Crime and mystery: hard-boiled crime, noir fiction

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDavid F. Walker and David Aja are joined by an array of international talent for an anthology that puts the spotlight on crime noir!In this anthology, a collective of almost thirty authors from all over the globe propose a collection of short crime noir stories that celebrates the genre as well as boldly leading it into the future.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTwo dead bodies and too many coincidences to ignore—in this outdoors mystery, special agent Sam Rivers must stop a murderous conspiracy. As a special agent for the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Sam Rivers has researched and studied a variety of animals. He’s visiting sixth graders at Hopkins Elementary to share photographs of the Monarch butterfly—and he’s brought along his drug-sniffing wolfdog, Gray, to give students a demonstration of his partner’s remarkable skills. Gray finds a sample drug packet, hidden by Sam, but that’s not all. The wolfdog keeps following his nose, leading Sam to a utility room where they discover the school’s janitor, dead. Local police write it off as a drug overdose, but Sam is no stranger to crime scenes. He suspects foul play. When Sam and Gray come upon a second victim, the coincidences are too great to ignore. Sam starts turning over rocks—and what slithers out is more insidious than anyone could have foretold. Sam’s instincts tell him there’ll be more deaths, but those instincts put him at odds with conventional law enforcement. Armed with his knowledge of the natural world and his wolfdog companion, Sam must uncover answers to questions that few others believe exist. The Denver Post calls Sam Rivers the “predator’s predator.” In Killing Monarchs, natural history writer Cary J. Griffith brings back Sam for his third mystery—a thrilling novel filled with action and suspense.Trade Review“Griffith’s third Sam Rivers mystery, Killing Monarchs, moves with the speed of a bullet train. A gripping tale of greed and vengeance... not to be missed.” —Jeffrey B. Burton, award-winning author of The Finders, The Keepers, and The Lost “Killing Monarchs is an exciting, thrilling, and suspenseful page-turner! [It] hooked me from the first page, and I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this series!” —Kathleen Donnelly, author of the award-winning National Forest K-9 series “Cary Griffith is that rare crime writer who’s not afraid to be funny and wise even as he keeps us on the edge of our seats. What’s more, he’s a gifted chronicler of the natural world. These qualities are all abounding in Killing Monarchs, Griffith’s best yet. It’s time to put his intrepid investigator, Sam Rivers, on every suspense writer’s radar, and the author himself in the same echelon as the finest crime writers working today.” —Peter Geye, author of The Ski Jumpers “Cary Griffith has laid out another fabulous tale, based on solid knowledge of the natural world, with a provocative sense of the deviousness of humankind.” —Mary Logue, author of The Streel and The Big Sugar “A gripping thriller highlighting the ironclad bond between man and his best friend, Killing Monarchs had me turning pages all night long.” —Brian Malloy, author of The Year of Ice and After Francesco “A chilling thriller you won’t want to put down. Sam Rivers and his wolfdog partner, Gray, make a terrific crime-fighting duo!” —Margaret Mizushima, author of the award-winning Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries “Sam Rivers is one part teacher and two parts crime solver. Killing Monarchs floats like a butterfly and stings like a scorpion. Prepare to be schooled.” —Mark Stevens, author of The Fireballer and The Allison Coil Mystery Series “Killing Monarchs, the third Sam Rivers mystery, is a rollicking and hugely satisfying ride.” —C. Matthew Smith, author of Twentymile

Read more less

Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE NAGUIB MAHFOUZ MEDAL FOR LITERATUREA BEST NEW BOOK OF 2023 (THE NEW ARAB)A “spare, well-crafted and compelling” (Samah Selim) novel in which a man in Algiers disappears without trace and the detective in search of him finds more than he expectedIn Rouiba, a nondescript suburb of Algiers, an unnamed man with a troubled past escapes his everyday life to find himself caring for an old man with dementia. When the man dies, the carer disappears into thin air. A police detective is assigned to investigate the circumstances of the old man’s demise and to track down the caretaker, only to find that the unnamed man cannot be identified—that there is no trace of Mr. Nobody. The officer’s search leads him to those whose paths once crossed Mr. Nobody’s. In each of them he finds a reflection of the man he is looking for.A raw, lyrical portrait of life on the margins in contemporary Algiers, this haunting noir captures an underworld of police informers, shady imams, bootleg beer traders, and grave robbers, and reverberates with echoes of Algeria’s violent past.Trade Review"Innovative, exciting, and brilliant. . . . The Disappearance of Mr Nobody’s fable-like quality, its clever deployment of literary devices and raw authenticity makes it a gift to any reader." –Litro Magazine"Set in post-civil war Algeria, Taibaoui's noir offering is an intense, must-read page-turner."—The New Arab"Taibaoui writes with raw urgency. . . . Part mystery, part confession, part parable, Taibaoui's scathing commentary on nameless, lost souls will undoubtedly find universal resonance."—Shelf Awareness"A translation into English from an Algerian author writing in Arabic, the majority language of the population, is an event to be welcomed . . . . Taiboui’s Algeria is a country still struggling with the toxic legacies of colonial and postcolonial violence. However, like Suzuki, Özlü, Zambra and Debré, he shows in his powerful account, why stories still matter and why not everybody is made comfortable by them."—The Irish Times"This is a novel that situates the reader amid an ever-changing landscape, both literally and figuratively, which echoes the disconnect felt by many of its characters."—Words Without Borders"Algerian writer Taibaoui makes his English-language debut with an acerbic noir involving a strange disappearance and a detective’s existential quest . . . . Fans of Kamel Daoud’s The Meursault Investigation ought to take a look. "—Publishers Weekly"The Disappearance of Mr. Nobody is a thought-provoking novel in which human nature is explored through the Algerian working class."—Foreword“In this spare, well-crafted and compelling novel, Taibaoui plays with the poetics of noir fiction to offer a bleak and haunting critique of the postcolonial Arab state and its mythologies.”—Samah Selim, Rutgers University"From its somber but intense style, vivid characters emerge. This is a novel of unpleasant truths.”—Humphrey Davies“The Mr. Nobody in Taibaoui’s outstanding novel takes off his face and disappears revealing a patriarchal system that derives its existence from a web of power relations that have no place for him or us.”—Shereen Aboulnaga, Cairo University“With satirical language—concise and poetic at the same time—and its suspenseful construction artistically woven with elements of crime fiction, The Disappearance of Mr. Nobody compels readers to its last page.”—Heba El-Sharif“A powerful narration that does not overshadow the intelligence and creativity of its writer.”—Thaer A. Deeb

