Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisThe eighth novel in Bernard Cornwell's epic and bestselling series on the making of England and the fate of his great hero, Uhtred of Bebbanburg. BBC2's major Autumn 2015 TV show THE LAST KINGDOM is based on the first two books in the series.Trade ReviewPraise for Bernard Cornwell: ‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive’ George R.R. Martin ‘Cornwell is always in full command of his material’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘Like GAME OF THRONES, but real’ Observer ‘Tense, powerful, compulsive’ THE TIMES ‘He’s called a master storyteller. Really he’s cleverer than that’ TELEGRAPH ‘Nobody in the world does this better than Cornwell’ Lee Child

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Book SynopsisTRAITORS OF ROME: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERAn enthralling Cato and Macro adventure from bestselling author Simon Scarrow. Not to be missed by readers of Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell. AD 56. Battle-hardened veterans of the Roman army Tribune Cato and Centurion Macro are garrisoned at the eastern border, aware that their movements are constantly monitored by spies from dangerous, mysterious Parthia. But the enemy within could be the deadliest threat to the Legion ... and the Empire. There''s a traitor in the ranks. Rome shows no mercy to those who betray their comrades, and the Empire. But first the guilty man must be discovered. Cato and Macro are in a race against time to expose the truth, while the powerful enemy over the border waits to exploit any weaknesses in the Legion. The traitor must die ... Praise for Simon Scarrow''s bestselling novels: ''Blood, gore, political intrigue...A historicaTrade ReviewPraise for Simon Scarrow's novels: 'Gripping... ferocious and compelling * Daily Express *A new book in Simon Scarrow's long-running series about the Roman army is always a joy * The Times *A new book in Simon Scarrow's long-running series about the Roman army is always a joy * Independent *I really don't need this kind of competition... It's a great read -- Bernard Cornwell

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Book SynopsisThe long-awaited second book of the fourth story arc Sword of the Canon in the epic fantasy series, the Wars of Light and Shadow.Lysaer's unstable integrity lies under threat of total downfall, and as his determined protector, Daliana will face the most frightening decision of her young life.Arithon, Master of Shadow, is marked for death and still hunted, when his critical quest to recover his obscured past entangles him in a web of deep intrigue and ancient perils beyond his imagining.Elaira's urgent pursuit of the Biedar Tribes' secret embroils her in the terrible directive of the Fellowship Sorcerers, while Dakar the Mad Prophet confronts the hard reckoning for the colossal mistake of his misspent past, and Tarens is steered by a destiny far from his crofter's origins.The penultimate volume of The Wars of Light and Shadow will touch the grand depths of Athera's endowment, and deliver the thrilling finale of arc IV, the Sword of the Canon.War, blood, magic, mystery and the most Trade Review‘Astonishingly original and compelling… A gifted creator of wonder’Raymond E. Feist ‘Janny Wurts builds beautiful castles in the air … where every detail is richly imagined and vividly rendered’Diana Gabaldon ‘It ought to be illegal for one person to have so much talent’Stephen Donaldson

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Book SynopsisTHE THRILLING NEW KAY SCARPETTA MYSTERY FROM THE #1 GLOBAL BESTSELLER''I''M STILL SEEING STARS . . . KAY SCARPETTA IS THE SAME GRUMPY, WONDERFUL, RIVETING PERSONALITY SHE''S ALWAYS BEEN AND SHE''S ONLY GETTING BETTER WITH TIME'' JAMES PATTERSONMurder and mayhem. Scarpetta is back, and she''s racing against the clock . . .Chief medical examiner Kay Scarpetta is the reluctant star witness in a sensational murder trial when she receives shocking news. The judge''s sister has been found dead. At first glance, it appears to be a home invasion, but then why was nothing stolen, and why is the garden strewn with dead plants and insects?Although there is no apparent cause of death, Scarpetta recognizes tell-tale signs of the unthinkable, and she knows the worst is yet to come. The forensic pathologist finds herself pitted against a powerful force that returns her to the past, and her time to catch the killer is running out . . .Trade ReviewI'm still seeing stars. A great thriller. One of the hardest things as a series writer is keeping your famous heroes fresh year after year. Kay Scarpetta is not only still fresh, she's the same grumpy, wonderful, riveting personality she's always been - a full-on human being - and she's only getting better with time. I love catching up with her every year -- JAMES PATTERSONCornwell's on blistering form and this absorbing thriller will keep you hooked * SUN *Riveting * THE TIMES *Cornwell knows how to craft a mean page-turner and Livid is no exception * TELEGRAPH *More than thirty years and twenty-six Scarpetta books later, Cornwell is still knocking it out of the park * LOVEREADING *Gripping . . . Sound the klaxon, Patricia Cornwell's brilliant chief medical examiner Dr Kay Scarpetta is back * HEAT *Post-mortem scenes that [will] make fans of this long-running series salivate . . . Something to look forward to * KIRKUS *This is Scarpetta's 26th outing and the plotting remains every bit as fresh as when we were introduced to her * BELFAST TELEGRAPH *PRAISE FOR PATRICIA CORNWELL * - *One of the best crime writers writing today * GUARDIAN *Astonishing . . . Thirty years on, there's still no other crime writer like her * SUNDAY TIMES *The top gun in this field * DAILY TELEGRAPH *America's most stimulating and chilling writer of crime fiction * THE TIMES *Forget the pretenders. Cornwell reigns * MIRROR *A pioneer of the genre of forensic psychological thriller -- BBCThe Agatha Christie of the DNA age * EXPRESS *The queen of the forensic thriller * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Cutting-edge * SUN *When it comes to forensic sciences, nobody can touch Cornwell * NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW *Slick, fast-paced and brilliant * HEAT *

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Book SynopsisTHE INSPIRATION FOR HBO ORIGINAL AND SKY TV'S HOUSE OF THE DRAGON.Centuries before A Game of Thrones, an even greater game began, one that set the skies alight with dragon flame and saw the Seven Kingdoms turned to ash.So began the Targaryens' bloody rule, with fire and blood. Setting brother against brother, mother against daughter, and dragon against dragon.Chronicled by a learned maester of the Citadel, this thrilling and bloody history of Westeros tells the story of where the battle for the Iron Throne beganThis edition, complete with gold foil design across the slipcase and cover board and stunning endpaper artwork, is the ultimate collection to add to your shelf.

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Book Synopsis**THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO IS BACK!****The sixth in the Millennium series - more than 100 million copies sold worldwide**"Expertly told, the plot crackles with life" DAILY MAIL"Salander is centre stage . . . A pacy read" SUNDAY EXPRESS"Exciting and disturbing" LITERARY REVIEW**********************************************************************************THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO HAS FRESH OUTRAGE TO AVENGEAs Salander follows the scorched trail of her twin sister to Moscow, Blomkvist fears for her safety. He should, perhaps, be more concerned for himself. The murder of a homeless man on the streets of Stockholm has drawn him into a conspiracy that scales the heights of Everest and plunges to the depths of Russia's criminal underworld.And now Lisbeth will face her nemesis. For the girl with the dragon tattoo, the personal is always political - and ultimately deadly. "A unique concoction that should leave Salander's legion of followers clamoring for more" Tom Nolan, Wall Street JournalTranslated from the Swedish by George GouldingTrade ReviewA murder mystery inside an espionage conspiracy wrapped in an action thriller-a unique concoction that should leave Salander's legion of followers clamoring for more * Wall Street Journal *Larsson had grand ambitions for his Millennium series, projecting a total of 10 novels. In Lagercrantz's hands, the series is realizing grand ambitions of another sort. * Washington Post *He has developed Larsson's rage at right-wing perfidy and men who hate women, mixing it with his ability to depict physical beauty and superhuman survival skills to create fast-paced thrillers . . . The Girl Who Lived Twice is both exciting and disturbing * Literary Review *Lagercrantz's compassion for the underdog adds genuine emotion to his baroque plotting. There is much to admire in the way he has grasped a tricky assignment - to continue one of the biggest hits of recent years. Roll on the next "girl" * South China Morning Post *Salander is centre-stage again in Lagercrantz's latest sequel . . . This is a pacy read . . . while still finding room for some nice eccentric touches * Sunday Express *David Lagercrantz is a pro. This is stylish, straight forward, classic Swedish crime . . . supporting characters are distinctly illustrated, larger than life . . . the dialogue is voluble; full of knives, Berettas, rich Russians and divinely gifted hackers. * Svenska Dagbladet *A book to devour . . . Difficult, or near impossible to put down, the plot is lavish, complex, remarkably well-composed and filled with unbearable suspense in certain places * Le Parisien *Salander is what she's always been: a force to be reckoned with, and one of the most remarkable series leads in the history of crime fiction. Salander fans, who long ago put aside any misgivings about Lagercrantz taking over the Millennium series, will be eager to follow the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as she attempts to sweep clean her family closet. * Booklist *A tantalizing ending hints at important changes for Blomkvist and Lisbeth ahead. Series fans will be pleased with the thoughtful way Lagercrantz develops the character of their beloved action heroine in this worthy outing. * Publishers Weekly *The Girl Who Lived Twice is the sixth, last and best from Stieg Larsson's universe. It is a vivacious and suitable conclusion of the Millennium saga * Aftenposten *David Lagercrantz has with professionalism and respect consolidated Lisbeth Salander as an archetype of current pop culture, and at the same time written very entertaining novels. * La Vanguardia *The result will satisfy any Lagercrantz fans, since the story goes on without pause until the last page, where the author uses fireworks to surprise the reader. * El Periodico *A great novel made of twists and turns, cliffhangers and detailed researches. Lagercrantz . . . An accomplished and elegant style . . . One of the most beautiful and innovative series of the last two decades. * La Repubblica *Lagercrantz perfectly knows how to embrace the atmosphere and the suspense of the Stieg Larsson saga. * Corriere della Sera *[A] fast-paced adventure * Irish Independent *

