Crime and mystery: police procedural

Book SynopsisFrom the Collins Crime Club archive, the first Inspector French novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, once dubbed The King of Detective Story Writers'.THE FIRST INSPECTOR FRENCH MYSTERYAt the offices of the Hatton Garden diamond merchant Duke and Peabody, the body of old Mr Gething is discovered beside a now-empty safe. With multiple suspects, the robbery and murder is clearly the work of a master criminal, and requires a master detective to solve it. Meticulous as ever, Inspector Joseph French of Scotland Yard embarks on an investigation that takes him from the streets of London to Holland, France and Spain, and finally to a ship bound for South America . . .Trade Review‘Because he is so austerely realistic, Freeman Wills Croft is deservedly a first favourite with all who want a real puzzle.’ TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT “If there is a better writer of detective stories alive, I would like to know his name.”GLASGOW CITIZEN

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Book SynopsisThe Tower, previously published as Post Mortem, is now a major ITV drama. 'Draws you in and doesn't let you go. A must read.' Rosamund Lupton She could not escape the horror of it: falling unstoppably, irretrievably until the hard concrete reaches up. That last glimpse of them at the edge. A long-serving beat cop in the Met and a teenage girl fall to their deaths from a tower block in London's East End. Left alive on the roof are a five-year-old boy and rookie police officer, Lizzie Griffiths. Within hours, Griffiths has disappeared, and DS Sarah Collins sets out to uncover the truth around the grisly deaths, in an investigation which takes her into the dark heart of policing in London.'Absorbing' Sunday TImes'Thrilling' Weekend Sport'Thought-provoking' Literary ReviewTrade ReviewAn absorbing debut... The author vividly re-creates the everyday experience of uniformed police... The result is a complex novel that offers rare insights into how the police operate. * Sunday Times *Knowledgeable, thoughtful, sensitive and well written... The changing priorities of policing and the evolving prejudices of society in general are ever-present undercurrents in this excellent and thought-provoking novel. * Literary Review *A complex, intelligent, thrilling crime novel by a debut author, from a real serving detective in the Metropolitan Police's murder squad. * Weekend Sport *Intelligent, atmospheric, captivating - this book draws you in and doesn't let you go. A must read. - Rosamund Lupton * Rosamund Lupton *

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Book SynopsisWhen the body of a young mother is found on the banks of New Zealand’s Mataura River, young female police constable Sam Shephard begins an investigation, with horrifying and very personal implications. Book one in an addictive, atmospheric new series.*** SHORTLISTED for the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger 2019******SHORTLISTED for the Ngaio Marsh Award***’The tensions within a tightknit village, along with various aspects of Kiwi society, are laid out with real authority, but it is Symon’s copper Sam, self-deprecating and very human, who represents the writer’s real achievement’ Guardian ‘Lively evocation of small-town life, with a plot that grabs the reader’s attention with a heart-stopping opening and doesn’t let go’ The Times‘An achievement that blends heart-stopping thrills with deep, believable characters in a stark New Zealand setting. It will leave readers reaching for the next Sam Shephard mystery’ Foreword Reviews––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––When the body of a young mother is found washed up on the banks of the Mataura River, a small rural community is rocked by her tragic suicide. But all is not what it seems.Sam Shephard, sole-charge police constable in Mataura, soon discovers the death was no suicide and has to face the realisation that there is a killer in town. To complicate the situation, the murdered woman was the wife of her former lover. When Sam finds herself on the list of suspects and suspended from duty, she must cast aside her personal feelings and take matters into her own hands.To find the murderer … and clear her name.A taut, atmospheric and page-turning thriller, Overkill marks the start of an unputdownable and unforgettable series from one of New Zealand’s finest crime writers.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––‘A sassy heroine, fabulous sense of place, and rip-roaring stories with a twist’ Kate Mosse‘Symon has created a compelling series lead, and her treatment of small-town New Zealand is superbly atmospheric. This one’s a cracker’ Liam McIlvanney‘Overkill certainly feels like the beginning of something great. It’s a clever first novel and a dark thriller that’s well-paced and well-plotted … with a satisfying and fitting ending’ CultureFly‘Symon nicely balances action, character and story in a well-drawn rural setting, and realistically speckles the book with light-hearted moments and humour throughout’ Kiwi Crime‘Powerful, coolly assured, and an absolute belter of a read’ LoveReading‘The key to the novel for me is definitely the humorous portrayal of the one-woman police band, both extremely naïve and too eager to prove herself in the eyes of her superiors and against the silent backdrop of her parents’ disappointment’ Crime Review‘With a twisty plot, a protagonist who shines and beautifully written observations of the cruellest things, Overkill is crime fiction at its best and this is an outstanding book. I predict that this series is going to soar here in the UK and it deserves to’ Crime Watch‘The author’s style of storytelling is smooth and engaging, making Overkill very easy to read, which is enough to keep you cranking through the pages. The ending is a cracker … We’ll look forward to the next in the series because with the author’s storytelling skills, the first is a pleasure to read’ Crime Fiction Lover‘Overkill is Symon’s first novel, but it reads like the polished effort of a genre veteran. More, please’ BooklistTrade Review`Vanda Symon's fast-paced crime novels are as good as anything the US has to offer - a sassy heroine, fabulous sense of place, and rip-roaring stories with a twist. Perfect curl-up-on-the-sofa reading' Kate Mosse

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Book SynopsisThe fifth in the hit Italian crime series by Andrea Camilleri, Excursion to Tindari is a darkly comic detective story featuring Inspector Montalbano.Maybe a phrase, a line, a hint somewhere would reveal a reason, any reason, for the elderly couple's disappearance . . . A young Don Juan is found murdered in front of his apartment building early one morning, and an elderly couple is reported missing after an excursion to the ancient site of Tindari – two seemingly unrelated cases for Inspector Montalbano to solve amid the daily complications of life at Vigàta police headquarters. But when Montalbano discovers that the couple and the murdered young man lived in the same building, his investigation stumbles onto Sicily's brutal 'New Mafia', which leads him down a path more evil and more far-reaching than any he has been down before.Excursion to Tindari is followed by the sixth novel in the Inspector Montalbano series, The Scent of the Night.Trade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *A joy to read. * The Times *This savagely funny police procedural proves that sardonic laughter is a sound that translates ever so smoothly into English. * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisA shocking reveal threatens to unravel Detective Superintendent Roy Grace’s happy new life in Love You Dead, by award winning crime author Peter James.Grace is newly married, having moved to a country cottage with Cleo and their baby son. But his first, long-missing wife, now found, has left Grace a surprise greater than he could have imagined.Yet the police need Grace at work: an escaped murderer who left a bullet in him is back and a Black Widow is leaving an international trail of corpses after – in every sense – bleeding them dry. Now, she’s come to Brighton for her next rich target . . .Although the Roy Grace novels can be read in any order, Love You Dead is the twelve title in the bestselling series. Enjoy more of the Brighton detective’s investigations with Need You Dead and Dead If You Don’t.Now a major ITV series, Grace, starring John Simm.Trade ReviewPeter James is one of the best British crime authors -- Lee ChildPeter James is one of the best crime writers in the business -- Karin SlaughterNo one can deny James's success as a crime novelist . . . The Grace stories almost always go to the top of the bestseller lists, not least because they are supremely well-told. James writes meticulously researched police procedurals, so informed that you can smell the canteen coffee . . . enthralling * Daily Mail *Peter James has penetrated the inner workings of police procedures, and the inner thoughts and attitudes of real detectives, as no English crime writer before him. His hero, Roy Grace, may not be the most lively cop, nor the most damaged by drink, weight or misery, but he's one of the most believable * The Times *

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Book SynopsisA death in custody. A life in jeopardy.When Ben Holdsworth dies alone in a police cell, riots erupt in Manchester. But after a post mortem, the authorities have decided nobody was to blame.DI Ridpath is asked to investigate by the coroner before an inquest, and immediately uncovers some discrepancies in the witness statements.Why was the CCTV not working that night? Where was the custody sergeant, and did he know the victim? Wherever he turns there are lies and gaps. It’s a dangerous game and the net is closing… On Ridpath himself.There is only one way out: uncover what really happened in the prison cells on that dark Manchester night.A stunning crime thriller from a master of the genre, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Val McDermid and Ian Rankin.

