secrets and tensions in the heart of Penton than first meet the eye. Between the discovery of a shady commune up in the woods, the unearthing of a mysterious death years earlier and the near-tragic poisoning of Helen, Alice is soon in way over her head. CAN YOU SOLVE THE MOTHER OF ALL MURDERS?FEATURED IN THE EVENING STANDARD'S BOOKS TO WATCH IN 2023 AND THE NEW YORK TIMES' 'NEW MYSTERIES FOR A NEW YEAR''A gloriously smart and witty telling of the darker side of NCT groups - this is really funny with edge' HELEN LEDERER'A complete triumph. Perfectly plotted, brilliantly observed and just so much fun' LAUREN BRAVO'A twisty, turny murder mystery guaranteed to satisfy any amateur detective's cravings, with belly laughs big enough to give you stretch marks' FIONA LEITCH, author of The Cornish Wedding Murder 'Kat Ailes nails small town cosy crime in her debut novel. From the first page, I was hooked. I laughed an awful lot; the writing is so clever and funny' CHRIS MCDONALD, author of the Stonebridge Mysteries'A humorous, remarkably touching debut. Pacy, funny, with just the right undertones of dark' EVA VERDE, author of Lives Like MineTrade ReviewA wildly impressive debut. Pacy, energetic and best of all hilariously funny - without detracting from the shadowy mystery and genuine humanity at its core. Its characters and twisty plot feel absolutely real - you'll be on the edge of your seat, totally immersed in trying to work out who did it, but rest assured you're never far from a smile. Cosy crime at its finest! * Janice Hallett *Kat Ailes is a welcome newcomer to the ranks of cosy crime novelists. The Expectant Detectives is a sharply witty debut. * Simon Brett *A gloriously smart and witty telling of the darker side of NCT groups - this is really funny with edge * Helen Lederer *The epitome of fun and witty cosy crime * iPaper *Murdering every mummy cliché with hilarity and heart, this book is a complete triumph. Perfectly plotted, brilliantly observed and just so much fun. * Lauren Bravo *A twisty, turny murder mystery guaranteed to satisfy any amateur detective's cravings, with belly laughs big enough to give you stretch marks * Fiona Leitch, author of The Cornish Wedding Murder *Kat Ailes nails small town cosy crime in her debut novel. From the first page, I was hooked. I laughed an awful lot; the writing is so clever and funny. I really loved this book. * Chris McDonald, author of the Stonebridge Mysteries *It had such a lovely tone of voice, funny and warm, like chatting to a best mate. I really missed Alice when it was over * Sarah Naughton, author of The Mothers *A humorous, remarkably touching debut. Pacy, funny, with just the right undertones of dark * Eva Verde, author of Lives Like Mine *The Expectant Detectives is wildly funny, clever, twisty, charming, and unexpectedly relatable. It is exactly the surprisingly heartwarming and uproariously hilarious mystery we all need in our lives. This book is one of a kind and I can't wait for the next instalment * Nora Murphy, author of The New Mother *I LOVED this book! Alice is hilarious, the mystery is compelling and fun, and this group of about-to-be-moms deserves a sequel, and some cake, obvi! Kat Ailes has written a winner of a book and you'll want to read it immediately! * Catherine McKenzie, USA Today bestselling author of Have You Seen Her *This darkly witty debut ... Archly funny and highly recommended! * Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author of Killers of a Certain Age *'Exuberant ... Ailes sets a cheerful tone but doesn't shy away from emotional heft' * New York Times *Full of charming characters, including Alice's goofy dog, this fast-paced, original cozy is great fun. * Publishers Weekly *Pointed banter between the heroine and pretty much everyone else keeps this debut sharp * Kirkus Reviews *Witty, bright, and with an unexpected twist ending, Ailes' debut mystery will appeal to fans of British comedies and cozy mysteries * Booklist *A book title this precious comes with the unspoken promise that what you're about to read is as cozy as an episode of Midsomer Murders and as charming as Call the Midwife. Ailes delivers on that promise with humor and the kind of mystery Miss Marple loved to solve . . . A fresh and fun take on the mystery genre perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding * Oprah Daily *In her first novel, Ailes has created a delightful mystery that both amuses and enthralls * Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisWhen Tia reluctantly agrees to look after Bindu, her peevish, grumpy granddaughter, during half term, the last thing that she expects is to spend the week unravelling the theft of a seventeenth century painting Head of a Girl, ‘Hedova’. Hoping to start a new and more exciting life, Robert sets himself up as an art thief. His first target? A picture from the Whitler Gallery, where Tia and her recently widowed colleague Douglas work. Follow Douglas and Tia, an unlikely detective duo, as they investigate the theft and race frantically across the city to prevent the painting from being destroyed. Can Robert prove that he’s got what it takes to embark on a life of crime? And can Tia and Douglas save Hedova? What’s Going on at The Whitler? is a gentle detective story with elements of humour and fantasy, all punctuated by commentary from a Greek chorus of talking portraits for a unique twist.

