Crime and mystery: women sleuths / detectives

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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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling, award-winning novelist Kate Saunders comes the first in The Laetitia Rodd Mysteries', six novels featuring a Victorian lady detective, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, M. C. Beaton and Grantchester''A Dickensian glow pervades this immensely satisfying novel. Hugely enjoyable' James Runcie, author of ''The Grantchester Mysteries''Mrs Laetitia Rodd is the impoverished widow of an Archdeacon, living modestly in Hampstead with her landlady Mrs Bentley. She is also a private detective of the utmost discretion. In winter 1850, her brother Frederick, a criminal barrister, introduces her to Sir James Calderstone, a wealthy and powerful industrialist who asks Mrs Rodd to investigate the background of an unsuitable' woman his son intends to marry a match he is determined to prevent. In the guise of governess, she travels to the family seat, Wishtide, deep in the frozen Lincolnshire countryside, where she soon discovers that the Calderstones have more to hide thaTrade Review'A Dickensian glow pervades this immensely satisfying novel. Hugely enjoyable’ * James Runcie, author of 'The Grantchester Mysteries' *Praise for Five Children on the Western Front Saunders has created a simply brilliant book ... beautifully crafted, funny, heart-breaking * Daily Mail *A skillful and deeply moving piece of work: poignant, beautifully judged, not a crass pastiche but a respectful homage … Saunders's novel does what fiction does best: it focuses on individuals we care about in order to make a universal point * Guardian *A skill and charm of its own, as well as compassion and conviction * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisA strange houseA ghost from the pastAs soon as she moves into Hillside, Gwenda knows there's something strange about this house.A sealed room. A hidden door. The apparition of a young woman being strangled.But strangest of all this all seems quite familiar.As her friend Jane Marple investigates, the answer seems to lie in a crime committed nearly twenty years ago.The killer may have gotten away with murder. But Miss Marple is never far behind.Never underestimate Miss MarpleReading a perfectly plotted Agatha Christie is like crunching into a perfect apple: that pure, crisp, absolute satisfaction.'Tana FrenchMiss Marple is spry, shrewd and compassionate.'Sunday TelegraphTrade 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 Synopsis** NOW SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA INTERNATIONAL DAGGER**Gripping TatlerThe first in a thrilling new crime series set in Germany - the Black Forest Investigations Louise Boni, maverick chief inspector with the Black Forest crime squad, is struggling with her demons. Divorced at forty-two, she is haunted by the shadows of the past. Dreading yet another a dreary winter weekend alone, she receives a call from the departmental chief which signals the strangest assignment of her career - to trail a Japanese monk wandering through the snowy wasteland to the east of Freiburg, dressed only in sandals and a cowl. She sets off reluctantly, and by the time she catches up with him, she discovers that he is injured, and fearfully fleeing some unknown evil. When her own team comes under fire, the investigation takes on a terrifying dimension, uncovering a hideous ring of child traffickers. The repercussions of their crimes will change the coTrade ReviewAn exceptional crime novel. -- Kolja Mensing * TAZ *It's been a long time since any crime author started out so strongly, so visually. -- Tobias Gohlis * Die Zeit *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 *Tension without brutality, local colour without small-minded sentimentality, good intelligent reading with depth. -- Christine Hage * Handelsblatt *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 *Gripping. * Tatler. *The first of his award-winning Black Forest novels to appear in English. It has an arresting opening image: a Buddhist monk with a head injury strides across the snowy landscape of the border country between Germany and France . . . a surprising and genuinely shocking case. -- Joan Smith * The Sunday Times *A nicely done shock thriller * Weekend Sport *An atmospheric, original story that will keep you hooked tothe final heart-rending revelations * Crime Review *Bottini has established himself as a strong new voice in crime with this inventive mystery . . . The fictional landscape is beguiling and the story utterly gripping * Book Noir *With its cinematic writing style, its brilliant sense of location and its strong visual depiction of an inhospitable landscape, Zen provides an intelligent and engrossing crossover novel between a police procedural and the study of an individual's personal collapse -- Ewa Sherman * Riveting Reviews *

