Crime and mystery: women sleuths / detectives

Book SynopsisThe definitive companion to the MISS MARPLE novels, short stories, films and TV appearances, now revised and updated.Trade Review‘A great treat for Agatha Christie addicts.’DAILY MAIL ‘Elegantly arranged and presented.’DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘A fine feat of detection.’DAILY EXPRESS

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Book SynopsisAs King Philip of Spain prepares to invade England, Ursula heads to Brussels on a desperate mission in this compelling Tudor mystery.March, 1588. With England in a state of high alert as King Philip of Spain amasses a vast fleet of warships ready to invade, Queen Elizabeth and her advisors seek a possible alliance with the Duke of Parma, Governor of the Netherlands. But their plans suffer a major setback when one of their most reliable spies is found murdered in the Hertfordshire countryside, shot dead by a crossbow bolt as he was transporting secret correspondence between the queen and the duke. The queen''s half-sister and occasional secret agent, Ursula Stannard, is happy not to be involved for once. But when Ursula''s ward Mildred elopes with the handsome yet mysterious Berend Gomez, Ursula is forced to follow the pair to Brussels, where she finds herself plunged into a hotbed of intrigue and rumour at the Duke of Parma''s court, a place whe

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Book SynopsisWritten By Sophie Hannah, BA Paris, Clare Mackintosh, and Holly Brown, this psychological thriller is perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Louise CandlishHOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO PROTECT YOUR DAUGHTER?Carolyn, Bronnie, Elise, and Kendall are bound together by one thing - their four daughters are best friends at the highly competitive Orla Flynn Academy for the Performing Arts.Imogen Curwood is a new girl at the Academy and her behaviour is odd from the start. On the day she arrives, bad things start to happen. As one threatening incident follows another, the four mothers begin to ask themselves: are their girls in danger? When an attempted murder rocks the school, Imogen is pleased to report that she has an alibi. If she isn't the guilty party, someone else must be.Carolyn, Bronnie, Elise and Kendall are determined to uncover the truth and protect their daughters. But are they prepared to risk their own secrets being exposed?THE UNDERSTUDY IS THE OUTSTANDING NEW NOVEL FROM FOUR MASTERS OF SUSPENSETrade ReviewA powerhouse of a gripping, bitchy thriller, that zeroes in on the jealousy riven dark heart of female friendship - On My Life

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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 SynopsisThe next gripping and unputdownable psychological thriller by Rebecca Tinnelly, with a twist that'll shock you to your coreIf you love Linda Green, Katerina Diamond or Jane Corry, you'll love this.Trade ReviewExciting and suspenseful * Sunday Express *Gripping and disturbing -- Bestselling author, Katerina DiamondSuperb, a real tension builder. I felt like I was reading a horror almost, it had the awful, spine-tingling feel, goosebumps, right up to that shocking reveal for Esther and all that followed with Madeline. I read it in one day -- bestselling author Jo SpainIt's dark and twisty and I'm suspicious of everyone . . . I absolutely loved it -- Lisa Hall, bestselling author of * The Party *Praise for Never Go There * : *A thoroughly excellent debut. Dark and brutal in places with a shocker of an ending!!! * Katerina Diamond, bestselling author of The Promise *This book sucked me in and wouldn't let go, even after I finished it! I absolutely loved it. Dark and suspenseful. Brilliant characters. Stunning revelations * Patricia Gibney, bestselling author of, The Detective Lottie Parker series *A beautifully written, riveting read. Perfectly crafted. Absorbing from start to finish * Amanda Robson, bestselling author of Obsession *Rebecca Tinnelly created a village so real, so secretive and scary, I was edge of the seat. Rebecca Tinnelly has a new fan in me * Liz Lawler, bestselling author of Don't Wake Up *So tightly plotted [and] totally absorbing . . . the dark, claustrophobic atmosphere kept me reading late into the night * Elisabeth Carpenter, bestselling author of 99 Red Balloons *Mesmerising, shocking, I just couldn't look away * Sarah J. Naughton, author of Tattletale *Twisty, DARK, fast-paced, shocking. EXCELLENT * Will Dean, author of Dark Pines *Creepy, claustrophobic and extremely dark and twisted. This is a very clever debut * Susi Holliday, author of The Deaths of December *

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Book SynopsisA Caribbean resortStrangers thrown togetherIs there evil in paradise?Major Palgrave enjoys an audience, and, in Miss Marple, he discovers a captive audience too polite to walk away.But midway through recounting the tale of a multiple murder, he stops suddenly when something, or someone, catches his eye.Then, when he's found dead the following day, Miss Marple suspects that someone wanted to silence the talkative major. Permanently.Never underestimate Miss MarpleThere's no such thing as a disappointing Agatha Christie: there are only good ones and better ones.'Naomi AldermanLivelieness . . . infectious zest . . . as good as anything Miss Christie has done.'ObserverTrade Review‘Without a doubt, the greatest mystery writer of all time’ – Ragnar Jonasson ‘A hundred years after her first novel, and we are all still standing in her shadow’ – Andrew Taylor ‘She gives us an insight into human nature that few, if any, have surpassed’ – Susan Lewis ‘Dame Agatha has sold more books than all besides Shakespeare and the Bible’ – David Baldacci ‘All crime fiction writers around the globe owe Agatha Christie a massive debt’ – Peter James ‘Reading a perfectly plotted Agatha Christie is like crunching into a perfect apple: that pure, crisp, absolute satisfaction.’ – Tana French

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Book SynopsisYoung widow Bella Jordan investigates a mystery with a literary twist in this charming, magical small-town cozy mystery from New York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub.It''s been nine months since widowed mom Bella Jordan and her young son Max moved to Lily Dale, the quirky, close-knit New York community populated by people who can speak to the dead . . . if one believes in that kind of thing. Now she counts Valley View, the guesthouse she runs, as home and her psychic medium neighbors as friends. Even haughty, British Pandora, who used to own Valley View before her difficult divorce.So when Pandora sweeps in, requesting an urgent tête-à-tête, Bella expects it to be another complaint about book club. It isn''t. Pandora airily reveals her elderly Auntie Eudora is taking a last-minute cruise from London to New York with her gentleman friend Nigel - and minutes later Bella is bemused to find she''s agreed to host them at Valley View free of charge.

