Crime and mystery: police procedural

Book SynopsisThe murder of a personal fitness trainer draws DCI Bill Slider and his team into a baffling investigation where nothing is as it first appears. Fitness trainer Erik Lingoss is found dead in his west London flat, his head smashed by one of his own dumbbells. His heartlessly-dumped girlfriend, blood on her clothes and hands, is the prime suspect. She had means, opportunity, and motive.But is the case as clear-cut as it seems? Handsome Erik Lingoss had clients in high places; and he seemed to engender powerful emotions. If it was a crime of passion, there was plenty of that to go round: love strong as death, jealousy cruel as the grave.Who did he let in to his flat that evening? Where is his missing mobile phone? Why is seven hundred pounds in cash stuffed under his pillow? The deeper Slider and his team dig, the clearer it becomes there''s far more to this case than meets the eye.

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Book SynopsisFROM THE No.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR'Chilling, spectacular stuff' Mark Billingham_____________________________________A young boy wakes to find his mother missing. Outside, he sees her favourite scarf - wrapped around the neck of a snowman.Detective Harry Hole soon discovers that an alarming number of wives and mothers have gone missing over the years.When a second woman disappears, Harry's worst suspicion is confirmed: a serial killer is operating on his home turf.SOON THE FIRST SNOW WILL COMEAND THEN HE WILL APPEAR AGAINAND WHEN THE SNOW HAS GONEHE WILL HAVE TAKEN SOMEONE ELSE. . .___________________________________*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 55 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE**Watch out for KILLING MOON, the new Jo Nesbo book, out now*Trade ReviewThe Snowman is a superb thriller. Jo Nesbo is astonishingly good; he knows how to grab you, by the throat and by the heartChillingly adept...creepy, creepy stuff from the very first page * Time Out *Nesbo handles the tension with aplomb * Metro *Nesbo's plotting and pared-back prose style effectively keeps the reader hooked as he ramps up the action to a gripping climax * Big Issue *Hole is all a fictional detective should be...each scene is succinct, dovetails with another, shifts the reader's perspective, and keeps the pace fast and interesting...he ensures his readers keep turning the page to read more * Times Literary Supplement *Norwegian crime novel that's as gripping as The Silence of the Lambs * The Sunday Times *The quality of the writing (and its translation) is so impressive * Literary Review *Nesbo is shaping up to be the next big name in Scandinavian crime fiction... With its tensile-steel narrative grip, this most ambitious of Nesbo's crime novels banishes any fears that the omniscient serial killer scenario has been exhausted * Independent *With Henning Mankell having written his last Wallander novel and Stieg Larsson no longer with us, I have had to make the decision, to my own satisfaction, on whom to confer the title of best current Nordic writer of crime fiction. After finishing Jo Nesbo's The Snowman, I hesitate no longer. The Norwegian wins... This is crime writing of the highest order, in which the characters are as strong as the story, where an atmosphere of evil permeates, and the tension never lets up * The Times *There is no doubt in my mind that The Snowman is the best so far of Jo Nesbø's series about Inspector Harry Hole of the Oslo police... The Snowman is a complex, intellectually satisfying plot with many twists and turns... Do yourself a favour and read it * Eurocrime *An ingenious, bizarre and exceptional serial-killer investigation...as riveting as The Silence of the Lambs * Sunday Times Summer Reading *Readers wondering where to turn after finishing Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy would be well advised to give Jo Nesbo a try. His Oslo-set thrillers about troubled detective Harry Hole feature a similar mix of icebound settings, relentless action, sexual violence and social comment * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE GLASS KEY AWARD 2023 FOR THE LAST GRUDGE The chilling new Scandinavian thriller from a New York Times bestselling author, perfect for fans of Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbo. Praise for Max Seeck: 'Finland's answer to Jo Nesbo' Sunday Times'Relentlessly tense' Wall Street Journal'One of the best books I have read. Ever' Emilie Schepp ___________Are you ready for the darkest case of Jessica Niemi's career? A young woman's corpse washes up on a near-frozen beach.Then, two famous Instagram influencers go missing.All three have ties to a cult, famous for their cruel and violent worship.But before Jessica can save the girls, an old enemy emerges and threatens to destroy her.Soon, she is hunting for much more than just the truth . . . ___________Praise for The Witch Hunter: 'Short, sharp, present-tense chapters add to its relentless tension and a resolution as bleak as anything Poe might have conjured' - Wall St Journal'If you only read one Nordic noir novel this autumn, make it The Witch Hunter' - Culture Fly'[A] riveting, multi-layered debut, blending masterful police procedural with a chilling exploration of the occult' - Sara Blaedel #1 International Bestselling Author'One of the best books I have read. Ever' - Emelie Schepp, author of Slowly We Die'Exceptional story, exceptional characters, exceptional writing, and shocking twists – exceptional everything' - Chris Mooney, author of Blood World'A disturbing tale of murder and madness' - Kirkus Reviews'A rich, intensely suspenseful thriller' - Booklist Starred Review'A riveting procedural with a deliciously creepy undertone' - Publishers Weekly Starred ReviewTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE WITCH HUNTER: 'The Witch Hunter, translated with icy precision by Kristian London, is written in short, sharp, present-tense chapters, a technique which adds to its relentless tension. Flashbacks to earlier episodes in Jessica's life suggest that the strangeness currently unfolding is tied to her personal history. Discovering the how and why of it brings a resolution as bleak as anything Poe might have conjured' Wall Street Journal. 'If you only read one Nordic noir novel this autumn, make it The Witch Hunter – a chilling female-led thriller that will please fans of Lisbeth Salander and Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy' CultureFly. 'Seeck's riveting, multi-layered debut, blending masterful police procedural with a chilling exploration of the occult, kept me up all night, devouring it in one amazing gulp, and checking under the bed' Sara Blaedel, #1 international bestselling author. 'One of the best books I have ever read. Ever. Absolutely thrilling, well-written, and oh-so-hard to put down' Emilie Schepp, author of Slowly We Die. 'The Witch Hunter is everything I wish for in a thriller: exceptional story, exceptional characters, exceptional writing, and shocking twists – exceptional everything. I loved this book, and you will too' Chris Mooney, author of Blood World. 'One twist follows another ... Seeck imbues this riveting procedural with a deliciously creepy undertone' Publishers Weekly. 'Dark and intricate ... Vividly cinematic and impactful. Seeck has an uncanny ability to unspool reveals at just the right pace to get the reader's heart pounding as they make the connection at the same moment as the detective on page' Booklist. 'A disturbing tale of murder and madness' * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book Synopsis'One of the best Nordic Noir writers' GuardianA trip behind the Iron Curtain would change their lives forever . . .It begins in 1969. Six young people arrive in Uppsala, Sweden. Different circumstances push the three young couples together and, over the course of a few years, they become friends. But a summer trip through Eastern Europe changes everything, and when their time at Uppsala University is over it also signals the end of something else.Years later, a lecturer at Lund University is found dead at the bottom of a cliff in the woods close to Kymlinge. And chillingly, it is the very same spot where one of the Uppsala students died thirty-five years before.Detective Inspector Gunnar Barbarotti takes on this ominous case of history repeating itself, and is forced to confront an increasingly grave reality.The Lonely Ones is the fourth novel of Håkan Nesser’s quintet about Inspector Gunnar Barbarotti.Trade ReviewThe godfather of Swedish crime * Metro *A master of suspense * Sunday Times *One of the best Nordic Noir writers * Guardian *One of Sweden's best crime writers * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisThe electrifying new thriller from the bestselling author of Baby Doll - perfect for fans of Claire Douglas and Jane Corry.____________________________A GIRL ON THE RUN. A MOTHER WHO WILL DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT HER.When forensic psychologist Becca Ortiz fosters teenage runaway Ash, she knows she will love and protect her as if she were her own daughter.Ash may have turned her back on her old life but there is still one person she can't bear to lose. Now he is about to drag her back into a dark world where no one is safe.To save her daughter Becca will have to venture into LA's terrifying criminal underworld...Can she find her before it's too late?____________________________ Praise for Hollie Overton's heart-racing thrillers: 'A stunning . . . dark tale' Heat 'Moves at breakneck speed' Stylist 'Incredibly powerful' Sunday Mirror 'Kept me transfixed and entertained until the very last page' Tess Gerritsen

