Crime and mystery: hard-boiled crime, noir fiction

Book Synopsis'A brilliant story from a masterful storyteller.' Anita WallerOne chance meeting. A night that changes everything.The Kennedy sisters, Molly, Alex and Sam, have a Christmas tradition – a night out, just the three of them, sisters together.Lewis Stone can’t face the work Christmas party, but as he’s one of the bosses, he has to put in an appearance. He leaves as soon as he can politely get away, ready for the holidays to begin.When Lewis Stone meets the Kennedy sisters, a train of events begins that engulfs them all.One sister is left fighting for her life.One sister is left fighting for her marriage.And one sister is hellbent on revenge…The brilliant new psychological thriller from bestseller O.J. Mullen. Perfect for fans of T. M. Logan, B.A. Paris, Sue Watson and K.L. Slater.'A superb rollercoaster of a read. Gripping to the very last page!' J.A. Baker‘A gripping story with a totally unexpected ending. Loved it.’ Valerie KeoghWhat readers are saying about O.J. Mullen:‘Be warned. From the minute you start reading this book your time will not be your own. It is a brilliant book that reels you in from the start. The characters are so well portrayed that they feel real. - that you would recognise them if they passed you in the street. The plot is wicked, intricate and completely believable. What more could you ask from a book?’‘What I really love about Owen’s writing is it’s perfect.. utterly engrossing, dark and gritty. It’s the tone…I don’t know how he does it but the style of writing is exactly what I want to see.. it’s the grittiness.. the realness.. the depth to the characters.. utter WOW!’‘An absolute first class book. Yet again this talented author delivers a gripping rollercoaster of a read.’‘Thrills, suspense, and drama are the order of the day and you won't be able to tear yourself away from it.’

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Book SynopsisRosamund Lupton meets Lupin in this accomplished debut from an eclectic, cut-throat new voice in thriller writing.**DON'T MISS MEGAN DAVIS' NEXT THRILLER, BAY OF THIEVES. AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW**'A sleek, sinister debut' WOMAN'S OWN'A strong, twisting, literary journey of revelation and redemption. Five stars' JANICE HALLETT'An intelligent, gripping and stylish literary thriller - I couldn't put it down. Megan Davis is a major new talent' SOPHIE HANNAH'A sharply written, clever and classy thrill-ride through the streets of Paris' CHRIS WHITAKER A crime he didn't commit. A truth he must deliver.Wealthy and privileged, Alex has an easy path to success in the Parisian elite his father mingles with. But the two have never seen eye to eye. Desperate to escape the increasingly suffocating atmosphere of their apartment, Alex seeks freedom on the streets of Paris where his new-found friend Sami teaches him how to survive. But everything has a price - and one night of rebellion changes their lives forever.A simple plan to steal money takes a sinister turn when Alex's father is found dead. Despite protesting their innocence, both boys are imprisoned for murder. Seven years later Alex is released from prison with a single purpose: to discover who really killed his father. Yet as he searches for answers and atones for the sins of his past, Alex uncovers a disturbing truth with far-reaching consequences.Playing out against a backdrop of corruption, fake news and civil unrest, The Messenger exposes the gritty reality of a changing city through one son's journey to redemption and the truth. 'Megan Davis's electric, suspenseful and stunning evocation of contemporary Paris is unforgettable' ELIZABETH MACNEAL'A well-written, intriguing novel with an excellent sense of place' KAMILA SHAMSIE 'Compelling ... A deft blend of murder mystery, political intrigue and family secrets' DOMINIC NOLANTrade ReviewA sleek, sinister debut * Woman's Own *A conspiracy thriller with strong Catcher In The Rye vibes, The Messenger is so evocatively written it transported me to Paris and tore up my return ticket. A strong, twisting, literary journey of revelation and redemption. Five stars * Janice Hallett *An intelligent, gripping and stylish literary thriller - I couldn't put it down. Megan Davis is a major new talent * Sophie Hannah *A sharply written, clever and classy thrill-ride through the streets of Paris. Atmospheric and twisting, The Messenger is a wonderful debut * Chris Whitaker *A well-written, intriguing novel with an excellent sense of place * Kamila Shamsie *Megan Davis's electric, suspenseful and stunning evocation of contemporary Paris is unforgettable * Elizabeth Macneal *An elegantly written, compelling thriller, baked into a rich Paris of riots, sex and excitement. A deft blend of murder mystery, political intrigue and family secrets * Dominic Nolan, author of Vine Street *An unusual and engaging mixture of a conspiracy story concerning both the cold war and modern gangster capitalism, along with a coming-of-age tale of revenge and redemption * Morning Star *Few, if any, English-writing authors have caught the essence of modern Paris with such accuracy and powers of evocation; add a compelling plot with social, personal and political issues to the fore and you have a splendid thriller debut to die for * Maxim Jakubowski *Davis adroitly balances the two sides of both Paris and her plot with assurance ... A true original * Crime Time *Intense, engaging and genuinely empathetic - a remarkably accomplished debut * Crime Fiction Lover *The writing is high quality, with each word carefully chosen for maximum impact ... The character development provides an exceptional mental image for readers ...The Messenger packages intrigue and danger into a literary thriller showcasing a young man's search for truth amid a backdrop of contemporary Paris * BookTrib *

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Book SynopsisRosamund Lupton meets Lupin in this accomplished debut from an eclectic, cut-throat new voice in thriller writing.**DON'T MISS MEGAN DAVIS' NEXT THRILLER, BAY OF THIEVES. AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW**'A sleek, sinister debut' WOMAN'S OWN'A strong, twisting, literary journey of revelation and redemption. Five stars' JANICE HALLETT'An intelligent, gripping and stylish literary thriller - I couldn't put it down. Megan Davis is a major new talent' SOPHIE HANNAH'A sharply written, clever and classy thrill-ride through the streets of Paris' CHRIS WHITAKER A crime he didn't commit. A truth he must deliver.Wealthy and privileged, Alex has an easy path to success in the Parisian elite his father mingles with. But the two have never seen eye to eye. Desperate to escape the increasingly suffocating atmosphere of their apartment, Alex seeks freedom on the streets of Paris where his new-found friend Sami teaches him how to survive. But everything has a price - and one night of rebellion changes their lives forever.A simple plan to steal money takes a sinister turn when Alex's father is found dead. Despite protesting their innocence, both boys are imprisoned for murder. Seven years later Alex is released from prison with a single purpose: to discover who really killed his father. Yet as he searches for answers and atones for the sins of his past, Alex uncovers a disturbing truth with far-reaching consequences.Playing out against a backdrop of corruption, fake news and civil unrest, The Messenger exposes the gritty reality of a changing city through one son's journey to redemption and the truth.'Megan Davis's electric, suspenseful and stunning evocation of contemporary Paris is unforgettable' ELIZABETH MACNEAL'A well-written, intriguing novel with an excellent sense of place' KAMILA SHAMSIE 'Compelling ... A deft blend of murder mystery, political intrigue and family secrets' DOMINIC NOLANTrade ReviewA sleek, sinister debut * Woman's Own *A conspiracy thriller with strong Catcher In The Rye vibes, The Messenger is so evocatively written it transported me to Paris and tore up my return ticket. A strong, twisting, literary journey of revelation and redemption. Five stars * Janice Hallett *An intelligent, gripping and stylish literary thriller - I couldn't put it down. Megan Davis is a major new talent * Sophie Hannah *A sharply written, clever and classy thrill-ride through the streets of Paris. Atmospheric and twisting, The Messenger is a wonderful debut * Chris Whitaker *A well-written, intriguing novel with an excellent sense of place * Kamila Shamsie *Megan Davis's electric, suspenseful and stunning evocation of contemporary Paris is unforgettable * Elizabeth Macneal *An elegantly written, compelling thriller, baked into a rich Paris of riots, sex and excitement. A deft blend of murder mystery, political intrigue and family secrets * Dominic Nolan, author of Vine Street *An unusual and engaging mixture of a conspiracy story concerning both the cold war and modern gangster capitalism, along with a coming-of-age tale of revenge and redemption * Morning Star *Few, if any, English-writing authors have caught the essence of modern Paris with such accuracy and powers of evocation; add a compelling plot with social, personal and political issues to the fore and you have a splendid thriller debut to die for * Maxim Jakubowski *Pulsating ... It's a thrill ride from start to finish * Wigan Today *

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Book SynopsisJack Taylor has finally traded in his violent life in Galway for a quiet retirement in the country. But on a day trip back into the city, Jack is hit by a truck and left in a coma, mysteriously without a scratch on him. When he awakens weeks later, he finds Ireland in a frenzy over the so-called 'Miracle of Galway'. People have become convinced that the two children who tended to him are saintly, and the site of the accident sacred. The Catholic Church isn't so sure, and Jack is commissioned to help find the children – to verify the miracle or expose the stunt. But Jack isn't the only one looking for these children, and he'll need all the help he can get – and a stiff drink of Jameson – once he finds them. Praise for Ken Bruen: 'Bruen is an Emerald Noir maestro' – DUBLIN SUNDAY INDEPENDENT 'The best-kept literary secret in Ireland' – INDEPENDENT 'One of Ireland's most original voices in crime fiction' – IRISH INDEPENDENT 'Bruen's visceral writing and anger brings a fierce, almost surreal intensity to this mad story of a heretical book that turns up in Galway' – METROTrade ReviewIt is 20 years since Jack Taylor – the ex-Garda turned private eye – made his debut in The Guards. Like his creator, he has made a career out of being unlike anyone else... The welter of violence is punctuated with typographical tricks and quips' * The Times Crime Club *This is Irish noir to the core and Ken Bruen, with his unique poetic style, is at its dark beating heart * Shots Mag *The plot Bruen spins out is serviceable and offers the right complement of thrills and adventure, but many of us don't read him for rollercoaster storylines, but for the quirky, telegraphic style, the insights into bruised psyches and the often poetic insights and digressions into books, music and religion that make Bruen's bruised universe somewhat unique * Crime Time *Bruen is truly an original writer, wickedly entertaining, stylish and sardonic. A masterclass in how to write funny crime fiction like a shark bite * Crime Time *Gritty, violent at times and generously garnished with expletives that reflect the brutal world in which the detective lives and works. Taylor is a thought-provoking, sometimes infuriating and always entertaining maverick. The novel is a page-turner that can be read perfectly well as a stand-alone and recommended for all those who like a twist of Byron with their Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe. I loved it * Promoting Crime Fiction *It sounds bizarre to say that the book is a pleasure to read, given how dark it is. But it really is! * Crime Review *Bruen, the master of Galway noir, once again takes us down the mean streets of the Claddagh * RTÉ *An enjoyable read, funny in parts and gripping – Jack is a character you'll continue to root for * Belfast Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of ITV's THE TOWER'Rips along like a rattlesnake. Absorbing. Relevant. Tense.' Imran MahmoodThere's more than one way to go missing...When Ryan Kennedy is imprisoned after killing a police officer, he knows what he has to do. Keep his mouth shut about who he was working for, keep his head down, and rely on his youth to keep his sentence short. When he gets out, he'll be looked after. Following the death in the line of duty of a fellow detective, DI Sarah Collins has left the capital for a quieter life in the countryside. But when a missing teenager turns up on her patch, she finds herself drawn into a much bigger investigation - one that leads her right back to London, back to the Met, and back to Ryan Kennedy, the kid who killed a cop. This powerful novel from a former Met detective explores the devastation that organized drug-running gangs can wreak on young lives. It asks who deserves to be saved - and whether saving them is even possible...Trade ReviewBrilliant ... [a] heartbreaking and adrenaline-fuelled tale * The Times *Rips along like a rattlesnake. A perfectly executed police procedural. Absorbing. Relevant. Tense. -- Imran MahmoodTremendous. Expertly and sensitively tackles human slavery, county lines drug distribution and the misery it causes. Drips with authenticity, perfectly paced and compelling from page one. -- Neil LancasterA cracking read. Taut storytelling, with authenticity and humanity on every page. Kate London is one of the finest writers around. -- Mari HannahWow! I was blown away by the combination of gritty crime thriller and seriously enviable writing -- Emma CurtisWhat a cracker! Blends a brutal murder and the horror of kids being exploited into County Lines with humanity and sympathy - literary genius. -- Graham BartlettUtterly authentic * Daily Mail on The Tower *Authentic ... first class writing * Sunday Express on The Tower series *A stand out brilliant crime novel * Rosamund Lupton on Gallowstree Lane *Absorbing ... a complex novel that offers rare insights into how the police operate * Sunday Times on The Tower *Sensational... A brilliant, high-octane crime novel, ringing with the hard-earned wisdom of a former cop * Tony Parsons on Death Message *

