Crime and mystery: hard-boiled crime, noir fiction
Bedford Square Publishers No Beast So Fierce
Book Synopsis'No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity' - Richard III, Act 1, Scene 2 An angry and mercilessly suspenseful novel about an ex-con's attempt to negotiate the "straight world" and his swan dive back into the paradoxical security of crime. It is airtight in its construction, almost photorealistic in its portrayal of L.A. lowlife and utterly knowledgeable about the terrors of liberty, the high of the quick score and the rage that makes the finger tighten on the trigger of the gun. No Beast So Fierce was Eddie Bunker's debut novel and has the searing intensity of a novel based precisely on experience, with Bunker having spent most of his early life in maximum security penitentiaries for a variety of offences including armed robbery. It has been suggested that Tarantino draws on No Beast So Fierce for the botched robbery in Reservoir Dogs, a film in which Bunker plays the character of Mr Blue.Trade ReviewA gripping and harrowing read * Daily Mail *The most compelling quality of No Beast So Fierce is that, solidly rooted in his own experiences, it explores the nature of the criminal mind with almost blinding authenticity. Bunker is obviously a man of unusual gifts honed under circumstances that would destroy most men * Los Angeles Times *The most compelling quality of No Beast So Fierce is that, solidly rooted in his own experiences, it explores the nature of the criminal mind with almost blinding authenticity. Bunker is obviously a man of unusual gifts honed under circumstances that would destroy most men * Los Angeles Times *Quite simply, one of the great crime novels of the past 30 years -- James EllroyThe best first person crime novel I have ever read -- Quentin Tarantino
£13.49
HarperCollins Publishers Inspector French The End of Andrew Harrison
Book Synopsis A classic crime novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, ‘The King of Detective Story Writers’, featuring Inspector French, coming soon to television. Trade Review“A detective novel by Mr. Wills Crofts is always an event to those who know … Mr. Crofts is among the few muscular writers of detective fiction. He has never let me down.”HAROLD NICHOLSON, Daily Express “A really satisfying puzzle … With every fresh detective story Crofts displays new fields of specialised knowledge.”Daily Mail
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Betray Her An absolutely gripping psychological
Book Synopsis''A twist that I didn''t see coming!'' T. M. LOGAN''Kept me gripped'' B. A. PARIS''Incredibly twisty . . . deliciously satisfying'' CLAIRE ALLAN''A taut, tantalising thriller'' SHERYL BROWNE''Truly terrific!'' MARTINA COLE_______________Best friends forever.That''s the pact you made.You''d do anything for her.And you have.She''s always had it all.If you could take it for yourself . . . would you?_______________Lust, secrets and revenge are at the heart of this irresistibly twisted thriller by the bestselling author of My Husband''s Lies. Perfect for fans of Claire McGowan''s The Other Wife and Adele Parks''s Lies Lies Lies. What readers are saying about Betray Her:''Wow! This kept me gripped right up untTrade ReviewIncredibly twisty, beautifully written, evocative and deliciously satisfying. I cannot recommend it highly enough! -- Claire AllanA compelling tale of love, jealousy, betrayal - and a devastating secret at the dark heart of a lifelong friendship. A great read with a twist that I didn't see coming! -- T. M. LoganKept me gripped and guessing -- B. A. ParisStunning . . . dark undercurrents and sinister twists. A top-end read -- Amanda RobsonA taut, tantalising thriller . . . full of passion and intrigue, sexual tension and desperate longing . . . mesmerising storytelling -- Sheryl Browne[A] fantastic novel, which holds you in its iron grip throughout. Enough twists, turns, and deftly drawn characters to keep even the most demanding reader thoroughly satisfied -- S. D. RobertsonPacks a knock-out final punch. Cunningly plotted and beautifully crafted, this is England on superlative form -- Helen FieldsCaroline England writes with real conviction about the strengths and limits of female friendship. Betray Her is a compelling, twisty tale that lovers of psychological crime fiction will relish -- Kate RhodesThough twisty and turny, this is one to really savour as with Caroline (like in her previous books) it's all about the beautiful writing. Wonderful -- Louise BeechI LOVED this book! An unstoppable thriller with more twists and turns than a corkscrew. This book had me gripped from the very first page! Five stars from me -- Caroline MitchellA taut and twisted tale of toxic relationships - trademark Caroline England -- Rachel SargeantUtterly addictive; I'll be recommending this book to everyone I know -- Victoria SelmanA thoroughly good read! A sophisticated domestic noir with real emotional depth -- Sam CarringtonExquisite prose and a roller coaster ride of secrets and lies -- Jane IsaacYou'll be hooked from the first pages, and the gripping plot holds you by the scruff of the neck and doesn't let go until the twisting, turning end -- Phaedra PatrickA vivid account of friendship, betrayal and long-buried dark secrets -- Kate EllisI instantly became lost in the gripping story . . . Betray Her has everything that you'd expect from a psychological thriller and much more; a whirlwind of jealousy, illicit relationships, secrets and lies that will sweep you up and carry you along until the end. -- Petrina BanfieldDrew me in from the first page, twisted and turned, unravelling deliciously to an unexpected conclusion. A true page turner with characters that get under your skin and stay there long after you've read the last words -- Faith BleasdaleAn absorbing and highly enjoyable modern morality tale about a toxic friendship with a heart of darkness. Caroline has a real gift for creating characters you genuinely care about. -- Judith O’ReillyReally enjoyed this dark and twisted tale of toxic relationships -- Roz WatkinsReally loved this . . . Layer upon layer of history coming back to mess with today's lives and relationships. And no, I didn't see that end coming! -- Sarah JasmonPraise for Caroline England:I was gripped immediately -- Katerina DiamondTwists to leave you dizzy -- Teresa DriscollI finished it in hours! Truly a terrific read! -- Martina ColeTwisting triangles of love and lust distort a perfect circle of friends in this slow-burning literary thriller -- Rachel SargeantA clever, intriguing and twisted tale that builds to a gut-wrenching conclusion -- Roz WatkinsSharp and sweetly twisted. I loved it -- Helen FieldsA totally absorbing read that's beautifully written, where lives and secrets slowly unravel -- Elisabeth CarpenterA sumptuous serving of domestic noir -- S. D. RobertsonA simmering cocktail of betrayal, lust and deceit in this explosively plotted thriller about family secrets and broken friendship -- Sanjida KayAn intoxicating read. A thrilling blend of social drama and crime thriller. Recommended! -- David Stuart Davies
£10.49
Bitter Lemon Press The Fragility of Bodies
Book Synopsis•The first in a series of novels by Olguín starring the journalist Veronica Rosenthal. It is set in Buenos-Aires and has been made into a TV series currently showing in Argentina. •Veronica is a successful young journalist, beautiful, unmarried, with a healthy appetite for bourbon and men. She is a fascinating and complicated heroine, driven by a sense of justice but also by lust and ambition. •Sensual and terse, the novel is also fiercely critical of a system that tolerates the powerful and wealthy of Buenos Aires putting the lives of young boys at risk for their entertainment. When she hears about the suicide of a local train driver who has jumped off the roof of a block of flats, leaving a suicide note confessing to four mortal `accidents’ on the train tracks, she decides to investigate. For the police the case is closed (suicide is suicide), for Veronica it is the beginning of a journey that takes her into an unfamiliar world of grinding poverty, junkie infested neighborhoods, and train drivers on commuter lines haunted by the memory of bodies hit at speed by their locomotives in the middle of the night. Aided by a train driver informant, a junkie in rehab and two street kids willing to risk everything for a can of Coke, she uncovers a group of men involved in betting on working-class youngsters convinced to play Russian roulette by standing in front of fast-coming trains to see who endures the longest. With bodies of children crushed under tons of steel, those of adults yielding to relentless desire, the resolution of the investigation reveals the deep bonds which unite desire and death.