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Book SynopsisBook 4 in the Rivers of London series, from Sunday Times Number One bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch.A mutilated body in Crawley. Another killer on the loose. The prime suspect is one Robert Weil - an associate of the twisted magician known as the Faceless Man? Or just a common garden serial killer? Before PC Peter Grant can get his head round the case, a town planner going under a tube train and a stolen grimoire are adding to his case-load. So far so London. But then Peter gets word of something very odd happening in Elephant and Castle, on an housing estate designed by a nutter, built by charlatans and inhabited by the truly desperate. Is there a connection? And if there is, why oh why did it have to be south of the River?Praise for the Rivers of London novels:''Ben Aaronovitch has created a wonderful world full of mystery, magic and fantastic characters. I love being there more than the real London''Trade ReviewHighly entertaining * Sunday Express *Funny and wildly inventive * Mail on Sunday *Masterfully crafted ... gives the late, great Terry Pratchett a run for his money * The Sun *Ben Aaronovitch has created a wonderful world full of mystery, magic and fantastic characters. I love being there even more than the real London * Nick Frost *Charming, witty, exciting * Independent *An incredibly fast-moving magical joyride for grown-ups * The Times *

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Book Synopsis'A thoroughly enjoyable book and the introduction to a great series' 5* READER REVIEWCrime fiction fans worldwide are talking about the Dordogne Mysteries. In the first book in this beloved series, read and discover why, and what dark secrets are lurking in the idyllic French town of St Denis.When an old man, head of an immigrant North African family, is found murdered, suspicion falls on the son of the local doctor, discovered playing sex games surrounded by Nazi paraphernalia.But policeman Bruno isn't convinced, and suspects the crime has its roots in that most tortured period of French history - World War 2, a time of terror and betrayal that set brother against brother. Now it's up to him to find the killer - but will the people of St Denis allow him to go digging through a past they long to forget in order to do so?'An auspicious beginning and can be recommended unreservedly' 5* READER REVIEW'The descriptions of people, the area, food and wine give a great insight to this part in France' 5* READER REVIEW'I could almost see the countryside, taste the food, appreciate the characters' 5* READER REVIEW'The book is wonderful and I have purchased the next four' 5* READER REVIEW'Whether you fancy a trip through the sleepy Dordogne or a fascinating crime story then this book is for you' 5* READER REVIEWTrade ReviewHugely enjoyable and absolutely gripping... the Maigret of the Dordogne -- Antony BeevorA satisfyingly intriguing, wish-you-were-there read * Guardian *Hugely enjoyable and absolutely gripping. Martin Walker has got off to a flying start in what promises to be a great series. Bruno will be the Maigret of the Dordogne -- Antony BeevorIt's beguiling, evocative and utterly wonderful. it also made me very hungry . . . the Alexander McCall Smith of La France Profonde -- Francis WheenThe selling point of this delightful book is its setting in the legendary France profonde . . . Walker brings to life both a complete community and the chief of police who is its protector, teacher and friend. This book's ingredients are combined as carefully as Bruno's good meals * Literary Review *Has many of the characteristics of Golden Age novels, above all the apparently remote setting which reveals its involvement in wider events. Martin Walker's Dordogne is worth a visit * Times Literary Supplement *The pleasures of life in the Dordogne, some distinctive well-rounded characters and an intriguing mystery are a winning combination . . . one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time * Telegraph *[Death on the Dordogne] may be a gentle book but it does not pull its punches. It is well-written, introducing a charming, likeable main character: a satisfying detective story; and conveying a strong love and understanding of the Dordogne region of France * Eurocrime *Deftly dark, mesmerizing, and totally engaging * French Embassy *

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Book Synopsis*Watch out for KILLING MOON, the new Harry Hole thriller, available for pre-order now!*__________________________________________'The king of all crime writers' Sunday Express There's a new killer on the streets A woman is found murdered after an internet date. The marks left on her body show the police that they are dealing with a particularly vicious killer. And he's out for blood Under pressure from the media to solve the crime, the force know there's only one man for the job. But Harry Hole is reluctant to return to the place that almost took everything from him. Until he starts to suspect a connection between this killing and his one failed case...*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 55 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE**Watch out for KILLING MOON, the new Jo Nesbo book, out now*Jo Nesbo was a Sunday Times number one bestseller with Macbeth on 20/09/2018Trade ReviewExpertly plotted with vividly drawn characters, frenetic police chases and philosophising villains [...] Expect to be thoroughly entertained * Crime Fiction Lover *Fast-moving...stunning * Sunday Times *[The Thirst is] a breath-taking reading experience... Nesbo is the master when it comes to building a long and increasingly steep dramatic curve... The pace in The Thirst is somewhat calmer than in the previous Harry Hole books, more of a waltz than a rock and roll, until we're a bit more than halfway through. But from there on, it's full on action with blood gushing and splattering until the last page is turned * Verdens Gang, Norway *The Thirst like its stablemates is a bulky but zippy 500-pager which never loiters in one place for long. Nesbø keeps you guessing with his usual bag of tricks, making everyone seem a little suspect (or almost everyone). His cynicism about bent coppers and unscrupulous journalists is an inexhaustible and entertaining sideshow...if you liked the other ten, you'll greedily sink your teeth into this * Arts Desk *Jo Nesbo is on top form... [The Thirst is] a spell-binding story about brutal crimes and ambitions gone astray * Dagbladet, Norway *

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Book SynopsisDetective Chief Inspector Wilfred Dover is the most idle and avaricious hero in all of crime fiction. Why should he even be bothered to solve the case? This time, Scotland Yard sends Detective Chief Inspector Dover and his woeful assistant MacGregor off on the Stately Home circuit to look into murder. Since Lord Crouch, master of Beltour, can hardly make ends meet despite the hordes of tourists visiting the manor, his hospitality is meagre – though his vegetarian sister, Lady Priscilla, would love to cook for Dover. And the victim couldn't be a drearier sort: "the wettest thing since nappies," according to Dover. In short, the inspector can't wait to be quit of the whole thing, and chief suspects begin to pop up everywhere.

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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 SynopsisDetective Chief Inspector Wilfred Dover is the most idle and avaricious hero in all of crime fiction. Why should he even be bothered to solve the case? Sully Martin had probably been a picturesque English village before the earthquake nearly destroyed it. And construction tycoon Walter Chantry might have been taken for another of the many casualties if it hadn't come out that he had been strangled. This time Dover is in for much more than his usual share of the bother. For a start, the town's only hotel is unlicensed, and there's not a drop of booze to be had. But almost as alarming are the unmistakable signs that someone is actually out to kill Dover. Unless, that is, against all odds Dover strikes again.

