Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisFrom bestselling historian Adrian Goldsworthy, the final book in his authentic, action-packed trilogy set on the frontiers of the Roman Empire. AD 117: BRITANNIA. Roman centurion Flavius Ferox is trying to live a quiet life of dignified leisure, overseeing his wife's estate and resisting the urge to murder an annoying neighbour – until someone else does it for him. Dragged back into a life of violence, Ferox finds himself chasing raiders, fighting chieftains and negotiating with kings. Under the new emperor, Hadrian, the whole world seems to be changing: old friends are now enemies, enemies claim they are friends, and new and deadly threats lurk in the shadows. When Hadrian himself comes to Britannia to inspect his great wall, war erupts suddenly. Ferox is the only one who can save the emperor – but with his family, and his own life, in danger, he must first decide whose side he is on… Gritty, gripping and profoundly authentic, The Wall is the final book in the City of Victory trilogy from bestselling historian Adrian Goldsworthy. Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow and Harry Sidebottom. Reviews for Adrian Goldsworthy 'No one writes more convincing Roman fiction.' Harry Sidebottom 'Gritty and realistic.' Daily Telegraph 'An extraordinarily rich picture of a battle on the Roman empire's borders.' The Times 'Brings the reader closer to the true nature of Roman Britain.' New Books MagazineTrade Review'No one knows the Roman army better than Adrian Goldsworthy, and no one writes more convincing Roman fiction.' Harry Sidebottom '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 extraordinarily rich picture of a battle on the empire’s borders.' The Times 'A hugely enjoyable read by a master of non-fiction turned deft hand at Roman historical fiction.' Historical Novel Society 'Goldsworthy is an erudite guide.' BBC History 'Brings the reader closer to the true nature of Roman Britain' New Books Magazine * Reviews for Adrian Goldsworthy *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThere's a queue of people at her door, and not all of them are living . . .When Tanz, the accidental medium, is asked to help in the search for a missing woman, she finds herself at the Cross Bones Graveyard in London's Southwark. From the outset it's obvious there is unrest among the spirits who call this place their home, and now Tanz is right in the middle of it. What's more, she now finds her so-called gift' is even stronger than it was and the dead really want to talk! Couple this with performing a play that could wreck her acting career for good, and a growing attraction to a police officer who happens to be a lot younger than her, and life is very complicated. But when the dead become restless Tanz can't ignore them, and a mystery needs solving. So is she strong enough to come out the other side?Cross Bones is the third book in a hilarious series featuring Tanz, the accidental medium who, with the help of the dead, has become an unwilling crime-solver.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOne split second is all it can take . . . Jack Ryan, Jr. finds himself at the scene of a conspiracy to bring the world to the brink of war in the South China sea in the latest breathtaking Tom Clancy thriller.Jack Ryan, Jr. is in a world of trouble. A mid-air collision between aircraft from rival nations in the South China Sea threatens to serve as a flash point for the entire region. As Jack frantically tries to put the pieces of the conspiracy together, the Campus is hit with a crippling attack. When the dust settles, Jack is one of the few operators still standing and the Campus''s de facto leader.But the fight is just beginning.As tensions escalate, Jack''s mysterious adversary executes a brilliant campaign to paralyze the American government even as China inches closer to invading Taiwan. With the odds stacked against him and no help in sight, Jack and his shattered team must stop the world''s two remaining super poweTrade ReviewConstantly taps the current world situation for its imminent dangers and spins them into an engrossing tale * New York TImes *Exhilarating. No other novelist is giving so full a picture of modern conflict * Sunday Times *A brilliantly constructed thriller that packs a punch * Daily Mail *Heart-stopping action . . . entertaining and eminently topical * Washington Post *

Read more less

Book SynopsisNO ORDINARY PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER - THIS WILL KEEP YOU UP ALL NIGHT'Scandi-noir at its powerful bleakest.' Daily Mail'Deserves to be called a page-turner - I read it in one sitting!' Cecilia Ekbäck, bestselling author of Wolf Winter For fans of Jo Nesbo and The Bridge, The Ice Beneath Her is a gripping and deeply disturbing story about love, betrayal and obsession that is impossible to put down. Fast-paced and peopled with compelling characters, it surprises at every turn as it hurtles towards an unforgettable ending with a twist you really won't see coming . . .A young woman is found beheaded in an infamous business tycoon's marble-lined hallway.The businessman, scandal-ridden CEO of the retail chain Clothes & More, is missing without a trace.But who is the dead woman? And who is the brutal killer who wielded the machete?Rewind two months earlier to meet Emma Bohman, a sales assistant for Clothes & More, whose life is turned upside down by a chance encounter with Jesper Orre. Insisting that their love affair is kept secret, he shakes Emma's world a second time when he suddenly leaves her with no explanation.As frightening things begin to happen to Emma, she suspects Jesper is responsible.But why does he want to hurt her? And how far would he go to silence his secret lover?Trade ReviewThrilling characters and expertly written, down to the very last detail. I didn't actually have time to read, and did everything to try to put the book down. But I simply couldn't. Not until the last page had been read. -- Stefan Anhem, author of the bestselling Fabian Risk series * Stefan Anhem, author of the bestselling Fabian Risk series *Skilful, thrilling, and unexpected -- Karinboktok * Karinboktok (Popular Swedish book blog) *Wickedly complex, macabre, and highly entertaining! It is, ultimately, a story about love, loss, murder, abuse, and obsession. The writing is clever and precise. The characters are damaged, lonely, and despondent. This is an intriguing, debut psychological thriller that is perfect for fans of Jo Nesbo or Henning Mankell * What's Better Than Books Blog *Original & exciting with a shocking and satisfying ending. I couldn't help but like Peter the main detective in the story disputed his having more problems and issues than the murderer! I hope he appears in another book and that Hanne survives to once again help him solve the crime. I can't say more without giving spoilers so will simply end by heartily recommending this fabulous book * Net Galley reviewer *This book is excellent. All the characters were believable and their backstories handled sensitively, none more so that Hanne. I am really impressed with Grebe's talents and look forward to reading more. In an overcrowded genre, this is a refreshing and incisive voice * Plucked Highbrow *This is a cleverly plotted mystery with a tremendous cast of characters, particularly the police team assigned to the case. This one is an all-nighter * For the Love of Books Blog *A clever and addictive psychological thriller with some great main characters * Liz Loves Books *A high-profile Swedish novel . . . that lives up to its reputation . . . Cross-cutting between the characters at an ever-increasing pace, this is Scandi-noir at its powerful bleakest -- Geoffrey Wansell * Daily Mail *Captivating story...the three unreliable narrators deftly ensure readers' certainties stay on very thin ice * Sunday Mirror *This gripping story of murder, love and betrayal is perfect for fans of noir Scandi drama The Bridge * Essentials Magazine *A complex, macabre and utterly captivating thriller. Grebe's first solo flight is a triumph -- Deirdre O'Brien * Crime Scene *It's complex, and as you read it, it is hard to even guess at what's going on under the surface. This isn't a weakness, it's just a puzzle, and the power of the writing. plotting and general structure is such that you more than stick with it, sure the writer is leading you somewhere. It was disturbing, and exercises the grey matter, but was unputdownable. I didn't read it before I needed to go to sleep. BEcause I would be tossing, turning, and fretting. A must read book about obsession, betrayal and of course, love. Highly recommended * Frost Magazine *There was enough in this book to keep me invested in the characters and it also had me guessing. What more could you want from a book as though colder months begin to set in? * Belle About Town *Really got hooked on The Ice Beneath Her - a clever and addictive psychological thriller with some great main characters (one of whom I disliked to the point of loving) and a lovely twisty turny whodunnit at the heart that will keep you on your reading toes * Liz Loves Books *Set in Sweden this psychological thriller is one that will chill you as much as thrill you * Cleopatra Loves Books *Compelling * Books From Dusk Till Dawn *Full of complicated and interesting characters, intrigue and deception, and a twist that I didn't entirely see coming, Grebe is an author that is on my radar now * Novel Gossip *a razor-sharp, complex mystery - Scandi-noir at its best * Woman Magazine *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE MULTIMILLION-COPY BESTSELLING ADAM DALGLIESH SERIES FROM THE QUEEN OF ENGLISH CRIME' (Guardian) WINNER OF THE CWA SILVER DAGGERA legend.' VAL MCDERMIDP. D. James took the classic crime novel and turned up the dial.' MICK HERRONWritten with the precision of cut diamonds.' IRISH TIMESPERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS__________________________________________________________________________________Dalgliesh recognised with weary resignation the first lie and wondered how many more there would be before the investigation was complete.On a crisp January morning, a group of third year nursing students gather in Nightingale House for a clinical lesson. One student will play the patient, while the others practice their nursing skills. But none of them is prepared for the demonstration's gruesome end.Later, when a stud

