Crime and / or mystery fiction

Book SynopsisMeet Happy Doll Hank to his friends. He's a LA private detective living a quiet life along with his beloved half-Chihuahua half-Terrier, George. He's getting by just fine When he's not walking George or sipping tequila, Hap works nights at the Thai Miracle Spa, protecting the women who work there from clients who won't take "no" for an answer. Until he kills a man Usually Doll avoids trouble by following his two basic rules: bark loudly and act first. But after a deadly fight with a customer, even he finds himself wildly out of his depth... A Man Named Doll is both a hilarious introduction to an unforgettable character, and a high-speed joyride through the sensuous and violent streets of LA.

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Book SynopsisLexy''s wedding becomes a crime scene when a murderer dares to strike on her big day in this superbly plotted and wickedly funny cozy.Lexy Campbell is getting married! But in the six months of planning it took to arrive at the big day, she has become . . . a challenge. Friendships are strained to breaking point, Lexy''s parents are tiptoeing around her, and even Taylor, her intended, must be having second thoughts. Turns out it''s moot. Before the happy couple can exchange vows, Sister Sunshine, the wedding celebrant, is discovered dead behind the cake, strangled with the fairy lights.Lexy''s dream wedding is now not just a nightmare: it''s a crime scene. She vows not to get drawn into the case, but the rest of the Last Ditch crew are investigating a bizarre series of goings-on in Cuento''s cemetery, and every clue about the graveyard pranks seems to link them back to Lexy''s wedding day. Will the Ditchers solve the case? Will Sister Sunshine''s killer

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Book SynopsisLA lawyer Sandy Moss comes to falsely accused lieutenant Trench''s aid in this final instalment of the critically acclaimed legal cozy mystery series.While settling into her new home in Los Angeles together with her boyfriend and TV star Patrick McNabb, attorney Sandy Moss receives a phone call from the LA Men''s Detention Center. It''s a new client accused of murder: the near-stoic Lt. K.C. Trench!Being good at his job but not well-liked in his department, Trench is accused of killing a fellow LA police officer whom he openly despised and threatened. With the odds against her, Sandy takes on the case of her sometime nemesis/sometime ally. She is certain that Trench can''t be the killer. It seems like someone is trying to pin the murder on him, but who and why? And what isn''t Trench telling her?Sandy has a tricky case on her hands with all the evidence pointing at Trench as the murderer, but one thing is clear, she will help the stoic lieutenan

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Book SynopsisPortly, perceptive and spectacularly moustachioed, India?s finest private detective, Vish Puri, tackles his most difficult case to date in the long-awaited return of Tarquin Hall?s delightful humorous whodunit series set in New Delhi.?Vish Puri is the Indian Poirot? Financial Times?A wonderfully engaging PI? The Times?Vish Puri [is] a Punjabi Sherlock Holmes? The GuardianWhen Vish Puri, India?s Most Private Detective, learns he?s won the long-coveted International Detective of the Year award, it?s supposed to be a secret. But within hours, it seems all of Delhi knows ? and his indomitable Mummy-ji announces she?ll be coming with him to the ceremony in London, never mind that she?s not been invited.To add to his woes, a senior government bureaucrat gives him an undercover mission he can?t refuse. Puri is tasked with tracking down India?s most-wanted fugitive: a billionaire pharmaceutical fraudstercodenamed Bombay Duck, who?s rumoured to be hiding in the British capital.Puri?s only spending a week in London . . . and he?s already promised his wife he won?t work during their once-in-a-lifetime trip. In desperation, he enlists the help of his reluctant nephew Jags and dives headfirst into the case. But can Puri hook the Bombay Duck and bring him to justice ? all the while keeping his investigations secret from his wife and meddling mother?Packed with the sights, sounds and flavours of both New Delhi and London, author Tarquin Hall ? who divides his time between India and the UK ? delivers an irresistible read for fans of Alexander McCall Smith, Harini Nagendra and Jesse Sutanto.

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Book Synopsis'Clever and compulsive' LOUISE CANDLISH  'A fantastic read' JAMES DELARGY 'I loved it' LEE CHILD ‘It's everything you could want from a crime novel' SARAH WARD 'A bold and brilliant new voice in crime fiction' KATE RHODESA WATERSTONES THRILLER OF THE MONTH_____________________________ One wrong move will ignite the city . . .   A body is found bricked into a wall of the Old Vicarage. From the state of the hands, it’s clear the dead man was buried alive. When the man is connected to an old missing person’s case, Detective Sergeant Adam Tyler is called.   After an ‘incident’, Tyler needs this case to go well in order to prove himself and get his career back on track. But he soon discovers that he has a connection to the case that hopeless

