Crime & Thrillers Books

Book Synopsis'A triumph. Dazzlingly original' Sunday Times'Riveting and relentless...A unique story, brilliantly told' Terry Hayes'Brilliant, compelling and original' Steve Cavanagh'Highly original and mischievous' John Boyne______________'What happens to those girls who go missing? What happens to the Zoe Nolans of the world?'In the early hours of Saturday 17 December 2011, Zoe Nolan, a nineteen-year-old Manchester University student, walked out of a party taking place in the shared accommodation where she had been living for three months.She was never seen again.Seven years after her disappearance, struggling writer Evelyn Mitchell finds herself drawn into the mystery. Through interviews with Zoe's closest friends and family, she begins piecing together what really happened in 2011. But where some versions of events overlap, aligning perfectly with one another, others stand in stark contrast, giving rise to troubling inconsistencies.Shaken by revelations of Zoe's secret life, and stalked by a figure from the shadows, Evelyn turns to crime writer Joseph Knox to help make sense of a case where everyone has something to hide.Zoe Nolan may be missing presumed dead, but her story is only just beginning.______________Readers love TRUE CRIME STORY:'Perfectly combines the best parts of true crime, fiction and mystery. Superb''My favourite read of 2021...fascinating, perplexing and bloody brilliant''I've been looking for something different and new in the crime genre. Here it is'Trade ReviewScandalously entertaining...Knox is a fantastic writer. His ambitious fourth novel satirises and celebrates the true-crime genre with glee ... by turns horrific and hilarious -- Mark Sanderson * The Times *Truly immersive: complex, disturbing, unexpectedly funny and very smart -- Laura Wilson * The Guardian *One of the most engaging cold-case novels I have read -- Natasha Cooper * Literary Review *Knox the author pulls off a hybrid triumph: at once an old-fashioned whodunnit and a smart postmodern literary novel asking questions about the ethics of all editing, as well as the true-crime genre. Dazzlingly original. -- John Dugdale * Sunday Times *The gifted Joseph Knox continues his upwards trajectory...forging something original and innovative. -- Barry Forshaw * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisWhen the wedding of her oldest friend ends with a shocking murder, Dr Nell Ward is once again caught up in a web of subterfuge, secrets and lies... Dr Nell Ward is delighted when her childhood friend Percy announces she's engaged to handsome businessman Hawke McAnstruther - and rashly offers to host the wedding at Finchmere, her family's estate. But she hadn't anticipated Percy's parents' fiery disapproval of the groom. The ceremony is barely over before Hawke's shady personal and professional life starts to unravel, and tension ripples through the assembled guests. When the wedding night ends with a shocking death, Nell, best-friend Rav and DI James Clarke all find themselves embroiled in a murder mystery worthy of Agatha Christie. Surviving a terrifying threat to her own life, Nell has to face up to the truth. Not just about murder at Finchmere, but about where her heart truly lies... The second book in the Nell Ward cosy crime series - perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Fiona Leitch, Faith Martin and The Appeal. Praise for A Cast of Falcons'With a credible and colourful cast of characters, a compelling plot and a solid narrative this is, once again, a wholly immersive one-sit read.' - NetGalley reviewer'A great, easy and enjoyable read! Highly recommended.' - NetGalley reviewer'The plot is riveting and keeps you guessing right till the end!' - NetGalley reviewer'Lovely well-rounded characters and a great setting. Definitely recommended.' - NetGalley reviewer

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Book SynopsisAgatha Christie's first ever murder mystery, now presented as a sumptuous special edition hardback.Beware! Peril to the detective who says: It is so small it does not matter Everything matters.'After the Great War, life can never be the same again. Wounds need healing, and the horror of violent death banished into memory.Captain Arthur Hastings is invited to the rolling country estate of Styles to recuperate from injuries sustained at the Front. It is the last place he expects to encounter murder. Fortunately he knows a former detective, a Belgian refugee, who has grown bored of retirementThe first Hercule Poirot mystery, now published with a previously deleted chapter and introduced by Agatha Christie expert Dr John Curran.Trade Review‘Almost too ingenious … very clearly and brightly told.’Times Literary Supplement ‘Very well contrived.’Sunday Times ‘Altogether a skilful tale and a talented first book.’Daily News ‘The most ingenious and absorbingly interesting tale of sensations and mystery we have read for a long time.’Bookman ‘Well written, well proportioned, and full of surprises. Lovers of good stories will, without exception, rejoice in this book.’The British Weekly

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Book SynopsisThe Lady in the Van meets The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry in this uplifting, funny and moving debut novel about a 79-year-old hoarder who is convinced the world is against her.79-year-old Gloria Frensham is a hoarder. She lives amongst piles of magazines, cardboard boxes and endless knick-knacks that are stacked into every room of her home, and teeter in piles along the landing and up the stairs.She hasn't left the house in years, but when a sudden smell of burning signifies real danger, she is forced to make a sudden departure and leave behind her beloved possessions.Determined she's not ready for a care home, Gloria sets out to discover what life still has to offer her. It's time to navigate the outside world on her own, one step at a time, with just one very small suitcase in towHeart-warming and poignant in equal measure, this is a story about the loneliness of life, the struggles of growing old, the power of kindness, and the bravery it takes to leave our comfort zones.** PrTrade Review ** Praise from NetGalley reviewers ** ‘It is a feel good hug of a book with wonderful relatable characters and a storyline that will make you smile from ear to ear. Absolutely delightful.’ ‘I loved this book. It’s an easy read, and the characters are relatable, but the message – essentially carpe diem – is deep. Highly recommended.’ ‘Such a beautifully written novel’ ‘If you enjoyed reading A Man Called Ove and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, you will definitely like this book. It touches on a huge spectrum of topics, not just focusing on what you would imagine by its title.’ ‘An endearing "coming out of hibernation" story – as opposed to a coming-of-age story!’ ‘I grew to love the characters like they were real people and I’ll miss reading about them.’

