Crime & Thrillers Books

Book Synopsis''COMPELLING AND COMPULSIVE'' Victoria Selman''GRIPPING'' Claire McGowan''EXHILARATING AND DARKLY THRILLING'' J A Corrigan''KEPT ME GLUED TO THE PAGES'' Zoe Lea________Laura has a husband, children, a home in a city she loves. She thinks she can be happy, despite her past.If they only knew my secret.Until someone walks back into her life who she knows will shatter everything. Alexis was her first love. A love so exhilarating, it is impossible to resist.I know I should end it. But I can''t.Then Alexis is found dead, and the police are knocking at Laura''s door. They''re asking her questions and she''s telling them lies. I didn''t kill him. I promise.Someone wants Laura to pay for what she''s been running from. Someone with an obsession that they can''t let go.________A dark, addictive psychological thriller that wTrade ReviewDeftly told . . . the author is particularly good at creating just enough doubt and suspicion to keep the plot interesting . . . An accomplished debut and a fascinating study of the dangerous power of obsessive attraction * Daily Mail *Will have you turning pages long into the night * Scots Magazine *An impressive debut . . .Wonderfully constructed, this is at once a brilliant murder story, with enough spins of uncertainty to satisfy whilst remaining all-too-credible, and also a richly-perceptive account of female needs for connection, affection, love and sex * The Critic *Compelling and compulsive. A perfectly crafted 'just one more chapter' read. I loved it! -- Victoria Selman, Sunday Times bestselling author of TRULY DARKLY DEEPLYI struggled to put down this gripping tale of obsessive love and the dark shadow of the past -- Claire McGowan, author of WHAT YOU DIDEasy to get 'obsessed' with this book. Tautly plotted with memorable characters . . . a suspenseful read right up to its shockingly unexpected conclusion -- Lisa Ballantyne, Richard & Judy Book Club bestselling author of THE GUILTY ONECompelling, engrossing, and dark with secrets and passions, Liza North's debut had me guessing right to the last page -- E. S. Thomson, author of NIGHTSHADEA stunning debut. Daring, exhilarating, and darkly thrilling. I could not put this book down. -- J A Corrigan, author of THE NURSEAn addictive read: gripping from the first page. A stunning debut -- Samantha Lee Howe, author of THE STRANGER IN OUR BEDI absolutely loved this book . . . It kept me guessing right until the end with fast paced twists and turns and a gripping love story at its heart that kept me glued to the pages! -- Zoe Lea, author of THE SECRETARYAn addictive thriller, perfect for fans of Erin Kelly and Sarah Vaughan. Liza North is a major new talent -- Tom Harper, co-author of STORM TIDE

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Book Synopsis''Stunning . . . a true page-turning mystery. I adored it'' CHRIS WHITAKER, author of We Begin at the End''An irresistible mystery, superbly crafted'' ANNA BAILEY, author of Tall Bones''Compelling . . . I read it in a single sitting'' HAYLEY SCRIVENOR, author of Dirt Town''Gripping . . . an ending I never saw coming''ANA REYES, author of The House in the PinesA dark, compelling thriller about a small town simmering with secrets, perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Lisa Jewell and Shari Lapena.________EVERYONE IN THIS TOWN HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE.On a hot August day, Lauren Ballard mysteriously vanished from her home, leaving signs of a violent struggle.Sixteen years on, still haunted by her friend''s disappearance, Nicola Bennett returns to her hometown. For Nicola, Tyndall County has remained frozen in time. ETrade ReviewBold, beautiful, savage and stunning. The Good Ones is a taut thriller, an elegant exploration of loss and the haunt of past mistakes, and a true page-turning mystery. I adored it. -- Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of WE BEGIN AT THE ENDAn irresistible mystery, superbly crafted with all the stealth and intrigue of the best Southern Gothics -- Anna Bailey, author of Sunday Times bestseller TALL BONESPolly Stewart's haunting and menacing novel is an event of voice, and a compelling mystery that probes the dark places our minds go when a woman or girl is missing. The Good Ones pokes an exploring finger into old bruises, showing how the small decisions we make can change everything. I read it in a single sitting. -- Hayley Scrivenor, author of DIRT TOWNA fantastic achievement. A classic Southern Gothic tale told through the prism of modern-day sensibilities. Not to be missed -- S. A. Cosby, author of RAZORBLADE TEARSThe friendship at the heart of this gripping mystery is among the darkest and most complicated relationships I've read. The Good Ones had me suspecting everyone in Tyndall County, only to be proven wrong by an ending I never saw coming. Polly Stewart is an author to watch. -- Ana Reyes, author of Reese's Book Club pick THE HOUSE IN THE PINESA haunting, gorgeously rendered portrayal . . . A riveting, unflinching exploration of adolescent female friendships, small-town pressures to conform, and the true crime lover's tendency to conflate empathy and voyeurism, The Good Ones drew me in from the first lines and still hasn't released me, days after finishing. I envy readers opening Polly Stewart's beautiful, assured novel for the first time -- Katie Gutierrez, author of Radio 2 Book Club pick MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOWSmartly suspenseful and knife-sharp . . . In these pages, those who stay behind have as many secrets as those who go missing, and I couldn't stop reading until I'd untangled every mystery -- Sara Flannery Murphy, author of GIRL ONEA stunning achievement. With gorgeous writing, a compelling, flawed protagonist whose journey is so authentic, and an intricate mystery in which everyone is a suspect, this debut is captivating. The twists and turns are seamless and subtle . . . a mind-blowing ending -- Samantha M. Bailey, author of WOMAN ON THE EDGEReminiscent of Gone Girl with elements of Yellowjackets thrown in -- Eli Cranor, author of DON'T KNOW TOUGHStylish and totally compelling . . . as concerned with finding a missing woman as it is with challenging our assumptions about motherhood. I loved it! -- Darcey Bell, author of A SIMPLE FAVORSharp, smart and often sexy, The Good Ones is a knockout . . . the many raw secrets of Tyndall County that make this novel unique, clever, and compelling -- Ace Atkins, New York Times bestselling author of THE HEATHENSDark, suspenseful and thought-provoking . . . kept me turning pages late into the night -- Alison Buccola, author of CATCH HER WHEN SHE FALLSA riveting debut crime novel that's loaded with elements that readers will love - powerful characters, a fraught homecoming, and twists galore. I really enjoyed reading this - and I'm certain I won't be alone in that. -- Alex Segura, author of SECRET IDENTITY

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Book SynopsisLady Georgiana Rannoch is just back from her honeymoon with dashing Darcy O''Mara when a friend in need pulls her into a twisted Gothic tale of betrayal, deception and, most definitely, murder. . . .I am a bit at loose ends at the moment. My cook, Queenie, is making my new role as mistress of Eynsleigh something akin to constant torture as Darcy is off on another one of his top secret jaunts. And Grandad is busy helping wayward youths avoid lives of crime. So when my dearest friend, Belinda, inherits an old cottage in Cornwall and begs me to go with her to inspect the property, I jump at the chance.After a heart-stopping journey in Belinda''s beast of a motorcar, we arrive at the creaky old cottage called White Sails and quickly realize that it is completely uninhabitable. Just when I''m starting to wonder if I would have been better off trying to get Queenie to cook a roast that hasn''t been burnt beyond all recognition, we meet Rose Summers, a woman Belinda knew as