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Book SynopsisThe fourth riveting thriller in the Kate Brannigan series, from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Val McDermid.The Queen of Crime is still at the top of her game' IndependentWhen a Monet is stolen from a stately home, Manchester-based private eye Kate Brannigan goes head to head with organized crime as she hunts the thieves through Europe.Meanwhile, someone is leaving a trail of bodies across the Northwest. As Kate confronts some harsh truths in her own life, the case stretches her love and loyalty to its limits.Trade Review‘Stunningly exciting, horrifyingly good’Ruth Rendell ‘This book has a sense of gravitas and intelligence utterly beyond lesser writers in the field’Ian Rankin ‘Terrific chiller from Manchester’s answer to Thomas Harris’Guardian ‘A clever and exciting thriller’Sunday Telegraph ‘A compelling combination of sexual-political mischief and Jacobean psychological intensity’Sunday Times (of The Wire in the Blood) Praise for Val McDermid: 'No one rivals Val McDermid’s skill at writing truly terrifying thrillers’ Good Housekeeping ‘The real mistress of psychological gripping thrillers' Daily Express 'McDermid's capacity to enter the warped mind of a deviant criminal is shiveringly convincing' The Times ‘Val McDermid is undoubtedly the queen of British crime’ Observer 'McDermid’s expertly juggled plotlines and masterful handling of pace and tension tick all the best boxes’ Guardian ‘The queen of crime is still at the top of her game’ Independent ‘One of today’s most accomplished crime writers’ Literary Review ‘Her writing is never less than excellent’ Crime Time

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Book SynopsisThe first thriller in the No.1 bestselling DS Logan McRae series. Nothing keeps a crime hidden like fearStuart MacBride's thrillers just keep getting better' ExpressYou can't be an eyewitness if I cut out your eyes'Someone's preying on Aberdeen's growing Polish population. The pattern is always the same: men abandoned on building sites, barely alive, their eyes gouged out and the sockets burned.With the victims too scared to talk, and the only witness a paedophile who's on the run, Grampian Police is getting nowhere fast. The attacks are brutal, they keep on happening, and soon DS Logan McRae will have to decide how far he's prepared to bend the rules to get a result.The Granite City is on the brink of gang warfare; the investigating team are dogged by allegations of corruption; and Logan's about to come to the attention of Aberdeen's most notorious crime lordTrade ReviewPraise for Blind Eye: ‘Hard-hitting prose with a bone-dry humour and characters you can genuinely believe in, Stuart MacBride's Logan McRae series of novels are a real treat.’ Simon Kernick ‘Cracking dialogue … a standout crime novel’ Metro ‘Irresistible and repulsive in equal measure … The result? A real page-turner’ Scotland on Sunday Praise for Stuart MacBride: ‘Ferocious and funny, this is Tartan Noir at its best’ Val McDermid ‘MacBride is a damned fine writer – no one does dark and gritty like him’ Peter James

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Book SynopsisThe third DS Logan McRae thriller in the No.1 bestselling crime series from Stuart MacBride. A crime of passion or cold-hearted murder?MacBride is a damned fine writer' Peter JamesThe Granite City's seedy side is about to be exposedA serial rapist is leaving a string of tortured women behind him, but while DS Logan McRae's girlfriend, PC Jackie Ball Breaker' Watson, is out acting as bait, he's trying to identify a blood-drenched body dumped outside Accident and Emergency.Logan's investigations suggest someone in the local bondage community has developed a taste for violent death, and he soon finds himself dragged into the twilight world of pornographers, sex-shops and S&M.Meanwhile, the prime suspect in the rape case turns out to be Aberdeen Football Club's star striker. Logan thinks they've got it horribly wrong, but Jackie is convinced the footballer's guilty and she's hell-bent on a conviction at any costTrade ReviewPraise for Broken Skin: ‘Compelling reading … a tribute to MacBride’s storytelling skill’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Grim, gritty and great fun’ Daily Sport Praise for Stuart MacBride: ‘Fierce, unflinching and shot through with the blackest of humour; this is crime fiction of the highest order’ Mark Billingham ‘Ferocious and funny, this is Tartan Noir at its best’ Val McDermid ‘MacBride is a damned fine writer – no one does dark and gritty like him’ Peter James

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERImmensely grippingStayed up till past 2am to finish this' Sophie HannahFour people walked into the dining room that night. One would never leave.Matthew: the perfect husband.Titus: the perfect son.Charlie: the perfect illusion.Rachel: the perfect stranger.Charlie didn't want her at the book club. Matthew wouldn't listen.And that's how Charlie finds himself slumped beside his husband's body, their son sitting silently at the dinner table, while Rachel calls 999, the bloody knife still gripped in her hand.Classic crime meets Donna Tartt in this nerve-shredding domestic noir thriller that weaves a sprawling web of secrets around an opulent West London world and the dinner that ends in death.Praise for The Dinner Guest:Could not put this book down, kept me guessing the entire way. Wow! A triumph from B P Walter' Susan Lewis, bestselling author of Forgive MeI couldn''t put this down. Suspenseful and well crafted, this is twisty, addictive reading to add to your liTrade Review‘Stayed up till past 2am to finish this! Well done, B P Walter – immensely gripping!’ Sophie Hannah, Sunday Times-bestselling author of the Hercule Poirot Mysteries ‘Could not put this book down, kept me guessing the entire way. Wow! A triumph from B P Walter’ Susan Lewis, bestselling author of FORGIVE ME ‘I couldn't put this down. Suspenseful and well crafted, this is twisty, addictive reading to add to your list’ Debbie Howells, bestselling author of THE VOW and Richard and Judy Book Club pick THE BONES OF YOU ‘So many secrets and lies and such a compelling story; I had NO idea how this one was going to end, only that I couldn’t stop reading it until I found out’ Jackie Kabler, bestselling author of THE PERFECT COUPLE ‘Dark and twisted, THE DINNER GUEST is a captivating, atmospheric story of secrets and lies set within the world of old-school London money. It had me second-guessing every page. Pure delicious escapism!’ Charlotte Duckworth, bestselling author of THE PERFECT FATHER ‘I loved this book, full of buried secrets and twists. It caught me from the beginning, and I had NO idea how it would play out, but what a great finale! B P Walter has created three-dimensional characters with such nuance and observation. Wonderful – highly recommended!’ Elisabeth Carpenter, bestselling author of 99 RED BALLOONS ‘A gripping page turner from cover to cover. Richly drawn characters you love to hate and hate to love leading to a finale you won’t see coming’ Michael Wood, bestselling author of the DCI Matilda Darke Thrillers ‘Devoured this … Twisty, compelling and full of deliciously despicable characters, it had me stumped til the final chapters … a smashing read’ Lisa Hall, bestselling author of THE PERFECT COUPLE Praise for A VERSION OF THE TRUTH: ‘Devilishly well-plotted, crisply written – and a hell of a lot of fun. What a smashing debut!’ A.J. Finn, #1 bestselling author of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW

