Crime and mystery: hard-boiled crime, noir fiction

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Book SynopsisIn this DC-set standalone from one of the best dialogue hounds in the business (New York Times Book Review), Homicide Detective Alex Blum must answer a terrible question: ''how far would you go to love the wrong woman?''In a red brick house on a tree-lined street, DC homicide detective Alex Blum stares at the bullet-pocked body of Chris Doyle. As he roots around for evidence, he finds an old polaroid: the decedent, arm in arm with Arthur Holland, Blum''s informant from years ago when he worked at the Narcotics branch.But Arthur has been missing for days. Blum''s only source: Arthur''s girl, Celeste-beautiful, seductive, and tragic-whom he can''t get out of his head. Blum is drawn to her and feels compelled to save her from Arthur''s underworld. As the investigation ticks on and dead bodies domino, Blum, unearths clues with damning implications for Celeste. Swallowed by desire, Blum''s single misstep sends him tunnelling down a rabbit hole of transgressi

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Book SynopsisOz Blackstone didn''t go looking for fame: it jumped out of an alleyway and mugged him with a fist full of high denomination notes. Movie stardom, wealth, a successful marriage - Oz is standing on the brink of the Seriously Big Time and life just seems to keep lining up the cherries... He should have known it couldn''t stay that good for that long - don''t the juiciest fruit always go sour? The first sign of trouble appears when Oz finds his ex-wife Primavera Phillips, drenched in her own tears - her life in ruins, cheated out of her fortune and robbed of her baby boy, Tom, by his lying con-man father. What could Oz do but help? Maybe he should have called for help himself, or stuck to the game plan of looking after number one. Instead he set out on a voyage of dark intrigue and wild discovery that would turn his life upside down - again.

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Book SynopsisIt''s summertime in Monaco and Oz Blackstone is sitting on the verandah of his opulent mansion - one of three homes - idly gazing at Roman Abramovich''s luxury yacht as it gently cruises into the harbour. Life doesn''t get much better than this. But somebody knows where he lives. A struggling author sweet talks him into buying the movie rights to his latest novel for $50,000, and a shocking trap is laid. The demons of the past begin to creep up on Oz''s sunny life: blackmail and murder are lurking in the shadows. Oz travels all the way to Singapore to track down the owner of some incriminating photographs but he''s in grave danger of over-exposure. And when organised crime muscles in on the picture, Oz is getting perilously close to losing a lot more than his wealth and reputation...

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Book SynopsisNow in paperback, two novellas from the Hungarian master László Krasznahorkai—“one of the most mysterious artists now at work” (Colm Toíbín) Trade Review"Gateway drugs to Krasznahorkai’s work: As the very best fiction always does, they bring another world—an alien world, let’s say—into our own." -- Christine Smallwood - Harper’s"Krasznahorkai, poet of the Apocalypse, stands alone relentlessly, if gleefully, offering wonders." -- The Economist"Together, ‘The Last Wolf’ and ‘Herman’ raise a set of spiritual questions that affirms their author as one of the most important — and eccentric — writers working today." -- Hari Kunzru - The Spectator

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Book SynopsisA girl has been found dead, seemingly strangled, in the hotel room of movie star Jumbo Nelson. Jumbo''s lawyers want Spenser to find out whether Jumbo did it - not because they care either way, but because the knowledge will help them work out how to block his conviction. Jumbo is a sufficiently repulsive individual that Spenser finds it hard to contain his distaste. And then there is his bodyguard, Zebulon Sixkill, a Cree Indian who squandered his pro-football career thanks to an inability to control his temper, and turned his attentions to alcohol instead. Also involved in Jumbo''s case for reasons that remain unclear is a cold-blooded assassin who just might be the most dangerous enemy Spenser has faced yet. But if he can persuade Sixkill to turn his life around, Spenser might just have the ally he needs...

