Crime and mystery: women sleuths / detectives

Book SynopsisThe seventeenth book in the Kay Scarpetta series, from the No. 1 bestselling author''America''s most chilling writer of crime fiction'' The TimesIt is the week before Christmas. The effects of the credit crunch have prompted Dr Kay Scarpetta to offer her services pro bono to New York City''s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. But in no time at all, her increased visibility seems to precipitate a string of dramatic and unsettling events. She is asked live on the air about the sensational case of Hannah Starr, who has vanished and is presumed dead. Moments later during the same broadcast, she receives a startling call-in from a former psychiatric patient of Benton Wesley''s. When she returns after the show to the apartment where she and Benton live, she finds a suspicious package - possibly a bomb - waiting for her at the front desk. Soon the apparent threat on Scarpetta''s life finds her embroiled in a deadly plot that includes a fTrade ReviewCornwell has never written better Evening Standard The Scarpetta Factor is a novel that has clearly engaged Cornwell in the same fashion as her vintage work Independent The Cornwell phenomenon goes on Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisThe fifteenth book in the Kay Scarpetta series, from No. 1 bestselling author Patricia Cornwell. ''America''s most chilling writer of crime fiction'' The TimesThe ''book of the dead'' is the morgue log, the ledger in which all cases are entered by hand. For Kay Scarpetta, however, it is about to have a new meaning. Fresh from her bruising battle with a psychopath in Florida, Scarpetta decides it''s time for a change of pace. Moving to the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina, she opens a unique private forensic pathology practice, one in which she and her colleagues offer expert crime scene investigation and autopsies to communities lacking local access to competent death investigation and modern technology. It seems like an ideal situation, until the murders and other violent deaths begin. A woman is ritualistically murdered in her multi-million-dollar beach home. The body of an abused young boy is fTrade ReviewClassic Cornwell territory with...a sharp political element that will ensure the book isn't on George Bush's bedside table Daily Express Serving up an Ace...Cornwell is firmly back on the money here. Daily Mirror Patricia Cornwell is the queen of gritty, grisly, crime fiction writing and her latest offering doesn't disappoint. Book of the Dead will keep you gripped throughout Heat "The reason we read novels about the forensic investigation of crime is not artistic decorum but a fascination with how things work. This is what Cornwell has always provided, and it is an area in which she does not disappoint." Times Literary Supplement 'Hannibal Lecter, eat your liver out. Tersely written, elaborately plotted and crammed with research, Cornwell's writing has always been hard-boiled - but this one would crack a paving stone if dropped.'

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Book SynopsisStephanie''s got a one-way ticket to trouble...Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum''s life is set to blow sky high when international murder hits dangerously close to home in Explosive Eighteen. No. 1 bestselling author Janet Evanovich''s Stephanie Plum series is not to be missed by fans of Lee Child and JD Robb. Raves for Evanovich''s bestselling series: ''Stephanie Plum in ass-kicking form... utterly delightful'' (Cosmopolitan); ''Evanovich''s series of New Jersey comedy thrillers are among the great joys of contemporary fiction'' (GQ Magazine); ''Hot and sassy'' (The Boston Herald).After a holiday from hell, Stephanie''s heading back to New Jersey and life as a bounty hunter feeling worse than before. And that''s before she finds out the man in the seat next to her was brutally murdered on their layover, and she may hold the key to his death.With both the fake FBI and the real FBI on her tail, not to mention sometimes-boyfriend Morelli and more-than-a-mentor Ranger, Stephanie''s beginning to wonder if she might need a holiday from it all...What readers are saying about Explosive Eighteen:''Explosive it is! Another marvellous outing in the series of Stephanie''s mildly madcap adventures'' ''The plot is as ingenious and hilarious as ever, and the combination of humour and action is potent stuff, irresistible!''''Fun, likeable characters and a crazy plot! Perfect Plum''Trade Review'Evanovich's series of New Jersey comedy thrillers are among the great joys of contemporary crime fiction...' * GQ Magazine *'Packed with her familiar wicked ear for dialogue...Plum is not just a smart private eye but a heroine with a sense of humour' * Daily Mail *A laugh-out-loud page-turner * Heat *Stephanie Plum in ass-kicking form...utterly delightful * Cosmopolitan *As smart and sassy as high-gloss wet paint * Time Out *

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Book SynopsisRandom House presents the audiobook edition of 17th Suspect by James Patterson, read by January LaVoy.A series of shootings exposes San Francisco to a methodical yet unpredictable killer, and a reluctant woman decides to put her trust in Sergeant Lindsay Boxer. The confidential informant’s tip leads Lindsay to disturbing conclusions, including that something has gone horribly wrong inside the police department itself. The hunt for the killer lures Lindsay out of her jurisdiction, and gets inside Lindsay in dangerous ways. She suffers unsettling medical symptoms, and her friends and confidantes in the Women’s Murder Club warn Lindsay against taking the crimes too much to heart. With lives at stake, the detective can’t help but follow the case into ever more terrifying terrain. A decorated officer, loving wife, devoted mother, and loyal friend, Lindsay’s unwavering integrity has never failed her. But now she is confronting a killer who is determined to undermine it all.

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson, a novel of deadly secrets casting long shadows...perfect for fans of Karen Rose and Lisa Gardner. ''She is one of the best'' Harlan Coben, No.1 New York Times bestselling author It starts as a prank - a way to blow off steam after a long summer at Camp Horseshoe. Monica O''Neal has it coming, and no one will really get hurt... Twenty years later, detective Lucas Dalton is investigating the discovery of human remains at the old campsite. Lucas worked there during the infamous summer when two girls went missing. That''s why he''s called five former counsellors back to town - including Bernadette Warden, the woman Lucas has never forgotten. Each one knows something about that terrible night. And as they reunite, a new horror unfolds. First comes a simple, terrifying message: YOU WILL PAY Trade ReviewPraise for Lisa Jackson * . *Jam-packed with scary chills. * Booklist on TELL ME *Absolutely tension filled...Jackson is on top of her game. * Suspense Magazine on TELL ME *Lisa Jackson shows yet again why she is one of the best...A pure nail biter. -- Harlan Coben on YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOWShiveringly good suspense! Lisa Jackson ratchets up the tension as one woman's desperate search for her missing son takes her to the very brink of losing her husband, her sanity, her very self. Each chapter will leave you wondering who to trust. The answer: You don't want to know... -- Lisa Gardner on YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOWTerrifying...a creepy thriller sure to please Jackson's many fans. * Publishers Weekly on DEVIOUS *Her latest whodunit hits all the marks, taking readers on a nail-biting roller-coaster ride. * Library Journal on WITHOUT MERCY *

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Book Synopsis''A thriller that lingers in the memory'' SUNDAY TIMES CRIME CLUB''Dark Nordic noir'' THE i ''A global bestseller'' SUNDAY TIMES The award-winning, international bestselling Swedish crime debut about a missing girl, and the detective who must return home and confront her darkest secrets in order to find her - for fans of MISSING, PRESUMED by Susie Steiner, I''M TRAVELLING ALONE by Samuel Bjork, and THEN SHE WAS GONE by Lisa Jewell.______________________________________THE MISSINGNora''s daughter Annabelle has disappeared, last seen on her way home from a party.THE LOSTGullspång''s inexperienced police are wilting under the national media spotlight - and its residents desperate for answers.THE CLOCK IS TICKINGStockholm DI Charlie Lager must return home to find Annabelle, and then get out of town as soon as she can. Before everyone discovers the truth about her . . .If you liked MISSING, PRESUMED by Susie Steiner, I''M TRAVELLING ALONE by Samuel Bjork, and THEN SHE WAS GONE by Lisa Jewell you will love FOR THE MISSING, the international crime bestseller with a stunning ending.______________________________________WHAT REAL READERS ARE SAYING:''Oh My Gosh! This is epic!''''This is a great crime mystery''''An interesting and fascinating read''''Highly recommended''''I am just amazed when a debut author presents a crime thriller in a fresh way''''The tension grows and grows up to a stunning conclusion''Trade ReviewThis smash hit Swedish debut breathes new life into a few well-worn det-fic themes to create a thriller that lingers in the memory * SUNDAY TIMES CRIME CLUB *A powerful Scandi Noir debut by a promising new author ... Atmospheric, evocative and with a heroine who overcomes some of the genre's clichés, this is a first-class procedural with all shades of grey unveiled like onion peel as the narrative progresses. With various parallel story strands deepening the mystery before they all come together in a flurry of unwelcome truths, this makes for an altogether excellent thriller -- Maxim Jakubowski * CRIME TIME *This debut novel from a psychology teacher upholds the recent tradition of dark Nordic noir. A girl goes missing on her way home from the party in the forested village of Gullspang. Enter a Stockholm detective with a secret of her own * THE i PAPER *This may be the debut novel for Lina Bengtsdotter, but it immediately slots her into the pantheon of Scandi Noir greats. She is a seamstress. She weaves a wonderful, embracing picture of life in a down-at-heel, dying, remote and rusty, Swedish industrial eyesore; and gradually unpicks the different threads, laying each out, its sparse clarity giving the reader a myriad of separate storylines ... For The Missing begins with the speed and power of a hydrofoil on the dangerous lake, and delves deeply into a sea of contradictions: not just involving the search for the missing girl, but the enthralling personalities and twists that Bengstdotter creates ... the pace is fast and unrelenting, but the style allows the reader to relax and absorb the plot ... For The Missing takes crime fiction to a disturbingly personal, high level -- Tony R. Cox * SHOTS MAG *This debut novel is intelligent and arresting. And grim -- Mat Coward * MORNING STAR *A brilliant, dense crime novel * Dagens Nyheter (Sweden) *The next big Swedish crime sensation * Dagbladet (Norway) *A wonderful debut * Dziennik Zachodni (Poland) *The dark humour, compelling characters and exquisite writing means you're always in for a treat with Lina Bengtsdotter's novels * Camilla Läckberg *Lina Bengtsdotter's books are beautiful, dark and completely addictive. I love them! * Katrine Engberg *