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Book Synopsis'A perfect detective for our time' Stephen Fry No fingerprints. No weapon. No witnesses. Can DS Cross prove it was murder? THE DETECTIVE DS George Cross doesn't rely on guesswork and he has no time for false assumptions. He is a detective who goes off the evidence in front of him, not 'hunches' or 'gut feelings'. He does not know what these are. THE CLOSED CASE When a young woman is found dead, the Bristol Crime Unit is quick to rule it a suicide as the woman had a long history of drug abuse. But her mother is convinced it was murder, saying that her daughter had been clean for years and had been making strides in a new therapy programme. THE ANSWER As an outsider himself, DS Cross is drawn to cases involving the voiceless and dispossessed and, here, the evidence states that this woman was murdered – Cross just has to prove it. But under pressure from his boss to shut down the case, and with numerous potential suspects, time is rapidly running out to get the answers that this grieving family deserve. Perfect for fans of M.W. Craven, Peter James and Joy Ellis, The Patient is part of the DS George Cross thriller series, which can be read in any order. Why readers love George Cross . . . 'A clever mystery full of tension but also humour and compassion. George Cross is becoming one of my favourite detectives.’ Elly Griffiths 'In DS George Cross, Tim Sullivan has created a character who is as endearing as any I’ve ever come across in this genre. His quirks are his gift, and with Sullivan’s tremendous plotting and superb writing, this series is a gift to readers.' Liz Nugent 'A British detective for the 21st century who will be hard to forget' Daily Mail 'A compelling, suspenseful police procedural with an intimate, positive insight into living on the autistic spectrum' Woman 'Truly wonderful . . . well-developed characters and an absolute star in George Cross!' Reader Review 'An entirely different type of detective in DS Cross' Reader ReviewTrade ReviewI am insanely in love with George Cross, a perfect detective for our time and for all time. His complexity, orneriness and dogged persistence makes for such a complete and admirable hero... The Patient is a cracking mystery, full of twists and surprises to the end -- Stephen FrySullivan has given us a British detective for the 21st century who will be hard to forget * Daily Mail *Superb, clever and taut * Belfast Telegraph *The fact that Cross has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder makes him just as intriguing as the murder mystery * The Times *Fantastic police procedurals and attention to detail * Bishop's Stortford Independent *An absolute cracker * The Bookbag *There is so much to uncover in this fantastic novel... Fantastic story with a brilliant DS. Loved it -- Frost MagazineA good police procedural made doubly interesting by the development of the characters * Choice *A compelling, suspenseful police procedural with an intimate, positive insight into living on the autistic spectrum * Woman *

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Book SynopsisTHE MILLION-SELLING AUTHOR OF THE BLACKHOUSE AND COFFIN ROAD HANDS FORENSIC SLEUTH ENZO MACLEOD A NEW COLD CASE.GAILLAC, SOUTH-WEST FRANCE. An unsolved case.Gil Petty, America's most celebrated wine critic, is found strung up in a vineyard, dressed in the ceremonial robes of the Order of the Divine Bottle and pickled in wine. An un-cracked code. For forensic expert Enzo Macleod, the key to this unsolved murder lies in decoding Petty's mysterious reviews - which could make or break a vineyard's reputation. An uncorked criminal.Enzo finds that beneath the tranquil façade of French viticulture lurks a back-stabbing community riddled with rivalry - and someone who is ready to stop him even if they have to kill again.Trade ReviewA rip-roaring thriller . . . thoroughly enjoyable * Mail on Sunday *A wonderfully complex bookHe is a terrific writer doing something differentFrom the first page I knew I was in safe hands. I knew I could trust this writerWonderfully compellingWestern France - now May's own stamping ground - is as much a character in the book as the Hebrides were in his formidable Isle of Lewis sequence * Guardian *Peter May is a writer I'd follow to the ends of the earth * New York Times *One of the best regarded crime series of recent years * Independent *Lyrical, empathetic and movingMay's novels are strong on place and the wounds left by old relationships * Sunday Times *Will have the reader relishing every tendency of description and characterization * Independent *Dark, exciting and atmospheric * Scotland on Sunday *Powerful and authentic * Glasgow Sunday Herald *Fast, exciting ... an entertaining read that will also give food for thought * Irish Times *A tense and atmospheric thriller with a heart-stopping ending * Tangled Web *Truly the best of May's series so far, this is not to be missed * The Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisFor DCI Gillard, sometimes old sins cast long shadows…Under a motorway flyover lies the body of a young man. Days earlier, he had been involved in an altercation with DCI Craig Gillard’s pregnant partner Sam. Now he’s dead…Meanwhile, something is brewing in the criminal underworld. Whispers of a big job have reached the Met’s Flying Squad. Something is going to be stolen, and soon. Something worth £500m.But what? And where? And how does it relate to the body under the overpass? It should be a simple case: stop the burglary, crack the gang, find the murderer – but for Gillard, once again it’s personal…Fast-paced and utterly unputdownable, the next instalment of the DCI Gillard series is perfect for fans of Robert Bryndza, Stuart Macbride and Faith Martin.

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Book Synopsis'Jane Casey's police procedurals go from strength to strength' Sunday Times'If you have not read Jane Casey, start immediately' Marian Keyes'The most dangerously addictive series in crime fiction' Erin Kelly______________Their job is to fight crime. Now they are the victims. . . A killer is terrorising London and this time the police are the targets.Urgently re-assigned to investigate a series of attacks on fellow officers, Maeve Kerrigan and her boss Josh Derwent have little idea what motivates the killer's fury against the force.And they know it will only be a matter of time before the killer strikes again.

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Book SynopsisThe Dance of the Seagull is the fifteenth darkly humorous adventure starring Inspector Montalbano from bestselling author Andrea Camilleri. Inspector Montalbano is awake at dawn, sitting on his porch, when his attention is caught by a seagull which falls from the sky, performing a strange dance, before lying down to die. Montalbano is perplexed by what he has witnessed and the scene hangs over him like an omen. About to depart for a holiday with his girlfriend Livia, Montalbano makes a quick trip to the police station to tie up loose ends. But when his dear colleague Fazio is discovered missing – and it transpires that the policeman has been involved in his own secret investigations – Montalbano instead launches a desperate search for his lost friend, as time begins to run out . . . Navigating a shadowy maze of smuggling, blackmail and the darkest murder, and moving from the docks of Vigàta to its deep, dry wells where the mafia hide their terrible crimes, Inspector Montalbano must have his wits about him to unravel this tangled mystery.'Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . Simply superb' - Sunday TimesThe Dance of the Seagull is followed by the sixteenth Inspector Montalbano novel, The Treasure Hunt.Trade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *For sunny views, explosive characters and a snappy plot constructed with great farcical ingenuity, the writer you want is Andrea Camilleri * New York Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writes . . . utterly gripping * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisThe Sleeping and The Dead is a tense psychological thriller from Ann Cleeves, author and creator of three astounding TV series: Shetland, Vera and The Long Call.Detective Peter Porteous is called to Cranwell Lake where the body of a teenager has been discovered.After trawling through the missing persons files, he comes to the conclusion that the corpse is Michael Grey, an enigmatic and secretive young man who was reported missing by his foster parents in 1972.The news report that a body has been found leaves prison officer Hannah Morton in shock. Michael had been her boyfriend, and she had been with him the night he disappeared. And now the discovery is bringing back dreaded and long buried memories from her past . . .Trade ReviewCleeves again excels in her sense of place in this cleverly plotted psychological thriller * The Times *A suspenseful crime story that puts Ms Cleeves in the Rendell class * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisSOON TO BE AN ORIGINAL AMAZON PRIME SERIES_____________________________DETECTIVE ALEX CROSS'S NIECE IS MISSINGCross fears the disappearance could be linked to a string of recent abductions and murders that are terrorising the US.Two killers, operating on opposite sides of the country, are collaborating and competing to commit increasingly horrific crimes.If he's to rescue his niece, Cross must hunt down these two brutal masterminds. All the while, countless lives hang in the balance._____________________________'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades. The Alex Cross series proves it.' LEE CHILD'Alex Cross is a legend' HARLAN COBEN

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Book SynopsisA child’s body in an unmarked grave. A killer waiting to strike again.A young boy’s body is found in a meadow beside the River Mersey. No DNA. No witnesses. No clues. It brings back painful memories of the Moors Murderers. After two weeks, the police have made no progress finding the killer. The one thing they do know; he will kill again. It is a race against time – and they are losing.DI Thomas Ridpath has just returned to work. Diagnosed with PTSD and undergoing supervised psychological therapy, he is dragged into the case against his better judgement. When another child is kidnapped, Ridpath must confront his own demons to stop a killer before he strikes again.A nail-biting thriller that takes the Ridpath novels to new heights, this is perfect for readers of Peter James and Damien Boyd.