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisNow a major motion picture from Academy Award–winning director Guillermo del Toro and starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Toni Collette.Nominated for 4 Oscars, including Best PictureNightmare Alley begins with an extraordinary description of a carnival-show geek—alcoholic and abject and the object of the voyeuristic crowd’s gleeful disgust and derision—going about his work at a county fair. Young Stan Carlisle is working as a carny, and he wonders how a man could fall so low. There’s no way in hell, he vows, that anything like that will ever happen to him.And since Stan is clever and ambitious and not without a useful streak of ruthlessness, soon enough he’s going places. Onstage he plays the mentalist with a cute assistant (before long his harried wife), then he graduates to full-blown spiritualist, catering to the needs of the rich and gullible in their well-upholstered homes. It looks like the world is Stan’s for the taking. At least for now.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisCELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF DAVE BRANDSTETTERDeath claims investigator Dave Brandstetter enters a world thespians and booksellers as he uncovers the true story behind the death of a rare book dealer in this noir-spun masterpiece of California crime fiction.   Since a burning accident that left him painfully disfigured, John Oats, a well-liked collectible book dealer, has been self-isolating at his beach house in Arena Blanca, California. An avid swimmer, John Oats had taken to night swimming to hide his injuries from daytime beachgoers. When his body is found one morning smashed against the rocks at the treacherous point near the house, the authorities rule it “Death by Misadventure.”   Insurance companies don’t much care for verdicts like that and therefore Medallion Insurance, the policy holder for Oats’s substantial life insurance policy, sends out its best investigator, Dave Brandstetter, to poke holes in the story. The night Oats died there was a dangerous storm along the coast, and Brandstetter finds it hard to believe that the bookseller, a lifelong swimmer, would have gone out. As his investigation reveals more of John Oats’s sad story Brandstetter learns that the motives for murder are many.   But Brandstetter has his own problems to deal with. Still mourning the death of his partner, Rod, Dave is navigating his own twilight world of grief. His new lover, Doug, is also grieving, and the two men must come to a reckoning of whether their love is an ersatz stand-in for their lost partners or something more.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF DAVE BRANDSTETTERThe murder of a conservative police chief in a fishing village north of Los Angeles sends death claims investigator Dave Brandstetter into the no-man''s land between cops and activists in this brilliantly plotted mystery, which perfectly captures California in the mid-1970s. A small-town Chief of Police with reactionary politics and national ambitions, Ben Orton struck fear in the hearts of anyone who fell out of line in his little fiefdom of La Caleta. Most recently that has included gay rights activists pushing for the hiring of a police officer from their community. When big Ben is found in his backyard bludgeoned to death by a large terracotta pot, the police arrest the outspoken gay owner of a local nursery. Orton had a life insurance policy that brings death claims investigator Dave Brandstetter north to pry. As far as Dave can tell, the cops did almost nothing to investigate Orton’s death and what evidence they did compile doesn’t seem to add up. Dave quickly learns that the pool of suspects is much deeper than the police reported. Ben Orton may have seen himself as a pillar of the community but what many in La Caleta saw instead was a violent man whose commitment to enforcement didn’t always also include room for the law.  With an ailing father in the hospital and a relationship headed toward the rocks, a very distracted Brandstetter finds himself making more wrong moves than right while those on the other side of the thin blue line are making it painfully obvious his presence is not wanted.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF DAVE BRANDSTETTERDeath claims investigator Dave Brandstetter navigates the opposing realms of evangelical Christianity and the porn business while tracking a lost girl in late 1970s Los Angeles. Lon Tooker certainly fits the profile: big, strong, a Marine Corps veteran, and recently the target of evangelical crusader Gerald Dawson?s wrath. Tooker?s adult toys and pornography store on the local skid row has recently become the target of Dawson?s church men?s group and their destructive masked raids on ?un-Christian? businesses. When Dawson is strangled to death by someone of Tooker?s size and ability, the police see a smut-peddler with a motive. Case closed. But death claims investigator Dave Brandstetter doesn?t like it. By all accounts Tooker is a softy incapable of such a crime. Actual evidence is nonexistent and assumptions many. And Dave particularly doesn?t care for assumptions based on someone?s sex life. But Dave is also navigating new personal territory. His father?s death has left him bereaved and for the first time in a long time without a job. Dave quit the insurance company his father built and has struck out on his own as a private investigator. Add in his breakup with his recent partner and he?s a man unencumbered. It?s the late 1970s and Dave may be aging a bit but he?s still handsome, wealthy, and recently in possession of a new convertible Triumph. Looks like it?s not all hard work.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF DAVE BRANDSTETTERA cult leader named Azrael perpetrates a brutal mass murder and afterwards a slimy lawyer is trying to claim the life insurance policy for his missing daughter; it''s the early ''80s in Los Angeles and private investigator Dave Brandstetter has a new love in his life as exciting as this case is dreadful. Two years ago Charles Westover disgraced himself and his family when he was disbarred for bribery. Westover’s daughter Serenity, disgusted with her once beloved father, ran away to a cult founded by a mesmerizingly handsome young man, a self-appointed messiah going by the grimly grandiose name of Azrael. The whereabouts of Serenity pass unknown for years until the police raid Azrael’s compound and discover that the cult leader lived up to his ghastly “Angel of Death” moniker. Thinking his daughter has been murdered, Charles Westover claims her life insurance, and then he too vanishes. Insurance companies don’t like to cut a check without a body and especially don’t like cutting a check to someone who is also missing. Hired as a private investigator for Banner Insurance, David Brandstetter quickly finds himself in a complicated maze of lies and hidden histories. And Dave suspects that, just like in the labyrinths of old, there will be a monster at the end of it.   It''s not all bad times and extreme hazard for our man Dave. A passionate romance has entered his life with the reappearance of Cecil Harris, a handsome young African American investigative reporter for the local news station looking to get to the bottom of a different kind of story.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDave Brandstetter, a California private investigator specializing in death claims, uncovers a toxic conspiracy while working a case in a neighborhood plagued by violence and inequality. Gifford Gardens has seen better days. As white families move away to the suburbs to flee the flooding and neglect, the city in turn cares less about fixing the problems. What was once a nice neighborhood has become a slum and a violent battleground for rival gangs. Paul and Angela Myers are among the white families that remained. With the economy in a downturn and wages frozen, Paul takes a job long-haul truck driving. The freight he moves around is strictly “no questions,” but Paul is an honest man and begins to wonder about what he has become a part of.   One night, Paul's truck flies off a cliff and explodes in midair. Did he fall asleep at the wheel, or was he murdered? Paul’s life insurance company hires renowned private investigator Dave Brandstetter to look at inconsistencies with the accident. While digging into Paul's past, Dave will uncover a haunting connection between Paul’s untimely death and the happier years in the declining neighborhood of Gifford Gardens. Meanwhile Dave and his lover, reporter Cecil Harris, have settled in together quite cozily. Cecil has recovered from the injuries he received helping Dave on his previous case, but the psychological damage is still present. Dave can’t help wondering if he will ever be able to protect Cecil from his dangerous line of work.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhile investigating a suicide, Dave Brandstetter discovers a dead reporter''s final scoop.Adam Streeter has covered international crises from Siberia to Cambodia. When disaster strikes, he grabs his battered typewriter and hops on a plane, hurling himself into danger wherever the story demands. He is brave, talented, and internationally renowned - so why would he turn a pistol on himself?  Insurance investigator Dave Brandstetter has seen enough suicides to know that a journalist this successful would never take his own life. Suspecting treachery, he digs into Adam''s last story - an unpublished investigation into the whereabouts of a vanished South American strongman, called El Carnicero, the Butcher - and Adam''s death shows every hallmark of his bloody style. To finish Adam''s investigation, Dave will have to make like a war correspondent and leap into the line of fire.