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Book SynopsisTHE HIGHER THE STAKES, THE DEADLIER THE RISK . . .THE BRAND NEW THRILLER FROM THE MASTER OF THE RACING THRILLER - NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK & EBOOK.______________________Theo Jennings is a young auctioneer at the Thoroughbred sales ring in Newmarket. The October yearling sales are where the big money exchanges hands in frenzied auctions: millions of Guineas paid for horses that are as yet unnamed, untested, and have never taken a step on the track. It's the greatest gamble in all of horseracing, and one that can end in ruin.Theo has just made the biggest sale of his life, when he overhears a secret conversation between the two bidders - can they really have colluded to fix the price of his big sale? When that same horse is found dead the next morning, he has no choice but to investigate, even against the wishes of his boss. But the more he uncovers, the less he can trust the people around him.The higher the stakes, the greater t

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Book SynopsisWhat price will he pay to get his old life back...?From the No.1 bestselling author of A SONG FOR THE DARK TIMES''This is British crime-writing of the finest, lasting quality'' DAILY MAIL''Genius ... Rankin once again proves himself to be the consummate master of crime'' SCOTLAND ON SUNDAYA series of seemingly random disappearances - stretching back to the millennium.A mother determined to find the truth.A retired cop desperate to get his old life back...It''s been some time since Rebus was forced to retire, and he now works as a civilian in a cold-case unit. So when a long-dead case bursts back to life, he can''t resist the opportunity to get his feet under the CID desk once more. But Rebus is as stubborn and anarchic as ever, and he quickly finds himself in deep with pretty much everyone, including DI Siobhan Clarke.All Rebus wants to do is uncover the truth. The big question is: can he be the man Trade ReviewRebus has returned... and it's a treat to welcome him back * THE TIMES *Needless to say, Rankin soon - once again - has the bit between his teeth. Rankin, as ever, does this better than most * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *The prose is as ferocious as ever; the sense of place matchless; this is British crime-writing of the finest, lasting quality. * DAILY MAIL *Rebus is without doubt one of the funniest among the classical fictional detectives, and his 19th case features some fine one-liners... STANDING IN ANOTHER MAN'S GRAVE is Rankin's most interesting book politically... Cheeringly, it seems clear from the final pages that there will be more Rebus books to chart the next stage in Scotland's story. * GUARDIAN *Rankin draws us into a thematically rich plot that evolves into a meditation on morality and how best to asses a man's worth... Rebus is one of the most popular fictional characters of our generation. * IRISH TIMES *Gritty and hard-hitting, it's the work of a writer at the very top of his game. * SUNDAY MIRROR *Ian Rankin's now iconic Rebus series provides a better biography of modern Edinburgh over the past 25 years than almost anything else. * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *Genius... Rankin once again proves himself to be the consummate master of crime. * SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY *Rebus hasn't changed; he's as sharp, petty, curmudgeonly and likeable as ever. * IRISH SUNDAY INDEPENDENT *Rebus is back, in a novel long, meaty and persuasive enough to make up for the years of absence. -- Allan Massie * SPECTATOR *Rankin's dialogue flows so naturally that it's easy to dismiss his subtler gifts; no one captures the bleak grandeur of Scotland, or the mindset of those charged with upholding its law, in quite the same way. -- Christopher Fowler * FINANCIAL TIMES *For crime novel aficionados, this year's literary sensation is not 50 Shades of whatever or JK Rowling's non-magical foray into adult fiction. No, it is the return of one of the genre's finest characters; and what a welcome return it is. * SUNDAY EXPRESS *Auld acquaintance is gleefully renewed when Rankin brings cantankerous John Rebus out of retirement in a civilian role for an Edinburgh cold case team - *9 * RUTLAND TIMES *Thrilling, funny and intelligent, this is crime fiction at its best * CATHOLIC HERALD *Rebus - and Rankin - are both on top form in this enjoyable detective novel * SUNDAY BUSINESS POST MAGAZINE *Genius... Rankin once again proves himself to be the consummate master of crime -- David Robinson * SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY *Ian Rankin's fiction is as reliable as it is successful, so this installment will thrill his many fans * LITERARY REVIEW *An impeccably crafted whodunnit -- John Dugdale * SUNDAY TIMES *Now we know retirement has not withered Rebus -- Jake Kerridge * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Rebus is back and the result is an outstanding whodunit, a book that should be read by anyone wanting to experience the very best of modern crime fiction. It is high praise indeed to suggest that this is the finest book Ian Rankin has ever written: but in our view it is * UNDISCOVEREDSCOTLAND.COM *Vintage Rankin... [a] thoroughly absorbing, endlessly twisting tale. I was gripped from first page to last - and so will you be * READER'S DIGEST *Vintage Rebus * MORNING STAR *A seasonal treat for crime fiction fans * CHOICE *Rankin's malcontent still makes for an irresistably morose companion * i *

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Book SynopsisThe fourth Stephens and Mephisto mystery from the author of the bestselling Dr Ruth Galloway series - a must-read for fans of Bryant and May. 'Mixes cosiness and sharpness in a way that recalls the best of Agatha Christie' Sunday Express (on Smoke and Mirrors)What do a murdered Brighton flower seller, the death of Cleopatra and a nude tableau show have in common? Read the most dangerous case yet for Stephens and Mephisto to find out. Christmas 1953. Max Mephisto and his daughter Ruby are headlining Brighton Hippodrome, an achievement only slightly marred by the less-than-savoury support act: a tableau show of naked 'living statues'. This might appear to have nothing in common with DI Edgar Stephens' current case of the death of a quiet flowerseller, but if there's one thing the old comrades have learned it's that, in Brighton, the line between art and life - and death - is all too easily blurred...Trade ReviewVivid description, masterful sleight of hand and a lightness of touch add up to a terrific read for aficionados and newcomers alike * Guardian *This series is without fail engaging and entertaining and The Vanishing Box is no exception ... I could almost smell the greasepaint and see the flutter of feathers ... Loved it! * Crimewarp *Griffiths manages to juggle humour, homicide and nostalgia in a delightful read * The Times *[Griffiths] weaves a fascinating tale. And, like all good mysteries, some surprising revelations along the way with a delicious twist at the end. Highly recommended * Promoting Crime Fiction *