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Book SynopsisAfter a showdown with the notorious Yemeni terrorist known as The Panther, life seems to be getting quieter for maverick Federal Agent John Corey. Professionally sidelined, away from his wife, and partnered up with a young, good-looking rookie named Tess, Corey is saddled with a dead-end job running easy surveillance on a group of Russian U.N. delegates in New York City.But then his subjects slip the net, Tess starts acting suspiciously, and an old, dangerous foe reappears. With Russia resurgent and a clear and present danger in his own back yard, suddenly Corey''s life hits the fast lane once again.Please note: A Quiet End is published in the US under the title Radiant Angel.Trade ReviewBig, compelling and furiously paced, it screams to a terrific climax. * Daily Mail *Perfect summer beach reading, with or without margaritas, full of Glock-and-boat action. * Kirkus *Bestseller DeMille's exciting seventh John Corey adventure * Publishers Weekly *DeMille writes compelling thrillers, and John Corey is a great protagonist. * Washington Times *A hugely enjoyable thriller. * Crime Review *As with all his books the characters are well developed, the plot fast paced, and the story thought provoking. Readers will not want to put it down. * Crime Spree Mag *Perfect summer beach reading, with or without margaritas, full of Glock-and-boat action. * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisFans of Jo Nesbo, The Killing, and Scandi noir will love this gripping thriller from international bestselling crime-writing sensation A closed case hides a terrible secret . . . _______ Department Q solves the unsolvable. So when a file on the brutal murder of a brother and sister 20 years ago lands on the desk of Detective Carl Mørck, he doesn''t understand why. Because the killer has already been found, and the case is closed. Why has it turned up on Carl''s desk?And more importantly, who put it there?_______ Praise for Jussi Adler-Olsen: ''The new ''it'' boy of Nordic Noir'' The Times ''Gripping story-telling'' Guardian ''Mesmerising . . . As impressive as it is unnerving'' Independent ''Engrossing'' Sunday ExpressTrade ReviewThe new "it" boy of Nordic Noir * The Times *Gripping story-telling * Guardian *This pitch-black novel will have readers hungry for more * Independent *

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Book Synopsis"This is another entertaining, laugh-out-loud, mesmerizing, and completely original installment in an excellent series"Booklist Starred ReviewWhen a major drugs dealer seeks vengeance for the death of his family, policemen Harpur and Iles must do all they can to prevent a bloodbathFollowing the murder of his wife and son, tycoon drugs dealer Mansel Shale is determined to get vengeance ? and he wants another drugs baron, Ralph Ember, to help him. Having heard of the movie Strangers on a Train, in which two men agree to undertake each other?s murders as a way of preventing detection, Shale suggests he and Ralph should have a similar arrangement ? and Ralph is in no position to refuse.When he learns of the plan, Assistant Chief Constable Desmond Iles fears that if things go wrong, the hard-won peace he and Harpur have established in the city will be seriously threatened. The two top policemen find they have their work cut out to limit the damage and restore tranquillity.

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Book SynopsisA Rivers of London novella, from Sunday Times Number One bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch.Trier is famous for wine, Romans and for being Germany''s oldest city. So when a man is found dead with, his body impossibly covered in a fungal rot, the local authorities know they are out of their depth. Fortunately this is Germany, where there are procedures for everything. Enter Investigator Tobias Winter, whose aim is to get in, deal with the problem, and get out with the minimum of fuss, personal danger and paperwork. With the help of frighteningly enthusiastic local cop, Vanessa Sommer, he''s quick to link the first victim to a group of ordinary middle-aged men - and to realise they may have accidentally reawakened a bloody conflict from a previous century. But the rot is still spreading, literally and with the suspect list extending to people born before Frederick the Great solving the case may mean unearthing the city''s secret magical history.Trade ReviewHighly entertaining * Sunday Express *Funny and wildly inventive * Mail on Sunday *Masterfully crafted ... gives the late, great Terry Pratchett a run for his money * The Sun *Ben Aaronovitch has created a wonderful world full of mystery, magic and fantastic characters. I love being there even more than the real London * Nick Frost *Charming, witty, exciting * Independent *An incredibly fast-moving magical joyride for grown-ups * The Times *

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Book SynopsisBook 2 in the Rivers of London series, from Sunday Times Number One bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch.Body and Soul. The song. That''s what London constable and sorcerer''s apprentice Peter Grant first notices when he examines the corpse of Cyrus Wilkins, part-time jazz drummer and full-time accountant, who dropped dead of a heart attack while playing a gig at Soho''s 606 Club. The notes of the old jazz standard are rising from the body - a sure sign that something about the man''s death was not at all natural but instead supernatural. Body and soul - they''re also what Peter will risk as he investigates a pattern of similar deaths in and around Soho. With the help of his superior officer, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, and the assistance of beautiful jazz aficionado Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter will uncover a deadly magical menace - one that leads right to his own doorstep and to the squTrade ReviewHighly entertaining * Sunday Express *Funny and wildly inventive * Mail on Sunday *Masterfully crafted ... gives the late, great Terry Pratchett a run for his money * The Sun *Ben Aaronovitch has created a wonderful world full of mystery, magic and fantastic characters. I love being there even more than the real London * Nick Frost *Charming, witty, exciting * Independent *An incredibly fast-moving magical joyride for grown-ups * The Times *

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Book Synopsis*Don''t miss the chilling new crime thriller from Sam Holland, THE PUPPET MASTER. Available to order now!*An incredible thriller which will keep you up all nightOnce you start reading you won't be able to put it down!The murders have begunAcross England, a string of murders is taking place. Each different in method, but each horrifying and brutal.But the killer is just getting startedJess Ambrose is plunged into the investigation when her house is set ablaze. With her husband dead and the police pointing at her, she runs. Her only hope is disgraced detective Nate Griffin, who is convinced Jess is innocent.And he's going to shock the worldSoon, Jess and Griffin discover the unthinkable; this murderer is copying the world's most notorious serial killers. And now, imitation isn't enough. The killer dubbed The Echo Man is ready to create his own masterpiece, and it will be more terrifying than anything that has come beforeEvokes a classic, satisfying, red-blooded feara stellar debut' A. J. Finn, author of The Woman in the WindowSam Holland has created one of the most disturbing, shocking serial killers in recent memor' M.W. Craven, author of The Puppet ShowUtterly compelling, the story rushes forward relentlesslya writer to watch' Daily MailTwisted and unsettling with complex, troubled characters' Harriet Tyce, author of Blood OrangeI loved this book and absolutely devoured itbrilliant' Catherine Cooper, author of The ChaletI raced through this absolute page-turner and slept with the light on after finishing it!' Elle Croft, author of The Guilty WifeSam Holland will keep you gripped' Jo Furniss, author of All the Little ChildrenTrade Review ‘Dark, disturbing and totally addictive. A first class serial killer thriller from a bold new voice’ Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the End ‘Echoes of Lisa Gardner, Jeffery Deaver, Stuart MacBride – The Echo Man evokes that same classic, satisfying, red-blooded fear. But Sam Holland’s stellar debut is very much its own beast, wily and brawny and dangerous: a lethal new predator in an alluringly old-school skin’ A. J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window ‘Addictively dark and instantly gripping. Every crime fiction fan should read this book. Holland will bring out the rubbernecker in you – once you start reading, you won’t be able to look away’ Jack Jordan, author of Do No Harm ‘One of the most disturbing, shocking serial killers in recent memory…dark, twisted, and utterly brilliant’ M.W. Craven, author of The Puppet Show ‘Utterly compelling, the story rushes forward relentlessly…a writer to watch’ Daily Mail ‘Twisted and unsettling with complex, troubled characters’ Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange ‘I loved this book and absolutely devoured it’ Catherine Cooper, author of The Chalet ‘I raced through this page-turner and slept with the light on after finishing it!’ Elle Croft, author of The Guilty Wife ‘Sam Holland will keep you gripped’ Jo Furniss, author of All the Little Children ‘Terrifying but compulsive, this gripping novel was so dark I’m sleeping with the lights on’ Eleanor Ray, author of Everything is Beautiful ‘A masterful thriller – gritty, original, fast-paced and utterly riveting’ Abby Davies, author of Mother Loves Me ‘A whiplash thriller, gut-wrenching tension, probably the most fun you can have with a sadistic murderer’ Dominic Nolan, author of Past Life ‘Graphic and gruesome, a real bloodbath of a book!’ Victoria Selman, author of Blood for Blood ‘So dark and atmospheric…reads like a Who’s Who of serial killers’ Russ Thomas, author of Firewatching

