Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisEMMA C. WELLS loves anti-heroes, dark humor, witty banter, and ride-or-die friendships. Twisty relationships are her kryptonite (or catnipdepending on how you look at it). THIS GIRL'S A KILLER is her debut novel. Emma lives in Louisiana where the novel is based.

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Book SynopsisIt’s usual, they say, for a young person coming to London for the first time to arrive with a head full of dreams. Well, Endurance Proudfoot did not. When she stepped off the coach from Sussex, on a warm and sticky afternoon in the summer of 1757, it never occurred to her that the city would be the place where she’d make her fortune; she was just very annoyed to be arriving there at all.   Meet Endurance Proudfoot, the bonesetter’s daughter: clumsy as a carthorse, with a tactless tongue and a face she’s sure only a mother could love. Durie only wants one thing in life – to follow her father and grandfather into the family business of bonesetting. It’s a physically demanding job, requiring strength, nerves of steel and discretion – and not the job for a woman.   But Durie isn’t like other women. She’s strong and stubborn and determined to get her own way. And she finds that she has a talent atTrade Review'Among the most impressive historical fiction out this July is Frances Quinn's That Bonesetter Woman (Simon & Schuster), based on a real story about two sisters in Georgian London, one who is desperate to be a female bonesetter and the other who is a determined social climber' * Independent *‘Quinn’s second book is a true celebration of courage, resilience and embracing being different’ * CultureFly *‘Endurance Proudfoot is an enduring heroine and her story is told with wit and warmth’ * Yours, Book of the Month *‘[An] intriguing tale, told with wit and compassion’ * Choice, Book of the Month *'This rambunctious ride of a book mixes historical fact with a really memorable lead character (I completely fell in love with her!). Endurance Proudfoot wants to be a bonesetter like her father and won’t let the fact that she’s a woman get in her way. Entertaining historical fiction' * Good Housekeeping *'The narrative is fast-moving and lively… this is an enjoyable read, feminist history which does not neglect sources of humour or romance. It deserves to be reach a wide audience' * Historical Novel Society *'Frances Quinn’s debut novel, The Smallest Man, was about a dwarf in the employ of Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I. That Bonesetter Woman shares similar themes about being an outsider trying to succeed in a hostile society. Like The Smallest Man it is written with a warmth and tenderness for the characters that makes it irresistible' * The Times *'This second novel by the author of historical hit The Smallest Man takes its inspiration from two of Georgian England’s most famous celebrities. Endurance Proudfoot is determined to go into the family trade and become a bonesetter, despite being a woman. But when she finds herself packed off to London with her sister, disgraced beauty Lucinda, the pair embark on a rollercoaster adventure' * BBC History *‘Durie Proudfoot is a brilliant heroine: stubborn, flawed and so entertaining to spend time with. I loved every step of her journey, and Frances Quinn is fast becoming one of my favourite historical novelists’ Louise Hare ‘I adored every second of this book - historical fiction at its finest, and Quinn is a natural storyteller. Quirky, funny and original. Durie and her lions will stay with me’ Ericka Waller ‘I feel as if I left a little bit of my heart between the pages of this extraordinary book’ Nicola Gill ‘Filled with hope and humour, That Bonesetter Woman is a novel that truly champions the underdog. I devoured it with as much gusto as the inimitable heroine sets people’s bones’ Polly Crosby ‘That Bonesetter Woman is a wonderfully uplifting, charming, addictive and unusual story. Quinn delivers astute and acutely observed aspects of human behaviour delivered with great humour and compassion. Replace the coffee houses and newspaper scribblers with Twitter and YouTube and I’d say, not so much has changed!’ Louise Fein ‘Frances Quinn has done it again! Georgian London is vividly brought to life in a fast-paced story full of quirky characters, wry wit, warmth and wisdom. I was completely charmed!’ Anita Frank

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Book SynopsisIts 1943 and the war continues on in Ambridge. But the minds of the villagers are focused a little closer to home… For many centuries, a local tradition has told of a mystic living in a hermit’s cave just outside the village. Legend tells that she has hidden her prophecies around the area, but none have ever been found. When a visiting academic arrives in Ambridge, there for war work, but personally intrigued by the prophecies, he becomes determined to find out more. And as the prophesies are uncovered, it appears the mystic knows more than anyone could have predicted – and when they become personal and foretell the death of a local Ambridgian, the village is united in surprise. Meanwhile, the war will end and some will come home – and some never will. And those who do will find that life in Ambridge has been changed….  

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Book SynopsisTHEY THOUGHT IT COULDN’T HAPPEN AGAIN. THEY WERE WRONG.The highly anticipated follow-up to the Queen of Suspense's iconic bestseller, Where Are the Children?. A lawyer turned successful podcaster, Missy has worked hard to put the past behind her. More than four decades ago, her mother, Nancy Harmon, was convicted of the murder of her first two children and released on a technicality. Shunned by her family and the media, she was building a new life for herself in Cape Cod when her children from a second marriage, Missy and her brother Mike, vanished too. Once again the prime suspect, this time Nancy was able to confront the secrets buried in her past and rescue her kids from a dangerous predator. But Nancy’s past has a long reach. Missy has recently married a man whose first wife died tragically, leaving him and their young daughter, Riley, behind. While Missy and her brother Mike help their mother relo

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Book SynopsisThe brilliant crime thriller from the BAFTA-winning writer behind the TV series PRIME SUSPECT and author of WIDOWS, now a major motion picture 'Lynda La Plante practically invented the thriller' KARIN SLAUGHTERCan she play the game and win? Suspicion and fear surround the mysterious disappearance of a movie star's daughter. The race to claim the reward for finding Anna Louise Caley - dead or alive - spirals into a deadly voodoo trail in the French quarter of New Orleans. In her desperation to succeed in this, her first case as a private detective, ex-Lieutenant Lorraine Page is caught in a web of deceit and violence that threatens to drag her back into the murky world she has fought so hard to escape. Continuing the investigation means risking everything. But the million-dollar bonus is one hell of an incentive not to back off from a case that could kill her - or give her the fut

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Book Synopsis''Sliver is the ultimate fin de siècle horror novel'' Stephen KingKay Norris, a successful book editor, moves into the affluent Carnegie Hill district of Manhattan, into an apartment in a slender high-rise. A man watches her. He watches her unpack, watches her make her bed. He owns the building: a shocking secret is concealed within the walls.Sliver is a sinuous, erotic thriller that explores the menacing evil behind the glittering façade of Manhattan''s skyscrapers; a hypnotic story of obsession and the temptation of ultimate power.Trade ReviewSliver is the ultimate fin-de-siècle horror novel, a fiendish goodbye wave to trendy urban living in the last decase of the twentieth century. Mr Levin has in Sliver created the apartment dweller's worst nightmare. As always his characters have a texture and a reality that's almost eerie, and the narrative is as stripped-down and efficient as an automatic weapon * Stephen King *Levin's latest thriller, Sliver, is as successful a page-turner as his first, A Kiss Before Dying, thirty-eight years agoSliver is the ultimate fin de siecle horror novel, a fiendish goodbye wave to trendy urban living in the last decade of the twentieth century. Mr. Levin has in Sliver created the apartment dweller's worst nightmare. As always, his characters have a texture and a reality that's almost eerie, and the narrative is as stripped-down and efficient as an automatic weapon. -- Stephen KingLevin's thriller, Sliver, is as successful a page-turner as his first, A Kiss Before Dying...Ira Levin never gets serious, he just gets better. Grade A. * Entertainment Weekly *

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Book Synopsis''While Oxford had Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl'' Daily Mail Murder-on-Sea is the second book in Julie Wassmer''s popular crime series - now a major Acorn TV drama, Whitstable Pearl, starring Kerry Godliman as private detective and restaurateur, Pearl Nolan.It''s not the season of good will to all men... The festive month is kicking off in style and Pearl is rushed off her feet with her restaurant, The Whitstable Pearl. She''s also busy planning her own family Christmas and providing mulled wine for a charity church fundraiser when Christmas cards begin arriving all over town - filled with spiteful messages from an anonymous writer. Pearl''s curiosity is piqued but having pledged not to take on a case at her detective agency before Christmas, she reluctantly agrees that Canterbury''s DCI Mike McGuire should take over; poisoned pen cards are after all a matter for thTrade ReviewWhile Oxford had Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl . . . True to the tradition of classic crime, [Julie Wassmer] weaves a strong story into a setting that has more to offer than murder and mayhem * Daily Mail *If you enjoy cosy crime fiction and you still haven't picked this series, then you are missing out * Alba in Bookland *This is just straightforwardly excellent cosy crime ... Julie Wassmer really knows how to tell a story -- Victoria Best * Shiny New Books *If you enjoy cosy mystery stories and good, solid whodunits, without gruesome details or gratuitous violence, Murder on Sea may be just your cup of tea -- Bec StaffordIf you like the TV series 'Midsomer Murders', then May Day Murder should be right up your alley * The Crime Warp on May Day Murder *