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Book SynopsisMurder always sells. But when a series of dark and puzzling crimes takes place in seventeenth-century London, will printer''s apprentice Lucy Campion be publishing the news - or starring in it?London, 1667. Printer''s apprentice Lucy Campion is unsettled when, on a frozen December morning after church, an elderly woman dressed in mourning clothes whispers an ominous warning in her ear.Lucy sternly tells herself it''s nonsense, but then her much-loved former master, Magistrate Hargrave, is viciously attacked with a brass hourglass during a break-in. But what exactly was the intruder searching for? And why did they first stop to steal a piece of Cook''s lamb and lentil pie?The puzzling case is just the start of a series of dark, bizarre crimes. Lucy''s determined to uncover the truth and see that justice is done. But someone is equally determined to stop her - whatever it takes.This page-turning historical mystery set in Renaissa

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Book SynopsisThe original queen of the page-turner Mary Stewart leads her readers on a journey of murder and deceit through the dusty roads of mid-century Greece in this tale that fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym are sure to love.''The contemporary thriller at its very best'' Guardian''Mary Stewart is magic'' New York Times''Nothing ever happens to me...'' So begins Camilla Haven''s letter home during her quiet holiday in Athens. But when a stranger begs her to drive a car to Delphi, swearing that it is a matter of life and death, Camilla impulsively takes the opportunity she''s been offered. Before long she is caught up in a whirlwind of intrigue, deceit and murder as she spins along the dusty Greek roads in a race against time to solve a fourteen-year-old mystery.The longer I waited the less possible it seemed to walk out of the café and leave everything to settle itself without me, and the more insidiously did the otTrade ReviewThe contemporary thriller at its very best . . . for sheer entertainment MY BROTHER MICHAEL is going to take a lot of beating. * Guardian *Mary Stewart is magic * New York Times *She set the bench mark for pace, suspense and romance - with a great dollop of escapism as the icing * Elizabeth Buchan *A comfortable chair and a Mary Stewart: total heaven. I'd rather read her than most other authors. * Harriet Evans *

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Book SynopsisNo wonder she''s been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime'' Mail on SundayAgatha Raisin''s detective agency has become so successful that she decides to take time off for rest and relaxation. But as soon as she does, she remembers that when she does have time on her hands, she doesn''t know what to do with it. So it doesn''t take much for the vicar of a nearby village to persuade her to help publicise the church fete - especially when the event organiser, George Selby, turns out to be a handsome widower.Agatha brings out the crowds for the fete all right, but there''s more going on than innocent village fun. Several of the offerings in the jam-tasting booth turn out to be poisoned and the festive entertainment becomes the scene of two murders.Along with her young assistant, Toni, Agatha must lift the lid on the jam tampering, see to the safety of the church funds, and root out the nasty secrets lurking in the village. Quite a tallTrade Review'The detective novels of M C Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status.' -- Anne Robinson The Times Agatha is like Miss Marple with a drinking problem, a pack-a-day habit and major man lust. In fact, I think she could be living my dream life. Entertainment Weekly

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Book SynopsisThe Killing Tide by Lin Anderson sees forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod investigating a mysterious abandoned ship which has swept ashore in the Orkney Isles.'A cracking story told at breakneck speed' – Scotland on SundayAfter a fierce storm hits Scotland, a mysterious cargo ship is discovered in the Orkney Isles. Boarding the vessel uncovers three bodies, recently deceased and in violent circumstances. Forensic scientist Dr Rhona MacLeod’s study of the crime scene suggests that a sinister game was being played on board, but who were the hunters? And who the hunted?Meanwhile in Glasgow DS Michael McNab is called to a horrific incident where a young woman has been set on fire. Or did she spark the flames herself? As evidence arises that connects the two cases, the team grow increasingly concerned that the truth of what happened on the ship and in Glasgow hints at a wider conspiracy that stretches down to London and beyond to a global stage. Orcadian Ava Clouston, renowned investigative journalist, believes so and sets out to prove it, putting herself in grave danger.When the Met Police challenge Police Scotland’s jurisdiction, it becomes obvious that there are ruthless individuals who are willing to do whatever it takes to protect government interests. Which could lead to even more deaths on Scottish soil . . .Trade ReviewAs always Lin Anderson provides a big fat colourful mystery -- Mark Sanderson, The TimesA cracking story told at breakneck speed * Scotland on Sunday *Forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod has become one of the most satisfying characters in modern crime fiction — honourable, inquisitive and yet plagued by doubts and, sometimes, fears . . . As ever, the landscape is stunningly evoked and MacLeod’s decency and humanity shine through on every page * Daily Mail *The bleak landscape is beautifully described, giving this popular series a new lease of life * Sunday Times *Lin Anderson is one of Scotland’s national treasures – don’t be fooled by comparisons, her writing is unique, bringing warmth and depth to even the seediest parts of Glasgow -- Stuart MacBrideVivid and atmospheric . . . enthralling * Guardian *Greenock-born Anderson’s work is sharper than a pathologist’s scalpel. One of the best Scottish crime series since Rebus -- Shari Low, Daily Record

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Book SynopsisThey climbed up from the streets of Glasgow to the top of the world. Now these Hollywood icons are heading for a fall. Twenty-five years ago, three friends from Glasgow shocked the world when they became Oscar-winning legends. But now, they are all fighting for survival.A-list actor Zander Leith has finally found happiness with his adored wife, Hollie. But a stalker with a familiar face is determined to take away the only peace he’s ever known. Mirren McLean is one of the most powerful women in the industry. Successful. Respected. Untouchable. Until one mistake threatens to destroy her marriage and her career. And Davie Johnston was once the king of late-night television. Now, his only chance to reclaim his crown is to gamble everything on himself.Three stars, three tales of struggle and success. Now they’re discovering that in Hollywood, happy endings don’t last for ever. Sometimes they’re just the calm before the storm…

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

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Book SynopsisThe 'deliciously dark and utterly addictive' (Lucy Foley) thriller from Sunday Times bestseller Ruth Ware. Trade ReviewPraise for The It Girl: 'An absolute belter. Could not put it down! I thought I knew who the killer was. Then I was CERTAIN it was another person! Then DEFINITELY another! Great characterisation, glamorous setting, all round FABALISS!' Marian Keyes 'Every Ruth Ware novel is a unique and unexpected gem and this one is no exception. A heady, tense, slowburn dream of a book, multi-layered and steeped in atmosphere and peril. I loved every page' Lisa Jewell 'Absolutely brilliant murder mystery - seamless, flawless, perfectly clued and utterly gripping' Sophie Hannah ‘Impeccably crafted and totally compulsive – you’ll be sad to reach the final page and realise you have to say goodbye’ JP Delaney ‘Ruth Ware’s richly textured The It Girl is at once an engrossing murder mystery while also a perfectly crafted and haunting examination of lost youth and the compromises of adulthood, as a woman unpicks the past secrets of her university friends to finally lay to rest her murdered best friend, the dazzling April. Reminiscent of The Secret History, Ware has surpassed herself with this gripping, absorbing whodunnit. I loved it! All hail the Queen' Sarah Pinborough ‘If you ever idly wish that Agatha Christie would write a new book, Ruth Ware has got you covered. The It Girl has all the clues, twists and red herrings you could wish for, in a thoroughly modern setting. An impeccably constructed mystery from start to finish' Jane Casey 'It’s brilliant. Ruth is the master of the fiendishly twisty, yet completely believable, plot' Elly Griffiths 'Just finished The It Girl by Ruth Ware and now my life is divided in two: before and after. Before: cool, calm, chilled. After: What? No! OMG! A wild ride that’s deliciously twisting, with countless gasp-out-loud moments' Janice Hallett 'A new Ruth Ware is always a treat and The It Girl is one of her best. You can almost see her smiling as she feeds you the little morsels that should help you work everything out - if only you were as clever as Ruth! As sleek and chilling as a knife between the ribs' Sarah J. Naughton ‘Clever. Compelling and with a terrific sense of place. Ruth Ware’s The It Girl grips to the end’ Jane Shemilt