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Book SynopsisLieutenant Eve Dallas investigates a bizarre suicide bombing in a Manhattan office building, in a new novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series from J.D. Robb The airline executives were about to finalize a merger at a nine a.m. meeting. Then marketing VP Paul Rogan walked into the plush conference room, strapped with explosives.Eve Dallas quickly confirms that Rogan, a dedicated employee and family man, was cruelly coerced to set off the bomb. He was motivated only by a desperate need to save his wife and daughter from the masked men holding them hostageeven if it meant committing suicide and mass murder. But what was the motive of the two masked men, who are now in the wind?The police investigation reveals months of intricate planning by the perpetrators, but the targeting appears randomand the timing seems pointless. Despite the chaos and bad publicity, blowing up one meeting isn't going to put the brakes on the merger. All it'

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Book Synopsis'A phenomenal, haunting debut.' Gillian Flynn, author of Gone GirlKaycee Mitchell died. And everyone has been lying about it. For years.Ten years ago, Abby Williams left her hometown behind. Ever since, she has tried her best to forget the past. The sinister ‘Game’; the merciless bullying; the night of the bonfire, when The Game stopped. Most of all, she wants to forget Kaycee Mitchell.But now Abby must return home. Her task at hand: to investigate Optimal Plastics, the corporation that forms the backbone of the small town. A successful environmental lawyer, she swears things will be different. She is older. Sophisticated. Confident. But once she begins digging, the memories start creeping back and as past and present collide, the investigation turns deadly. How far would you go to keep the past hidden?'Packed with suspense ... This portrait of small-town life by Breaking Bad and Jessica Jones actress is spot on.' Daily Mail'Excellent ... an appealingly feisty yet vulnerable heroine.' The TimesTrade ReviewA phenomenal, haunting debut -- Gillian Flynn, bestselling author of Gone GirlI burned through Krysten Ritter's hugely accomplished debut. Bonfire is dark, disturbing, and compulsively readable. * Ruth Ware, bestselling author of IN A DARK, DARK WOOD and THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 *In Abby Williams Ritter has created an appealingly feisty yet vulnerable heroin...An excellent debut * The Times *The plot is packed with suspense and moves at a cracking pace. This portrait of small- town life by Breaking Bad and Jessica Jones actress Ritter is spot on. Abby makes a terrific, kickass heroine who you’ll root for all the way * Daily Mail *A first-rate mystery resplendent with shadowy scenery, a tight plot and a lead character that is both fragile and strong * Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisInvestigator Cassie Dewell is thrust into the middle of a gang war in the crime series that inspired Big Sky. Can one woman tame them? 30º below zero, but Grimstad – like hell – hasn't frozen over. The middle-of-nowhere town has struck oil. As oil flows out, men and money flow in. And with them comes organized crime. Cassie Dewell, Grimstad's newly appointed deputy sheriff, has been thrust into the middle of a brutal gang war that's leaving bodies scattered across town. Cassie knows she's in over her head. But one witness keeps turning up at her crime scenes: a 12-year-old boy with a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And he might just be the key to her survival.Trade ReviewSolid-gold A-list must-read -- Lee ChildA suspenseful, professional-grade north country procedural whose heroine, a deft mix of compassion and attitude, would be welcome to return * Kirkus Reviews *The characters in Badlands are finely drawn and display interesting layers to their personalities. Even the bad guys doing ruthless and horrible things are made fascinating * Denver Post *Heart-stoppingly good * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of the thrilling Sunday Times bestseller Dear Amy______________What if your parents had been lying to you since the day you were born? Sophia''s parents lived quiet, ordinary lives. At least she thought so, until she came home to discover her worst nightmare.No matter what the police say, Sophia is certain her mother didn''t try to kill her father - but clearing her name will draw Sophia deep into a past she never imagined. A past that hides a dark and twisted secret . . .Because if everything you''ve been told is lies, then how dangerous is the truth? ______________Praise for Helen''s breakout thriller, Dear Amy ''Riveting'' Sunday Times ''An accomplished psychological twister'' Daily Mail ''A brilliant book . . . superb'' Rachel Abbott ''The most exciting and terrifying thing I hTrade ReviewAn enthralling and compelling page-turner with twists that kept me guessing. The ending is brilliantly shocking. I absolutely loved it -- Claire Douglas * bestselling author of Last Seen Alive *One of the first 'must-read' books of 2018, by an author who's definitely on her way to great things * Shots *I sat on the edge of my seat while reading this * Woman's Way *You'll struggle to separate the villains from the victims right up to the last pages of this absorbing psychological thriller * Morning Star *Praise for Dear Amy * - *Riveting * Sunday Times *An accomplished psychological twister * Daily Mail *The suspense thriller readers hope for - a tense plot, imaginative twists, and smart writing -- Julia Heaberlin, bestselling author of * Black-Eyed Susans *Thrilling * Sun *Tense . . . satisfying. Are we, perhaps, in a new Golden Age of women crime writers? * Independent *Wow - this one's a roller coaster! * Woman Magazine *Well written and pacey * Sunday Mirror *I knew from the first page that this was going to be a brilliant book, and I wasn't wrong. A superb debut psychological thriller with an unusual and original premise which keeps the reader hooked until the last page -- Rachel Abbott, author of * Kill Me Again *Engaging and utterly thrilling. The breath-taking finale is the most exciting and terrifying thing I have read in a very long time -- Elizabeth Haynes, bestselling author of * Into the Darkest Corner *You'll be hooked! * Fabulous *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWow! Loved it. The pace is breakneck. A book where no one is who you think they are. And just when you think you have it all figured out you are thrown another curveball. Highly recommended. I flew through it. All Her Fault will be a huge bestseller. * Patricia Gibney, author of THE LOST CHILD *Immediately compelling, All Her Fault explores every mother's worst nightmare and delivers deftly original twists. * Phoebe Morgan, author of THE BABYSITTER *Andrea Mara's tight plotting and convincing characterisation make her books both compelling and intriguing. * Liz Nugent, author of LYING IN WAIT *A heart-stopping tale . . . Mara's stunningly original plot has its roots in the powerful emotions aroused by motherhood, leading to heartbreak and murder. * Sunday Times, Crime Book of the Month *With a genuinely terrifying opening, fans of Big Little Lies will enjoy this slice of twisty domestic noir with a distinct south Dublin flavour. * Sinead Crowley, author of ONE BAD TURN *

