Crime and / or mystery fiction

Book SynopsisTHE BIGGEST CRIME DEBUT OF 2025Dark humour, dirty deeds, marriages and murder . . . it''s the fantastically twisty first novel you won''t be able to put down.Pam and her friends Nancy and Shalisa have had enough. Enough of scraping by and enough of their bothersome husbands. Husbands who lost their life savings to a dodgy investment but also happen to have hefty life insurance policies. Their new retirement plan? Why murder, of course.But they don''t know that their husbands have a new retirement plan of their own.And now someone is going to be killed . . . but who?Three wives wanting a new life, three husbands in their way . . .

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Book SynopsisAssassin''s Creed: Renaissance is the thrilling novelisation by Oliver Bowden based on the game series.''I will seek Vengeance upon those who betrayed my family. I am Ezio Auditore di Firenze. I am an Assassin...''The Year of Our Lord 1476 - the Renaissance: culture and art flourish alongside the bloodiest corruption and violence. Bitter blood-feuds rage between the warring political families of Italy.Following the murder of his father and brothers, Ezio Auditore di Firenze is entrusted with an ancient Codex, the key to a conspiracy that goes back to the centuries-old conflict between the shadowy Templar Knights and the elite Order of Assassins.Ezio must avenge the deaths of his kinsmen and in doing so fulfil his destiny, and live by the laws of the Assassin''s Creed.Truth is written in bloodAssassin''s Creed: Renaissance is based on the phenomenally successful gaming series. Fans of the game will love these storie

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Book SynopsisIt should be a straightforward missing persons case... until the Mob are involved. An outstanding Myron Bolitar novel from the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of SHELTER, a Netflix hitMyron Bolitar might have a slightly dubious past, but he knows how to handle himself and is doing just fine as a sports agent. And then he meets Brenda Slaughter, one of the hottest female sports stars around. She''s gorgeous, funny and single, and also seems to have mislaid her agent. But when her father disappears, and the Mob starts leaning on her, it soon becomes apparent that potent forces are at work. And the more Myron tries to help, the closer he gets to losing his heart - and his life...Trade ReviewCoben lifts his thriller into classier company by chewing over some serious race and gender issues * DAILY MIRROR *Immensely enjoyable, and Myron is an amiable hero . . . They are also superbly plotted, pulling you down unexpected by-ways with apparent ease. This is Coben's great ability. He can twist a plot (usually involving dark secrets from the past) in ways that leave you breathless * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Coben has a unique kind of genius that's rare in the thriller genre. He laces his narrative and dialogue with killer irony and sarcastic black humour, without detracting from the teeth-clenching suspense that kicks off right from page one. If you like your books edgy and with a sardonic twist, whatever you do don't miss this one * DAILY RECORD *The pleasures of the book lie in Coben's expert plotting and the sense that the rug might be pulled from under you at any moment * INK *Harlan Coben specialises in rousing the snake that lurks in the perfectly cut grass of American suburbia ... Coben makes you care about them but never neglects a plot that is full of his trademark shocks * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *

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Book SynopsisPaired once again with top journalist Jameson Rook, NYPD Homicie Detective Nikki Heat arrives at her latest crime scene to find an unidentified body stuffed inside a suitcase. Nikki is in for a big shock when this new homicide connects to the unsolved murder of her own mother. Will Nikki Heat finally be able to solve the dark mystery?

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Book SynopsisWow what a thriller, Mary Kubica had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish The plot is well paced and full of twists and turns, I will definitely be reading more from this author' Reader review ?????She''s Not Sorry is an unpredictable, twisted tale with untrustworthy characters, leaving you wondering what will happen next a gripping read that I couldn''t put down' Reader review ?????An excellent twisty read that had me hooked from the start. Every time I thought I could relax knowing where the story was headed the author had something up her sleeve to prove me wrong. Highly recommended' Reader review ?????* * * *Meghan Michaels is trying to find balance between being a single mum to a teenage daughter and working as a full-time nurse. While on duty at the hospital one day, a patient named Caitlin arrives in a coma, having plunged from a bridge onto train tracks below.But when a witness comes forward with shocking details about the fall, it calls everything they know into qu

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Book SynopsisA gripping thriller from David Baldacci, The Last Mile is perfect for fans of Lee Child and James Patterson.Memories can be a real killer.Melvin Mars awaits his fate on Death Row. He was one of America's most promising football stars until, aged twenty, he was arrested and convicted for the murder of his parents just as he was due to begin a very lucrative contract with the NFL.When Amos Decker, newly appointed special agent with the FBI, hears the news that Melvin was saved in the final seconds before his execution because someone has confessed to the killings, he persuades his boss to allow him to carry out an investigation into the Mars murders. There are facts about the case which don't add up, and as the investigation deepens, Decker and his team uncover layer upon layer of lies and deception which are rooted at a time in American history which most would rather forget, but some seem keen to remember. There isTrade ReviewDavid Baldacci's The Last Mile is a second outing for Amos Decker, the Holmesian hero of last year's Memory Man . . . A typically twisty plot never flags, and benefits from having the likeably offbeat sleuth (whose gifts include synaesthesia and photographic memory) as its pivot * The Sunday Times *Already among the world's bestselling writers, Baldacci hardly needs to prove himself but he's created one of the most intriguing, complex anti-heroes....Impossible to put down, especially because of Decker, who weaves a powerful spell * Daily Mail *A clever thriller in the Jeffrey Deaver mould * The Sun *It's big, bold and almost impossible to put down . . . Decker is one of the most unusual detectives any novelist has dreamed up . . . I called this novel a master class on the bestseller because of its fast-moving narrative, the originality of its hero and its irresistible plot . . . Highly entertaining * Washington Post *David Baldacci has written another thriller that will have readers engaged from the first page . . . Baldacci is a master storyteller . . . Memory Man works because Amos Decker is an amazing character. Reading how Decker journeys from hitting rock bottom to finding ultimate redemption is nothing short of rewarding * Associated Press *Perennial bestseller Baldacci unveils an offbeat hero with an unusual skill set and tragic past who takes on the evil mastermind behind a devastating school shooting . . . [Decker] proves a quirky, original antihero with a definite method to his madness . . . Readers will want to see Decker back on the printed page again and again * Kirkus Reviews *[A] strong first in a new thriller series from bestseller Baldacci . . . Baldacci supplies a multitude of clever touches as his wounded bear of a detective takes on a most ingenious enemy * Publishers Weekly *Baldacci weaves a suspenseful story right up to the climactic face-off between these complex and compelling characters. Highly recommended for all thriller fans who love elusive, taunting criminals and the slightly bent but always determined detectives who pursue them * Library Journal (Starred Review) *Baldacci makes it feel fresh * Booklist *Baldacci's novels always have an emotional component . . . But Memory Man stands out among his thrillers for its deeply felt - and earned - sense of catharsis and healing . . . Baldacci's last few books have been among his best, and it's a pleasure to see him produce emotionally and dramatically intense work at the height of his maturity as a novelist * Richmond Times-Dispatch *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 *The page-turner of the season * The Times *Baldacci inhabits the skin of his creations - tripping us up with unexpected empathy and subtle identification * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Anthony Award for Best Crime NovelWinner of the Macavity Award for Best Crime NovelWinner of the Agatha Award for Best Crime NovelThere is more to solving a crime than following the clues.Welcome to Chief Inspector Gamache's world of facts and feelings.Hidden deep in the wilderness are the cloisters of two dozen monks - men of prayer and music, famous the world over for their glorious voices. But a brutal death throws the monastery doors open to the world. And through them walks the only man who can shine light upon the dark deeds within: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache.Who among the brothers has become an angel of death? As the peace of the monastery crumbles around him, Gamache finds clues in the divine, the human . . . and the cracks in between.Ten million readers.Three pines.One inimitable Chief Inspector Gamache.'Penny's writing is intricate, beautiful and compelling' PETER JAMESTrade ReviewHaunting, brilliant...Chief Inspector Gamache is one of my favourite characters in fiction * Linda Fairstein *Very powerful * Stephen Booth *Terrific atmosphere...impressive * The Times *Superb characters and rich, dark humour...mouthwatering * People magazine *A pleasingly ambitious novel . . . this is a novel that places its faith in characterisation, atmosphere and the endlessly fascinating psychology of the human mind * Irish Times *Gripping * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisOn a locked ward in the world''s highest-security prison hospital, a scream shatters the night. The next morning, a nurse''s body is found and her daughter has been taken. A ransom must be paid, and the clock is ticking. Forensic profiler Dr Connie Woolwine is renowned for her ability to get inside the mind of a murderer. Now, she must go deep undercover among the most deranged and dangerous men on earth and use her unique skills to find the girl - before it''s too late. But as the walls close in around her, can Connie get the killer before The Institution gets her?--Trade Review PRAISE FOR THE INSTITUTION: ‘Deliciously dark and utterly compelling – I couldn’t put it down.’ – Clare Mackintosh ‘Brilliant! The Institution is a harrowing, nonstop story that will grab you from the first page and not let go. You’ll consume it in one sitting.’ – Jeffery Deaver ‘Quite simply, wow! One of the best high concept thrillers I've read in forever. I raced through this riveting thriller in a single, breathless session of oh-my-God-what-is-going-to-happen-next.’ – New York Times bestseller Lisa Gardner ‘Absolutely AMAZING. Tense, engrossing and gripping with a truly unique main character.’ Angela Marsons ‘An intense, fast paced, locked room thriller. A brilliant concept which kept me guessing right until the end. Fields is at the top of her game.’ John Marrs ‘Dark and atmospheric with some brilliantly horrific characters. Compelling and unputdownable.’ – Catherine Cooper ‘A terrifying, shocking, pulse racing thriller. One of the best crime novels I've read in a long time.' – Jacqui Rose ‘Criminally compulsive, claustrophobic and captivating, The Institution is Helen Fields at her just-one-more-chapter best.’ – Neil Broadfoot 'Scary, tense and totally absorbing, I just couldn't put it down. Wonderful.' – Simon McCleave ‘A wonderful, compulsively gripping rollercoaster of a read.’ – Liz Nugent ‘A white-knuckle ride that is completely addictive. Chillingly effective.’ – B P Walter