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Book SynopsisFans of Steven F. Havill''s Posadas County and Lisa Regan''s Josie Quinn series will enjoy this fascinating and complex story set in small-town Missouri.Balances well-developed characters and dry humor with a solid police procedural- Library Journal Starred ReviewElderly tourists visiting Branson, Missouri for a fun time are instead becoming so sick and disoriented they end up in the ER with Dr Maggie McCleary. She asks the sheriff to investigate and, because he happens to be her husband, Hank Worth readily agrees. When the tour operator denies responsibility, Hank digs deeper leaving Chief Deputy Sheila Turley to handle a simmering revolt within the ranks. Their policy to eliminate overtime pay has infuriated many long-time deputies. Those fired for insubordination have filed a lawsuit, while those still there sabotage Sheila at every turn.With pressure mounting, they''re called to a hit-and-run accident. But the vi

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Book SynopsisMaggie Wise, a retired homicide cop turned radio presenter, is asked to help the local police with the case of two missing girls. Dr Oscar LeBlanc is close to a medical breakthrough to cure dementia and other degenerative diseases . . . but in order to succeed he needs to illegally obtain plasma from prepubescent children. He believes the ends justify the means and two young girls are abducted.The disappearance of the girls causes a lockdown of the area and, when one of the girl''s parents prove uncooperative with the police, former homicide cop turned radio presenter Maggie Wise offers to help. Maggie quickly forms a connection with the family just as the girls are recovered.LeBlanc is quickly suspected, but after he is questioned he''s found dead from an apparent suicide. However, the circumstances are suspicious and Maggie finds herself conflicted when the family become the prime suspects.

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Book SynopsisNewly married Emily Richards walks into a family drama that recalls Forster''s classic work while honeymooning at an English country house, in the gripping fifth Crime with the Classics cozy. Retired professor Emily Richards and her husband, Luke, are taking a much-needed break from Windy Corner and spending their honeymoon five thousand miles away as paying guests at Fitzhugh Manor in Oxfordshire. Quaint nearby villages and the manor''s impressive turrets and arches capture Emily''s Anglophile heart, but when she meets its dashing young heir, James Fitzhugh, and his American wife, Allison, James''s cousin Penelope, his dithering uncle Roger and the manor''s formidable dowager, Lady Margaret Fitzhugh, it''s clear that class prejudice, resentment and secrets threaten to tear the family apart. Is there more to a fatal accident than meets the eye? Emily soon finds herself in the middle of a family drama redolent of Forster''s classic novels, but can she pull off her own masterstroke to catch a killer?

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Book SynopsisThe gripping debut techno thriller from cybercrime specialist Daniel Scanlan. FBI Special Agent Ericka Blackwood chases a deadly online predator in a high-stakes hunt for the truth. Perfect for fans of Thomas Harris and Stieg Larsson. He's online. He's anonymous. He's deadly. When a video surfaces on the Dark Web showing a murder no one else could have witnessed, FBI Special Agent Ericka Blackwood starts tracking down the killer. But the case is even darker than Ericka thought. Hidden behind an avatar named Dantalion, a criminal mastermind is feeding his sadistic appetites by directing the crimes of others – and he may have been orchestrating his twisted schemes for years. As Ericka homes in on her target, the tables are suddenly turned. Dantalion has information that will help Ericka fulfil a deeply personal quest for revenge... but only if she risks her career, her life, and the fate of Dantalion's future victims. Does vengeance come at too high a price? Reviewers on The Hacker 'Frighteningly plausible and deftly written, Daniel Scanlan’s debut is a thrilling roller coaster of twists and turns.' Boyd Morrison 'A thoroughly disturbing lightning-paced thriller. Dark, twisted and horribly captivating.' Ian Green 'Tense, gripping, brutal, scary – The Hacker has everything you'd want from a thriller.' P.R. Black 'Dark, brutal, scary – yet absolutely riveting.' Samantha Brick 'The author creates an atmosphere of high-tech terror... A modern, thrilling novel.' Promoting Crime FictionTrade ReviewFrighteningly plausible and deftly written, The Hacker takes you on a harrowing journey into the dark reaches of modern technology. Daniel Scanlan's debut is a thrilling roller coaster of twists and turns that will have you racing through its pages. Riveting to the very end! -- Boyd MorrisonThe Hacker is a thoroughly disturbing lightning paced thriller, packed with action and intrigue. Dark and twisted and horribly captivating. Scanlan delivers a frighteningly believable world where the line between digital and physical blurs most in the shadows -- Ian GreenTense, gripping, brutal, scary – The Hacker has everything you'd want from a thriller. A tough and all-too-believable heroine who has demons to contend with matches wits and skills with an evil spider at the centre of his wicked web... Who will win this sadistic game? Perfect for fans of Stieg Larsson -- P.R. BlackFrighteningly plausible... The Hacker is a modern, thrilling novel that moves along at high speed and hurtles towards its dénouement * Promoting Crime Fiction *Dark, brutal, scary – yet absolutely riveting -- Samantha Brick

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Book SynopsisYou won''t be able to put this addictive No. 1 bestseller down . . . And don''t miss Clare Mackintosh''s twisty new thriller about secrets, lies and keeping up appearances - Other People''s Houses is out now.''No one writes a twist like Clare Mackintosh'' PAULA HAWKINS''A belter of a novel'' HEAT_____________________The police say it was suicide. Anna says it was murder. Who do you believe? One year ago, Caroline Johnson chose to end her life brutally: a shocking suicide planned to match that of her husband just months before. Their daughter, Anna, has struggled to come to terms with their loss ever since. Now with a young baby of her own, Anna misses her mother more than ever and starts to ask questions about her parents'' deaths. But by digging up the past, is she putting her future in danger? Sometimes it''s safer to let things lie . . . _____________________''Another one-more-chapter, stay-up-late sensation'' LEE CHILD''Absolutely BRILLIANT. I LOVED it. I think this is Clare Mackintosh''s best yet'' MARIAN KEYES''A triumph'' LOUISE CANDLISH''A work of genius'' JOANNA CANNON''A rollercoaster ride with a shocker of a final sentence'' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING ''Clare Mackintosh does it again. A brilliantly twisting tale'' ERIN KELLYTrade ReviewLet Me Lie is absolutely BRILLIANT. I LOVED it. I think this is Clare Mackintosh's best yet. An engaging, engrossing read - MARIAN KEYESA rollercoaster ride with a shocker of a final sentence - Good HousekeepingClare Mackintosh does it again. A brilliantly twisting tale - ERIN KELLYTightly-plotted, tense and affecting . . . will keep you guessing until the very last line. No one writes a twist like Clare Mackintosh - PAULA HAWKINSSo very clever. Totally absorbing and original - SABINE DURRANTThe insight and delicacy with which Mackintosh draws her characters . . . is compelling - Sunday Times and Times Crime Club

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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________________________________It's a thin line between revenege and murder. . . To the public, he's a hero: a killer who targets convicted paedophiles.Two men have already been tortured to death and, for the police, their cases are not a priority.But DC Maeve Kerrigan believes that no one should be allowed to take the law into their own hands.As the killer's violence begins to escalate, Maeve is forced to confront exactly how far she's prepared to go to ensure justice is served...