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Book SynopsisA woman disappears under ghostly circumstances, and Inspector Jimmy Perez must separate fact from fiction in Thin Air, the sixth Shetland mystery from Ann Cleeves.Now a major BBC One drama, Shetland, starring Douglas Henshall. A group of old university friends leave the bright lights of London, travelling to Shetland to celebrate the marriage of one of their friends to a local. But late on the night of the wedding party, one of them, Eleanor, disappears – apparently into thin air. Detectives Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves are dispatched to investigate. Before she went missing, Eleanor claimed to have seen the ghost of a local child who drowned in the 1920s. Jimmy and Willow are convinced that there is more to Eleanor’s disappearance than they first thought. Is there a secret that lies behind the myth? One so shocking that many years later someone would kill to protect it? Continue the thrilling mystery series with Cold Earth.Trade ReviewWhat a fine writer she is * Sunday Times *Ann’s characterization is worthy of the best writers in the field * Daily Express *

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Book Synopsis''A brilliant opening twist. It had me racing to the end'' Fiona Barton, bestselling author of The WidowTHE UNPUTDOWNABLE THRILLER FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK NO ONE HOME A young man wakes up bruised and beaten, with no memory of who he is or where he came from.The press immediately dub him ''The Lost Man''. Naming himself Richard Kite, he spends the next ten months desperately trying to find out who he is. But despite media appeals and the efforts of the police, no one knows him. Richard''s last hope may be private investigator David Raker - a seasoned locator of missing people. But Raker has more questions than answers. Who is Richard Kite? Why does no one know him? And what links him to the body of a woman found beside a London railway line two years ago? Could Richard be responsible for her death - or is he next?Trade ReviewPraise for I Am Missing * - *A fast-paced story packed with twists and surprises . . . a thrilling and hugely enjoyable novel with a frantic, engrossing finale -- Jon Coates * Daily Express *I love the brilliant opening twist - a missing person with no memory searching for himself. It had me racing to the end -- Fiona Barton * Sunday Times bestselling author of The Widow *Tim Weaver is the rising star of British crime and I Am Missing will haunt your dreams -- Tony Parsons * Sunday Times bestselling author of the DC Max Wolfe series *Tim Weaver writes books so meticulously researched that the reader is educated as well as entertained, enthralled and intrigued. David Raker is a most complex and engaging investigator, each case leaving its mark on his soul, and ours -- Liz Nugent * Sunday Times bestselling author of Lying in Wait *Wow, I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time! Such an original premise and so compelling that I didn't want to put it down. Tim Weaver takes us through a range of emotions; I went from being terrified one minute to sad the next. The writing is beautiful and the plot so cleverly constructed I never guessed any of the twists. I enjoyed it so much I'm now going to read the rest of the David Raker series -- Claire Douglas * Sunday Times bestselling author of Local Girl Missing *A really exciting, interesting and genuinely original read. I had no idea where it was going -- Gillian McAllister * Sunday Times bestselling author of Everything but the Truth *Praise for Tim Weaver -- -I couldn't put it down * Sun *Terrific * Sunday Times *Written with elegance and craft - what a talent * Daily Mail *His books get better each time - tense, complex, sometimes horrific, written with flair as well as care * Guardian *I can't remember a thriller containing so many twists and surprises * The Times *Taut and thrilling -- Richard & Judy Book ClubImpressive . . . a dark, complex and visceral read * Financial Times *The story-telling is little short of brilliant * Crime Fiction Lover *Complex and full of clever twists . . . These novels give you everything you could want from a thriller - and the quality of Weaver's writing sets them apart from the rest * deadgoodbooks *Perfect plotting, great characterisation, and the kind of payoff that a thriller of this calibre deserves * Bookgeeks *Weaver's credentials are sui generis, and they are burnished by this latest novel -- Barry Forshaw * Crime Time *

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Book Synopsis'One of Britain's best crime writers' – Daily ExpressShallow waters hide the deepest secrets. Vera Stanhope, star of ITV’s Vera, returns in The Rising Tide, the tenth entry in number one bestseller Ann Cleeves’ acclaimed series.Fifty years ago, a group of teenagers spent a weekend on Holy Island, forging a bond that has lasted a lifetime. Now, they still return every five years to celebrate their friendship, and remember the friend they lost to the rising waters of the causeway at the first reunion.Now, when one of them is found hanged, Vera is called in. Learning that the dead man had recently been fired after misconduct allegations, Vera knows she must discover what the friends are hiding, and whether the events of many years before could have led to murder then, and now . . .But with the tide rising, secrets long-hidden are finding their way to the surface, and Vera and the team may find themselves in more danger than they could have believed possible . . .'A brilliant read' – Sunday Express'A thrilling tale' – The Independent'A thoroughly engrossing thriller' – The Mail on SundayTrade ReviewA thoroughly engrossing thriller * Mail on Sunday *Cleeves’s Northumberland novels are strong on atmosphere, combining old-fashioned detective work with a modern take on class * The Sunday Times *Who doesn’t love ‘large and shabby’ Vera Stanhope, the blunt detective in Ann Cleeves’s Northumberland police procedurals? She is already one of the genre immortals. Cleeves delivers some choice Vera moments in The Darkest Evening * The New York Times *In a world where celebrities debut on bestseller charts, Cleeves is an old-school crime writer in every sense, working her way up the list over years, building a readership while honing her craft -- Brian McGilloway on The Rising Tide

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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 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________________________________A serial killer who wants to watch you burn. The media call him The Burning Man, a brutal murderer who has beaten four young women to death, before setting their bodies ablaze in secluded areas of London's parks. And now the fifth victim has been found.Maeve Kerrigan is an ambitious detective constable, keen to make her mark on the murder task force. Her male colleagues believe Maeve's empathy makes her weak, but the more she learns about the latest victim, Rebecca Haworth, from her grieving friends and family, the more determined Maeve becomes to bring her murderer to justice.But how do you catch a killer no one has ever seen? And when so much of the evidence they leave behind has gone up in smoke. . .?

