Crime & Thrillers Books

Book Synopsis''My favourite debut of the year . . . utterly compelling'' LUCY CLARKE''You 100 percent won''t be able to put down'' COSMOPOLITAN''Twists and turns a plenty!'' RED MAGAZINE''Glossy, clever and unsettling'' ANDREA MARA''Nail-biting'' MARIE CLAIRE__________________________________________THEY CALL ME THE LUCKY ONE. THEY DON''T KNOW I LIED. Nine years ago, Charlie Colbert''s life changed for ever. On Christmas Eve, as the snow fell, her elite graduate school was the site of a chilling attack. Several of her classmates died. Charlie survived. Years later, Charlie has the life she always wanted at her fingertips: she''s editor-in-chief of a major magazine and engaged to the golden child of the publishing industry. But when a film adaptation of that fateful night goes into production, Charlie''s dark past threatens to crash into her shiny present.

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Book SynopsisSt Andrews, Scotland: When a woman''s eviscerated body is found on the golf course close to the Fairmont Hotel, DCI Andy Gilchrist and his associate DS Jessie Janes are assigned the investigation. But the post mortem examination uncovers a shocking detail that must be kept from the public.Who could carry out such a brutal murder? And what is the significance of the gruesome trophy? But DNA uncovers links to a murder committed thirty years earlier, and has Gilchrist fearing a killer of old has resurfaced, or worse, a debut serial killer setting out to learn his murderous trade. The hunt for the killer forces Gilchrist down a dangerous path that puts his and Jessie''s life in danger, and ultimately leads them to a mind-playing madman who will kill again rather than go to prison. As Gilchrist homes in on the murderer, he finds himself relentlessly drawn into the killer''s mind games, and a desperate fight for his life, in which there can only be one winne

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Book SynopsisA gripping standalone thriller from Andrea Carter set in the wild scenery of the Slieve Bloom mountains - perfect for fans of THE SEARCHER by Tana French and THE SKELETON KEY by Erin Kelly.

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Book SynopsisTHE THRILLING NEW NOVEL IN THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING JACK RYAN, JR. SERIESWhen the leader of North Korea is catastrophically injured, his incapacitation inadvertently triggers a dead-man''s switch, activating an army of sleeper agents in South Korea and precipitating a struggle for succession.Jack Ryan, Jr. is in Seoul to interview a potential addition to the Campus. But his benign trip takes a deadly turn when a wave of violence perpetrated by North Korean operatives grips South Korea''s capital. A mysterious voice from North Korea offers Jack a way to stop the peninsula''s rush to war, but her price may be more than he can afford to pay.REAL READER REVIEWS''Everything we have come to live in this series: great action, set pieces and locations'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''One of the best books of the series'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''Non-sto

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Book Synopsis''Powerful, provocative, beautiful and unforgettable. All Us Sinners is a chilling, moving, majestic debut'' --- CHRIS WHITAKERLeeds, 1977. A chill lies over the city: sex workers are being murdered by a serial killer they are calling the ''Ripper'', the streets creeping with fear.Tough, sharp, but tender, Maureen runs Rio''s, a clean, discreet brothel in the city. She''s a good boss who takes great care of her workers - especially her best girls, Bev and Anette. The Ripper may be terrifying girls who work the street, but at Rio''s the girls seem safer.But when Bev''s sweet-natured son is found beaten to death, a figure from Maureen''s past, DS Mick Hunniford, shows up at her door. Does his arrival herald danger or salvation? And who can Maureen really trust?The impressive and moving debut crime novel from huge new talent Katy Massey opens up a world we have rarely seen, at a time of great danger and drama.

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Book SynopsisTHE BRAND NEW GANGLAND CRIME NOVEL FROM ROBERTA KRAY. NO ONE KNOWS CRIME LIKE KRAY.

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Book Synopsis***THE TWISTY NEW THRILLER FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR***Broadchurch meets Harlan Coben in the most compulsive thriller you''ll read all year. Whether you''ve read Robert Gold before or whether you''re discovering him for the first time, this is your next addictive read._____Secrets only survive in the darkWhen journalist Ben Harper is asked to help re-examine an unsolved murder case from thirty years ago, he immediately agrees. It''s not just that the victim was also a journalist, murdered after she''d published a series of shocking interviews with victims of domestic abuse. It''s also that he understands all too well the need of victim''s daughter, Doctor Uma Jha, for answers. But it''s not long before their investigation leads to threats being made on Uma''s life. Ben needs to unravel this crime before it''s too late, but instead he finds himself tangled in a web of lies and deception. After all, a crime like murder has implications for many people.People who have been keeping secrets for thirty years, and will do whatever it takes to protect them.__________''Superb'' LISA JEWELL ''Utterly absorbing'' SHARI LAPENA ''Excellent'' LEE CHILD ''One of a kind'' JAMES PATTERSON ''Unputdownable'' KARIN SLAUGHTER

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Book SynopsisA dark, surreally funny novel from the bestselling Booker Prize-shortlisted authorHilariously surreal. It''s a bit like the Coen Brothers directing an Alan Bennett play... Fantastic'' Daily MirrorUnderstatedly surreal, deadpan gothic, Mills is a master of the uncanny ... Such a fresh fictional voice'' EsquireIt is the end of the summer. The tourists have already gone, and now the sun is abandoning the Lake District''s damp valleys. Only a lone camper remains, enjoying the quiet. He plans to stay just long enough to prepare for a trip to the East.But then the owner of the campsite asks him to paint a fence and he innocently obliges. Soon other odd jobs pile up until little by little he becomes ensnared in the ominous out-of-season''...Trade Review‘Understatedly surreal, deadpan gothic, Mills is a master of the uncanny ... Such a fresh fictional voice' * Esquire *‘Mills is a master of the cliffhanger and can make even the most deadpan behaviour compelling and funny... A deliciously sly comic fable' * Financial Times *‘Absorbing, darkly worrying and very, very funny' * The Times *‘Mill's great strength is in mixing quiet amusing amusements with a deeper feeling of malice' * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisThe superb new edge-of-your-seat Covert-One novel in the series created by the undisputed master of the thriller genre, Robert Ludlum.The Merge: a device destined to revolutionise the world and make the personal computer and smart phone obsolete. When Covert-One''s Jon Smith is assigned to assess its military potential he discovers that its enhanced vision, real-time battlefield displays, unbreakable security, and near-perfect marksmanship could change the face of warfare for ever. Meanwhile, CIA operative Randi Russell encounters an entire village of murdered Afghans - all equipped with enhanced Merge technology. As Smith and Russell investigate, they''re blocked by someone who seems to have access to the highest levels of the military.Is the Merge really as secure as its creator claims? And what is the Pentagon so desperate to hide? Smith and Russell are determined to learn the truth - but will they pay with their lives...?Trade ReviewA riveting action thriller for the Bourne generation * BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH *

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Book SynopsisSurvivors of a global plague battle for life on an empty planet. A gripping vision of a post-apocalyptic world...''A fine piece of British post-apocalyptic fiction''''Nation''s novel is based on his original cult series...and is all the better for it, being far, far more gritty and realistic'' SUNDAY SUNA virus has wiped out 95 per cent of the world''s population in just a few weeks, leaving the remaining 5 per cent to stay alive in a world devoid of the most basic amenities - electricity, transport and medicine. The few survivors of the human race are forced to fall back on the most primitive skills in order to live and re-establish some semblance of law and order.Abby Grant, widowed by the plague, moves through this new dark age with determination, sustained by hope that her son, who fled his boarding school at the onset, has survived. She knows she must relearn the skills on which civilisation was built. With others, shTrade ReviewNation's novel is based on his original cult series...and is all the better for it, being far, far more gritty and realistic * SUNDAY SUN *A highly readable adventure story and an equally interesting glimpse back to the Seventies * EVENING STANDARD *a fine piece of British post-apocalyptic fiction * DEATHRAY *A highly readable adventure story and an equally interesting glimpse back to the Seventies - before computers, mobiles and the least tinge of multiculturalism -- David Sexton * EVENING STANDARD *Nation's novel is based on his original cult series...and is all the better for it, being far, far more gritty and realistic * SUNDAY SUN *This is radically different to the much-loved original television program, and it is also a fine piece of British post-apocalyptic fiction * DEATHRAY *