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe brutality of the AIDS epidemic and a nation''s growing homophobia set the stage for a serial killer targeting gay men in Los Angeles and it isn''t long before Dave Brandstetter finds himself in the killer''s path.Dave Brandstetter''s afternoon does not begin well: His ex-boyfriend picks him up at the airport, and the ride home - in bumper-to-bumper Los Angeles traffic - is one long argument between them. The insurance investigator''s day gets worse when he finds a man - bloody, rain-soaked, and ice cold - lying on his porch, killed by a stab wound while Dave was out of town. There is a serial killer loose in Los Angeles, and this man is his sixth victim. Like the others, he had already been marked for death - by the unforgiving plague known as AIDS. Someone is targeting sick men in the city, and Dave''s search for the killer leads him into the dark side of gay Los Angeles, where death comes without warning and life is a fearful dream.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe death of a Vietnamese immigrant brings former death claims investigator Dave Brandstetter out of retirement. As an insurance investigator, Dave Brandstetter built a reputation unraveling suspicious deaths. Now, well into middle age, he has decided to retire for the sake of Cecil, the young TV reporter who loves and cherishes him, and has too often risked his own life for Dave?s work. But retirement does not come easily. Dave never did it for the money. He always had that. Nor did he tirelessly work cases in hopes of chasing renown. It was always the pursuit of the truth that drove Dave. He enjoyed the truth?s habit of coming into direct conflict with bigotry, allowing him to surprise the small-minded along the way. It doesn?t take much arm twisting, then, to get Dave back in the saddle when an old friend in the public defender?s office asks him to help Andy Flanagan, a shiftless young man accused of murdering a Vietnamese businessman to defend the Old Fleet ? a shantytown of houseboats that has been earmarked for development. Beneath the surface of this oil-slicked slum lurks an international conspiracy so appalling that Dave will regret postponing his retirement.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhile investigating a suicide, Dave Brandstetter discovers a dead reporter''s final scoop. Journalist Adam Streeter covered some of the most dangerous stories of the last quarter century, ranging from Cambodia to Siberia and anywhere troubled in between. Fearless, dashing, and more than a little resourceful, Streeter was renowned as much for his virtuosic writing as the shocking reality of what he uncovered along the way. Why would someone who lived so purposefully and with such demonstrable bravery turn a pistol on himself? Insurance investigator Dave Brandstetter has seen enough suicides to know this isn?t one. Suspecting treachery, he digs into Adam''s last story ? an unpublished investigation into the whereabouts of a vanished South American strongman, called El Carnicero, the Butcher ? and finds that Adam''s death shows every hallmark of his bloody style. Dave quickly realized that some very powerful people would like him to drop the case. Dave?s own lover, Cecil, would like to see him take it easy for once. But Cecil knows Brandstetter is not so unlike the man whose death he?s investigating. The truth, to someone like Brandstetter or Streeter, is worth the ultimate price. As he attempts to finish Adam?s story and get to the bottom of the journalist?s death, Dave will find more than a few people willing to make him pay it.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDave Brandstetter’s best days are behind him, but for the sake of a frightened child, Dave takes on his very last case. The wear and tear of a life spent pursuing the truth into harm’s way is catching up with Dave. In fact, it has already caught him. The aged death claims investigator is old enough for his body to hurt even without all the compiled injuries he’s sustained throughout his career. Yet when presented with a puzzle-like mystery, Dave can’t help but be drawn in. Walking on the beach, a friend finds a bedraggled child who claims he has witnessed a murder. The victim is a drug-addicted pop star, and the obvious suspect is the dead man’s ex-girlfriend—a drug addict whom the child saw standing over the body, gun in hand. In the final installment of Joseph Hansen’s groundbreaking series, Dave looks for justice once more, hoping that he will also find a lasting measure of peace. Over the course of twelve novels spanning four decades of American culture—from the 1960s to the late 1980s—Joseph Hansen gave readers one of the truly great heroes of detective fiction.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA brutal two-punch of savage noir thrillers, collected in English for the first time.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom BookTok sensation Emily McIntire comes a dark and delicious fractured fairy tale reimagining of Aladdin.She's his diamond in the rough. He's her worst nightmare.Yasmin Karam, daughter to one of the richest men in the world, has never known strife. So, when her beloved father falls ill, she's determined to make his final days his happiest. His last wish? To see her married to a man of his choosing. Except Yasmin's heart already belongs to someone else. A servant. A street rat. A man her father would never consider worthy. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Yasmin strikes a desperate deal with her father's right-hand man, Julian, not realizing he has his own twisted agenda.Julian Faraci has one goal: become the most powerful man in the world. He's built a future from broken bones and faded bruises, never caring who he hurt along the way. But when his mentor falls ill, he finds himself on the verge of losing everything, and he'll stop at nothing to inherit what is rightfully his. Even if it means forcing a woman he can't stand into marriage.Yasmin is a brat who speaks out of turn, and he's the villain of her story. But he decides she'll be his-no matter what it takes to convince her.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen the natural world and the build world collide, the earth needs a good building inspector…In this first case in the new Hugo Sandoval Eco-Mystery series, an old-school San Francisco building inspector must reluctantly venture outside his beloved city and find his sea legs before he can solve the mystery of how a 90-ton blue whale became stranded, twice, in a remote inlet off the North Coast.Set on the turbulent Mendocino Coast against the backdrop of a failing fishing fleet and illegal cannabis grows, Sandoval encounters roadblocks and lies as he grapples with the connection between a red tag posted on the historic Chicken Cove ranch and the decomposing marine mammal at the foot of its cliffs.Debilitated by more than a few idiosyncrasies, reluctant media darling Hugo Sandoval is a people’s hero, fighting the good fight in a modern era where development and climate change butt heads – and where each requested permit attempts to eclipse the old San Francisco Sandoval loves.Trade Review"In The Rotting Whale, Jann Eyrich artfully merges the realms of mystery and environmentalism to create an enthralling new genre: the eco-mystery. Eyrich’s prose is rich, painting vivid images of both the natural and urban landscapes that serve as the backdrop for Hugo Sandoval’s adventure. Readers will find themselves captivated by the offbeat hero as he ventures from the familiar streets of San Francisco to the rugged Mendocino Coast to unravel the enigma of a stranded blue whale. The Rotting Whale is also a tale of personal growth; Eyrich delves into the complexities of Hugo’s relationships with his daughter, ex-wife, and a motley crew of secondary characters. These vibrant personalities, each with their own quirks, lend depth to the story, complementing the central mystery and providing support to Hugo as he navigates the mystery. The Rotting Whale seamlessly blends the intrigue of a classic mystery with a thought-provoking environmental theme. Jann Eyrich’s eloquent writing style draws readers into the heart of San Francisco and the noir ambiance of a city on the brink of change. Readers of Dashiell Hammett’s Thin Man Series and Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache Series should head to their favorite bookstore immediately." —D.D. Black, author of The Shadow of Pike Place, A Thomas Austin Crime Thriller"Jann Eyrich’s characters are so compelling, I would follow inspector Hugo Sandoval and his friends through any amount of coastal fog and North Coast shenanigans! I really enjoyed the mystery but found that even more than the story, I fell for the characters. I’m looking forward to reading THE BLIND KEY next year." —Kathy Wollenberg, Author of Far Less"Jann Eyrich has given us Hugo Sandoval, a San Francisco building inspector as a new kind of detective -- he sees everything. A blue whale washes up on the beach in Mendocino and sets off a string of events that includes murder, extortion, mayhem--and a love story. Or two. Page-turning, dripping with atmosphere, a full cast of quirky supporting characters, and a bid to save the planet in a necessary new genre: the eco-mystery." —Julia Park Tracey, author of the Veronika Layne: Hot Off the Press series

