Crime and mystery: police procedural

Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR'Fantastic' Lee Child'Absolutely brilliant' Mick HerronIf the truth's in the shadows, get out of the light . . . Lawyer Bobby Carter did a lot of work for the wrong type of people. Now he's dead and it was no accident. Besides a distraught family and a heap of powerful friends, Carter's left behind his share of enemies. So, who dealt the fatal blow?DC Jack Laidlaw's reputation precedes him. He's not a team player, but he's got a sixth sense for what's happening on the streets. His boss chalks the violence up to the usual rivalries, but is it that simple? As two Glasgow gangs go to war, Laidlaw needs to find out who got Carter before the whole city explodes.William McIlvanney's Laidlaw books changed the face of crime fiction. When he died in 2015, he left half a handwritten manuscript of Laidlaw's first case. Now, Ian Rankin is back to finish what McIlvanney started. In The Dark Remains, these two iconic authors bring to life the criminal world of 1970s Glasgow, and Laidlaw's relentless quest for truth.Trade ReviewTwo maestros for the price of one! All fans of quality crime fiction are in for a rare treat. McIlvanney and Rankin at the very height of their powers -- PETER JAMESFantastic - like witnessing Scottish noir's Big Bang creation in the company of its greatest living exponent -- LEE CHILDAn immersive and satisfyingly pitch-black read * * Guardian * *McIlvanney and Rankin are the dream team. To have Rankin completing an unfinished McIlvanney novel is a crime fiction fan's dream come true -- MARK BILLINGHAMThe journey through 1970s Glasgow, its grotty tenements and genteel suburbs, makes for a gripping and atmospheric novel * * The Times, Book of the Month * *Absolutely brilliant. I was excited by this partnership the moment I heard it was happening, and it absolutely lives up to expectation. The Dark Remains is a triumph -- MICK HERRONThe personality of the tough, intelligent Laidlaw leaps off the page as readily as it did in the first novel that bore his name * * Financial Times * *Mean, moody and menacing. Perfect synchronicity from two of the best crime writers of our time -- SUE BLACKTwo legends of Scottish crime fiction blended like a deluxe whisky -- CHRIS BROOKMYRE[Rankin's] dialogue has the same spiky wit [as McIlvanney's], he adjusts to gangster-ridden Glasgow with aplomb, and the deft period context - politics, pop, telly, football, booze brands, language, family and marital mores etc - is the most compelling reason to read the book besides its charismatic existentialist sleuth * * Sunday Times * *

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Book SynopsisTHE FIRST IN THE ORIGINAL LAIDLAW TRILOGY. WINNER OF THE CWA SILVER DAGGER.THE DARK REMAINS, Laidlaw's first case, out 2 September 2021. PRE-ORDER NOW!'If you only read one crime novel this year, this should be it' Guardian'A bloody good read' Val McDermidWhen a young woman is found brutally murdered in Kelvingrove Park, only one man stands a chance of finding her killer. Jack Laidlaw. He is a man of contrasts, ravaged by inner demons but driven by a deep compassion for the violent criminals in Glasgow's underworld. But will Laidlaw's unorthodox methods get him to the killer in time, when the victim's father is baying for blood?Acclaimed for its corrosive wit, dark themes and original maverick detective, the Laidlaw trilogy has earned the status of classic crime fiction.Trade ReviewHe kicked the door open so the likes of Ian Rankin, Denise Mina and me could sneak through behind him -- VAL McDERMIDThe pure distilled essence of Scottish crime writing -- PETER MAYFastest, first and best, Laidlaw is the melancholy heir to Marlowe. Reads like a breathless scalpel cut through the bloody heart of a city -- DENISE MINAIt's doubtful I would be a crime writer without the influence of McIlvanney's Laidlaw -- IAN RANKINForensic examination would likely reveal that all Scottish crime novels have a little Laidlaw in their DNA . . . Powerful, gripping and beautifully written -- Craig Robertson * * Guardian, Top 10 Scottish crime novels * *A crime trilogy so searing it will burn forever into your memory. McIlvanney is the original Scottish criminal mastermind -- CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYREMcIlvanney is the razor king of Scottish crime writing, carving out crackling prose and pounding storylines. His Laidlaw is an enduring hero with the dry wit and insight to make other literary detectives seem two-dimensional -- GORDON FERRISThe Laidlaw books are not just great crime novels, they are important ones. McIlvanney proved that crime writing could have both perfect style and huge ambition. Most of us writing crime fiction today are standing on the shoulders of giants. McIlvanney is one such giant -- MARK BILLINGHAMIf you only read one crime novel this year, this should be it * * Guardian * *In his compelling novel, LAIDLAW, McIlvanney lays bare the soul of Glasgow, capturing every nuance of its many voices -- ALEX GRAY

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Book SynopsisTHE THIRD IN THE ORIGINAL LAIDLAW TRILOGYTHE DARK REMAINS, Laidlaw's first case, out 2 September 2021. PRE-ORDER NOW!'The Laidlaw books are not just great crime novels, they are important ones' Mark Billingham'It's doubtful I would be a crime writer without the influence of McIlvanney's Laidlaw' Ian RankinWhen his brother dies stepping out in front of a car, Jack Laidlaw is determined to find out what really happened. Laidlaw begins an emotional quest through Glasgow's underworld, and into the past. He discovers as much about himself as about the brother he has lost, in a search that leads to a shattering climax.Acclaimed for its corrosive wit, dark themes and original maverick detective, the Laidlaw trilogy has earned the status of classic crime fiction.Trade ReviewIt's doubtful I would be a crime writer without the influence of McIlvanney's Laidlaw -- IAN RANKINHis Laidlaw is an enduring hero with the dry wit and insight to make other literary detectives seem two-dimensional -- GORDON FERRISThe Laidlaw books are not just great crime novels, they are important ones -- MARK BILLINGHAMTransfixing * * Sunday Times * *He kicked the door open so the likes of Ian Rankin, Denise Mina and me could sneak through behind him -- VAL McDERMIDThe pure distilled essence of Scottish crime writing -- PETER MAYA crime trilogy so searing it will burn forever into your memory. McIlvanney is the original Scottish criminal mastermind -- CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYREThe good news is that Laidlaw is back * * Observer * *In a class of his own * * Guardian * *Reads like a breathless scalpel cut through the bloody heart of a city -- DENISE MINA