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Book SynopsisThe twenty-fifth instalment of the Number One Bestselling DCI Banks series''The master of the police procedural.'' Mail on Sunday''Robinson is prolific, but with each book he manages to ring the changes.'' Guardian*****The body of a young local student is found on a lonely country road. Initially the evidence points to suicide, yet she didn''t own a car and she didn''t even drive. So how did she get there, where did she die and who moved her?Meanwhile, a man in his sixties is found dead in a gully up on the nearby wild moorland. He is carrying no identification. The post-mortem indicates that he died from injuries sustained during the fall, but what was he doing up there? And why are there no signs of a car in the vicinity?As the trail gets colder, Annie''s father''s new partner, Zelda, alerts Banks and Annie to the return of an old and dangerous eneTrade ReviewPraise for Careless Love * : *This is vintage Banks - a dogged search for truth which never once loses its grip on its hero's intuition and charm. * Daily Mail *Robinson remains the master of the police procedural. * Mail on Sunday *Robinson is prolific, but with each book he manages to ring the changes. * Guardian *Banks' slow but dogged pursuit of murderers and his meditations on the past make him a figure readers feel they know intimately and trust implicitly and, despite moments of darkness, the series' warmth makes you feel all's right with the world. * S Magazine *A fast-paced and ingenious story * On Yorkshire Magazine *His novels track the changing nature of crime, taking on difficult subjects such as gangs of men who groom underage girls, and the new book tackles the contentious subject of widening inequality. * Sunday Times *Robinson has a unique knack of revealing to the layman the painstaking and ingenious ways in which the numerous experts who work for the police can wheedle out the most infinitesimal clues surrounding a suspicious death * On Yorkshire Magazine *Praise for the DCI Banks series * : *The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong. -- Stephen KingPeter Robinson has for too long, and unfairly, been in the shadow of Ian Rankin; perhaps PIECE OF MY HEART, the latest in the Chief Inspector Banks series, will give him the status he deserves, near, perhaps even at the top of the British crime writers' league * The Times *Robinson also has a way of undercutting the genre's familiarity. With a deceptively unspectacular language, he sets about the process of unsettling the reader * Independent *Top-notch police procedure -- Jeffery Deaver

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Book SynopsisAlexander Fitzpatrick is one of the most wanted men in the Western world. A Howard Marks character, but far more dangerous, his wealth, accrued through drug-trafficking, runs into millions. For the past ten years there has been no sighting of him. Has he gone to ground using an alias, or is he dead? When an ex-police officer from the murder squad is found shot in a dank squat, Ann Travis is pulled onto the case. As the body count rises and the investigation becomes ever more complex, suspicion falls on Fitzpatrick. Is he still alive and in the UK? Could he be the killer, with terrifying access to the most lethal drug in existence?**Lynda La Plante's Widows​ is now a major motion picture**

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Book SynopsisA chilling novel that pays twisted homage to Defoe's Robinson Crusoe'. Newly reissued with an introduction from Neil Gaiman.Robert Maitland, a 35 year-old architect, is driving home from his London offices when a blow-out sends his speeding Jaguar hurtling out of control. Smashing through a temporary barrier he finds himself, dazed and disorientated, on a traffic island below three converging motorways. But when he tries to climb the embankment or flag-down a passing car for help it proves impossible and he finds himself imprisoned on the concrete island. Maitland must survive using only what he can find in his crashed car.As in all Ballard's best work Concrete Island' provides an unnerving study of our modern lives and world. With his alienating, Ballardian' view of normal events, this is a unique novel from one of the twentieth century's finest writers.This edition is part of a new commemorative series of Ballard's works, featuring introductions from a number of his admirers (includTrade Review'This allegory of modern life is both compelling and profound' Daily Telegraph 'Ballard's violent exact prose carries you along irresistibly. You believe him, you accept his vision, and it is a fearful one' Sunday Telegraph ‘A tour de force … a nightmare we can all share’ Daily Mail 'Ballard writes with taut and precise economy, and the moral of his brilliantly original fable is plain: the interstices of our concrete jungle are filled with neglected people, and one day those people could be ourselves' Sunday Times ‘Perfectly enjoyable within the horror comic tradition … exceptionally skilful’ Auberon Waugh, Evening Standard

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Book SynopsisA brutal murder draws nobleman Sebastian St. Cyr into the tangled web of the British royal court in this gripping historical mystery.

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Book SynopsisThe international bestseller from the master of suspense. A mafia conspiracy and one women against the world.Tracy Whitey is on top of the world. Young, beautiful, intelligent, she is about to marry into wealth and glamour until, betrayed by her own innocence, she finds herself in prison, framed by a ruthless mafia gang and abandoned by the man she loves. Beaten and broken, but surviving with her dazzling ingenuity, Tracy emerges from her savage ordeal determined to avenge those who have destroyed her life. Her thirst for revenge takes her from New Orleans to London, from Paris to Madrid and Amsterdam. Tracy is playing for the highest stakes in a deadly game. Only one man can challenge her he's handsome, persuasive and every bit as daring. Only one man can stop her an evil genius whose only hope of salvation is in Tracy's destructionTrade Review‘A master storyteller at the top of his game.’ USA Today ‘Compulsively readable.’ New York Times Book Review ‘Sidney Sheldon is a master of giving the public what it wants’ Los Angeles Times

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its range of best-loved, essential classics.The horrid mystery hanging over us in this house gets into my head like liquor, and makes me wild.'Centred around a glorious yellow diamond that carries with it a menacing history, The Moonstone tells the story of Rachel Verinder, who inherits the stone on her eighteenth birthday. That very evening, the diamond is stolen and there begins an epic enquiry into hunting down the thief. At the same time, three Indian men, Brahmin guardians of the diamond are attempting to reclaim the stone in order to return it to their sacred Hindu Idol.Told from the perspective of 11different characters, Wilkie Collins' tale of mystery and suspicion was considered the first modern English detective novel at its time of publication.

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Book SynopsisPercival Everett is the author of over thirty books, including Telephone, Dr No, The Trees, which was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize and won the 2022 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize, and Erasure, which was adapted into the major Oscar-winning film American Fiction. He has received the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award and the PEN Center USA Award for Fiction, has been a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and is Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Southern California. An instant New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller in hardback, James was a finalist for the 2024 Orwell Prize for Fiction, was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, and was named the Winner of the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction. Percival Everett lives in Los Angeles.

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Book SynopsisIt''s a new year in New York city, and two star-crossed lovers have just discovered an insatiable appetite...for murder.Lieutenant Eve Dallas has witnessed some grisly crimes in her career and she knows just how dark things can get on the streets. But when a much-loved musician is found dead, Eve soon realises that his murder is part of a horrifying killing spree, stretching right across the country.Now the killers have reached New York, and they''ve found themselves another victim. Eve knows she only has a couple of days to save a young girl''s life, and to stop the killers before their sadistic games escalate. Eve''s husband Roarke is ready to put his brains and his considerable resources behind the search. But even as the couple works closely together, time is running out...