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Book SynopsisTHE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Introducing the explosive first Ben Hope adventure ‘Compelling from the first page until the last, Mariani and Ben Hope entertain in a gripping tale that will have you turning the pages well into the night’ MARK DAWSON Ben Hope lives on the edge. A former elite member of the SAS, Ben is tortured by a tragedy from his past and now devotes his life to finding kidnapped children. When Ben is recruited to locate an ancient manuscript which could save a dying child, he embarks on the deadliest quest of his life. The document is alleged to contain the formula for the elixir of life, discovered by the brilliant alchemist Fulcanelli decades before. But it soon becomes apparent that others are hunting this most precious of treasures – for far more evil ends. When the secrets of alchemy hidden within the pages remain impenetrable, Ben teams up with beautiful American scientist Dr Roberta Ryder to crack the code. It seems that everyone – from the Nazis during WW2 and powerful Catholic organisation Gladius Domini – wants to unearth the secrets of immortality. The trail leads Ben and Roberta from Paris to the ancient Cathar strongholds of the Languedoc, where an astonishing secret has lain hidden for centuries… The Ben Hope series is a must-read for fans of Dan Brown, Lee Child and Mark Dawson. Join the millions of readers who get breathless with anticipation when the countdown to the new Ben Hope thriller begins… Praise for Scott Mariani ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Deadly conspiracies, bone-crunching action and a tormented hero with a heart … Scott Mariani packs a real punch’ Andy McDermott ‘James Bond meets Jason Bourne meets The Da Vinci Code’ J. L. Carrell ‘Fans of Dan Brown will love this thrilling adventure’ Closer 'Non-stop action – this book delivers’ Steve Berry ‘If you’ve got a pulse, you’ll love Scott Mariani; if you haven’t, then maybe you crossed Ben Hope’ Simon Toyne ‘Full of authentic detail and heart-stopping action – a real thrill ride’ Ed Macy ‘An author to watch’ M. J. Rose ‘Packed with dark intrigue, danger around every corner, bullets flying, sexual tension, and an endless assault of nasty villains… everything a thriller should be and more’ Joe Moore  Trade Review Praise for Scott Mariani ‘Deadly conspiracies, bone-crunching action and a tormented hero with a heart . . . Scott Mariani packs a real punch’ Andy McDermott ‘James Bond meets Jason Bourne meets The Da Vinci Code’ J. L. Carrell ‘Fans of Dan Brown will love this thrilling adventure’ Closer 'Non-stop action – this book delivers’ Steve Berry ‘If you’ve got a pulse, you’ll love Scott Mariani; if you haven’t, then maybe you crossed Ben Hope’ Simon Toyne ‘Full of authentic detail and heart-stopping action – a real thrill ride’ Ed Macy ‘An author to watch’ M. J. Rose ‘Packed with dark intrigue, danger around every corner, bullets flying, sexual tension, and an endless assault of nasty villains . . . everything a thriller should be and more’ Joe Moore

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Book SynopsisMax will require all his skills just to stay alive as a Special Forces Cadet... A top-secret government programme needs a crack team of undercover military operators. Which is what happens when Max Silver, Abby Asher, Lukas Channing and Sami Hakim are sent into an armed siege in an inner-city school .Trade ReviewA really gripping page-turner * MiniTravellers.co.uk *Action-packed and exciting ... nail biting narrative ... this book will get young people reading * The School Librarian journal *Right from the opening sentence, this grips ... Utterly terrifying and totally captivating, this is a credible Chris Ryan classic. * Carousel magazine *

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Book Synopsis''Her territory isn''t young or old; it''s the heart-and brain-matter of people, their desires and worries and fantasies and intricate interactions. All of this is set capably against a particular landscape, and the result tends to be vivid and real. Beautiful, like Willa Cather'' Meg Wolitzer, New York TimesThe barren, beautiful Cumbrian fells provide the bewitching setting for the adventures of Bill and Harry, two children who find wonder at every turn as they experience the Hollow Land. Everyday challenges give a daring edge to this rural work and play. There are mysteries to explore and uncover , like the case of the Egg Witch, and everyone is curious about the Household Name, a visitor from London, moving into the jewel of the territory, Light Farm.Gardam is at her best with this novel, which won the Whitbread award in 1981.Trade ReviewJane Gardam has a spectacular gift for detail of the local and period kind, and for details which made characters so subtly unpredictable that they ring true * Times Literary Supplement *Gardam's prose is so economical that no moment she describes is either gratuitous or wasted * New Yorker *

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Book SynopsisDetective Superintendent Roy Grace is caught up in the murky world of human trafficking in Dead Tomorrow, by award winning crime writer Peter James.The body of a missing boy is dredged from the seabed off the Sussex coast, missing vital organs. Soon after, two more bodies are found . . .A teenager in Brighton will die if she does not receive an urgent transplant. When the health system threatens to let her down her mother takes drastic action and goes to an online broker in black-market organs. The broker can provide what she wants, but it will come at a price.As Roy Grace investigates the recovered bodies, he unearths a gang of child traffickers operating from Eastern Europe. Soon Grace and his team will find themselves in a race against time to save the life of a young street kid, while a desperate mother will stop at nothing to save her daughter's life . . .Although the Roy Grace novels can be read in any order, Dead Tomorrow is the fifth thrilling title in the bestselling series. Enjoy more of the Brighton detective’s investigations with Dead Like You and Dead Man's Grip.Now a major ITV series, Grace, starring John Simm.Trade ReviewJames just gets better and better and deserves the success he has achieved with this first-class series * Independent on Sunday *Peter James has penetrated the inner workings of police procedures, and the inner thoughts and attitudes of real detectives, as no English crime writer before him. His hero, Roy Grace, may not be the most lively cop, nor the most damaged by drink, weight or misery, but he's one of the most believable * The Times *Peter James is one of the best crime writers in the business -- Karin SlaughterMeticulous research gives his prose great authenticity . . . James manages to add enough surprises and drama that by the end you’re rooting for the police and really don’t know if they will finally get their men * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisTHE 12 MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE LEWIS TRILOGY AND THE ENZO FILESAWARD WINNING AUTHOR OF THE CWA DAGGER IN THE LIBRARY 2021'Peter May is one of the most accomplished novelists writing today.' Undiscovered Scotland 'No one can create a more eloquently written suspense novel than Peter May.' New York Journal of BooksThe Beijing Ripper makes a personal vendetta against Detective Li Yan in the sixth and final episode in the China seriesGRUESOME MURDERSHis victims are young, beautiful and coldly mutilated. He calls himself the Beijing Ripper. Li Yan, head of Beijing's serious crime squad, must stop him.FEARSOME LETTERSJust as pathologist Margaret Campbell finds an insight into the killer's sick signature, Li receives a letter from the killer, betraying his cruel intentions.CHINESE WHISPERSThere's no way Li can misinterpret the Ripper's motives: he wants to tear Li and Campbell's lives apart, and write the darkest chapter in Beijing's history.LOVED THE CHINA THRILLERS? Try book 1 of the Enzo novels, EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE.LOVE PETER MAY? Buy his new thriller, A SILENT DEATHTrade ReviewA wonderfully complex book -- Peter James, on Entry IslandHe is a terrific writer doing something different -- Mark BillinghamFrom the first page I knew I was in safe hands. I knew I could trust this writer -- Sophie HannahWonderfully compelling -- Kate MosseA true pleasure to read * Guardian *Peter May is a writer I'd follow to the ends of the earth * New York Times *One of the best regarded crime series of recent years -- Boyd Tonkin, on the Lewis Trilogy * Independent *Lyrical, empathetic and moving -- Alex GrayMay's novels are strong on place and the wounds left by old relationships * Sunday Times *Will have the reader relishing every tendency of description and characterization -- Barry Forshaw * Independent *Dark, exciting and atmospheric * Scotland on Sunday *Powerful and authentic * Glasgow Sunday Herald *A gripping page-turner that combines edge-of-the-seat suspense with a fascinating picture of modern China * Irish Independent *The plot is chilling and ingenious * Scotland on Sunday *Peter May opens a window on a vision of the modern Chinese political climate ... a tremendous collision of cultures * The Herald *Fast, exciting ... an entertaining read that will also give food for thought * Irish Times *The plot twists and turns like the tail of a Chinese dragon. A cracking good read ... Highly recommended * Scots Magazine *The characters here are vivid and contrasting, and they grow and develop in a way usually only found in literary novels, and the plotting and evocation of atmosphere as professional as they come. An excellent series * Kirkus Reviews *Truly the best of May's series so far, this is not to be missed * The Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisFive Nights at Freddy''s fans won''t want to miss this collection of three chilling stories that will haunt even the bravest player...Would you ever cut corners to get what you want? . . . Outsourcing their storytelling to artificial intelligence comes with unintended results for the executives of the Fazbear Entertainment board of directors. . . Tony's search for the player behind the impossibly high scores at the Pizzaplex Fazcade leads him down a rabbit hole with no way out . . . And Abe's journey to find the first generation animatronics causing problem for his Bobbiedot home assistants lead him to believe he should have never moved into his new apartment . . . In the world of Five Nights at Freddy''s sometimes a shortcut can lead to a dead end. . .In this fifth volume, Five Nights at Freddy''s creator Scott Cawthon spins three sinister novella-length tales from uncharted corners of his series'' canon.Readers beware: This collection of

