Crime and mystery: hard-boiled crime, noir fiction

Book SynopsisAS FEATURED ON RICHARD & JUDY''S ''KEEP READING AND CARRY ON'' ''This is one of his best'' - The TimesJack Reacher is back in a brand new white-knuckle read from Lee Child.It''s a random universe, but once in a blue moon things turn out just right.In a nameless city, two rival criminal gangs are competing for control. But they hadn''t counted on Jack Reacher arriving on their patch.Reacher is trained to notice things.He''s on a Greyhound bus, watching an elderly man sleeping in his seat, with a fat envelope of cash hanging out of his pocket. Another passenger is watching too ... hoping to get rich quick.As the mugger makes his move, Reacher steps in.The old man is grateful, yet he turns down Reacher''s offer to help him home. He''s vulnerable, scared, and clearly in big, big trouble.What hold could the gangs have on the old guy? Will Reacher be in time to stop bad things happening?The odds are better with Reacher involved. That''s for damn sure.''Everyone needs to kick some [butt] sometimes, even if it''s just imaginary'' JOJO MOYES_________Although the Jack Reacher novels can be read in any order, Blue Moon is the 24th in the series.And be sure not to miss Reacher''s newest adventure, no.29, In Too Deep! ***OUT NOW***Trade ReviewIt is tremendously comforting to be in the hands of Child and his hero - a good man who we know will save the day in the end before moving on, toothbrush in pocket, "just the clothes on his back. No particular place to go, and all the time in the world to get there." * Observer *Lee Child is the absolute master of the story of a lone stranger arriving in town to save the innocent, and this is one of the best of his series...as always, the violence is ferocious and fast-moving. Anyone feeling hard done by or facing insuperable odds will be comforted by this novel, which is also the best advertisement for the NHS I have ever seen. * Literary Review *Forget Marvel - we all know Jack Reacher is the only avenger that matters...Child has found his mojo again. * Sun *There's only one Jack Reacher. Accept no substitutes.Jack Reacher, the 21st-century knight errant who over 23 books has proved himself the most reliable excellent basher of bad guys since [James]Bond...And good work, Lee Child. If you're at all partial to his revenge fantasies, this is one of the best for a while...your hands keep turning those pages, drawn in by storytelling that knows fancy words count for less than clarity and rhythm...It's nonsense. Yet it's compelling nonsense, a vicarious clearing away of life's obstacles via a hero who has no moral qualms, no physical or emotional vulnerability and no interest in what shampoo he uses. * The Times *

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Book SynopsisGordon Ferris is an ex-techy in the Ministry of Defence and an ex-partner in one of the Big Four accountancy firms. He is the author of the No. 1 bestselling e-book The Hanging Shed.Trade ReviewThe word-of-mouth hit that is leaving its fellow thrillers in its wake. Ferris is a wonderfully evocative writer. * Observer *Ferris is a writer of real authority, immersing the reader into his nightmare world... everything speaks of an original voice. * Independent *The rising star of Scottish literature. * Scotsman *Every now and then you come across a writer and wonder how on earth you haven't read their books before... Mr Ferris has confirmed himself as an exciting and original voice in the crime noir genre. * New York Journal of Books *

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Book SynopsisWill Dean's most terrifying Tuva Moodyson mystery yetTrade Review‘Just finished Will Dean's Bad Apples. A delicious return to Tuva.’ -- Ann Cleeves‘Fiendish, funny, scary as hell. Bad Apples is the stand out in a truly outstanding series.’ -- Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the End‘Bad Apples is a chilling outing for Tuva Moodyson – unsettling from beginning to the very end, but leavened with dark humour. A compelling thriller that devoted fans and new readers will adore.’ -- Jane Casey, author of the Maeve Kerrigan series‘Finished Bad Apples by Will Dean and all I can say is…there aren’t words. Talk about DARK.’ -- Blue Book Balloon blog‘Swedish reporter Tuva Moodyson, who wears hearing aids, takes to the hills where the isolated and inbred town of Visberg can be found at the end of a long and winding road.’ -- The Times‘Bad Apples is noir at its very best… If you like “heart in your mouth” reads that will keep you up all night with all the lights on, then this is for you.’ * Guernsey Press and Star *‘[Tuva] is admirably resilient, full of warmth and humour… Her travails may well give sensitive readers nightmares, but that’s a small price to pay for spending time in her exhilarating company.’ -- Literary Review‘The fourth in the excellent series of Tuva Moodyson thrillers’ -- Choice‘A brilliant read.’ -- Bella‘Chilling.’ -- Crime Monthly magazine‘That ending! I highly recommend if you need something to get your teeth into.’ -- Lancashire Post‘For those who want their crime fiction to be at its darkest… If you enjoyed Midsommar, Bad Apples is a tale you’ll be intrigued by.’ -- Buzz magazine‘There’s always been something dark about the Tuva Moodyson thrillers, but this one really howls at the moon… You might now find yourself screaming out loud, so best beware reading in public places! The last page left me in shock.’ -- Peterborough Telegraph