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Book SynopsisWith factions on board, and multiple enemies to contend with, only the most careful navigation will save them.As he sails away from Port Jackson, Captain Jack Aubrey feels nothing but relief at leaving the penal colony and its inhabitants far behind. But, unknown to him, hidden among his crew is one Clarissa Oakes. With Britain at war on two fronts, with both America and France, Aubrey's orders are to make for the Sandwich Islands and intervene in the conflict there.How much trouble can one woman cause?One moment you laugh out loud at comedy rooted in character, and the next, storming adventure or danger grips you by the throat . . . good writing allied to must-read-on storytelling.'SHAUN USHER, Daily MailThank God for Patrick O'Brian. His genius illuminates the literature of the English language, and lightens the lives of those who read him.'KEVIN MYERS, Irish TimesTrade Review‘If O’Brian’s novels have become a cult, this is because they are truly addictive. . . They are, quite magnificently, adventure yarns whose superb authenticity never distracts from the sheer thrill of the action.’Caroline Moore, Sunday Telegraph ‘The Aubrey–Maturin novels, by Patrick O’Brian, are so addictive that after I finish one I have to hide the next from myself for a little while in order to do anything else but read.’Louise Erdrich ‘In Aubrey and Maturin, Patrick O’Brian has created two of the most enjoyable characters in twentieth-century fiction. Their relationship sustains an absorbing and thrilling sequence of naval stories, unrivalled in their complexity, full of impeccable detail and psychological insight. O’Brian switches from the intimate to the epic with equal assurance. One of the greatest authors to sail with.’Michael Palin ‘My hero is Patrick O’Brian. It’s basically impossible to write that well.’David Mamet ‘One of the most compelling and brilliant novelists of his time . . . Beyond his superbly elegant writing, wit and originality, Patrick O’Brian showed an understanding of the nature of a floating world at the mercy of the wind and the sea which has never been surpassed.’Max Hastings, Evening Standard ‘I devoured Patrick O’Brian’s twenty-volume masterpiece as if it had been so many tots of Jamaica grog.’Christopher Hitchens ‘Written with most engaging enthusiasm that can’t fail to give pleasure to anybody who enjoys historical adventure flavoured with more than a dash of realism.’The Sunday Times ‘One of the most brilliantly sustained pieces of historical fictional writing this century.’James Teacher, Spectator ‘Patrick O’Brian brings depth to his sea-stories with outstanding dialogue, characterisation, humour and a golden thread of romance. You don’t have to love books about naval battles to become entranced.’Katie Fforde

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Book SynopsisCommemorating 75 years since the Empress of Crime's first book, the eighth volume in a set of omnibus editions presenting the complete run of 32 Inspector Alleyn mysteries.HAND IN GLOVEThe April Fool''s Day was a roaring success for all, it seemed - except for poor Mr Cartell who ended up in the ditch - for ever. Then there was the case of Mr Percival Pyke Period''s letter of condolence, sent before the body was found - not to mention the family squabbles. It''s all a puzzling crime for Superintendent AlleynDEAD WATERTimes are good in the Cornish village of Portcarrow, as hundreds flock to taste the healing waters of Pixie Falls. When Miss Emily Pride inherits this celebrated land, she wants to put an end to the villagers'' exploitation of miracle cures, especially Miss Elspeth Costs''s gift shop. But someone puts an end to Miss Cost, and Roderick Alleyn finds himself literally on the spotDEATH AT THE DOLPHINThe bombed-out Dolphin Theatre is given to Peregrine Jay by a mysterious oil m

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Book SynopsisIn Antarctica, a groundbreaking experiment will change everything.Dr. Laura Reynolds had it all.A job she loved. The respect of her peers. Student debt she was slowly chipping away at.And one day, she lost everything.She saw the wrong thing - a colleague''s mistake. And to escape, he framed her.To avoid prison, Laura reluctantly agrees to join a secretive research project in Antarctica, where she hopes to keep practicing medicine and someday get her life back. But soon after arriving, she realizes that things at this advanced facility aren''t what they seem. And perhaps something strange is happening in the world outside.

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Book SynopsisThe second riveting crime novel in the Karen Pirie series, from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Val McDermid.A superb mystery' The TimesFrom the creators of Line of Duty and Bodyguard, KAREN PIRIE is now on ITV, starring Lauren Lyle (Outlander)Twenty-five years ago, a woman and her baby son were kidnapped and held to ransom. Catriona Grant ended up dead and little Adam''s fate has remained a mystery ever since.When a new clue is discovered in a deserted Tuscan villa along with grisly evidence of a recent murder cold case expert DI Karen Pirie is assigned to follow the trail.She''s already working a case from the same year. During the Miners'' Strike of 1984, pit worker Mick Prentice vanished. Where did he really go? And is there a link to the Grant mystery?The truth is stranger and far darker than fiction.Trade Review‘An absorbing novel, one of her best’ The Times ‘Val McDermid is a born storyteller… absorbing reading’ Sunday Telegraph ‘A searing piece … McDermid orchestrates the tension with authority… After reading McDermid’s novel, readers may wish that more crime fiction would have the guts to take on serious issues’ Express ‘Torture, warped psyches, unspeakable cellars: Val McDermid sends you to bed with lights blazing’ Sunday Times ‘One of the best modern writers of crime fiction … Excellent’ Scotland on Sunday 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 Synopsis''Gibson is having tremendous fun'' Independent --------------THE THIRD NOVEL IN THE BLUE ANT TRILIOGY - READ PATTERN RECOGNITION AND SPOOK COUNTRY FOR MORE Hubertus Bigend, the Machiavellian head of global ad-agency Blue Ant, wants to uncover the maker of an obscurely fashionable denim that is taking subculture by storm. Ex-musician Henry Hollis knows nothing about fashion, but Bigend decides she is the woman for the job anyway. Soon, though, it becomes clear that Bigend''s interest in underground labels might have sinister applications. Powerful parties, who''ll do anything to get what they want, are showing their hand. And Hollis is about to find herself in the crossfire.A gripping spy thriller by William Gibson, bestselling author of Neuromancer. Part prophesy, part satire, Zero History skewers the absurdity of modern life with the lightest and most engaging of touches. Readers of Neal Stephenson, Ray Bradbury and Iain M. Banks won''t be able to put this book down. -------------- ''An ideas-swarm, coated with a hipster glaze'' Herald ''Gibson''s writing is thrillingly tight'' New York Times Book ReviewTrade ReviewAmong our most fascinating novelists * Daily Telegraph *A compulsive and deeply intelligent literary thriller * New Statesman *