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Book SynopsisSOME CRIMES LIGHT A FIRE THAT NEVER GOES OUT...''Connelly is at the top of his game - a humdinger of a thriller'' Evening Standard, Books of the Year''Masterfully structured, hugely entertaining and satisfying'' Daily Express''A superb story that never once draws breath'' Daily Mail* * * * *A JUDGE MURDERED IN A CITY PARKMickey Haller, the Lincoln Lawyer, defends the man accused.A HOMELESS PERSON BURNED ALIVEDetective Renée Ballard catches the case on the LAPD''s notorious graveyard shift.AN UNSOLVED HOMICIDE FROM A LIFETIME AGOHarry Bosch is left a missing case file by his mentor who passed away. He was the man who taught Bosch that everybody counts, or nobody counts. Why did he keep the case all these years? To find the truth - or bury it?IN L.A. CRIME NEVER SLEEPSBut in BallardTrade ReviewThe Night Fire is further proof of Connelly's undimmed creativity. Juggling a characteristically crowded storyline, Connelly demonstrates once again why he is held in such esteem * Financial Times *Taut cop thriller * Love It *Advanced and interwoven with characteristic meticulous craft * Sunday Times *Michael Connelly is the greatest American crime writer of his generation. The tension builds from the first page. Past and present collide as three cases ricochet off each other in surprising ways * The Times *A cracker of a thriller, packed with surprising twists and turns, and seamlessly bringing together all of Michael Connelly's compelling lead characters, allowing each to shine in their own particular way. * Irish Independent *Connelly has few equals as a thriller writer and it speaks volumes for the world he has created for Harry Bosch [...] The Night Fire is masterfully structured and a dizzying array of plot lines dovetail in a hugely enjoyable and satisfying series of finales. * Daily Express *One of the greatest crime writers roars back with a superb story [...] and never once draws breath. * Daily Mail *Michael Connelly is at the top of his game in The Night Fire [...] complexity and compassion combine in a humdinger of a thriller. * Evening Standard *Hugely enjoyable read. * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisA BookRiot Best Book of 2020Shortlisted for the LA Times Book Prize 2021'Shocking, twisted and brilliant. For fans of Shari Lapena, Liz Nugent and Gillian Flynn. Excellent.' Will Dean'The pacing is fantastic; you can't stop reading' Karin Slaughter, Good Housekeeping______________All it takes to unravel a life ... is one home truth.Marin used to have it all. A gorgeous husband, a great job, a growing family. Until her world fell apart the day her young son disappeared...A year later, the search has gone cold. With her sanity ebbing, Marin hires a private investigator to pick up where the police left off.But instead of finding Sebastian, she learns that her husband is having an affair. Furious, Marin sparks back to life. She's lost her son; she's not about to lose her husband. This enemy has a face, which means it's a problem Marin can fix. Permanently.'You don't just read this book; you inhale it' Mary Kubica'A dark and dazzling treat for crime fiction fans' Mark Edwards'Outstanding... Simply fantastic' Alex LakeTrade ReviewCleverly plotted... A film version must be on the cards. * The Sunday Times *Shocking, twisted and brilliant... Excellent * Will Dean, author of Dark Pines *A dark and dazzling treat for crime fiction fans * Mark Edwards, author of The Retreat *Outstanding... Simply fantastic. * Alex Lake, author of AFTER ANNA *Superb... Emotional, unsettling, thrilling and redemptive * Jo Spain, author of The Confession *You don't just read this book; you inhale it. * Mary Kubica, author of The Good Girl *Smart, twisty and surprising -- Catherine Ryan HowardHillier is a heck of a thriller writer * Crimereads: Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2020 *Gorgeously written novel with genuine heart and a lot of emotion * Crimereads: The New Wave of Thrillers *Unflinching and unforgettable... Heart-pounding suspense and a stunning conclusion * Riley Sager, author of The Last Time I Lied *Unputdownable... Razor-sharp writing, believable characters, emotional depth * Liv Constantine, author of The Last Mrs Parrish *Suspenseful and compelling - Hillier is a masterful storyteller. * Chevy Stevens, author of Still Missing *Sophisticated, compelling, gut-wrenching, stunning, and absolutely magnificent * Lisa Regan, author of the Detective Josie Quinn series *Brilliant, gut-wrenching, powerful * CrimeReads: Keeping Secrets: 10 Riveting Reads Filled With Shocking Secrets *[Hillier] maintains the tension right until the end. * Daily Mail *Heart-stopping and utterly gripping. * Heat Magazine *Lust, obsession, greed, and betrayal... captivating * Publishers Weekly *A twisty tale of trauma and grief and revenge, with extraordinary empathy for everyone involved. * Laura Lippman, author of Lady in the Lake *A powerful, enthralling thriller... A terrific read. * Alafair Burke, author of The Little Sister *An exceptional thriller * Matthew Farrell, author of What Have You Done *Jennifer Hillier writes extremely well... exciting * Shots Magazine *Dramatic and powerful... provocative and compelling * Liz Robinson, LoveReading *Psychological suspense of the highest order * BookTrib *The pacing is fantastic; you can't stop reading * Karin Slaughter, Good Housekeeping *