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Book SynopsisWish You Were Dead is a Quick Read short story from bestselling author Peter James.Roy Grace and his family have left Sussex behind for a week’s holiday in France. The website promised a grand house, but when they arrive the place is very different from the pictures. And it soon becomes clear that their holiday nightmare is only just beginning.An old enemy of Roy, a lowlife criminal he had put behind bars, is now out of jail – and out for revenge. He knows where Roy and his family have gone on holiday. Of course he does. He’s been hacking their emails – and they are in the perfect spot for him to pay Roy back . . .Trade ReviewPeter James has penetrated the inner workings of police procedures, and the inner thoughts and attitudes of real detectives, as no English crime writer before him. His hero, Roy Grace, may not be the most lively cop, nor the most damaged by drink, weight or misery, but he’s one of the most believable * The Times *Peter James is one of the best crime writers in the business -- Karin SlaughterJames just gets better and better and deserves the success he has achieved with this first-class series * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisThe latest masterpiece from multi-award-winning number-one bestseller Mark Billingham sees DI Tom Thorne and DI Nicola Tanner hunting a killer who is yet to kill . . . Trade ReviewAnother tough but utterly intriguing entry in one of the best British police detective series going * Winnipeg Free Press *One of the great series of British crime fiction * The Times *One of the great series of British crime fiction * The Times *A new Mark Billingham is always a treat and The Killing Habit hurls the reader straight into the action. Thoroughly enjoyable for being so very real. * Susie Steiner, author of Missing, Presumed and Persons Unknown *Mark Billingham on superb form. A finely paced and polished procedural, with twists and turns galore and an ending that will chill your soul. * Cara Hunter, author of Close to Home *A new Mark Billingham is always a treat and The Killing Habit hurls the reader straight into the action. Thoroughly enjoyable for being so very real. * Susie Steiner, author of Missing, Presumed and Persons Unknown *Mark Billingham on superb form. A finely paced and polished procedural, with twists and turns galore and an ending that will chill your soul. * Cara Hunter, author of Close to Home *An unconventional literary superstar * Mail on Sunday *As ever with Billingham, a rich cast of characters and tense situations are marshalled with panache, leading to a final terrifying encounter * Financial Times *An unconventional literary superstar * Mail on Sunday *As ever with Billingham, a rich cast of characters and tense situations are marshalled with panache, leading to a final terrifying encounter * Financial Times *Thorne is a terrific invention * Irish Independent *Entertaining, thought provoking and current * West Australian *The strength of the DI Thorne novels is in the knowledge that all of this could be real. The closing of the novel will please even the most discerning fan of the police procedural, and leave you yearning for more. * Crime Fiction Lover *Another tough but utterly intriguing entry in one of the best British police detective series going * Winnipeg Free Press *Thorne is a terrific invention * Irish Independent *The strength of the DI Thorne novels is in the knowledge that all of this could be real. The closing of the novel will please even the most discerning fan of the police procedural, and leave you yearning for more. * Crime Fiction Lover *Want something to get the heart racing as you laze by the pool?...A thrilling read not for the faint-hearted * Sun *

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Book Synopsis'A crime fiction force to be reckoned with' ERIN KELLYThe twisted and unpredictable new crime thriller from winner of the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller competition, perfect for fans of The Innocent Wife. He told me he was innocent of his girlfriend's murder.He told me his wife was out to get him. What he didn't tell me was why. He has a history of cheating. He attended the party where his girlfriend was murdered.And so did his wife.Adulterer.Murderer.Victim.Can I find the truth in the lies?***'A treat for all crime fans' ANN CLEEVES'I loved . . . brilliant' CLARE MACKINTOSH'An absolute knockout of a novel' C J TUDORTrade ReviewKinsella is back, as complex, interesting and finely written as ever. A treat for all crime fans * Ann Cleeves *Stone Cold Heart confirms Caz Frear as a crime fiction force to be reckoned with. A gripping, layered story - and a last line that left me desperate to read the next Cat Kinsella adventure! * Erin Kelly, bestselling author of HE SAID/SHE SAID *I loved Stone Cold Heart. Witty dialogue, likeable police characters, and it reads brilliantly * Clare Mackintosh *An absolute knockout of a novel. Crime procedural at it's best - tough, twisty and uncompromising! Also, a brilliant, tough female protagonist who I loved. Give me more female characters like this! * C J Tudor *I devoured Stone Cold Heart in one sitting . . . brilliantly written and tightly plotted, with characters that are frighteningly believable, Caz Frear has knocked it out of the park once again * Lisa Hall *Absolutely fantastic . . . This is an exceptional follow-up to Sweet Little Lies and cements Cat Kinsella's place in protagonists I will pre-order, every time * Jo Spain *I absolutely LOVED Stone Cold Heart - great writing; a twisty, clever, satisfying plot; and a pitch-perfect voice * Roz Watkins *Caz Frear is that rare talent . . . a consummate storyteller with an ability to create characters who live and breathe. Stone Cold Heart is a brilliantly written, just-one-more-page read that cements its author's position as a rising star of crime fiction * Fiona Cummins *Darkly addictive with some seriously killer plotting. Just straight up brilliant * Chris Whitaker *Completely gripping, deviously plotted and featuring perhaps my favourite police team ever . . . If I ever get murdered, I want Cat Kinsella on the case. And if I don't, I want to go to the pub with her * Phoebe Locke *I loved her debut but I thought this was even better. DC Cat Kinsella is a joy to hang out with, and the twisty machinations of the case she's investigating here make this not only a total page-turner, but a fantastically entertaining one too. A secret in Kinsella's past not only amps up the tension but also sets us up nicely for Book No. 3. I am chair-shaped after reading the whole thing in one sitting today . . . a must read * Catherine Ryan Howard *Caz Frear has done it again - Stone Cold Heart is utterly compelling, with brilliantly-drawn characters and a propulsive storyline that will keep you guessing right to the end. DC Cat Kinsella is my new favourite detective, bar none * T M Logan *Gripping story, and perfectly drawn characters . . . I already know this is going to be one of my favourite books of the year * Jo Jakeman *Stone Cold Heart is another triumph by the brilliant Caz Frear - with its combination of witty writing, gripping storyline and brilliantly drawn characters, I read it in a couple of sittings. The final line leaves me waiting impatiently for the next book. Excellent! * Jenny Quintana *What impressed me most with Stone Cold Heart was the quality of the writing, particularly the dialogue which is pitch-perfect throughout and absolutely crackles in places. The plotting is elaborate but controlled. Caz Frear releases everything we need to know at exactly the right time and it's all there if we know where to look for it. I have a list of authors whose next book I will buy at the earliest opportunity and Caz Frear has just joined it * G J Minett *Just finished Stone Cold Heart from the amazing Caz Frear. So good. Seriously. A massive page turner, beautiful plotting, hugely engaging character in Cat who is imperfectly perfect still and an ending to die for * Liz Loves Books *Caz Frear is such a talent. I loved the latest Cat Kinsella story, which was every bit as gripping and brilliantly written as the first * Cass Green *A compelling mystery, with a kick-ass protagonist and a fantastic sting in the tale. Cat Kinsella is fast becoming my fave cop on the block * Lucy V. Hay *Stone Cold Heart is every bit as good as Sweet Little Lies, if not better - gripping, twisty, witty and full of, well, heart * Paul Burston *Gripping, authentic and full of twists you'll never see coming, Stone Cold Heart is everything a quality thriller should be. Tana French fans will tear through this gem in one go * Celia Walden *Caz Frear's writing is vibrant, irresistible and whip-smart . . . Stone Cold Heart delivers with a deadly brilliance * Rachel Edwards *You have a treat coming your way crime fiction fans! Caz Frear has blown it out of the park with Stone Cold Heart . . . Loving it! * Dervla McTiernan *The story, characters, and language here immerse readers in a twisty case that involves more than one dysfunctional family. Frear almost ties all these strands up neatly at the end, until Cat's past comes back to bite her again, leaving things ripe for book three. Frear's fans will enjoy the focus on grown-up Cat; Dervla McTiernan's readers are another likely audience * Booklist *Frear once again excels at creating memorable characters and realistic dialogue. Cat's snarky attitude and youthful brashness are nicely balanced with her passion for justice and investigative skills. VERDICT: Highly recommended for fans of police procedurals with compelling detectives * Library Journal *Kinsella is an engaging protagonist and her breezy, irreverent voice gives the book its distinctive, word in ear flavour ... has great pace and energy and leaves the reader on a nicely judged cliffhanger. * The Irish Times *An extraordinary cliffhanger ending that will leave readers yearning for more ... Gripping, gritty and beautifully written. * Lancashire Evening Post *Cat Kinsella seals her status as fiction's most irresistible cop. * Sunday Express *Good-quality crime fiction with likeable, well-handled main characters and a cleverly executed plot * CrimeReview.co.uk *Cat Kinsella seals her status as fiction's most irresistible cop" * Sunday Express *I almost wish I hadn't read this so quickly that I could return to the beginning and enjoy this fantastic read more slowly * Woman's Way *