Read more less

Book Synopsis THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER The twisty and darkly compelling thriller, European bestseller and RICHARD & JUDY BOOKCLUB PICK that will keep you up all night.'The rock cast a sharp, dark shadow over a shape huddled on the ground. Please don’t let it be the boy, Colomba thought. Her silent prayer didn’t go unanswered. The corpse belonged to the mother.'Dante Torre spent eleven young years in captivity - held by a man known only as The Father - before outwitting his abductor. Now working for the police force, Torre's methods are unorthodox but his brilliance is clear. When a young child goes missing in similar circumstances in Rome, Torre must confront the demons of his past to attempt to solve the case. Paired with Deputy Captain Colomba Caselli, a fierce, warrior-like detective still reeling from having survived a bloody catastrophe, all evidence suggests The Father is active after being dormant for decades, and that he’s looking forward to a reunion with Dante ... 'Introduces us to two of the most intriguing detectives to have emerged in recent years… Brutal and frighteningly realistic, it never loses its grip' Daily Mail '[a] fascinatingly complex thriller' i newspaper  'An intelligent thriller… very entertaining' Jake Kerridge, Sunday Express ‘Undoubtedly a gripping read…a deliciously dark journey which provides a genuinely satisfying conclusion’ Crime Scene 'Absolutely electrifying' Jeffery Deaver ‘Police politics and military operations add to the complexity and interest of this unrelenting, adrenaline-fueled novel, with a final twist. Don’t be surprised if Kill the Father becomes the next Big Thing in international crime fiction’ Booklist 'Kill the Father is impeccable, from the build up of characters and place to the crisp narrative…Do not pass this one up; it’s a terrific crime drama' Durango Telegraph ‘A mind-bending, stunningly original page-turner' Jonathan Kellerman

Read more less

Book SynopsisDon't miss the latest book in the Arkady Renko series, THE SIBERIAN DILEMMA by Martin Cruz Smith, ‘the master of the international thriller’ (New York Times) – available to order now! AN ARKADY RENKO NOVEL: #4 'One of those writers that anyone who is serious about their craft views with respect bordering on awe' Val McDermid 'Makes tension rise through the page like a shark's fin’ Independent *** Former Inspector for the Moscow Militsiya, Arkady Renko, is summoned to Cuba to identify a liquefying corpse, dragged from the oily waters of Havana Bay. Renko finds himself in a decaying country, the final recess of Communism - a place where Russia is despised, exotic rituals take precedence and unexpected danger meets bewildering contradictions. After a harrowing experience that has left Renko on the verge of suici

Read more less

Book SynopsisA sea of unanswered questions. Dozens of identical shoes have washed up on the beach in the quiet resort town of Sanibel Island, Florida. They appear completely ordinary but for one thing – each contains a crudely severed human foot. Faced with an incomprehensible puzzle and ever more confusing pathology reports, the local police call on FBI Special Agent A.X.L. Pendergast for his expertise. But with no answers and endless possibilities they are left with only questions: What has happened, and why? Where have the feet come from? And are the victims still alive? Soon Pendergast will find himself entrenched in one of the most complex and inexplicable challenges of his career. Praise for Preston and Child: 'Get ready for the ride of your life' DAVID BALDACCI 'Will leave you breathless' LEE CHILD 'Fast-moving, sophisticated and bursting with surprises... There's nothing else like them' WASHINGTON POST 'White-hot bestselling suspense. Simply brilliant!' LISA GARDNERTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR PRESTON & CHILD: 'Once you read Relic, you'll want to read the other seventeen books in the series' Whoopi Goldberg, Favourite Summer Reads 2018. 'Sit back, crack open the book and get ready for the ride of your life' David Baldacci. 'White-hot bestselling suspense. Simply brilliant!' Lisa Gardner. 'One of thrillerdom's most exciting and intriguing series leads, and it remains among the most reliable in the genre' Booklist. 'Fast-moving, sophisticated and bursting with surprises... There's nothing else like them' * Washington Post *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe classic tale of adventure and the dark secrets of a lost city in the Brazilian jungle, from the acclaimed master of action and suspense.THE LOST CITYHamilton knows the way to the ruins deep in the Brazilian jungle and the secret they hold.The millionaire who calls himself Smith seeks the lost city to avenge a wrong from his hidden past.Their journey down the River of Death is an epic of violence and danger. But the secret that awaits them in the lost city is more dangerous still as a legacy of theft, treachery and murder stretching back to war-torn Europe comes to a deadly climax beneath the ancient walls.Trade Review'A magnificent storyteller' Sunday Mirror ‘The Old Master is in top form with this one’ Jack Higgins ‘The most successful British novelist of his time’ Jack Higgins

