Crime and mystery: women sleuths / detectives

Book SynopsisLong-forgotten scandals. Dark secrets. Hidden identities. Rona Parish investigates!An old school photograph in which someone has been deliberately blacked out marks the start of a new case for Rona Parish. Who was this person and why would someone want to hide his or her identity? Rona sets out to uncover the secret and soon finds that the school in question closed down many years ago due, it was rumoured, to a long-forgotten scandal. Could this be the link that will solve the mystery? Meanwhile, a visit to a a stage hypnotist results in more than Rona and her friends bargained for . . .

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Book SynopsisSuper-sleuth Hannah Ives must conjure up all her detective skills when her niece does a vanishing act on a family cruise.Hannah, her sisters and fourteen-year-old niece Julie set sail from Baltimore on a bonding cruise, and have a dramatic first night when Pia Fanucci, a bubbly bartender magician''s assistant whom Hannah befriends, narrowly escapes injury during an illusion. But while Pia may make light of the incident, it''s no laughing matter when Julie suddenly disappears. Has she gone overboard, or is she injured somewhere on the enormous ship?To make matters worse, Hannah meets David Warren, a grieving father whose twenty-two-year-old daughter vanished without trace from an earlier cruise. With claims of a proper investigation proving to be an illusion too far, Hannah teams up with David and Pia in desperation. Can they see through the ship''s smoke and mirrors to reveal the identity of a dangerous sea-faring predator?

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Book SynopsisEllie is desperate to find someone to look after their elderly housekeeper, whose health is failing. But employing a carer found by Ellie''s difficult daughter, Diana, proves to be a mixed blessing when Ellie returns from a trip to America to find that carer Claire has implemented a number of bizarre changes to the Quicke household routine.Claire, is heavily involved in ''the Vision'', a local church with a charismatic, powerful pastor, who - seemingly coincidentally - is looking to Ellie for financial help in his current project, housing reformed addicts. But Ellie is suspicious - and more so, when details of Claire''s chequered past comes to light. Can Ellie trust Claire and Pastor Ambrose?Ellie investigates and doesn''t like what she finds . . .

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Book SynopsisGourmet Pet Chef Kitty Karlyle must draw on more than her TV presenting skills when the producer of a new cooking show is found stabbed to death.Pet chef Kitty serves gourmet meals to pampered canines, cats, birds, snakes (ugh), Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs and most any other pet belonging to her wealthy and quirky L.A. clientele. This is a town where pets have their own psychologists, psychics and masseuses, so why shouldn''t they have their own chefs, right?Kitty finds herself somewhat reluctantly hosting a new cooking show called ''The Pampered Pet'' on CuisineTV. While shooting the pilot, the show''s producer is found in her office with a knife in her back - one of Kitty''s knives, to be exact. The list of suspects is long and time is short. If Kitty can''t find the killer soon, her own goose might be cooked . . .

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Book SynopsisPreparations for Santa Louisa''s annual spring rummage sale are thrown into chaos when organizer Mary McGill and her devoted cocker spaniel Millie come across a dead body on the premises. Still wearing her pink nightdress and slippers, what on earth was Miss Emilie Plym doing in a locked church hall in the dead of night? And who on earth would want to harm a sweet-natured but confused elderly lady who wouldn''t hurt a fly?As Mary questions the victim''s nearest and dearest, she discovers that not everyone had Miss Plym''s best interests at heart, and that at least one of those who should have been caring for her is hiding a shocking secret.

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Book SynopsisMaggy Thorsen returns in this coffeehouse mystery, where the death of her ex-husband''s colleague leads to events that hit Maggy close to home - in more ways than one . . . Maggy Thorsen''s shock at finding her ex-husband Ted in a fight with William Swopes, an oral surgeon at Ted''s dental practice, outside Uncommon Grounds, the Wisconsin gourmet coffeehouse she co-owns, is soon usurped by the horror of discovering a dead body outside Thorsen Dental''s office block the next morning. Did he jump from the tenth-floor office window, or was he pushed? It''s not long before Maggy is uncovering disturbing family secrets, lies and betrayal. As Maggy tries to piece together the clues, her beau, Jake Pavlik, hits her with another bombshell. Can she keep her emotions in check and find out the truth about a possible murder?

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Book SynopsisGourmet pet chef Kitty Karlyle must once again draw on her sleuthing skills when her best friend is suspected of murder.Kitty Karlyle is skeptical when a pet psychologist tells her that her cat and dog are suffering from depression and recommends a pet-centric vacation. Her producer, however, thinks it''s a great idea, and seizes the opportunity to shoot the next episode of Kitty''s TV cooking show, The Pampered Pet, on location at the luxurious Little Switzerland Resort and Spa for pets.Soon after Kitty and her best friend Fran arrive, matters take an unexpected turn when a fellow guest is found strangled in his hotel room. When the police start digging, they discover that Fran''s family lost their life savings in one of the victim''s crooked money-making schemes - and Fran becomes the prime suspect. With her best friend under suspicion of murder, it''s up to Kitty to get cooking and catch the real killer.

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Book SynopsisCan 1920''s script girl Jessie do Mary Pickford''s bidding and uncover a real killer?When Jessie is asked by her idol, the famous actress Mary Pickford, if she can do some private investigating for her, Jessie reluctantly accepts. A girl was found stabbed in her bedroom with another woman lying unconscious on the floor next to her, a bloody knife in her hand. With no police investigation into the murder, it''s up to Jessie to hone her amateur detective skills and prove the girls innocence before she hangs for murder. But as Jessie travels through the roaring twenties world of Hollywood and movies, surreptitiously interviewing fellow travelling performers, she struggles to find the connection she needs. And with her love interest David seemingly involved in seedy dealings, can she uncover the killer''s identity before she too is endangered?

