Comical (humorous) crime and mystery

Book SynopsisRichard is a middle-aged Englishman who runs a B&B in the fictional Val de Follet in the Loire Valley. Nothing ever happens to Richard, and really that’s the way he likes it. One day, however, one of his older guests disappears, leaving behind a bloody handprint on the wallpaper. Another guest, the exotic Valérie, persuades a reluctant Richard to join her in investigating the disappearance. Richard remains a dazed passenger in the case until things become really serious and someone murders Ava Gardner, one of his beloved hens... and you don’t mess with a fellow’s hens! Unputdownable mystery set in rural France, by TV/radio regular and bestselling author Ian Moore – perfect for fans of Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder ClubTrade Review'A very funny page-turner. Fantastique!' Adam Kay'A joyous read!' Alan Carr'A writer of immense wit and charm' Paul Sinha'Ian is one of my favourite writers; this is hilarious and a great mystery too' Janey Godley'Good food and a laugh-out-loud mystery. What more could anyone want in these dark times' Mark Billingham'Like going on a joyous romp through the Loire valley with Agatha Christie, PG Woodhouse and Mc Beaton. A delight.' C. K. McDonnell'Ian Moore is a brilliant, funny writer who perfectly captures the foibles of rural France but judging by this book I will never be visiting his bed and breakfast’ Josh Widdicombe'Beautifully done. Very funny indeed. I can’t imagine how one plots something like that. Tremendous work' Miles Jupp'I'm so punchdrunk from the sheer entertainment of it I've got a sore jaw. Encore!' Matt Forde'This is like two great books in one, a tricksy whodunnit, and a really, really funny story' Jason Manford'Such a brilliant read, smart, funny and his sharp writing captures the nuances of “Anglo-French” relations beautifully' Zoe Lyons'This book is a fun and funny read and I’m very much looking forward to the next one' Ian Stone'Funny, pacey and very entertaining' Robin Ince

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Book SynopsisA Nest of Vipers is the twenty-first novel in Andrea Camilleri’s irresistible Inspector Montalbano series.On what should be a quiet Sunday morning, Inspector Montalbano is called to a murder scene on the Sicilian coast. A man has discovered his father dead in his Vigàtan beach house, his body slumped on the dining room floor, his morning coffee spilled across the table, and a single gunshot wound at the base of his skull.First appearances point to the son having the most to gain from his father’s untimely death, a notion his sister can’t help but reinforce. But when Montalbano delves deeper into the case, and learns of the dishonourable life the victim led, it soon becomes clear half of Vigàta has a motive for his murder and this won’t be as simple as the inspector had once hoped . . .A Nest of Vipers is followed by the twenty-second gripping mystery, The Pyramid of Mud.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 SynopsisA mystery lands – literally – at Tom Winscombe’s feet, and another riotous mathematical adventure begins… Tom Winscombe and Dorothy Chan haven’t managed to go on a date for some time, so it’s a shame that their outing to a Promenade Concert is cut short when a mysterious cowled figure plummets from the gallery to the floor of the arena close to where they are standing. But when they find out who he was, all thoughts of romance fly out of the window. Just who are the Fractal Monks, and what does Isaac, last of the Vavasors and custodian of the papers of famed dead mathematical geniuses Archie and Pye, want with them? How will other figures from the past also demand a slice of the action? And what other mysteries are there lurking at the bottom of the sea and at the top of mountains? The answers lie in The Riddle of Fractal Monks.Trade ReviewPraise for Jonathan Pinnock: ‘Lovely stuff’ Ian Rankin'A series of humorous, riotous mathematical mysteries' David Nicholls ‘He makes funny and self-deprecating company’ The Herald‘Jonathan Pinnock writes compelling tales with a deliciously wicked glint in his eye’ Ian Skillicorn, National Short Story Week‘Jonathan Pinnock is Roald Dahl’s natural successor’ Vanessa Gebbie‘Funny, clever, and sometimes brilliantly daft. A comedy that I am sure would have made Pythagoras, Archimedes and Douglas Adams all laugh out loud’ Scott Pack on The Truth About Archie and Pye

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Book Synopsis''A fast-paced tale of sex, lies and murder'' StylistWhat if you could take the life you''d always wanted?Alvie has always been in the shadow of her glamorous sister Beth.So when she''s invited to her identical twin''s luxurious Sicilian villa, Alvie accepts.Who wouldn''t want seven days in the sun?With Beth''s hot husband, the cute baby, the fast car and of course, the money.The thing is it''s all too good to let go . . . and her sister Beth isn''t the golden girl she appears.It''s Alvie''s chance to steal the life that she deserves.If she can get away with it.''The must-have beach read'' Telegraph''Sizzlingly glamorous'' Guardian________________Can''t get enough of Alvie? Why not read her next book, Bad?Trade ReviewSizzlingly glamorous * Guardian *This summer's raciest read . . . The must-have beach read for millennials this summer * Telegraph *A summer read to make you hotter than the weather outside . . . you'd be mad not to find room for this in your case * Sun *A fast-paced tale of sex, lies and murder . . . Sex and the City dialled up several notches * Stylist *The white-hot debut * Glamour *Gone Girl plus . . . Esposito has added a dollop of Bridget Jones to the mix * Telegraph *So begins this caper that has Alvina up to her neck in designer labels, hot sex and trouble . . . outrageous - it kept me reading * Daily Mail *I just read Mad in one go. I bloody LOVED it. Like Gone Girl, if Amy Schumer had written it. SUCH fun -- Bryony Gordon * bestselling author of Mad Girl *One of the most compelling and hilarious characters we've come across in a long time. Warning: this brilliant and dark book is not for the faint-hearted * New Magazine *Like The Devil Wears Prada - fast-paced, but funnier and more readable * Independent, 10 Best Debut Novels by Women Authors *She's an evil hot mess is what she is, and I kinda like it! -- Sarah Knight * bestselling author of The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k *Allergic to chick lit? Meet Alvie Knightly . . . Insane as its title promises * Mail on Sunday *Raunchy, fun * Guardian *Trust us when we say that you won't ever have encountered a character quite like Alvie Knightly - the often-drunk, sex-mad, always-sassy heroine . . . A brilliantly bonkers read * Heat *If you loved [Paula Hawkins'] Into the Water, try Mad * Red *Pure, unadulterated entertainment. There is nothing Chloé Esposito's Alvie won't do. Strap in for a fun, fast and fresh read -- Ali Land * author of Sunday Times bestseller Good Me Bad Me *Chloe Esposito introduces a compelling and uncensored antiheroine * US Weekly *Using Sicily as a backdrop with its gorgeous architecture, villas and sexy men, Esposito pens an unforgettable summer debut headed by a no-holds-barred protagonist * Library Journal *Mad is deliciously over-the-top, with a protagonist you'll never forget and an ending that promises more chaos to come * Bookpage *Chloe [has] a fantastic natural vibrancy and humour in her work -- Richard Skinner, Director of Fiction at the Faber AcademyWhat readers are saying about Mad * - *100% MAD about this book * NetGalley Reviewer *A page-turner, compelling and delightfully crazy. I can't wait for books two and three * NetGalley Reviewer *Chloé Esposito has broken the mould. The unconventional heroine and plot breaks so many conventions leading to an enjoyable, fast-paced read, which manages to be well-written and funny. It is perfect for the beach or a long journey * NetGalley Reviewer *Absolutely loved this book, a real page turner and I didn't want to come to the end * NetGalley Reviewer *Whoa! Yeah I started my review like that . . . but that's what this book is whoooaaa! it truly is M.A.D. . . . Mental Addictive * NetGalley Reviewer *Insane for all the right reasons - once you meet Alvie Knightly you won't want to turn your back on her, no way! * NetGalley Reviewer *This novel cracks along with frenetic, addictive style, beautifully descriptive in hot and heavy fashion . . . highly recommended * NetGalley Reviewer *Mad is certainly mad! I was hooked on our hero, Alvie * NetGalley Reviewer *