Read more less

Book Synopsis______________THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER BY AWARD WINNER KATE ATKINSON''An unapologetic novel of ideas which is also wise, funny and paced like a thriller'' ObserverIn 1940, eighteen-year old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathizers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past for ever. Ten years later, now a producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat. A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realize that there is no action without consequence.Transcription is a work of rare depTrade ReviewNo other contemporary novelist has such supreme mastery of that sweet spot between high and low, literary and compulsively readable as Kate Atkinson. I look forward to a new Atkinson book like I look forward to Christmas…what lends the novel enchantment is that patented Atkinson double whammy: gravity and levity. Tragedy and comedy as so skilfully entwined that you find yourself snorting with mirth…brimming with dark wit that reminds you how deeply satisfying good fiction can be. -- Allison Pearson * Sunday Telegraph *Transcription stands alongside its immediate predecessors as a fine example of Kate Atkinson's mature work, an unapologetic novel of ideas which is also wise, funny and paced like a thriller. -- Stephanie Merritt * Observer *Kate Atkinson is a wonderful writer. I want to write like her when I grow up. Transcription shows she's at the peak of her powers. Full of beautiful, delicate, sharp sentences and characterisations. A spy novel that dismantles the whole genre. A class act, as ever. -- Matt HaigSuperb...Transcription is the sort of book that reminds you how profound and satisfying and moving and exhilarating good fiction can be. It’s the best novel I’ve read all year. I can’t praise it enough. * Irish Times *Never loses its sense of absurdity of human beings even in their most tragic or noble moments...How vehemently most novelists will wish to produce a masterpiece as good. -- Jake Kerridge * Daily Telegraph *On a graph plotting the literary qualities versus saleability of contemporary British novelists, Kate Atkinson would surely occupy the highest point where the two meet...There are plenty of twists and turns in this terrific page-turner, some shocking moments, and a narrator whom the author encourages us to love. -- Claire Harman * Evening Standard *Atkinson handles her mazy, Le Carre-style plot with complete authority. But there’s a lot more to the novel than its page-turning thrills. The increasingly sceptical Juliet makes for a very appealing heroine and the darker material is interspersed with some neat comedy. Above all, Atkinson recreates the atmosphere of both wartime and post-war London with utter conviction. -- James Walton * Reader's Digest *[A] superb story of wartime espionage...Hilary Mantel once said of Atkinson's ground-breaking first novel that she had a "game-plan more sophisticated than Dickens", and that skill is more than evident in this latest offering...remarkable...Transcription is a fine course in the art of deception. The sheer bravura of Atkinson's storytelling is such that you will find it impossible not to want to revisit those clues so cleverly placed, as you shake your head in disbelief at how effortlessly you have been taken in. -- Gerri Kimber * Times Literary Supplement *A new Kate Atkinson novel is always a reason to rejoice and Transcription was everything I was hoping for and more…The truly surprising denouement makes for one of the best conclusions of a novel I’ve ever read.I immediately wanted to read it all over again. * Red *Kate Atkinson’s fluid identity as a novelist has long marked her out as one of Britain’s most interesting – and often underrated – writers…the playful always stands shoulder to shoulder with the painful, the grandiose with the grubby…Atkinson’s depiction of espionage and counter-espionage on the Home Front is nimble and convincing…But there is an immensely serious book here too, waiting in the wings to reveal itself on the very last pages; a book that asks us to question the entertainment we’ve just gobbled up, and to reckon with what lies beneath it. -- Alex Clark * New Statesman *A treat - cerebral and suspenseful, playful and empathetic. * Mail on Sunday *This is a novel about identity in which no one and nothing is exactly as they seem - a spy novel, in short... Terms such as "postmodern" and "metafiction" seem far too heavy for novels as enjoyable as Atkinson's, but from Behind the Scenes onwards she has been chipping away at the fourth wall, and mischievously drawing attention to her craft. What elevates her fiction above mere playfulness is the emotional integrity of her characters... Atkinson always puts on a damn good show. -- Lisa Allardice * Guardian *A triumph...inventive, atmospheric and witty. * Good Housekeeping *Full of intrigue...sublimely suspenseful - droll,devious and deadly, beautifully serious. * Sunday Express *In Transcription, Kate Atkinson recasts the bildungsroman within the fertile genre of the spy thriller… …As the plot of this accomplished novel hurtles towards its astonishing denouement, even the canniest reader may feel wrong-footed. -- Pamela Norris * Literary Review *I loved Kate Atkinson's Transcription - you don't know if it's farce about spies, or a spy story about farce. -- Hanya YanagiharaThis intricate and captivating novel is a treat. Our advice? Cancel your plans and get lost in its pages. * Heat *Intricate, compelling, unpredictable…a gripping spy story …filled with the mystery, humour, and Britishness we have come to expect. * Stylist *Murky, mysterious and with double bluffs,divided loyalties and untrustworthy narratives aplenty, Atkinson explores the nature of truth in this vibrant piece of historical fiction. * Psychologies *Atkinson’s poker-faced narration perfectly serves a twisty tale of innocence lost amid a fog of geopolitical double-dealing, framed with a deadly tragedy. * Metro *Glorious... beautiful and smart and everything you have ever loved about Kate Atkinson. -- Joanna CannonTotally gripping and extremely funny, with an excellent joke on practically every page...There won't be a better or more enjoyable book published this year. -- Cressida Connolly * The Oldie *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A cracking story told at breakneck speed' – Scotland on SundayThe Killing Tide by Lin Anderson sees forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod investigating a mysterious abandoned ship which has swept ashore in the Orkney Isles.After a fierce storm hits Scotland, a mysterious cargo ship is discovered in the Orkney Isles. Boarding the vessel uncovers three bodies, recently deceased and in violent circumstances. Forensic scientist Dr Rhona MacLeod’s study of the crime scene suggests that a sinister game was being played on board, but who were the hunters? And who the hunted?Meanwhile in Glasgow DS Michael McNab is called to a horrific incident where a young woman has been set on fire. Or did she spark the flames herself? As evidence arises that connects the two cases, the team grow increasingly concerned that the truth of what happened on the ship and in Glasgow hints at a wider conspiracy that stretches down to London and beyond to a global stage. Orcadian Ava Clouston, renowned investigative journalist, believes so and sets out to prove it, putting herself in grave danger.When the Met Police challenge Police Scotland’s jurisdiction, it becomes obvious that there are ruthless individuals who are willing to do whatever it takes to protect government interests. Which could lead to even more deaths on Scottish soil . . .Trade ReviewAs always Lin Anderson provides a big fat colourful mystery -- Mark Sanderson, The TimesA cracking story told at breakneck speed * Scotland on Sunday *Forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod has become one of the most satisfying characters in modern crime fiction — honourable, inquisitive and yet plagued by doubts and, sometimes, fears . . . As ever, the landscape is stunningly evoked and MacLeod’s decency and humanity shine through on every page * Daily Mail *The bleak landscape is beautifully described, giving this popular series a new lease of life * Sunday Times *Lin Anderson is one of Scotland’s national treasures – don’t be fooled by comparisons, her writing is unique, bringing warmth and depth to even the seediest parts of Glasgow -- Stuart MacBrideVivid and atmospheric . . . enthralling * Guardian *Greenock-born Anderson’s work is sharper than a pathologist’s scalpel. One of the best Scottish crime series since Rebus -- Shari Low, Daily Record

Read more less

Book SynopsisBOOK 10 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 MirrorTHEY LEAVE AS BROTHERS. THEY RETURN AS MEN. The East India Trading Company is under attack from pirates. Under orders from the King himself, famed sailor Hal Courtney makes the dangerous journey to Madagascar with his young sons, charged with stopping the pirates responsible or to die trying.In this epic swashbuckling adventure of love and treasure, the brothers will face duels, chases, betrayals and battles - and see their fates cast in ways they could never have imagined . . .A Courtney Series adventure - Book Two in the Birds of Prey trilogy.Monsoon is the tenth novel in the Courtney family saga from Wilbur Smith, introducing beloved characters and setting the stage for generations to come.Book 11 in the Courtney family series, Blue Horizon, is available now.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAfter thirteen-year-old Agnes Fisher faints at school, her teacher is shocked to discover salacious photographs of the girl in her desk. When Agnes doesn't show up at school the next day, her teacher takes the photographs to the police. Murdoch, furious at the sexual exploitation of such a young girl, resolves to find the photographer.Trade Review"...well-observed characters... bring to life a violent but vital society of astonishing contradictions." (New York Times Book Review)"

Read more less

Book Synopsis'This page-turning series never lets the reader down’ HARLAN COBENIN A PROFESSION LIKE THIS, YOU'RE BOUND TO MAKE ENEMIES . . . An eye . . .   It all starts when Dr Temperance Brennan finds a box on her porch. Inside is a fresh human eyeball with GPS coordinates etched into it. They lead her to a macabre discovery in a Benedictine Monastery, and soon after she discovers a mummified corpse in a state park.  . . . for an eye    There seems to be no pattern to these killings, except that each mimics a killing connected to something a younger Tempe experienced, or barely escaped. Someone is targeting her, and she needs to figure out why before they strike again.   And then her daughter Katy disappears.  Someone is playing a dangerous game with Tempe. And they won’t stop until they have taken everything froTrade Review‘A thing of clever beauty – smart, scary, complicated, and engrossing from the first sentence' MICHAEL CONNELLY ‘Reanimates all the ghosts from Temperance Brennan’s forensic past until they thoroughly haunt her present . . . This page-turning series never lets the reader down’ HARLAN COBEN '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 'The Queen of forensic crime' EVENING STANDARD ‘Reichs, skilfully using the conventions of the mystery novel, forces the reader to face up to the obscene realities of death time and time again. At work and a play she gets under your skin’ THE TIMES ‘Masterfully constructed’ J.A. JANCE 'A mystery within a mystery that invites you to get into the action, complete with twisting turns and heart-stopping dives into the unknown . . . The crowning achievement of a master storyteller' NELSON DeMILLE