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As thirty-fifth in line for the throne, Lady Georgiana Rannoch may not be the most sophisticated young woman, but she knows her table manners. It's forks on the left, knives on the right, not in His Majesty's back.Here I am thinking the education I received at my posh Swiss finishing school would never come in handy. And while it hasn't landed me a job, or a husband, it has convinced Her Majesty the Queen, and the Dowager Duchess to enlist my help. I have been entrusted with grooming Jack Altringham, the Duke's newly discovered heir fresh from the Outback of Australia, for high society.The upside is I am to live in luxury at one of England's most gorgeous stately homes. But upon arrival at Kingsdowne Place, my dearest Darcy has been sent to fetch Jack, leaving me stuck in a manor full of miscreants, none of whom are too pleased with the discovery of my new ward.And no sooner has the lad been retrieved than the Duke announces he wants to choose his own heir. With the house in a hubbub over the news, Jack's hunting knife somehow finds its way into the Duke's back. Eyes fall, backs turn, and fingers point to the young heir. As if the rascal wasn't enough of a handful, now he's suspected of murder. Jack may be wild, but I'd bet the crown jewels it wasn't he who killed the Duke

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Book SynopsisCold-blooded murder heats up Agatha''s summer holiday! Agatha travels to Cyprus, only to contend with her estranged fiance, an egregious group of truly terrible tourists, and a string of murders. . .In this sixth entertaining outing Agatha leaves the sleepy Cotswold village of Carsely to pursue love - and finds a murderer. Spurned at the altar, she follows her fleeing fiancé James Lacey to Cyprus, where, instead of enjoying the honeymoon they''d planned, they witness the killing of an obnoxious tourist in a disco. Intrigue and a string of murders surround the unlikely couple, in a plot as scorching as the Cypriot sun! Praise for the Agatha Raisin series:''M. C. Beaton''s imperfect heroine is an absolute gem.'' Publishers Weekly''The detective novels of M. C. Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status.'' The TimesAnyone interested in a few hours worth of intelligent, amusing reading will want to makeTrade ReviewCompare this one to lemon meringue pie: light & with a delicious hint of tartness at its heart. - Washington TimesAnyone interested in a few hours' worth of intelligent, amusing reading will want to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Agatha Raisin. - The Cleveland Pain DealerAgatha Raisin is sharp, witty, hugely intelligent, unfailingly entertaining, delightfully intolerant and oh so magnificently non PC. M C Beaton has created a new national treasure... the stories zing along and are irresistible, unputdownable, a joy. If you buy one book a year, let it be this. Agatha Raisin is The Strongest Link.Beaton's dry sense of humour and her unflattering but affectionate portrait of gruff, often adolescent acting Agatha make this... tale a bloom worth picking. - Publishers WeeklyEngaging - Booklist

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Book SynopsisWinter Parva, a traditional Cotswolds village next door to Carsely, has decided to throw a celebratory hog roast to mark the beginning of the winter holiday festivities and Agatha Raisin has arrived with friend and rival in the sleuthing business, Toni, to enjoy the merriment. But, as the spit pig is carried towards the bed of fiery charcoal, Agatha - and the rest of the village - realise that things aren''t as they seem...Very quickly it transpires that the spit pig is in fact Gary Beech, a policeman not much loved in Winter Parva. And although Agatha has every intention of leaving the affair to the police, she rapidly changes her mind when she finds out Gary''s ex-wife has hired Toni to investigate. Cantankerous and competitive as Agatha is, she has to now join the fray and try and solve the case herself! Praise for M C Beaton''s Agatha Raisin series:''I know I once vowed to read only Agatha Christie for a year but I cheated. My No. 1 Trade Review‘The detective novels of M C Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status.’ -- Anne Robinson * The Times *Agatha is like Miss Marple with a drinking problem, a pack-a-day habit and major man lust. In fact, I think she could be living my dream life. * Entertainment Weekly *

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Book SynopsisMurder in Paradise...When Jane Wetherby offers PC Hamish Macbeth a holiday at her ''Happy Wanderer'' health farm on the isle of Eileencraig, he is more than happy to accept. Unfortunately the visit doesn''t prove to be the pampering experience he had been hoping for. Windswept Eileencraig is inhabited by hostile islanders, many of whom would be more than happy to be rid of the ''Happy Wanderer'' and its proprietor.And the company at the health farm is hardly better. The volatile party includes an ex-husband, an illicit lover, and Morag Todd, an unadulterated snob who criticizes everybody and everything. So when Morag is found lying at the foot of a cliff with a broken neck, no one seems too broken up about the event - leaving it up to Hamish to solve the death of a snob.

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Book Synopsis''While Oxford had Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl'' Daily Mail Disappearance at Oare is the fifth book in Julie Wassmer''s popular crime series - now a major Acorn TV drama, Whitstable Pearl, starring Kerry Godliman as private detective and restaurateur, Pearl Nolan.The Whitstable Pearl restaurant has been busy all summer while Pearl''s detective agency has brought few interesting cases - until a prospective client calls . . . Christina Scott confides that seven years ago she had the perfect life with a seaside home, a confirmed pregnancy and Steven, a loving husband - until one morning she woke to find herself alone. Christina''s husband had vanished, taking nothing with him but his car - which was later found abandoned at the beautifully mysterious Oare Marshes. Now, with the legal presumption of Steven''s death about to be made, Christina shows a photograph to Pearl. It''s not Trade ReviewWith her talent for evoking the delights of good eating while enjoying the sea breeze, Julie Wassmer is the perfect deckchair companion -- Barry Turner * Daily Mail *While Oxford had Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl . . . True to the tradition of classic crime, [Julie Wassmer] weaves a strong story into a setting that has more to offer than murder and mayhem * Daily Mail *A tried-and-tested crime recipe with Whitstable flavours that makes for a Michelin-starred read * Daily Mail *If you enjoy cosy crime fiction and you still haven't picked this series, then you are missing out -- Alba in BooklandIf you enjoy cosy mystery stories and good, solid whodunits, without gruesome details or gratuitous violence, Murder on Sea may be just your cup of tea -- Bec StaffordMurder-On-Sea is just straightforwardly excellent cosy crime ... Julie Wassmer really knows how to tell a story -- Victoria Best * Shiny New Books *If you like the TV series 'Midsomer Murders', then May Day Murder should be right up your alley * The Crime Warp *Thoroughly enjoyable with a host of wonderful characters - I adore Dolly! - and evocative descriptions of Whitstable. Perfect for foodies too. Pearl is great and the ongoing will they/won't they love story with McGuire is compelling. Comforting, cosy and entertaining with excellent Agatha Christie-style reveals. I love these books! -- Jane Wenham-Jones, author of Mum in the Middle

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Book SynopsisRaves for Janet Evanovich''s novels: ''Stephanie Plum in ass-kicking form...utterly delightful'' (Cosmopolitan); ''A laugh-out-loud page turner'' (Heat); ''Plum is not just a smart private eye but a heroine with a sense of humour'' (Daily Mail) Catching the bad guys has never felt so good.FBI Special Agent Kate O''Hare and semi-retired, expert conman Nick Fox are going after Carter Grove, the head of a mercenary security agency. Problem is, if you''re planning on crossing Carter Grove, you''d better also be planning your funeral.Confronting Grove''s elite assassins, Fox and O''Hare mount a daring heist that results in a deadly chase from Washington, D.C., to Shanghai, China. Luckily it''ll take more than death threats, trained henchmen and sleepless nights to outsmart the unlikely duo...Trade ReviewPraise for Janet Evanovich: Pithy, witty and fast-paced * Sunday Times *Making trouble and winning hearts * USA Today *A laugh-out-loud page-turner * Heat *Will delight [Evanovich's] legion of fans - and with good reason * Daily Mail *Romantic and gripping, this novel is an absolute tonic * Good Housekeeping *Among the great joys of contemporary crime fiction * GQ *