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Book SynopsisThe course of Frank Mackey''s life was set by one defining moment when he was nineteen. The moment his girlfriend, Rosie Daly, failed to turn up for their rendezvous in Faithful Place, failed to run away with him to London as they had planned. Frank never heard from her again. Twenty years on, Frank is still in Dublin, working as an undercover cop. He''s cut all ties with his dysfunctional family. Until his sister calls to say that Rosie''s suitcase has been found. Frank embarks on a journey into his past that demands he reevaluate everything he believes to be true.Trade ReviewTailor-made to terrify * Guardian *Even more gripping than her last two. A truly amazing novel - so brilliant on dysfunctional family dynamics, with characters so real that you can hardly believe someone's made them up. * Sophie Hannah *Gripping. Tana French's third novel hooks the reader from the outset; the characters are masterfully drawn, and the author's ear for Dublin dialogue is pitch-perfect. * Irish Independent *A gripping, literate thriller laced with black humour * Irish Times *If you're only going to buy one thriller this year, let it be Tana French's Faithful Place. Searing, utterly Dub, and very funny . . . Just don't plan anything if you pick this up; you won't be able to put it down. * Evening Herald (Dublin) *French copperfastens her reputation as an author of exceptional insight and talent. * Sunday Independent Ireland *If you want well-made, lyrical thrillers that will have you gripped without pretending to be something else, why not try Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series? Indulgent, ingenious - and utterly unputdownable. * The Times *

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Book SynopsisDon't miss the new, devastatingly good thriller from Helen Fields, The Institution. Coming March 2023 available to pre-order now! Relentless pace, devilish cleverness and a laser-sharp focus on plot.' Chris BrookmyreTrade Review‘Deliciously dark and gritty, Perfect Silence will glue your fingers to the page and make the hairs stand on the back of your neck. Another winner from the hugely talented Helen Fields.’ Caroline Mitchell ‘Compelling, breathtaking and a tense ride from that unbelievable opening scene right to the last word. Brilliant!’ Angela Marsons ‘Must read! With nail-biting twists at every turn, [Perfect Remains] will have readers gripped from start to finish.’ Closer ‘Read it in two sittings. I literally had no choice. A fast and enthralling thriller, pitting a new, very human hero against one of the scariest psychos I've yet encountered in crime fiction.’ Sunday Times bestseller, Paul Finch ‘Without doubt, this is one of the best first detective series I have read.’ Woman’s Way Magazine ‘Genuinely chilling.’ Saga Magazine ‘Watch out Rebus, McRae and Perez there’s a new detective in the running to become Scotland’s fictional top cop…a real cracker of a page-turner that is truly difficult to put down.’ Scotland Correspondent

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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 SynopsisA gripping Brighton-based mystery from the bestselling author of the Dr Ruth Galloway series - a must-read for fans of Agatha Christie, cosy crime and TV series such as Grantchester and Midsomer Murders.Three young women have gone missing.A girl called Rhonda has vanished from her boarding school. Maybe she ran away, but there are disturbing similarities to the disappearance of two other young women - those too thought not to be suspicious.But where are they?Detective Edgar Stephens is under pressure to solve Rhonda's disappearance, but it is his wife Emma, herself a former detective now frustrated at being just a housewife, who concludes there might be a connection between the three cases.Then the danger comes nearer home.Edgar's friend, magician Max Mephisto, is reinventing himself as a movie star and trying not to envy his daughter Ruby's television fame. Little do either of them know how close they are to being drawn into the deadly web of abduction and murder about to trap them all.*************************Praise for The Brighton Mysteries'Original, lively and gripping' Independent'Full of period detail, smart plotting and likeable characters' Mail on Sunday'A piquant mixture of humour, period detail . . . and truly beguiling characterisation' Financial Times'Recalls the best of Agatha Christie' Sunday ExpressTrade ReviewElly Griffiths' series set in post-war Brighton are entertaining diversions full of period detail, smart plotting and likeable characters * Mail on Sunday Thrillers of the Month *

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Book SynopsisAn incredible new unputdownable thriller which will keep you gripped from the first page to the last!He watches your every moveWe've all experienced it. That creeping sensation of eyes on your back, the faint echo of footsteps following yours.He controls youAcross the country, a madman is carefully choosing his victims. Once he has you in his sights, he won't let go.He will make you payYou think you're in control of your own life? Think again. Because The Puppet Master is coming for you, and he won't stop until you're deadWhat readers are saying about The Puppet MasterI was gripped from the very beginning until the very last page!' ?????I love a dark and messed up serial killer book and The Puppet Master is exactly that!' ?????The conclusion will have you holding your breath' ?????A gritty, emotional rollercoaster of a story' ?????Real on-the-edge-of-your-seat stuff' ?????Hook you in from the start and keeps you glued to the pages from beginning to end' ?????It''s dark, it''s creepy, just so unsettling and I loved every second' ?????Cancel all your plans because once you start you won''t want to stop' ?????Without a shadow of a doubt, Sam Holland is a natural born storyteller with a very vivid and disturbing imagination!' ?????

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Book SynopsisThe seventh book in the phenomenally successful Thursday Next series by Number One bestselling author Jasper Fforde. ''Fans of the late Douglas Adams, or, even, Monty Python, will feel at home with Fforde'' - HeraldThe BookWorld''s leading enforcement officer Thursday Next is four months into an enforced semi-retirement following an assassination attempt. She returns home to Swindon for what you''d expect to be a time of recuperation. If only life were that simple. Thursday is faced with an array of family problems - son Friday''s lack of focus since his career in the Chronoguard was relegated to a might-have-been, daughter Tuesday''s difficulty perfecting the Anti-Smote shield needed to thwart an angry Deity''s promise to wipe Swindon off the face of the earth, and Jenny, who doesn''t exist. And that''s not all. With Goliath attempting to replace Thursday at every opportunity with synthetic Thursdays, the prediction thatTrade ReviewPraise for Jasper Fforde * : *'Reading a Fforde novel feels like taking off on a magic carpet, only to be picked up by another and another and taken on new flights of fantasy . . . When the plot is thundering along, peppered with jokes, lively dialogue and silly names . . . you just sit back and enjoy the ride.' * Scotsman *'Jam packed with ingeniously witty ideas' * SFX.co.uk *A riot of puns, in-jokes and literary allusions that Fforde carries off with aplomb * Daily Mail *'Fans of the late Douglas Adams, or, even, Monty Python, will feel at home with Fforde' * Herald *'Forget all the rules of time, space and reality; just sit back and enjoy the adventure.' * Sunday Telegraph *'Any worries that by now the Thursday Next series would have settled into a rut prove groundless here, as Jasper Fforde delivers another swerveball . . . It's the usual mix of fiendishly clever plotting and exquisitely executed comedy setpieces' **** * SFX *As always, Fforde delivers a winner - immensely entertaining and easy to read. The characters are well rounded, and the dialogue snappy, amusing and filled with the usual plays on words and general silliness . . . If you've not experienced Fforde's unique humour before, then check the Thursday Next series out. * The British Fantasy Society *This is truly wacky, laugh-out-loud, literary-laced stuff. He is very clever. * The Bookseller *I love Jasper Fforde's novels but have to admit that reviewing them is hard work - how to explain his complicated alternative universe without revealing too much of the plot and at the same time encouraging readers to plunge in and just enjoy the ride? All I can say is - I hope you enjoy this as much as I did and that it encourages you to read the others - you won't be disappointed * Euro Crime *Hugely funny and gloriously imaginative * Daily Express *