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Book SynopsisNosy, warm-hearted travel agent Campbell Hall gets mixed up in a missing persons case when beloved Nashville socialite Bitsy Carter vanishes during her Mexican vacation.Fans of Diane Mott Davidson and Donna Andrews will enjoy this new series - BooklistTravel agent Campbell Hale isn''t surprised when she hears her good friend, socialite and talented artist Bitsy Carter, has booked a luxury Mexican spa vacation through her agency. Bitsy often takes solo trips abroad, and who''d want to spend February in grey Nashville when they could avoid it?She is, however, extremely surprised - and extremely worried - when Bitsy doesn''t come back.What could compel warm, friendly Bitsy to run away without telling anyone her plans? And most puzzling of all: what could make her leave her small children behind?The answers lie in Zihuatanejo, and Campbell barely needs to twist new boyfriend Detective Sam Davis'' arm to get him to agree

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Book SynopsisTish Tarragon is catering for Hobson Glen''s annual Turkey Trot, and soon finds herself embroiled in a deadly race to the finish line . . .Literary caterer Tish Tarragon is looking forward to opening her new Cookin'' the Books café the day after Thanksgiving, but before then she has the small matter of catering for the Thirty-First Annual Colonial Springs Turkey Trot, a highlight in the Hobson Glen community calendar.With her food stall ready to go, Tish, the spectators and participating ''trotters'' are eagerly awaiting the starter''s pistol when they are confronted with the sound of rifle shots from the woods. Deputy Mayor Behrens is dead. But was he really the intended target, or was it Tish''s ex, Mayor Schuyler Thompson? As Tish investigates with her beau, Sheriff Clemson Reade, it seems there are no shortage of residents with an axe to grind against the town council and their controversial policies. Can Tish finish first in her race against the ki

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Book SynopsisFROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE MATCH AND CREATOR OF HIT NETFLIX DRAMA STAY CLOSE____________________________Thirty years ago, a child was found in the New Jersey backwoods.He had been living a feral existence, with no memory of how he got there or even who he is. Everyone just calls him Wilde.Now a former soldier and security expert, he lives off the grid, shunned by the community - until they need him.A child has gone missing. With her family suspecting she's just playing a disappearing game, nobody seems concerned except for criminal attorney Hester Crimstein. She contacts Wilde, asking him to use his unique skills to find the girl.But even he can find no trace of her. One day passes, then a second, then a third.On the fourth, a human finger shows up in the mail.And now Wilde knows this is no game. It's a race against time to save the girl's life - and expose the town's dark trove of secrets...Also featuring the character of Wilde: The Match - OUT NOW _____________________________'The absolute master' RICHARD OSMAN 'A helter-skelter of a read!' LISA JEWELL 'One of the all-time greats' GILLIAN FLYNN 'One of my favourites' JOHN GRISHAM 'At the top of his game' PETER JAMES 'Never lets you down' LEE CHILD 'Insanely readable' SUNDAY MIRROR 'Coben is a phenomenon' THE TIMESTrade ReviewHarlan Coben is the absolute master of huge twists and turns. * RICHARD OSMAN *Coben never, ever lets you down * LEE CHILD *If you liked The Stranger on Netflix, you’ll love this novel […] The novel is a splendid reminder that Coben is as brilliant at creating wonderful characters as he is at those textbook twists. * HEAT MAGAZINE *Thriller-lovers who just want some adrenaline to lift their spirits should escape with this riveting page-turner from the hugely popular author and screenwriter, Harlan Coben, who not only has more than 70 million books in print worldwide, but also recently brought us the hit TV series The Stranger and Safe on Netflix. * MAIL ONLINE *Harlan Coben’s thrillers are like intricately patterned knitting […] He has created a cracker of a hero in the aptly named Wilde […] Hopefully Wilde will return – Coben certainly leaves clues that he will. * THE TIMES *

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Book SynopsisYOUR NEIGHBOUR IS A KILLER . . . BUT WHICH ONE?The thrilling new 2023 Detective Jane Tennison crime novel from the Queen of Crime Drama - now available in hardback, eBook and audiobook._____________________Detective Inspector Jane Tennison was beginning to feel she'd made a big mistake. Having requested a transfer to a station nearer her home, she's now wondering if any serious crimes are ever committed in Bromley. Especially since the first case she's assigned to involves nothing more dramatic than an altercation between neighbours over a disputed property boundary. Jane's new boss wants her to wrap up the enquiry as quickly as possible, but something in the apparently trivial case doesn't add up. Why was Martin Boon so adamant that David Caplan shouldn't install a new set of gates when they wouldn't encroach on his own property?Against her boss's orders, Jane decides to dig deeper, and soon uncovers a trove of dark secrets in sleepy Clarendon Court involving a tragic death and a forbidden love affair. As Tennison hunts for the missing piece of evidence that will identify a vicious killer, she knows that this case will either make her career - or break it. Praise for crime fiction icon Lynda La Plante:'Lynda La Plante is an exceptional writer of Crime Drama' - Dame Helen Mirren 'The UK's most celebrated female crime author' - DAILY MAIL'Thirty years on from writing Prime Suspect, La Plante is still delivering the goods' - THE TIMES'Tough, brilliant and damaged, [Tennison] shook up the genre forever' - DAILY EXPRESS'Lynda La Plante practically invented the thriller' - KARIN SLAUGHTER

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Book SynopsisThe second book in the multi-million copy bestselling No.1 Ladies'' Detective Agency seriesThe one where Precious gains a new familyMma Ramotswe of the No. 1 Ladies'' Detective Agency is hoping to set up home with Mr J.L.B. Maketoni. But first she must deal with his scheming, misbehaving maid. She also has to confront the most difficult case of her career so far: that of an American who went missing ten years ago, and about whom all leads have long since dried up. Then there are not one, but two sudden additions to Mma''s family . . .''One of the most memorable heroines in any modern fiction'' Newsweek''Soothing, full of hope'' Sunday Telegraph''Delightful'' Evening Standard''Enthralling... Mma Ramotswe is someone readers can''t help but love'' USA TodayTrade ReviewOne of the most memorable heroines in any modern fiction * Newsweek *Soothing, full of hope * Sunday Telegraph *Delightful * Evening Standard *Enthralling... Mma Ramotswe is someone readers can't help but love * USA Today *The Miss Marple of Botswana * New York Times Book Review *Among the greatest comfort-reads of all time * Sunday Times *McCall Smith's satire is as gentle as a warm bath * Sydney Morning Herald *Smart and sassy... Precious' progress is charted in passages that have the power to amuse or shock or touch the heart, sometimes all at once * Los Angeles Times *