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Book SynopsisThe fifth in the hit Italian crime series by Andrea Camilleri, Excursion to Tindari is a darkly comic detective story featuring Inspector Montalbano.Maybe a phrase, a line, a hint somewhere would reveal a reason, any reason, for the elderly couple's disappearance . . . A young Don Juan is found murdered in front of his apartment building early one morning, and an elderly couple is reported missing after an excursion to the ancient site of Tindari – two seemingly unrelated cases for Inspector Montalbano to solve amid the daily complications of life at Vigàta police headquarters. But when Montalbano discovers that the couple and the murdered young man lived in the same building, his investigation stumbles onto Sicily's brutal 'New Mafia', which leads him down a path more evil and more far-reaching than any he has been down before.Excursion to Tindari is followed by the sixth novel in the Inspector Montalbano series, The Scent of the Night.Trade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *A joy to read. * The Times *This savagely funny police procedural proves that sardonic laughter is a sound that translates ever so smoothly into English. * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisSet on the coast of Sicily, The Safety Net is the twenty-fifth novel in the bestselling Inspector Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri.***Adapted for BBC4's Inspector Montalbano series***Vigàta is bustling as the new filming location for a Swedish television series set in 1950. In the production frenzy, the director asks the locals to track down movies and vintage photos to faithfully recreate the air of Vigàta at that time. Meanwhile, Montalbano is grappling with a double mystery, one that emerges from the past and another that leads him into the future . . .Engineer Ernesto Sabatello, rummaging in the attic of his house, finds some films shot by his father between 1958 and 1963, always on the same day, 27th March, and always the same shot: the outside wall of a country house. Montalbano hears the story and, intrigued, begins to investigate its meaning. Meanwhile, a middle school is threatened by a group of armed men, and a closer look at the case finds Montalbano looking into the students themselves and delving into the world of social media.Trade ReviewCamilleri’s twenty-sixth Inspector Montalbano mystery novel proves to be every bit as droll, as delicious, and as darkly tough as the first twenty-five . . . The beauty of the Inspector Montalbano novels [is] In addition to the baffling crimes he solves, there’s a sense of absurdity that has the reader chuckling by page one * Washington Post *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mirror *Montalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisAndrea Camilleri's sensational and darkly humorous Inspector Montalbano series continues in the fourteenth instalment, The Age of Doubt. A chance encounter with a strange young woman leads Inspector Montalbano to Vigàta harbour – and into a puzzling new mystery. The crew of a mysterious yacht – the Vanna – due to dock in the area has discovered a corpse floating in the water, the dead man's face badly disfigured. It isn't long before Montalbano becomes suspicious of the Vanna's inhabitants. Who is the yacht's owner, the glamorous and short-tempered Livia Giovannini? How has she accrued her riches? And why does she spend so much time at sea? Meanwhile Montalbano finds himself getting into tangles with the dreaded Commissioner, the exasperating Dr Lattes and a very beautiful young woman at the harbour, with whom he becomes dangerously besotted . . . Can the Inspector clear his head long enough to unravel this murky mystery?The Age of Doubt is followed by The Dance of the Seagull, the fifteenth book in the series.'Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb' - Sunday TimesTrade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *For sunny views, explosive characters and a snappy plot constructed with great farcical ingenuity, the writer you want is Andrea Camilleri * New York Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writes . . . utterly gripping * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisA Voice in the Night is the twentieth compelling crime novel in the phenomenally successful Inspector Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri. Feeling his age, as his birthday rolls round once again, Inspector Montalbano decides to cheer himself up by dealing with a young driver’s road rage in his own unique way. But his joy is short-lived, as at police headquarters he receives an angry phone call from a supermarket boss: there’s been a robbery at his store and Montalbano’s colleague is treating him as a suspect. On arrival at the scene, Montalbano quickly agrees with Inspector Augello that this was no ordinary break-in, but with the supermarket’s infamous links to the Sicilian Mafia creating problems at every turn, this isn’t going to be an easy case for the inspector to solve. And to add to the inspector’s burden, the young driver he made an enemy of earlier on has returned to police headquarters to report a shocking crime . . . A Voice in the Night is followed by the twenty-first gripping mystery, A Nest of Vipers.Trade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisRosie Strange doesn't believe in ghosts or witches or magic. No, not at all. It’s no surprise therefore when she inherits the ramshackle Essex Witch Museum, her first thought is to take the money and run. Still, the museum exerts a curious pull over Rosie. There’s the eccentric academic who bustles in to demand she help in a hunt for old bones, those of the notorious Ursula Cadence, a witch long since put to death. And there’s curator Sam Stone, a man about whom Rosie can’t decide if he’s tiresomely annoying or extremely captivating. It all adds up to looking like her plans to sell the museum might need to be delayed, just for a while. Finding herself and Sam embroiled in a most peculiar centuries-old mystery, Rosie is quickly expelled from her comfort zone, where to her horror, the secrets of the past come with their own real, and all too present, danger as a strange magic threatens to envelope them all.Trade Review'Dennis Wheatley meets Caitlin Moran.' * Starburst *‘Strange Magic is that rarest of things: a book which sets out unashamedly to entertain, and does so with wit, style, and erudition. I gleefully submitted to a tale of witchcraft, feminism, mysterious strangers, historical atrocities, plucky heroines and ghastly apparitions – and came away more proud than ever to be an Essex girl.’ * Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent *‘Confident, down-to-earth Essex girl Rosie is an appealing character, and there is plenty of spooky fun in this spirited genre mashup.’ * Guardian *‘A brilliant beginning to a highly original new series. I promise, this book will hold you spellbound!’ * Crimesquad *‘A witty, whip-smart read that captivates the reader and conjures a plot full of danger, fun and romance…the characters are brilliant – relatable, real, witty and warm. The plot is a puzzling mystery that sweeps the reader along, and Moore's voice as a writer is one that will make the reader want to go out and buy her other books.’ * Bookbag *