£8.54
Orenda Books Faceless: The shocking new thriller from the
Book SynopsisA stressed, middle-aged man picks up a teenage escort and commits an unspeakable crime, unaware that a homeless man – her only real friend – will do anything to find her. A shocking, race-against-the-clock, standalone thriller from the Queen of New Zealand Crime.‘Astonishingly good … compelling, horrifying, intriguing and entertaining. One of the best thrillers I’ve read this year’ Liz Nugent'New Zealand's modern Queen of Crime' Val McDermid'Fans of The Dry will love Vanda Symon' Red Magazine–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Worn down by a job he hates, and a stressful family life, middle-aged, middle-class Bradley picks up a teenage escort and commits an unspeakable crime. Now she’s tied up in his warehouse, and he doesn’t know what to do.Max is homeless, eating from rubbish bins, sleeping rough and barely existing – known for cadging a cigarette from anyone passing, and occasionally even the footpath. Nobody really sees Max, but he has one friend, and she’s gone missing.In order to find her, Max is going to have to call on some people from his past, and reopen wounds that have remained unhealed for a very long time, and the clock is ticking…Hard-hitting, fast-paced and immensely thought-provoking, Faceless – the startling new standalone thriller from New Zealand’s ‘Queen of Crime’ – will leave you breathless.–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––‘Powerful and brilliant writing that transported me to the other side of the world … a wonderful storyteller’ Helen FitzGerald‘Edgy, thrilling and terrifyingly realistic’ Lisa Hall‘All the thrills of a brilliantly plotted crime novel with some interesting moral questions woven between the words. Fast, furious and intense' Helen Fields‘A portrait of the underbelly of society, this is a deeply involving novel and a damn good thriller’ Paul Burke, NB Magazine'Completely gripping … a poignant study of how our society shapes unlikely saints and monsters' Eve Smith‘Faceless is tauter and tougher than Symon’s delightful Dunedin procedurals … superb’ The Times‘Intense, dark and twisted, this is a fast and pulse-raising read that absolutely gripped me’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews‘I read the last couple of chapters with bated breath, heart in my throat, eyes brimming. I was completely and utterly invested’ From Belgium with BooklovePraise for the Sam Shephard series‘New Zealand's answer to Siobhan Clarke’ The Times'Fast-moving New Zealand procedural ... the Edinburgh of the south has never been more deadly' Ian Rankin'A sassy heroine, fabulous sense of place, and rip-roaring stories with a twist. Perfect curl-up-on-the-sofa reading' Kate Mosse'If you like taut, pacey thrillers with a wonderful sense of place, this is the book for you' Liam McIlvanney'Vanda Symon's work resembles Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series she knows how to tell a good story and the NZ setting adds spice' The Times'Atmospheric, emotional and gripping' Foreword Reviews'A plot that grabs the reader's attention with a heart-stopping opening and doesn't let go' Sunday Times'It is Symon's copper Sam, self-deprecating and very human, who represents the writer's real achievement' Guardian'Reads like the polished effort of a genre veteran. More, please' Booklist For fans of Liz Nugent, Gillian McAllister, Trevor Wood and Sarah Hilary
£8.54
Simon & Schuster Ltd Cold Cold Bones
Book Synopsis'This page-turning series never lets the reader down’ HARLAN COBENIN A PROFESSION LIKE THIS, YOU'RE BOUND TO MAKE ENEMIES . . . An eye . . . It all starts when Dr Temperance Brennan finds a box on her porch. Inside is a fresh human eyeball with GPS coordinates etched into it. They lead her to a macabre discovery in a Benedictine Monastery, and soon after she discovers a mummified corpse in a state park. . . . for an eye There seems to be no pattern to these killings, except that each mimics a killing connected to something a younger Tempe experienced, or barely escaped. Someone is targeting her, and she needs to figure out why before they strike again. And then her daughter Katy disappears. Someone is playing a dangerous game with Tempe. And they won’t stop until they have taken everything froTrade Review‘A thing of clever beauty – smart, scary, complicated, and engrossing from the first sentence' MICHAEL CONNELLY ‘Reanimates all the ghosts from Temperance Brennan’s forensic past until they thoroughly haunt her present . . . This page-turning series never lets the reader down’ HARLAN COBEN 'Over the course of twenty books, Kathy Reichs and Tempe Brennan have thrilled readers with pacey, mazey tales . . . We readers are truly grateful' IAN RANKIN 'The Queen of forensic crime' EVENING STANDARD ‘Reichs, skilfully using the conventions of the mystery novel, forces the reader to face up to the obscene realities of death time and time again. At work and a play she gets under your skin’ THE TIMES ‘Masterfully constructed’ J.A. JANCE 'A mystery within a mystery that invites you to get into the action, complete with twisting turns and heart-stopping dives into the unknown . . . The crowning achievement of a master storyteller' NELSON DeMILLE
£8.54
Little, Brown Book Group From The Dead Tom Thorne Novels
Book SynopsisThe ninth book in the Tom Thorne series, from bestselling author Mark Billingham.It has been a decade since Alan Langford''s charred remains were discovered in his burnt-out car. His wife Donna was found guilty of conspiracy to murder her husband and served ten years in prison.But just before she is released, Donna receives a nasty shock: an anonymous letter containing a photo of her husband. The man she hates with every fibre of her being - the man she paid to have murdered - seems very much alive and well.How is it possible that her husband is still alive? Where is he? Who sent the photo, and why?DI Tom Thorne becomes involved in a case where nothing and no one are what they seem. It will take him much further from his London beat than he has ever been before - and closer to a killer who will do anything to protect his new life.________________The outstanding new Tom Thorne thriller, THEIR LITTLE SECRET, is out now!Trade Review'While Billingham has well and truly mastered the modern police procedural, the thing that sets him apart from the crowd is not just his emotional insight, but the way he invariably packs such a heart-wrenching punch... Billingham's most desperately gripping read yet * Mirror *As fictional detectives go, Thorne is one of the most believable and Billingham's deserved status as a world-class crime fiction writer will surely be confirmed when a new television series based on some of his novels is aired this autumn * Daily Mail *Billingham is well aware that we're au fait with most police procedural scenarios and is always working to ring clever and inventive changes on the formula...the tension is fine-tuned with all the usual skill * Daily Express *Most fictional sleuths are flawed but invariably triumphant; Billingham is unusually willing to show his series hero making blunder after blunder * Sunday Times *
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Revenge
Book SynopsisHe thought he was invincible. He was wrong.REVENGE by the ''undisputed queen of crime writing'' (Guardian) and Sunday Times No.1 bestseller Martina Cole is an unflinching novel that exposes a world that many would rather ignore...Michael Flynn is untouchable. He''s the boss of a dangerous empire, the biggest the criminal world has ever seen. No one crosses him, no one gets in his way, and everyone does what he says - including the law.But you don''t get to where Michael is without making enemies. Someone is out for revenge. And it''s best served when least expected.For more novels that will take you deep into the dark and dangerous criminal underworld, check out Martina Cole''s THE GRAFT, THE BUSINESS and THE LIFE
£7.99
Transworld Publishers Ltd Birdman
Book SynopsisThis dark and disturbingly compelling thriller from bestselling and prize-winning author Mo Hayder is not for the faint-hearted. Perfect for fans of Stephen King, Stuart MacBride and Karin Slaughter, it is one read you won''t be able to forget easily...''A first-class shocker . . . a frightening mix of forensics, thrills, analytical police work and poetic images.'' -- Guardian''Wickedly constructed . . . The detail, if you can stomach it, is fascinating.'' -- Daily Telegraph''Hayder''s vibrant narrative and crunchy characterisation propel the book along to its denouement with fearsome velocity'' -- The Times''WOW! This is one scary thriller, gripping from the first page to the last'' -- ***** Reader review''I was hooked!'' -- ***** Reader review''An exhilarating, but disturbing, read that has you on the edge of your seat from the get go'' -- ***** Reader rTrade ReviewNot for the faint-hearted... what sets Birdman apart is Hayder's talent * Sunday Express *A first-class shocker... a frightening mix of forensics, thrills, analytical police work and poetic images... a young writer in touch with her dark side and a major new talent * Guardian *Wickedly constructed... Her cast of suspects is the most spooky since Dickens... The detail, if you can stomach it, is fascinating * Daily Telegraph *Hayder's vibrant narrative and crunchy characterisation propel the book along to its denouement with fearsome velocity * The Times *