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Book Synopsis***THE GUARDIAN BEST CRIME AND THRILLERS OF 2023***THE TIMES BEST THRILLERS OF THE MONTH*** ***MAIL ON SUNDAY BEST NEW FICTION***FINANCIAL TIMES BEST NEW THRILLERS***''Powerful'' THE GUARDIAN ''A gritty, authentic triumph, one howling to be turned into a film or TV series'' FINANCIAL TIMES''Atmospheric and tense thriller that has TV series written all over it.'' THE SUN''Eli Cranor is that rare writer who can make you gasp, cry and cheer often in the same paragraph'' S. A. COSBYAfter his son is convicted of murder, Vietnam War veteran Jeremiah Fitzjurls takes over the care of his granddaughter, Joanna, raising her with as much warmth as can be found in an Ozark junkyard outfitted to be an armory.He teaches her how to shoot and fight, but there is not enough training in the world to protect her when the dreaded Ledfords, notorious meth dealers and Trade ReviewEli Cranor's superb new novel Ozark Dogs tunnels into your brain with feverish power. A story of family burdens and dark legacies, it's thrillingly told, deeply wrenching, not to be missed. -- Megan Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of The TurnoutRaw, gritty, and darkly beautiful noir at its finest. Cranor digs deep into the hard places, the hard choices that crush and grind. And he does so with great tenderness for his flawed and broken characters as they seek revenge, cling to honor, and sacrifice everything for family. This is a writer to watch. -- Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Secluded Cabin Sleeps SixWhatever darkness lives in the space between a finger and a trigger also lives in the pages of Ozark Dogs. A tale of blood, guilt, family, and murder, this one will move from the junkyard straight into your heart. Cranor is one of the South's best contemporary chroniclers, and his keen eye is on full display here. -- Gabino Iglesias, author of The Devil Takes You HomeEli Cranor writes about his people and his place with a bloodred certainty and a careful eye toward the things that both bind us together and tear us apart. Ozark Dogs does not compromise one single beat. -- Michael Farris Smith, author of Nick and The FighterThe author has a superior gift for capturing the cadences and feel of Southern small towns. Greg Iles fans will be eager for Cranor's next. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisThe first title in the DCI Banham series of thrillers set in London, by acclaimed author and actress, Linda Regan.

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Book SynopsisWhen a group of young women working in London''s sex trade become involved in a murder investigation, their fabricated account of events leads to the wrong suspect becoming convicted. Twenty years later, the innocent person is free - but somebody has started killing the women connected to the case. With the threat of blackmail hanging over them, the women have a lot to lose and nobody has a cast-iron alibi. In a case where nothing is quite what it seems, can Detective Inspector Paul Banham stop a cold-blooded killer?

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Book SynopsisHere in one volume is James Ellroy's first great body of work, an epic re-envisioning of postwar Los Angeles--etched in red and black and film-noir grays.The Black Dahlia depicts the secret infrastructure of L.A.'s most sensational murder case. A young cop morphs into obsessed lover and lust-crazed avenger. The Dahlia claims him. She is the deus ex machina of a boomtown in extremis. The cop's rogue investigation is a one-way ticket to hell.The Big Nowhere blends the crime novel and the political novel. It is winter, 1950--and the L.A. County Grand Jury is out to slam movieland Reds. It's a reverential shuck--and the three cops assigned to the job are out to grab all the glory they can. A series of brutal sex killings intervenes, and the job goes all-the-way bad.L.A. Confidential is the great novel of Los Angeles in the 1950s. Political corruption. Scandal-rag journalism. Bad racial juju and gangland wars. Six local stiffs slaughtered in an all-night hash house. The glorious and overreaching LAPD on an unprecedented scale.White Jazz gives us the tortured confession of a corrupt cop going down for the count. He's a slumlord, a killer, a parasitic exploiter. He's a pawn in a series of police power plays and starting to see that he's being had. He's just met a woman. Thus, he's determined to claw his way out of the horrifying world he's created--and he's determined to tell us everything.The L.A. Quartet is a groundbreaking work of American popular fiction.