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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 SynopsisTrade ReviewPearse's The Sanatorium will keep you checking over your shoulder. This spine-tingling, atmospheric thriller has it all: an eerie Alpine setting, sharp prose, and twists you'll never see coming. A must-read. * Richard Osman, internationally bestselling author of THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB *Dark, suspenseful and downright chilling, The Sanatorium is a triumph. Vividly set against the backdrop of the Swiss Alps, it had me on the edge of my seat from the first page. Pearse's writing is sublime. What a talent! Pearse has a big future ahead of her. * Sally Hepworth, author of THE MOTHER-IN-LAW *The Sanatorium is an absolutely splendid Gothic thriller - gracious in its nods to the classic locked-room mystery, yet bold enough to burst out of that room through the window. Pearse writes prose fresh and crisp as Swiss Alp powder, and her characters fascinate even as their numbers dwindle. * A. J. Finn, bestselling author of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW *The Sanatorium is definitely a debut novel to watch out for. Wow, what a chilling read! One of the creepiest thrillers I've ever read. So atmospheric, clever and compulsive. LOVED it! * Claire Douglas, author of LOCAL GIRL MISSING *Creepy, deeply claustrophobic, mind-numbing, teasing, twists and turns galore, this book is a towering example of a masterful hand at work. If only Hitchcock were still around to film it. * David Baldacci, internationally bestselling author of MERCY *

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Book Synopsis'DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK' - STEPHEN KING 'Creepy, individual and gripping' - IAN RANKIN 'A thrilling hall of mirrors filled with twists' - ALEX MICHAELIDES 'Brilliant and moving' - SARAH PINBOROUGH Rob is afraid of her daughter. Callie collects tiny bones and whispers to imaginary friends, and Rob is afraid of what she might to do Annie, her younger sister. She sees a darkness in Callie that reminds her of the family she left behind, and a life she has tried to forget. Seeing no other way to keep Annie safe, she decides to take Callie back to Sundial, her childhood home deep in the Mojave Desert. And there she will have to make a terrible choice. Callie is afraid of her mother. Rob has begun to look at her strangely. To tell her secrets about her past that both disturb and excite her. And they are both afraid that only one of them will make it back from Sundial alive... A gripping gothic masterpiece from the bestselling and award-winning author of THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET, SUNDIAL is a must-read for fans of GIRL A and SHARP OBJECTS.Trade ReviewShocking... Ward wrongfoots the reader at every turn... Disturbing and yet ultimately moving as the bonds of love become clear * Observer Thriller of the Month *Numerous twists to shock and surprise * The Times *Ward is such a supple, authoritative stylist... deftly and absorbingly guiding an emotionally turbulent narrative toward the light, with an absolutely stunning final twist * Irish Times *One of the most masterful psychological thrillers you are likely to read this year * Irish Independent *If you love toe-clenching horror, you will have the time of your life * Stylist *If you are a thriller fan, a mystery fan, and/or a horror fan, DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK. Authentically terrifying -- Stephen KingEvery bit as creepy, individual and gripping as The Last House on Needless Street. Bravo -- Ian RankinA story where nothing is what it seems - a thrilling hall of mirrors full of deeply disturbing twists. This book will haunt you -- Alex Michaelides, author of THE SILENT PATIENTA riveting page-turner, an autopsy of a family, a study in generational trauma, a meditation on science. You feel like the whole world is in there tugging at your insides -- Caroline Kepnes, author of YOUI wish more thrillers were this witty, this cunning, and this impossible-to-put-down. Sundial is a heart-in-the-throat smash -- Joe Hill, author of THE FIREMANElegantly horrifying, this tale of a family's darker-than-dark past drives the knife in deep and isn't afraid to twist. It's a desert-dust nightmare with a scorpion's sting, and I loved it -- Emma Stonex, author of THE LAMPLIGHTERSAs brilliant and moving as you would expect from a Catriona Ward book -- Sarah Pinborough, author of BEHIND HER EYES[A] riveting mind-bender... unsettling and yet so touching * Saga *If you were left bewitched by The Last House On Needless Street, then you are in for an even darker reckoning... this novel is up there with the master of psychological horror, Stephen King * Buzz *Sundial plumbs the psychological depths and traps of toxic relationships, expertly mixing suspense, shocks, and menace. It's a wild, twisted family gothic unlike any you've read before and one you won't soon forget -- Paul Tremblay, author of A HEADFUL OF GHOSTS

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Book Synopsis'Haunting and atmospheric' - DAILY MAIL 'Tina Baker's best yet' - JANICE HALLETT 'Compelling and suspenseful' - LISA HALL Everyone brings their secrets to the island... On the beautiful and windswept island of Tresco, two worlds live side by side. The wealthy visitors come by helicopter to stay at their lavish time-share properties. The estate staff travel by boat, and work all hours to keep them happy, to keep the money flowing in. But while the blue skies and savage waves make the island seem a wild paradise, under the surface the inhabitants are concealing more than they dare reveal. The truths about their marriages, their love affairs, and what they do in the darkness while their neighbours are sleeping. As black clouds come rolling in and a storm hits the island, truths and rumours begin to tumble out, wreaking terrible damage. In the midst of the tempest, two women are attacked and one goes missing. The secrets of this fragile community can no longer be hidden if it hopes to survive. The islanders must finally reveal what they did in the storm, no matter the cost. From the #1 bestselling author of Call Me Mummy comes a dark and luscious thriller, perfect for readers of Harriet Tyce, Amanda Jennings and Louise Candlish. 'An irresistible read' - LESLEY KARA 'Clever and complex' - HELEN FIELDSTrade ReviewBaker's deceptively simple style belies the power she brings to storytelling and how she gets under the skin of so many characters... Perfect for readers who want to be transported to new places to get their thrills * Daily Mail *If you like your crime offset by an idyllic location, like Midsomer Murders and Death In Paradise, then this is the book for you * Heat *Tina Baker's best yet. An atmospheric island thriller, accomplished and mature. Prepare for a maelstrom of secrets and tension to batter the rocks as you read -- Janice Hallett, author of THE APPEALAn irresistible read from a unique talent. Tina Baker is the real deal -- Lesley Kara, author of THE RUMOURA clever, complex, layered story that plays with your head. Baker is the mistress of the jaw-dropping reveal. What We Did In The Storm is one of those books that leaves you gripped in its pages long after the story is over. Absolutely brilliant -- Helen Fields, author of PERFECT REMAINSA big recommendation from me... Love the subtle and dry dark humour laced into the thrills -- Emma Curtis, author of ONE LITTLE MISTAKEA brilliantly atmospheric book, where a community is tight but the secrets run deep... unwavering in its intrigue, loved it -- L.V. Matthews, author of THE TWINSClaustrophobic and compelling, haunting and suspenseful. I was utterly gripped -- Lisa Hall, author of BETWEEN YOU AND MEFizzing with electricity, evocative and unputdownable. Tina Baker has done it again -- Alice Clark-Platts, author of THE FLOWER GIRLSAnother impeccable, intriguing and infectiously irresistible tale from the brilliant Tina Baker... A wild and windy holiday read -- C.E. Rose, author of THE HOUSE ON THE WATER'S EDGETina Baker brings a cast of disturbed - and disturbing - characters to the Scilly Isles with all her usual razor sharp flair. Tense and gripping from start to finish -- Leonora Nattrass, author of BLUE WATERA rare talent. I'm in stitches from the humour, in the next paragraph my heart is breaking. I was totally absorbed. The characters in this book are absolutely superb; complex, unique, but above all real -- J.M. Hewitt, author of THE LIFE SHE WANTSBold and atmospheric, each chapter offered a tantalising thread of a community fracturing behind closed doors, finally pulling together for the devastating conclusion. Utterly compelling -- Sam Holland, author of THE ECHO MANWonderfully atmospheric and hugely compelling: rippling with an undercurrent of suspense and featuring a gloriously vibrant cast -- Sarah Bonner, author of HER PERFECT TWINA rip tide of a novel, plunging readers into a maelstrom of secrets, suspense and sins... A clever, compelling and superbly realised page-turner. Unputdownable -- Kate Griffin, author of FYNESHADE