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Book SynopsisSuperb. . .a fast-moving and gripping plot Publishers Weekly Starred Review of The Merchant MurderersMarch, 1557. Jack Blackjack is back in London and enjoying a sedentary life - after his treacherous voyage back to his beloved city the previous year, he desires nothing more than the simple pleasures - women, wine, beer and more women.But his new parish of St Helen''s has different ideas for him. . . a week after first laying eyes on the tempting Miss Rachel Nailor, she turns up horribly dead on the church vestry floor. . . and someone is trying to frame him for her murder!A fellow Lady Elizabeth sympathiser, it appears Rachel Nailor was a woman with many secrets. But was she murdered in a fit of lustful rage, or was it part of a wider political play? Who would want Rachel dead - and Jack hanged for it? The suspects are plenty and Jack is running out of time. With his master breathing down his neck, and old foes crawling out of the woodwork to add to Jack''s wine-fuelled headache, Jack has never been in more danger!

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Book SynopsisMadame Katerina, Detective ''Nine Nails'' McGray''s most trusted clairvoyant, hosts a séance for three of Edinburgh''s wealthiest families.The following morning everyone is found dead, with Madame Katerina being the only survivor. When questioned she alleges a tormented spirit killed the families for revenge.McGray, even though he believes her, must find a rational explanation that holds up in court, else Katerina will be sentenced to death.Inspector Ian Frey is summoned to help, which turns out to be difficult as he is still dealing with the loss of his uncle, and has developed a form of post-traumatic stress (not yet identified in the 19th century).This seems an impossible puzzle. Either something truly supernatural has occurred - or a fiendishly clever plot is covering a killer''s tracks...Trade ReviewA new twist on the traditional locked-room puzzle...without a doubt de Muriel's best. It's a hugely entertaining Victorian mystery, a properly creepy and Gothic mix of horror, history and humour, and has everything you need to keep you turning pages...Gothically over the top and gloriously preposterous, but hugely enjoyable, entertaining and well-written * Crime Review *

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Book SynopsisLydia Wienewski has opened her Polish-American cafe and bakery on the shore of Lake Erie, but her idyllic new venture is shattered when the low tide leads to a terrible discovery.June, 1982. Lydia Wienewski''s dream has finally come true: Lydia''s Lakeside Cafe and Bakery, selling delicious Polish-American fare on the shore of Lake Erie, is now open and her fortunes are looking up. Even her old nemesis and tutor, the irascible Madame Delphine, has made time to sample Lydia''s delectable pierogi, with some of her students in tow. But when Lydia finds Madame Delphine dead in the water, her lakeside dream turns into a nightmare. Was it a bizarre suicide, or brutal murder? As Lydia and Grandma Mary investigate, they discover that there was more to Madame Delphine than meets the eye, and quickly find themselves drawn into an increasingly perilous situation! Can they uncover the truth about Madame Delphine''s untimely death

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The Accidental Medium is the first book in a hilarious series from Tracy Whitwell featuring Tanz, the accidental medium who, with the help of the dead, is about to become an unwilling crime-solver.Tanz is a wine-loving, straight-talking, once-successful TV actress from Gateshead, whose career has shrivelled like an antique walnut. She is still grieving for her friend Frank, who died in a car crash three years ago, and she has to find a normal job in London to fund her cocktail habit. When she starts work in a ‘new age’ shop, Tanz suddenly discovers that the voices she’s hearing in her head are real, not the first signs of madness, and that she can give people ‘messages’ from beyond the grave. Alarmed, she confronts her little mam and discovers she is from a long line of psychic mediums.Despite an exciting new avenue of life opening up to Tanz, darkness isn’t far away and all too soon there’s murder in the air . . .