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Book SynopsisDuring WW2 there was a rumour that German spies were landing by parachute in Britain, dressed as nuns...Conradin Muller was an unusual spy. He was recruited in Hamburg in June 1943, much against his will, and sent on his first, and only, mission in late September that year. He failed to send a single report back to Germany, and when the War came to an end in May 1945, he fell to his knees and wept with relief.From a highly reluctant German spy who is drawn to an East Anglian nunnery as his only means of escape, to the strange tale of one of the Cambridge spy ring''s adventures with a Russian dwarf, these are Alexander McCall Smith''s intriguing and typically inventive stories from the world of espionage.''Spy-masterful storytelling'' Sunday Post''Delightfully old-fashioned and prudent of prose, McCall Smith unspools his tales'' Daily Mail''[Adds] another treasure to McCall Smith''s already glTrade ReviewSpy-masterful storytelling * Sunday Post *Marvellous... shows off Alexander McCall Smith's accomplishment as a storyteller as its very best * Undiscovered Scotland *There's nothing not to like about Alexander McCall Smith when you read his latest collection of six short stories on the business of spying... These are a half dozen beautifully shaped, delicious morsels, which I devoured even faster than McCall Smith could write them... full of character and detail * Australian *Massively entertaining and thought-provoking * Booklist (starred review) *Based on extensive research and with a fine grip on the slippery nature of the world of espionage, these underhand dealings range from Algeria in 1924 to a modern-day clerical cabal in the Vatican... Delightfully old-fashioned and prudent of prose, McCall Smith unspools his tales * Daily Mail *Taken together, the two parts echo each other. Each story provides a unique cast of characters and distinctly different plots, each offers a gentle portrait of people and society. And each is guided by the mastery of a consummate storyteller, offering another treasure to his already glittering library * New York Journal of Books *Spy-masterful storytelling * Sunday Post *Marvellous... shows off Alexander McCall Smith's accomplishment as a storyteller as its very best * Undiscovered Scotland *There's nothing not to like about Alexander McCall Smith when you read his latest collection of six short stories on the business of spying... These are a half dozen beautifully shaped, delicious morsels, which I devoured even faster than McCall Smith could write them... full of character and detail * Australian *Massively entertaining and thought-provoking * Booklist (starred review) *Based on extensive research and with a fine grip on the slippery nature of the world of espionage, these underhand dealings range from Algeria in 1924 to a modern-day clerical cabal in the Vatican... Delightfully old-fashioned and prudent of prose, McCall Smith unspools his tales * Daily Mail *Taken together, the two parts echo each other. Each story provides a unique cast of characters and distinctly different plots, each offers a gentle portrait of people and society. And each is guided by the mastery of a consummate storyteller, offering another treasure to his already glittering library * New York Journal of Books *

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Book SynopsisA murder mystery set at an exclusive boys school in Cornwall in the vein of Big Little Lies and Three Perfect Liars, peopled with character anyone who has ever stood at the school gates will instantly recognise.

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Book SynopsisUna McMurray is puzzled. Surely, statistically, the international cat show scene shouldn''t be this... lethal?Keen to make her mark in her new job in pet insurance, Una''s first task is to calculate whether cat ownership extends human lifespan. Tragically, that''s not the case for prizewinning cat owner Jeff Bridgely - a most improbable accident has ended his dreams of triumphing at the upcoming International Cat Show. When a second competitor dies in mysterious circumstances, the maths just doesn''t add up. Una vows to resolve this suspicious data discrepancy and impress her new project team, especially condescending Tim and ambitious trainee Patti.After borrowing Pedro the cat and brushing up on her feline facts, Una dives deep undercover in the cutthroat world of cat shows. Competition is fierce, but what Pedro lacks in pedigree, he makes up for in character. Although as Pedro''s odds of winning shorten, so do Una''s chances of survival...Armed with razor-sharp logic, analytical expertise and a scruffy moggy sidekick, can actuary Una catch the cat show killer before she becomes the latest fatal statistic?----------Readers love the Una McMurray Mysteries series!''Clever and very funny'' - Ian Moore, author of Death and Croissants''Eleanor Oliphant meets The Thursday Murder Club'' - Jessica Irena Smith''Deliciously fun mystery that gest serious about the body count, with clues that really do add up! Loved following Una seeing the risks at every turn - and having to overcome them if she''s to save those she loves. #TeamPedro - Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, author of the Dr Nell Ward Mysteries series''Witty and fun'' - Woman''s Own''Terrifically funny and endearing'' - Belfast Telegraph''Impressive... full of unusual ideas and amusing relationships'' - Morning Star

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Book SynopsisA PLAYFUL, TWISTY ROLLERCOASTER OF A THRILLER: HOW TO KILL YOUR FAMILY WITH A MEXICO SETTING AND A HINT OF THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY

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Book SynopsisThe Binding meets The Vanishing Half in this extraordinary historical debut - perfect for readers who love gothic mysteries with books at the heart of them, as well as stories about people often overlooked by history.The library is under lock and key. But its secrets can''t be contained.After he brought her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence''s father had her hair hot-combed to make her look like the other girls. But as a young woman, Florence is not so easy to tame - and when she brings scandal to his door, the bookbinder throws her onto the streets of Manchester. Intercepting her father''s latest commission, Florence talks her way into the remote, forbidding Rose Hall to restore its collection of rare books. Lord Francis Belfield''s library is old and full of secrets - but none so intriguing as the whispers about his late wife. Then one night, the library is broken into. Strangely, all the priceless tomes remain

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Book SynopsisAn atmospheric and disturbingly tense contemporary Gothic horror that reimagines the classic novel The Secret Garden, for fans of Francine Toon, Catriona Ward, Sally Hinchcliffe and Andrew Michael Hurley

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Book SynopsisThe world''s most beloved literary characters. The gilded opulence of the Roaring Twenties. A murder that scandalises high society. And a clever young woman of unusual persistence... Be ready to re-think the world of Gatsby.1922: You are cordially invited to summer at the Gatsby Mansion in West Egg, with the most illustrious - and the deadliest - guest list.Freshly twenty-one and sporting a daring new bob, Greta Gatsby - younger sister to the infamous Jay - is finally free of finishing school. An idyllic summer stretches ahead of her at the Gatsby Mansion, the jewel of West Egg.But when Greta arrives at the secluded white-stone estate bathed in the late-afternoon light, she finds she isn''t the only visitor. Jay is hosting an intimate gathering of New York''s fashionable set: Daisy and Tom Buchanan, along with his brother Edgar, Nick Carraway and Jordan Baker. That evening, the guests enjoy a candelabra-lit dinner party. That nigh