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Book SynopsisNo matter what cases private eye Lew Archer takes on—a burglary, a runaway, or a disappeared person—the trail always leads to tangled family secrets and murder. Widely considered the heir to Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe, Archer dug up secrets and bodies in and around Los Angeles.  Here, The Archer Files collects all the Lew Archer short stories ever published, along with thirteen unpublished “case notes” and a fascinating biographical profile of Archer by Edgar Award finalist Tom Nolan. Ross Macdonald’s signature staccato prose is the real star throughout this collection, which is both a perfect introduction for the newcomer and a must-have for the Macdonald aficionado.

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Book SynopsisBrace yourself for an ELECTRIFYING and THOROUGHLY SATISFYING read (Publishers Weekly) from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sue GraftonM is for MONEY...Malek Construction is a mega-million-dollar company that grew out of modest soil to become one of the big three in California construction-and one of the few still in family hands. Today, the three Malek sons stand to inherit a fortune, but in order for any one of them to claim his share, the missing fourth brother must be found.M is for MISSING...Now it's up to Kinsey Millhone to find the man who, eighteen years ago, vanished without a trace. Did he run away-or was he abducted? Did he intend to make something of himself on his own, apart from the wealth and prowess of his family, or were his motives something more sinister?M is for MALICEThe ties that bind. The rivalries of brotherhood. The fall of an empire... As Kinse

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Book SynopsisThe saga of love, loyalty, and crime continues in the next explosive book in the Cartel series from the minds of New York Times bestselling authors Ashley & JaQuavis.After the tragic and bloody end to The Cartel's reign, Carter is forced into isolation to evade the law. With his wife, Miamor, facing federal charges and his dear brother, six feet under, Carter has never been more alone. His empire is at his feet and he has no idea how to rebuild his kingdom. The only thing that is certain is that he has to stay out the way and off the radar of the Feds until he can figure out how to get his lady out of prison. Miamor's freedom is guaranteedprovided Carter help create and distribute a drug that will take the streets by storm. Rubbing elbows with the most notorious, ruthless leaders of the underworld will get him what he wants. But can he win at their game of murder and money?

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Book SynopsisA street thriller of kidnapping, murder, trickery, and love that will have you at the edge of your seat.After 7 years of prison, multi-millionaire drug mogul Kane Garrett is back on the streets. But instead of diving back into the drug game, he's teaching a college class, infusing business principles with his signature ruthless edge he developed in the streets. When a studentand heavy heroin dealernamed Basil catches Kane's eye, Kane takes him on as a protégé and together, they build the biggest, smartest drug trafficking business the state has ever seen. But when Basil meets Moriah, Kane's only daughter, lines get crossed and their dominant business union becomes a deadly rivalry. Welcome to a world where the kings meet their end and no one stays at the top for long. The crown always lies heavy on he who commands the streetsand Kane and Basil will fight to claim their rule, before power is toppled again, in The Streets Have No King by New York Times

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Book Synopsis A New York Times Top Ten Thriller of 2020 One of the most innovative mysteries in recent memory. - The Wall Street JournalDizzying, dazzling When did you last read a genuinely original thriller? The wait is over. A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the WindowThere are rules for murder mysteries. There must be a victim. A suspect. A detective. Grant McAllister, an author of crime fiction and professor of mathematics, once sat down and worked them all out publishing seven perfect detective stories to demonstrate the rules of murder. But that was thirty years ago. Now he''s living a life of seclusion on a quiet Mediterranean island - until Julia Hart, a sharp, ambitious editor, knocks on his door. His early work is being republished and together the two of them must revisit those old stories. An author, hiding from his past, and an editor, keen to understand it.But