Read more less

Book SynopsisBOOK 5 IN THE BALLANTYNE SERIES, BY 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 Mirror A FEARSOME ENEMY. A CITY UNDER SIEGE. In the burning heat of the Sudanese sun, the city of Khartoum is under siege from the fearsome forces of the Mahdi, the charismatic leader of rebel forces who tire of the brutal Egyptian government. In Khartoum, along with thousands of innocent citizens, are trapped the fanatical General Charles Gordon, intrepid soldier Penrod Ballantyne of the 10th Hussars, English trader Ryder Courtney and the British consul, David Benbrook, and his three beautiful daughters, Rebecca, Saffron and Amber. As rescue becomes increasingly unlikely, this group of Queen Victoria's loyal citizens must unite to prepare themselves against a violent enemy, and for the savage battle that must surely follow . . . The Courtneys meet the Ballantynes in a sweeping adventure from the master of adventure fiction.The fifth book in the epic Ballantyne Series and the first in an exciting crossover sequence between Wilbur Smith's two iconic family sagas, the Ballantynes and the Courtneys. The adventures of the Ballantynes and Courtneys continue in Book 6 of the Ballantyne series, King of Kings, available now.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRecommended. I read it one breathless sitting' Ian RankinA gripping new standalone spy thriller, recalling the classic film Casablanca, from the winner of the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for Best Thriller of the Year and the master of the modern spy thriller' (Mail on Sunday).A SIMPLE TASKSuccessful novelist Kit Carradine has grown restless. So when British Intelligence invites him to enter the secret world of espionage, he willingly takes a leap into the unknown.A GLOBAL THREATKit finds himself in Morocco on the trail of Lara Bartok a leading figure in Resurrection, a revolutionary movement whose brutal attacks on right-wing politicians have spread violence throughout the West.A DANGEROUS TARGETDrawn to Lara, but caught between competing intelligence services who want her dead, Kit faces an awful choice: abandon her to her fate or risk everything trying to save her.An instant classic of the genre' Mick HerronThe Man Between is up there with the best full of thrills, wit and fine wrTrade Review‘The most brilliant thriller’ Sunday Times ‘Recommended. I read it one breathless sitting’ Ian Rankin ‘Charles Cumming gets better with each book ‘ The Times ‘Plunges a novelist into a deliciously twisty imbroglio in Morocco; it’s Cumming at his most relaxed and engaging’ Telegraph, Books of the Year ‘An instant classic of the spy genre’ Mick Herron ‘Nobody writes more enjoyable spy thrillers than Charles Cumming’ Anthony Horowitz ‘A real page-turner’ Peter Robinson, Daily Mail ‘Rich in twists and cloak-and-dagger action … typically accomplished and enthralling’ Sunday Times ‘Credibly obsessed and convincingly foolish, Carradine is an interesting character in a pleasingly original spy story’ Literary Review ‘Lift the lid off Cumming's novel The Man Between and breathe in an exotic tagine stew, redolent of murderous international conspiracy, assassination, kidnapping, and a beautiful dangerous woman, set against the colourful matchstick mosaic of Marrakesh. Another Cumming triumph’ Jason Matthews ‘Charles Cumming’s The Man Between continues the author’s steady upwards trajectory; he will soon be snapping at the heels of such masters as John le Carré and Gerald Seymour’ Guardian ‘I have been a fan of Charles Cumming ever since A Spy by Nature, and The Man Between is up there with the best – full of thrills, wit and fine writing, with a plot and themes that might have been taken from today’s headlines. Writer/spy Kit Carradine is a thoroughly engaging protagonist, and I look forward to meeting him again. Superb espionage fiction’ Peter Robinson Praise for A Divided Spy: ‘A gripping psychological clash of wills, tactics and morals … Kell’s third appearance confirms him as one of the most interesting and sympathetic characters in the spy thriller field’ The Times ‘The spies’ shifting psychological duel is riveting … deftly coupled with a topical subplot’ Sunday Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisSet in a Rome riven by religious and political conflicts, SHROUD FOR THE ARCHBISHOP is the second compelling novel in Peter Tremayne''s gripping Celtic mystery series.PRAISE FOR THE SISTER FIDELMA SERIES: ''A compulsive readable whodunit fronted by one of the most reliably intriguing characters to grace the pages of the genre'' BooklistWighard, archbishop designate of Canterbury, has been discovered garrotted in his chambers in the Lateran Palace in Rome in the autumn of AD 664. The solution to this terrible crime appears simple as the palace guards have arrested Brother Ronan Ragallach, as he fled from Wighard''s chamber.Although the Irish monk denies responsibility, Bishop Gelasius is convinced the crime is political and that Wighard was slain in pique at the triumph of the pro-Roman Anglo-Saxon clergy in their debate with the pro-Columba Irish clergy at Whitby. There is also a matter of missing treasure: the goodwill gifts Wighad had b

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong.’ – Stephen King.From the master of police procedural and bestselling author of Standing in the Shadows comes A Necessary End, book three in Peter Robinson’s the Inspector Banks series.Peace destroyed. Lives in ruin. Banks must race to find the killer . . .Everyday life in Eastvale is shattered when a policeman is stabbed to death after an anti-nuclear demonstration turns violent. Superintendent ‘Dirty Dick’ Burgess, Banks’s nemesis, descends with vengeful fury on those he deems responsible.Inspector Banks is uneasy about Burgess's mishandling of the case, but despite being warned off he puts his career in jeopardy to continue his search for the truth, knowing if he is to keep his job, he must beat Burgess to the killer . . .Now a major British ITV drama DCI Banks, this novel is followed by the fourth book in this Yorkshire-based crime series, The Hanging Valley.Trade ReviewInspector Banks – a man for all seasons, he knows that often the answers to the clues he seeks are hidden in his own heart -- Michael ConnellyAn award-winning writer with ideas that are imaginative and plots that are refreshingly cliché-free * Time Out *If you haven't caught up with Peter Robinson already, now is the time to start * Independent on Sunday *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the Top 10 Sunday Times bestselling author and winner of the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for Best Thriller of the Year. Perfect for fans of John le Carré, Charles Cumming is the master of the modern spy thriller' (Mail on Sunday)Thomas Kell is a disgraced agent who longs to come in from the cold. When MI6's top spy in Turkey is killed in a mysterious plane crash, his chance arrives for Kell is the only man Service Chief Amelia Levene can trust to investigate the accident.In Istanbul, Kell soon discovers that there is a traitor inside Western Intelligence. Then he meets Rachel- the dead spy's daughter- and the stakes grow higher still.From London to Greece and into Eastern Europe, Kell tracks the mole. But a betrayal close to home transforms the operation into something more personal. Soon Kell will stop at nothing to see it through.Trade ReviewPraise for A Colder War: ‘The spy thriller has been on the ascendant in the past few years, breeding a bunch of talented writers, Cumming among the very best’ The Times (Saturday Review) ‘[A] cleverly plotted spy tale’ Sun ‘A Colder War is more than an excellent thriller: it is also a novel that forces us to look behind the headlines and question some of our own comfortable assumptions’ Spectator ‘An espionage maestro . . . The levels of psychological insight are married to genuine narrative acumen – but anyone who has read his earlier books will expect no less’ Independent ‘For those hungering for a new John le Carré, Charles Cumming has inherited the master’s mantle. His new book, A Colder War, features sinister goings-on in spook-infested Istanbul’ Sunday Times ‘There’s a sense that Kell is developing into a Smiley for our times’ Mail on Sunday ‘[Cumming] expertly recreates a world of waiting and watching where boredom is as much an enemy as other agents, and yet has still produced a page-turning thriller. . .If you thought true spy novels went out with the Berlin wall, think again’ Press Association ‘Edgily elegant … perfect for those wanting a contemporary spy thriller in the vein of Le Carré and even for those who don’t’ Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal Praise for A Foreign Country: ‘We are in Smiley country, but with extra 21st century nuance … Cumming has an exquisite touch and we should treasure him’ Daily Mail ‘A thriller that has everything you could ask for – a twisty, sexy plot, topical themes, memorable characters and plentiful spy lore’ Sunday Times ‘Refreshing, plausible and effective … Best of all is the sheer pace of the narrative’ Spectator ‘You are likely to be up for most of the night to find out how this novel ends. It grips from the first page … A fast-moving treat’ The Scotsman

