Crime and mystery: private investigator / amateur detectives

Book SynopsisHettie Bagshot has bitten off more than any cat could chew. No sooner has she launched her No. 2 Feline Detective Agency than she's thrown into her first case. Furcross, home for senior cats, has a nasty spate of bodysnatching, and three former residents have been stolen from their graves. Hettie and her sidekick, Tilly, set out to reveal the terrible truth. Is Nurse Mogadon involved in a deadly game? Has the haberdashery department of Malkin and Sprinkle become a mortuary? And what flavour will Betty Butter's pie of the week be? In a haze of catnip and pastry, Hettie steers the case to its conclusion, but will she get there before the body count rises - and the pies sell out?Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE NO. 2 FELINE DETECTIVE AGENCY ‘Original and intriguing… a world without people which cat lovers will enter and enjoy’ P. D. James‘Mandy Morton’s Feline Detective Agency instigates a new genre, both wonderful and surreal’ Maddy Prior‘The world that Morton has created is irresistible’ Publishers Weekly‘Witty and smart. Prepare to be besotted’ M. K. Graff‘Mandy Morton’s series is both charming and whimsical’ Barry Forshaw

Read more less

Book SynopsisNeighbours Carole and Jude uncover more than they bargained for when Jude decides to redecorate her cottage in this lighthearted cosy mystery.An edgy cozy, filled with dry wit and deft plot twists- Booklist Starred ReviewHaving decided to redecorate Woodside Cottage, Jude has engaged the services of local man Pete, who has painted and decorated the homes of Fethering residents for many years. Pete is currently working on Footscrow House, a large Victorian building which is being converted into holiday flats by a local developer. Having arranged to meet at ''Fiasco House'', as it is known locally due to the many failed business enterprises over the years, Jude and Pete make a surprising discovery behind a wall panel: a woman''s handbag! The casual discovery becomes serious when the police identify the handbag''s owner as Anita Garner, a young woman who vanished in suspicious circumstances twenty years earlier. Determined to

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE THIRD NOVEL IN THE RECORD-BREAKING, MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING THURSDAY MURDER CLUB SERIES.YOU KNOW WHO WILL LOVE READING THIS? EVERYONE!----------''Full of Osman''s trademark charm, insight and intelligence'' Lee Child''Tender, hopeful and funny'' Marian Keyes''I adored this thrilling adventure. His best yet!'' Claire Douglas''Infectious, charming and full of heart'' Gillian McAllisterIt is an ordinary Thursday and things should finally be returning to normal.Except trouble is never far away where the Thursday Murder Club is concerned. A decade-old cold case leads them to a local news legend and a murder with no body and no answers.Then a new foe pays Elizabeth a visit. Her mission? Kill...or be killed.As the cold case turns white hot, Elizabeth wrestles with her conscience (and a gun), while Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim chase down clues with help from old friends and new. But can the gang solve the mystery and save Elizabeth before the murderer strikes again?----------WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB SERIES''Infectious, charming and full of heart'' GILLIAN MCALLISTER''I adored this thrilling adventure. His best yet!'' CLAIRE DOUGLAS''Another witty, charming and hugely entertaining read ... his best yet'' SUNDAY EXPRESS''A joy to be back...intrigue, red herrings and loads of charm'' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING''I snickered so much reading this one'' THE OBSERVER''Opening the new Osman is like sitting down to dinner with treasured friends you know are going to kill you - deliciously!'' PETER JAMES''Full of humour and heart, Osman delivers another must-read. I loved it'' HARLAN COBEN''A warm, wise and witty warning never to underestimate the elderly'' VAL MCDERMID''So smart and funny. Deplorably good'' IAN RANKIN''Thrilling, moving, laugh-out-loud funny'' MARK BILLINGHAMRichard Osman, Sunday Times bestseller, March 2024The Bullet that Missed broke the record for the fastest-selling adult fiction hardback ever, September 2022Trade ReviewHumour is gently threaded through every element * Observer *Unlike the bullet, Richard Osman seems incapable of missing * The Times *Delivered with the sharp wit that we associate with Osman * Financial Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrouble''s on the wind when an auctioneer turns up dead in the new Trash ''n'' Treasures cozy mystery - "one of the funniest cozy series going" (Ellery Queen Magazine)Two o''clock in the morning is the perfect time to be asleep. So when long-suffering Brandy Borne is rudely awoken by her eccentric mother, Vivian, and invited on a surreptitious shopping trip, the idea is less than tempting. But if Vivian - Serenity''s true-crime writing, septuagenarian super-sleuth - has a nose for sniffing out antiques, Brandy''s sense of smell is just as good . . . and trouble''s on the wind.A little light blackmail and one run-in with the police later, and Brandy and Vivian are the ''proud'' owners of a selection of dead stock, liberated ahead of an upcoming warehouse sale from unsavory auctioneer Conrad Norris. Brandy''s not convinced there''s a fortune to be made in vintage toys, retro plates and pearl buttons - there''s more mileage in their shop''s new Halloween display, even though it''s only August - but she supposes it could be worse.It soon is. After the auction''s taken place, Vivian and Brandy make an unnerving discovery. It''s not just the stock that''s dead - so is the auctioneer . . .This light-hearted, laugh-out-loud cozy mystery also features Brandy and Vivian''s humorous tips for buying and selling antiques, along with a selection of tasty recipes.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNothing stays buried foreverLifeboat volunteer DI Shona Oliver receives a Mayday call coming from Kilcatrin Island. Upon the beach is the badly burned body of a man, and a boy lies gravely injured nearby. Strewn around them are scores of Second World War incendiary bombs, presumably washed up by the tide from Beaufort’s Dyke, an offshore arms dump deep in the Irish Sea.The dead man is a local fisherman – his son the other victim – and it rocks the tight-knit community on the shores of the Solway Firth. As lead detective, Shona has to maintain a professional distance. But she can’t ignore the hardship that her neighbours who make a living at sea are experiencing. Anger is directed at the Ministry of Defence when the fallout threatens tourism, and livelihoods including Shona’s own family B&B business are at risk. Suspicious behaviour seems to be found at every turn. It’s impossible for Shona to get to the truth unless she can gain the trust of those who know more than they’ve been willing to reveal. But blind loyalty may mean she’s too late to save those still in danger – including herself. The second instalment in an exciting new Scottish crime series featuring a detective with nerves of steel. Perfect for fans of Neil Lancaster, G. R. Halliday and Ann Cleeves.Praise for Dead Man Deep ‘A real cracker of a book. Combining police procedural with the perils of volunteer lifeboat crew and some dodgy MOD arms dumping thrown in for good measure...’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘I absolutely loved this book. So much so I read it in one sitting. The twists kept the pages turning and left me shocked at the end. I definitely recommend this series to all crime fiction fans!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Fun page turner, this one will have you pining for the Scottish coast!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘A very well-written and likeable character… this had the makings of a cracking series.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Shona Oliver is flawed but hard working and always with good intentions. Lynne McEwan has created a captivating character and I hope more books follow!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Excellent storyline and characters, so what more do you need? The next title can’t come quickly enough.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘A riveting Scottish police procedural.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