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Book SynopsisAn FT Best Summer Thriller 2023''Creates an atmosphere of mounting menace'' The Times''Conjures up a backdrop so vivid you can taste the smoke in the air'' Val McDermid, author of 1989BIRMINGHAM, 1933.Private enquiry agent William Garrett facilitates divorces for the city''s male elite. With the help of his best friend - charming, out-of-work actor Ronnie Edgerton - William sets up honey traps. But photographing unsuspecting women in flagrante plagues his conscience and William heaves up his guts with remorse after every job.William''s life changes when he meets the beautiful Clara Morton and falls in love. Little does he know she is the wife of a client - a leading fascist with a dangerous obsession. Soon, what should have been another straightforward job turns into something far more deadly.Drenched in evocative period atmosphere and starring an unforgettable cast of characteTrade ReviewA fine writer with a great sense of period and place who creates an atmosphere of mounting menace and dread. A more than promising debut * The Times *Conjures up a backdrop so vivid you can taste the smoke in the air . . . one of those books that runs like a movie in your head and leaves greasy fingerprints all over your memory -- Val McDermid, author of 1989Marlow's very engaging protagonist may herald the birth of a new genre: Midlands Noir * Financial Times *Transplanting the hardboiled Hollywood noir of the 1940s to the backstreets of 1933 Birmingham, [Needless Alley] has all the seamy glitter and cynical grime of the genre * Daily Mail *Marlow has a nicely theatrical way with a scene, and her witty prose has texture and heft. The city is atmospherically rendered, the narrative has an almost hallucinatory quality and Garrett is an engaging leading man. Needless Alley is an exceptionally well-written first novel that whets the appetite for many sequels * Irish Times *From its claustrophobic descriptions of Birmingham's darker corners to revelations of the seedier proclivities of the rich and powerful, Needless Alley offers a gripping portrait of 1930s England, a country where Blackshirts and fascism have entered the national psyche. William Garrett - dour, dark, and damaged - is a man of principle in an unprincipled vocation. A meditative and wonderfully written historical crime debut -- Vaseem Khan, author of THE LOST MAN OF BOMBAYA gripping debut . . . Garrett may play hard-boiled but, in the best tradition of private detectives, there is a quixotic romanticism lurking under the cynical and dishevelled exterior * Irish Independent *This is pulp fiction of the highest quality, marking the arrival of a fabulous new thriller writer -- Matthew d’Ancona * Tortoise *An atmospheric, hardboiled thriller with a hint of Peaky Blinders about it * Sun *Marlow's stylish debut is an elegant homage to classic pulp fiction, steeped in dark and seedy glamour * Daily Mail *Needless Alley by Natalie Marlow is something special . . . [A] superbly written debut * Morning Star *Needless Alley is well plotted, lively and builds a great cast of characters for future mysteries * Bookseller *Crafted with all the style and elegance of classic hardboiled fiction, lovingly splashed in the grubbiness and grime of interwar Birmingham's cuts, alleys and back streets. A smart, ripping yarn, whose compelling hero is movingly supported by a cast of lived in characters, and put through the wringer by some shocking and moving revelations. Sensational start to a new series -- Dominic Nolan, author of VINE STREETDeftly plotted, beautifully written, Needless Alley is a delicious slice of Chandleresque Midlands noir. Marlow's pellucid prose shines a brilliant light on 1930s Birmingham and the lives and loves of the exquisitely drawn characters that populate its mean streets and waterways. I loved this book and I can't wait to read more -- Mark Wightman, author of WAKING THE TIGERA Chandleresque hard-boiled detective novel with an atmospheric, horrifying feel all of its own. Tightly plotted and beautifully written, a world of Blackshirts and misogyny with a flawed, human detective who I took straight to my heart -- Harriet Tyce, author of BLOOD ORANGENeedless Alley not only evokes 1930s Birmingham in all its dark glory - it introduces characters that are impossible to forget. Read it -- Alan Parks, author of BLOODY JANUARYMarlow beautifully distils 1930s Birmingham into a seamy world of moral corruption: anyone can fall and few are left clean. Gripping, confident and atmospheric -- Kate Mascarenhas, author of HOKEY POKEYA terrific debut. It's not often that historical fiction gets this down and dirty, but Natalie Marlow has delivered dark and twisted in spades. I urge you to take a stroll down Needless Alley, but you might want to watch your back as you do . . . -- Trevor Wood, author of DEAD END STREETNeedless Alley, Marlow's debut is crime fiction gold. Every word is crafted with care; every plot twist is elegantly presented. And at the heart of it all is a heinous crime that begs to be solved by a hero as full of heart as he is driven. I love everything about this book -- Femi Kayode, author of LIGHTSEEKERSNeedless Alley is great - dark, gritty and full of unexpected twists and turns -- Frances Quinn, author of THAT BONESETTER WOMAN1930s Birmingham is brought expertly to life in this atmospheric crime noir where corruption and seedy entanglements lurk down every darkly lit street. Compelling and clever, Needless Alley makes for a gripping read that any Peaky Blinders fan is sure to love -- Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of PANDORADown these mean Brummie streets a man must go . . . and on the strength of Natalie Marlow's cracking debut, I'll be following. An elegantly written, meticulously researched 1930s noir thriller, with a twisting, turning plot and vivid characters both utterly of their time and powerfully resonant of our own -- Robbie Morrison, author of EDGE OF THE GRAVENeedless Alley is a great murder mystery, rich in character and detail and darker than a Black Country canal at midnight -- Peter Hanington, author of A CURSED PLACEAs with every atmospheric mystery, it's all about the lighting, and Natalie Marlow illuminates the hard-boiled players in this thrilling debut with all the dexterity of any of our great noir novelists. You will wince, you will gasp, you will shudder at every turn, and you will want to keep reading until that last light dims at the disquieting end -- J.M. Varese, author of THE SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHER and THE COMPANY