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Book Synopsis ** Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month **The exhilarating new Inspector Adamsberg novel from France's multi-million-copy bestselling crime fiction star**A NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020**'Adamsberg is one of my favourite detectives... I so enjoyed This Poison Will Remain' ANN CLEEVESAfter three elderly men are bitten by spiders, everyone assumes that their deaths are tragic accidents. But at police headquarters in Paris, Inspector Adamsberg begins to suspect that the case is far more complex than first appears.It isn't long before Adamsberg is investigating a series of rumours and allegations that take him to the south of France. Decades ago, at La Miséricorde orphanage, shocking events took place involving the same species of spider: the recluse.For Adamsberg, these haunting crimes hold the key to proving that the three men were targeted by an ingenious serial killer. His team, however, is not convinced. He must put his reputation on the line to trace the murderer before the death toll rises..._______________________PRAISE FOR THIS POISON WILL REMAIN:'Absorbing... Full of twists and spiced with Vargas's characteristic wit and style' PETER ROBINSON'Vargas is an addictive writer whose surreal touches create a curiously solid world' INDEPENDENT'Vargas's books are...cunning, corkscrew murder mysteries' A.J. FINNTrade ReviewThrilling… Breathtakingly original… A wildly inventive plot that puts Vargas’s real-life expertise (she is an archaeologist) to brilliant use * Sunday Times, Crime Book of the Month *I so enjoyed This Poison Will Remain, real vintage Vargas: playful, thought-provoking, a total delight. And beautifully translated. Adamsberg is one of my favourite detectives -- ANN CLEEVES, author of the Shetland seriesIn This Poison Will Remain, Fred Vargas has delivered an absorbing plot full of twists and spiced with her characteristic wit and style. Adamsberg is a terrific creation and his team of misfits a joy to watch in action -- PETER ROBINSON, author of the DCI Banks seriesFred Vargas’s books are murder mysteries, yes – cunning, corkscrew murder mysteries – but so much else besides: delicate comedies, engrossing tours of French geography and history, fascinating excursions into folklore and myth -- A.J. FINN, author of The Woman in the WindowVargas has as loving and sharp an eye for provincial French eccentrics as Simenon... Vargas is an addictive writer whose surreal touches create a curiously solid world * Independent *

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Book SynopsisTHE CLASSIC LOST THRILLER FROM THE ICONIC NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER''Shockingly good'' The Sun''A prescient, high-octane thriller'' Daily Express''Totally on the money - and ripe for this republication'' i Newspaper * * * * *It always starts with a small lie. That''s how you stop noticing the bigger ones.After his friend suspects something strange going on at the satellite facility where they both work - and then goes missing - Martin Hepton doesn''t believe the official line of long-term sick leave...Refusing to stop asking questions, he leaves his old life behind, aware that someone is shadowing his every move. But why?The only hope he has is his ex-girlfriend Jill Watson - the only journalist who will believe his story.But neither of them can believe the puzzle they''re piecing together - or just how shocking the secret is that everybody wants to stay hidden...Trade ReviewThe King of crime fiction * SUNDAY EXPRESS *Rankin is a master storyteller * GUARDIAN *Ian Rankin is perhaps the best and most complex thriller writer in Britain today * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Ian Rankin is a genius -- Lee Child

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Book Synopsis*** LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA GOLD DAGGER AWARD *** *** A SUNDAY TIMES CRIME PICK OF THE MONTH *** 'A scorchingly good novel' - MICHAEL ROBOTHAM 'Disher is the gold standard for rural noir' - CHRIS HAMMER 'An utterly compelling mystery with rare heart and humanity' - DERVLA MCTIERNAN ________________________________________ AN ACT OF INEXPLICABLE CRUELTY. A FAMILY DESTROYED. Constable Paul Hirschhausen runs a one-cop station in the dry farming country south of the Flinders Ranges. He's still new in town but his community work - welfare checks and a light touch - is starting to pay off. Now Christmas is here and, apart from a grass fire, two boys stealing a vehicle, and Brenda Flann entering the front bar of the pub without exiting her car, Hirsch's life has been peaceful. Until he's called to an incident on Kitchener Street, a strange and vicious attack that sickens the community. And when the Sydney police ask him to look in on a family living on a forgotten back road, it doesn't look like a season of goodwill at all... A hugely atmospheric police procedural set in the dust of the Australian outback. Perfect for readers of Jane Harper, Chris Hammer and Dervla McTiernan. ________________________________________ 'In this brilliant novel, Disher takes his readers on a harrowing journey' - JOCK SERONG 'An atmospheric and nail-biting novel by one of Australia's finest writers' -THE TIMES 'Disher is brilliant at rural noir, capturing the stifling atmosphere of a small town where resentments simmer' - SUNDAY TIMESTrade ReviewAn atmospheric and nail-biting novel by one of Australia's finest writers. He deserves to be far better known and far more widely read * The Times *Disher is brilliant at rural noir, capturing the stifling atmosphere of a small town where resentments simmer against the backdrop of an unforgiving landscape * Sunday Times *An uplifting book, an utterly compelling mystery with rare heart and humanity. If you enjoyed Jane Harper's The Lost Man, this novel is for you -- Dervla McTiernanDisher is the gold standard for rural noir -- Chris HammerA scorchingly good novel -- Michael RobothamIn this brilliant novel Disher takes his readers on a harrowing journey -- Jock SerongThe stories are complex without being complicated, the writing pared down yet run with rich seams of character and place. The Hirsch novels are Disher's finest work -- Dominic Nolan, author of AFTER DARKIn prose baked as hard as the sun-scorched outback, Disher summons up the muggy oppressiveness of a small town with years of buried secrets, a veteran crime writer who knows how to expertly tie together the disparate threads of his narrative * Herald *Peter Temple and Garry Disher will be identified as the crime writers who redefined Australian crime fiction * Sydney Morning Herald *Peace is a very impressive piece of crime fiction. There has been a lot of fuss about Australian rural noir in recent years, but few, if any, do it better than Disher * Canberra Weekly *Peace is rural noir at its best * Canberra Times *Relevant, fresh and exciting. Peace is a satisfying complex mystery that reflects on family, corruption, big city violence seeping into the country, deep rooted racism, rural isolation and decline. The story is vivid, brutal and fast paced * Crime Time *The great thing about these books is their sheer believability and attention to detail. Hirsch himself is a fine creation. [An] immersive and addictive book * Crime Fiction Lover *

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Book SynopsisSet on the coast of Sicily, The Safety Net is the twenty-fifth novel in the bestselling Inspector Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri.***Adapted for BBC4's Inspector Montalbano series***Vigàta is bustling as the new filming location for a Swedish television series set in 1950. In the production frenzy, the director asks the locals to track down movies and vintage photos to faithfully recreate the air of Vigàta at that time. Meanwhile, Montalbano is grappling with a double mystery, one that emerges from the past and another that leads him into the future . . .Engineer Ernesto Sabatello, rummaging in the attic of his house, finds some films shot by his father between 1958 and 1963, always on the same day, 27th March, and always the same shot: the outside wall of a country house. Montalbano hears the story and, intrigued, begins to investigate its meaning. Meanwhile, a middle school is threatened by a group of armed men, and a closer look at the case finds Montalbano looking into the students themselves and delving into the world of social media.Trade ReviewCamilleri’s twenty-sixth Inspector Montalbano mystery novel proves to be every bit as droll, as delicious, and as darkly tough as the first twenty-five . . . The beauty of the Inspector Montalbano novels [is] In addition to the baffling crimes he solves, there’s a sense of absurdity that has the reader chuckling by page one * Washington Post *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mirror *Montalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisThe Patience of the Spider is the eighth novel in Andrea Camilleri's wryly humorous Inspector Montalbano series. Chief Inspector Montalbano is on enforced sick leave. But when a local girl goes mysteriously missing, the whole community takes an interest in the case. Why are the kidnappers so sure that the girl's impoverished father and dying mother will be able to find a fortune? The ever-inquisitive Montalbano steps in, to get to the heart of the matter in his own inimitable style.The Patience of the Spider is followed by the ninth novel in the series, Paper Moon.Trade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis__________________________ONE WILD PARTY. FOUR COUNTS OF MURDER.A mansion in Beverly Hills is leased out to host an event wild enough to herald the end of days. The next day there isn’t a living soul to be seen. In the driveway sits a super-stretch limo, unlocked, with four bodies inside it. Nothing links the victims together. Each has been killed in a different way. Now it’s up to brilliant psychologist Alex Delware and LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis to begin their grisliest and most baffling case yet. As they struggle to make sense of the mass slaying, they will be forced to confront a level of evil that nothing can prepare them for.Praise for Jonathan Kellerman’s New York Times No. 1 bestselling thrillers: ‘Sophisticated, cleverly plotted and satisfying’ Sunday Telegraph ‘High-octane entertainment’ The Times ‘Exceptionally exciting’ New York Times

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Book SynopsisA terrifying serial killer is on the loose in Final Cut, the sixth novel in Lin Anderson's forensic crime series featuring Rhona MacLeod.When Claire regains consciousness after a stranger causes her car to crash in a snowstorm, she is frantic to discover that her nine-year-old daughter Emma is missing from the back seat. Then Emma is found in the woods nearby, unharmed but cradling a child’s skull. She claims it ‘called’ to her – and she can hear another voice nearby . . .Meanwhile, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod is trying to discover the identity of a corpse found badly burnt in a skip. The body is wearing a soldier’s ID tag, but DNA tests show it’s not him. When DS Michael McNab asks for her help identifying the remains Emma found, they discover the two cases are linked in ways they could never have imagined . . .Trade ReviewForensic scientist Rhona MacLeod has become one of the most satisfying characters in modern crime fiction — honourable, inquisitive and yet plagued by doubts and, sometimes, fears . . . As ever, the landscape is stunningly evoked and MacLeod’s decency and humanity shine through on every page * Daily Mail *The best Scottish crime series since Rebus * Daily Record *The bleak landscape is beautifully described, giving this popular series a new lease of life * Sunday Times *Lin Anderson is one of Scotland’s national treasures – don’t be fooled by comparisons, her writing is unique, bringing warmth and depth to even the seediest parts of Glasgow. Lin’s Rhona MacLeod is a complex and compelling heroine who just gets better with every outing -- Stuart MacBride