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Book Synopsis''There was a rumour, too, that he was a devil-worshipper, or something of that sort, and also that he had the evil eye...'' Arthur Conan Doyle was the greatest genre writer Britain has ever produced. Throughout a long writing career, he drew on his own medical background, his travels, and his increasing interest in spiritualism and the occult to produce a spectacular array of Gothic Tales. Many of Doyle''s writings are recognised as the very greatest tales of terror. They range from hauntings in the polar wasteland to evil surgeons and malevolent jungle landscapes. This collection brings together over thirty of Conan Doyle''s best Gothic Tales. Darryl Jones''s introduction discusses the contradictions in Conan Doyle''s very public life - as a medical doctor who became obsessed with the spirit world, or a British imperialist drawn to support Irish Home Rule - and shows the ways in which these found articulation in that most anxious of all literary forms, the Gothic.Trade ReviewAs always in the Oxford Worlds Classic's editions, there is an informative introduction and extensive notes... An interesting and informative essay, happily written without any lit-crit jargon, making it both accessible and enjoyable for the general reader... I loved this collection. * Leah Galbraith, FictionFan Blog *Superb introduction. * Christopher Metress, English Literature in Translation *[An] informative introduction a book that fans of Conan Doyle's other work will likely find enjoyable: Sherlock Holmes it may not be, but the strongest of the tales included in the volume show how versatile Conan Doyle's talents were in the realm of popular fiction. * Oliver Tearle, Interesting Literature *Shows there was more to Conan Doyle than Moriarty, Dr Watson and The Hound of the Baskervilles. * Keith Richmond, ASLEF Journal *These Gothic Tales show Conan Doyle is the true master of the macabre and the gruesome. * Steve Craggs, Northern Echo *5*: Collected in a scholarly edition for the first time, these are 33 of Conan Doyle's finest Gothic short stories... Even if you have already read the tales in other volumes, it is worth buying this book for Jones's introduction alone: it explores the tensions and contrasts that defined the author's life, and how he articulated these themes in his work, offering the latest in literary criticism and historical research. * The Lady *This collection demonstrates still that Conan Doyle is still a master writer and... throws an interesting light on the career that wasnt Sherlock Holmes. * Nick Blackshaw, Starburst Magazine *Review from previous edition [A] beautifully designed edition * Times Literary Supplement *Table of ContentsIntroduction Note on the Text Select Bibliography Chronology The American's Tale The Captain of the 'PoleStar' The Winning Shot J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement John Barrington Cowles Uncle Jeremy's Household The Ring of Thoth The Surgeon of Gaster Fell A Pastoral Horror 'De Profundis' Lot No. 249 The Los Amigos Fiasco The Case of Lady Sannox The Lord of Château Noir The Third Generation The Striped Chest The Fiend of the Cooperage The Beetle-Hunter The Sealed Room The Brazilian Cat The New Catacomb The Retirement of Signor Lambert The Brown Hand Playing with Fire The Leather Funnel The Pot of Caviare The Silver Mirror The Terror of Blue John Gap Through the Veil How it Happened The Horror of the Heights The Bully of Brocas Court The Nightmare Room The Lift Explanatory Notes

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Book SynopsisDecember 1860. Headed for the morning shift at the Swindon Locomotive works is an army of men pouring out of terraced houses built by the GWR, a miniature town and planned community that aims to provide for its employees from cradle to grave. Unfortunately, boiler smith Frank Rodman is headed for the grave sooner than he''d expected, or he will be once his missing head is found. Colbeck, the Railway Detective, finds his investigation into Rodman''s murder mired in contradictions. Was the victim a short-tempered brawler, or a committed Christian and chorister who aimed to better himself? On the trail of Rodman''s enemy as the season starts to bite, Colbeck finds little festive cheer in the twists and turns of this peculiar case.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Anthony Award for Best Novel, C is for Corpse is the third in the Kinsey Millhone mystery series by Sue Grafton.My name is Kinsey Millhone. I’m a licensed private investigator . . . thirty-two, twice divorced. I like being alone and I suspect that my independence suits me better than it should . . . Kinsey met Bobby Callahan in the gym on Monday morning. His story was hard to credit: a murderous assault by a tailgating car on a lonely rural road, a roadside smash into a canyon 400 feet below, his Porsche a ruin, his best friend dead, and his memory severely impaired. He was convinced someone was trying to kill him. By Thursday, he was dead. But Kinsey wasn’t going back on a deal. She had been hired to prevent a murder. Now she was looking for the murderer . . .Trade ReviewC is for classy, multiplex plotting, strong characterization and a tough cookie heroine. * Time Out *

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Book SynopsisMaud is an irascible 88-year-old Swedish woman with no family, no friends, and... no qualms about a little murder.

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Book SynopsisRemember his name: FBI Agent Amos Decker is back in a thrilling memory man investigation from number one bestseller, David Baldacci.A town with a secret.A lone hunter discovers the remains of a woman in North Dakota’s Badlands. She appears to have had a post-mortem performed on her reminiscent of those only seen on TV shows – but this time, there was no slab, morgue or camera in sight. A victim without a past.The reason why Irene Cramer’s death merits an FBI investigation becomes rapidly clear when key questions surface about her mysterious past. Little is known about this school teacher, where she came from or her true identity. She clearly had something to hide.A hero with a unique skill.FBI investigator, Amos Decker and his colleague, Alex Jamison, are summoned to seek answers in the local community of London, North Dakota, which sits at the very heart of the fracking industry. Enriched with oil money, jealousy and a deep-set rivalry lie beneath a veneer of glitz and opulence.Decker soon realizes that the nearby ‘eye in the sky’, the Air Force Station, may hold the vital clues and that this town holds secrets so explosive that they could destabilize the entire country . .Walk the Wire by David Baldacci is the sixth book in the Amos Decker series. Continue the investigative thrillers with Long Shadows.Once read, never forgotten. Trade ReviewSinewy, and written with Baldacci’s consummate skill, this is a thriller from the top drawer * Daily Mail *A mile-a-minute read that proves once again why David Baldacci has readers the world over flocking for more -- Jane HarperAlternately chilling, poignant, and always heart-poundingly suspenseful -- Scott TurowDavid Baldacci is one of the all-time best thriller authors -- Lisa Gardner

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Book SynopsisHelp Zog as he tries his hardest to win a golden star!Put Zog through his paces in this gorgeously interactivefinger puppet book based on Zog by superstar creatorsJulia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestselling Cork O’Connor Mystery Series returns with this “genuinely thrilling and atmospheric novel” (The New York Times Book Review) as Cork races against time to save his wife, a mysterious stranger, and an Ojibwe healer from bloodthirsty mercenaries. The ancient Ojibwe healer Henry Meloux has had a vision of his death. As he walks the Northwoods in solitude, he tries to prepare himself peacefully for the end of his long life. But peace is destined to elude him as hunters fill the woods seeking a woman named Dolores Morriseau, a stranger who had come to the healer for shelter and the gift of his wisdom. Meloux guides this stranger and his great niece, Cork O’Connor’s wife, to safety deep into the Boundary Waters, his home for more than a century. On the last journey he may ever take into this beloved land, Meloux must do his best to outwit the deadly mercenaries who follow. Meanwhile, in Aurora, Cork works feverishly to identify the hunters and the reason for their relentless pursuit, but he has little to go on. Desperate, Cork begins tracking the killers but his own skills as a hunter are severely tested by nightfall and a late season snowstorm. He knows only too well that with each passing hour time is running out. But his fiercest enemy in this deadly game of cat and mouse may well be his own deep self-doubt about his ability to save those he loves. New and longtime “fans will be enthralled” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) by this gripping and richly told addition to a masterful series.Trade Review“This genuinely thrilling and atmospheric novel brims with characters who are easy to root for.”—The New York Times Book Review“As usual in a Krueger novel, the prose is elegant, the landscape of Minnesota’s northeastern triangle is vividly portrayed, the character development is superb, and Henry’s Native American mysticism is treated with understanding and respect.” —The Washington Post“From Iron Lake — the first in the Cork O'Connor series — to Fox Creek, Krueger has exhibited a mastery and control that can't be denied. Maybe he should start calling himself an alchemist, because he has the formula down to an art.” —St. Louis Post Dispatch“With its quick pacing and multi-layered plot, William Kent Krueger’s Fox Creek dazzles early, sucking readers in, before giving way to a heart-thumping final act that delivers one hell of a reading experience.” —The Real Book Spy“Krueger has exhibited a mastery and control that can't be denied. Maybe he should start calling himself an alchemist, because he has the formula down to an art." —Minneapolis Star-Tribune“Fox Creek is the best book in the series yet.” —Star Tribune (Minneapolis)“Outstanding… skillfully blends an evocative look at nature’s beauty and peril with Native American lore…fans will be enthralled.”—Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)“One of those rare authors who combines intricately plotted, issue-oriented stories with mysticism and action. A must for fans of beautifully written crime.” —Library Journal (starred review)