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Book SynopsisMeet DI HILLARY GREENE, a policewoman struggling to save her career and catch criminals. Wayne Sutton is found dead by a stream in a beautiful meadow. His head has been bashed in and a red paper heart left on his body. The handsome young artist had a reputation as a ladies' man. DI Hillary Greene discovers that many wealthy married women were buying his paintings and taking 'private' art lesson from him. It appears that several of them might have wanted him dead. Hillary also has a new detective sergeant, Gemma Fordham. Seemingly efficient and pleasant, she harbours a secret agenda. Can Hillary get to the bottom of a complex case involving jealousy, love, and cold-blooded murder?

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Book SynopsisAlone and isolated in a snow-covered Scandinavian forest, a therapist begins to read her client's manuscript, only to discover the main character is terrifyingly familiar... You are her therapist. Kristina is a successful therapist in central Oslo. She spends her days helping clients navigate their lives with a cool professionalism that has got her to the top. She is your client. When her client Leah begs her to come to her remote cabin in the woods, Kristina refuses. But then Leah disappears and Kristina feels her control beginning to slip. So why does she know so much about you? Kristina reluctantly heads out into the wilderness to find Leah. Alone and isolated, surrounded by snow and trees, Kristina realizes she has made a huge mistake. Perfect for fans of Alex Pine, Harriet Tyce and Will Dean. What readers are saying about Cabin Fever 'Tense and twisty, this tale explores obsession and mental health' Woman's Own 'The descriptions of the forest are particularly powerful and the story spins off successfully in a variety of different directions, coming to a chilling and convincing conclusion' Daily Mail 'An utterly compelling psychological thriller – terrifying and well-crafted, with a super-tense finale up there with Stephen King's Misery' JS Monroe 'Dark and unsettling' Crime MonthlyTrade ReviewDark, intelligent books set in bleak landscapes – who doesn't love a Scandi thriller? Especially when it's from the critically acclaimed author of The Boy Next Door... Tense and twisty, this tale explores obsession and mental health' * Woman's Own *This story has all the props of a true Scandi-noir thriller... The descriptions of the forest are particularly powerful and the story spins off successfully in a variety of different directions, coming to a chilling and convincing conclusion' * Daily Mail *Dark and unsettling * Crime Monthly *An utterly compelling psychological thriller – terrifying and well-crafted, with a super-tense finale up there with Stephen King's Misery -- J.S. MonroeDarkly claustrophobic, Cabin Fever explores obsession so vividly it will leave you gasping for air -- Rachael BlokA twisty thriller in the best Scandi noir tradition * Choice Magazine *A quietly unnerving story with so many twists and surprises that by the last page, I was scarcely breathing. Dahl can spin a scary tale -- Lesley Thomson