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Book SynopsisDon't miss this gripping thriller from the author of The Weekend Alone with a twist that will take your breath away!An excellent thriller and a writer to look out for' Lesley Sanderson, author of I Know You LiedIt''s been such a long time since I couldn''t put a book down, and this one literally had me up all night! It was utterly compelling and every page was loaded with suspense' Kathryn Croft, author of The Lying Wife_____A mother in mourningTwo years ago, Sarah's husband was jailed for her murder; her body was never found. Now, her grieving mother, Claire, spends her sleepless nights running a helpline for vulnerable women.A woman with a secretClaire takes many calls, but one caller isn't like the rest. She isn't calling for help she's calling because she claims to know what happened to Sarah.A killer on the looseBut when Claire hears the terrifying news that her daughter's killer has escaped from prison, she realises her nightmare is far from over and her family are in danger yTrade ReviewReaders LOVE My Daughter’s Killer! ‘I loved every single word… pure genius.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Oh wow! This is such a good read… I was hooked from page one and it never let up.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Ohh what a thrilling read… Talk about being blown away!… I can not recommend this enough’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I have not read anything quite like this before. It’s an excellent addictive and gripping psychological thriller… Highly recommended’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I could not put this down!… I was literally gasping out loud towards the end… Honestly this book is just BRILLIANT’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fantastically written, this is an ’up all night’ thriller’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A totally mind-blowing read. So many twists and turns!’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book SynopsisGlamorous murder mystery from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Chalet and The Cruise 'The Penthouse is a twisting, unpredictable, glamorous whirlwind of a thriller' Amy McCulloch Intense and claustrophobic' HEAT Agatha Christie with glamour' SUNDAY TIMES Beneath the glamour dark secrets lurk. World famous singer Enola had it all fame, fortune, and a breathtaking penthouse view. Then she vanished without a trace, leaving the band's careers in ruins. Fifteen years on, the remaining members are reuniting for a series of concerts in Las Vegas. But when mysterious accidents plague them, some start to wonder if Enola is back for revenge. What happened all those years ago and who really knows the truth? ____________________________________ Praise for Catherine Cooper: Intense and claustrophobic' Heat Agatha Christie with glamour' Sunday Times A well-plotted twisty read' Woman's Weekly

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Book SynopsisTwo prostitutes are murdered in Tokyo.Twenty years previously both women were educated at the same elite school for young ladies, and had seemingly promising futures ahead of them. But in a world of dark desire and vicious ambition, for both women, prostitution meant power. Grotesque is a masterful and haunting thriller, a chilling exploration of women''s secret lives in modern day Japan.Trade ReviewDelves so deep beyond its own shock horror premise that much contemporary crime fiction looks like cheap, exploitative rubbish by comparison ....an utterly absorbing novel that gives as vivid - and disturbing - a picture of contemporary Japan as you could imagine * Metro *Suicide, paedophilia, incest and murder combine with subtle touches of humour to form a story that will leave you questioning your own morality * Dazed and Confused *This is a rich, complex read. Be prepared for a book utterly unlike anything we are used to in crime fiction * Independent *It is one of the most unexpected and playful novels to emerge from Japan in recent years...a triumph. In its boldness and originality, it broadens our sense of what modern Japanese fiction can be * Telegraph *Unclichéd contemporary noir at its most absorbing and relevant...a masterful and haunting achievement * Tangledweb.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisRuth Rendell was an exceptional crime writer, and will be remembered as a legend in her own lifetime. Her groundbreaking debut novel, From Doon With Death, was first published in 1964 and introduced the reader to her enduring and popular detective, Inspector Reginald Wexford, who went on to feature in twenty-four of her subsequent novels.With worldwide sales of approximately 20 million copies, Rendell was a regular Sunday Times bestseller. Her sixty bestselling novels include police procedurals, some of which have been successfully adapted for TV, stand-alone psychological mysteries, and a third strand of crime novels under the pseudonym Barbara Vine. Very much abreast of her times, the Wexford books in particular often engaged with social or political issues close to her heart.Rendell won numerous awards, including the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger for 1976's best crime novel with A Demon in My View, a Gold Dagger award for Live FlesTrade ReviewOne of the best novelists writing today -- P.D. JamesRuth Rendell has quite simply transformed the genre of crime writing. She displays her peerless skill in blending the mundane, commonplace aspects of life with the potent murky impulses of desire and greed, obsession and fear * Sunday Times *Rendell never fails to come up trumps, and her millions of admirers will eagerly consume this offering as they have all the others * The Irish Times *A firm grasp of social concerns ensure that her novels are reflective of our own times, as well as hugely absorbing -- Louise Welsh * The Times *This is Rendell on cracking form, with the entire accoutrements one expects from her * The Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisA classic murder mystery from the Golden Age of detective fiction, written by genre legend Josephine Tey.Leys Physical Training College is famous for its excellent discipline and its spectacularly athletic students. Miss Lucy Pym, expert psychologist, is pleased and flattered to be invited to lecture there - even if the Olympian splendour of the students leaves her feeling just a little inadequate.But a nasty accident spoils the occasion, and suddenly Miss Pym must turn her intellect to the unpleasant suspicion that, among all these healthy young students, there lurks an incurably sick mind...Trade ReviewTey's style and her knack for creating bizarre characters are among the best in her field * New Yorker *Elegantly written, leisurely, amusing, penetrating ... with a thumping terminal surprise! * Saturday Review *