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Book SynopsisA landmark edition of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's shorter fiction, the form at which he most excelledTable of ContentsIntroduction Note on The Text Select Bibliography A Chronology of Sheridan Le Fanu The Ghost and the Bonesetter The Fortunes of Sir Robert Ardagh The Drunkard's Dream A Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter A Chapter in the History of a Tyrone Family The Mysterious Lodger Spalatro: From the Notes of Fra Giacomo Ghost Stories of Chapelizod An Account of Some Strange Disturbances in Aungier Street Ultor de Lacy An Authentic Narrative of a Haunted House Ghost Stories of the Tiled House Wicked Captain Walshawe, of Wauling Squire Toby's Will Madam Crowl's Ghost The Haunted Baronet The Vision of Tom Chuff Stories of Lough Guir The White Cat of Drumgunniol The Child that Went with the Fairies Laura Silver Bell Sir Dominick's Bargain Dickon the Devil Green Tea The Familiar Mr Justice Harbottle The Room in the Dragon Volant Carmilla Explanatory Notes

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Book SynopsisTHE DEBUT THRILLER IN THE BESTSELLING DAVID RAKER MISSING PERSONS SERIES, PERFECT FOR FANS OF MO HAYDER, LINWOOD BARCLAY AND MICHAEL CONNELLYOne year ago, Alex Towne''s body was found.One month ago, his mother saw him on the street.One week ago, David Raker agreed to look for him.Now he wishes he hadn''t.Mary Towne''s son, Alex, went missing six years ago. Five years later he finally turned up - as a corpse in a car wreck. Missing persons investigator David Raker doesn''t want the work: it''s clearly a sad but hopeless case of mistaken identity brought to him by a woman unable to let go of her son. But haunted by a loss of his own, Raker reluctantly agrees.Big mistake. For as he digs deeper, he discovers that Alex''s life was not the innocent one his mother believed. Buried in his past are secrets that were never meant to be found - and dark, dangerous men willing to kill to protect them. Soon Raker will disTrade ReviewPraise for Tim Weaver * - *Weaver's books get better each time - tense, complex, written with flair as well as care * Guardian *The writing is beautiful and the plot so cleverly constructed I never guessed any of the twists * Sunday Times bestselling author of Local Girl Missing *It had me racing to the end * Sunday Times bestselling author of The Widow *Terrific * Sunday Times *I couldn't put it down * Sun *Weaver has become one of this country's most respected, bestselling crime writers, and he fully deserves to be . . . Catch him at once * Daily Mail *The rising star of British crime * Sunday Times Number One bestselling author of the DC Max Wolfe series *Tim Weaver writes books so meticulously researched that the reader is educated as well as entertained, enthralled and intrigued * Sunday Times bestselling author of Lying in Wait *A dark, complex and visceral read * Financial Times *Fans of Mo Hayder will be in seventh hell * Guardian *The story-telling is little short of brilliant * Crime Fiction Lover *Perfect plotting, great characterisation, and the kind of payoff that a thriller of this calibre deserves * Bookgeeks *

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Book Synopsis The first book in #1 New York Times bestselling author Tamora Pierce’s award-winning Song of the Lioness quartet, adapted into a gorgeous, full-color graphic novel In Song of the Lioness, Book 1: Alanna, the first of four volumes adapting #1 New York Times bestseller Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness quartet, we meet Alanna of Trebond, a young noblewoman from the kingdom of Tortall. However, Alanna isn’t like other girls from noble families—what she really wants is to become a knight and earn her shield, something women definitely aren’t allowed to do. But Alanna will not be deterred, and she arrives in the capital disguised as a boy to begin training as a page, the first step toward becoming a knight. Despite the tough conditions and grueling work, Alanna’s skills and stubbornness win her friends amongst the nobility and the denizens of the lower city. But not everyone wishes h

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Book SynopsisPRE-ORDER THE BIG EMPTY, THE NEW ROBERT CRAIS NOVEL, COMING JANUARY 2025! ‘Another grand slam for the master storyteller’ DAVID BALDACCI ‘A modern master of crime fiction’ GREGG HURWITZTHE CITY OF ANGELS Adele Schumacher isn’t a typical worried mum. When she hires Elvis to find her missing son, a controversial podcaster named Josh Shoe, she brings a bag filled with cash, paranoid tales of government conspiracies, and a squad of mysterious bodyguards. Finding Josh should be simple, but Elvis quickly learns he isn’t alone in the hunt – a team of deadly strangers are determined to find Josh first.THE CITY OF LIES With dangerous secrets lurking behind every lead, Elvis needs his friend Joe Pike more than ever to uncover the truth about Josh, corrupt politicians, and the murderous business cartels rotting the heart of Los Angeles. And when his estra

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Book SynopsisThrown out of the navy for a crime he did not commit, Jack Aubrey has lost everything he held most dear.In command of his beloved Surprise, but in a civilian capacity, Jack Aubrey must navigate a world apart from anything he has previously known, his friend Stephen Maturin at his side. Together they embark on a voyage which, if successful, might just restore Aubrey to the rank, and the raison d''etre, whose loss he so much regrets.Fate is fickle and few people can ever truly be trusted, but has Jack Aubrey's luck run out?Patrick O'Brian is unquestionably the Homer of the Napoleonic wars.'JAMES HAMILTON-PATERSONMy hero is Patrick O'Brian. It's basically impossible to write that well.'DAVID MAMETTrade Review‘If O’Brian’s novels have become a cult, this is because they are truly addictive. . . They are, quite magnificently, adventure yarns whose superb authenticity never distracts from the sheer thrill of the action.’Caroline Moore, Sunday Telegraph ‘The Aubrey–Maturin novels, by Patrick O’Brian, are so addictive that after I finish one I have to hide the next from myself for a little while in order to do anything else but read.’Louise Erdrich ‘In Aubrey and Maturin, Patrick O’Brian has created two of the most enjoyable characters in twentieth-century fiction. Their relationship sustains an absorbing and thrilling sequence of naval stories, unrivalled in their complexity, full of impeccable detail and psychological insight. O’Brian switches from the intimate to the epic with equal assurance. One of the greatest authors to sail with.’Michael Palin ‘One of the most compelling and brilliant novelists of his time . . . Beyond his superbly elegant writing, wit and originality, Patrick O’Brian showed an understanding of the nature of a floating world at the mercy of the wind and the sea which has never been surpassed.’Max Hastings, Evening Standard ‘I devoured Patrick O’Brian’s twenty-volume masterpiece as if it had been so many tots of Jamaica grog.’Christopher Hitchens ‘Written with most engaging enthusiasm that can’t fail to give pleasure to anybody who enjoys historical adventure flavoured with more than a dash of realism.’The Sunday Times ‘One of the most brilliantly sustained pieces of historical fictional writing this century.’James Teacher, Spectator ‘Patrick O’Brian brings depth to his sea-stories with outstanding dialogue, characterisation, humour and a golden thread of romance. You don’t have to love books about naval battles to become entranced.’Katie Fforde