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Book SynopsisA friend and contemporary of Richard Wright and James Baldwin - and every bit their equal - Chester Himes was the acclaimed author of literary novels, stories and essays, as well as the classic crime fiction series for which he is best known, featuring detectives Coffin Ed Johnson and Gravedigger Jones.Himes wrote nine novels in the Harlem Detectives series, and in these four popular, accomplished instalments, his cold, wise-cracking sleuths are thrown into a brutal, murderous world peopled with conniving con men, gut-toting gangsters and opium-smoking preachers. Himes's vision of Harlem's criminal underground, enriched by deft plotting and scintillating dialogue, is both riotous entertainment and penetrating enquiry into the fraught tensions of race in postwar America.Trade ReviewThese wholly original, occasionally disorienting and sometimes surreal books are a must for all crime fiction aficionados * Guardian *Chester Himes is perhaps the most singular American novelist of the past century, whose insight and innovation are still only beginning to be recognised * Independent *Himes's Harlem saga vies with the novels of David Goodis and Jim Thompson as the inescapable achievement of postwar American fiction * The New York Times *

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Book SynopsisA hilarious and satirical debut novel exploring religious hypocrisy in an Irish grade school. Combining the spirit of Kingsley Amis's Lucky Jim with a bawdy evisceration of hypocrisy in old-school Catholic education, The Brothers' Lot is a comic satire that tells the story of the Brothers of Godly Coercion School for Young Boys of Meager Means, a dilapidated Dickensian institution run by an assemblage of eccentric, insane, and often nasty celibate Brothers. The school is in decline and the Brothers hunger for a miracle to move their founder, the Venerable Saorseach O'Rahilly, along the path to Sainthood. When a possible miracle presents itself, the Brothers fervently seize on it with the help of the ethically pliant Diocesan Investigator, himself hungry for a miracle to boost his career. The school simultaneously comes under threat from strange outside forces. The harder the Brothers try to defend the school, the worse things seem to get. It takes an outsider, Finbar Sullivan, a young student newly arrived at the school, to see that the source of the threat may in fact lie inside the school itself. As the miracle unravels, the Brothers' efforts to preserve it unleash a disastrous chain of events. Tackling a serious subject from the oblique viewpoint of satire, The Brothers' Lot explores the culture that allowed abuses within church-run institutions in Ireland to go unchecked for decades. The novel inhabits a space where Angela's Ashes meets the work of Flann O'Brien and Mervyn Peake, while providing a look at a regrettable era that still haunts many countries across the globe.Trade ReviewSubversive fun . . . but there is fury behind Holohan's satire -- Alfred Hickling * Guardian *The Brothers' Lot is unforgettable -- Linda L. Richards * January Magazine *a mordantly funny debut from Dublin native Holohan * Publishers Weekly *funny, fast-paced with one crisis after another, but always pulls at the heartstrings -- Connie Aitcheson * The Brooklyn Rail *a compelling and frightening story of what happens to both children and adults when the forms of religion replace the heart of it -- Susan Hedahl * Hedahl Book Look *

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Book SynopsisThe Fifth Nick Sharman Thriller Disliked by Old Bill and villains alike, South London private eye Nick Sharman attracts trouble like the proverbial magnet. When businessman James Webb asks Sharman to find out who murdered his sister, her husband and two young children, the trail's been cold for over a year; the original police investigators had found nothing - no clues, no witnesses, no motive. There isn't much to go on. Besides, Sharman has other things to occupy him - his relationship with topless model Fiona is rapidly souring, his best friend Wanda is dying and his ex-wife leaves him to babysit their eleven-vear-old daughter, Judith. While Sharman's back is turned things start to hot up - he is followed, attacked and threatened with a shotgun on a busy road in broad daylight and the murder victims start to multiply. Then Judith is kidnaped by a gang of very nasty thugs. And Sharman finally loses his temper...

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Book SynopsisRichie Segal's prospects are pretty miserable and, what's more humiliating, his wife's career is on the up. Richie knows he is a good salesman, but he just can't seem to land an account. He's starting to drink again and worry about whether Paula is seeing that old high school flame or maybe someone new. At thirty-four, he's a little young for a mid-life crisis, but that's what it feels like. And then there are those unwelcome memories of the neighbourhood bully, Michael Rudnick, and what he did to Richie when he was eleven. . . Just when Richie is about as low as he can get, he runs into Rudnick on the street and knows exactly what he needs to do. Suddenly things seem to be going much better. That is until they get much, much worse. In the classic tradition of Jim Thompson and Patricia Highsmith, Hard Feelings is a gripping, original novel of paranoia, obsession, and revenge.Trade Reviewa tale that reads like James M Cain modernised by Bret Easton Ellis. It will make you squirm -- Maxim Jakubowski * Guardian Unlimited *In his psychological thriller Hard Feelings...Starr has plumbed the shallows of his brittle characters and their selfish lives, depicting them in a hard-edged style that is clean, cold and extremely chilling * New York Times Book Review *Jason Starr is the first writer of his generation to convincingly update the modern crime novel by giving it provocative new spins and Hard Feelings is his most accomplished thriller yet. It might be new-school noir but like the classics of the genre it has a brutal escalation of tension, pungent dialogue, a hardboiled simplicity and grace, and a whopper of an ending. It's also darkly funny and a pure pleasure to read. As you race through it you realize that Jim Thompson has just moved to Manhattan -- Brett Easton EllisConvincing and entertaining . . . Hard Feelings dances a mesmerizing tango between reality and its menacing shadow * Time Out New York *a gripping novel of paranoia and obsession that's damn near impossible to put down -- Jim Driver * Time Out *

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Book SynopsisMickey Prada is a nice kid. Perhaps too nice. He works in a neighbourhood seafood market in Brooklyn putting fish on ice. He's got a nice girlfriend. He even delayed college a year, to look after his sick dad who's gradually losing his marbles and has a tendency to go walkabout. But Mickey's got a little problem. A customer at the fish store, Angelo Santoro, keeps asking Mickey to place bets for him and Angelo keeps losing. As Angelo gets further in the hole, his bad luck is turning out to be Mickey's too. Now Mickey's got his bookie after him and Angelo's showing him the butt of his pistol rather than paying him back. So when his best friend, Chris, asks Mickey to join him on a can't-lose caper, Mickey decides to go along. But, sure-fire schemes often have a way of backfiring, and this one is sending Mickey into an uncharted part of Brooklyn, where fish like Chris and Mickey have trouble...Trade Reviewa hard-knuckled writer -- Marilyn Stasio * New York Times Book Review *From the first page of this noir thriller, you know things are only going to get worse, but you can't stop reading * Newsweek *Jason Starr's Tough Luck [is] the kind of book you read with a wince, but you read it straight through because you can't put it down. Starr [is] a terrifically taut writer * The Baltimore Sun *Tough Luck, an enthralling character study, is perfect car-crash literature; spiritual sustenance for the "inner rubber-neck" in all of us -- Paul Kane * New Mystery Reader Magazine *Starr has total control of his plot, and he's so relentlessly clever that poor Mickey's life becomes a mesmerizing exercise in personal decline in which every piece smartly falls into place. An unsettling read, but hard to put down * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisTimes are tough for David Miller, a journalist for a second rate financial magazine who hates his boss, is tired of supporting his girlfriend's partying lifestyle, and recently lost his sister to cancer. But things are about to get much worse. When he loses his wallet in a neighborhood bar, he finds himself being blackmailed by junkies, lying to his family and friends, and stumbling into a crime that may cost him his life.Trade ReviewJason Starr is terrific and Twisted City is one of his best. Starr knows what James M. Cain knew: that a whole world of evil lies right on the edge of the everyday world and you can cross the border in a city minute. His stuff is tough and real and brilliant -- Andrew KlavanJason Starr is one of the new voices of noir fiction, a writer capable of taking noir from what it has always been toward whatever it can become. He's got his own slant, his own slashing style, and the moral honesty true noir requires. I could go on, but just look at the proof, Twisted City -- Daniel WoodrellDemonic, demented and truly ferocious and a flat out joy to read. In other words, a total feast. Like it?...I plain worshipped it -- Ken BruenStreamline as a model's hips, dark as the inside of a dog's gut, Twisted City is a hip, white collar update on the James Cain, Jim Thompson style novel with a seasoning all its own. Jason Starr is a unique talent, and Twisted City is one unique book -- Joe R. LansdaleTo the obsessive emotionality of a Cornell Woolrich and the gleeful nihilism of a Charles Willeford, Jason Starr adds his own 21st-century urban weirdness. Funny, sick and harrowing, often all at once, Twisted City more than lives up to its title, and I enjoyed it tremendously -- Scott Phillips

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Book SynopsisOn a rainy winter night in Mexico City, a ten-member wedding party is kidnapped in front of the groom's family mansion. The perpetrator is a small-time gangster named El Galán, who wants nothing more than to make his crew part of a major cartel and hopes that this crime will be his big break. He sets the wedding party's ransom at five million US dollars, to be paid in cash within 24 hours. The only captive not related to either the bride or the groom is the young Jessica Juliet Wolfe, a bridesmaid and close friend of the bride. Jessie hails from a family of notorious outlaws that has branches on both sides of the border, and when the Wolfes learn of Jessie's abduction, they fear that the kidnappers will kill the captives after receiving the ransom-unless they rescue Jessie first. Gritty and exhilarating, James Carlos Blake's The House of Wolfe takes readers on a wild ride from Mexico City's opulent neighborhoods to its frenetic downtown streets and feral shantytowns, as El Galán proves how dangerous it is to underestimate an ambitious criminal, and Jessie's blood kin desperately try to find her before it's too late.Trade ReviewBlake has an unerring sense of control, and - though Elmore Leonard and Cormac McCarthy are lurking in the book's DNA - a distinctive voice to boot... a pungent and exhilarating read -- Barry Forshaw * Financial Times *Book Geek was completely engrossed in this hugely satisfying read! -- Book Geek * Book Geek *Blake delivers a thriller that hits all the right spots and hits them hard -- Robert C Hahn * Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine *an absorbing look at dire poverty, depravity and the all-too-successful business of kidnapping for profit * Kirkus Reviews *Blake's masterly third Border Noir * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisWhen a police officer's daughter was found raped and murdered, Sailor Grant, the local nonce, was sent down. Sharman always had his doubts, but that part of his life is over. Now, Sailor is out of prison and keeps phoning Sharman to help him get justice, but Nick wants to be left alone. When Sailor is found dead and Sharman is half beaten to death by the local coppers, Nick realises that he must find the truth about the events from his past before those close to him are killed.