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Book SynopsisTV presenting proves dangerous, when Ada and her partner Lil become involved in a new antiques show and get sucked into a morass of lies, secrets and murder . . .Barry Stromstein has a serious problem. If he can''t come up with a concept for a new TV antiques show asap, his terrifying boss - TV sensation Lenore Parks - will fire him, and his perfect life will be over. But when he talks to antiques columnist Lil Campbell, he unexpectedly hits pay dirt. Her partner, Ada Strauss, not only suggests the perfect hook for the show, but is the perfect woman to host it.Ada''s elated, but production of The Final Reckoning seems blighted before it''s even begun when, shockingly, Leonore dies. But Barry seems strangely determined to continue, and as Lenore''s children - the unsettling Rachel and her beloved older brother Richard - become involved, the pilot episode becomes increasingly ghoulish in tone.Ada''s enjoying herself - really, she is - but as she and Lil are drawn deeper into the lives and affairs of the Parks, they begin to suspect that there are dark, twisted secrets at the heart of the family, and very real danger for them all . . .

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Book SynopsisEvie Barnum is in charge of her brother''s museum, a place teeming with scientific specimens and wonders, including Jeffrey, the Lizard Man. When an old friend shows up and begs for her help, but is then found dead in front of the exhibit of the Feejee Mermaid, suspicion for the murder falls on Jeffrey, and Evie becomes determined to solve the mystery of her friend''s murder.

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

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Book SynopsisLooking forward to a peaceful weekend, Bea Abbot''s plans are disrupted by the unexpected arrival of one of her clients, bearing a brown leather briefcase full of expensive jewellery. Magda Summerleys has been working as a housekeeper for wealthy art expert Lucas Rycroft who, she says, entrusted her with the briefcase for safekeeping - and who seems to have disappeared without trace.Drawn into the tangled affairs of the dysfunctional Rycrofts, Bea soon discovers that other members of the family are determined to get their hands on the jewels - by whatever means necessary. Also caught up in the chaos is her ex-husband Piers, who had been commissioned to paint Lucas Rycroft''s portrait. Then a body is discovered at Lucas''s home .and events begin to spiral out of control.

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Book SynopsisOn the run from a troubled past, Kate Weller, the newest member of Price Investigations, covers her tracks, changes her name and takes a case in Charleston, South Carolina, where she can hide in plain sight. Renting a charming room with a waterfront view, Kate sets about trying to locate her adopted client''s natural siblings, only to find more questions than answers when she eventually tracks down a long-lost sister. Meanwhile, her new landlord won''t stop sticking his nose into her case. As far as Kate''s concerned, Eric Manfredi should focus on whatever competitor is bent on ruining his family business. But when petty vandalism turns lethal, and Eric''s father is arrested for murder, Kate determines to prove his innocence. Can she find the real culprit before a killer from her own past tracks her down?

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Book SynopsisMurder is no joke, as Ellie Quicke is only too aware in this absorbing and entertaining mystery.Ellie Quicke is shocked when her daughter, Diana, turns up at her door with a suitcase in tow. Bunny Brewster has died of an overdose, and Diana''s husband, Evan, is convinced that she is responsible for his friend''s death. It seems that Diana and four other neglected, bored wives of Evan''s friends recently joked about ways to kill their husbands. Diana''s suggested method of murder involved muddling up pills - could this be how Bunny died, or was it just a tragic accident?All five women are soon causing havoc at Ellie''s house, but a further distressing development confirms Ellie''s instinct that there''s more to this than meets the eye. With the safety of her nearest and dearest at risk, can Ellie work out who is responsible, and why?

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Book SynopsisThe death of a young girl leads Detective Sergeant Harry Barnard and Kate O''Donnell into a hotbed of simmering tensions, violence and threats in sixties'' Soho.London, 1964. At three a.m. on a chilly autumn morning, Detective Sergeant Harry Barnard is called to a club in Greek Street where a young girl has fallen to her death from a top-floor window. A new breed of fans is flocking to Soho''s rock and roll haunts. But was it a tragic accident, or something more sinister? Meanwhile, Kate O''Donnell, Harry''s photographer girlfriend, receives a call from her Liverpudlian ex, Dave Donovan, pleading for her help. His new squeeze, Bernie Collins, set off for London in the hope of getting a recording contract, but she''s not answering her phone. Where is she?With simmering tensions, intimidation and terror rife on Soho''s streets, Harry and Kate are drawn into its dark underbelly in their attempts to find answers.

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Book SynopsisMaggy Thorsen''s evening with her fiancé Sheriff Jake Pavlik and his parents in Chicago takes a dramatic turn when Jake''s mother falls ill, then a Chihuahua jumps in front of Maggy''s car on her drive back to Uncommon Grounds, her Wisconsin coffeehouse. Attempting to return Mocha to her owners, George and Marian Satterwite, the following day, Maggy comes face-to-face with Arial, their dog-sitter and her business partner Sarah''s niece. But something doesn''t feel right . . . Returning to the property, Maggy and Marian make a shocking discovery. And where are George and Arial? With Jake still in Chicago and Sarah desperate to find her niece, Maggy is soon drawn into another deadly puzzle.

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Book SynopsisFollowing a whirlwind romance with an old acquaintance she bumped into at a high school reunion, heavily pregnant Dena Russell has moved back to her small hometown to start a new life with horse breeder Brian Riley. But something isn''t right. As Brian''s behaviour grows increasingly disturbing, Dena flees her new home, finding refuge with an old schoolfriend.Then the bloodstained, battered body is found, and Dena is forced to think the unthinkable: could the father of her unborn child be a coldblooded killer? And, if so, how can she and her baby escape his clutches.?