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Book Synopsis''Delightful ... The ongoing plots bind the stories, yet each in themselves is precise ... They are a joy'' - Stuart Kelly, Scotland on Sunday''All manner of nostalgic delights. Perfect reading for a sunny English garden'' - Kate Saunders, Independent''The author knows the location well and has caught its dour charm and great art treasures to perfection'' - Country Life_______________Loveable full-time priest and part-time detective Canon Sidney Chambers is back, continuing his investigations. A mysterious stranger seeks sanctuary in Grantchester's church; a shooting weekend in the country has a sinister end; a friend receives poison pen letters; a piano falls on a musician's head; a school cricket match has an explosive finish; and on a holiday in Italy, Sidney is accused of stealing a priceless painting. On the home front, his new curate has become irritatingly popular with the parish and his daughter is starting to walk and talk.Trade ReviewThe fourth of James Runcie’s delightful Grantchester Mysteries, which ought to bring about a critical reappraisal of the genre rather dismissively referred to as “cosy crime” … The ongoing plots bind the stories, yet each in themselves is precise … They are a joy -- Stuart Kelly * Scotland on Sunday *All manner of nostalgic delights. Perfect reading for a sunny English garden * Kate Saunders, Independent *The author knows the location well and has caught its dour charm and great art treasures to perfection. The story is a little art lesson in itself * Country Life *The violence in the Chambers stories takes place off-stage; the moral crises are internal. Perhaps the most startling aspect of these low-key, beguiling tales is their matter-of-fact depiction of a person of faith incorporating spiritual aspiration into daily life * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisAddictive' GuardianA febrile, urgent tale' Sunday TimesA sizzling new thriller' New York Times She knows your mind, she possesses your thoughts. What will she take next?I think I can help you'Beth lives by Camden Lock with her partner Sol and their daughter Fern. Life is peaceful, but Beth is troubled by increasing unease.So she goes to therapy with Dr Tamara Bywater. Soon their sessions become the highlight of Beth's week. But Beth is in over her head before she realises that Tamara might not be all she seems...A classy, compulsive tale of desire and obsession' Mail on SundayAn addictive, macabre fairground ride of a novel' GuardianThis is seduction of the most insidious kind' SpectatorTrade ReviewPage-turning … As Briscoe folds generous swirls of melodrama into the mix, the novel’s temperature rises from feverish to volcanic * Daily Mail *A probing, sometimes uncomfortable, always gripping study of erotic obsession -- Jonathan Coe * Observer Books of the Year *A gripping thriller * independent.co.uk *A tense, skilfully plotted and emotionally perceptive story * Observer *A classy, compulsive tale of desire and obsession, it glitters with menace * Mail on Sunday *Through this addictive, macabre fairground ride of a novel, Briscoe reminds us to value the quieter forms of love * Guardian *The author has a fine eye for aesthetic detail and an even finer one for parental relationships … this is seduction of the most insidious kind * Spectator *A febrile, urgent tale * Sunday Times *Juicy and thrilling * Heat *Joanna Briscoe is one of those writers who manages to pull off that combination of pin-sharp prose with the pull of a plot that keeps you turning the pages. Richly observed, The Seduction is a rewardingly moreish read * Living *A vivid and evocative tale of obsession and deception * Sunday Mirror *A clever, nuanced, elegantly written exploration of obsession * Saga *

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Book SynopsisSTUART TURTON''S INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD NOW IS OUT NOWIf you read one book this year, make sure it's this one' Daily MailCHOSEN AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE GUARDIAN, SUNDAY TIMES, DAILY MAIL, FINANCIAL TIMES, DAILY EXPRESS AND i PAPERWINNER OF THE BOOKS ARE MY BAG READERS AWARD FOR FICTION SELECTED FOR THE BBC TWO BOOK CLUB BETWEEN THE COVERS AND THE RADIO 2 JO WHILEY BOOK CLUBAn impossible murder A remarkable detective duo A demon who may or may not existIt's 1634 and Samuel Pipps, the world's greatest detective, is being transported from the Dutch East Indies to Amsterdam, where he is facing trial and execution for a crime he may, or may not, have committed. Travelling with him is his loyal bodyguard, Arent Hayes, who is determined to prove his friend innocent, while also on board are Sara Wessel, Trade ReviewIt’s a tad Holmes and Watson, a touch Treasure Island, but there’s so much else, too; the lives of women at the time, the contemporary obsession with witchcraft and most of all the authentic stink, creak, superstition and slop of life on board an Indiaman, roaring sailors and all. If you read one book this year, make sure it’s this one -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail *Brilliant... intoxicating... There are some great villains and terrific heroes, especially the gentle (and gory) giant Hayes…The Devil and the Dark Water overflows with wonderful descriptions, neat similes, and enough horror, mystery, and crime to keep anyone enthralled * Independent *Think of a Holmes and Watson-style duo operating in a Pirates Of The Caribbean-style universe, complete with a demon with a love for Faustian pacts, a secret invention called The Folly and a leper who has seemingly survived being consumed by flames … A rollicking adventure yarn * Metro *The Devil and the Dark Water is all about narrative pleasure … The locked room murder meets a Michael Bay movie, by way of Treasure Island; you can’t know what’s going on, if only because the author won’t let you know until he’s delivered the final surprise – and another one after that. The effect is irresistible. Turton has got his world up and running inside the first two pages; thereafter, deceptions and diversions multiply until the ultimate, outrageous reveal, at which point the dark water turns out to be rather darker than you imagined -- M John Harrison * Guardian *[Turton’s] second book is an even more exuberant demonstration of his storytelling skills … Wildly inventive, Turton’s tale defies definition as either historical fiction or crime novel, but provides all the pleasures of both genres and more * Sunday Times *A rollicking tale of devils, lepers and witchfinders * Irish Times *An imaginative tour de force * Literary Review *Turton’s prose is jaunty and vivid. And unlike most whodunits I wouldn’t recommend it for pre-lights-out reading – not just because of the spooky bits, but because such a lovingly complex construct needs readers who are fully awake * Sunday Telegraph, Novel of the Week *A genre sampling epic that sets outrageous traps for the reader and builds an atmosphere of dread up to an operatic final twist * Financial Times *A glorious mash-up of William Golding and Arthur Conan Doyle -- Val McDermidStunningly good. A page-turning mystery on an epic scale, intricately plotted and expertly landed -- Simon LelicNo novel this year was more fun to read than this baroque tale of adventure -- Books of the Year * Sunday Times *A superb historical mystery: inventive, twisty, addictive and utterly beguiling. I fell for this book (and its characters) in a big way. Beautifully crafted escapism for fans of Sherlock and Master & Commander. A TRIUMPH -- Will DeanStuart Turton has done it again. The Devil and the Dark Water is mind bending, genre bending, intricate, vivid, intelligent and with one of the most gloriously grizzly cast of characters ever. An absolute razztwizzler of a novel! -- Ali LandThe desperate life on board an Amsterdam-bound Dutch Indiamen has never been so vividly painted. Throw in a demon (who may or may not exist), a cast of beautifully realised, compelling characters along with a series of locked room mysteries and the result is one of the most extraordinary books being published this year -- M.W. CravenAn absolute treat from the most original voice in crime fiction -- Ragnar JonassonTurton ?its between characters with trademark intricacy, the plot tossing around on the high seas. Each crest and fall adds to the bewilderingly compelling story, culminating in a completely unpredictable yet thoroughly satisfying ending * i *I can think of few writers who conjure up twists and mysterious happenings with such unflagging gusto and sheer infectious pleasure … It’s a great read -- Jake Kerridge * Sunday Express *Turton’s debut The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was a hard act to follow, but lightning has struck twice ... A genre-sampling epic that sets outrageous traps for the reader and builds an atmosphere of dread -- Books of the Year * Financial Times *A fiendish maritime mystery, [involving] a lot of secrets and a great deal of swash and buckle -- Books of the Year * Guardian *Stunning historical fantasy set at sea … Holmes and Watson meets Treasure Island -- Best Novels of 2020 * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis''Unmissable Rankin, as gripping and involving as any Rebus story'' CHOICE; ''A brilliant book'' GUARDIANFrom the No.1 bestselling author of A SONG FOR THE DARK TIMES''On the evidence of THE COMPLAINTS it looks as if Fox will be just as sure-footed a guide to the city as his grizzled predecessor'' DAILY EXPRESS.Nobody likes The Complaints - they''re the cops who investigate other cops. Complaints and Conduct Department, to give them their full title, but known colloquially as ''the Dark Side'', or simply ''The Complaints''. Malcolm Fox works for The Complaints. He''s just had a result, and should be feeling good about himself. But he''s middle-aged, sour and unwell. He also has a father in a care home and a sister who persists in an abusive relationship. In the midst of an aggressive Edinburgh winter, the reluctant Fox is given a new task. There''s a cop called Jamie Breck, and he''s dirty. Problem is, no one can prove it.Trade Review'If you haven't tried Rankin, this is an excellent place to start.' -- Sarah Broadhurst SUNDAY TIMES 'Ian Rankin efficiently exorcises the ghost of Rebus in this post-Rebus stand-alone novel, set in the police complaints department in a recession-riven Edinburgh' METRO 'Another slick crime caper from a master at the top of his game' (4 stars) NEWS OF THE WORLD 'a familiar Rankin blend of whodunnit, workplace soap opera and a spiky guide to Edinburgh, handled with flair and finesse. With The Complaints, the author conclusively shows that he can put together a satisfyingly complex detetective story without a Rolling Stones-loving, former SAS sleuth at its centre' -- John Dugdale SUNDAY TIMES 'The first Rankin novel featuring Edinburgh policeman, Malcolm Fox, a very different character from DI Rebus, who works for the unpopular Complaints & Conduct department of the Edinburgh force' GOOD BOOK GUIDE 'Ian Rankin showed their was life after Rebus by creating a new set of Scottish police characters in the very satisfying THE COMPLAINTS' DEADLY PLEASURES