£10.44
Atlantic Books In Dust and Ashes
Book SynopsisTHE TENTH INSTALMENT IN THE HANNE WILHELMSEN SERIES.Don't miss this unforgettable, explosive finale to Anne Holt's bestselling Hanne Wilhelmsen series.In 2001, three year old Dina is killed in a tragic car accident. Not long thereafter Dina's mother dies under mysterious circumstances, and Dina's father Jonas is convicted of her murder.In 2016, the cold case ends up on the desk of Detective Henrik Holme, who tries to convince his mentor Hanne Wilhelmsen that the father might have been wrongly convicted. Holme and Wilhelmsen discover that the case could be connected to the suicide of an eccentric blogger as well as the kidnapping of the granddaughter of a EuroJackpot millionaire.Trade ReviewAnne Holt is the godmother of modern Norwegian crime fiction. * Jo Nesbo *Lively, unusual and persuasive. Holt writes with the command we have come to expect from the top Scandinavian writers. * The Times *Anne Holt is a thriller writer of the highest order. * Liza Marklund *Step aside, Stieg Larsson, Holt is the queen of Scandinavian crime thrillers. * Red Magazine *
£7.59
Little, Brown Book Group Shadows in Death An Eve Dallas thriller Book 51
Book Synopsis ''If you''re a crime fiction fan and haven''t discovered them yet, welcome to the very best day of your life'' Heat MagazineThe brand new thriller in the Sunday Times bestselling series As it often did since he''d married a cop, murder interrupted more pleasant activities. The again, Roarke supposed, the woman lying in a pool of her own blood a few steps inside the arch in Washington Square Park had a heftier complaint. When a night out at the theatre is interrupted by the murder of a young woman in Washington Square Park, it seems like an ordinary case for Detective Eve Dallas and her team. But when her husband Roarke spots a shadow from his past in the crowd, Eve realises that this case is far from business as usual. Eve has two complex cases on her hands - the shocking murder of this wealthy young mother and tracking down the shadow before he can strike again, this time much closer to home. Eve is wellTrade ReviewIf you're a crime fiction fan and haven't discovered them yet, welcome to the very best day of your life - Heat MagazineEve Dallas - tough as nails and still sexy as hell - Stephen KingJ.D. Robb's novels are can't-miss pleasures - Harlan CobenCurious corpses, tangled twists and one sizzling sleuth - Kathy ReichsTerrific characters, sudden twists ... the epitome of popular fiction - Dennis LehaneJ.D. Robb is one of my favourite authors, and she has created an iconic female cop - a strong, sexy, and death-defying heroine - with the slyest sense of humour in fiction. I love J.D. Robb and Eve Dallas! - Lisa ScottolineSexy and unpredictable, these books are first-rate suspense thrillers with wit, character and heart - Janet EvanovichTough, smart and sexy - Linda Fairstein
£9.49
Faber & Faber Back to Bologna Aurelio Zen 10
Book SynopsisPure pleasure.' Evening StandardAn absolute treat . . . wittily and slyly written.' Euro CrimeAN AURELIO ZEN MYSTERYWhen the corpse of the shady industrialist who owns the local football team is found both shot and stabbed, Inspector Aurelio Zen is called to Bologna to oversee the investigation. Recovering slowly from surgery, and fleeing an equally painful crisis in his personal life, Zen is only too happy to take on what at first appears to be a routine and relatively undemanding assignment. But soon a world-famous university professor is shot with the same gun, and the case threatens to spin out of control . . .The best of the Zen series. Exceptionally clever and witty.' 5* reader reviewA very entertaining romp with Zen.' 5* reader reviewVery funny and perceptive on Italian society. Michael Dibdin's Zen books are the top of the pile in detective fiction.' 5* reader review
£9.49
Faber & Faber Dead Lagoon Aurelio Zen 04
Book SynopsisA rollicking good tale.' INDEPENDENTA first-rate mystery.' WASHINGTON POSTAN AURELIO ZEN MYSTERYAurelio Zen returns to his native Venice in an unofficial capacity, to investigate the disappearance of an American millionaire. But he is quickly reminded that, amid the hazy light and shifting waters of the lagoon, nothing is what it seems. As he is drawn deeper into the ambiguous mysteries surrounding the discovery of a skeletal corpse, he is also forced to confront a series of disturbing revelations about his own life.Absolutely brilliant . . . made me want to go back to travel in Italy again.' 5* reader reviewI loved this book . . . a good storyline, and enough twists to keep me guessing.' 5* reader reviewPerfect entertainment.' 5* reader reviewMy personal favourite in a great series.' 5* reader reviewPRAISE FOR MICHAEL DIBDIN AND THE INSPECTOR ZEN SERIES:
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Orion Publishing Co A Dance At The Slaughterhouse Matthew Scudder
Book SynopsisThe 9th breakneck thriller in the Matt Scudder series, from a master of the genre.To Matt Scudder, no one can rise above the law.But when the ex-cop is privately hired to investigate the murder of a beautiful pregnant woman, he finds himself pushed to the limits of his beliefs. With every step he takes, Scudder discovers darker and more depraved secrets. Human trafficking, snuff films, murderous fetishes: the light of humanity seems all but extinguished.In the seedy underworld of New York City, nothing is sacred and anything can be bought.
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Death Message Tom Thorne Novels
Book SynopsisThe seventh book in the Tom Thorne series, from bestselling author Mark Billingham.THE MESSAGEDI Tom Thorne has seen plenty of dead bodies in his time. But when he starts receiving sick photos of murder victims on his mobile phone, he soon realises that the next body could be his.THE KILLERAnd even when the man who has been sending the photos is tracked down, the deadly threat remains, For some, the case is all but closed, but Thorne''s nightmare is just beginning. THE TWISTBecause someone else is masterminding the death messages. The most vicious psychopath Thorne has ever faced is able to manipulate others even behind bars, and time has only deepened the deadly grudge he has against the policeman who put him away...________________The outstanding new Tom Thorne thriller, THEIR LITTLE SECRET, is out now!Trade ReviewMurder and mystery do not come better than this What's on in London Brisk, racy read The Times Assured and shocking thriller The Guardian A cunning variation on the serial-murder theme Sunday Telegraph
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers An Advancement of Learning
Book SynopsisAll is not well at Holm Coultram College.All is not well at Holm Coultram College: lecturers having affairs with students, witches' sabbaths, a body buried under a statue.Detective Superintendent Dalziel, despite his cynical view of academics, doesn't feel murder fits in here let alone a rash of killings. But when he and DS Pascoe are sent to investigate a disinterred corpse at Holm Coultram College, that's exactly what they findTrade Review'He is probably the best living male crime writer in the English-speaking world' Andrew Taylor, Independent 'The finest male English contemporary crime writer. Compassionate, intelligent and entertaining'Val McDermid, Manchester Evening News 'He just keeps getting better and better… Hill, a true master, never fails to shock and surprise'Ian Rankin, Scotland on Sunday 'One of Britain's most consistently excellent crime novelists' Marcel Berlins, The Times 'An increasingly lyrical and always humorous writer, he is first and foremost an instinctive and complete novelist who is blessed with a spontaneous storytelling gift' Frances Fyfield, Mail on Sunday
£10.44
Penguin Random House LLC The Final Country 2 Milo Milodragovitch
Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES Notable BookIt's business as usual for Milo Milodragovitch, watching a relationship go sour and running a bar whose real business is cleaning some dirty money, until he gets sent off to hunt a drug dealer’s killer. Prodded by the twin motivations of his prickly conscience and his tight finances, Milo sets off on a trip to find the promised land. The end of the road will be where he first began: Montana, where a beautiful woman, a dangerous man, and a motherlode of truth are waiting for their favorite son to come home—bringing with him a gun, a plan, and a prayer.