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Book SynopsisThe triumphant final volume in the epic series - a series of monumental battles, fascinating history and action-packed adventure.The vast and deadly conflict between Alexander the Great''s former generals as they battle for control of his empire has reached a tense stalemate. No one seems able to strike the decisive blow.But with everything in the balance, a secret emerges: hidden in the remote mountains is a young man who could change everything: Herakles, the son of Alexander.Whoever aspires to Alexander''s mantle must now control his one legitimate heir - or destroy him - and a war being played across the known world is set for its final, bloody conclusion. As the rival armies converge on the village of Ipsus, twin monarchs Satyrus and Melitta know that they too must gamble their own lives and the survival of their Black Sea kingdom on the outcome...Trade ReviewGripping and compulsively readable, the ancient world springs to life in these pages * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *The more Cameron's 700-page story progresses the more impressive it becomes. Detail is piled upon detail to reconstruct the Alexandrian world... the battles that punctuated Alexander's journey with his armies from Greece to the Indus valley are described with enormous verve and power. The ruthless intrigue and politicking that dominate his court are also brilliantly evoked. And, as fate and his own insatiable desire for conquest and glory drive Alexander towards death in Babylon at the age of 32, a genuine sense of an extraordinary personality emerges. Cameron has risen to the challenge of creating a portrait of Alexander that matches - and often eclipses - those of earlier novelists * SUNDAY TIMES *The saga of daring, heroism, vanity and monumental battles reveals a man who believed himself invincible * CHOICE *It's wonderfully descriptive, the characters are fascinating and above all else it's the story of Alexander that everyone should read... Finally add to this Christian's wonderful writing style, with a cracking prose, a wonderful sense of pace and when backed with an instantly identifiable writing style, it's a book that is going to take a hell of a lot to beat this year especially in the award season, and let's face it, that's saying something considering how early this one's out * FALCATA TIMES *

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Book SynopsisTHE ULTIMATE HERO IS BACKTHE WORLD IS ON FIREAt an abandoned Soviet base in the Arctic, a battle to save all life on Earth is about to begin...A TOP SECRET BASEWhen Dragon Island, a top-secret base that houses a weapon of terrible destructive force is seized by a brutal terrorist force calling itself the Army of Thieves, the fate of the world suddenly hangs in the balance. But there are no crack units close enough to get to Dragon in time to stop the Army setting off the weapon.ONLY ONE MAN CAN SAVE THE DAYExcept, that is, for a small equipment-testing team up in the Arctic led by a Marine captain named Schofield, call-sign SCARECROW.* * * * * READERS LOVE SCARECROW AND THE ARMY OF THIEVES''Each page is a thrill. If you are looking for escapism, this is definitely the book for you''''Shocks galore and a great ending. Just read it''''I shouldn''

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Book SynopsisThey killed the only one who ever cared and now they''re going to pay.A reckoning has come to the City of Angels...Karen Garcia is missing and her father doesn''t trust the cops - he wants someone he knows on the case. So he enlists the help of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike.It seems that Karen is the latest victim of a distinctive serial killer and the police are determined to pin her death, and four others, on the witness who found her body. Cole doesn''t believe the man has the guts to murder, and with his partner and the police at each other''s throats, it''s down to him to find the connection that will reveal the killer. But nailing the murderer means choosing between the two people he cares most about...Trade ReviewRobert Crais is, without question, one of the very best mystery writers of all time. And in Elvis Cole and Joe Pike he has created two of the most iconic figures in any genre -- David BaldacciRobert Crais is one of best storytellers at work today. He never disappoints, never leaves you anywhere but the edge of your seat -- Michael ConnellyIn the ambitious new L. A. REQUIEM, Robert Crais has created a series entry that threatens to break through the genre barrier. (He has) crafted a full-bodied novel that explores such topics as honor and friendship and justice and love, that brings its protagonists to a new point of self-awareness and, not incidentally, that provides the kind of puzzle plot that sends mystery fans into paroxysms of joy * LA TIMES *This is Crais's most ambitious novel to date, a big book that juggles aspects of friendship, trust and love against a background of violence and conspiracy. Highly recommended * IRISH TIMES *L. A. REQUIEM is an utterly gripping narrative, written straight from the heart. The almost unbearable tension is tempered by the wit and humanity of Cole himself, confirming Robert Crais's place as a major American thriller writer * MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS *Crais creates plots as lucid as blueprints and strong enough to build cities on. Ear-pinning dialogue and proper attention paid to characterization and relationships. No sunny romances on the agenda, but real feelings--love, friendship, and loathing--explored, and even celebrated. So good you'll want to shout about it * LITERARY REVIEW *L. A. REQUIEM has been one of the best books I've read this year, and this has been an exceptionally good year. This novel has everything: great setting, terrific characters, a plot that hooks you from the first page, and expert knowledge of police procedure. Simply irresistible * TORONTO GLOBE & MAIL *With a pace that never falters, Elvis and Joe burrow through layers of deceit following the death of an ex-girlfriend, with the LAPD itself under suspicion in this tale of double-crossing that is also unbearably poignant. A major US crime series that can no longer be overlooked * TIME OUT *

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Book SynopsisJames Bond has lost his licence to kill... Ian Fleming's 007 returns in an original, authorised James Bond thriller from a writer described by Len Deighton as a 'master storyteller'.

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Book SynopsisA powerful and unforgettable thriller from 'one of the finest American writers' GUARDIANTrade ReviewJames Lee Burke is the heavyweight champ, a great American novelist whose work, taken individually or as a whole, is unsurpassed. * Michael Connelly *A gorgeous prose stylist. * Stephen King *Richly deserves to be described now as one of the finest crime writers America has ever produced. * Daily Mail *There are not many crime writers about whom one might invoke the name of Zola for comparison, but Burke is very much in that territory. His stamping ground is the Gulf coast, and one of the great strengths of his work has always been the atmospheric background of New Orleans and the bayous. His big, baggy novels are always about much more than the mechanics of the detective plot; his real subject, like the French master, is the human condition, seen in every situation of society. * Independent *The king of Southern noir. * Daily Mirror *His lyrical prose, his deep understanding of what makes people behave as they do, and his control of plot and pace are masterly. * Sunday Telegraph *One of the finest American writers. * Guardian *When it comes to literate, pungently characterised American crime writing, James Lee Burke has few peers. * Daily Express *