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Book SynopsisA death at a funfair, and Bourne must face his nemesis...The third Jason Bourne novel from internationally bestselling author Robert Ludlum.''The real titan of the genre is Robert Ludlum'' GQ''Watch your back 007 - Bourne is out to get you'' - Sunday TimesIt all starts with a cat-and-mouse chase to the death in a Baltimore funfair: the Jackal, Bourne''s age-old antagonist, is back and Bourne is forced from his idyllic retirement with his wife and children to confront his enemy.In Europe and America there are men and women whose lust for power is disguised by their positions and respectability. Their aim: to gain control at the highest level, to avenge, to destroy.Jason Bourne has been the assassin before: now he longs for peace with his family, but the threat of the Jackal puts in jeopardy all possibility of peace...Trade ReviewSuperb... the pace and tension are stupendous, the solution devastating... compulsive entertainment * SUNDAY EXPRESS *A fast-paced thriller from a reliable master * DAILY MAIL *The real titan of the genre is Robert Ludlum * GQ *A page-turner of non-stop action * NEW YORK POST *Bourne is more mysterious than Bond, more real than Batman and more complex than Bruce Willis * STELLA *Olympic style, all-out espionage * DAILY EXPRESS *A writer who bests the bestsellers * DAILY TELEGRAPH *

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Book SynopsisThe heroic story of Arimnestos of Plataea continues - a thrilling historical adventure set amid the epic struggle between Greece and Persia - perfect for fans of the blockbusting film 300.Slave, pirate, husband and lover: Arimnestos of Plataea has been many things in the course of his life. But men remember him best as one of the heroes of the Battle of Marathon, the epic victory that prevented all of Greece from falling under the Persian yoke. But now there is a new Great King on the throne, determined to succeed where his father failed. As rumours abound of a vast Persian invasion, an embassy is sent to forestall the threat. Arimnestos is chosen to escort them - an honour he can hardly refuse. But as the storm clouds of war gather and factions on both sides begin to weave their treacherous plots, Arimnestos'' journey begins to look more and more like a suicide mission.Trade ReviewWithout doubt, Christian Cameron is one of the finest writers of historical fiction in the world. He stands head and shoulders above the vast majority of his contemporaries, and I stand in awe of him and his writing -- Ben Kane

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Book SynopsisA brilliant thriller from the No.1 bestselling author of A SONG FOR THE DARK TIMES''No one in Britain writes better crime novels today'' Evening StandardInterpol have tried and failed to find the terrorist, Witch. Now the combined forces of Scotland Yard and MI5 must try the impossible to prevent a major international incident. Dominic Elder carries her autograph wherever he goes. Witch is his passion, his obsession. And being retired is no bar to his willingness to restart the hunt. MI5 know that the man who wrote the Witch file is the key to catching their quarry. But the truth isn''t easy to spot. And it is only when an MI5 novice and his French counterpart piece together the smallest of clues, that Witch suddenly looks vulnerable...Trade ReviewBritain's No.1 crime writer * DAILY MIRROR *Ian Rankin is perhaps the best and most complex thriller writer in Britain today * DAILY TELEGRAPH *An addictive writer ... a remarkable talent * SPECTATOR *Rankin is the thinking man's thriller writer * IRISH TIMES *Rankin is a master of his craft * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *Rankin is without doubt Britain's best crime novelist * DAILY EXPRESS *There are few writers who can match him for imaginative, multi-layered plots * NEW STATESMAN *

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Book SynopsisThe horror has just begun... A brilliant thriller from the No.1 bestselling author of A SONG FOR THE DARK TIMES.''No one writes more gripping stories than Rankin'' TLSIt begins with a phone call. Gordon Reeve''s brother has been found dead in his car in San Diego. The car was locked from the inside, a gun was in his hand. In the US to identify the body Gordon realises that his brother has been murdered. What''s more, it''s soon obvious that his own life is in danger.Once back in Scotland he finds out his home has been bugged by professionals. But Reeve is a professional too. Ex-SAS, he was half of a two-man unit with someone he came to fear, then to hate. It looks like his nemesis is back...Trade ReviewShows Rankin to be as adept at writing thrillers as he is at putting together more meditative crime stories * OBSERVER *No one writes more gripping stories than Rankin * TLS *Ian Rankin is a first-rate storyteller in the classic mould, but what really distinguishes his work is his gift for characterisation * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Ian Rankin is perhaps the best and most complex thriller writer in Britain today * DAILY TELEGRAPH *An addictive writer ... a remarkable talent * SPECTATOR *No one in Britain writes better crime novels today * EVENING STANDARD *

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Book SynopsisOfficial, original James Bond from a writer described by Len Deighton as a ''master storyteller''When M receives word that a known terrorist organisation is planning to infiltrate and destroy a top-secret British Royal Navy aircraft carrier-based summit of world leaders, James Bond is returned to active duty in the Royal Navy. Promoted from Commander to Captain, Bond is expected to infiltrate the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible and identify potential sleeper agents.As he struggles to complete his mission, a massive war game is being carried out between the American, British, and Soviet Navies. And when Bond gets caught up in a murder investigation the safety of the most powerful leaders on the planet hangs in the balance ...