Read more less

Book Synopsis**Soon to be a major Netflix film starring Christian Bale and Gillian Anderson**April 19th, 1831. In two or three hours I''ll be dead.So begins the chilling last testament of Gus Landor, a retired New York City police constable, whose numerous talents include code-breaking, riot control and the ''gloveless interrogation''. A young cadet has been found hanged at a military academy on the shores of the Hudson River. Before his body could be buried, however, it was stolen and his heart brutally carved out.Fearing a scandal, the top brass at West Point have summoned Landor to help catch the culprit, and keep his discoveries away from prying eyes. As Landor embarks on a thrilling adventure to solve the case, he uncovers a series of dark secrets and finds unlikely assistance in the form of a mischievous young cadet named Edgar Allan Poe.Full of drama and unexpected twists, The Pale Blue Eye is a brilliantly haunting and atmospheric historicTrade ReviewReally outstanding crime fiction is rare . . . so it's a joy to see Louis Bayard pull off this coup . . . As gory and melodramatic as Poe's own writing . . . brilliantly plotted and completely absorbing, ending with the kind of shock that few novelists are able to deliver * Sunday Times *Hardback fiction worth looking out for * Publishing News *A most satisfying murder mystery * Bookseller *Bayard's shockingly clever and devoutly unsentimental new mystery reads like a lost classic . . . Bayard reinvigorates historical fiction, rendering the 19th century as if he'd witnessed it firsthand * New York Times *An immensely satisfying whodunit, richly imaginative . . . Good, clean homicidal fun -- Kate Saunders * The Times *The Pale Blue Eye kept me transfixed . . . a moody, cunning mystery . . . In the course of the narrative, Bayard ingeniously weaves in motifs from Poe's work to thrilling effect * Observer *A Dickensian thriller strong on atmosphere * Sunday Telegraph *Louis Bayard is a writer of remarkable gifts: for language, for imagination, for that mysterious admixture of audacity and craftsmanship that signals a major talent in the making -- Joyce Carol OatesA tour de force, an intense and gripping novel . . . This beautifully crafted thriller stands head and shoulders above other recent attempts to fictionalise Poe * Publishers Weekly *In THE PALE BLUE EYE, Louis Bayard pays a stunning and fitting tribute to Edgar Allan Poe - not only in his crafting of a twisty, Gothic mystery that would have delighted the master himself, but in his use of a young Poe as a character. A gorgeous, melancholic tale from a fearless writer. I can't wait to see what Bayard does next -- Laura Lipman, author of TO THE POWER OF THREEDazzling * Scotsman *A fictional mystery in a real historical background * Sunday Telegraph *PRAISE FOR THE FILMA Netflix historical thriller stuffed with Gothic flourishes * Financial Times *An appealingly icy, moody, twisty, Gothic fiction work rooted in the same themes that Poe explored * Flickering Myth *The Pale Blue Eye is all at once a melancholic romance, arevenger's tragedy, and an intriguing mystery * Little White Lies *A thrilling whodunnit with an irresistible gothic mood * The Upcoming *Moves with elegant severity, like a film about 19th-century murder should * Independent *The Pale Blue Eye feels both fresh and reminiscent of the golden age of the Western drama * Jewish Chronicle *As cozy as a blanket of thorns - but then, you don't go to Poe for a good cuddle, and The Pale Blue Eye gets that. This is one foreboding snow globe of a movie * Time Magazine *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTracy Whitwell's second novel Gin Palace picks up with the unwilling crime-solver, Tanz, from the hilarious The Accidental Medium, as she grows accustomed to her rather unusual gift . . .Tanz can talk to ghosts, although she’d prefer it if she couldn’t. Struggling to make ends meet as an actress and wholly unsuited to supply teaching, Tanz is only one bad day away from a meltdown. And the babbling ghosts aren’t helping.So when Tanz is offered a paid acting gig in her hometown, things start to look up. But Newcastle’s dead won’t stay quiet for long, and soon Tanz becomes haunted with visions of a mysterious Gin Palace guarded by a sinister figure. As Tanz starts to piece together a terrible tragedy, it becomes clear there’s no limit to what the poltergeist will do to keep his secrets his own.Unfortunately, he’s never met anyone quite like Tanz before . . .Trade ReviewCompelling, wasp-tongued and very funny -- Caroline Smailes, author of The Drowning of Arthur Braxton on The Accidental Medium Spooky and hilarious and brimming with oddball characters, I love this book! -- Mandasue Heller, author of Running Scared on The Accidental Medium I loved The Accidental Medium. A hilarious journey into a ghostly world of psychics and the like that’s guaranteed to put you in high spirits. I’m no clairvoyant but, trust me, this medium is about to go large! -- Trevor Wood, author of Dead End Street on The Accidental Medium

Read more less

Book SynopsisA classic crime novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, The King of Detective Story Writers', featuring Inspector French, coming soon to television.Moneylender Albert Reeve has added blackmail to his activities. When his cottage burns down and he perishes within the flames, his death comes as a shock to one of his victims and Tony Meadows finds himself accused of murder. Luckily for him, his sister remembers Inspector French and asks him to help. French fears a miscarriage of justice and agrees to commence one of his most challenging investigations.Trade Review“A detective novel by Mr. Wills Crofts is always an event to those who know… Mr. Crofts is among the few muscular writers of detective fiction. He has never let me down.”HAROLD NICHOLSON, DAILY EXPRESS

Read more less

Book SynopsisTheNew York TimesBestselling master of suspense is back with a riveting thriller, as reward seeker Colter Shaw plunges into the woods and races the clock in a case where nothing is quite what it seems.The Times Book of the Month (November 2022)THERE ARE TWO FUNDAMENTAL RULES OF SURVIVAL.#1: NEVER BE WITHOUT A MEANS OF ESCAPE.Allison Parker is on the run with her teenage daughter, Hannah, and Colter Shaw has been hired by her eccentric boss, entrepreneur Marty Harmon, to find and protect her. Though he's an expert at tracking missing personseven those who don't wish to be foundShaw has met his match in Allison, who brings all her skills as a brilliant engineer designing revolutionary technology to the game of evading detection.#2: NEVER BE WITHOUT ACCESS TO A WEAPON.The reason for Allison's panicked flight is soon apparent. She's being stalked by her ex-husband, Jon Merritt. Newly released from prison and fueled by blinding rage, Jon is a man whose former profession as a police detectivTrade Review“The alternating friction and affection between parent and child make Hunting Time especially convincing and nerve-wracking. Mr. Deaver is well-known for maintaining suspense while also subverting readers’ expectations. This fourth Shaw novel—full of “oh no!” surprises and tire-screeching escapes —is guaranteed to make your heart pound, your blood race and your head spin. And how likely is it that you’re being set up for a finale that will pull the rug out from under you? One hundred percent.” Financial Times “Hunting Time has got what distinguishes good page-turners from landfill: grip … a neat twist, a deadly chase, plus a pair of killers … and you’re good to go.’ The Times Book of the Month ‘Colter Shaw is one of Deaver's most intriguing characters, a survival specialist who finds people who don't want to be found, for high financial rewards. He is resourceful, smart and courageous … Deaver's plot skills shine out of this tale of treachery and redemption.’ Daily Mail ‘The twists in the plot and relationships are unexpected’ Literary Review

Read more less

Book SynopsisJoe Pickett investigates a mysterious death at a secret high-tech facility in this gripping new novel from #1 New York Times bestseller C.J. Box. When a prominent University of Wyoming professor goes missing, authorities are stumped. That is, until Game Warden Joe Pickett makes two surprising discoveries in his district. First, Joe finds the professor's vehicle parked on a remote mountainside. Then he finds the professor's frozen and mutilated body. When he attempts to learn more, Joe's investigation is obstructed by Federal agents, extreme environmentalists, and Governor Colter Allen. Meanwhile, Joe's associate, falconer Nate Romanowski, is approached by a shadowy group of local militant activists who are gaining in power and influence, and demanding that Wyoming join other western states in seceding from the Union – by force, if necessary. They ask Nate to throw in his lot with them, but should he trust them, or is he being set up? As a storm of peril gathers around them, Joe and Nate confront it in different ways – and maybe, for the first time, on opposite sides. Reviewers on C.J. Box: 'The king of contemporary crime fiction set in the West' Publishers Weekly 'A masterful storyteller who writes sublimely' Irish IndependentTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR C.J. BOX: 'Box is the king of contemporary crime fiction set in the West' Publishers Weekly. 'A masterful storyteller who writes sublimely' Irish Independent. 'This is terrific reading entertainment, as riveting as it is relentless' * Providence Journal, on Dark Sky *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIntroducing spirited female sleuth Elizabeth Fairchild in the first of the brilliant new Oak Park village mystery series, set in 1920s Illinois. June, 1925. Having been widowed in the Great War, Elizabeth Fairchild lives a quiet life at the home of her wealthy parents in genteel Oak Park village, Illinois. Although she does her best to avoid emotional entanglements, determined never to be hurt again, Elizabeth forms a close friendship with gentle Mr Anthony, who owns the local antiques store.But tragedy strikes when Mr Anthony is found stabbed to death in the alley behind his shop. Why would anyone murder a mild-mannered antiques dealer who simply loved beautiful things? A robbery gone wrong? A gangland execution? Or could it have something to do with the mysterious customer who bought a gold pocket watch from Mr Anthony on the day he died? When one of her father''s oldest friends is accused of the crime, Elizabeth determines to expose the real killer. But her investigations soon attract unwelcome attention. With gangsters moving into the neighbourhood from nearby Chicago, Oak Park is no longer the safe haven it once was. Could Elizabeth be seriously out of her depth?