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Book SynopsisTHE SECOND IN THE ORIGINAL LAIDLAW TRILOGY. WINNER OF THE CWA SILVER DAGGER. THE DARK REMAINS, Laidlaw's first case, out 2 September 2021. PRE-ORDER NOW!'In a class of his own' Guardian'Reads like a breathless scalpel through the bloody heart of a great city' Denise MinaEck Adamson, an alcoholic vagrant, summons Jack Laidlaw to his deathbed. Probably the only policeman in Glasgow who would bother to respond, Laidlaw sees in Eck's cryptic last message a clue to the murder of a gangland thug and the disappearance of a student. With stubborn integrity, Laidlaw tracks a seam of corruption that runs from the top to the bottom of society.Acclaimed for its corrosive wit, dark themes and original maverick detective, the Laidlaw trilogy has earned the status of classic crime fiction.Trade ReviewA bloody good read -- VAL McDERMIDThe pure distilled essence of Scottish crime writing -- PETER MAYA crime trilogy so searing it will burn forever into your memory. McIlvanney is the original Scottish criminal mastermind -- CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYREIt's doubtful I would be a crime writer without the influence of McIlvanney's Laidlaw -- IAN RANKINIn a class of his own * * Guardian * *The good news is that Laidlaw is back * * Observer * *He kicked the door open so the likes of Ian Rankin, Denise Mina and me could sneak through behind him -- VAL McDERMIDFastest, first and best, Laidlaw is the melancholy heir to Marlowe. Reads like a breathless scalpel cut through the bloody heart of a city -- DENISE MINAMcIlvanney is the razor king of Scottish crime writing, carving out crackling prose and pounding storylines. His Laidlaw is an enduring hero with the dry wit and insight to make other literary detectives seem two-dimensional -- GORDON FERRISThe Laidlaw books are not just great crime novels, they are important ones. McIlvanney proved that crime writing could have both perfect style and huge ambition. Most of us writing crime fiction today are standing on the shoulders of giants. McIlvanney is one such giant -- MARK BILLINGHAM

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE McILVANNEY PRIZE 2022SHORTLISTED FOR THE IAN FLEMING STEEL DAGGER 2023Glasgow is a city in mourning. An arson attack on a hairdresser's has left five dead. Tempers are frayed and sentiments running high.When three youths are charged the city goes wild. A crowd gathers outside the courthouse but as the police drive the young men to prison, the van is rammed by a truck, and the men are grabbed and bundled into a car. The next day, the body of one of them is dumped in the city centre. A note has been sent to the newspaper: one down, two to go.Detective Harry McCoy has twenty-four hours to find the kidnapped boys before they all turn up dead, and it is going to mean taking down some of Glasgow's most powerful people to do it . . .Trade ReviewHarry McCoy is the brightest dark star on the tartan noir scene for some time and in future critics of Scottish crime fiction will surely be referring to the triumvirate of Laidlaw, Rebus and McCoy . . . May God Forgive is crime fiction which pulls no punches, powerfully told and, at times, heartbreakingly poignant. One of the crime novels of 2022 -- MIKE RIPLEY, author of GETTING AWAY WITH MURDERThe Harry McCoy books by the bold Alan Parks just get better and better. May God Forgive starts like a runaway train and just keeps going. If you're not already reading these books, get onto them now -- LIAM McILVANNEYExpertly handled and morally ambiguous . . . The skillfully written and complex plot builds to a thrilling and highly unconventional denouement * * Bloody Scotland, McIlvanney Prize Shortlist * *Once again Alan Parks recreates a world of urban blight and spiritual decay . . . [a] grimly gripping plot . . . a remarkable series that began with Bloody January. The novels, as someone once said, can be read in any order; the important thing is to read them all * * The Times * *Punchy, compulsive and, at times, as downright nasty as ever * * Herald * *Compelling . . . Parks is a gifted storyteller * * Scotsman * *Riveting * * Sunday Post * *Praise for the Harry McCoy series: One of the great Scottish crime writers . . . Whether it be William McIlvanney, Ian Rankin, Denise Mina or Alan Parks, the way they view - and depict - the world gives great pleasure . . . Like the very best crime novels, The April Dead makes you keenly aware of all the pain out there and (almost) alleviates it * * The Times, Book of the Month * *Brilliant . . . The April Dead should grace the bookshelves of every crime fan * * Sunday Times Crime Club * *A blistering plot, unforgettable characters and writing so sharp it's like it's been written with a knife . . . Detective McCoy is a true noir antihero and the perfect guide through the vice and violence of Glasgow's underbelly. Bloody January firmly sets Alan Parks in the same league as Ian Rankin and Louise Welsh -- SARAH PINBOROUGH

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Book SynopsisIn the village of Cronchie, a wealthy family are found brutally murdered. The Devil Stone, an heirloom rumoured to bring death if removed from their home, is the only thing stolen. The key suspects are known satanists. But when the investigating officer disappears, DCI Christine Caplan is pulled in to investigate. Caplan knows she is being punished for a minor misdemeanour when she is seconded to the Highlands, but she's confident she can quickly solve the murders and return home to her fractious family. But as she closes in on the truth, it is suddenly her life, not her career, that is in danger.Trade ReviewI have loved them all but this, in my opinion, is far and away Caro's best novel to date! I see a brilliant future for DCI Christine Caplan and look forward to the next book already. Luscious setting, masterly writing and of course fiendish plotting! -- ALEX GRAYDark, compelling and with enough atmosphere to keep the Meteorological Society busy for years, Caro Ramsay's new series not only promises but delivers -- DOUGLAS SKELTONA cracking story, complex and intriguing, with a great new female character, DCI Christine Caplan, at the helm -- LIN ANDERSONAs ever, Caro Ramsay's authorial voice is always distinctive, characterful - and hypnotic -- BARRY FORSHAWTo say that this take on rural policing is compelling is putting it mildly. An intriguing crime novel, full of dark menace and twists that will keep you mesmerized until the truly dramatic maritime denouement. Fabulous! -- DENZIL MEYRICKCaro Ramsay fully deserves a place in the upper echelons of Scottish crime writing . . . top-notch * * Financial Times * *[A] dark, suspenseful and atmospheric thriller starring a charismatic heroine * * Booklist (starred review) * *Fans of contemporary British police procedurals will want to have a look * * Publishers Weekly * *Praise for Caro Ramsay: Brilliant . . . twisting the tension tauter with each page * * Guardian * *[Ramsay] is a titan of Tartan Noir -- HELEN FIELDS, author of Perfect Remains