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Book SynopsisCan everyone’s favourite insurance mathematician, Henri, combine the increasingly dangerous world of adventure parks with the unpredictability of blended-family life? He’s about to find out in the final instalment of the hilarious, nail-biting Rabbit Factor Trilogy.   'A joyous, triumphant conclusion to Tuomainen’s trilogy … the comic thriller of the year' Sunday Times THRILLER OF THE YEAR   ‘Quirky crime capers don’t come more left field than the Rabbit trilogy … extremely funny, with a wicked line in social satire’ Daily Mail   ‘One of those rare writers who manages to deftly balance intrigue, noir and a deliciously ironic sense of humour’ Vaseem Khan    _______   Henri Koskinen, intrepid insurance mathematician and adventure-park entrepreneur, firmly believes in th

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Book SynopsisBOOK 17 IN THE EPIC HISTORICAL SAGA OF THE COURTNEY FAMILY, FROM INTERNATIONAL SENSATION WILBUR SMITH'Best historical novelist' - Stephen King'A master storyteller' - Sunday Times'Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared' - The Times'No one does adventure quite like Smith' - Daily MirrorBETRAYED BY BLOOD. BOUND BY FATE. Inseparable since birth, Theo and Connie Courtney are torn apart by the tragic death of their parents.Theo, wracked with guilt, seeks salvation in combat, joining the British in the war against the French and Indian army. On a personal mission he meets the beautiful, innocent Abigail, with whom he falls madly in love. But when their tryst is discovered, Theo is left outcast in the wilderness, desperately fighting for his life. Determined to reclaim his honour and save Abigail, Theo does whatever it takes to survive.Connie, believing herself abandoned by her brother, and abused and brutalised by a series of corrupt guardians, makes her way to France, where she is welcomed into high society. Here, she once again finds herself at the mercy of vicious men, whose appetite for war and glory lead her to the frontlines of the French battlefield in North America.As the siblings find their destinies converging once more, they realise that the vengeance and redemption they both desperately seek could cost them their lives . . .A Courtney Series adventure - Book 2 in the Tiger's Prey sequence.Ghost Fire is an epic historical fiction adventure of tragedy, loss, betrayal and courage that brings the reader deep into the seething heart of war, from Wilbur Smith, one of the best and most beloved authors of the century. Don't miss the next thrilling chapter in the sequence, Storm Tide.Book 18 in the Courtney family series, Legacy of War, is available now.'Ghost Fire' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/e 08-09-2019.

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLERFrom the bestselling author of Order to Kill comes a fast-paced action adventure starring CIA superhero Mitch Rapp. Israel has discovered that Saddam Hussein is close to entering the nuclear arms race - and they've vowed to stop the Iraqi madman before he can get his hands on the ultimate weapon. With the Middle East teetering on the brink of chaos, the US president is forced to act. The commander in chief's secret weapon? Top counterterrorism operative, Mitch Rapp. Israel has given the USA only two weeks to take the nukes out. After that, they'll do whatever it takes to destroy the weapons themselves. With the haunting spectre of World War III looming, Rapp must race against time and impossible odds - tearing through the deadly alleyways of Baghdad and the corruption-riddled streets of Washington DC, taking drastic measures against anyone who gets in his way.AMERICAN ASSASSIN, book one in the series, is soon to be a MAJOR MOTION PICTURE starring Dylan O'Brien (Maze Runner), Taylor Kitsch (True Detective) and Michael Keaton.Praise for the Mitch Rapp series 'Sizzles with inside information and CIA secrets' Dan Brown 'A cracking, uncompromising yarn that literally takes no prisoners' The Times 'Vince Flynn clearly has one eye on Lee Child's action thriller throne with this twist-laden story. . . instantly gripping' Shortlist 'Action-packed, in-your-face, adrenalin-pumped super-hero macho escapist fiction that does exactly what it says on the label' Irish Independent 'Mitch Rapp is a great character who always leaves the bad guys either very sorry for themselves or very dead' GuardianTrade Review'First-class political intrigue from a master storyteller' Booklist 'A sharply plotted thriller ... Flynn knows his politicians and pits his characters against impossible odds with non-stop action and suspense' Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisSeal of the Worm is the tenth and final book in the critically acclaimed epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky.An ancient enemy stirs once more . . .The Empire has vanquished its enemies at last, but at a terrible price. With her chief rival cast into the abyss, Empress Seda must face the truth of what she’s unleashed in her hunger for power. Now the Seal has been shattered, the ancient Worm stirs towards the light for the first time in a thousand years. Already it is striking at the surface, consuming everything in its voracious path. Unchecked, it will ravage the world.As her victory seems hollow indeed, Seda knows that only the most extreme solution can lock the Worm in the dark once more. But if she’ll go to such horrific lengths to save them all from the Worm, who’ll save the world from her?Start the epic journey with Empire in Black and Gold, the first book in the Shadows of the Apt series.Trade ReviewBrimming with imagination -- SciFiNowThe Shadows of the Apt series is simply one of the best epic fantasy series out there -- LEC Book ReviewsSuper world-building, great characters and extreme inventiveness -- Fantasy Book CriticEpic fantasy at its best. Gripping, original and multi-layered storytelling from a writer bursting with lots of fascinating ideas -- Walker of WorldsFull of sparking, speculative innovation -- Stephen Baxter on The Doors of EdenBreathtaking scope and vision. Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of our finest writers -- Gareth L. Powell on Children of RuinA joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising and unexpectedly human -- Patrick Ness on Children of Time

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Book SynopsisProbably the best cop novel ever written' Lee ChildFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The Cartel winner of the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for Best Thriller of the Year comes The Force, a cinematic epic as explosive, powerful, and unforgettable as The Wire.Everyone can be bought. At the right priceDetective sergeant Denny Malone leads an elite unit to fight gangs, drugs and guns in New York. For eighteen years he's been on the front lines, doing whatever it takes to survive in a city built by ambition and corruption, where no one is clean.What only a few know is that Denny Malone himself is dirty: he and his partners have stolen millions of dollars in drugs and cash. Now he's caught in a trap and being squeezed by the FBI, and he must walk a thin line of betrayal, while the city teeters on the brink of a racial conflagration that could destroy them all.Don Winslow's latest novel is a haunting story of greed and violence, inequality and race, and a searing portrait of a Trade ReviewPraise for The Force: ‘This stands out by a mile … fresher, faster, funnier and truer … bursting with life, lousy with death, it is because it tells the truth, in all its ugliness, that this novel is so exhilarating’ Daily Telegraph ‘Hard-hitting … one of the great works of fiction about the police … superbly chronicled’ The Times ‘There won’t be a better cop novel this year than The Force by Don Winslow. Not next year, or the year after that, either’ Linwood Barclay ‘Stephen King, James Ellroy and Lee Child see Don Winslow as one of their number, and he confirms his right to belong in this elite with The Force … a panoramic picture of a criminal justice system permeated by corruption, cronyism and lies’ Sunday Times, Thriller of the Month ‘Sprawling and visceral’ Financial Times, Crime Books of the Year ‘Breathtaking. Think of TV series The Sopranos … told in majestic prose … this is without question among the finest ever police novels’ Daily Mail, Books of the Year ‘A brutal, gut-punching story’ Independent, Books of the Year ‘Almost Shakespearean’ Spectator, Books of the Year ‘Shocking and shockingly convincing … sinewy, flexible, raw and full of wit. This novel is as entertaining as the best crime fiction must be, but it is also moving’ TLS ‘Don Winslow’s magnificent novels have positioned him as the next big-hitter of crime writing … Gripping’ Metro ‘Intensely human in its tragic details, positively Shakespearian in its epic sweep – probably the best cop novel ever written’ Lee Child ‘Mesmerizing, a triumph. Think The Godfather, only with cops. It’s that good’ Stephen King ‘Nobody understands the disaster of corruption better than Don Winslow. The Force exposes the dawning horror of how it eats into the best intentions’ Val McDermid, No.1 bestselling author of Out of Bounds ‘A stunner of a cop novel with dialogue, gritty New York setting and moral pincers all in the service of a devastating plot’ New York Times, Crime Books of the Year