Read more less

Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its range of best-loved, essential classics.''Wouldn''t it be fun if all the castles in the air which we make could come true, and we could live in them?''An endearing tale of hardship, love and sisterhood during the American Civil War, Little Women tells the story of the March family. Newly impoverished, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy undertake their journey through life together, bound to each other and their beloved mother Marmee by fierce loyalty. Good and bad timescome and go as they struggle with the trials of growing up, getting along, and exploring life outside the comforting walls of home, each discovering her own distinct personality along the way.Full of charm and heart, Little Women is the first novel in a series cherished by children and adults alike.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDaniel Silva is the bestselling author of The Unlikely Spy, The Mark of the Assassin, The Marching Season, The Kill Artist, The English Assassin, The Confessor, A Death in Vienna, Price of Fire, The Messenger, The Secret Servant,Moscow Rules and The Defector. He lives in Washington, DC, with his wife, NBC News Today correspondent Jamie Gangel, and their two children, Lily and Nicholas.Trade Review'In true Bauer fashion, shootouts, kidnappings and international terror plots follow him wherever he goes' USA Today 'It is an exciting, entertaining novel with a terrifying message' - Literary Review on, Secret Servant 'Nerve-searing and painfully brilliant' - Patricia Cornwell on, Death in Vienna 'Ranks among the best of the younger American spy novelists' Washington Post 'Shootouts, kidnappings and international terror plots follow Gabriel Allon wherever he goes' USA Today

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe third psychological thriller from No 1 bestselling Swedish crime sensation Camilla Läckberg. Irresistible for fans of Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbo.The remote resort of Fjällbacka has seen its share of tragedy, though perhaps none worse than that of the little girl found in a fisherman''s net. But this was no accidental drowningLocal detective Patrik Hedström has just become a father. It is his grim task to discover who could be behind the murder of a child both he and his partner Erica knew well.What he does not know is how the case will reach into the dark heart of Fjällbacka and tear aside its idyllic façade, perhaps forever.Trade ReviewPraise for Camilla Lackberg: ‘The hottest female writer in Sweden’ Independent ‘Heart-stopping and heart-warming … a masterclass in Scandinavian crime writing’ Val McDermid ‘Pacy … with flashing insight into the dark places of the psyche’ Sunday Times ‘Lackberg is an expert at mixing scenes of domestic cosiness with blood-curdling horror’ Guardian ‘Both chilling and thrilling’ Sun

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A universal story, and a testimony to the struggle to find meaning, grace, and humanity, even amid the most unimaginable horrors.' Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite RunnerSnipers in the hills overlook the shattered streets of Sarajevo. Knowing that the next bullet could strike at any moment, the ordinary men and women below strive to go about their daily lives as best they can. Kenan faces the agonizing dilemma of crossing the city to get water for his family. Dragan, gripped by fear, does not know who among his friends he can trust. And Arrow, a young woman counter-sniper must push herself to the limits - of body and soul, fear and humanity. Told with immediacy, grace and harrowing emotional accuracy, The Cellist of Sarajevo shows how, when the everyday act of crossing the street can risk lives, the human spirit is revealed in all its fortitude - and frailty.Trade ReviewGalloway's style is sparse, pared down; his prose has the deceptive simplicity of a short story. The work of an expert, The Cellist of Sarajevo is a controlled and subtle piece of craftsmanship. * Observer *Startlingly good... With prose as unsentimental and deadly as gunfire, Galloway superbly captures the tense existence of a city under siege where daily tasks become a gamble between life and death, yet where a single note of music can exert a power equal to any bomb or bullet. * Metro *

Read more less

Book Synopsis"She looked so irresistibly beautiful as she said those brave words that no man alive could have steeled his heart against her." In love with the beautiful heiress Laura Fairlie, the impoverished art teacher Walter Hartright finds his romantic desires thwarted by her previous engagement to Sir Percival Glyde. But all is not as it seems with Sir Percival, as becomes clear when he arrives with his eccentric friend Count Fosco. The mystery and intrigue are further deepened by the ghostly appearances of a woman in white, apparently harbouring a secret that concerns Sir Percival’s past. A tale of love, madness, deceit and redemption, boasting sublime Gothic settings and pulse-quickening suspense, The Woman in White was the first best-selling Victorian sensation novel, sparking off a huge trend in the fiction of the time with its compulsive, fascinating narrative.Trade ReviewFor sheer plotting genius, Collins had no rival. If you’ve never read this, I can promise you one of the most gripping stories of all time. -- Philip Pullman

Read more less

Book SynopsisA SUPER-CHARGED THRILLER FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR ‘Deadly conspiracies, bone-crunching action and a tormented hero with a heart . . . packs a real punch’ Andy McDermott A WEB OF DECEIT.AND BEN HOPE IS CAUGHT UP IN THE MAYHEM… Whilst visiting a former SAS comrade in Italy, a distracted Ben nearly runs over a young boy – and unwittingly walks into his deadliest mission yet. Ben’s involvement with the boy’s family runs deeper as he witnesses their brutal murder at a gallery robbery. A seemingly worthless Goya sketch was the principal target in the bloodbath heist. Now it’s up to Ben to find out the truth behind the elusive painting. Wrongly accused of murder and forced to go on the run, he must get to the heart of the conspiracy while he still has the chance… 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 a new Ben Hope thriller begins… Whilst the Ben Hope thrillers can be read in any order, this is the sixth book in the series. 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 ‘Establishes Scott Mariani as 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

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn epistolary crime novel from Dorothy L Sayers, creator of the classic Lord Peter Wimsey series - a must-read for fans of Agatha Christie''s Poirot and Margery Allingham''s Campion Mysteries, and introduced by author and journalist Libby Purves.The bed was broken and tilted grotesquely sideways. Harrison was sprawled over in a huddle of soiled blankets. His mouth was twisted . . .Harrison had been an expert on deadly mushrooms. How was it then that he had eaten a large quantity of death-dealing muscarine? Was it an accident? Suicide? Or murder?The documents in the case seemed to be a simple collection of love notes and letters home. But they concealed a clue to the brilliant murderer who baffled the best minds in London.''She combined literary prose with powerful suspense, and it takes a rare talent to achieve that. A truly great storyteller'' Minette WaltersTrade ReviewShe brought to the detective novel originality, intelligence, energy and wit. - P. D. JamesI admire her novels . . . she has great fertility of invention, ingenuity and a wonderful eye for detail - Ruth Rendell'She combined literary prose with powerful suspense, and it takes a rare talent to achieve that. A truly great storyteller.' - Minette Walters