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Book SynopsisThe highly anticipated follow-up to Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month, Fatal Isles. Perfect for fans of Shetland, Broadchurch and Ann Cleeves.**Don't miss the next case for DI Karen Eiken Hornby. CRUEL TIDES is available to pre-order now**'TREMENDOUS ... A TERRIFIC FOLLOW-UP' JOAN SMITH, SUNDAY TIMES'EVOCATIVE' CHOICE MAGAZINEA disused quarry. A suspicious death. A dark past bubbling to the surface . . .Though Detective Karen Eiken Hornby returned to her homeland, the island nation Doggerland, from London some years ago, she has largely avoided visiting the northernmost island where her father's wayward family reside.But when a man's body is discovered in a flooded quarry on Noorö and with illness preventing any of her colleagues attending, Karen has no choice but to head north to investigate.However, with limited resources at her disposal Karen is largely on her own - and she cannot shake the feeling that her relatives, with their somewhat lax approach to the rule of law, could be involved . . .PRAISE FOR THE DOGGERLAND SERIES:'Terrific' SUNDAY TIMES'Suspenseful and intriguing' CAMILLA GREBETrade ReviewTremendous ... a terrific follow-up -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times *This first novel in a proposed trilogy has terrific characters as well as effectively inventing a new genre, Anglo-Nordic noir -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times on Fatal Isles *A cracking police procedural set in a richly described isolated island community * Irish Independent on Fatal Isles *An excellent police procedural - she does detail brilliantly - but also really thrilling. I love books that send me somewhere completely new and I really enjoyed Doggerland. She captured it perfectly, and held me there for the whole thing * Jo Spain on Fatal Isles *Karen Eiken reminds me a bit of Jane Tennison: a strong, feminine and dedicated woman confronted by sexism within the police force while doing her job. At the same time striving not to be eaten up by the pressure of duties, struggling to quit smoking and not drinking too much. The island is a cool setting too, a bit Shetland-like . . . a good debut * Kjell Ola Dahl on Fatal Isles *A suspenseful and intriguing story that combines the best of British crime writing tradition with Nordic noir. Doggerland is a unique and alluring universe that I can't wait to revisit * Camilla Grebe on Fatal Isles *Fatal Isles has everything I want from nordic noir - a spellbinding plot, atmospheric setting and a wonderfully flawed protagonist. I loved it * Sarah Ward on Fatal Isles *Fatal Isles is an impressive debut combining an empathetic main character tormented by her past, with a detailed, complex police procedural. Adolfsson's main achievement, however, is Doggerland, a believable island nation where everyone knows everyone else and the mistrust of outsiders runs deep * Canberra Times on Fatal Isles *