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Book SynopsisThe second book in China's bestselling crime series to date. THE LAW IS WEAK Last week, the vigilante killer who terrified and thrilled the city of Chengdu with his 'death notices' performed his own execution to escape capture by the police. I OFFER REAL JUSTICE But when two students are violently murdered, the only clue left by the killer is a death notice. The executioner? Eumenides. Now Captain Pei Tao and his task force face a terrifying prospect: that Eumenides left a protégé to carry on his work. NOW MEET YOUR FATE Once again, Eumenides is one step ahead of their investigation – but this time, it's worse. Because this time, someone on the inside is helping him. Can Pei and his team root out the mole, and hunt down their new opponent? Or are they doomed to watch history repeat itself? Gripping, explosive and fiendishly inventive, Fate is the second instalment in the Death Notice trilogy: the Chinese crime-writing phenomenon and a Sunday Times thriller of the year. Reviews for Death Notice: 'Fiendishly inventive' Wall Street Journal 'Extraordinary' Sunday Times 'A perfect cat-and-mouse killer' Book RiotTrade ReviewA creepy, inventive tale about a Chinese serial killer who crowdsources his victims * Independent *Haohui continues to wow with his sweeping yet detail-oriented take on the procedural, sure to please fans of Scandi noir and Italian neorealist detective fiction * Crime Reads *PRAISE FOR DEATH NOTICE: 'Serial killers turn up all the time in crime fiction, but few are as patient or as devious as the murderer in Haohui's Death Notice. Extraordinary' Sunday Times. 'A compulsive and particularly ingenious read and a first-class mystery' Crime Time. 'Fiendishly inventive' Wall Street Journal. 'A perfect cat-and-mouse killer' * Book Riot *

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Book Synopsis'I tore through it' Erin Kelly 'Perfect storytelling' Victoria Selman 'A wicked plot' The Times Eleven guests. Three nights. One murderer. In a stately mansion in the Hertfordshire countryside, sisters Lois and Ebba throw a launch party for their new venture: Archipelago, a virtual reality game. In attendance are their celebrity investors including a glamorous British couple, a brooding Swedish financier, a Dutch banker and his film star wife, and a controversial politician. But beneath the glamorous surface, there are sordid secrets that include steamy affairs, deals in dirty money and anonymous death threats. So when eight of the guests are involved in a helicopter crash, it quickly becomes clear that it was no accident. It was murder. 'Sizzles with suspense' Jane Isaac 'Gripping and beautifully told' Clare Empson 'Held me in a tight grip' Caroline Green 'Intelligent, modern and richly textured' Dominic NolanTrade ReviewHer books are really a blend of police procedural and psychological thriller – and they are also complemented by extremely fine writing – lyrical, haunting, poetic... In her third book, her skill is evidenced further' * Shots Mag *A classy, beautifully written mystery that held me in a tight grip throughout -- Caroline GreenAn intelligent, modern and timely rendering of the classic country house mystery [...] with richly textured characters and a thrilling and emotional climax -- Dominic Nolan, author of After DarkGlamorous, gripping, and full of intrigue -- Eleanor Ray, aka Elizabeth MundyI tore through Into the Fire... It starts with a helicopter full of rich and famous people plummeting to the ground and the plot thickens from there' -- Erin KellyPoetic, evocative and deliciously claustrophobic, Into the Fire practically sizzles with suspense -- Jane IsaacA gobble-it-up-in-one-go thriller that combines lyricism, suspense and perfect storytelling -- Victoria SelmanA highly engaging and entertaining crime mystery set during a country house party for the luxury launch of a new tech company * LoveReading *Rachael Blok's amusing update of Agatha Christie finds time to highlight working conditions in Bangladeshi factories in addition to uncovering a wicked plot involving blackmail and murder * The Times *The busy plot takes in issues ranging from environmental activism to modern slavery, giving a welcome dark edge to an otherwise breezily entertaining mystery * Daily Express *A clever blend of a police procedural and psychological thriller, Rachael is a master of ratcheting tensions and atmosphere – you won't want to put it down! * My Weekly *A classic mystery that sizzles with suspense * Woman's Weekly *The third in [a] wonderful whodunnit series * Woman *A great new thriller from Rachael Blok * Choice Magazine *The busy plot takes in issues from environmental activism to modern slavery, giving a welcome dark edge to a breezily entertaining mystery * Daily Record *