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Book Synopsis‘Forty years ago, Gorky Park established a new high-water mark for the thriller. It has yet to be surpassed’ Mick Herron ‘One of the greatest detective novels of the 1980s’ Adrian McKintySOME CRIMESREFUSE TO BE FORGOTTEN It begins with a triple murder in a Moscow amusement park: three corpses found frozen in the snow, faces and fingers missing. Chief homicide investigator Arkady Renko is cynical about everything except his profession. To identify the victims and uncover the truth, he must battle the KGB, FBI, and the New York City police as he pursues a rich and ruthless American fur dealer. Meanwhile, Renko falls in love with a beautiful, headstrong dissident for whom he may risk everything . . .READ THE NOVEL THAT INSPIRED A GENERATION ‘One of the seminal books in the canon of crime fiction’ Abir Mukherjee ‘Gorky Pa

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Book SynopsisDon't miss Faith Martin's fiendishly clever new novel, Murder by Candlelight, set in the 1920s and described as the perfect village mystery' by J.M. HallA brilliant book! The pairing of Ryder and Loveday is a stroke of genius.' Clare Chase, author of the Eve Mallow and Tara Thorpe mysteriesOxford, 1960. There''s a murderer on the loose and two unlikely heroes are poised to solve the case.Meet Probationary WPC Trudy Loveday smart, enthusiastic and always underestimated.In the hope of getting her out of the way, Trudy's senior officer assigns her to help coroner Clement Ryder as he re-opens the case of a young woman''s death. She can''t believe her luck she is actually going to be working on a real murder case.Meanwhile, the rest of the police force are busy investigating a series of threats and murders in the local community, and Clement can''t help but feel it''s all linked.As Trudy and Clement form an unlikely partnership, are they going to be the ones to solve these crimes before tTrade Review‘A beautifully crafted crime mystery I could not put down.’ Anita Davison, author of the Flora Maguire series ‘A brilliant book! The pairing of Ryder and Loveday is a stroke of genius.’ Clare Chase, author of the Eve Mallow and Tara Thorpe mysteries ‘Absolutely loved it… The characters were some of the best I’ve read in a long time.’ Angela Marsons, no. 1 bestselling author of the Kim Stone series

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Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times number one bestselling author, David Baldacci, The Escape is the third title in this fast-paced, breathtaking series. CID investigator, John Puller, has returned from his latest case in Florida to learn that his brother, Bobby, on death row at Leavenworth Prison for national security crimes, has escaped. Preliminary investigations show that he may have had help in his breakout. Now he's on the run, and in disguise, and he's the US government's number one target. John Puller has a dilemma. Which comes first, loyalty to his country or to his brother? Bobby has state secrets that certain people will literally kill for. But blood is thicker than water, and the brothers are close although even John does not know for sure what Bobby really did for the government, nor if he's even guilty of his crimes. It becomes swiftly apparent, however, that Bobby's role was powerful and far-reaching.With the help of John's long-time friend and colleague, General Julie Carson, both brothers move closer to the truth from their opposing directions. And this case puts John Puller in a place he thought he'd never be, on the other side of the law, where even his skills as an investigator, and his strength as a fighter, might not be enough to save him. And his brother.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 Synopsis'They said that twenty-five percent of the population would catch the flu. Between seventy and eighty percent of them would die. He had been directly exposed to it, and the odds weren't good.'A CITY IN QUARANTINE London, the epicenter of a global pandemic, is a city in lockdown. Violence and civil disorder simmer. Martial law has been imposed. No-one is safe from the deadly virus that has already claimed thousands of victims. Health and emergency services are overwhelmed. A MURDERED CHILD At a building site for a temporary hospital, construction workers find a bag containing the rendered bones of a murdered child. A remorseless killer has been unleashed on the city; his mission is to take all measures necessary to prevent the bones from being identified. A POWERFUL CONSPIRACY D.I. Jack MacNeil, counting down the hours on his final day with the Met, is sent to investigate. His career is in ruins, his marriage over and his own family touched by the virus. Sinister forces are tracking his every move, prepared to kill again to conceal the truth. Which will stop him first - the virus or the killers?Written over fifteen years ago, this prescient, suspenseful thriller is set against a backdrop of a capital city in quarantine, and explores human experience in the grip of a killer virus.Trade ReviewMay ... is a classy crime writer and Lockdown is both prophetic and unnerving * Guardian *His virus is far deadlier than Covid-19, but his portrait of a city under siege and his explanations for the spread of the disease . . . are scarily prescient * Observer *Lockdown feels inescapably relevant, its pages teeming with existential dread -- Nick Duerden * iPaper *May's depiction of a London under siege from a powerful global virus now rings only too true... Packed with detail, it makes uncomfortable, but gripping, reading -- Daily MailInescapably relevant * The Scotsman *'A Marvellously gripping thriller' * S Magazine *

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Book Synopsis'The best crime novel ever written' - Elmore LeonardTrade ReviewThe best crime novel ever written -- Elmore LeonardA portrait of life on the street as realistic as any ever written -- Dennis LehaneHiggins deserves to stand in the company of Chandler and Hammett as one of the true innovators in crime fiction -- Scott TurowHiggins writes about the world of crime with an authenticity that is unmatched * WASHINGTON POST *If you haven't read George V. Higgins you can't call yourself a fan of crime fiction -- Val McDermidNo one ever did it better * NEW YORK TIMES *

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Book SynopsisTHE BIGGEST NETFLIX SHOW OF 2024 STARRING MICHELLE KEEGAN, JOANNA LUMLEY AND RICHARD ARMITAGE.READ THE BOOK THAT STARTED IT ALL . . .'The absolute master' RICHARD OSMAN'One of the all-time greats' GILLIAN FLYNN'At the top of his game' PETER JAMES'Never lets you down' LEE CHILD_______________You think you know the truth. The truth is you know nothing.If your husband was murdered.And you were a witness.How do you explain it when he appears on your nanny cam, back from the dead?You thought you trusted him.Now you can't even trust yourself.Dark secrets and a terrifying hunt for the truth lie at the heart of this gripping thriller by the 'master of the double twist' Harlan Coben ..._______________Readers love Fool Me Once . . .***** 'This book was such a spine tingling page turner!'***** 'The story was fast-paced and very captivating. I couldn't wait to see how everything would turn out.'***** 'Any reader who enjoys a cleverly plotted book filled with twists and turns will enjoy this one.'***** 'An excellent thriller, packed with taut, edgy suspense, and is certainly entertaining.'***** 'What a story. What a plot.'Trade ReviewCoben excels in thrillers about families torn apart by secrets…Typically twisty read with customary Coben shock ending. * The Sun *

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Book SynopsisFeel chills down your spine with the thrilling first novel in Nicci French''s bestselling killer series''Undeniably at the top of British psychological suspense writing'' OBSERVER''Utterly gripping . . . I could hardly turn the pages fast enough'' 5***** READER REVIEW _______ Monday: five-year-old Matthew Faraday is abducted. His face is splashed across newspaper front pages. His parents and the police are desperate. Can anyone help find their little boy before it is too late? Psychotherapist Frieda Klein just might know something. One of her patients describes dreams of seizing a boy who is the spitting image of Matthew. Convinced at first the police will dismiss her fears out of hand, Frieda reluctantly finds herself drawn into the heart of the case. A previous abduction, from twenty years ago, suggests a new lead - one that only Frieda, an expert on the minds of disturbed individuals, can uncover.Trade ReviewA brilliantly crafted new crime series Daily Mirror Frieda ... is a strong creation, sympathetic but withholding and with hints of hidden facets -- Barry Forshaw Daily Express Both a frightening and gripping read Easy Living A novel that will have you on the edge of your seat Woman & Home This heart-stoppingly good tale sets the bar high for the next seven books - we can't wait to read them! Good Housekeeping

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Book SynopsisThe Campions are snowed in at Christmas, but just when they think it can''t get any colder, their holidays take an even chillier turn.1962, Norfolk. Boxing Day looks set to be a quiet affair for the Campions when they are snowed in at their remote farmhouse, Carterers - until a charabanc full of ''pilgrims'' travelling from London to the Shrine of Our Lady in nearby Walsingham crashes into their imposing granite gateposts and the family unexpectedly find themselves playing host to the eccentric passengers.But any lingering festive cheer is in short supply when a shocking discovery is made the following day, while a terrifying twist reveals that some of the guests are not who they seem. Which - if any - can they trust? Suddenly hostage to events, the Campions are drawn into a fiendish web of espionage as the Cold War comes chillingly close to home.