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Book SynopsisNot every witness protection programme is fool proof...Stephanie Plum finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time in Ten Big Ones, the tenth gripping adventure in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. The perfect read for fans of Harlan Coben and Lee Child. Raves for Evanovich: ''No less than her plotting, Evanovich''s characterisations are models of screwball artistry. The intricate plot machinery of her comic capers is fuelled by inventive twists'' (The New York Times); ''A laugh-out-loud page-turner'' (Heat); ''Non-stop laughs with plenty of high jinks'' (USA Today).As the only witness able to ID a gang member who has been firebombing local deli-marts, Stephanie is working overtime avoiding death threats and attempts on her life. New Jersey''s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, would be more than happy to keep her safe in his house. So would her irresistible mentor, Ranger.Stephanie doesn''t knTrade Review'Look out for Sally the swearing tranny who drives the school bus. She's a star - and so is Evanovich' Mirror (4 starred review), 19/6/04 * Mirror (4 starred review) *'The familiar mix of screwball dialogue and oddball secondary characters still retains terrific vitality' The Sunday Times, 27/6/04 * The Sunday Times *'Janet Evanovich's series is as addictive as corn chips - and, 10 books in, not losing any of its salty crunch' Who Weekly, Australia, 12/7/04 * Who Weekly, Australia *'Reads like the screen-play for a 1930s screwball comedy: fast, funny and furious... The rollicking plot...keeps the reader breathless' Publishers Weekly, 7/6/04 * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisOld sins cast long shadows...Thirty years on from a horrific series of child murders in London, Josephine Tey sets out to write a novel about the crimes'' perpetrators: Amelia Sach and Annie Walters, the notorious Finchley baby farmers. Meanwhile, her friend, Inspector Archie Penrose is investigating the sadistic murder of a young seamstress, found dead amid preparations for a star-studded charity gala. The girl''s death seems to be the result of a long-standing domestic feud, but Archie is unconvinced; and when a second young woman is involved in an horrific accident soon afterwards, the search begins for a vicious killer who will stop at nothing to keep the past where it belongs...

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Book SynopsisPhil Rickman was born in Lancashire and lives on the Welsh border where he writes and presents the book programme Phil the Shelf on BBC Radio Wales. He is the acclaimed author of Dr Dee, The Bones of Avalon, Midwinter Spirit (now a major ITV series), the Merrily Watkins Mysteries and the John Dee papers. Visit his website at: www.philrickman.co.ukTrade ReviewNo-one writes better of the shadow-frontier between the supernatural and the real world. * Bernard Cornwell, praise for Merrily Watkins *Ancient history, violent deaths, feuds, intrigues and murder. A most original sleuth. * The Times, praise for Merrily Watkins *Phil Rickman is one of my all-time favourites. I love everything he's done. * Diana Gabaldon, praise for Merrily Watkins *[Rickman] is supremely skilful... a compelling contemporary narrative. * Mail on Sunday, praise for Merrily Watkins *Tight with atmosphere, thick with latent violence... Brilliantly eerie. * Peter James, praise for Merrily Watkins *Compassionate, original and sharply contemporary, Rickman's crime series is one of the best around. * Spectator, praise for Merrily Watkins *Complex, absorbing, fascinating... * Andrew Taylor, praise for Merrily Watkins *Few writers blend the ancient and supernatural with the modern and criminal better than Rickman. * Guardian, praise for Merrily Watkins *The layers, the characters, the humour, the spookiness - perfect. * Elly Griffiths, praise for Merrily Watkins *First rate crime with demons that go bump in the night. * Daily Mail, praise for Merrily Watkins *Classic mysteries... [which] cleverly illuminate the darkest corners of our imaginations. * John Connolly, praise for Merrily Watkins *Engrossing and beautifully dark... a cracking good read ensues. * Jo Brand, praise for Merrily Watkins *

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Book SynopsisAnne Holt is Norway's bestselling female crime writer. She spent two years working for the Oslo Police Department before founding her own law firm and serving as Norway's Minster for Justice between 1996 and 1997. She is published in 30 languages with over 7 million copies of her books sold.Trade ReviewAnne Holt is the Godmother of Norwegian crime fiction -- Jo NesboLively, unusual and persuasive. Holt writes with the command we have come to expect from the top Scandinavian writers * The Times *Anne Holt is a thriller writer of the highest order -- Liza MarklundStep aside, Stieg Larsson, Holt is the queen of Scandinavian crime thrillers * Red Magazine *

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Book SynopsisAutumn 2004In Bampton, Derbyshire, Lena Fisher is arrested for suffocating her husband, Andrew.Spring 2016A year after Lena's release from prison, Andrew is found dead in a disused mortuary.Who was the man Lena killed twelve years ago, and who committed the second murder? When Lena disappears, her sister, Kat, sets out to follow a trail of clues delivered by a mysterious teenage boy. Kat must uncover the truth before there's another death . . .A Deadly Thaw confirms Sarah Ward's place as one of the most exciting new crime writers.

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Book SynopsisFROM FLYNN BERRY, AUTHOR OF REESE WITHERSPOON''S BOOK CLUB PICK NORTHERN SPY How do you find your sister''s killer when no one will help you?When Nora takes the train from London to visit her sister in the Oxfordshire countryside, she expects to find her waiting at the station, or at home cooking dinner. But when she walks into Rachel''s familiar house, what she finds is entirely different: her sister has been the victim of a brutal murder.Stunned and adrift, Nora is haunted by the murder and the secrets that surround it, and as her fear turns to obsession, she becomes as unrecognisable as the sister her investigation uncovers.WINNER OF THE EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL ''Thrilling'' New York Times''Berry transfixes the reader'' Guardian''A literary take on the psychological thriller'' Elle''Exquisitely taut and intenTrade ReviewThe book's triumph is Nora's voice. Strangely but mesmerisingly combining dreamy musings and memories with a tenacious quest for the truth, her first-person story leaves you continually uncertain whether it is innocently incomplete, actively distortional or entirely reliable * Sunday Times *Under the Harrow has been prompting word-of-mouth enthusiasm and it's easy to see why.. Berry transfixes the reader... rarely has the device of the unreliable narrator been used so effectively. * THE GUARDIAN *In carefully measured prose, at once spare and haunting, Nora's obsession with finding the truth drives her on, and the reader must go with her * SUNDAY TIMES *Once I started reading Under the Harrow, I couldn't stop. It's like Broadchurch written by Elena Ferrante. I've been telling all my friends to read it-the highest compliment. Flynn Berry is a deeply interesting writer * Claire Messud, author of THE EMPEROR'S CHILDREN and THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS *Under the Harrow is a compulsively readable and atmospheric novel that I consumed almost in one sitting. The portrayal of the two sisters is subtle, original, and compelling * Rosamund Lupton, author of SISTER *Flynn Berry's writing is clear and spare yet textured and instantly immersive. You know from the get-go that something is not quite right, and this sense of unease and mystery grows and grows as you discover more about Nora's complex relationship with her sister. I read Under the Harrow very quickly and when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it * Harriet Lane, author of HER and ALYS, ALWAYS *What grabbed me by the bones and hurled me through this read-in-one-sitting novel wasn't the plot, as compelling and tenacious and suspenseful as it is. Rather, it was Flynn Berry's perfect, unrelenting prose. This is flawless storytelling * Jill Alexander Essbaum, author of HAUSFRAU *A nail-biter that fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will no doubt love, Under the Harrow is swiftly carried along by a momentum of unraveling certainties that ramp up with every page, building to the end's thrilling crescendo. I loved this dark, chilling book and couldn't put it down * Suzanne Rindell, author of THE OTHER TYPIST *I read Under the Harrow through the night-I couldn't put it down. Berry's deft touch with atmosphere and emotion are sure to make this a stand out * Alex Marwood, author of THE WICKED GIRLS and THE KILLER NEXT DOOR *[A] compulsively readable novel of psychological suspense, narrated in a striking, original voice * NEW YORK TIMES - 9 Thrillers that TIMES Editors Think You Should Read this Summer *Under the Harrow offers exactly the kind of voracious, absorbing, one-sitting read that readers love. Taut with suspense, it is full of insight and suffused with emotions that will move you. The central relationship between two adult sisters is a heartbreaker, the tenderness, the loyalty, and the sorrow all ringing so true * Robin Black, author of LIFE DRAWING *Under the Harrow airdrops the reader into the unsettling aftermath of trauma, where shifting memories collide with obsession in a propulsive story of love, grief, and murder. Gripping and nuanced, this stylish thriller is not to be missed * Koethi Zan, author of THE NEVER LIST *An exquisitely taut and intense debut . . . There's a subtle strain of Daphne du Maurier's classic, Rebecca, in Under the Harrow . . . In both works -- if a reader is attentive enough -- the truth can be glimpsed in the shadows; lurking within the bare facts of what our narrator discloses . . .. A superbly crafted psychological thriller, it deserves to be celebrated for its own singular excellence * WASHINGTON POST *'Thrilling . . . underneath its hard-driving, page-turning, compulsively readable narrative is a striking, original voice all Berry's own . . . [Berry's] precise sentences call to mind Hitchcock's meticulous storyboards and enrich the work with a cinematic scope . . . Nora's casual, seemingly arbitrary observations bring vivid tension to the prose and signify a truly intelligent writer at work . . . riveting and surprising' -- Elizabeth Brundage * New York Times Book Review *a thriller to be gulped down in one sitting. * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *

