Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisIncomer Gloria French is at first welcomed in the Cotswold village of Piddlebury. She seems like a do-gooder par excellence, raising funds for the church and caring for the elderly. But she has a bad habit of borrowing things and not giving them back, so when she is discovered dead, poisoned by a bottle of elderberry wine, folk in the village don''t mourn her passing too intently.Parish councillor Jerry Tarrant hires Agatha Raisin to track down the murderer. But the village is creepy and secretive and the residents don''t seem to want Agatha to find who the murderer is, and Agatha''s investigations are hampered by the emotional upset of finding her ex, James Lacey, has fallen in love with young detective Toni Gilmour.And now the murderer is targeting Agatha!Praise for the Agatha Raisin series:''M.C. Beaton''s imperfect heroine is an absolute gem'' Publishers Weekly''Clever red herrings and some wicked unfinished buTrade Review'The detective novels of M C Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status.' -- Anne Robinson The Times Agatha is like Miss Marple with a drinking problem, a pack-a-day habit and major man lust. In fact, I think she could be living my dream life. Entertainment Weekly

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

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Book Synopsis''A master of the genre'' The TimesThe Tungrians have no sooner returned to Rome than they find themselves tasked with a very different mission to their desperate exploits in Parthia. Ordered to cross the river Rhenus into barbarian Germany and capture a tribal priestess who may be the most dangerous person on the empire''s northern border, they are soon subject to the machinations of an old enemy who will stop at nothing to sabotage their plans before they have even set foot on the river''s eastern bank. But after their Roman enemy is neutralised they face a challenge greater still. With two of the Bructeri tribe''s greatest treasures in their hands they must regain Roman territory by crossing the unforgiving wilderness that was the graveyard of Roman imperial strategy two hundred years before. And capture by the Bructeri''s vengeful chieftain and his warband can only end in one way - a horrific sacrificial death on the tribe''s altarTrade ReviewA master of the genre - The TimesThis is fast-paced and gripping "read-through-the-night" fiction, with marvellous characters and occasional moments of dark humour. Some authors are better historians than they are storytellers. Anthony Riches is brilliant at both. - Conn IgguldenA damn fine read . . . fast-paced, action-packed. - Ben KaneStands head and shoulders above a crowded field . . . . real, live characters act out their battles on the northern borders with an accuracy of detail and depth of raw emotion that is a rare combination. - Manda Scott

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Book SynopsisSuper sleuth Brunetti again patrols Venice''s dark canal ways in this Italian crimefest. Once again, Brunetti proves he''s more than a match for the local mob' MirrorElegant, effortless . . . another great Brunetti outing'' The IndependentWhen Commissario Brunetti is visited by an investigator from the Carabinieri looking into the murder of a truck company owner, he is intrigued. Not long before his death, Stefano Ranzato had been caught hauling goods illegally for the Mafia, and was pressured into becoming an informant. The Carabinieri suspect that the Mafia killed Stefano to ensure his silence, but what did the man discover that cost him his life?The stakes are high and the investigation complex as Brunetti is drawn into working with a rival Italian police department and when another person connected to the case is murdered, Brunetti must race against time to uncover the truth before it happens again.[A] brilliant seriesTrade Review[A] brilliant series * Seven, Sunday Telegraph *Super sleuth Brunetti again patrols Venice's dark canal ways in this Italian crimefest. Once again, Brunetti proves he's more than a match for the local mob * Mirror *The very first sentences of About Face showcase Donna Leon's elegant, effortless style ... another great Brunetti outing ... The details of home-cooked meals and family arguments, alongside a never-ending flow of crime, add depth to Leon's stories and are what makes her characters so believable and, in turn, her books so readable * The Independent *A thoroughly enjoyable and atmospheric read * Waterstones Books Quarterly *The Brunetti series is dependably enjoyable ... There are fine scenes of sustained dialogue, notably an exchange between Brunetti and the Count, his father-in-law, over a pair of portraits, that deserves to be called Jamesian * TLS *

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Book Synopsis“One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.” —The GuardianA gripping domestic tragedy starring Inspector Maigret and set in Simenon’s very own neighborhood“One by one the lighted windows went dark. The silhouette of the dead man could still be seen through the frosted glass like a Chinese shadow puppet. A taxi pulled up. It wasn't the public prosecutor yet. A young woman crossed the courtyard with hurried steps, leaving a whiff of perfume in her wake.”Summoned to the dimly-lit Place des Vosges one night, where he sees shadowy figures at apartment windows, Maigret uncovers a tragic story of desperate lives, unhappy families, addiction and a terrible, fatal greed.Trade ReviewPraise for Georges Simenon:“One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.” —The Guardian “These Maigret books are as timeless as Paris itself.” —The Washington Post “Maigret ranks with Holmes and Poirot in the pantheon of fictional detective immortals.” —People “I love reading Simenon. He makes me think of Chekhov.” —William Faulkner “The greatest of all, the most genuine novelist we have had in literature.” —André Gide “A supreme writer . . . Unforgettable vividness.” —The Independent (London) “Superb . . . The most addictive of writers . . . A unique teller of tales.” —The Observer (London) “Compelling, remorseless, brilliant.” —John Gray “A truly wonderful writer . . . Marvelously readable—lucid, simple, absolutely in tune with the world he creates.” —Muriel Spark “A novelist who entered his fictional world as if he were a part of it.”lle —Peter Ackroyd “Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century.” —John Banville"Gem-hard soul-probes . . . not just the world's bestselling detective series, but an imperishable literary legend . . . he exposes secrets and crimes not by forensic wizardry, but by the melded powers of therapist, philosopher and confessor" ― Times (London)"Strangely comforting . . . so many lovely bistros from the Paris of mid-20th C. The corpses are incidental, it's the food that counts." ― Margaret Atwood"One of the greatest writers of the 20th century . . . no other writer can set up a scene as sharply and with such economy as Simenon does . . . the conjuring of a world, a place, a time, a set of characters - above all, an atmosphere." ― Financial Times"Gripping . . . richly rewarding . . . You'll quickly find yourself obsessing about his life as you tackle each mystery in turn."-- Stig Abell ― The Sunday Times (London)

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Book SynopsisIn the aftermath of a preschooler''s baffling abduction, the child''s abrupt return one week later with no memory of what happened triggers a nightmarish reality for her mother. Original. (First edition in print). 50,000 first printing.Trade Review‘A nail-biting psychological thriller … maintains high suspense to the very end’ Publishers Weekly ‘Superbly crafted … will keep you up all night’ LizLovesBooks.com ‘A novel that had me gripped from its opening paragraph … It certainly had me wanting more … An excellent novel’ TheWelshLibrarian.blogspot.com ‘A story that will grab your attention from the start … It will certainly appeal to any fans of psychological thrillers’ ByTheLetterBookReviews.co.uk

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestseller from the author of Freedom and The CorrectionsPip Tyler doesn't know who she is. She knows that her real name is Purity, that she's saddled with student debt and a reclusive mother, but there are few clues as to who her father is or how she'll ever have a normal life. Then she meets Andreas Wolf internet outlaw, charismatic provocateur, a man who deals in secrets and might just be able to help her solve the mystery of her origins.Trade Review‘Dazzling’ Guardian ‘Furiously funny’ Telegraph ‘Superbly readable, it is the work of a novelist at the height of his powers … This new work by an American master of realism has novelistic pleasures in abundance’ Sunday Times ‘Purity makes the most compelling reading, and Franzen reveals himself here to be even more a master than ever’ Evening Standard ‘It has kept me up every night for a week, and now that I’m done, I’ll miss its wit, its messed-up characters and its emotional complexity’ Financial Times ‘Franzen’s most fleet-footed, least self-conscious and most intimate novel yet … Franzen has added a new octave to his voice’ New York Times

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Book SynopsisSecret deals, powerful men and murder - One Way or Another is a chillingly prophetic work. The Knight and Death features a nameless (and apparently terminally ill) detective investigating the murder of a lawyer believed to have been killed by a mysterious revolutionary group. The detective thinks otherwise and sets out to prove that powerful business interests were involved, with the revolutionary group invented to cover up the real reasons behind the murder.