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Book Synopsis''THE LAST DETECTIVE is literally a thrill-a-minute read. Crais is on top form, which, believe me, is about as good as it gets. Don''t miss it'' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY''The narrative is taut, the menace palpable, the suspense unbearable'' DAILY TELEGRAPHElvis Cole has got a problem to solve - and this time it''s personal.Elvis Cole''s girlfriend, Lucy, is out of town, and she has left her young son Ben in Elvis''s care. Elvis and Lucy have had a few problems lately - not least over his job as a private investigator. But at last things seem to be getting better. Then Ben disappears. One minute he''s playing his computer game in Elvis''s house; the next he has vanished. Elvis looks everywhere, but he just can''t find Ben; and neither can Lucy when she arrives. Then Elvis receives a phone call about Ben - and realises that something from his own past has come back to haunt him...Trade ReviewTHE LAST DETECTIVE is literally a thrill-a-minute read. Crais is on top form, which, believe me, is about as good as it gets. Don't miss it * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *An exciting tale of kidnap and revenge... Crais is a fine storyteller * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *A classic. The story is shrewdly plotted and sharply written ... THE LAST DETECTIVE is a rare treat * WASHINGTON POST *Brilliant and convincing detective work, suspense that erupts in shoot-out in abandoned airport. Deeply satisfying stuff ... It's the stuff of heroes, the rare meat of crime fiction. Crais lets his convictions show and delivers a prime cut * LITERARY REVIEW *THE LAST DETECTIVE is US crime fiction at its most enjoyable - fast, funny where it needs to be and leaving the reader with a craving for more * ENIGMA *The narrative gradually ratchets up the tension to the limits of the endurable, and the final showdown could hardly be more exciting * EVENING STANDARD *An enjoyable, well-plotted thriller * TIME OUT *THE LAST DETECTIVE reads as its specially-trained heroes move - phenomenally fast . . . Crais serves up a brilliant thriller which is perfect for both long-time fans and new recruits . . . Crais has brought back his bestselling heroes with a pacy and tautly-written thriller, and the perfect plot to show off their tracking skills in the concrete jungle of LA * IRISH EXAMINER *The narrative is taut, the menace palpable, the suspense unbearable * DAILY TELEGRAPH *A satisfying thriller, this, for Crais always manages to concoct an engrossing story * IRISH TIMES *The tension is racked up from the very start . . .The pace is not just fast, it's hyperfast . . . The ending proves that this is a thriller with a heart * OBSERVER *

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Book SynopsisA savage murder with no apparent motive - DS Morrow''s most challenging case brings her work and home lives dangerously close... From the two-time winner of the prestigious Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award.When wealthy Sarah Erroll dies a violent death at her home in a posh part of Glasgow, the local community is stunned by what appears to be a truly gratuitous act. Heavily pregnant with desperately wanted twins, DS Alex Morrow is called in to investigate and soon discovers that there is more to Sarah''s murder than it first seems.On the other side of town, Thomas Anderson is called into the headmaster''s office at his boarding school to be told that his tyrannical father - a banker responsible for the loss of many livelihoods in the recession - has committed suicide by hanging himself from the old oak tree on the lawn of their home. Thomas returns to the family home to find his mother and sister in a state of numb shock. The head of the hTrade ReviewOne of the most exciting writers to have emerged in Britain for years -- Ian RankinA literary West Lothian question: why do Scottish writers dominate British crime fiction? With Denise Mina at least, the answer is pure class * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Confirms Mina's place in the premier division ... atmospheric, intense and full of the disturbing flavour of inner-city lowlife * GUARDIAN *Powerful, passionate and compelling. Mina can chill your blood and break your heart in the same sentence -- Mark BillinghamThe plot is unrolled artfully ... the writing is lucid, and the minor characters breathe with an almost Dickensian life * SUNDAY TIMES *Splendidly written ... magnificently readable * THE TIMES *Something special ... A tour de force * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *Remember the name. This is a major talent heading for the top * LITERARY REVIEW *One of Denise Mina's many attractions is her willingness to take risks with her characters. She delves deeper than most into emotions, whether of the police, victims or perpetrators; she eschews the usual formula of crime fiction....The financial and moral disintregration of families, the iniquities of the class system and prostitution all play a role. Mina's best * THE TIMES *Thoughful attention to detail take the novel to another level...Scotland has produced some seriously good crime writers; THE END OF THE WASP SEASON places Denise Mina alongside Ian Rankin and Val McDermid * FINANCIAL TIMES *Miss your bus stop....reading THE END OF THE WASP SEASON by Denise Mina, a gripping tale tracing the links between an elite private school, the suicide of a millionaire banker and the shocking murder of a wealthy young woman * GRAZIA *Denise Mina is one of Scotland's most impressive crime writers. This dark, angry novel doesn't offer easy thrills or the intellectual diversion of a whodunnit. Instead it focuses on its deeply flawed characters, their motivations and the world they live in ... undeniably powerful * SPECTATOR *One of the most exciting writers to have emerged in Britain for years * Ian Rankin *A literary West Lothian question: why do Scottish writers dominate British crime fiction? With Denise Mina at least, the answer is pure class * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Confirms Mina's place in the premier division ... atmospheric, intense and full of the disturbing flavour of inner-city lowlife * GUARDIAN *Powerful, passionate and compelling. Mina can chill your blood and break your heart in the same sentence * Mark Billingham *The plot is unrolled artfully ... the writing is lucid, and the minor characters breathe with an almost Dickensian life * SUNDAY TIMES *Splendidly written ... magnificently readable * THE TIMES *Something special ... A tour de force * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *Remember the name. This is a major talent heading for the top * LITERARY REVIEW *One of Denise Mina's many attractions is her willingness to take risks with her characters. She delves deeper than most into emotions, whether of the police, victims or perpetrators; she eschews the usual formula of crime fiction....The financial and moral disintregration of families, the iniquities of the class system and prostitution all play a role. Mina's best * THE TIMES *Thoughful attention to detail take the novel to another level...Scotland has produced some seriously good crime writers; The End of the Wasp Season places Denise Mina alongside Ian Rankin and Val McDermid * FINANCIAL TIMES *Miss your bus stop....reading The End of the Wasp Season by Denise Mina, a gripping tale tracing the links between an elite private school, the suicide of a millionaire banker and the shocking murder of a wealthy young woman * GRAZIA *Denise Mina is one of Scotland's most impressive crime writers. This dark, angry novel doesn't offer easy thrills or the intellectual diversion of a whodunnit. Instead it focusses on its deeply flawed characters, their motivations and the world they live in ... undeniably powerful * SPECTATOR *

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Book SynopsisClassic pulp crime fiction from an author who has sold over 200 million copies worldwide.'[Spillane] was a quintessential Cold War writer, an unconditional believer in good and evil' Washington TimesTrade ReviewThe king of hard-boiled crime fiction * USA TODAY *Master of the post-war private eye potboiler * NEW YORK TIMES *There's a kind of power about Mickey Spillane that no other writer can imitate * NEW YORK TIMES *[Spillane] was a quintessential Cold War writer, an unconditional believer in good and evil' * WASHINGTON TIMES *Mike Hammer is an icon for our culture * NEW YORK TIMES *

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Book SynopsisA beautiful and powerfully-told story of buried secrets, set between the 1930s and the present day, on the wild Yorkshire Moors. The perfect book club read for fans of Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale.Trade ReviewAn absorbing mystery story, really evocative of the Yorkshire Moors and the mill. I loved the character of Billy Shaw! The story kept me engrossed and flipping the pages right to the end -- Katherine Webb, bestselling author of The LegacyThe Companion is beautifully written and so evocative of time and place, you can almost hear the roar of the roller skates at Potter's Pleasure Palace as you turn the page. Billy Shaw leaps off the moors into our hearts while Jasper Harper lurks ominously at his shoulder throughout this haunting debut. The strange goings on at High Hob are vividly brought to life by Dunnakey's wonderfully crafted novel. If you thought the Brontes were the most intriguing literary family in Yorkshire, wait until you meet the Harpers. -- Linda Green, author of the No.1 bestseller, While My Eyes Were ClosedSarah writes with warmth, wit and wisdom AND she makes you want to turn the page. A rare combination. -- John HumphrysAn engaging and totally compelling mystery * Yorkshire Post *Utterly absorbing...a great Yorkshire tale -- Stephen MayA compelling tale * My Weekly *Utterly charming, wonderfully creepy and rich with mystery. The Companion is a rare treat. -- CL Taylor, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Escape