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Book SynopsisTHE ACCLAIMED TRILOGY FROM THE MASTER THRILLER WRITER''[Philip Kerr''s] Bernie Gunther novels are extraordinary'' Ian RankinThe first three in the Bernie Gunther series, March Violets, The Pale Criminal and A German Requiem are true crime classics that transport readers to the rotten heart of Nazi Berlin, and introduce the cynical, wise-cracking private eye who sought justice within it.MARCH VIOLETSBernhard Gunther is a private eye, specializing in missing persons. And in Hitler''s Berlin, he''s never short of work...Winter 1936. A man and his wife shot dead in their bed. The woman''s father, a millionaire industrialist, wants justice - and the priceless diamonds that disappeared along with his daughter''s life.As Bernie follows the trail into the very heart of Nazi Germany, he''s forced to confront a horrifying conspiracy. A trail that ends in the hell that is Dachau...THE PALE CRIMINALIt is 1938 and Bernie Gunther is back on the mean streets of Berlin with his new partner, Bruno Stahlecker, another ex-police officer. But on a seemingly straightforward stakeout, Bruno is killed, and Bernie suddenly finds himself tapped for a much bigger job.A serial sex murderer is killing Aryan teenage girls in Berlin - and what''s worse, he''s making utter fools of the police. Gunther is forced to accept a temporary post in Obergruppenfuehrer Reinhard Heydrich''s state Security Service, with a team of men underneath him tasked purely with hunting the killer.But can he trust his team any more than he can trust his superiors?A GERMAN REQUIEMIn the bitter winter of 1947 the Russian Zone is closing ever more tightly around Berlin.When an enigmatic Russian colonel asks Bernie Gunther to go to Vienna, where his ex-Kripo colleague Emil Becker faces a murder charge, Bernie doesn''t hesitate for long. Gunther is convinced that shooting an American Nazi-hunter is one crime he didn''t commit.But Vienna is not the peaceful haven Bernie expects it to be. Communism is the new enemy, and with the Nuremberg trials over, some strange alliances are being forged against the Red Menace - alignments that make many wartime atrocities look lily-white by comparison.

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Book Synopsis IT STARTED WITH A KISS... AND ENDED WITH MURDER. The darkly addictive new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of I Looked Away, Blood Sisters and My Husband''s Wife. --------------------------------------------------------In Poppy Page''s mind, there are two types of women in this world: those who are faithful to their husbands, and those who are not. Until now, Poppy has never questioned which she was. But when handsome, charming Matthew Gordon walks back into her life after almost two decades, that changes. Poppy makes a single mistake - and that mistake will be far more dangerous than she could imagine.Someone is going to pay for it with their life . . .--------------------------------------------------------WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT I MADE A MISTAKE''Absolutely brilliant...full of twists and turns that left me positively breathless'' Trade ReviewAbsolutely brilliant...full of twists and turns that left me positively breathless -- Angela MarsonsI loved this cleverly written tale of the devastating consequences of a wife's mistake -- Emma CurtisA python of a book; it draws you in gently at first and then the coils of tension begin to tighten and refuse to let you go...The emotional sucker punch at the end was unexpected and terrific -- Jane ShemiltWhat an addictive read! Extremely clever storytelling with terrific pace and real emotional depth too. I loved it -- Teresa DriscollReaders you are in for a tremendous treat - a roller-coaster of a ride that will leave you screaming, 'No!' on more than one occasion -- Carol WyerFans of Louise Doughty and Clare Mackintosh will love I Made a Mistake. Exhilarating and heartbreaking in equal measure, this story will stay with me for a long time -- Nuala EllwoodJane Corry is at the top of her game and her latest novel cements her place as one of the superstars of the genre. Addictive, dark, and all too believable, I Made A Mistake is her best yet -- Phoebe MorganI love all Jane Corry's books but this is her best yet. So clever, compulsive and twisty with a reveal I never saw coming. Superb -- Claire DouglasI Made a Mistake is an absorbing and gripping masterpiece, skilfully plotted with superbly drawn characters who will stay with you long after you've finished reading -- Kathryn CroftCorry often explores darker themes, and those living on the fringes of society and this book is no exception: gritty, real, interesting and clever. Highly recommended -- Gillian McAllisterBrilliant and chilling. Jane Corry knows exactly how to turn the screws in this compelling and hard-hitting story about the dark underbelly of respectable family life. Another outstanding novel by Jane Corry -- Kate FurnivallJane Corry nails it again. This is a page turner with depth, with characters and human conflicts that stay with you long after the novel is finished. Superb -- Kate HamerA convincing suburban thriller with a compelling sense of doom -- Ross GreenwoodWow! What an utterly tense and addictive thriller. It kept me riveted the whole way through!! -- Shalini BolandGripping and surprising, with killer twists that will keep you guessing right up until the end -- Ella Dove, commissioning editor for Good Housekeeping, Prima and RedStorytelling at its finest. An expertly plotted page turner with real emotional depth -- Victoria Selman