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestselling debut novel from the master of the modern espionage thriller, James Swallow.____________________Marc Dane was always the MI6 field agent stuck at home behind a computer screen, one step away from the action. But when a brutal attack on his team leaves Marc as the only survivor - and with the shocking knowledge that there are traitors inside MI6 - he's forced into the front line.Worse still, every shred of evidence seems to point towards Marc as the perpetrator of the attack. Accused of betraying his country, and with no one left to trust, he is forced to rely on the elusive Rubicon group and their operative Lucy Keyes. Ex US Army, Lucy also knows what it's like to be an outsider, and she's got the field skills that Marc is sorely lacking.But Marc will soon realise he is just a pawn in a monstrous conspiracy. A terrorist attack is coming, one bigger and more deadly than has ever been seen before. And with the eyes of the security establishment elsewhere, only Marc and Lucy can stop the attack before it's too late.A brilliant, white-knuckle thrill ride, NOMAD is the book that launched the global bestselling Marc Dane series - perfect for fans of I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes, Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz, Mark Dawson's John Milton, and Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp.____________________10 REASONS TO READ JAMES SWALLOW:'Frighteningly credible' - BEN AARONOVITCH'Unputdownable' - WILBUR SMITH'Fast-moving' - DAILY MAIL'Enjoyable' - DAILY EXPRESS'Exciting' - THE SUN'Ultra fast-paced' - CHOICE 'Globe-trotting' - GUARDIAN 'Explosive' - IRISH EXAMINER'Distinctly Bondian' - MORNING STAR'Read it now' - SYDNEY MORNING HERALDTrade ReviewRight on the money, bang up to date, Nomad is a scorching romp for grown up boys. A killer of a thriller -- Jon Wise * Weekend Sport *Nomad is a debut spy thriller from a veteran science-fiction author who delivers his (...) enjoyable narrative at a frenzied pace, with plenty of narrow escapes for reluctant hero Dane -- Jon Coates * Daily Express *Ferociously paced thriller, a high-concept tale of the solitary hero on the run, bristling with technology and frequently erupting into lethal violence...the author's background in scriptwriting and videogames means that the tale is slick and sharply focused... -- Declan Burke * The Irish Times *Followers of Jason Bourne or those who are familiar with I Am Pilgrim and / or homeland will agree that this book is a rattling good yarn. Well written with plenty of cliffhangers and thoroughly enjoyable * Woman's Way *Exciting Thriller * The Sun *Nomad is a globe-trotting espionage thriller (...) and very enjoyable * The Guardian (Review) *Dane stands out as an unusual action hero... Breathless and thrilling, sharply plotted and almost painfully topical, it's a gripping story that does everything a spy thriller should. * Track of Words Blog *There's only one word to sum up Nomad and that word is Wow! Wow! and Wow! again. Swallow hits the page running and you never stop, from the panoramic opening scenes in Barcelona through to the military operation in Dunkirk and on through the rest of the novel * The Crime Warp Book Blog *This is edge of the seat stuff that is terrifyingly real in places and pushes the boundaries of reality in others, not unlike most high-action thrillers. If you're a fan of the novels of Lee Child, Frederik Forsyth and Chris Ryan or you can't wait for the new Bond film and love the TV series 24, then this is for you * Closer magazine (Fred Olson Cruises magazine) *Highly sophisticated and presented with incredible detail that it is highly credible...The narrative is very fluent and moves at speed, the reader immediately dragged into the action and despite the number of scenarios, locations, characters and events introduced rapidly in the opening chapters, Swallow's confident and clear style ensures it's accessible and easy to follow rather than overwhelming * Bibliomaniac UK Book Blog *Nomad is utterly gripping, cleverly plotted and one hell of a thriller. Highly Recommended * Liz Loves Books Blog *James Swallow describes a character who is likeable and who is just like Bond (...) It is a good story and the author gets you to keep turning the pages in order to know what happens next -- David Prever at Drivetime * BBC Radio Oxford *I think I've found my new favourite action adventure author and main character! (...)The writing and action is fast paced keeping you on the edge of your seat and barely letting you catch your breath before the next bit of excitement is upon you (...) An excellent book and a really enjoyable read, I'm already looking forward to the next book which will be out some time next year * Nerdish Mum Book Blog *A gripping finale. Highly recommended * Breakaway Reviewers *Swallow keeps the tension taut and the reader guessing until the end, all the while delivering a topical story. In Dane he has an appealing protagonist in what is sure to be a successful series -- Christopher Herde * Courier Mail (Brisbane) *A rattling good plot * Herald Sun (Melbourne) *A ripper of a thriller! * 7AD New Zealand Radio *Swallow is an experienced scriptwriter who has a fine eye for action scenes and knows how to keep his story moving quickly throughout its almost 500 pages... With its brisk plot, frequent cinematic action and constantly shifting viewpoint Nomad is sure to appeal to fans of Jason Bourne. Read it now before the inevitable movie arrives * Sydney Morning Herald *The climax, as Dane and Keyes fight to prevent an ingenious and deeply unpleasant attack from taking place right in the heart of New York, was one that became genuinely impossible to put down. Nomad is a fast-paced, tautly written thriller with an extremely engaging main character who can both think and shoot his way out of trouble * Crime Review *When I saw this was being compared to I Am Pilgrim I was a little bit dubious, but it actually is a really great book with a gripping plot and great characters. I can see this novel being a huge hit because it has everything a great crime thriller should. It does live up to the comparison with other great novels of its type and it will have readers gripped from page 1 * Nudge Books - Second Opinion *' A BAFTA nominated video game writer, Swallow is well versed in crafting exciting, pacey and high-concept stories. Marc Dane is a clever and likeable hero and, like Jason Bourne before him, readers will be rooting for him all the way.' * Culture Fly *

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Book SynopsisA 50th anniversary edition of the classic crime novel that inspired the Oscar-winning film starring Sidney Poitier.''They call me Mr Tibbs!''A small southern town in the 1960s. A musician found dead on the highway. It''s no surprise when white detectives arrest a black man for the murder. What is a surprise is that the black man - Virgil Tibbs - is himself a skilled homicide detective from California, whom inexperienced Chief Gillespie reluctantly recruits to help with the case. Faced with mounting local hostility and a police force that seems determined to see him fail, it isn''t long before Tibbs - trained in karate and aikido - will have to fight not just for justice, but also for his own safety.The inspiration for the Academy Award-winning film starring Sidney Poitier, this iconic crime novel is a psychologically astute examination of racial prejudice, an atmospheric depiction of the American South in the sixties, and a brilliant, suspense-fTrade ReviewPenguin has picked the perfect time to re-issue John Ball's brilliant debut story ... This is a psychologically astute examination of racial prejudice, an atmospheric depiction of the times and a brilliant, suspense-filled read ... If you haven't read it, do so * Crime Review *Compelling * The Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisWho is killing monks in a great medieval abbey famed for its library - and why? Brother William of Baskerville is sent to find out, taking with him the assistant who later tells the tale of his investigations. Eco's celebrated story combines elements of detective fiction, metaphysical thriller, post-modernist puzzle and historical novel in one of the few twentieth-century books which can be described as genuinely unique.The Name of the Rose was made into a film in 1986, starring Sean Connery and Christian Slater and directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud.Trade Review'[It} confirms Eco as an outstanding writer of philosophy dressed as fiction' -- Stephanie Merrit * Observer *'Eco does something rare: he makes ideas moving' -- Michael Pye * Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisAfter a successful career writing for radio, R.D. Wingfield turned his attention to fiction and created the character of D.I. Jack Frost, who has featured in the titles A Touch of Frost, Frost at Christmas, Night Frost, Hard Frost, Winter Frost and A Killing Frost. The series has been adapted for television as the perennially popular A Touch of Frost starring David Jason. R.D. Wingfield died in 2007.Trade ReviewAffecting, frightening and, especially in Frost's dialogue, extremely amusing * Listener *A crisp, confident, ripely-characterized novel; exciting, ingenious, roundly satisfying * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisTHE CHILLING SEVENTH NOVEL IN THE BESTSELLING FRIEDA KLEIN SERIES ''Menacing'' GuardianSomeone is coming for Frieda, someone deadly . . .Psychotherapist Frieda Klein has believed serial killer Dean Reeve escaped justice for years. Despite what the police say, she is convinced he''s still alive. And finally she has the evidence. Because under her floor is the rotting corpse of an ex-policeman who she''d hired to hunt for Reeve.Now the police have to take her seriously.It''s clear that whoever did this is very dangerous and must be found, but it''s also clear that they''re not finished with Frieda - or those she loves most.As Frieda is about to learn - it''s always darkest just before the dawn . . .''Addictive'' Daily Express''Nail-biting'' Marie Claire''Ingenious'' Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewStop what you are doing and start [reading] right now . . . Dean is back. (Or is he?) -- SAM BAKER IS READING * The Pool *Clear your diaries, crime fans, the latest Nicci French is out . . . the seventh in the series, husband-and-wife writing team throw in surprises right up to the last page * Good Housekeeping *