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Book SynopsisLucie Montgomery''s discovery of her grandfather''s Parisian romance unlocks a series of shocking secrets in the gripping new Wine Country mystery. In 1949, during her junior year abroad in Paris, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis bought several inexpensive paintings of Marie-Antoinette by a little-known 18th century female artist. She also had a romantic relationship with Virginia vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery''s French grandfather - until recently, a well-kept secret.Seventy years later, Cricket Delacroix, Lucie''s neighbor and Jackie''s schoolfriend, is donating the now priceless paintings to a Washington, DC museum. And Lucie''s grandfather is flying to Virginia for Cricket''s 90th birthday party, hosted by her daughter Harriet. A washed-up journalist, Harriet is rewriting a manuscript Jackie left behind about Marie-Antoinette and her portraitist. She''s also adding tell-all details about Jackie, sure to make the book a bestseller. Then on the eve of the party a world-famous landscape designer who also knew Jackie is found dead in Lucie''s vineyard. Did someone make good on the death threats he''d received because of his controversial book on climate change? Or was his murder tied to Jackie, the paintings, and Lucie''s beloved grandfather?

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Book Synopsis''A cracking thriller and a great female protagonist.'' C.J. Tudor, author of Sunday Times Bestseller The Chalk Man''I couldn''t put I,Witness down, this is a 2018 must-read'' Phoebe Morgan, author of The Doll House*************They say I''m a murderer.Six years ago, Kate Reynolds was found holding the body of her best friend; covered in blood, and clutching the knife that killed her.I plead guilty.Kate has been in prison ever since, but now her sentence is up. She is being released.But the truth is, I didn''t do it.There''s only one person who can help: Private Investigator Madison Attallee, the first officer on the scene all those years ago.But uncovering the truth means catching a killer.An incredibly gripping thriller with a twist you''ll never see coming. Fans of Persons Unknown by Susie Steiner, Strike''s The Cuckoo''s Calling by Robert GalTrade ReviewCracking thriller and a great female protagonist. Swearing, smoking, rock-music loving (and not neurotic or passive!) My kind of woman. * C.J. Tudor, author of The Chalk Man *I was swept away by this punchy, pacy thriller with its sharp characterisation and confident plotting. I devoured it in a single day. I particularly loved Madison's fabulously chain-smoking, hyper-feminine sharpness. There were so many things done well here - the presentation of domestic abuse, dysfunctional families, the uneven dynamic of female friendships that border on bullying - so much to enjoy. So looking forward to the next one. * Helen Callaghan, author of Dear Amy *Tough and uncompromising, I, Witness had me totally gripped. I'm looking forward to hearing more from PI Madison Attalee. * Alex Lake, author of Killing Kate, After Anna and Copy Cat *An absolutely gripping thriller founded on the horror of familial abuse and a great, flawed, female PI. There will be more Madison Attalee, I hope. * Dame Jenni Murray *Totally engaging, fast-paced and edgy ... completely captivating. I, Witness kept me guessing till the very end. Pick this book up if you're after a page-turner with attitude. * Elle Croft, author of The Guilty Wife *I couldn't put I,Witness down. A hugely accomplished novel with a dark, sad story at its heart - the characters are so well drawn that I felt every twist along with them as Mackay expertly manipulates the reader. With a wonderful, chain-smoking and perfume-spraying private detective driving the narrative, this is a 2018 must-read. * Phoebe Morgan, author of The Doll House *Cutting-edge gripping. * Sam King, author of The Choice *Had me hooked within two pages, it has every bit as much appeal as some of the bestsellers of the last few years, like Girl on the Train. * Robert Scragg, author of What Falls Between the Cracks *A humdinger of a thriller debut ... a maze of lies, deceit and danger. * Evening Telegraph *With a fantastic main character in the troubled PI Madison Attallee (hopefully we'll be seeing more of her), a slick plot and the clever device of switching viewpoints from Madison to Kate to her sister-in-law Claudia and even Naomi's mum, Anthea, author Niki MacKay pull us in and keeps us guessing right up to the end of this pacy murder-mystery. * My Weekly *Niki Mackay's debut novel is a grippy, gulp-it-down crime thriller, deliciously full of twists and switchback revelations. * Living Magazine *As addictive as Killing Eve. You Will not want to put it down. * The Lady *Mackay builds tension to a fever pitch and throws in more twists than a corkscrew. Readers will look forward to Madison's next case. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisHamburg State Prosecutor Chastity Riley travels to Scotland to face the demons of her past, as Hamburg is hit by a major arson attack. Queen of Krimi, Simone Buchholz, returns with the emotive fifth instalment in the electrifying Chastity Riley series … ‘A modern classic’ Paul Burke, CrimeTime ‘Written in crackling prose and with searing insight, this is a deeply heartfelt slice of existential noir – utterly unique’ Doug Johnstone ‘Deftly captures the beating heart of Glasgow’ Herald Scotland ‘A beautifully crafted exploration of grief and redemption, wrapped in a love letter to Glasgow … Glorious writing’ Will Carver ‘Reading Buchholz is like walking on firecrackers … a truly unique voice in crime fiction’ Graeme Macrae Burnet –––––––––––– Mired in grief after tragic recent events, state prosecutor Chastity Riley escapes to Scotland, lured to the birthplace of her great-great-grandfather by a mysterious letter suggesting she has inherited a house. In Glasgow, she meets Tom, the ex-lover of Chastity’s great aunt, who