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Book SynopsisThe Seagull is the eighth book in Ann Cleeves’s Vera Stanhope series – which is now a major ITV detective drama starring Brenda Blethyn as Vera.Obsession never dies . . .When prison inmate and former police officer John Brace says he’s willing to give up information about the location of a dead body in return for protection for his family, Vera knows that she has to look into his claims.But opening up this cold case strikes much closer to home than Vera anticipates as her investigation takes her back in time to The Seagull, a once-decadent and now-derelict nightclub where her deceased father and his friends used to congregate.As Vera’s past collides dangerously with the present, she will have to confront her unwanted memories and face the possibility that her father was involved in what happened. The truth is about to come out, but is Vera ready for what it will reveal?Enjoy more of Vera Stanhope’s investigations with The Crow Trap, The Moth Catcher and The Darkest Evening.Trade ReviewAnother jewel in her crown -- Mick Herron

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Book SynopsisSet in Sicily, The Terracotta Dog is the second novel in the humorous Inspector Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri.*Adapted for BBC4's Inspector Montalbano series*After a cloak and dagger exchange with an ageing Mafioso, Inspector Montalbano is left haunted by the man’s dying words, which lead him to a mountainside just west of Vigàta where he unearths two young lovers, dead fifty years and still embracing, watched over by a life-size terracotta dog.Heedless of personal danger, Montalbano’s drive to solve this old crime forces him on a journey through Sicily’s World War II history and to the dark heart of one family . . .The Terracotta Dog is followed by the third title in this satirical series, The Snack Thief.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'Ruthlessly efficient, entertainment. Pedigree fun' - The TimesDiscover the darkness that lurks around every corner in the latest instalment of the award-winning Grace series, now a major ITV series.A ruthless crime. A race against time.In the dead of night, a farmer hears a suspicious noise. It’s everyone’s worst nightmare: a break-in. When he confronts the intruders, he has no idea that just minutes later he will be left lying in a pool of blood. But the chilling truth lies not in the act itself, but what the perpetrators were willing to kill for.At the scene of the crime, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace senses something amiss. This is no mere botched robbery; it’s the tip of the iceberg of a nationwide crime epidemic. Ruthless gangs, operating with military precision, have discovered a new black market flourishing in the shadows – an unthinkable source of wealth even more profitable than drugs.Grace’s investigation into this deadly trade pits him against some of the most ruthless people he has ever encountered; people who will kill anyone who gets in their way, because where there is greed, there is murder.The clock is ticking, and the stakes have never been higher. Out of his element, and out of time, can Roy Grace put a stop to these criminal masterminds before more innocent lives are lost?‘Peter James is one of the best British crime writers, and therefore one of the best in the world.’ - LEE CHILD, author of The Jack Reacher series‘The master of the craft’ - DAILY EXPRESSTrade ReviewRuthlessly efficient, entertainment. Pedigree fun. * The Times *Sinister and riveting . . . Peter James is one of the best British crime writers, and therefore one of the best in the world -- Lee Child, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher novelsClearly a subject the author is passionate about, this is a gripping rollercoaster * The Sun *Peter James is one of the best crime writers in the business -- Karin SlaughterA typically clever and convoluted central mystery -- Daily Mirror on Left You DeadOne of the world’s most popular detective series * The Guardian *

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Book SynopsisMEET ENZO MACLEOD, AND BEGIN THE ADDICTIVE COLD-CASE SERIES FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE LEWIS TRILOGY AND COFFIN ROAD.An old mystery. As midnight strikes, a man desperately seeking sanctuary flees into a church. The next day, his sudden disappearance will make him famous throughout France. A new science. Forensic expert Enzo Macleod takes a wager to solve the seven most notorious French murders, armed with modern technology and a total disregard for the justice system. A fresh trail. Deep in the catacombs below the city, he unearths dark clues deliberately set - and as he draws closer to the killer, discovers that he is to be the next victim.Trade ReviewA rip-roaring thriller . . . thoroughly enjoyable * Mail on Sunday *A rip-roaring thriller . . . thoroughly enjoyable * Mail on Sunday *A wonderfully complex bookA wonderfully complex bookHe is a terrific writer doing something different * Mark Billingham *He is a terrific writer doing something different * Mark Billingham *From the first page I knew I was in safe hands. I knew I could trust this writerFrom the first page I knew I was in safe hands. I knew I could trust this writerWonderfully compellingWonderfully 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 *Western 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 *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 *One of the best regarded crime series of recent years * Independent *Lyrical, empathetic and movingLyrical, empathetic and movingMay's novels are strong on place and the wounds left by old relationships * Sunday Times *May'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 *Will have the reader relishing every tendency of description and characterization * Independent *Dark, exciting and atmospheric * Scotland on Sunday *Dark, exciting and atmospheric * Scotland on Sunday *Powerful and authentic * Glasgow Sunday Herald *Powerful and authentic * Glasgow Sunday Herald *Fast, exciting ... an entertaining read that will also give food for thought * Irish Times *Fast, exciting ... an entertaining read that will also give food for thought * Irish Times *A tense and atmospheric thriller with a heart-stopping ending * Tangles Web *A tense and atmospheric thriller with a heart-stopping ending * Tangles Web *Truly the best of May's series so far, this is not to be missed * The Good Book Guide *Truly the best of May's series so far, this is not to be missed * The Good Book Guide *He is a terrific writer doing something different.From the first page I knew I was in safe hands. I knew I could trust this writer.Wonderfully compelling.Peter May is an author I'd follow to the ends of the earth. * New York Times *Dark, exciting and atmospheric. * Scotland on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis''Deighton''s best book ... an absorbingly exciting spy story that is also a fascinating exercise in might-have-been speculation'' The New York Times Book ReviewIt is 1941 and Germany has won the war. Britain is occupied, Churchill executed and the King imprisoned in the Tower of London. At Scotland Yard, Detective Inspector Archer tries to do his job and keep his head down. But when a body is found in a Mayfair flat, what at first appears to be a routine murder investigation sends him into a world of espionage, deceit and betrayal.''Len Deighton is the Flaubert of contemporary thriller writers ... this is much the way things would have turned out if the Germans had won'' The Times Literary SupplementTrade ReviewLen Deighton is the Flaubert of the contemporary thriller writers. -- Michael Howard * Times Literary Supplement *Deighton's best book ... an absorbingly exciting spy story that is also a fascinating exercise in might-have-been speculation. -- Julian Symons * New York Times Book Review *Horrifyingly plausible. * The Independent *They don't, as they say, write them like this anymore. You will be entertained, informed, thrilled and dazzled. Long may he, and his creations, live on. * The Guardian *

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Book Synopsis'If you're not a fan yet, why not?' VAL MCDERMID'A superb storyteller' PETER MAYA BIZARRE DISCOVERYAn unidentified corpse is found in a freezer in the garage of an unoccupied house. DS Alexandra Cupidi is handed a case that is made even colder by no-one seeming to know or care whose body it is.A HISTORIC CRIMEIt becomes clear there is a connection between the crime and a skeleton uncovered underneath a housing development of Trevor Grey, a boy who went missing twenty five years earlier.A BURIED LIFEDigging deep into secrets that have long been concealed brings Cupidi to face a deadly conspiracy to hide these crimes. Her investigation is complicated by a secret liaison, a political cover-up and the underground life of Trevor Grey's only friend.With meticulously realised characters and a brooding setting, Grave's End confronts the crisis in housing, environmentalism, historic cases of abuse and the protection given to badgers by the law. The third book in the DS Alexandra Cupidi series confirms William Shaw as one of our finest writers of crime fictionTrade ReviewA powerful, scary suspense mystery which had me swiping over pages at speed while savouring every word. This is a brilliant novel. -- Lesley ThomsonShaw never lectures; his crucial imperative remains ironclad storytelling and razor-sharp characterisation, both in evidence here * Financial Times *It offers a complex, thoroughly involving set of interlocking mysteries, full of properly realised characters and wonderfully atmospheric settings. And you'll learn a lot about badgers along the way * The Mail on Sunday (Best Fiction Round-Up) *A taut, atmospheric mystery with a complex plot * Candis *[A]n ingenious, often moving and always powerful story, which brilliantly captures Kent and its social divisions and offers a realistic, if harsh, look at the inequalities of life in modern Britain. * Crime Review *If you haven't read any William Shaw before start immediately * iNews (15 books to read for Halloween 2020) *