£13.60
Little, Brown Book Group Die of Shame The Number One Sunday Times
Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLERYou never know who''s watching . . .Every Monday evening, six people gather in a smart North London house to talk about addiction. There they share their deepest secrets: stories of lies, regret, and above all, shame.Then one of them is killed - and it''s clear one of the circle was responsible.Detective Inspector Nicola Tanner quickly finds her investigation hampered by the strict confidentiality that binds these people and their therapist together. So what could be shameful enough to cost someone their life?And how do you find the truth when denial and deception are second nature to all of your suspects?Full of betrayal, deceit and suspense, Die of Shame is the spectacular thriller from Sunday Times bestseller Mark Billingham.''Mark Billingham is one of the greatest writers in any genre'' SteTrade ReviewPerfectly pitched and elegantly plotted, it has all Billingham's hallmarks, and should not be missed * Daily Mail *One of his most unconventional, intriguing and entertaining books -- Jake Kerridge * Sunday Express *Intense, voyeuristic and loaded with popular culture, this unashamed good read is sure to prove a hit. * Sun *An awesome thriller * Heat *This is an intriguing set up, involving a cast of suspects where everyone has something to hide -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times *An insightful study into the darkness of addiction, driven by strong characters, and dripping with the black humour that's Billingham's trademark * Sunday Mirror *The interplay between the six [characters] is highly entertaining * The Times *One of the best crime novels of the year so far. Shocking, frightening, gripping * Sunday Irish Independent *Confirmation that Mark Billingham is now one of the most assured thriller writers around * Reader's Digest *Mark Billingham is a very clever writer and all the characters in this book are rounded and credible * Literary Review *Die of Shame is a brilliant compassionate study of dysfunction... this is a very kind, very funny, very troubling book * Crime Fiction Fix *Gritty, thought provoking and utterly addictive - Die of Shame is an absolute must read for all crime fiction fans * Crime Thriller Girl *A must read for Billingham fans or those keen to experience a gritty novel with heart and honesty * The Crime Warp *A terrific and unconventional addition to Billingham's oeuvre * Irish Independent *Jaw-dropping twists and turns that herald the climax of this immensely entertaining, masterfully constructed novel * Irish Times *A chilling story * Herald Sun *A great standalone novel * Queensland Times *This is a read-till-you-drop psychological mystery driven by some of the most intriguing characters you'll meet * Globe and Mail *Perfectly pitched and elegantly plotted, it has all Billingham's hallmarks, and should not be missed * Daily Mail *One of his most unconventional, intriguing and entertaining books -- Jake Kerridge * Sunday Express *Intense, voyeuristic and loaded with popular culture, this unashamed good read is sure to prove a hit. * Sun *An awesome thriller * Heat *This is an intriguing set up, involving a cast of suspects where everyone has something to hide -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times *An insightful study into the darkness of addiction, driven by strong characters, and dripping with the black humour that's Billingham's trademark * Sunday Mirror *The interplay between the six [characters] is highly entertaining * The Times *One of the best crime novels of the year so far. Shocking, frightening, gripping * Sunday Irish Independent *Confirmation that Mark Billingham is now one of the most assured thriller writers around * Reader's Digest *Mark Billingham is a very clever writer and all the characters in this book are rounded and credible * Literary Review *Die of Shame is a brilliant compassionate study of dysfunction... this is a very kind, very funny, very troubling book * Crime Fiction Fix *Gritty, thought provoking and utterly addictive - Die of Shame is an absolute must read for all crime fiction fans * Crime Thriller Girl *A must read for Billingham fans or those keen to experience a gritty novel with heart and honesty * The Crime Warp *A terrific and unconventional addition to Billingham's oeuvre * Irish Independent *Jaw-dropping twists and turns that herald the climax of this immensely entertaining, masterfully constructed novel * Irish Times *A chilling story * Herald Sun *A great standalone novel * Queensland Times *A read-till-you-drop psychological mystery * Globe and Mail *
£9.99
Little, Brown Book Group We Know
Book SynopsisA breakneck thriller from the bestselling author of Richard & Judy Book Club selections ORPHAN X and YOU'RE NEXT.Trade ReviewSo fast it should come with an airbag - Linwood BarclayOutstanding in every way - Lee ChildTough, well-written and memorable as hell - James PattersonA quantum leap forward in suspense - Dennis Lehane
£9.49
Faber & Faber And Then You Die Aurelio Zen 08
Book SynopsisUnputdownable.' SUNDAY TELEGRAPHA complete inversion of the standard detective genre.' GUARDIANAN AURELIO ZEN MYSTERY Inspector Zen is back, but nobody''s supposed to know it.After months in hospital recovering from a car-bomb attack, he is lying low under a false name at a beach resort on the Tuscan coast, waiting to testify in an imminent anti-Mafia trial. Zen has clear instructions: to sit back and enjoy the classic Italian beach holiday. But when an alarming number of people start dropping dead around him, it seems just a matter of time before the Mafia manages to find their target.A top quality thriller.' 5* reader reviewA very entertaining read, sometimes funny sometimes thought provoking and always with a slightly cynical dig at the Italian establishment!' 5* reader reviewMy favourite book, bar none.' 5* reader reviewPRAISE FOR MICHAEL DIBDIN AND THE INSPECTOR ZEN SE
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Eye for an Eye
Book Synopsis''A truly gripping read'' Mick HerronThe cobbled lanes and back streets of St Andrews have become home to a vicious serial killer. Striking during heavy rain and choosing only victims who abuse women, ''The Stabber'' has police baffled. After the sixth man is found murdered, having been stabbed to death through his left eye, DCI Andy Gilchrist is at his wit''s end. Struggling against his self-serving and autocratic boss, Gilchrist is left furious when he is taken off the case at a crucial point. Driven by his fear of failure, and desperate to redeem his career and his reputation, Gilchrist vows to catch The Stabber alone.Digging deeper into the world of a psychopath, Gilchrist fears he is up against a serial killer on the verge of mental collapse. Can Gilchrist unravel the warped mind of the murderer and stop him before the next victim is slain? With reckless resolve, Gilchrist risks it all in a heart-stopping race to catch The Stabber, knowing that anTrade ReviewRebus did it for Edinburgh. Laidlaw did it for Glasgow. Gilchrist might just be the bloke to put St Andrews on the crime fiction map. * Daily Record *A bright new recruit to the swelling army of Scots crime writers * Quintin Jardine *
£9.49
Canelo Where the Silence Calls
Book SynopsisPlay with fire, and you’re going to get burned. The unputdownable new Ridpath crime thrillerIn Manchester, a block of flats is burning. The only victim is a middle-aged man, sat watching TV. Are the fire and the man's death an accident or is something more frightening at work?Meanwhile, DI Ridpath is back with his wife and enjoying work at the Coroner's Office, his myeloma still in remission. But the quiet life is soon shattered by a new threat.More corpses start appearing; charred, burnt, silent bodies, strewn in the streets and lodged in buildings. Next to each one is a chilling message sprayed in orange ink.Fighting on all fronts, Ridpath will be drawn into the dark past of his city and the youth football clubs of the 1990s. He must find the link before any more people die. Before the flames come close to home...An absolutely gripping, nerve-shredding crime thriller from master storyteller M J Lee, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Robert Bryndza and Patricia Gibney.
£6.74
Penguin Books Ltd Night at the Crossroads Inspector Maigret 6
Book Synopsis“One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.” —The GuardianA sensational tale of deceit and back-stabbing in an isolated community in which only Inspector Maigret can intervene“She came forward, the outlines of her figure blurred in the half-light....‘I gather you wish to talk to me, Inspector...but first of all please sit down...’ Her accent was more pronounced than Carl’s. Her voice sang, dropping on the last syllable of the longer words.”Maigret has been interrogating Carl Andersen for seventeen hours without a confession. He’s either innocent or a very good liar. So why was the body of a diamond merchant found at his isolated mansion? Why is his sister always shut away in her room? And why does everyone at Three Widows CrossrTrade ReviewCompelling, remorseless, brilliant. -- John GrayOne of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequalled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories. * Guardian *A supreme writer . . . unforgettable vividness. * Independent *
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd Boyd W Armadillo
Book Synopsis''Marvellously paced and ingeniously plotted. A real page-turner'' Observer_________________________One winter morning, Lorimer Black - young, good-looking, but with a somewhat troubled expression - goes to keep a perfectly routine business appointment and finds a hanged man. A bad start to the day, by anyone''s standards, and an ominous portent. For Lorimer works in the only-slightly corrupt business of financial adjusting, and he is about to learn that it is much uglier - and even more crooked - than he ever imagined. Suddenly, he''s being unfairly blamed for all kinds of irregularities. Next, his life is threatened. And, lastly, he''s coming to realise that the life he has led till now - the one someone wants to rub out - is one big fat lie . . ._________________________''A joy to read: easy to get into, addictively plotted and beautifully written'' Daily Mail''A novel that is truly comic, and, like all true comedy, also disturbing'' Scotsman''A pleasure to read'' Independent on SundayTrade Review'As entertaining and as thought-provoking as anything Boyd has ever written' Daily Telegraph 'Marvellously paced and ingeniously plotted. A real page-turner' - Andrew Motion, Observer 'Armadillo doesn't miss a trick. It has depth and resonance which will make you want to read it again... zinging readability' - Philip Hensher, Mail on Sunday 'A joy to read: east to get into, addictively plotted and beautifully written' - James Delingpole, Daily Mail 'As entertaining as anything he has written... brisk farce and dialogue that can be finger-licking good' - David Profumo, Spectator