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Book SynopsisEvery parent's worst nightmare. A case too close to home.Elissa Ricci left her baby in the bassinet while she took a shower. Ten minutes later, the back door was open and Sienna was gone.Detective Sergeant Kate Miles has just returned from maternity leave when she’s thrown into the case. Kate suspects Sienna’s parents are somehow involved in their daughter’s disappearance. But what would drive parents to risk never seeing their child again?The frenzied Australian press put the force under pressure like never before. Kate is already linked to one media storm and her station chief is looking for any excuse to kick her off the case. If she can’t uncover the truth about what happened to Sienna, Kate stands to lose her career as well as an innocent life.A tense and gripping Australian crime thriller, perfect for fans of Jane Harper and Chris Hammer.Praise for Dinuka McKenzie'Such a good read' Val McDermid'The Torrent is subtle and clever. Dinuka has talent to burn.' Dervla McTiernan'How lucky are we to have Dinuka McKenzie?' Hayley Scrivenor'A dark domestic rural mystery written by a born storyteller. More please' Michael Robotham'It's rare to find a book that gets your heart pumping in the first two chapters, but this is one and it rarely lets up from there' Ian Moore

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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 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 Synopsis'Jane Casey's police procedurals go from strength to strength!' Sunday Times'If you have not read Jane Casey, start immediately' Marian Keyes'The most dangerously addictive series in crime fiction. . .' Erin Kelly________________A woman and her teenage daughter are found murdered in their South London home. The girl's throat has been cut. Her mother stabbed to death.When DC Maeve Kerrigan arrives at the scene, her first thought is that this is a domestic dispute gone bad.But the husband - found bloody and unconscious in an upstairs room - insists he's the third victim not the killer.With Maeve's only witness refusing to talk, how will she unravel the truth?

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Book SynopsisFormer head of MI5 Stella Rimington brings the high-stakes world of intelligence to life in AT RISK the first novel in her bestselling and much-loved series featuring MI5 Intelligence Officer Liz Carlyle.For MI5 Intelligence Officer Liz Carlyle the nagging complications of her private life are quickly forgotten at Monday's Counter-Terrorist meeting. An invisible may have entered mainland Britain. An invisible' is a terrorist who is an ethnic native of the target country, who can cross its borders unchecked and move about unnoticed the ultimate nightmare. For Liz this signals the start of an operation that will test her to the limit. Who or what is the target? Where and who is the invisible? With each passing hour the danger increases. But as she desperately sifts the incoming intelligence and analyses the reports from her agents she finally realises that it is her ability to get inside her enemy's head that is the only hope of averting disaster.Trade ReviewA cracking good thriller * The Observer *Intelligent... Undeniably pacy * The Guardian *This is something rare: the spy novel that prizes authenticity over fabrication * Mail on Sunday *Rimington makes adroit use of her expertise as former MI5 chief * The Sunday Times *Tense and terrifying * Cosmopolitan *

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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 SynopsisJim Taylor, Sally Lockhart's oldest friend, is bodyguard to a princess. But Crown Princess Adelaide is not what you'd expect. She'sthe slum-girl Jim has been searching for ever since she vanishedten years ago. Now her life is in mortal danger, and together theymust battle against unknown enemies in a country where no onecan be trusted.

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Book SynopsisWelcome to Merrywell. Population: small. Secrets: aplenty.Murder in Merrywell is an entertaining and engaging cozy mystery set against a beautiful backdrop.' Clare ChaseEx-journalist Violet Brewster is keen to make a good first impression in her new community, having just moved to the small village of Merrywell. When Violet hears about the mystery of Helen Slingsby, who disappeared from the village forty years earlier, she decides to help uncover what happened. But despite Violet's best efforts, she can find no trace of the missing woman.As Violet talks to the other residents, it becomes apparent that something sinister is lurking beneath the village's idyllic exterior.When a villager is found dead in their home, Violet becomes convinced that the murder is connected to Helen. Did Helen ever really leave Merrywell? Who in the village is hiding something? And can Violet finally solve this forty-year-old mystery before someone else gets hurt?An utterly gripping and page-turning English c

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Book SynopsisDecember 1938, and storm clouds hover once again over Europe. Josephine Tey and Archie Penrose gather with friends for a Cornish Christmas, but two strange and brutal deaths on St Michael's Mount - and the unexpected arrival of a world famous film star, in need of sanctuary - interrupt the festivities. Cut off by the sea and a relentless blizzard, the hunt for a murderer begins.Pivoting on a real moment in history, the ninth novel in the 'Josephine Tey' series draws on all the much-loved conventions of the Golden Age Christmas mystery, whilst giving them a thrilling contemporary twist.

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Book SynopsisA dead man at a crossroads. A secret message. A ring with a warning about death . . . Printer''s apprentice Lucy Campion is caught up in a strange and puzzling murder case in this twisty historical mystery set in seventeenth-century London.London, 1667. On her way to a new market to peddle her True Accounts and Strange News, printer''s apprentice Lucy Campion quickly regrets her decision to take the northwestern road. Dark and desolate, the path leads her to the crossroads - and to the old hanging tree. She doesn''t believe in ghosts, but she''s not sure ghosts don''t believe in her.But before she even reaches the crossroads, she''s knocked off her feet by two men in a hurry. What were they running from? To her dismay, she soon discovers for herself: there, dangling from the tree, is the body of a man.Did he commit self-murder, or is there something darker afoot? The more Lucy learns, the more determined she is to uncover the truth. But this time, even the help and protection of magistrate''s son Adam, and steadfast Constable Duncan, may not be enough to keep her safe from harm . . .