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Book SynopsisBath''s top detective, Peter Diamond, doesn''t believe in jinxes. So when he''s asked to investigate a top TV show plagued by a series of misfortunes, Diamond is unmoved. He''s no fan of the show - which glorifies criminals and mocks the police - and the incidents were spread across six years. It''s clear this is the press making a sensation out of nothing. So Diamond puts the junior member of his squad on the case.But when young officer Paul Gilbert goes on location with the TV unit and witnesses another near-death incident, Diamond is forced to take an interest. To make matters worse, the press get wind of his involvement and Diamond his under pressure from all quarters. But his troubles have scarcely started. Devastating traps and surprises make this the most baffling case of his entire career.Trade ReviewMore than 30 years into this series, Lovesey shows no signs of losing steam or ingenuity * Publisher's Weekly *Another triumph for a veteran sleuth who's pretty unstoppable himself * Kirkus *Pure pleasure, as always: traditional clues and red herrings, humour, and a central character who becomes more real with every book. * Morning Star *An intriguing tale with a surprising ending. Highly recommended. * MYSTERY PEOPLE *

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Book SynopsisA spellbinding mix of history, horror and humour - the brand new Frey & McGray mystery...Trade ReviewA hugely entertaining Victorian mystery * New York Times *Properly creepy and Gothic -- Ian RankinA fun to read fast page-turner * Independent *A brilliant mix of horror, history, and humour. Genuinely riveting with plenty of twists, this will keep you turning the pages. It's clever, occasionally frightening and superbly written ... Everything you need in a mystery thriller * Crime Review *It's official: I am addicted to Frey and McGray -- Christopher Fowler

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Book SynopsisA well-dressed corpse found shot in the sand and gravel wharf sparks trouble for Detective Chief Superintendent Colin Harpur and his unpredictable boss, Assistant Chief Constable Iles.A must-read for devotees of British procedurals - Booklist Starred ReviewThe man is found dead in the local dockyard, shot from behind. Colin Harpur, examining the impeccably dressed corpse on his hands and knees, predicts the execution spells imminent trouble - and not just the unexpected arrival of his spiteful, brilliant boss, ACC Iles, at the two a.m. slaughter scene.Iles''s progressive attitude towards the local drugs trade has kept gang warfare off the streets, but now it seems jealous outsiders may be coveting the safe, ordered community he has so brilliantly created. Coveting, too, the local property - for instance, drug lord Ralph Ember''s luxurious mansion, Low Pastures, home to his unparalleled collection of china and porcelain.Harp

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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, 27 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.The Safety Net is followed by the twenty-sixth gripping mystery, The Sicilian Method.Trade ReviewAmong 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 SynopsisIn The Sicilian Method, Andrea Camilleri's twenty-sixth novel in the Inspector Montalbano mystery series, Montalbano finds his answers to a murder in a theatrical play.Mimi Augello is visiting his lover when the woman's husband unexpectedly returns to the apartment. Hurriedly, he climbs out the window and into the downstairs apartment, but from one danger to another. In the dark he sees a body lying on the bed. Shortly afterwards another body is found and the victim is Carmelo Catalanotti, a director of bourgeois dramas with a harsh reputation for the acting method he developed for his actors: digging into their complexes to unleash their talent, a traumatic experience for all. Are the two deaths connected? Catalanotti scrupulously kept notes and comments on all the actors he worked with as well as strange notebooks full of figures, dates and names . . .Inspector Montalbano finds all of Catalanotti's dossiers and plays, the notes on the characters and the notes on his final drama, Dangerous Turn. It is in the theatre where he feels the solution lies.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 *One of the best of the long running series, vibrant, sharp and very funny * Crime Time *

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Book SynopsisThe Pyramid of Mud is the twenty-second Montalbano mystery from Italy’s finest crime writer, Andrea Camilleri.It’s been raining for days in Vigàta, and the persistent downpours have led to violent floods overwhelming the Inspector’s beloved hometown, sweeping across the land and leaving only a sea of mud behind. It is on one of these endless grey days that a man – a Mr Giuglù Nicotra – is found dead, his body discovered in a large sewage tunnel, half naked and with a bullet in his back. The investigation is slow and slippery to start with, but when Montalbano realizes that every clue he uncovers and every person he interviews is leading to the same place – the world of public spending and, with it, the Mafia – the case begins to pick up pace.But there’s one question that keeps playing on Montalbano’s mind: in his strange and untimely death, was Giuglù Nicotra trying to tell him something?The Pyramid of Mud is followed by the twenty-third gripping Montalbano mystery, The Overnight Kidnapper.Trade ReviewAmong 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 *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 SynopsisThe Cook of the Halcyon is the twenty-seventh Inspector Montalbano mystery 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 straightaway. 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 SynopsisThe twenty-eighth and final novel in the thrilling, wickedly funny Inspector Montalbano Mysteries series by bestselling author Andrea Camilleri.‘Contrary to what you think, I’m carrying out this investigation as best I can. But let’s do this: if I get stuck, if I find I can’t go forward or back, then I’ll let you know, and you can step in. And offer me a way out. You’ve gained a bit of detective work through me, haven’t you? What do you say?’‘I’m game,’ said the Author . . .When Inspector Montalbano receives an early-morning phone call it proves to be the start of a very trying day. For the caller expects Montalbano to arrive imminently at a rendezvous with some friends. But before he can reply the caller announces himself as someone called Riccardino and hangs up.Later that day news comes in of a brutal slaying in broad daylight by an unknown assassin who makes his getaway on a motorbike. And when the Inspector learns of the victim’s identity – a man called Riccardino – his troubles are only just beginning. For soon he must contend with the involvement of a local bishop and a fortune teller who reports some strange goings-on in her neighbourhood.All roads soon lead to a local salt mine but the case proves stubbornly intractable until Montalbano receives another unexpected call . . .Trade ReviewReading it feels like taking a restful and invigorating holiday, in the company of an infallibly amusing author who is also sufficiently wise . . . Reflecting now on the pleasure Camilleri’s body of work has given me, I’m moved to break a reviewing convention and offer to his shade a sentiment that even the most delighted critics never express: thank you * The Daily Telegraph *The concluding instalment in the late Italian writer's beloved Inspector Montalbano series is a chance to savour the sardonic Sicilian's company, the vivid landscape of his region and Camilleri's distinctive voice as he unravels his final mystery * The i *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *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 *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *Camilleri has contrived a fitting goodbye to a dear old friend who operates, to the very last, on his own terms * Guardian *With Riccardino, Montalbano signs off in glorious style * Crime Fiction Lover *