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Book SynopsisA body is found in the wreckage of a destroyed home. Consumed by the investigation, Inspector Jimmy Perez struggles for the truth in Cold Earth, the seventh Shetland mystery from Ann Cleeves.Now a major BBC One drama, Shetland, starring Douglas Henshall.In the black days of a Shetland winter, torrential rain triggers a landslide that crosses the main road and sweeps down to the sea.At the burial of his old friend Magnus Tait, Inspector Jimmy Perez watches the flood of peaty water and mud smash through a croft house in its path. Everyone thinks the croft is uninhabited, but in the wreckage he finds the body of a dark-haired woman wearing a red silk dress. Perez becomes obsessed with finding out her identity and what she was doing there. Then it emerges that she was already dead when the landslide hit the house and, suddenly, Perez finds himself with a murder to solve . . .Continue the atmospheric crime series with Wild Fire, the final Shetland novel.Trade ReviewThe new queen of crime * Sunday Mirror *One of the most memorable entries in the series * Financial Times *

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Book Synopsis'Disher shows that he is a top-class writer' - THE TIMES 'Vivid and visceral, combined with Disher's usual deft plotting' - GUARDIAN 'One of Australia's most admired novelists' - SUNDAY TIMES ________________________________________ ONE DEAD-END POSTING. ONE DEAD BODY. A TRAGIC ACCIDENT? THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK... Constable Paul 'Hirsch' Hirschhausen is a whistle-blower. Formerly a promising metropolitan detective, now hated and despised, he's been exiled to a one-cop station in South Australia's wheatbelt. So when he heads up Bitter Wash Road to investigate gunfire and finds himself cut off without backup, there are two possibilities. Either he's found the fugitive killers thought to be in the area. Or his 'backup' is about to put a bullet in him. He's wrong on both counts. But Tiverton - with its stagnant economy, entrenched racism and rural isolation - has more crime than one constable can handle. And when the next call-out takes him to the body of a sixteen-year-old girl, it's clear that whether or not Hirsch finds her killer, his past may well catch up with him. Winner of the German Crime Prize, this new novel from Ned Kelly Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Garry Disher is perfect for readers of Jane Harper, Chris Hammer and Dervla McTiernan. ________________________________________ 'This novel is superb, and Disher deserves fame over here' - THE SUN 'Terrific stuff, utterly gripping' SAGA 'Peace will have you longing for a sequel' SEATTLE TIMES 'Disher at his brilliant best' - WEEKEND HERALD 'A tasty slice of Aussie noir' - SHOTSTrade ReviewGarry Disher is one of Australia's most admired novelists ... a superb chronicler of cop culture * Sunday Times *A popular and prolific crime writer who, his fellow Australians claim, ought to be more highly regarded here. Disher shows that he's a top-class writer * The Times *There is a lot to like in this story, with several unexpected and surprising changes in direction combined with Disher's usual deft plotting * Guardian *This novel is superb, and Disher deserves fame over here * Sun *The 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 DARKA riveting, suspenseful thriller infused with desolation and paranoia which ratchets up the tension with well-placed twists * Herald *Will have you longing for a sequel * Seattle Times *Terrific stuff, utterly gripping, and there are sequels on the way from this award-winning Australian author * Saga *A tasty slice of Aussie noir... this is a terrific crime novel, tightly plotted, leaking just enough facts to keep the reader fascinated. One that begs another visit to the outback * Shots Magazine *Disher at his brilliant best * Weekend Herald *Disher's writing style is so assured that scenes skip off the page and straight into the imagination, with telling little flourishes of words and sentences that make you sit back and marvel before reading them again for the sheer pleasure of it. Right there in the spotlight is Hirsch himself. I for one can't wait to meet him again! -- Crime Fiction LoverA satisfying complex mystery that reflects on corruption, deep rooted racism and rural isolation and decline. A piece of vivid storytelling; brutal and fast paced. Fans of Peter Temple will find much to like here -- Crime TimeBitter Wash Road is an excellent tale, with a sympathetic protagonist facing challenges on many fronts, occasionally put down but coming up fighting. The dusty outback setting comes across very strongly. The book is packed with incident and builds to a thrilling climax -- Crime Review

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Book SynopsisChristmas is coming – and death is at the door. DCI Vera Stanhope returns in The Darkest Evening, the ninth novel in number one Sunday Times bestseller Ann Cleeves’s phenomenally popular crime series.The darkest nights can hide the deadliest secrets . . .Driving home during a swirling blizzard, Vera Stanhope’s only thought is to get there quickly.But with the snow driving down heavily, she becomes disorientated and loses her way, eventually stumbling on another car abandoned on the road. With the driver’s door open, Vera assumes the driver has sought shelter but is shocked to find a young toddler strapped in the back seat.Afraid they will freeze, Vera takes the child and drives on, arriving at Brockburn, a run-down stately home she immediately recognizes as the house her father Hector grew up in.Inside Brockburn a party is in full swing, with music and laughter to herald the coming Christmas. But outside in the snow, a young woman lies dead and Vera has a new case. Could she be the child’s mother and, if she is, what happened to her?'A thoroughly engrossing thriller' – Mail on SundayTrade ReviewA thoroughly engrossing thriller * Mail on Sunday *Cleeves’s Northumberland novels are strong on atmosphere, combining old-fashioned detective work with a modern take on class * Sunday Times *Brilliantly written, with more twists and turns you can shake one of Vera’s hats at * Heat *A gripping read * Sun *Fans will enjoy matching wits with Cleeves’s eccentric sleuth right up to the dangerous surprise in her denouement * Kirkus Reviews *Cleeves has a fine time constructing a clockwork murder plot * Booklist *Superb . . . This page-turner is must reading for fans as well as newcomers -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)This ninth instalment will keep you guessing until the end * My Weekly *Well-paced and plotted, with its evocative Northumberland village setting and excellent characterisation, this is a great winter read * Choice *A touch of the Agatha Christie house-party murder -- Book of the Week, Country LifeAward-winning crime author Ann Cleeves makes a welcome return with the ninth book in her popular Vera series * Woman *