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Book SynopsisNo. 4 in this must-have mystery series from the bestselling author behind TRUE BLOOD.Trade ReviewLily Bard is the equal of Kay Scarpetta, Kinsey Milhone and V. I. Warshawski even on a bad day * Library Journal *Fresher, more unusual, than any other mystery' * Washington Post Sunday Book World *Harris is good at painting the atmosphere of a small town where everyone knows everybody else's business. -- Brandon Robshaw * The Independent on Sunday *[A] real gripping murder mystery that will keep you guessing and guessing. * entertainment-focus.com *

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Book SynopsisThe first novel in a darkly humorous London-based crime series featuring bisexual private detective Duffy.Trade Review"Duffy is a wonderfully appealing character who could never be anything but the creation of a top-flight imagination." * DAILY MAIL *Funny, sleazy, fast-paced and written with brio * GUARDIAN *"Barnes takes Duffy into the dark underbelly of Soho, with his customary wit." * CATHOLIC HERALD *It is bleak, but it is good. Really good. -- Scott Pack * ME AND MY BIG MOUTH *Duffy is not your typical detective - and this is not your typical detective novel. It's gripping, witty and sometimes horrible and hysterical at the same time...Julian Barnes's foray into the crime genre is an absolute riot - and the good news is there are three more reissues featuring Nick Duffy to look forward to over the next 12 months. * CRIME FICTION LOVER *There is plenty of goodwill for his witty books featuring his bisexual sleuth, even though the lashing of sex and violence are a world away from Barnes' customary endeavors. * INDEPENDENT *Exciting, funny and refreshingly nasty * Martin Amis *The characterization is exact, the action gripping, and the writing pleasantly ironic * THE TIMES *Dan Kavanagh effortlessly jumped to the top of the crime writer's league * SPECTATOR *Treat yourself. One of the most colourful and entertaining English thrillers * EVENING STANDARD *The laughs are as many as the gasps * FINANCIAL TIMES *Marvellously aerated by bubbles of Mr Kavanagh's very dry, sly, wide-ranging and Eighties humour * SUNDAY TIMES *

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Book SynopsisThey were looking for a miracle cure, but they instead they found a killer . . .Sara and Michael. The ideal celebrity couple, darlings of the media - until their lives are shattered by a mystery illness.Dr Harvey Riker. His clinic has found the miracle cure that millions seek. One-by-one his patients are getting well. One-by-one they are targeted by a serial killer more fatal than the disease.Lieutenant Bernstein. His true desires make him a perfect choice to track the killer - or a perfect victim.Can anyone stop the killer who will do anything to prevent the world''s most desperately needed miracle cure . . . ?Trade ReviewHarlan Coben is the modern master of the hook-and-twist - luring you in on the first page, only to shock you on the last * Dan Brown *His thrillers come with the guarantee of a great read and a twist in the tale, and again he delivers the goods * EVENING TELEGRAPH *In the hands of Harlan Coben you are kept guessing - and intrigued - until the last line * GUARDIAN *

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Book SynopsisA brutal attack. A mysterious demand for money. An unexpected kidnap... A superb novel from the two-time winner of the THEAKSTONS OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR AWARD and Costa shortlisted author of THE LESS DEADTrade ReviewOne of the most exciting writers to have emerged in Britain for years -- Ian RankinHer characterisations and settings are so authentic...There are probably now as many crime writers in Scotland as criminals, but Mina may be the pick of the bunch * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Confirms Mina's place in the premier division...atmospheric, intense and full of the disturbing flavour of inner-city lowlife * GUARDIAN *The narrative is inspired by a real-life kidnapping, but Mina parleys this into something richer and stranger...The final effect of STILL MIDNIGHT is both unsettling and exhilarating * INDEPENDENT *There is a rich ordinariness, a believability, a recognisable quality about Mina's characters, who are better drawn than those of anyone else writing in her genre in Scotland * SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY *Remember the name. This is a major talent heading for the top * LITERARY REVIEW *One of the finest crime writers of her generation * DAILY TELEGRAPH *One of the most exciting writers to have emerged in Britain for years * Ian Rankin *Her characterisations and settings are so authentic...There are probably now as many crime writers in Scotland as criminals, but Mina may be the pick of the bunch * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Confirms Mina's place in the premier division...atmospheric, intense and full of the disturbing flavour of inner-city lowlife * GUARDIAN *The narrative is inspired by a real-life kidnapping, but Mina parleys this into something richer and stranger...The final effect of STILL MIDNIGHT is both unsettling and exhilarating * INDEPENDENT *There is a rich ordinariness, a believability, a recognisable quality about Mina's characters, who are better drawn than those of anyone else writing in her genre in Scotland * SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY *Remember the name. This is a major talent heading for the top * LITERARY REVIEW *One of the finest crime writers of her generation * DAILY TELEGRAPH *

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Book SynopsisCan we trust the stories we tell ourselves about the past? This is the question tough ex-FBI agent Brigid Quinn must ask herself when a cold case comes close to home.Trade ReviewA crime novel that transcends the genre - a twisting, high-stakes story with characters so real and so recognizably human, that it breaks your heart a little. Brilliant * Shari Lapena, author of The Couple Next Door *Brilliant, intricate, authentic and sometimes raw, this is a masterfully written story that'll quicken your pulse and challenge the grey matter too. Brigid Quinn is my new favourite female investigator. Loved it! * Gilly Macmillan *Becky Masterman is on of those skilled writers who makes the reader laugh, cry and think, all in the space of a few pages; and Brigid Quinn is as real as a character in a book can be. -- Promoting Crime BlogspotBrigid Quinn is the kind of FBI agent you have never met before, but will want to meet again! * Peter Robinson *A fantastic crime narrative -- Compelling ReadsA Twist of the Knife has one of the most chilling prologues I have ever read -- The Book Magnetgripping and entertaining read -- Sid's Book Blog

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Book Synopsis''Do you ever think there''s maybe something that''s gone wrong with the world?''A man is found dead in one of the city''s luxury homes. Homicide detective Ross Carver arrives at the scene when six FBI agents burst in and forcibly remove him from the premises. Two days later...Carver wakes in his bed to find Mia a neighbor he''s hardly ever spoken to, reading aloud to him. He has no recollection of the crime scene, no memory of how he got home, and no idea that two days have passed. Carver knows nothing about this woman but as he struggles to piece together what happened to him, he soon realizes he''s involved himself in a web of conspiracy that spans the nation. And Mia just might know more than she''s letting on...''Moore has a great gift for the macabre and the creepy.'' The TimesTrade ReviewThe Poison Artist is an electrifying read, building from shock to shock. I read the last 100 pages in a single sitting. The last chapter is an absolute stunner. I haven't read anything so terrifying since Red Dragon. - Stephen KingPatient, stylish and incredibly suspenseful. - Lee ChildMoore has a great gift for the macabre and the creepy. - The TimesObsession and death collide in an elegantly written thriller. - Independent

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Book Synopsis''If you read only one western in your life, this is the one'' Roland Smith, author of PeakHe rode into our valley in the summer of 1889, a slim man, dressed in black. ''Call me Shane,'' he said. He never told us more. There was a deadly calm in the valley that summer, a slow, climbing tension that seemed to focus on Shane.Seen through the eyes of a young boy, Bob Starrett, SHANE is the classic story of a lone stranger. At first sight, the boy realises there is something unusual about the approaching man, but as Bob gets to know Shane, he realises that there is an inner sadness in him. SHANE is the story of a gunfighter who tries to hang up his gun but is drawn to the side of the boy''s family and other homesteaders in their struggle to keep from being forced off their land.Trade ReviewJack Schaefer is not a writer of conventional westerns ... [his work is] tautly and tightly constructed ... [with] additional ingredients that make for complex storytelling * NEW YORK TIMES *If you read only one western in your life, this is the one -- Roland Smith, author of PEAKThe author has created a tale which captivates the reader's attention from beginning to end. His skill in depicting a character, a situation, or a mood, with a minimum of words, gives the story a tightly-woven quality often lacking in present-day novels. The book almost demands completion in one sitting * LIBRARY JOURNAL *Its tension is of the uncoiling spring variety. It's as clean as a hound's tooth * SATURDAY REVIEW *SHANE is a work of literature first and a western second * ST GEORGE DAILY SPECTRUM *A real superiority here * KIRKUS *