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Book SynopsisOne night, Molly Clarke walked away from her life. Or at least, that''s the story. The car abandoned miles from home. The note found at a nearby hotel. The shattered family that couldn''t be put back together. It happens all the time. Women disappear, desperate to leave their lives behind and start over. But is that what really happened to Molly Clarke?''Gripping ... with unexpected twists ... a cracking mystery'' Adrian McKinty''If you love fast-paced page-turners with relatable, flawed characters, look no further!'' Angie KimTrade ReviewWendy Walker hits it out of the park once again in her newest psychological suspense Don't Look for Me, a riveting and intimate story of unimaginable loss which raises the question: When you've already done the unthinkable, can there be any chance of redemption? Sharp, nuanced, utterly real and absolutely terrifying, this beautifully written and emotionally powerful novel is Walker at her best. I didn't simply read this book-I devoured it! * Karen Dionne *Wow! I hate to be repetitive but...WOW! Wendy Walker always writes amazing books but Don't Look for Me may be her finest novel yet. It's unsettling in the very best way and truly riveting. * Samantha Downing *Gripping ... with unexpected twists ... you've got a crackling mystery on your hands. * Adrian McKinty *A nailbiter ... so much more than a twisty thriller. It's a heartbreaking portrait of a family coping with grief and an insightful study of guilt and blame, gaslighting and agency. If you love fast-paced page-turners with relatable, flawed characters, look no further! * Angie Kim *A pulse-pounding, thrill ride of a novel with heart. * Kathleen Barber *A master class in psychological suspense. * Cristina Alger *Utterly unputdownable! Don't Look for Me combines lyrical prose, nuanced and compelling characters, and unbearable tension. It packs an emotional gut punch that will leave you thinking about the story long after you've reached the jaw-dropping conclusion. Walker's best yet! * Liv Constantine *In Don't Look for Me, Wendy Walker delivers twist after twisted twist, and magically combines them with a heartfelt story of guilt, forgiveness and the desperate need of a mother to protect herself and her family. The result is an astonishing, fast-paced and intricately woven tale with characters who leap off the pages. This is the perfect psychological thriller and will keep you glued to your seat, unable to breathe, until you reach the last page * Hannah Mary McKinnon *

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Book SynopsisKEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE.WHATEVER THE COST...Jamie and Victoria are expecting their first baby.With a few weeks to go, they head off for a final weekend break in a remote part of the North Pennines. The small and peaceful guesthouse is the ideal location to unwind together before becoming parents. Upon arrival, they are greeted by Barry and Fiona, the older couple who run the guesthouse. They cook them dinner and show them to their room before retreating to bed themselves.The next morning, Jamie and Victoria wake to find the house deserted. Barry and Fiona are nowhere to be seen. All the doors are locked. Both their mobile phones and car keys have disappeared. Even though it''s a few weeks early, Victoria knows the contractions are starting.The baby is coming, and there''s no way out.Trade ReviewDeliciously dark and creepy, The Guest House is an original and very clever thriller that completely hoodwinked me with its well crafted and twisty plot. So unpredictable and gripping. I couldn't put it down * Claire Douglas *A gripping, must-read, tightly plotted thriller with dizzying twists and turns that will keep you on your toes * John Marrs, author of KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY *A tense thriller with a killer twist! Morgan-Bentley has hit on a chilling scenario that kept me rapt and tearing through the pages. His writing is vivid and utterly engaging with shrewd character observations that really brought Victoria and Jamie's nightmare to life. The dual timelines ramped up the tension and intrigue, gradually revealing what had actually happened and setting the scene for a killer twist. Highly recommended! * KL Slater, author of THE EVIDENCE *I absolutely loved it - such a page-turner with the most excellent plot twist at the very end. * Leah Hazard, author of HARD PUSHED *Morgan-Bentley is becoming a master of the reader's comment of... "I didn't see that coming!!" A most unexpected twist at the end! I found myself thinking, I know it's late but I can't leave it here, I need to know more * Joy Ellis, author of the DI NIKKI GALENA SERIES *Creepy and compelling from the off, it's an immersive read with a terrific twist. I raced through it! * Teresa Driscoll, author of HER PERFECT FAMILY *You'll never guess where this twisty chiller of a book is going * Claire McGowan, author of I KNOW YOU *The Guest House starts with a chilling premise that only gets more intense with every turn of the page. You won't know where Morgan-Bentley is taking you, but you will want to hang on for the ride * Joshua Moehling, author of AND THERE HE KEPT HER *Ferocious and irresistible, THE GUEST HOUSE is a compelling story that explores just how much a parent is willing to sacrifice for their child. Morgan-Bentley is a master of the curveball, hitting us with thrill after thrill that this reader definitely did not see coming. The cherry on top was the blood-freezing epilogue. I'll be thinking about it for weeks! * Stephanie Wrobel, author of DARLING ROSE GOLD *I loved this twisty and terrifying thriller. The sense of unfolding horror is utterly irresistible - it had me hooked from the very first page. I gobbled it up! * Katherine Faulkner *Utterly Intriguing, page-turning and impossible to second guess * Rosamund Lupton *A bone-chilling premise about every parent's nightmare, which fully delivers with every twist and turn. Robin masterfully reels the reader in from the first chapter and doesn't let go until that haunting last line. Get ready to bite your nails to the beds as the tension racks up! * Jack Jordan, author of DO NO HARM *

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Book Synopsis''THE HOTTEST ACTION WRITER AROUND'' EVENING TELEGRAPHDISCOVER THE WILDLY ENTERTAINING, ACTION-PACKED JACK WEST SERIESFormer SAS soldier Jack West is on a mission to save the world, no matter what - or who - it might cost him.Still reeling from the loss of his daughter, and with his rivals far ahead of him, Jack must race across the globe to complete the ancient Trial of the Mountains.With the odds already against them, Jack and his crew will soon discover that a new player has entered the race, a general so feared that he had been locked away in the deepest of dungeons.Only now this general has escaped and he has a horrifying plan of his own...* * * * *PRAISE FOR THE JACK WEST THRILLERS''An action hero worthy of Lee Child'' Sydney Morning Herald''Thrilling, action-packed adventure from cover to cover'' GuardianTrade ReviewPure escapism. An action hero worthy of Lee Child * Sydney Morning Herald *

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Book SynopsisTHE MARTAIN meets THE EXPANSE in this page turning debut science-fiction mysteryMARS, 2034A place of hope, freedom, and the dream of a better future on their new home. The year of the first human born on the red planet.MARS, 2103A place of division, suspicion and fear.The year when the truth will come about. ****This is the story of the first human being born on Mars: Rose Fuller, who saw a better future than the one that came to pass. And Dylan Ward, a woman raised in the vast wilderness of the frontier, who will find her way back to it. It''s a story about a man who went missing, and the man who wants to find out what he knew.It''s a story about what makes us human - and how we might live once we leave our home.The story of the first murder on Mars. ****PRAISE FOR THE FIRST MURDER ON MARS:''A fiercely intelligent, wholly engagi

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Book SynopsisThe second book in the Jack Nightingale supernatural thriller series.Jack Nightingale found it hard enough to save lives when he was a cop. Now he needs to save a soul - his sister''s. But to save her he has to find her and they''ve been separated since birth.When everyone Jack talks to about his sister dies horribly, he realises that someone, or something, is determined to keep them apart. If he''s going to save his sister, he''s going to have to do what he does best - negotiate. But any negotiation with the forces of darkness comes at a terrible price. And first Jack must ask himself the question: is every soul worth saving?Trade ReviewA disturbing, blood-chilling read from a writer at the top of his game. -- James Baxter * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisEVIL TAKES MANY FORMS. PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR CHARLIE PARKER HUNTS THEM ALL.The border between Maine and Canada is porous. Anything can be smuggled across it: drugs, cash, weapons, people.Now a group of disenchanted former soldiers has begun its own smuggling operation, and what is being moved is infinitely stranger and more terrifying than anyone can imagine. Anyone, that is, except private detective Charlie Parker, who has his own intimate knowledge of the darkness in men''s hearts.But the soldiers'' actions have attracted the attention of the reclusive Herod, a man with a taste for the strange. And where Herod goes, so too does the shadowy figure that he calls the Captain. If he is to try to defeat them, Parker must form an uneasy alliance with a man he fears more than any other, the killer known as the Collector . . .From the number one Sunday Times and multi-million-copy bestselling author John Connolly comes the mostTrade ReviewA tour de force finale in a book which will sure be a bestseller this summer. It well deserves to be. * Independent on Sunday *A tour de force finale in a book which will sure be a bestseller this summer. It well deserves to be. * Independent on Sunday *Brilliant, terrifying and effortlessly seductive, I defy anyone to put this thriller down - it is sensational. * Daily Mail *Brilliant, terrifying and effortlessly seductive, I defy anyone to put this thriller down - it is sensational. * Daily Mail *Another creepy thriller from a modern master. * Daily Mirror *Another creepy thriller from a modern master. * Daily Mirror *This is one of Connolly's darker, scarier novels, all the more effective for the way the supernatural elements arise organically out of the realistic detail * Guardian *Connolly subtly combines the supernatural with the traditional crime story to superb effect. And in Herod, a man being eaten by cancer, he may have created his creepiest villain yet. * Sun *As ever with Connolly, the macabre narrative is couched in prose that is often allusive and poetic. * Barry Forshaw, Independent *His latest plot is a clever mixture of quest and chase, written in prose that unfolds at warp speed * Observer *Supernatural thriller by Dublin's finest. * Herald Magazine *