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Book SynopsisDANGEROUS MINDS is a thrilling, adrenaline-fuelled adventure featuring unlikely sleuths Knight & Moon from Janet Evanovich, author of the New York Times bestseller CURIOUS MINDS, which introduced Knight and Moon, and beloved author of the No. 1 bestsellers in the Stephanie Plum series. A must-read for fans of Sue Grafton and J D Robb.Buddhist monk Wayan Bagus has lost his island of solitude and wants it back. The Pacific island had a mountain, beaches, a rainforest, and a volcano. And now it''s gone. Poof! Vanished without a trace.Boyishly charming Emerson Knight likes nothing better than solving an unsolvable mystery. Finding a missing island is better than Christmas morning in the Knight household. When clues start leading to a dark and sinister secret, Emerson will need to assemble a crack team for help. Since a crack team isn''t available, he enlists his cousin Vernon and Riley Moon. Riley Moon has a Harvard business degree and can shoot the eyes ouTrade ReviewPraise for Janet Evanovich: 'Pithy, witty and fast-paced' * Sunday Times *Among the great joys of contemporary crime fiction * GQ *'A laugh-out-loud page-turner' * Heat *'Romantic and gripping...an absolute tonic' * Good Housekeeping *

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Book Synopsis**Longlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger Award**''A gripping thriller'' THE TIMES ''Dark and enthralling'' ANDREW TAYLOR ''Devilishly good'' DAILY MAIL''I couldn''t put it down'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''A story of disaster, espionage, murder and a deep-seated conspiracy... it''s nothing short of genius'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Revenge runs deep in this captivating historical thriller for fans of C.J. Sansom and Laura Shepherd-Robinson. 1606. England stands divided in the wake of the failed Gunpowder Plot. As a devastating tidal wave sweeps the Bristol Channel, rumours of new treachery reach the King. In Newgate prison, Daniel Pursglove receives an unexpected - and dangerous - offer. Charles FitzAlan, close confidant of King James, will grant his freedom - if Daniel can infiltrate the underground Catholic network in Bristol and unmask the oneTrade ReviewA dark and enthralling historical novel with a powerful narrative. The mysterious Daniel Pursglove has all the qualifications for a memorable series hero -- Andrew TaylorSpies, thieves, murderers and King James I? Brilliant. Wonderful, exciting story -- Conn Iggulden

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Book SynopsisSix years ago, Laura McCaffrey''s three-year-old daughter Melanie was kidnapped by Laura''s estranged husband, Dylan, and seemingly vanished from the face of the earth. Now, Melanie has been found, a nine-year-old wandering the Los Angeles streets with blank eyes and a secret in her soul she will not or can not reveal. Dylan has been found too - or at least his mangled remains. Melanie is home again. But can she ever truly be safe - as the floodgates of terror open and the bloody torrent comes pouring through...?Originally published under the pseudonym Leigh Nichols.

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Book Synopsis''The Queen of Crime'' Woman & HomeDara Tailor and Grace Perry couldn''t be more different. But both had to grow up fast when their circumstances led them to Holly Brookes Children''s Home. There, the two girls unite in the face of horrific abuse and form an unbreakable bond. But when their loyalty is put to the ultimate test, can they rely on each other to do the right thing? Friendship - it''s all about trust.Don''t miss the explosive new novel from the queen of crime Martina Cole.''She''s a total one-off'' Guardian''The stuff of legend . . . utterly compelling'' Mirror''Superstar crime writer'' This Morning''The undisputed Queen of crime writing'' Erwin James''Her gripping plots pack a mean emotional punch'' Mail on Sunday''One of the best fiction authors around . . . spectacular'' Closer

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Book SynopsisNumber thirty-two in the bestselling Bob Skinner series by Quintin Jardine, the acclaimed author of THE BAD FIRE and COLD CASE. 'If Ian Rankin is the Robert Carlyle of Scottish crime writers, then Jardine is surely its Sean Connery' Glasgow Herald

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Book SynopsisTHE TULIP TEAROOMS is a heartwarming and poignant saga from Pam Evans, set in London just after the Second World War. Perfect for readers of Kitty Neale, Katie Flynn and Dilly Court.The Second World War is finally over when Lola Brown meets Harry Riggs at a dance. It is love at first sight but when Harry tells Lola that he is a policeman, her heart sinks. Lola''s father is a petty criminal, and if Harry ever finds out and turns him in, it will destroy her family...Harry reluctantly accepts that Lola doesn''t want to see him again, and eventually starts to find happiness without her. In the meantime, Lola encounters the eccentric Pickford sisters and sets about transforming their run-down tearooms in London''s West End, only to find her own life transformed as well. Despite everything, Harry and Lola continue to feel drawn to each other, but the truth about Lola''s family can''t stay hidden for ever...

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Book Synopsis EVERY OPERATIVE KNOWS THE RULES. The mission comes first. You are a deniable asset. Betrayal is punished by death.''A writer of almost cinematic talent'' DAILY EXPRESSAlex Reeve was Operative 66. A former special-ops soldier and one of the UK''s most lethal weapons, he was a member of SC9 - an elite covert unit with a remit to assassinate the country''s most dangerous enemies. Falsely accused of treason, Reeve was condemned to live in the shadows as the merciless killers he once trained alongside were ordered to terminate the ''rogue asset''.But tricked into revealing himself, Reeve is dragged into a deadly international conspiracy involving the British state, shadowy Russian agents... and his own father, a violent murderer newly released from prison. But if there''s one man who can survive... it is Operative 66.From the internationally bestselling author of the Wilde & ChaseTrade ReviewPraise for Andy McDermott:OPERATIVE 66 is an action-packed thrill ride...twists and turns that will keep you guessing at a blistering pace that never lets up -- ADAM HAMDYA writer of almost cinematic talent * DAILY EXPRESS *Adventure stories don't get much more epic than this * MIRROR *If you're looking for thriller writing that will transport you into a realm very different from your own quotidian existence, Andy McDermott is your man * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *

