Crime and mystery: private investigator / amateur detectives

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

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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

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Book SynopsisA poisoning many years ago may not have been accidental after allTommy and Tuppence Beresford have just become the proud owners of an old house in an English village. Along with the property, they have inherited some worthless bric-a-brac, including a collection of antique books. While rustling through a copy of The Black Arrow, Tuppence comes upon a series of apparently random underlinings.However, when she writes down the letters, they spell out a very disturbing message:M a r y J o r d a n d i d n o t d i e n a t u r a l l yAnd sixty years after their first murder, Mary Jordan''s enemies are still ready to killTrade Review‘The Beresfords are wonderfully revived. Smooth, beautifully paced, and effortlessly convincing.’New York Times ‘Past and present interlock impressively… this is a genuine tour de force.’Observer

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Book SynopsisAgatha Christie’s ingenious murder mystery, reissued with a striking new cover designed to appeal to the latest generation of Agatha Christie fans and book lovers.Trade Review“Despite only five suspects, Mrs Christie as usual puts a ring through the reader’s nose and leads him to one of her smashing last-minute showdowns.” Observer “The answer to the riddle is brilliant.” Times Literary Supplement “A brilliant piece of detective fiction, in which character plays an important part.” Daily Telegraph “Straightforward bamboozling from start to finish.” New Statesman “As usual, Mrs Christie hoaxes us with a double twist at the denouement, and provides excellent entertainment.” Punch “Agatha Christie never fails us, and her Five Little Pigs presents a very pretty problem for the ingenious reader.” Manchester Guardian

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Book SynopsisThe second novel from the celebrated author of one of the most famous mystery classics ever written, Trent''s Last Case.James Randolph is murdered early one evening and his body is found a few hours later. When the police arrive they discover that Randolph''s safe has been ransacked and discarded wrapping paper litters his bedroom floor.Perhaps by chance or perhaps by design, Trent seems to have been the last person, other than the murderer, to see Randolph alive. But this is only one aspect amongst many which connect Trent with the murder and stimulate his interest: his friend Inspector Bligh is the detective in charge of the investigation, and then a long-time friend readily and perplexingly confesses his guilt. As much as he respects the abilities of Inspector Bligh, Trent''s personal knowledge has him doubting the confession and intent on finding the truth.Trade Review‘I won't waste time saying that the plot is sound and the detection satisfying. Trent has not altered a scrap and reappears with all his old humour and charm.’ Dorothy L. Sayers

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Book SynopsisThis is Mike Phillips's best novel, brutal and caring, totally authentic' The TimesSent from London to New York to bring a dying friend's message to his daughter, Mary, Sam Dean arrives in Queens, steeped in a mesh of Caribbean and Hispanic culture, looking forward to reconnecting with family and old friends.But his relaxing holiday turns dark when Mary disappears, and Sammy is caught up in a world of murder, sex, and corrupt politics that threatens to turn his world upside down.Melded with social commentary around race, class and gentrification, Point of Darkness is a gripping thriller, still eerily relevant.Trade ReviewPraise for Mike Phillips‘This is Mike Phillips’s best novel, brutal and caring, totally authentic’The Times ‘Phillips delivers his seamy tale with an enviably warm spareness of effect’Sunday Times ‘An incisive study of immigrant experience wrapped up in a gripping thriller’Times Literary Supplement ‘The Best British thriller in years… A novel that seems to have been written for a purpose; it deals with the black British community as something other than a problem or a political cliché’Marie Claire ‘Could have come from the pen of the master, Raymond Chandler’Today A thriller which maintains pace and provides excitements rooted in reality … a winner’Guardian ‘There’s much here to suggest that Phillips could be one of our bravest, most incisive social commentators’Mail on Sunday Phillips’ depictions of urban London share more with Harlem and Los Angeles than the English drawing rooms of P.D. James and Ruth Rendell’Financial Times ‘Phillips… gives a mean streetwise documentary edge to his hero’s hunt for a witness’Sunday Express ‘Mr Phillips writes in a precise uncluttered style that suits the detective novel’s ritualistic form. But it is the sensibility of his hero – a black man – that lends freshness to the form itself’The New York Times Book Review ‘As a political thriller it has something to say about multi-cultural Britain that is both revealing and intelligent … a good novel, deftly handled and deserving of praise’Time Out