Read more less

Book SynopsisOne of the first great spy novels, The Riddle of the Sands is set during the long, suspicious years leading up to the First World War. In spite of good prospects in the Foreign Office, sardonic civil servant Carruthers is finding it hard to endure the boredom of his life in London. He accepts an invitation from a college friend, Davies, a shyly intrepid yachtsman, and joins him on a sailing holiday in the Baltic, and there, amidst the sunshine and bright blue seas, they discover a German plot to invade England . . . Like much contemporary British spy fiction, The Riddle of the Sands reflects the Anglo-German rivalry of the early twentieth century, and the intricacy of the book’s conception and its lucid detail make it a classic of its genre. This Macmillan Collector’s Library edition of Erskine Childers' The Riddle of the Sands features maps drawn from Childers’ originals and an afterword by writer and journalist Ned Halley. Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe international bestseller, longlisted for the Dublin Literary Award 2021. Fernando Aramburu's Homeland is an epic and heartbreaking story of two best friends whose families are divided by the conflicting loyalties of terrorism.‘It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that was so persuasive and moving’ – Mario Vargas Llosa, author of Time of the Hero.The Basque Country, Spain, 2011.Miren and Bittori have lived side by side in a small Basque town all their lives. Their husbands play cards together, their children play and eventually go out drinking together. The terrorist threat posed by ETA seems to affect them little.When Bittori’s husband starts receiving threatening letters – demanding money, accusing him of being a police informant – she turns to her friend for help. But Miren’s loyalties are torn: her son has just been recruited as a terrorist and to denounce them would be to condemn her own flesh and blood. Tensions rise, relationships fracture, and events move towards a tragic conclusion . . . ‘Is Aramburu the Tolstoy of the Basque country, author of a Spanish language War and Peace?’ – GuardianTrade ReviewFew books make me cry these days but by the final page I found my eyes prickling with tears. By examining his society in such close detail, Aramburu encourages us to reflect on the bitter divisions in our own world and the opportunities we have for reconciliation. * Sunday Times *It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that was so persuasive and moving, so intelligently conceived. -- Mario Vargas LlosaIs Aramburu the Tolstoy of the Basque country, author of a Spanish language War and Peace that lays bare the pain of forty pointless years of separatist terrorism? * Guardian *A powerful novel which has a strong claim to be the definite fictional account of the Basque troubles . . . Aramburu skillfully spins their stories in short, punchy chapters that dart back and forth in time. Its message is ultimately redemptive. * Economist *A magnificent novel which is becoming a publishing, political and literary phenomenon. A story imbued with a spine-tingling sense of realism. * Vanguardia *Homeland is, above all, a great and considered novel . . . combing evocation and analysis . . . War and Peace by Tolstoy did it. The work of Fernando Aramburu achieves the same thing. * El País *Homeland is a sweeping novel that explores so many aspects of life . . . Aramburu brings [ethnic nationalism] under the microscope to show its effects on a few individuals. The results are brilliant and unnerving. * Herald *Phenomenal . . . [Aramaburu is as] magnanimous as he is passionate. * Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung *A work of tremendous power . . . [One is] reminded how overwhelming and powerful literature can be. * Die Zeit *An event: Aramburu masterfully manages to tell of great things in small ways. * Stern *Shedding the occasional tear doesn’t matter. It is in any case difficult to read Homeland and remain dry-eyed. * Corriere della Sera *Gripping . . . A palpable hit. * Spiegel *Worth every page. * Vogue (Germany) *As humorous as it is heartbreaking, Homeland explores how various factions of Basque and Spanish society were violently pitted against one another for fifty years. * Millions *Aramburu recounts the lives of ordinary people shattered by events that are ongoing in Spain today even years after ETA has suspended its armed campaign . . . A humane, memorable work of literature. * Kirkus (starred review) *A brilliant and important book. Our planet is covered with lines of various kind, and Aramburu masterfully examines the bodies and souls those lines cut through like razors. * Nadeem Aslam *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE Do not put this book down. I''m dead serious - your life could depend on it. I''m risking everything by telling you - but you need to know. STRAP YOURSELF IN for the thrill ride you''ll want to take again and again! From Death Valley, California, to the bowels of the New York City subway system, you''re about to take off on a heart-stopping adventure that will blow you away...YOUR FAITHFUL COMPANIONS: Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman and Angel. Six kids who are pretty normal in most ways - except that they''re 98% human, 2% bird. They grew up in a lab, living like rats in cages, but now they''re free. Aside, of course, from the fact that they''re prime prey for Erasers - wicked wolf-like creatures with a taste for flying humans. THE MISSIONS: Rescue Angel from malicious mutants. Infiltrate a secret facility to track down the flock''s missing parents. Scavenge for sustenance. Get revenge on an evil traitor. And save the world. If therTrade Review'The first in a series from adult-thriller writer Patterson has all the characteristics of his work for grown-ups: pace, action, mystery and cool... sharp and punchy with plenty of jokes and shocks. And it proves that girls can be tough, too.' * The Sunday Times *'This skilled and compulsive tale is so involved about kids being brave against the odds' The Sunday Times, 3/7/05 * The Sunday Times *'MAXIMUM RIDE is a fast-paced, action-packed fantasy adventure that children will love' Age, Melbourne 4/6/05 * Age, Melbourne *'Patterson knows where our deepest fears are buried... There's no stopping his imagination.' * New York Times Book Review *'Nonstop action carries this page-turner breathlessly from start to finish... Speed, suspense, excitement' Kirkus Reviews * Kirkus Reviews *'[MAXIMUM RIDE has] enough action to draw in the most hesitant reader' The Australian * The Australian *'Nonstop action carries this page-turner breathlessly from start to finish... Speed, suspense, excitement' Kirkus Reviews * Kirkus Reviews *'MAXIMUM RIDE is a fast-paced, action-packed fantasy adventure that children will love' Age, Melbourne 4/6/05 * Age, Melbourne *'This skilled and compulsive tale is so involved about kids being brave against the odds' The Sunday Times, 3/7/05 * The Sunday Times *'[Patterson] delivers an action-packed cross between Gertrude Chandler Warner's Boxcar Children and Marvel Comics' X-Men' Booklist * Booklist *'A fast-moving, thrill-a-minutes, neo future adventure that pits good against evil in a most significant way... It's imaginative, it's exciting, it's touching - but it's also damn scary considering what some scientists are up to already.' * The Northern Echo *'The characters are so well written that you'll really root for them. It's edge of your seat, thrilling stuff.' 5 Stars. * Flipside *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWashington, D.C.-based photojournalist Sophie Medina is not a murderer - but someone is determined to make sure she goes down for a crime she did not commit . . .When billionaire philanthropist and art collector Robson Blake hires Sophie Medina to take photographs for him, she doesn''t expect to show up and find her client dead. It seems he was the victim of a burglary gone wrong. But why was his state-of-the-art security system turned off . . . and why, in a house full of priceless Old Masters, is the only thing missing a beautiful but insignificant Ukrainian religious icon?Before long, Sophie finds herself in the crosshairs of a D.C. homicide detective who suspects she knows more than she is saying about Blake''s murder - and he''s not wrong. To Sophie''s mixed delight and horror, she''s recently learned she has a half-brother . . . who might also be an international art thief, with eyes on Blake''s collection.As the police get closer to findi