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Book Synopsis'An immensely readable treat!' ALEXANDER McCALL SMITHThe first book in a light-hearted historical adventure series set during the mid-twentieth century............................................................................Ernest Drabble, a Cambridge historian and mountaineer, travels to rural Devon to inspect the decapitated head of Oliver Cromwell - a macabre artefact owned by Dr Wilkinson. Drabble only tells one person of his plans - Harris, an old school friend and press reporter. On the train to Devon, Drabble narrowly avoids being murdered, only to reach his destination and find Dr Wilkinson has been killed. Gripped in Wilkinson's hand is a telegram from Winston Churchill instructing him to bring the head of Oliver Cromwell to London.Drabble has unwittingly become embroiled in a pro-Nazi conspiracy headed by a high-status Conservative member of the British government.And so, Drabble teams up with Wilkinson's secretary, Kate Honeyand, to find the head and rescue Harris who is being tortured for information..............................................................................Praise for Rule Britannia:'A rollicking good read' IAN RANKIN 'Marsh chomps the period bit between his teeth and relates his yarn with winning gusto' NEW STATESMAN'Tremendous stuff! With the arrival of Alec Marsh's first Drabble and Harris thriller, John Buchan must be stirring uneasily in his grave'STANLEY JOHNSONTrade ReviewMarsh chomps the period bit between his teeth and relates his yarn with winning gusto * New Statesman *Tremendous stuff! With the arrival of Alec Marsh's first Drabble and Harris thriller, John Buchan must be stirring uneasily in his grave * Stanley Johnson *A rollicking good read * Ian Rankin *

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Book SynopsisMurder has a way of killing business...In the small village of Kilbane, County Cork in Ireland, Naomi’s Bistro has always been warm and welcoming. Nowadays, twenty-two-year-old Siobhán O’Sullivan runs the family bistro named for her mother, along with her five siblings, after the death of their parents in a car crash almost a year ago. It’s been a rough year for the O’Sullivans, but it’s about to get rougher.One morning, as they’re opening the bistro, they discover a man seated at a table with a pair of hot pink barber scissors protruding from his chest. With the local garda suspecting the O’Sullivans, and their business in danger of being shunned, it’s up to Siobhán to solve the crime and save her beloved brood.A charming Irish village mystery, perfect for fans of Betty Rowlands and Dee Macdonald.