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Book SynopsisThere are sixteen contestants, but only one will survive.The last thing Jack West Jr remembers is arriving for a meeting at a top-secret military base with his family in tow.Now he awakes to find himself in a hellish scenario. Jack has been selected to take part in the Games, a series of deadly challenges designed to fulfil an ancient ritual. If he chooses not to compete, both he and his daughter will be killed.With the fate of the Earth at stake, Jack will have to traverse diabolical mazes, fight ruthless assassins and face unimaginable horrors that will test him to the limit.In the process, he will discover the mysterious and powerful group of individuals behind it all: the four legendary kingdoms.The thrilling new Jack West adventure from the bestselling author of The Great Zoo of China and The Five Greatest Warriors.Trade ReviewI was on the edge of my seat for this whole book, I couldn't believe that Matthew Reilly grabbed me from the first page and didn't let me go until 400 pages later. -- Always Trust in BooksDamn good fun. -- Crime Review

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Book SynopsisCosy crime historical mysteries featuring Flavia de Luce - the teenage amateur sleuth you'll never forget. Perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz' Magpie Murders and Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.Trade ReviewThe 1950s frame is aptly set with a wealth of period details, including the quaint village of Bishop's Lacey, with its vicarage and altar guild, and Flavia's old-fashioned bicycle named Gladys. Despite the novel's patently improbable plot, Flavia's over-the-top use of alliteration and proudly precocious, sesquipedalian vocabulary, along with the thoroughly endearing cast of characters, make this series' tenth installment a laugh-out-loud winner. * Starred Booklist *Excellent.... Bradley, who has few peers at combining fair-play clueing with humor and has fun mocking genre conventions, shows no sign of running out of ideas. * Starred Publishers Weekly *An enjoyable romp across the country, as the charming duo unearth sinister secrets in their local community that results in a very satisfying conclusion. * Heat *[This] series of books have proved incredibly popular and have gained Alan legions of fans all over the world. * Manx Independent *

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Book SynopsisIRRESISTIBLE AND PULSE-POUNDING Karin SlaughterA TENSE, PACY PAGE-TURNER GUARDIANBRILLIANT AND RELENTLESS Don WinslowThe unmissable new thriller from the bestselling author of THE CHAIN.YOU DON''T KNOW WHAT YOU''RE CAPABLE OF UNTIL THEY COME FOR YOUR FAMILY.After moving from a small country town to Seattle, Heather Baxter marries Tom, a widowed doctor with a young son and teenage daughter. A working vacation overseas seems like the perfect way to bring the new family together, but once they''re deep in the Australian outback, the jet-lagged and exhausted kids are so over their new mom.When they discover a remote Dutch Island, off-limits to outside visitors, the family talks their way onto the ferry, taking a chance on an adventure far from the reach of iPhones and Instagram. But as soon as they set foot on the island, which is run by a tightly knit clan of locals, everything feels wrong. Then a shockinTrade ReviewUnforgettable * DON WINSLOW *Heart-stoppingly tense and unpredictable, The Island twists a family vacation to a nightmarish breaking point. Adrian McKinty has written another irresistible and pulse-pounding thriller about the surprising places evil hides and just how far we'll go for those we love. * KARIN SLAUGHTER *A pulsating, nerve-shredding thriller. I loved it! * M.J. ARLIDGE *Wow, this book left me breathless and on the edge of my seat from the very first page-this is thriller writing of a high order. Gripping and unpredictable, prepare to be hooked and pumped full of adrenaline as McKinty deftly weaves a compulsively readable plot with characters that you are rooting for. No one does high- stakes tension like McKinty. Put The Island at the top of your TBR-you won't regret it. * SARAH PEARSE, Bestselling author of THE SANATORIUM *Extraordinary * T.J. NEWMAN *A haunting masterpiece * STEVE CAVANAGH *McKinty delivers another skillful, blade-sharp page-turner. * JAMES SWALLOW *Expertly choreographed and breathlessly exciting . . . both the peril and the family are like no other. The Chain was McKinty's breakthrough novel and this one could be every bit as big. * Booklist (starred review) *Exciting . . . Pulls readers compulsively onward * Kirkus Reviews *Exquisite prose at blistering pace. McKinty strikes again. Absolutely riveting. * Paul Finch *With more than a touch of the gothic, this seat-of-the-pants ride sees an Australian woman bring her American family to an island off the Victorian coast. But a fatal road accident leaves them falling foul of the Deliverance-like family that rules the island and in a battle for survival. (Top 10 Books You Should Read in June) * Sydney Morning Herald *The Baxters fight for survival in this tense, pacy page-turner from the author of The Chain. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisShe kept her gaze fixed out of the window, towards the village and Withington Hall beyond. ''It''s perfect,'' she said...September 1920. A young bride is discovered dead at a country house on her wedding day. Has she fallen victim to the deadly Withington curse, which strikes down any woman who marries into the family?Forensic Pathologist Dr Bernard Spilsbury doesn''t believe in such superstitions, and suspects a more earthly reason for Theodora Tupper''s death. But as he and his trusty assistant Violet investigate, they soon discover that there are indeed ghosts at Withington Hall. And they, too, have a story to tell...

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Book Synopsis''Involving, sophisticated, intelligent and suspenseful'' Lee Child''A gripping, twisty police procedural'' Shari Lapena''Sets off at a cracking pace from page one and never slows down'' Rachel Abbott''Compelling, page-turning suspense ... Mari is a writer at the very top of her game'' Steve CavanaghA FATAL CRASHA plane on route from London to New York City has disappeared out of the sky. This breaking news dominates every TV channel, every social media platform, and every waking hour of the Metropolitan Police and US Homeland Security. A PRIVATE TRAGEDYThe love of DCI Kate Daniels'' life was on that aircraft, but she has no authority to investigate. This major disaster is outside of her jurisdiction and she''s ordered to walk away.A SEARCH FOR THE TRUTHBut Kate can''t let it lie. She has to find out what happened to that plane - evTrade ReviewInvolving, sophiticated, intelligent and suspenseful - everything a great crime thriller should be. * Lee Child *A gripping, twisty police procedural - fans of the Kate Daniels series will love this one. * Shari Lapena *With a cast of compelling characters and a chilling plot, Without a Trace sets off at a cracking pace from page one and never slows down. * Rachel Abbott *Mari Hannah has a rare gift. She can write compelling, page-turning suspense with the very best, but she adds heart to every page. Kate Daniels is a character to cherish, and Mari is a writer at the very top of her game. * Steve Cavanagh *I loved it - both compelling and incredibly moving. * Elly Griffiths *A personal tragedy puts Kate Daniels at the heart of an international incident, testing her skills as a detective. Without A Trace is a deft blend of emotional drama and crime procedural that kept me hooked to the very end. Mari Hannah has a talent for writing about the light and dark of life, and creates characters who feel so realistic they almost pop from the page. * Adam Hamdy *Mari Hannah is in the uppermost echelon of British crime writers and Without a Trace demonstrates why. It's her best book yet - compelling, emotional and intricately plotted with a procedural authenticity few can match. A stunning novel. * M.W. Craven *