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Book Synopsis---A GUARDIAN BEST SUMMER READ---'A very modern interrogation of violent fiction. Fiendishly readable' SARAH MOSS, GUARDIAN'Powerful and moving' ERIN KELLY, author of He Said/She Said______________When a young writer accepts a job at a university in the remote countryside, it's meant to be a fresh start. But when one of her students starts sending in chapters from his novel that blur the lines between fiction and reality, the professor recognises herself as the main character in his book - and he has written her a horrific fate.Will she be able to stop life imitating art before it's too late?At once a breathless battle-of-wits and a disarming exploration of sexual politics, The Body Lies is an essential book for our times.___________________'Outstanding' CLARE MACKINTOSH'A literary exploration of consent, entitlement and how narratives can be bent, misappropriated and wrested back. I loved it' SARAH VAUGHAN'A propulsive #MeToo thriller.' GUARDIAN'Gripping. The perfect marriage of risky literary fiction and full-on thriller' MARIA SEMPLE'Page-turning thriller and examination of how women's bodies are treated, in life and in fiction.' THE BOOKSELLER'A novelist with a gift for intimate and atmospheric storytelling' FINANCIAL TIMES'Baker's heroine is one of the most believable I've seen on the page in a long time...nuanced, non-linear, lifelike' TLS'Gripping and fast-paced' GOOD HOUSEKEEPINGTrade ReviewA propulsive #MeToo thriller investi­gating consent and male entitlement as well as the borders between truth and fiction. * Guardian *Build-up of tension is EXCELLENT * Daily Mail *Packs a powerful punch on every page * Red Magazine *Gripping ... with lots to say about sexual politics * Good Housekeeping *This superior thriller looks at how novels represent violence through the story of a creative writing teacher who finds herself trapped between the borders of life and fiction after recognising herself in a story written by one of her students * METRO *

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Book Synopsis'A rollicking good read' IAN RANKIN'Employs a turbulent 1930s India as the canvas for a nefarious assassination plot complete with tiger hunts and shady maharajahs. A rollicking Raj-era mystery' VASEEM KHAN The second in the series of the Dabble and Harris thrillers! Set in the mid-twentieth century, this adventure series is perfect for fans of action-packed, historical fiction.............................................................India, 1937. Intrepid reporter Sir Percival Harris is hunting tigers with his friend, Professor Ernest Drabble. Harris soon bags a man-eater - but later finds himself caught up in a hunt of a different kind...Harris is due to interview the Maharaja of Bikaner, a friend to the Raj, for his London newspaper - and he and Drabble soon find themselves accompanied by a local journalist, Miss Heinz. But is the lady all she seems? And the Maharaja himself is proving elusive...Meanwhile, the movement for Indian independence is becoming stronger, and Drabble and Harris witness some of the conflict first-hand. But even more drama comes on arrival at Bikaner when the friends find themselves confined to their quarters... and embroiled in an assassination plot!Just who is the enemy in the Maharaja's palace? What is the connection to a mysterious man Drabble meets in Delhi? And what secret plans do the British colonial officers have up their sleeves?............................................................Praise for Alec Marsh's Drabble and Harris thrillers:'An immensely readable treat!' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH'Told with humour and flair, Enemy of the Raj is a highly enjoyable, riveting read'ABIR MUKHERJEE'A thoroughly engaging and enjoyable diversion'NEW STATESMAN on Enemy of the Raj '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 ReviewA thoroughly engaging and enjoyable diversion * 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 *An immensely readable treat! * Alexander McCall Smith *Told with humour and flair, Enemy of the Raj is a highly enjoyable, riveting read. I'm already looking forward to the next one! * Abir Mukherjee *

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Book SynopsisWry humour and small-town crime, in the acclaimed Lucian Wing series. Lucian Wing is the sheriff of a backwoods county in Vermont, a hardscrabble place far from the picture-postcard gaze. He is also a man with a problem. Multiple problems, in fact, including a threatening superior; a wandering wife; a hard-drinking father-in-law; a demented mother; a squad of deputies variously overzealous and moronic; a mysterious vigilante band operating in his jurisdiction; and a formidably bloodthirsty local carnivore... Wing needs to draw on all his patience, knowledge, and (especially) humor to resolve things. Not least, to honour what one ambiguous ally refers to as Old Number Five.Trade ReviewPraise for Castle Freeman's novels: ‘A small miracle – sharp, sly, moving and full of heart' Nick Cave‘Part comic romp and part nail-biting thriller ... Castle Freeman writes with both wit and a deep understanding of the human psyche, and he does not cheat us out of a dramatic climax’ Guardian‘Shares many small-town, big-crime themes with Cormac McCarthy... it is impossible not to appreciate this’ The Times 'Wonderful... every paragraph a gem. Freeman – like Cormac McCarthy, like Annie Proulx – shows us the awkward realness of lives, and does it with humour, with wry perception, with great style' R. J. Ellory ‘Extremely funny... streamlined storytelling, dead-on dialogue and lyrical descriptions of the bleak, woodsy landscape. This is a meticulous New England miniature, with not a word wasted’ Oprah Magazine‘A fast, memorable read gooey with atmosphere … a gem that sparkles with sly insight and cuts like a knife’ Boston Globe‘Freeman has a flawless ear for dialogue and a sharp eye for quirky detail … Superb’ People Magazine‘A brilliant book – laconic, spare, stylish and exciting’ Al Alvarez‘A small masterpiece of black comedy and suspense … If all novels were this good, Americans would read more’ Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisIf Ruth had stayed on leave, none of it might have happened. An astronomer working at the Maurice Frazer Observatory, Ruth Russell is enjoying her time in Rome. That is until Charles Digham, top fashion photographer and Ruth’s lover, has his camera stolen and the thief ends up a headless corpse in the zoo park toletta. The enigmatic Johnson Johnson, in Rome to paint a portrait of the Pope, is on hand to unravel the mystery. But as Johnson and Ruth begin the search for clues it soon becomes clear that more is at stake than the secrets of a couture house… something far more deadly.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 SynopsisTo all appearances Joanna Emerson is a fully qualified, gold-medalled graduate of the world’s finest college of Nursery Nurses… Engaged as a nanny to Benedict, newly born heir to a vast cosmetic fortune, she becomes caught up in a complex kidnap plot. But the enigmatic portrait painter, yachtsman and former spy, Johnson Johnson is never far away – and he knows the dangerous game she’s playing. Before long, bullets are flying, and most of them in Joanna’s direction.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 Synopsis'So chillingly addictive you'll forget to breathe' CHRIS WHITAKER, author of WE BEGIN AT THE END THEY BELIEVE HIS LIES. SHE KNOWS THE TRUTH. You can't lie to Izzy Lambert. Her highly developed empathic abilities allow her to read people's emotions with terrifying accuracy - and consequences. As a child her insights sparked her parents' divorce. As an adult she avoids getting too close to people for fear of what she might learn. But now young girls are going missing in her town. The police have no suspects but, seeing her old school caretaker interviewed on the news about the story, Izzy comes to a chilling realisation: he knows where the missing girls are. When the police won't take her seriously despite the lives at stake, she will risk everything to uncover the truth. Perfect for fans of Steve Cavanagh, Adrian McKinty and Harlan Coben, NO SECRETS will keep you turning the pages until the very last line. 'Hitchcockian suspense' FINANCIAL TIMES 'Intriguing, absorbing, with a great twist that I genuinely didn't see coming' MANDASUE HELLER 'A proper page turner, dark, thrilling, twisty and full of surprises' NADINE MATHESON 'David Jackson is the master of the unputdownable thriller' MICHAEL WOODTrade ReviewHitchcockian suspense * Financial Times *So chillingly addictive you'll forget to breathe... Cold and clever, yet brimming with heart, humour and ingenious twists -- Chris Whitaker, author of WE BEGIN AT THE ENDAn exhilarating ride with a serial killer and the empath on his tail. Funny, shocking, brilliantly written - and I swear there's a twist on every page! -- Janice Hallett, author of THE TWYFORD CODEIntriguing, absorbing, with a great twist that I genuinely didn't see coming -- Mandasue HellerAn original and gripping page-turner. David Jackson is the master of the unputdownable thriller -- Michael WoodFabulous. David Jackson is officially King of Just One More Chapter. Beautifully dark and twisty -- Joanna Cannon, author of A TIDY ENDINGAn original and gripping page-turner. David Jackson is the master of the unputdownable thriller -- Michael Wood, author of the DCI Matilda Darke seriesA proper page turner, dark, thrilling, twisty and full of surprises -- Nadine Matheson, author of THE JIGSAW MANDefinitely on the list for Book of the Year. Absolutely gripping -- David MarkTruly is a thrilling read. Murder, deadly secrets and a complex main character who you keep turning the pages for, I thoroughly enjoyed it -- Deborah Masson, author of the DI EVE HUNTER series