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Book SynopsisThe first message sent to Tom Thorne''s mobile phone was just a picture - the blurred image of a man''s face, but Thorne had seen too many dead bodies in his time to know that this man was no longer alive. But who was he? Who sent the photograph? And why? While the technical experts attempt to trace the sender, Thorne searches the daily police bulletins for a reported death that would match the photograph. Then another picture arrives. Another dead man ... It is the identities of the murdered men which give Thorne his first clue, a link to a dangerous killer he''d put away years before and who is still in prison. With a chilling talent for manipulation, this man has led another inmate to plot revenge on everyone he blames for his current incarceration, and for the murder of his family while he''s been inside. Newly released, this convict has no fear of the police, no feelings for those he is compelled to murder. Now Tom Thorne must face one of the toughest challenges of his cTrade ReviewMurder and mystery do not come better than this. * What's On in London *Brisk, racy read. * The Times *Assured and shocking thriller. * The Guardian *A cunning variation on the serial-murder theme. * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWhen Donna Langford receives a very recent photo of her ex-husband in the post, she gets the shock of her life. Because she''s just spent ten years in prison for organising his murder. When her daughter goes missing, Donna believes there can only be one man responsible and hires Anna Carpenter, a determined young private investigator, to find him.DI Tom Thorne worked on the Alan Langford case, so when Carpenter brings the photo to him, he refuses to believe that the man whose body was found in a burned-out car ten years before can still be alive. But when a prison inmate that he and Anna interview is viciously murdered, Thorne starts to understand that Langford is not only alive, but ready to get rid of anyone who could threaten his comfortable new life in Spain...

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Book SynopsisFrom the acclaimed author of Darktown comes the most inventive crime novel since Minority Report.''It''s rare to find a thriller with such a fantastic and original concept. I was gripped'' --- Anthony HorowitzIn a world where a global event has blinded every person on the planet, one detective seeks a murderer who should not, cannot, exist.Seven years ago, everyone in the world went blind in a matter of months. Technology helped people adjust to the new normal, creating a device that approximates vision, downloading visual data directly to people''s brains. But what happens when someone finds a way to manipulate it and change what people see?Homicide detective Mark Owens has been on the force since before The Blinding. When a scientist is murdered, and the only witness insists the killer was blacked out of her vision, Owens doesn''t believe her - until a similar murder happens in front of him. With suTrade ReviewIt's rare to find a thriller with such a fantastic and original concept. I was gripped. * Anthony Horowitz *An exceptional mystery and seamless interwoven it this new world he has realised. The result is incredible. Easily my book of the year so far. * M. W. Craven *This terrific mix of noir and sci-fi delivers an exciting and cautionary crime novel of what may be our not-so-distant future. * Ace Atkins *An exciting page-turner that's also full of sharp writing and thought-provoking ideas. Mullen fuses science fiction and a detective story into a stylish and entertaining novel. * Charles Yu *The world of this story is brimming with imagination and raises alarming questions about our own near-term future. Attention Black Mirror fans: This is your next book! * Jason Rekulak *Mixing the genres of crime and science fiction, this is assured writing . . . Fans of William Gibson as well as crime fiction will find The Blind Spots an exciting and thought-provoking read * Crime Time *A tremendous crime-SF hybrid, a brilliantly conceived story impeccably told. * Booklist *[An] excellent near-future mystery. Fans of P.D. James's Children of Men will be enthralled. * Publishers Weekly *Two guns - I mean thumbs - up * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisA BAFFLING MURDER IN RURAL CHINA. AN EXILED DETECTIVE. AND POLITICS AS DEADLY AS A KILLER.''Parts the bamboo curtain to reveal a detailed and pacy portrait of police work and everyday life in this gripping crime thriller.'' THE SUN''City of Ice delivers everything one could want in a crime novel - insight, thrills, and entertainment.'' Robert K. Tanenbaum, New York Times bestselling authorIn a remote Chinese town - where the theft of a few chickens counts as a major crime - a young woman is found brutally murdered...with her heart, lungs and liver removed. Inspector Lu Fei, a weary cop who fled the city, suddenly finds himself under the intense scrutiny of the ruling party in Beijing.Determined to find her killer, Lu Fei must navigate a society where politics can be deadly, corruption is rife, and the powerful are untouchable. As evidence connects