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Book SynopsisAmateur sleuths Hilary Masters and Veronica Taylor face a real-life murder mystery at a crime writing weekend. Is a dark conspiracy unfolding on a West Country estate?Friends Hilary Masters and Veronica Taylor are eager to embark upon their weekend-long masterclass in crime writing at the evocative, fourteenth-century Morland Abbey, hoping to gain inspiration for their own novels. The queen of crime fiction herself, Dinah Halsgrove, is the guest of honour, giving the opening talk. But when Dinah suddenly falls ill later that evening, the pair can''t help being suspicious. Has her mysterious illness been staged by the organisers, or does someone in their writing group have murderous intent?A series of sinister incidents draw Hilary and Veronica into a real-life murder mystery as gripping as any bestselling crime novel, but the biggest twist is yet to come . . . Can they separate fact from fiction to solve a deadly puzzle?

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Book SynopsisGet ready to embark on the ride of your life with this thrill-fuelled thriller, for fans of Karin Slaughter and Karen Rose. Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? The victims are found face-down in the murky waters of Cherokee Pointe, Tennessee. The murders all share the same characteristics: the victims are found naked except for a black, satin ribbon tied around they're necks – and they're all redheads. Meanwhile, Reve Sorrell has come to Cherokee Pointe seeking answers about her connection to bad girl Jazzy Talbot. With their stunning looks, the two redheads are mirror images of each other – but raised in very different worlds. As the serial killer leaves another chilling calling card, Reve turns to Sheriff Jacob Butler to help her unravel the deadly secrets of her past. But one person will do anything to stop her – and they are closer than she could ever imagine…Trade Review"Not for the faint of heart! Shocking and terrifying, it will chill you to the bone." Tess Gerritsen “A good, tense read.”Yorkshire Evening Post ‘This gripping crime novel … [is] not for the faint-hearted … you’ll be guessing until the very end.’Closer Magazine