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Book Synopsis''The Secret History for Millennials'' Belinda BauerA golden summer, and six talented teenagers are looking forward to the brightest of futures - until a daredevil game goes horribly wrong, leaving three strangers dead. 18-year-old Megan takes the blame for the crime, leaving her friends to get on with their lives. In return, they each agree to a ''favour'', payable on her release from prison. Twenty years later Megan is free.It is payback time. And her friends start disappearing, one by one . . . Richard & Judy bestseller Sharon Bolton is back, with her twistiest thriller yet.Trade ReviewSharon Bolton brilliantly skewers a group of over-privileged rich kids. It's a pleasure to watch them discover that actions have consequences as the plot unfolds. Fast-moving, addictive and thoroughly satisfying, this is another winner from one of my favourite crime writers. * Jane Casey, author of LET THE DEAD SPEAK *The Secret History for Millennials - the twists start early and only get tighter in this compelling thriller about betrayal, crime and class. * Belinda Bauer, author of EXIT *Clear your diary and knock off your phone because you won't be able to put this book down. With THE PACT, we're in the hands of a master thriller writer, one who builds the tension with a perfectly paced plot until a breathless, shocking conclusion. * Jo Spain, author of THE PERFECT LIE *Another terrifying, shudder-making, utterly compulsive read from Sharon Bolton. * Jill Mansell *A clever, compelling and unexpected story with a rich cast of diverse characters. I've long been a fan of Sharon Bolton's writing, but she has excelled herself with The Pact. * Rachel Abbott *It snares the reader from the start with its inventive hook and the relentless narrative powers through twist after twist. A hugely enjoyable read * Sunday Express *Not many books are truly unputdownable, but you can add The Pact to that coveted list. This book is so compelling, so addictive, it had me hooked from the first chapter to the last. Get this one on your summer list! * Samantha Downing, Sunday Times bestselling author of My Lovely Wife and He Started It *A clever, suspenseful exploration of responsibility, retribution, and friendship tested to destruction. * Cara Hunter, author of THE WHOLE TRUTH *A highly original premise delivered with considerable panache and visceral tension * Irish Independent *This book has everything - a terrible event, years of guilt and lies, toxic friendships and a cast of characters which leaves you trusting no one. Horrifying and addictive. * Catherine Cooper, author of THE CHALET *A brilliant premise and relentless narrative, with a twist I didn't see coming at all. * Claire McGowan *I loved this creepy, twisty, compelling read. Sharon Bolton is the queen of ultra-tense, claustrophobic stories and characters you care about even though they are far from snow white. Needless to say I did not see the ending coming. * Cressida McLaughlin *Absolutely demolished The Pact by Sharon Bolton. What a killer premise! It's a terrifying exploration of toxic friendship and how bad decisions you make when you're young can haunt you forever * Robin Morgan-Bentley *I couldn't wait to tweet this as #bookpost before diving in - then I devoured it in one sitting. The Pact is a brilliantly crafted thriller about some friends who make a promise that's hell to keep! Gripping from start to finish. * Michelle Davies *You won't be able to turn the pages fast enough. A thriller with so many twists and turns you may need to take a travel sickness tablet before reading. * John Marrs, author of THE ONE *A real atmosphere of dread permeates every page of THE PACT. You can't help but wonder what you'd do in the impossible situations these characters find themselves in - and what *they* do makes for a dark, elegant page-turner. * Catherine Ryan Howard, author of 56 DAYS *A highly enjoyable thriller about privilege, blame and the consequences of lies. * CS Green, author of SLEEP TIGHT *A deliciously addictive thriller that kept me guessing all the way through. Perfect for your summer holiday. * Katherine Faulkner, author of GREENWICH PARK *What a read, I loved it so much. I was totally invested in the characters from the very first page. So so gripping! * Lisa Hall, author of THE PERFECT COUPLE *The ever-ingenious Sharon Bolton puts a fresh spin on the familiar formula . . . deliciously compelling * Daily Mirror *Reminiscent in particular of Donna Tartt's The Secret History . . . A delightfully dark game of consequences * The Times *Sinister and gripping * Literary Review *A remarkable novel: part puzzle, part morality play . . . a page-turner * Shots Magazine *

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Book SynopsisMagdalena Yoder is accused of murdering her ex-husband in this delightfully quirky cozy mystery set among Pennsylvania''s Amish-Mennonite community. You''re going to be sorry, Aaron Paul Miller. Before I''m through with you, you''re going to wish that you were dead. Shockwaves are running through the small town of Hernia with the news that an enormous, biblical-themed amusement park is to be built on its doorstep, destroying the community''s peaceful way of life for ever. And the man spearheading this so-called Armageddonland? None other than Magdalena''s ex-husband, the duplicitous Aaron Miller. At a public demonstration to showcase his plans for the new park, Aaron bites into a delicious homemade tart - with fatal consequences. It''s clear the tart was poisoned . . . but who baked it? As the leader of the local resistance against the project and her acrimonious history with her ex well known, Magdalena immediately falls under s

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Book SynopsisSimply Lies is an intense thriller featuring Mickey Gibson, a former New Jersey detective, from the number one bestselling author David Baldacci.'This is Baldacci at his formidable best . . . Do not miss it' – Sunday Times NO TRUTHFormer Jersey City detective and single mother of two, Mickey Gibson, now works for global investigation company, ProEye, to track down assets of the wealthy who have tried to avoid their creditors. One day she gets a call from a colleague, Arlene Robinson, asking her to visit the home of a notorious arms dealer who has cheated some of ProEye’s clients in the past. Mickey arrives at the mansion to discover the body of a man hidden in a secret room.NO LIMITSIt turns out that nothing is at it seems. The arms dealer did not exist, and nobody at ProEye knew of Arlene Robinson. Mickey had been tricked and now the cops were involved. The body was that of Harry Langhorne, who’d been in Witness Protection having had links with the mob.NO FEARNow begins a cat-and-mouse showdown between hardened ex-cop, Mickey, and a woman with sociopathic tendencies who has no name and a mysterious past. She intends to get what she wants and people who get in her way will die. For Mickey to stop her, she must first discover her true identity and what damaged her all those years ago. And the truth behind why she selected Micky to become her nemesis . . .*****KILLER TWISTS. HEROES TO BELIEVE IN. TRUST BALDACCI.‘One of the world’s thriller masters’ – Daily Mail‘Baldacci is still peerless’ – Sunday Times‘One of the all-time best thriller authors’ – Lisa Gardner, author of One Step Too Far‘Baldacci delivers, every time!’ – Lisa Scottoline, author of Every Fifteen MinutesTrade ReviewBaldacci is the master of American detective stories. He captures Los Angeles like no other -- Jeffrey Archer author of Next in Line This is Baldacci at his formidable best, teasing the reader with hints and suggestions while pushing the story forward at breakneck pace. Do not miss it. * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisWriter for Hire Veronica Blackstone is asked to write a celebration of life book for a former client''s funeral, but was the death as straightforward as was reported?Veronica Blackstone is a writer for hire. Be it love letters, biographies, resumes or wedding vows, Veronica has you covered. Her latest assignment is writing a celebration of life book for the funeral of one-time client Rachel Ross who tragically died one year after her wedding. While researching Rachel''s life, Veronica finds the information surrounding the circumstances of her death to be shrouded in mystery. No one quite knows what happened and her prominent family are more concerned with their image than the truth. Was Rachel''s life as perfect as it seemed or was there something dark going on? Was her fall an accident, deliberate or something else? In celebrating the life of Rachel, Veronica is determined to get to the bottom of her death.