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Book SynopsisSexo, mentiras e historia científica convergen en La Habana en el año 1993."Era como si hubiéramos alcanzado el punto crítico mínimo de una curva matemática. ¿Tiene presente una parábola? El cero de abajo, el hueco, el abismo. Hasta ahí llegamos."Corre el año 1993. Cuba está en lo más álgido del Período Especial, un profunda crisis económica tras el colapso del bloque soviético.Para Julia, una profesora de matemática que detesta enseñar, La Habana está en su año cero: el punto más bajo, camino a ninguna parte. Desesperada por tomar las riendas de su vida, Julia se une a Euclides, su colega y ex amante, para emprender la búsqueda del documento que compruebe que el teléfono fue inventado por Antonio Meucci, en La Habana. Creen que esta es la respuesta para proteger su reputación y darle a Cuba un nuevo propósito.A partir de este punto cero, Julia da inicio a una investigación que la acercará a dos hombres que prometen guiarla hasta el documento, y que la verá involucrada en un enredado misterio de pasión, legados familiares y las complejidades de cómo la gente encuentra maneras de sobrevivir en un país que vive la más terrible de sus crisis. "It was as if we’d reached the minimum critical point of a mathematical curve. Imagine a parabola. Zero point down, at the bottom of an abyss. That’s how low we sank."The year is 1993. Cuba is at the height of the Special Period, a widespread economic crisis following the collapse of the Soviet bloc.For Julia, a mathematics lecturer who hates teaching, Havana is at Year Zero: the lowest possible point, going nowhere. Desperate to seize control of her life, Julia teams up with her colleague and former lover, Euclid, to seek out a document that proves the telephone was invented by Antonio Meucci in Havana, convinced it is the answer to secure their reputations and give Cuba a purpose once more.From this point zero, Julia sets out on an investigation to befriend two men who could help lead to the document’s whereabouts, and must pick apart a tangled mystery of sex, family legacies and the intricacies of how people find ways to survive in a country at its lowest ebb.Sex, lies, and scientific history collide in 1993 Havana.It was as if we’d reached the minimum critical point of a mathematical curve. Imagine a parabola. Zero point down, at the bottom of an abyss. That’s how low we sank.The year is 1993. Cuba is at the height of the Special Period, a widespread economic crisis following the collapse of the Soviet bloc.For Julia, a mathematics lecturer who hates teaching, this is Year Zero: the lowest possible point. But a way out appears: the search for a missing document that will prove the telephone was invented in Havana, secure her reputation, and give Cuba a purpose once more. What begins as an investigation into scientific history becomes a tangle of sex, friendship, family legacies, and the intricacies of how people find ways to survive in a country at its lowest ebb.Trade ReviewEnglish PEN (Award)Carbet de la Caraïbe et du Tout-monde (Winner)Insular Book Award (Winner)"Una lectura tremendamente disfrutable." —Irish Times"Un recorrido sereno, atractivo y ágilmente trazado a través de una ciudad y una cultura resilientes. (4 estrellas)” " —The Arts Desk"A medio camino entre la novela histórica, la comedia de enredos y la novela de misterio, Karla Suárez consigue retratar con extraordinaria voluptuosidad y sugerencia uno de los tiempos más duros de la isla caribeña ." —El Mundo"'El nombre de la rosa' estilo cubano (...) Una obra maestra." —Marie Claire"Una novela impactante." —Le Figaro Littéraire"Un misterio brillante e intenso." —BookBlast"Habana año cero es como una muñeca mamushka rusa; sus diversas capas encajan entre sí de una manera firme y gratificante." —Lunate"Una demostración magistral e innovadora de la narración en primera persona." —Reading in Translation"Una historia de detectives deliciosamente atípica." —Shiny New Books"La prosa afilada y atractiva de Suárez se abre paso desde una voz narrativa clara y auténtica." —Necessary Fiction"Extravagante, conmovedora y muy relevante para el contexto contemporáneo." —Lucy Writers"La prosa de Suárez –y la traducción de Christina MacSweeney– es coloquial, está hermosamente escrita y consigue evocar a La Habana maravillosamente como una ciudad en crisis pero no en situación de perdición total." —The Sock Drawer"Suárez aplica a Cuba la teoría del caos." —Le Temps"Una novela brillante, alegre y hermosa." —Leer"Con un lenguaje incisivo y sobrio, Suárez retrata un país devastado por la crisis económica, donde los cubanos deben luchar y soñar día a día para transformar su vida en algo soportable." —Le Matin d'Algérie"La trama original, narrada como una adivinanza matemática, y el retrato apocalíptico de La Habana de 1993 son dos de los grandes atractivos de esta novela." —La Libre Belgique"Su escritura cuenta con ingredientes característicos de la buena literatura: una buena historia, con ritmo y fluidez, pero también con sensibilidad, elegancia, inteligencia y sentido del humor." —Duas margens

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Book SynopsisThe Track of Sand is Andrea Camilleri's twelfth outing in the wryly humorous Inspector Montalbano series. Inspector Montalbano rises one morning to find the carcass of a horse on the beach in front of his seaside home. But no sooner do his men arrive, than the body has mysteriously vanished, leaving only a track in the sand. Before long Rachele, a beguiling equestrian champion, turns up at police headquarters to report her horse missing. The horse had been stabled at the grounds of a certain Saverio Lo Duca, one of the richest men in Sicily. Lo Duca has lost one of his own horses too. Montalbano, his curiosity piqued, investigates, but before long things take a more disturbing turn . . . But who has Montalbano upset within this strange, unfamiliar world of horse-racing? And what has the Mafia to do with it all?The Track of Sand is followed by the thirteenth novel in the series, The Potter's Field.Trade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Death and Croissants and Death and Fromage comes a murder mystery perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Julia Chapman, or MC Beaton Richard Ainsworth's French B&B has been taken over by a production company shooting a historical film at the Château de Valençay. But everything grinds to a halt with the sudden passing of an actor under suspicious circumstances. To get to the bottom of things, Valérie d'Orçay and Richard offer catering services to the hastily resumed production. There they discover that the vanity, duplicity and murder of an 18th century French court is nothing compared to that of a 21st century film set, with more heads yet to roll.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE FOLLET VALLEY MYSTERY SERIES ‘A very funny page-turner. Fantastique!’ Adam Kay‘An engaging caper… It is finely paced, truly funny and written with a wry detachment that conjures up a gentler age of murder mystery’ The Times'Bloody and funny. In fact, bloody funny!' Alan Carr'A writer of immense wit and charm' Paul Sinha‘Like going on a joyous romp through the Loire valley with Agatha Christie, P. G. Woodhouse and M. C. Beaton. A delight’ C. K. McDonnell