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Book Synopsis'Twisty, suspenseful and deeply atmospheric.' Harriet Tyce 'An electrifying crime thriller.' Woman's Own The bigger the sin, the further the fall... With Easter approaching, the verger of St Albans Cathedral was supposed to be readying the church. Instead he discovers a man lying dead, fallen from the famous 150-foot-high tower. Did he jump, or was he pushed? For DCI Maarten Jansen, it's a simple case of suspected suicide. Until a stranger, Willow, who witnessed the jump, prompts a deeper investigation into a decades-old mystery involving a psychiatric hospital, a pregnant woman, and long-buried family secrets... The Fall is a powerful and twisty thriller about loss, trauma, silence, and how our past shapes who we are. Praise for The Fall: 'Lyrical, assured and simmering with suspense.' Victoria Selman 'The Fall is a rare beast... Dark, atmospheric and truly original.' Kate Simants 'Uncoils like the snapping of a whip, lashing the past into the present with the revealing of dark family secrets.' Dominic Nolan 'Heart-pounding.' James DelargyTrade ReviewTwisty, suspenseful and deeply atmospheric -- Harriet TyceFrom the atmospheric and chilling prologue, The Fall held me tight in its thrall until the spine-tingling conclusion -- Sam HollandHeld me spellbound right from the arresting opening through to the hugely satisfying ending, which I didn't see coming! -- Polly PhillipsA wonderfully woven thriller, that oozes class from every page -- Robert ScraggThe Fall is a rare beast... Dark, atmospheric and truly original. I absolutely tore through it -- Kate SimantsLyrical, assured and simmering with suspense -- Victoria SelmanRachael Blok is an exceptionally assured writer, and her crime fiction is as cool and restrained as its Dutch detective -- Jo FurnissIntriguing right from the beginning and unwinds slowly and deliberately to a heart-pounding conclusion -- James DelargyCaptivating storytelling and a real page turner – kept me up reading into the small hours! -- Fliss ChesterIntricately plotted between past and present, this emotionally charged, atmospheric crime novel had me reading late into the night -- Eleanor RayThis is a terrific mystery. Uncoils like the snapping of a whip, lashing the past into the present with the revealing of dark family secrets -- Dominic NolanThe Fall held my attention unwaveringly. It's a punchy, exciting tale that is utterly gripping. Don't miss it * My Weekly *Trauma and lies haunt the pages of this electrifying crime thriller * Woman's Own *An engrossing thriller centred on the mysterious death of a man who falls from the roof of St Albans Cathedral * Choice Magazine *

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

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Book Synopsis'Brilliantly plotted, with a seismic twist' Rosamund Lupton Her best friend is dead and she needs to know why. Aspiring journalist Bella is on work experience at a national newspaper when, out of the blue, she receives an anonymous letter promising her a big scoop if she travels down to Wiltshire. All she finds is a government scientist spouting conspiracy theories in the pub. But then Bella's best friend Erin is found dead in a nearby field, her body staged in the centre of a crop circle. Bella is devastated. Is this the real reason she was lured out here? While detective Silas Hart searches for evidence, Bella scours her own memory for clues. But it's full of blanks – the details of her university days with Erin keep slipping away. What secrets was Erin hiding? And, once they're uncovered, what will it mean for Bella? Praise for The Man on Hackpen Hill: 'An impressive, twisty tale' Independent 'Impeccably researched... An unusual mystery told with exceptional skill' Daily Mail 'A kind of Wiltshire Da Vinci Code... A real page turner' Tom BradbyTrade ReviewOriginal and brilliantly plotted, with not so much a twist but a seismic shifting of the ground under your feet... Amazing' -- Rosamund Lupton, author of Three HoursAn impressive twisty tale * Independent *A kind of Wiltshire Da Vinci Code, with crop circles, mathematical equations and shadowy figures from Porton Down. A real page turner written with beguiling wit' -- Tom BradbyImpeccably researched... An unusual mystery told with exceptional skill' * Daily Mail *A tale of chilling proportions, which plays with the minds and emotions of protagonists and readers alike... Supremely dark and intensely multi-faceted; wonderfully researched and authentic; compelling and gripping; sympathetically nuanced and told with real heart' * Fiction Books Blog *Once again J.S. Monroe (aka Jon Stock, author of spy thrillers) has created an intriguing, thought-provoking police procedural * Sunday Times Crime Club *

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

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Book SynopsisThe second in the detective series featuring DI Geraldine Steel When a man dies in a gas explosion, the police suspect arson. But the case takes on a new and terrible twist when the prime suspect, a local felon, is viciously attacked. As police enquiries lead from the expensive Harchester Hill estate to the local brothel, their key witness dies in a hit-and-run. Coincidence? Or cold-blooded murder? With so many lives lost already, DI Geraldine Steel must put her problems aside, to protect others. After all, in the race for justice, sacrifices must be made.Trade ReviewA well-written, soundly plotted, psychologically acute story -- Marcel Berlins * The Times *Well-written and absorbing right from the get-go... with an exhilarating climax that you don't see coming -- Amanda Gillies * eurocrime.co.uk *Leigh Russell does a good job of keeping her readers guessing. She also uses a deft hand developing her characters, especially the low-lifes... a good read -- Marj Stuart * San Francisco Book Review *perfect character building... cleverly written... can't wait for the next one * bestbookstoread.co.uk *New star of crime fiction, Leigh Russell's chilling psychological thriller is terrific & terrifying! -- Clem Chambers

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Book SynopsisThe Seventh DI Geraldine Steel Mystery Caroline's husband is killed, but she can't turn to the police without implicating herself in his murder. When one of her 10-year-old twins is kidnapped, the desperate mother is forced to resort to drastic measures to get him back. As time runs out, Geraldine realises she has a secret that might just help solve the case, but the truth could destroy her career. Faced with the unenviable decision of protecting herself or the widow she barely knows, Geraldine must grapple with her conscience and do the right thing before the death count mounts any further.Trade ReviewHer previous six novels featuring DI Geraldine Steel marked her out as a rare talent, and this seventh underlines it -- Geoffrey Wansell * Daily Mail *I will be looking out for more from this author -- Fiona Atley * Nudge *a fast-paced Police Procedural and a compelling read -- Carol Westron * Mystery People *the story and writing is back with a vengeance -- Kat * Best Crime Books & More *Fans of the series will enjoy reacquainting themselves with Leigh Russell's work -- Deathbecomesher * Crime Fiction Lover *

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Book Synopsis'Silently dipping his oars in the water he made his escape. It was a weary journey, with few spoils to show for it. Next time he would do better. He looked back over his shoulder. The bridge had disappeared,swallowed up by the darkness. From its walkway he too had become invisible. Only the bloody body of a woman showed he had been roaming the streets that night'. DI Ian Peterson investigates a series of gruesome and brutal murders in York. As the body count mounts, the case demands all Ian's ingenuity, because these are murders seemingly committed at random, and this is a killer who leaves no clues.Trade ReviewEngrossing...another solid read in the Peterson series * Best Crime Books & More *the historically fascinating city provides a fantastic backdrop for this edgy thriller * My Weekly *Leigh has a sure touch, content well researched and with watertight plot lines, and detectives who you enjoy reading about -- Charlie Britten * Charlie Britten's writing blog *the team gain enough insight to pinpoint a potential killer in a nail biting finale -- Jennifer S. Palmer * Mystery People *There are plenty of unforeseen twists and a great, suitably appropriate, climatic ending...I would recommend! -- Katherine Sunderland * BiblioManiac *