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Book SynopsisA disturbing discovery is made in a Glasgow cemetery in Easy Kill, the fifth novel in Lin Anderson's forensic crime series featuring Rhona MacLeod.A vulnerable young woman has been brutally slain and left on a grave in Glasgow’s sprawling cemetery, the Necropolis. Upon examining the body, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod has no doubt that the depraved killer’s motives were sexual in nature.The case takes on an even more disturbing dimension when the removal of the girl’s body reveals a second victim, who has recently been buried in a shallow grave underneath. When yet another sex worker is reported missing, there are fears that a serial killer is at large in the city.This man has killed before – and will again unless Rhona can break the chain and track him down before any more lives are lost . . .Trade ReviewForensic scientist Rhona MacLeod has become one of the most satisfying characters in modern crime fiction — honourable, inquisitive and yet plagued by doubts and, sometimes, fears . . . As ever, the landscape is stunningly evoked and MacLeod’s decency and humanity shine through on every page * Daily Mail *The best Scottish crime series since Rebus * Daily Record *The bleak landscape is beautifully described, giving this popular series a new lease of life * Sunday Times *Lin Anderson is one of Scotland’s national treasures – don’t be fooled by comparisons, her writing is unique, bringing warmth and depth to even the seediest parts of Glasgow. Lin’s Rhona MacLeod is a complex and compelling heroine who just gets better with every outing -- Stuart MacBrideHugely imaginative and exciting -- James Grieve (Emeritus Professor of Forensic Pathology)

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Book SynopsisForensic scientist Rhona MacLeod investigate a brutal series of killings on Scotland's Isle of Skye, in Time for the Dead, a gripping crime novel by Lin Anderson.When forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod returns to her roots on Scotland’s Isle of Skye, a chance encounter in the woods behind a nearby activities centre leads her to what seems to be a crime scene, but without a victim. Could this be linked to a group of army medics, who visited the centre while on leave from Afghanistan and can no longer be located on the island?Enlisting the help of local tracker dog Blaze, Rhona starts searching for a connection.Two days later a body is found at the base of the famous cliff known as Kilt Rock, face and identity obliterated by the fall, which leads Rhona to suspect the missing medics may be on the island for reasons other than relaxation. Furthermore, elements of the case suggests a link with an ongoing operation in Glasgow, which draws DS Michael McNab into the investigation.As the island’s unforgiving conditions close in, Rhona must find out what really happened to the group in Afghanistan, as the consequences may be being played out in brutal killings on Skye . . .'Forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod has become one of the most satisfying characters in modern crime fiction.' – Daily MailTrade ReviewForensic scientist Rhona MacLeod has become one of the most satisfying characters in modern crime fiction — honourable, inquisitive and yet plagued by doubts and, sometimes, fears . . . As ever, the landscape is stunningly evoked and MacLeod’s decency and humanity shine through on every page * Daily Mail *The best Scottish crime series since Rebus * Daily Record *The bleak landscape is beautifully described, giving this popular series a new lease of life * Sunday Times *Hugely imaginative and exciting -- James Grieve (Emeritus Professor of Forensic Pathology)Lin Anderson is one of Scotland’s national treasures – don’t be fooled by comparisons, her writing is unique, bringing warmth and depth to even the seediest parts of Glasgow. Lin’s Rhona MacLeod is a complex and compelling heroine who just gets better with every outing -- Stuart MacBrideShades of The Wicker Man, with a touch of Agatha Christie. Superb * Daily Mail *Anderson is a master story teller; her books are always incredibly well researched and her story lines resonate with her understanding of contemporary issues and the politics of expediency -- Live and DeadlyA cracking read that I thoroughly enjoyed. This is one of those novels where the setting is as much a character as any of the people being written about -- A Crime Reader's BlogTime For The Dead is one hell of a book, which deserves to soar up to the top of the bestsellers list. The series featuring Rhona MacLeod just keeps getting better and better -- Ginger Book GeekA brilliantly written thriller . . . It is a police procedural at its heart, but one that is as black as the sand on Skye beaches -- Fully Booked 2017With every outing the Rhona MacLeod series gets better, and Time for the Dead proves this . . . Anderson’s research and knowledge make this thriller, and like any artist the words on the pages are her canvass where she creates another masterpiece * NB *

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Book SynopsisThe gripping new crime thriller from the bestselling author of Before We Met and Critical IncidentsRobin Lyons is back in her hometown of Birmingham and now a DCI with Force Homicide, working directly under Samir, the man who broke her heart almost twenty years ago.When a woman is found stabbed to death in a derelict factory and no one comes forward to identify the body, Robin and her team must not only hunt for the murderer, but also solve the mystery of who their victim might be.As Robin and Samir come under pressure from their superiors, from the media and from far-right nationalists with a dangerous agenda, tensions in Robin''s own family threaten to reach breaking point. And when a cold case from decades ago begins to smoulder and another woman is found dead in similar circumstances, rumours of a serial killer begin to spread.In order to get to the truth Robin will need to discover where loyalty ends and duty begins. But before she can trust, she is going to have to forgive and tTrade Review‘Lucie Whitehouse’s Risk of Harm is not your average serial-killer novel … Whitehouse constructs her police procedurals brilliantly, acknowledging the difficulties that beset a female detective without undermining her character’s professional ability’ Crime Book of the Month, The Times ‘Another utterly compelling story from Lucie Whitehouse. Authentic and immersive, with a series of clever twists and turns’ Lloyd Otis ‘I was gripped from the first page: Risk of Harm confirms Lucie Whitehouse as the queen of clever, classy crime fiction with a conscience’ Erin Kelly, author of He Said/She Said 'Engaging and intriguing, and always keeps you guessing. A great story cleverly told’ Emma Haughton, author of The Dark ‘A cracking procedural. Pacy, cunningly plotted with an unexpected denouement, and full of well-drawn characters’ Judith Cutler, author of the Harriet and Matthew Rowsley series 'Deftly plotted, fabulous characters, brilliantly satisfying – an absolute winner' Milly Johnson, author of My One True North Praise for Critical Incidents: ‘I loved Critical Incidents. In fact I devoured it. It's a brilliant combination of superb characterisation, humour and galloping plot: her best yet’ Susie Steiner, author of Missing, Presumed ‘I swallowed this riveting literary thriller whole; Lucie Whitehouse has the knack of making fictional crime seem uncannily close to home’ Erin Kelly, author of He Said/She Said ‘Whitehouse is a superb storyteller, whose sleight of hand and sly misdirections have you leaping to all the wrong conclusions from the outset’ Independent ‘Seriously good suspense … trust me, you’ll need to know what happens’ Lee Child ‘This is that deeply satisfying thing, a strong, deft thriller with real depth’ Tana French 'I really enjoyed this gripping, moving novel, full of great characters' Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request

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Book Synopsis'For a totally exhilarating romp through Ancient Rome, Lindsey Davis' latest Flavia Alba novel won't be beaten and offers an immersive experience of a vibrant world full of real, recognisable characters' Mike Ripley, ShotsmagDon't go to the Grove . . .Julius Caesar left his gardens to the citizens of Rome, a peaceful sanctuary across the Tiber. Now the gardens and their sacred grove are dangerous haunts, especially for women alone.'Don't go to the Grove,' people mutter, but when her husband has to leave Rome, it falls to Albia to supervise his building project in an old grotto. Why has someone buried tattered scrolls by obscure philosophers - and does it involve a worse crime than terrible writing?Soon that puzzle is overtaken. A woman disappears from her husband's birthday party; she meets a dire fate, then Albia learns that on the same night, two louche slaves given to her family by the brooding Emperor Domitian also vanished in the gardens. Apparently, it is well known that a killer lurks there.The vigiles have failed to investigate properly for decades and this won't improve when the sinister agent Karus arrives. Albia must co-operate, in order to give the many victims justice and find answers for grieving relatives. But can she herself remain safe? And, after others have failed, can she at last identify the predator who has made the Grove his killing ground?Praise for Lindsey Davis and the Flavia Albia series'Lindsey Davis has seen off all her competitors to become the unassailable market leader in the 'crime in Ancient Rome' genre . . . Davis's squalid, vibrant Rome is as pleasurable as ever' - Guardian'Davis's prose is a lively joy, and Flavia's Rome is sinister and gloriously real' - The Times on Sunday'For fans of crime fiction set in the ancient world, this one is not to be missed' - Booklist'Davis's books crackle with wit and knowledge . . . She has the happy knack of making the reader feel entirely immersed in Rome' - The TimesTrade ReviewPraise for The Grove of the Caesars * : *For a totally exhilarating romp through Ancient Rome, Lindsey Davis' latest Flavia Alba novel won't be beaten and offers an immersive experience of a vibrant world full of real, recognisable characters * Mike Ripley, Shotsmag *Praise for Lindsey Davis and the Flavia Albia series * : *For fans of crime fiction set in the ancient world, this one is not to be missed * Booklist *Lindsey Davis has seen off all her competitors to become the unassailable market leader in the 'crime in Ancient Rome' genre . . . Davis's squalid, vibrant Rome is as pleasurable as ever * Guardian *Davis's books crackle with wit and knowledge. She has the happy knack of making the reader feel entirely immersed in Rome * The Times *This excellent Roman mystery, enriched by Davis's characteristic wit and thorough understanding of the period, takes a darker turn as Flavia delves into Rome's poorest streets, rife with prostitution, exploitation, thuggery and murder * Sunday Express, S Magazine *Davis's prose is a lively joy, and Flavia's Rome is sinister and gloriously real * The Times on Saturday *