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Book SynopsisThis was the original game of thrones' George R.R. MartinTrade Review‘Iron kings and strangled queens, battles and betrayals, lies and lust, the curse of the Templars, the doom of a great dynasty – and all of it (well, most of it) straight from the pages of history, and believe me, the Starks and the Lannisters have nothing on the Capets and Plantagenets. Whether you are a history buff or a fantasy fan, Druon's epic will keep you turning pages. This was the original game of thrones’GEORGE R.R. MARTIN ‘Blood-curdling tale of intrigue, murder, corruption and sexual passion’SUNDAY TIMES ‘Barbaric, sensual, teeming with life, based in wide reading and sound scholarship…among the best historical novels’ TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

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Book Synopsis''Fans of Alexander McCall Smith will love Scotty Elliott''s Sibanda series'' Sunday Times (SA)Detective Sibanda and Sergeant Ncube are back!Two bodies are discovered near Gubu, one burning at the base of a tree struck by lightning and, on the banks of the Zambezi, a second killing which threatens to tear Detective Sibanda''s life apart. The victims are not connected as one is a foreign wildlife researcher and the other a local driver, but Sibanda''s intuition tells him the murders are linked. The only clues are a fragment of material found in the brain of one victim, a puncture wound in the thigh of the other, and a diary full of coded names.As the men investigate further, they find links to an ivory smuggling gang and in their pursuit of the killer, Sibanda and Ncube not only have to cope with their temperamental Landrover, their chief inspector''s lack of cooperation, but a rough and remote landscape full of wild and dangerous adventTrade ReviewFans of Alexander McCall Smith will love Scotty Elliott's Sibanda series . . . They have the same dry humour and warmth as the No1 Ladies' Detective Agency stories, the same palpable affection for the people and the landscape, and detectives who solve crimes more by hunch and legwork than with forensics and technology * Sunday Times (SA) *Her plot keeps readers guessing right to the end, when the monster meets a truly satisfying fate . . . Elliott's skill as a writer lies in her ability to create and flesh out characters that are so lifelike, they thrum in your head for days after finishing her books * Business Live *Will have you hooked * The Gremlin *C.M. Elliott has created a lively cast of characters and an intricate, clever plot * Margaret von Klemperer, The Witness *A thrilling detective yarn and a finely-drawn picture of the counterpoint between the gentle music of the bush and the harsher notes of poachers' deadly gunfire * – The Citizen *

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Book SynopsisFabio Montale is the perfect protagonist in this city of melancholy beauty. A disenchanted cop with an inimitable talent for living who turns his back on a police force marred by corruption and racism and, in the name of friendship, takes the fight against the mafia into his own hands. “Just as Raymond Chandler and James Ellroy made Los Angeles their very own, so Mr. Izzo has made Marseilles so much more than just another geographical setting.”—The Economist “Izzo’s ability to describe Marseilles and to make his readers feel the multiracial reality of that city so directly and authentically is fascinating.”—Andrea Camilleri “One of the masterpieces of modern noir.”—The Washington PostTrade Review“Just as Raymond Chandler and James Ellroy made Los Angeles their very own, so Mr. Izzo has made Marseilles so much more than just another geographical setting.”"Izzo's ability to describe Marseilles and to make his readers feel the multiracial reality of that city so directly and authentically is fascinating." -- Andrea Camilleri“One of the masterpieces of modern noir.”

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Book SynopsisBENEATH THE LANDSLIDE LIES A MURDER: DETECTIVE WISTING'S MOST DANGEROUS CASE YET''Characters, plot, execution, pacing, conclusion...all quality. And it kept me guessing all the way through'' 5***** reader review--In heavy rain, a landslide sweeps away a group of homes in Larvik, Norway. At first everyone is accounted for.But then, during the clear up, a body is found one with a gunshot wound inflicted before the landslip.Detective William Wisting must first find out who it is and where the body came from. He soon wishes he hadn't. The victim is Swedish: a police infiltrator working a major crime.Suddenly, the stakes couldn't be higher or more dangerous.Because, in a game of deception, who can Wisting ever trust?--Praise for Jørn Lier Horst''Tense, fast-paced...compelling'' Sunday Times''Relentlessly exciting...creates a real sense of menace'' The Times''Atmospheric'' HeraldWhy readers LOVE the Wisting series ''A truly absorbing crime thriller, as good as they get'' 5***** reader review ''Very cleverly written...the fast pace is maintained until the very last page'' 5***** reader review ''I loved every minute of it! A must read for crime fans'' 5***** reader reviews ''I read this is one sitting, you won''t regret it!'' 5***** reader reviews ''Another twisting tale for Wisting to make sense of and he doesn''t disappoint - the backdrop of snowy Norway makes this even more gripping'' 5***** reader review

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Book SynopsisSome things are earned. Some things are worth fighting for…  It’s 1782, Daniel and his sister Pearl arrive in London with the world at their feet and their future assured. Having escaped a Jamaican sugar plantation, Daniel fought for the British in the American War of Independence and was rewarded with freedom and an inheritance.   But the city is not a place for men like Daniel and he is callously tricked and finds himself, along with his sister Pearl, in the rookeries of St Giles – a warren of dark and menacing alleyways, filled with violence and poverty.   The underworld labyrinth is run by Elias, a man whose cruelty knows no bounds. But under his dangerous rule is a brotherhood of Black men, the Blackbirds of St Giles, whose intention is to set their people free.   Can Daniel use his strength, wit and the fellowship of the other Blackbirds to overthrow Elias and truly find the freedom he fought for&hell

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Book SynopsisSam Blake has been writing fiction since her husband set sail across the Atlantic for eight weeks and she had an idea for a book.She has had a string of No. 1 bestsellers, including Keep Your Eyes on Me and Remember My Name, and has been shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year three times.Sam is the Chair of the Society of Authors and has served on the board of the Crime Writer's Association, as well as being the founder of Europe's biggest online writer's magazine, Writing.ie.Originally from St. Albans in Hertfordshire, Sam now lives at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains, near Dublin in Ireland.Follow her on social @samblakebooks. Visit www.samblakebooks.com for news and events and get a bonus free thriller when you subscribe to her newsletter.