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Book Synopsis'Ingenious' Daily Mail'A truly outstanding series' Booklist'No CCTV cameras, no overlooking houses, no passing traffic or pedestrians. That means no witnesses.'Bill Slider begins a nightmarish investigation when an unidentifiable victim is found in the no man's land beneath London's A40 flyover. Slider doesn't have much to go on. The victim, a smartly dressed businessman, has no ID in his pockets and no one has reported him missing. When the autopsy reveals old injuries and faded scars cover the man's body, the mystery only deepens. If he wants answers, Slider knows he must go into London's darkest corners.Trade ReviewFor detection fans demanding quality and heart as well as ingenious plots * * Daily Mail * *Harrod-Eagles writes terrific crime novels, meshing fully realized characters with multilevel plot lines * * Library Journal * *A truly outstanding series * * Booklist * *Harrod-Eagles is never less than expert in presenting suspect * * Kirkus Reviews * *

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Book SynopsisHåkan Nesser, 'the Godfather of Swedish Crime' (Metro), is back with the second installment in the Inspector Barbarotti series, The Root of Evil.*Shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association's International Dagger*July 2007. A letter arrives on Inspector Barbarotti’s doorstep detailing a murder that is about to take place in his quiet Swedish town. By the time the police track down the subject of the letter, he is already dead. So when a second letter arrives, then a third, and a fourth, it’s a game of cat and mouse to stop the killer before he can make good on all of his promises. Meanwhile, an anonymous diary is unearthed depicting the incidents of a two week holiday in France five years earlier, and it doesn’t take Barbarotti long to realize the people populating the diary are the ones whose lives are now in the balance . . .Continue the thrilling investigative series with The Secret Life of Mr Roos.'One of the best of the Nordic Noir writers' - GuardianTrade ReviewThe godfather of Swedish crime * Metro *Told with wry humour and compassion, Nesser has four more Barbarotti stories to come — cherish them all -- Daily Mail on The Darkest DayA master of suspense * Sunday Times *In an exemplary translation by Sarah Death, this tangled tale of guilt and betrayal whets the appetite for translations of the other Barbarotti novels -- Financial Times on The Darkest DayOne of the best of the Nordic Noir writers * Guardian *One of Sweden's best crime writers * Mail on Sunday *Barbarotti has to disentangle years of bad blood and resentment to get to the heart of a thrillingly complex case * Sunday Times (on The Darkest Day) *

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Book SynopsisIn The Sicilian Method, Andrea Camilleri's twenty-sixth novel in the Inspector Montalbano mystery series, a troubling murder invesitgation may see Montalbano find his answers on a theatre's stage . . .'[E]ven the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today' – GuardianMimi Augello is visiting his lover when the woman's husband unexpectedly returns to the apartment. Hurriedly he climbs out the window and into the downstairs apartment, but finds himself swinging from one danger to another. In the dark he sees a body lying on the bed.Shortly afterwards another body is found and the victim is Carmelo Catalanotti, a director of bourgeois dramas with a harsh reputation for the methods he has developed for his actors: digging into their complexes to unleash their talent, a traumatic experience for all. Are the two deaths connected? Catalanotti scrupulously kept notes and comments on all the actors he worked with – as well as strange notebooks full of figures, dates and names . . .Inspector Montalbano finds all of Catalanotti's dossiers and plays, the notes on the characters and the notes on his final drama, Dangerous Turn. Indeed, it is in the theatre where he feels the solution lies.Trade ReviewMontalbano’s colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction’s greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe’s greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis'Outstanding... Rich in details of Alaskan life, history, and archaeology, this fast-paced mystery builds to a satisfying conclusion. Fans will hope they won't have to wait another eight years for Liam's next outing' Publishers Weekly, Starred Review IT'S A NEW START FOR ALASKA STATE TROOPER LIAM CAMPBELL – BUT THE SAME OLD PROBLEMS. It's Labor Day in Blewestown, Alaska, and it seems most of the town's thirty-five hundred residents have turned out to celebrate. Not Liam Campbell, though. He's been in town for about a week when an archaeologist invites Liam out to his dig site. He's on the verge of a momentous discovery, one he says will be well worth the State Trooper's time. Two days later, the archaeologist is dead, and Liam Campbell is about to learn that he's traded one troubled bush town for another. Praise for Dana Stabenow: 'Cleverly conceived and crisply written thrillers that provide a provocative glimpse of life as it is lived, and justice as it is served, on America's last frontier' San Diego Union-Tribune 'No one writes more vividly about the hardships and rewards of living in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness and the hardy but frequently flawed characters who choose to call it home' Publishers Weekly 'If you have in mind a long trip anywhere, including Alaska, this is the book to put in your backpack' Washington TimesTrade ReviewRich in details of Alaskan life, history, and archaeology, this fast-paced mystery builds to a satisfying conclusion * Publishers Weekly *Some may find it a little 'cosy', but there's no shortage of outlandish local colour * The Times Crime Club *If you like your mysteries set in wild and rugged places, look no further than the Alaskan settings employed by Dana Stabenow... A cosy mystery featuring some well-drawn female characters... The detail about Alaska, its history, geography and population, which Stabenow packs in is fascinating stuff' * Shots Magazine *Filled with colorful characters whose contributions make each step of the investigation rich and detailed... [An] expressive mystery novel' * Foreword *Stabenow's vivid portraits of the Alaskan landscape, along with the Campbell-Chouinard relationship (these are two people besotted with each other), lighten the tone in this smooth, character-driven mystery featuring Alaskan history and culture and the welcome return of Sergeant Campbell' * Booklist *Over everything towers the wild and mountainous Alaskan landscape, which, having been there myself albeit briefly, I can truthfully describe as literally awesome. Recommended * Promoting Crime Fiction *Dana Stabenow proves to be a good guide to the Alaskan landscape in her latest series * Crime Review *

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Book Synopsis'Breaking Point is raw, compelling, and ground-breaking; Coffey puts the life of working mothers under a microscope. To say I loved it is an understatement, I expect it will be a huge success.' Liz Nugent 'A gripping, compulsive pageturner about what we expect from women, especially mothers. It's going to be a massive hit.' Marian Keyes 'Both page-turner and gripping courtroom drama, this has much to say about the expectations and judgement put on women when they become mothers. Prepare to feel devastated and enraged all at once.' Heat One mistake could cost her everything. Susannah has two beautiful daughters, a high-flying medical career, a successful husband and an enviable life. Her hair is glossy, her clothes are expensive; she truly has it all. But when - on the hottest day of the year - her strict morning routine is disrupted, Susannah finds herself running on autopilot. It is hours before she realises she has made a devastating mistake. Her baby, Louise, is still in the backseat of the car and it is too late to save her. As the press close in around her, Susannah is put on trial for negligence. It is plain to see that this is not a trial, it's a witch hunt. But what will the court say? Readers love Breaking Point: 'A genuine contender for best book I have read this year.' ***** 'I was reading through the tears and couldn't read it fast enough' ***** 'An excellent novel, perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain' ***** 'If you want an addictive, pacey read, this is for you!' ***** 'I was a bit of an emotional wreck at the end' ***** 'A very thought-provoking story that will no doubt resonate with parents everywhere' Sun 'Powerful' Best 'A rare treat, an emotional thriller steeped in humanity. I read it in a single sitting!' John Boyne 'Gripping, unswerving, heart-breaking, you'll read this book through parted fingers - and learn a crucial lesson as you go.' Celia Walden, author of Payday 'Really enjoyed this terrifyingly plausible debut, with much to say about parental guilt and how society treats working motherhood.' Katherine Faulkner, author of Greenwich Park 'An incredibly powerful thriller with real emotional depth - and a chillingly relatable storyline.' TM Logan, author of The Holiday  Trade ReviewIt's a knockout, you're going to love it. -- Ryan Tubridy * RTE *Breaking Point has all the hallmarks of a future bestseller . . . it has the pace, setting and glamour of a Hollywood thriller. -- Jane Casey * Irish Times *This very human story examines the heavy burden on working mothers, spinning the innumerable plates of parenting and career. Are working women set up to lose, to fail their children, and to fail themselves? Shocking, thought-provoking, and necessary, Breaking Point will change hearts and minds. -- Frances Macken, author of You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around HereSkilfully explores what it means to be a woman trying to juggle it all - and the consequences when tragedy strikes. You won't be able to put this down. * Image Magazine *It grips from get go. * The Gloss *Expect this book to be a mainstay of bookclubs in 2022. * The Irish Sunday Business Post *You won't be able to put this one down. * Stellar Magazine *This is not only a gripping page-turner and gripping courtroom drama, it also has a lot to say about the expectations and judgement put on women when they become mothers. Prepare to feel devastated and enraged all at once. * Crime Monthly *A heart-in-mouth type of novel that will have you wonder how you'd react if in similar circumstances. * Belfast Telegraph *The book promises to be one of the most talked-about of the year. * New European, Faces to Watch for 2022 *Hugely compelling - I devoured it in a day . . . a compulsive debut that keeps you turning its pages. * Sunday Business Post *This debut novel from Edel Coffey craftily spins out that nightmare scenario of a clock you can't turn back, a situation you can't fix and how quickly envy turns to universal hate. * Sunday Life Magazine *This chilling, emotional thriller explores the burdens placed on working mothers in the wake of a high-flying doctor's tragic mistake. -- Joanne Owen * LoveReading.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisThe Special Dead is the thrilling tenth book in Lin Anderson's forensic crime series featuring Rhona MacLeod.When Mark is invited back to Leila's flat and ordered to strip, he thinks he's about to have the experience of his life. Waking later he finds Leila gone from his side. Keen to leave, he opens the wrong door and finds he's entered a nightmare; behind the swaying Barbie dolls that hang from the ceiling is the body of the girl he just had sex with.Rhona MacLeod's forensic investigation of the scene reveals the red plaited silk cord used to hang Leila to be a cingulum, a Wiccan artefact used in sex magick. Sketches of sexual partners hidden in the dolls provide a link to nine powerful men, but who are they? As the investigation continues, it looks increasingly likely that other witches will be targeted too.Working the investigation is the newly demoted DS Michael McNab, who is keen to stay sober and redeem himself with Rhona, but an encounter with Leila's colleague and fellow Wiccan Freya Devine threatens his resolve. Soon McNab realizes Freya may hold the key to identifying the men linked to the dolls, but the Nine will do anything to keep their identities a secret.Follow Rhona MacLeod in more forensic thrillers with None but the Dead, Follow the Dead, Sins of the Dead and Time for the Dead.Trade ReviewLin Anderson is one of Scotland's natural treasures - don't be fooled by comparisons, her writing is unique, bringing warmth and depth to even the seediest parts of Glasgow. Lin's Rhona MacLeod is a complex and compelling heroine who just gets better with every outing -- Stuart MacBrideAnderson clearly knows what her readers want and how to keep them coming back for more * The Sunday Herald *The Special Dead is the tenth in Lin Anderson's series featuring her forensic scientist, Rhona MacLeod and it is everything that we have come to expect from this highly talented author * Eurocrime *This unusual police procedural series has been running for more than a decade but shows no signs of flagging, with its solid plotting and recurring characters who are worth getting to know * Morning Star *Lin Anderson crafts her prime characters beautifully. They are as warm blooded and fragile, or as fierce and angry, as well known friends * Bookpostmortem.wordpress.com *I was gripped from the first chapter * Bestcrimebooksandmore.co.uk *