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Book SynopsisA TENSE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER RIPPED STRAIGHT FROM THE HEADLINES . . .''I was thoroughly gripped. Expertly plotted with some major twists'' 5***** Reader Review''A gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first page'' 5***** Reader Review _________ Twenty years ago 21-year-old Sophie Collier vanishes one night. She leaves nothing behind but a trainer on the old pier - and a hole in the heart of her best friend Francesca. Now A body''s been found. And Francesca''s drawn back to the seaside town she''s tried to forget. Perhaps the truth of what happened to Sophie will finally come out. Yet Francesca is beginning to wish she hadn''t returned. Everywhere she turns, ghosts from her past appear. The same old faces that always haunted her. But if someone knows what really happened to Sophie that night, then now''s the time to find out . . . ITrade ReviewCompelling and page-turning, wonderfully written and impossible to second-guess with a brilliant twist -- Debbie Howells * bestselling author of Richard & Judy pick The Bones of You *The creepy goings-on in the off-season, secret-filled resort will give you chills * Sunday Mirror *A gripping and atmospheric read * Closer *Praise for The Sisters * - *Grippingly claustrophobic and unpredictable on every page: perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train * Marie Claire *Tension oozes from every page . . . an addictive read that will leave you on the edge of your seat * Sun *As soon as I finished the first page, I knew I wouldn't be able to put this down . . . I thoroughly enjoyed it * Good Housekeeping *Unforgettably dark and complex * Woman & Home *Praise for Last Seen Alive * - *This stunning new release from Claire Douglas is packed with a killer twist * Closer *Thrillingly tense and twisty, a great read -- B. A. ParisA heart-thumping psychological mystery that ticks all the boxes . . . with twists galore, it's impossible to guess the shocking ending * Saga *Fast-paced and chock-full of twists, Last Seen Alive is both absorbing and gripping. After reading it you'll never dream of a house swap again -- Paula DalyThrilling . . . superb plotting. I could hardly catch my breath between twists! -- Jenny BlackhurstIt's so twisty, turning and grippy. Highly recommend it! -- Gilly MacmillanI love stories where you're not quite sure who is telling the truth! This one kept me guessing -- Jane Corry

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Book Synopsis'Jane Casey's police procedurals go from strength to strength!' Sunday Times'If you have not read Jane Casey, start immediately' Marian Keyes'The most dangerously addictive series in crime fiction. . .' Erin Kelly___________________Arson, accident or murder?After a fire rips through a North London tower block, two bodies are found locked in an eleventh-floor flat. But it is the third victim - the MP Geoff Armstrong - that requires the presence of detective Maeve Kerrigan and the murder squad.It appears that Armstrong, trapped by the fire, chose to jump to his death rather than wait for rescue. But why? And what was the controversial right-wing politician doing there in the first place?As Maeve picks through the wreckage, she will uncover a secret world where everyone has something to hide . . .

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Book SynopsisThe fifth book in the Kovac & Liska detective series from Sunday Times bestselling author Tami HoagTrade ReviewA masterful tale of two colliding cases that become one tightly coiled plot, THE BITTER SEASON is Tami Hoag at her down and dirty best. Authentic, dark and intense, this is a portrait of flawed characters on both sides of the law that will surprise you and make you laugh as you double-lock your doors. * TESS GERRITSEN *A riveting crime novel with crackling dialogue and brilliant characterisation, shot through with dark humour. Budding crime writers should be given this novel as an example of how to do it. As good as Michael Connelly or Karin Slaughter at their best. * MARK EDWARDS, No.1 Kindle bestseller *well-handled and satisfyingly tense * THE INDEPENDENT *Gritty, sinister and gory, with wonderfully world-weary detectives, and a craftily constructed plot. -- Deirdre O' Brien * SUNDAY MIRROR *

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Book SynopsisThe Murder Wall is Mari Hannah’s first gripping crime novel featuring DCI Kate Daniels.Eleven months after discovering a brutal double murder in a sleepy Northumbrian town, Detective Chief Inspector Kate Daniels is still haunted by her failure to solve the case. Then the brutal killing of a man on Newcastle’s quayside gives Daniels another chance to get it right – in her first case as Senior Investigating Officer.When Daniels recognizes the corpse but fails to disclose the fact, her personal life swerves dangerously into her professional life. But much worse, she is now being watched.As Daniels steps closer to finding a killer, a killer is only a breath away from claiming his next victim . . .Trade ReviewA promising start to a planned series * Literary Review *With locations ranging from the city’s bustling quayside to rural Northumberland villages, Hannah’s debut is heavy on the atmosphere as well as the specifics of a creepily icky criminal * Time Out *

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Book Synopsis'This might well be his masterpiece' - MARK BILLINGHAM'One of Ireland's finest crime writers' - STEVE CAVANAGH'Chilling and compelling' - VAL McDERMID'Terrifying' - CHRIS BROOKMYRE'Thrilling' - CHRIS WHITAKER'Stunning' - MARK EDWARDS'Brilliant' - ADRIAN McKINTY'Haunting' - LIZ NUGENT'Superb' - WILL DEAN____________________________For Sara Keane, it was supposed to be a second chance. A new country. A new house. A new beginning with her husband Damien.Then came the knock on the door.Elderly Mary Jackson can't understand why Sara and her husband are living in her home. She remembers the fire, and the house burning down. But she also remembers the children. The children who need her, whom she must protect.'The children will find you,' she tells Sara, because Mary knows she needs help too. Sara soon becomes obsessed with what happened in that house nearly sixty years ago - the tragic, bloody night her husband never intended for her to discover. And Mary - silent for six decades - is finally ready to tell her story . . .The House of Ashes is the stunning new 2022 thriller from the award-winning master of the genre, Stuart Neville - perfect for fans of John Connolly, Alex North and Brian McGilloway.

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Book SynopsisTreat yourself to FULL SPEED by Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes. Praise for the FULL series: ''A fine romance with plenty of kisses'' Mirror; ''A wild mix of intrigue, sex and pyrotechnics'' The Times Their enemies haven''t got a prayer... Journalist Jamie Swift and millionaire Max Holt drive each other crazy when they work together - but they just can''t stop. Especially when they both have their reasons for wanting to investigate a charismatic preacher with suspected ties to the Mob and a long history with his female church members.The trouble is, someone has got wind of Jamie and Max''s snooping around, and is pretty eager to introduce them to their Maker - a lot sooner than either Jamie or Max had planned...Trade Review'Pithy, witty and fast-paced' * Sunday Times *'Among the great joys of contemporary crime fiction' * GQ *'Slapstick, steam and suspense' * People *'Evanovich's characters are eccentric and exaggerated, the violence often surreal and the plot dizzily speedy: but she produces as many laughs as anyone writing crime today' * The Times *'A laugh-out-loud page-turner' * Heat *'Romantic and gripping...an absolute tonic' * Good Housekeeping *

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Book Synopsis'A well-plotted and immersive whodunnit that will you engrossed. If you enjoy the TV show Only Murders in the Building, this is for you' SUNDAY INDEPENDENTWhen Lady Anderson invites five guests to her apartment in Bruton Square, Mayfair, none of the guests know why they have been summoned. And it isn't long before dinner turns DEADLY. From the author of Twelve Motives for Murder comes another brilliant immersive murder mystery.Supper for Six . . . but murder is on the menuThe mystery of Bruton Square has never been solved. On that infamous night in 1977, six strangers were invited for dinner at Lady Sybil Anderson's Mayfair apartment. Only five made it out alive. Welcome to Supper for Six, the true crime podcast. I'm your host, Felix. Together, we'll uncover what really happened that night . . . Let's dig in.A murderous Abigail's Party - Fiona Sherlock's Supper for Six is immersive and incredibly entertaining. Join Elizabeth Chalice and Felix Caerphilly on their quest to get to the bottom of this rather deadly dinner party . . .*** READERS LOVES SUPPER FOR SIX ***'Another unique, quirky and wholly entertaining offering from this author . . . characters are well rounded and deftly drawn, the plot intriguing and the narrative compelling' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The story was clever and intriguing and the twists were thoroughly unexpected. The secrets and lies kept me wanting more and surprised me at every turn' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Loved the story and the solving of the murder. Enjoyed all the characters and the stories associated with them. Well written, a perfect book for readers of the genre' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Fiona Sherlock's skilful storytelling and clever plotting make this book a page-turner from beginning to end. Prepare to be captivated and enthralled as you join the quest to uncover the truth behind the deadly dinner at Bruton Square' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Trade ReviewAn immersive murder mystery unlike any I've read * Belfast Telegraph *Ms Sherlock 'holmes' in on a new whodunit twist * Peterborough Telegraph *A well-plotted and immersive whodunnit that will you engrossed. If you enjoy the TV show Only Murders in the Building, this is for you. * Sunday Independent *You will be immersed in this sinister mystery * The Sun *