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

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Book SynopsisWho killed the reclusive Agatha Dobbs? Newly married Elizabeth Wilkins is determined to prove Agatha?s niece?s innocence in this compelling 1920s mystery.October, 1926. Newly married Elizabeth Wilkins is ready for whatever life throws at her and her lawyer husband, Fred. So when Fred comes home anxious about his client, Caroline Dobbs, Elizabeth can?t help getting involved. Caroline is suspected of murdering her elderly aunt Agatha at Agatha?s farm on the outskirts of Oak Park, and was seen arguing with her on the day she died by neighbour and local gossip-monger, Mrs Edwards, yet Fred seems convinced of Caroline?s innocence.Elizabeth joins the influential local Nineteenth Century Woman?s Club as she attempts to find out more about the reclusive Agatha Dobbs, and soon uncovers astonishing secrets. Can she unravel the mystery in time to save Caroline from a terrible fate?A page-turning and warm-hearted 1920s mystery featuring a strong-willed and courageous heroine, perfect for fans of Frances Brody and Victoria Thompson.

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Book SynopsisOn the first night of the Blitz, the body of local Justice of the Peace Charles Villiers is found in the back of a van, but a bomb destroys the evidence. As DI Jago does some investigations, it appears that many people may have wanted Villiers dead.

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Book Synopsis''One of the finest crime writers of any generation'' Daily Mail''He''s the high priest of plot ... deftly woven, but also beautifully written ... I loved it'' Mel Giedroyc_______________________________Umiko Wada has recently had quite enough excitement in her life. With her husband recently murdered and a mother who seems to want her married again before his body is cold, she just wants to keep her head down.As a secretary to a private detective, her life is pleasingly uncomplicated, filled with coffee runs, diary management and paperwork.That is, until her boss takes on a new case. A case which turns out to be dangerous enough to get him killed. A case which means Wada will have to leave Japan for the first time and travel to London.Following the only lead she has, Wada quickly realises that being a detective isn''t as easy as the television makes out. And that there''s a reason why secrets stay buried for a longTrade Review...the plot unwinds with a deceptively light touch that does not falter ... genuinely entertaining [with an] explosive finale * Evening Standard *One of the finest crime writers of any generation, Goddard here exercises all of his elegant, understated style and meticulous eye for detail...Goddard at his impeccable best: do not miss it. * Daily Mail *A fascinating and satisfyingly complex mystery with dark tones..Wada is a superb character... very enjoyable. * New Books *Top-class action packed storytelling * Choice Magazine *A deftly plotted page turner from this much loved author' * Saga Magazine *

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Book SynopsisFrom bestselling historian Adrian Goldsworthy, a profoundly authentic, action-packed adventure set on Rome's Danubian frontier. AD 105: DACIA The Dacian kingdom and Rome are at peace, but no one thinks that it will last. Sent to command an isolated fort beyond the Danube, centurion Flavius Ferox can sense that war is coming, but also knows that enemies may be closer to home. Many of the Brigantes under his command are former rebels and convicts, as likely to kill him as obey an order. And then there is Hadrian, the emperor's cousin, and a man with plans of his own... Gritty, gripping and profoundly authentic, The Fort is the first book in a brand new trilogy set in the Roman empire from bestselling historian Adrian Goldsworthy. Reviews for the Vindolanda Trilogy: 'No one knows the Roman army better than Adrian Goldsworthy, and no one writes more convincing Roman fiction' Harry Sidebottom 'An authentic, enjoyable read' The Times 'Gritty and realistic... Goldsworthy’s characters are authentically ancient and his descriptions of Roman Briton ring true' Daily Telegraph (Sydney)Trade ReviewGoldsworthy's meticulous historical knowledge is very much in evidence in The Fort. There are multiple perspectives, ranging from Hadrian's to a Dacian mystic's. This makes for an extraordinarily rich picture of a battle on the empire's borders * The Times *Part adventure, part thriller but it's also a dramatic and credible recreation of Roman and barbarian life and an exploration of the ancient political world... An historian can bring a lot to a fictional tale but only if they have the novelist's gene and understand imaginative storytelling too, Goldsworthy does. He writes fiction with the accuracy of an academic and the flair of a creative writer... The author understands the Roman mentality, the historical events that underpin the fiction and the physical and cultural landscape of the empire' * NB Magazine *PRAISE FOR THE VINDOLANDA TRILOGY: 'Praise the gods, Ferox returns in a novel of explosive action and profound authenticity. No one knows the Roman army better than Adrian Goldsworthy, and no one writes more convincing Roman fiction' Harry Sidebottom, on Brigantia. 'Gritty and realistic... Goldsworthy's characters are authentically ancient and his descriptions of Roman Briton ring true' Daily Telegraph (Sydney). 'Incredibly authentic... Plenty of action and a cracking read for lovers of historical fiction or fans of Roman history' What Cathy Read Next. 'An authentic, enjoyable read' The Times. 'Much more accurate than the usual action fiction about legionaries and Rome... Brings the reader closer to the true nature of Roman Britain' * New Books Magazine *

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Book Synopsis'A glorious debut' - SUNDAY EXPRESS'An affectionate homage to classic murder mysteries' - DAILY MAIL'Recommended reading for a long winter night' - GUARDIANA snowstorm. A country house. Old friends reunited.It's going to be murder...Torben Helle - art historian, Danish expat and owner of several excellent Scandinavian jumpers - has been dragged to a remote Northumbrian mansion for a ten-year reunion with old university friends. But when some shocking revelations from their host, a reclusive and irritating tech entrepreneur, are followed by an apparent suicide, the group faces a test of their wits... and their trust.Surrounded by enigmatic housekeepers and off-duty police inspectors, suspicion and sarcasm quickly turn to panic. Only by drawing upon all the tricks of Golden Age detectives past will Torben be able to solve the mystery: how much money would it take to turn one of his old friends into a murderer? But he'd better be quick, or someone else might end up dead...This witty murde