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Book SynopsisThe scene is Quinsigamond, a decaying New England factory town, a model locale of turn-of-the-century chaos. An activist priest meets a grisly death in his own cathedral. The crime has all the hallmarks of a routine Bangkok Park gang killing. But the perp is no everyday low-life but a demented ex-FBI agent named Speer in search of the jammers, particularly the infamous O'Zebedee brothers who have been hijacking local radio airwaves with their singular brand of subversive diatribe. Detective Hannah Shaw, Bangkok Park's undisputed overseer, tracks Speer's enraged quest to Wireless, the funky retro-radio nightclub and epicentre of the diverse jammer subculture. Shaw and/or the Wireless crew must stop the defrocked Fed or fall prey to a campaign of censorship, violence and death.Trade Reviewhas a kind of hallucinatory fascination...amazing in its density, power, richness of detail, humour and irony...a dazzling piece of work. One of the year's 10 best! * L.A.Times *Unmissable stuff for the adventurous reader -- Brian Ritterspak * Crime Time Online *

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Book SynopsisA harrowing and ecstatic descent into a breathtaking netherworld aswirl with the real, the imagined and the absolutely unforgettable. Amid the post industrial decay of Quinsigamond glitters a fabulous jewel - Herzog's Erotic Palace - America's most lavish porn theatre and a gangland laundry for semi-sour cash. But most of all, Herzog's is the place where dreamers meet and seductive nightmares find their dazzling realisation. For the obsessed grunge auteur, the heartsick crime king, the apocalyptic tele-evangelist and the young woman intent on a capturing a shrouded past and an onrushing future within a camera's lens, The Skin Palace will reveal all secrets, in a script fraught with danger and feverish transformation.Trade ReviewOne of the best novels about film I have come across, a tortuous and tortured tale about Quinsigamond's surviving cinema -- Maxim Jakubowski * Guardian *Mesmerizing...light-years away from your garden-variety thriller. The Skin Palace may remind you of Blade Runner or the novels of William Gibson, but O'Connell has his own dazzling tale to tell...Wickedly clever * Seattle Times *It's a measure of O'Connell's immense talent that, while creating his absolutely original and hyperbolic world, he also paints a striking vision of the haunting ways in which life and art mirror each other * Publishers Weekly *the sheer chutzpah of his enterprise sweeps you in -- Michael Carlson * Crime Time *as original and microscopically etched as a thumbprint * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisWhy would two Eastern European meatboys want to whack an innocent cab driver? That's the question that occurs to Gilrein as Raban and Blumfeld press the gun barrel into his mouth. Does it have something to do with the ritual death-by-flencing of Leo Tani? Or does the answer involve Gilrein's ex-lover, now working as a librarian for a bibliomaniac gangster. Or maybe the whole thing has something to do with the Inspector, inventor of the notorious Methodology? And how does Bobby Oster figure in the mix, with his crew of murder-for-hire rogue cops who call themselves The Magicians? To find the answers, Gilrein will drive the night streets of his hometown and face down more than one demon from his past. From the Vacuum, where child-artists are held captive in veal pens and forced to forge graphic novels, to the Houdini Lounge, where the second annual immigrant death-match is being marketed, Gilrein will wander the underworld, collecting stories and looking for absolution. In the end, he'll brush up against "Alicia's Tale" and learn new truths about the terrifying negotiations always taking place between the storyteller and the audience in the city of Quinsigamond.Trade ReviewHyper-real noir. A grotesque romance about genocide, language, bibliomania, doubt, obsession, worms, epidermis and sanctuary! -- James EllroyWord Made Flesh made the hair stand up on the back of my mind. Dark, cunning, and wickedly clever, it outsmarts you at just about every turn. Terrific stuff -- Jonathan CarrollIn other words, this novel is a brilliantly unique combination of a disturbing horror novel, a detailed cyberpunk dystopia (without the computers), a work of surrealist beat literature and a complex noir detective story -- Pekoeblaze * PekoeBlaze the official blog *

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Book SynopsisYour only child is lost between this world and the next, and more than anything you want him back. A controversial doctor and a mysterious stranger claim they have the answer. Who do you trust? Are you willing to risk everything? Are you prepared to enter Limbo? Part classic noir thriller, part mind-bending fantasy, The Resurrectionist is a wild ride into a territory where nothing is as it appears. It is the story of Sweeney, a druggist by trade, and his son, Danny, the victim of an accident that has left him in a persistent coma. Hoping for a miracle, they have come to the forbidding, fortress-like Peck Clinic, whose doctors claim to have 'resurrected' other patients who were lost in the void. What Sweeney comes to realize, however, is that the real cure for his son's condition may lie in Limbo, a fantasy comic book world into which his son had been drawn at the time of his accident. Plunged into the intrigue that envelops the clinic, Sweeney's search for answers leads to sinister back alleys, brutal dead ends, and terrifying corners of darkness and mystery. With The Resurrectionist, Jack O'Connell has crafted a breakout thriller that's gripping, suspenseful, and all-out heart-pounding.Trade ReviewA brilliantly tuned, mesmerizing labyrinth of a quasi-real world as only a master artist could draw it -- James EllroyIt's a helter-skelter, a roller-coaster, a ride on a ghost train - if the fairground had been designed by Philip K Dick, Stan Lee and Edgar Allan Poe -- Brandon Robshaw * The Independent on Sunday *A feast of unsettling pleasures -- Barry Forshaw * The Independent *No one does the improbable like O'Connell -- Maxim Jakubowski * The Guardian booksblog *one of the most original American novels of the year -- Jeff VanderMeer * Omnivoracious *

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Book SynopsisHarry Stonehouse had been a cop, a good one - and straight, unlike Nick Sharman. After taking early retirement he'd landed a job at a security firm. Now he's dead, and his wife wants Nick to find out who killed him and why. Nick's been taking a close look at hell recently and doesn't care too much about anything beyond the next Jack Daniel's. But Harry had been a friend, and Nick had screwed his wife and he feels sorry for her. Big mistake. In an unlikely partnership with ex-DI Robber, escaping from resentful retirement at his sister's, Sharman sets off in pursuit - and finds himself swept along in the deadly aftermath of a £20 million heist. And with that much money at stake, betrayal, double-crossing and murder are just for starters...

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Book SynopsisThe iconic, tough-but-tender Boston PI Spenser returns in an outstanding new addition to the New York Times-bestselling series from author Ace Atkins. What started out as a joke landed seventeen-year-old Dillon Yates in a lockdown juvenile facility in Boston Harbor. When he set up a prank twitter account for his vice principal, he never dreamed he could be brought up on criminal charges, but that's exactly what happened. This is Blackburn, Massachusetts, where zero tolerance for minors is a way of life. Leading the movement is hard-as-nails Judge Joe Scali, who gives speeches about getting tough on today's wild youth. But Dillon's mother, who knows other Blackburn kids who are doing hard time for minor infractions, isn't buying Scali's line. She hires Spenser to find the truth behind the Draconian sentencing. From the Harbor Islands to a gated Florida community, Spenser and trusted ally Hawk follow a trail through the Boston underworld with links to a shadowy corporation that runs New England's private prisons. They eventually uncover a culture of corruption and cover-ups in the old mill town, where hundreds of kids are sent off to for-profit juvie jails.

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Book SynopsisFamily trouble! Growing old quietly was never really an option for Nick Sharman. When he takes on a job for a prosperous Manchester businessman looking for his runaway teenage daughter, Meena, he should, perhaps, have known better. He finds himself in a race against time to save he girl from the kind of trouble that gives families a bad name. Trying to do the right thing, Nick swaps sides and ends up starring in his own version of a Straw Dogs shoot out with family and friends, where nobody comes out the winner.Trade Reviewa climax worthy of the Wild Bunch -- Mike Ripley * The Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisVoted Culture NL's Book of the Year for 2020 Teenager Alison Doig disappeared from Kinloch over thirty years ago under mysterious circumstances. Her reclusive family still live in a remote part of the Kintyre peninsula, amidst rumours of wrecking, smuggling and barbaric cruelty. Now rich American hotelier Alice Wenger has arrived in town, determined to punish those who made her suffer in the past. But someone has vowed to keep hidden sins concealed for ever. Daley’s team must race against time to expose long-held secrets and shameful lies before there are any more victims.Trade Review'Absorbing ... no run-of-the-mill tartan noir' * The Times *'in high demand across the globe ... A runaway hit. Readers instantly warm to Daley' * Daily Mail *'A unique, atmospheric and all-consuming thriller ... DS Scott is "pure dead brilliant”, at times laugh out loud. Meyrick brings his usual skilful storytelling and gives us another engrossing page-turner' * Journal of the Law Society of Scotland *'With Meyrick it's visceral and this one is no exception from its chillingly atmospheric prologue to the epilogue's final, deadpan line. Will chime with crime connoisseurs' * Sunday Post *'Tragic incidents and mysterious goings-on keep us eagerly turning the pages. And of course there’s a dose of irreverent humour…the historical scenes are beautifully realised from the weather through to the visceral horrors that unfold. … You will be horrified and fascinated in equal measure. There’s no escaping the past, and no escaping family ties. Secrets will always out….Deftly done' -- Louis Fairbairn * CrimeBookGirl.com *'Absorbing… Meyrick’s humorous dialogue set this book apart – he has an ability to inject wit into police proceedings' * Scottish Field *'An absolute delight, full of dark humour and packed with warmly drawn and well-developed characters. …an absorbing mystery' * Irish Independent *'I discovered the most amazing series during lockdown #DCIDaley by Denzil Meyrick ... I cannot recommend them enough. Having devoured all the crime series in the shop & wanting something meaty but funny this just hit the spot. Read them you will love them. Eight in series' -- Waterstones bookseller, Horsham'A character-driven yarn with plenty of intrigue, but also humour and warmth amidst the murky goings-on. Meyrick proves once again that rural policing can be every bit as captivating, and gritty, as its urban equivalent’ * Herald *'The new novel is a rich broth... a fine example of tartan noir, superior to most of the genre... moments of chilling horror... with a fine twist in the tail' -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *'As an ex detective, ex procurator fiscal depute and now an advocate, I was reluctant to buy another Scottish crime series. I was tired of the plastic and sanitised fictional detectives portrayed in crime novels set in Scotland, where clearly the author had no idea of the workings of the Scottish police or legal system. I should have had no such fears with regards to Mr Meyrick's DCI Daley novels. I have now read all the books in the series and love the characters. I feel I have even worked with some of them. I am always sad when I come to the end of his books. It’s like being separated from friends. I am looking forward to meeting up with them again in his next novel Jeremiah's Bell' -- Joe Cahill, Advocate'A corker! More twists and turns than a Kintyre road' -- Douglas Skelton'Slipping back into Meyrick's world is a criminal joy ... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!' -- Michael J Malone'Crime, humour, intrigue and atmosphere, and that was just the first page!' -- Gordon Brown'What a cracking series! As a crime writer, the highest complement I can give is to say I've yet to work out an ending ...' -- Lin Anderson'Dark, gutsy, and smirky Tartan Noir… wonderful storytelling, Jeremiah’s Bell continues the series in fine style' * LoveReading.co.uk *'Denzil Meyrick’s DCI Daley series covers the named detective in the fictional town of Kinloch…The novels are suitably dark and unfold slowly' * CityWire - Wealth Management Magazine *'Spellbinding ... one of the UK's most loved crime writers' * Sunday Post *'A compelling lead ... a satisfyingly twisted plot' * Publisher's Weekly *‘Dripping with mystery, full of moments that will have the nerves jangling, and, if you are anything like me, your face screwing up in the odd wince or too as well… Another absolute winner that really kept me glued to the book whilst completely making my skin crawl. Loved it.’ * JenMed's Book Reviews *