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Book SynopsisSIX WEEKS. SIX VICTIMS. NO CLUES.''One down, five to go.''When a leading psychiatrist is found murdered by insulin injection in his home, with a note bearing this threat, Detective Inspector Paolo Sterling and his team find themselves in a race against time to stop a killer from striking again. But with so little to go on, trying to find the next victim is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.As the body count rises, and the investigation reaches its critical point, Paolo and his team grapple with what could be their most complex case to date. But just when they think the game is up, they make a shocking discovery that leads them close to home.With so much at stake, can DI Sterling uncover the truth before it''s too late? Or will those closest to him pay the price?*PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS INJECTIONS OF INSANITY*Lorraine Mace returns with the third unflinching and totally grippinTrade 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

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Book SynopsisThe race is on. The stakes are high.Frankie James thought his troubles were behind him. He’s busy running his Soho Club, and his brother’s finally out of prison. But when a postcard arrives from Mallorca, he’s stopped in his tracks . . . Is it from his mother – the woman who’s been missing for eight years?When the goddaughter of London’s fiercest gangster, Tommy Riley, goes missing in Ibiza, Tommy knows there’s one man for the job – Frankie James. Just when Frankie was on the straight and narrow, he’s now faced with an impossible choice. If he agrees to help find Tanya, he’ll be thrown into a world of danger. If he doesn’t, Tommy could destroy him.For Frankie James, old habits die hard. One thing’s for sure, playing with this gang is no game. But with everything at stake, how can Frankie say no?Double Kiss is the fast-paced, thrilling sequel to Framed, by snooker champion Ronnie O’SullivanTrade ReviewLike O’Sullivan playing at his best, the book is tight, pacey and keeps you guessing. * The Big Issue (Framed) *Ronnie's first crime novel draws on his early years . . . a world of gangsters and bent coppers which he writes about with uncomfortable authenticity. * Choice (Framed) *Packed with intrigue, action, brutal villains and a beguiling hero, this is a cracking first novel delivered with all the sidespin and clever swerves one would expect from the king of the trick shots! * Lancashire Evening Post (Framed) *Running is a chaotic race through O'Sullivan's life, but this does little to dethrone him as the people's champion - it simply adds further to his legend. * Press Association on Running *

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Book Synopsis 'AN UNMISSABLE DEBUT' Sunday Express Magazine'A GRIPPING DEBUT (...) YOU WON'T WANT IT TO END' HeatTHE FIRST IN A PHENOMENAL NEW SERIES FEATURING DI ALEX FINN AND DC MATTIE PAULSEN. Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Peter James and Peter Robinson. When a development in South London catches fire mid-construction, a close-knit team of fire fighters runs in to save a man spotted at the window. They come out without a body. They quit the service. They plan never to speak to each other again. Five years later one of them is set alight at his own wedding. Soon after, a second is found, nothing but a smoking corpse. It appears that someone knows what they did that night. What they chose over their duty. And there are still three men left to burn . . . DI Alex Finn and his new partner DC Mattie Paulsen are an unlikely pairing, but they need to discover who is behind these killings before the next man faces the fire. This is first in Will Shindler's Finn and Paulsen series - a British detective series that ranks with Mark Billingham, M.J. Arlidge, Stuart MacBride.***Order the second novel in the Finn and Paulsen series, THE KILLING CHOICE, now!***REAL READERS ARE LOVING THE BURNING MENRATED 4.5 STARS ON NETGALLEY'Well-constructed and cleverly penned, this is one that starts strongly, continues powerfully and ends with a very satisfying bang. It's about consequences, consciences and morals intertwined with some gruesome scenes and a thumping good ride''A real page turner. I loved this book . . . There must be more of these two, they are fascinating. More please, equally well thought out, equally well written . . . please. SOON!''If, like me, you are the kind of reader who likes to be in on the ground floor of a brand-new series, then get The Burning Men on your pre-order to be read lists because this is one of those times . . .''This is a great read about greed and treachery. An engaging, exciting read which I read in one sitting. Lots of red herrings, twists and turns''I absolutely loved it, it drew me in from the first page and didn't let go until the end. I cannot wait to read the next book by this author'Trade ReviewAn unmissable debut * Sunday Express S Magazine, Books to look forward to in 2020 *The pace is good and Finn is a great character. There is also an excellently portrayed organised crime boss * Literary Review *This debut is, simply put, fantastic. It has such a strong opening, you'll be hooked after the first chapter * Yahoo *A gripping debut with well-rounded characters and an intriguing plot. You won't want it to end * Heat *This thriller's hot stuff. A blaze of action and surprises, making it a sure crime debut of the year contender. Shindler's list (sorry!) of successes include an original plot, gasp-out-loud twists and a brilliant new detective team... the case is a humdinger. 10/10 * The Peterborough Telegraph *Arresting... an unusual novel with a rising sense of menace * The Sunday Times *Fans of police novels and dramas will lap up this tale, and as it's the first in the Finn and Paulsen series, I can't wait for the next instalment * Daily Record *Blistering debut... this is a gritty and cleverly plotted police drama - the very definition of a page- turner * Culture Fly *A highly accomplished police procedural with intriguing characters and plenty of twists to keep readers guessing until its explosive finale * The Daily Express *The Burning Men hooked me from the start and never gave me second thoughts (...) The sharp scenes, good pacing and deft characterisation mark this as a series to follow * Crime Review *