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Book Synopsis''An outstanding series'' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEWA Bill Slider Mystery Detective Inspector Bill Slider is back at work with a thumping headache, courtesy of the last villain he apprehended. But he is minus Atherton, a friend and colleague, who''s still recovering from his injuries.Slider was hoping for a quiet week, but a murder at a night club plunges him into the underworld of entertainment to question table-dancers, prostitutes, pimps and cabinet ministers. And when it appears that this murder could be linked to another unsolved case, Slider is left with more questions than ever.What with Atherton''s slow recovery and his replacement''s unhealthy interest in Slider, the DI has enough to fuel his headache for the foreseeable future. But the old grey matter won''t be denied; doggedly and with a whimper, Slider starts to unravel the truth... Praise for the Bill Slider series:Trade ReviewHarrod-Eagles unleashes an effective, dark-edged tale and serves up a truly nasty villain into the bargain... [She] gracefully builds upon her habitually elegant procedural stylings to deliver taut psychological suspense. * Publishers Weekly *The books work so well because the author manages to infuse them with a warmth and wit that lingers on after the last page is turned. * Yorkshire Post *This is an excellent, solidly professional police story: well-written, with well-drawn characters and a neatly dovetailed plot. * Evening Standard *There are plenty of suspects for old Bill Slider and his team, and a whole fishmonger's full of red herrings. Harrod-Eagles is a wonderfully assured, compelling plotter, and her hero is as appealing as ever. * Yorkshire Post *The charm oozed by Bill, who is a normal person with personal problems struggling to survive in a cruel world through humour and wit...a unique novel that gives readers a glimpse of an England rarely seen in this sub-genre. -- HARRIET KLAUSNEREach plot twist, including one devious turn that throws suspicion on a former member of Slider's murder squad, hangs on the testimony of complicated characters who are among the author's finest stock. Nobody is exactly what he or she seems: not the victim, not even Slider, who has reason to examine his own * New York Times Book Review *Confident and lucid * Seattle Times *Harrod-Eagles delivers snappy prose and a ripping tour through the British music world. * Mostly Murder *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Hillerman’s writing becomes stronger with every new installment in the series, deepening the development of each character. Fans will be intrigued by the intertwining stories that keep them guessing. The picturesque Southwest, as well as the history of the Navajo, come through on each page.” — Library Journal (starred review) “A natural hit with Hillerman’s many fans; [The Tale Teller] is also a good choice for readers who are interested in fiction touching on today’s social issues.” — Booklist “The Tale Teller is more than just a police procedural set in the Southwest, it’s a reading experience not to be missed. Anne Hillerman has reached a new level of storytelling in this one, and she deserves recognition as one of the finest mystery authors currently working in the genre.” — New York Journal of Books

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Book Synopsis“A thoughtful and powerful page turner.”—PeopleElvis Cole is just a detective who can't say no, especially to a girl in a terrible fix. And Jennifer Sheridan qualifies: Her fiancé, Mark Thurman, is a decorated LA cop with an elite plainclothes unit, but Jennifer's sure he's in trouble—the kind of serious trouble that only Elvis Cole can help him out of.Five minutes after his new client leaves his office, Elvis and his partner, the enigmatic Joe Pike, are hip-deep in a deadly situation as they plummet into a world of South Central gangs, corrupt cops, and conspiracies of silence. And before the case is through, every copy in the LAPD will be gunning for a pair of escaped armed-and-dangerous killers—Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. “Elvis Cole provides more fun for the reader than any L.A. private eye to come along in years.”—Joseph Wambaugh “Elvis lives, and he's on his way to being crowned the king of detectives.”—Booklist

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Book Synopsis Scotland Yard''s Inspector Ben Ross and his wife Lizzie return in Ann Granger''s gripping ninth Victorian mystery.It is the summer of 1871 when Scotland Yard''s Inspector Ben Ross pays a visit to Jacob Jacobus, the old rogue of Limehouse: infamous antiquarian, friend to villains and informer to the police. Ben hopes to glean information about any burglaries that might take place now that the wealthiest echelons of society are back in London for the Season. Little does he realise that an audacious theft has already occurred - a priceless family heirloom, the Roxby emerald necklace, has been stolen from a dressing table in the Roxby residence, and the widowed Mrs Roxby is demanding its immediate return. Ben''s day gets worse when he and his wife Lizzie are interrupted that evening by the news that Jacob Jacobus has been found dead in his room with his throat slit from ear to ear ... Surely the two crimes cannot be connected? But with Ben''s meticuloTrade ReviewCharacterisation, as ever with Granger, is sharp and astringent * The Times *Her usual impeccable plotting is fully in place * Good Book Guide *A clever and lively book -- Margaret YorkeLovely characterisation and a neat plot * Yorkshire Post *This engrossing story looks like the start of a highly enjoyable series * Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisA murder victim with celebrity connections spells trouble for DI Clare Mackay...Gaby Fox is known to many due to her successful TV career, so when her brother and his pals hire the salubrious Lamond Lodge for his birthday celebrations, it is noted by the St Andrews locals. A ripple of shock goes round the town when Russell Fox is gunned down on the premises. DI Clare Mackay is attending a wedding when she sees Gabrielle receive a phone call then flee. Soon after, Clare learns why when the news of the shooting reaches her. Instead of trying to enjoy the day – not easy when the groom is her ex-boyfriend – Clare is preoccupied. Clare gets to work on uncovering the facts surrounding Russell Fox’s death. The guests at the lodge have secrets to hide, but even when Clare begins to unravel the deceit, it doesn’t bring the answers. The detective can’t help but wonder why no one who knew Russell seems capable of telling the truth, and whether there is more than one person with a reason to want him dead…A thrilling addition to the much-loved and bestselling detective fiction series from a rising star in Scottish crime fiction. Ideal for fans of Alex Gray, D. K. Hood and Rachel Amphlett.Readers are loving Next in Line 'A satisfying Scotch mystery.' The Times Crime Club Pick of the Week'A fifth outing for agreeable Scottish detective DI Clare Mackay proves Dundee-based Todd is becoming a master of the Tartan Noir genre.' Daily Mail 'The latest in this series from the brilliant Marion Todd is just as nail-biting and tense as her fans have come to expect. A police procedural with lashings of thrills and kills, along with plenty of good humour.' The Sun 'A thrilling addition to the much-loved and best-selling series from a rising star in Scottish crime fiction.' Scots Magazine'An excellent addition to an extremely good series of police procedural novels and comes highly recommended.' NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I love Marion Todd's novels and this doesn't disappoint.' NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Marion has yet again come up with a top notch police procedural thriller. I enjoyed meeting DI Mackay again. She is an excellent detective who is always completely immersed in her case.' NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book SynopsisWhen a human skeleton is discovered at the site of a controversial new dam in remote northern Botswana, rookie Detective Kubu is drawn into a terrifying local feud, and discovers a deadly covenant that could change everything… ‘A wonderful, original voice – McCall Smith with a dark edge and even darker underbelly’ Peter James ‘Stanley gets everything – the dialogue, the terrain descriptions, the plot beats – right … and with a complex and endearing protagonist’ Publishers Weekly STARRED review ‘A real page turner, perfect for those who like their mysteries complex, and want something a little different’ Strand Magazine _____________________________________ While building a pipeline near the Okavango Delta, a contractor unearths the remains of a long-dead Bushman. Rookie Detective David ‘Kubu’ Bengu of Botswana CID and Scottish pathologist, Ian MacGregor, are sent to investigate, and MacGregor discovers eight more skeletons. Shortly after the gruesome discoveries, the elder of a nearby village is murdered in his home. The local police are convinced it was a robbery, but Kubu isn’t so sure … and neither is the strange woman who claims that an angry river spirit caused the elder’s death. As accusations of corruption are levelled and international outrage builds over the massacre of the Bushman families, Kubu and his colleagues uncover a deadly covenant, and begin to fear that their own lives may be in mortal danger… ____________________________ ’My favourite writing duo since Ellery Queen’ Ragnar Jónasson ‘Great African crime fiction’ Deon Meyer ‘Michael Stanley weaves together the core mystery and the landscape of Africa in magical ways’ Bolo Books ‘Kubu is an excellent, if large, companion for readers entering his unfamiliar land’ Reviewing the Evidence ‘What an outstanding read!’ Kings River Life magazine ‘The African Columbo’ Entertainment Weekly