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Book SynopsisHeady and dark and dangerous, The Pink Hotel is an intoxicating binge of a book. Liska Jacobs's stunning indictment of a society teetering toward apocalypse is one you won't easily forget. Janelle Brown, author of I'll Be YouNewlyweds Keith and Kit Collins can hardly believe their luck when the general manager of the iconic, opulent Pink Hotel invites them to come for a luxurious stay in a bid to hire Keith. Kit loves their small-town life, but Keith has always wanted more, and the glittering, lily-scented lobby makes him feel right at home.Soon after their arrival, wildfires sweep through the surrounding mountains and Los Angeles becomes a pressure cooker, with riots breaking out across the city amid rolling blackouts. The Pink Hotel closes its doors to outsiders, and Keith and Kit find themselves confined with an anxious, disgruntled staff and a growing roster of eccentric, ultra-wealthy, dangerously idle guests who flock to the hotel for sanct

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Book Synopsis*** PRE-ORDER THE NEW DS ADAM TYLER NOVEL, SLEEPING DOGS – COMING IN SPRING 2024 ***FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF FIREWATCHING AND NIGHTHAWKING  'A rollercoaster ride of a thriller . . . will keep you hanging on by your fingertips until the tense final moments' PETER ROBINSON _____________________________ THE DARKNESS FROM HIS PAST WILL FINALLY COME TO LIGHT The death of DS Tyler’s father irrevocably changed his life. As a child, he believed Richard had killed himself but, as the years have passed, Tyler has grown convinced he was murdered.    When a cold case lands on Tyler’s desk, there’s nothing immediately notable about it, apart from the link it has to his father. Richard was investigating the same case shortly before he died.   Finally, Tyler has a tangible link to t

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Book SynopsisPRE-ORDER WISDOM CORNER, THE THRILLING NEW DAVID HESKA WANBLI WEIDEN NOVEL NOW.WINNER OF THE ANTHONY, BARRY, THRILLER, LEFTY AND MACAVITY AWARDS FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL‘Harrowing and heartfelt, assured and highly accomplished. One of the standout thrillers of the year' CHRIS WHITAKERIf you have a problem, if no one else can help, there’s one person you can turn to.     Virgil Wounded Horse is the local enforcer on the Rosebud Native American Reservation in South Dakota. When justice is denied by the American legal system or the tribal council, Virgil is hired to deliver his own punishment, the kind that’s hard to forget. But when heroin makes its way onto the reservation and finds Virgil’s nephew, his vigilantism becomes personal. Enlisting the help of his ex-girlfriend, he sets out to learn where the drugs are coming from, and how to make them stop.  <

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Book Synopsis'This page-turning series never lets the reader down’ HARLAN COBENIN A PROFESSION LIKE THIS, YOU'RE BOUND TO MAKE ENEMIES . . .  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.   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 from her . . .Electrifying, heart-stopping and compulsive, this is

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Book Synopsis*** PRE-ORDER THE BONE HACKER, COMING IN PAPERBACK IN SPRING 2024! *** '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 g

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Book SynopsisFan favourites Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers team up to solve the murder of a federal judge in this thrilling addition to the Prey series.

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Book SynopsisIn his most autobiographical novel to date, James Lee Burke continues the epic Holland family saga with a writer grieving the death of his daughter while battling earthly and supernatural outlaws.Novelist Aaron Holland Broussard is shattered when his daughter Fannie Mae dies suddenly. As he tries to honour her memory by saving two young men from a life of crime amid their opioid-ravaged community, he is drawn into a network of villainy that includes a violent former Klansman, a far-from-holy minister, a biker club posing as evangelicals, and a murderer who has been hiding in plain sight.Aaron''s only ally is state police officer Ruby Spotted Horse, a no-nonsense woman who harbours some powerful secrets in her cellar. Despite the air of mystery surrounding her, Ruby is the only one Aaron can trust. That is, until the ghost of Fannie Mae shows up, guiding her father through a tangled web of the present and past and helping him vanquish his foes from both this wo