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Book Synopsis'Electrifying' - A.J. Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the WindowA Sunday Times Best Thriller Book of the Year. More than two million copies sold in Spain alone. Red Queen is the first in Juan Gómez-Jurado's internationally bestselling serial killer thriller series, translated by Nick Caistor.You've never met anyone like her . . .Antonia Scott is special. Very special. She is not a policewoman or a lawyer. She has never wielded a weapon or carried a badge, and yet, she has solved dozens of crimes.But it's been a while since Antonia left her attic in Madrid. The things she has lost are much more important to her than the things awaiting her outside.She also doesn't receive visitors. That's why she really, really doesn't like it when she hears unknown footsteps coming up the stairs.Whoever it is, Antonia is sure that they are coming to look for her.And she likes that even less . . .Praise for Red Queen:'A Spanish spin on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo . . . A female Sherlock Holmes' - The Times'Often compared with Lisbeth Salander . . . Antonia Scott looks destined to leave every bit as lasting an impression.' - Daily Mail'This fast-paced story crackles with energy as it roams between Madrid's most exclusive enclaves and seedy back streets' – Best Books of 2023, Financial TimesTrade ReviewBest thriller books of 2023 . . . What impresses is the brainy brio of Gómez-Jurado's storytelling, as well as his striking depiction of Madrid as two cities, an elegant baroque facade concealing a gothic underworld * Sunday Times *Fizzes with energy and lively scene-setting, switching . . . There are obvious echoes of Lisbeth Salander, but the crackling interplay between Scott and Inspector Gutiérrez, a gay Basque policeman, adds an extra layer of originality, as does Nick Caistor’s sparkling translation. * Financial Times *An electrifying serial-killer thriller, a fiendishly clever puzzle mystery . . . Red Queen tops even The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as a thinking reader’s thriller. -- A.J. Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the WindowA Spanish spin on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo . . . stylish and stylised . . . A female Sherlock Holmes * The Times *Often compared with Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Antonia Scott looks destined to leave every bit as lasting an impression. * Daily Mail *What Gómez-Jurado excels at, as conveyed in Nick Caistor’s brisk translation, is pacing of the breakneck variety. Short chapters, funny asides, lethally potent descriptions: They all contribute to a frenetic page-turning momentum . .. you’ll have great fun reading it. * New York Times *Fast paced, memorable characters and a cinematic story that draws you in hook, line and sinker. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next in the series. -- John Marrs, author of The OneJuan Gomez-Jurado has written a fast, exciting page-turner and it’s the first in a trilogy featuring Antonia and Jon. You’ll be wanting more. * The Record *Fans of Scandinavian crime thrillers might want to broaden their horizons with the first book in a Spanish trilogy featuring a mismatched duo . . . Already an international hit, Gómez-Jurado’s smart page-turner has been made into an Prime Video series that will debut later in 2023 * Washington Post *A fast-paced thriller . . . giving us a mash-up of Nordic noir and an old-school detective with a neurodivergent mind . . . Red Queen works because along with a genius-protagonist, Gomez-Jurado has successfully wo­ven in the other ingredients that thrill a mystery reader: a diabolical antago­nist, a twisty game and a ticking clock. * Open The Magazine *A labyrinth of mystery, crisply plotted and paced, way ahead of the pack. -- Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Kaiser’s Web Suspenseful and terrifying . . . A bit of Clarice Starling and a lot of Lisbeth Salander make Antonia a thoroughly compelling character, who will return in two more translations to complete Gómez-Jurado’s trilogy, -- Jane Murphy * Booklist starred review *Exciting . . . a nice balance among character, action, and setting . . . The next two, Loba Negra (Black Wolf) and Rey Blanco (White King), must be translated into English, because thriller fans will be waiting. Fast-moving and quirky fiction from Madrid. * Kirkus Reviews *Nail-biting . . . tantalizing . . . Lizbeth Salander fans will find much to like. * Publishers Weekly *This has all the velocity and thrills of Stieg Larson’s Millennium series but none of the eyeroll-inducing misogyny . . . it's all-engrossing. * First Clue (starred review) *Fresh and appealing to those that enjoy interesting characters and stories that constantly move forward and tales that end in unexpected ways. * Mystery and Suspense *Red Queen is a smart, addictive thriller, beautiful in both its complexity and devotion to characterization. Between the stunning plot twists, bold structural choices and surprising moments of wry humour, you won’t be able to put this one down -- Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of Find MeThis terrific novel has all the page-turning elements of the very best thrillers, but what makes it truly remarkable is the writing itself. Engaging and heartbreaking, witty and wry and immersive . . . Juan Gómez-Jurado has written an instant classic -- Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of Her Perfect LifeReaders are going to fall for Antonia Scott. This character is, without a doubt, the best thing that has happened to the international thriller in the last ten years * ABC *Red Queen is terrific – a complex story that unfolds at breakneck speed, a compelling plot filled with twist after twist, a story told with rich, fluid language, and a fascinating, well-realized unlikely pair of characters, especially the brilliant Antonia Scott. -- David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of Murder as a Fine ArtThe most compelling and original detective since Lisbeth Salander * The Times South Africa *

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Book SynopsisTHE CHILLING FOURTH NOVEL IN THE BESTSELLING DI HELEN GRACE SERIES''Helen Grace is one of the greatest heroes to come along in years'' JEFFERY DEAVER___________In the dead of night, three raging fires light up the city skies. It''s more than a tragic coincidence. For DI Helen Grace the flames announce the arrival of an evil she has never encountered before.Because this is no firestarter seeking sick thrills, but something more chilling: a series of careful, calculating acts of murder.But why were the victims chosen? What''s driving the killer? And who will be next?A powder keg of fear, suspicion and dread has been laid. Now all it needs is a spark to set it off . . .___________PRAISE FOR M.J. ARLIDGE:''The new Jo Nesbo'' JUDY FINNIGAN''Fast paced and nailbitingly tense . . . Gripping'' SUN''DI Helen Grace is a genuinely fresh heroine . . . MJ ArlidgTrade ReviewThis is going to be as big as Jo Nesbo -- Judy FinniganDetective Inspector Helen Grace is one of the greatest heroes to come along in years -- Jeffery DeaverTaut, fast-paced, truly excellent * Sun *DI Helen Grace is a genuinely fresh heroine ... Arlidge weaves together a tapestry that chills to the bone * Daily Mail *M. J. Arlidge has created a genuinely fresh heroine in DI Helen Grace * Daily Mail *Chilling stuff * Fabulist *A chilling read * My Weekly *Page-turningly chilling * The Times *A grisly, gripping thriller * Sunday Mirror *Gruesomely realistic, intriguing and relentless. Arlidge's fledgling army of fans is about to grow * Sunday Sport *Eeny Meeny debuts one of the best new series detectives, Helen Grace. Determined, tough and damaged, she must unravel a terrifying riddle of a killer kidnapping victims in pairs. Mesmerizing! -- Lisa GardnerExpertly pulled off. It has a devious premise. DI Helen Grace is fiendishly awesome. It's scary as all hell. And it has a full cast of realistically drawn, interesting characters that make the thing read like a bullet -- Will LavenderA fast-paced, twisting police procedural and thriller that's sure to become another bestseller * Huffington Post *

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Book SynopsisSOON TO BE THE MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES, TOTENFRAUKILL BILL meets DEXTER via THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, WOMAN OF THE DEAD is a wild ride of a thriller where the first stage of grief is revenge. And revenge is a dish best served bloody.How far would you go to avenge the one you love? Blum has a secret buried deep in her past.She thought she'd left the past behind.But then Mark, the man she loves, dies.His death looks like a hit-and-run. It isn't a hit-and-run. Mark has been killed by the men he was investigating. And then, suddenly, Blum rediscovers what she's capable of...'An ironclad guarantee of sleepless nights' Barry Forshaw, Independent'Fast, edgy and gripping ... full of quirks, with a conflicted heroine as killer at its heart. Do not miss it' Geoffrey Wansell, Daily MailTrade ReviewOne of the most arresting thrillers I've read for years. Hypnotic! Aichner plumbs the darkest depths of the human psyche in this compelling tale of a female undertaker. As a mother, Blum is touching and relatable. But as a vengeful wife determined to hunt down her husband's killers... Be afraid. Be very, very afraid. -- Lisa GardnerAn ironclad guarantee of sleepless nights * INDEPENDENT *Aichner has a talent for keeping readers hooked - this is a gripping read and the character of Blum lives long in the mind. * TELEGRAPH *Woman of the Dead is a horrifying thriller with strong links to Jeff Linday's Dexter . . . Aichner's character is so strongly realised that, like Dexter, the reader wills her on to succeed. Woman of the Dead will surprise as it horrifies. * SYDNEY MORNING HERALD *There is a wicked and thrilling high concept to the story, lots of action, and a sexy and dangerous female protagonist. * CRIME FICTION LOVER *A wonderful thriller about love and retribution - playful, dark and dangerous - I read it in one sitting * William Ryan *Blum is a great character and when Aichner's ghost-train plot ends in the only place it can - a crematorium - you feel like cheering * THE GUARDIAN *Aichner is one of the stars of Austrian crime fiction. This strongly written bestseller synthesises elements from Kill Bill and the Lisbeth Salander books to grimly mesmerising effect. -- Barry Forshaw * FINANCIAL TIMES *An inventive, forceful, engrossing revenge thriller * THE TIMES *Fast, edgy and gripping . . . full of quirks, with a conflicted heroine as killer at its heart. Do not miss it. * DAILY MAIL *European crime fiction at its best * RAVEN CRIME READS *Completely enthralling. A beautifully written novel that really gets into the psyche of the female vigilante . . . I certainly hope that we hear more from this promising young Austrian author * THE CRIME WARP *Fast, edgy and gripping... full of quirks, with a conflicted heroine as killer at its heart. Do not miss it -- Geoffrey Wansell * Daily Mail *an inventive, forceful, engrossing revenge thriller -- Marcel Berlins * THE TIMES *