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Book SynopsisCity of love. City of splendour. City of terror. City of dreams.Inspired by the haunting, passionate story of the city of lights, this epic novel weaves a gripping tale of four families across the centuries: from the lies that spawn the noble line of de Cygne to the revolutionary Le Sourds who seek their destruction; from the Blanchards whose bourgeois respectability offers scant protection against scandal to the hard-working Gascons and their soaring ambitions. Over hundreds of years, these four families are bound by forbidden loves and marriages of convenience; dogged by vengeance and murderous secrets; torn apart by the irreconcilable differences of birth and faith, and brought together by the tumultuous history of their city. Paris bursts to life in the intrigue, corruption and glory of its people. Beloved author of Sarum, London and New York, Edward Rutherfurd illuminates Paris as only he can: capturing the romance and everyday dramaTrade Review'From the ice-age to the present day, Rutherfurd's scope is vast. Both historical novel and adventure epic, this is a work of universal appeal.' * Kirkus UK, on SARUM *'Hold your breath suspense, buccaneering adventure, and passionate tales of love and war.' * The Times, on LONDON *'Remarkable ... grand.' * The New York Times, on LONDON *'Not all good things come in small packages. If you like books that are big, Edward Rutherfurd is your man. He writes wonderful sagas, tales that cover centuries, always keeping these long stories lively by telling us about the events and conflicts of people's lives. Rutherfurd does the painstaking research; the reader has all the fun.' * The Seattle Times, on IRELAND *'Incredible storytelling . . . Readers will fall in love with the iconic city.' * Post and Courier, on NEW YORK *

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Book SynopsisTHE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR ''It is impossible not to be held spellbound by the way she forces us to think, hard, about right and wrong.'' Washington PostKatie Fisher is Amish. For eighteen years, she has grown up in a community set apart from the modern world by lifestyle and belief. It is a community fiercely protective of its way of life. To turn your back on it is to lose everything - your church, your home, and your family.So in the middle of the night when the baby comes, Katie does the only thing she knows how to do in times of stress: she prays.Exhausted, she falls asleep. When she wakes, the child is gone. Her prayer has been answered.But faith alone cannot help when the baby''s body is found.MAD HONEY, the stunning and compelling Sunday Times bestseller by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan is available now.Trade ReviewPicoult's appreciation of teen angst is exquisitely unwrapped . . . and on this form she is going to leave her readers impatient for more. * Scotsman *Picoult's appreciation of teen angst is exquisitely unwrapped . . . and on this form she is going to leave her readers impatient for more. * Scotsman *A suspenseful, richly layered drama . . . never loses its grip. The research is convincing, the plotting taught, the scenes wonderfully vivid . . . [An] absorbing, multidimensional portrait of an Amish clan * People *A suspenseful, richly layered drama . . . never loses its grip. The research is convincing, the plotting taught, the scenes wonderfully vivid . . . [An] absorbing, multidimensional portrait of an Amish clan * People *Impossible to put down * Observer *

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Book SynopsisChosen by The Times as one of the Top Ten Crime Novels Written by Women since 2000Flavia Albia is the adopted daughter of a famous investigating family. In defiance of tradition, she lives alone on the colourful Aventine Hill, and battles out a solo career in a male-dominated world. As a woman and an outsider, Albia has special insight into the best, and worst, of life in ancient Rome.A female client dies in mysterious circumstances. Albia investigates and discovers there have been many other strange deaths all over the city, yet she is warned off by the authorities. The vigils are incompetent. The local magistrate is otherwise engaged, organising the Games of Ceres, notorious for its ancient fox-burning ritual. Even Albia herself is preoccupied with a new love affair: Andronicus, an attractive archivist, offers all that a love-starved young widow can want, even though she knows better than to take him home to meet the parents...As the festivalTrade ReviewPraise for MASTER AND GOD:'The narrative is rapid and the story well told with much sharp-edged detail. You can open this book and step right into a convincing yet extraordinary past.' * Independent *'Davis's descriptions of Rome are vivid and lively...this is a great yarn' * Daily Mail *'While this book is a departure from her usual Falco novels, the trademark charm, piercing intelligence and ready wit are as abundant as ever... dramatic and enthralling, all the more so for being full of historical fact. The characters are intriguing and three-dimensional, and the whole is told with a humour and insight which means the reader will find the book impossible to put down.' * www.thebookbag.co.uk *'An intimate portrait of resilience, friendship and love' * Sunday Examiner, Australia *