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Book SynopsisSister Fidelma returns in THE HOUSE OF DEATH, the thirty-second Celtic mystery by Peter Tremayne, acclaimed author of THE SHAPESHIFTER''S LAIR, BLOOD IN EDEN, and BLOODMOON. If you love Ellis Peters, you''ll be gripped by THE HOUSE OF DEATH and the Sister Fidelma series.Ireland. AD 672. The Feast of Beltaine is approaching and the seven senior princes of the kingdom of Muman are gathering at Cashel to discuss King Colgú''s policies. Just days before the council meets, Brother Conchobhar, the keeper of the sacred sword, is found murdered.Sister Fidelma and her brother Colgú fear that the killer had been trying to steal the sword that symbolises the King''s authority to rule. And as rumours begin to spread of an attempt to overthrow Colgú, news reaches Cashel that a plague ship has landed at a nearby port, bringing the deadly pestilence to its shores. Amid fear and panic, Fidelma, Eadulf and Enda must work together to catch a killer Trade ReviewA challenging and unusual but deeply satisfying and enjoyable historical thriller * Booklist *The background detail is brilliantly defined...wonderfully evocative * The Times *Tremayne expertly incorporates historical and legal details of the time into the suspenseful plot. This impressive volume bodes well for future series entries * Publishers Weekly *Tremayne's super-sleuth is a vibrant creation, a woman of wit and courage who would stand out in any era, but brings a special sparkle to the wild beauty of medieval Ireland -- Morgan LlywelynThis is masterly storytelling from an author who breathes fascinating life into the world he is writing about * Belfast Telegraph *The detail of the books is fascinating, giving us a vivid picture of everyday life at this time...the most detailed and vivid recreations of ancient Ireland * Irish Examiner * One of the best cases for the complex, enchanting Fidelma * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisThe latest unmissable thriller from 'master of Australian noir' Chris HammerTrade ReviewClassic Hammer, with the heat and the small town obsession with secrecy and past grievances. A crime novel that will stay with me for a long time. * Ann Cleeves *A complex, twisty thriller, with nuanced characters and a winding plot all set in the oppressive Australian heat. * Lisa Hall *A clever and compelling small town mystery, with an evocative setting and a brilliant cast of characters. This slice of Australian noir sparkles like an opal in the blistering sun. * Lisa Gray *Opal Country is a top-notch Aussie Noir with real heat coming off the pages. * Christopher Fowler *A brilliantly atmospheric mystery. * Heat *This novel - tighter, tougher, tenser - is Hammer's best work yet. * The Times *Keeps you stuck to the story like an Outback miner's shirt to his back * The Sun *A master of the crime genre * South Africa Sunday Times *Chris Hammer is regarded as one of Australia's best new noir crime writers, and this immersive and lyrically written thriller copper-fastens this well-deserved reputation. * Irish Independent *Gold standard Outback noir [...] Chris Hammer's best writing to date. * Crime Fiction Lover *Nobody does Australian outback crime better. Hammer nails it again. * Peterborough Telegraph *Opal Country is richly rewarding. Hammer is quite brilliant. * Shots Magazine *A fast-paced and thrilling read. * Brown Flopsy's Book Burrow *A sharp thriller * Woman's Own *Stunning ... Scrublands is that rare combination, a page-turner that stays long in the memory -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times (Crime Book of the Month) *An almost perfect crime novel ... Intelligent, thought-provoking, great narrative energy, a central character who's imperfect but self-aware, and of course that amazing setting ... I loved it' -- Ann Cleeves * author of Raven Black and Wild Fire *A dark and brilliant thriller, one that lingers in the mind * Mail On Sunday *Extremely accomplished ... Deliciously noirish ... Set in the blistering heat of a remote Australian town ravaged by drought and threatened by bushfires, this is a complex, meaty, intelligent mystery ... Hammer's writing is so evocative the heat practically rises off the pages of Scrublands -- Alison Flood * Guardian 'Best Recent Thrillers' *My pick for debut thriller of the month (and maybe of 2019) ... Beautifully written, this would make a terrific small-screen series -- Bethanne Patrick * Washington Post *Well-rounded characters, masterful plotting and real breadth; this is an epic and immersive read -- Laura Wilson * Guardian *A heatwave of a novel, scorching and powerful... Extraordinary * AJ Finn *Atmospheric, utterly gripping, and written with devastating beauty. Scrublands is as scorching as wildfire and as hard to look away from -- Gytha Lodge * author of She Lies in Wait *Incendiary . . . A rattling good read, ambitious in scale and scope and delivering right up to the last, powerfully moving page -- Declan Hughes * Irish Times *Scrublands is the epic novel about rural life in Australia that we need right now ... It sits right up there with the late Peter Temple's Broken Shore, Garry Disher's Bitterwash Road and Jane Harper's The Dry, even as it extends their focus and reach ... Remarkable -- Sue Turnbull * Sydney Morning Herald *It's hard not to compare Chris Hammer's Scrublands to Jane Harper's acclaimed The Dry ... [It will] capture your imagination from the first page -- Karen Hardy * The Age *Set in the parched Australian landscape, Scrublands is a brilliantly plotted thriller which reveals a town full of brooding secrets. I couldn't put this compelling debut down -- Sarah Ward * author of The Shrouded Path *Scrublands kidnapped me for 48 hours. I was hopelessly lost in the scorching Australian landscape, disoriented but completely immersed in the town and people of Riversend, as the heat crackled off the pages. I was devastated when it was time to go back to the real world. This book is a force of nature. A must-read for all crime fiction fans * Sarah Bailey *Brilliant and unsettling, Scrublands stands at the junction of Snowtown and Wake in Fright, that place where Australia's mirage of bush tranquillity evaporates into our hidden fears * Paul Daley, writer and journalist *A superbly drawn, utterly compelling evocation of a small town riven by a shocking crime * Mark Brandi *Hammer's portrait of a dying, drought-struck town numbed by a priest's unimaginable act of violence will capture you from the first explosive page and refuse to let go until the last. His remarkable writing takes you inside lives twisted by secrets festering beneath the melting heat of the inland, the scrub beyond waiting to burst into flame. Scrublands is the read of the year. Unforgettable * Tony Wright *A compulsively page-turning thriller where the parched interior looms as large as the characters -- Katharine Murphy * Guardian Australia *

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Book Synopsis*Now available as a full-length novel! Originally published in five ebook parts*AD 18, Britannia.The Roman Empire rules much of the known world. Beyond the northern frontier lies Britannia, where ceaseless feuding amongst the Celts leaves the island vulnerable to Rome''s ambitions.Caratacus, son of a powerful king, has no premonition of destiny when he is dispatched to train with the Druids. A brutal regime transforms the young prince into a warrior with unparalleled military skills - and the strategic cunning essential to outwit a stronger enemy.Nothing can prepare a man for the vicious reality of war. When Caratacus''s father takes a stand against aggressive neighbouring tribes, the combat exercises are over; this is a fight to the death. Only the most ruthless of tactics offer any hope of victory. But Caratacus, and the loyal comrades willing to ride with him into hostile terrain, are ready to do whatever it takes - and endure any har

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Book Synopsis''This series is a must-read for anyone who loves the sea, or islands, or joyous, intricate story-telling.'' ANN CLEEVESIt''s the dark nights in the run up to Christmas, and sailing sleuth Cass Lynch''s first night on dry land is disturbed by strange noises outside her isolated cottage. Tiny footprints in the moonlit snow trail from her front door before mysteriously disappearing. Soon Cass learns others were visited by the same tiny feet in the night.It looks like ingenious local teenagers playing tricks - but what happens when festive games turn deadly?Cass soon finds out as a schoolboy disappears, leaving only a trail of footprints into the middle of a snowy field. She''s determined to investigate, but uncovering the truth will also put her in danger . . .Nail-biting and unputdownable, A Shetland Winter Mystery is the latest instalment in the much-loved Shetland Sailing Mystery series by Marsali Taylor. Perfect for fTrade ReviewThis series is a must-read for anyone who loves the sea, or islands, or joyous, intricate story-telling. -- ANN CLEEVES

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Book SynopsisTHE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE...IS IF SOMEONE CONFESSES TO MURDER***GUARDIAN CRIME AND THRILLERS OF THE MONTH***THE SUN BOOK OF THE WEEK***''Fiendishly clever and impossible to put down'' SHARI LAPENA''Thrilling'' SUNDAY TIMES''Truly gripping'' DAILY MAIL''Writes with his foot pressed hard on the pedal. Hang on tight!'' HARLAN COBEN''Breathless pace, superb plotting, hugely entertaining, deliciously dark, and so much fun!'' ANDREA MARA''Full of surprises and unguessable revelations. Tense, intriguing and entertaining'' LIZ NUGENTSeven people wake up in a remote mansion. The doors are all locked.They have no idea where they are. Who brought them there. Or how to escape.Each knew the victims of a dreadful crime committed four years earlier but that''s all that links them.Then a voice echoes through the house with a terrifying message. They''ve been poisoned - and have less than 12 hours to live. There''s an antidote on hand: but only if someone admits to being a killer. And they all claim to be innocent.The time for confession is rapidly running out.How many - if any - of them will survive the night?''Simon Kernick writes great plots, great characters, great action'' LEE CHILD''An absolute master of the adrenaline-fuelled ride'' PETER JAMES''A blisteringly brilliant novel. The twists and reveals just don''t stop coming'' SARAH PINBOROUGH''A pulse-pounding tale where every second counts. Kernick is the king of killer twists!'' LESLEY KARA''Kernick is master of the tense, pacy thriller'' THE SUN''That thud you hear is Kernick whipping the rug from under your feet again'' THE TIMES''Simon Kernick is one of the most reliable purveyors of the edge-of-your-seat thriller'' SUNDAY EXPRESS''Pace, pace, pace is what Simon Kernick does best'' DAILY MIRROR

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Book Synopsis''Every once in a while a writer comes along with an incredible voice...add S. A. Cosby to that list.'' STEVE CAVANAGH''S. A. Cosby is a welcome, refreshing new voice in crime literature.'' DENNIS LEHANEAward-winning, New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby''s debut novel My Darkest Prayer is republished in a new edition, with a new introduction from the author.I handle the bodies.Whether it''s working at his cousin''s funeral home or tossing around the local riffraff at his favorite bar, Nathan Waymaker is a man who knows how to handle the bodies. A former marine and sheriff''s deputy, Nathan has built a reputation in his small Southern town as a man who can help when all other avenues have been exhausted. When a beloved local minister is found dead, his parishioners ask Nathan to make sure the death isn''t swept under the rug.What starts out as an easy payday soon descends into a maze of mayhem filledTrade ReviewS. A. Cosby is a welcome, refreshing new voice in crime literature * Dennis Lehane *A voice as stark and distinctive as Elmore Leonard's, and a humanity that touches the soul * Daily Mail *Cosby's prose barrels along like a pick-up still angry it's not a Ferrari, and his phrase-making is up there with the great artists of noir * The Times *S.A. Cosby is one of the best crime fiction writers working today * TIME *Every once in a while a writer comes along with an incredible voice . . . add S. A. Cosby to that list * Steve Cavanagh *