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Book Synopsis''Brilliant . . . I couldn''t stop reading'' Jo Spain ''Exceptional . . . Deeply chilling'' Jane Casey______________Des is a good husband, a good father - a good man.He encourages his wife''s artistic endeavours, reads bedtime stories to his children every night, and holds down a well-paid job.But appearances can be deceptive. His wife seems to be forgetting that her art is for his eyes only. Rumours at work are threatening his reputation as a devoted family man. And his kids don''t seem to need him as much as they once did. Des is afraid.Afraid of the world encroaching on his home.Afraid of past mistakes catching up with him.So afraid of losing control over his family that he is contemplating the unthinkable.A Good Father is a dark and gripping novel that takes you into the mind of a man on the edge.__________________''This intricately made novel marks tTrade ReviewThis intricately made novel marks the debut of a writer from whom, and of whom, we shall be hearing much in coming times -- John BanvilleCaptivating . . . Readers will come for the premise and stay for its clever unpacking. What makes an ordinary man kill his family? In this multifaceted story, we come close to comprehending the incomprehensible * Irish Times *A marvellous book, sharp and chilling, compelling and frightening. I gulped it down in hours . . . I have never read anything like it -- Carlo GéblerA great read, it's gripping, at times disturbing -- Miriam O'Callaghan * RTÉ Radio 1 *Psychologists always identify the cowardice of such men, who would hurt the ones who love and depend on them the most. Talbot absolutely nails this element, deftly unpicking the psychology of this damaged father * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisThe first Thora Gudmundsdottir novel from Yrsa Sigurdardottir - ''Queen of Icelandic crime''.''Yrsa is one of the most exciting new voices in the crime thriller world.'' - Peter JamesA young man is found brutally murdered, his eyes gouged out. A student of Icelandic history in Reykjavik, he came from a wealthy German family who do not share the police''s belief that his drug dealer murdered him. Attorney Thora Gudmundsdottir is commissioned by his mother to find out the truth, with the help - and hindrance - of boorish ex-policeman Matthew Reich. Their investigations into his research take them deep into a grisly world of torture and witchcraft both past and present, as they draw ever closer to a killer gripped by a dangerous obsession...Trade ReviewI can see why so many people are enthusiastic about Yrsa's work. It's very engaging, fresh and exciting. -- James PattersonA grisly chiller set in the depths of winter ... Her mystery is absorbing and, untypically, instead of the usual gloomy middle-aged man, her sleuth is a young woman ... It's an accomplished debut, with credible characters and a personable heroine. * Sunday Telegraph *Dark, deep and icy as an Icelandic fjord; this is a rich and rewarding debut novel of ancient mysteries and very modern murder. -- Mark BillinghamAn intricately plotted tale that keeps the reader guessing whodunit, or indeed whether it was murder at all, right until the very end. * Sunday Express *

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Book Synopsis''Every new Agatha Raisin escapade is a total joy'' ASHLEY JENSEN''No wonder she''s been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime'' MAIL ON SUNDAYAgatha and her assistant, Toni, are driving to their friend Bill Wong''s wedding, thinking of nothing more than what the beautiful bride will be wearing when a terrified young man comes running down the country lane towards them wearing. . . nothing at all.The encounter leads them to become embroiled with a naturist group, a disappearing corpse, fantasy games, witchcraft, an ice cream empire, intrigue and murder. In the meantime, Agatha''s hectic life swirls along at dizzying pace, her private detective agency as busy as ever and her private affairs in turmoil - old loves to contend with and a new suitor on the scene. Then she finds herself in deadly danger when she begins to close in on a suspected murderer and the sinister nature of the ice cream business leads her to a chilling conclusion.

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Book SynopsisWhen a man''s body is discovered at the base of some cliffs in the small resort town of Hari Cove, the police at first suspect a tragic accident, a misstep that cost the man his life. However, when the victim is found to have been a former policeman and that the cause of death was actually carbon monoxide poisoning, they begin a murder investigation. Manabu Yukawa, the physicist known as ''Detective Galileo'', is in Hari Cove to speak at a conference on a planned underwater mining operation, and finds himself drawn into the case. Did the murder have something to do with the fight of the small community to rebuild itself, or does it have its roots in the town''s history? In a series of twists as complex and surprising as any in Higashino''s brilliant, critically acclaimed work, Yukawa uncovers the hidden relationship behind the tragic events that led to this murder.Trade ReviewAn engaging mystery full of surprising shifts and twists from one of Japan's most successful thriller writers. Highly recommended. * Irish Independent *A Midsummer's Equation satisfyingly builds on the achievement of his [Higashino's] earlier works and adds some new elements . . . the novel throws off a series of jaw-dropping narrative twists . . . has some surprising resonances with the golden age of British crime fiction but there's nothing wrong with that. What is fully in place, however, is the narrative acumen that has distinguished early entries in the series. -- Barry Forshaw * Independent *