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Book SynopsisSomeone has served up a show-stopping murder…In Kilbane, conflicting opinions are plentiful. There’s one thing everyone agrees on though – the nearby bakery is the best in County Cork. It’s no wonder they’re about to be featured on a reality baking show.But the competitors aren’t all are as sweet as their confections. There are shenanigans on the first day of filming that put everyone on edge. But they’re nothing compared to day two, when the first round ends and the top contestant is found face-down in her signature pie.The producers decide to continue filming while Siobhán and her husband, Garda Macdara Flannery, sift through the suspects. Was this a case of rivalry turned lethal, or are their other motives hidden in the mix? And can they uncover the truth before another baker is eliminated permanently?A fun cosy mystery for fans of Dee MacDonald and Frances Evesham.

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Book SynopsisSex, 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)"A breezy, engaging and cunningly plotted tour of a resilient city and culture. (4 stars)" —The Arts Desk"A terrifically enjoyable read." —Irish Times"Equal parts historical novel, comedy of errors and detective story, Suárez portrays with extraordinary voluptuousity and suggestiveness one of the toughest periods of this Caribbean island." —El Mundo"An astonishing novel." —Le Figaro Littéraire"'The Name of the Rose' Cuban-style...A masterpiece." —Marie Claire"A brilliant, intense mystery." —BookBlast"A delightfully unusual detective story." —Shiny New Books"Suarez’s prose, and Christina MacSweeney’s translation, is conversational, beautifully written and manages wonderfully to evoke Havana as a city in crisis without the situation seeming hopeless." —The Sock Drawer"A magisterial and innovative demonstration of first-person narration." —Reading in Translation"Suárez’s sharp, engaging prose grows organically out of a clear and unique narrative voice." —Necessary Fiction"Quirky, poignant, and very relevant for our times." —Lucy Writers"Havana Year Zero is like a set of Russian dolls; its many layers fit together in a firm and satisfying way." —Lunate"Suárez’s kaleidoscopic take on recent Cuban history is worth a look." —Publishers Weekly"‘Havana Year Zero’, is one of those few precious books that humbly offers up sentences that you take forward into the world, sharp bifurcating sentences, dissecting sentences, that swiftly bring sense to confusion, order to chaos. " —Callum Churchill, Mr B's Emporium"Suárez applies chaos theory to Cuba." —Le Temps"A brilliant, joyful and beautiful novel." —Leer"The original plot, narrated like a mathematical conundrum, and the apocalyptic portrait of Havana in 1993 are two of the great attractions of this novel." —La Libre Belgique"With incisive and restrained language, Suárez portrays a country ravaged by the economic crisis." —Le Matin d'Algérie"Rich in the ingredients typical of the best literature: a good story, with rhythm and flow, but also sensibility, elegance, intelligence and a sense of humour." —Duas margens

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Book SynopsisHamburg State Prosecutor Chastity Riley becomes involved in the horrifying, chilling search for a violent serial killer targeting dancers from a club … the first book in an award-winning, wildly original, addictive series… ‘Such a revelation’ Laura Lippman ‘Gruesome and assured, Buchholz’s work remains as persuasive as ever’ Barry Forshaw, Financial Times ‘Reading Buchholz is like walking on firecrackers … a truly unique voice in crime fiction’ Graeme Macrae Burnet ‘Unpredictable, shocking and funny … Simone Buchholz is my favourite German crime writer’ Mark Sanderson,The Times **WINNER of the CWA Crime in Translation Dagger** ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– A serial killer is on the loose in Hamburg, targeting dancers from The Acapulco, a club in the city’s red-light district, taking their scalps as gruesome trophies and replacing them with plastic wigs. Chastity Riley is the state prosecutor responsible for crimes in the district, and she’s working alongside the police as they investigate. Can she get inside the mind of the killer? Her strength is thinking like a criminal; her weaknesses are pubs, bars and destructive relationships, but as Chastity searches for love and a flamboyant killer – battling her demons and the dark, foggy Hamburg weather – she hits dead end after dead end. As panic sets in and the death toll rises, it becomes increasingly clear that it may already be too late. For everyone… ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ‘Caustic, incisive prose. A street-smart, gutsy heroine. A timely and staggeringly stylish thriller’ Will Carver ‘The coolest character in crime fiction … Darkly funny and written with a huge heart’ Doug Johnstone, Big Issue ‘Modern noir, with taut storytelling, a hard-bitten heroine, and underlying melancholy peppered with wry humour’ New Zealand Listener ‘Dark, atmospheric, and complex, with often surprisingly emotional … a classy piece of fiction from an author who never disappoints’ Jen Med’s Book ReviewsPraise for the Chastity Riley series: 'Combines nail-biting tension with off-beat humor ... Elmore Leonard fans will be enthralled' Publishers Weekly 'Buchholz doles out delicious black humor ... interwoven in a manner that ramps up the intrigue and tension' Foreword Reviews ’Lyrical and pithy' Sunday Times 'Fierce enough to stab the heart' Spectator 'A real blast of adrenaline' Big Issue 'Simone Buchholz writes with real authority and a pungent, noir-ish sense of time and space' Financial Times 'A stylish, whip-smart thriller' Russel McLean