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Book Synopsis‘Fast paced, twisty and unpredictable. I couldn't put this book down, I devoured it in one sitting and it kept me guessing right until the end.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The chase is on in this utterly suspenseful and unputdownable mystery from New York Times bestselling author Mary Burton. After being on the run for the last nine months, Kristen Rodale has finally settled in a small town in Virginia, where she hopes her dangerous and deadly brother Benito can never find her. But former FBI agent, Dane Cambia, has other ideas: after his sister died at the hands of Kristen's brother, he wants to hunt Kristen down and use her as bait to get his final revenge on Benito. Cambia manages to locate Kristen, setting his plan in motion. But playing into the killer’s hands is just the beginning of Kristen and Cambia’s new nightmare… Previously published as Wise Moves Readers LOVE Find You! ‘Packed to the rafters with tension and suspense and so many heart stopping moments. Gripping and so intense. Another fantastic five star read from this author.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A thrilling five-star read. This is fast paced and thrilling and everything you expect from this great author.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A wonderful fast afternoon read.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An intense and well-paced romantic suspense that keeps the reader engaged.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A fast-paced and addictive romantic thriller.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book Synopsis‘What a scorcher of a thriller! I was sucked in from the very first page and I couldn't put it down!’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An unsolved mystery ignites a deadly game of chess in this scorching thriller from New York Times bestselling author Mary Burton. A year after the infamous arsonist Nero was found dead in one of his latest fires, journalist Darcy Sampson receives a tip that the body found at the scene wasn't Nero at all. Determined to solve the case, Darcy heads to her small hometown in Virginia to track Michael Gannon, an arsonist investigator who refuses to believe that Nero is dead. But when a new series of fires in the area have a remarkable resemblance to the arsonist's previous work, Darcy and Gannon are in a race against time to put a stop to Nero once and for all. But Nero is ready and waiting for them, and he intends on teaching both Gannon and Darcy one last, fatal lesson. Previously published as The Arsonist Readers LOVE Playing With Fire! ‘Oooooh I loved this one! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action and a great who done it!’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Well written with a strong plotline and well-developed characters. I couldn't put it down, it was gripping, twisty and unpredictable.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow Mary Burton this is what I call a THRILLER.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A brilliant read. I loved it.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved this book, it was fast paced, had a bit of everything, romance, suspense and thrills. I read it in a day, as I was hooked from the first chapter.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book Synopsis‘Mary does it again with another thrill ride of a book! So many twists and turns right from the start.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Old secrets are hard to keep buried in this gritty and gripping novel of suspense from New York Times bestselling author Mary Burton. Kelsey Warren may now be a high-flying journalist, but she’s never forgiven her reckless mother Donna for abandoning her as a teenager. Yet when Kelsey returns to her hometown and discovers her mother’s body at the bottom of a flooded quarry with a gunshot wound in her chest, Kelsey’s world is flipped upside down. Her mother didn’t desert her; she was killed. Despite Sheriff Mitch Garrett's pleas to leave the case alone, Kelsey is determined to uncover the truth about her mother. But small towns hide big secrets, and someone has their eye on Kelsey and is set on silencing her for good. Previously published as In Dark Waters Readers LOVE Keep You Close! ‘Love anything by this author and this one did not disappoint! Absolutely fantastic.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Well written with a compelling storyline and well-developed characters. A good amount of twists and suspense and unpredictability that left me guessing until the end.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I really enjoyed this book… Definitely recommend.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Mary Burton’s books are always a must read… A fast paced, fast moving story.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Mary Burton is a class act. Her writing is consistently brilliant and Keep You Close is no exception.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved it! Keep You Close is a wild and terrifying ride. Highly enjoyable and I had a hard time putting it down!’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Lots of twists and turns with gritty characters that you cant help but love. Once you start reading you can't put it down!’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I absolutely devour anything that Mary Burton writes. She is an automatic go-to author for me to grab and read. She has definitely done it again!’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book Synopsis'A gripping page-turner' Sunday Times 'Beautifully written and compelling' Sabine Durrant 'Satisfyingly creepy' Sunday MirrorThe loss of her mother has left Kali McKenzie with too many unanswered questions. But while clearing out Elena's art studio, she finds a drawer packed with postcard each bearing an identical one-line message from a Canadian gallery owner called Susannah Gillespie: thinking of you. Who is this woman and what does she know about Elena's hidden past?Desperate to find out, Kali travels with her toddler, Finn, to Susannah's isolated home on a remote British Columbian island, a place of killer whales and storms. But as bad weather closes in, Kali quickly realises she has made a big mistake. The enigmatic Susannah refuses to talk about the past, and as Kali struggles to piece together what happened back in the 1970s, Susannah's behaviour grows more and more erratic. Most worrying of all, Susannah is becoming increasingly preoccupied with little Finn . . .PRAISE FOR LUCY ATKINS'Wonderfully skilled' Sarah Perry'Sly, witty and gripping' Naomi Alderman'Wholly beguiling' Mick Herron'Highly intelligent' Sarah Vaughan'Beguiling, brilliantly creepy' Claire FullerTrade ReviewHorribly, horribly compulsive. Brilliant * Fiona Barton, author of The Widow *A gripping page-turner * The Sunday Times *Taut, tense, and beautifully written. I held my breath between chapters and didn't sleep until I reached the end * Clare Mackintosh, author of I Let You Go *A complex, creepy and insidious novel * The Guardian on The Night Visitor *The rich characterisation makes for an alarmingly plausible riches-to-rags tale * Sunday Times on The Night Visitor *Elegant, clever, beautifully written. Lucy Atkins is, quite frankly, a genius * Joanna Cannon, author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep *Thrillingly creepy and darkly funny, The Night Visitor set me racing through the chapters with its brilliant plotting and characters that crackle off the page. A cannot tear yourself away novel * Kate Hamer, author of The Girl in the Red Coat *Addictive . . . a pace so relentless that you'll want to inhale this novel in one uninterrupted sitting * Sunday Times on The Other Child *This atmospheric, propulsive novel creeps up on you like footsteps in the dead of night... a tingling layer of gothic suspense * Metro on The Night Visitor *One of the most vivid, memorable and menacing characters I've ever read...Dark, tense and menacing, I was quickly drawn into the story and couldn't put it down. Readers who enjoyed Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller will adore it * CL Taylor, author of The Lie *Wonderfully dark and intriguing. In Vivian, Atkins has created a fascinating and sinister character who will stay with you long after you've finished the book. Highly recommended * Linda Green, author of While My Eyes Were Closed *Such a sophisticated, layered read, I absolutely revelled in it. A wonderful, wonderful book. The plotting is superb but the real triumph is the characterisation. The moment I finished, I wanted to read it all over again * Clare Mackintosh on The Night Visitor *I absolutely loved this novel. The Other Child is seriously gripping, seriously scary and seriously brilliant * Clare Kendal, author of The Book of You *Atmospheric and packed with suspense, kept me on edge from start to finish * Woman & Home Magazine on The Other Child *Sinister, suspenseful and a great sense of place. It races along, as a family history is unpickedFabulously dark * Woman & Home on The Night Visitor *Sinister, utterly compulsive...will keep your pulse racing until its dramatic denouement * Red Magazine on The Night Visitor *Truly unnerving. Atkins perfectly captures the vulnerability that comes with moving overseas, away from friends and support networks, and uses it expertly in this compelling novel. Not just one-more-page gripping but perceptive and beautifully written * Lucie Whitehouse on The Other Child *An elegantly written page-turner which pulled me in from the start and held its grip until the final page * Renee Knight, author of Disclaimer *An absolute cracker...Fantastic! * Sunday Mirror on The Night Visitor *It's wonderfully creepy, in that clever way that is tied in with character, as much as plot and setting. And the beetle metaphor is just ingenious * Sabine Durrant, author of Lie With Me *The tension is immediate and unrelenting; the sense of unease palpable. Deceptive on every level, this is a gripping, Rendellesque read * Mick Herron, author of Spook Street *Enjoyably creepy * Sunday Express on The Night Visitor *Utterly gripping * Literary Review on The Night Visitor *The last book I read in one sitting like this was Louise Doughty's Apple Tree Yard. Like Louise, Lucy Atkins is brilliant at ramping up the tension so that there's not a chance of relief until the end * Polly Samson *Brilliantly believable...you will relish every page * The People on The Night Visitor *This is an enthralling, creepy and endlessly twisty story about secrets, lies and the destructive power of ambition. We galloped to the climax. Five stars * Heat on The Night Visitor *I read this book in one sitting. A tense psychological thriller which explores authenticity, fame, and lies and the depths you might sink to in order to protect your reputation. A page-turner that keeps you gripped from the very first page * Psychologies on The Night Visitor *It put me in mind of Misery, and Rebecca. Splendidly tense, creepy and enjoyable * Sarah Hilary, author of Quieter Than Killing *Characters so real you could reach out and touch them. Absorbing, exciting and full of rich detail - snap this one up! * Lucie Whitehouse, author of Keep You Close *Beautifully crafted, unsettling and utterly unputdownable, The Night Visitor explores what happens when we take someone else's story and make it our own * Nuala Ellwood, author of My Sister's Bones *Crackles with undercurrents of mistrust and menace. Tense, atmospheric and beautifully written, this unnerving tale of ambition and revenge held me captive until the last page. Brilliant * Amanda Jennings, author of In Her Wake *Clever, multilayered and morally murky. I read it with a delicious sense of dread * Tammy Cohen, author of When She Was Bad *Elegantly written with a rollercoaster of twists and turns, The Night Visitor has creepy echoes of Zoe Heller's Notes on a Scandal. I read it in two sittings * Elizabeth Heathcote, author of Undertow *The Night Visitor is an addictive and intricately plotted page-turner. I devoured it and I loved it * Hannah Beckermann, author and journalist *Thrilling...the sort of book you think about even when not reading, and stay up far later than you should to finish. Atkins is a master of suspense; she creates characters that you feel like you've met, and situations you never want to be in. Completely wonderful * Dr Suzannah Lipscomb, historian, author and TV presenter *It's clever, complex and compelling and grips right up to that completely unexpected twist. A chilling psychological thriller with beetles! * Fanny Blake on The Night Visitor *