Read more less

Book SynopsisTony is a young man who has always been on the losing side in life. He was brought up by his troubled, alcoholic mother who had a past of her own as a talented ballerina, until a life-changing accident brought her dreams to a sudden end. As her own ambitions for fame and success were crushed, she used cruel and brutal methods to project them onto her young son - with devastating consequences. There's no doubt that a body found on Reykjavik's OEskjuhlid hillside has been there for a long time. The case is handed to veteran detective Valdimar, supported by Ylfa, who is taking her tentative first steps as a police officer with the city's CID while coping with her own family difficulties. It's not long before it's clear a vicious killer is on the loose - and very little about the case is what it appears to be at first glance.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWinner of the 40th Annual 3-Day Novel Writing Contest! If faced with reincarnation, would you want to come back as a dog, an eagle, a plant? Most poison ivy is reincarnated ivy. You can see the complexity of second lives, the intrepid narrator-detective declares. For those yet reincarnated, devotion can become muddled. And as the characters in The Second Detective learn, you can't fight the universe and regret is terrible company. The Second Detective is a deliriously entertaining reimagining of the hard-boiled detective novel, featuring a mysterious narrator, a missing husband, and a lascivious mountain goat with interspecies interests. Aging beauty Lilah walks into the narrator's office with a photo of Babe Ruth, a story about a sketchy reincarnation plan, and the hope of finding her husband Glen. Despite misgivings, the narrator takes on her case and soon the two are galloping headfirst into gorgons, contraband blood and villainous brothers, with a sideways trip to the zoo. There are two things you need to know: Every action is a choice that tells you something more, unless it means nothing at all.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAdam Nunn''s search for his true identity has horrifying consequences in this compelling psychological thriller.A badly mutilated body has been discovered in a remote woodland pond on the Essex borders - a location known to be the haunt of the ruthless crime gang that ruled London in the 70s. When one of the victim''s hands is found nearby, forensic tests reveal a number scrawled on the palm. It is quickly identified as the National Insurance number of struggling family man Adam Nunn.As Adam is arrested in connection with the murder, it emerges that the dead man was a private investigator he had hired to find out the identity of his birth parents. Just what did Larry Paris discover that got him killed?As Adam seeks the truth surrounding his origins and promises justice for the mother he never knew, he is drawn into a lurid criminal world of violence and violation, reprisal and merciless death. Torn between the man he wants to be and the man he fears becoming, Adam''s investigations will lead him ever deeper into darkness.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAdam Nunn''s search for his true identity has horrifying consequences in this compelling psychological thriller.A badly mutilated body has been discovered in a remote woodland pond on the Essex borders - a location known to be the haunt of the ruthless crime gang that ruled London in the 70s. When one of the victim''s hands is found nearby, forensic tests reveal a number scrawled on the palm. It is quickly identified as the National Insurance number of struggling family man Adam Nunn.As Adam is arrested in connection with the murder, it emerges that the dead man was a private investigator he had hired to find out the identity of his birth parents. Just what did Larry Paris discover that got him killed?As Adam seeks the truth surrounding his origins and promises justice for the mother he never knew, he is drawn into a lurid criminal world of violence and violation, reprisal and merciless death. Torn between the man he wants to be and the man he fears becoming, Adam''s investigations will lead him ever deeper into darkness.