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Book Synopsis'As he turned ... he had the extraordinary impression of a man in full armour rearing up in front of him ... It was the last thing he saw, before he hurtled downwards to a certain death'An untimely death and the reappearance of a ghost lead television reporter Jemima Shore into a mysterious case of sex, violence and the supernatural.When the butler plummets from the battlements of Lackland Court, it becomes clear that the ghost of the legendary Civil War poet and soldier, Decimus Meredith, is not the only suspect. Jemima must look to history and delve deep into the ancient hall's past to solve yet another baffling mystery.Trade ReviewThe novel is enormous fun and the who-did-it is satisfyingly resolved. Antonia Fraser's best so far - SPECTATORFull of satirical digs at contemporary manners, it's unbeatable for pure escapism - a thoroughly entertaining whodunit - EVENING STANDARD

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Book SynopsisLatest in Ruth Dudley Edwards’s hilarious crime series lampooning the British Establishment: ‘I fear it will make you laugh out loud on public transport’ Evening StandardTrade Review‘It’s always a pleasure to welcome another iconoclastic blast against the establishment from the pen of Ruth Dudley Edwards’ Simon Brett, Daily Mail ‘This blithe series puts itself on the side of the angels by merrily, and staunchly, subverting every tenet of political correctness’ Independent ‘Sprightly, saucy and ingenious’ Sunday Times ‘Dudley Edwards is an equal-opportunities satirist. She’s rude to every persuasion.’ Daily Telegraph ‘[Ruth Dudley Edwards] writes ebullient novels frilled with entertaining eccentrics’ The Times ‘No one is writing wittier mystery fiction in Britain today that Ruth Dudley Edwards’ Val McDermid, Manchester Evening News

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Book Synopsis'Superior crime fiction set in Iceland' The Times'As chilling as an Icelandic winter' S. J. BoltonFollowing her promotion and working now from Reykjavik, Gunnhildur is given responsibility for two cases - the first in tracking down an escaped convict who's keen to settle old scores, and the other, the murder of a TV fitness presenter in her city centre apartment.With the police short staffed and underfunded following the financial crash, Gunnhildur and her team set about delving into the backgrounds of both, where they uncover some unwelcome secrets and some influential friends of both who have no wish to be in the public eye.Set in an Iceland that is coming to terms with the deepening recession, Gunnhildur has to take stock of the whirlwind changes that have taken place as she investigates criminals at opposite ends of the social scale as some uncomfortable links appear between the two cases.The second chilling and atmospheric thriller in Quentin Bates's Icelandic crime series. A dark page-turner perfect for fans of Jo Nesbo, Henning Mankell and Søren Sveistrup's The Chestnut Man.Praise for Quentin Bates:'A great read - leaves you craving the next installment' Yrsa Sigurðardóttir'A perfect book to curl up with in front of the fire' The Bookbag'Well written and absorbing' Woman's Way'Captures the chilly spirit of Nordic crime fiction . . . Fans of Arnaldur Indridason's Reykjavík mysteries will want to add Bates to their reading lists' Booklist'[A] crackling fiction debut ... palpable authenticity' Publishers Weekly'A superb new series' EurocrimeTrade ReviewA great read - leaves you craving the next installment -- Yrsa SigurðardóttirA meticulously constructed thriller, peopled with exceptionally convincing characters and shot through with black humour. Frozen Out is as chilling as an Icelandic winter -- S.J. BoltonSuperior crime fiction set in Iceland... this is a well constructed, well written and satisfying police procedural * The Times *[A] crackling fiction debut ... palpable authenticity * Publishers Weekly on Frozen Out *[With] an in-depth knowledge of just how Iceland works it's a perfect book to curl up with in front of the fire ... We've had quite a few books set in Iceland recently, but this one will give them a run for their money * The Bookbag on Frozen Out *A flying start to ... a superb new series * Eurocrime on Frozen Out *'Superior crime fiction set in Iceland... this is a well constructed, well written and satisfying police procedural' -- Marcel Berlins * The Times *

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Book SynopsisWith the framework of her own world beginning to crack, Merrily must venture into areas of mystery and menace; the secrets of the border's pagan past...'Ancient history, violent deaths, feuds, intrigues and murder. A most original sleuth.' - The Times'What I remember most was the sound of his breath. A hollow sound, as though he was drawing breath from somewhere else. Afterwards, he just said goodnight. I don't think he even remembered my name.'Hereford is home to the elite warriors of the SAS. The place where their secrets are hidden . . . secrets that go well beyond pain and can wreck marriages and private lives. When Merrily Watkins loses a friend in the regiment, she's drawn into a place where no woman is welcome, to investigate profound mysteries linked to the area's brutal pagan past.Trade ReviewA labyrinthine plot and a fascinating portrayal of the quagmire of ancient grudges and shifting allegiances of a close-knit community make this an absorbing and thought-provoking page-turner. * Guardian *Wonderfully original. * Daily Telegraph *Spine-tingling . . . this is Rickman at his very best. Makes the supernatural all too believable. * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis''Frances Brody has made it to the top rank of crime writers'' Daily Mail''Brody''s writing is like her central character Kate Shackleton: witty, acerbic and very, very perceptive'' Ann Cleeves AN IDYLLIC SEASIDE TOWNNothing ever happens in August, and tenacious sleuth Kate Shackleton deserves a break. Heading off for a long-overdue holiday to Whitby, she visits her school friend Alma who works as a fortune teller there. A MISSING GIRLKate had been looking forward to a relaxing seaside sojourn, but upon arrival discovers that Alma''s daughter Felicity has disappeared, leaving her mother a note and the pawn ticket for their only asset: a watch-guard. What makes this more intriguing is the jeweller who advanced Felicity the thirty shillings is Jack Phillips, Alma''s current gentleman friend.A COMPLEX MYSTERY TO SOLVEKate can''t help but become involved, and goes to thTrade ReviewFrances Brody has made it to the top rank of crime writers. * Daily Mail *Frances Brody skilfully holds our attention, making us want to read on and then look forward to the next Kate Shackleton mystery. * Gazette & Herald *Kate Shackleton is a splendid heroine.Frances Brody matches a heroine of free and independent spirit with a vivid evocation of time and place . . . a novel to cherish. * Daily Mail *This is whimsical, colourful stuff and readers will warm to the entrepreneurial yet fragile Kate. * Take a Break *

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Book Synopsis''Frances Brody has made it to the top rank of crime writers'' Daily MailA Maharajah on the MoorsWhen the India Office seek help in finding Maharajah Narayan, last seen hunting on the Bolton Abbey estate, they call upon the expertise of renowned PI Kate Shackleton to investigate.A Priceless JewelA missing person''s case turns to murder when, shot through the heart, it''s clear to Kate that Narayan''s body has not been in the woods overnight. Who brought it here, and from where? And what has happened to the hugely valuable diamond that was in the Maharajah''s possession?An inexplicable murder . . .As Kate digs deeper, she soon discovers that vengeance takes many forms. Was the Maharajah''s sacrilegious act of shooting a white doe to blame? Or are growing rumours of a political motive too powerful for Kate to discount?One thing Kate is sure of: her own skills aTrade ReviewElegantly written * Independent *Well, it's brilliant * The Bookbag *There are shades of [Agatha] Christie in Brody's popular 1920s series featuring amateur sleuth Kate Shackleton * Rutland Times *

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Book SynopsisBOOK 9 IN THE BELOVED NO.1 LADIES'' DETECTIVE AGENCY SERIESThe one with the poison pen letter . . . For the first time in her career as Botswana''s no. 1 lady detective, Mma Ramotswe suffers a blow to her faith in the goodness of humanity (and of her neighbours in particular) when she receives a threatening letter. But she does not let this swerve her from the sad plight of an orphan who hopes to find her true family. Meanwhile, at Zebra Drive, Mma Ramotswe''s beloved husband Mr J. L. B. Matekoni is also searching for an expensive miracle for their own foster daughter Motholeli.''Exceptional charm'' Daily Mail''As fluent and gracious as ever'' Sunday Times''Irresistible - there will indeed be miracles'' New York Times Book ReviewTrade ReviewWritten with the gentleness of its predecessors and with a charm that is quite exceptional in modern detective fiction * Sunday Telegraph *The writing is as fluent and gracious as ever, and charmingly conveys the practical wisdom of much of African life * Sunday Times *Nothing spoils McCall Smith's vision of Botswana as a place where decent people triumph over mischief-makers * Daily Telegraph *Irresistible - there will indeed be miracles * New York Times Book Review *Charming, warmly affective... As comfy cozy as can be * Philadelphia Inquirer *The pleasure of these sweet books lies in the clarity and gravity with which the characters reason through everyday dilemmas * Entertainment Weekly *A fitting part of the tiny miracle the entire series has been * Star-Telegram *

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Book SynopsisThe first in the acclaimed Lydmouth crime series, set on the Welsh/English border in the years after World War IITrade ReviewThe most under-rated crime writer in Britain today * Val McDermid *Captures perfectly the drab atmosphere and cloying morality of the 1950s . . . Taylor is an excellent writer. He plots with care and intelligence and the solution to the mystery is satisfyingly chilling * The Times *There is no denying Taylor's talent, his almost Victorian prose exudes a quality uncommon among his contemporaries... his eye for detail and an enviable ability to dissect relationships and communal habits make for a pleasurable read * Time Out *Engrossing launch of a series . . . Taylor subtly weaves the threads of this thoughtful, melancholy tale until they become an interlaced whole before the reader's eyes * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisJune Whitfield stars as Miss Marple in eight thrilling full-cast BBC Radio 4 dramatisations.A Pocket Full of Rye A spate of unusual deaths is linked to the nursery rhyme 'Sing a Song of Sixpence'. 4.50 from Paddington After witnessing a murder on a train, Mrs McGillicuddy calls on Miss Marple. At Bertram’s Hotel Crime lurks beneath the surface of a respectable Mayfair hotel. The Body in the Library A mysterious blonde is found murdered in Dolly Bantry’s library. The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side At a benefit held at Gossington Hall, harmless Mrs Badcock is fatally poisoned. A Caribbean Mystery Bored in paradise, Miss Marple finds her interest aroused by an old soldier’s tale. Murder at the Vicarage Everyone in St Mary Mead detested Colonel Protheroe – but who killed him? A Murder is Announced A startling entry in a local paper’s personal column leads to a deadly shooting. These BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations feature eight of Miss Marple’s most complex and intriguing cases. Based on the original novels by Agatha Christie, they are performed by a stellar cast. Duration: 16 hours approx.