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Hidden Man A gripping spy action crime
Book SynopsisPerfect for fans of John le Carré, a gripping and suspenseful spy thriller from the master of the modern spy thriller' (Mail on Sunday)Mark and Benjamin Keen have not seen their father, Christopher, for more than twenty years.Hoping for a reconciliation, Christopher reappears, but he has only just begun to shed light on his life in the secret service when he is murdered in cold blood by an unidentified assassin.Was his death connected to his MI6 past? Did Christopher uncover a dangerous conspiracy involving his elder son? And what were his links to Moscow, Afghanistan and the Russian mafia in London?To discover the truth and avenge their father's death the brothers are drawn into the legacy of his life as a spy.And inheritance can be deadlyTrade ReviewPraise for The Hidden Man: ‘confirms that Cumming is a man put on earth to perpetuate the spy thriller’ Daily Telegraph ‘Cumming's depiction of contemporary intelligence work rings painfully true. Disquieting, brutal, riveting. I hardly dared put the book down’ Literary Review ‘The dialogue is bitingly sharp, the characterisation first-class’ Sunday Telegraph ‘A must read’ Tatler Praise for A Foreign Country: ‘We are in Smiley country, but with extra 21st century nuance … Cumming has an exquisite touch and we should treasure him’ Daily Mail ‘A thriller that has everything you could ask for – a twisty, sexy plot, topical themes, memorable characters and plentiful spy lore’ Sunday Times, Books of the Year ‘Refreshing, plausible and effective … Best of all is the sheer pace of the narrative’ Spectator ‘You are likely to be up for most of the night to find out how this novel ends. It grips from the first page … A fast-moving treat’ The Scotsman
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Deaths JestBook
Book SynopsisReginald Hill’s best-selling duo, Dalziel and Pascoe, return in this brilliant, complex and ultimately moving crime novel: ‘Reginald Hill is probably the best living crime writer in the English-speaking world’ – IndependentTrade Review‘Few writers in the genre today have Hill’s gifts: formidable intelligence, quick humour, compassion and a prose style that blends elegance and grace’ Donna Leon ‘The finest male English contemporary crime writer’ Val McDermid ‘Reginald Hill’s novels are really dances to the music of time, his heroes and villains interconnecting, their stories intertwining’Ian Rankin
£17.09
Little, Brown Book Group Moonlight Mile
Book SynopsisDennis Lehane's first book for Little, Brown heralds the return of much-loved characters Patrick Kenzie and Angie GennaroTrade Review'Vintage stuff... another dark but absurdly enjoyable tale that's so beautifully written and so sharp in its details and atmosphere that it's no wonder Lehane's books attract filmmakers with such ease * Irish Voice *Lehane perfectly captur[es] gloomy post-financial meltdown Boston. Fortunately, he brought Patrick and Angie along to offset the murk; their chemistry has only gotten fizzier, with a realistic dash of old-married-couple resolve * Entertainment Weekly *Lehane is a writer bringing new confidence and an easy prowess to a new chapter in an epic story - the Kenzie-Gennaro saga * Washington Post *[Lehane has] emerged from the whodunit ghetto as a broader and more substantial talent. . . .When it comes to keeping readers exactly where he wants them, Mr Lehane offers a bravura demonstration of how it's done * New York Times *Each character...is described with economy and wit... and yet the most impressive aspect of the novel is the way that Lehane shows the psychological effects of having to deal with damaged people day after day * Evening Standard *Lehane brilliantly uses the ethical dilemma - which comes first: the law or personal morality? - to explore the wintry wastes of Boston in the United States of Recession * Sunday Times *A good thriller that does not shy away from questions of moral responsibility, and maintains a quick-fire pace and winning line in repartee * Metro *A suitably thrilling addition to the duo's six-book saga * Shortlist *A brilliant thriller * Uncut *Boasts surface pace and moral depth that few can match * Scottish Sunday Herald *Moonlight Mile is an excellent thriller because it takes its competent hero and heroine and puts them out of their depths * Independent *
£9.49
Bedford Square Publishers Lie in the Dark
Book SynopsisInvestigator Petric makes his living from the dead. Lately business has been slow, what with the siege around Sarajevo. Condoned killing has displaced the crime of passion; his services with the civil police as a homicide investigator have been less in demand. Unluckily one premeditated death does land on the detective's desk. It is no abused lover or a distant sniper's victim but a government official - the chief of the interior ministry's police - shot dead at close range. In a thriller that recalls the first excitement of Martin Cruz Smith's Moscow and the Vienna of Graham Greene's The Third Man, author Dan Fesperman brilliantly renders the fragmented society and underworld of Sarajevo at war - the freelancing gangsters, guilty bystanders, drop-in correspondents, the bureaucrats frightened for their jobs and very lives - and he weaves through this torn cityscape one man's desperate, deadly pursuit of the wrong people in the worst places.Trade Reviewa rare wartime thriller -- Dante Ramos * New York Times *A quite astonishing first novel...If Fesperman had taken me any closer to the action I'd be demanding a flak jacket....This is a humane and moving book, a great war novel, a great crime novel. A great novel period -- Ian RankinThis is the story of the investigation of a murder, but it's also a wonderful portrayal of a city at war and one of the best books I've read in a long time * Sunday Telegraph *Crime novel, war novel, modern historical novel - it's a winner on every count -- MGS * Barcelona Review *A story of one man's desperate struggle to hang on to his integrity, Fesperman's unflinching portrait of the grim realities of ethnic conflict and the corruption that appears to be all that is capable of flourishing places this novel firmly in the territory of Graham Greene and John Le Carre. An impressive debut -- Val McDermid * Tangled Web *
£11.69
Orion Publishing Co The Glass Key
Book SynopsisCorruption, murder, beauty and innocence . . . ''Great crime fiction started with Hammett'' James Ellroy''Not just the first of the tough school of crime-writing but the best'' THE TIMESNed Beaumont is a tall, thin, moustache-wearing, TB-ridden, drinking, gambling, hanger-on to the political boss of a corrupt Eastern city.Nevertheless, like every Hammett hero (and like Hammett himself), he has an unbreakable, if idiosyncratic, moral code. Ned''s boss wants to better himself with a thoroughbred senator''s daughter; but does he want it badly enough to commit murder? If he''s innocent, who wants him in the frame? Beaumont must find out.Trade ReviewNot just the first of the tough school of crime-writing but the best * THE TIMES *Great crime fiction started with Hammett -- James EllroyHe is master of the detective novel, yes, but also one hell of a writer * BOSTON GLOBE *He put these people down on paper as they are, and he made them talk and think in the language they customarily used -- Raymond ChandlerHis name remains one of the most important and recognisable in the crime fiction genre. Hammett set the standard for much of the work that would follow * INDEPENDENT *The dean of the school of hard-boiled fiction * NEW YORK TIMES *One of the foremost practitioners of the hard-boiled detective story * SCOTSMAN *
£9.99
Transworld Publishers Ltd Skin. Mo Hayder
Book SynopsisThis dark and disturbing, edge-of-your-seat thriller from bestselling and prize-winning author Mo Hayder is perfect for fans of Stephen King, Stuart MacBride and Karin Slaughter. Full of twists and turns, it''s an unmissable, engrossing read...''Hayder has a profound ability to shock and surprise her readers. She is the bravest writer I know'' -- Karin Slaughter''Warped ... bloodthirsty ... No matter how much you despise yourself for getting sucked into such places, Hayder is brilliant at making you read on'' -- Daily Telegraph''A story I found hard to put down.'' -- ***** Reader review''Gripping to the very end'' -- ***** Reader review''My night-time reading - so good it''s a wonder l go to sleep at all!'' -- ***** Reader review''A proper page-turning thriller'' -- ***** Reader review*********************************************************************************YOU''VETrade ReviewHayder has a profound ability to shock and surprise her readers. She is the bravest writer I know -- Karin SlaughterWarped ... bloodthirsty ... No matter how much you despise yourself for getting sucked into such places, Hayder is brilliant at making you read on * Daily Telegraph *Hayder is the closest we've got to Stephen King ... the goriest thriller writer this side of the pond * Mirror *Hayder's gory insights into the dark are compelling * Guardian *Fast paced and absorbing ... complex and gripping * Guardian *
£11.39
Little, Brown Book Group Five Ways To Kill A Man
Book SynopsisA beautifully crafted, darkly atmospheric crime novel from one of Scotland's most talked-about crime writersTrade ReviewThe fourth novel by the woman touted as Glasgow's answer to Ian Rankin' THE HERALD * 'An efficiently plotted story with the necessary red herrings and an interesting twist' SUNDAY HERALD *An absorbing, vivid police-procedural' LITERARY REVIEW * 'Gray artfully intertwines Lorimer's personal and professional lives, balancing action and gore with the kind of emotional depth that keeps the heart thudding and pages turning' SCOTTISH DAILY RECORD *A fast-paced thriller * **** HOT STARS *
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group The Dying Hours
Book SynopsisThe eleventh book in the Tom Thorne series, from bestselling author Mark Billingham.''Expertly crafted, with a slam-dunk ending. The Dying Hours is a terrific read'' GuardianA cluster of suicides among the elderly. Such things are not unknown to the police and the deaths are quickly dismissed by the police as routine. Only one man is convinced that something more sinister is taking place.However, no one listens to Tom Thorne anymore. Having stepped out of line once too often, he''s back in uniform and he hates it. Patronised and abused by his new colleagues, Thorne''s suspicions about the suicides are dismissed by the Murder Squad he was once part of and he is forced to investigate alone.Unable to trust anyone, Thorne must risk losing those closest to him. He must gamble with the lives of those targeted by a killer unlike any he has hunted before. A man with nothing to lose and a growing l