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Book SynopsisThe eagerly awaited next case for DI Karen Eiken Hornby from the global bestselling author, Maria Adolfsson. Perfect for fans of Shetland, Broadchurch and Ann Cleeves.A secluded island. A missing woman. An impossible choice.Detective Inspector Karen Eiken Hornby is not the only person to have returned to her native island nation, Doggerland, after years abroad. Following a ten-year hiatus, Luna has chosen to secretly record her comeback album where she was born and raised. Spirits are high among her team at the wrap party, though Karen is less than impressed with the simpering singer. The next morning, Luna is nowhere to be found.Nothing goes unnoticed in the tight-knit community - certainly not the arrival, or disappearance, of a world-famous singer. So, while the rest of the force is frantically searching for a suspect whose brutal attacks on women are increasing in intensity and frequency, a reluctant Karen is tasked with discreetly looking into Luna's whereabouts.As time ebbs away so does the possibility of finding Luna alive, while Karen faces seemingly impossible choices, ones that could spell life or death, both for herself and others.Trade ReviewThis first novel in a proposed trilogy has terrific characters as well as effectively inventing a new genre, Anglo-Nordic noir -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times on Fatal Isles *A cracking police procedural set in a richly described isolated island community * Irish Independent on Fatal Isles *An excellent police procedural - she does detail brilliantly - but also really thrilling. I love books that send me somewhere completely new and I really enjoyed Doggerland. She captured it perfectly, and held me there for the whole thing * Jo Spain on Fatal Isles *Karen Eiken reminds me a bit of Jane Tennison: a strong, feminine and dedicated woman confronted by sexism within the police force while doing her job. At the same time striving not to be eaten up by the pressure of duties, struggling to quit smoking and not drinking too much. The island is a cool setting too, a bit Shetland-like . . . a good debut * Kjell Ola Dahl on Fatal Isles *A suspenseful and intriguing story that combines the best of British crime writing tradition with Nordic noir. Doggerland is a unique and alluring universe that I can't wait to revisit * Camilla Grebe on Fatal Isles *Fatal Isles has everything I want from nordic noir - a spellbinding plot, atmospheric setting and a wonderfully flawed protagonist. I loved it * Sarah Ward on Fatal Isles *Fatal Isles is an impressive debut combining an empathetic main character tormented by her past, with a detailed, complex police procedural. Adolfsson's main achievement, however, is Doggerland, a believable island nation where everyone knows everyone else and the mistrust of outsiders runs deep * Canberra Times on Fatal Isles *

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Book SynopsisIn the eighth instalment of the Birder Murder Mysteries, DCI Domenic Jejeune must decide where his loyalty lies before deadly consequences occur…Trade ReviewPraise for the Birder Murder Mysteries: 'A murder plot built around birdwatching doesn’t, at first, seem plausible or even possible. But Burrows pulls it off... Riveting from first page to final line.' Globe and Mail 'Skillfully written, full of moral ambiguities and artful puzzles, with a spine-tingling final sentence.' Kirkus starred review

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Book Synopsis'Disher is the gold standard for rural noir' CHRIS HAMMER 'The equal of Joseph Wambaugh and James Lee Burke' THE TIMES 'A superb chronicler of cop culture' SUNDAY TIMES WHEN HATE RUNS DEEP, THE INNOCENT SUFFER Constable Paul Hirschausen's rural beat in the low hills of South Australia is wide. Daybreak to day's end, dirt roads and dust. Every problem that besets small towns and isolated properties, from unlicensed driving to arson. But now, just as Hirsch has begun to feel he knows the fragile communities under his care, the isolation and fear of the pandemic have warped them into something angry and unrecognisable. Hirsch is seeing stresses heightened and social divisions cracking wide open. His own tolerance under strain; people getting close to the edge. Today he's driving an international visitor around: Janne Van Sant, whose backpacker son went missing while the borders were closed. They're checking out his last photo site, his last employer. A feeling that the stories don't quite add up. Then a call comes in: a roadside fire. Nothing much - a suitcase soaked in diesel and set alight - but two noteworthy facts emerge. Janne knows more than Hirsch about forensic evidence. And the body in the suitcase is not her son's. From the multiple Ned Kelly Award-winning author of Consolation comes a stunning new thriller, for readers of Jane Harper, Ian Rankin and Chris Hammer.Trade ReviewAs well-written as its predecessors... Garry Disher's work is not to be sneezed at * The Times *Disher's ability to create atmosphere and threat in the wide open spaces of South Australia rivals James Lee Burke's in the bayous of Louisiana, and that is no small feat... Regularly called Australia's king of crime, here, Disher underlines his exceptional talent * Daily Mail *Australian crime, once barely noticed in the UK, is accruing a devoted following [and] Garry Disher is top of the tree * Financial Times *Day's End has everything I need in a crime novel - the writing is taut and immediate, there's a wonderful sense of landscape and community, an engaging and humane hero, and a plot that twists in the most satisfying possible way. It's also a compelling tale for our time -- Ann Cleeves, author of THE LONG CALLWonderfully written, gut-wrenching, brilliant characterisation -- Sam Holland, author of THE ECHO MANHirsch is one of my favourite characters. Day's End is unmissable -- Hayley Scrivenor, author of DIRT TOWNAnother superlative Hirsh novel. Disher uses Covid to drill down into how people's fears can be weaponized, and how online predation intersects with theft and ethnic nationalism. Funny, moving and thoughtful -- Dominic Nolan, author of VINE STREETMaster of Aussie noir * Crime Fiction Lover *PRAISE FOR THE AUTHOR 'A superb chronicler of cop culture * Sunday Times *Disher is the equal of Joseph Wambaugh and James Lee Burke * The Times *

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Book Synopsis'A riveting murder mystery. A psychological thriller. A magnificent work of literary fiction' KIRAN DESAI 'An elegy for India. It is gorgeously written, utterly devastating, and feels completely true' SONIA FALEIRO A literary thriller of considerable acumen with a textured picture of a country' FINANCIAL TIMES, BEST NEW CRIME BOOKS [RB1] ________________ IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO KILL A CHILD... The Indian village of Teetarpur is a quiet, unremarkable place, until one of its children is found dead, hanging from the branch of a Jamun tree. In the largely Hindu community, suspicion quickly falls on an itinerant Muslim man, Mansoor. It's up to local policeman Sub-Inspector Ombir Singh to uncover the truth. With only one assistant officer, and a single working revolver between them, can he bring justice to a grieving father and an angry village?or will the people of Teetarpur demand vengeance instead?Trade Review'A riveting murder mystery. A psychological thriller. A magnificent work of literary fiction' - Kiran Desai'An elegy for India. Gorgeously written, utterly devastating, and feels completely true' - Sonia Faleiro, author of 'The Girl''A thrilling and riveting crime noir, written tenderly and elegantly' - The Hindu'This emotionally engaging novel, less a "whodunit" than a "whydunit" is remarkable for the interiority of its characters... The compulsive pull lies in the slow burn of a leisurely paced plot' - Frontline'The soul of a river, poured into a saga of fatherhood and crime... The thrillerish pace is tight [but] the prose is immersive enough for one to want to savour' - The Deccan Chronicle'A new writer to shout about... Roy brings rural India and Delhi to life as much as she does her characters... Riveting' -Observer'A novel that is on the one hand a wholly satisfying murder mystery, but which also employs the village of Teetarpur as a kind of India-in-microcosm... A powerful, immersive and unsentimental novel of modern India, Black River establishes Nilanjana Roy as a crime novelist with which to be reckoned' -Irish Times