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Book SynopsisThe book that defined the cyberpunk movement, inspiring everything from The Matrix to Cyberpunk 2077.The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.William Gibson revolutionised science fiction in his 1984 debut Neuromancer. The writer who gave us the matrix and coined the term ''cyberspace'' produced a first novel that won the Hugo, Nebula and Philip K. Dick Awards, and lit the fuse on the Cyberpunk movement. More than three decades later, Gibson''s text is as stylish as ever, his noir narrative still glitters like chrome in the shadows and his depictions of the rise and abuse of corporate power look more prescient every day. Part thriller, part warning, Neuromancer is a timeless classic of modern SF and one of the 20th century''s most potent and compelling visions of the future.Trade Reviewa ground-breaking success and, along with the ensuing Sprawl trilogy, is responsible for kickstarting the Cyberpunk sub-genre and instilling the concept of cyberspace into the popular imagination, inspiring writers and filmmakers the world over. * Empire *

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Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTH''HANINGTON EXCELS... THERE ARE NODS TO LE CARRE, BUT HIS IMPRESSIVE DEBUT IS HIS OWN THING'' The Sunday Times''THOUGHTFUL, ATMOSPHERIC AND GRIPPINGLY PLOTTED'' Guardian''IMPRESSIVE... HANINGTON HAS TRUE TALENT'' The Times''TREMENDOUS'' William Boyd''ENTHRALLING'' Michael Palin''AMAZINGLY GRIPPING'' Melvyn Bragg''A BELTING GOOD READ'' A.L. Kennedy''I LOVED EVERY MINUTE IN THIS BOOK''S COMPANY'' Fi Glover''A NATURAL STORYTELLER'' John Humphrys''DEEPLY INTELLIGENT'' Will GompertzKabul, Afghanistan.In a brilliantly plotted contemporary thriller with echoes of Graham Greene and John le Carré, William Carver, a veteran but unpredictable BBC hack, is thrown into the unknown when a bomb goes off killing a local official. Warned off the story from every direction, CTrade ReviewThoughtful, atmospheric and grippingly plotted * Guardian *Thoughtful, atmospheric and grippingly plotted * Guardian *A former stalwart on the Today programme, Hanington is as good on BBC politics as he is on the UK's ambiguous role east of Suez, and excels, too, at character portraits of figures such as the British ambassador. There are nods to John le Carré, but his impressive debut is its own thing, with three radio men (including the Radio 4 breakfast show's dissolute editor) at its centre, not spooks or civil servants * The Sunday Times (Thriller of the Month) *A former stalwart on the Today programme, Hanington is as good on BBC politics as he is on the UK's ambiguous role east of Suez, and excels, too, at character portraits of figures such as the British ambassador. There are nods to John le Carré, but his impressive debut is its own thing, with three radio men (including the Radio 4 breakfast show's dissolute editor) at its centre, not spooks or civil servants * The Sunday Times (Thriller of the Month) *It is a pleasure to welcome A Dying Breed, an impressive debut by Peter Hanington, with many years on Radio 4's Today programme behind him. The multilayered plot, set in Afghanistan and BBC headquarters, moves excitingly and entertainingly but also raises serious current issues about dodgy political and commercial interference with the search for truth by journalists...The subplots and secondary characters are admirable. Hanington has true talent * The Times *It is a pleasure to welcome A Dying Breed, an impressive debut by Peter Hanington, with many years on Radio 4's Today programme behind him. The multilayered plot, set in Afghanistan and BBC headquarters, moves excitingly and entertainingly but also raises serious current issues about dodgy political and commercial interference with the search for truth by journalists...The subplots and secondary characters are admirable. Hanington has true talent * The Times *Graham Greene-lite but rings true, like an episode of Homeland spiked with a bit of Spooks * Esquire *Graham Greene-lite but rings true, like an episode of Homeland spiked with a bit of Spooks * Esquire *A powerful and compelling story. His characters are vivid and interestingly unpredictable... These are real people in real places and it is impossible not to become too deeply involved in a plot that is intriguing without becoming over-complicated, and which builds to a gripping climax * Country Life *A powerful and compelling story. His characters are vivid and interestingly unpredictable... These are real people in real places and it is impossible not to become too deeply involved in a plot that is intriguing without becoming over-complicated, and which builds to a gripping climax * Country Life *A tremendous novel - shot-through with great authenticity and insider knowledge - wholly compelling and shrewdly wise * William Boyd *A tremendous novel - shot-through with great authenticity and insider knowledge - wholly compelling and shrewdly wise * William Boyd *A Dying Breed is an enthralling page-turner, and, as befits an author steeped in newsgathering, there's a real sense of authority and authenticity at work in this quality thriller. * Michael Palin *A Dying Breed is an enthralling page-turner, and, as befits an author steeped in newsgathering, there's a real sense of authority and authenticity at work in this quality thriller. * Michael Palin *A tremendously good debut with characters who leap to life. I was particularly struck by the vivid detail and intensity of it: I have not read anything that has taken me anywhere near as close to Afghanistan as a place. I look forward to more of Hanington's work with great expectations * Melvyn Bragg *A tremendously good debut with characters who leap to life. I was particularly struck by the vivid detail and intensity of it: I have not read anything that has taken me anywhere near as close to Afghanistan as a place. I look forward to more of Hanington's work with great expectations * Melvyn Bragg *'A Dying Breed is a deeply insightful, humane, funny and furious novel. This is both a timely reflection on how Britain does business and a belting good read * A.L. Kennedy, bestselling author of DAY *'A Dying Breed is a deeply insightful, humane, funny and furious novel. This is both a timely reflection on how Britain does business and a belting good read * A.L. Kennedy, bestselling author of DAY *A compelling read, and a great insider's view of life in broadcast journalism. I'm disappointed I am not to feature in the book: it is a brilliant read * Evan Davis, Newsnight presenter *A compelling read, and a great insider's view of life in broadcast journalism. I'm disappointed I am not to feature in the book: it is a brilliant read * Evan Davis, Newsnight presenter *Buy this book. Find a quiet place. Switch off your phone and devour it. Hanington's ability to wrap a story around the ghosts of truth is superb. He spins his tale with a true writer's gift. I loved every minute in this book's company * Fi Glover, BBC Radio 4 presenter *Buy this book. Find a quiet place. Switch off your phone and devour it. Hanington's ability to wrap a story around the ghosts of truth is superb. He spins his tale with a true writer's gift. I loved every minute in this book's company * Fi Glover, BBC Radio 4 presenter *Peter is that rare commodity in the journalistic fraternity... a natural storyteller. You really want to turn the pages. And that's what matters * John Humphrys, Today presenter *Peter is that rare commodity in the journalistic fraternity... a natural storyteller. You really want to turn the pages. And that's what matters * John Humphrys, Today presenter *Urgent, compelling, new bright light on the dark dilemmas of broadcast news * Gillian Reynolds, Daily Telegraph journalist and broadcaster *Urgent, compelling, new bright light on the dark dilemmas of broadcast news * Gillian Reynolds, Daily Telegraph journalist and broadcaster *a deeply intelligent, beautifully constructed story * Will Gompertz BBC Arts Editor *a deeply intelligent, beautifully constructed story * Will Gompertz BBC Arts Editor *All journalists seem to think they can write great novels about journalism and 99% of those who try make a hash of it. Hanington is in the 1%. Having created believable characters caught up in the hell that is Afghanistan, he weaves a story that manages to excite, appal and instruct in equal measure. And it reveals one of the trade's most important differences: the chasm that exists between horizontal journalism and vertical journalism. * Roy Greenslade, Guardian and Evening Standard columnist and commentator *All journalists seem to think they can write great novels about journalism and 99% of those who try make a hash of it. Hanington is in the 1%. Having created believable characters caught up in the hell that is Afghanistan, he weaves a story that manages to excite, appal and instruct in equal measure. And it reveals one of the trade's most important differences: the chasm that exists between horizontal journalism and vertical journalism. * Roy Greenslade, Guardian and Evening Standard columnist and commentator *Peter Hanington has crafted a gripping and wonderfully well-paced thriller replete with rollercoaster dips and turns and a cavalcade of villains and deliciously fallible anti-heroes. A Dying Breed is delightfully assured and unputdownable * Andrew Hosken author of Empire of Fear: Inside the Islamic State, and Today programme reporter *Peter Hanington has crafted a gripping and wonderfully well-paced thriller replete with rollercoaster dips and turns and a cavalcade of villains and deliciously fallible anti-heroes. A Dying Breed is delightfully assured and unputdownable * Andrew Hosken author of Empire of Fear: Inside the Islamic State, and Today programme reporter *A Dying Breed is a gripping, fast-moving tale of shifting loyalties and creeping betrayal... Hanington connects the inner-workings and skullduggery of the BBC's London headquarters to the quiet, menacing stillness of the deserts of Central Asia, where the story turns dramatically and violently in a heartbeat and builds to its tempestuous, thrilling conclusion. It is a world in which your closest