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Book Synopsis'A hugely entertaining, deftly told crime caper' – Irish Independent A CRIME READERS ASSOCIATION Read of the Month When Daniella Coulstoun’s estranged mother Effie dies in Spain under suspicious circumstances, she feels it’s her duty to fly out for the funeral. On arrival, Daniella is confronted by a dangerous group of expat misfits who claim that Effie stole huge sums of cash from them in a multi-million property scam. They want the money back and Daniella is on the hook for it. When a suspicious Spanish detective begins to probe Effie’s death and a London gangster hears about the missing money, Daniella faces threats on every front. With no idea where the cash is and facing a seemingly impossible deadline, she quickly finds herself out of her depth and fighting for survival in a strange and terrifying world.Trade Review'A hugely entertaining, deftly told crime caper' * Irish Independent *'A thoroughly enjoyable romp that draws you in and keeps you turning the page – builds steadily but unpredictably towards its conclusion. As the going gets increasingly tough, you find yourself really rooting for Daniella' * Undiscovered Scotland *'Brown may have left behind the dark alleyways of tartan noir for the hot streets of Spain, but he proves that it can be just as dangerous out in the sun, and that he can still make his readers sweat' * The Scotsman *'A real roller coaster of a ride' * The Library Door *'Thirty-One Bones is a joy to read' * GrabThisBook.net *'Thirty One Bones starts with a bang and just keeps on shooting all the way through' * ChapterInMyLife *'It's full of humour and offers lots of great, grinning moments as well as being a super thrilling read' * LiveandDeadly.net *'Readers who like clever, sun-drenched crime capers will find much to enjoy' * Publishers Weekly *'His books, I can guarantee, will keep you absorbed through every page' * JaveaConnect.co.uk *'A character-driven crime caper that steers clear of grit and sadism without ever feeling lightweight' * Herald *'A thoroughly entertaining, fast-moving and smirky crime caper. …A crime-laden romp, it is pure escapism' * LoveReading *'Morgan Cry takes us on a journey into a seedy ex-pat world in Spain … Riveting!' * Sunday Post *'Sweaty, seedy fun' -- Ian Rankin'Fast, furious, and infinitely entertaining' -- Lin Anderson'Pacy, pulsating, and unputdownable' * Denzil Meyrick *'A fast-moving, smirky crime caper. It is pure escapism from start to finish' * Waterstones Stirling *'If you are looking for crime novels to get you in the mood for summer holidays, I would recommend Morgan Cry's Thirty-One Bones and Six Wounds. Set in an expatriate community in Spain, these thrillers have a great female lead character, Daniella, a really quirky set of ex-pat misfits, lots of humour and are fast-paced and great fun!' * The Book Nook, Stewarton *

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Book Synopsis'A gripping high-octane masterpiece' – Andrew Child To make the perfect Spanish whodunnit cocktail, take one dead gangster, mix in six shifty expats, add one ruthless baddie and garnish with a suspicious police officer . . . Daniella Coulstoun has recently moved to the Costa Blanca. When the dead body of a prominent London gangster is discovered in the cellar of her bar she quickly becomes the number one suspect. With the police closing in, the local expats turning on her and a psychotic rival to the dead gangster in the background, Daniella knows she needs to nail the real killer, and fast.Trade Review'Morgan Cry has come up with the perfect summer novel… strikes the perfect balance between seriousness and light-heartedness, and there are some moments of real genius thrown in the narrative' * Dundee Courier *'Told with trademark wit and flair, Six Wounds is a brilliant, pacey, riveting read. A roller coaster of a Euro-thriller, it’s Morgan Cry (Gordon Brown) at his best. I’m already looking forward to the next one!' -- Abir Mukherjee'From its explosive opening to its bone-crunching finale, Six Wounds is a gripping high-octane masterpiece' -- Andrew Child, (Lee’s brother and Jack Reacher co-author)'It’s murder on the Costa del Sol as a fearless Daniella unearths just how far the Expats will go to cover their murky pasts – highly recommended' -- Lin Anderson'Dark, disreputable and hugely entertaining. I loved it!' -- Marion Todd'A tight, taut and totally terrific read from Morgan Cry. Smart characters, smart dialogue and a smart plot' -- Douglas Skelton'Six Wounds by Morgan Cry is just brilliant. Sunshine, a body, a bar, a kick-ass but funny protagonist, and the action never stops. I romped through it and loved every page. Highly recommended. All the stars' -- Helen Fields'Morgan Cry possesses that rare magic of being able to tell a dark tale with light humour. So great to be back with Daniella - a woman who just can’t seem to shake trouble. A breakneck speed read that explodes on to the first page - literally - and doesn’t let up' -- Deborah Masson'Six Wounds from Morgan Cry, deliciously dark laced with Scottish humour on the Costa del Crime - do NOT miss this one!' -- Sharon Bairden'A cracking, pacey whodunit with villainous villains, dodgy expats and a whip smart protagonist in Daniella Coulstoun... Loads of fun in the sun' -- Neil Lancaster'Really enjoyable and exciting read. Loved reading a crime story set in the sun with some wonderful, relatable characters’ * FIVE STARS, GoodReads *'A brilliant addition to the series that will have you willing Daniella to come out on to top’ * FOUR STARS, GoodReads *‘Sun, sea and suspicious murders in a gripping, high octane plot set against the backdrop of Costa Blanca.’ * The Scots Magazine *‘The first in Cry’s Costa Blanca crime thriller series, Thirty One Bones, left readers begging for more. And the second, Six Wounds, certainly delivers… riveting.’ * The Sunday Post *‘The storyline is spot on, the pacing is perfect, the rising tension occasionally lightened by sunshine and humour.' * SimplySuzeReviews *‘From that opening scene to the very end had me gripped!’ * Gemz Books *'Gripping and pacy, a real roller-coaster of a read.' * Random Things *'It's edgy, fast-paced, engaging and serves you with the right kind of suspense and thrill that won't disappoint.' * Surjit's Book Blog *'Six Wounds is an action-packed, entertaining mixture of pacy thriller and gritty whodunnit. An ideal summer read.' * LoveReading *

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Book SynopsisGANGLAND BOSS ZANDER FINN DISAPPEARED AFTER THE BRUTAL MURDER OF HIS SON. He fled to London, seeking salvation by walking away from his money, his career and his legacy. But when his old second-in-command Malky Maloney tracks him down, Finn knows he must return. Both his real family and his crime family face an existential threat from Albanian mobsters hellbent on taking control of the Scottish underworld and the forces of law and order determined to inflict their own retribution. Finn’s fight for survival is a rollercoaster ride of brutality, misplaced loyalties and the utterly unexpected. The road to redemption is perilous – and paved with blood. Trade Review‘A rollicking rollercoaster of violence, misplaced loyalties and some very unexpected interventions that combine to produce one of the most satisfying gangland thrillers of the year' * Irish Independent *'an engrossing read… crackling with tension and the inevitability of violence' * The Herald paperback review *'Meyrick’s breaking the mould with the latest offering straight out of the underworld of Paisley and the gritty streets of London' * Sunday Post *'A winning combination of fisticuffs and philosophy' -- Mark Sanderson * Times and Sunday Times Crime Club *'This gritty, gripping gangland stand-alone crime thriller from the author of the bestselling DCI Daley series, is a wild ride you won’t want to miss' * LoveReading eBook of the month, staff pick and expert review *'Dark humour has helped to make his thrillers world famous' -- Magnus Linklater * Times interview *'This Glasgow and Paisley-set gangland thriller would make a great TV series' -- Joyce Macmillan * Scotland on Sunday *'An enjoyable and fast paced thriller/crime novel that leaves its readers almost as breathless as it leaves many of its characters, though in a rather different way' * Undiscovered Scotland *'This one isn't to be missed… it’s brilliant!' * Waterstones Falkirk *'I loved this. It’s addictive, beautifully constructed, and a wild and sometimes surprising ride through a gangland that is both believable and utterly gripping' * LiveAndDeadly *'Another corker from Mr Meyrick… oooh, this author gets better and better. A brilliant, at times terrifying, story of ganglands, revenge, and how hard it is to escape the life of crime. As ever superb characters and believable plots make this a must read' -- Waterstones bookseller, Horsham branch'Powerful, plausible and utterly gripping' * FIVE STAR REVIEW, Waterstones and Amazon customer *‘Fast paced, brutal and brilliant… Crime writing at its best’ -- Amazon customer'The author has produced a first class thriller that is as much character driven as its content of action and violence' * Good Reads FIVE STAR REVIEW *

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Book SynopsisWe had set out from Atlanta to kill my mother and her husband. A slow kill.Oren has returned to the family home he last saw when he was eight years old. Eighteen years later, he is bent on an elaborate scheme of revenge.Homicide detective Daniel Turner was never able to forget the unsolved case, the disappearance of Amon Jakobsen all those years ago. Convinced the man was murdered, he was never able to prove it. Now he has returned to the isolated house on Black Hammock Island following reports of a disturbance. Is this his chance to find out what really happened to Amon eighteen years before? And will he be in time to prevent history repeating itself?