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Book SynopsisThe very first Logan McRae novel in the No.1 bestselling crime series from Stuart MacBride. DS Logan McRae and the police in Aberdeen hunt a child killer who stalks the frozen streets.Winter in Aberdeen: murder, mayhem and terrible weatherIt's DS Logan McRae's first day back on the job after a year off on the sick, and it couldn't get much worse. Three-year-old David Reid's body is discovered in a ditch: strangled, mutilated and a long time dead. And he's only the first. There's a serial killer stalking the Granite City and the local media are baying for blood.Soon the dead are piling up in the morgue almost as fast as the snow on the streets, and Logan knows time is running out. More children are going missing. More are going to die. And if Logan isn't careful, he could end up joining them.Trade ReviewPraise for Cold Granite: ‘Ferocious and funny, this is Tartan Noir at its best’ Val McDermid ‘A riveting and gruesome debut’ Telegraph ‘A gripping debut’ Mirror Praise for Stuart MacBride: ‘Fierce, unflinching and shot through with the blackest of humour; this is crime fiction of the highest order’ Mark Billingham ‘MacBride is a damned fine writer – no one does dark and gritty like him’ Peter James

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Book SynopsisA father on trial for murder. A son whose world is falling apart.The No.1 New York Times bestselling final volume of the ground-breaking Natchez Burning Trilogy by Greg Iles.He'll risk everything for the darkest secrets in historyFormer prosecutor Penn Cage sees his world collapsing around him. The woman he loves is gone and his father, Dr Tom Cage, is about to be tried for the murder of a former lover.The Double Eagle group, a savage splinter cell of the KKK, will stop at nothing to ensure that Tom either takes the fall for their past deeds, or takes his secrets to an early grave.Unable to trust anyone not even his own mother Penn battles to discover the secret history of both the Cage family and the South itself, risking the only thing he has left to gamble: his life.Trade Review‘Exceptional … literary crime fiction at its finest – fluent, intelligent, high-octane and yet with deep moral purpose … Unputdownable’ The Times ‘A cracking courtroom drama … a compelling read’ Sun ‘Epic … operatic in its reach … with courtroom drama that is far more blistering than the John Grisham variety’ Financial Times Praise for Greg Iles: “The thriller of the year, of the decade even’ The Times ‘Iles is a phenomenal thriller writer’ Independent on Sunday ‘His thrillers grip from start to finish’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Terrific, engrossing’ Sunday Times ‘A tale that is both riveting in detail and amazing in its sheer scope’ Sun ‘Exciting, moving and inspirational’ Metro ‘Often seen as a John Grisham imitator, Iles clearly outperforms the master of the Deep South thriller in this angry yet engrossing novel’ Sunday Times ‘Extraordinarily entertaining and fiendishly suspenseful. I defy you to start it and find a way to put it down …This is an amazing work of popular fiction’ STEPHEN KING ‘A scorching read’ John Grisham ‘An incredible web of intrigue and suspense’ Clive Cussler ‘My favourite kind of novel … Ambitious in its scope and superbly satisfying in its execution’ Dan Brown

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Book SynopsisBerlin detective Bernie Gunther bows out at last in the 14th and final book of the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling series. With an introduction by Ian Rankin.'One of the greatest anti-heroes ever written' LEE CHILD'One of the greatest master story-tellers in English' ALAN FURSTBerlin, 1928, the height of the Weimar Republic. Bernie is a young detective working in Vice when he asked to investigate the Silesian Station killings: four prostitutes murdered in as many weeks, and in the same gruesome manner. Bernie hardly has time to acquaint himself with the case files before another murder occurs. Until now, no one has shown much interest in these victims - there are plenty in Berlin who'd like the streets washed clean of such degenerates. But this time the girl's father runs Berlin's foremost criminal ring, and he's prepared to go to extreme lengths to find his daughter's killer. It seems that someone is determined to rid Berlin of anyone less than perfect. The voice of Nazism is becoming a roar that threatens to drown out all others. But not Bernie Gunther's...Trade ReviewMeticulous research, the hallmark of Kerr's novels, is ever present as he shows the Weimar Republic weakening under the growing pressure of the Nazi party. Kerr and Gunther will be much missed - The TimesA fitting swan song for this intelligent and always thought-provoking series. At its heart is a melancholy irony. Chaotic and dangerous though the Weimar capital is, we know, as Bernie doesn't, that far worse if in store for Berlin - SpectatorMetropolis, the last book Kerr finished, returns his memorable antihero to his early days as a policeman in Weimar ... told in the unique voice that Kerr's admirers will happily recognize - Sunday TimesA gritty, graphic picture of a city on the edge of a nervous breakdown. But hard-as-knuckledusters Bernie, a truly great crime fiction character, goes out on a high - SunBernie Gunther - sly, subversive, sardonic and occasionally hilarious - is one of the greatest anti-heroes ever written, and as always he lights up this tough and unflinching novel. We're in good hands here - Lee ChildPhilip Kerr once more shows himself one of the greatest master storytellers in English. The narrative is swift and adept, and so well grounded in the history and custom of the period that the reader is totally immersed - Alan FurstOnce again Kerr leads us through the facts of history and the vagaries of human nature - Tom Hanks

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Book SynopsisThe enthralling English cosy crime series.

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Book Synopsis'A high-testosterone adventure . What are the secrets the locals seem so determined to hide?_________Although the Jack Reacher novels can be read in any order, Nothing To Lose is 12th in the series.And be sure not to miss Reacher's newest adventure, no.26, Better off Dead!Trade ReviewA cert to be a number one bestseller... A version of western, of course: the drifter who comes to town, sorts out the bad guys, and moves on... He makes what he does seem simple. If it is, though, it's strange that nobody else has managed it so well -- David Sexton * Evening Standard *Follows in the great Philip Marlowe pulp tradition, nuanced with a dash of Rambo and Bruce Willis... Reacher is a moody, modern outsider figure, one of the great antiheroes... a liberal intellectual with machismo, and arms the size of Popeye's * Independent *Classic Child... brilliantly paced... his tough-but-fair creation, Jack Reacher, both a man's man and a ladies' man, proves once again that he's also his own man. And no one is going to get in his way * Mirror *Slots a series of bone-crunching brawls into a surprisingly sinuous and zeitgeisty plot... delivers emotional depth, and Reacher's bare-knuckle sleuthing certainly keeps the adrenalin up * Financial Times *A high-testosterone adventure with a thoughtful nod to what is going on in Iraq... a page turner. Thrilling * Observer *