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Book SynopsisEasier said than done, thinks Falco, as he makes his uneasy way down the Rhenus, trying to forget that back in sunny Rome his girlfriend Helena Justina is being hotly pursued by Titus Caesar.Trade ReviewHer most ambitious to date... Davis has found a winning formula. The tempo is presto, the language pert * Daily Telegraph *Lindsey Davis doesn't merely make history come alive - she turns it into spanking entertainment, and wraps it around an intriguing mystery. She is incapable of writing a dull sentence * Peter Lovesey *Surely the best historical detective in the business * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWorse still, the only client Falco can get is his mother – who wants him to clear the family name.Then just as Falco thinks things can only get better, fate takes a turn for the worse.Trade ReviewSeveral cheers for Lindsey Davis... Great fun * The Times *Fast-moving, funny and full of atmosphere; if you haven't met Marcus Didius Falco before, start here * Mail on Sunday *The setting enchants. Prescribed reading for any student bored by Latin * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisThis gripping and pacy historical mystery is perfect for fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor and C. J. Sansom. With its wry humour, expert characterisation, vivid descriptions and incredible sense of adventure, you''ll be hooked from page one...''Several cheers for Lindsey Davis... Great fun'' - The Times''The whole thing is splendid. It has everything: mystery, pace, wit, fascinating scholarship ... she brings Imperial Rome to life'' - Ellis Peters''Another excellent Falco book that is difficult to put down'' - ***** Reader review''Astounding'' - ***** Reader review''A fabulous read'' - ***** Reader review''Full marks and happily recommended'' - ***** Reader review******************************************************************DROWNING IN MYSTERY, DYING ON STAGEThe spirit of adventure calls Marcus Didius Falco on a neTrade ReviewA wonderful series of detective novels * The Good Book Guide *Several cheers for Lindsey Davis... Great fun * The Times *Splendid . . . mystery, pace and wit

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Book SynopsisSimon Kernick, the UK''s answer to Harlan Coben, has written a thriller jam-packed withaction, tension and twists and turns. A heart-stopping read from page one, this is perfect for fans of David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride and Peter James.''Another accomplished race against time with a delightfully morally ambiguous hero.'' -- Sunday Mirror''Simon Kernick writes with his foot pressed hard on the pedal. Hang on tight!'' -- Harlan Coben''Great plots. Great characters. Great action.'' -- Lee Child''If you''re looking for a fast-paced, believable book that you can''t put down, then this is the one'' -- ***** Reader review''A fast-paced page-turner'' -- ***** Reader review''A cracking good read'' -- ***** Reader review''This book has me hooked from the moment I Trade ReviewAnother accomplished race against time with a delightfully morally ambiguous hero. * Sunday Mirror *Simon Kernick writes with his foot pressed hard on the pedal. Hang on tight! * Harlan Coben *Great plots. Great characters. Great action. * Lee Child *Lots of action, lots of tension, lots of spills. Heart stopping read from page one! * Ian Harvey-Brown *'Another excellent gritty, fast paced thriller from Simon Kernick featuring Tina Boyd. * Suzanne Bellingham *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the new Penguin Crime and Espionage seriesFor the unlikely crime-busting duo Leo and Serendipity, a missing dog is only the start of their troubles...Leo Bloodworth, ''the Bloodhound'', is a world-weary L.A. gumshoe with a reputation for finding anything - and a low tolerance of precocious teenagers. Serendipity Dahlquist is a precocious teenager. When the headstrong, roller-skating fourteen-year-old asks Bloodworth to help track down her lost dog Groucho, it leads this oddest of odd couples into the dark criminal underworld of the Mexican mafia, and into more trouble than they''d bargained for.

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Book SynopsisA gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Kernick, the UK''s answer to Harlan Coben.Pace, pace pace is what Kernick does best - DAILY MIRRORDelights, excites and stimulates, and the only reason you consume it so quickly is because it''s so damn good - GQFast moving and a gripping race to the dénouement. -- ***** Reader reviewGreat read, Simon Kendrick is a fantastic writer, kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through this book, couldn''t wait to read every page. -- ***** Reader reviewCompletely compelling -- ***** Reader review**************************************************************TWO COPS. ONE CITY. NO MERCY.Dennis Milne is a former cop and part-time assassin. He kills the bad guys - people who, in his opinion, deserve to die. Now he''s in Manila, waiting for his next target: a youTrade ReviewPace, pace, pace is what Kernick does best, and this utterly gripping thriller brings together his great renegade cops Dennis Milne and Tina Boyd for this first time. Revenge is the name of the game here in a filthy Manila * Daily Mirror *Delights, excited and stimulates, and the only reason you consume it so quickly is because it's so damn good * GQ *Here's the nitty-gritty. This is a masterpiece of thriller writing that proves Kernick is a world clas operator. His latest surefire hit moves at breakneck speed from London to Hong Kong and the Philippines. It should have a health warning on the cofver as you may well forget to ear, sleep or even breathe as it sucks you into its addictive grip * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisSimon Kernick is one of Britain's most exciting thriller writers. He arrived on the crime writing scene with his highly acclaimed debut novel The Business of Dying, the story of a corrupt cop moonlighting as a hitman. Simon's big breakthrough came with his novel Relentless which was the biggest selling thriller of 2007. His most recent crime thrillers include Siege, Ultimatum, Stay Alive and The Final Minute. He is also the author of the bestselling three-part serial thrillers Dead Man's Gift and One By One.Simon talks both on and off the record to members of the Counter Terrorism Command and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, so he gets to hear first hand what actually happens in the dark and murky underbelly of UK crime.Trade ReviewSimon Kernick may be a new kid on the block but he certainly knows how to crank up the suspense and deliver a kick in the gut when it's needed. A Good Day To Die is a terrific novel. Put this one at the top of your list; it will keep you up well into the night -- Peter RobinsonA Good Day To Die is everything we have come to expect from Kernick - one of the best young crime writers to have emerged in the past five years. It's a fast-paced yet deeply moral thriller with a thoughtful protagonist who never mistakes himself for a hero -- Laura LippmanKernick is excellent at capturing the mean streets where crack deals go down and tourists don't linger * Daily Mail *Kernick has produced a first-rate series of contemporary hard-bolied London thrillers, with ... a sympathetic character in Milne * Sunday Telegraph *Simon Kernick writes with his foot pressed hard on the pedal. Hang on tight! -- Harlan Coben