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Book SynopsisCrime reporter Rosie Gilmour returns from hiding in Bosnia to a story of a brutal execution. University lecturer Tom Mahoney was shot at point blank range and the killing has all the signs of a hit. But who would want to kill a retired lecturer? Rosie throws herself into the investigation, looking for a witness that has gone missing. A witness that might hold the key to the story. But she has her own reasons to stay hidden. As Rosie digs deeper, she finds the story has connections to the Ministry of Defence and MI6 and Mahoney's past is darker than anyone could imagine. Rosie's running out of time to find out the truth, before Mahoney's killers silence her for good.'Anna Smith is the real deal . . . Rosie Gilmour is a captivating character who drags the reader along at breakneck speed' Daily ExpressTrade ReviewI love to read novels that have strong female protagonists and Rosie Gilmour is up there with the best of them . . . Smith is also an excellent wordsmith and her stories are wonderfully crafted, as well as being exciting and gripping. * Euro Crime Review *"A Cold Killing" is an excellent new addition to a great series. Very recommended. * Upcoming4me *

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Book SynopsisThe death of a young Pakistani bride in Glasgow gets Rosie Gilmour's antennae twitching. She is sure this tragic accident was anything but - but she is not prepared for where her investigation will take her...Rosie has her hands full navigating the sensitivities of this case - the girl's grieving family and the tensions between the white and Pakistani communities in the city - when she is contacted by two prostitutes in serious trouble. One of their clients has died on the job, and they've gone on the run - with his briefcase. The briefcase contains dozens of rough diamonds, and now some thoroughly brutal people are on their trail.On the surface this has nothing to do with the death of the young girl. But Rosie has spent years looking beneath Glasgow's surface into its murky depths, and if anyone can discover the connection between one girl's forced marriage and a ring of diamond smugglers, it's her.'Chilling and compelling' Kimberley ChambersTrade ReviewChilling and compelling * Kimberley Chambers *Anna Smith is the real deal . . . Rosie Gilmour is a captivating character who drags the reader along at breakneck speed * Daily Express *Every single word rings true . . . I can't wait to get my hands on the next one * Lorraine Kelly *[Smith] is an excellent wordsmith and her stories are wonderfully crafted, as well as being exciting and gripping * Eurocrime *A compelling, concisely written page turner, with a feisty heroine * Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisChilling thriller for fans of Patricia Gibney and Angela Marsons. Online you never really know who you're talking to. You can never know their true identity or their intentions. Until it's too late...Recently moved to Dublin and struggling with a new baby, for support Yvonne turns to an online forum for mothers. Drawn into a world of new friends, she volunteers more and more information about herself. When one of these friends goes abruptly offline, Yvonne suspects something is wrong, but dismisses her fears as imagination.Then the body of a young woman with striking similarities to Yvonne's missing friend is found, and she realizes that they're all in terrifying danger. She must persuade Detective Claire Boyle, herself about to go on maternity leave, to take her fears seriously before others disappear.'Brilliantly original and genuinely scary' Sunday Mirror'Chilling, riveting and brilliantly written, you'll be up reading this way into the night! CloserTrade Review'A brilliantly original and truly riveting story, full of well-crafted characters and a shocker of a twist that you won't see coming. Once you start reading this, you won't be able to stop' Melissa Hill. * Melissa Hill *'A cracking read and a great crime thriller. Highly recommended. Brilliant!' Liz Nugent author of Unravelling Oliver. * Liz Nugent *'A fantastic debut novel that homes in on our darkest fears. Believable characters combined with escalating tension make this an edge-of-your-seat read' Elly Griffiths. * Elly Griffiths *'A fast-paced, chilling psychological thriller that explores our deepest fears about trust and the internet. I'm already looking forward to Detective Claire Boyle's next outing' Louise Millar. * Louise Millar *'A gripping, fast-paced tale' Irish Times. * Irish Times *'Brilliant observations about the early days of motherhood ... moving, at times wryly funny and always completely convincing ... I loved it' Erin Kelly. * Erin Kelly *'Chilling, riveting and briliantly written, you'll be up reading this way into the night!' Closer. * Closer *'Disturbing and emotional ... I loved this book' Alex Marwood. * Alex Marwood *'The sinister side of social media is explored to wonderfully chilling effect ... A brilliantly original and genuinely scary debut' Sunday Mirror. * Sunday Mirror *'A brilliantly original and truly riveting story, full of well-crafted characters and a shocker of a twist that you won't see coming. Once you start reading this, you won't be able to stop' Melissa Hill. * Melissa Hill *

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Book SynopsisEvery full moon a Ripper runs amok on the streets of Brentford. Masters Simon and Keith Innes set out to catch the killer under the disturbing guidance of the repellently delightful and now immortal sleuth, Mrs Bradley. Full of the very British eccentric goings-on that mark the popular tales of Gladys Mitchell, this shows her at her mordant and morbid best.Trade ReviewA delightfully subversive read -- Liza CodyHer tour-de-force -- Philip Larkin** 'A delightfully subversive read. * Liza Cody *** 'Her tour-de-force. * Philip Larkin *

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Book SynopsisFirst there was the detective novel with its stubble-chinned PI. Then came the feminist super-sleuths. Feisty, fierce and real. Now there’s Figments of a Murder. And Babes. Babes is about lust. Babes is about power. But what else is she up to? In her world women are torn asunder by love and lust, by murder and menace. Babes says she calls the shots. But does she?