friends turn out to be your most treacherous enemies - and all written with an effortless, liquidly-drinkable prose style. A page turner from the first line - and full of insights, some chilling, some hilariously well-observed - into the murky worlds of the war on terror, the secret intelligence services, and the mainstream British news media. * Allan Little, former BBC foreign correspondent and chair of the Edinburgh International Book Festival *A Dying Breed is a gripping, fast-moving tale of shifting loyalties and creeping betrayal... Hanington connects the inner-workings and skullduggery of the BBC's London headquarters to the quiet, menacing stillness of the deserts of Central Asia, where the story turns dramatically and violently in a heartbeat and builds to its tempestuous, thrilling conclusion. It is a world in which your closest friends turn out to be your most treacherous enemies - and all written with an effortless, liquidly-drinkable prose style. A page turner from the first line - and full of insights, some chilling, some hilariously well-observed - into the murky worlds of the war on terror, the secret intelligence services, and the mainstream British news media. * Allan Little, former BBC foreign correspondent and chair of the Edinburgh International Book Festival *A gripping story, taking the reader from the politics of the BBC newsroom to the politics of a complex and changing Afghanistan. Peter Hanington's clear, assured voice shines out from every page * Mishal Husain, BBC broadcaster and Today presenter *A gripping story, taking the reader from the politics of the BBC newsroom to the politics of a complex and changing Afghanistan. Peter Hanington's clear, assured voice shines out from every page * Mishal Husain, BBC broadcaster and Today presenter *A very effective thriller... it is to Hanington's considerable credit that he fleshes out the character convincingly without reaching for the tempting clichés lesser writers might indulge in... Credit, too, to the author for giving us real insights into the lives of ordinary Afghan people... An impressive list of BBC names have queued up to pay tribute to the book's readability, style, and authenticity. You know what? They're right * Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News *A very effective thriller... it is to Hanington's considerable credit that he fleshes out the character convincingly without reaching for the tempting clichés lesser writers might indulge in... Credit, too, to the author for giving us real insights into the lives of ordinary Afghan people... An impressive list of BBC names have queued up to pay tribute to the book's readability, style, and authenticity. You know what? They're right * Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News *A Dying Breed is a well written and compelling debut thriller. Hanington is particularly good at painting his characters and is clearly mining his own experiences as a reporter in Afghanistan to make the book feel authentic * Art of Danger *A Dying Breed is a well written and compelling debut thriller. Hanington is particularly good at painting his characters and is clearly mining his own experiences as a reporter in Afghanistan to make the book feel authentic * Art of Danger *Over the years several spy thriller authors have been awarded the 'successor to John le Carré or Frederick Forsyth' kind of title. I'm not sure they all live up to the plaudits, but for me, Peter Hanington is one who does; in fact he's by far the closest and most exciting I've read yet. Whether describing the dog-eat-dog atmosphere of the BBC newsroom (of which he has experienced at first hand) or the vicious and bloody streets of Kabul, the twin backdrops of this story are as vivid as the pictures he paints of the people who inhabit them. Whether old hacks, ambitious news editors, helpless diplomats, ruthless military contractors or inexperienced producers on their way up, he strips them down to their bare essentials and delivers a first-class tale that simply leaps off the page and demands your attention. I haven't enjoyed a thriller like this for a long, long time, and I sincerely hope Peter Hanington is already writing another one. My only reservation is that while reading this book, instead of finishing my day with a brief planning session of the next day's work, as is my custom, I found myself glued to the pages instead - and way past my bedtime. But I'm not complaining. It was worth every minute. Go out and buy it, as it is highly recommended * Shotsmag.co.uk *Over the years several spy thriller authors have been awarded the 'successor to John le Carré or Frederick Forsyth' kind of title. I'm not sure they all live up to the plaudits, but for me, Peter Hanington is one who does; in fact he's by far the closest and most exciting I've read yet. Whether describing the dog-eat-dog atmosphere of the BBC newsroom (of which he has experienced at first hand) or the vicious and bloody streets of Kabul, the twin backdrops of this story are as vivid as the pictures he paints of the people who inhabit them. Whether old hacks, ambitious news editors, helpless diplomats, ruthless military contractors or inexperienced producers on their way up, he strips them down to their bare essentials and delivers a first-class tale that simply leaps off the page and demands your attention. I haven't enjoyed a thriller like this for a long, long time, and I sincerely hope Peter Hanington is already writing another one. My only reservation is that while reading this book, instead of finishing my day with a brief planning session of the next day's work, as is my custom, I found myself glued to the pages instead - and way past my bedtime. But I'm not complaining. It was worth every minute. Go out and buy it, as it is highly recommended * Shotsmag.co.uk *His journalistic background is an obvious plus factor here, but nothing can substitute for sheer narrative command, and that Hanington proves to have in spades. There are many books about journalism in time of war, but this is a notably vivid addition to the canon... There is the authentic vividness reminiscent of the work of such writers as Graham Greene and Eric Ambler - which is to say the book, despite its topicality, is old-fashioned in the very best sense of the word. * Crime Time *His journalistic background is an obvious plus factor here, but nothing can substitute for sheer narrative command, and that Hanington proves to have in spades. There are many books about journalism in time of war, but this is a notably vivid addition to the canon... There is the authentic vividness reminiscent of the work of such writers as Graham Greene and Eric Ambler - which is to say the book, despite its topicality, is old-fashioned in the very best sense of the word. * Crime Time *There are quite a few novels written by current and former journalists but I'd be hard pressed to think of a crime book that has brought alive so vividly the passion and politics that goes into producing a radio news programme... A Dying Breed is a fascinating book. It's extremely well written and, unusually for me, I enjoyed the incidentals about news production as much as the crime story itself... I'm sure this is the start of a bright new career for Peter Hanington. A Dying Breed is an excellent read and distinguished by bright, clean prose that never gets in the way of the story. It's a little bit different from other crime novels out there and I'd highly recommend it. * Crime Pieces *There are quite a few novels written by current and former journalists but I'd be hard pressed to think of a crime book that has brought alive so vividly the passion and politics that goes into producing a radio news programme... A Dying Breed is a fascinating book. It's extremely well written and, unusually for me, I enjoyed the incidentals about news production as much as the crime story itself... I'm sure this is the start of a bright new career for Peter Hanington. A Dying Breed is an excellent read and distinguished by bright, clean prose that never gets in the way of the story. It's a little bit different from other crime novels out there and I'd highly recommend it. * Crime Pieces *A beautifully written account of myriad deceptions and mortal dangers in a country that has been at war with itself and the outside world for generations. And in the end there is gentleness here too. This is a terrific novel * Book Oxygen *A beautifully written account of myriad deceptions and mortal dangers in a country that has been at war with itself and the outside world for generations. And in the end there is gentleness here too. This is a terrific novel * Book Oxygen *A Dying Breed is the first book by Peter Hanington; I hope it won't be his last... This book is fast-paced and extremely well-written... this book is hard to put down and leaves no questions unasked. Just like a good news story really. * Booksellers New Zealand Blog *A Dying Breed is the first book by Peter Hanington; I hope it won't be his last... This book is fast-paced and extremely well-written... this book is hard to put down and leaves no questions unasked. Just like a good news story really. * Booksellers New Zealand Blog *This has the old-fashioned phrasing and style of a John Le Carre thriller. But once you overcome that anachronism, it settles into a modern, fast-paced thriller set in a post-conflict Afghanistan. * Stuff.co.nz *This has the old-fashioned phrasing and style of a John Le Carre thriller. But once you overcome that anachronism, it settles into a modern, fast-paced thriller set in a post-conflict Afghanistan. * Stuff.co.nz *Hanington fleshes out a cast of interesting characters... He perfectly illustrates the hierarchy of a news organisation and uses humour in describing the daily struggle for ratings while balancing ethics and pressure from agenda-driven authorities... It's adventurous and entertaining. * Otago Daily Times *Hanington fleshes out a cast of interesting characters... He perfectly illustrates the hierarchy of a news organisation and uses humour in describing the daily struggle for ratings while balancing ethics and pressure from agenda-driven authorities... It's adventurous and entertaining. * Otago Daily Times *