holds the keys to her own family secrets – painful stories of unexpected cruelty and loss that she’s never dared to confront. In Hamburg, Stepanovic and Calabretta investigate a major arson attack, while a group of property investors kicks off an explosion of violence that threatens everyone. As events in these two countries collide, Chastity prepares to face the inevitable, battling the ghosts of her past and the lost souls that could be her future and, perhaps, finally finding redemption for them all. Breathtakingly emotive, River Clyde is an electrifying, poignant and powerful story of damage and hope, and one woman’s fight for survival. ––––––––––––— ‘Every word is a heartbeat, loaded with pain and anguish and self-discovery. This is Harbour Noir. This is a bravura literary performance, and a fitting swan song’ Paul Burke, CrimeTime FM ‘In just a few words – a light brushstroke – Simone paints such a vivid picture. Unlike any crime novel I’ve read. I loved it’ Michael J. Malone ‘Simone Buchholz writes with real authority and a pungent, noir-ish sense of time and space’ Independent Praise for the Chastity Riley series ‘[A] nerve-racking narrative … [with] a cunning climax that is shocking and deeply romantic’ The Times 'Combines nail-biting tension with off-beat humor ... Elmore Leonard fans will be enthralled' Publishers Weekly 'Buchholz doles out delicious black humor ... interwoven in a manner that ramps up the intrigue and tension' Foreword Reviews ‘Modern noir, with taut storytelling, a hard-bitten heroine, and underlying melancholy peppered with wry humour’ New Zealand Listener ‘The coolest character in crime fiction … darkly funny and written with a huge heart’ Big Issue ‘Fierce enough to stab the heart’ Spectator ‘A stylish, whip-smart thriller’ Herald Scotland ‘Combines slick storytelling with substance … like a straight shot of top-shelf liquor: smooth yet fiery, packing a punch with no extraneous ingredients watering things down’ Mystery Scene ‘With brief, pacy chapters and fizzling dialogue, this almost feels like American procedural noir and not a translation’ Maxim Jakubowski ‘A smart and witty book that shines a probing spotlight on society’ CultureFly ‘Fans of Brookmyre could do worse than checking out Simone Buchholz, a star of the German crime lit scene who has been deftly translated into English by Rachel Ward’ Goethe Institute ‘Lyrical and pithy’ Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisSometimes the truth is not all it seems. Sometimes a confession is just the beginning . . . Late one night a man walks into the luxurious home of disgraced banker Harry McNamara and his wife Julie. The man launches an unspeakably brutal attack on Harry as a horror-struck Julie watches, frozen by fear. It looks like Harry's many sins - corruption, greed, betrayal - have finally caught up with him.An hour later the intruder, JP Carney, hands himself in, confessing to the assault. The police have a victim, a suspect in custody and an eye-witness account, but Julie remains troubled.Has Carney's surrender really been driven by a guilty conscience or is this confession the first calculated move in a deadly game?**********'Brilliantly dark' Daily Mail'Fabulous . . . Clever, pacey, compulsive' Daily Mirror'A brilliant hook and rapid-fire ride' Irish Independent'Gripping' Best'Clever, chilling' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewFabulous . . . Clever, pacey, compulsive * Sunday Mirror *Refreshing and... full of twists * The Express *Spain's blackly comic touch pulls us through a brilliantly dark tale * Daily Mail *A brilliantly dark tale * Mail on Sunday *A clever and unusual premise . . . punchy and energetic . . . a brilliant hook and rapid-fire ride * Irish Independent *Fresh, witty writing style . . . an eye for details make the characters instantly believable * Daily Mail *Brilliantly crafted . . . each piece of the puzzle is gradually put together and keeps you gripped until the end * Prima *A scathing overview of the Celtic Tiger years . . . [a] vivid portrait of a fascinating monster * Irish Times *This gripping novel is more of a whydunnit than a whodunnit * Best *A contender for the most arresting opening paragraph of the year . . . This is crime fiction for grown-ups, taking its time to explore the ins and outs of human psychology * Sunday Express *An intriguing Rubik's Cube of a book that kept me turning the pages to get to the truth. So well plotted and beautifully written. I absolutely loved it * Liz Nugent, author of Unravelling Oliver *A clever novel . . . gradually exposing a chilling history of dysfunctional families * Sunday Times *I can't praise The Confession enough. Brilliant writing, great story . . . a really cracking read * BA Paris, author of Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown *A dizzying tale of lives falling apart that has you addicted from the very first page. I found it impossible to put down, so desperate was I to get to the truth * Michelle Frances, author of The Girlfriend *Enthralling - Spain dissects her characters' secrets with razor-sharp precision * JP Delaney, author of The Girl Before *Here is my confession: I've never read Jo Spain before but now I'll be buying all of her books. The Confession is brutal and brilliant * Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle *The Confession is jaw-dropping. Clever. Addictive. Beautifully drawn characters. Masterful storytelling * Chris Whitaker, author of Tall Oaks *Loved it! Fabulous characters, superbly written, twists, turns & ends with a punch * Amanda Jennings, author of In Her Wake *An absolute cracker of a book, compulsive, deviously plotted and intense - I will be recommending this to everyone * Elizabeth Haynes, author of Into the Darkest Corner *Jo Spain is such a talent. The Confession had me in its thrall from the first page, revealing the dark side of the Celtic Tiger * Sarah Ward, author of In Bitter Chill *I loved this twisty slice of domestic noir * Claire McGowan, author of Blood Tide *