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Book SynopsisWhen Margot Gorman finds a body in the women's toilets a tangle of mysteries opens up. Margot Gorman, ex-cop, is now a free agent, a triathlete and has the equivalent of perfect pitch in the sense of smell and, naturally, is a connoisseur of good wine. From murder and kidnap, drug dealing and gay bashing, to illegal mining and an underground network of cyberfeminists - the Solanacites - there are many skeins to be unravelled. A complex and intriguing novel that deals with the selfhood of women, it ranges from musings on the Amazons to a self-sufficient community in Australia's womenslands. There is mystery and philosophical enquiry in money, madness, motherhood and much more.Trade Review"Wry, sardonic, cool and spirited, its themes of subversion and survival are exciting and marvellous ... A contemporary classic." --Debra Adelaide, "Sydney Morning Herald"

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Book SynopsisSenior Detective Margot Gorman has been assigned to watch over a raving woman in an asylum. What could a madwoman know? And Peter, the sportsman, can he become a warrior in Vietnam? With a deft hand, the author challenges the traditional stereotypes of a crime novel with questions of politics, patriarchy, sanity and murder. First published in 1991, Still Murder was widely praised by reviewers for being a ‘cross-over’ novel, bringing together literary and crime styles of writing and narrative. This feminist classic edition has an introduction by Marion Campbell and an Afterword by the author.

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Book Synopsis“Sex, silence and sin”, this is what newly appointed professor, Dee P. Scrutari, writes in her notebook as she turns her anthropological gaze on the tribe of “non-reproducing males” who dominate St Jude's, a prestigious Catholic liberal arts college. Evil is in the air. Something is awry. What happened to the previous occupant of her newly-painted office? Professor Scrutari's fieldwork begins. Her notebooks fill. And the mystery mounts: disturbing odours that no air cleanser will disperse, turbulent faculty meetings, tenure politics, intrigue around women's bodies, and a strange ginger cat. The mix is complicated by secret student alliances, predatory priests, the end of a marriage and new love, an imperious college president, a lumbering dean, a faction-ridden Religious Studies Department, a radical mass and a dissident feminist liturgy.Trade Review"What Diane has done is to create out of her imagination, out of her experience, a wonderfully structured, layered novel." --Sara Dowse, author, "Sapphires" and "Schemetime"

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Book SynopsisNarrating the twisted tale of a backstage double murder, Gypsy Rose Lee, the queen of the striptease, provides a tantalising glimpse into the underworld of burlesque theatre in 1940s America. When one performer is found strangled with a G-string, no one is above suspicion. A host of clueless coppers face off against the theatre’s tough-talking guys and dolls, and when a second murder occurs, it’s clear that Gypsy and her cohorts will have to crack the case themselves. A dazzling and wisecracking murder mystery noir that was the basis of the 1943 film Lady of Burlesque, starring Barbara Stanwyck.Trade Review“Burlesque is the background ... [and] the background is perfect. Recommended for the readers who feel better when their eyebrows are raised.” * The New Yorker *“A lurid, witty and highly competent detective story ... Rich showbusiness vocabulary and stage-door gags make her book almost a social document. The G-String Murders build up to a hair-raising climax.” * Time magazine *“[Lee’s] novel is a rich and lusty job, brimming over with infectious vitality and a hilarious jargon of her own.” * Life *

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Book SynopsisNominated for the 2017 McIlvanney Award for Scottish Crime Book of the Year Two Women, One Quest, Grave Consequences. When Maggie Laird's disgraced ex-cop husband suddenly dies, her humdrum suburban life is turned upside down. With the bills mounting, she takes on his struggling detective agency, enlisting the help of neighbour `Big Wilma'. And so an unlikely partnership is born. But the discovery of a crudely mutilated body soon raises the stakes... and Maggie and Wilma are drawn into an unknown world of Aberdeen's sink estates, clandestine childminding and dodgy dealers. Cross Purpose is surprising, gritty, sometimes darkly humorous - a tale combining police corruption, gangs and murder with a paean to friendship, loyalty and how `women of a certain age' can beat the odds.Trade Review"The dialogue is fantastic. The development of the characters [is] well done... It takes great skill to create a character that makes the skin crawl." The Quiet Knitter; "An entertaining and engrossing thriller featuring Aberdeen's own Thelma and Louise... An intricate plotline with well-created characters woven into a dark and yet uplifting story, written with a touch of humour." Bits About Books; "A fast-moving, humorous, yet dark read... a stonking debut. Claire MacLeary is a fresh new voice in Scottish crime fiction and this quine is one for the watching!" Chapter In My Life; "Great characters [and] a warm tale of a developing friendship... Very enjoyable." Col's Criminal Library; "Clever, involving and beautifully done. Highly Recommended." Liz Loves Books; "A fantastic debut novel... A real page-turner, I was totally hooked from the beginning." It's All About the Books blog; "Refreshingly different... a fast-paced tale." - Shirley Whiteside, Herald; "All the different stories merge together in an unflinching, often funny and yet ultimately tender portrayal of life on the margins of society... It might just launch a new kind of crime subgenre, for which some of us have been waiting for some time now: `cosy with bite'... A lively debut, with a fresh, different vibe." Crime Fiction Lover; "Edgy and thought-provoking... With lashings of authentic Aberdeen and a fast paced plot keeping the pages turning, Cross Purpose was a blast to read and is highly recommended." Grab This Book; "[A] fantastic new crime novel...a gritty book with a surprisingly warm theme of female friendship." The List; "MacLeary's prose is assured and engaging, bursting with the liveliness of the Aberdonian vernacular... an impressive debut." Raven Crime Reads; "Crime fiction has a new stellar voice in Claire MacLeary. Cross Purpose is feisty, funny and darkly delicious." Michael J Malone; "A dark devious delight, definitely one to watch." Neil Broadfoot; "A terrific crime debut with an unlikely crime-fighting partnership that sets it apart from the rest. Takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster. Unsettling at times, even uncomfortable, but compelling to the end." Theresa Talbot ; "A thoroughly enjoyable book, and a highly commendable (and recommendable) first-time novel." - Undiscovered Scotland; "A brilliant new talent for the lover of crime." - Sue Black, DBE, forensic anthropologist.