Read more less

Book SynopsisJulia Chapman is the pseudonym of Julia Stagg, writer of the Fogas Chronicles set in the French Pyrenees. She is also the author of the Dales Detective series which follows the adventures of Samson O'Brien and Delilah Metcalfe as they solve cases in the Yorkshire Dales.Born with a wanderlust that keeps her moving, Julia has followed her restless feet to Japan, Australia, the USA and France. She spent the majority of that time as a teacher of English as a Foreign Language but also dabbled in bookselling, pawnbroking, waitressing and was once checkout chick of the month' at a supermarket in South Australia. She also ran an auberge in the French Pyrenees for six years with her husband.Having spent many years wandering, she is now glad to call the Yorkshire Dales home. Its distinctive landscape and way of life provide the setting for her latest set of novels, the Dales Detective series.Trade ReviewBags of Yorkshire charm and wit * The Northern Echo *A delightful read * The Dalesman *A classic whodunnit set in the spectacular landscape of the Yorkshire Dales, written with affection for the area and its people. A satisfying read riddled with dry Yorkshire humour (and dry-stone walls) -- Cath Staincliffe, author of The Silence Between BreathsGreat fun! -- Carol Drinkwater, actress (All Creatures Great and Small) and author of The Olive FarmThe barbed electricity flowing between the two central protagonists . . . bring fire and drive to the narrative * The Yorkshire Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA classic crime novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, The King of Detective Story Writers', featuring Inspector French, coming soon to television.James Tarrant wants to make a lot of money. But as an assistant chemist in a sleepy village backwater his career seems to have reached a dead end and he has no way to further his ambitions. Suddenly inspiration strikes, and his goal looks to be within reach, with a willing young accomplice who will do almost anything for him. But would she go as far as murder? Inspector French is called in to investigate shady business deals, two-timers, and multiple motives for revenge. . .Trade Review“Crofts is an Old Master whose work still overshadows the products of most of the Bright Young Things.” Times Literary Supplement “A detective novel by Mr. Wills Crofts is always an event to those who know … Mr. Crofts is among the few muscular writers of detective fiction. He has never let me down.”HAROLD NICHOLSON, DAILY EXPRESS

Read more less

Book SynopsisOur Lady of Mysterious Ailments by T. L. Huchu is the second spellbinding book in the Edinburgh Nights series.‘Stupendously engaging’ – Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of LondonSome secrets are meant to stay buriedWhen Ropa Moyo discovered an occult underground library, she expected great things. She’s really into Edinburgh’s secret societies – but turns out they are less into her. So instead of getting paid to work magic, she’s had to accept a crummy unpaid internship. And her with bills to pay and a pet fox to feed.Then her friend Priya offers her a job on the side. Priya works at Our Lady of Mysterious Maladies, a very specialized hospital, where a new illness is resisting magical and medical remedies alike. The first patient was a teenage boy, Max Wu, and his healers are baffled. If Ropa can solve the case, she might earn as she learns – and impress her mentor, Sir Callander.Her sleuthing will lead her to a lost fortune, an avenging spirit and a secret buried deep in Scotland’s past. But how are they connected? Lives are at stake and Ropa is running out of time.Praise for The Library of the Dead:‘Roll on the sequel’ – The Times‘One of the strangest and most compelling fantasy worlds you'll see all year’ – SFXTrade ReviewTendai’s alternative Edinburgh becomes more real and more exciting with every book. An artful combination of magic, history and imagination wrapped up in an engaging story -- Ben AaronovitchThe Library of the Dead’s alluring, shadowy Edinburgh with its hints of sophisticated academic magic will draw you in, but it’s Ropa – a hard knocks ghostalker on her paranormal grind to pay the rent – who grabs hold. The moment you meet her, you’ll follow wherever she goes -- Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas Six on The Library of the DeadA fast-moving and entertaining tale, beautifully written -- Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of London on The Library of the DeadAn absolute delight . . . kept me totally hooked -- Genevieve Cogman on The Library of the DeadWhat a delight. Great pacing, wonderfully creepy villains, and so much fun! -- A. K. Larkwood on The Library of the Dead

Read more less

Book Synopsis Fresh, original, authentic and gritty' Lee Child The third and final gritty Newcastle-set crime thriller in this acclaimed trilogy about a PTSD-suffering veteran turned sleuth in the face of local villainy.A group of vigilantes are carrying out a campaign of harassment against the homeless, hounding them both verbally and physically to get them off the streets. Jimmy Mullen is approached by his friend Gadge, who wants to confront the people behind it but Jimmy has finally got his life back on track. He's working at a hostel for 18 to 25-year-olds and he's reluctant to get involved in anything dodgy.Gadge decides to go it alone but is attacked by two of the vigilantes. The police find him unconscious in an alley, covered in blood. Problem is, there's a dead body in the alley too and it's his blood that Gadge is covered in. He's also got the murder weapon in his hand.Convinced that Gadge has been set up, and feeling guilty that he didn't back him up in the first place, Jimmy returns to the streets to try and find out who's behind his friend's difficulties. Unfortunately, he's about to discover that Gadge has a lot of enemies to choose from.Praise for Dead End Street'A brilliant character' Harriet Tyce'An unforgettable ride, filled with twists that will make your head spin' Sun'Fast-paced and intense' Patricia Gibney'Authentic . . . raw and riveting' Sunday Independent'A fantastic story' Nikki Smith'Unflinching yet compassionate' Philippa East'A breakneck and exhilarating conclusion' Kate Simants'Satisfying and involving' Quietus'Wood writes with knowledge and compassion' Literary ReviewTrade ReviewMore than just a crime series. Dead End Street is the perfect conclusion to the trilogy, both melancholic and hopeful, completing a character work that is at the vanguard of British crime * Dominic Nolan *Fast paced, very moving and a worthy conclusion to the trilogy. Jimmy is a brilliant character as are the other musketeers and I'm going to miss them a lot, though excited to see what Trevor writes next * Harriet Tyce *I've laughed, squirmed, wanted to punch someone and fallen even more madly in love with a dog called Dog. Cracking read! * Emma Christie *Jimmy is a man with a PhD in loyalty and an allergic reaction to injustice. Among nasty villains, hapless sidekicks, incompetent authorities, Jimmy is a ray of good-natured, wise-cracking sunshine and just what the doctor ordered * Fiona Erskine *Just finished the third book in the Jimmy Mullen series. Compelling and atmospheric, unflinching yet compassionate, this is some of the most authentic crime writing on the street * Philippa East *A no-holds-barred tour of the darkest, most brutal aspects of life on Newcastle's streets. Wood's trademark pace and compassion combine to bring the trilogy to a breakneck and exhilarating conclusion. Hilarious, heart-breaking, and hopeful. I could hardly bear to turn the final page and say goodbye * Kate Simants *A fitting end to this excellent trilogy. The characters bring the story to life in a unique way and though dark and gritty the story is realistic, and heart-breaking in places. Fast paced and intense. page turning and highly recommended * Patricia Gibney *A fantastic story with flawed but brilliant characters. I read deliberately slowly towards the end just to delay finishing it * Nikki Smith *Newcastle grit, heart, humour and compassion are woven through the pages alongside a gripping plot. In this worthy last instalment of the series, Wood continues his tale of three homeless friends, Jimmy, Deano and Gadge, ably assisted by Dog. I shall miss these wonderful characters greatly. A truly special and unusual crime series * Louise Fein *Yet another superb instalment in one of the most original and authentic series out there. Jimmy Mullen is such a unique protagonist, and tour guide around the parts of a city most of us never stumble on, and I for one have loved every single page in his company. Could not recommend highly enough. -- Rob ScraggThe book masterfully interweaves its complicated crime story around acutely observed slices of life . . . as satisfying and involving as the investigation is, it's this world Wood builds and populates that stays with you * Quietus *Infused with dark humour, this gritty tale offers hard-hitting insights into the realities of being homeless. The characterisation is truly authentic . . . Raw and riveting * Sunday Independent *Wood writes with knowledge and compassion and, in spite of the nightmarish world he re-creates, he suffuses the novel with warmth and affection * Literary Review *The explosive final act of this wonderful, award-winning trilogy . . . it's set to be an unforgettable ride, filled with twists that will make your head spin * Sun *