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Book SynopsisCan everyone’s favourite insurance mathematician, Henri, combine the increasingly dangerous world of adventure parks with the unpredictability of blended-family life? He’s about to find out in the final instalment of the hilarious, nail-biting Rabbit Factor Trilogy. 'A joyous, triumphant conclusion to Tuomainen’s trilogy … the comic thriller of the year' Sunday Times THRILLER OF THE YEAR ‘Quirky crime capers don’t come more left field than the Rabbit trilogy … extremely funny, with a wicked line in social satire’ Daily Mail ‘One of those rare writers who manages to deftly balance intrigue, noir and a deliciously ironic sense of humour’ Vaseem Khan _______ Henri Koskinen, intrepid insurance mathematician and adventure-park entrepreneur, firmly believes in the power of common sense and order. That is until he moves in with painter Laura Helanto and her daughter… As Henri realises he has inadvertently become part of a group of local dads, a competing adventure park is seeking to expand their operations, not always sticking to the law in the process… Is it possible to combine the increasingly dangerous world of the adventure-park business with the unpredictability of life in a blended family? At first glance, the two appear to have only one thing in common: neither deals particularly well with a mounting body count. In order to solve this seemingly impossible conundrum, Henri is forced to step far beyond the mathematical precision of his comfort zone … and the stakes have never been higher… Warmly funny, quirky, touching, and a nail-biting triumph of a thriller, The Beaver Theory is the final instalment in the award-winning Rabbit Factor Trilogy, as Henri encounters the biggest challenge of his career, with hair-raising results… Soon to be a major motion picture starring Steve Carell ––––––––– Praise for the Rabbit Factor Trilogy: ‘Finland's greatest export’ M.J. Arlidge ‘The funniest writer in Europe’ The Times ‘Thrilling and warmly human. In these uncertain times, what better hero than an actuary?' Chris Brookmyre ‘Delightfully funny’ Guardian ‘Unlike anything else out there' The Times ‘A thrilling and hilarious read’ Liz Nugent ‘Charming, funny and clever, this is a novel to cheer up anyone who is finding life a little tough’ Literary Review ‘A delight from start to finish’ Big Issue 'Original and brilliant story-telling' Helen FitzGerald ‘A coruscating comedy’ Sunday Times 'You don’t expect to laugh when you’re reading about terrible crimes, but that’s what you’ll do when you pick up one of Tuomainen’s decidedly quirky thrillers' New York Times ‘A refreshing change from the decidedly gloomier crime fiction for which Scandinavia is known’ Publishers Weekly Right up there with the best’ Times Literary Supplement ‘A thriller with black comedy worth of Nabokov’ Telegraph

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Book SynopsisWhen a human skeleton is discovered at the site of a controversial new dam in remote northern Botswana, rookie Detective Kubu is drawn into a terrifying local feud, and discovers a deadly covenant that could change everything… ‘A wonderful, original voice – McCall Smith with a dark edge and even darker underbelly’ Peter James ‘Stanley gets everything – the dialogue, the terrain descriptions, the plot beats – right … and with a complex and endearing protagonist’ Publishers Weekly STARRED review ‘A real page turner, perfect for those who like their mysteries complex, and want something a little different’ Strand Magazine _____________________________________ While building a pipeline near the Okavango Delta, a contractor unearths the remains of a long-dead Bushman. Rookie Detective David ‘Kubu’ Bengu of Botswana CID and Scottish pathologist, Ian MacGregor, are sent to investigate, and MacGregor discovers eight more skeletons. Shortly after the gruesome discoveries, the elder of a nearby village is murdered in his home. The local police are convinced it was a robbery, but Kubu isn’t so sure … and neither is the strange woman who claims that an angry river spirit caused the elder’s death. As accusations of corruption are levelled and international outrage builds over the massacre of the Bushman families, Kubu and his colleagues uncover a deadly covenant, and begin to fear that their own lives may be in mortal danger… ____________________________ ’My favourite writing duo since Ellery Queen’ Ragnar Jónasson ‘Great African crime fiction’ Deon Meyer ‘Michael Stanley weaves together the core mystery and the landscape of Africa in magical ways’ Bolo Books ‘Kubu is an excellent, if large, companion for readers entering his unfamiliar land’ Reviewing the Evidence ‘What an outstanding read!’ Kings River Life magazine ‘The African Columbo’ Entertainment Weekly

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Book SynopsisHollywood, house hunting . . . and hand grenades?! Life turns explosive for New Jersey prosecutor turned LA family lawyer Sandy Moss when she takes on an unexpected new client: pre-teen millionaire Riley Schoenberg.When Riley Schoenberg strides into family lawyer Sandy Moss''s office without knocking and coolly sits down, Sandy''s more irritated than amused. She has a client meeting to prepare for, and being interrupted by an eleven-year-old girl is not on her to-do list. But then Sandy hears Riley''s pitch, and it''s a killer one: Riley''s father''s been convicted of murdering her mother . . . and the oddly intimidating pre-teen will do anything to get him out of jail.Sandy, in turn, will do anything to get Riley out of her office. Which includes agreeing to look into her dad''s case for free. A decision she regrets when it turns out Riley''s inheritance has made her a multi-millionaire.Still, Sandy''s determined to get Riley the answer

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Book SynopsisBath''s top detective, Peter Diamond, doesn''t believe in jinxes. So when he''s asked to investigate a top TV show plagued by a series of misfortunes, Diamond is unmoved. He''s no fan of the show - which glorifies criminals and mocks the police - and the incidents were spread across six years. It''s clear this is the press making a sensation out of nothing. So Diamond puts the junior member of his squad on the case.But when young officer Paul Gilbert goes on location with the TV unit and witnesses another near-death incident, Diamond is forced to take an interest. To make matters worse, the press get wind of his involvement and Diamond his under pressure from all quarters. But his troubles have scarcely started. Devastating traps and surprises make this the most baffling case of his entire career.Trade ReviewMore than 30 years into this series, Lovesey shows no signs of losing steam or ingenuity * Publisher's Weekly *Another triumph for a veteran sleuth who's pretty unstoppable himself * Kirkus *Pure pleasure, as always: traditional clues and red herrings, humour, and a central character who becomes more real with every book. * Morning Star *An intriguing tale with a surprising ending. Highly recommended. * MYSTERY PEOPLE *

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Book Synopsis'A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans' P. D. James 'Murder most enjoyable' Colin Dexter 'What? You mean the earl does it for money? That's way beyond the barbed wire!' This explosion of disgust from Blotto is provoked when Twinks informs him of the activities of the Earl of Woking. The gentleman in question is owner of Clusters, a stately home not far from Tawcester Towers, and he has been renting out parts of Clusters for private functions - and charging his guests! The discovery of this appalling lapse in aristocratic behaviour sets Blotto and Twinks off on their latest adventure. Determined to find out more about the Earl of Woking's activities, they discover the existence of a sinister group called Aristotours - brokers between impoverished owners of stately homes and the common people, offering 'a taste of the high life' to characters such as stockbrokers, surgeons and solicitors. And if this were not bad enough, the siblings disco

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Book Synopsis''A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans'' P. D. James''Murder most enjoyable'' Colin DexterAnyone for cricket - and a spot of burglary? An idle conversation on the merits of the glorious game with an old Etonian chum is just the excuse Blotto needs to put himself forward for a cricket tour to foreign climes... and so begins the next adventure for our intrepid duo, where the action takes them to India where, as everyone knows, the finest cricket players hail from - as well as the world''s most skilled jewel thieves...The Dowager Duchess has no problems in letting her two children go to the subcontinent as having her beautiful daughter Twinks married off to a massively rich Maharaja offers the Dowager Duchess the prospect of a permanent solution to the cash-draining maintenance of the Tawcester Towers plumbing.So Twinks joins Blotto on a steamer bound for India, one that is full of young woman desperate to marry wel