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Book SynopsisOswald de Lacy returns in this Medieval thriller from the author of PLAGUE LAND and THE BUTCHER BIRD.

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Book Synopsis Set in 1930s Scotland and brimming with eccentric characters and incisive humor, The Turning Tide is Catriona McPherson''s best Dandy Gilver mystery yet! It''s a breezy Scottish summer of 1936 and aristocratic sleuth Dandy Silver, along with trusted colleague Alec Osborne, has been called to solve the strange case of the Cramond Ferrywoman, on the Firth of the Forth. From their cheerless digs in a local stately home, Dandy and Alec track Vesper Kemp, the ferrywoman, to a tiny tidal island. She seems to have lost her mind, roaming the beaches in rags, ranting about snakes and mercury. What is even more troubling, is that Vesper claims she murdered Peter Haslett, a young man who fell into the river, trying to row past ones of its four water mills, and drowned. A group of worried Cramond residents--the minister, the innkeeper, and the lady of the big house--are determined that Vesper is innocent. But with four lTrade ReviewA perfect literary treat for a rainy Sunday afternoon. * Red *With sharp wit and an Agatha Christie-style ability to create a lively cast of characters, this is an intriguing historical mystery. * Women's Weekly *A great pinch of humour and a sprinkling of absurdity, McPherson beautifully evokes the feelings and images of post-war Edinburgh. * The Wee Review *

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Book SynopsisIn the gripping new Baby Ganesh Agency novel, Inspector Chopra and his elephant sidekick investigate the death of one of Mumbai''s wealthiest citizens, a murder with ramifications for its poorest.The Parsees are among the oldest, most secretive and most influential communities in the city: respected, envied and sometimes feared.When prominent industrialist Cyrus Zorabian is murdered on holy ground, his body dumped inside a Tower of Silence - where the Parsee dead are consumed by vultures - the police dismiss it as a random killing. But his daughter is unconvinced.Chopra, uneasy at entering this world of power and privilege, is soon plagued by doubts about the case.But murder is murder. And in Mumbai, wealth and corruption go in hand in hand, inextricably linking the lives of both high and low...Trade Review5 stars. Best of the series so far. -- Abir MukherjeeAnother brilliant chapter in this highly engaging series * Crime Squad *Praise for the Baby Ganesh series * . *A most beguiling series * Financial Times *I can't imagine anybody not enjoying this book... the same winning blend of thrills, charm and local colour as Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. * Reader's Digest *Delightful * Good Housekeeping *There have been many insipid imitators of the Alexander McCall Smith formula, grafting a cosy mystery into a depiction of a foreign culture dripping with local colour, but Khan has the quirkiness and hint of grit to make his portrayal of modern Mumbai memorable * Sunday Express *Keeps things heart-warming while tackling corruption at the highest levels and violent crime at the lowest. Endearing and gripping, it sets up Inspector Chopra - and the elephant - for a long series. * The Sunday Times *A sparkling debut with a zippy plot and an endearing set of characters * The Lady *Enchanting * Woman & Home *Chopra, diligent, incorruptible and not entirely at ease with shiny new India, is a delight, as is his redoubtable wife, Poppy - and Ganesha the elephant, once he has cheered up a bit, proves a very useful ally indeed. Utterly charming * Guardian *A cast of intriguing characters that it will be a joy to see develop. But the greatest strength is the setting in the teeming city of Mumbai, from which the colour and atmosphere flows out of every page in this enjoyable, whimsical tale * Daily Express *A quirky murder mystery... full of colourful characters and insightful details about human motivation * Irish Examiner *The series continues to provide plenty of action and notwithstanding the humour that pervades every page the reader gets an education about the very real issues facing those living in one of India's largest cities. * Crime Review *This riveting, quirky murder mystery is a wonderful addition to a series that goes from strength to strength * Daily Express *

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

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Book SynopsisA major film from the makers of Normal People and Room, starring Florence Pugh and streaming on Netflix.An eleven-year-old girl stops eating, but remains miraculously alive and well. A nurse, sent to investigate whether she is a fraud, meets a journalist hungry for a story . . .Set in the Irish Midlands in the 1850s, Emma Donoghue's The Wonder – inspired by numerous cases of 'fasting girls' between the sixteenth century and the twentieth – is a psychological thriller about a child's murder threatening to happen in slow motion before our eyes. Pitting all the seductions of fundamentalism against sense and love, it is a searing examination of what nourishes us, body and soul.Trade ReviewEmma Donoghue's writing is superb alchemy, changing innocence into horror and horror into tenderness -- Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's WifeDonoghue mines material that on the face of it appears intractably bleak and surfaces with a powerful, compulsively readable work of fiction * Irish Times *Vivid, tender . . . Her contemporary thriller Room made the author an international bestseller, but this gripping tale offers a welcome reminder that her historical fiction is equally fine. * Kirkus, Starred Review *Fans of Emma Donoghue's first novel Room will not be disappointed with The Wonder . . . a tale of claustrophobic suspense and the intense relationship between a woman and a child . . . Donoghue's masterful way with words and imagery has the reader sharing Lib's scepticism and disdain for Anna and her family's naïve religious fervour. And it's Donoghue's skill in building The Wonder up into an increasingly tense thriller - is Anna a fake or a saint and will she live or die? - until a heart-thumping, palm-sweating dramatic denouement. * Red Magazine *

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Book SynopsisMorse had solved so many mysteries in his life. Was he now, he wondered, beginning to glimpse the solution to the greatest mystery of them all . . . ? How can the discovery of a short story by a beautiful Oxford graduate lead Chief Inspector Morse to her murderer? What awaits Morse and Lewis in Room 231 of the Randolph Hotel? Why does a theft at Christmas lead the detective to look upon the festive season with uncharacteristic goodwill? And what happens when Morse himself falls victim to a brilliantly executed crime? Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories is a dazzling collection of short stories from Inspector Morse's creator, Colin Dexter. It includes six ingenious cases for the world's most popular fictional detective – plus five other tantalizingly original tales to delight all lovers of classic crime fiction.

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Book SynopsisSinister and incisive, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad has retained the fascination of readers and scholars alike. It is accompanied here by the stories with which it has been published since 1902: the autobiographical Youth, and the tale of an old man's fall from fortune, The End of the Tether.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition features an afterword by Dr Keith Carabine, specialist in American literature and former chair of the Joseph Conrad society.One night on the Thames, Charles Marlowe tells his fellow sailors the vivid and brutal tale of his time as a riverboat captain in the Belgian Congo. From the mists of London we are whisked to the darkness of Africa’s colonial heart – and into the thrall of the tyrannical Kurtz, an ivory trader who has established himself as a terrifying demi-god.

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Book SynopsisFrom Trisha Sakhlecha, Can You See Me Now? is a gripping psychological suspense thriller about a young Indian woman, now a government minister, whose past secrets are about to reverberate into the present and shatter her life. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Erin Kelly.'Deceptively clever' – Sunday Times'Stunningly original . . . The ending will astound you'– Lesley Kara, author of The RumourFifteen years ago, three sixteen-year-old girls meet at Wescott, an exclusive private school in India. Two, Sabah and Noor, are the most popular girls in their year. One, Alia, is a new arrival from England, who feels her happiness depends on their acceptance.Before she knows it, Sabah and Noor’s intoxicating world of privilege and intimacy opens up to Alia and, for the first time, after years of neglect from her parents, she feels she is exactly where, and with whom, she belongs.But with intimacy comes jealousy, and with privilege, resentment, and Alia finds that it only takes one night for her bright new world to shatter around her.Now Alia, a cabinet minister in the Indian government, is about to find her secrets have no intention of staying buried . . .Trade ReviewA spellbinding and stunningly original portrait of friendship, secrets and family, set against the turbulent background of Indian politics. The ending will astound you -- Lesley Kara, author of The DareCan You See Me Now? is so well written and compulsive, a sophisticated page turner. I was enthralled by the dual timelines, the political setting and the way the dynamics from the women’s past played out in the present. It’s very well done. -- Harriet Tyce, Author of Blood OrangeSakhlecha is excellent at creating atmospheres, whether its dark, gossipy, rivalry...or the raw power play of Indian politics . . . that permeates this moving tale * Daily Mail *Loved Trisha Sakhlecha's latest psychological thriller. It has everything; a friendship with secrets, a devastating crime, jealousy, politics and reputation. A multi-layered story. Whizzed through it! -- Emma Curtis, author of One Little MistakeStylishly executed thriller...Sheer class * WI Magazine *An evocative exploration of female friendships and politics, intimacyand intrigue. -- Rachel Edwards, Author of DarlingIntricately plotted and righteously angry, Can You See Me Now? is a thought-provoking tale of female friendship struggling to survive in a patriarchal society. Nothing is quite what it seems in this tautly written psych suspense... -- Nicola Rayner, author of The Girl Before YouReally enjoyed this new thriller...I was gripped by the twisty plot and loved learning more about Delhi culture. -- Neema Shah, author of Kololo Hilla deft exploration of power, misogyny, responsibility . . . It’s also a seriously gripping read. I loved every plot twist, found myself completely drawn in by the blend of idealism, glamour and ruthlessness in the world in which it takes place . . . -- Naomi Ishiguro, Author of Escape RoutesI loved it! Full of tension and intrigue that will keep you turning the pages right to the very end. The setting draws you into a world of teenage girls, women and secrets, lies and power. My heart didn’t stop racing. -- Lauren North, Author of The Perfect BetrayalCan You See Me Now is a highly literary novel, but one with all the page-turning compulsion of an unputdownable thriller. It is a book about India that can stand proudly beside Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children. But it is...also about friendship, ambition, betrayal and growing up. A great read and one of my books of the year. Trisha Sakhlecha is a novelist to watch. * Edward Wilson, Author of The Envoy *A deliciously dark and original debut about love, loss and lies, with an ending that is impossible to predict -- Alice Feeney on Your Truth or Mine?Well written, with plenty of twists and an excellent sense of place -- Guardian on Your Truth or Mine?Original and evocative, I was completely hooked by the longing, love and envy simmering sometimes unseen, yet ever-present. With an ending I couldn’t predict, this debut is one to savour -- Karen Hamilton on Your Truth or Mine?Your Truth or Mine? is a book that you’ll want to read again as soon as you’ve finished it, to look for clues, wondering how you’d missed them the first time around. I thought I had it all figured out, so was ‘Wait . . . What?’ when the reveal came. The sucker punch came from nowhere and lifted me off my feet – the sign of a great book -- Sandie Jones, author of The Other Woman