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Book SynopsisA new land has been discovered to the east. Winterkeep is a land of miracles, a democratic republic run by people who like each other, where people speak to telepathic sea creatures, adopt telepathic foxes as pets, and fly across the sky in ships attached to balloons. But when Bitterblue''s envoys to Winterkeep drown under suspicious circumstances, she and Giddon and her half-sister, Hava, set off to discover the truth--putting both Bitterblue''s life and Giddon''s heart to the test when Bitterblue is kidnapped. Giddon believes she has drowned, leaving him and Hava to solve the mystery of what''s wrong in Winterkeep.Lovisa Cavenda is the teenage daughter of a powerful Scholar and Industrialist (the opposing governing parties) with a fire inside her that is always hungry, always just nearly about to make something happen. She is the key to everything, but only if she can figure out what''s going on before anyone else, and only if she''s willing to transcend the person she''s Trade ReviewWinterkeep is a book of sparkling charm, complex emotions and steely themes. -- Jamie Buxton * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisAccra is the perfect setting for noir fiction. The telling of such tales—ones involving or suggesting death, with a protagonist who is flawed or devious, driven by either a self-serving motive or one of the seven deadly sins—is woven into the fabric of the city’s everyday life . . . Accra is more than just a capital city. It is a microcosm of Ghana. It is a virtual map of the nation’s soul, a complex geographical display of its indigenous presence, the colonial imposition, declarations of freedom, followed by coups d’état, decades of dictatorship, and then, finally, a steady march forward into a promising future . . . Much like Accra, these stories are not always what they seem. The contributors who penned them know too well how to spin a story into a web . . . It is an honour and a pleasure to share them and all they reveal about Accra, a city of allegories, one of the most dynamic and diverse places in the world.

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Book SynopsisHe''s the real deal...'' JOE HILLAnother read in one sitting from the best-selling Swanson.' METROA brilliantly original premise, delivered with panache.' CLARE MACKINTOSHOn the eve of his college graduation, Harry is called home by his step-mother Alice, to their house on the Maine coast, following the unexpected death of his father.But who really is Alice, his father''s much younger second wife? In a brilliant split narrative, Peter Swanson teases out the stories and damage that lie in her past. And as her story entwines with Harry's in the present, things grow increasingly dark and threatening - will Harry be able to see any of it clearly through his own confused feelings?

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Book SynopsisIn a marriage built on lies, the truth will destroy BOTH OF YOU.Absolutely gripping' Richard OsmanChilling and entirely unputdownable' Lisa JewellHad me gasping at the twist' Ian RankinAmbitious, nail-biting, darkly voyeuristic'' Louise CandlishSmart and thought-provoking' T.M. LoganHappy. Married. Missing.Leigh Fletcher, devoted wife and stepmum, goes to work one day and never returns home.Same week, different world Kai Janssen leaves her sexy, wealthy husband and their luxurious penthouse, and vanishes into thin air.Both husbands seem distraught, claiming they have no idea where their wives have gone.DC Clements wants answers. Did these women run away or were they taken? Most importantly, where are they now? When the detective discovers a shocking link between the missing women, it's clear the truth can devastate. Now Clements must work against a ticking clock, before both wives disappear forever.The Sunday Times Number One bestseller Adele Parks returns with her most provocative book to date: Both Of You.Praise for Both Of You:As always with Adele Parks this is an absolutely gripping read' Richard OsmanYet another stick of literary dynamite from Adele Parks: chilling, gripping and entirely unputdownable'Lisa JewellReally enjoyed this! Kept me guessing and had me gasping at the twist' Ian RankinAmbitious, nail-biting, darkly voyeuristic I tore through it in two sittings'' Louise CandlishClever and twisty'FabulousSmart and thought-provoking with an absolutely brilliant mid-point twist' T.M. LoganSizzling. Shocking. Sassy' Jane CorryA dark and intense tale that will keep you turning the pages' Jane FallonCrackleswith toxic relationships, dark desires and shocking twists' Eve ChaseClever and full of unexpected turns' Woman & HomeTaut, raw, emotionally astute, clever and shocking. Parks gets better and better a writer at the mind-blowing top of her game' Gillian McAllisterDeliciously dark, sharp and intriguing Another brilliant page-turner from domestic noir queen Adele Parks' Tasmina PerryWildly compelling' Rachel EdwardsTrade Review Praise for Both Of You: ‘As always with Adele Parks this is an absolutely gripping read’ Richard Osman, No. 1 bestselling author of The Thursday Murder Club ‘Yet another stick of literary dynamite from Adele Parks: chilling, gripping and entirely unputdownable’ Lisa Jewell, No. 1 bestselling author of The Family Upstairs ‘Really enjoyed this! Kept me guessing and had me gasping at the twist’ Ian Rankin, No. 1 bestselling author of A Song for the Dark Times ‘I've always loved Adele Parks’s gripping, immersive novels and Both Of You is one of her very best. Ambitious, nail-biting, darkly voyeuristic – I tore through it in two sittings' Louise Candlish, bestselling author of The Other Passenger ‘Clever and twisty, this will keep you hooked’ Fabulous ‘Smart and thought-provoking with an absolutely brilliant mid-point twist’ T.M. Logan, bestselling author of Trust Me ‘Sizzling. Shocking. Sassy. Made me sit bolt upright … Adele has the gift of making you feel you are right there. Inside her characters. Your heart pounding’ Jane Corry, bestselling author of I Made a Mistake ‘Clever and full of unexpected turns, it’s a must read’ Woman & Home ‘A dark and intense tale that will keep you turning the pages… Gripping and surprising’ Jane Fallon, bestselling author of Worst Idea Ever ‘Crackles with toxic relationships, dark desires and shocking twists. An utterly engrossing read that unsettles as it entertains. I loved it’ Eve Chase, bestselling author of The Glass House ‘Taut, raw, emotionally astute, clever and shocking. Parks gets better and better – a writer at the mind-blowing top of her game’ Gillian McAllister, bestselling author of How to Disappear ‘Deliciously dark, sharp and intriguing…Another brilliant page-turner from domestic noir queen Adele Parks’ Tasmina Perry, bestselling author of The Singles Table