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Book SynopsisHow far will Stephanie Plum go to protect the one person who means the most to her? The stakes have never been higher than they are in this latest adventure from No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich. THIS ISN''T JUST ANOTHER CASE. THIS IS FAMILY.Grandma Mazur, Stephanie Plum''s favourite family member and occasional partner in crime, has decided to get married again - this time to local gangster Jimmy Rosolli. If Stephanie has her doubts about this marriage, she doesn''t have to worry for long, because the groom drops dead of a heart attack 45 minutes after saying I do. A sad day for Grandma Mazur turns into something far more dangerous when Jimmy''s former business partners are convinced that his new widow is keeping the keys to a financial windfall all to herself. But the one thing these wise guys didn''t count on was the widow''s bounty hunter granddaughter, who''ll do anything to sTrade ReviewJanet Evanovich's total lifetime sales at Headline amass to 3 million copies, including over 400,000 eBooks. - HeatPithy, witty and fast-paced - The Sunday TimesAs smart and sassy as high-gloss wet paint - Time OutRomantic and gripping... An absolute tonic - Good Housekeeping

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Book SynopsisInspector Montalbano: The First Three Novels in the Series contains The Shape of Water, The Terracotta Dog and The Snack Thief, from Andrea Camilleri's bestselling Inspector Montalbano series. This three-book compilation features: The Shape of Water: On a waste ground in Vigàta, the Sicilian town's dark underbelly flourishes: drug dealers and prostitutes plying their trade. But when the body of Silvio Luparello, one of the local movers and shakers, is discovered there, Inspector Montalbano must investigate; and despite pressure from his commissioner, a local judge and bishop - he is determined to unearth the truth . . . The Terracotta Dog: When two lovers, dead for over fifty years, are discovered in a mountain cave watched over by a life-size terracotta dog, Inspector Montalbano's investigation will take him on a journey through Sicily's past and into a family's daTrade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *The novels of Andrea Camilleri breathe out the sense of place, the sense of humour, and the sense of despair that fill the air of Sicily. To read him is to be taken to that glorious, tortured island * Donna Leon *For total relaxation, I've just discovered Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano mysteries * Andrew Marr *A magnificent series of novels * Sunday Times *Wonderful Italian detective stories * Guardian *For sunny views, explosive characters and a snappy plot constructed with great farcical ingenuity, the writer you want is Andrea Camilleri * New York Times *Sly and witty . . . Montalbano must pick his way though a labyrinth of corruption, false clues, vendettas - and delicious meals. The result is funny and intriguing with a fluent translation by New York poet Stephen Sartarelli * Observer *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Mirror *The seal of the best foreign crime writing is as much the stylish prose as the unfamiliar settings. When both ingredients are presented with the expertise shown by Andrea Camilleri, the result is immensely satisfying * Independent *