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Book SynopsisIn the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs, Theodosia Browning attends a “Rat Tea,” where the mice will play...at murder.   When Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is invited by Doreen Briggs, one of Charleston’s most prominent hostesses, to a “Rat Tea,” she is understandably intrigued.  As servers dressed in rodent costumes and wearing white gloves offer elegant finger sandwiches and fine teas, Theo learns these parties date back to early twentieth-century Charleston, where the cream of society would sponsor so-called rat teas to promote city rodent control and better public health.   But this party goes from odd to chaotic when a fire starts at one of the tables and Doreen’s entrepreneur husband suddenly goes into convulsions and drops dead. Has his favorite orange pekoe tea been poisoned? Theo smells a rat.   The distraught Doreen soon en

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Book SynopsisTwo gripping novellas from the No.1 international bestselling authorTrade ReviewPraise for Camilla Lackberg: ‘A sexy, sensational novel with intoxicating vengeance and an unexpected tenderness – The Golden Cage is tensely and skillfully drawn’ Karin Slaughter ‘Lackberg’s new embrace of a terrifying revenge scenario furnishes visceral psychological crime.’ Financial Times ‘The Golden Cage is a twisting, brutal tale of betrayal and revenge. Lackberg paints a vivid portrait of a dark and complicated anti-heroine who is both the abused and abuser, victim and victimizer. A chilling, timely read sure to thrill her international legion of fans!’ Lisa Unger,New York Times bestselling author of The Stranger Inside ‘A wonderful, take-no-prisoners mashup of Gone Girl, Billions, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ Chris Bohjalian, New York Times best-selling author of The Flight Attendant and The Red Lotus ‘Camilla Läckberg is a master of psychological suspense: she grabbed me by the throat with this sharply written, wildly entertaining tale of wealth, power and revenge and kept me up straight through the night’ Cristina Alger, New York Times best-selling author of Girls Like Us ‘Domesticity and brutality are Lackberg staples… Tightly plotted… Unflinching’ Sunday Times ‘Heart-stopping and heart-warming … a masterclass in Scandinavian crime writing’ Val McDermid ‘Pacy … with flashing insight into the dark places of the psyche’ Sunday Times ‘A top-class Scandinavian crime writer’ The Times ‘The rock star of Nordic Noir’ Independent ‘Lackberg is an expert at mixing scenes of domestic cosiness with blood-curdling horror’ Guardian ‘Both chilling and thrilling’ Sun ‘A satisfying and counterintuitive clash between the cosy and gruesome strands of the genre’ Guardian