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Book SynopsisPrivate investigators Lily Raynor and Felix Wilbraham tackle a puzzling miscarriage of justice and the curious case of a missing child, in the new, gripping World''s End Bureau Victorian mystery.London, August 1881. After a difficult few months, the World''s End Investigation Bureau is thriving. Affairs, sex scandals, divorces . . . Lily Raynor is delighted to have so much work for herself and her capable assistant, Felix Wilbraham, but she can''t help wishing for a case that doesn''t involve the rich, over-indulged - and not terribly moral - upper classes. It''s a wish she soon has cause to regret.The Reverend James Jellicote arrives at the Bureau, seeking help on behalf of an elderly Jewish refugee who fled the pogroms in Russia. Yelisaveta and her young grandson arrived safely in London, only for the unspeakable to happen: eleven-year-old Yakov disappeared, without a trace. The case is impossible to refuse, but seems equally impossible

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Book SynopsisMaeve Winslow hires Veronica Blackstone to help write her memoirs. Maeve is the wife of a famous artist, and claims there''s a surprise at the conclusion of the book that may be about his work. Before Maeve can reveal the truth to anyone, she''s found dead. Can Veronica unravel the clues hidden within the memoir to discover who the killer is?

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Book SynopsisThe second entry in the fun-filled The Fortune Telling Mysteries series sees the Bailey sisters offering light-hearted fortune telling for charity that soon turns deadly.Sisters Hope and Summer Bailey run Bailey''s Boutique, a mystic shop in Asheville, North Carolina. The annual charity festival is approaching, and the sisters are roped in to offering fortune telling to raise money.Before proceedings can begin, Summer receives a bad Tarot card reading. She fears she''ll be left destitute from her upcoming divorce battle as the realtor charged with selling her and her soon-to-be ex-husband''s home, Davis Scott, keeps making unwelcome appearances.Davis''s most troublesome appearance comes when he''s found dead at the festival. Davis had a bad reputation amongst the Asheville community, but who would go to the lengths of killing him . . . and during a charity event, no less! The Tarot cards predicted a death, but do they hold clues to who the murderer is?

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Book SynopsisThe Doom List - you''d rather be dead than be on it: the intriguing new 1920s mystery featuring Irish-born cop turned private investigator Tom Collins.July, 1922. Newly-appointed ''movie czar'' William H. Hays is about to arrive in town on a single-minded mission to clean up Hollywood. He is said to be compiling a list of ''undesirables'' whom he plans to bar from screen work. They call it the Doom List.With the industry in the grip of fear and paranoia, Hollywood''s hottest young director Rex Ingram is determined that no hint of scandal should mar the premiere of his new movie, The Prisoner of Zenda, and hires private investigator Tom Collins, a fellow Irishman, with instructions to protect his leading lady''s reputation at all costs. But, as Collins discovers, Barbara La Marr isn''t the only member of the cast hiding a dangerous secret.Meanwhile, a body is discovered in the Baldwin Hills to the south o