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

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Book SynopsisHearing footsteps pounding along the street behind him he glanced back, fleetingly worried, then laughed because the street was deserted. All the same, he felt uneasy. Everything looked different in the dark. Then he heard more footsteps approaching, and a hoarse voice called out. Turning his head, he made out a figure hovering in the shadows and as it raised one arm, the barrel of a gun glinted in the moonlight The dead body of unassuming David Lester is discovered in a dark side-street, and DI Geraldine Steel is plunged into another murder investigation. The clues mount up along with the suspects, but with the death of another man in inexplicable circumstances, the case becomes increasingly complex. As Geraldine investigates the seemingly unrelated crimes, she makes a shocking discovery about her birth mother.Trade ReviewOnce again, Leigh Russell did not disappoint. I have been a fan of her books ever since she released Cut Short. There is nothing like a good police procedural, and this book was just that -- Lisa * Bookalicious *Smoothly professional fare from the always-consistent Russell -- Barry Forshaw * Crime Time *Leigh Russell's intelligent writing is gripping and really draws your attention -- Claire * Claire Loves to Read *Russell cleverly creates a tale of murder, police investigation and personal issues -- Lainy * Goodreads *Kept me guessing throughout -- Noelle * Crime Book Junkie *

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

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Book SynopsisFor fans of John Harvey's Charlie Resnick series and Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, The Harbour Master is a fast-paced detective investigation set in the evocative locale of Amsterdam. Henk van der Pol is a 30 year term policeman, a few months off retirement. When he finds a woman's body in Amsterdam Harbour, his detective instincts take over, even though it's not his jurisdiction. Warned off investigating the case, Henk soon realises he can trust nobody, as his search for the killer leads to the involvement of senior police officers, government corruption in the highest places, Hungarian people traffickers, and a deadly threat to his own family. . .Trade Reviewa debut novelist of rare skill -- Barry Forshaw * The Financial Times *A splendid debut by an English writer who has immersed himself in Amsterdam's dark and sinister port area -- Marcel Berlins * The Times *Compelling and fast-moving -- Geoffrey Wansell * Daily Mail *The Henning Mankell of Amsterdam -- Bill Rogers, Author of The Pick, The Spade and The CrowA splendid setting in what promises to be the start of a great new series -- Ragnar Jonasson, author of the international bestselling Dark Iceland series

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Book Synopsis'Pacy and intense . . .kept me frantically turning pages till the nail-biting end' ANDREA MARA 'Terrific . . . totally gripping and tightly plotted' JANE CASEY 'Thrilling . . .an adrenaline-charged page-turning read that leaves readers wanting more' MYLES MCWEENEY, IRISH INDEPENDENT * * * A chilling blend of crime and psychological thriller from the bestselling author of If I TellAn au pair disappears in the heart of suburbia. When her body shows up, all eyes are on the only witness to her abduction, a two-year-old child.Detective and expert witness interviewer Laura Shaw knows she is needed. But in the aftermath of a case that nearly broke her, Laura questions if she can continue to do police work. Her partner, Detective Niamh Darmody, is on the case, but without Laura to rely on, she's struggling too.When the discovery of a second body blows all their theories out of the water, Laura and Niamh must accept that the killer is poised to strike again.All they know is that he is tantalisingly close, hidden in plain sight. But they won't see him - not until he wants them to . . .* * * 'Enthralling . . . a real page-turner, a modern Irish crime epic that will have you rooting for Laura and Niamh right to the very end' HOT PRESS 'A highly empathetic writer . . . a well-crafted, character-driven thriller, set in a suburban milieu worthy of Andrea Mara . . . for anyone missing Tana French's Dublin Murder series' IRISH EXAMINER'A fantastically thrilling police procedural with two feisty, believable female leads. Everything I love in a book!' JO SPAIN'Pacy and intense . . . kept me frantically turning pages till the nail-biting end' ANDREA MARA'Utterly gripping! CLAUDIA CARROLL'I loved it! With a sinister plot and a creepy serial killer it's gripping and terrifying. And Laura and Niamh are characters I want to read about again and again!' PATRICIA GIBNEYTrade ReviewPacy and intense . . . kept me frantically turning pages till the nail-biting end -- Andrea MaraTerrific ... totally gripping and tightly plotted * Jane Casey *Thrilling . . . an adrenaline-charged page-turning read that leaves readers wanting more -- Myles McWeeney * Irish Independent *Enthralling . . . a real page-turner, a modern Irish crime epic that will have you rooting for Laura and Niamh right to the very end * Hot Press *A highly empathetic writer . . . a well-crafted, character-driven thriller, set in a suburban milieu worthy of Andrea Mara . . . for anyone missing Tana French's 'Dublin Murder' series * Irish Examiner *A fantastically thrilling police procedural with two feisty, believable female leads. Everything I love in a book! -- Jo SpainI loved it! With a sinister plot and a creepy serial killer it's gripping and terrifying. And Laura and Niamh are characters I want to read about again and again! -- Patricia GibneyThere’s a lot to unpick in this very layered novel but it is excellent. I advise you to read it and [If I Tell] immediately * Belfast Telegraph *I love this crime fighting duo! Original and real, Laura and Niamh are such fresh voices. Taut, compelling and utterly creepy, with a dramatic conclusion that will have you frantically turning the pages, read it with the light on! -- Sam BlakeWith well-drawn characters and an intense, urban plot, When They See Me feels gritty and above all authentic' -- Sinéad CrowleyPage turning, twisty and gripping . Characters that you really care about and that are raw and real. A great read! -- Sinéad MoriartyUtterly gripping! -- Claudia Carroll