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Book SynopsisIn this highly anticipated sequel to the Edgar award winner Down the River Unto the Sea, Joe King Oliver is entangled in a dangerous case when he's asked to investigate whether a white nationalist is being unjustly set up.Trade ReviewMosley again shows his talent for character building, not only in the many-sided Joe, as vulnerable as he is resilient, but also in a superb supporting cast, including Joe's daughter, Aja, and mercenary Oliya, who could easily front her own series... The second King Oliver novel lives up to the excitement generated by its Edgar-winning predecessor. * Booklist *Mosley's characteristic writing style is on full display, including his love of unusual similes ("The window gazed upon New Jersey but it was a misty day, making the Garden State look like a half-formed idea"). Joe continues to fascinate as a protagonist, and the secondary characters enrich the storywhether they figure into the main action or not...a worthy successor. * Publishers Weekly *Mosley, a modern master of the noir form, brings readers a worthy follow-upto Down the River Unto the Sea. This time, Joe King Oliver is asked for a favor from a friend he can't refuse, a case that forces him to look into the unsavory connections between white nationalists, Russians, and high finance. Mosley knows exactly how to craft a mystery that keeps you at the edge of your seat all the while forcing you to reckon with sinister forces at the heart of American society * Crimereads *

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Book SynopsisA BRAND NEW KING OLIVER NOVEL FROM THE AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF DOWN THE RIVER UNTO THE SEAJoe King Oliver is entangled in a dangerous case when he''s asked to investigate whether a white nationalist is being unjustly set up...When friend of the family and multi-billionaire Roger Ferris comes to Joe with an assignment, he''s got no choice but to accept, even if the case is a tough one to stomach. White nationalist Alfred Xavier Quiller has been accused of murder and the sale of sensitive information to the Russians. Ferris has reason to believe Quiller''s been set up and he needs King to see if the charges hold.This linear assignment becomes a winding quest to uncover the extent of Quiller''s dealings, to understand Ferris'' skin in the game, and to get to the bottom of who is working for whom. Even with the help of bodyguard and mercenary Oliya Ruez-no regular girl Friday-the machine King''s up against proves relentless and unspariTrade ReviewMosley again shows his talent for character building, not only in the many-sided Joe, as vulnerable as he is resilient, but also in a superb supporting cast, including Joe's daughter, Aja, and mercenary Oliya, who could easily front her own series... The second King Oliver novel lives up to the excitement generated by its Edgar-winning predecessor. * Booklist *Mosley's characteristic writing style is on full display, including his love of unusual similes ("The window gazed upon New Jersey but it was a misty day, making the Garden State look like a half-formed idea"). Joe continues to fascinate as a protagonist, and the secondary characters enrich the storywhether they figure into the main action or not...a worthy successor. * Publishers Weekly *Mosley, a modern master of the noir form, brings readers a worthy follow-upto Down the River Unto the Sea. This time, Joe King Oliver is asked for a favor from a friend he can't refuse, a case that forces him to look into the unsavory connections between white nationalists, Russians, and high finance. Mosley knows exactly how to craft a mystery that keeps you at the edge of your seat all the while forcing you to reckon with sinister forces at the heart of American society * Crimereads *