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn Egypt, Nuri, a teenage boy, falls in love with Mona - the woman his father will marry. Consumed with longing, Nuri wants to get his father out of the way - to take his place in Mona''s heart. But when his father disappears, Nuri regrets what he wished for. Alone, he and Mona search desperately for the man they both love. Only for Nuri to discover a silence he cannot break and unimaginable secrets his father never wanted him to know.Hisham Matar''s new novel My Friends is available for pre-order now!Trade ReviewA fable of loss, and an often troubling meditation on fathers and sons. Matar is writing from the heart * Observer *This beautiful, subtle novel, like the lives of its characters, repays many readings -- Helen Dunmore * The Times *Hisham Matar is a master of the evocative; he creates his effects, on the page and on our nervous system with the fewest and most telling words. I was spellbound * Ahdaf Soueif *I was moved and very impressed -- Roddy DoyleEach time I had to put it down I couldn't wait to get back to it -- Michael FraynHaunting in every sense. An absorbing novel that finds its eloquence in what is left unsaid and its most vivid imagery in what has been lost, possibly for ever * Sunday Times *Matar suffuses Nuri's education in love and loss with an erotic frisson and fragile grace that lend the book an inner radiance * Independent *Submerged grief gives this fine novel the mythic inexorability of Greek tragedy * Economist *Sensually written, there is an extravagant feel even to the simplest sentence. From start to finish that exquisitely profound quality of uncertainty is the most wrenching aspect of all * Sunday Telegraph *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewFierce, bleak and compellingly written . . . with pitiless landscapes of hopeless longing, random cruelty and galloping fate warmed only by the twilit lyricism of doomed desire. These are novels of eye-opening, spine-tingling control and intensity. -- Boyd Tonkin * The Independent *One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories * Guardian *Compelling . . . Simenon shows how close the deranged mind is to the ordinary mind' * Financial Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisCriminal defence lawyers must make their peace with one harsh fact of life: most of their clients are guilty. Yet when William Tucker, a celebrated and self-centered star college football player, is suddenly arrested and charged with the brutal rape and murder of a college coed two years before, his broken-down, drunken estranged father Frank can''t believe he''s guilty. What father could?But Frank is also an ex-criminal defence lawyer.Now Frank must find a way to sober up and save his son from the death penalty sought by an ambitious district attorney.Can a father''s love for his accused son save him from death?

Read more less

Book SynopsisAll she wanted was the truth, but she'll wish she never found out. When Catherine wakes up alone one morning, she thinks her husband has gone for a run before work. But Simon never makes it to the office. His running shoes are by the front door. Nothing is missingexcept him. Catherine knows Simon must be in trouble. He wouldn't just leave her. He wouldn't leave the children. But Simon knows the truthabout why he left and what he's done. He knows things about his marriage that it would kill Catherine to find out. The memories she holds on to are lies. While Catherine faces a dark new reality at home, Simon's halfway around the world, alive and thriving. He's doing whatever it takes to stay one step ahead of the truth. But he can't hide forever, and when he reappears twenty-five years later, Catherine will finally learn who he is. And wish she'd stayed in the dark. Revised edition: Previously published as The Wronged Sons, this edition of When You Disappeared includes editorial revisions.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFive victims, bonded by blood. A detective blinded by revenge. Jake Sawyer is suffering. After a bruising confrontation with a cruel killer, he has isolated himself in a remote cottage in the bleak and beautiful northern Peak District. Facing an uncertain future, he resumes his covert investigation into his mother's murder, and enters therapy to explore his lack of primal fear response. When an ex-TV personality is found murdered, from a single stab wound to the heart, Sawyer suspects a ritualistic element. But then a second victim is found, and he forms a terrifying theory about the killer's twisted logic. As Sawyer edges closer to mental collapse, he must protect the killer's targets as he uncovers the truth behind the death of his mother. A truth that will put his reputation, and freedom, at risk. ___________________________________________________________????? Grabs right away and doesn't let up until the last sentence.????? Had to finish it in one sitting.????? Gripping and well crafted.????? Brilliant.????? Leaves you open-mouthed and wanting more.????? Sawyer is not your everyday detective.????? Full of twists and turns.????? I couldn't put it down.????? A gripping story that keeps you guessing.????? So many mysteries in one story.????? Awesome.????? Amazing.????? Can't wait for the next book.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt's Christmas before the Great War and two lonely schoolboys have been left in the care of an elderly teacher. There is little to do but listen to his eerie tales about the nearby Cathedral. The boys concoct a plan to discover if the stories are true. But curiosity can prove fatal.Trade ReviewPraise for Fireside Gothic: ‘Spine tinglers that cry out to be read in the flickering light of a wood fire… Wonderfully atmospheric’ Kate Saunders, The Times Praise for The Ashes of London ‘The Ashes of London presents a breathtakingly ambitious picture of an era… The multiple narrative strands are drawn together in a brilliantly orchestrated finale’ Financial Times ‘A complex weave of history and mystery and the first of a new series from Andrew Taylor’ The i ‘This is terrific stuff: intelligent, engrossing and, in its evocation of a long-vanished London, wonderfully plausible.’ Toby Clements, Daily Telegraph ‘A pacey story… Taylor masters the detail as well as the broader picture… A new Shardlake may be rising from the ashes’ The Times ‘Thrilling… Gripping, fast-moving and credible… It’s a well-constructed political thriller with moments of horror, admirable and enjoyable. Taylor has done his research so thoroughly as to be unobtrusive’ Spectator ‘The description of London in 1666, as the Great Fire is at last dying down, is unforgettable’ Literary Review ‘Finely wrought and solidly researched… The novel’s plot is fiendishly complex’ Sunday Telegraph ‘The Ashes of London is a chilling murder mystery and an equally transporting historical novel. A genuine pleasure from start to finish’ Peter Swanson

Read more less

Book SynopsisArt restorer and spy Gabriel Allon is sent to Vienna to discover the truth behind a bombing which killed an old friend - a Nazi hunter. While there he encounters something that turns his whole life upside down. Each fact he uncovers only leads to more questions until finally a picture emerges which is more terrible than he could have ever imagined - a portrait of evil stretching across 60 years and thousands of lives into his own personal nightmares.

Read more less

Book Synopsis*If you love The Butlers, meet QUEENIE! Kimberley Chambers' new No.1 bestseller and prequel to The Butler series is out now!*Family. They''re supposed to watch your back. Not stab you in it.When the enemy is one of your own, the payback is twice as hard.The Butler brothers are the Kings of the East End, and their motto is what goes around, comes around'.In their world, family counts; so when the truth about Vinny's cousin's death comes to light, it rocks the Butlers to the core. One by one, Vinny's friends and family are turning against himThen, the unimaginable happens Vinny's little daughter Molly goes missing. She's the one chink of light in all their lives, and the one they'd commit murders to bring back.But is it already too late for that?Is this PAYBACK?The Butlers are back in this gripping, compulsive sequel to THE TRAP.Trade ReviewPraise for Kimberley Chambers: ‘Easily as good as Martina Cole’ News of the World ‘Brilliantly delivers a story of violence, treachery and family ties… Easy to read and hard to put down’ News of the World ‘[a] fast-paced tale with gritty authenticity’ The Guardian

Read more less

Book SynopsisShe came looking for sanctuary. Instead, she found deathDetective Inspector Ruth Hunter has barely arrived in her new role at North Wales Police Force when a gruesome murder scene needs her attention. A local teacher has been attacked, and her body carved with strange symbols. What does it mean?Another body follows, and Ruth is suddenly at the heart of a search for a serial killer. But as she struggles to let go of the past and move on from her partner's unresolved disappearance Ruth might make a misstep that costs more than her prideThe explosive first installment of Simon McCleave's multi-million copy bestselling DI Ruth Hunter series. The most thrilling series in Welsh crime fiction! Perfect for fans of Sarah Ward, Neil Lancaster and LJ Ross.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Caspian Gates is the fourth in Harry Sidebottom''s captivating Warrior of Rome Series.AD262 - the Imperium is in turmoil after the struggle for the throne. Furthermore, Ephesus, Asia''s metropolis, lies in ruins, shattered by a mighty earthquake. Its citizens live in fear as the mob overwhelms the city, baying for blood to avenge the gods who have punished them. Yet an even greater threat to the Empire advances from the North. The barbaric Goth tribes sail towards Ephesus, determined to pillage the city. Only Ballista, Warrior of Rome, knows the ways of the barbarians, and only he can defeat them. The Goths'' appetite for brutality and destruction is limitless and before long Ballista is locked into a deadly bloodfeud, with an enemy that has sworn to destroy him - and the Imperium - at all costs.Dr Harry Sidebottom is a leading authority on ancient warfare - he applies his knowledge with a spectacular flair for sheer explosive action