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

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Book SynopsisA SUNDAY POST TOP PICK FOR SUMMER READING 'This latest DCI Daley thriller is deftly plotted and peopled with sympathetically drawn local characters and satisfyingly nuanced local wrongdoers' – Irish Independent When a light aircraft crash-lands at Machrie airport, DCI Jim Daley and his colleague Brian Scott rush to the scene. But it soon becomes clear that both occupants of the plane were dead before take-off ... Meanwhile in Kinloch, local fisherman Hamish is unwittingly dragged into danger when he witnesses something he shouldn’t, and hotel manager Annie is beginning to suspect her new boss may not be as he first appeared. And just as Chief Superintendent Carrie Symington thinks she has finally escaped the sins of her past, she finds herself caught in an even deadlier trap. As the action spills across the sea to County Antrim – all under the scrutiny of the Security Service – the search is on for any other truth.Trade Review'This latest DCI Daley thriller is deftly plotted and peopled with sympathetically drawn local characters and satisfyingly nuanced local wrongdoers' * Irish Independent *'a novel which you are likely to read with deepening pleasure' -- Allan Massie * The Scotsman *'Meyrick has really hit his stride with this one, with the development of DCI Daley and his rather complex sidekick DI Scott particularly well done. Well-considered smatterings of dark humour break the tension, there is a satisfying pace and beautiful Scottish backdrops are an added bonus' * Scottish Field *'in high demand across the globe ... A runaway hit. Readers instantly warm to Daley' * Daily Mail on the DCI Daley Series *'Gritty, gripping story, Fabulous characters, full of humour and if that was not enough the sense of place is just superb. Every time I finish one I think "When is the next one coming?"' * Bookseller review *'A complex but compelling plot keeps the reader firmly on their toes as they turn each page; it becomes almost impossible to put it down. This one wrung all the emotions from me, it had my jaw clattering off the floor a fair few times and a wee hankie dabbing at the eyes at others. Do yourself a favour and go buy this now!' * Chapter of My Life *'a fine example of tartan noir, superior to most of the genre' * The Scotsman on the DCI Daley Series *'I am in awe of any writer who can make you hold your breath on the one hand and laugh out loud on the other. Such is For Any Other Truth' -- Waterstones Bookseller, Horsham'The DCI Daley books have the right ingredients to become hit TV: Stunning scenery, gripping stories, compelling characters' * The Scottish Sun *'Just finished Denzil Meyrick’s 'For Any Other Truth' - take a tale, twist it and twist it thrice - a cool, addictive roller coaster of a read' -- Gordon Brown (author of Thirty-One Bones)'A twisty, intricate, and action-packed crime novel… demands that you keep on your toes as it splinters thoughts and catches emotions unawares ... With a fabulous cast and intricate plot, this crime novel packs a punch on the emotional front too' * LoveReading *'Dramatic … satisfying … Definitely a book to take on holiday and read by the beach or pool, or wherever we end up this year!' * Press and Journal, Scottish Book of the Week *'It's a complex story… Meyrick is skilled enough to pull it together' -- Alastair Mabbott * Herald *'Denzil Meyrick writes fine crime novels and they get better with every outing. One of the few crime thrillers where the dialogue makes [you] laugh out loud. Meyrick brings real life and depth to his fictional community. Compelling' * Journal of the Legal Society of Scotland *'This book is the best so far, the storyline was original and fast paced, I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through… thank you for another brilliant read' * Judesbookwormblog.com *

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Book SynopsisBe sure your sins will find you out . . . one day. A potent new drug has hit the streets of Kinloch, and DCI Daley and Scott are struggling to catch the notorious gang behind this evil trade. After a party of Oxford students arrives in town for a camping trip before a Himalayan expedition, one of the group seeks out an illegal high and is violently assaulted. However, these students are well connected, and this brings further unexpected problems for Daley. Ultimately, he and Scott will discover crimes as disturbing in nature as anything they have ever confronted.Trade Review'Intriguing, unfathomable. Meyrick’s strengths and hallmarks are all present and correct. No Sweet Sorrow doesn’t disappoint' -- Alastair Mabbott * The Herald *'Meyrick’s Kinloch novels are addictive. Those who already delight in them will find this new one up to standard, while new readers will surely be eager to track back and seek out the earlier books.' -- Allan Massie * The Scotsman *'This is a book that pushes you along at an engaging pace and which offers numerous twists and turns to keep you hooked right through to an ending that is nicely veiled and very satisfying' -- Ken Lussey * Undiscovered Scotland *'Very engaging and makes for very enjoyable and pleasant reading' * The Yorkshire Post *'Tense, exciting, rooted in the very real issues faced by rural communities, No Sweet Sorrow will keep you guessing ‘til the end' -- Mary Picken * Live and Deadly Reviews *'Well-researched and slickly delivered. The story moves along at a tidy pace… centred around a number of very contemporary crime and political issues making it all the more readable. Set against the backdrop of the Kintyre peninsula, a landscape both stark and remote, it entrances the reader, so much so I suspect many, like me, will want to visit and see the beauty for themselves. A great read' * LoveReading *'Heartily recommended for readers who want some authentic, gritty yet witty, top notch Scottish Noir, as fresh now as it ever has been' * JenMedBookReviews *'such good novel, written in a police procedural style but with humour and emotion' -- Jude Wright * The Book Blog *'A pulsating page turner which manages to marry humour, violence, crime and an insightful exploration of the country's drug crisis and its impact on small towns and villages and ends with an ending that I most definitely DID NOT see coming!' * Chapter in My Life *

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Book SynopsisIntroducing Detective Inspector Tom Harper in a brand-new historical mystery series.June 1890. Leeds is close to breaking point. The gas workers are on strike. Supplies are dangerously low. Factories and businesses are closing; the lamps are going unlit at night.Detective Inspector Tom Harper has more urgent matters on his mind. The beat constable claims eight-year-old Martha Parkinson has disappeared. Her father insists she?s visiting an aunt in Halifax ? but Harper doesn?t believe him. When Col Parkinson is found dead the following morning, the case takes on an increasing desperation.But then Harper?s search for Martha is interrupted by the murder of a replacement gas worker, stabbed to death outside the Town Hall while surrounded by a hostile mob. Pushed to find a quick solution, Harper discovers that there?s more to this killing than meets the eye ? and that there may be a connection to Martha?s disappearance.