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Book Synopsis''it only rests with yourself to become Lady Audley, and the mistress of Audley Court''When beautiful young Lucy Graham accepts the hand of Sir Michael Audley, her fortune and her future look secure. But Lady Audley''s past is shrouded in mystery, and to Sir Michael''s nephew Robert, she is not all that she seems. When his good friend George Talboys suddenly disappears, Robert is determined to find him, and to unearth the truth. His quest reveals a tangled story of lies and deception, crime and intrigue, whose sensational twists turn the conventional picture of Victorian womanhood on its head. Can Robert''s darkest suspicions really be true?Lady Audley''s Secret was an immediate bestseller, and readers have enjoyed its thrilling plot ever since its first publication in 1862. This new edition explores Braddon''s portrait of her scheming heroine in the context of the nineteenth-century sensation novel and the lively, often hostile debates it provoked. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years

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Book SynopsisX is the New York Times number 1 bestseller and thrilling, twenty-fourth book in the Kinsey Millhone Alphabet series from Sue Grafton.In hindsight, I marvel at how clueless I was . . . What I ask myself even now is whether I should have picked up the truth any faster than I did, which is to say not fast enough . . .When a glamorous red head wishes to locate the son she put up for adoption thirty-two years ago, it seems like an easy two hundred bucks for private investigator Kinsey Millhone. But when a cop tells her she was paid with marked bills, and Kinsey's client is nowhere to be found, it becomes apparent this mystery woman has something to hide. Riled, Kinsey won't stop until she's found out who fooled her and why.Meanwhile, the widow of the recently murdered P. I. - and Kinsey's old friend - Pete Wolinsky, needs help with her IRS audit. This seemingly innocuous task takes a treacherous turn when Kinsey finds aTrade ReviewThankfully it's not X for Exit (yet!)...Twists galore lie ahead * Peterborough Telegraph *With only two installments to go in her landmark series, Grafton has never been better * Booklist *With X Grafton approaches the finishing tape. Kinsey Millhone, her clever, feisty and funny Californian private eye, usually manless and often broke has rarely disappointed. Time to catch up on Grafton before she gets to Z -- Marcel Berlins * The Times *

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Book SynopsisNora Roberts: fall into her grip and she'll never let you go

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Book SynopsisBOOK 5 IN THE EPIC HISTORICAL SAGA OF THE COURTNEY FAMILY, FROM INTERNATIONAL SENSATION WILBUR SMITH'Smith will take you on an exciting, taut and thrilling journey you will never forget' - Sun'With Wilbur Smith the action is never further than the turn of a page' - Independent'No one does adventure quite like Smith' - Daily MirrorA POWERFUL FAMILY. A DEVASTATING WAR. Centaine de Thiry Courtney has not only survived the many challenges of her life but has thrived. A successful businesswoman with two sons: Shasa Courtney, the Courtney heir, and Manfred de la Rey, Shasa's half-brother, her secret child raised solely by his father. But as the Great Depression takes hold, Centaine must make difficult decisions to ensure the security of her family - decisions that will affect Manfred and his father, Lothar de la Rey, a man Centaine once loved. But the world is changing, and conflicts greater than any the world has seen before are looming. Centaine and her children must face the upcoming war - and not all of them will be on the same side . . . A Courtney Series adventure - Book 2 in The Burning Shore sequenceThe Power of the Sword is the shocking second novel in The Burning Shore sequence of the Courtney family saga by Wilbur Smith, one of the best and most beloved authors of the century. Book 6 in the Courtney family series, Rage, is available now.

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Book SynopsisFROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER THE CALLER  Inside a Los Angeles church, on the altar steps, lies the blood-soaked body of a priest. Later, the forensic team discover that, on the victim's chest, the figure 3 has been scrawled in blood. At first, Detective Robert Hunter believes that this is a ritualistic killing. But as more bodies surface, he is forced to reassess. All the victims died in the way they feared the most. Their worst nightmares have literally come true. But how could the killer have known? And what links these apparently random victims? Hunter finds himself on the trail of an elusive and sadistic killer, someone who apparently has the power to read his victims' minds. Someone who can sense what scares his victims the most. Someone who will stop at nothing to achieve his twisted aim.PRAISE FOR CHRIS CARTER  'Gripping . . . Not for t

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Book Synopsis Your son said he was home. WHY DID HE LIE? The new up-all-night thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Richard and Judy pick The Holiday, now a major NETFLIX Drama.I should have known something was wrong. I should have sensed it. Felt it in the air, like the build-up of pressure before a thunderstorm, that heavy, loaded calm.The curfewAndy and Laura are good parents. They tell their son Connor that he can go out with friends to celebrate completing his exams, but he must be home by midnight.The lieWhen Connor misses his curfew, it sets off a series of events that will change the lives of five families forever.The truth?Because five teenagers went into the woods that night, but only four came out. And telling the truth might mean losing everything...WHAT WOULD YOU DO?Praise for THE CURFEW and T.M. Logan:'Taut and tension-packed, The Curfew digs deep into every parent's nightmare' BA Paris, Sunday Times bestseller'A gripping, unexpected thriller' Adele Parks'A thriller that goes to the very heart of what it means to be a family. I couldn't have loved it more' Gillian McCallister, Sunday Times bestselling author of That Night'Addictive, unexpected, scary and compelling' Jane Corry'Anxiety on speed' Linwood Barclay, Sunday Times bestseller'An addictive thriller with unexpected twists - The Curfew will have you turning pages late into the night' Karin Slaughter, Sunday Times bestseller'Heart-stoppingly tense. Logan captures the terror of every parent's worst nightmare and then turns the knife with plot twist after twist. A master of his craft' Jo Spain'Twisty and clever with a compelling sense of dread that had me flying through the pages' KL Slater'One of those books that grabs you from page 1. Brilliantly drawn characters. breathless plotting. Outstanding all round' Imran Mahmood, author of You Don't Know Me'Sharp, tautly plotted and dripping with dread, T.M. Logan cements his status as master of the what-if thriller in The Curfew. A tantalising, clever ride' Phoebe Morgan**DON'T MISS T.M. LOGAN'S INCREDIBLE NEW THRILLER THE MOTHER - OUT NOW!***The Curfew, Sunday Times bestseller March 2022

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Book Synopsis‘If you haven’t read Jane Casey, start immediately’ Marian Keyes, the Sunday Times No.1 Bestseller A Times best crime book of 2023Trade Review‘A full-blooded triple-decker mystery that is intriguing and exciting. The Close is Jane Casey at her very best’ The Times ‘I loved, loved, LOVED The Close. If you haven’t read Jane Casey, start immediately – excellent police procedurals with DELICIOUS sexual tension’ Marian Keyes ‘Another cracker from Jane Casey’ Cara Hunter ‘A deliciously bingeable read’ Ruth Ware ‘Simmering tension between the main characters, [a] tightly plotted mystery…a brilliant example of nothing being as it seems’ Harriet Tyce ‘Casey excels at showing how a detective’s stresses and anxieties are rooted in more than just their work’ Linwood Barclay ‘The Close is Jane’s best Maeve Kerrigan novel yet. Absolutely brilliant!’ Liz Nugent ‘Intense, intriguing, and shot through with a simmering "will they/won't they" tension’ Neil Lancaster ‘Splendidly menacing, it confirms Casey’s exceptional story-telling skill’ Daily Mail ‘Simmers with non-stop heat and tension’ Andrea Mara ‘A meticulously plotted thriller populated with a cast of richly drawn characters that exudes a distinct air of deadly menace’ Irish Independent ‘Jane Casey is writing the most dangerously addictive series in crime fiction and The Close absolutely sizzles with her trademark tension’ Erin Kelly ‘Thrums with the tension of a classic crime thriller…Brilliant’ Sarah Hilary ‘“Whodunnit” and “will they, won’t they” are two equally enticing questions and, here, readers will have great fun guessing the answer to both’ Daily Mirror ‘An addictive, razor-sharp thriller’ Woman’s Weekly ‘As deeply satisfying yet intensely moreish as all its predecessors – I devoured it, I loved it, I want the next one ASAP, please’ Lucy Mangan 'I love Jane Casey's writing, and The Close is a real treat for both long-time fans and new readers alike. Completely addictive’ BP Walter