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Book Synopsis''A beguiling author who interweaves past and present'' The TimesAn excavation at the lost gardens of Earlsacre Hall is halted when a skeleton is discovered beneath a 300-year-old stone plinth - the remains of a woman who was buried alive. But even when more skeletons are found in the walled garden, DS Wesley Peterson has more pressing matters on his hands. A man has been stabbed to death at a holiday park and the only clue to his identity is a newspaper cutting about the restoration of Earlsacre Hall gardens.Local solicitor Brian Willerby is eager to talk to Wesley about the case, but before Brian can reveal his secret he is killed.What is it about Earlsacre Hall that leads people to murder? And what is the sinister secret of the bone garden? For someone close to Wesley, time is running out . . .Whether you''ve read the whole series, or are discovering Kate Ellis''s DI Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this isTrade ReviewA beguiling author who interweaves past and present * The Times *A beguiling author who interweaves past and present * The Times *Star author. Unputdownable * Bookseller *Star author. Unputdownable * Bookseller *A gripping read * Best Magazine *A gripping read * Best Magazine *Skilfully weaves crimes of past and present into a seamless narrative * The Scotsman *Traditional detective fiction with a historical twist - fans will love it * Scotland on Sunday *Skilfully weaves crimes of past and present into a seamless narrative * The Scotsman *Traditional detective fiction with a historical twist - fans will love it * Scotland on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisSamuel Carver makes bad accidents happen to worse people. He''s very good at his job. But nobody''s perfect. And one of Carver''s targets has got away.Now the world faces a new age of conflict driven by religious fanaticism. In Russia, the government have admitted they no longer know the whereabouts of one hundred small-scale ''suitcase nukes''. In Afghanistan and Kosovo, ruthless terrorists plot the downfall of their hated enemies. In Texas, a dying billionaire plots his own personal Armageddon.And Carver can do nothing to stop them. He was beaten and tortured and left to die, but Samuel Carver is a hard man to kill. When he awakes in a Swiss sanatorium from weeks of torment, he discovers that the woman he loves has vanished. Somehow he must find the strength to track her down.Carver''s hunt will take him deep into the heart of a conspiracy in which the lives of millions are at stake. He must confront an agonizing choice between his duty and his heart, and fTrade ReviewJason Bourne meets From Russia With Love. If you like breakneck pace, glamorous settings, a never-say-die hero, and the stakes bursting with end-of-world consequences, this one is for you -- Andrew GrossSamuel Carver is a classic flawed hero to match all the greats... and we want more of him! * crimesquad.com *Tense, terse and fraught with anxiety, The Survivor makes you zip through the pages as if your life depended upon reaching the conclusion before your heart gives out * shotsmag.co.uk *Another stunner... The pace of the narrative and the twists of the storyline make for compulsive and vastly entertaining reading -- Wilbur SmithIrresistible. Smart and fast paced, with everything you want from an international spy thriller -- Chelsea Cain, author of Heartsick

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Book SynopsisIF YOUR BEST FRIEND WAS IN DANGER, YOU''D TRY TO SAVE HER...WOULDN''T YOU?''Dark and addictive, twisty and twisted...phenomenal!'' Andrea Mara, author of ALL HER FAULTAre you ready to play?Best friends Cleo and Rachel spend their evenings pretending to be people they''re not, inventing elaborate stories to escape the monotony of their real lives. It''s all harmless fun - until they play the game on the wrong person...It''s your move now.Five years later, Cleo is still struggling to come to terms with the night that destroyed her friendship with Rachel and almost cost them their lives. And then she receives a text: Rachel is missing. Have you seen her?There''s only one person to blame.Wracked with guilt for failing Rachel the last time they were in danger, Cleo races to find her friend. But could the past be repeating itself? Only this time, they''re caught up in a fTrade ReviewEdge-of-your-seat suspense... Utterly gripping * Emma Curtis, author of INVITE ME IN *Dark and addictive, twisty and twisted...phenomenal! * Andrea Mara, author of ALL HER FAULT *A stomach-lurching dive into friendship, longing and betrayal, with pitch-perfect pacing, cracking suspense and twists that keep on twisting! * Philippa East, author of LITTLE WHITE LIES *As twisty as hell with a plot that accelerates at 120mph. Highlighting the danger of not knowing who you are really talking to behind a screen on social media . . . simply brilliant! * Nikki Smith, author of LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO *Dark, gritty...A really great thriller and really original concept. * Holly Craig, author of THE SHALLOWS *

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Book SynopsisTwo can keep a secret - if one of them is dead...Inspector Archie Penrose invites crime writer Josephine Tey down to his family home in Cornwall so she can recover from a recent trauma. Josephine welcomes the opportunity, but her hopes of experiencing a period of rest are dashed when her arrival coincides with the mysterious death of a young man in the village. Soon, more people are going missing or turning up dead, and Josphine and Archie begin to suspect the involvement a cold-blooded murderer.As Josephine and Archie try to unravel the mystery, they begin to see death as an angel with two faces - one gazing at the violence in the present, the other looking back to the crimes hidden in the past.