£9.99
Headline Publishing Group Faceless A dark and pacy crime thriller of
Book Synopsis* Pre-order GUILTY, the brand new novel from Martina Cole. Coming October 2024. *She''s done the time, now she wants revenge...Filled with rage and revenge, FACELESS by the ''undisputed queen of crime writing'' (Guardian) and Sunday Times No.1 bestseller Martina Cole is a gripping novel that takes a dark and honest look at what life is really like on the inside. Marie Carter lost everything the day she went to prison for a double murder she doesn''t remember committing. Her parents abandoned her, her friends disappeared. Even her children didn''t want to know.Twelve long years later, Marie is out and she''s back to settle some scores...For more compelling novels about life on the inside, be sure to read Martina Cole''s TWO WOMEN, THE JUMP and THE GOOD LIFETrade Review'Cole is brilliant at portraying the good among the bad, and vice versa, so until the very end we never quite know who to trust. This is the very stuff that makes her so compelling' Daily Mirror No one writes about East End women and their vagaries like Martina Cole Maxim Jakubowski, Murder One 'A powerful novel that pulls no punches... Cole has an ear for the vernacular of the East End, as well as an ability to portray the viciousness of life at the edge' the Guide Guide 'Right from the start [Cole] has enjoyed unqualified approval for her distinctive and powerfully written fiction' The Times Intensely readable Guardian 'Martina Cole explores the shady criminal underworld, a setting she is fast making her own' Sunday Express 'Utterly compelling' Mirror 'The story will grip you from the first pages' Best 'Gritty novel from an author who knows intimately the world she writes about' Express
£8.54
Little, Brown Book Group The Bones Beneath Tom Thorne Novels Tom Thorne
Book SynopsisThe twelfth book in the Tom Thorne series, from bestselling author Mark Billingham.''Atmospheric, gripping . . . with a superb ending'' Sunday ExpressThe DealTom Thorne is back in charge - but there''s a terrifying price to pay. Stuart Nicklin, the most dangerous psychopath he has ever put behind bars, promises to reveal the whereabouts of a body he buried twenty-five years before. But only if Thorne agrees to escort him.The DangerUnable to refuse, Thorne gathers a team and travels to a remote Welsh island, at the mercy of the weather and cut off from the mainland. Thorne is determined to get the job done and return home before Nicklin can outwit them.The DeathsBut Nicklin knows this island well and has had time to plan ahead. Soon, new bodies are added to the old, and Thorne finds himself facing the toughest decision he has ever had to make...Trade ReviewBrilliantly evoking the spooky island atmosphere, the tension of this macabre thriller is lightened by humour and believable characters * Sunday Mirror *An atmospheric, gripping story with a superb ending * Sunday Express *Strong plotting and an all-too-plausible villain reveal just how good Billingham is, and confirm Thorne as a memorable, flawed hero * Daily Mail *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Sunday Morning Coming Down
Book SynopsisTHE CHILLING SEVENTH NOVEL IN THE BESTSELLING FRIEDA KLEIN SERIES ''Menacing'' GuardianSomeone is coming for Frieda, someone deadly . . .Psychotherapist Frieda Klein has believed serial killer Dean Reeve escaped justice for years. Despite what the police say, she is convinced he''s still alive. And finally she has the evidence. Because under her floor is the rotting corpse of an ex-policeman who she''d hired to hunt for Reeve.Now the police have to take her seriously.It''s clear that whoever did this is very dangerous and must be found, but it''s also clear that they''re not finished with Frieda - or those she loves most.As Frieda is about to learn - it''s always darkest just before the dawn . . .''Addictive'' Daily Express''Nail-biting'' Marie Claire''Ingenious'' Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewStop what you are doing and start [reading] right now . . . Dean is back. (Or is he?) -- SAM BAKER IS READING * The Pool *Clear your diaries, crime fans, the latest Nicci French is out . . . the seventh in the series, husband-and-wife writing team throw in surprises right up to the last page * Good Housekeeping *
£10.08
Orion Publishing Co Bitterroot Billy Bob Holland
Book SynopsisAmerica''s finest crime writer sends hero Billy Bob Holland deep into Montana - paradise to some, to others a savage wilderness...''Still the greatest, bar none'' LITERARY REVIEW''Powerful stuff and confirms Burke''s place in the forefront of contemporary American crime fiction'' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH''BITTERROOT is beautifully written and still stands head and shoulders above most other crime fiction'' OBSERVERWhen Billy Bob Holland visits his old friend Doc Voss, he finds himself caught up in a horrific tragedy. Doc''s daughter has been brutally attacked by bikers, and the ringleader, Lamar Ellison, walks free when the DNA samples ''get lost''. Then Ellison is burned alive and Doc is arrested. So much for Billy Bob''s vacation - Doc needs a lawyer, and fast. And that''s not all. Newly released killer Wyatt Dixon has tracked Billy Bob to Montana, bent on avenging the death of his sister for which he holds Billy Bob respTrade ReviewJames Lee Burke is the heavyweight champ, a great American novelist whose work, taken individually or as a whole, is unsurpassed * Michael Connelly *Richly deserves to be described now as one of the finest crime writers America has ever produced. * Daily Mail *The king of Southern noir * Daily Mirror *When it comes to literate, pungently characterised American crime writing, James Lee Burke has few peers. * Daily Express *Gripping stuff from the great American crime writer * OK Magazine *Burke is the master of his material. His reflective style infuses the book with a kind of sombre grace . . . As a thriller Bitterroot is never less than gripping. The twists and turns of the plot are deftly handled and he has an ear and an eye for nuance that allows him to create characters which manage to be both credible and archetypal, as if Burke is writing contemporary myths. The beauty and wildness of the Montana countryside, lovingly and vividly described, is both a fitting backdrop and a counterpoint to the savagery of the characters. Burke's most recent books, especially the Billy Bob Holland series, are powerful meditations on a wild, rural America that seems little changed from the world evoked by John Steinbeck. It is fine writing, that is far above the crime-fiction norm and it manages to stand comparison with the very best contemporary novels * Sunday Express *James Lee Burke's heroes are driven men, flawed by guilt and a deep rate. His books depict a modern America which still lives by the ideals of the old West . . . The beauty of Burke's lyrical writing does not mask the ugliness of the story . . . It's powerful stuff and confirms Burke's place in the forefront of contemporary American crime fiction * Sunday Telegraph *Still the greatest, bar none . . . there's nothing currently on show to match, let alone better, Burke's latest. His ambitions, like his achievements, remain unequalled. When he reaches for the top he shows every reader what's possible. Good gets better. The best is yet to come * Literary Review *As ever the sense of place is overwhelming, as Burke's Texas lawyer comes face to face with an old nemesis among the customary savage mayhem * Guardian *The 19th book from the Pulitzer Prize nominee, Burke's talent for weaving a compelling yarn will have readers glued to the pages * FHM *The hills and valleys, rivers and plains of the Bitterroot are lyrically described but are also seen as places of great potential danger . . . Bitterroot is beautifully written and still stands head and shoulders above most other crime fiction * Observer *James Lee Burke could not write badly if he tried: his evocation of the natural beauty of the mountain valley is brilliant, and some individual scenes, heavy with unstated menace and latent violence, are extremely powerful * Evening Standard *James Lee Burke is one of literature's finest cartographers of the dark side of the human heart . . . As usual the plot is labyrinthine, the characters lavishly drawn and Burke's writing sensational - especially his rendering of Montana . . . there is plenty here to enjoy, and if you manage to complete Bitterroot without planning a trip to Montana then you must have already seen Eden * The Times *The story itself is marvellously constructed but what makes Bitterroot a marvel are the characters, including two fearsome psychopaths, and the quality of Burke's writing . . . Bitterroot is of exceptional quality, a must-read of which Rendell herself would be proud * Scotsman *Burke's great strengths as a writer are in evident abundance here: Bitterroot is densely plotted, full of narrative urgency and a boiling anger at what the world has become and how vulnerable we are to its violence . . . This is truly excellent stuff from a stalwart of American crime writing * Uncut *Burke writes an intense, breathless prose that eminently suits his tales of dark passion and disturbed emotions * Irish Times *
£9.49
City Lights Books Los Angeles Stories