Read more less

Book SynopsisRichard is a middle-aged Englishman who runs a B&B in the fictional Val de Follet in the Loire Valley. Nothing ever happens to Richard, and really that’s the way he likes it. One day, however, one of his older guests disappears, leaving behind a bloody handprint on the wallpaper. Another guest, the exotic Valérie, persuades a reluctant Richard to join her in investigating the disappearance. Richard remains a dazed passenger in the case until things become really serious and someone murders Ava Gardner, one of his beloved hens... and you don’t mess with a fellow’s hens! Unputdownable mystery set in rural France, by TV/radio regular and bestselling author Ian Moore – perfect for fans of Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder ClubTrade Review'A very funny page-turner. Fantastique!' Adam Kay'A joyous read!' Alan Carr'A writer of immense wit and charm' Paul Sinha'Ian is one of my favourite writers; this is hilarious and a great mystery too' Janey Godley'Good food and a laugh-out-loud mystery. What more could anyone want in these dark times' Mark Billingham'Like going on a joyous romp through the Loire valley with Agatha Christie, PG Woodhouse and Mc Beaton. A delight.' C. K. McDonnell'Ian Moore is a brilliant, funny writer who perfectly captures the foibles of rural France but judging by this book I will never be visiting his bed and breakfast’ Josh Widdicombe'Beautifully done. Very funny indeed. I can’t imagine how one plots something like that. Tremendous work' Miles Jupp'I'm so punchdrunk from the sheer entertainment of it I've got a sore jaw. Encore!' Matt Forde'This is like two great books in one, a tricksy whodunnit, and a really, really funny story' Jason Manford'Such a brilliant read, smart, funny and his sharp writing captures the nuances of “Anglo-French” relations beautifully' Zoe Lyons'This book is a fun and funny read and I’m very much looking forward to the next one' Ian Stone'Funny, pacey and very entertaining' Robin Ince

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘Tender. . .confidently told and a very relatable tale.’ Daily Mail ‘An unsettling drama. . .shored up with multi-faceted characterisation.’ Financial Times She knows everything. She’ll stop at nothing.Trade Review‘At its heart — and at its best — this book is an exploration of grief and the very different responses it produces. It is also about the dangers of the distance it can create between two people. . .McGrath's tender examination of grief and vulnerability is confidently told and a very relatable tale.’ Daily Mail ‘McGrath’s unspooling of her unsettling drama is non-pareil, shored up with multi-faceted characterisation (particularly of the traumatised central couple).’Financial Times ‘Dark and sinister with a shocking final twist.’Bella ‘McGrath provides a sensitive study of trauma and loss as well as expertly ratcheting up the tension, and the result is a compelling read.’Guardian

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe thrilling new standalone suspense novel from Sweden's answer to Val McDermid and Sunday Times Book of the Month author, Anders de la Motte.**DON'T MISS DEEDS OF AUTUMN. AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW**'Tightly plotted and dark with psychological suspense, intriguing characters and vivid milieus that never stop delivering' KATRINE ENGBERG, author of the Korner and Werner seriesIT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A NIGHT TO REMEMBERWINTER 1987Laura is excited to spend Christmas as usual with her beloved aunt Hedda and her friends. But her festive mood soon turns sour as she finds both old faces and new are keeping secrets from her. When a fire claims the life of her best friend, the scars of that night will remain with Laura for the rest of her life.TODAYWith her aunt's death, Laura inherits the cabin village Hedda used to manage and is forced to return to the town she hasn't set foot in since the tragedy. Laura's presence stirs up repressed emotions in the small community and it isn't long before a series of arson attacks casts suspicion on her. Though Laura is desperate to leave, she learns her aunt discovered something about that fateful night not long before she died.BUT SOMEONE WANTS THE PAST TO STAY BURIED . . .PRAISE FOR ANDERS DE LA MOTTE:'For fans of the hugely successful CWA Gold Dagger-winning The Dry by Jane Harper' VASEEM KHAN'One of Sweden's most talented crime fiction authors' ERIK AXL SUNDTrade ReviewAnders de la Motte has quickly become one of my favourite crime writers. His writing is tightly plotted and dark with psychological suspense, intriguing characters and vivid milieus that never stop delivering * Katrine Engberg, author of the Korner and Werner series *An involving, stand-alone suspense novel * Choice *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Clever. Compulsive. Deliciously creepy. Invite me in? Yes, please. I didn't want to leave.' Jane Corry, author of MY HUSBAND'S WIFETo those who think they know her, Eliza Curran has it all: two healthy children, a stunning home and a wealthy, adoring husband. No one would guess the reality of her life: trapped in an unhappy marriage to a controlling man, she longs for a way out.When she takes on a new tenant, her life changes unexpectedly. Dan Jones is charming and perceptive, and quickly becomes a close friend to the whole family.But Dan's arrival threatens to tip Eliza's fragile world out of balance. And when someone has as many secrets as Eliza does, the smallest slip could destroy everything . . .'Incredibly tense and gripping, Invite Me In kept me guessing right til the end' Laura Marshall, author of FRIEND REQUEST'Invite Me In is a masterclass in building suspense' Trisha Sakhlecha, author of CAN YOU SEE ME NOW'Curtis teases the reader forward, making them guess and second-guess, and guess again - by the last third, I was biting my nails' S. E. Lynes, author of THE HOUSEWARMINGTrade ReviewShocking, tense, and packed with intrigue - another expertly crafted must-read from Emma Curtis! * Lauren North, author of THE PERFECT BETRAYAL *Emma Curtis has done it again! With strong, memorable characters, elegant prose and an ever-tightening sense of dread, Invite Me In has all the ingredients of a classic psychological thriller. * Nicola Rayner, author of THE GIRL BEFORE YOU and YOU AND ME *An engrossing and surprising read that crackles with toxic relationships, dark secrets and simmering tensions. Emma Curtis has done it again - Invite Me In is a masterclass in building suspense. * Trisha Sakhlecha, author of CAN YOU SEE ME NOW *Curtis teases the reader forward, making them guess and second-guess, and guess again - by the last third I was biting my nails. You know you're in safe hands with Emma Curtis; the best thing to do is buckle up and enjoy the ride. * S. E. Lynes, author of THE HOUSEWARMING *OMG what a brilliant story. Intriguing, unpredictable and so very twisty. I never knew who to trust! Loved it. * Claire Douglas, author of JUST LIKE THE OTHER GIRLS *Stayed up far too late reading Invite Me In as I couldn't put it down! A chilling portrayal of coercive control with brilliantly flawed characters. I loved it. * Nikki Smith, author of ALL IN HER HEAD *Clever. Compulsive. Deliciously creepy. Invite me in? Yes please. I didn't want to leave. * Jane Corry, author of MY HUSBAND'S WIFE *Loved this gripping psychological thriller with its clever plot and convincing characters. An original premise that draws you in with an unexpected twist. * Jenny Quintana, author of THE HIDING PLACE *Brilliant pacing, a great cast of intriguing and all-too-believable dislikable characters, and a very satisfying ending. It's a masterclass in domestic noir - I loved it. * Andrea Mara, author of ALL HER FAULT *Sophisticated, intelligent and deftly woven, Emma Curtis has crafted another "guess, then guess again" psychological thriller to keep the reader hooked until the very last page. * Kerry Fisher, author of THE SILENT WIFE *I loved this! Invite Me In offers a deep dive into the unnerving complexities of an unravelling family, with characters that are brilliantly developed and a plot that unspools with thrilling unease. With a book that is complex, clever and brilliantly executed, Curtis has become a new favourite on my thriller-author list! * Philippa East, author of SAFE AND SOUND *Gripping, claustrophobic and nuanced with a convincing and interesting cast of characters - loved it. * Catherine Cooper, bestselling author of THE CHALET *Incredibly tense and gripping, Invite Me In kept me guessing right til the end. * Laura Marshall, author of FRIEND REQUEST *Gripping escapism. A breathlessly twisty psychological thriller full of toxic relationships and dark secrets. * Tammy Cohen, author of THE WEDDING PARTY *So much tension and drama. * Jackie Kabler, author of THE PERFECT COUPLE *I loved Invite Me In - every time I thought I'd cracked where the story was going, Emma Curtis had me fooled... such an eerie, palpable, wild-ride of a thriller with a storyline that is impossible to predict. Not to be missed! * Jack Jordan, author of BEFORE HER EYES *I enjoyed the compelling plot and and especially admired the skilful building of the characters - complex, flawed and intriguing. * Jane Shemilt, author of LITTLE FRIENDS *Bloody and disturbing in equal parts. * Daily Mail *I flew through this novel...[it] will leave the hairs on your arms standing up. You're constantly second guessing, and third guessing as to where it's going. * Belfast Telegraph *With a cracking plot and twisty ending, don't miss this tense whirlwind of a book! * Candis *Twist follows twist in this event-packed drama, full of toxic characters. * Real People *A tense page turner. * Bella *If you're like us, you'll read this is one sitting! * That's Life! *This tense psychological thriller simmers with suspense throughout - you'll be totally hooked! * My Weekly *An intriguing domestic noir...Curtis will keep you guessing with this one. * NB Magazine *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAgatha Christie's ingenious mystery thriller, reissued with a striking new cover designed to appeal to the latest generation of Agatha Christie fans and book lovers.Lucy Angkatell invited Hercule Poirot to lunch. To tease the great detective, her guests stage a mock murder beside the swimming pool. Unfortunately, the victim plays the scene for real. As his blood drips into the water, John Christow gasps one final word: Henrietta'. In the confusion, a gun sinks to the bottom of the pool.Poirot's enquiries reveal a complex web of romantic attachments. It seems everyone in the drama is a suspect and each a victim of love.Trade Review“A grade-A plot – the best Christie in years”San Francisco Chronicle