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Book SynopsisIntroducing reluctant spy and friar-sleuth Brother Rodric Chandler in the first of a brand-new medieval mystery series.London. July, 1399. As rumours spread that his ambitious cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, has returned from exile in France, King Richard''s grip on the English throne grows ever more precarious. Meanwhile, the body of a young woman is discovered at Dowgate sluice. When it''s established that the dead woman was a novice from nearby Barking Abbey, the coroner calls in his friend, Brother Chandler, to investigate.Who would cut the throat of a young nun and throw her remains in the river? And what was she doing outside the confines of the priory in the first place? Secretly acting as a spy for Henry Bolingbroke, Chandler is torn by conflicting loyalties and agonising self-doubt. As the king''s cousin marches towards Wales and England teeters on the brink of civil war, Chandler''s investigations will draw him into affairs of state - and en

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Book SynopsisA circus arrives in Durham in the 1790s and the whole town is excited. until the body of a Shaker girl is found beaten.1790s. The circus has arrived in Durham, Maine. Before weaver Will Rees is able to take in its spectacle, he spots Magistrate Hanson - the man he blames for his family''s having to flee Dugard two years earlier.On his journey home he encounters Shaker brothers searching for a girl from their Zion community. Despite women not being allowed inside the circus, Leah had snuck out to visit it. They quickly come across her lifeless body beaten and thrown into a farmer''s field on the road leading to the circus.Bored of his household chores, Rees begins investigating at the expense of his home life. He becomes entranced by the lives of the circus performers, including the charismatic horse rider and tightrope walker. Is his longing for his old journeyman''s life causing him to take his eye off the case, and can he stay out of Hanson''s way and keep his family safe?

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Book SynopsisExcellent . Clare matches well-drawn characters, in particular the charismatic lead, with a head-scratching puzzle and creepy atmospherics. Imogen Robertson fans will be pleased - Publishers Weekly Starred ReviewIn this gripping forensic mystery set in Stuart England, Gabriel Taverner uncovers a series of shocking secrets when he''s summoned by his former naval captain to investigate strange goings-on aboard his ship.October, 1604. Former ship''s surgeon turned country physician Gabriel Taverner is surprised to receive an urgent summons from his old naval captain. Now docked in Plymouth harbour, having recently returned from the Caribbean, Captain Colt believes his ship is haunted by an evil spirit, and has asked Gabriel to investigate.Dismissive of the crew''s wild talk of mysterious blue-skinned ghosts, Gabriel is convinced there must be a rational explanation behind the mass hallucinations. But matters take a disturbing t

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Book SynopsisPrivate investigators Lily Raynor and Felix Wilbraham get more than they bargain for when they take on a case in a girls'' boarding school, in the latest World''s End Bureau Victorian mystery.London, 1881. Lily Raynor, owner of the World''s End Investigation Bureau, is growing increasingly worried. Work is drying up, finances are tight and she cannot find enough for her sole employee, Felix Wilbraham, to do. So when schoolteacher Georgiana Long arrives, with a worrying tale of runaway pupils, it seems like the answer to her prayers. The case is an interesting one, and what could be less perilous than a trip to a girls'' boarding school, out in the Fens?Disguised as the new Assistant Matron, Lily joins the Shardlowes School staff, while Felix - suppressing his worries about his cool, calm employer - remains behind. But there are undercurrents at Shardlowes, and the shadowy, powerful men who fund the school''s less fortunate pupils loom larger as F

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Book SynopsisPour yourself a strong shot of rivalry, romance, and murder.Travel writer Jill Curtis is in Louisville, Kentucky, on the next stop of her bourbon tour assignment, and is keen to explore the local distilleries with her videographer, Michael Erickson - especially since her new beau, Lieutenant Nick Harris, lives in the city.But the night before Jill''s first tour at Parker''s Distillery, she is shocked to learn that the master distiller, William Scott, has died suddenly of a heart attack - and even more shocked when she discovers William''s daughter, Alexis, suspects foul play. Is there more to William''s death than meets the eye? Jill is soon drawn into a deadly blend of rivalry, jealously and cold-blooded murder . . .

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Book Synopsis After living off the grid for more than a decade, a teenage girl must play a dangerous game—and face the shadows of her past—to save the world from a dangerous dark force. A chilling techno-thriller for fans of Black Mirror and #MurderTrending—now in paperback!  After ten years of living on an isolated, tech-free ranch with her mother, sixteen-year-old Hedda is going back to the world of the Glare -- her word for cell phones, computers, and tablets. Hedda was taught to be afraid of technology, afraid that it would get inside her mind and hurt her. But now she's going to stay with her dad in California, where she was born, and she's finally ready to be normal. She's not going to go 'off-kilter,' like her mom says she did when she was just a little kid. Once she arrives, Hedda finally feels like she's in control. She reunites with old friends

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Book SynopsisKathryn Ardleigh is everything the Victorian English gentlewoman is not: outspoken, free-thinking, Irish-American, and a writer of penny-dreadfuls, sensational tales of adventure, romance, and crime-and-detection. When she takes possession of Bishop's Keep, the Ardleigh estate in Essex England that she has inherited,...