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Book SynopsisMagic, books, and cats collide in a village near Niagara Falls in the latest Magical Bookshop Mystery from the author of Crime and Poetry.   In Cascade Springs, New York, Violet Waverly and her grandma, Daisy, are the proprietors of Charming Books, where the power of the written word is positively enchanting...   October in Cascade Springs means tourists are pouring in for the annual Food and Wine Festival, and Daisy hopes to draw those crowds to the store. She asks Violet and the local writing group, the Red Inkers, to give a reading of the works of Edgar Allan Poe in the shop’s back garden to entertain the revelers. Everyone eagerly agrees.   Yet their enthusiasm is soon extinguished when Violet discovers one of the writers dead during the event. After the shop magically tells Violet she’ll need to rely on Poe’s works to solve the murder, she enlists the help of her trusty tuxedo cat, Emerson,

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Book SynopsisTrue Blue is a gripping ride, full of pace, action and tension from David Baldacci, one of the world’s favourite storytellers.Mace Perry was a maverick cop on the DC police force who lost everything when she was framed for a crime she didn’t commit. She spent two years in prison and now she’s trying to rebuild her life. But first she’s determined to hunt down the people who set her up. Even with her police chief sister by her side, she needs to work in the shadows. There are those with power out there just looking for a reason to put her back behind bars and she needs to find the reason why.A female partner at a city law firm is found murdered and it seems her fate is entangled with Mace’s story. As the investigation deepens, Mace finds herself drawn into both the public and private world of the nation’s capital as dark secrets begin to emerge. If she’s to prove her innocence, she will need all her skills to reveal the truth, confront her enemies and regain her life.Trade ReviewThe page-turner of the season * The Times *Baldacci is still peerless * Sunday Times *One of the world's biggest-selling thriller writers, Baldacci needs no introduction . . . Brilliant plotting, heart-grabbing action and characters to die for * Daily Mail *Baldacci inhabits the skin of his creations - tripping us up with unexpected empathy and subtle identification * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisWho guards the guardian angel?New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is on the trail of a con-man in Notorious Nineteenth, the nineteenth sizzling adventure in the hilarious Stephanie Plum series by bestselling author Janet Evanovich. The perfect series for fans of Sue Grafton and Harlan Coben. Praise for Evanovich: ''Evanovich is a clever writer with a strong streak of laugh out loud sardonic humour'' (Melbourne Weekly); ''Non-stop laughs with plenty of high jinks'' (USA Today); ''As smart and sassy as high gloss wet paint'' (Time Out).Tracking down a multi-million-dollar fraudster who somehow walked out of hospital after major surgery should be easy, right? But Stephanie''s got more pressing work: her unbearably handsome mentor Ranger has been getting death threats from a fellow ex-Special Forces operative. Suddenly, she''s meant to be the one looking out for him.But between her attracTrade Review'A laugh-out-loud page-turner' -- Heat 'Pithy, witty and fast-paced' -- The Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisSometimes fame can be fatal...Personal vendettas. Hidden treasure. A monkey named Carl. Stephanie Plum is as fearless as ever in the fourteenth hilarious novel in Janet Evanovich''s bestselling Stephanie Plum series. Fearless Fourteen is not to be missed by fans of Harlan Coben and JD Robb. Raves for Evanovich''s bestselling series: ''A laugh a minute against a background of dastardly crime with a ditzy heroine and two - yes TWO - of the hottest heroes ever created'' (Woman''s Weekly); ''A laugh-out-loud page-turner'' (Heat). Stephanie''s desperate enough for a bit of extra cash that she''s agreed to help run security for Brenda, the most successful - and most unpleasant - country star of her day. But that means working with Ranger, her too-hot mentor, AKA trouble in a Navy Seals cap.She''s also meant to be babysitting a teenage boy, and dealing with the fact that her boyfriend Morelli''s house may or may not Trade ReviewA Jersey girl with Bette Midler's mouth and Cher's fashion sense...with her brazen style and dazzling wardrobe, who could resist this doll? - New York Times Book ReviewEvanovich's series of New Jersey comedy thrillers are among the great joys of contemporary crime fiction... All the easy class and wit that you expect to find in the best American TV comedy, but too rarely find in modern fiction. - GQ

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Book SynopsisIt''s a race against time when a child goes missing...The world of Stephanie Plum has never been wilder than in Hard Eight, the eighth fast-paced mystery in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. The perfect read for fans of Lee Child and JD Robb.Raves for the Stephanie Plum series: ''Plum is not just a smart private eye but a heroine with a sense of humour'' (Daily Mail); ''Utterly delightful'' (Cosmopolitan); ''As smart and sassy as high-gloss wet paint'' (Time Out). Stephanie can''t say no when a neighbour begs her to find a missing family member - not even when local mob man Eddie Abruzzi becomes linked to the disappearance, and threatens to end Stephanie''s search by ending her life.Stephanie is going to need help and someone to watch her back. Since she''s on the off with cop Joe Morelli, that leaves her mentor and tormentor, Ranger. And that could be the most dangerous thing of all...<Trade ReviewA Jersey girl with Bette Midler's mouth and Cher's fashion sense...with her brazen style and dazzling wardrobe, who could resist this doll? - New York Times Book ReviewEvanovich's series of New Jersey comedy thrillers are among the great joys of contemporary crime fiction... All the easy class and wit that you expect to find in the best American TV comedy, but too rarely find in modern fiction. - GQ

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Book SynopsisThe twelfth book in the Kay Scarpetta series, from No. 1 bestselling author Patricia Cornwell. ''America''s most chilling writer of crime fiction'' The TimesAfter her resignation as Virginia''s Chief Medical Examiner and the horrifying events which threatened her life in The Last Precinct, Kay Scarpetta has abandoned her elegant home in Richmond and is quietly living in Florida, beginning to get some balance back in her life and slowly establishing herself as a private forensic consultant. But her past won''t let her rest, and her grief for Benton Wesley continues to grow, not diminish, as does the rage within Lucy, her niece. Then the architect of her changed fortunes contacts her from his cell on death row: deformed, blinded by Scarpetta''s own actions, incarcerated in Texas strongest prison, Jean-Baptiste Chardonne still has the ability to terrify. But, unknown to Scarpetta, there are other forces behind

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Book SynopsisA chilling, twisting thriller that crackles with suspense, perfect for fans of BA Paris and Clare Mackintosh.She thought she''d escaped him forever. But will he ever let her go?Eleven years ago, Lindsey Nash fled into the night with her young daughter, leaving an abusive relationship behind. Her ex-husband ended up in jail and Lindsey started a new life.Now, Lindsey is older, wiser and believes she has cut all ties with the past. But when Andrew is released from prison, strange things start happening. Lindsey''s new boyfriend is threatened, her home invaded and her daughter followed.Her ex-husband denies all knowledge, but Lindsey is convinced he''s responsible. Because, after all, who else could it be...?''Stevens''s taut writing and chilling depiction of love twisted beyond recognition make this a compelling read'' Publishers Weekly, Starred Review''Disturbing, suspenseful, and just a little nerve-wrackTrade ReviewGripping...unforgettable - Gillian Flynn on STILL MISSINGWill have you spellbound - Karin Slaughter on STILL MISSINGThe not-to-be-missed thriller of the year - Lisa Gardner on STILL MISSINGEvery moment is convincing and gripping... intense, bloody and rather brilliant - Sunday Mirror on THAT NIGHTIntense and disturbing - a terrific psychological thriller - Lee Child on THAT NIGHTA thriller that will grip you from page one - Harlan Coben on THAT NIGHTA terrifying, chilling scenario that unfolds into a nightmare and had me keeping the light on at night - Rosamund Lupton on NEVER KNOWINGSuch an engrossing, suspenseful tale that readers will wish they could warn the protagonists of the dangers that lie ahead. Highly recommended for fans of the genre who relish rail-biting suspense as well as stories about the endurance of family and the human spirit - Library Journal on THOSE GIRLS