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Book Synopsis*** SELECTED AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE GUARDIAN ***''Electrifying drama'' BOOK OF THE MONTH, THE TIMES''This is a hugely satisfying mystery of course, but more than that, it''s a chilling morality tale. Nobody does evil quite as scarily as Louise Penny'' ANN CLEEVESIt''s spring and Three Pines is reemerging after the harsh winter. But not everything buried should come alive again. Not everything lying dormant should reemerge. But something has. As the villagers prepare for a special celebration, Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir find themselves increasingly worried. A young man and woman have reappeared in the investigators'' lives after many years. The two were young children when their troubled mother was murdered, leaving them damaged, shattered. Now they''ve arrived in the village of Three Pines. But to what end?As Chief Inspector Gamache works to uncover answers, his alarm grows when a letter written by a Trade ReviewIntriguing and chilling at the same time, up to the last page. Very well written - it will keep you on the edge of your seat. * Yours Magazine *The 18th title in the Gamache series, but newbies needn't worry about starting with Penny's chief inspector on a case that will stir up tragic memories and trigger fresh fears in the Quebec village of Three Pines. Look out for hidden messages, puzzles within puzzles, and some resonant ruminations on forgiveness and redemption * Mail on Sunday *Penny's thrillers, which combine chilling insights into the very worst of crimes with the humanity of her protagonist Gamache, remain as uniquely nail-biting and heartwarming as ever, and the author only looks set to pick up more readers now Amazon Prime has launched its much-anticipated adaptation of her books, Three Pines, starring Alfred Molina as the charismatic detective * The Guardian *Penny delves into the nature of evil, sensitively exploring the impact of the dreadful events she describes while bringing a warmth and humanity to her disparate cast of characters that, unusually for a crime novel, leaves you feeling better about the world once you've finished * The Observer *Praise for Louise Penny and The Madness of Crowds - Penny is on peak form... The Madness of Crowds is a grown-up, timely thriller that considers the nature of cowardice - "there's no peace without courage" - and how to find and defend "that spot between freedom and safety * The Times *Louise Penny is one of the greatest crime writers of our times -- Denise MinaShe makes most of her competitors seem like wannabes * The Times *Gamache has become to Canada what Hercule Poirot is to Belgium * New York Times *No one does atmospheric quite like Louise Penny . . . a fantastic series -- Elly GriffithsLouise Penny's writing is intricate, beautiful and compelling. She is an original voice, a distillation of both PD James and Barbara Vine at their peaks and a worthy successor to both -- Peter JamesA cracking storyteller, who can create fascinating characters, a twisty plot and wonderful surprise endings -- Ann CleevesIt's always a treat to spend a few days with Armand Gamache -- James Patterson[An] atmospheric, distinctive series * Kate Mosse *Enthralling...crime writing of the highest order * Daily Mail *Louise Penny deftly combines high tension with a warm examination of Three Pines' eccentric, colourful residents * Irish Independent *

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Book SynopsisBook 18 in the acclaimed and number one-bestselling Three Pines series featuring the beloved Chief Inspector Armand Gamache.It''s spring and Three Pines is re-emerging after the harsh winter. But not everything buried should come alive again. Not everything lying dormant should return. But something has. As the villagers prepare for a special celebration, Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir find themselves increasingly worried. A young man and woman have reappeared in the Sûreté du Québec investigators'' lives after many years. The two were young children when their troubled mother was murdered, leaving them damaged, shattered. Now they''ve arrived in the village of Three Pines. But to what end? Gamache and Beauvoir''s memories of that tragic case, the one that first brought them together, come rushing back. Did their mother''s murder hurt them beyond repair? Have those terrible wounds, buried for decades, festered and are now about toTrade ReviewIntriguing and chilling at the same time, up to the last page. Very well written - it will keep you on the edge of your seat. * Yours Magazine *The 18th title in the Gamache series, but newbies needn't worry about starting with Penny's chief inspector on a case that will stir up tragic memories and trigger fresh fears in the Quebec village of Three Pines. Look out for hidden messages, puzzles within puzzles, and some resonant ruminations on forgiveness and redemption * Mail on Sunday *Penny's thrillers, which combine chilling insights into the very worst of crimes with the humanity of her protagonist Gamache, remain as uniquely nail-biting and heartwarming as ever, and the author only looks set to pick up more readers now Amazon Prime has launched its much-anticipated adaptation of her books, Three Pines, starring Alfred Molina as the charismatic detective * The Guardian *Penny delves into the nature of evil, sensitively exploring the impact of the dreadful events she describes while bringing a warmth and humanity to her disparate cast of characters that, unusually for a crime novel, leaves you feeling better about the world once you've finished * The Observer *Praise for Louise Penny and The Madness of Crowds - Penny is on peak form... The Madness of Crowds is a grown-up, timely thriller that considers the nature of cowardice - "there's no peace without courage" - and how to find and defend "that spot between freedom and safety * The Times *Louise Penny is one of the greatest crime writers of our times -- Denise MinaShe makes most of her competitors seem like wannabes * The Times *Gamache has become to Canada what Hercule Poirot is to Belgium * New York Times *No one does atmospheric quite like Louise Penny . . . a fantastic series -- Elly GriffithsLouise Penny's writing is intricate, beautiful and compelling. She is an original voice, a distillation of both PD James and Barbara Vine at their peaks and a worthy successor to both -- Peter JamesA cracking storyteller, who can create fascinating characters, a twisty plot and wonderful surprise endings -- Ann CleevesIt's always a treat to spend a few days with Armand Gamache -- James Patterson[An] atmospheric, distinctive series * Kate Mosse *Enthralling...crime writing of the highest order * Daily Mail *

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

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

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