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Book SynopsisGogmagog tells the story of an epic journey through the sixty-mile long ghost of a dragon. We travel by boat, a rickety steam launch captained by Cady Meade, a veteran taxi pilot on the river Nysis. In her heyday she carried people and goods from the thriving seaports of the estuary into Ludwich, the capital city. But that was years ago. Now she’s drunk, holed up in a rundown seaside resort, telling her bawdy tales for shots of rum. All that’s about to change, when two strangers seek her out, asking for transport, one of whom – a young girl – is very ill, and in great danger. The other, an artificial being of singular character, has secrets hidden inside his crystal skull. And so begins the voyage of the Juniper. The Nysis is unlike any other river. Mysteries unfold with each port of call. Not many can navigate these channels, not many know of its whirlpools and sandbanks, and of the ravenous creatures that lurk beneath the surface. Cady used to have the necessary knowledge, and the powers of spectral navigation. But her glory days are well behind her now. This might well be her final journey.Trade Review"Marvellous stuff: a great flowing river of a novel, endlessly inventive, gorgeously written, pungent and haunting and gripping. This is the kind of world that, in all its strangeness, feels very real: you inhabit it rather than read about it. The dragon Faynr: chef's kiss! Can't wait for the next volume." – Adam Roberts, BSFA award-winning author of Jack Glass

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER IN THE TEMPERANCE BRENNAN SERIES 'I await the next Kathy Reichs thriller with the same anticipation I have for the new Lee Child or Patricia Cornwell' JAMES PATTERSON 'Over the course of twenty books, Kathy Reichs and Tempe Brennan have thrilled readers with pacey, mazey tales . . . We readers are truly grateful' IAN RANKIN   NO CRIME CAN STAY HIDDEN FOREVER When a hurricane hits the Carolinas it uncovers two bodies, sharing uncanny similarities with a cold case in Quebec that has haunted Temperance Brennan for fifteen years.   At the same time, a rare bacterium that can eat human flesh is discovered in Charleston. Panic erupts and people test themselves for a genetic mutation that leaves them vulnerable.   With support from her long time partner Andrew Ryan, in a search that soon prov

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'Leon is a superb novelist . . .You can feel the tension, fear, horror - and wonder' The Times'They killed him. It was bad money.' A dying hospice patient gasps these cryptic words about her recently-deceased husband, who lost his life in a motorcycle accident. But what appears to be a private family tragedy turns into a bigger enigma when Brunetti discover the victim's ties to Venice's water supply. With the help of a Questura secretery, Elettra Sorzi, Brunetti will unveil the secret that lies behind the dying woman's accusation - one that threatens the health of the entire region.Trade ReviewDonna Leon’s appreciation of her adopted city’s sublime yet fragile magnificence is as fresh (and invigorating) today as it was when Death at La Fenice was published in 1992. However, her anger at the damage caused by tourism and pollution has grown stronger over the years ... Should anyone still doubt that Leon is a superb novelist, let them consider the scene in which Guido gently questions a woman during the last few minutes of her life. You can feel the tension, fear, horror - and wonder. * The Times *

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Book Synopsis ***WINNER OF THE 2023 CWA DAGGER IN THE LIBRARY***''Sophie Hannah, who can twist a conventional plot until it screams for mercy, puts an existential spin on the domestic-suspense novel'' New York Times''Fiendishly clever'' Daily Mail ''Complex and sinister'' Observer ''A literary high-wire artist'' Sunday Express ''Prepare for sleep deprivation!'' RedAll Beth has to do is drive her son to his Under-14s away match, watch him play, and bring him home.Just because she knows that her former best friend lives near the football ground, that doesn''t mean she has to drive past her house and try to catch a glimpse of her. Why would Beth do that, and risk dredging up painful memories? She hasn''t seen Flora Braid for twelve years.But she can''t resist. She parks outside Flora''s house and watches from across the road Trade ReviewPraise for HAVEN'T THEY GROWN * : *From the impossible premise to its chilling conclusion, Haven't They Grown is a masterpiece in plotting. Hannah's writing is darkly funny and brilliantly observed - I adore her books. * Clare Mackintosh *SO clever, so gripping: Hannah asks her readers an impossible question and answers it with style. I tore through Haven't They Grown. Brilliant characters and a corker of an ending. Bravo! * Gillian McAllister *Ingenious... delivers twists and turns at every corner * Heat *The twists and turns in this weird psychological thriller are entertaining and a bit creepy at times. You'll finish this book wondering what the hell just happened!...an entertaining read that I would highly recommend * My Weekly *Hannah is in a league of her own... this twist-packed, always surprising thriller will keep you gripped to the satisfying conclusion * Peterborough Telegraph *Hannah is one of our most courageous crime writers, a literary high-wire artist who sets herself the toughest of challenges in inventing inexplicable mysteries that she must create plausible solutions for... she pulls it off beautifully * Sunday Express S Magazine *Hannah has always excelled at the knotty, impossible twist and Haven't They Grown is as complex and sinister as ever * The Observer, Thrillers of the Month review *If you like your mysteries extremely twisty, this could be for you * Women's Weekly *With it's jaw-dropping hook, twisting plot and ingenious conclusion, Haven't They Grown, is a galloping read that will have you rattling through the pages, desperate to solve the mysterious puzzle at its heart * The Herald *Engaging and dynamic...an interesting story that leads to a dramatic face off * Daily Record *Hannah is becoming something of a national treasure... rich and nuanced * The Financial Times *fiendishly clever * Daily Mail *Prepare for sleep deprivation! * Red *Sophie Hannah, who can twist a conventional plot until it screams for mercy, puts an existential spin on the domestic-suspense novel * New York Times *Hannah is becoming something of a national treasure in the UK . . . The plotting here is more outrageous than usual for Hannah, and might even stretch the reader's ability to suspend disbelief. But few will complain, given her customary rich and nuanced characterisation. -- Barry Forshaw * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisCaptivate, kill or destroy the whole force of the enemy' was the order given to the American soldiers.THE FORT is the blistering new novel from worldwide bestseller Bernard Cornwell.Summer 1779.Seven hundred and fifty British soldiers and three small ships of the Royal Navy. Their orders: to build a fort above a harbour to create a base from which to control the New England seaboard.Forty-one American ships and over nine hundred men. Their orders: to expel the British.The battle that followed was a classic example of how the best-laid plans can be disrupted by personality and politics, and of how warfare can bring out both the best and worst in men. It is a timeless tale of men at war, written by a master storyteller.Trade Review‘Nobody in the world does this stuff better than Cornwell’ Lee Child ‘Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisCoward, scoundrel, lover and cheat, but there is no better man to go into the jungle with. Join Flashman in his adventures as he survives fearful ordeals and outlandish perils across the four corners of the world.An international mission calls for unflinching bravery in the bedroom . . .Caught between an opium-selling vicar's wife, an Amazonian bandit queen looking for her next husband and the Chinese Emperor's ravishing concubine, Harry Flashman is busier than ever.Trade Review'Flashman is a wonderful creation, by a master storyteller. We'll forever delight in his evil antics' JEFFREY ARCHER ‘Politically incorrect, lascivious and fiendishly handsome, Flashman is the greatest ’ BORIS JOHNSON ‘Flashman is one of the great characters of modern fiction; a rogue, a lover, and always an irresistible read’ BERNARD CORNWELL ‘Flashman, Sherlock Holmes, Toad of Toad Hall, Bertie Wooster. Any writer would give his eye-teeth to have created a character as good as those. GMF was one of the greats’ CONN IGGULDEN ‘The perfect fictional creation’ TONY PARSONS ‘A first-rate historical novelist’ KINGSLEY AMIS

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Book SynopsisSometimes murder is the easy way out...A brilliant Rebus novel from the No.1 bestselling author of A SONG FOR THE DARK TIMES.''Britain''s No.1 crime writer'' Daily Mirror''Ian Rankin is a genius'' Lee ChildA mugging gone wrong ... or murder?A dissident Russian poet is found dead - at the same time a delegation of Russian businessmen arrives in town. For some, it is crucial that the case is closed quickly, clinically and with the minimum of attention.But DI Rebus and DS Siobhan Clarke believe this is something more than a random attack - especially after a particularly nasty second killing. Then, a brutal and premeditated assault on a local gangster puts Rebus in the frame - and he may not survive long enough to solve anything...**** Ian Rankin''s A HEART FULL OF HEADSTONES was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 10th October 2022 and w/c 1st May 2023Trade ReviewRankin has an unparalleled ability to draw in the reader and make us feel every knock and setback in Inspector Rebus's red-raw life. Rarely has that talent been better displayed than in EXIT MUSIC - SCOTLAND ON SUNDAYBrace yourself for a stoater of a cliff-hanger ending - SUNDAY TELEGRAPHOne of the most beguiling characters in the history of crime fiction - it leaves them gasping for more - THE TIMESEvery page crackles with energy - EVENING STANDARDBoth Rebus and Rankin are at the height of their respective powers, and this web of intrigue is as good as detective drama gets - GLASGOW EVENING TIMES

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Book SynopsisDON'T MISS THE NEW TOM ROB SMITH NOVEL, COLD PEOPLE, OUT NOW!THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION. INCLUDING A FOREWORD FROM JOSEPH KANON.OVER 2 MILLION COPIES SOLD MOSCOW, 1953. Under Stalin’s terrifying regime, families live in fear. When the all-powerful State claims there is no such thing as crime, who dares disagree?AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER IN OVER 30 LANGUAGES An ambitious secret police officer, Leo Demidov believes he’s helping to build the perfect society. But when he uncovers evidence of a killer at large – a threat the state won’t admit exists – Demidov must risk everything, including the lives of those he loves, in order to expose the truth.A THRILLER UNLIKE ANY YOU HAVE EVER READ But what if the danger isn’t from the killer he is trying to catch, but from the country he is fighting to protect?