Read more less

Book Synopsis** REACHER SEASON 2: BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE coming soon to Prime video **The invincible Reacher is as irresistible as ever. (Sunday Telegraph)You do not mess with Jack Reacher.He is as close to untraceable as a person can get. A loner comfortable in his anonymity and solitude. So when a member of his old Army unit finds a way to contact him, he knows this has to be serious.You do not mess with the Special Investigators.In the past the elite team always watched each other''s backs. Now one of them has shown up dead in the California desert and six more are missing.Reacher''s old buddies are in big trouble, and he can''t let that go._________Although the Jack Reacher novels can be read in any order, Bad Luck and Trouble is the 11th in the series.And be sure not to miss Reacher''s newest adventure, no.29, In Too Deep! ***PRE-ORDER Trade ReviewThe invicible Reacher is as irresistible as ever * Sunday Telegraph *Almost overnight, British author Lee Child created one of the world's most enduring and popular fiction characters in Jack Reacher . . . Child is a great storyteller . . . the reader never feels conned . . . Another sure-fire hit * Daily Mirror *Jack Reacher has the manliness of John Wayne, the coping skills of Jack Bauer, the fieldcraft of John Rambo and the coolness of Dirty Harry * Sunday Times *[Reacher] has long since gained mythical status...storytelling of the highest order: lean, laconic, laced with tension * Evening Standard *Reacher is one of those characters who is admired by his male readers and lusted after by his female ones in equal measure . . . Child's tough-as-nails protagonist has become one of the most appealing of contemporary heroes * Daily Express *

Read more less

Book Synopsis* WINNER OF THE CWA DIAMOND DAGGER FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT * * A STUNNING NEW 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION * *INCLUDES AN AFTERWORD BY VAL MCDERMID * 'One of fifty books to read before you die' - SUNDAY MIRROR 'Mosley is a literary artist as well as a master of mystery' - NEW YORK TIMES 'I need to find somebody and I might need a little help looking...' It's the summer of '48 in the city of Angels and there's heat on the streets when Daphne Monet hits the sidewalk. Heat when she disappears with a trunkload of somebody else's cash. Easy Rawlins is a war veteran just fired from his job. Drinking in a friend's bar, he wonders how to meet his mortgage when a white man in a linen suit walks in, offering good money if Easy will locate Miss Monet, a blonde with a reputation. It's a simple decision, but for one thing. Nobody warned him - better the devil you know... In the sleazy, fearful city, Easy must rely on his instincts, not just to solve the case, but to save his own life. Adapted into an award-winning film starring Denzel Washington and Don Cheadle, Devil in a Blue is a legendary novel from a master of the mystery genre.Trade ReviewA damn good read -- Val McDermidMr Mosley makes us root for Easy Rawlins, a black knight-errant, and his lawless sidekick, Raymond Mouse Alexander, an armed and dangerous Sancho Panza * The New York Times *Astonishing virtuosity, upends Chandler's LA to show a dark side of a different kind * Sunday Times *One of fifty books to read before you die * Sunday Mirror *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA classic British crime novel from the Golden Age one of the first to feature a serial killer by the founder of the Detection Club, marking 50 years since the death of the author.Investigating the disappearance of a vicar's daughter in London, the popular novelist and amateur detective Roger Sheringham is shocked to discover that the girl is already dead, found hanging from a screw by her own silk stocking. Reports of similar deaths across the capital strengthen his conviction that this is no suicide cult but the work of a homicidal maniac out for vengeance a desperate situation requiring desperate measures.Having established Roger Sheringham as a brilliant but headstrong young sleuth who frequently made mistakes, trusted the wrong people and imbibed considerable liquid refreshment, Anthony Berkeley took his controversial character into much darker territory with The Silk Stocking Murders, a sensational novel about gruesome serial killings by an apparent psychopath bent on targetingTrade Review‘Detection and crime at its wittiest – all Berkeley’s stories are amusing, intriguing and he is a master of the final twist.’Agatha Christie ‘Anthony Berkeley is the supreme master not of the “twist” but of the “double-twist”.’ Milward Kennedy in the Sunday Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisWe will take on any case, solve any crime, uncover any secret.We are Private. And we're the best.____________________________________Now available to preorder: PRIVATE ROGUE____________________________________Jack Morgan receives an offer he cannot refuse...When the head of the world's foremost investigation agency is invited to meet Princess Caroline, third in line to the British throne, he boards his Gulfstream jet and flies straight to London.The Princess needs Morgan's skills, and his discretion. Sophie Edwards, a close friend of the royal, has gone missing. She must be found before the media become aware of it.Morgan knows there is more to this case than he is being told.But what is the Princess hiding?