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Book SynopsisBlade of Light is the nineteenth gripping addition to the phenomenally successful Inspector Montalbano Sicilian mysteries by Andrea Camilleri.When a gentleman arrives at Montalbano's police station to report an armed robbery on his wife that ended with a kiss, the inspector's suspicions are aroused.As he delves deeper into the case, Montalbano finds that none of the witnesses' stories are adding up, and he can't help but feel that they're not meant to. When a body turns up showing all the signs of a mafia hit, the inspector knows he must excavate the truth from what he is being led to believe.Meanwhile there's a case that keeps winding its way back to Montalbano's office. A locked door has suddenly appeared on a farmer's disused shed, and then, just as quickly, the door disappears. The anti-terrorist police soon intervene, but why are they so keen to keep this away from the inspector? And why does he sense that this case is connected to him somehow?With deceit at every turn and a distraction of the heart taking over his head, Inspector Montalbano must focus if he is ever going to solve this mystery.Blade of Light is followed by the twentieth book in the Sicilian mystery series, A Voice in the Night.Trade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisThe La Fleur restaurant has a slew of unusual phenomena. Bonnet-clad apparitions pass through walls, blood leaks from ceilings and rats besiege the dining room. Experts from the Great Essex Witch Museum are called in to quell these strange sights. But before Rosie Strange and Sam Stone can do their thing events turn darker. For La Fleur’s chef has been strung up and slaughtered like a pig. More oddly, the only witness, the owner’s daughter Mary, swears blind a ghost did it. Rosie and Sam must find out what’s happening before Mary takes the fall. But intuitions and tip-offs lead them stumbling into the dark waters of the past, exposing secrets of a wider conspiracy, as well as secrets all Rosie’s own. With strange chills Rosie and Sam learn that seeing isn’t always believing, while thoughts of truth may be just as illusory.Trade Review'A fun and thrilling read, one hugely impressive element is that Moore uses her light tone and intricate character relationships to address some serious points - ranging from people trafficking through to the derogatory stereotype of the Essex Girl. Lead character Rosie Strange is a woman to be admired with her ballsy, no-nonsense attitude, excellent boots and compelling family history. I can't wait to see more of Rosie, Sam and the Essex Witch museum in the future.' * Cathi Unsworth, author of Weirdo and Without the Moon *'She is the best thing to happen to paranormal fiction in a long, long time.' * Starburst Magazine *‘Once again, Moore pulls off the trick of combining incisive wit and spellbinding atmosphere with multiple layers of history and contemporary issues into one potent draft.’ * Crimesquad *'Like Strange Magic, the perilous pursuits and gruesome developments are accompanied by lots of humor. And, for those of you who, like me, find living human beings far scarier than dead ones, rest assured that the book offers an abundance of plain old human evil of the sort that occurs in this life.' * Pop Culture Association Mystery & Detective Reading List *'Sexual Chemistry and supernatural happenings come together to form a read that's part 50% Jonathan Creek, 50% Moonlighting, and 100% bloody brilliant (in more ways than one...)' * The Bookbag *‘Moore does an excellent job here of highlighting a real historical scandal with echoes in the present day.’ * BLUEBOOKBALLOON *‘I became totally immersed in Rosie’s world – I loved her relationship with Sam, as well as the descriptions of London. Rosie is such a strong character; her fantastic wit is weaved throughout the narrative. The plot kept me guessing right until the end. I can’t wait for the next book in the series! Highly recommended.’ * Elisabeth Carpenter, author of 99 Red Balloons *‘Forget Essex, Rosie Strange should be declared a national treasure. She is the best thing to happen to paranormal fiction in a long, long time.’ 10/10 * Starburst Magazine *

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Book SynopsisMontalbano's First Case and Other Stories is a brilliant collection of short stories, personally chosen by Andrea Camilleri.It follows Inspector Montalbano from his very first case in Vigàta, in which he stumbles upon a young girl lurking outside a courthouse with a pistol in her handbag. When she is taken in for questioning and won't utter a single word, Montalbano must find another way to learn who she is trying to kill, and why . . .Other cases include a missing woman who has run away from the love of her life; an old married couple who appear to be rehearsing their suicides; and a crime so dark there's only one person the inspector can call for help.With twists and turns aplenty, these short stories have all the wit, mystery and culinary gusto that Camilleri's fans have come to love him for.Trade ReviewAmong the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writes . . . utterly gripping * Daily Mirror *Wonderful Italian detective stories * Guardian *For sunny views, explosive characters and a snappy plot constructed with great farcical ingenuity, the writer you want is Andrea Camilleri * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisThe Voice of the Violin by Andrea Camilleri is the fourth novel in the wryly humorous Inspector Montalbano series.The commissioner kept looking at him with an expression that combined contempt and commiseration, apparently discerning unmistakable signs of senile dementia in the inspector. "I'm going to speak very frankly, Montalbano. I don't have a very high opinion of you." "Nor I of you," the inspector replied bluntly. Montalbano's gruesome discovery of a naked young woman suffocated in her bed immediately sets him on a search for her killer. Among the suspects are her aging husband, a famous doctor; a shy admirer, now disappeared; an antiques-dealing lover from Bologna; and the victim's friend Anna, whose charms Montalbano cannot help but appreciate. But it is a mysterious, reclusive violinist who holds the key to this murder . . .The Voice of the Violin is followed by the fifth novel in this compelling mystery series, Excursion to Tindari.Trade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisSuperb. . .a fast-moving and gripping plot- Publishers Weekly Starred ReviewAugust, 1556. Jack Blackjack is on a simple mission: make it back home to his beloved London. It should be simple, right? Wrong. He''s made it as far as Exeter, but before he can secure a fresh steed in that hellish city, he''s faced with a dead priest, ruthless thieves, and a devious Dean who''s determined to see the back of Jack. That suits Jack just fine - he wants to leave!So when wealthy merchant Wolfe, offers passage to London via sea, Jack jumps at the chance . . . and unwittingly into further danger! With thieves, pirates and potential murderers at every turn who can Jack trust? Will he uncover the truth behind the dead priest and missing merchant ships? But more importantly, will he ever make it home to London with his purse strings and limbs intact? Set during the brief but exceedingly troubled reign of Queen Mary I, elder half-si