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Book SynopsisThe razor-sharp, violent and darkly comic second novel from actor, comedian and writer Ardal O'Hanlon.Dove Connolly is dead. That's not good for anyone in Tullyanna, never mind Dove. Now his best friend Sharkey is home asking awkward questions about Dove's death, about the strange graphic novel he left behind, and, most of all, about Sandra. Sandra Mohan. Missing now for over a decade, whereabouts unknown.This, however, is a town dead-set on keeping its secrets. And Sharkey is already drawing attention from all the wrong quartersA mystery, a black comedy, a satire on Ireland's tangled politics of memory, Brouhaha is set in a small town on the Irish border during the uneasy transition to peace. And peace doesn't come easy in these parts.*****Over the past few days, Kevin, no flies on him, had sensed a tension in the town thanks to Dove Connolly's poor decision to blow his own head off. It wasn't just the act of self-harm itself, the pointless splattering of blood and bone and brain all over his bedroom wall, that was the issue, unsettling as that was. In so doing, poor Dove had spread panic amongst the townspeople, raising all sorts of ugly questions, reviving all sorts of rumours, and inviting all sorts of unwelcome attention upon them. In Kevin's mind, there was method in Dove's madness. Showing a shocking assertiveness for possibly the first time in his life, and the last, says you, Dove blew the lid off the whole town.Trade Review‘Funny, tragic and deliciously readable, Brouhaha confirms Ardal O’Hanlon as a novelist of the first rank.’ Irish Times ‘Humane, clever, funny, gripping, complex, serious and surprising.’ Scotsman

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Book SynopsisSeven high profile guestsAn island cut off by a stormWill there be a murder before the weekend is out?After six long months with no new cases for her Cornish detective agency, Donna Deadly' Nightshade jumps at the chance to spend a weekend undercover on St Michael's Mount.With seven high profile attendees including the Home Secretary this is a high stakes case. As a storm descends on the tidal island, they're cut off from the rest of the world. Friends turn to enemies and before the rain has ceased it's not just one murder Donna has to worry about it's twoBook 2 in The Edge of the World Detective Agency series, which follows Donna Deadly' Nightshade former florist turned private eye solve a new mystery amidst the dramatic cliffs and secret coves of Cornwall.Readers love Jo Silva:I was very impressed with the whole bookan excellent read with a lovely Cornish feel, one amazing method of murder, a talking parrot and the continuing promise of romance for Donna and Joe' ?????A classic Trade Review‘The sleeper book of the year… so much fun to read that you forget to even try and solve the case. And good luck solving it anyway, with twists within twists within twists’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Set in beautiful Cornwall, the characters were quirky and slightly magical, the writing was good and the mystery was totally unpredictable. Well done to the author for writing an excellent cosy mystery whilst avoiding some of the normal characteristics of the genre.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Intelligently written with comedy, sarcasm, murder and peculiarity at its heart making for an entertaining and intriguing read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘There aren’t enough words to tell you how much I enjoyed this book. Odd. Funny. Engaging. Brilliant. I absolutely loved it. I am not often lost for words when trying to explain what makes a book special’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I didn’t put it down until I was finished…and slightly sleep deprived as a result…and I’m thrilled!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Kept me reading and put a smile on my face. And I can’t ask more than that. A really promising debut’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Reflects (exaggerates) the eccentricities of the British people, in particular the Cornish… the author brought wicked sarcasm and snark into her characters’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘More than a fun read, it is a good cozy mystery with fascinating characters, sneaky twists, and incredible red herrings’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book SynopsisThere’s no thrill like breaking the rules…Trade Review‘I devoured this delicious debut in one sitting … Darkly funny but with real soul, Love & Other Scams deserves to be a huge bestseller’ SARRA MANNING, RED *The 10 Best Books of April 2023* ‘I don't think I've ever had such a blast reading a romcom. Totally outstanding – it will, for sure, be the book of the summer’ LAURA JANE WILLIAMS ‘Mischievous, magnetic, touching and heaps of fun. No matter how you’re feeling, the pages instantly cheer you up’ EMMA GANNON ‘Hold onto your diamonds – the romcom of 2023 is here, and it’s an absolute riot. I am PJ Ellis’ number one fan’ LIZZY DENT ‘I completely adored Love & Other Scams. I can't wait to tell everyone I know to read it immediately – because this book is all I want to talk about. PJ Ellis is officially a genius’ LUCY VINE ‘The most brilliant read. Blisteringly funny, genuinely sexy, cancel-all-plans gripping and with tender moments so beautifully written I’m still a little weepy. The solid gold article, no grifting here!’ LAUREN BRAVO ‘Fresh, fast paced and funny with a wonderfully warm cast of characters – it's everything you want and more from a book about diamonds, deceit and desire. I adored it’ LAURA KAY ‘If you’ve ever had your weekend ruined and your budget broken by a so-called friend’s over-the-top wedding, Love & Other Scams is the book for you. You’ll feel seen in the best possible way’ KATHERINE HEINY ‘An entertaining romantic caper with heart, heat, and sass – perfect for anyone who's ever dreamed of taking revenge on perfection’ JUSTIN MYERS ‘Big beach read energy’ BRYDIE LEE-KENNEDY ‘Sharp and entertaining … puts the con in unconventional romance’ BOOKLIST ‘Ellis combines a heist with a romantic comedy and creates something exciting and vibrant … laugh-out-loud hilarious. A delightful, fast-paced escapade full of snappy dialogue’ KIRKUS REVIEWS

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Book Synopsis''Daisy Waugh''s featherlight satires are as refreshing and uplifting as a glass of chilled vintage champagne. . . Imagine Agatha Christie on laughing gas'' TimesThe Todes are back, and they''re taking on Hollywood . . .When Hollywood wants to do a remake of the film that made Tode Hall famous, India and Egbert are delighted. They envisage a summer of free money and star-studded dinner parties ahead . . . But the Hall is soon overrun by wardrobe trucks and catering tents, and lusty, insecure actors squabbling about nudity clauses. When the movie''s producers threaten to sue over the exact colour of Tode Hall''s rolling lawns, India and Egbert realise that having a film crew on their doorstep isn''t such a breeze after all. With so many egos in one place things were bound to end badly, but no one would have predicted quite so literal a backstabbing . . .''A glorious satire on aristocratic manners anTrade ReviewPraise for the Todes of Tode Hall series:Fans 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 sparkles -- Elizabeth BuchanAn irresistible, high-camp crime caper - deliciously entertaining -- Andrew WilsonA perfect antidote to wintry gloom * The Literary Review *A country-house murder mystery with nods to Agatha Christie and Evelyn Waugh . . . a delightful treat * The Lady *An effervescent madcap whodunnit * Metro *A work of sublime silliness. The knife-edge between crime and comedy is a tricky one, but Daisy Waugh negotiates it magnificently . . . a delightful book, witty, pacy and beautifully written -- Simon BrettThis 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-Jones

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Book Synopsis''A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans'' P. D. James''Murder most enjoyable'' Colin DexterAnyone for cricket - and a spot of burglary? An idle conversation on the merits of the glorious game with an old Etonian chum is just the excuse Blotto needs to put himself forward for a cricket tour to foreign climes... and so begins the next adventure for our intrepid duo, where the action takes them to India where, as everyone knows, the finest cricket players hail from - as well as the world''s most skilled jewel thieves...The Dowager Duchess has no problems in letting her two children go to the subcontinent as having her beautiful daughter Twinks married off to a massively rich Maharaja offers the Dowager Duchess the prospect of a permanent solution to the cash-draining maintenance of the Tawcester Towers plumbing.So Twinks joins Blotto on a steamer bound for India, one that is full of young woman desperate to marry wel