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Book SynopsisIn Death at Bishop's Keep, Kathryn Ardleigh captured the interest of amateur detective Sir Charles Sheridan as they solved their first case together. Now the death of a local constable and the disappearance of a child have Kate and Charles once again on the trail of deadly greed and criminal mischief. They team up with the shy,...

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Book SynopsisCharles and Kate are summoned to Scotland on a mysterious errand for the Crown. Upon their arrival, they discover they will be staying at Glamis Castle, the most historic castle in Scotland, a place haunted by shadows and dark secrets. They learn that Prince Eddy, who had been heir to the throne until his supposed death in 1892, is...

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Book SynopsisToo many people loved Kelly Rowland. One of them killed her, but was it the man in prison for her murder? Gethin Grey and the Last Resort Legals team investigate another miscarriage of justice, taking them from post-industrial dereliction of the South Wales Valleys to the gated communities of the Cardiff docklands....

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Book SynopsisEmily has settled in the picturesque village of Ashton Mead, where she lives with her puppy, Poppy. Life is finally going well for Emily. She has a cottage of her own, a job she likes and friends. Then she stumbles on the body of a woman who apparently drowned in the river. The other villagers suspect foul play and are quick to blame...Trade ReviewThis an extremely well- crafted cosy mystery. Russell has had massive success with her twenty previous strong crime novels, so knows how to keep a reader turning those pages. It is beautifully written and will keep you guessing. And, even if you are not a dog lover, I would say don't miss out on this series because it offers a great mystery to keep you guessing, a perfect location that pulls you in, and even romance, and I could almost smell those newly baked scones in the café that Emily works in. An excellent all round great read. Five stars, and a biscuit for Poppy. * Promoting Crime Fiction *

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Book SynopsisEmily and Poppy are living happily in the quaint village of Ashton Mead, where every household is friendly - with one exception. Unlike the other villagers, Silas Strang and his mother have a bad reputation. Rude and aggressive, they terrorise their neighbours and no one stops them. That is until Silas sets his sights on Emily's beloved...

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Book SynopsisAnn Cleeves Classic Crime - engaging mysteries to savour, beloved characters to meet againA Bird in the Hand is the first novel featuring George and Molly Palmer-Jones by Ann Cleeves, author of the Shetland and Vera Stanhope crime series.In England’s birdwatching paradise, a new breed has been sighted – a murderer . . .Young Tom French is found dead, lying in a marsh on the Norfolk coast, with his head bashed in and his binoculars still around his neck. One of the best birders in England, Tom had put the village of Rushy on the birdwatching map. Everyone liked him. Or did they?George Palmer-Jones, an elderly birdwatcher who decides quietly to look into the brutal crime, discovers mixed feelings aplenty. Still, he remains baffled by a deed that could have been motivated by thwarted love, pure envy, or something else altogether.But as he and his fellow ‘twitchers’ flock from Norfolk to Scotland to theTrade ReviewA fine debut . . . watertight and exciting -- Susan HillIt's splendid . . . a classic whodunnit -- Bill OddieCleeves is carving out a reputation as the new Queen of Crime * Sunday Mirror *Nobody does unsettling undercurrents better than Ann Cleeves -- Val McDermidAnn Cleeves is a skilful technician, keeping our interest alive and building slowly up to the denouement. Her easy use of language and clever story construction make her one of the best natural writers of detective fiction * Daily Express *Ann Cleeves has enviable talent . . . I love these books * CrimeSqaud *A fine writer * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis''One of my all-time favorite fun mysteries'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''It''s perfect for curling up by the fire or under a blanket with a hot drink'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ''So much fun! Loved it!!!!!'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Ellie Christie is more than ready for a new chapter. She''s always dreamed of running her family''s historic bookshop, the Book Chalet, with her sister Meg, and after the last few years, returning to Last Word - a peaceful, Swiss-style hamlet nestled in the Colorado mountains and accessible only by ski gondola - seems like the perfect solution.And it is, until a deadly blizzard blows through, and a man is found dead on the gondola. Conditions worsen as the police open their investigation, and soon the town is left stranded with a murderer in their midst.Ellie and Meg may not actually be related t