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Book SynopsisDetective Sergeant Clyde Northcott - DCI Peach''s tall, black, powerful protégé - has no interest in joining the snooty Birch Lane Tennis Club. So it is unfortunate for him when committee member Olive Crawshaw decides he would be the perfect talisman for the club''s new, and controversial, policy to recruit members from a wider ethnic and social background.Clyde soon finds himself thrust into an exclusive community where his rusty tennis skills are the least of his concerns: for ''exclusive'' does not mean moral, and while some of the club''s members sail very near the law, one or two of them go far beyond it. So when a distinguished club member is murdered, a problem arises: how can he and Peach unveil the killer, when almost everyone seemed to want the victim dead?

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Book SynopsisA seemingly open-and-shut case becomes increasingly complicated for Detective Inspector Liam McLusky in this intriguing police procedural.It all seemed so simple: a murder; an obvious suspect; a shaky alibi: DI McLusky never had it so good. Until a second killing challenges all his earlier assumptions. With every new piece of evidence McLusky brings to light, the case becomes more complicated. Does it have its roots in a disappearance eighteen years earlier, or is it firmly based in the present?Meanwhile, DI Kat Fairfield and DS Jack Sorbie are tasked with finding the daughter of a prominent Italian politician, who has disappeared while on a student exchange programme at Bristol University. Neither is overjoyed to be lumbered with a routine missing person''s case while McLusky heads a high-profile murder investigation. Until they find a dead body of their own.

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

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Book SynopsisWhen a prominent New Orleans judge is brutally murdered, former Detroit cop Quentin Archer is handed the case. His enquiries will lead him into a world of darkness and mysticism which underpins the carefree atmosphere of the Big Easy. Interrogating crooked police officers, a pickpocket, a bartender with underground contacts and a swamp dweller, Archer uncovers some troubling facts about the late judge''s past. But it''s only when he encounters a beautiful young voodoo practitioner that he starts to make headway in the investigation.Voodoo queen Solange Cordray volunteers at the dementia centre where her mother lives. When she starts reading the mind of one of her patients, she learns that a secretive organization known as Krewe Charbonerrie may be behind the murder of the judge. And the second murder. And the third . . .

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Book SynopsisIntroducing Maurice Mundy, retired detective constable at the Met; a maverick who''s back and about to raise the temperature on a ten-year-old unsolved murder of a young boy.Maurice Mundy, recently retired detective constable at the Metropolitan Police, has returned to join Scotland Yard''s Cold Case Review Team. Ten years ago a twelve-year-old boy was murdered, his body left floating in a nearby pond. A second look at the case soon reveals that a sex worker was also murdered nearby on the same night.While nothing linked the two murders at the time, it is one of a number of attacks on sex workers over a twenty-year period that Essex Police are still investigating as part of Operation Moonlight.Known as a loose cannon who doesn''t always play by the rules, Mundy is in danger of ruffling more than a few feathers as he probes deeper into the events of that fateful night. Will his maverick approach lead him to the truth, or will it prove to be a dangerous step too far?

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Book SynopsisWhen Richard Cooper is found shot to death in his luxury apartment in North Sheen, London, Detective Chief Inspector Harry Brock and Detective Sergeant Dave Poole are assigned the case. They immediately question Dennis Jones, who found Cooper''s lifeless body, and Lydia Maxwell, who lived in the apartment opposite - but is either of them telling the truth? Richard Cooper appears to have been a very private man who left few clues behind. As the investigation gathers pace, however, a trip to Belgium could signal the possible unravelling of the mystery. But it soon becomes clear that the hunt for a determined killer could lead to tragedy for Harry and his team.

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Book Synopsis"A great recommendation for fans of J.A. Jance''s Arizona-set mysteries" - BooklistA murder leads Sarah Burke to investigate a money-laundering ring with connections extending far beyond Tucson - but does the key to solving the case lie closer to home than she realises?The murder of a man seen fighting in a house during a Fourth of July street parade plunges Sarah Burke''s whole household - her fragile mother Aggie, shrewd and ever-helpful live-in boyfriend Will and even her hard-charging niece, Denny - into her latest case.The investigation leads to a money-laundering ring with international connections, and Sarah and her smart, hard-working crew of detectives must follow the puzzle, set against the backdrop of Tucson''s unique character - an ancient, beautiful valley with a polyglot ethnic community and a bilingual, modern city - without knowing where it might take them. Could the answers lie closer to home than she realises?

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Book SynopsisChief Inspector Charlie Woodend and his loyal sergeant tackle a murder with as many suspects as there are clues in this tight puzzler.Swann''s Lake, 1960. When Robbie Peterson, a criminal-turned-club-owner, is found dead in his office, a six-inch nail driven deep into his skull, Chief Inspector Woodend and Sergeant Bob Rutter are brought up from London to investigate. Why was Robbie''s office broken into twice on the day of his funeral? What caused Robbie''s son-in-law to attack his own brother on the night of the murder? As the case unfolds, Woodend uncovers several crimes, but it is only as it draws to a close that he realizes the murder has nothing to do with Robbie''s criminal past-and everything to do with his domestic present.

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Book SynopsisDI Alex Randall and coroner Martha Gunn search for a missing child, but their investigation is compromised by local superstitions and beliefsIn the peaceful setting of the National Trust near Church Stretton, south of Shrewsbury, Tracey Walsh drives herself and her four-year-old daughter, Daisy, up the remote Burway in the early hours of the morning, tragically loses control of her car and crashes into the valley below.Tracey is rushed to hospital, but where is Daisy? She has vanished, provoking an intense police search of the area around the Devil''s Chair, land that is rife with legends and strange stories of witchcraft, sorcery and unexplained disappearances. Detective Inspector Alex Randall, the senior investigating officer, soon admits to coroner Martha Gunn that he is baffled by the case.Alex and Martha must sift through fact and fiction, folklore and reality in their search for answers.