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Book SynopsisJohn Grisham is the author of forty works of fiction and one of non-fiction. His works are translated into forty-two languages. He lives in Virginia.Trade ReviewA marvellous read * Sunday Telegraph *This book is a joy. One of those books you regret having to finish * Daily Express *Grisham creates a terrific level of suspense. I could not put it down * Mail on Sunday *Riveting ... Grisham is a superb, instinctive storyteller * The Times *Grisham's most addictive courtroom thriller * Seattle Times *

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Book SynopsisThe tenth Logan McRae novel from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author.Scottish crime fiction at its very best.Some things just won't stay buriedWhen Detective Inspector Bell turns up dead in a crashed car, it's a shock to everyone. Because Bell died two years ago. Or at least they thought he did.Now Inspector Logan McRae has to work out where DI Bell's been all this time and what was so important that he felt the need to come back from the dead.But the deeper Logan digs, the more bones he uncovers. And there are people out there who'll kill to keep those skeletons buriedTrade Review“Dark and Brilliantly written” Linwood Barclay ‘A tense and gritty thriller’ Irish Sunday Independent ‘The pages turn effortlessly. His best work yet.’ i ‘A tour de force … smartly paced and vividly pungent’ Laura Wilson, Guardian 'MacBride's books have always been ambitiously plotted and firmly character-driven … They are only getting richer and more rewarding. The Blood Road is his best work yet' Scotland on Sunday Praise for Stuart MacBride: ‘Dark and gripping. A riveting page-turner’ Independent on Sunday ‘MacBride is a damned fine writer’ Peter James ‘A satisfyingly compelling thriller’ Sunday Mirror ‘Skilful storytelling … strong characterisation … both intriguing and engrossing’ Guardian ‘MacBride’s thrillers just keep getting better’ Express ‘Exciting … a guaranteed bestseller’ Literary Review ‘Unmissable … Superb storytelling’ Sun ‘Crime fiction of the highest order’ Mark Billingham ‘A terrific writer … Logan McRae is a delight’ The Times

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Book SynopsisOn 16 March 1978, Aldo Moro, former Italian Prime Minister, was ambushed in Rome. Within three minutes the gang killed all five members of his escort and bundled Moro into one of three getaway cars. An hour later the Red Brigades announced that Moro was in their hands; on 18 March they said he would be tried in a 'people's court of justice'. Seven weeks later Moro's body was discovered in the boot of a Renault parked in the crowded centre of Rome. In this book, Leonardo Sciasica, a master of detective fiction, untangles the real-life events of these crucial weeks and provides a unique insight into the dangerous world of Italian politics in the 1970s.

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Book Synopsis'Frankly superb. This pummelling eco-thriller camouflages the true understory' of societal collapse, and glows in the dark with original thinking' David Mitchell, author of Utopia AvenueA speculative thriller about the end of all things, set in the Pacific Northwest. A harrowing descent into a secret world.''Jane Smith'' receives an unexplained envelope containing the key to a storage unit. And inside that storage unit is a taxidermy hummingbird and directions to a taxidermy salamander. Somehow, this bizarre treasure hunt, that Jane never expected or asked for, sets in motion a series of events that quickly put her and her family in danger.As she desperately seeks answers, she discovers time is running out for her and possibly for the world.This is climate fiction at its most urgent and gripping' The New York TimesVisionary, dark, beautiful, and strange, that rare novel that coaxes you into imagining the unimaginable' Kristen Roupenian, author of You Know You Want This: Cat Person andTrade Review Praise for Hummingbird Salamander: ‘Every now and again a writer reimagines noir fiction for their generation. Now it’s the turn of Jeff VanderMeer… He proves more than up to the task … a gripping kick-the-door-down investigation of wildlife smuggling that expands maniacally to include all that our planet has lost as the sixth extinction gathers pace … This is natural history as police procedural; and life on Earth as the scene of a crime’ The Times ‘An enigmatic eco-thriller that delivers on the subject of worlds – inner worlds such as the biosphere – that are coming apart’ Observer ‘VanderMeer is utterly confident and convincing in his storytelling… The action is delivered in short, punchy prose that builds up its own irresistible rhythm as the book progresses to a climax that deals with the possible end of the world, yet does so with nuance and thought-provoking speculation … A terrific piece of work’ Big Issue ‘A violent, darkly witty adventure, haunted by the threat of looming environmental apocalypse … while there's an urgency and a justified anger here, there's also a necessary glimmer of hope, a suggestion that perhaps we're not all completely doomed. Well, not yet, anyway.’ Will Salmon, SFX Magazine ‘An existential mindfuck cleverly disguised as a thriller … Visionary, dark, beautiful, and strange, that rare novel that coaxes you into imagining the unimaginable’ Kristen Roupenian, author of You Know You Want This: Cat Person and Other Stories ‘Quirky, compelling … The engine that drives it is speculation about the future not only of civilisation, but of all life on this planet.’ Guardian ‘Harrowing, gripping, and profound. It's both a thriller and a requiem for a disappearing world. I expect this novel will haunt me for a long time’ Emily St. John Mandel, author of The Glass Hotel

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Book SynopsisHow do you solve a murder when everyone thinks you''re guilty?Marjorie Crowe lives in Kilgoyne, Scotland. The locals put her age at somewhere between 55 and 70. They think she''s divorced or a lifelong spinster; that she used to be a librarian, a pharmacist, or a witch. They think she''s lonely, or ill, or maybe just plain rude. For the most part, they leave her be.But one day, everything changes.Local teenager Charlie McKee is found hanging in the woods, and Marjorie is the first one to see his body. When what she saw turns out to be impossible, the police have their doubts. And when another young person goes missing, the tide of suspicion turns on her.Is Marjorie the monster, or the victim? And how far will she go to fight for her name?PRAISE FOR C.S. ROBERTSON:''A truly startling novel'' Sunday Times''A remarkable thriller'' Sunday Express''Ingenious'' Daily Mail<

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Book SynopsisTHE FIRST TOM REYNOLDS MYSTERY FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE PERFECT LIEIt's true what they say . . . revenge is sweet.1975A baby, minutes old, is forcibly taken from its devastated mother.2010The body of an elderly woman is found in a Dublin public park in the depths of winter.Detective Inspector Tom Reynolds is on the case. He's convinced the murder is linked to historical events that took place in the notorious Magdalene Laundries. Reynolds and his team follow the trail to an isolated convent in the Irish countryside. But once inside, it becomes disturbingly clear that the killer is amongst them . . . and is determined to exact further vengeance for the sins of the past.PRAISE FOR JO SPAIN'S TOM REYNOLDS SERIES'A stunning read' Woman's Way'Refreshing and full of twists' Express'Clever, pacey, compulsive' Sunday Mirror'Expertly crafted, deeply immersive and timely' Irish IndependentTrade ReviewFiendishly clever . . . and a big fat twist is lobbed into the ending like a hand grenade * Irish Sunday Independent *Brilliant! Fast paced, well researched and sensitive. Jo Spain is a sparkling new talent * Irish Examiner *Spain's vivid thriller explores the dark secrets of Ireland's past that are a real-life situation haunting so many people within Irish society today * Irish Country Living *In a very strong year for Irish crime-fiction debuts, Jo Spain's With Our Blessing is among the most assured . . . With Our Blessing picks at the scabs of recent Irish history to reveal raw and gaping wounds * Irish Times *Atmospheric and compelling * Sinead Crowley *Spain handles the inevitable tensions with aplomb * Sunday Times *Packed with fascinating details about the inner workings of Leinster House, this is a satisfying mystery * Irish Independent *Absolutely my comfort reading * Ann Cleeves *