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Book SynopsisTHE THRILLING NEW MYSTERY FROM THE AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF MIDNIGHT AT MALABAR HOUSE'A delightful book, well-researched, complex and hugely entertaining' ANN CLEEVES'A twisting plot and an intriguing cast of characters, together with vivid glimpses of the vibrant, complex world of post-Independence Bombay - and a narrative that thunders along with the pace and drama of an elephant on the rampage' ANDREW TAYLORBombay, 1950When the body of a white man is found frozen in the Himalayan foothills near Dehra Dun, he is christened the Ice Man by the national media. Who is he? How long has he been there? Why was he killed?As Inspector Persis Wadia and Metropolitan Police criminalist Archie Blackfinch investigate the case in Bombay, they uncover a trail left behind by the enigmatic Ice Man - a trail leading directly into the dark heart of conspiracy.Meanwhile, two new murders grip the city. Is there a serial killer on the loose, targeting Europeans? Rich in atmosphere, the thrilling third chapter in the CWA Historical Dagger-winning Malabar House series pits Persis against a mystery from beyond the grave, unfolding against the backdrop of a turbulent post-colonial India, a nation struggling to redefine itself in the shadow of the Raj.'A stunning, richly imagined and downright thrilling mystery. Vaseem Khan has that rare ability to transport you wholly to a bygone time, and he does so with such skill and charm. I loved it' CHRIS WHITAKER'A compelling historical thriller ... Codes, crime and conspiracies collide in post-colonial India' D.V. BISHOP'One of my top reads this year. A peerless portrait of early independent India through the eyes of new crime fiction star, India's first police detective, Persis Wadia' BARBARA NADEL"The brilliant Persis Wadia is one of the most electrifying figures in crime fiction today. Vaseem Khan keeps getting better and better' WILLIAM SHAW'Outstanding' IMRAN MAHMOOD'This is historical crime fiction at its best - a compelling mix of social insight and complex plotting with a thoroughly engaging heroine. A highly promising new series' MAIL ON SUNDAY'This is historical crime fiction at its sharpest' SUNDAY TIMES'The Lost Man of Bombay is the latest outstanding entry in the Malabar House series. Persis Wadia is shaping up to be a giant of the scene - a detective as dogged and determined as any out there, with a point to prove and a chip on her shoulder as deep as it is justified. Her latest case is as beautifully written and evocative as you've come to expect from Vaseem Khan, a gripping and engrossing mystery that draws deeply on its setting and time period but nonetheless reads as fresh and original. This is a writer at the top of his game and a series that just keeps getting better' ROD REYNOLDSTrade ReviewHard, realistic and fascinatingly hard to decipher. Persis is a terrific character * On Magazine *Vaseem Khan's friction-free ascent to pole position in historical crime is consolidated by The Lost Man of Bombay. Much to relish here * Financial Times *What should you expect from a good historical mystery? Well, a decent mystery, obviously, and interesting characters to guide you through the plot, plus some inside knowledge of a place or period in history you are unfamiliar with. The Lost Man of Bombay by Vaseem Khan ticks all those boxes, and probably more, with ease * SHOTS *The hugely entertaining result is not unlike an India(na) Jones adventure: history and mystery mixed with brutal slapstick, thwarted romance and sly humour . . . Malabar House is a subcontinental version of Mick Herron's Slough House . . . If only all period procedurals were as good as this * The Times *Khan writes with a charming formality and brings his characters and their dilemmas to life in this intelligent and intriguing series * Literary Review *British writer Vaseem Khan has shown quite comprehensively that he can write historical crime fiction well * Asian Media Group *The latest of Khan's excellent thrillers set in post-war Bombay is a vivid portrait of a society remaking itself in the new era of independence * Mail on Sunday *A brilliant whodunnit mingling fascinating history, the flavours of India and a Himalayan blizzard of clues * The Sun *Vaseem Khan doesn't only spin a fast-moving, well-plotted story; he deftly illuminates the religious rivalries that beset post-colonial India. Think Mick Herron in Bombay: inventive characterisation made laugh-aloud funny by Maya Saroya's pacey, often caustic narration * The Times, Audiobook of the Week *Vivid, bracing crime writing married to a picture of a country seeking its post Raj identity * Financial Times, Books of the Year 2022 *Vaseem Khan's excellent series set in post-partition India * Guardian, Best Crime & Thrillers of 2022 *Written with wit and heart, it's wonderfully entertaining * Daily Express, Books of the Year *His excellent Malabar House series * The Critic *The best historical thriller of the year * Daily Express *If only all period procedurals were as good as this * The Times *

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Book Synopsis'A stunning mix of hilarious tropes, swoony romance and lovable, relatable characters. A must read for every romance lover!' Ali Hazelwood, author of The Love HypothesisBrace yourself for longing, laughter, and a swoony slow-burn in this brothers best friend sports romance about scoring the love of your life when you least expect to.ZiggyI'm the youngest player on the National Soccer team, the baby of my family, and thoroughly sick of being underestimated, so I've decided to take matters into my own hands . . .My brother's teammate and best friend Seb needs to save his reputation. I want to give mine an edge. So I propose a fake friendship with real benefits: spending time in the public eye, my good-girl image and his bad-boy notoriety rubbing off on each other. But will it be as easy as I think to keep him in the (fake) friend zone?SebastianMy hockey career and sponsorships are in jeopardy, so when Ziggy Bergman proposes a public "friendship" to rehab my image, it's an offer that even a self-respecting reprobate like myself can't refuse.It's simple: fake a friendship with Ziggy, fix my reputation, and get back to hockey - the one and only thing I love . . . until I find myself falling for the last person I should be: my best friend's sister.Praise for Chloe Liese:'I could curl up in Liese's writing for days, I love it so' Helen Hoang, author of The Kiss Quotient'Absolute romantic perfection' Christina Lauren, author of The Unhoneymooners

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Book SynopsisThe first thriller in the Mickey Bolitar series, now airing as an original series on Amazon Prime. Bestselling author and creator of the hit Netflix show Fool Me Once, Harlan Coben brings us a shocking pageturner about a grieving teenager obsessed by the disappearance of a missing girl. Mickey Bolitar''s year can''t get much worse. After witnessing his father''s death and sending his mother to rehab, he''s forced to live with his estranged uncle Myron and switch schools. Fortunately, he''s met a great girl, Ashley, and it seems like things might finally be improving. But then Ashley vanishes. Mickey follows Ashley''s trail into a seedy underworld that reveals that Ashley isn''t who she claimed to be. And neither was Mickey''s father. Soon Mickey learns about a conspiracy so shocking that it leaves him questioning everything about the life he thought he knew.Trade ReviewA gripping tale * DAILY MIRROR *SHELTER will introduce a whole new generation of fans to the humorous dialogue and clever plotting of his popular suspense thrillers. * TAKE A BREAK *Harlan Coben is the modern master of the hook-and-twist - luring you in on the first page, only to shock you on the last * Dan Brown *His thrillers come with the guarantee of a great read and a twist in the tale * EVENING TELEGRAPH *Harlan Coben specialises in rousing the snake that lurks in the perfectly cut grass of American suburbia ... Coben makes you care about them but never neglects a plot that is full of his trademark shocks * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *

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Book SynopsisTHE TENSION-FILLED NEW NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF NUMBER ONE DIGITAL BESTSELLER, AND RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK, THE PRISONER . Iris and Gabriel have just got home from a make-or-break holiday. But a shock awaits them. One of their dearest friends, Laure, is in their house - sleeping in their bed, wearing Iris'' clothes, even rearranging the furniture. She has walked out on her husband - and their good friend - Pierre over his confession of an affair. Iris and Gabriel want to be supportive. But as Laure''s mood becomes more unpredictable, her presence begins to unravel secrets in all their pasts - until things reach breaking point ...READERS ARE GRIPPED BY THE GUEST:''Seriously?! I just could not believe it!'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Couldn''t put it down. Loved it'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''A whopper of a twist that you don''t see coming'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book Synopsis

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