Read more less

Book SynopsisParadise, Massachusetts, is gearing up for the busy summer season when a spate of car thefts places its quiet, tourist-friendly reputation in jeopardy. Jesse Stone fears an automobile theft gang has set up shop in town, and the silver-tongued, heavy-handed police chief vows to put a stop to their activity. Almost as soon as he starts tackling this threat, another materializes: one of a more personal nature. An old enemy, hell-bent on revenge, is fresh out of prison. Thus begins a tale of proactive policing and personal paranoia, in which Stone finds himself defending himself, his patch and - before long - his latest squeeze. In Killing the Blues, Michael Brandman combines all of Parker's tried and tested ingredients to create a highly enjoyable and authentic Jesse Stone thriller.Trade ReviewTougher, stronger, better educated, and far more amusing than Sam Spade, Phil Marlowe or Lewis Archer * Boston Globe *When it comes to detective novels, 90 per cent of us admit he's an influence, and the rest of us lie about it * Harlan Coben *Spenser is a constant revelation for even long-time Parker fans * Milwaukee Sentinel *One of the great series in the history of the detective story * New York Times Book Review *Reading Parker is like swimming downstream in a river of adrenalin * Boston Observer *Spenser gives the tribe of hard-boiled wonders a new vitality and complexity * Chicago Sun *The sassiest, funniest, most-enjoyable-to-read-about private eye around today . . . the legitimate heir to the Hammett-Chandler-Macdonald tradition * Cincinnati Post *Nobody does it better * Publishers Weekly *Reading a Spenser novel is like a family reunion - it makes one feel good * Library Journal *'No one understands what makes Bob Parker's Jesse Stone tick better than Michael Brandman - and Michael is just the writer to carry Jesse into the future' Tom Selleck. * Tom Selleck *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA mother's nightmare: her children taken from her because of unexplained injuries all over their bodies. Who will believe her story?When lawyer Daniel Connell receives a visit from his trouble-making old flame Victoria pleading for his help, he looks for any excuse not to get involved. But no one else believes her pleas of innocence and Daniel can see she is terrified. As he enters Victoria's life once more, Daniel's search for truth leads from the dark heart of Essex to the mountains of Afghanistan, and a terrifying world where monsters are real - and nothing is sacred.Trade ReviewI enthused about Thorne's debut, East of Innocence, which featured disgraced City of London lawyer and hard man David Connell... Authentic, fast-moving and with a wry ear for dialogue, it turned out to be a hit... This excellent second outing for Connell sees him answering a plea from his troubled former lover... So begins an investigation that takes him to Afghanistan, but also sends him to the ugly depths of the Essex underworld. Thorne used to write jokes for comedians, but there is barely a laugh in this grippingly good crime story. -- Geoffrey Wansell * Daily Mail *A feisty and likeable hero... punchy and fast-paced. * Scotsman *This is a carefully plotted thriller, realistic in its violence and with strong memorable characters. Soon to be adapted into a TV series, it is fast paced and edgy without losing any of its credibility * We Love This Book on EAST OF INNOCENCE *This is a potent mixture of an authentic, brutal crime story, told with a neat line in dialogue and an appealing hero * Daily Mail on EAST OF INNOCENCE *Everyone has a picture of an Essex crime novel. But David Thorne's East of Innocence is a fresh take on this famous county * Bookseller on EAST OF INNOCENCE *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'As sweetly profane a poet as American noir could have asked for' Ian Rankin'A friggin' masterpiece' Dennis Lehane'The stunner that reinvigorated the genre and jacked up a generation of future crime novelists' George PelecanosMeet Private Detective C. W. Sughrue. Private detectives are supposed to find missing persons and solve crimes. But more often than not Sughrue is the one committing the crimes – everything from grand theft auto to criminal stupidity. All washed down with a hearty dose of whiskey and regret.At the end of a three-week hunt for a runaway bestselling author, Sughrue winds up in a ramshackle bar, with an alcoholic bulldog. The landlady’s daughter vanished a decade ago and now she wants Sughrue to find her. His search will take him to the deepest, darkest depths of San Francisco’s underbelly, a place as fascinating, frightening and flawed as he is. Welcome to James Crumley’s America.Trade ReviewCrumley writes like an angel on speed * Time Out *The poet laureate of American hard-boiled literature, superior even to James Lee Burke in his ability to evoke extreme melancholy, gruesome violence and an acute sense of landscape * Guardian *Reading Crumley is like hurtling through an assault course...funny, salty and ruthless...one of the marvels of contemporary crime writing * Literary Review *Like James Ellroy, he is a master of American vernacular, turning tough-guy slang into something like poetry * Independent *James Crumley, a critically acclaimed crime novelist whose drug-infused, alcohol-soaked, profanity-laced, breathtakingly violent books swept the hard-boiled detective from the Raymond Chandler era into an amoral, utterly dissolute, apocalyptic post-Vietnam universe * New York Times *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'The most exciting crime writer to have emerged in Britain for years' Ian Rankin'Denise Mina is Britain's best living crime writer' Sunday ExpressFROM THE COSTA-SHORTLISTED BESTSELLING AUTHORIn Glasgow, a child goes missing, taken from the front garden of his home. The investigation leads the police to the doors of two young boys.Paddy Meehan has just started work at a local newspaper where she dreams of becoming an investigative journalist. Although everyone around her believes the boys acted on their own, she is certain there is more to it and begins to ask awkward questions.But Paddy's investigation has repercussions she never anticipated. Shunned by those closest to her, she finds herself dangerously alone.And someone is trying to stop her discovering the truth.The first novel in the addictive Paddy Meehan series, from award-winning author Denise Mina.Trade ReviewMina produces something special every time and this book – her finest yet – offers a memorable portrait of her touching heroine, along with the dynamics of the workplace and, especially, the family * Sunday Telegraph *Mina never fails to engage the reader, taking crime fiction into further territory to challenge and extend our perceptions... [This book] puts Mina into the class of the serious psychological novelist * Scotland on Sunday *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlways trust your very basic instincts or prepare for the consequences…It was surreal returning to work after a sabbatical following the suspicious death of my best friend Livvy.On my return to the company apartment, I was surprised to find Livvy’s replacement, Amanda Dowd firmly entrenched as my new flatmate.She’d seemingly appeared out of nowhere.But something didn’t feel right. I felt on edge.Everyone seemed to love Amanda, even my ex-Jayden was blinded by her outgoing personality and model-like looks.Yet her desperation to become friends felt unnatural.When I began to receive calls, photos and presents from Livvy, I became spooked. Someone was targeting me, watching me. With my job, home and life on the line, I had to find out who was doing this to me and why.I hadn’t caused Livvy’s death but still believed it was no accident. Someone else was guilty and I had to find out who before I was next.Bestseller Gemma Rogers is back with another page-turning thriller.Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Shari Lapena and Lisa JewellPraise for Gemma Rogers'Unputdownable. a nail-biting thriller that grips to the very last page' - Keri Beevis'A claustrophobic psychological thriller with an explosive finale. Gripping and absorbing'- David Beckler‘It’s a shocking thriller that grabs at your emotions on every page! Loved it’ - Lauren North‘Captivating and enthralling, I give this book five shiny golden stars’ - Anita Waller‘A well-written and thoroughly entertaining thriller from a very talented author’ - John Nicoll‘A beautifully written edge-of-your-seat thriller that had me guessing right until the end’ - Dreda Say Mitchell'A brilliant thriller from an exciting new voice. Stalker it had me on the edge of my seat' - Kerry Barnes'An atmospheric, taut thriller which keeps you hooked from the first page' - Jacqui Rose