Read more less

Book SynopsisJim Eldridge was born in central London towards the end of World War II, and survived attacks by V2 rockets on the Kings Cross area where he lived. In 1971 he sold his first sitcom to the BBC and had his first book commissioned. Since then he has had more than one hundred books published, with sales of over three million copies. He lives in Kent with his wife.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAgatha Christie's seasonal mystery thriller in a sumptuous Christmas hardback Special Edition.'There is, at Christmas, a spirit of goodwill. People who do not feel amiable are putting great pressure on themselves to appear amiable! If you dam the stream of natural behaviour, mon ami, sooner or later the dam bursts and a cataclysm occurs!'It is Christmas Eve. The Lee family reunion is shattered by a deafening crash of furniture, followed by a high-pitched wailing scream. Upstairs, the tyrannical Simeon Lee lies dead in a pool of blood, his throat slashed.But when Hercule Poirot, who is staying in the village with a friend for Christmas, offers to assist, he finds an atmosphere not of mourning but of mutual suspicion. It seems everyone had their own reason to hate the old manTrade Review‘You yearned for a “good violent murder with lots of blood”. So this is your special story – written for you.’Agatha Christie 'There is irresistible simplicity and buoyancy of a Christmas treat about it all'Times Literary Supplement

Read more less

Book SynopsisJournaling vlogger Mandy Meadows strives to preserve her hyper-organised life while searching for her cousin''s killer in this twisty mystery: first in a brand-new series.Divorced single mom Mandy Meadows scrapes by working as a barista and receiving payments from her cousin, Ryan, who rents her basement apartment. At night, she and her teenage daughter Vellum run a successful home business creating journaling content on their popular social media channels.But Mandy''s carefully organized world is about to come crashing down. While filming their latest journaling tutorial, Mandy and Vellum hear a loud noise on the basement stairs, and Mandy is horrified to find Ryan dead on the landing. The police quickly start to treat the death as a murder - with Mandy and Vellum as chief suspects. Why would someone murder Ryan? Determined to clear their names and find Ryan''s killer, Mandy soon discovers he wasn''t the man she thought he was . . .

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE LATEST SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB THRILLER PICK FROM THE AUTHOR OF YOU WERE GONE''THE TENTH IN THE TERRIFIC DAVID RAKER SERIES - BLISS!'' LEE CHILDNine neighbours gather for a dinner party.But by the next morning, they had disappeared without a trace.No bodies. No evidence. No clues.Two and a half years later, it remains a mystery. Desperate for answers, the families of the missing turn to investigator David Raker.How did an entire village vanish overnight?And is he looking for nine missing people, or nine dead bodies?''I was hooked from beginning to end. A dark, thrilling rollercoaster of a read that is not only unputdownable but has heart'' Claire Douglas''From the moment I read the intriguing premise for this book, I couldn''t wait to dive in - and I wasn''t disappointed. A clever and original plot, eTrade ReviewThe tenth in the terrific David Raker series - bliss! * LEE CHILD *Such an original premise, I was hooked from beginning to end. A dark, thrilling rollercoaster of a read that is not only unputdownable but has heart. The devastating reveal left a lump in my throat. Tim Weaver is the master of clever, unpredictable plots. I can't recommend this highly enough! * Claire Douglas *From the moment I read the intriguing premise for this book, I couldn't wait to dive in - and I wasn't disappointed. A clever and original plot, expertly executed * Rachel Abbott, author of The Shape of Lies *4 **** A mysterious case for private investigator David Raker * Love it! *Another satisfying and twisty page-turner from Tim Weaver - his David Raker series is getting better as it goes on * Connaught Telegraph *A murder mystery which takes some of the archetypes from Agatha Christie and places them in a thoroughly modern world * Daily Express *A cleverly paced, engaging and a superior read in a quintessential series of crime novels * Shots Magazine *Praise for Tim Weaver * - *ThrillingTerrific * Sunday Times *Packed with twists * Daily Express *It had me racing to the endI couldn't put it down * Sun *What a talent * Daily Mail *Impressive * Guardian *Dark, complex and visceral * Financial Times *So many twists and surprises * Times *Enthralling, intriguingI never guessed any of the twistsGenuinely originalThe rising star of British crimeLittle short of brilliant * Crime Fiction Lover *Full of clever twists * Dead Good Books *Perfect plotting * Bookgeeks *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE 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 HERRONPerfect a touchstone British murder mystery.' 5* reader reviewPERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS__________________________________________________________________________________Murder has priority. Wasn't that what they always said at the Lab?When a young girl is found murdered in a field, the scientific examination of the remains is just a routine job for the staff of Hoggatt''s forensic science laboratory. But nothing could have prepared them for the brutal death of one of their own. When the senior biologist is found dead in his laboratory, Commander Dalgliesh is called to the bleak fens of East Anglia to meet a wealth of potential suspects and cautious forensic scientists quick to pass on the blame. But while Dalgliesh becomes embroiled in the complicated passions that lie hidden beneath the calm surface of the laboratory, the murderer is lying in wait to strike again . . .__________________________________________________________________________________Arguably the finest of the series . . . Brilliant.' Financial TimesShe does for a forensic science laboratory in East Anglia what Dorothy L. Sayers did for Oxbridge.' New York TimesP. D. James at her very best fabulous writing and great story line what more does anyone want or need?' 5* reader review**Now a major Channel 5 series**__________________________________________________________________________________READERS LOVE THE ADAM DALGLEISH SERIES:Adam Dalgleish is one of the best characters in modern detective fiction.' 5* reader reviewIf you are not already an Adam Dalgliesh fan, I urge you to become one . . . James can describe a scene or delineate a character with precision and depth, like no other writer I have read . . . I usually stay up all night to read a P. D. James novel once I start one.' 5* reader reviewI would never give less than 5 stars to any P. D. James book. She is one of a kind, always constant, always wonderful writing, always great characters, and always a good mystery that you cannot put down.' 5* reader reviewP.D. James writes mysteries for ordinary people. Her characters are relatable and her hero is dynamic. But don''t expect cell phones or computers. Her stories are strictly old school, which is what I love about them.' 5* reader reviewCrime writing at its very best!' 5* reader reviewPRAISE FOR P. D. JAMES:P. D. James is the crème de la crème of crime writers. Her books are shrewd puzzles, full of wit and depth.' IAN RANKINNobody can put the reader in the eye of the storm quite like P. D. James.' SUNDAY EXPRESSOne of the literary greats. Her sense of place was exquisite, characterisation and plotting unrivalled.' MARI HANNAHJames manages a depth and intelligence that few in her trade can match.' THE TIMESThere are very few thriller writers who can compete with P. D. James at her best.' SPECTATOR The queen of English crime.' GUARDIAN

Read more less

Book SynopsisMike Hammer, the iconic PI created by hard-boiled crime master Mickey Spillane and written by New York Times bestseller Max Allan Collins, returns in Masquerade for Murder. After Mike Hammer witnesses Wall Street superstar Vincent Colby getting clipped by a speeding red Ferrari, the shaken victim's stockbroker father hires Hammer to find the driver. But the toughest private eye of them all soon is caught up in a series of bizarre, seemingly unconnected slayings marked by a forbidden martial arts technique. What do a lovely redhead, a short-tempered bartender, an exotic call girl, a murdered police inspector and a movie stuntman have to do with a scheme that might have transformed young Colby into a psychological time bomb?Trade Review“For readers of a younger age, Collins may become as synonymous with the Hammer character as Spillane was and is for seasoned fans. If that happens, it will be because he has earned it. My guess is that Spillane, if he were alive, would be overjoyed by that occurrence. Read MASQUERADE FOR MURDER and see why.” —BookReporter “Spillane fans will be pleased to see how well Collins captures the brash tone but everyman personality of the latter-day Hammer without trying to imitate the character’s infamous vigilante crusades of earlier years. Spillane (1918–2006) would be proud of how well Collins has maintained his legacy.” —Publishers Weekly “Honestly, having writer Max Allan Collins turn in another Mike Hammer novel in this Legacy series is like our enjoying the gift that never stops giving...Blood flows as is the norm in any Hammer caper with a conclusion we soundly approved of. We think you will too.” —Pulp Fiction Reviews “Collins at his best, vintage Hammer, and indistinguishable from classic Mickey Spillane–as if Spillane never really left.” —Borg.com, Best of 2020 “One-time king of American pulp fiction Mickey Spillane left a stock of literary fragments for Max Allan Collins to expand into full-length novels. And a first-rate job he makes of it.” —Daily Mail