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Book SynopsisTragedy at Law follows a rather self-important High Court judge, Mr Justice Barber, as he moves from town to town presiding over cases in the Southern England circuit. When an anonymous letter arrives for Barber, warning of imminent revenge, he dismisses it as the work of a harmless lunatic. But then a second letter appears, followed by a poisoned box of the judge''s favourite chocolates, and he begins to fear for his life. Enter barrister and amateur detective Francis Pettigrew, a man who was once in love with Barber''s wife and has never quite succeeded in his profession - can he find out who is threatening Barber before it is too late?

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Book SynopsisA scientist nobody liked has been murdered on the Arctic ice . . .''A brilliant modern cosy.'' Ian Moore, author of Death and Croissants''Fun ahoy!'' Orlando Murrin, author of Knife Skills for Beginners''How can something so damn cold be so damn cosy?'' Oskar Jensen, author of Helle and Death''Clever, quirky and irresistibly fun.'' Jessica Bull, author of Jane Austen Investigates''Written so beautifully, the queerness shines through.'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reader reviewMeet the Blanchard twins:Rose is practical, sharp, and protective. Specialty: manta rays.Finn is too sweet and kind for his own good. Specialty: sharks.Rose and Finn are looking for sharks on the sea bed. When they return to their ship, the Dauphin, they make a terrible discovery: their colleague has been murdered on the ice with a harpoon that should never have been there. Everyone else on the luxury cruise ship the wealthy passengers, the researchers hard at work, the tight-knit crew and their strangely calm Captain were all aboard at the time, so they are all under suspicion. Rose and Finn were the only two at sea, and they''re miles from anywhere, so it's up to them to investigate.On scientific problems, they are a brilliant team but can the Blanchard twins solve a murder?''Crisp and cosy . . . like Murder She Wrote in the Arctic with sharks!!!'' Kitty Murphy, author of Death in HeelsREADERS LOVE DEATH ON ICE:''Think Christie but funnier, with more heart . . . I love a cosy murder mystery and this was one of the best.'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Delicious.'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''I loved this book.'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐''An amazing Who Done It that will genuinely keep you guessing! A fantastically diverse cast of characters! And the charming serene atmosphere of the artic! What more could you want!'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book SynopsisINSPIRATION FOR THE THRILLING AMAZON PRIME SERIES, JACK RYAN, FROM THE NO. 1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR''A brilliant, enthralling read, I couldn''t put this book down'' 5***** Reader Review''Action from the start right through to the final pages'' 5***** Reader Review______The spies are being spied on . . .When Jack Ryan Jr, on a highly secret, off-the-books Campus mission in Turkey, discovers that his team''s every move is monitored, he knows that US intelligence has been fatally compromised.Back in the States, President Ryan watches in horror as China''s weakened leader bends to a war-mongering general intent on turning the East into a bloodbath. At the same time, America comes under cyber-attack from China, crippling government and military infrastructure.President Ryan needs to act: a covert team must go in and neutralise these threats, and the Campus is the perfect fit.Except a sinister figure known only as the Center is watching the Campus and Jack Ryan Jr''s every move.Any wrong step might just be their last . . .______''Exhilarating. No other novelist is giving so full a picture of modern conflict'' Sunday TimesPraise for Tom Clancy:''Clancy creates not only compelling characters but frighteningly topical situations and heart-stopping action'' Washington Post''He constantly taps the current world situation for its imminent dangers and spins them into an engrossing tale'' New York Times Book Review

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Book SynopsisWho knew being a writer for hire could be so dramatic? Join Veronica in her fourth adventure as writer-turned sleuth!When writer for hire Veronica Blackstone is asked to write the copy for The Friends of Hyde Park''s annual house and garden tour, she never expects to get involved in a violent death. But that''s exactly what happens when famous author Landon Donte is found dead in his study during a dinner to highlight the tour. With his career on the wane, and apparently having deleted his last manuscript, it looks as though Landon committed suicide. But Veronica isn''t so sure. She discovers that left-handed Landon was killed by someone right-handed and becomes convinced someone murdered him. It''s true that Landon had many enemies: his rival and neighbor, bestselling romance author RL Lincoln; his put-upon assistant, Brad; even his own daughter! But are any of them capable of murder? Veronica is determined to uncover the truth . . .

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Book SynopsisFormer MI5 agent Harry Tate is drawn back into the field when an old friend goes missing - and discovers the stakes could not be higher.Harry Tate has one rule: you don''t abandon your friends. When he learns that former colleague Rik Ferris has had a breakdown and disappeared, allegedly in possession of highly sensitive secrets from MI6''s archives, he agrees to look for him and, if possible, bring him back in. But where to begin? Rik could be anywhere in the world.All Harry knows is, if he doesn''t find Rik, others will be sent out instead. And they won''t play by the same rules.What Harry doesn''t know is that Rik is being held prisoner and tortured for information relating to a high-level mole in the British establishment. If he doesn''t tell his captors what he knows, it will result in a devastating cyber attack designed to bring the UK to its knees.