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Book Synopsis''Strangers On A Train meets The Pact in this high concept thriller: daring, dramatic and totally original, I loved it.'' Gillian McAllisterHow far would you go to save a perfect stranger? Maggie is trapped. Dumped on her wedding day, rejected by her family and hounded by a man determined to make her suffer. Charlotte is desperate. Double-crossed by her only friend and facing total ruin, she will go to any lengths to save what matters.Two women, one night. A decision that will change everything.Trade ReviewI picked up Holly Seddon's The Woman on the Bridge this morning and didn't put it down till I'd finished. An absolute masterclass in plotting - this is Seddon's best book yet. * Clare Mackintosh, author of THE LAST PARTY *Strangers On A Train meets The Pact in this high concept thriller: daring, dramatic and totally original, I loved it. * Gillian McAllister *Clever and entirely gripping, I raced through this - Holly Seddon at her very best. * Catherine Cooper, author of THE CHATEAU *This is so good! Holly Seddon is brilliant at putting her protagonist in the worst possible situations and making her readers watch them writhe. * Emma Curtis, author of INVITE ME IN *Wow - what a book! Both beautifully written and packed full of shocking twists, I was gripped from the first page to the final gut-wrenching chapter. No one breaks your heart while making it race quite like Holly Seddon. * Sophie Flynn, author of ALL MY LIES *I was hooked from the start! Holly Seddon knows exactly how to take her readers on an emotional ride filled with suspense, unexpected twists, and a breathtaking conclusion. * Samantha Downing, internationally bestselling author of MY LOVELY WIFE *I tore through The Woman on the Bridge, a super-nervy thriller about old friends and new beginnings that spun my suspicions on their head so I had no idea what was coming next. * Harriet Walker, author of THE WEDDING NIGHT *An amazing read! A clever, complex plot that starts so simply then gathers momentum and won't let you go * Lesley Kara, author of THE APARTMENT UPSTAIRS *A tautly plotted rollercoaster of a ride with characters that really come to life. I was gripped from start to finish * Lisa Ballantyne *Fast-paced and gripping, The Woman On The Bridge delivers twists after twists until the very last page. * Laure Van Rensburg, author of Nobody But Us *Not only is Holly Seddon a talented and engaging writer, she's a queen of the kind of intelligent, intricate plotting that makes it impossible to put this book down. * Fiona Cummins, author of INTO THE DARK *Clever and entirely gripping, I raced through this - Holly Seddon at her very best. * Catherine Cooper, author of THE CHATEAU *

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Book SynopsisA story collection from one of the most popular and widely acclaimed icons of American fiction, featuring a never-before-published novella.****These eight stories move between the marshlands of the Gulf of Mexico, the sweeping plains of Colorado, and the prisons, saloons, and trailer parks of the South, weaving together quiet acts of love and survival with shocking eruptions of violence and revenge. Harbor Lights is populated with unforgettable characters, unfolds in lyrical prose, and displays James Lee Burke''s singular skills in this masterful anthology.****PRAISE FOR JAMES LEE BURKE, THE AWARD-WINNING KING OF SOUTHERN NOIR:''James 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''No argument: James Lee Burke is among the finest of all contempo

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Book SynopsisHere, in one volume, are the stories that transformed Sherlock Holmes into a household name: the fateful first meeting of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson inA Study in Scarlet, the mysterious treasure ofThe Sign of the Four, the formidable Irene Adler of A Scandal in Bohemiaand many more! This collection includesA Study in Scarlet, The Sign of the Four, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,andThe Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

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Book SynopsisEVIL TAKES MANY FORMS. PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR CHARLIE PARKER HUNTS THEM ALL.The Black Angel is not an object. The Black Angel is not a myth. The Black Angel lives.A young woman goes missing from the streets of New York. Those who have taken her believe that nobody cares about her, and that no one will come looking for her. They are wrong. She is linked to the killer Louis, the man who stands at the right hand of private detective Charlie Parker, and Louis will tear apart anyone who stands in the way of his attempts to find her. But as Louis''s search progresses, Parker comes to realize that the disappearance is part of an older mystery, one that is linked to an ornate church of bones in Eastern Europe, to the slaughter at a French monastery in 1944, and to the quest for a mythical prize that has been sought for centuries by evil men: the Black Angel.From the number one Sunday Times and multi-million-copy bestselling author JoTrade ReviewConnolly has virtually no match when it comes to chilling his readers. * Daily Express *Connolly has virtually no match when it comes to chilling his readers. * Daily Express *The master of supernatural sleuthery. * The Times *

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Book SynopsisEVIL TAKES MANY FORMS. PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR CHARLIE PARKER HUNTS THEM ALL.Daniel Clay, a once-respected psychiatrist, has been missing for years following revelations about harm done to the children in his care. Believing him dead, his daughter Rebecca has tried to come to terms with her father''s legacy, but her fragile peace is about to be shattered. Someone is asking questions: the revenger Merrick, a father and a killer obsessed with discovering the truth about his own daughter''s disappearance. Private detective Charlie Parker is hired to make Merrick go away, but Merrick will not be stopped. Soon Parker finds himself trapped between those who want the truth about Daniel Clay to be revealed and those who want it to remain hidden at all costs. But there are other forces at work here. Merrick''s actions have drawn others from the shadows, half-glimpsed figures intent upon their own form of revenge, pale wraiths drifting through the ranks of the Trade ReviewThere is an element of the supernatural, taking the reader into a place where the real, contemporary world is touched by something from our worst nightmares, and he does it in lyrical, almost poetic language which grips and chills. * Sunday Telegraph *There is an element of the supernatural, taking the reader into a place where the real, contemporary world is touched by something from our worst nightmares, and he does it in lyrical, almost poetic language which grips and chills. * Sunday Telegraph *Parker is a classic character who walks straight and tall like someone from the old west, and the reader knows all will be well once he arrives in town. THE UNQUIET just won't let you put it down as the plot careers across the pages like a runaway train. Excellent! * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisSpies, intrigue and conspiracy in the Tudor court.Trade ReviewVery highly recommended. * Editor's Choice, Historical Novels Review *Compelling... a riveting blend of passion, power and betrayal. * Inside Soap on THE LAST QUEEN *Disturbing royal secrets and court manipulations wickedly twist this enthralling story, brilliantly told. * Publishers Weekly on THE LAST QUEEN *

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Book Synopsis A crime novel that''s perfect for fans of Peter James or Peter Robinson.If you look him in the eye, you''re dead.From the outside, Robert Naysmith is a successful businessman, handsome and charming. But for years he''s been playing a deadly game. He doesn''t choose his victims. Each is selected at random - the first person to make eye contact after he begins ''the game'' will not have long to live. Their fate is sealed.When the body of a young woman is found on Severn Beach, Detective Inspector Harland is assigned the case. It''s only when he links it to an unsolved murder in Oxford that the police begin to guess at the awful scale of the crimes. But how do you find a killer who strikes without motive?Trade ReviewA chilling game of cat and mouse that should keep you awake long after bedtime. DI Harland is a welcome addition to the growing ranks of British detectives. * Peter Robinson *Let's welcome Fergus McNeill to the ranks of British Crime fiction innovators; he has found a darker shade of noir * Quintin Jardine *Creepy, compelling and completely convincing * Erin Kelly, author of THE POISON TREE *'A gripping first novel' * Irish Independent *