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Book Synopsis***BEST CRIME BOOKS OF THE YEAR - THE TIMES/SUNDAY TIMES******CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH - THE TIMES***''Brings the obsessional dread of James Ellroy to 1940s London.'' IAN RANKIN''Extraordinary...a career-defining performance.'' THE SUNDAY TIMES''This is crime writing of the highest quality'' DAILY MAILSOHO, 1935.SERGEANT LEON GEATS'' PATCH.A snarling, skull-cracking misanthrope, Geats marshals the grimy rabble according to his own elastic moral code.The narrow alleys are brimming with jazz bars, bookies, blackshirts, ponces and tarts so when a body is found above the Windmill Club, detectives are content to dismiss the case as just another young woman who topped herself early.But Geats - a good man prepared to be a bad one if it keeps the worst of them at bay - knows the dark seams of the city.Working with his former partner, mercenary FlyinTrade ReviewSavage, beautiful, mesmeric. It's impossible not to marvel at the detail, at the sheer richness of each and every scene. Dominic Nolan is a wonderful writer, Vine Street is a very special book. -- CHRIS WHITAKER, author of WE BEGIN AT THE ENDGleefully mixes fact and fiction to revivify history...a career-defining performance * THE TIMES - CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH *This is crime writing of the highest quality and deserves to be compared with the unforgettable James Ellroy * DAILY MAIL *A tour de force. A brilliant marriage of tension and rich detail -- HARRIET TYCEAn epic, brutal, blockbuster of a crime novel. It's the best film noir you've never seen complete with a love story that might just rip your heart out -- TREVOR WOODAn enthralling tale that takes you into the seamy heart of Soho's past. Written in Nolan's visceral, muscular prose, it is a joy to read -- LESLEY KARAA rich, ambitious, masterpiece of a crime novel -- OLIVIA KIERNANPoetic and tragic...but also vibrant, with a great depth of world and character -- JAMES DELARGYWow! This is a crime thriller with an epic feel . . . Gritty, brutual, "real", the writing is electric * Sun *

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Book Synopsis**THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR**____________________________________Murder. Assassination. Revenge.Discover the first short story collection from the King of Scandi Crime.Meet a detective on the trail of a man suspected of murdering his twin; a hired assassin facing his greatest adversary; and two passengers meeting by chance on a plane, spelling romance or something far more sinister.In his first ever collection of short stories, this master of crime delivers a gripping, edge-of-your seat read that you won't be able to put down.*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 55 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE***Shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Dagger Awards 2022**PRAISE FOR JO NESBO:'A storyteller with few equals' Daily Express'The king of Scandicrime' Financial Times'Deliciously dark' Heat'Nightmare-inducing and terrific' The TimesREADERS LOVE JO NESBO:***** 'Intriguing, mysterious, full of suspense' Netgalley reader***** 'To say I couldn't put it down is an understatement...' Netgalley reader***** 'A great read with plenty of twists and surprises' Netgalley readerJo Nesbo was a Sunday Times number one bestseller with Macbeth on 20/09/2018Trade ReviewThe 12 tales in this impressive collection from bestseller Nesbø blend taut suspense with sharply limned characters. /.../ Frederick Forsyth fans will be enthralled. * Publishers Weekly *Starred Review*, US *Nesbø delivers stories ranging from dystopian visions to time-honored tales of duplicity and revenge. /.../ Nesbø is at his best in the long, wonderfully atmospheric title story, which shows off his gift for pulling one story out of another. * Kirkus Reviews, US *Richly atmospheric tales... The Confession has a real twist in the tale * Choice Magazine *Nesbø's characteristic gift for outstanding atmosphere and gut-wrenching revelations, The Jealousy Man confirms that he is at the peak of his abilities. * Bookreporter, US *

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Book SynopsisThe new Rivers of London novella, from Sunday Times Number One bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch.Ghost hunter, fox whisperer, troublemaker. It is the summer of 2013 and Abigail Kamara has been left to her own devices. This might, by those who know her, be considered a mistake. While her cousin, police constable and apprentice wizard Peter Grant, is off in the sticks, chasing unicorns, Abigail is chasing her own mystery. Teenagers around Hampstead Heath have been going missing but before the police can get fully engaged, the teens return home - unharmed but vague about where they''ve been. Aided only by her new friend Simon, her knowledge that magic is real, and a posse of talking foxes that think they''re spies, Abigail must venture into the wilds of Hampstead to discover who is luring the teenagers and more importantly - why?Praise for the Rivers of London novels:''Ben Aaronovitch has created a wondeTrade ReviewHighly entertaining * Sunday Express *Funny and wildly inventive * Mail on Sunday *Masterfully crafted ... gives the late, great Terry Pratchett a run for his money * The Sun *Ben Aaronovitch has created a wonderful world full of mystery, magic and fantastic characters. I love being there even more than the real London * Nick Frost *Charming, witty, exciting * Independent *An incredibly fast-moving magical joyride for grown-ups * The Times *

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Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling authorTWO''S COMPANY, THREE''S MURDER''I loved it!'' GILLIAN McALLISTER''Nobody writes psychopaths like Swanson.'' MARK EDWARDSWhen private detective and former cop Henry Kimball is hired to investigate a cheating husband, he senses all is not quite what it seems, and before he knows it he's gotten far too close to the other woman.As the case rapidly gets ever more dangerous, he's forced to turn to the only person he can trust, the sociopathic Lily Kintner, the woman who once stabbed him, but with whom he shares a peculiar bond.Swanson has made me fall in love with plot twists again.' DOUG JOHNSTONEReaders are gripped by The Kind Worth Saving***** ''Definitely one of the best books of the year!''***** ''Wickedly delicious!''***** ''A thrilling, gripping book that will keep you on the edge of your seat.''***** ''Fantastically twisty''***** ''Wow, this was a nonstop whirlwind!''***** ''Oh my goodness I couldn't put it down''

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Book SynopsisTHE PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO THE MULTIMILLION-COPY BESTSELLING ADAM DALGLIESH SERIES FROM THE QUEEN OF ENGLISH CRIME' (GUARDIAN)A legend.' VAL MCDERMIDP. D. James took the classic crime novel and turned up the dial.' MICK HERRONOne of those books you want to keep forever.' 5* reader reviewAdam Dalgliesh has never failed to solve a case yet.When the body of a woman is discovered at the Steen Psychiatric Clinic with a chisel through her heart, it seems to Dalgliesh a straightforward enough case: the building was locked, and no-one has been able to enter or leave since the murder. Logically, the killer must be one of the shocked group waiting to meet him.But Dalgliesh quickly discovers an intricate web of lies and grudges among both patients and staff which threatens to derail the investigation. And as he works to uncover the truth, the murderer is preparing to strike again . . .____________

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Book SynopsisHarry Hole returns in a pulse-pounding thriller like no other. 'This book had my pulse in the red zone from start to finish' Michael Connelly A freezing December night Christmas shoppers have gathered to listen to a Salvation Army carol concert. Then a shot rings out and one of the singers falls to the floor, dead. A blood-curdling terror Detective Harry Hole and his team are called in to investigate but have little to work with - there is no immediate suspect, no weapon and no motive. But when the assassin discovers he's shot the wrong man, Harry finds his troubles have only just begun. Now the clock is ticking before he kills again*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 55 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE**Watch out for KILLING MOON, the new Jo Nesbo book, out now*Trade ReviewTHE NEXT STIEG LARSSON * Independent *The Redeemer rocks! Jo Nesbo is my new favorite thriller writer and Harry Hole my new hero. This book had my pulse in the red zone from start to finish * Michael Connelly *Nesbo is in a class of his own * Evening Standard *Terrific shocks, tension and atmosphere * The Times *Nesbo's fourth novel [and it] proves to be as brilliant as his other three...grimly realistic...an engrossing mystery * The Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisThe fifteenth instalment in the globally bestselling Michael Bennett series.--------------------Detective Michael Bennett must discover who's murdering glamorous young women - before his eldest daughter is targeted.Detective Michael Bennett and the NYPD are aboard a police boat in the Hudson River searching for a murder victim - a young college student.They find her tossed in the dark waves, dressed for a night out. The gruesome sight fills Bennett with dread only a father could fathom.As the obsessive killer extends his spree, a pattern emerges. One that Bennett's eldest daughter fits to a harrowing degree.Now NYPD's top detective must lure the murderer into the light of day before the next deadly strike lands closer to home than Bennett could ever bear - as a parent and a protector.--------------------Readers are loving Obsessed . . . 'Excellent''I can't wait for the next one''Another absolute cracker from James Patterson''My go-to author. Always guaranteed to deliver!''Captivating'_____________________________________Praise for James Patterson'Nobody does it better.' Jeffery Deaver'One of the greatest storytellers of all time.' Patricia Cornwell'James Patterson is The Boss. End of.' Ian Rankin'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades.' Lee ChildObsessed was a No. 7 Sunday Times bestseller 15/07/23Trade ReviewPatterson knows where our deepest fears are buried... there's no stopping his imagination * New York Times Book Review *A writer with an unusual skill at thriller plotting * The Guardian *The master storyteller of our times -- Hillary Rodham ClintonIt's no mystery why James Patterson is the world's most popular thriller writer ... Simply put: nobody does it better -- Jeffrey DeaverNo one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades -- Lee Child