Read more less

Book SynopsisA gripping, twisty new thriller from the bestselling author of The Ice Beneath Her, perfect for fans of Will Dean's Dark Pines.A case as cold as the season. A profiler who can't remember. A killer ready to strike again. Psychological profiler Hanne Lagerlind-Schön and her partner, investigator Peter Lindgren are invited to the small, sleepy industrial town of Ormberg to investigate a cold case: ten years earlier a five-year-old girl's remains were found in a cairn near the town. But when a recurring memory problem resurfaces, Hanne struggles to keep track of the case. She begins keeping a diary, noting down everything she is likely to forget to keep up appearances so she doesn't lose her job. When the body of a woman is found at the cairn and one of Hanne's shoes is found nearby covered in the victim's blood, can Hanne's diary hold the key to what happened? How does this new murder connect to their old one? How can you put together what happened when the pieces keep fading away?Trade ReviewA dark and gritty thriller, as a true Nordic Noir should be * Lilja Sigurðardóttir *One of the most adroit of current practitioners of the Nordic Noir genre . . . After She's Gone is more proof that there is plenty of life in the Scandicrime genre * Barry Forshaw, Riveting Reviews *After She's Gone was deservedly recognised as the Best Swedish Crime Novel of the Year. Camilla Grebe has succeeded in writing a gripping, atmospheric tale that tackles a number of burning contemporary issues in a compelling way. Highly recommended * Adam Hamdy *Unsettling, menacing and compulsively written * Heat on The Ice Beneath Her *Captivating . . . deftly ensure[s] reader's certainties stay on the very thin ice * Sunday Mirror on The Ice Beneath Her *Scandi-noir at it powerful bleakest * Daily Mail on The Ice Beneath Her *I read it in one sitting. The twists are superb . . . * Cecilia Ekbäck on The Ice Beneath Her *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA gripping, twisty new thriller from the bestselling author of The Ice Beneath Her, perfect for fans of Will Dean's Dark Pines.A case as cold as the season. A profiler who can't remember. A killer ready to strike again. Psychological profiler Hanne Lagerlind-Schön and her partner, investigator Peter Lindgren are invited to the small, sleepy industrial town of Ormberg to investigate a cold case: ten years earlier a five-year-old girl's remains were found in a cairn near the town. But when a recurring memory problem resurfaces, Hanne struggles to keep track of the case. She begins keeping a diary, noting down everything she is likely to forget to keep up appearances so she doesn't lose her job. When the body of a woman is found at the cairn and one of Hanne's shoes is found nearby covered in the victim's blood, can Hanne's diary hold the key to what happened? How does this new murder connect to their old one? How can you put together what happened when the pieces keep fading away?Trade ReviewA dark and gritty thriller, as a true Nordic Noir should be * Lilja Sigurðardóttir *After She's Gone was deservedly recognised as the Best Swedish Crime Novel of the Year. Camilla Grebe has succeeded in writing a gripping, atmospheric tale that tackles a number of burning contemporary issues in a compelling way. Highly recommended * Adam Hamdy *