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Book SynopsisThe gripping new instalment in the William Warwick series, An Eye for an Eye, is available to pre-order now!THE UNPUTDOWNABLE THRILLER FROM THE MASTER STORYTELLEROnly someone like Jeffrey Archer . . . could have written a compelling story like this. Every page bristles with suspense and the ending comes at you with the force of a tank round' DAVID BALDACCILondon, 1988. Royal fever sweeps the nation as Britain falls in love with the people's princess'.Which means for Scotland Yard, the focus is on the elite Royalty Protection Command, and its commanding officer. Entrusted with protecting the most famous family on earth, they quite simply have to be the best. A weak link could spell disaster.Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick and his Scotland Yard squad are sent in to investigate the team. Maverick ex-undercover operative Ross Hogan is charged with a very sensitive and unique responsibility. But it soon becomes clear the problems in Royalty Protection are just the beginning. A renegade organization has the security of the country and the Crown in its sights. The only question is which target is next in lineOver My Dead Body hit #4 in the Sunday Times bestselling charts on 4th June 2022.Trade Review Praise for Jeffrey Archer: ‘Probably the greatest storyteller of our age’ Mail on Sunday 'Peerless master of the page turner' Daily Mail 'If there were a Nobel Prize for storytelling, Archer would win' Daily Telegraph ‘Archer is a master entertainer’ Time

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Book Synopsis'Crime writing at its unputdownable, nerve-tingling best' HARLAN COBENTHE VICTIMSIn Boston, Detective Jane Rizzoli and Forensic Pathologist Maura Isles investigate a bizarre murder. A man has been found gutted and hanging in his home. When the remains of another victim are found, it is clear that this murderer has been at work for years, and not just in Boston.THE KILLERFive years ago, a group of travellers set off on an African safari. None of them was seen again – apart from one woman who stumbled out of the bush weeks later, barely alive. The only woman to have seen the killer’s face.THE SURVIVOR Has the ‘safari killer’ resurfaced in Boston? Jane is sent to Africa to find the one link between the two cases – the only survivor. And convince her to face death once again...

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Book SynopsisIcelandic detective Elma faces mortal danger as she investigates the death of a young man in a mysterious Akranes house fire, and a Dutch au pair’s perfect placement turns deadly … The breathtaking third instalment in the award-winning Forbidden Iceland series. ***WINNER of the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger*** ‘Her best, boldest work to date: a mystery both merciless and compassionate, subtly eerie yet flat-out frightening, featuring a detective as complicated as Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole. This is virtuoso suspense writing’ A J Finn ‘Chilling and addictive, with a completely unexpected twist … I loved it’ Shari Lapena ‘Another beautifully written novel from one of the rising stars of Nordic Noir’ Victoria Selman _________________________ The small community of Akranes is devastated when a young man dies in a mysterious house fire, and when Detective Elma and her colleagues from West Iceland CID discover the fire was arson, they become embroiled in an increasingly perplexing case involving multiple suspects. What’s more, the dead man’s final online search raises fears that they could be investigating not one murder, but two. A few months before the fire, a young Dutch woman takes a job as an au pair in Iceland, desperate to make a new life for herself after the death of her father. But the seemingly perfect family who employs her turns out to have problems of its own and she soon discovers she is running out of people to turn to. As the police begin to home in on the truth, Elma, already struggling to come to terms with a life-changing event, finds herself in mortal danger as it becomes clear that someone has secrets they’ll do anything to hide… ____________________________ ‘A creepily compelling Icelandic mystery that had me hooked from page one. Night Shadows will make you want to sleep with the lights on’ Heidi Amsinck ‘I loved everything about this book: the characters, the setting, the storyline, an intricately woven cast … this book had me utterly gripped!’ J M Hewitt ‘With the third release in the Forbidden Iceland series, Eva Björg establishes herself as not just one of the brightest names in Icelandic crime fiction, but in crime fiction full stop. Night Shadows is an absolute must-read!’ Nordic Watchlist ‘The author writes so beautifully you are immediately immersed in the chilly surrounds … a genuinely excellent novel’ Liz Loves Books ‘One of the most compelling contemporary writers of crime fiction and psychological suspense’ Duncan Beattie,Fiction from Afar Praise for the Forbidden Iceland series: ‘Fans of Nordic Noir will love this’ Ann Cleeves ‘Elma is a fantastic heroine’ Sunday Times ‘Complex, gripping and moving’ The Times ‘An exciting and harrowing tale’ Ragnar Jónasson ‘Eerie and chilling. I loved every word!’ Lesley Kara ‘Not only a full-fat mystery, but also a chilling demonstration of how monsters are made’ The Times ‘Beautifully written, spine-tingling and disturbing … a thrilling new voice in Icelandic crime fiction’ Yrsa Sigurðardóttir ‘As chilling and atmospheric as an Icelandic winter’ Lisa Gray ‘An unsettling and exciting read with a couple of neat red herrings to throw the reader off the scent’ NB Magazine ‘Chilling and troubling … reminiscent of Jorn Lier Horst‘s Norwegian procedurals. This is a book that makes an impact’ Crime Fiction Lover ‘Elma is a memorably complex character’ Financial Times ‘The twist comes out of the blue … enthralling’ Tap The Line Magazine For fans of Ragnar Jonasson, Camilla Lackberg, Ruth Rendell, Gillian McAllister and Shari Lapen

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Book Synopsis BRAVE HERO OR CRIMINAL MASTERMIND?TONIGHT WE FIND OUT''Simon Kernick writes with his foot pressed hard on the pedal. Hang on tight!'' HARLAN COBEN''Great plots, great characters, great action'' LEE CHILD''Heaven for readers who love ruthless, full-throttle thrillers'' SUNDAY TIMES Undercover cop Chris Sketty became a hero when he almost died trying to stop the most brutal terror attack in UK history. With the suspects either dead or missing, the real motive remains a mystery.But someone is convinced Sketty is a liar.A criminal mastermind.A murderer.Blackmailed into revealing the truth, Sketty will share a twisting tale of betrayal, deception and murder...with a revelation so shocking that nothing will be the same again.''That thud you hear is Kernick whipping the rug from under your feet again.'' THE TIMES''An absolute master of the adrenaline-fTrade ReviewGreat plots, great characters, great action -- Lee ChildAn absolute master of the adrenaline-fuelled ride -- Peter JamesSimon Kernick writes with his foot pressed hard on the pedal. Hang on tight! -- Harlan CobenSimon Kernick is one of the most reliable purveyors of the edge-of-your-seat thriller... gives a more powerful adrenaline rush than an EpiPen * Sunday Express *Pace, pace, pace is what Simon Kernick does best -- Daily MirrorOne of Britain's top thriller writers -- The Sun

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Book SynopsisYou can run. You can hide. But you can’t escape…Jonathan Hale is terrified. The wealthy property lawyer and money launderer is back home in Surrey after a nightmare experience in a U.S. jail. The police have him under secret surveillance.But Hales’s fears lie elsewhere. His plea bargain has earned him the enmity of The Reptile, a notoriously cold-hearted gangster, now confined for life in a maximum-security jail in Arizona thanks to Hale. He’s taken precautions, moved house, hidden his identity and installed security for his wife and family. But still… what if The Reptile escapes?For DCI Gillard it should be just another week at work. But before long he is involved in a desperate manhunt that will test him to his very limits.Be prepared.Strap yourself in for an intense and unforgettable crime thriller that won’t let go, perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Cara Hunter and Mark Billingham.

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Book SynopsisDetective Inspector Geraldine Steel returns in the fifth in the series, facing a case of grisly murder in London When a successful businessman is the victim of a vicious murder, all evidence points to his wife and her young lover. But then the victim's business partner suffers a similarly brutal fate and when yet another body is discovered, seemingly unrelated, the police are baffled. The only clue is DNA that leads them to two women: one dead, the other in prison. With rumours growing of a serial killer in the city, the pressure to solve the case is high. But can Geraldine find the killer before there's yet another deadly attack?Trade ReviewRussell's books just keep on getting better and this one is by far her best. Well written and a really good read; just the thing for a cosy night in! Highly Recommended * Euro Crime *Leigh Russell is one to watch -- Lee Childtaut and compelling -- Peter James'Stop Dead' is a whodunit of the highest order * Crime Squad *Stop Dead kept throwing in twists right up until the end -- Lucy Conlon * Crime Fiction Lover *

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