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Book SynopsisKATE SHUGAK is a native Aleut working as a private investigator in Alaska. She's 5 foot 1 inch tall, carries a scar that runs from ear to ear across her throat and owns half-wolf, half-husky dog named Mutt. Resourceful, strong-willed, defiant, Kate is tougher than your average heroine – and she needs to be to survive the worst the Alaskan wilds can throw at her. THE SINGING OF THE DEAD: Kate Shugak joins the staff of a political campaign to work security for a Native woman running for state senator. The candidate has been receiving anonymous threats, and Kate is to become her shadow, watching the crowds at rallies and fund-raisers. But just as she's getting started, the campaign is rocked by the murder of their staff researcher. To track the killer, Kate will have to delve into the past, in particular the grisly murder of a 'good-time girl' during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1915. Little can she guess the impact a ninety-year-old unsolved case might have on a modern-day psychotic killer...Trade ReviewStabenow is blessed with a rich prose style and a fine eye for detail. An outstanding series * Washington Post *One of the strongest voices in crime fiction * Seattle Times *An antidote to sugary female sleuths: Kate Shugak, the Aleut private investigator * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisA haunting tale about one woman''s fight to tell her story, The Confessions of Frannie Langton leads you through laudanum-laced dressing rooms and dark-as-night alleys, into the heart of Georgian London.''Deep-diving and elegant'' Margaret Atwood''Takes the gothic genre by the scruff of the neck'' Bernadine Evaristo-----''They say I must be put to death for what happened to Madame, and they want me to confess. But how can I confess what I don''t believe I''ve done?''1826, and all of London is in a frenzy. Crowds gather at the gates of the Old Bailey to watch as Frannie Langton, maid to Mr and Mrs Benham, goes on trial for their murder. The testimonies against her are damning - slave, whore, seductress. And they may be the truth. But they are not the whole truth.For the first time Frannie must tell her story. It begins with a girl learning to read on a plantation in Jamaica, and it ends in a grand Trade ReviewAn impressive debut, dazzlingly original * The Times *Bold and powerful * The Sunday Times *A fantastically assured piece of historical gothic * The Guardian Best Fiction of 2019 *

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Book Synopsis'A smart, dark, breakneck-speed, just-one-more-chapter serial-killer thriller.' Will Carver FOR THIS KILLER, IT'S A GAME OF A B C When the body of a man is found brutally murdered in a wildlife park and tattooed with a letter A, criminal profilers Jan Grall and Rabea Wyler are thrown into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Later, two more mutilated bodies are found, again with tattoos on their skin - B and C - and it becomes clear that Grall and Wyler are dealing with a brutal serial killer. One who won't stop until his set is complete. When Grall's hotel room is marked with a Z and his girlfriend kidnapped, the race is on to find out who the killer is. Before it's too late . . . A tense and chilling serial killer thriller for readers of Helen H Durrant and Angela Marsons.Trade ReviewA proper whodunit ... kept me guessing right until the end * CrimeReview.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisElvis Cole is caught up in a high-profile murder case - and between the cops and the lawyers, it''s going to be a rough ride...On his own turf in L.A., PI Elvis Cole is embroiled in a controversial, high-profile murder case.A wealthy restaurateur is accused of murdering his wife, and his hot-shot defence lawyer hires Cole to find proof that the detective on the case, Angela Rossi, fooled around with the evidence. Yet as Elvis investigates Rossi for the defence team, he begins to be more suspicious of the media-loving lawyers than the cops. And as the investigation continues, Cole is drawn deeper and deeper into the intrigue and dangers surrounding the case of the missing woman.Trade ReviewThe trouble with starting a Robert Crais book is that you just can't put it down until you finish it. Crais is one of the greats -- Tony HillermanThe king of LA crime... long may he reign * INDEPENDENT *I've been a Robert Crais fan since I first read THE MONKEY'S RAINCOAT ... Crais is a terrific writer -- Sue Grafton