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Book SynopsisThe second book in Dorothy L Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey series introduced by crime novelist Ruth Dudley Edwards - a must-read for fans of Agatha Christie''s Poirot and Margery Allingham''s Campion Mysteries. ''D. L. Sayers is one of the best detective story writers'' Daily TelegraphThe Duke of Denver, accused of murder, stands trial for his life in the House of Lords.Naturally, his brother Lord Peter Wimsey is investigating the crime - this is a family affair. The murder took place at the duke''s shooting lodge and Lord Peter''s sister was engaged to marry the dead man.But why does the duke refuse to co-operate with the investigation? Can he really be guilty, or is he covering up for someone?''She brought to the detective novel originality, intelligence, energy and wit.'' P. D. JamesTrade ReviewHer books are English Literature at its best. Her plots are finely tuned and her Lord Peter Wimsey is delightful * The Times (letter) *She brought to the detective novel originality, intelligence, energy and wit. * P. D. James *D. L. Sayers is one of the best detective story writers. * E. C. Bentley, Daily Telegraph *I admire her novels . . . she has great fertility of invention, ingenuity and a wonderful eye for detail * Ruth Rendell *

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Book SynopsisNINETEEN CWA DAGGER AWARD-WINNING SHORT STORIES FROM THE BEST OF THE BEST IN CRIME FICTION Maxim Jakubowski has edited all the great names in crime fiction and stories from his anthologies have won the CWA Dagger six times. Now he has collected 19 Dagger award-winning stories in one volume, making it the first retrospective deep dive into the CWA's archive of Dagger Award winners. Bringing together the greatest crime fictions authors such as Ian Rankin, Jeffery Deaver, John Connolly, Denise Mina, John Harvey and many more. Edgy, twisted and disturbing, Daggers Drawn is a visceral and thrilling collection showcasing the very best modern crime fiction has to offer. Contributors include: Ian Rankin Jeffery Deaver John Connolly John Harvey Denise Mina Julian Rathbone Martin Edwards Peter Lovesey Lauren Henderson Stella Duffy Peter O'Donnell (writing as Madeleine Brent) Danuta Reah Cath Staincliffe Margaret Murphy L.C. Tyler Phil Lovesey Larry Beinhart Richard Lange Jerry SykesTrade Review"A well written sharp, incisive crime story (much like a dagger thrust should be) is a thing of beauty. There are many in this anthology. Read and enjoy."– Frost Magazine"Quality and variety... are guaranteed."– Morning Star"Chilling and crafty, and full of devious characters. Not all of the victims are innocent, and the effects of each story will linger long after you close the volume."– The Girl Who Reads"It’s good to see earlier contributions from such luminaries as Peter O’Donnell, Julian Rathbone and Larry Beinhart among the star-studded cast which features Ian Rankin, Jeffrey Deaver, Denise Mina and John Harvey."– Shots Mag"The daggers are drawn, business ends out. An absolute must read for all crime fiction fans."– Advance the Plot"Edgy, twisted and disturbing, Daggers Drawn is a visceral and thrilling collection showcasing the very best modern crime fiction has to offer."– Book Lover's Boudoir"[A]n overall entertaining tale of short stories with quite a few enjoyable tales to entice the reader."– Run Along the Shelves"I'd definitely recommend this great collection for anyone who is a crime fiction fan."– Snazzy Books"[A]n engrossing and entertaining read."– Annarellix Review

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Book SynopsisSANDIE JONES has worked as a freelance journalist for more than twenty years and has written for publications including The Sunday Times, Woman's Weekly and Hello magazine. She lives in London with her husband and three children. She is the author of The Other Woman, a Reese's Book Club x Hello Sunshine pick.

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Book SynopsisDetective Sergeant Mona Hendricks has enough on her plate: she's separated from her husband, her teenage daughter is punishing her for it, and she's having to babysit. When her daughter's favourite influencer, Kylie May, finds a dead body and broadcasts it to the world, Mona is thrown into a very public murder investigation. What ensues are two duelling investigations between a seasoned detective and an ambitious influencer, one using good old-fashioned police work, and the other using sensational tactics to keep spotlight on the case - and on herself. Nine years later, Mona is estranged from her daughter, relying on a cane to walk, and bitter towards Kylie, whilst the murder remains unsolved. When Kylie, now a sleek TV contrarian (think: young, female Piers Morgan), approaches Mona with a well-paid offer to investigate the cold case, Mona has no option but to accept . . .

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Book SynopsisThe jaw-dropping, page-turning, critically-acclaimed book of the year: a serial-killer thriller unlike any other from the award-winning Lauren Beukes. GONE GIRL has not exactly gone. But THE SHINING GIRLS have arrived' (The Times).THE SHINING GIRLS is now streaming on Apple TV+, starring Elisabeth Moss and Jamie BellIt's not my fault. It's yours. You shouldn't shine. You shouldn't make me do this.Chicago 1931. Harper Curtis, a violent drifter, stumbles on a house with a secret as shocking as his own twisted nature it opens onto other times. He uses it to stalk his carefully chosen ''shining girls'' through the decades and cut the spark out of them.He's the perfect killer. Unstoppable. Untraceable. He thinksChicago, 1992. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Tell that to Kirby Mazrachi, whose life was shattered after a brutal attempt to murder her. Still struggling to find her attacker, her only ally is Dan, an ex-homicide reporter who covered her case and now might be falling in love with her.As Kirby investigates, she finds the other girls the ones who didn't make it. The evidence is impossible. But for a girl who should be dead, impossible doesn't mean it didn't happenTrade Review‘A powerful thriller – imaginative, disturbing, tense, compelling reading’ The Times ‘I’m all over it’ Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl ‘Brilliant. A book about the duel of two fabulously realized characters. A triumph’ Independent ‘Clever story, smart prose’ Stephen King ‘Extremely creepy’ Mail on Sunday (‘Must Reads’) ‘Very smart, wholly original, completely kick-ass’ William Gibson ‘Engrossing as it is original, as rewarding as it is challenging. Superb – a beautifully layered work of fiction. Take the time to read this, it’s mesmerizing’ Sun ‘Utterly original, beautifully written. This is something special’ Tana French, author of In The Woods ‘Brilliant. Forget GONE GIRL, now it’s all about THE SHINING GIRLS’ Observer ‘Disturbing, smart and beautifully written’ Erin Morgenstern, author of The Night Circus ‘This year’s must-read’ Stylist ‘A new kind of thriller. A dark, relentless, time-twisting, page-turning murder story. It shines’ Matt Haig, author of The Humans