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Book SynopsisA gripping dark thriller by P.R. Black. Perfect for fans of Kerri Beevis and Lisa Jewell. You can't escape him. He abducts lone joggers and forces them to run for their lives. When he catches them, he pulls out his blade... Now he's locked away and will be in prison for years. They call him a psychopath, a murderer, the 'Woodcutter Killer'. But what if you just found out you're supposed to call him father? Reviews for P.R. Black: 'A slow-burning thriller that builds to a devastating dénouement.' Mail on Sunday 'It's edge-of-the-seat stuff... A cracker.' Bookbag 'Copious amounts of suspense' Novel KicksTrade ReviewA slow-burning thriller that builds to a devastating dénouement * Daily Mail, on The Long Dark Road *

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Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR TV SERIES THE ADDICTIVE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLERBestseller in the UK Sunday Times, January 2017Bestseller in the USA New York Times, February 2017SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS CRIME & THRILLER BOOK OF THE YEARTHE SUNDAY TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTHTHE SIMON MAYO RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK**********Enter the world of One Folgate Street and discover perfection . . . but can you pay the price? Jane stumbles on the rental opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to live in a beautiful ultra-minimalist house designed by an enigmatic architect, on condition she abides by a long list of exacting rules. After moving in, she makes a shocking discovery about the previous tenant, Emma, and Jane starts to wonder if her own story will be a rerun of the girl before.***********'DAZZLING' - Lee Child'ADDICTIVE' - Daily Express'DEVASTATING' - Daily Mail'INGENIOUS' - The New York Times'COMPULSIVE' - Glamour Magazine'ELEGANT' - Peter James'SEXY' - Mail on Sunday'ENTHRALLING' - Woman and Home'ORIGINAL' - The Times'RIVETING' - Lisa Gardner'CREEPY' - Heat'SATISFYING' - Reader's Digest'SUPERIOR' - The BooksellerTrade ReviewThis is going to be the buzziest book of 2017 . . . This year The Girl Before will be that book * InStyle *I was instantly gripped and held captivated by the pace and elegant writing. I devoured it in two straight sittings * Peter James *A remarkably poised (debut) psychological thriller * The Sunday Times *Dazzling - a pitch-perfect thriller * Lee Child *The tension is built up subtly, leading to a devastating climax. A really clever thriller . . . [the film] will no doubt become the third big 'Girl' film * Daily Mail *Riveting! One of the most compelling page-turners I've read in years. Twisty, turny, and with an ending not to be missed! * Lisa Gardner *Slick, sexy, suspenseful and smart * Mail on Sunday *Original and entertaining * The Times *A deeply addictive literary thriller that deserves to be one of this year's biggest successes * Daily Express *Original and brilliantly written * The Sun *Get hooked on this hair-raiser about a woman who scores what seems like her dream home . . . until she finds out the mysterious fate of the previous tenant * Cosmopolitan *Creepy . . . The buzz around this could not be fizzier * Heat *A compulsive, sexy thriller that's set to soar * Glamour Magazine Online *The Girl Before is deservedly anointed the 'top girl' of this season's suspense novels * The Washington Post *Constantly cranking up the suspense . . . a thoroughly satisfying read * Reader's Digest *Enthralling * Woman and Home *A guaranteed best-seller * Red Magazine *The most intriguing plot idea I've seen in a good while * The Spectator *Genuinely eerie . . . beautifully handled . . . the pages fly * USA Today *Riveting . . . Writing with precision and grace, Delaney strips away the characters' secrets until the raw truth of each is revealed * Publishers Weekly *A guaranteed best-seller * Prima *A masterfully crafted spellbinder . . . guaranteed to astonish * Booklist *Superior psychological suspense . . . a cleverly constructed thriller * The Bookseller *The plotting is exceptionally well thought-through * Irish Independent *A crisp psychological thriller * Sainsbury's Magazine *The Girl Before is more than worthy of the accolades . . . a complex triangle of twisted obsession . . . say goodbye to your nails * Boundless Magazine *A great thriller and one that instantly hooks you in, in the very first line, and never lets you go . . . utterly compelling and very satisfying . . . A wonderful portrayal of psychological obsession at its creepy best * Peter James for Big Issue North *An outstanding debut that is more than a match for Paula Hawkins's The Girl on the Train * Sunday Times *The Girl Before is a cat-and-mouse game that toys with our expectations and twists our sympathies. At times almost unbearably suspenseful, it keeps us guessing from the first page to the very last. Don't miss it * Joseph Finder *Ingenious * The New York Times *JP Delaney builds the suspense * Vanity Fair *One of the best thrillers you'll read in 2017 * New York Journal of Books *A fast-paced page-turner * The Lady *Horribly compelling * Evening Standard *A tense psychological thriller, replete with twists and turns * Cosmopolitan *

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Book SynopsisThe third in the Black Forest Investigations series - by CWA-shortlisted authorTrade ReviewBottini's novels are infused with his knowledge of the darker corners of European history, showing its impact decades after the horrific events that drive his plots. -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times. *It's a clever writer who can take something familiar and seemingly ordinary and twist it into something surreal and off-kilter, blackly comic but deadly serious. -- Paul Burke * New Books Magazine. *The real pleasure with The Dance of Death is the artfully structured narrative that Bottini presents; he is always able to surprise the reader, even those who feel that there is nothing in the crime-fiction genre that they have not read before. -- Barry Forshaw * Euro Lit Network. *A piercing examination of our reality . . . Bottini uses the full potential of the genre to look deep into humanity's abyss and sees there the concealed traumas of German society -- Tomasz Kurianowicz * Die Zeit *Oliver Bottini is a terrific storyteller and he evokes his setting - the Rhine borderlands of the Black Forest - with skill -- Jake Kerridge * Sunday Express *Oliver Bottini, one of the few German authors who play in crime-writing's premier league, really knows how to tell a good story * Frankfurter Rundschau *If you are a fan of the Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo or the Icelandic trilogy written by Lilja Sigurdardottir then I recommend that you add the Black Forest Investigations to your reading list . . . * A Literary Addict *Heavily atmospheric and wittily subtle in its treatment of belonging . . . If you're a fan of Jo Nesbo, Stefan Ahnehm, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir then this book is definitely for you . . . * VelvetReads *

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