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen a terrorist returns to take revenge - watch out! The first in the thriller Gabriel Allon series.From the No. 1 bestselling author of THE COLLECTORThe chief of Israeli Intelligence recalls two former agents in order to eliminate a top Palestinian terrorist. One agent is now an art restorer, the other a fashion model. Ten years before, on a mission to destroy the Arab Black September group, they were briefly lovers. Now their pasts and their enemies come back to haunt them, as the terrorist murders ambassadors in Paris and Holland. Will the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks be his next target? And what motivates the terrorist? Is it politics, or is it possibly personal? Set mainly in London, but with forays into Paris, Amsterdam, the Middle East and north America, this thriller has all Daniel Silva''s hallmarks of strong characters, unusual backgrounds and a page-turning narrative.Trade ReviewA thrill-a-minute sure-fire bestseller [that] rips Middle East strife from the headlines * KIRKUS *Although the novel moves at a really fast clip, cutting from location to location, Silva avoids the espionage novelist's sin of glossy locales and comic-book action by giving his characters, even the minor ones, believably complex motivations that come into play in the thriller's overriding conflict. Part of the interest of Silva's work is the way he portrays various professions (here it's art dealership, publishing, and modelling) to be every bit as cutthroat as international intrigue * BOOKLIST *A master writer of espionage ... [Silva's] writing is clean, crisp, and compelling * CINCINNATI ENQUIRER *The tragedy of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and despair of its resolution provide the backdrop for Silva's heart-stopping, complex yarn of international terrorism and intrigue ... An array of global locales adds to the complexity and authenticity of the dizzying, cinematic plot * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs two mighty empires embark on a bloody duel, Napoleon Bonaparte and the future Duke of Wellington prepare for battle. The first novel in Simon Scarrow's Sunday Times bestselling Wellington and Napoleon quartet.Trade Review'A fine tale of romance and conflict' * Nottingham Evening Post *'One of the great duels in history, between two of its most fascinating characters. Simon Scarrow brings Wellington and Napoleon to life with a vengeance' * Paul Strathern, author of Napoleon in Egypt *'Scarrow plunges into the aftermath of the French Revolution for another rip-roaring adnventure story' * Yorkshire Evening Post *'This is a promising start to a series that shows great potential' * Good Book Guide *'[YOUNG BLOODS] is well written, researched and a pleasure to read. Recommended' * Historical Novels Review *'The characters are real, so too the battles... brought vividly to life with the thriller writer's skill' * Nottingham Evening Post *

Read more less

Book SynopsisBRICKS AND MORTALITY is the third Cotswold village mystery by Ann Granger, featuring Inspector Jess Campbell and Superintendent Ian Carter. It is sure to appeal to fans of Midsomer Murders.In the cold light of dawn, a dead body is found entombed in the smouldering remains of a burnt-out Cotswold manor. Key House has stood empty for years, but its owner, Gervase Crown, is rumoured to have been seen in Weston St Ambrose prior to the blaze. Could he be responsible for the fire and the tragic death that followed, or was he in fact the intended target? As Inspector Jess Campbell and Superintendent Ian Carter begin their investigation it becomes clear that Gervase wasn''t the most popular and his return reawakens old memories, not all of which are good.Trade ReviewCharacterisation, as ever with Granger, is sharp and astringent * The Times *The plot is neat and ingenious, the characters rounded and touchingly credible ... a pleasure to read * Ham and High *The reader can expect a treat. Lively, different and fun * Yorkshire Post *She is on to another winner * Birmingham Post *The reader can expect a treat. Lively, different and fun * Yorkshire Post *

Read more less

Book Synopsis* Pre-order GUILTY, the brand new novel from Martina Cole. Coming October 2024. *In gangland London, Maura Ryan is queen... Martina Cole''s extraordinary first novel DANGEROUS LADY introduced a totally original genre of thriller, paving the way for her multiple No. 1 bestsellers, including BETRAYAL and GET EVEN. ''Right from the start [Cole] has enjoyed unqualified approval for her distinctive and powerfully written fiction'' [The Times]No one thinks a seventeen-year-old girl can take on the hard men of London''s gangland, but it''s a mistake to underestimate Maura Ryan: she''s tough, clever and beautiful - which makes her one very dangerous lady.Together, she and her brother Michael are unbeatable but notoriety has its price. The police are determined to put Maura away once and for all - and not everyone in the family think that''s such a bad idea. When it comes to the crunch, Maura has to face the pain of lTrade Review'Cole is brilliant at portraying the good among the bad, and vice versa, so until the very end we never quite know who to trust. This is the very stuff that makes her so compelling' Daily Mirror 'Right from the start [Cole] has enjoyed unqualified approval for her distinctive and powerfully written fiction' The Times Intensely readable Guardian 'Martina Cole explores the shady criminal underworld, a setting she is fast making her own' Sunday Express 'Utterly compelling' Mirror 'The story will grip you from the first pages' Best 'Gritty novel from an author who knows intimately the world she writes about' Express

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe inspiration for THE UNDOING -- a major new HBO TV series in 2020, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, from the producer of Big Little Lies.''A great psychological thriller ... I couldn''t put it down.'' Daisy Goodwin''A plot that thrills all the way to the end. It kept me up far too late!'' Lucie WhitehouseA New York Times bestsellerGrace Sachs, a happily married therapist with a young son, thinks she knows everything about women, men and marriage. She is about to publish a book called You Should Have Known, based on her pet theory: women don''t value their intuition about what men are really like, leading to serious trouble later on.But how well does Grace know her own husband? She is about to find out, and in the place of what she thought she knew, there will be a violent death, a missing husband, and a chain of terrible revelations. Left behind in the wake of a very public disaster, a

Read more less

Book SynopsisFROM THE WRITER OF BBC SMASH HIT DRAMA CROSSFIRESHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA NOVEL AWARDLONGLISTED FOT THE WOMEN''S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2011Whatever You Love, from Louise Doughty - the bestselling author of Apple Tree Yard, now a major BBC 1 series - is a heart-wrenching psychological thriller about bereavement and revenge, desire and infidelity.Two police officers knock on Laura''s door and her life changes forever. They tell her that her nine-year old daughter Betty has been hit by a car and killed. When justice is slow to arrive, Laura decides to take her own revenge and begins to track down the man responsible. Laura''s grief also re-opens old wounds and she is thrown back to the story of her passionate love affair with Betty''s father David, their marriage and his subsequent affair with another woman. Haunted by her past, and driven to breaking point by her desire for retribution, Laura discoveTrade ReviewDoughty creates a haunting, heart-wrenching portrait. Psychologies The opening chapter is electrifyingly painful. From then on the reader is spellbound ... the book is hauntingly believable ... so powerful is the evocation of raw emotion that, the day after i finished it, I woke up with that same feeling. It was some minutes before I realised I was still inside Doughty's book. -- A N Wilson Readers Digest It is an extraordinarly opening, written with such taut understatement that the mother's grief is given a visceral power: we empathise with it immediately ... Whatever You Love is a masterfully constructed novel, at once gripping and tender ... The emotional power of Doughty's prose is such that the reader is complicit in Laura's journey from loss to retribution. Doughty forces us to confront the darkness that lies beneath the skin. The result is a brilliant and brutal novel that continues to unsettle long after the final page has been turned. Observer Absorbing Grazia A stunning tale of grief and the lengths to which a woman must go to come to terms with it. Woman and Home Brilliant, disturbing, heart-wrenching. Daily Mirror

Read more less