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Book SynopsisHired to find the missing son of retired political activist Moira Doherty, Dan Starkey knows his new case is going to be challenging. Billy ''the Bear'' Doherty isn''t an easy man to find - a criminal with a nasty drug habit, his mum is convinced he''s been murdered.But when Moira herself is killed, her body found floating in the waters under Londonderry''s Peace Bridge, Dan finds himself in the middle of a deadly game of cat and mouse. Already in unfamiliar territory, Starkey is quickly embroiled in the city''s porn and drug fuelled underworld, where a new generation of gangster terrorist is intent on creating mayhem their predecessors could only dream of ...Trade ReviewHe just seems to get better and better -- Ian RankinSometimes brutal, often blackly humorous and always terrific * Observer *Fast and furious * Daily Mirror *A dark and brilliant champion of words -- James NesbittFast paced and throbbing with menace * Time Out *

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Book Synopsis'So chillingly addictive you'll forget to breathe' CHRIS WHITAKER, author of WE BEGIN AT THE END THEY BELIEVE HIS LIES. SHE KNOWS THE TRUTH. You can't lie to Izzy Lambert. Her highly developed empathic abilities allow her to read people's emotions with terrifying accuracy - and consequences. As a child her insights sparked her parents' divorce. As an adult she avoids getting too close to people for fear of what she might learn. But now young girls are going missing in her town. The police have no suspects but, seeing her old school caretaker interviewed on the news about the story, Izzy comes to a chilling realisation: he knows where the missing girls are. When the police won't take her seriously despite the lives at stake, she will risk everything to uncover the truth. Perfect for fans of Steve Cavanagh, Adrian McKinty and Harlan Coben, No Secrets will keep you turning the pages until the very last line. 'Hitchcockian suspense' FINANCIAL TIMES 'Intriguing, absorbing, with a great twist that I genuinely didn't see coming' MANDASUE HELLER 'David Jackson is the master of the unputdownable thriller' MICHAEL WOOD 'A proper page turner, dark, thrilling, twisty and full of surprises' NADINE MATHESONTrade ReviewHitchcockian suspense * Financial Times *So chillingly addictive you'll forget to breathe, No Secrets is everything I love about David Jackson thrillers. Cold and clever, yet brimming with heart, humour and ingenious twists -- Chris Whitaker, author of WE BEGIN AT THE ENDAn exhilarating ride with a serial killer and the empath on his tail. Funny, shocking, brilliantly written - and I swear there's a twist on every page! -- Janice Hallett, author of THE TWYFORD CODEIntriguing, absorbing, with a great twist that I genuinely didn't see coming -- Mandasue HellerFabulous. David Jackson is officially King of Just One More Chapter. Beautifully dark and twisty -- Joanna Cannon, author of A TIDY ENDINGAn original and gripping page-turner. David Jackson is the master of the unputdownable thriller -- Michael Wood, author of the DCI Matilda Darke seriesA proper page turner, dark, thrilling, twisty and full of surprises -- Nadine Matheson, author of THE JIGSAW MANDefinitely on the list for Book of the Year. Absolutely gripping -- David MarkTruly is a thrilling read. Murder, deadly secrets and a complex main character who you keep turning the pages for, I thoroughly enjoyed it -- Deborah Masson, author of the DI Eve Hunter seriesBrilliantly twisty and thrilling - with a plot that rockets along and a clever reveal to make you gasp. I loved it -- Lisa Hall, author of THE PERFECT COUPLE

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Book SynopsisGood dad or good assassin? Can he be both? From the internationally bestselling author of BULLET TRAIN: A seemingly ordinary family man tries to juggle his home life with his job as a hitman.Picture a mantis raising up its blades. It looks fearsome, but it's still just a tiny insect. The mantis actually thinks it can win. Even though it's tiny, it's still ready to fight to the death.Kabuto is an ordinary guy; stressed with work, hassled by his wife and disrespected by his son. No wonder he visits his doctor so often. Except 'the Doctor' is actually his handler, and Kabuto is a hired assassin. The 'prescriptions' the Doctor hands over are his unlucky targets. Because although Kabuto may seem like a small man at home, he's really good at killing people.Kabuto is worn out with the business of murder. He's trying to pay his way out of the Doctor's employment with a few last jobs. But the most lucrative contracts involve taking out other professional assassins and his final assignment puts both him and his family in danger.'Unlike anything you're likely to have read before...white-hot with double-crosses' Financial Times, on Bullet TrainTrade ReviewAn offbeat but touching thriller, with a wonderful final twist * Mail on Sunday *Unlike anything you're likely to have read before...white-hot with double-crosses * Financial Times, on Bullet Train *Entertaining...high-speed...with lots of twists and turns...it has a Tarantino-meets-the-Coen-Brothers feel to it. * The Times, on Bullet Train *Thoroughly enjoyable * Guardian, on Bullet Train *Showcases Kotaro Isaka's Tarantinoesque blend of offbeat wit and stylised violence * The Times, on Three Assassins *

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Book Synopsis“If you make it across the border, get us help. Some of us care. Do you understand? ... The arrests grow insane.” At the very hour this message is en route to the CIA, Mrs Pollifax is waiting for her night-blooming cereus flower to do its thing. She hardly gets to see its flowers, though, before being whisked off for another daring mission halfway across the world. Soon she is sporting a beautiful new hat – perfect for hiding eight forged passports. Armed with only an open mind and a little karate, Mrs Pollifax is the most unlikely and lovable of international spies. What readers are saying: “Love, love, love Mrs Pollifax. Ms Gilman has an extraordinary way of keeping you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages of her books.” “How can a sweet little old lady get into so much trouble? Mrs Pollifax is a gem and a hoot!” “A book that gives you a big smile on every page. I'm looking forward to my next Mrs Pollifax adventure.” “Who wouldn't fall in love with a senior citizen who wears absurd hats, pushes the book cart at the hospital, and knows karate?” “I first read the Mrs Pollifax books when I was a little girl and I keep coming back to read the books again and again.” “Read it, it's the best thing you can do for yourself. It's like a reminder of the zest for life.” Editorial reviews: “Mrs Pollifax is an enchantress.” New York Times “Mrs Pollifax gives Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple a rival to reckon with.” Toronto Star “Filled with adventures–and misadventures–but through it all Mrs Pollifax is triumphant.” Booklist “Absorbing and worthwhile ... You won’t want to put the book down.” Portland Telegram “The pace never flags, bolstered by the shrewd Mrs P. and a host of well-defined characters who all work their surprising wiles.” Publishers Weekly “Should delight you whether you’re looking for smiles or thrills.” New York Times Book Review “All’s right with the world as long as Mrs Pollifax is part of it.” Mobile Register

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Book SynopsisResolved to give up spying for good, Mrs Pollifax can’t stop herself agreeing to carry a small object to an agent in Thailand, and get one in return. The moment she lands, Mrs P. is horrified to find her contact dead and her husband kidnapped. The next thing she knows, she’s tramping through the unfamiliar Thai countryside, led by a curious fellow who may be trying to help her find her husband. Or he may have other, more sinister plans ... Armed with only an open mind and a little karate, Mrs Pollifax is the most unlikely and lovable of international spies. Trade ReviewPraise for Mrs Pollifax 'Mrs Pollifax is an enchantress' New York Times'Mrs Pollifax gives Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple a rival to reckon with' Toronto Star'Filled with adventures–and misadventures–but through it all Mrs Pollifax is triumphant' Booklist'Absorbing and worthwhile ... You won’t want to put the book down' Portland Telegram'The pace never flags, bolstered by the shrewd Mrs P. and a host of well-defined characters who all work their surprising wiles' Publishers Weekly'Should delight you whether you’re looking for smiles or thrills' New York Times Book Review'All’s right with the world as long as Mrs Pollifax is part of it' Mobile Register