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Book Synopsis Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month, one of The Times Best Crime Novels of 2021, The Sunday Times Crime Club Book of the Week and one of the Observers thrillers of the month!'Riveting . . . Shindler's second novel displays an acute understanding of family dynamics, easily fulfilling the promise of his debut, The Burning Men' SUNDAY TIMES, CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTHTHE SECOND NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BURNING MEN, FEATURING DI ALEX FINN AND DCI MATTIE PAULSEN5* RATING ON NETGALLEY'Don't think I've loved a Detective as much since Idris Elba's John Luther''Will Schindler's books have all the hallmarks of future classics of this genre''A sharp police procedural with an interesting plot''The greatest strengths lies in the terrific police team whose characters are so well fleshed out they feel real''I loved the storyline, it kept me on edge till the end''A real contender, which is up there with the best''Leave your daughter with me, or I will kill you both'It felt like a normal Friday evening before Karl and his daughter Leah were ambushed by a figure in a blank mask. At knife point, Karl is forced to make an impossible choice. Stay and die, or walk away from Leah and take this thug's word that they both will live. Should Karl trust a villain and leave his daughter with a knife at her throat? Could he ever live with himself if he did? It's not long before more seemingly unconnected and innocent people across London are offered a deal in exchange for their life. More blood is spilled, more families shattered, and more people are left to suffer with the consequences of their decisions.DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen must hunt for a killer that appears to have no face, no motive and no conscience before more victims are forced to make their choice. This is second in Will Shindler's Finn and Paulsen series - a British detective series that ranks with Mark Billingham, M.J. Arlidge and Stuart MacBride.***Order the third novel in the Finn and Paulsen series, THE HUNTING GROUND, now!***Trade ReviewThe explosive opening hooked me straight in . . . With a cast of credible characters, a twisting plotline and some ingenious twists, the book develops at a cracking pace * Lesley Sanderson, author of The Orchid Girls *An outstanding page-turner * Robin Morgan-Bentley, author of The Wreckage *Warm and dealing with recognisable emotions, this is the best kind of police procedural * Literary Review *DI Alex Finn and DCI Mattie Paulsen are back, this time chasing someone who forces their victims to make an impossible life-and-death decision. This is sitting up and begging to be developed for television * Sunday Times, Pick of the Week *Riveting . . . Shindler's second novel displays an acute understanding of family dynamics, easily fulfilling the promise of his debut, The Burning Men * Sunday Times, Book of the month *An excellent second outing for the cop pair following their introduction in The Burning Men - and as fine a police procedural as you'd want for a cold winter's night * Weekend Sport *The Killing Choice is the second in a series that opened with The Burning Men , and is another adept police procedural, building the sense of dread to breaking point as Finn and Paulsen rush to uncover any links between the victims. This is an immersive read that leaves the reader wondering how they would react if faced with such an unimaginable choice * Observer *Riveting * The Times, Best thrillers and crime novels of 2021 so far *This slick tense thriller about families, loyalty, guilt and revenge is top notch * The Sun, Pick of the Week *This slick, tense thriller about families, loyalty, guilt and revenge is top notch - and no doubt heading to TV screens soon * The Sun *This riveting novel has a protagonist faced with a choice no parent should have to make: does he save his own life or that of his daughter? His decision has catastrophic consequences * Times Online, 'top 50 best books to read for summer 2021' *Thrilling * The Killing Choice *

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