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Book Synopsis**The TikTok sensation makes her debut in this one of a kind new series, the perfect feel-good mystery for fans of Elle Cosimano, Janet Evanovich and Richard Osman**''[A] rollicking debut...Charlotte is a delight.'' New York Times''Fans of The Maid will embrace the arrival of Charlotte'' Library Journal''An immensely fun, voice-y read with a twisty mystery'' Mia P. Manansala''All clues point to fun'' Olivia BlackeThe downside about being a famous child detective is that sooner or later, you have to grow up . . .As a kid, Charlotte Illes'' uncanny sleuthing abilities made her a minor celebrity. But eventually she hung up her detective''s hat and stashed away the signature blue landline in her office-aka garage-convinced that finding her adult purpose would be as easy as tracking down missing dessert or locating stolen diamonds.Now 25, Charlotte has a Trade Review[A] rollicking debut...Charlotte is a delight. * New York Times *Podcaster Siegel's charming comic debut is terrific fun. Fans of The Maid will embrace the arrival of Charlotte and her cohorts on the detecting scene. * Library Journal, Starred Review *For anyone who ever wondered how Nancy Drew or Encyclopedia Brown are doing now that they're all grown up, former kid detective Charlotte Illes is here to tell you: Not Great. An immensely fun, voice-y read with a twisty mystery that is very relevant to today, I can't wait to see what Charlotte (and Lucy and especially Gabe) get up to next! * Mia P. Manansala, author of the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Award-winning Arsenic and Adobo *All clues point to fun in this queer, grown-up Encyclopedia Brown-style zany mystery. And, much like Encyclopedia Brown, you're gonna have to pay *very close attention* to the details if you're going to keep up with Charlotte Illes (who, of course, isn't a detective). * Olivia Blacke, author of Killer Content *There's a particular joy in reading a book and wishing you could be friends with the characters-Charlotte Illes is Not a Detective kept me guessing and left me with a warm and happy glow. * Mary Robinette Kowal, author of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Award-winning The Calculating Stars *Siegel's easygoing debut (based on a character she debuted on TikTok) checks in on the eponymous sleuth 15 years after she gained semi-fame as a child detective...Siegel has whipped up an amusing premise and populated it with charming characters. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisThis handsome hardback compendium brings together some of Sherlock Holmes'' best cases, presented with a deluxe gold-embossed cover design with gilded page edges. Arthur Conan Doyle''s remarkable detective stories have delighted readers for over a century. This collection features the full-length novel A Study in Scarlet alongside 14 short stories, selected and introduced by award-winning crime writer Martin Edwards. These masterfully plotted mysteries perfectly capture the cosy charm of Victorian London and showcase the formidable deductive powers of Sherlock Holmes at his best. Includes: • A Scandal in Bohemia • The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet • The Greek Interpreter • The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle • The Boscombe Valley Mystery With original pen and ink illustrations by George Wylie Hutchinson, this foil-stamped volume with gilded page edges makes th

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Book SynopsisYou can get in. But you can''t get out. Welcome to the library...Twins Ana and Nan are lost after the death of their mother. Everyone knows who drove Elena, the renowned novelist, to suicide - her long-term literary critic, Eben. But the twins need proof if they''re going to get revenge. Desperate to clear his name, Eben requests access to Elena''s diaries at the National Library where the twins work, and they see an opportunity. With careful planning, the twins lock down the labyrinthine building, trapping their colleagues, the public and most importantly Eben inside. But as a rogue security guard starts freeing hostages, the plan unravels. And what began as a single-minded act of revenge blooms into a complex unravelling of loyalties, motives and what it is that makes us who we are. Hauntingly written, with a fresh, captivating voice, The Library Suicides is an intensely memorable and provocative literary read for fans of high concTrade ReviewAn entrancing literary thriller; elegant and compelling. At the heart of a society that is spinning disturbingly off course, Dafydd's grand library guards the darkest of secrets. Step inside if you dare. * Emma Rous, author of The Au Pair *

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Book SynopsisTHE GRIPPING LOCKED-ROOM DYSTOPIAN THRILLER FOR FANS OF EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL AND ANDREW HUNTER MURRAY''A testament to the power of the written word'' THE TIMES ''Unsettling and thought-provoking'' CLARE MACKINTOSH ____________ This isn''t the world you know.This isn''t the story they expect. Twins Ana and Nan believe they keep no secrets from one another. They both think they know what pushed their mother to suicide. Only one of them does. They both think they know how their revenge plot will play out. Only one of them does. They both think they know what''s really happening at the library. Only one of them does. But neither of them know what will unfold once the library doors close and the chaos begins.No one''s getting out. But the truth finally might . . .____________''A thriller with a differeTrade ReviewAn entrancing literary thriller; elegant and compelling. At the heart of a society that is spinning disturbingly off course, Dafydd's grand library guards the darkest of secrets. Step inside if you dare. * Emma Rous, author of The Au Pair *