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Book Synopsis''ORIGINAL AND ENTHRALLING'' Guardian''AFFECTING AND TENDER'' The Times''COMPLETELY ENCHANTING'' Penny Vincenzi Elizabeth Pringle lived all her long life on the Scottish island of Arran. But did anyone really know her? In her will she leaves her beloved house, Holmlea, to a stranger - a young mother she''d seen pushing a pram down the road over thirty years ago. It now falls to Martha, once the baby in that pram, to answer the question: why? Martha is coping with her mother''s dementia and the possibility of a new life on Arran could be a new start.A captivating story for fans of Rosamund Pilcher, Maeve Binchy and Rachel Joyce of the richness behind the so-called ordinary lives of women and the secrets and threads that hold them together.And Kirsty Wark''s second novel, The House by the Loch, a story of unlikely love and long-hidden family secrets set in the beautifTrade ReviewKirsty Wark's first novel gleams with beauty... Part romance, part family history, mother-and-daughter fable and meditation on memory, The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle has qualities of heart... something of great worth and beauty gleams through the narrative and haunts the reader with its imaginative truth... Wark's presentation of a unique love unalloyed by sexuality is original and enthralling. The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle is a hymn to the stark beauty of the island of Arran. * Guardian *Curl up for this big-hearted romantic debut by the Newsnight presenter... A pulse of secrets drives the story along... affecting and tender. * The Times *Set on the Scottish island of Arran, Kirsty Wark's brilliantly vivid descriptions bring alive a story that reaches across the generations. * Daily Mail *The narrative switches between Elizabeth and Martha...The structure works well, demonstrating the similarities and differences between the two women. Both are well-rounded characters and their stories are engaging... Martha's relationship with Anna is beautifully and touchingly written, a daughter helplessly watching her beloved, vibrant mother fade away... This is an appealing debut that sustains interest to the very last page... Elizabeth Pringle is a quietly heroic character and, like Arran, she never fails to charm. * Independent on Sunday *The story is set in the beautiful Scottish island of Arran, a place Wark very obviously knows and loves... Wark's story telling is direct, compelling and rewarding for the reader. She is a real writer who happens to do television. * Daily Mail *The book is fresh and beguiling... Wark deftly and delicately plaits the intricate tales of three women... The narrative is packed with incidents but, for the most part, does not rush; it breathes, sighs, ponders. Wark has an exceptionally vivid sense of place. Windswept Arran and Holy Island become starkly beautiful lodestones which keep its old inhabitants and draw new ones. The landscapes, soil and vegetation have the power to heal broken humans, deliver love and hope after calamities. George Eliot paid homage to those "who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs." In this novel some of those hidden stories are told and graves visited with real tenderness. * Independent *a lyrical, truthful, contemplative book. [it] grows, imperceptibly, like bindweed round the reader, captivating them and then practically throttling them in with a denouement so shocking that I could barely speak afterwards. * Daily Telegraph *The BBC presenter's debut novel is an enjoyable mother-and-daughter fable and meditation on memory * Observer *Wark depicts the weather, the landscape and the inhabitants of the island so vividly that all I wanted was a ferry ticket. * Woman & Home *An excellent, page-turning debut from the Newsnight presenter. -- Viv Groskop * Red Magazine *This haunting story of love and loss, set in Kirsty's beloved Scottish Highlands, will linger with you long after you've reluctantly read the last page. * Woman's Weekly *The accomplished journalist and broadcaster's ­first foray into ­fiction is a moving and intelligent novel - its language is poetic without being overblown; its subject matter poignant but not overly sentimental... On the surface a tale of romance, loss, family and history, its emotional force comes from an exploration of that most intimate of relationships: between mothers and daughters...All the characters are well rounded and authentic, and the island itself emerges as one of them. Indeed, it is the depiction of Arran that lifts the book out of the ordinary: the haunting, evocative and nostalgic setting becomes the ­fitting backbone of this rich and captivating story. * The Lady *very, very good... a tribute to life and indomitability with smiles and excitement among the minutiae and discoveries... This wonderfully enthralling story held together by three redoubtable, engaging and very real women is for everyone * Bookbag (Top 10 Historical Novels of 2014) *meditative, beguiling and absorbing * Daunts Books - Marylebone Journal *Exquisite prose... a beautiful, sometimes devastating story that truly touches the heart. * Daily Record *Gentle and genteel * Sunday Herald *I can't imagine how Kirsty Wark found the time to write this big, rich novel when she is never off TV. It's terrifically readable, and the setting, the isle of Arran, is beautifully rendered. * Saga magazine *[An] elegant debut novel from journalist and TV presenter Kirsty Wark... The secrets and courage of [Elizabeth's] life become apparent and the climax of her story is as satisfying as it is unexpected. The magic of the island, with its soft rains, carpets of flowers and ever-changing seascapes comes across strongly as Wark makes equal magic out of the extraordinariness of ordinary lives. * WI Life Magazine *Beautifully paced and interesting... well defined and interesting. A really good read and a great first novel. * Bay of Plenty Times (NZ) *Deeply moving, this is broadcaster Kirsty's debut novel and we can't wait to see what else she's got for us. * Woman's Way (Ireland) *Completely enchanting. The story of two women's intertwined lives draws you in and holds you spellbound to the end. * Penny Vincenzi *Arran is the perfect setting and there is a deep sense of belonging. The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle is a really good read. * Rosamunde Pilcher *An intriguing marriage of past and present, and an absorbing narrative. It made me want to go to Arran. * Penelope Lively *

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Book Synopsis''Machiavellian clockwork glory'' - Mark Lawrence, author of The Broken Empire trilogyThey enslaved humanity three thousand years ago. Tall, strong, perfect, superhuman and near immortal they rule from their glittering palaces in the eternal city in the centre of the world. They are called Those Above by their subjects. They enforce their will with fire and sword. Twenty five years ago mankind mustered an army and rose up against them, only to be slaughtered in a terrible battle. Hope died that day, but hatred survived. Whispers of another revolt are beginning to stir in the hearts of the oppressed: a woman, widowed in the war, who has dedicated her life to revenge; the general, the only man to ever defeat one of Those Above in single combat, summoned forth to raise a new legion; and a boy killer who rises from the gutter to lead an uprising in the capital. Those Above is the first of an extraordinary fantasy epic by the author of the acTrade ReviewMachiavellian clockwork glory. -- Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of ThornsThose looking for well-createed and beautifully created fantasy, which also happen to be both darkly comic and devastatingly grim, will find themselves swiftly addicted. * Starburst *Dark fantasy with a decidedly military bent, THOSE ABOVE is the perfect opener for Daniel Polansky's career beyond Low Town. With his unmistakeable voice and his highly original new world, he draws the reader slowly in until it's impossible to put the book down and escape back to reality. A brilliant start to what is sure to be one of the fantasy epics of all time, THOSE ABOVE is the work of an author at the top of his game and brings with it the promise of a lot more to come. * Reader Dad *THOSE ABOVE is I, Claudius by way of Tolkien and filtered through Chandler. That is to say, really damn good. * Pornokitsch *From low conflict to high skulduggery, this is Daniel Polansky's most assured and engrossing novel yet. * The Sci Fi Bulletin *Gripping... Polansky has pulled off a polished fantasy thriller that's very much in the George RR Martin/Joe Abercrombie vein, but has still given the book its own distinctive style and voice, alongside plenty of evocative world-building. The Empty Throne (series) looks set to be fascinating and provocative. * SFX *"With THE STRAIGHT RAZOR CURE, Polansky pushed the envelope of modern fantasy. With TOMORROW THE KILLING, he tears through the envelope and pushes for horizons yet unseen." * Myke Cole, author of Control Point *'In Tomorrow the Killing, Polansky shows us he is no one-book wonder... If you haven't read Polansky yet, you must remedy this ASAP. He writes gripping, addictive stories with a grim eloquence...Very, very highly recommended. Polansky is definitely among my new favourite authors. Essential reading.' * civilian-reader.blogspot.com *'Tomorrow The Killing delivers more of the same noir-esque brilliance that placed The Straight Razor Cure amongst the top releases of last year.' * The British Fantasy Society *Praise for THE STRAIGHT RAZOR CURE'Quite brilliant... The Straight Razor Cure is as good a debut as I've read in along time. [It] has it all - and as the name suggests, it is sharp, steely and viciously bloody. Highly recommended' * John Berlyne, SF Revu *'Quite possibly the newest, freshest fantasy novel since Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind. It is, in short, the bastard son of George R. R. Martin and Raymond Chandler, an unusual combination of hard-boiled crime novel in a fantasy world setting. * readerdad.co.uk *'Polansky's writing is confident and punchy from the offset. The action rips along at a brilliant pace allowing us to experience this gritty world through the eyes of a thrilling, dangerous, flawed, yet strangely endearing protagonist. This is modern, dark fantasy at its best and a debut to be envied.' * British Fantasy Society *'Polansky hits all the right notes in his intelligent first novel, a blend of dystopian fantasy and hard-boiled crime... Sharp, noir-tinged dialogue and astute insights into class struggle mark Polansky as a writer with a future' * Publishers Weekly *'A strong debut novel with a hero who doesn't waste time worrying about the moral implications of cutting someone's throat' * Kirkus Reviews *'Polansky transplants his love of crime noir into a magic-steeped, secondary-world fantasy setting. It's an inherently troublesome mash-up that could only work in the hands of a silly satirist or a deft, sensitive dramatist with the blackest sense of humor. Polansky is wholeheartedly the latter - and Low Town is brilliant proof ... Wielding vivid characters and scalpel-sharp banter worthy of fellow dark fantasists Scott Lynch and Joe Abercrombie, Polansky ratchets up the pace ... Polansky has managed to craft an assured, roaring, and rollicking hybrid, a cross-genre free-for-all that relishes its tropes while spitting out their bones. And he does it all while spinning one hell of a gripping mystery' * avclub.com *'Daniel Polansky has crafted a thrilling novel steeped in noir sensibilities and relentless action, and set in an original world of stunning imagination, leading to a gut-wrenching, unforeseeable conclusion. Low Town is an attention-grabbing debut that will leave readers riveted . . . and hungry for more' * missiontoread.com *An impossible to put down read, showing how dark fantasy can truly be * thefoundingfields.com *'The Straight Razor Cure is dark, eloquent work filled with a very real presence that permeates both the world and the characters within it. Polansky has created a wickedly delicious fantasy that leaves a profound impression on the reader. Despite the plague, murderers and dark magic, I can't wait to pay another visit to Low Town' * mithrilwisdom.blogspot.com *'I can't remember when I last enjoyed a fantasy book this much' * Books Monthly *