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Book SynopsisRunning late to the Hinkler gala performance of Gilbert and Sullivan''s Ruddigore, she meets some thugs in a dark alley and handles them convincingly before they can ruin her silver dress. Phryne then finds that she has rescued a gorgeous Chinese man, Lin Chung, and his grandmother, and is briefly mistaken for a deity. Denying divinity but accepting cognac, she later continues safely to the theater. But it''s an unexpected evening as her night is again interrupted by a most bizarre death onstage.What links can Phryne possibly find between the ridiculously entertaining plot of Ruddigore, the city''s Chinese community, and the actors treading the boards of His Majesty''s Theatre? Drawn backstage and onstage, Phryne must solve an old murder and find a new murderer, and, of course, banish the theater''s ghost, who seems likely to kill again.Trade ReviewFrom beginning to end, Greenwood infuses her series with evocative settings, multidimensional characters and satisfying mysteries * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisA RICHARD & JUDY PICKSUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA GUARDIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR''The best crime novel of the decade'' Steve Cavanagh''Both terrifying and utterly heartbreaking'' Mark Billingham''Superbly creepy . . . it might just break your heart a little, too'' Heat''A dark, creepy, thriller with a huge amount of heart'' Stuart MacBride''Beautifully crafted, heart-rending and spine-tinglingly chilling'' Sarah Pinborough''Shades of Thomas Harris and Stephen King but brilliant in its own right'' C. J. Tudor______________If you leave a door half-open, soon you''ll hear the whispers spoken...Fifteen years ago, a serial killer known only as ''The Whisper Man'' wreaked havoc on the sleepy village of Featherbank.But with the killer behind bars, the village is now a sTrade ReviewA gripping exploration of father-son relationships with a propulsive plot, The Whisper Man is a true skin-crawler * Guardian *A police procedural with supernatural overtones * Guardian, Best Crime & Thrillers of the Year *Creepy. With the movie rights sold to Hollywood, Alfred Hitchcock would have loved every spine-tingling moment * Daily Mail *The best crime novel of the decadeAlex North has achieved the seemingly impossible. The Whisper Man is a thriller that is both terrifying and utterly heartbreaking. Mesmerising and masterful.First it's spooky. Then it's scary. Then it's terrifying. And then... well, dear reader, proceed at your own risk. An ambitious, deeply satisfying thriller - a seamless blend of Harlan Coben, Stephen King, and Thomas Harris. My flesh is still crawlingA police procedural with supernatural overtones, this is a true skin-crawler * Guardian, Best Summer Reads *The Whisper Man is going to be huge. Dark enough to chill your blood but so beautifully written you will not be able to put it down. Utterly brilliant.Beautifully written. Beautifully plotted. Shades of Thomas Harris and Stephen King but brilliant in its own rightAn ultra-creepy tinge of the supernatural, blended with a petrifying threat from all-too-human monsters, conjures truly blood-chilling menace. Built on a tender theme, this flawlessly plotted thriller absolutely deserves to be shouted about * Sunday Mirror *You might think you've read too many of these "next generation serial killer" novels but this is a very good example with strong characters and a palpable sense of sadness behind the scariness * Sunday Express *A dark, creepy, thriller with a huge amount of heart. Damn, but Alex North can write!Compelling, creepy and beautifully written, The Whisper Man will stay with you long after the last page is turned - and make you double-check all your doors and windows are locked at nightThe Whisper Man is the most stunning thriller you will read this year, examining the relationships between fathers and sons, loss, betrayal, abduction and murder. It is a story that will unravel the reader as the plot itself unravels, leaving us winded, choking, gasping for air and wrung out, while disturbing, entertaining and enthralling us at the same time.A painful and moving novel. Ostensibly about the abduction and murder of children, it is also an exploration of fatherhood and its challenges and rewards * Literary Review Crime Novels of the Year *Beautifully crafted, heart-rending and spine-tinglingly chilling, the Whisper Man is a thrilling tour de force. Assured and compelling, I can't wait to see what Alex North does nextOstensibly a suspense novel involving the abduction and murder of children, The Whisper Man is also a study of fatherhood. Alex North's writing is impeccable as he spins out his plot . . . At once painful and moving, this story feels both real and important * Literary Review *Alex North weaves a stunningly captivating narrative that's a nuanced and grounded exploration of father-son relationships. He strikes such a delicate balance that consistently elevates itself, he ultimately provides a master class in genre exploration. An incredible readThe Whisper Man is the most unsettling thriller I have read since Jo Nesbo's The Snowman. Much more than the sum of its parts, it is nightmarish and disturbing and, at the same time, a moving and life-affirming novel about fathers and sons, and grief, loss, and recoveryA novel about the dark places that are recognisably our own, The Whisper Man plays on our emotions as much as on our fears. A tremendous calling card for the brilliant Alex North.Fantastic. He writes beautifully, with a powerful understanding of the effects of loss and damage on the human psyche and a style that sweeps you into its grip and never lets go. I'm totally sold on Alex NorthA fine, chilling tale. Alex North paints a world that is so believable and at the same time utterly terrifying. The characters are beautifully rendered, and the tenderness of the central relationship between father and son deepened the sense of terrorDeliciously creepy and kept me up long after I'd turned the last pageUtterly absorbing and intense, so deliciously creepy I think I held my breath for half the book. I couldn't walk away from this affecting story until it was done with me. Loved it!Gripping, disturbing, and creepy as hell - The Whisper Man deserves to be a huge hit. Absorbing writing, characters that will live with you long after finishing, and guaranteed to show up in a nightmare or three. Heartbreaking and unsettling in equal measure, it's destined to be the book that will readers won't be able to forgetWonderfully dark, gently creepy and completely bloody heartbreaking. Alex North is a fantastic writer. The Whisper Man left me in piecesA nerve-shredding emotional rollercoaster that'll keep you up late at night, whether you're still reading it or not. A compulsive read that's sure to give you nightmaresA phenomenal read. Terrifying and heartbreaking in equal measure and if it wasn't so hot I'd definitely be sleeping with the windows shut tonight! The Whisper Man will be the book everyone's talking about next summer, mark my wordsA riveting page turner! Dark and unsettling, this one creeps under your skinOne of the best crime novels I've read in ages. Alex North has crafted a book that manages to be thrilling, terrifying and genuinely moving.There's a soft voice outside your window and it demands your attention. The Whisper Man is coming. In fact, he's already here. Get ready to be unnerved. This novel is thrillingThe Whisper Man is a tour de force, utterly absorbing and brilliantly realisedThe Whisper Man is a chilling, gripping read but also deeply moving. It's a novel that succeeds on all kinds of levels and deserves all the success that is no doubt coming it's wayNo one does Dark with a Heart like Alex North and The Whisper Man delivers a sucker punch that stays with you. Beautifully crafted, chilling & emotional, this's going to be topping Books of the Year lists as soon as it's outI read The Whisper Man in one go, barely remembering to breathe. North writes brilliantly about the cruelties of life, great and small, and the terrors that afflict young children (not to mention their parents). Tender, terrifying and utterly compelling, The Whisper Man will haunt you to the final page and beyond.A creepy, serial killer-inflected thriller * i *More than just superbly creepy, this beautifully written thriller might just break your heart a little, too * Heat *With a tender theme about the complexity of father son relationships at its heart, this thriller is immaculately plotted, superbly written, and so good it deserves to be shouted about * The People *A psychological thriller that's both terrifying and heartbreaking - you won't want to miss this one * Woman's Weekly *[A] superb thriller... Readers will have a tough time putting down this truly unnerving tale, with its seemingly unexplainable elements and glimpses of broken and dangerous minds * Publishers Weekly *Extraordinarily well-written, deeply moving . . . The stories are deftly marshalled and interwoven by North with a mastery that would be astonishing were he a debut novelist * Irish Times *ALEX NORTH'S tightly plotted crime thriller presses all the right buttons for the genre * Press Association *Summer Books of 2019 * Barry Forshaw, Financial Times *This exceptionally creepy thriller is also a touching portrait of a bereaved father and son learning to depend on each other * Morning Star *A debut that will disturb and intrigue in equal measure * Woman *A debut novel set to disturb and intrigue. Truly chilling * Woman's Own *As much an exploration of grief and of the father-son bond as it is a nerve-shredder, this is a good choice for Stephen King fans * Meath Chronicle *Hollywood has snapped up this psychological thriller - and no wonder * Sun *Standout thriller * Daily Express *Deliciously dark and twisty, this is a page-turner from start to finish * Connaught Telegraph *If you like a touch of Stephen King mixed with British crime, then this is for you . . . this is a spooky read, but also holds its own as a police procedural novel * People's Friend *This flawless thriller will touch your heart and live long in your memory * Daily Express *This flawless thriller lives long in the memory * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisA gripping British cosy crime mystery with a mysterious death and a village full of secrets...MAISIE COOPER IS NO DETECTIVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.BUT SHE MIGHT JUST SOLVE A MURDER... Maisie left the picture-perfect village of Framlington years ago. But when her brother asks for her help out of the blue she soon finds herself back among the windy lanes and open green fields. But it''s not the family reunion she hoped for - upon arrival she learns that she''s too late. Stephen is dead. And not just dead - murdered.Frustrated by the slow police investigation headed up by handsome Sergeant Wingard, Maisie determines to start asking questions herself. In a village where everyone knows everyone, surely someone has some information about Stephen. But the longer Maisie stays, and the deeper she digs, the more she begins to sense something sinister at the heart of the village. What secrets are the residents so desperate to kee

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Book Synopsis'Original, timely, terrifying' CHRIS WHITAKER'Brilliant, profoundly unsettling' DAILY MAILWHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WATER RUNS OUT?THE WORLD IS RUNNING OUT OF WATER.With supply in the cities drying up, Aida is forced back home to live with her mum at their rural Scottish farm. The border is closed. Tensions are close to breaking point. For now, Aida and her mother have just enough to get by.But then suspicious strangers arrive asking for help, Aida and her family face a terrible decision. How much water can they afford to share? AND THEN THE TAPS ARE TURNED OFF.Can they survive long enough for the rain to come?Completely compelling, devastating and thought-provoking, Thirsty Animals takes us on a captivating journey of survival and self-discovery.'Beautifully written, vivid and unflinching, it confirms Atalla as a real talent' DOUG JOHNSTONE'A master of slow-burning tension and unease . . . The pace of the story builds to an unputdownable conclusion, and the characters will stay with the reader for a long time' CAILEAN STEEDTrade ReviewThirsty Animals is a hard-hitting speculative thriller, equal parts terrifying and compassionate. Beautifully written, vivid and unflinching, it confirms Atalla as a real talent * Doug Johnstone *Original, timely, terrifying. Thirsty Animals takes a brutal yet deeply heartfelt look at survival, and kindness, and just how difficult it can be for the two to coexist at the extremes * Chris Whitaker *Rachelle Atalla's second novel has shown her once again to be a master of slow-burning tension and unease. Thirsty Animals is terrifyingly believable, and functions both as a warning against overconsumption and division, while also providing a hopeful message about the redemptive possibilities of community. The pace of the story builds to an unputdownable conclusion, and the characters will stay with the reader for a long time * Cailean Steed *this is one seriously brilliant and thought-provoking read * Heat *This brilliant, profoundly unsettling second novel will secure Atalla's place as an extraordinary writer, and a poet of controlled bleakness * Daily Mail *Atalla knows how to ramp up tension expertly, and Thirsty Animals comes to a dramatic, unexpected but satisfying conclusion * Big Issue *Compelling, unsettling and emotive, this is an exciting story of survival and self-discovery * Candis *A disturbing and compelling book * SFX *A prophetic book, offering the reader both a deeply unsettling glimpse into our possible future and a comforting reminder of how resilient humans can be. I was utterly captivated by the story, especially Atalla's characters who are richly drawn and incredibly relatable. Atalla has an uncanny knack of both revealing the best and the worst of humanity. She's quickly establishing herself as a writer for these unsettling times * Jan Carson *Thirsty Animals is one of those perfect reads. Compulsive and profound in equal measure, it is both page-turning thriller and philosophical disquisition on what it means to be human rolled into one. A dystopian triumph that confirms Atalla as a major talent, this chilling and believable second novel is horrifyingly brilliant in the best possible way * Mary Paulson-Ellis *Atalla writes with humanity and with such pace that at times, you find yourself gasping for breath. Even if you think apocalyptic fiction is not your bag, you might be surprised by Thirsty Animals. I was. * The Herald *