Read more less

Book SynopsisA mystery lands – literally – at Tom Winscombe’s feet, and another riotous mathematical adventure begins… Tom Winscombe and Dorothy Chan haven’t managed to go on a date for some time, so it’s a shame that their outing to a Promenade Concert is cut short when a mysterious cowled figure plummets from the gallery to the floor of the arena close to where they are standing. But when they find out who he was, all thoughts of romance fly out of the window. Just who are the Fractal Monks, and what does Isaac, last of the Vavasors and custodian of the papers of famed dead mathematical geniuses Archie and Pye, want with them? How will other figures from the past also demand a slice of the action? And what other mysteries are there lurking at the bottom of the sea and at the top of mountains? The answers lie in The Riddle of Fractal Monks.Trade ReviewPraise for Jonathan Pinnock: ‘Lovely stuff’ Ian Rankin'A series of humorous, riotous mathematical mysteries' David Nicholls ‘He makes funny and self-deprecating company’ The Herald‘Jonathan Pinnock writes compelling tales with a deliciously wicked glint in his eye’ Ian Skillicorn, National Short Story Week‘Jonathan Pinnock is Roald Dahl’s natural successor’ Vanessa Gebbie‘Funny, clever, and sometimes brilliantly daft. A comedy that I am sure would have made Pythagoras, Archimedes and Douglas Adams all laugh out loud’ Scott Pack on The Truth About Archie and Pye

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE 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 HERRONIngenious and beautifully written, this is P. D. James at her highly impressive best.'' SUNDAY TELEGRAPHPERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS__________________________________________________________________________________Venetia was much concerned with murder, but she could hardly have expected to become so intimately involved.Distinguished barrister Venetia Aldridge QC's defence of Garry Ashe, accused of the brutal murder of his aunt, is one more opportunity to triumph in her distinguished career as a criminal lawyer. But four weeks and four days after the trial, she is murdered at her desk. Commander Adam Dalgliesh and his team find plenty of motive for murder among the clients Venetia has defended, her envious professional colleagues, her wayward daughter, and the lover she has tried to keep secret. But just as Dalgliesh begins to narrow down the field of suspects, a second brutal murder sends the case in a totally new direction . . .__________________________________________________________________________________The capped tooth of middle-class English malice has seldom been better described.' GUARDIANEnthralling . . . the story gripped me.' 5* reader review''Fiendishly clever.' SUNDAY TIMES**Now a major Channel 5 series**__________________________________________________________________________________READERS LOVE THE ADAM DALGLEISH SERIES:Adam Dalgleish is one of the best characters in modern detective fiction.' 5* reader reviewIf you are not already an Adam Dalgliesh fan, I urge you to become one . . . James can describe a scene or delineate a character with precision and depth, like no other writer I have read . . . I usually stay up all night to read a P. D. James novel once I start one.' 5* reader reviewI would never give less than 5 stars to any P. D. James book. She is one of a kind, always constant, always wonderful writing, always great characters, and always a good mystery that you cannot put down.' 5* reader reviewP.D. James writes mysteries for ordinary people. Her characters are relatable and her hero is dynamic. But don''t expect cell phones or computers. Her stories are strictly old school, which is what I love about them.' 5* reader reviewCrime writing at its very best!' 5* reader reviewPRAISE FOR P. D. JAMES:P. D. James is the crème de la crème of crime writers. Her books are shrewd puzzles, full of wit and depth.' IAN RANKINNobody can put the reader in the eye of the storm quite like P. D. James.' SUNDAY EXPRESSOne of the literary greats. Her sense of place was exquisite, characterisation and plotting unrivalled.' MARI HANNAHJames manages a depth and intelligence that few in her trade can match.' THE TIMESThere are very few thriller writers who can compete with P. D. James at her best.' SPECTATORThe queen of English crime.' GUARDIAN

Read more less

Book SynopsisNgaio Marsh's most popular novel begins when a young New Zealander's first contact with the English gentry is the body of Lord Wutherford with a meat skewer through the eyeThe Lampreys had plenty of charm but no cash. They all knew they were peculiar and rather gloried in it. The double and triple charades, for instance, with which they would entertain their guests like rich but awful Uncle Gabriel, who was always such a bore. The Lampreys thought if they jollied him up he would bail them out yet again.Instead, Uncle Gabriel met a violent end. And Chief Inspector Alleyn had to work our which of them killed himTrade Review‘The brilliant Ngaio Marsh ranks with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers’Times Literary Supplement ‘Brilliantly readable… first class detection.’Observer ‘Ngaio Marsh transcended the detective genre by the power of her writing and the rich variety of characters who people her novels.’P.D. James ‘Ngaio Marsh is among the most brilliant of those authors who are transforming the detective story from a mere puzzle into a novel with many other qualities.’Times Literary Supplement ‘The finest writer in the English languange of the pure, classical puzzle whodunnit. Among the crime queens, Ngaio Marsh stands out as an Empress.’The Sun

Read more less

Book SynopsisLindsay Gordon investigates the murder of a bestselling author and discovers that, beneath the glittering facade, the London publishing world is a hotbed of seething rivalries, soured relationships and desperate power plays. Fifth in the series.Why would anyone want to kill Penny Varnavides, bestselling author of the ''Teen Dreams'' series? Her demise can''t be the freak accident it first appeared it''s an exact replica of the murder method in her forthcoming book. Only three people knew the plot of Penny''s unpublished novel: her literary agent, her editor and her ex-girlfriend Meredith.In an effort to clear Meredith, Lindsay Gordon delves beneath the glittering facade of the seemingly glamorous world of London publishing in search of a murderer. While hobnobbing with industry notables, Lindsay encounters an unsavoury mix of soured relationships, desperate power plays, underhanded fraud, and seething rivalries. Who, amongst this sordid group, wanted Penny Varnavides dead?Trade Review‘A jolly romp through the world of London publishing.’ Independent ‘Funny and scary by turns; always sharp.’ Daily Telegraph ‘The writing is tough and colourful, the scene setting excellent.’ Times Literary Supplement

Read more less

Book SynopsisA gripping historical thriller introducing Bow Street Runner Matthew Hawkwood a sexy, dangerous and fascinating hero who hunts down thieves, spies and murderers in the crime-ridden streets of Regency London.Hunting down highwaymen was not the usual preserve of a Bow Street Runner. As the most resourceful of this elite band of investigators, Matthew Hawkwood was surprised to be assigned the case even if it did involve the murder and mutilation of a naval courier.From the squalor of St Giles Rookery, London''s notorious den of thieves and cutthroats, to the brightly lit salons of the aristocracy and the heart of the British government, Hawkwood relentlessly pursues his quarry.As the case unfolds and another body is discovered on the banks of the Thames, the true agenda begins to emerge. And only Hawkwood can stop a dastardly plot that will end British mastery of the seas forever.Trade Review‘Irresistible… rambunctious entertainment.’Observer ‘Rumbustious…a darkly attractive hero, terrific period atmosphere and action.’ The Times ‘Atmospheric and well researched… try it.’ Daily Mirror ‘“Ratcatcher” has everything: duels and derring-do, London highlife and lowlife, French lechery and treachery – all contained in a fast-moving, cleverly constructed plot with an immaculately detailed historical background. Add a hero who is ruthless, mysterious and sexy, and it's a safe bet that “Ratcatcher” marks the start of a series that will run and run…and run!’ Reginald Hill ‘“Ratcatcher” is a richly enjoyable and impressively researched novel – also very gripping. James McGee is clearly a rising star in the historical galaxy and I look forward to Hawkwood’s return.’ Andrew Taylor, author of ‘The American Boy’

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Bad Book Affair features the magnificently hapless Israel Armstrong – the duffle-coat wearing, navel-gazing Jewish librarian who solves crimes, mysteries, and domestic problems whilst driving a mobile library around the north coast of Ireland.Trade ReviewPraise for ‘The Delegate’s Choice’: 'This is Israel’s third outing and it is a pleasure to welcome him back – these are blissful British comedies for the thinking escapist.’ Kate Saunders, The Times Praise for the ‘Case of the Missing Books’: ‘A mystery, a sustained piece of slapstick, a meditation and a yarn. And it is cripplingly funny.’ Independent ‘Sansom has struck a rich comic seam … it promises to be a very enjoyable series.’ Observer ‘A perfect antidote for melancholy.’ Guardian Praise for ‘Mr Dixon Disappears’: 'Israel is one of the most original and amusing amateur sleuths around…’ The Times 'Bibliophiles will instinctively warm to Israel Armstrong, Jewish librarian, duffel-coat wearer and part-time detective. The fact that he drives his mobile library around the coast of Northern Ireland, moaning non-stop about people who do not return books on time, only makes the character more deliciously esoteric. This yarn about an ageing magician who has gone missing with £100,000 is the second in what promises to be a must-read series.' Sunday Telegraph