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Book SynopsisThe third book in the hugely popular Danny Black series by the creator of the hit TV show Strikeback.On the Syria/Iraq border a British hostage is beheaded by IS terrorists. The executioner is a young British extremist. A masked figure watches him. This mysterious person is treated with a mixture of respect and terror. They call him the Caliph.In Nigeria the British High Commisioner and his young aide are kidnapped. A four-person SAS team, including Regiment hero Danny Black, is deployed to find him. The team find devastation in Nigeria, and when they discover prisoners infected with the plague they realise they have uncovered a combined Boko Haram/IS plot to unleash a bio-terror attack upon the world.The team must stop the terrorists and identify the Caliph before the deadly disease threatens those much closer to home.Trade Review[Ryan] is reliably capable of depicting international crises and special forces operations in plausible and gripping detail * Sunday Times *Praise for Chris Ryan * : *Ryan writes the kind of no-frills prose that virtually dictates the pace at which it is read. We're told just as much as we need to know, and it never gets in the way of the action . . . If you want a demonstration of how 400-odd pages can pass by in the wink of an eye, Ryan is your man. * Independent *Ryan... became so expert as a modern thriller writer that it is easy to underestimate his talents...He chooses fiercely up-to-the-minute plots, and laces them with an exceptional eye for detail and insider knowledge...Fearsome and fast-moving...much more than a conventional thriller. * Daily Mail *A shockingly authentic tale to keep your adrenaline pumping as fast as the blood on the pages. * The Sun *Chris Ryan has always been underrated as a novelist of ideas... a welter of treachery and mayhem. * Daily Telegraph *The books are masterpieces of social realism. [Chris Ryan] has lived the virtual life he writes about - and that makes him the right kind of war novelist for this generation. These storylines are dependent on a bustle of verbs that lead in every instance to blood and explosions, desperate screams and increasing levels of difficulty: it is never long before we find things and people being zapped, fried, crunched, toasted and skewered, as the bad deeds of the world are comprehensively avenged. * London Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisTrouble is brewing for coffeehouse owner Maggy Thorsen when she''s caught up in a storm - and murder - at a writers'' retreat.Brookhills coffeehouse owner Maggy Thorsen has reluctantly travelled north with her business partner, Sarah Kingston, and chef, Tien Romano, to cater a crime-writing retreat. Although Maggy is no fan of the outdoors, Payne Lodge''s remote location deep in Wisconsin''s woods seems an ideal spot for their local writers'' group to plot the perfect murder.But even Maggy doesn''t realize quite how perfect until a violent thunderstorm leaves the group stranded with no power or means of communication, and the retreat''s organizer, Kate McNamara, is found dead in one of the guestrooms. It''s no secret that Brookhills newspaper editor Kate delighted in stirring up trouble, but which of their number hated the woman enough to travel nearly four hundred miles north to kill her?

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Book SynopsisMedium''s assistant - and reluctant sleuth - Maddie Pastore is shocked when her long-lost sister is accused of murder, in this twisty, atmospheric mystery set in 1920s Chicago. Summer, 1924. Young widow Maddie Pastore has been working for fraudulent spiritual medium Madame Carlotta for nearly a year - if ''work'' you could call it. Investigating Carlotta''s clients, and attending seances as her shill, keeps Maddie and her young son Tommy fed and clothed, and she''s grown to love the kind, well-meaning spiritualist like family.Still, Maddie - estranged from her abusive parents for over a decade - can''t help but wonder what fates befell her brothers and sisters. So when she lucks into two free tickets to a glamorous Chicago speakeasy and recognizes the star performer as her pretty little sister Sophie, she''s beyond delighted.But before Maddie can meet with Sophie again, the telephone rings. It''s Sophie''s husband, calling in a panic to t

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Book SynopsisMedium''s assistant - and reluctant sleuth - Maddie Pastore is shocked when her long-lost sister is accused of murder, in this twisty, atmospheric mystery set in 1920s Chicago. Summer, 1924. Young widow Maddie Pastore has been working for fraudulent spiritual medium Madame Carlotta for nearly a year - if ''work'' you could call it. Investigating Carlotta''s clients, and attending seances as her shill, keeps Maddie and her young son Tommy fed and clothed, and she''s grown to love the kind, well-meaning spiritualist like family.Still, Maddie - estranged from her abusive parents for over a decade - can''t help but wonder what fates befell her brothers and sisters. So when she lucks into two free tickets to a glamorous Chicago speakeasy and recognizes the star performer as her pretty little sister Sophie, she''s beyond delighted.But before Maddie can meet with Sophie again, the telephone rings. It''s Sophie''s husband, calling in a panic to t

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Book SynopsisA young woman with a pushchair spotted teetering on the edge of a steep rock face on the Staffordshire moors draws Joanna Piercy into a disturbing new case.A young woman is moving dangerously close to the edge of the rock face, pushing a stroller with a child strapped in it towards the steep drop. She has blood on her clothes. Is she a victim or a would-be killer?Detective Inspector Joanna Piercy takes on the case when a walker discovers the pair, but the young woman is mute. Is she traumatized or unwilling to speak? Was she about to commit a terrible crime?As the questions mount, forensic psychiatrist Dr Claire Roget is called in to help. Can she persuade the woman to talk? Joanna desperately needs a breakthrough. But when it comes, her investigation takes a shocking turn . . .

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Book SynopsisA retired ambassador''s life is in Andy Roark''s hands in this explosive, fast-paced mystery featuring the Vietnam veteran turned private investigator.Page-turning . . . the balance of plot and character is perfect Publishers Weekly Starred Review Roark is genuinely likeable (not too tough, but not a patsy) The New York TimesBoston, 1985. Private Investigator - and former Special Forces operative - Andy Roark knows he doesn''t fit in with the regular clientele at the Harvard Club, and that''s fine by him. He''s at the elegant bar for one reason only: to meet with the former ambassador of Laos. Ambassador Gordon Stevenson has a job for him . . . and Roark''s here to turn it down. So what if Stevenson''s been getting death threats? After what he did during the Vietnam war, the lives lost under his incompetent command, Roark''s almost tempted to cheer his would-be assassin on. But then Roark finds out why

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Book SynopsisA routine assignment for deep cover specialist Marc Portman becomes something darker and deeper in this action-packed spy thriller. Deep cover specialist Marc Portman is in Lebanon on a last-minute assignment. A straightforward collect-and-go job. At least it should have been. Ambushed by a surprise attack, it''s clear that someone must have had advance warning of Portman''s arrival. But who is his unseen enemy - clearly one with considerable resources - and why do they want him dead? More importantly, how could his attacker have known of his movements with less than 24 hours'' notice? Concluding there must be an active leak at the heart of the CIA, Portman finds himself virtually alone and on the run, hung out to dry by the powers-that-be. If he is to survive, he must use his unique skill set to turn the tables on his pursuers . . . and beat them at their own game.

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Book SynopsisShe''s not the first. Will she live to be the last?Jennifer Lomax is twenty-one, but she''s already taken some hard knocks in life. So when older, reserved and enigmatic widower Steven Taverner asks her to marry him, she''s desperate to believe she''s found true love. That her lifelong dream could finally become a reality.But Jennifer also knows there''s something not right about Steven. What secrets is he hiding about his dead wife, Margaret, and why does he refuse to talk about her?Jennifer decides to uncover the truth about Margaret. She soon wishes she hadn''t. Is she about to make a devastating mistake?