Read more less

Book SynopsisGangs of London meets Kimberley Chambers in this gripping thriller of betrayal and survival in a world where one mistake could cost you everything. YOU THINK YOU'RE FREE, BUT THEY'LL NEVER LET YOU LEAVE . . . Twenty years ago, Jon Kavanagh worked for a crime syndicate. Then one night he made a mistake.He left a witness at a crime scene. Alive. Now, he is haunted by the memories of that young girl. Her face a constant reminder of the life he chose to leave behind. Time has passed and now he wants answers: What ever happened to her?Anna Hill is an aspiring singer, but the bars and clubs she works in are far from exciting. When she is given the opportunity to work in Portugal, she takes it. This is her chance to finally kick-start her career. But the job offer comes at a price; one that will endanger the lives of those she knows, and those she doesn't. Becoming involved with the Syndicate is risky, and Anna will need her instincts to work out who to trust - and who not to . . .'One of my reads of the year' DAVID JACKSON'A gripping story that builds to a stunning conclusion. Kavanagh is a complex and original creation; a man haunted by his past and living on borrowed time' HOWARD LINSKEY'Truly sinuous suspense that when you think you've got it worked out, has a resolution that snaps back and bites' KATE BRADLEYTrade ReviewBrilliant characterisation and such a tense, winding plot. I loved the way Graham wove the story together * Lisa Hall *A damaged but engaging central character, sharp dialogue, twisty plot and great pay-off - The Syndicate has all the ingredients of an excellent thriller * Simon Brett *The Syndicate is a gripping story that builds to a stunning conclusion. GJ Minett's Kavanagh is a complex and original creation; a man haunted by his past and living on borrowed time * Howard Linksey *Captivating, cleverly written, unputdownable. I devoured The Syndicate in one night. Minett and crime at its finest * Rebecca Thornton *I absolutely loved it. I raced through this book. A beautifully written, character-focused novel that reminded me of George Pelecanos at his best. Definitely one of my reads of the year so far * David Jackson *Pacey, heart-stopping and poignant * Julie Corbin *'This is GJ Minett's best yet. Absorbing, nuanced and emotive. A superior thriller with a real sucker punch of a twist.' * Chris Whitaker *With Kavanagh, Minett has created the ultimate hero - dark, dangerous but with a depth of heart. If I was in trouble, I'd want Kavanagh in my corner. The Syndicate is a truly sinuous suspense that when you think you've got it worked out, has a resolution that snaps back and bites. More please * Kate Bradley *That rare type of novel that manages to be subtle, compassionate and with a real moral heart, but at the same time packed with enough twists and turns to the point you can't put it down. And Kavanagh is exactly my kind of hero - laconic, no-nonsense, but also credible and relatable - the sort of reluctant leading man that I can't get enough of. A really entertaining read, but made exceptional my the emotional punch it carries * Rod Reynolds *In The Syndicate, G.J Minett has brought us a compelling, intricately-plotted novel peopled with fascinating characters, particularly the brilliantly drawn Jon Kavanagh, in whose outcome I was completely invested throughout. The writing is superb, the story intriguing and what an ending. Wow! * Gill Thompson *A master of language and character, GJ Minett's The Syndicate is dark and treacherous with a real sting in its tail. * Sam Blake *What a thumping good book! And an absolute gem of a hallmark GJ Minett mystery thriller. Full of twists and turns and surprises, this particular story built to an emotive ending that I found enormously satisfying. A great story from a master storyteller. More please * C J Carver *A powerful psychological thriller, The Syndicate explores the physical and emotional scars that mould the character of a killer * Carolyn Kirby *This is an exciting, twisty novel from an author at the top of his game and in Jon Kavanagh he's created an intriguing lead character. The Syndicate is an excellent, page-turning read - one you won't want to put down * David Young *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE TENSE NEW THRILLER FROM THE 'MASTER OF SINISTER' (ANGELA CLARKE), FOR FANS OF CHRIS CARTER.Tom Killgannon, ex-undercover police officer and now in witness protection, is recalled to active service by a local police task force, headed by DS Sheridan. His mission is to befriend notorious child killer Noel Cunningham and find out where he buried the bodies of his final two victims. The catch? Tom has to obtain that information from within Blackmoor prison itself.Undercover and with no back-up, Tom soon runs into danger. In the prison is convicted gangster Dean Foley. He used to run Manchester's biggest gang, until Tom's testimony put him away for life. He recognises Tom, and so begins a cat-and-mouse game as Tom fights for survival before Foley can get his revenge. But why can't Tom reach DS Sheridan and what is the real reason he has been sent to Blackmoor prison?'Waites is one of the best crime writers we have' MARK BILLINGHAM'Martyn Waites is already crime fiction royalty' STEVE CAVANAGH'A deftly-plotted thriller with a dark heart and a real emotional punch' SIMON KERNICK on The Old Religion'A guaranteed thrill-ride' SARAH PINBOROUGH on The Old ReligionTrade ReviewA deftly-plotted, gripping, pulse-racing rollercoaster of a thriller. If you haven't read Martyn Waites before, then you're in for a real treat. Stunning * Harlan Coben *I have to say I think it's his best yet. A proper page-turner, with a claustrophobic darkness to it and an excellent cast of characters. Get ye to thy local bookshop! * Stuart MacBride *Pacey but atmospheric, with a palpable sense of claustrophobia and menace * Laura Wilson, Guardian *I've long suspected that Martyn Waites belongs behind bars, and with this brilliant, pulse-raising, prison-set thriller, he's proved me right * Mick Herron *Waites brings all his storytelling talent and experience to this chilling tale . . . spectacular * Lee Child on The Old Religion *Authentically spooky, thrillingly atmospheric and unnervingly relevant. It reads like The Wicker Man for the Brexit era * Chris Brookmyre on The Old Religion *A raw, deftly-plotted thriller with a dark heart and a real emotional punch * Simon Kernick *A guaranteed thrill-ride * Sarah Pinborough on The Old Religion *One of the very best crime writers we have * Mark Billingham *I loved it. Every word. Superbly written, creepy as hell, and chilling to the bone. I can't recommend it highly enough! * Luca Veste on The Old Religion *Martyn Waites is crime fiction royalty * Steve Cavanagh *The Sinner is a dark, atmospheric thriller with an intriguing backstory that makes me want to seek out the first book in the series, and I always know a book and its characters have worked for me when that's the end result. * Crime Review *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A deftly-plotted, gripping, pulse-racing rollercoaster of a thriller . . . you're in for a treat' HARLAN COBEN'Claustrophobic, ominous, and one hell of a ride' STUART MACBRIDETHE TENSE NEW THRILLER FROM THE 'MASTER OF SINISTER' (ANGELA CLARKE), FOR FANS OF CHRIS CARTER.Tom Killgannon, ex-undercover police officer and now in witness protection, is recalled to active service by a local police task force, headed by DS Sheridan. His mission is to befriend notorious child killer Noel Cunningham and find out where he buried the bodies of his final two victims. The catch? Tom has to obtain that information from within Blackmoor prison itself.Undercover and with no back-up, Tom soon runs into danger. In the prison is convicted gangster Dean Foley. He used to run Manchester's biggest gang, until Tom's testimony put him away for life. He recognises Tom, and so begins a cat-and-mouse game as Tom fights for survival before Foley can get his revenge. But why can't Tom reach DS Sheridan and what is the real reason he has been sent to Blackmoor prison?'Waites is one of the best crime writers we have' MARK BILLINGHAM'Martyn Waites is already crime fiction royalty' STEVE CAVANAGH'Pacey but atmospheric, with a palpable sense of claustrophobia and menace' Laura Wilson, Guardian'On a par with Ross MacDonald's Lew Archer' Sunday Times Crime ClubTrade ReviewA deftly-plotted, gripping, pulse-racing rollercoaster of a thriller. If you haven't read Martyn Waites before, then you're in for a real treat. Stunning * Harlan Coben *I have to say I think it's his best yet. A proper page-turner, with a claustrophobic darkness to it and an excellent cast of characters. * Stuart MacBride *One of the very best crime writers we have * Mark Billingham *I've long suspected that Martyn Waites belongs behind bars, and with this brilliant, pulse-raising, prison-set thriller, he's proved me right * Mick Herron *Pacey but atmospheric, with a palpable sense of claustrophobia and menace * Laura Wilson, Guardian *One of the brightest stars in the British crime writing firmament * John Connolly *Full of thrills and spills and packed with danger, The Sinner is a supersonic fast-paced page turner; calling it high octane doesn't even come close to doing it justice . . . a book that made me forget to breathe * The Book Magnet *Books like The Sinner are why I started blogging all those years ago. I wanted to make sure my love for a story which had held me gripped from first page to last could reach a wide audience and hopefully as many people as possible will be on the lookout for this book . . . The Sinner is the book I will be recommending for a good while to come. Easy 5 star score - go get it! * Grab This Book *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the award-winning and bestselling author of Eyes Like Mine comes the new thriller featuring Nora Watts, 'a brave, unflinching heroine' (Lee Child). This time in order to protect her daughter, Nora is willing to risk everything. Meet Nora Watts. She's not your average heroine, but she'll go above and beyond for those she loves. For fans of Jeffery Deaver's The Never Game and Karin Slaughter's The Last Widow comes a book about family, loyalty and love.'Sheena Kamal's writing is as fearless as her protagonist' LINWOOD BARCLAY'Will stay with you for a long, long time. Perhaps forever' JEFFERY DEAVER****Find your enemy. Before he finds you . . . Nora Watts is used to being hunted. Since she rescued her biological daughter, Bonnie, two years ago, from the criminal gang that had kidnapped her, Nora's been targeted by the ruthless Dao. He wants revenge, and he will use whatever he can to get to Nora - including Bonnie.So, Nora has no choice: the hunted must become the hunter. But as she chases after Dao, from the snow-laden streets of Vancouver to the sun-bleached beaches in Indonesia, she knows that it's only a matter of time before they come face to face - and this time, only one of them can walk away. It's a mother's job to keep her child safe, at all costs, so can Nora find Dao and stop him - before it's too late?'I'd follow Nora Watts (and her dog) anywhere' A. L. GAYLIN'The next Gillian Flynn' IRISH INDEPENDENTTrade ReviewSheena Kamal's writing is as fearless as her protagonist * Linwood Barclay *Intricately plotted. A tense, taut thriller with a flawed, compelling heroine. I want to read more about Nora Watts * Andrea Carter *Will stay with you for a long, long time. Perhaps forever * Jeffery Deaver on Eyes Like Mine *This is a rampageous romp in the modern idiom with an underlying theme of sacrifice. Mothers will recognise that and accept it as rote, going on to enjoy Nora Watts, the swashbuckling hero, a woman of inviolate principle who makes her own rules. Hardly a role model but certainly a brilliant companion for dark days. All hail to escapist literature and Sheena Kamal in particular. * SHOTS Magazine *