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Book SynopsisWhen a child's severed hand is found, DC Toks Ade and DS Philip Dean are put on the case. Thrown into a world of Nigerian traditional customs, ritual sacrifice, and international human trafficking, they must find the guilty parties before more children are lost and more limbs are found.Jacob Ross, author of the Bone Readers Stella Oni brings a welcome new voice and an engagingly fresh perspective in her superbly executed debut crime novel, Deadly Sacrifice. A totally absorbing read.Nii Ayikwei Parkes, author of TAIL OF THE BLUE BIRD An audacious debut novel...Winnie M Li, author of DARK CHAPTER Deadly Sacrifice is a gripping read. It's a foray into the gritty underbelly of human trafficking and London's more deprived communities, where immigration and social stratification are interlinked in 21st-century Britain. A chilling tale, powered by a likeable Nigerian-British heroine.Trade ReviewA gripping debut that keeps you turning the pages. A brilliant debut from Stella Oni * Leye Adenle, author of When Trouble Starts and Easy Motion Tourist *

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Book SynopsisNever underestimate a librarian. Intelligent cosy crime with razor-sharp wit and an unlikely hero, for fans of P.G. Wodehouse and Muriel Spark "So funny." Lynne Truss Shona McMonagle is back, once again personally selected by Marcia Blaine, founder of her alma mater, the Marcia Blaine School for Girls – this time for a crucial mission involving time travel, Macbeth, the Weird Sisters and a black cat. Unsure which version of history she’s in – and fully aware of Shakespeare’s egregious inaccuracies - Shona tries to figure out who she’s here to save. But between playing the Fool and being turned into a mouse, things don’t always go her way. Shona’s expertise in martial arts is put to the test as family tensions rise and fingers are pointed for murder. Can Shona unravel the mystery in time to complete her mission? Never underestimate a librarian!Trade Review'Witty and surrealistically humorous … Extremely light-hearted, funny and easy to read.' -- Dundee Courier, Book of the Week

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Book SynopsisTHE FIFTH BOOK IN CLAIRE MACLEARY'S MULTI-AWARD-LISTED HARCUS & LAIRD SERIES 'Claire MacLeary has, with little fuss or fanfare, written a crime series that subverts and rejuvenates the crime genre' Scots Whay Hae A disturbing hanging with a backstory of secrets and shaming highlights some outdated attitudes within Aberdeen’s finest. After past skirmishes with the police, local PI Maggie Laird is determined to steer clear, but her partner, Wilma Harcus, goes rogue. Not only does she have leads up her sleeve, but she has grandiose ideas to expand their PI agency into the realm of romance fraud and cybercrime. Then, troubled schoolchild Frankie Bain goes missing. As the clock runs down, the two investigations collide. Was the hanging the last, desperate act of a tortured mind or a calculated murder? And will Frankie Bain be found alive? In this fifth Harcus and Laird novel, Claire MacLeary fashions a fast-paced, fresh and topical new adventure for her inimitable PI partnership.

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Book SynopsisNever underestimate a librarian. Fifty-something Edinburgh librarian Shona is a proud former pupil of the Marcia Blaine School for Girls, but has a deep loathing for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, which she thinks gives her alma mater a bad name. Impeccably educated and an accomplished linguist, mathematician, martial artist, and musician, Shona is selected by Marcia Blaine herself to travel back in time for a crucial mission in Venice. Finding the city afflicted by what appears to be a new outbreak of the plague, Shona soon encounters the Cornetto family of gondoliers. Lately, a number of their passengers have met a watery fate. Coincidence? Unlikely. She dons a mask, goes undercover and seeks inspiration in the library. But the mystery only deepens. Why do the Cornettos seem so flaky and their explanations wafer-thin, even as they proclaim their innocence? What is going on at the printworks? Shona’s powers of deduction, dissection and prowess as a swimmer are put to the test as she realises that a bitter feud is at play. Can Shona unravel the tapestry of lies and get to the truth? It’s a race against time, but it would be a mistake to underestimate a librarian.