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Book SynopsisA missing person enquiry leads Manchester DCI Rick Castle to Nepal. Manchester. DCI Rick Castle is inspecting his bees when his boss phones. A minor cannabis dealer has been reported missingThree missing. Two continents. One detective.

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Book SynopsisA dark and twisted crime novel, this is the eagerly anticipated follow up to Dead Ground.

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Book SynopsisTHE PULSE-RACING FIRST DEPARTMENT Q THRILLER FROM THE NO. 1 INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR''Six-star suspense! Superbly written'' 5***** Reader Review''Unputdownable. Keeps you hooked from start to end'' 5***** Reader Review''Taut, thrilling and nail-biting'' 5***** Reader Review_______ She scratches at the walls until her fingers bleed. But there is no escape. She doesn''t know how long she''s been there. She vows not to go mad. She would rather die. Copenhagen detective Carl Mørck has been taken off homicide to run a newly created department for unsolved crimes. His first case concerns politician Merete Lynggaard, who vanished five years ago. Everyone says she''s dead. Everyone says it''s a waste of time. He thinks they''re right. But she isn''t dead . . . yet. Can they save her in time?_______PRAISE FOR THE DEPARTMENT Q SERIES:<Trade ReviewOne of the most original plots in crime fiction . . . Brilliant * The Times, Top 100 Crime & Thrillers since 1945 *The new "it" boy of Nordic Noir * The Times *Gripping story-telling * Guardian *This pitch-black novel will have readers hungry for more * Independent *

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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 SynopsisThe next gripping volume in The Brighton Mysteries series by bestselling author Elly Griffiths.It starts with a magician and a murder in a Brighton boarding house; throw in a show on Brighton pier, a sinister radio personality and a potential serial killer, and you've got the next gripping book in the Brighton Mysteries series. Magician Max Mephisto, now divorced and living in London, is on his way to visit daughter Ruby and her new-born baby when he is hailed by a voice from the past, fellow performer Ted English, aka the Great Deceiver. Ted's assistant, Cherry, has been found dead in her Brighton boarding house and he's convinced that he'll be accused of her murder.Max agrees to talk to his friend, Superintendent Edgar Stephens, who is investigating the case. What Max doesn't know is that the girl's family have hired private detective duo Emma Holmes (aka Mrs Stephens) and Sam Collins to do some digging of their own. The inhabitants of the boarding house, most of whom are performing in an Old Time Music Hall show on Brighton pier, are a motley crew. The house is also connected to a sinister radio personality called Pal. When a second magician's assistant is killed, Edgar suspects a serial killer. He persuades Max to come out of semi-retirement and take part in a summer show. But who can pose as his assistant? Edgar shocks the team by recommending someone close. . .***************************Praise for The Brighton Mysteries'Original, lively and gripping' Independent'Full of period detail, smart plotting and likeable characters' Mail on Sunday'Full of fun and expertly plotted' Sunday ExpressThe Last Remains, the final instalment of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries, was a Sunday Times bestseller in August 2023.Trade ReviewGriffiths' affection for Brighton - with its grotty digs ruled by no-nonsense landladies - and her gentle wit ensure that the reader very much likes to be beside the seaside * The Times *Strong on period detail * Sunday Times *Once again Griffiths has created a lively crew of characters and woven a twisty plot around them * Mystery People *An engaging cosy mystery - with added bite * Crime Monthly Review *Riveting offering in Griffiths' Brighton Mysteries * Sunday Post *Intriguing, multi-layered and full of rich period detail with each character honed to perfection * Lancashire Evening Press *Elly has shot into the top ranks of British crime writers after building an impressive catalogue of bestsellers * Peterborough Telegraph *Gripping . . . magical . . . we loved it * Woman's Weekly *Full of period charm and fiendish plotting * Mail on Sunday *Griffiths' affection for Brighton - with its grotty digs rules by no-nonsense landladies - and her gentle wit ensure that the reader very much likes to be beside the seaside * The Times *Strong on period detail * Sunday Times *Once again Griffiths has created a lively crew of characters and woven a twisty plot around them * Mystery People *An engaging cosy mystery - with added bite * Crime Monthly Review *Riveting offering in Griffiths' Brighton Mysteries * Sunday Post *

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Book SynopsisMeet Cordelia Gray: twenty-two, tough, intelligent and now sole inheritor of the Pryde Detective Agency. Her first assignment finds her hired by Sir Ronald Callender to investigate the death of his son Mark, a young Cambridge student found hanged in mysterious circumstances. Required to delve into the hidden secrets of the Callender family, Cordelia soon realises it is not a case of suicide, and that the truth is entirely more sinister.

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Book SynopsisThe Killing Tide by Lin Anderson sees forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod investigating a mysterious abandoned ship which has swept ashore in the Orkney Isles.'A cracking story told at breakneck speed' – Scotland on SundayAfter a fierce storm hits Scotland, a mysterious cargo ship is discovered in the Orkney Isles. Boarding the vessel uncovers three bodies, recently deceased and in violent circumstances. Forensic scientist Dr Rhona MacLeod’s study of the crime scene suggests that a sinister game was being played on board, but who were the hunters? And who the hunted?Meanwhile in Glasgow DS Michael McNab is called to a horrific incident where a young woman has been set on fire. Or did she spark the flames herself? As evidence arises that connects the two cases, the team grow increasingly concerned that the truth of what happened on the ship and in Glasgow hints at a wider conspiracy that stretches down to London and beyond to a global stage. Orcadian Ava Clouston, renowned investigative journalist, believes so and sets out to prove it, putting herself in grave danger.When the Met Police challenge Police Scotland’s jurisdiction, it becomes obvious that there are ruthless individuals who are willing to do whatever it takes to protect government interests. Which could lead to even more deaths on Scottish soil . . .Trade ReviewAs always Lin Anderson provides a big fat colourful mystery -- Mark Sanderson, The TimesA cracking story told at breakneck speed * Scotland on Sunday *Forensic 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 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 -- Stuart MacBrideVivid and atmospheric . . . enthralling * Guardian *Greenock-born Anderson’s work is sharper than a pathologist’s scalpel. One of the best Scottish crime series since Rebus -- Shari Low, Daily Record

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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 SynopsisFar future lawman Judge Dredd has been a mainstay of the British comics scene for over thirty years and now you can follow his earliest cases in this vast collection of graphic novels.This second volume features the very first Dredd epic The Cursed Earth, written by comic legends Pat Mills (Marshal Law) and John Wagner (A History of Violence) and featuring the art of Mike McMahon (The Last American) and Brian Bolland (Batman: The Killing Joke).

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