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Book SynopsisWhen the body of a young man is discovered locked inside a church crypt, his throat torn out, Kate Hanson and her cold case team are baffled as to the motive. The evidence reveals careful planning but also loss of control. It makes no sense. Then Kate discovers that another young man is missing - and the case takes a disturbing twist.

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Book SynopsisA desperate phone call from an old acquaintance plunges forensic psychiatrist Claire Roget into an explosive situation with echoes in her own past.Forensic psychiatrist Dr Claire Roget finds it impossible to refuse when she receives a desperate phone call from an old acquaintance, obstetrician Charles Tissot. One of his patients, Heather Kimble, alleges that Tissot seduced her at a party and that he is the father of her unborn child. His career on the line, Charles begs Claire to expose Heather''s fragile mental state and discredit her wild claims.With a history of making similar false allegations, her two previous babies having suffered unexplained cot deaths, Heather''s accusations would appear to be nothing more than the result of a damaged mind. But as Claire delves further, it becomes clear that Charles hasn''t been telling her the whole truth. Could Heather''s story possibly have some merit? And is her unborn child in danger.?

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Book SynopsisWhen a baby is stolen from outside a shop, DI Costello deduces that this was no impulsive act as the police initially assumed, but something cold, logical, meticulously planned. DCI Anderson meanwhile is on the Cold Case Unit, reviewing the unsolved rape of a young mother. But what he learns about the attack reaches back into his own past.

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Book SynopsisTwo seemingly unconnected murders lead DCI Henry Christie to uncover a terrifying conspiracy in this gritty police procedural.Two murders, apparently unconnected: one victim shot to death in his office, the other brutally stabbed in what appears to have been a road rage incident . neither case solved. Six months later, following a desperate plea from a chief constable, Detective Superintendent Henry Christie finds himself travelling across the country to carry out an urgent review of the two killings. His investigations will plunge him into a terrifying world of murder and corruption and find him pitted against a well-organized group who seem to anticipate his every move. Henry Christie is about to discover just how bad life can be when some backs are against the wall .

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Book SynopsisA kidnap attempt outside the school gates in broad daylight convinces Gabriel Ash that his renegade wife is trying to steal their sons from him. Only the intervention of his friend Constable Hazel Best kept them safe. It''s a simple if alarming explanation, but is it the truth? Hazel uncovers disturbing information about another crime, the repercussions of which are still threatening innocent lives seventeen years later. Once again Hazel finds herself at loggerheads with her superiors. Did they really conspire to protect a murderer? And this time she isn''t getting the support she needs from Ash. She''d thought they were kindred spirits: now she''s not sure what his motives are. One thing is certain: with her life in imminent danger, Hazel''s going to need friends like never before .

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Book SynopsisDI Costello has resigned. Convinced that George Haggerty murdered his wife and son despite his cast-iron alibi, Costello has gone solo, determined to expose a ruthless killer without being hampered by police protocol. But is she right about Haggerty''s guilt? And where has she disappeared to?

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Book SynopsisA highly effective police officer, albeit one who keeps her past carefully hidden, Eve West is suspended from duty after a police operation goes catastrophically wrong. Receiving help from an unexpected quarter - a criminal she put away many years before - Eve feels she has no choice but to agree to his request to investigate a possible miscarriage of justice in return. But why is a hardened criminal like John Duran so keen to help a fellow-inmate convicted of the murder of a stable-girl? And why has he chosen Eve to look into the case?Teaming up with crusading journalist Dan Cooper, Eve begins to uncover disturbing flaws in the original investigation. But as her past is dragged to the surface, she comes to realize she has been plunged into a case more complex and sinister than she ever imagined.

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Book SynopsisWhen a young woman turns up dead near the banks of the River Tiber, pathologist Teresa Lupo believes she has the victim of an ancient Roman ritual on her hands. She''s wrong. So begins an investigation that will take Nic Costa and his team deep into the dark underworld of modern-day Rome''s most disturbing and sinister secrets.

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Book SynopsisConstable Hazel Best attracts a sinister new admirer in this absorbing police procedural.When does a secret admirer become a stalker? When chocolates on the doorstep give way to the sound of an intruder on the stairs? When the victim''s friends are waylaid in the dark and beaten bloody? When she receives photographs memorializing these events? Or when people start dying?For Constable Hazel Best, the pivot point is the attack on her friend Gabriel Ash. That''s when she focuses all her ingenuity on finding the man responsible. Her police colleagues would be more help if they weren''t already occupied with two murders - but assistance does arrive from an unexpected source.In the end, though, Hazel must deal with the stalker alone. And more than her own life will depend on the outcome .

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Book SynopsisAssistant Chief Constable Iles finds himself suspected of murder in the fast-paced 35th installment of the popular Harpur and Iles police procedural series.Tensions in the community are mounting following the gruesome deaths of two men, both of whom were accused yet acquitted of the murder of an undercover police officer. It looks like vigilante justice, but who is responsible? Alarmingly, suspicion falls on Assistant Chief Constable Iles.Matters escalate when a TV show investigating the murders is aired, further implicating Iles. Iles seems at ease with the accusations, as are his superiors in the police force. But others are not feeling so secure.Local crime bosses Ralph Ember and Mansel Shale fear reprisals against Iles will result in their own businesses suffering. And so they begin to plan how to remove potential troublemakers from their path . . .

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Book SynopsisThe discovery of a body on a local allotment site re-opens an unresolved cold case for Monika Paniatowski and her team.''He was going to have to terminate Monika, he decided. It was a pity, but there it was.''The body has lain buried for years, and has no face and no fingertips. Monika Paniatowski''s team have no real leads, but when they discuss the case at her hospital bedside - where she lies paralysed - Monika begins to see possible links with a case she closed four years earlier.Are the two cases connected? Did the first murder make the second almost inevitable? She doesn''t know, but she does know that she is being watched by an old enemy who will kill her if he decides there is ever any chance of her sharing her thoughts and information with her team.

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