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

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Book SynopsisTracy Whitwell's second novel Gin Palace picks up with the unwilling crime-solver, Tanz, from the hilarious The Accidental Medium, as she grows accustomed to her rather unusual gift . . .Tanz can talk to ghosts, although she’d prefer it if she couldn’t. Struggling to make ends meet as an actress and wholly unsuited to supply teaching, Tanz is only one bad day away from a meltdown. And the babbling ghosts aren’t helping.So when Tanz is offered a paid acting gig in her hometown, things start to look up. But Newcastle’s dead won’t stay quiet for long, and soon Tanz becomes haunted with visions of a mysterious Gin Palace guarded by a sinister figure. As Tanz starts to piece together a terrible tragedy, it becomes clear there’s no limit to what the poltergeist will do to keep his secrets his own.Unfortunately, he’s never met anyone quite like Tanz before . . .Trade ReviewCompelling, wasp-tongued and very funny -- Caroline Smailes, author of The Drowning of Arthur Braxton on The Accidental Medium Spooky and hilarious and brimming with oddball characters, I love this book! -- Mandasue Heller, author of Running Scared on The Accidental Medium I loved The Accidental Medium. A hilarious journey into a ghostly world of psychics and the like that’s guaranteed to put you in high spirits. I’m no clairvoyant but, trust me, this medium is about to go large! -- Trevor Wood, author of Dead End Street on The Accidental Medium

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Book Synopsis When a middle-aged couple downsizes to the countryside for an easier life, their two daughters become isolated, argumentative and violent … A chilling, vicious and darkly funny psychological thriller from bestselling author Helen FitzGerald. ‘Sharp, shocking and savagely funny. Helen Fitzgerald is a wonderfully original storyteller’ Chris Whitaker ‘A new novel from Helen Fitzgerald is always a major event … magnificent’ Mark Billingham ‘I devoured Keep Her Sweet … shite parenting and a dysfunctional sister relationship goes to fatal extremes’ Erin Kelly–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Desperate to enjoy their empty nest, Penny and Andeep downsize to the countryside, to forage, upcycle and fall in love again, only to be joined by their two twenty-something daughters, Asha and Camille.Living on top of each other in a tiny house, with no way to make money, tensions simmer, and as Penny and Andeep focus increasingly on themselves, the girls become isolated, argumentative and violent.When Asha injures Camille, a family therapist is called in, but she shrugs off the escalating violence between the sisters as a classic case of sibling rivalry … and the stress of the family move. But this is not sibling rivalry. The sisters are in far too deep for that.This is a murder, just waiting to happen…Chilling, vicious and darkly funny, Keep Her Sweet is not just a tense, sinister psychological thriller, but a startling look at sister relationships and they bonds they share … or shatter. –––––––––––––––––––––––––‘A wonderful book about a toxic family … funny, shocking and full of heart. FitzGerald at her coruscating best' Doug Johnstone ‘Definitely one for those who love deadly dysfunctional families, whip-smart writing, and their stories dark, dark, deliciously dark’ Amanda Jennings ‘A novel rippling with power and intensity. A true page-turner’ Michael Wood ‘Wickedly funny, breath-stealingly tense and utterly chilling … a book you’ll want to talk about’ Miranda Dickinson ‘Helen Fitzgerald has an uncanny ability to balance savagery and hilarity … an absolute banger of a book’ Matt Wesolowski 'A crazy but addictive, dark and funny, read’ Louise Beech ‘Dark humour sings from the pages’ Russel McLean ‘A fascinating and original tale of a family in rapid decline’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews‘You will canter through this psychological thriller’ Café Thinking Praise for Helen FitzGerald*Worst Case Scenario was Guardian, Telegraph, Herald Scotland AND The Week BOOK OF THE YEAR**Sunday Times TOP 40 Crime Novels in the Last 5 Years**Longlisted for Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award 2020* ‘The main character is one of the most extraordinary you’ll meet between the pages of a book’ Ian Rankin‘Sublime’ Guardian ‘This darkly, funny, shocking and surprisingly emotional thriller is unlike anything you’ve ever read before’ Fabulous ‘A dark, comic masterpiece which manages to be both excruciatingly tense and laugh out loud funny at the same time’ Mark Edwards ‘Urgent, angry, absolutely terrifying, yet suffused with the humanity and humour you expect from a Helen Fitzgerald novel’ Erin Kelly‘Tantalisingly powerful’ The Times‘Ash Mountain is the author at her masterly best … I loved it!’ Louise Candlish‘The classic thriller gets a hell of a twist’ Heat‘FitzGerald writes like a more focused Irvine Welsh or a less misogynist Philip Roth’ Daily Telegraph‘Domestic life is rarely served up quite so dark as this – but that only makes you hungry for more’ The Sun

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

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