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Book SynopsisA pregnant Sam Shephard investigates the murder of an expectant mother in Dunedin, as it becomes clear that the killer is ready to strike again … Queen of New Zealand Crime, Vanda Symon, returns with a shocking, twisty new Sam Shephard thriller… 'From the opening pages, this story left me gasping for breath' Michael Robotham ‘Chillingly intense with a finely honed sense of place … Vanda Symon knows Dunedin and brings it vibrantly to life in this fast-paced thriller’ Craig Robertson ‘An excellent thriller, definitely one of the best of this year. Vanda Symon is a master of characterisation, plot and dialogue … I loved every moment’ Liz Nugent 'New Zealand's modern Queen of Crime' Val McDermid _________________________________ A killer targeting pregnant women.A detective expecting her first baby… The shocking murder of a heavily pregnant woman throws the New Zealand city of Dunedin into a tailspin, and the devastating crime feels uncomfortably close to home for Detective Sam Shephard as she counts down the days to her own maternity leave. Confined to a desk job in the department, Sam must find the missing link between this brutal crime and a string of cases involving mothers and children in the past. As the pieces start to come together and the realisation dawns that the killer’s actions are escalating, drastic measures must be taken to prevent more tragedy. For Sam, the case becomes personal, when it becomes increasingly clear that no one is safe and the clock is ticking… _______________________ ‘Dark, chilling and utterly heartbreaking. A highly emotive and compelling thriller’ Michael Wood ‘New Zealand's answer to Siobhan Clarke’ The Times 'The Edinburgh of the south has never been more deadly' Ian Rankin ‘From the ominous and shocking beginning to the heart-pounding ending, Expectant had me in its grasp’ Nikki Crutchley 'A sassy heroine, fabulous sense of place, and rip-roaring stories with a twist. Perfect curl-up-on-the-sofa reading' Kate Mosse 'Fans of The Dry will love Vanda Symon' Red Magazine ‘A wonderful storyteller’ Helen FitzGerald Praise for Vanda Symon ***SHORTLISTED for the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger*** ***SHORTLISTED for Best Paperback in the Barry Awards*** 'If you like taut, pacy thrillers with a wonderful sense of place, this is the book for you' Liam McIlvanney 'Vanda Symon's work resembles Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series she knows how to tell a good story and the NZ setting adds spice' The Times 'Atmospheric, emotional and gripping' Foreword Reviews 'A plot that grabs the reader's attention with a heart-stopping opening and doesn't let go' Sunday Times 'It is Symon's copper Sam, self-deprecating and very human, who represents the writer's real achievement' Guardian ‘Edgy, thrilling and terrifyingly realistic’ Lisa Hall ‘All the thrills of a brilliantly plotted crime novel with some interesting moral questions woven between the words. Fast, furious and intense' Helen Fields 'Completely gripping … a poignant study of how our society shapes unlikely saints and monsters' Eve Smith

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Book SynopsisA snobbish Danish literary author is challenged to write a crime novel in thirty days, travelling to a small village in Iceland for inspiration, and then a body appears … an atmospheric, darkly funny, twisty debut thriller, first in an addictive new series. ‘An original and thoroughly enjoyable treat’ Guardian BOOK OF THE YEAR ‘Dark and sharp … A lot of fun’ Val McDermid ‘Witty, dark, meta, ingenious and hugely compelling. I LOVED the Icelandic setting and satirical observations’ Will Dean ‘Hilariously scathing. Satirises genre fiction while creating a first-class example of it, full of suspects, red herrings and twists … wit and originality make it a joy to read’ Mark Sanderson, The Times CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR **Winner of the Harald Mogensen Prize for Best Danish Crime Novel** **Shortlisted for the Glass Key Award****Winner of the Crime Fiction Lover Award for Best Crime Book in Translation** ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Copenhagen author Hannah is the darling of the literary community and her novels have achieved massive critical acclaim. But nobody actually reads them, and frustrated by writer’s block, Hannah has the feeling that she’s doing something wrong. When she expresses her contempt for genre fiction, Hanna is publicly challenged to write a crime novel in thirty days. Scared that she will lose face, she accepts, and her editor sends her to Húsafjöður – a quiet, tight-knit village in Iceland, filled with colourful local characters – for inspiration. But two days after her arrival, the body of a fisherman’s young son is pulled from the water … and what begins as a search for plot material quickly turns into a messy and dangerous investigation that threatens to uncover secrets that put everything at risk … including Hannah… Atmospheric, dramatic and full of nerve-jangling twists and turns, Thirty Days of Darkness is a darkly funny, unsettling debut Nordic Noir thriller that marks the start of a breath-taking new series. ____________________________________ ‘Dark and atmospheric … a bleak and beautiful evocation of Iceland, and Hannah is a pitch-perfect depiction of the bombastic neurosis that we writers know so very well’ Harriet Tyce ‘Such a clever, original twist on the Nordic Noir tradition – darkly humorous and utterly captivating’ Eva Björg Ægisdóttir ‘A fantastic debut … Darkly funny, tense and a lot of poking fun at crime-writing’ Tariq Ashkanani ‘Delightfully dark’ Antti Tuomainen ‘So atmospheric’ Crime Monthly ‘An absolute gem … a superb mix of humour and dark, twisty crime fiction with an added layer of contemplation regarding what makes books 'literary'. The Icelandic setting is perfectly drawn … Not to be missed' Yrsa Sigurðardóttir ‘Shades of Fargo and Twin Peaks – and there’s no higher praise than that. Absolutely brilliant!’ Rod Reynolds ‘A truly original thriller that perfectly balances humour and suspense’ Vogue ‘A hugely enjoyable read with thrills and laughs, as Hannah sticks her nose in where it’s not welcome’ Michael J. Malone ‘So satisfying … a truly great read’ Lilja Sigurðardóttir ‘A skilful, witty mash-up, playing with tropes of romantic fiction (yes, that popular genre writer turns up in the village and is not so bad after all) and crime fiction (closed community, dark secrets) … really entertaining’ Aly Monroe 'This reminded me somewhat of the more recent, meta efforts of the great Anthony Horowitz’ The Bookbag ‘The most original thriller of the year: realistic, suspenseful and romantic to the very last page. And just when you think you've got the plot figured out, the plot twists again' Politiken

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