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Book SynopsisWhen he''s offered an exorbitant fee to photograph a murder scene, PI Dek Elstrom doesn''t ask too many questions. But his photos reveal something surprising: there''s a witness to the murder, a tagger who''s returned to the scene to paint what he saw. What is it the mysterious graffiti artist wants Elstrom to notice?

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Book Synopsis1922. When a leading Hollywood film director is found shot dead, Irish-American investigator Tom Collins is called in by studio boss Mack Sennett, whose troubled star, Mabel Normand, is rumoured to be involved. But Normand has gone missing, and Collins'' search will lead him to a secret so explosive it must be kept silent at any cost.

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Book SynopsisFoggy Moscowitz is shocked when ID found on a body in the bay suggests it''s his close Brooklyn friend, Pan Pan Washington, and the car involved belongs to one of their old associates, Sammy ''Icepick'' Franks. What message is Icepick trying to send Foggy, and why?The children who found the body were looking for their mother - one of twenty-seven women missing from John Horse''s Seminole tribe, and Foggy immediately takes the pair under his wing as they follow a disturbing trail. Is John right about there being a connection between the car in the bay and the missing women? Could Foggy''s old associates in New York be involved? Hit men, crooked police officers, and even oil-rich Oklahomans can''t stop Foggy on his mission to uncover the truth.

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Book SynopsisNew York, 1956. A couple walking through Central Park on a fall evening are confronted by a hansom cab driver, only to kill him and casually walk away. Who are the couple and did they know the man?A man commits suicide by throwing himself through a hotel window. His colleagues claim he was depressed - but is there more to it than that?Before Detective Michael Cassidy even begins investigating these cases, he is threatened by an unknown man - the reasons for which are unclear.Are all three incidents connected? If so, how, and will Cassidy live long enough to find out before his would-be assassin claims his life?

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Book SynopsisA body has been found in the trunk of a Cadillac. Jesse's investigation takes him to the neighboring homes of two 'retired' gangsters. But it isn't the mobsters who fascinate Jesse - it's their wives: two completely identical twin sisters, who not even their husbands can tell apart. And when one of the mobsters is found with a bullet in his skull, Jesse is forced to start digging into the twins' past...Trade Review'If Spenser is the invincible knight, the timeless hero of American detective fiction, then Jesse Stone is the flawed hero of the moment, a man whose deficiencies define his humanity' New York Times Book Review. * New York Times *

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Book Synopsis1961, Illinois. Alex Poliac buries his wife Alice. That evening, he and his son flee their home. Not because he is a suspect in Alice's death, but because a serial killer - The Clown - is prowling the state, and Alex knows how he picks his victims. A meeting with Laura, a friend of his wife, brings more questions: was Alice hiding something, with her mysterious phone calls and unexplained absences? Was her death really an accident?

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Book SynopsisThe fourth in Peter Doyle's acclaimed noir fiction series set in Sydney in the 1950s and 60s.

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Book SynopsisMeet Davie McCall – not your average henchman. Abused and tormented by his father for fifteen years, there is a darkness in him searching for a way out. Under the wing of Glasgow’s Godfather, Joe ‘the Tailor’ Klein, he flourishes. Joe the Tailor may be a killer, but there are some lines he won’t cross, and Davie agrees with his strict moral code. He doesn’t like drugs. He won’t condone foul language. He abhors violence against women. When the Tailor refuses to be part of Glasgow’s new drug trade, the hits start rolling. It’s every man for himself as the entire criminal underworld turns on itself, and Davie is well and truly caught up in the action. But an attractive young reporter makes him wonder if he can leave his life of crime behind and Davie must learn the hard way that you cannot change what you are. Blood City is a novel set in Glasgow’s underworld at a time when it was undergoing a seismic shift. A tale of violence, corruption and betrayal, loyalties will be tested and friendships torn apart.Trade Review...positively delights in the city's dark underbelly complete with knives, razors, guns and gangs... Fierce, all too believable, and with a clear ear for the Glasgow dialect. --Daily MailBlood City signals the arrival of a new and sophisticated voice in Scotland's crime fiction community. --Glasgow Now[Skelton has] taken well to fiction, skilfully building up the atmosphere, developing the characters and keeping the unexpected twists coming along. --Alastair Mabbot, The HeraldJump in and you ll quickly be caught up in the atmosphere. Effortless prose, Glasgow banter and the wearing down of shoe leather as you charge through the streets of Douglas Skelton s vision of the mean city. --Michael J Malone, crimesquad.com

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Book SynopsisThey’ll all be crow bait by the time I’m finished...Jail was hell for Davie McCall. Ten years down the line, freedom’s no picnic either. It’s 1990, there are new kings in the West of Scotland underworld, and Glasgow is awash with drugs. Davie can handle himself. What he can’t handle is the memory of his mother’s death at the hand of his sadistic father. Or the darkness his father implanted deep in his own psyche. Or the nightmares… Now his father is back in town and after blood, ready to waste anyone who stops him hacking out a piece of the action. There are people in his way. And Davie is one of them. PRAISE for Blood CityThe city’s dark underbelly complete with knives, razors, guns and gangs...DAILY MAILYou follow the plot like an eager dog, nose turning this way and that, not catching every single clue but quivering as you lunge towards a blood-splattered denouement. DAILY EXPRESSThe Glasgow of this period is a great, gritty setting for a crime story, and Skelton’s non-fiction work stands him in good stead… he’s taken well to fiction… the unexpected twists keep coming.THE HERALDTrade ReviewA gory and razor-sharp crime novel from the start, Douglas Skelton’s Crow Bait moves at breakneck speed like a getaway car on the dark streets of Glasgow, the city where this story takes place. - Tabatha Glancy, The Skinny

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Book SynopsisA missing teenage girl should be an easy job for Dominic Queste – after all, finding lost souls is what he does best. But wouldn’t it be better sometimes if lost souls just stayed that way? Jenny Deavers is trouble. She’s being hunted, and for the people tracking her, murder is nothing. As the bodies pile up, so does the pressure on Queste, both to protect Jenny and to find out who wants her dead. The trail leads him to a brutal world of gangsters, merciless hitmen, dark family secrets and an insatiable lust for power in the highest echelons of politics. Modern noir at its finest.Trade Review"Crime to make you laugh out loud, with a new hero, warm and witty investigator Dominic Queste, delving into the dark side of the west of Scotland. I look forward to reading more Queste adventures." - Alex Gray's Books of the Year, The Times Crime Club. "A heady mixture of hardboiled detective novel and super-sharp black humour and it's a winning combination that will keep you engaged throughout." - Crime Fiction Lover. "A great read that draws you in and keeps you hooked until it spits you out, 235 extremely enjoyable pages later... satisfying and convincing, and unexpected." - Undiscovered Scotland. "The plot rattles along at break-neck speed. This is modern pulp fiction at its best... fast-paced and flippant." - Alastair Braidwood, Scots Whay Hae. "A simple commission to locate a missing young woman leads seedy former cokehead Dominic Queste into the dark side of Glasgow. Gangs, drugs and plenty of violence stand in the way of a happy outcome, but on the bright side Queste can be relied on to have a darkly witty take on his predicament." - The Times Crime Club. "Fast-paced, funny and frightening - Dominic Queste's first outing supplies it all." - Lin Anderson. "Absolutely brilliant. A quick-witted and vastly entertaining novel that takes Douglas Skelton into the crime fiction big league." - Alex Gray. "If you like your humour black and your detective novels hard boiled, The Dead Don't Boogie is a cut above the rest." - Theresa Talbot. "A white-knuckle, wisecracking thrill-ride." - Caro Ramsay

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Book Synopsis"A high-octane read." - Maxim Jakubowski. Meet Jen. She works in a bookshop and likes the odd glass of Prosecco... oh, and she’s about to be branded The Most Dangerous Woman in Scotland. Jen Carter is a failed writer with a rubbish boyfriend, Ed. That is, until she accidentally kills him one night. Now that Ed’s dead, she has to decide what to do with his body, his drugs and a big pile of cash. And, more pressingly, how to escape the hitman who’s been sent to recover Ed’s stash. Soon Jen’s on the run from criminals, corrupt police officers and the prying eyes of the media. Who can she trust? And how can she convince them that the trail of corpses left in her wake are just accidental deaths? A modern noir that proves, once and for all, the female of the species really is more deadly than the male.Trade Review“A quick, gritty read, from an author with a confident voice.” -- Crime Review“A really authentic and remarkable read! I loved it!” -- Martina Cole“Pitch black humour… fascinating…gripping.” -- Herald“A thoroughly contemporary crime thriller which has its tongue in its cheek while maintaining the suspense and tension that readers would expect… Terrific fun to read.” -- Alistair Braidwood * Scots Whay Hae *Funny and fierce, and a heroine worth rooting for… -- Brooke MagnantiMcLean has created an appealing protagonist, with a strong and consistent voice... It seems strange to say that a novel with so many bloody fatalities can be fun, but this one is! -- Crime Fiction Lover“One of Scotland’s most skilled noiristas… a book which will appeal to booksellers everywhere, especially homicidal ones.” -- Mike Ripley * Shots magazine *“This book is fantastic! Fast paced and at times just utter nuts… A beautiful masterpiece of modern Scottish Noir that leaves you unsure about whether you should laugh or cry.” -- Amanda Gillies * Eurocrime *“We're not sure when we last enjoyed a book quite this much … The sheer pace of the story carries you along breathlessly … Hugely entertaining.” -- Undiscovered Scotland

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Book SynopsisMaverick investigator Dominic Queste is on the trail of missing butcher Sam Price. But he soon uncovers links to a killer with a taste for games. What began as a simple favour for his girlfriend quickly descends into a battle for survival against an enemy who has no qualms about turning victims into prime cuts. Amidst a twisted game of cat and mouse, suspicious coppers, vicious crooks and a seemingly random burglary, Queste has to keep his wits about him. Or he might just find himself on the butcher’s block.Trade Review“Skelton takes the usual ingredients of the crime novel then adds his own sparkle. Witty, well observed, compelling - this is a book you'll want to savour. A fine, fine writer, at the very top of his game.” -- Denzil MeyrickA thoroughly gripping whodunit that shows just how darkly humorous Tartan Noir can become: and how genuinely chilling it can be at the same time.” -- Undiscovered Scotland“There is a wonderful “old-school PI feel in modern times” about this book that I simply adored. With dry wit and off-the-cuff banter, the fast-paced plot will keep the reader turning the pages in this quirky, cool and fantastically clever storyline.” -- Crime Book Junkie“Stands out from the crowd… A highly entertaining and gripping read.” By the Letter blog; “Top-notch writing, top-notch storytelling, some brilliantly observed life realities and really believable, well-drawn characters.” -- Liz Loves Books"A dark, suspenseful thriller… top, top reading." Grab This Book; “Raymond Chandler meets Glasgow gangland: Dominic Queste is a breath of humorous fresh air in what is a dark, fast-paced, one-liner wisecrack of a read!” -- Chapter In My Life“The Dead Don’t Boogie introduced us to a memorable new star of Scottish crime fiction, but Tag – You’re Dead takes what Douglas Skelton started with that book and dials everything up to 11. Funnier, wittier, darker and more dangerous than its predecessor, it is a novel which dares you to put it down and wins every time.” -- Scots Whay Hae“A tense and exciting thriller. Gritty, memorable writing, a superb lead character, witty dry humour, all in a multi-layered, enjoyable story.” -- Random Things“So noir, you almost need a torch to read it… The style is authentic, heady and pitch-perfect… A fun read, a sobering one and every page is compelling.” -- Blue Book Balloon“Brilliant… a great story, with some fantastic characters.” -- Steph’s book blog