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Book Synopsis''A heart-stopping thriller, a heartfelt mystery'' CHRIS WHITAKER ''A clever, chilling thriller that is also unexpectedly moving'' SHARI LAPENA''Kept me guessing until the very end'' IAN RANKIN ''Incredible plotting and devastatingly good writing'' THE SECRET BARRISTER Sophie King is missing. Her parents, Harry and Zara, are distraught; for the last seventeen years, they''ve done everything for their beloved only daughter and now she''s gone. The police have no leads, and Harry and Zara are growing increasingly frantic, although they are both dealing with it in very different ways. Increasingly obsessed with their highly suspicious neighbour who won''t open the door or answer any questions, they are both coming to the same conclusion. If they want answers, they''re going to have to take the matter into their own hands. But just how far are they both prepared to go for the love of their daughter?''

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Book Synopsis''A MASTERPIECE OF MISDIRECTION'' SUNDAY TIMES ''Original . . . unpredictable'' DAILY MAIL''A dark unpredictable read'' BELLA''Will have you compulsively reading'' HEAT''SHARP, SHOCKING, TWISTING AND TWISTED . . . DARKLY THRILLING, CLEVER AND UNSETTLING'' CHRIS WHITAKER ''A CUNNING, TWISTED MYSTERY'' SARA OCHSThe beautiful bride Annie never believed in true love. Not until she caught sight of Mark on a crowded commuter train. It wasn't until months later that they finally had their picture-perfect first date and after a whirlwind romance, they are now about to tie the knot.The handsome groomBoth Annie and Mark have suffered tragedy their shared experience of sorrow has brought them together, but at times the pressure of those losses has also threatened their happiness. Today they will leave all of that in the past, and forge a new life. B

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Book Synopsis''Compelling and so atmospheric, this is - quite literally - the perfect new crime series to dive into'' HEAT''Rob Parker is a master of the stone-cold twist'' JANICE HALLETT''Brilliant pacing and interesting characters make this a great addition to you to-be-read stacks'' PRIMA''Propels you through the pages at a rate of knots ... the very definition of a one-sitting read'' ROBERT RUTHERFORDNobody ever knew what happened to the Brindleys. One summer they were there - flashy, loud and beautiful - and then they were gone. A mother, father and two children, vanished into the East Anglian night. Some said the family never made it home from the party; their speeding car thrown off the tracks and the four of them silently buried in the marshes. Others said they had simply moved on. For over thirty years, the case remained as cold as the freezing waterways of the Norfolk broads. Until Cam Killick found the car.An ex-marine and ex-SBS officer, Cam Killick's PTSD has made the return to civilian life a living nightmare. The only place he can find peace is underwater, where the world is muffled to white noise. As a cold case diver it is his job to scour the waterways of the country for the lost, the submerged, the drowned, laying their stories to rest alongside them.Except when Cam levers open the doors to the Brindley car on the lake bed where he found it, all four bodies are missing. And Cam will soon learn that some secrets, once submerged, are better off staying that way.A gripping, propulsive and atmospheric crime thriller perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, Peter James and Elly Griffiths. Your new crime obsession starts here...

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Book SynopsisPaths of the Dead is the thrilling ninth book in Lin Anderson's forensic crime series featuring Rhona MacLeod.When Amy MacKenzie agrees to attend a meeting at a local spiritualist church, the last person she expects to hear calling to her from beyond the grave is her son. The son whom she'd only spoken to an hour before. Then the body of a young man is found inside a Neolithic stone circle high above the city of Glasgow and forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod is soon on the case. The hands have been severed and there is a stone in the victim's mouth with the number five scratched on it. DI Michael McNab is certain it's a gangland murder, but Rhona isn't convinced. When a second body is found in similar circumstances, a pattern begins to emerge, of a killer intent on masterminding a gruesome Druidic game that everyone will be forced to play . . .Follow Rhona MacLeod in more forensic thrillers with The Special Dead, None but the Dead, Follow the Dead, Sins of the Dead and Time for the Dead.Trade ReviewLin Anderson is one of Scotland's natural treasures - don't be fooled by comparisons, her writing is unique, bringing warmth and depth to even the seediest parts of Glasgow. Lin's Rhona MacLeod is a complex and compelling heroine who just gets better with every outing -- Stuart MacBrideShades of The Wicker Man, with a touch of Agatha Christie. Superb * Daily Mail *The best Scottish crime series since Rebus * Daily Record *They don’t call Lin Anderson the Queen of Tartan Noir for nothing! [She] is an expert at atmospheric narrative and with one swoop of her pen her prose will chill you to the bone -- chaptersinmylife

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Book Synopsis'The darkness dwells, the desperation grows between the characters and the walls close in until you're caught in the trap.' - Lars KeplerA breathless page-turner from an international master of suspense, The Woman Inside by M. T. Edvardsson is a story about dependency, justice, and the sometimes fine line between right and wrong. Three young people.Bill, a widower and single dad, is in a financial mess with bills to pay when he rents out a room in his apartment to Karla.Karla left home to study law and to earn some money begins working as a cleaner at the palatial home of Steven and Regina Rytter. But inside their house it is clear that something is wrong with the doctor and his wife, who never leaves her bedroom.Jennica is single and careerless when she meets Steven on Tinder. But just as she thinks her luck is changing, it soon becomes clear that Steven is hiding secrets of his own . . .Two murders.By the end of the summer Steven and Regina Rytter will be found dead in their home and the questions will begin . . .One truth.Ordinary people will do things they never thought possible when faced with extraordinary circumstances, and the truth is that the woman inside may hold the key to it all . . .Praise for A Nearly Normal Family:‘Deceptive and riveting’ - Karin Slaughter, bestselling author of Girl, Forgotten‘Taut page-turner *****’ - The Sun‘A cracking read!’ - T. M. Logan, bestselling author of The Vacation‘A compulsively readable tour de force’ - Wall Street Journal‘A canny, intensely suspenseful legal thriller’ - Scott Turow, author of Presumed InnocentTrade ReviewA super well-composed chamber drama, where the darkness dwells, the desperation grows between the characters and the walls are closing in until you're caught in the trap. -- Lars Kepler, #1 internationally bestselling author of The SandmanA deceptive and riveting novel. A Nearly Normal Family will make you question everything you know about those closest to you -- Karin Slaughter on A Nearly Normal FamilyTore through this in a matter of days! Deadly secrets, divided loyalties and a dysfunctional family under unbearable strain as layers of deceit are peeled away one by one. A cracking read! -- T M Logan on A Nearly Normal FamilyAn utterly compelling premise with wonderful writing. The characters . . . are so achingly real that one holds one’s breath with them. This is a layered, intelligent novel that will force any parent to consider exactly how far they would go to protect their child -- Fiona Cummins on A Nearly Normal FamilyA canny, intensely suspenseful legal thriller -- Scott Turow on A Nearly Normal FamilyAny parent . . . and every teenager . . . will be gripped by this book. I couldn't put it down and the author skillfully keeps you guessing until the very last line -- Michelle Frances on A Nearly Normal FamilyPage-turner . . . peels away the compromises we make with ourselves to be the people we believe our beloveds expect, revealing just how flimsy those pretenses can be - one of the top seven thrillers for the summer -- The New York Times on A Nearly Normal Family

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