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Book SynopsisTHRILLERS THAT RACE FROM THE VERY FIRST PAGE . . . 'Felix Francis' novels gallop along splendidly' Jilly Cooper ‘From winning post to top of the bestseller lists’ Sunday Times Miles Pussett is a former steeplechase jockey. Now he gets his adrenaline rush from riding down the Cresta Run, a three-quarter-mile Swiss ice chute, head first, reaching speeds of up to eighty miles per hour.   Finding himself in St Moritz during the same weekend as White Turf, when high-class horseracing takes place on the frozen lake, he gets talked into helping out with the horses. It is against his better judgement. Seven years before, Miles left horseracing behind and swore he would never return.  When he discovers something suspicious is going on in the races, something that may have a profound impact on his future life, Miles begins a search for answers. But someone is adama

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Book Synopsis''Expertly plotted and mesmerising'' - Mick Herron A local myth. A deadly threat. Vera Stanhope, star of ITV''s Vera, returns for her most shocking case so far . . . I can''t see anything. It''s as if this house is on its own in the world, as if I''m on my own in the world and nobody would care if I died . . .When a body is found on the common outside Rosebank, an isolated care home for troubled teens, DI Vera Stanhope is called out to investigate. The victim is Josh, a staff member, who never showed up to work, and her only clue is the disappearance of fourteen-year-old resident Chloe. Vera can't bring herself to believe that a teenager is responsible for the murder, but even she can't dismiss the possibility.Then, in the isolated wilds of the Northumbrian countryside, near the Three Dark Wives standing stones which have triggered legends across the centuries, a second body is found. As folklore and fact begin to collide, Vera knows she has to find Chloe to get to the truth.But it seems that there are dark secrets in their community - ones that may be far more dangerous than she could ever have believed . . .The Dark Wives is the next thrilling mystery in the Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling series from Ann Cleeves.****''Like Rendell and James before her, like McDermid and Rankin today, Ann Cleeves is one of our secret chroniclers, charting under cover of a series of expertly plotted and mesmerising crime novels how we live now'' Mick Herron, author of Slow Horses''Cleeves''s Northumberland novels are strong on atmosphere, combing old-fashioned detective work with a modern take on class'' The Sunday Times ''A thoroughly engrossing thriller'' The Mail on Sunday''One of Britain''s best crime writers'' Daily Express''A story that keeps you guessing until the end where all the clues are pulled together masterfully'' Reader review''As stunning on the page as on TV'' Reader review''The storyline, the characters and the atmosphere of North East England all fit together beautifully'' Reader review

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Book Synopsis'Tense, gripping and atmospheric' - CHRIS WHITAKER'Gripped me from its shocking start' - SARAH YARWOOD-LOVETT'I highly recommend it' - LYNDA LA PLANTE CBE________________TWO MISSING BACKPACKERS. ONE VAST OUTBACK.DS Lucas Walker is on leave in his hometown, Caloodie, taking care of his dying grandmother. When two young German backpackers, Berndt and Rita, vanish from the area, he finds himself unofficially on the case.But why all the interest from the Federal Police when they have probably just ditched the heat and dust of the outback for the coast? Working in the organised crime unit has opened Walker's eyes to the growing drug trade in Australia's remote interior - and he becomes convinced there is more at play.As the number of days since the couple's disappearance climbs, Walker is joined by Rita's older sister. A detective herself with Berlin CID, she has flown to Australia - desperate to find her

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Book SynopsisFrom the Queen of Crime, all of her spookiest and most macabre stories collected in one volume, including her earliest published story, ''The Wife of the Kenite'', which is exclusive to this collection.From behind the curtains there still sounded the terrible high long-drawn scream such a scream as Raoul had never heard. It died away with a horrible kind of gurgle. Then there came the thud of a body falling'For lovers of the supernatural and the macabre comes this collection of ghostly and chilling tales from Agatha Christie. Acknowledged the world over as the undisputed Queen of Crime, in fact she dabbled in her early writing career with mysteries of a more unearthly kind stories featuring fantastic psychic visions, spectres looming in the shadows, encounters with deities, eerie messages from the Other Side, even a man who switches bodies with a catThis haunting compendium gathers together all of Christie's spookiest and most macabre short stories, some featuring her timeless detect

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Book SynopsisIntroducing the Collins Modern Classics, a series featuring some of the most significant books of recent times, books that shed light on the human experience classics which will endure for generations to come.Alison Hart, a medium by trade, tours the dormitory towns of London's orbital ring road with her flint-hearted sidekick, Colette, passing on messages from beloved dead ancestors. But behind her plump, smiling persona hides a desperate woman: she knows the terrors the next life holds but must conceal them from her wide-eyed clients. At the same time she is plagued by spirits from her own past, who infiltrate her body and home, becoming stronger and nastier the more she resistsShortlisted for the Orange Prize, Hilary Mantel's supremely suspenseful novel is a masterpiece of dark humour and even darker secrets.Trade Review‘Magnificent…It’s one of the greatest ghost stories in the language, but it’s far more than just a ghost story – it’s a novel of desperate truthfulness – a majestic work, truly’ Philip Pullman ‘Sparkling, sinister and supremely original’ Sunday Telegraph ‘As black as a tar barrel and very, very funny’ The Times ‘Laceratingly observant, a masterpiece of wit, heavy with atmosphere. It is also gloriously insolent and slyly funny: full of robust, uncluttered prose and searing moments' Independent ‘Pins elusive Middle England to the page in all its creepiness: a place blank and disconnected, yet fatally self-absorbed’ Rachel Cooke, Observer ‘An elegant, atmospheric tale and a nuanced portrait, full of ironies’ Tatler 'Chilling, creepy and endlessly inventive' Kate Saunders, The Times ‘Hilary Mantel has done something extraordinary. She has taken the ethereal halfway house between heaven and hell, between the living and the dead, and nailed it on the page’ Fay Weldon, Guardian ‘Has the kind of gallows humour that makes you laugh out loud…A real page-turner, a darkly humorous take on the enduring effects of childhood trauma’ Mslexia 'A deep, disturbing, violently amusing and subversive work’ Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisFasten your seatbelts for an anthology of turbulent tales curated by Stephen King and Bev Vincent. This exciting new collection, perfect for airport or aeroplane reading, includes an original introduction and story notes for each story by Stephen King, and brand new stories from Stephen King and Joe Hill.Stephen King hates to fly.Now he and co-editor Bev Vincent would like to share this fear of flying with you.Welcome to Flight or Fright, an anthology about all the things that can go horribly wrong when you''re suspended six miles in the air, hurtling through space at more than 500 mph and sealed up in a metal tube (like - gulp! - a coffin) with hundreds of strangers. All the ways your trip into the friendly skies can turn into a nightmare, including some we''ll bet you''ve never thought of before... but now you will the next time you walk down the jetway and place your fate in the hands of a total stranger.Featuring brand new stoTrade Review[An] entertaining anthology of horror, mystery, and literary tales . . .Standouts include the two original stories: King's "The Turbulence Expert," a perfectly tense tale about a mysterious group that prevents aircraft crashes though unusual means, and Joe Hill's "You Are Released," made terrifying by its proximity to reality * Publishers Weekly *Classic tales by some big names in the horror and science fiction genres. There's Stephen King, of course, but also Conan Doyle, Ray Bradbury, Roald Dahl and Dan Simmons'= * Shots Magazine *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of The Jigsaw Man comes the next book in Nadine Matheson's DI Henley seriesNadine Matheson writes sentences like roses, lovely and bristling with thorns . . . Matheson's voice is exciting, urgent and, now more than ever, vital' A.J. FinnThere is a freshness to Matheson's writing which promises a long career' Morning Star* * *In this room, no one can hear you screamThe Serial Crimes Unit are called in to investigate when a local pastor is found stabbed to death. As DI Henley assesses the crime scene, she discovers a hidden door that conceals a room set up for torture and bound to the bed in the middle of the room is the body of a man.When another body is found, also tied down, Henley realises there''s someone out there torturing innocent people and leaving them for dead. But why?There''s nothing that connects the victims. They didn''t know each other. Their paths never crossed. But someone has targeted them, and it''s up to Henley and the SCU to stop them before they fiTrade Review Praise for The Binding Room ‘There is a freshness to Matheson’s writing which promises a long career’ Morning Star Praise for Nadine Matheson ‘This book is gruesomely good’ Lesley Kara, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rumour ‘Crime fiction has a significant new star’ Sarah Hilary, author of Someone Else’s Skin ‘Move over, Hannibal Lecter, there's a new serial killer on the block in this awesome debut from Nadine Matheson. The Jigsaw Man will have you in pieces. Literally’ David Jackson, author of The Resident ‘What a fantastic book – gruesome murders, a wonderful new detective and some hard-hitting themes explored’ Chris McDonald, author of the DI Erika Piper series ‘I love a good cat and mouse between a detective and a killer, and Nadine Matheson’s thriller fits the bill. The chilling storyline, intense characters, vivid prose, and unflinching crime scenes make Matheson the heir apparent to Mo Hayder and Thomas Harris. Smashing!’ J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author ‘A spellbinding game of cat and mouse . . . with chilling echoes of Thomas Harris’s The Silence of the Lambs’ Daily Mail ‘For lovers of modern crime fiction, Matheson’s macabre novel will hit the spot’ Independent Online ‘With a wit that complements her dark subject matter, Matheson writes superbly . . . A book to make you think, feel – and jump out of your chair’ Daily Mirror ‘Pacy and gripping. If you love Val McDermid and Fiona Cummins then you’ll love The Jigsaw Man’ Nina Pottell, Prima ‘Fans of crime fiction will adore this gruesome debut’ Red ‘Not for the faint hearted . . . Expertly paced and plotted . . . You will need to leave the lights on’ Platinum