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Book SynopsisUnbury our Dead With Song is a novel about four talented Ethiopian musicians - The Diva, The Corporal, the Taliban Man and Miriam, who are competing to see who can sing the best Tizita (popularly referred to as Ethiopian blues). Taking place in an illegal boxing hall in Nairobi, Kenya, the competition is covered by a US educated Kenyan journalist, John Thandi Manfredi, who writes for a popular tabloid, The National Inquisitor. He follows the musicians back to Ethiopia in order to learn more about the Tizita and their lives. As he learns more about the Tizita and the multiple meanings of beauty, he uncovers that behind each of the musicians, there are layered lives and secrets. A love letter to African music, beauty and imagination.Trade ReviewThe tale of the Tizita is the essence which binds the story, but as you turn the pages, stratums of Africa are revealed in all their beauty, cruelty and hope. If you are someone who is stirred by the sound of a song, or feel an ache in your heart over a farewell, and you enjoy a well-crafted and honest book - please put this one on your reading list. The New African

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Book SynopsisGuardian Best Book of 2020 Irish Times Best Crime Fiction of 2020 Times Book of the Month Mail on Sunday Thriller of the Month The Spectator Crime Fiction of the Month Crime Time Book of the Year 2020 'Vivid, stylish, funny' Mick Heron The first time I met Harold Challenor, he frisked me for weapons - I was ten years old. Bent is the explosive story of the rise and fall of SAS commando, and notorious Detective Sergeant, Harold 'Tanky' Challenor. During the Second World War, Challenor was parachuted behind enemy lines into Italy and France, performing remarkable feats of bravery. In the grimy underbelly of 1960s Soho, he was a ferocious and controversial presence, mediating between factions of club owners and racketeers, and cultivating informers. But just how far will he go to break the protection gang that has a grip on his manor? It can be a fine line that divides hero and villain. PRAISE FOR JOE THOMAS 'Brilliant' The Times 'Feverish energy' Guardian 'Wonderfully vivid' Mail on Sunday'Sophisticated, dizzying' GQ'Vivid and visceral' The Times'Superbly realised vivid and atmospheric' Guardian'Original' Mail on Sunday'A stylish, atmospheric treat an inspired blend of David Peace and early Pinter' Irish Times 'Sparse, energetic, fragmented prose' The Spectator 'Vibrant, colourful, and complex' Irish Independent 'Stylish, sharp-witted, taut. A must for modern noir fans' NB Magazine 'Definitive confident and energetic' Crime Time 'Brilliant manic energy' Jake Arnott 'Wildly stylish and hugely entertaining' Lucy Caldwell 'Vivid, stylish, funny' Mick Herron 'Gripping, fast-paced, darkly atmospheric' Susanna Jones 'Snappy, thoughtful, moving' John King 'Exciting, fresh, incredibly assured' Stav Sherez 'Happy days!' Mark Timlin 'Utterly brilliant' Cathi Unsworth 'Had James Ellroy and David Peace collaborated on a novel they'd have written something like this' Paul WilletsTrade ReviewBrilliant. Bent compellingly re-imagines a shocking true story of bravery and deception with all the manic energy and terrifying presence of its subject -- Jake Arnott, author of The Long Firm TrilogyA wildly stylish and hugely entertaining read, Bent brings the worlds of sixties Soho and Nazi-occupied Italy thrillingly to life. It's taut, evocative and laugh-out-loud funny and, like its anti-hero, Challenor, slick, pacy and just crooked enough to keep you guessing, right up until its gut-punch of an ending -- Lucy Caldwell, winner of the Dylan Thomas PrizeVivid, stylish, funny -- Mick HerronFrom the cool spine of Italy to the burning heart of London, Bent merges war and peace as it shows how our traumatised heroes helped shape Britain in the decades following the Second World War. While the Sixties swing, one man's need for order is undercut by a seething anger and some righteous violence. Written with love and respect, Bent is a snappy, thoughtful, moving novel -- John King, author of The Football FactoryBent makes me remember Fridays bunking off work early, slipping and sliding on mashed fruit and veg through a deserted old Covent Garden, down to Berwick Street market to buy a few ex-jukebox 45's for half a dollar each, then to the Nellie Dean for a couple of pints of Guinness, followed by a nap in Soho square gardens if the weather was clement. Shoot off home to change into something sharper, and back up for an all-nighter at the mingo, all pilled up and glassy eyed. We were far from innocent, but they seemed like innocent times. Not bent at all. Happy days! -- Mark Timlin, author of the Sharman novelsPerhaps the most notorious copper of the post-War era, Harold 'Tanky' Challenor has taken many literary guises, his contradictory, charismatic presence and catchphrase 'You're nicked, me old beauty' muscling its way into work by Joe Orton and Jake Arnott. But no one has delved so deeply into what turned a Wartime hero of the SAS into a peacetime detective whose attempts to 'clean up Soho' led to igimony and the epithet most readily applied to him Bent until Joe Thomas braved his way into Tanky's skull, effectively channeling Challenor in this vivid recreation of the events that forged and then destroyed his reputation. Utterly brilliant -- Cathi Unsworth, author of That Old Black Magic and Bad Penny BluesHad James Ellroy and David Peace collaborated on a novel about a corrupt 1960s Soho copper, they'd have written something like this. Bent has left its Size 12 boot-prints across my memory -- Paul Willetts, author of Members Only, filmed as The Look of Love

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Book Synopsis'BRAZILIAN PSYCHO is a riveting and explosive masterpiece of political crime fiction that deserves to share the shelf with AMERICAN TABLOID, THE POWER OF THE DOG and A BRIEF HISTORY OF SEVEN KILLINGS, and confirms Joe Thomas as one of our very best contemporary crime writers.' David Peace'Complex and compelling, and shot through with moments of horror and beauty, BRAZILIAN PSYCHO is a magnificent achievement.' The Times Crime Club'Fans of Don Winslow and James Ellroy's epic forays into the societal effects of systematic dysfunction and corruption will want to check this out' Publishers WeeklyBrazil, 1 January 2003: President Luis Inacio 'Lula' da Silva begins fifteen years of left-wing government. 1 January 2019: Jair Bolsonaro is inaugurated, a president of the populist right. How did it come to this? A blockbusting novel of our times, Brazilian Psycho introduces and completes Joe Thomas's acclaimed Sao Paulo quartet. Over sixteen years, a diverse cast of characters live through the unfolding social and political drama, setting in motion a whirlwind of plots and counterplots: the murder of a British school headmaster and the consequent cover-up; the chaos and score-settling of the PCC drug gang rebellion over the Mothers' Day weekend of 2006; a copycat serial killer; the secret international funding of nationwide anti-government protests; the bribes, kickbacks and shakedowns of the Mensalao and Lava Jato political corruption scandals, the biggest in Brazilian historyBrazilian Psycho weaves social crime fiction, historical fact, and personal experience to record the radical tale of one of the world's most fascinating, glamorous, corrupt, violent, and thrilling cities. PRAISE FOR JOE THOMAS 'Brilliant' The Times 'Feverish energy' Guardian 'Wonderfully vivid' Mail on Sunday'Sophisticated, dizzying' GQ'Vivid and visceral' The Times'Superbly realised vivid and atmospheric' Guardian'Original' Mail on Sunday'A stylish, atmospheric treat an inspired blend of David Peace and early Pinter' Irish Times 'Sparse, energetic, fragmented prose' The Spectator 'Vibrant, colourful, and complex' Irish Independent 'Stylish, sharp-witted, taut. A must for modern noir fans' NB Magazine 'Definitive confident and energetic' Crime Time 'Brilliant manic energy' Jake Arnott 'Wildly stylish and hugely entertaining' Lucy Caldwell 'Vivid, stylish, funny' Mick Herron 'Gripping, fast-paced, darkly atmospheric' Susanna Jones 'Snappy, thoughtful, moving' John King 'Exciting, fresh, incredibly assured' Stav Sherez 'Happy days!' Mark Timlin 'Utterly brilliant' Cathi Unsworth 'Had James Ellroy and David Peace collaborated on a novel they'd have written something like this' Paul Willets