Read more less

Book Synopsis*Shortlisted for the John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger Award 2017* World-weary Jonathan Craine is a detective at the LAPD who has spent his entire career as a studio ‘fixer’, covering up crimes of the studio players to protect the billion-dollar industry that built Los Angeles. When one of the producers of The Wizard of Oz is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Craine must make sure the incident passes without scandal and that the deceased’s widow, the beautiful starlet Gale Goodwin, comes through the ordeal with her reputation unscathed. But against his better instincts, Craine finds himself increasingly drawn to Gale. And when a series of unsavoury truths begin to surface, Craine finds himself at the centre of a conspiracy involving a Chicago crime syndicate, a prostitution racket and a set of stolen pictures that could hold the key to unravelling the mystery.Trade Review‘Superbly realised.’ * Telegraph, Books of the Year *‘Three more debuts introduced splendid anti-heroes…. The Pictures follows a morally dubious studio fixer in a superbly realised Thirties Hollywood.’ * The Telegraph *‘The Pictures is a compelling and dazzling debut for fans of Raymond Chandler and James Ellroy. Bolton's tightly paced mystery vividly re-creates 1930s Hollywood and is enriched with complicated, fascinating and flawed characters.’ * Shelf Awareness *'Star-studded, deliciously dark noir.' * Express *'If Bolton manages to combine his natural talent for place with Black's guidance on character, mystery lovers will have a great deal to anticipate.' * NPR Books *'An astonishingly accomplished debut.' * Daily Mail *‘A splendid read…handled with great skill…[Bolton] paints a portrait of the period with a confidence usually reserved for old survivors.’ * The Times *'A solid read for fans of the silver screen and intelligent detective novels.' * Library Journal *'Bolton spins a lurid tale of Hollywood after dark, complete with drugs, prostitution, and pornography...nicely mixing Hollywood glamour with backroom sleaze.' * Booklist *'A laser-sharp noir thriller.' * Financial Times *‘Brilliantly atmospheric and compelling.’ * Mail on Sunday *‘Craine is not the usual maverick cop and his ambiguous nature makes this novel tick… Place and period are lovingly described.’ * Spectator *‘A skilfully written, atmospheric tale.’ * Literary Review *‘It's one of those books which you pick up idly - and don't put down. I read it in a couple of days and I'm still thinking about a couple of the characters. Definitely recommended…. There's a real pace to the story and an effortless evocation of the Hollywood of the nineteen thirties…It's his first novel and is particularly assured for a debut.’ * The Bookbag *‘Moody Hollywood thriller with a tarnished cop looking into a producer's apparent suicide that puts him up against the studio bosses who pay him, the mob that's muscling in, and his old love. Set against the release of The Wizard of Oz, Bolton creates a time and place both accurate and dreamlike as he delves into wounded men looking for a shot to be better.’ * Mystery People bookstore Picked one of the top six debut mystery novels of 2017 *

Read more less

Book SynopsisBrought to you by Penguin.1992. Two strangers bring a hospital patient a list of names. They ask him for one more, but it's a question the patient can't answer. Minutes later he is dispatched through the 12th floor window.His death generates some unexpected attention. That attention comes from the Secretary of Defence, who brings in an inter-agency task force to investigate. Jack Reacher, recently demoted from Major to Captain, is assigned as the Army's representative.Reacher may be an exceptional soldier, but sweeping other people's secrets under the carpet isn't part of his skill set. As he races to find the killer, he must navigate around the ulterior motives of his new 'partners'. And all while moving into the sight line of some of the most dangerous people he has ever encountered.His mission is to uncover the truth. Fast. The question is: will Reacher bring the bad guys to justice the official way . . . or his way?PRAISE FOR THE JACK REACHER SERIES'There's only one Jack Reacher. Accept no substitutes.' MICK HERRON'Jack Reacher is today's James Bond, a thriller hero we can't get enough of.' KEN FOLLETT'Everyone needs to kick some butt sometimes, even if it's just imaginary.' JOJO MOYESAlthough the Jack Reacher novels can be read in any order, The Secret is the 28th book in the internationally bestselling series.©2023 Andrew Child & Lee Child (P)2023 Penguin AudioTrade ReviewThe Secret is a corker . . . Fast and furious, this is classic Jack Reacher doing what he does best – busting heads and breaking rules to get to the bottom of a conspiracy * Daily Express *A flow to the fight scenes . . . some flashes of humour . . . Welcome back, Jack * The Times *If there is a more iconic character in modern fiction than Jack Reacher, I’d like to meet them * Daily Mirror *Jack Reacher is on good form . . . Cue classic laconic violence * The Sun *

Read more less

Book SynopsisHE'S EVERY PARENT'S WORST NIGHTMARE . . .In the early hours of the morning, Detective Inspector Paolo Sterling receives a tip-off about a group of children being trafficked on to the streets of Bradchester as sex workers. Hoping he is one step closer to bringing down a notorious syndicate of twisted criminals, it soon becomes clear that Paolo and his team have been misled and that the gang have once again evaded arrest. Then a young girl is found dead in a shop doorway and, with all signs pointing towards the investigation, it quickly gathers momentum. As DI Sterling delves deeper into the darkest corners of society, he begins to unravel the most unimaginable crimes but with the shadowy leader always one step ahead, Paolo must work harder than ever before to bring the culprits to justice - before another child's life is taken.Lorraine Mace brings us the second unflinching and totally gripping instalment in her dark and gritty series featuring DI Paolo Sterling. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, M. J. Arlidge and Karin Slaughter.'Lorraine Mace has done it again. Crime fiction at its absolute finest' MARION TODD 'What an opening! Lorraine certainly knows how to write a gripping thriller. A chilling read' KAREN KINGLOVE FOR LORRAINE MACE'S WRITING:'I. Am. Not. Okay. That ending - mind blown!!!! Rage and Retribution deserves ALL the stars! It is AMAZING!' 5* Reader Review'Wow, just wow is all I can say. The whole series is just too good to miss.' 5* Reader Review'I am an absolutely massive fan of this series . . . the books are just getting better and better' 5* Reader Review'I am blown away by this story and LOVE everything about it. I cannot wait for the next instalment.' 5* Reader Review'OMG! That opening scene' 5* Reader Review'I could not put my kindle down while reading this!' 5* Reader ReviewTrade ReviewLorraine Mace has done it again. Crime fiction at its absolute finest -- MARION TODDWhat an opening! Lorraine certainly knows how to write a gripping thriller. A chilling read -- KAREN KINGA dark, cleverly plotted tale . . . I was gripped from the opening scene and raced through the book to its final, shocking ending. Crime writing at its very best -- SHEILA BUGLERGritty, topical, sometimes lacerating, but always enthralling. A truly compulsive read -- ABBIE FROST

Read more less