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Book Synopsis''A brilliant writer'' EVENING STANDARDJoe Pike must take on his toughest challenge yet. He must hunt down and rescue . . . Elvis Cole.A nail-biting Cole and Pike novel from the No. 1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author.Elvis Cole. All round nice guy. Always the first man to help a stranger in distress. This time, however, he''s paid the ultimate price for trying to be the good Samaritan.Joe Pike. A fierce protector and a dangerous enemy. This time his tough guy exterior will be tested to the limit as he risks everything to save his closest friend.The clock is ticking now that Elvis has been TAKEN.Trade ReviewCrais is a fine storyteller * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Robert Crais has long been (rightly) considered one of the most individual of American crime writers * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *What a brilliant writer Crais has become * EVENING STANDARD *Robert Crais has long been (rightly) considered one of the most individual of American crime writers * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *

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Book SynopsisA body. A policeman. Over the edge...The launch of a stunning crime series from the author of LAST FLIGHT TO STALINGRADNo one liked Jake Kinsey. A rich man, he turned up out of nowhere, acquired Exmouth''s trophy penthouse flat, and then bought his way into the local rowing club. And now, after a long fall from his balcony, he''s dead.DS Jimmy Suttle, a newcomer to the Devon and Cornwall force, is the one detective who suspects that Kinsey has been killed - but there is very little evidence. Left to work alone, Jimmy is all too conscious that time, the pressure of the job, and the wreckage of his private life are lengthening the odds against any kind of result. And with a wife embittered by the move to a remote country cottage, Suttle must gamble his own integrity against the mounting chaos of the lives around him.Trade ReviewHurley is a giant of British police procedural novels, and with Western Approaches we find an author on top of his game. As good as, if not better than Peter James and Ian Rankin. -- Mark Timlin * CRIME TIME *This is another cracker from Graham Hurley...This is a very good opportunity to climb aboard and savour this writer's very addictive series. Brilliant. * CRIMESQUAD *Graham Hurley's determination to look the seamy reality full in the face is refreshing because so rare...Hurley's devastating account of Suttle's marriage is one of the best things he has done. -- Jake Kerridge * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Skillfully combining murder mystery and police procedural drama with a West Country travelogue, this is a satisfying read. * SUNDAY MIRROR *

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Book Synopsis''One of today''s best detective series'' LA TIMESThe minefield of Elvis Cole''s past is coming back to haunt him - with a vengeance...Six months after nearly losing everything to the men who kidnapped his girlfriend''s ten-year-old son, Elvis Cole is slowly coming back to life - when he receives an ominous phone call from the LAPD. An unidentified body has been found in a seedy Los Angeles alley. The only clue the cops have is a packet of newspaper articles about the past exploits of Elvis Cole - and the fact that before the man died, he said he was Elvis''s father...Joe Pike is the only person who can help Elvis navigate his past. As they investigate, Elvis is haunted by the fact that, at last, he might have found his father. But with each clue they uncover, a troubling picture emerges about the dead man. And as Elvis and Joe approach his true identity, they unwittingly walk straight into a hornet''s nest.Trade ReviewBleak, uncompromising and edge-of-the-seat exciting, this latest chapter in Cole's search for a meaning to his life is utterly compelling * IRISH INDEPENDENT *Crais keeps the suspense and the action boiling byleading the reader step by step toward the shocking solution to the two mysteries at the novel's heart...in what continues to be one of today's best detective series * LOS ANGELES TIMES *Even at their goriest and most violent, there is a humanity about Robert Crais's Elvis Cole PI novels . . . these LA-noir thrillers feel as if they might have been written by Raymond Chandler if he had been a nice guy * WASHINGTON POST *Robert Crais is a crime writer of incredible talent - His novels are not only suspenseful and deeply atmospheric . . . they are very hard to put down -- Dan BrownRobert Crais tells a good tale, skilfully waving together elements of forensic science with old-fashioned sleuthing. The central characters . . . are well-drawn and vivid. The supporting cast is a satisfying mix of the grotesque and the malign. I have come late to the Elvis Cole series but, on the evidence of The Forgotten Man, I will be seeking out its predecessors as well as looking forward to the next episode * TRIBUNE *Crais' work has always been superior and very well written. This one is no exception * DEADLY PLEASURES *

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Book SynopsisThe road to fame is paved with danger... as Cole and Pike are about to find out.Peter Alan Nelsen is a super-successful movie director who is used to getting what he wants. And what he wants now is to find the wife and infant child he dumped on the road to fame. It''s the kind of case that Cole could handle in his sleep, except that when Cole actually finds Nelsen''s ex-wife, everything takes on nightmarish proportions - a nightmare which involves Cole with a nasty New York mob family and a psycho killer who is the son of the godfather. And when the unpredictable Nelsen charges in, an explosive situation blows sky-high.Trade ReviewQuick, cutting wit ... a keen ear * NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW *Elvis Cole is the greatest ... perhaps the best detective to come along since Travis McGee * SAN DIEGO TRIBUNE *I can't wait for the next Robert Crais! -- Bill ClintonCrais is a fine writer ... Terrific * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *