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Book Synopsis"Ant is borderline obsessed with funerals, likening the events to weddings as gatherings he looks forward to. Yet, when a childhood friend passes, Ant's veneer starts to crumble. Weirdly funny, Whiteout Conditions tracks Ant and his friend Vince as they make their way through Chicogoland's suburbs, which, in Shah's telling, are as harrowing as any arctic climate." --Wendy J. Fox, BuzzFeed '15 Small Press Books To Kick Off Your 2020 Reading Season' Ant is back in Chicago for a funeral, and he typically enjoys funerals. Since most of his family has passed away, he finds himself attracted to their endearing qualities: the hyperbolic language, the stoner altar boy, seeing friends in suits for the first time. That is, until the tragic death of Ray -- Ant's childhood friend, Vince's teenage cousin. Ray was the younger third-wheel that Ant and Vince were stuck babysitting while in high school, and his sudden death makes national news. In the depths of a brutal Midwest winter, Ant rides with Vince through the falling snow to Ray's funeral, an event that has been accruing a sense of consequence. With a poet's sensibility, Shah navigates the murky responsibilities of adulthood, grief, toxic masculinity, and the tragedy of revenge in this haunting Midwestern noir.Trade Review"A dazzling narrative about loss, coping mechanisms, and vengeance."--Ruth Minah Buchwald, Electric Literature, "20 New Asian American Books to Read Right Now";"10 books to read in winter 2020: It's a new literary year" --Laura Pearson, Chicago Tribune;"Most Anticipated Small Press Books of 2020" --John Madera, Big Other;"Most Anticipated Books of 2020" --Volumes Bookcafe (Chicago, IL);"13 Books CHIRB Staff Read In January 2020" --Chicago Review of Books;;"'Funerals are kind of fun, ' the narrator of Shah's debut admits in the opening pages. 'I've cultivated a taste.' Then his childhood friend dies, and the narrator must brave a blizzard to pay his respects."--Azam Ahmed, New York Times "Recent Books of Interest";;"Whiteout Conditions contains the language of a poet-turned-fiction writer... and the beauty of the phrasing is often in pointed contrast to the goofy stupidity of the characters' actions... Whiteout Conditions is a book concerned with toxic masculinity's erasure of the self; it's walls and moats. In the face of death, Ant and Vince concentrate on hurting each other, drinking, taking drugs, pursuing inadvisable revenge plots -- anything to plug the hole where their heartache dwells."--Caryl Pagel, Full Stop;;"Ant is borderline obsessed with funerals, likening the events to weddings as gatherings he looks forward to. Yet, when a childhood friend passes, Ant's veneer starts to crumble. Weirdly funny, Whiteout Conditions tracks Ant and his friend Vince as they make their way through Chicogoland's suburbs, which, in Shah's telling, are as harrowing as any arctic climate."--Wendy J. Fox, BuzzFeed '15 Small Press Books To Kick Off Your 2020 Reading Season';;"In this slim but memorable debut novel, Ant, who lives on the East Coast, flies home to Illinois to attend the funeral of one of his oldest friends, Ray. Picking him up from the airport is Ray's cousin, Vince. Together they set out to drive to the funeral while untangling old hurts, popping Oxy, and grappling with adulthood's disillusionments."--Tomi Obaro, Buzzfeed 'Most Highly Anticipated Books Of 2020';;"Like a poetic venture through the stubborn feelings of men, this short debut novel from Tariq Shah takes an uncomfortable look at loss, grief, and the lengths people go to avoid feeling pain."--Jaylynn Korrell, Independent Book Review;;"With a resolution that binds the human to the animal, the autonomous to the bestial, Whiteout Conditions renders a synthesis of propitiation and cruelty that is as palpable as it is blinding."--Nathan Elias, Entropy;;"Tariq Shah's Whiteout Conditions is a slim book that, by centering on death, allows its protagonist to explore life... Shah leads us through a taut exploration of grief, masculinity, and revenge with a deft hand."--Jesi Buell, Heavy Feather Review;;"The protagonist of the short novel, Ant, attends a funeral, which would affect him more if he didn't enjoy funerals. A lot of it has to do with his history of loss, which makes for a stark, grim, yet hilarious perspective to explore timeless themes."--Michael J. Seidlinger, Publishers Weekly, '15 New and Forthcoming Indie Press Gems';;"When people list things that they enjoy, funerals generally aren't one them. Ant finds joy in attending funerals. Yet, when the cousin of his childhood friend dies Ant is less enthused about attending. On its surface, Whiteout Conditions is a road trip story set against the backdrop of Midwest Suburbia. As the story progresses it becomes more of a rumination on loss, grief, and the ghosts in our rearview mirrors."--Quinn Illgen, Changing Hands (Tempe, AZ);;"The grip of this thing squeezes well past its 110 pages. A little of this, a little of that, but reductive comparisons are no use here because Shah has taken the best qualities of existing tropes and made them his own. A wild, dangerous game of dodge ball played in the farthest corner of fiction's playground."--Wesley Minter, Third Place Books (Seattle, WA);;"Boldly dark, strangely funny, and surprisingly sincere in its toughness."--Kassie Rose, The Longest Chapter;;"Dark and visual, Whiteout Conditions is a slow motion skid on black ice of a book. You might not want to keep reading, but it will be very hard to stop. Just steer into the skid. Well done, Tariq Shah.";-Mary O'Malley, Anderson's Bookshop (Naperville, IL);;"Whiteout Conditions is both disorienting and visceral, hilarious and heartbreaking."--Michael Welch, Chicago Review of Books;;"Whiteout Conditions, Tariq Shah's slim but powerful debut novel, focuses on grief, loss, and friendship in lyrical and stunning prose."--Laura Spence-Ash, Ploughshares;;"Shah reminds you that even though he's written a novel, he's still a poet... Whiteout Conditions explores how nostalgia and toxic masculinity operate (and fail) as a conduit for grief."--Rima Parikh, Chicago Reader;;"Mile by mile, an incoming blizzard paralleling the impending events and emotional landslide, this tale quietly grinds toward a gut-wrenching and unexpected conclusion."--Beth Mowbray, The Nerd Daily;;"The condition of Whiteout Conditions is the North American sublime, a grim, gnomic, hilarious dialect Tariq Shah inherits from Denis Johnson, Don DeLillo, the Coen Brothers, The Jesus Lizard, and Colson Whitehead. Like an icy sidewalk, Shah's deadpan wit and verbal wizardry will knock you flat on your ass."--Jess Row, author of Your Face in Mine and White Flights;;"In the brutal and beautiful Whiteout Conditions, a wasted road trip through America's suburban wastelands becomes an exploration of mortality, mercy and the mysteries of the human heart. Tariq Shah's sharp and surprising prose is the perfect vehicle for this bleakly comic novel, in which sparks of transcendence intermittently light up the dark."--David Gates, author of Jernigan and A Hand Reached Down to Guide Me;;"Tariq Shah's haunting novel Whiteout Conditions has the atmospheric rush of a winter fever dream. In his indelible main characters, Ant and Vince, Shah has created a quasi-brotherly relationship of sparring that reveals within their mutual antagonism an ultimate tenderness."--Betsy Bonner, author of Round Lake;;"Tariq Shah is one of the most daring young writers I've encountered, and Whiteout Conditions is a real original. Unsentimental, crisp, and ruthlessly cool, it is also surprisingly tender, with moments of great warmth and heart."--Taylor Plimpton, author of Notes from the Night: A Life After Dark;;"Written with stark lyricism, Whiteout Conditions is an unforgettable novel about an estranged young man, his reckless search for meaning around his post-suburban hometown, and the impossible beauty of redemption. A hell of a ride."--Lee Clay Johnson, author of Nitro Mountain

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Book SynopsisThe international bestselling godfather of Nordic Noir takes on one of the most horrific periods of modern history, in a stunning standalone thriller … NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER **SHORTLISTED FOR THE PETRONA AWARD FOR BEST SCANDINAVIAN CRIME NOVEL** **LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA INTERNATIONAL DAGGER**` ____________________ ‘The Courier is a stylish stand-alone thriller from the godfather of Scandi noir … Ola Dahl ratchets up the tension from the first pages and never lets go’ The Times ‘Absorbing, heart-rending and perfectly plotted. Kjell Ola Dahl’s The Courier passes seamlessly from the present to the dark past of WWII. Fabulous!’ Denzil Meyrick ‘Cleverly braiding together past and present, the who and why of murder and betrayal are unpicked. The detail is impressive’ Daily Mail ____________________ In 1942, Jewish courier Ester is betrayed, narrowly avoiding arrest by the Gestapo. In a great haste, she escapes to Sweden, saving herself. Her family in Oslo, however, is deported to Auschwitz. In Stockholm, Ester meets the resistance hero, Gerhard Falkum, who has left his little daughter and fled both the Germans and allegations that he murdered his wife, Åse, who helped Ester get to Sweden. Their burgeoning relationship ends abruptly when Falkum dies in a fire. And yet, twenty-five years later, Falkum shows up in Oslo. He wants to reconnect with his daughter. But where has he been, and what is the real reason for his return? Ester stumbles across information that forces her to look closely at her past, and to revisit her war-time training to stay alive… Written with Dahl's trademark characterization and elegant plotting, The Courier sees the hugely respected godfather of Nordic Noir at his best, as he takes on one of the most horrific periods of modern history, in an exceptional, shocking thriller. ____________________ ‘A dark but richly described backdrop and a relentless, underlying tension drive this sad story to its bittersweet conclusion. Fans of Nordic noir will be satisfied’ Publishers Weekly ‘Skilfully juggling three Oslo timelines — in 1942, 1967 and 2015 — Dahl starts his story with Germany’s occupation of Norway and the work of those who tried to resist, then brings his characters forward to a post-war unravelling of what really happened in those dangerous days — and the traumatic rewriting of personal stories’ The Times ‘A fascinating, intricate, provocative read, set in motion by events in 1942, and brilliantly highlighting human need and emotions … ‘The Courier’ sent a shiver coursing through me, it is a truly eloquent and rewarding tale, and oh that ending!’ LoveReading ‘Written with Dahl’s trademark characterisation and clever plotting, The Courier sees one of Norway’s most critically acclaimed authors at his best … This stunning and compelling wartime thriller is reminiscent of the writing of John Le Carré and William Boyd’ New Books Magazine ‘Kjell Ola Dahl’s novels are superb. If you haven’t read one, you need to – right now’ William Ryan ‘The kind of masterful, detailed plotting that Dahl is known for … the power of The Courier is how Dahl has given a complex, human face to such an inhuman tragedy’ Crime Fiction Lover

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Book SynopsisIn this breathtakingly brutal and intensely topical psychological thriller, a man is accused of child sexual abuse, and his life and that of his actress girlfriend are thrown into turmoil… ‘Malone is the master of twists, turns and the unexpected, with the skill to keep things grounded. So much so, that the reader can picture themselves in the very circumstances described. Superb storytelling from a master of his craft’ Herald Scotland ‘Beautiful, lyrical prose takes the reader through a perfectly constructed, often harrowing tale’ Denzil Meyrick _________________ Film star Amelie Hart is the darling of the silver screen, appearing on the front pages of every newspaper. But at the peak of her fame she throws it all away for a regular guy with an ordinary job. The gossip columns are aghast: what happened to the woman who turned heads wherever she went? Any hope the furore will die down are crushed when Amelie’s boyfriend Dave is arrested on charges of child sexual abuse. Dave strongly asserts his innocence, and when Amelie refuses to denounce him, the press witch hunt quickly turns into physical violence, and she has to flee the country. While Dave is locked up with the most depraved men in the country and Amelie is hiding on the continent, Damaris, the victim at the centre of the story, is isolated – a child trying to make sense of an adult world. Breathtakingly brutal, dark and immensely moving, A Song of Isolation looks beneath the magpie glimmer of celebrity to uncover a sinister world dominated by greed and lies, and the unfathomable destruction of innocent lives … in an instant. _________________ Praise for Michael J. Malone ‘A beautifully written tale, original, engrossing and scary … a dark joy’ The Times ‘A complex and multilayered story – perfect for a wintry night’ Sunday Express ‘Vivid, visceral and compulsive’ Ian Rankin ‘A terrific read … I read it in one sitting’ Martina Cole ‘A deeply satisfying read’ Sunday Times ‘A fine, page-turning thriller’ Daily Mail ‘With each turn of the page, a more shocking detail is revealed and some of the people John thought might help him are not who they seem … The domestic noir tale is one that many families will be able to relate to … There is barely enough time to catch your’ Scotsman ‘Challenging and emotional … enthrals as it corkscrews to a shocking, yet ultimately rewarding end’ LoveReading ‘Malone’s latest is an unsettling, multi-layered and expertly paced domestic noir drama that delves into one family’s dark secrets, shame and lies’ CultureFly ‘Malone is a poet, there are wonderful lyrical passages here and very skilful storytelling. Some issues are not spoken about enough, Malone raises a couple of those issues and sensitively but realistically addresses them…’ New Books Magazine ‘Engrossing, hard-hitting – even shocking – with a light poetic frosting. Another superb read!’ Douglas Skelton 'A dark and unnerving psychological thriller that draws you deep into the lives of the characters and refuses to let go. This is a brilliantly written book; I could not put it down’ Caroline Mitchell ‘A chilling tale of the unexpected that journeys right into the dark heart of domesticity’ Marnie RichesTrade Review"Malone is the master of twists, turns and the unexpected, with the skill to keep things grounded . . . Superb storytelling from a master of his craft." --Herald Scotland "Malone is a massive talent . . . get on board now so you can brag you were reading his books long before the rest of the world." --Luca Veste, author, The Bone Keeper "In his previous work, A Suitable Lie, Michael J. Malone surprised readers with a series of punch-in-the-gut twists and he achieves this again here." --Scotsman "A tense, immersive thriller that kept me guessing." --Ian Rankin, author, In a House of Lies "A complex and multi-layered story--perfect for a wintry night." --Sunday Express "A beautifully written tale, original, engrossing and scary . . . a dark joy." --Times