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Book SynopsisA dark Christmas thriller from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger.Instead of presents this Christmas, one true crime podcaster is opening up a cold caseWhen true crime podcaster Harley Granger drifts into Madeline Martin''s bookshop days before Christmas, he seems intent on digging up a past that Madeline would much rather forget.Granger''s work has earned him fame and wealth and some serious criticism for his various unethical practices. Granger also has a lot of questions about the night Madeline was left for dead, the only surviving victim of killer Evan Handy.Handy, who also murdered Madeline''s best friend and is suspected in the disappearance of two local sisters, has been in jail for a decade. Since then, though, three other young women have gone missing in similar circumstances. Is the true predator still out there somewhere?As Christmas approaches and a blizzard bears down, Madeline must confront

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Book SynopsisARE YOU READY TO ENTER THE HALF BURNT HOUSE?The spine-tingling new thriller from the internationally bestselling author of Richard & Judy pick THE WHISPER MAN____________It begins with the house and a body:Alan Hobbes stabbed to death in his own bed.For years, he's lived as a recluse in the remains of aderelict mansion that once belonged to a serial killer.The police have a suspect: Christopher Shaw,observed on the premises on the night of the murder.Katie Shaw hasn't seen her brother Chris in two years.All her life, she's tried to look out for him.Even when he made it so hard.But now he's bound up in the secrets of this dark house.To save Chris, dare she follow him inside . . .____________North handles the complicated plot with skill while bringing his troubled characters to life amid the horror' Observer''Alex North at Trade ReviewThe Half Burnt House is Alex North at his best - a writer who can terrify you on one page and break your heart on the next -- Steve Cavanagh, bestselling author of ThirteenEndlessly intriguing * New York Times *So dark and so twisty * Sun *One of those books that made me wish I'd written it. North wields suspense like a blade. Breath-taking and terrifying -- Helen FieldsNorth handles the complicated plot with skill while bringing his troubled characters to life amid the horror. * Observer *North's poetic way with even the most grotesque of situations is always a joy. The Half Burnt House is his best yet. I love it. -- Alex MarwoodDark, gripping, and twisty -- Claire McGowanThrilling, moving and utterly gripping; The Half Burnt House is a triumph -- William RyanA masterfully creepy, atmospheric rush of a read that will linger with you long after you've finished the last page -- Neil BroadfootComplex, tense and atmospheric * Woman's Weekly *Deeply complex and carefully crafted, this novel is a thrilling question mark all the way to the end, and it puts North's storytelling skills on full display . . . the tension mounts with almost every single chapter... his best so far, a superb addition to his already impressive oeuvre -- Gabino Iglesias * NPR *A cut-throat thriller * Woman's Own *Alex North's best book yet. It's as darkly disturbing as The Whisper Man, and as viciously twisty as The Shadow Friend. But this time there's a premise that will break your heart even as it chills you to the very marrow. Nobody in dark fiction writes family relationships - guilt, fear, loss, and ultimately love - like North, and this is an unputdownable thriller -- Derek FarrellEverything in this story is connected in ways the reader can't begin to imagine until a series of stunning parallels and revelations are disclosed. Wait for it! * Booklist, STARRED *North's latest thriller does not disappoint, weaving an intriguing cast of characters across multiple time periods into a story rich with layers and plot twists and perfectly suspenseful pacing ... A delightfully bone-chilling tale * Kirkus Reviews *Praise for Alex North -- :As terrifying as a great horror novel, as unpredictable as the best type of crime novel and above all beautifully written...a writer who is an absolute master of his craft -- Jane CaseyThis is absorbing, headlong reading, a play on classic horror with an inventiveness of its own * New York Times *Hugely atmospheric and deliciously creepy -- Alex Michaelides

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Book SynopsisThe chilling, stay-up-all-night suspense thriller for fans of C.J. Tudor, Riley Sager and Stephen King.Secrets won''t stay in the dark foreverThis chilling, haunting and twisty thriller about how far we go to protect our darkest secrets is perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Cass Green and C. J. Tudor.When young Kimberley Painter vanishes without a trace, her disappearance shakes the local community to the core.Almost two decades later, when Kimberley's body is found in woodlands next to a manor house, police officer Alessandra Cano must investigate what happened to the little girl all those years ago.However, as Alessa immerses herself in the historic case, she''s besieged by eerie signs and messages, becoming convinced that Kimberley''s restless spirit is reaching out from beyond the grave.As Alessa races against time, each revelation brings her closer to a truth darker than she ever imagined, as the shadows of the past loom larger than ever.Because secrets, however long buried, will alwa

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Book SynopsisA stunning new espionage novel by a master of the genre, Beirut Station follows a young female CIA officer whose mission to assassinate a high-level, Hezbollah terrorist reveals a dark truth that puts her life at risk.

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Book SynopsisDesperate for reward money – and to rescue his marriage – an embattled sheriff takes incalculable risks to find a missing boy. An edge-of-your-seat, twisted and twisty thriller from New Zealand's King of Crime. `Moves at a furious pace, even as the walls close in … everything you want from a thriller and it leaves you gasping´ Helen Fields `Paul Cleave is an automatic must-read for me´ Lee Child ‘Electrifying’ Crime Monthly magazine ‘Our sympathies to swing one way and then the other, and the final twist is clever’ Literary Review _____________ To catch a killer…Maybe you've got to be one… Acacia Pines, USA. Sheriff Cohen's life is falling apart – his father accidentally burned down the retirement home, his wife has moved out, and his son is bullying other kids at school. When high-school student, Lucas Connor, is abducted, Cohen sees a chance to get his life back on track – to win back his wife and scoop the reward money offered for Lucas's safe return. But as the body count rises, it becomes clear that Cohen's going to have to make the kind of decision from which there's no coming back … a decision with deadly consequences… A furiously paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller exposing the dark underbelly of small-town life, His Favourite Graves is also a twisted and twisty story of father-and-son relationships, and the one last gamble of a desperate man to save everything… _____________ `Uses words as lethal weapons´ New York Times Praise for Paul Cleave `Cleave writes the kind of dark, intense thrillers that I never want to end´ Simon Kernick `A true page-turner filled with dread, rage, doubt and more twists than the Remutaka Pass´ Linwood Barclay `Smart and twisty, this book will get under your skin´ Liz Nugent `Merits comparison with the work of Patricia Highsmith´ Publishers Weekly `The sense of dread builds unstoppably´ Gilly Macmillan `Genuinely haunting and lingers in the memory´ Daily Mail `Full of ideas and intelligence´ Literary Review `A true page-turner´ Guardian `Nerve-shredding' Crime Monthly `Tense, thrilling, touching´ John Connolly `This very clever novel did my head in time and again´ Michael Robotham `This thriller is one to remember´ New York Journal of Books

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Book Synopsis Since before the dawn of memory, one thing has defined human history: the war between ninjas and yakuzas. This coarse and manly manga follows two members of these warring tribes who fill the gutters of modern Tokyo with blood to determine which elemental force will reign supreme! An outrageous new action series, like Jojo''s Bizarre Adventure meets Fist of the North Star! Shinoha is a frickin'' NINJA. He can''t even smile because of a dark trauma in his past that you''ll find out about later. But for now, what you need to know is, he kicks ass and can kill so many guys. Kiwami, on the other hand, looks like a regular business guy, but actually he''s a flipping YAKUZA. Everyone knows ninjas and yakuzas have been at war for three hundred years, so when Kiwami and Shinoha meet, it''s like, fwoosh, slice, kabloop, stab stab stab... My point is, this manga has REAL ULTIMATE POWER and, if you read it? Maybe you can too.