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Book SynopsisHe killed himself, Lieutenant. He was hanging there, just hanging there from the ceiling light in the living room. And his face . . . Oh God.''Death follows New York City cop Eve Dallas everywhere - even on her honeymoon with Irish lover Roarke. When one of Roarke''s employees is found dead, the post-mortem confirms suicide. An isolated case, or so Eve thinks.But more suicides follow - strangers with nothing in common. The pathologist''s report states each victim has an unexplained mark on their brain. Is this a genetic abnormality or a high-tech method of murder? With the body count rising, Eve must delve into the world of virtual reality to hunt down a twisted killer. A killer who preys on the minds of the innocent.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Rosenkrantz Award for Best Thriller of the YearFrom the bestselling, award-winning Swedish author Håkan Nesser, The Living and the Dead in Winsford is a gripping and deeply atmospheric psychological thriller set on Exmoor.There is nobody in the world who knows that we are here . . .A woman arrives in the village of Winsford on Exmoor. She has travelled a long way and chosen her secluded cottage carefully. Maria's sole intention is to outlive her beloved dog Castor. And to survive the torrent of memories that threaten to overwhelm her. Weeks before, Maria and her husband Martin fled Stockholm under a cloud. The couple were bound for Morocco, where Martin planned to write an explosive novel; one that would reveal the truth behind dark events within his commune of writers decades before. But the couple never made it to their destination.As Maria settles into her lonely new life, walking the wild, desolaTrade ReviewOne of the pleasures of The Living and the Dead in Winsford is the drip feed of vital information that hurtles you through its 471 pages as it probes deeper into its heroine's demons.Nesser lives in Gotland but spends part of each year in the UK and he obviously knows his Winsford - and better still his Exmoor. The claustrophobia and comfort of village life, the terror of darkness on an exposed and desolate landscape; proximity with a natural world as beautiful as it is harsh: every detail seems etched into Nesser's viscerally descriptive writing.. . . A ripping yarn * The Times *The smooth, silky prose holds the reader's attention from start to finish, and it's no surprise to discover that this book won the Palle Rosencrantz Prize for best thriller of the year * Literary Review *A tense, psychological exploration of betrayal and revenge, deservedly winning the Rosenkrantz Award for Best Thriller of the Year in 2013.' * Sydney Morning Herald *The book is part thriller but also reads like literary fiction. This is no surprise as Nesser is an excellent writer . . . A great read * Crimepieces.com *A haunting, masterly unravelling of a dreadful crime, in The Living and the Dead in Winsford, Hakan Nesser, the bestselling, award-winning author of the Van Veeteren series, tightens the tension like a noose . . . * fantasticfiction.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisTHE MULTIMILLION-COPY BESTSELLING ADAM DALGLIESH SERIES FROM THE QUEEN OF ENGLISH CRIME' (Guardian) WINNER OF THE CWA SILVER DAGGERA legend.' VAL MCDERMIDP. D. James took the classic crime novel and turned up the dial.' MICK HERRONThe best mysteries only get better with time and this is one of them!' 5* reader reviewPERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS__________________________________________________________________________________There's something wrong about this place. Haven't you noticed?Dalgliesh is recovering from a life-threatening illness when his elderly friend Father Baddeley reaches out for advice. By the time he can respond, Father Baddeley is dead. And his is not the first recent death at the Dorset home for the disabled where he worked.Dalgliesh feels he must try to understand these deaths, even without offic

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Book SynopsisSOME MURDERS CAN''T BE SOLVED IN JUST ONE LIFETIME.From the No 1 bestselling author, a brand new series with a brand new heroine to fall in love with. Ali Dawson is as memorable as her fire-engine-red hair - warm, funny, forthright - and mother to a grown son, Finn. Ali works on cold cases, crimes so old, the joke goes, that they are almost frozen.What most people don''t know is that Ali and the team travel back in time to complete their researches - a process pioneered by the mysterious Italian physicist, Serafina Pelligrini.So far the team has only ventured a few years or decades back but Ali''s boss has a new assignment for her. He wants her to step back to 1850, the heart of the Victorian Age, to clear the name of Cain Templeton, the eccentric ancestor of Tory MP Isaac Templeton, her son Finn''s boss. To ready herself for the challenge ahead, Ali researches the Victorian era. She learns that Cain Templeton was part of a sinister group called The Collectors, the rumour being that you had to kill a woman to become a member. Duly prepared, she arrives in London in January 1850 - the middle of a freezing winter. She is directed to a house inhabited by artists, and is greeted by a dead woman at her feet.Soon she finds herself in extreme danger. Even worse - she appears to be stuck, unable to make her way back to the present, to the life she loves and to her son, Finn.The Frozen People is a lavish, cleverly plotted mystery with a cast of unforgettable new characters to get to know and love.

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Book SynopsisHow do you catch a killer who doesn''t exist?After twenty years on the force, Detective Chief Inspector Jack Logan thinks he has seen it all.He is wrong.When a nurse is murdered on her way home from nightshift, Jack and his team go on the hunt for her killer.As more victims are uncovered, Jack finds himself tracking a murderer afflicted by a unique psychosis - one that leaves him free to maim and kill without a shred of guilt or remorse.Facing a new type of killer in an unfamiliar city, DCI Jack Logan is about to be pushed to his limits by an enemy he cannot hope to understand.The unputdownable third book in the DCI Jack Logan crime thriller series. Perfect for fans of Ian Rankin, Chris Brookmyre, and L.J. Ross.

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Book SynopsisIF TWO OF YOUR FAVOURITE THINGS ARE BAKING SHOWS AND DETECTIVE SERIES, THEN LOOK NO FURTHER. Six contestants. The nation''s favourite baking show. And a prize worth killing for...''A delightful whodunit in a perfect setting with an immersive plot'' 5***** reader review ''Knives Out meets The Great British Bake Off...a perfectly layered mysery, easily deserving of a hearty Hollywood handshake'' TOM HINDLE, author of A Fatal Crossing''I loved it. The Great British Bake Off meets And Then There Were None'' J.M. HALL, author of A Spoonful of Murder''Will keep you entertained right til the end!'' 5***** reader review__________For six amateur bakers, competing in Bake Week is a dream come true.But for the show''s famous host, Betsy Martin, it''s more than a competition. It''s her legacy.As she welcomes contestants to her Trade ReviewKnives Out meets The Great British Bake Off. Jessa Maxwell has whisked up a perfectly layered mystery, easily deserving of a hearty Hollywood Handshake -- Tom HindleI loved it. The Great British Bake Off meets And Then There Were None. As a story it has the perfect ingredients - secrets, ambitions, jealousies, redemptions - blended to perfection, with a murder so strong and compelling it was the cherry on the cake. Like any good recipe each character was sharp and distinctive, bringing a flavour all of their own -- J.M. Hall * author of A Spoonful of Murder *Any successful attempt at baking needs the right ingredients, precise timing and talent. The Golden Spoon has all that in ladles full. Great characters, a great plot, and like a spoon above a dessert, very difficult to put down -- Ian Moore * bestselling author of Death and Fromage *A delectably fun mystery * The Washington Post *Two things I love are great food and a great mystery - and The Golden Spoon has both. This delicious combination of Clue and The Great British Bakeoff kept me turning the pages all night! -- Janet Evanovich * no. 1 New York Times bestselling author *A delicious concoction: two shakes Agatha Christie and a cup of The Great British Bakeoff * Kirkus *Clever, atmospheric and creepy, with a spooky mansion, the kind of quirky, reality-TV-ready ensemble you can't help but adore, and storylines as expertly interwoven as a blue-ribbon challah. I can't wait for whatever Maxwell bakes up next -- Andrea Bartz * New York Times bestselling author of We Were Never Here *A delicious confection - in this multi-character Clue meets The Great British Bakeoff everyone is suspicious, and the solution will surprise you. I ate it up -- Catherine McKenzie * USA Today bestselling author of Have You Seen Her *Jessa Maxwell's debut is a deliciously entertaining whodunit - charming characters, baking mishaps, and a mouthwatering murder mystery. Readers and baking enthusiasts will savour every bit of The Golden Spoon -- Sarah Penner * New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary *A fantastically fun mystery with a perfect setting. It's Knives Out meets Agatha Christie. I was delightfully surprised throughout -- Sarah Langan * author of Good Neighbours *At last, a baking show with a murder; cleverly constructed so we not only wonder who is the murderer, but who will be the victim. A delightful bake -- Christopher MooreAn outstanding debut...Sweet and savoury turns deadly sour in this fast-paced, entertaining romp * Publishers Weekly *A delectable tour de force of baking and mayhem, Maxwell's debut mystery is one to savour * Library Journal *

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