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Book SynopsisWhen a young woman vanishes from an exclusive oceanfront community in the middle of the night, Detective Casey Wray’s takes on a case that leads her in chilling, unexpected directions … A twisty, breath-taking police procedural. First in a heart-pounding new series. ‘Urgent, thrilling and richly imagined. Without doubt his best yet' Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the End ‘Reynolds captures the claustrophobic feel of a small town … a tense slice of American noir’ Vaseem Khan, author of Midnight at Malabar House 'If you were hooked on Mare of Easttown, this will be right up your street … I read this obsessively' Nina Pottell, Prima ‘Rod Reynolds makes the most of this desolate, windswept location … a thrillingly complex narrative develops at speed … his superior cop saga is just the first instalment of a projected series’ The Times ____________________ Don’t trust ANYONE… When a young woman makes a distressing middle-of-the-night call to 911, apparently running for her life in a quiet, exclusive beachside neighbourhood, miles from her home, everything suggests a domestic incident. Except no one has seen her since, and something doesn’t sit right with the officers at Hampstead County PD. With multiple suspects and witnesses throwing up startling inconsistencies, and interference from the top threatening the integrity of the investigation, lead detective Casey Wray is thrust into an increasingly puzzling case that looks like it’s going to have only one ending… And then the first body appears…For fans of Susie Steiner, Peter Swanson, M J Arlidge, James Lee Burke and Tana French ___________________**LONGLISTED for the CWA Steel Dagger for THRILLER of the YEAR** ‘Electrifying’ Crime Monthly ‘An awesome read. A turn of the screw in every chapter’ Oscar de Muriel ‘If you love Harlen Coben and Lee Child, you will love this … cinematic, epic, you will forget to breathe’ Miranda Dickinson ‘Compelling and stylish, with devious twists and a cleverly crafted ending. Very, very impressive’ G J Minnett ‘A twisty, high-stakes, high-voltage murder mystery’ Tim Baker ‘In Casey Wray he has created a series character with an engaging mix of guts and vulnerability ably supported by a strong supporting cast. His prose style is crisp with the occasional touch of the poetic that lifts noir writing out of the pulps’ Shots Magazine ‘Beautifully written, deeply atmospheric and cleverly plotted, with a brilliant new protagonist’ Andrea Carter ‘Utterly gripping and packs one hell of an emotional punch. Perfect for fans of Bosch’ Steph Broadribb ‘There’s something particularly special about Black Reed Bay and it’s Detective Casey Wray … I felt like I’d known her all my life’ Joy Kluver

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Book SynopsisWhen AA meetings make her want to drink more, alcoholic murderess Maeve sets up a group for psychopaths … The dark, unpredictable, electrifyingly original new thriller from critically acclaimed cult author Will Carver.‘Totally insane, and I mean that in the best of ways. Maeve is a brilliant character … Incredibly dark and very funny’ Harriet Tyce, author of It Ends at Midnight‘I fell in love with Carver's murderous Maeve. This is an Eleanor Oliphant for crime fans. Carver truly at his best’ Sarah Pinborough, author of Insomnia‘Another wild ride … a darkly delicious page-turner’ S J Watson, author of Before I Go To Sleep––––––––––––––Welcome to the Club…Maeve has everything. A high-powered job, a beautiful home, a string of uncomplicated one-night encounters. She’s also an addict: A functioning alcoholic with a dependence on sex and an insatiable appetite for killing men. When she can’t find a support group to share her obsession, she creates her own. And Psychopaths Anonymous is born. Friends of Maeve. Now in a serious relationship, Maeve wants to keep the group a secret. But not everyone in the group adheres to the rules, and when a reckless member raises suspicions with the police, Maeve’s drinking spirals out of control. She needs to stop killing. She needs to close the group. But Maeve can’t seem to quit the things that are bad for her, including her new man…A scathing, violent and darkly funny book about love, connection, obsessions and sex – and the aspects of human nature we’d prefer to hide – Psychopaths Anonymous is also an electrifyingly original, unpredictable thriller that challenges virtually everything.––––––––––––––––––‘Carver is a smart, stylish writer who has created a uniquely scary personality. We glimpse the world seen through the eyes of a grotesque character who is just normal enough to leave us entertained and disturbed in equal part’ Daily Mail ‘Wickedly fun’ Crime Monthly‘Will Carver’s most exciting, original, hilarious and freaky outing yet … I loved it’ Helen FitzGerald, author of Worst Case Scenario‘So in-your-face it’s almost claustrophobic, it’s also a compulsive and unforgettable reading experience’ LoveReading ‘Carver highlights the dark side of the current era, such as the negative consequences of ubiquitous online porn and society’s disregard for its outcasts … [a] powerful look into the abyss of a psychopathic personality’ Publishers Weekly‘Vivid and engaging and completely unexpected’ Lia Middleton, author of When They Find Her‘Dark in the way only Will Carver can be … oozes malevolence from every page’ Victoria Selman, author of Truly Darkly Deeply‘A wickedly dark and funny novel, with a protagonist you can’t help but root for’ Lisa Hall, author of The Woman in the Woods‘Move the hell over Brett Easton Ellis and Chuck Palahniuk … Will Carver is the new lit prince of 21st-century disenfranchised, pop darkness’ Stephen J. Golds‘Maeve is the best female fictional character since Marla Singer...’ Christopher HooleyPraise for Will Carver‘Cements Carver as one of the most exciting authors in Britain. After this, he’ll have his own cult following’ Daily Express‘A novel so dark and creepy Stephen King will be jealous he didn’t think of it first’ Michael Wood‘One of the most compelling and original voices in crime fiction … The whole thing feels like a shot of adrenaline’ Alex North‘Deliciously fresh and malevolent story-telling … If you like something fresh and unusual, grab this book’ Craig Sisterson‘Weirdly page-turning’ Sunday Times‘Laying bare our 21st-century weaknesses and dilemmas, Carver has created a highly original state-of-the-nation novel’ Literary Review‘Arguably the most original crime novel published this year’ Independent‘At once fantastical and appallingly plausible … this mesmeric novel paints a thought-provoking if depressing picture of modern life’ Guardian‘This book is most memorable for its unrepentant darkness…’ Telegraph‘Unlike anything else you’ll read this year’ Heat

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Book SynopsisScarred by their pasts, Jenna and Luke fall in love, brimming with hope for a rosy future. But someone has been watching, with chilling plans for revenge … An emotive, twisty, disturbing new psychological thriller by the critically acclaimed author of A Suitable Lie and In the Absence of Miracles.‘Compelling, disturbing and engaging' Caro Ramsay‘Malone is the master of twists, turns and the unexpected, with the skill to keep things grounded … a master of his craft’ Herald Scotland‘Tense, pacey and lyrical … cements Malone in the firmament of Tartan Noir, marrying McIlvanney and Banks to a modern domestic noir that’ll have you reading into the wee sma’ hours’ Ed James______________________________________________The darker the memory, the deadlier the obsession… Jenna is trying to rebuild her life after a series of disastrous relationships. Luke is struggling to provide a safe, loving home for his deceased partner’s young son, following a devastating tragedy.When Jenna and Luke meet and fall in love, they are certain they can achieve the stability and happiness they both desperately need. And yet, someone is watching.Someone who has been scarred by past events.Someone who will stop at nothing to get revenge…Dark, unsettling and immensely moving, Quicksand of Memory is a chilling reminder that we are not only punished for our sins, but by them, and that memories left to blacken and sharpen over time are the perfect breeding ground for obsession, and murder…________________________________________________________‘Complex, human characters living in a page-turning world’ Douglas Skelton ‘Long-held secrets, complex relationships and an ever increasing sense of menace … fantastic’ Steph Broadribb ‘A fascinating exploration of damage, toxicity, trauma and love’ Sharon Bairden ‘Darkly compelling and provocative … from the outset, whiplike tendrils of disquiet creep their way into the story’ LoveReading‘Masterfully combines the dark, cruel elements of people’s lives and nature with a glimmer of light and hope’ Fiona Sharp ‘An almost perfect storm of circumstances that lead us to a dramatic and potentially deadly conclusion … an emotionally charged story’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews ‘I can genuinely say: Fiction doesn’t get any better than this’ Book Review Café Praise for Michael J. Malone‘A beautifully written tale, original, engrossing and scary … a dark joy’ The Times ‘A complex and multilayered story – perfect for a wintry night’ Sunday Express‘Vivid, visceral and compulsive’ Ian Rankin‘A terrific read … I read it in one sitting’ Martina Cole‘A deeply satisfying read’ Sunday Times‘A fine, page-turning thriller’ Daily Mail‘Malone’s latest is an unsettling, multi-layered and expertly paced domestic noir drama that delves into one family’s dark secrets, shame and lies’ CultureFly‘Engrossing, hard-hitting – even shocking – with a light poetic frosting. Another superb read!’ Douglas Skelton'A dark and unnerving psychological thriller that draws you deep into the lives of the characters and refuses to let go. This is a brilliantly written book; I could not put it down’ Caroline Mitchell‘A chilling tale of the unexpected that journeys right into the dark heart of domesticity’ Marnie Riches For fans of Jodie Picoult, Gillian McAllister, Cara Hunter, Shari Lapena, Liz Nugent and Mark Edward

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Book SynopsisTHE FIFTH BOOK IN CLAIRE MACLEARY'S MULTI-AWARD-LISTED HARCUS & LAIRD SERIES 'Claire MacLeary has, with little fuss or fanfare, written a crime series that subverts and rejuvenates the crime genre' Scots Whay Hae A disturbing hanging with a backstory of secrets and shaming highlights some outdated attitudes within Aberdeen’s finest. After past skirmishes with the police, local PI Maggie Laird is determined to steer clear, but her partner, Wilma Harcus, goes rogue. Not only does she have leads up her sleeve, but she has grandiose ideas to expand their PI agency into the realm of romance fraud and cybercrime. Then, troubled schoolchild Frankie Bain goes missing. As the clock runs down, the two investigations collide. Was the hanging the last, desperate act of a tortured mind or a calculated murder? And will Frankie Bain be found alive? In this fifth Harcus and Laird novel, Claire MacLeary fashions a fast-paced, fresh and topical new adventure for her inimitable PI partnership.

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