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Book SynopsisNora heads home to Chateau in search of a fresh start, but her arrival comes at a time of social unrest that threatens to uncover long-hidden secrets.Nora Best is done running. She''s heading to her hometown of Chateau, to the grand Quail House, to stay with her mother and claim the great American privilege of starting over. But she might find it is hard to start over when the past is catching up . . .The night Nora arrives in Chateau, a white police officer shoots and kills Robert Evans, a young black man. The officer in question is Nora''s school sweetheart, Alden Tydings. What really happened that night? Did Alden act in self-defense as he claims? Robert is the nephew of Bobby Evans, a man whose murder during the race protests of 1967 was never solved. Bobby and his sister, Grace, used to work at Quail House before Nora was born and, as tensions in Chateau rise, Nora begins to uncover secrets within her family home that could upend the lives

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Book SynopsisPolice Chief Josie Gray''s life is complicated when sparks and bullets begin to fly after her small town in Texas is overrun by a community wishing to live off grid. The residents of the small town of Artemis are suspicious when a community called The Drummers moves into a local abandoned church. Their leader, Gideon, claims their aim is simple: to live peacefully off the grid without government interference. But when local power substations are sabotaged and the whole of West Texas loses electricity, all fingers point to them. Forced to intervene, Police Chief Josie Gray and her team try to enter the church only for gunshots to be exchanged. Inside the church one young girl is killed, with Gideon claiming Josie''s stray bullet hit her.Was Josie responsible? Did one of The Drummers murder the girl and use Josie as a patsy? Were The Drummers responsible for the power outage? As Josie identifies an ever-widening pool of suspects, she learns of a shocking connection reaching far beyond West Texas.

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Book SynopsisCrime blogger and radio host Kit Doyle goes undercover and into danger - in the second of this intriguing crime series.17-year-old Jessica is missing. There are no clues as to why she disappeared apart from the note she left behind: I love you. Goodbye forever. It turns out that Jessica is not the first teenager to have gone missing, nor the first to have left exactly the same note.With a personal family connection to the missing girl, crime blogger and radio host Kit Doyle is determined to find out what happened to her. To do so, she must go undercover as a teenage runaway herself. Out on the streets, Kit is about to enter a violent, unpredictable world where life is held cheap and into the clutches of a dangerous psychopath

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Book SynopsisBrutal acts of firestarting have ravaged the Peak District, and now a new wave of moorland infernos sweeps across the national park. For DS Ben Cooper, the blazes are best left to the firefighters, even with the arsonists still at large.But when an intruder breaks into an abandoned pub, Cooper is on the case - and he swiftly unearths a pair of grim surprises. The first is evidence of a years-old double homicide. And the second is a corpse, newly dead...What links the three deaths? Where are the missing bodies? Who is responsible - and how do the raging fires fit in? For Cooper and his rival DI Diane Fry, it''s the most twisted investigation of their lives... and with an ingenious killer pulling the strings, it could also be their last.Drenched in atmosphere and danger, Stephen Booth''s relentless new thriller builds to a shock finale that will catch even the most seasoned suspense readers off guard.

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Book Synopsis***Discover your next reading obsession with Alex Gray''s bestselling Scottish detective series*** ***Don''t miss the latest from Alex Gray. Book 20 in the Lorimer series, QUESTIONS FOR A DEAD MAN, is out now and Book 21, OUT OF DARKNESS, is available to pre-order.***Whether you''ve read them all or whether this is your first Lorimer novel, KEEP THE MIDNIGHT OUT is perfect if you love Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves WHAT THEY''RE SAYING ABOUT THE LORIMER SERIES:''Warm-hearted, atmospheric'' ANN CLEEVES''Relentless and intriguing'' PETER MAY''Move over Rebus'' DAILY MAIL''Exciting, pacey, authentic'' ANGELA MARSONS''Superior writing'' THE TIMES''Immensely exciting and atmospheric'' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH_______________ Two murders, twenty years apart. Time for revenge . . . When the body of a red-hair

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Book SynopsisJacqui Rose was born in Manchester and grew up in a small village in South Yorkshire. Always a daydreamer, her love of books and writing started as a child. She is now the author of over a dozen gritty bestselling British crime novels, including The Streets. Jacqui lives in a quiet part of England with her children along with lots of dogs and cats and horses.

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Book SynopsisFiona Cummins is an award-winning former journalist and a graduate of the Faber Academy Writing a Novel course. Rattle, her debut novel, received widespread critical acclaim from authors and reviewers, was the subject of a huge international auction and has been translated into several languages. She has since written bestsellers The Collector, The Neighbour, When I Was Ten and Into the Dark, in which she introduces DC Saul Anguish, a brilliant young detective with a dark past. Fiona lives with her family in Essex.

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Book SynopsisWhen a trench becomes a grave, two unlikely sleuths unearth a killer's secrets.When an argument turns deadly in the peaceful village of Stanton Parva, the police are quick are quick to declare it an accident. But landowner Anthony Stanton and headteacher Lyn Blackthorn aren't so easily convinced. With too many suspicious details left unexplained, they decide to take matters into their own hands.As Ant and Lyn begin their investigation, they uncover old grudges, deep-seated rivalries, and hidden secrets buried within the village. What started as a simple case quickly turns deadly, as the body count rises and the real killer remains in the shadows.Will Ant and Lyn uncover the murderer's identity before they become the next victims?Set in the picturesque Norfolk countryside, Dead Man's Trench is a cozy mystery full of twists, memorable characters, and gripping suspense that will leave you guessing until the final page.__________________________________________________Praise for the Norfolk Cozy Mystery Series:????? I highly recommend this book.????? A fun mystery.????? Very enjoyable read.????? An excellent author whose work is quite more-ish.????? Mr Finney is a talented British writer who creates a good mystery????? I enjoyed this book????? I highly recommend this book to other mystery readers.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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