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Book SynopsisIt''s all aboard for a Campbell Clan Christmas! Lexy swaps cinnamon lattes for boiled sprouts when the Last Ditch crew travel from California to an idyllic Scottish village for the holidays, but something very unmerry is lurking below the surface . . .Lexy Campbell is long overdue a trip to Scotland to see her parents, and an unexpected death in the extended Last Ditch Motel family makes Christmas in a bungalow in Dundee with nine others seem almost irresistible.But when Lexy and the Last Ditch crew hop across the Atlantic, there''s been a change of plan and they''re whisked off to Mistletoe Hall in the pretty village of Yule, where the surprises continue. The news that a man disappeared from the crumbling pile sixty years ago, along with an unsettling discovery in the bricked-up basement, means that Todd, Kathi and Lexy - Trinity for Trouble - must solve another murder.Deadly secrets, berry rustlers, skeletons and a snowy Christmas Eve in the b

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Book SynopsisPRE-ORDER THE NEXT INSTALMENT IN DONNA LEON'S COMMISSARIO BRUNETTI SERIES, A REFINER'S FIRE, NOW. AVAILABLE JULY 2024.'A splendid series . . . with a backdrop of the city so vivid you can almost smell it.' The Sunday TelegraphWinner of the Suntory Mystery Fiction Grand Prize The twisted maze of Venice's canals has always been shrouded in mystery. Even the celebrated opera house, La Fenice, has seen its share of death ... but none so horrific and violent as that of world-famous conductor, Maestro Helmut Wellauer, who was poisoned during a performance of La Traviata. Even Commissario of Police, Guido Brunetti, used to the labyrinthine corruptions of the city, is shocked at the number of enemies Wellauer has made on his way to the top - but just how many have motive enough for murder? The beauty of Venice is crumbling. But evil is one thing that will never erode with age.'What a ripping first mystery, as beguiling and secretly sinister as Venice herself. Sparkling and irresistible.' Rita Mae Brown'Donna Leon has given fans of subtle, clever and literate mysteries something to cheer about. . . . A wonderful read.' Tony Hillerman

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Book SynopsisThe fifth book in the Devon Mysteries series, perfect for fans of SJ Bennett.

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Book SynopsisIn the small hours of January 1st, 1919, the cruellest twist of fate changed at a stroke the lives of an entire community. Tormod Morrison was there that terrible night. He was on board HMY Iolaire when it smashed into rocks and sank, killing some 200 servicemen on the very last leg of their long journey home from war. For Tormod – a man unlike others, with artistry in his fingertips – the disaster would mark him indelibly. Two decades later, Alasdair and Rachel are sent to the windswept Isle of Lewis to live with Tormod in his traditional blackhouse home, a world away from the Glasgow of their earliest years. Their grandfather is kind, compassionate, but still deeply affected by the remarkable true story of the Iolaire shipwreck – by the selfless heroism and desperate tragedy he witnessed. A deeply moving novel about passion constrained, coping with loss and a changing world, As the Women Lay Dreaming explores how a single event can so dramatically impact communities, individuals and, indeed, our very souls.Trade Review“Passionate, atmospheric and evocative.”“A haunting, poignant, meticulously researched novel about the 1919 Iolaire ferry disaster and its effect on the local community. An extraordinary piece of storytelling.”“Atmospheric and evocative… masterful writing.”“A beautifully drawn novel. …Achingly well realised.” -- Roger Hutchinson * West Highland Free Press *"A poignant novel." -- Nicola Sturgeon“A searing poetic meditation on stoicism and loss.” -- Mariella Frostrup * BBC Radio 4 Open Book *“A powerful novel… A poignant exploration of love, loss and survivor’s guilt.” -- Nick Rennison * Sunday Times *“Triumphant… The writing is breath-taking, poignant and takes great pains to immerse the reader in ideas of trauma, suffering and the shared culture of a grieving generation. [A] rich and lyrical writing style.” Lochaber Life, Book of the Month;“Timely, clever, evocative… Murray has said that this novel took him around sixteen years to complete and on the strength of this poignant offering one hopes we will not have to wait so long for his second.”“A classic bildungsroman… It is that rarity: a work of imagination which reads like experienced truth. It’s the kind of book you want to read again as soon as you finish it, because you know there is so much that will be revealed on that second reading: the kind of novel which can enrich your life.” -- Allan Massie * Scotsman, Best Scottish Books of 2018 *“Murray is an evocative painter of landscapes and a deeply sympathetic writer… This diligently researched book exists principally as a space for forgotten voices to sound, bearing witness not just to this tragedy, but to the terrible cost of World War I itself.” -- Stephanie Cross * Daily Mail *“Beautifully and sensitively told, by one of the great lyrical writers of our time, D S Murray ... [A] brutal reminder of how resilient and tangled are the tentacles of tragedy.” -- Cathy MacDonald[A] tightly structured, time-hopping memoir-but-not-a-memoir… A story spanning 74 years whittled meticulously into shape… Murray pulls off the perfect combination of fact and fiction… [His] assured journey through the disruption, trauma, love and loss threaded unspoken through one Lewis family, with barely a word of the shipwreck, is on every page a novel of the Iolaire disaster. “ -- Catriona Black * Herald and National *“A very special book… a poignant tale of family, love and relationships lived out in the hardest of places… Donald S Murray is superb in bringing his characters to life and making the incidents they encounter feel utterly real.”“Gave me an insight into the Iolaire disaster which no history book could manage… a powerful book…which reveals new layers with every reading. It is history brought to life through fiction, and when it is done in a manner as moving and beautiful as this it is invaluable.” -- Alistair Braidwood * Scots Whay Hae *

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Book SynopsisWhat marks life in Addis Ababa are the starkly different realities coexisting in one place. It’s a growing city taking shape beneath the fraught weight of history, myth, and memory. It is a heady mix. It can also be disorienting, and it is in this space that the stories of Addis Ababa Noir reside . . . These are not gentle stories. They cross into forbidden territories and traverse the damaged terrain of the human heart. The characters in these pages are complicated, worthy of our judgment as much as they somehow manage to elude it. The writers have each discovered their own ways to get us to lean in while forcing us to grit our teeth as we draw closer . . . Despite the varied and distinct voices in these pages, no single book can contain all of the wonderful, intriguing, vexing complexities of Addis Ababa. But what you will read are stories by some of Ethiopia’s most talented writers living in the country and abroad. Each of them considers the many ways that myth and truth and a country’s dark edges come together to create something wholly original—and unsettling.Trade ReviewWhat I found when I wanted to read the next short story in this anthology, was that I had to take a rest. The stories in Addis Ababa Noir are that powerful. The finished story was good. Ergo, I wanted to read the next one.Not all the stories involve crime, but the anthology contains many gems and all hold a mirror to life and death in a country riven by civil warfare, notably one by Mengiste herself where experts from Argentina are called in to identify bodies of ‘disappeared’ Ethiopians. On the lighter side there is a wonderful piece of social observation in Bewketu Seyoum’s Under the Minibus Ceiling which follows the random thoughts and conversations of passengers on a bus, which range from the price of berbere (a blend of hot spices integral to Ethiopian cooking), how to confuse the Prophet Isiah with the President of Eritrea and who, exactly, is Angelina Jolie?Table of Contents11 IntroductionPART I: PAST HAUNTINGS17 Kind Stranger29 A Double-Edged Inheritance47 Ostrich66 Dust, Ash, FlightPART II: TRANSLATIONS OF GRIEF91 Father Bread105 The Blue Shadow120 A Night in Bela SeferPART III: MADNESS DESCENDS137 Insomnia153 Of the Poet and the Café174 Under the Minibus Ceiling183 Of Buns and HowlsPART IV: POLICE AND THIEVES207 Kebele ID220 None of Your Business228 Agony of the Congested Heart 244 About the Contributors