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Book SynopsisFifteen-year-old Teri Hewitt has been left holding the babies since her dad disappeared without trace. She wants LA private eye Elvis Cole to find him, and although he knows he should refuse and hand it over to social services, he finds himself taking on the case. The search reveals a chronically unemployed drug addict caught up in counterfeiting scams and mixed up with the Russian mafia and Vietnamese gunmen. As the action heads towards a gunfight in Disneyland and Cole dodges his almost-girlfriend''s ex-husband, he realises Teri is one whole lot of trouble he should have left to the professionals.Trade ReviewRobert Crais is a crime writer of incredible talent - his novels are not only suspenseful and deeply atmospheric ... they are very hard to put down -- Dan BrownCrais is a fine writer ... Terrific * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *Crais creates plots as lucid as blueprints and strong enough to build cities on. A sustained, skilful and thrilling whodunit ... So good you'll want to shout about it * LITERARY REVIEW *

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Book SynopsisA classic crime novel from CWA Gold Dagger award-winning Minette Walters.

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Book SynopsisSometimes it''s safer not to know your neighbors'' secrets.Where are Niko and Zora Norman? Crime writer Augusta Hawke puts her sleuthing skills to the test to solve the mystery of her disappearing neighbors in the first entry in a new series.While Augusta Hawke is a successful author of eighteen crime novels, since her husband''s death she''s been living vicariously through her Jules Maigret-like detective Claude and his assistant Caroline. Then a handsome police detective appears investigating a real-life mystery.Where are her neighbors, the Normans? No one has a clue what''s happened - except Augusta. Although she isn''t nosy, spending all day staring out the windows for inspiration means she does notice things. Like the Normans arguing. And that they''ve been missing a week.Once the Normans'' car is found abandoned, Augusta senses material for a bestseller and calls on the investigatory skills she''s developed as a crime writer. But she soon uncovers long-hidden secrets and finds herself facing real-life dangers her characters never faced . . . ones she can''t write her way out of.

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Book SynopsisIn this hard-hitting standalone thriller from Sally Spencer, a crash survivor discovers dark family secrets as he tries to stay alive.Bristol, 1991. Crammed into a hire car, on their way to a vital appointment, five representatives of Conroy Enterprises are running very late. Rob Conroy, the black sheep of the family, is torn between spiteful amusement at his Uncle Tony''s irritation and anxiety for the future. If Conroy Enterprises fails, it will bring Rob''s own small publishing company down with it.But in the space of just two hours, everything changes. The car crashes, leaving Rob the only survivor. And almost simultaneously, Charles Conroy, the elderly family patriarch - who holds control of the company in his iron fist - dies of old age.As Rob and his few remaining relatives struggle to make sense of it all, one thing becomes painfully clear: the crash was not an accident. Which means, Rob soon realises, the intended victim might no

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2023 ANTHONY AWARD FOR BEST HUMOROUS NOVELIn this darkly funny mystery Lexy Campbell''s first love turns up dead at the Last Ditch Motel on Thanksgiving . . . and she becomes the prime suspect!A mysterious object the size of a suitcase, all wrapped in bacon and smelling of syrup, can mean only one thing: Thanksgiving at the Last Ditch Motel. This year the motel residents are in extra-celebratory mood as the holiday brings a new arrival to the group - a bouncing baby girl. But as one life enters the Ditch, another leaves it. Menzies Lassiter has only just checked in. When resident counsellor Lexy Campbell tries to deliver his breakfast the next day, she finds him checked out. Permanently. Shocking enough if he was a stranger, but Lexy recognises that face. Menzies was her first love until he broke her heart many years ago. What''s he doing at the Last Ditch? What''s he doing dead? And how can Lexy escape the fact that

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Book SynopsisLook out London - eccentric antiques dealer Vivian Borne and her daughter Brandy are bringing their own brand of mayhem and mischief to the British capital, in the fifteenth installment of the award-winning Trash ''n'' Treasures cozy mystery series.Vivian Borne - true-crime author, antiques dealer and ex-sheriff of Serenity, Iowa - is looking forward to meeting her new editor in London. Flying first class, rooms at the Savoy . . . Her long-suffering co-author, daughter Brandy, worries the trip will bankrupt them both, but the alternative - Mother travelling alone - is unthinkable. Brandy''s almost tempted to make her fiancé, Tony - Serenity''s Chief of Police - call Scotland Yard and warn them Vivian''s coming.But even Brandy doesn''t predict their vacation will end in murder . . . or that she and Mother will be unceremoniously ejected from the country, with an order to leave things well alone.Vivian and Brandy need a case to write about, and Mo

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