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Book SynopsisJump jockey Harry Radcliffe is thrown into another dark mystery when a good friend is left fighting for his life after being struck by a bullet.A day of celebration quickly turns into a nightmare for champion jockey Harry Radcliffe and his friend, horsebox driver Keith Whelan, when Keith is brutally shot in the head while driving the pair back from an engagement party. But was the bullet that smashed through the horsebox windscreen really meant for Keith, or for Harry himself? Harry escapes unscathed from the bloody scene, but Keith is left fighting for his life in hospital. It seems that Harry is dead lucky to be alive.Despite his recent vow to focus solely on his racing, Harry determines to find out who committed such a brutal act, and quickly finds himself drawn into horse racing''s dark and dangerous underbelly. Will his pursuit of justice for Keith prove to be a deadly step too far?

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Book SynopsisA dream of a wedding turns into a bloody nightmare for LA family lawyer Sandy Moss''s cousin Skinny in the latest instalment of the critically acclaimed Jersey Girl Legal mystery series. Sandy might have to take on her trickiest case yet!An uncomfortable weekend awaits LA family lawyer Sandy Moss when she makes her way to her hometown in New Jersey for the wedding of her cousin Stephanie, sweetly nicknamed Skinny. Uncomfortable, because Sandy is not really looking forward to seeing her family, but at least her boyfriend, Hollywood movie star Patrick McNabb, is by her side.However, if Sandy thought a weekend with her criticising mother and aggravating sister was bad, she definitely wasn''t prepared for the rehearsal event at the wedding venue! When Skinny enters the room, all eyes are on her and her beautiful party dress . . . covered in blood, with a knife in her hand.Skinny says she didn''t do it. But with dozens of wedding guests witnessing her dramatic entrance, the question of who killed the corpse in the kitchen seems an easy one to answer - and an equally easy court case to lose. Reluctantly agreeing to represent her cousin, Sandy sets to work. But how can she save Skinny when she''s not at all sure she''s innocent . . . and when Skinny seems oddly determined to put herself in jail?Loveable, streetwise heroine Sandy "could give Perry Mason a run for his money" (Kirkus Reviews). If you like witty, fast-paced cozies, legal shenanigans and a touch of romance, why not try the series out?

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Book SynopsisCafé-owner and divorcee Cara Shelley gets caught up in a deadly ghost hunt in this warm and engaging cozy mystery set in a quirky British stately home.Forty-something single mother Cara Shelley is very content running the Happy Huffkin café in the grounds of a quirky stately home. But her daily routine is shaken up by the arrival of a guest at Tanton Towers: the flamboyant Lady Izzy, who has plans for an extremely peculiar celebration . . . and wants Cara to cater for it.Ten years ago, Lady Izzy?s nephew, the former chair of the local ghost society, died after a ghost hunt in the Towers? spooky subterranean grotto. Now, she plans to commemorate his life ? and death ? with a fresh hunt in the very same place.But the morning after the event, Cara makes a horrifying discovery in the network of caves. Unless spirits can kill, there?s a murderer in their midst! Soon, the Towers is full of police, including the handsome but annoying DCI Andrew Mitchem. Can the irrepressible Cara keep her feelings in check and catch a cunning killer before she becomes the grotto?s next ghost?A contemporary Downton Abbey meets Agatha Christie ? with a splash of Bridgerton! The British Stately home mysteries are gentle, very English cozy mysteries, peopled with engaging, eccentric characters and packed with red-herrings for the enjoyment of armchair sleuths everywhere.

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Book SynopsisAll aboard the good ship SS Columbus for an African adventure to die for . . .February 1939. Mamie Mason isn''t enthusiastic when Bert, her husband of thirty years, persuades her to join him on an African cruise. Bert might be pining for adventure, but Mamie''s perfectly content with her comfortable life in Hills Corners, Ohio.But once the couple board the glamorous SS Columbus, Mamie has to admit - as much as it pains her - that Bert was right. Swimming in the pool, dancing under the stars, their own bedroom steward to serve their every whim . . . Mamie settles in and prepares to thoroughly enjoy all the sights that Africa has to offer, in the company of a motley collection of eccentric first-class passengers.Then Mamie witnesses something shocking - and her vacation takes a twist that neither she nor Bert could ever have predicted. Far from home, with a killer in their midst, the couple''s only choice is to turn detective.

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Book SynopsisA former chef gets mixed up in murder when she moves back to her Southern home town in the first Tiffany Austin food blogger mystery - a culinary cozy that will make your brain work and your stomach rumble!I was hooked from start to finish! Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop MysteriesFood critic and blogger Tiffany Austin has the best job in the world: she gets to eat for a living. At least, she hopes she has a job. Her trial period at Southern Style magazine is up - and rumors are swirling that management are making a choice between Tiffany and a rival columnist: the ambitious Jenny Lee Plumm.Former chef Tiffany knows she has a battle on her hands . . . but she didn''t realize it was to the death! When her rival''s body is discovered after the two have a very public argument, Tiffany finds herself the prime suspect in a murder investigation. The lead detective might be very hot - but Tiff

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Book SynopsisPrivate investigators Timothy Badger and Benjamin Watson take on another unusual and baffling case in Victorian London when a mummy unwrapping party takes a chilling turn.London, 1895. Although their last high-profile case was a huge success, private detectives Tim Badger and Benjamin Watson know they can''t afford to turn down any work, despite financial assistance from their mentor, Sherlock Holmes.So when the eminent Doctor Enoch Sawyer of St Bart''s Hospital asks Badger if the duo will provide security for a mummy unwrapping party he is hosting, Badger doesn''t hesitate to take the job. After all, how hard can guarding the doctor''s bizarre Egyptian artifacts be? But with Doctor Sawyer running late for his own party, the ''genuine'' ancient sarcophagus of Runihura Saa is unravelled to reveal the remains of . . . Doctor Sawyer! Suddenly, the pair are drawn into a case that''s stranger and twistier than they could ever have imagined.

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Book SynopsisFormer New York darling turned amateur sleuth Madeline Vaughn-Alwin is once again thrown into a colourful yet deadly web of secrets, lies and soirees to die for! It''s the week of Fiesta in Santa Fe and Maddie is looking forward to enjoying the celebrations. But as ''Old Man Gloom'' Zozobra goes up in flames, so too do Maddie''s hopes for a carefree life . . . Human remains are found in the dying embers of Zozobra, and then Maddie and her dashing beau Dr David Cole find a body washed up in the arroyo at the edge of town.Soon identified as Ricardo Montoya, a wealthy businessman and head of one of the most affluent families in Santa Fe . . . the plot starts to thicken. While his beautiful wife Catalina and her complicated children seem less than heartbroken at his untimely demise, and with many disgruntled locals crawling out of the woodwork, Maddie is surrounded by suspects.With the celebrations of Fiesta continuing around them, Maddie and her ''Detect

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Book SynopsisA bizarre discovery right under Mrs Pargeter''s patio turns a quiet and sunny June morning into a thrilling hunt for answers in this new instalment of the light-hearted and entertaining Mrs Pargeter mystery series.When widow Mrs Pargeter decides to have her morning coffee on the patio of her mansion in Chigwell, her intention is to admire her beautiful garden in peace and quiet. Little does she expect one of the patio''s paving slabs to crack in two, depositing her on the ground - and revealing a human skull with a neat hole in the middle of its forehead!Not wanting to bother the police just yet, Mrs Pargeter decides to save them some trouble and starts investigating the curious find herself. And who better to assist than her late husband''s ''business associates'', private investigator Truffler Mason and chauffeur Gary? The trio are soon certain that a murder has been committed and the body disposed of under some convenient building work

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