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Book SynopsisInvestigator Cassie Dewell is on the trail of the Lizard King, in the series that inspired Big Sky. It's the end of the road. For three years, Chief Investigator Cassie Dewell has been hunting the Lizard King. Twice she's nearly had him and watched him slip through her fingers, but this time, the trap is set and she's certain she'll catch him. But when the plan fails, and three policemen die in the chaos, Cassie loses her job. But she won't – she can't – give up the hunt. So when two teenage boys go missing and it looks like the Lizard King is involved, Cassie takes to the road. A road from which, quite possibly, there is no return. A road that ends in Paradise Valley.Trade ReviewBreathtakingly good * Sunday Times Crime Club (star pick) *Box is not only an exemplary writer of crime novels; he is also a rancher, hunter and guide to the outback * Financial Times *Readers should find it mesmerizing * Crimespree Magazine *The gripping plot soon makes it difficult to take a break for reasons other than a house fire or other major emergency... It's great stuff' * Crime Review *

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Book SynopsisFive Nights at Freddy''s fans won''t want to miss this pulse-pounding collection of three novella-length tales that will keep even the bravest FNAF player up at night...Act in haste, repent at leisure... After losing his friend in a terrible accident, Edward can''t spend his money fast enough on a happy companion guaranteed to keep his friend''s memory alive. Mott quickly flushes his brother''s creepy new pets, but the creatures have other plans. Eager to put her classmates in their place, homecoming queen Jessica doesn''t stop to double-check her homework... reprogramming a defunct animatronic.In this tenth volume, Five Nights at Freddy''s creator Scott Cawthon spins three sinister novella-length stories from different corners of his series'' canon.Readers beware: This collection of terrifying tales is enough to unsettle even the most hardened Five Nights at Freddy''s fans.

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Book SynopsisDetective Superintendent Roy Grace unearths a powerful criminal network in the sinister crime novel Find Them Dead, by award winning author Peter James.Ending his secondment to London’s Met Police, Roy Grace gets a tip-off about a drugs mastermind operating out of Brighton. On his first day back in his old job, he is called to a seemingly senseless murder.Gradually, Grace’s investigation draws him into the evil sphere of an utterly ruthless drug dealer on trial. A man prepared to order the death of anyone it takes to enable him to walk free from court.Sitting in the jury is Meg Magellan, whose daughter's life is being threatened by a stranger who tells her that if she ever wants to see her alive again, it is very simple. At the end of the trial, all she has to do is make sure the jury says just two words . . . Not guilty.Although the Roy Grace novels can be read in any order, Find Them Dead is the sixteenth title in the bestselling series. Discover more of the Brighton detective’s investigations with Left You Dead.Now a major ITV series, Grace, starring John Simm.Trade ReviewAs ever, the pages become blurred as you race to discover the verdict. The plot also leaves you hungry for the next episode in DS Grace’s personal drama * the i *An intriguing glimpse into the justice system and drugs crime * Sussex Life *Sharp, engrossing, and unexpected! -- What's Better Than BooksPeter James is one of the best crime writers in the business -- Karin SlaughterMeticulous research gives his prose great authenticity . . . James manages to add enough surprises and drama that by the end you’re rooting for the police and really don’t know if they will finally get their men * Sunday Express *James just gets better and better and deserves the success he has achieved with this first-class series * Independent on Sunday *Peter James has penetrated the inner workings of police procedures, and the inner thoughts and attitudes of real detectives, as no English crime writer before him. His hero, Roy Grace, may not be the most lively cop, nor the most damaged by drink, weight or misery, but he's one of the most believable * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe first girl came back.The next might not be so lucky...--------''A real gripper of a read'' Peter James ''Masterful, engrossing, twisty'' Rosamund Lupton''One of our most exciting crime writers'' John Marrs A girl is taken from the streets of Oxford. But it''s unlike any abduction DI Fawley''s seen before . . . Faith Appleford was attacked, a plastic bag tied over her head, taken to an isolated location . . . and then, by some miracle, she escaped. What''s more, when DC Erica Somer interviews Faith, she quickly becomes convinced that Faith knows who her abductor is. Yet Faith refuses to press charges. Without more evidence, it''s looking like the police may have to drop the case. But what happens if Faith''s attacker strikes again?The fourth twisty, up-all-night thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling Cara Hunter. For fans of Shari Lapena, Claire Douglas and Trade ReviewFantastic...my favourite series ever! -- SHARI LAPENA, author of SOMEONE WE KNOWA real gripper of a read -- PETER JAMES, author of DEAD AT FIRST SIGHTClassy, agile, fresh, unpredictable and utterly compelling...hats off! -- NICCI FRENCH, author of THE LYING ROOM

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Book SynopsisRepublished for the first time in nearly 95 years, a classic winter country house mystery by the founder of the Detection Club, with a twist that even Agatha Christie couldn't solve!Stephen Munro, a demobbed army officer, reconciles himself to taking a job as a footman to make ends meet. Employed at Wintringham Hall, the delightful but decaying Sussex country residence of the elderly Lady Susan Carey, his first task entails welcoming her eccentric guests to a weekend house-party, at which her bombastic nephew who recognises Stephen from his former life decides that an after-dinner séance would be more entertaining than bridge. Then Cicely disappears!With Lady Susan reluctant to call the police about what is presumably a childish prank, Stephen and the plucky Pauline Mainwaring take it upon themselves to investigate. But then a suspicious death turns the game into an altogether more serious affairThis classic winter mystery incorporates all the trappings of the Golden Age a rambling country house, a séance, a murder, a room locked on the inside, with servants, suspects and alibis, a romance and an ingenious puzzle.First published as a 30-part newspaper serial in 1926 the year The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was published, The Wintringham Mystery was written by Anthony Berkeley, founder of the famous Detection Club. Also known as Cicely Disappears, the Daily Mirror ran the story as a competition with a prize of 500 (equivalent to 30,000 today) for anyone who guessed the solution correctly. Nobody did even Agatha Christie entered and couldn't solve it. Can you?Trade Review‘Detection and crime at its wittiest – all Berkeley’s stories are amusing, intriguing and he is a master of the final twist.’Agatha Christie ‘Anthony Berkeley is the supreme master not of the “twist” but of the “double-twist”.’ Milward Kennedy in the Sunday Times

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