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Book Synopsis'Rosie can write and Prudence Bulstrode is here to stay' Miriam Margolyes'Witty, warm and so enjoyable' Jo BrandThe next irresistible cosy crime novel from celebrity TV chef Rosemary Shrager! Preparing a midwinter's feast for all hundred residents of the little Yorkshire village of Scrafton Busk is exactly the kind of challenge Prudence Bulstrode adores. A chance to show off her muffin-topped winter stew, lamb shank hotpot and Scarborough woof - and, of course, her famous figgy pudding - is just the thing to shake off the winter blues. But on the night of the feast, local vagabond Terry Chandler is found dead - his body entombed in the pristine snowman standing pride of place on the village green. Who could have wanted Chandler dead? Why would they stow his body in such strange circumstances? And what is the meaning of his last enigmatic message, directing his brother to Mystery Hills, a place of which no one has ever heard? Crime and cookery continue to collide as Prudence and h

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Book SynopsisDaylight is the gripping follow up to Long Road to Mercy and A Minute to Midnight featuring Special Agent Atlee Pine, from one of the world’s most favourite thriller writers, David Baldacci.The huntEver since Mercy was abducted aged six, Atlee has been relentless in her search for her. Finally, she gets her most promising breakthrough yet – the identity of her sister’s kidnapper.The captureAs Atlee and her assistant, Carol Blum, race to track down the suspect, they run into Pine’s old friend and fellow agent, John Puller, who is investigating the suspect’s family for another crime.The killWorking together, Pine and Puller must pull back the layers of deceit, lies and cover-ups that strike at the very heart of global democracy. And the truth about what happened to Mercy will finally be revealed.That truth will shock Atlee Pine to her very core.Continue the gripping series with Mercy.Trade ReviewA riveting brain teaser as well as serving up vivid action scenes -- John Dugdale, Sunday TimesA fabulous new character from a master storyteller. Readers will love Atlee Pine -- Jane Harper, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost ManFBI Agent Atlee Pine is a heroine I'll never forget -- Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling authorIn FBI Agent Atlee Pine, he has envisioned a new kind of heroine, forged in the fire of trauma and driven by a rare kind of strength. It should come as no shock that a thriller writer for the ages has created a character for the ages! -- Gregg Hurwitz, New York Times bestselling author of Orphan X

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*pre-order The Butterfly House, the next book in the Kørner and Werner series, now*They share a house.And all its secrets . . .When a young woman is discovered brutally murdered in her own apartment, with an intricate pattern of lines carved into her face, Copenhagen police detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner are assigned to the case. They quickly establish a link between the victim, Julie Stender, and her complex landlady, Esther. Esther is a budding novelist - and when Julie features as a murder victim in the still-unfinished mystery she's writing, the link between fiction and real life grows more urgent.But is Esther guilty or merely another victim in a far more dangerous game of vengeance? Anette and Jeppe must dig more deeply into the two women's pasts to discover the secret that links them both . . .See what readers are saying about The Tenant:'Full of intrigue and clever twists' *****'This is as tense and gripping as anything I've read this year.' *****'Gripping Scandi police procedural' *****'Kept me engrossed with a strong sense of location and plenty of tension' *****'This will keep you hooked! It kept me guessing all the way through' *****'A great thriller full of twists and turns that will keep you engaged to the end' *****

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Book SynopsisThe third book in the Kovac and Liska detective series from Sunday Times bestselling Tami Hoag

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