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘Silky-smooth… stylish suspense, with a winsome hero and agreeable dollops of sex, gore and demented mayhem’Kirkus ReviewTrade Review‘Hollywood-slick and fast-moving… enjoy the ride’Los Angelese Daily News ‘A fast-moving, well-written mystery’Washington Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisNew Dalziel and Pascoe novel from Britain’s finest male crime writer: ‘Reginald Hill stands head and shoulders above any other writer of homebred crime fiction’ Tom Hiney, ObserverTrade Review ‘Red herrings and clues abound … the dialogue is laugh-out-loud and offensive, one of the many things readers have come to love in Hill’s books’ Sunday Times ‘As entertainingly funny as it is exciting’ Spectator ‘Hugely enjoyable’ Observer ‘Reginald Hill is writing very much at the top of his form … the cleverest crime novel of the year, and also one of the most enjoyable’ Evening Standard ‘Another winner from a genuine master of British crime fiction’ Time Out

Read more less

Book SynopsisLove Miss Marple? Adore Holmes and Watson? Professor Morley's guide to Norfolk is a story of bygone England; quaint villages, eccentric locals and murder!It is 1937 and disillusioned Spanish Civil War veteran Stephen Sefton is stony broke. So when he sees a mysterious advertisement for a job where intelligence is essential', he applies.Thus begins Sefton's association with Professor Swanton Morley, an omnivorous intellect. Morley's latest project is a history of traditional England, with a guide to every county.They start in Norfolk, but when the vicar of Blakeney is found hanging from his church's bellrope, Morley and Sefton find themselves drawn into a rather more fiendish plot. Did the Reverend really take his own life, or was it murder?Beginning a thrilling new detective series, The Norfolk Mystery' is the first of The County Guides. A must-read for fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, every county is a crime scene and no-one is above suspicion!Trade ReviewPraise for ‘The Norfolk Mystery’: ‘A delightful, idiosyncratic mystery set in the Thirties … There is a touch of Sherlock Holmes and a dash of Lord Peter Wimsey, but the total is put together with a charm that is teasingly precious … Beautifully crafted by Sansom, Professor Morely promises to become a little gem of English crime writing; sample him now’ Daily Mail ‘Sansom is both celebrating and sending up the golden age of detective novels when, in the 1930s, Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie were the queens of crime … A brilliant first outing that leaves you looking forward to the next maniacal mystery tour’ Mark Sanderson, Evening Standard

Read more less

Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.They all agreed that it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly and spectral.'Originally serialised in The Strand Magazine, Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles follows the infamous Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson as they investigate the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville, whose dead body is found on the misty and desolate Devon moors.The locals blame his death on the legend of the fearsome phantom hound that they claim has haunted the Baskerville family for generations. When the heir to the Baskerville fortune, Sir Henry, also comes under threat Holmes' detective skills are put to the test as he battles to discover the truth behind the legend and to solve one of the most macabre mysteries of his career.Trade Review‘Sherlock Holmes's best … remains a classic.’ The Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe girl who has everythingIncluding a bullet in the headA cruise down the Nile on a river steamer sounds like the perfect way to get away from it all a luxurious retreat, miles from civilization.But the warm and tranquil Egyptian evening is thick with hot passions and cold malice. When everyone on board has a motive, Hercule Poirot must abandon the mysteries of ancient Egypt and focus on altogether deadlier matters . . .Trade Review“The construction is flawless.”Daily Mail “Must be read twice, once for enjoyment and once to see how the wheels go round.” The Times “The main alibi is of the first brilliance … the descriptive work hits, as it were, the Nile on the head.” Observer “A peach of a case for Poirot. I take my hat off to the author for as ingenious an alibi as can well be imagined.” Sunday Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn old widow is brutally killed in the parlour of her cottageMrs McGinty's dead!'How did she die?'Down on one knee, just like I!'The old children's game now seemed rather tasteless. The real Mrs McGinty was killed by a crushing blow to the back of the head and her pitifully small savings were stolen.Suspicion falls immediately on her lodger, hard up and out of a job. Hercule Poirot has other ideas unaware that his own life is now in great dangerTrade Review‘So simple, so economical, so completely baffling. Every clue scrupulously given, with superb sleight of hand.’Sunday Times ‘The plot is perfect and the characters are wonderful.’San Francisco Chronicle ‘The best Poirot since such pre-war classics as Cards on the Table.’New York Times ‘Highly ingenious – Christie is still able to vary the tricks she plays.’ROBERT BARNARD

Read more less

Book SynopsisA wheelchair-bound Poirot returns to Styles, the venue of his first investigation, where he knows another murder is going to take placeThe house guests at Styles seemed perfectly pleasant to Captain Hastings; there was his own daughter Judith, an inoffensive ornithologist called Norton, dashing Mr Allerton, brittle Miss Cole, Doctor Franklin and his fragile wife Barbara , Nurse Craven, Colonel Luttrell and his charming wife, Daisy, and the charismatic Boyd-Carrington.So Hastings was shocked to learn from Hercule Poirot's declaration that one of them was a five-times murderer. True, the ageing detective was crippled with arthritis, but had his deductive instincts finally deserted him?Trade Review‘First rate Christie: fast, complicated, wryly funny’ Time ‘Superb, vintage Christie’ Sunday Express

Read more less

Book SynopsisCar brakes failA boulder missesAccidents? Or not?On holiday in Cornwall, Poirot meets a pretty young woman with an unusual name, Nick' Buckley.Upon discovering a bullet-hole in Nick's sun hat, the great detective decides the girl needs his protection. He also begins to unravel the mystery of a murder that hasn't been committed. Yet.Trade Review'The actual solution is quite unusually ingenious.' Times Literary Supplement

Read more less

Book SynopsisA simple accident?Or attempted murder?Everyone blamed the dog. When a wealthy spinster trips on the stairs, it seems only natural to assume it was an accident a rubber ball left there by her lively terrier.And yet the more Emily Arundell thought about it, the more convinced she became that one of her relatives was trying to kill her. Seeking answers, she writes to the famous detective, Hercule Poirot.Only, by the time her letter arrives, Miss Arundell is dead.Trade Review“One of Poirot’s most brilliant achievements”Glasgow Herald

Read more less

Book SynopsisAgatha Christie's ingenious mystery thriller, reissued with a striking new cover designed to appeal to the latest generation of Agatha Christie fans and book lovers.Lucy Angkatell invited Hercule Poirot to lunch. To tease the great detective, her guests stage a mock murder beside the swimming pool. Unfortunately, the victim plays the scene for real. As his blood drips into the water, John Christow gasps one final word: Henrietta'. In the confusion, a gun sinks to the bottom of the pool.Poirot's enquiries reveal a complex web of romantic attachments. It seems everyone in the drama is a suspect and each a victim of love.Trade Review“A grade-A plot – the best Christie in years”San Francisco Chronicle

Read more less

Book SynopsisCaptain Hastings recounts 18 of Poirot's early cases from the days before he was famousHercule Poirot delighted in telling people that he was probably the best detective in the world. So turning back the clock to trace eighteen of the cases which helped establish his professional reputation was always going to be a fascinating experience. With his career still in its formative years, the panache with which Hercule Poirot could solve even the most puzzling mystery is obvious.Chronicled by his friend Captain Hastings, these eighteen early cases from theft and robbery to kidnapping and murder were all guaranteed to test Poirot's soon-to-be-famous little grey cells' to their absolute limit.Trade Review‘Superb, vintage Christie’ Sunday Express ‘The plotting is as exact as in the novels and all one can do is stand back and wonder at the invention and enthusiasm.’ Irish Times

Read more less