Book SynopsisA Los Angeles Times''s and Southern California Indie Bookseller Association''s Bestseller!Los Angeles Stories is a collection of loosely linked, noir-ish tales that evoke a bygone era in one of America''s most iconic cities. In post-World War II Los Angeles, as power was concentrating and fortunes were being made, a do-it-yourself culture of cool cats, outsiders, and oddballs populated the old downtown neighborhoods of Bunker Hill and Chavez Ravine. Ordinary working folks rubbed elbows with petty criminals, grifters, and all sorts of women at foggy end-of-the-line outposts in Venice Beach and Santa Monica.Rich with the essence and character of the times, suffused with the patois of the city''s underclass, these are stories about the common people of Los Angeles, a sunny place for shady people, and the strange things that happen to them. Musicians, gun shop owners, streetwalkers, tailors, door-to-door salesmen, drifters, housewives, deTrade Review"In Los Angeles Stories, his first published collection of stories, Ry Cooder pays homage to the jazz, the blues and the Latin beat of a bygone era. He also honors a cast of boisterous musicians, some murdered, others spared to tell their gritty tales of life and death. A few famous musicians - John Lee Hooker and Charlie Parker among them - make cameo appearances in these pages, but most of the guitar players, drummers and lounge singers are as unknown as the repossession men, waitresses and mechanics they entertain in forgotten bars and derelict nightclubs. Cooder fans will enjoy the upbeat mix of music and murder. Aficionados of noir fiction will love the characters, all of whom have something to hide and all of whom are engaged in illegal activity." -- Jonah Raskin, San Francisco Chronicle "The stories of Ry Cooder are a lot like his music: stately, precise, well constructed; they grab you by the throat, quietly, and never let go... Cooder is a passionate historian of Los Angeles, curating its small joys and predilections, its cultural pratfalls and senseless tragedies... Los Angeles Stories is an unusual book, old-fashioned but not out of fashion. Its most beautiful quality is the genuine pathos, conveyed with tact and skill, for a city that has vanished, that has always been vanishing."--Andrew J. Khaled Madigan, The Iowa Review "Cooder's Los Angeles Stories are noir-infused, glamour-free portraits of working class loners, drifters, bums, musicians (both real and fictional), and numerous other fringe types. Each speaks with his or her own individuated, idiom-riddled (but cliche-free) patois." -- Casey Burchby, LA Weekly "There is a feeling in the stories, as in much of his music, that something is being documented; that voices, and personal histories, are being preserved not for posterity, but against annihilation by some overriding and corrupted power." -- C.P. Heiser, LA Review of Books "While some of the stories focus on those who end up in LA, Cooder's focus in this book is mainly about those who have called LA home for most of their lives. The way Cooder describes the neighborhoods in LA -- the homes and the working class -- really paints a picture that doesn't just give you an idea of what it was like; rather, he brings these images to life, especially if you live in or visit LA today." --Verbicide Magazine "... Ryland Peter Cooder ventures into new territory with his first collection of linked shortly stories, entitled (not surprisingly) Los Angeles Stories (City Lights) ... Eight stories are set in post World War II Los Angeles intermingling the kinds of characters and narratives that Cooder has put to good use in his songs-- blue collar workers, small time criminals and all kinds of fauna to be found in the barely visible underclass." --Robert Birnbaum, "Our Man in Boston"
£12.99
Cassava Republic Press Accra Noir
Book SynopsisAccra is the perfect setting for noir fiction. The telling of such tales—ones involving or suggesting death, with a protagonist who is flawed or devious, driven by either a self-serving motive or one of the seven deadly sins—is woven into the fabric of the city’s everyday life . . . Accra is more than just a capital city. It is a microcosm of Ghana. It is a virtual map of the nation’s soul, a complex geographical display of its indigenous presence, the colonial imposition, declarations of freedom, followed by coups d’état, decades of dictatorship, and then, finally, a steady march forward into a promising future . . . Much like Accra, these stories are not always what they seem. The contributors who penned them know too well how to spin a story into a web . . . It is an honour and a pleasure to share them and all they reveal about Accra, a city of allegories, one of the most dynamic and diverse places in the world.
£12.34
Orenda Books River Clyde: The word-of-mouth BESTSELLER
Book SynopsisHamburg State Prosecutor Chastity Riley travels to Scotland to face the demons of her past, as Hamburg is hit by a major arson attack. Queen of Krimi, Simone Buchholz, returns with the emotive fifth instalment in the electrifying Chastity Riley series … ‘A modern classic’ Paul Burke, CrimeTime ‘Written in crackling prose and with searing insight, this is a deeply heartfelt slice of existential noir – utterly unique’ Doug Johnstone ‘Deftly captures the beating heart of Glasgow’ Herald Scotland ‘A beautifully crafted exploration of grief and redemption, wrapped in a love letter to Glasgow … Glorious writing’ Will Carver ‘Reading Buchholz is like walking on firecrackers … a truly unique voice in crime fiction’ Graeme Macrae Burnet –––––––––––– Mired in grief after tragic recent events, state prosecutor Chastity Riley escapes to Scotland, lured to the birthplace of her great-great-grandfather by a mysterious letter suggesting she has inherited a house. In Glasgow, she meets Tom, the ex-lover of Chastity’s great aunt, who holds the keys to her own family secrets – painful stories of unexpected cruelty and loss that she’s never dared to confront. In Hamburg, Stepanovic and Calabretta investigate a major arson attack, while a group of property investors kicks off an explosion of violence that threatens everyone. As events in these two countries collide, Chastity prepares to face the inevitable, battling the ghosts of her past and the lost souls that could be her future and, perhaps, finally finding redemption for them all. Breathtakingly emotive, River Clyde is an electrifying, poignant and powerful story of damage and hope, and one woman’s fight for survival. ––––––––––––— ‘Every word is a heartbeat, loaded with pain and anguish and self-discovery. This is Harbour Noir. This is a bravura literary performance, and a fitting swan song’ Paul Burke, CrimeTime FM ‘In just a few words – a light brushstroke – Simone paints such a vivid picture. Unlike any crime novel I’ve read. I loved it’ Michael J. Malone ‘Simone Buchholz writes with real authority and a pungent, noir-ish sense of time and space’ Independent Praise for the Chastity Riley series ‘[A] nerve-racking narrative … [with] a cunning climax that is shocking and deeply romantic’ The Times 'Combines nail-biting tension with off-beat humor ... Elmore Leonard fans will be enthralled' Publishers Weekly 'Buchholz doles out delicious black humor ... interwoven in a manner that ramps up the intrigue and tension' Foreword Reviews ‘Modern noir, with taut storytelling, a hard-bitten heroine, and underlying melancholy peppered with wry humour’ New Zealand Listener ‘The coolest character in crime fiction … darkly funny and written with a huge heart’ Big Issue ‘Fierce enough to stab the heart’ Spectator ‘A stylish, whip-smart thriller’ Herald Scotland ‘Combines slick storytelling with substance … like a straight shot of top-shelf liquor: smooth yet fiery, packing a punch with no extraneous ingredients watering things down’ Mystery Scene ‘With brief, pacy chapters and fizzling dialogue, this almost feels like American procedural noir and not a translation’ Maxim Jakubowski ‘A smart and witty book that shines a probing spotlight on society’ CultureFly ‘Fans of Brookmyre could do worse than checking out Simone Buchholz, a star of the German crime lit scene who has been deftly translated into English by Rachel Ward’ Goethe Institute ‘Lyrical and pithy’ Sunday Times
£8.54
Orenda Books Bitter Flowers: The breathtaking Nordic Noir
Book SynopsisFresh from rehab, Norwegian PI Varg Veum faces his most complex investigation yet, when a man is found drowned, a young woman disappears, and the case of a missing child is revived. The classic Nordic Noir series continues…‘As searing and gripping as they come’ New York Times ‘One of my very favourite Scandinavian authors’ Ian Rankin‘The Norwegian Chandler’ Jo Nesbø ***Now a major TV series starring Trond Espen Seim***________________________PI Varg Veum has returned to duty following a stint in rehab, but his new composure and resolution are soon threatened when a challenging assignment arrives on his desk.A man is found dead in an elite swimming pool and a young woman has gone missing. Most chillingly, Varg Veum is asked to investigate the ‘Camilla Case’: an eight-year-old cold case involving the disappearance of a little girl, who was never found.As the threads of these apparently unrelated crimes come together, against the backdrop of a series of shocking environmental crimes, Varg Veum faces the most challenging, traumatic investigation of his career.________________________ 'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbø' Independent‘Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times ‘There are only two other writers that I know of have achieved the depth of insight in detective writing that Staalesen has: Chandler, and Ross MacDonald …’ Mystery Tribune ‘Employs Chandleresque similes with a Nordic Noir twist … simply superb’ Wall Street Journal‘Masterful pacing’ Publishers Weekly 'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland ‘Unsettling, moving, sad, hopeful and hopeless … it’s rich and it’s sharp and it’s cynical and sentimental all at once’ NB Magazine ‘A complex, layered plot in which human tragedy and mystery combine to play out beautifully in a classic Nordic noir with a touch of Christie’ Live & Deadly For fans of Henning Mankell, Jo Nesbø, Jorn Lier Horst, Harlan Coben and Jussi Adler-Olse
£8.54
Simon & Schuster Ltd Rough Country
Book SynopsisThe third gripping Virgil Flowers thriller by internationally bestselling author John Sandford. A LAND WITHOUT LAW. A KILLER WITHOUT MERCY. While competing in a fishing tournament in a remote area of northern Minnesota, Virgil Flowers gets a call from his old friend Lucas Davenport to investigate a murder at a nearby resort, where a woman has been shot while kayaking. The resort is for women only: a place to relax, get fit, commune with nature, and sometimes get to know each other a little better. As Flowers begins investigating, he finds a web of connections between the people at the resort, the victim, and some local women – notably a talented country singer. And the more he digs, the more he discovers a multitude of motivations for murder: jealousy, greed, anger, and blackmail. And then Flowers learns that this is not the first death at this particular resort. Someone else died there a year ago. And there's
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group No Quarter Given
Book Synopsis She was lying in the road when he found her, crumpled and broken, the car that hit her screaming away from the scene in haze of tyre smoke and exhaust fumes...Jennifer MacKenzie being hit by a car was a tragic accident. Or so it seemed. Until Connor is summoned to a meeting his girlfriend''s dad, Duncan McKenzie. MacKenzie claims that Jen''s accident was actually a message intended for him - and a way to force him to kill his trusted lieutenant Paulie King, who has now mysteriously disappeared.His request to Connor is simple. Find Paulie and the men who hurt his daughter. Do whatever it takes. As an all-out gang war threatens to explode across Central Scotland, Connor begins a journey that forces him to confront some uncomfortable truths about his girlfriend and the family he is connected to through her. But Connor is also driven by a vow - to find Paulie. And when he does, no quarter will be given.