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Book SynopsisThe second book in the Kay Scarpetta series, from No. 1 bestselling author Patricia Cornwell. ''America''s most chilling writer of crime fiction'' The TimesA reclusive writer is dead. And her final manuscript has disappeared . . .Someone is stalking Beryl Madison. Someone who spies on her and makes threatening, obscene phone-calls. Terrified, Beryl flees to Key West - but eventually she must return to her Richmond home. The very night she arrives, Beryl inexplicably invites her killer in . . .Thus begins for Dr Kay Scarpetta the investigation of a crime that is as convoluted as it is bizarre. Why would Beryl open the door to someone who brutally slashed and then nearly decapitated her? Did she know her killer? Adding to the intrigue is Beryl''s enigmatic relationship with a prize-winning author and the disappearance of her own manuscript. As Scarpetta retraces Beryl''s footsteps, an investigation that begins

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Book SynopsisThe second book in the Detective Lottie Parker series by bestselling author, Patricia Gibney. Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Tess Gerritsen and Helen Fields.Trade ReviewGibney expertly ratchets up the tension, making this exceptionally hard to put down . . . you won't be able to help rooting for our flawed heroine (Read of the Week) * Heat *Excellent . . . fast-paced, gritty * Irish Independent on THE STOLEN GIRLS *

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Book Synopsis''Excellent'' Literary Review''Kate Shackleton is a splendid heroine'' Ann Granger The Woman Unknown: Deirdre Fitzpatrick is married to a man who wants to know where she really goes when supposedly taking care of her sick mother and calls on the expertise of Kate Shackleton, amateur sleuth extraordinaire to investigate.The Gentleman: Everett Runcie is a banker facing ruin and disgrace. His American heiress wife will no longer pay for his mistakes, or tolerate his infidelity, and is seeking a divorce.The Murder: When a chambermaid enters Runcie''s hotel room, she is shocked to find that he is alone - and dead! Suddenly Kate is thrown into the depths of an altogether more sinister investigation. Can she uncover the truth of her most complex, and personal, case to date?Trade ReviewNeatly plotted . . . a classic Golden Age whodunnit * The Independent on Sunday *[An] engaging and resourceful 1920s heroine; a deftly constructed, intriguing period piece * Good Book Guide *It is rare to find an author that brings character so much to life that they become like real friends but Frances Brody is certainly such one . . . her Kate Shackleton books are so entertaining, well-constructed, and well written that, when finished, the reader feels bereft; but there is always anticipation for the next one * Ryedale Gazette & Herald *Fabulous . . . Such details as cloche hats, Yorkshire pudding, and 'grand country houses' provide period flavor, while more serious historical matters, such as cultural attitudes toward divorce and adultery, prove germane to the plot. Snappy dialogue and a cast of well-developed minor characters are a plus * Publishers Weekly *Brody's spirited and stalwart protagonist has found her true calling in solving mysteries, and her fourth case (after Murder in the Afternoon) holds true. Fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Agatha Christie will enjoy these historical mysteries set in 1920s England * American Library Journal *

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Book Synopsis''Chilling, atmospheric and so gripping it hurts. The Dead House is a masterpiece. You won''t read a better crime novel this year'' MARK EDWARDSOn a wild October night, the body of a young woman is found in a remote country churchyard. She''s wearing nothing but a thin, white dress. There are no marks of violence and no obvious cause of death. Who is the victim? Why is she here? But another young woman went missing from the area a few years back, and DC Fiona Griffiths soon suspects a crime even more chilling than she first imagined. Will she unlock the secrets of the dead house? Or will she become its next victim?Praise for the Fiona Griffiths mystery series:''One of the most interesting and complicated protagonists in current UK crime fiction. Truly unforgettable'' Mick Herron''In a word - brilliant. One of the most enjoyable crime novels I''ve read in a while'' James Oswald''Trade ReviewPraise for gripping, atmospheric crime thriller THE DEAD HOUSE: Chilling, atmospheric and so gripping it hurts. The Dead House is a masterpiece. You won't read a better crime novel this year -- MARK EDWARDSIntriguing and compelling - I love Fiona Griffiths -- SHARON BOLTONIn a word - brilliant. One of the most enjoyable crime novels I've read in a while -- JAMES OSWALDCompelling and claustrophobic. Without a doubt, Fiona Griffiths is one of crime's most memorable heroines -- SARAH HILARYOne of the most interesting and complicated protagonists in current UK crime fiction. Truly unforgettable -- MICK HERRONGriffiths gets more interesting with each book * TIMES *Compelling...a new crime talent to treasure * DAILY MAIL *Fiona Griffiths is a wonderful character, an absolute breath of fresh air. The Dead House had me intrigued from the start and I can't wait for more from my new favourite heroine -- JENNY BLACKHURSTThe unwinding of a clever plot is interesting and the depiction of unfamiliar men masterly * LITERARY REVIEW *Brilliant. Only one issue stands out after this novel: why aren't Harry Bingham's books number one on every chart? This is the fifth Griffiths novel... I, for one, will be going out and getting the others. Immediately. So should you * CRIME FICTION LOVER *

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Book SynopsisA woman starved to death. A tech genius with his hands hacked off. The heist of the century.When DC Fiona Griffiths and her colleagues piece together the clues to several grim crimes, they realise they''re staring at one of the world''s most daring robberies. Fiona is asked to take on her toughest case yet: will she go undercover to penetrate this criminal gang from within?When Fiona says yes, she has to give up her old life entirely. She becomes Fiona Grey, a homeless woman struggling to get her life back together again. When the criminal gang adopt her as one of their own, she''s totally alone, vulnerable - and dangerous as hell.Praise for the Fiona Griffiths mystery series: ''With Detective Constable Fiona ''Fi'' Griffiths, Harry Bingham...finds a sweet spot in crime fiction...think Stieg Larsson''s Lisbeth Salander...[or] Lee Child''s Jack Reacher... The writing is terrific'' The Boston Globe ''The easiesTrade ReviewPraise for gripping, atmosphere Fiona Griffiths crime thriller series:Chilling, atmospheric and so gripping it hurts. You won't read a better crime novel this year -- MARK EDWARDSIntriguing and compelling - I love Fiona Griffiths -- SHARON BOLTONIn a word - brilliant. One of the most enjoyable crime novels I've read in a while -- JAMES OSWALDCompelling and claustrophic, Without a doubt, Fiona Griffiths is one of crime's most memorable heroines -- SARAH HILARYOne of the most interesting and complicated protagonists in current UK crime fiction. Truly unforgettable -- MICK HERRONFiona Griffiths is one of the most unusual and engaging characters in British crime fiction. Those who haven't yet encountered Fiona will be drawn into a beautifully crafted world -- SINEAD CROWLEYGripping...Fiona Griffiths kept me hooked to the last page and left me hungry for more -- RACHEL ABBOTTExceptional ... Absorbing ... Fiona's narrative sears the pages. * KIRKUS REVIEWS *Fiona Griffiths may be the most fascinating protagonist in fiction. She is similar to Lisbeth Salander, an intelligent but profoundly damaged young woman, but Fiona is less hostile and more curious, sort of a good guy sociopath. I couldn't put it down. This is definitely one of my very favorite thriller series. I love this character and I hope I have the chance to read many more. Harry Bingham is a genius and one hell of a writer. * Audrey, Top 500 Reviewer *Compelling ... a new crime talent to treasure * DAILY MAIL *Very exciting ... well informed and well written. Read this novel. * Literary Review *Gritty, compelling ... a [police] procedural unlike any other you are likely to read this year. * USA Today *Bingham's novels always contain something unexpected. This fast-moving novel contains some of the most ingenious murder methods in modern crime fiction. * Sunday Times *With Detective Constable Fiona 'Fi' Griffiths, Harry Bingham ... finds a sweet spot in crime fiction ... think Stieg Larsson's Lisbeth Salander ... Denise Mina's 'Paddy' Meehan [or] Lee Child's Jack Reacher ... The writing is terrific. * Boston Globe *A stunner with precision plotting, an unusual setting, and a deeply complex protagonist ... We have the welcome promise of more books to come. * The Seattle Times *A dark delight, and I look forward to Fiona's future struggles with criminals, her demons and the mysteries of her past. * Washington Post *The easiest five stars I've ever awarded a book. Fiona Griffiths is by far the most original fictional detective I've come across ... [the book] made me feel breathless with worry, concern and eventually fear for Fiona. * Loretta Milan *An even more intense plot and richer character study than his first ... Fiona's past mental problems and her unconventional personality make her a distinctive lead. * Publishers Weekly, (starred review) *Some of the most memorably staccato narration in the genre ... [Bingham's] remote, unquenchable heroine makes her stand apart from every one of her procedural brothers and sisters. * Kirkus Reviews *I thoroughly enjoyed spending time in her company, and the cleaning scenes are utterly credible. There is wit here, and warmth, and great pace. * BOOK OXYGEN *"[THE STRANGE DEATH OF FIONA GRIFFITHS] confronts the reader with profound questions about human nature in the midst of a fast-paced plot." * SUNDAY TIMES *DC Fiona Griffiths is small, bullish and psychologically fragile - her vulnerability makes her much more interesting than the average gung-ho policewoman... A tense and unusual read." * THE LADY *"Good thrilling stuff." * BUZZ *"This thriller shines like a diamond." * PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH *"A thoroughly engrossing book that is as much the story as one woman's search for an identity as it is crime thriller." * SHOTS *"A series that started strongly but is definitely getting even better... Bingham has created a unique character, not Wales' answer to Rebus but better in a number of ways." * WESTERN MAIL *This is a police procedural with a twist. Quirky, gripping and, rather like its lead character, utterly unconventional. That's what makes it such a delight to read. Highly recommended. * CRIME THRILLER GIRL *

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