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Book Synopsis**NOW THE WINNER OF THE 2022 BEST DIRECTOR OSCAR AND TWO 2022 BAFTA AWARDS**Discover Thomas Savage's dark poetic tale of a small town in early 20th century America.Phil and George are brothers and joint owners of the biggest ranch in their Montana valley.Phil is the bright one, George the plodder. Phil is tall and angular; George is stocky and silent. Phil is a brilliant chess player, a voracious reader, an eloquent storyteller; George learns slowly, and devotes himself to the business. They sleep in the room they shared as boys, and so it has been for forty years.When George unexpectedly marries a young widow and brings her to live at the ranch, Phil begins a relentless campaign to destroy his brother's new wife. But he reckons without an unlikely protector.From its visceral first paragraph to its devastating twist of an ending, The Power of the Dog will hold you in its grip.WITH AN AFTERWORD BY ANNIE PROULX'With its echoes of East of Eden and Brokeback Mountain, this satisfyingly complex story deserves another shot at rounding up public admiration' GuardianTrade ReviewOptimistically billed as the next Stoner, this 1967 reissue is in fact the better novel...a rich and challenging psychodrama, based on brilliant characterisation... With its echoes of East of Eden and Brokeback Mountain, this satisfyingly complex story deserves another shot at rounding up public admiration * Guardian *[Savage’s] prose is vivid and direct… [his] descriptions of nature have real power… a slow-burn psychological western. * The Times *An exhilarating drama between two brothers set in Twenties Montana, and better even than Stoner * Daily Telegraph *Something aching and lonely and terrible of the west is caught forever on Savage's pages, and the most compelling and painful of [his] books is The Power of the Dog, a work of literary artThe shocking turn of the book’s final pages keeps the story bright as a blade to the end...This is the perfect example of a book that never quite made it to the rank of classic...but is more than worthy of resurrection now * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisA woman hiding a deadly secret. And the man who went in search of adventure, but found himself in danger ...''The Girl on the Train with a dash of Russian poisoning and a classic femme fatale'' Sunday Telegragh''A fast-moving plot ... expertly told.'' Alastair Campbell''A cracking crime thriller.''The Sun''Really gripping, so many twists and turns'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW''I couldn''t put this book down.'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW''Action from start to finish'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEWGary Nelson has a routine for the commute to his rather dull job in the city. Each day, he watches as a woman on the train applies her make up in a ritual he now knows by heart. He''s never dared to strike up a conversation . . . but maybe one day.Then one evening, on the late train tTrade ReviewFascinating and ingenious. * Melvyn Bragg *A smart, captivating, modern but timeless thriller. * John Marrs *A fast-moving plot, complex but all too credible, expertly told. The fact it comes from the pen of a former Home Secretary makes the rich security detail and the myriad relationships all the more powerful. * Alastair Campbell *Featuring espionage, the Russian Mafia and a gorgeous female on a train with a deadly secret, the tantalising plot has set Alan up for dominance of the bestseller charts for years to come. * Fiona Phillips *Is there no limit to his talents? Not content with being a top politician, and a very nice feller, he turns his hand to writing four memoirs, which win prizes and awards and sell bucketloads. God I was spitting with envy. Why didn't he just stick to politics? I absolutely loved Alan's new thriller, it's brilliant. * Hunter Davies *Blends gentle humour and brutal assassination into a cracking crime thriller * The Sun *The Girl on the Train with a dash of Russian poisoning and a classic femme fatale * Sunday Telegragh *An enormously enjoyable caper that switches fluently between the fugitive duo, flummoxed cops and émigré spooks, intellectuals and gangsters. * Sunday Times *A very promising start to a career in fiction * Daily Mail *It's Johnson's witty, genial presence shining through the story that makes The Late Train to Gipsy Hill worth reading * Daily Record *Fast-paced, whimsical and charmingly genteel, The Late Train to Gipsy Hill is a hugely enjoyable caper * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisThe Whole Truth by David Baldacci is a terrifying global thriller that delivers all the twists and turns, emotional drama, unforgettable characters and can't-put-it-down pacing that Baldacci fans expect – and still goes beyond anything he’s written before.I NEED A WAR . . .A powerful arms dealerNicolas Creel is a man on a mission. As the head of a major arms vendor, he is plotting a ruthless plan to supercharge his company’s profits by triggering a new cold war – and he won’t let anyone stand in his way.An intelligence agentMeet Shaw, a man with no first name: a shadow operative working for a multinational organization that seeks to keep the world safe from men like Creel.An ambitious journalistDesperate to rebuild her disgraced reputation and rise to the top of her profession, Katie James gets the break of a lifetime when she finds herself on the same path as the mysterious Shaw.Drawn into stopping Creel’s terrifying plans, Shaw and James face a catastrophic threat that could change the world as we know it . . .Trade ReviewWhen Baldacci is on fire, nobody can touch him * Booklist *High-stakes action, shadowy government agencies and [a] neo-Cold War backdrop . . . Baldacci pushes his plot ahead at such a blistering pace * Washington Post *Delicious . . . [a] roller-coaster adventure . . . an utterly enjoyable escapist page-turner * Tampa Tribune *

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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 SynopsisA CRITIC CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 RUNNER UP''Martin Edwards is a true master of British crime writing'' RICHARD OSMAN''Combines all the things I love most about crime fiction: atmospheric settings, twisty plots, intriguing characters and an unforgettable protagonist'' ELLY GRIFFITHSTEST YOUR WITS AGAINST RACHEL SAVERNAKE!A CLUEFINDER AT THE BACK OF THE BOOK HIGHLIGHTS 47 HINTS IN THE TEXT TO THE SOLUTION OF THE INGENIOUS PUZZLES.Basil Palmer plans to murder a man called Louis Carson. The problem is Palmer doesn''t know anything about his victim, including where to find him.After learning that Carson resides in a place called Hemlock Bay, Palmer travels there, posing as Dr Seamus Doyle and plotting murder along the way.Meanwhile, after hearing a psychic has predicted a murder will take place in Hemlock Bay, amateur sleuth Rachel Savernake sets off, determined to discover the serpent that has slithered into this idyllic Eden.When murder does occur at the resort, and after meeting a mysterious doctor called Seamus, Rachel finds herself entering a maze of intricate mysteries just where she likes to beThe fifth ingenious Rachel Savernake Golden Age Mystery, which can be read in any order, for fans of Ann Cleeves, Sophie Hannah and AK Benedict.''Superbly satisfying... Golden age murder, subtly subverted period, clues galore and a hint of Gothic'' KATE GRIFFIN''Rachel Savernake is a hero to cherish'' NICOLA UPSON

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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 SynopsisShe screamed once. Something, someone slipped out of the shadows. She collapsed beside the dead who had betrayed her.Approaching her cheating husband and lying best friend, Reva Ewing is bent on revenge. But somebody got there first. In a desperate fight to prove her innocence Reva calls on the only man she can trust: Roarke, the roguish husband of Lieutenant Eve Dallas.But the truth is messy: a complex artist, a long-lost brother, a deadly computer worm designed by terrorists - Eve and Roarke are dealing with a deeply volatile case where no one trusts a soul and everyone has their eye on a prize.And the murder is far from what it seems . . .Trade ReviewGut-searing emotional drama David Baldacci Anchored by terrific characters, sudden twists that spin the whole narrative on a dime, and a thrills-to-chills ratio that will raise the hairs of even the most jaded reader, the J.D. Robb books are the epitome of great popular fiction Dennis Lehane J.D. Robb's novels are can't miss pleasures Harlan Coben Whether she writes as J.D. Robb or under her own name, I love Nora Roberts. She is a woman who just doesn't know how to tell a bad story Stephen King This series gets better with every book Publishers Weekly The most popular novelist on planet earth Washington Post A perfect balance of suspense, futuristic police procedural and steamy romance...truly fine entertainment... sure to leave you hungering for more Publishers Weekly Great fun Cosmopolitan

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