£14.99
Cornerstone The Summer House: If they don’t solve the case,
Book SynopsisFour Army Rangers are accused of murdering civilians in cold blood in this scorching summer thriller from the worldwide bestseller James Patterson.________________THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERFor seven unsuspecting victims, death comes in the dark . . .Once a luxurious getaway for a wealthy Southern family, the Summer House has long since fallen into disrepair. Its fall from grace is complete when it becomes the scene of a horrific mass murder. Shocking evidence points to four Army Rangers recently returned from Afghanistan. The Army sends Major Jeremiah Cook, a war veteran and former NYPD cop, to investigate.As Cook and his team struggle to put together pieces of evidence that just won't fit, powerful forces rally against them to try to ensure that damning secrets are buried along with the victims.________________'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades.' LEE CHILD
£7.19
The New York Review of Books, Inc In a Lonely Place
Book Synopsis
£13.56
Coffee House Press Last Days
Book SynopsisEvenson is a major figure among writers who straddle the line between genre forms and literary concerns, and he was recently the subject of a 5 x 5 interview (five interviewers, and spread over five full-length conversations) with The Believer bringing his work to an even wider audience Evenson's straight genre work is published by Tor, and there's a large cross-over audience primed to enjoy his more literary work. Evenson’s work has been compared to that of J. G. Ballard, Jorge Luis Borges, Paul Bowles, Franz Kafka, Cormac McCarthy, Robert Coover, Edgar Allan Poe. Evenson has also won the ALA RUSA Award for Best Horror Novel and was a finalist for the Edgar Award. Last Days will be published alongside two other re-releases (The Open Curtain and Father of Lies) as well as a new collection, A Collapse of Horses all with a unified design and new introductions This is Evenson's foray into hard-boiled detective fiction, but it still circles around his concerns with the abuse of power and the danger of organized religionTrade Review“The clinical tone with which Evenson is able to traverse such situations, and the strange stark architecture of their world, makes even the most insidious or repulsive situations seem plausible, mathematical, nearby. Nothing is real, so everything is real.” —VICE "The deceptively simple prose keeps the book brisk and even gripping as its puzzles grow more craggy and complex. This is Evenson's singular, Poe-like gift: He writes with intelligence and a steady hand, even when his characters decide to lop their own limbs off." —Time Out New York “[Last Days] is a novel that must be read by fans of mysteries, noir, and horror if they want to have an idea of what those genres can be. . . . Brian Evenson is the kind of writer who should be rediscovered by every generation.” —Vol. 1 Brooklyn “Last Days . . . is a detective novel and a cult novel (in that it is about cults—though perhaps the other designation would work too) and a brutal horror novel and a fine work of minimalist literary fiction.” —LitHub
£12.34
Profile Books Ltd The Price You Pay
Book Synopsis'A smart alec New York cocaine dealer discovers there's a hit out on him and decides the best course of action is to take bloody - and amusingly creative - revenge' Sun Get mad, get even, get paid. What kind of loser stops at getting even? Didi's dead. That's sad. Jack Price isn't sad, because Jack doesn't care about Didi. Jack is just angry, because if anyone was going to brutally murder his bad-tempered old neighbour, it was him. But when Jack takes matters into his own hands, he gets a contract taken out on him by an internationally renowned terrorist organisation. Which frankly seems overkill. Jack's just your average high-class coke dealer, after all. On a level playing field against a team of professional killers, he wouldn't stand a chance. But Jack Price doesn't play fair. And Jack Price is going to make these guys pay. 'The Price You Pay is brilliant, a latticework of barbed jokes and subtle observations and inventive misbehaviours, a high-end thriller, relentlessly knowing, relentlessly brutal. It reads like Martin Amis on mescaline' New York TimesTrade ReviewA witty, gory, whiplash revenge tale narrated by a brilliantly entertaining sociopath. You're mortified by the things you find yourself laughing at - and when you turn the page, there's more. Guess what: you keep laughing' -- Carl HiaasenA catchy and distinctive comic revenge thriller -- Tony White * Guardian *Mesmerising ... funny, smart, stuffed with pungent phrases, this psychopath's spiel is at once nauseating and exhilarating * Sunday Times *A smart alec New York cocaine dealer discovers there's a hit out on him and decides the best course of action is to take bloody - and amusingly creative - revenge * Sun *
£8.54
Random House USA Inc The Underworld U.S.A. Trilogy Volume II
Book SynopsisThe Underworld U.S.A. Trilogy concludes. We've traversed the interlocked conspiracies of the decade and are there for the wind-up and swan songs.Blood's A Rover takes us into the seventies. MLK and RFK are dead. The Democratic National Convention in Chicago has spawned chaos. There's a punk-kid private eye in L.A. He's clashing with a mob goon and an enforcer for J. Edgar Hoover. There's an armored-car heist and a cache of missing emeralds. There's bad voodoo in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Amidst it all is a revolutionary, Joan Rosen Klein. The kid P.I., the mob goon, and Hoover's enforcer love her unto death. Blood's A Rover gives us the private nightmare of public policy on an epic scale.
£24.00
Little, Brown Book Group The Innocents
Book SynopsisShe was just 17, a high school dropout named Milly Jones, found walking down the middle of the highway, engulfed in flames. Even in a tough Mississippi county like Tibbehah, it shatters the community, and it is up to Sheriff Quinn Colson, back on the job after a year away, and his deputy Lillie Virgil, to investigate what happened, and why. Before long, however, accusations start to fly; national media and federal authorities descend; and what seemed like a senseless act of violence begins to appear like something even more disturbing - with more victims waiting in the shadows.Trade ReviewAlthough this is a novel fueled by testosterone and moonshine, three of its best characters are women . . . 18-year-old Milly Jones grabs your heart * New York Times *I will throw down against anyone who disagrees with the statement that Atkins is one of our best American writers. Period. * Bookreporter.com *Atkins finds his natural-born storytellers everywhere. It's all music to these ears * Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review *Quinn Colson is my kind of guy. I would follow him anywhere * Lee Child *With terrific, inflected characters and a dark, subtle sense of place and history, these are exceptional novels. * John Sandford *Ace Atkins's Quinn Colson series is, quite simply, the best in crime fiction today - and also so much more. With a rich cast of characters, and a hero we can count on, these are tales of morality and desperation, of shocking violence and the enduring resilience of family and community. And the emotional places they take us make them unforgettable * Megan Abbott *In Quinn Colson, bestselling author Ace Atkins has created an American hero in a time when we need him * C. J. Box *The rough-and-tumble relationship between two tough-as-nails law officers and the place they love provides plenty of action [and] well-developed characters. * Kirkus Reviews *
£10.49