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Book SynopsisTom Winscombe is having a bad day. Trapped at the top of the tallest building in Minsk while a lethal battle between several mafia factions plays out beneath him, he contemplates the sequence of events that brought him here, starting with the botched raid on a secretive think tank and ending up in the middle of the Chernobyl exclusion zone. More importantly, he wonders how he's going to get out of this alive when the one person who can help is currently not speaking to him. Join Tom and a cast of disreputable and downright dangerous characters in this witty thriller set in a murky world of murder, mystery and complex equations.Trade ReviewPraise for Jonathan Pinnock: ‘Lovely stuff’ Ian Rankin'A series of humorous, riotous mathematical mysteries' David Nicholls‘He makes funny and self-deprecating company’ The Herald‘Jonathan Pinnock writes compelling tales with a deliciously wicked glint in his eye’ Ian Skillicorn, National Short Story Week‘Jonathan Pinnock is Roald Dahl’s natural successor’ Vanessa Gebbie‘Funny, clever, and sometimes brilliantly daft. A comedy that I am sure would have made Pythagoras, Archimedes and Douglas Adams all laugh out loud’ Scott Pack on The Truth About Archie and Pye

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Book Synopsis''I love the voice. I love the dark streets. I love the story.'' Harlan CobenDan, an Irishman who''s ended up in New Jersey, finds himself embroiled in a world of murder, kidnapping and corrupt cops.Dan works as a bouncer in a seedy club, half in love with hostess Connie. When Connie is murdered on the premises, a vengeful Dan finds himself embroiled in an increasingly deadly sequence of events in which his doctor friend Zeb goes mysteriously missing, a cop-killing female cop becomes his only ally, and he makes an enemy of ruthless drug-dealer Mike Madden. Written with the warmth and wit that make the Artemis Fowl novels so irresistible, though with additional torture and violence, PLUGGED is a brilliant crime debut from a naturally gifted writer with a huge fanbase.Trade Review'Artemis Fowl creator Eoin Colfer heads off into zanily comic adult noir territory with Plugged . . . McEvoy finds himself sucked into a maelstrom of outlandish criminal shenanigans, a knockabout farce with Elmore Leonard-style wisecracking at every turn' * Metro *'I loved the voice. I loved the dark streets. I love the story' * Harlan Coben *'Eoin Colfer . . . is hugely inventive and intelligent and an instinctive storyteller, who happens to write beautifully and elegantly as well' * Michael Morpurgo *'Violent, surreal and eccentric, this offering couldn't be further from his Artemis Fowl series' * Sun *'A non-stop, fever-pitched crime thriller . . . Genius at work' * Ridley Pearson *'Colfer is an engaging and inventive writer with a strong sense of the rhythm of a story . . . always entertaining page by page' * Guardian *'This is Sopranos territory - where terrible deeds are mixed with the painful banalities of life in a way that brings laughter among the tears and gnaws at your heart. It's a fine debut' * Daily Mail *'DON'T PICK UP THIS BOOK if you want to get anything else done for the next day or two. It's too sharp, too funny, and it won't let you go' * Don Winslow *'Colfer . . . has transplanted his style seamlessly into the adult genre' * The Times *'This might lead you to think you're in Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiaasen or even Damon Runyon country, but you're not. Although there are echoes of all three writers in Plugged, Colfer's novel is dominated, driven and fully animated by a refreshingly original voice' * Washington Post *'A laugh-out-loud adventure that is as close as the genre gets to a hug' * The Sunday Times (Ireland) *'Scabrously funny, furiously paced and distinctively idiosyncratic, PLUGGED . . . suggests Colfer's first adult crime novel will not be his last' * Irish Times *'His rapid-fire surreal wit is packed with off kilter ideas . . . it's a highly entertaining ride' * Financial Times *'This is the author's first adult tale and the humour and gritty setting make it a good 'un' * Sun *'Elmore Leonard-inspired world of semi-surreal pulp crime fiction' * Daily Telegraph *'Pitch-perfect comic noir. Outrageous characters, uproariously funny plot twists, and brutal, nonstop action make this a sure-fire winner' * Publishers Weekly *'Funny, acerbic, crazed, riveting, sardonic...everything you want in a summer read' * New York Journal of Books *

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Book SynopsisEx-army sergeant Daniel McEvoy is ready to say goodbye New Jersey''s lawless underworld and concentrate on his new life as club owner and bona fide boyfriend. But when he''s abducted and driven into the Hudson by a vengeful crime boss, he realises that the New Jersey underworld isn''t ready to say goodbye to him.If Dan is to survive, he will have to evade bad guys on both sides of the law and find the missing aunt who once taught him how to handle boobs. Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl novels, turns his outstanding talent to a world as criminally funny as it is dark and compelling.

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Book Synopsis'King of One More Chapter' JOANNA CANNON 'Master of the unputdownable thriller' MICHAEL WOOD 'A stunning read that grips you by the throat' JANICE HALLETT NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED Elliott has never thought of himself as a hero. Until one dark night he meets Rebecca, a scared and vulnerable young woman who needs his help. There's a man harassing her, following her; would he mind pretending to be her boyfriend, just while she walks home, to put him off? And that is that - just a favour for a stranger - until there is a knock at Elliott's door. It's the man who was following Rebecca. He claims he's her ex-boyfriend, but it's clear that he's been stalking her. He's obsessed, dangerously so. He wants Rebecca, and he will do anything to have her. When Elliott eventually tries to tell him the truth, the man doesn't believe him. The only way to save himself is to get Rebecca to explain. There's just one problem: Rebecca is nowhere to be found. And now it looks like one good deed will cost Elliott everything... A must-read for fans of Adrian McKinty, Steve Cavanagh and Alex North, this is a gripping pageturner from 'the King of One More Chapter'Trade ReviewWhen David Jackson drops a pebble in the pond, get ready for a tsunami to sweep you away. One Good Deed is a brutal cautionary tale, an accomplished cat-and-mouse psychological thriller and a stunning read that grips you by the throat until the final page -- Janice Hallett, author of THE APPEALOne Good Deed is an unsettling, intriguing, beautiful plotted mystery that turns the world of a Good Samaritan upside down. Another cracker from David Jackson. Don't miss it -- Mari Hannah, author of THE LOSTWhen you start a David Jackson book, you know you'll soon be reading through your fingers. Brilliant stuff, with all his hallmark warmth and humour -- Leonora Nattrass, author of BLUE WATERClassic full out nail biting page turner -- Tina Baker, author of CALL ME MUMMYA dark story of obsession, fear, and the terrible consequences of doing the right thing. A gripping page-turner which I finished in a day! -- Guy Morpuss, author of BLACK LAKE MANORPacked with enough twists and chases and eye-goggling reveals to keep my head spinning for hours after the final page -- Dan Malakin, author of THE BOX

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