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Book SynopsisThe literary classic that inspired the iconic film - the story of two sisters and the hell they made their home.Trade ReviewSlips, chances, hopes, and especially encompassing fears are Mr Farrell's province and he rules with authority * New York Herald Tribune *Spine-twister * Saturday Review *A suspense story with an unusual twist * Springfield Republican *

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Book SynopsisNumber one bestselling author Jeffery Deaver's standalone thriller begins with his most amazing twist - the book's ending...Trade ReviewIn THE OCTOBER LIST, the always entertaining Jeffery Deaver attempts the almost impossible: the back-to-front thriller, beginning with its climax and ending with the planning of the initial crime . . . It's very readable * The Times *Even halfway through, it seems possible that Deaver has been defeated by the mind-boggling technical challenge of delivering surprises in back-to-front time. But after the reverse journey reaches the couple's first meeting, his gamble is thoroughly vindicated by a series of twists in which he resembles a conjuror who each time seems to have performed his final trick, but then tops it. * The Sunday Times *Jeffery Deaver's most fiendish thriller ever . . . The reader is never lied to in Deaver's brilliant shell game, merely misdirected, and the best part of this trick is that despite being in on the game, we continue to make false assumptions . . . as the pace quickens and the story continues to backtrack, solid evidence, established plot points and sturdily built characters all begin to come undone, until what started out as an interactive game becomes a truly unnerving exercise in deception. * New York Times *A clever, demanding stand-alone . . . As the ingenious plot folds back on itself, the reader has to reevaluate and reinterpret the constantly shifting "facts" in the case. The finished picture finally emerges with a shock of recognition. This is brilliant craftsmanship in a vastly entertaining package. * Publishers Weekly *This will keep you gripped right to the last page * Press Association *A child abduction thriller written in reverse, it explains the first (last) chapter with tremendous forward propulsion . . . there are still plenty of Deaver's trademark twists and turns. It is a work of genius * Evening Standard *

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Book Synopsis''In Stockwin''s hands the sea story will continue to entrance readers across the world'' - Guardian1807. Captain Sir Thomas Kydd''s famous sea action aboard Tyger has snatched his reputation from ignominy. He is the hero of the hour. But though Britain''s Navy remains imperious, a succession of battles has seen Napoleon victorious on mainland Europe. In an attempt to prevent the French from taking control of Denmark''s navy, Kydd''s great friend Nicholas Renzi - now Lord Farndon - is sent on a desperate diplomatic mission to persuade the Danes to give up their fleet to Britain. But the Danes are caught between two implacable forces and will not yield, opting instead for the inferno of battle . . .********************What readers are saying about INFERNO''An absolute must'' - 5 stars''His books are always awesome, and Inferno is no exception'' <Trade ReviewFans of fast-paced adventure will get their fill with this book. - Historical Naval Society on The Admiral's DaughterStockwin's writing is enriched by his own experiences in the Royal Navy, whcih gives scenes of fighting and tempest an authenticity to delight anyone who shares his passion for the sea. - Daily TelegraphPaints a vivid picture of life aboard the mighty ship-of-the-line - Daily ExpressMore historically accurate than the Patrick O'Brian series - Royal Navy Sailing Association journal on the KYDD seriesThis heady adventure blends fact and fiction in rich, authoritative detail. - Nautical Magazine on VICTORY

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Book SynopsisIn the story that introduces Kathryn Dance, time is ticking for Lincoln Rhyme. The seventh novel in Jeffery Deaver's bestselling series will take all of Lincoln's wits as he attempts to catch his cleverest opponent yet . . . Now a NBC TV series.Trade ReviewProbably the best book he's written . . . Enough of Deaver's trademark twists to satisfy his most diehard fans . . . A great read * Observer *The Cold Moon has a superscription from William Faulkner, but this is not a book in the "literary" thriller genre. Deaver is not so much interested in tickling our aesthetic sensibilities as in raising our pulse rates, and he's doing that from the first chapter * Daily Express *At first this seems to be simply a superbly orchestrated chase novel . . . But then, as shock follows shock, a complex mystery unfolds, literally overnight. The plot twists are sudden, dazzling and unexpected, and climax in a breathtaking finale. * Scotsman *A head-spinning, clever cat-and-mouse tale that hurtles along at 100mph . . . Full of twists, turns, bluffs and double bluffs, it's an edge-of-the-seat read from beginning to end. * Sunday Express *[The plot] is like opening up a Russian doll, and it's typical of Deaver's polished, clever entertainment * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThe seventeenth instalment in the Number One bestselling DCI Banks seriesWhen Karen Drew is found sitting in her wheelchair staring out to sea with her throat cut one chilly morning, DI Annie Cabbot, on loan to Eastern Area, gets lumbered with the case.Back in Eastvale, that same Sunday morning, 19-year-old Hayley Daniels is found raped and strangled in the Maze, a tangle of narrow alleys behind Eastvale''s market square, after a drunken night on the town with a group of friends, and DCI Alan Banks is called in. Banks finds suspects galore, while Annie seems to hit a brick wall - until she reaches a breakthrough that spins her case in a shocking and surprising new direction, one that also involves Banks. Then another incident occurs in the Maze which seems to link the two cases in a bizarre and mysterious way. As Banks and Annie dig into the past to uncover the deeper connections, they find themselves also dealTrade ReviewWatch for those twists - they'll get you every time * Ian Rankin *Robinson once again puts his skills to work in a police procedural that grips like pliers * Independent on Sunday *Classic Robinson: a labyrinthine plot merged with deft characterisation * Observer *Peter Robinson is good at producing ingenious mysteries, and this one does not disappoint * Daily Telegraph *Readers will be on the edge of their seats * Publishers Weekly *If you haven't encountered Chief Inspector Alan Banks before, prepare for a crash course in taut, clean writing and subtle psychology -- Ian RankinIt's neither the setting nor even the characters that makes Robinson's work so satisfying, but the plotting of Swiss-watch precision * Independent *

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Book SynopsisKilling for Keeps is Maria Hannah's fifth gripping crime novel featuring DCI Kate Daniels. It's in the blood . . .Two brothers from the same criminal family die within hours of each other, five miles apart, one on the edge of a Newcastle industrial estate, the other in a busy A&E department of a local hospital, unseen by the triage team. Both victims have suffered horrific injuries. Who wanted them dead? Will they kill again? Investigating these brutal and bloody killings leads DCI Kate Daniels to break some rules, putting her career as well as her life on the line. As the body count rises in the worst torture case Northumbria Police has ever seen, the focus of the enquiry switches, first to Glasgow and then to Europe ending in a confrontation with a dangerous offender hell-bent on revenge.Start the criminal investigation series with The Murder Wall.Trade ReviewThe scenes of shocking brutality are told with a realism that makes for uncomfortable but compulsive reading. * Big Issue in the North *

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Book SynopsisThe Perfect Murder is a suspenseful and gripping novella from Peter James, the bestselling author of the phenomenally successful Roy Grace series.How do you commit the perfect murder?Victor Smiley and his wife Joan have been married for nearly twenty years. Victor secretly loathes Joan more and more each day. Joan is bored by Victor, and his snoring drives her mad. Their marriage has reached a crisis point.Victor decides there is only one way to get Joan out of his life for ever, but he's about to get a nasty surprise. As it turns out, Victor's not the only one with murder in mind . . .

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Book SynopsisThe Snow Rose is the gripping story of a woman on the run from her past by Lulu Taylor, author of The Winter Folly.'This is a fantastic, all-consuming read.' - HeatI know they think I shouldn't keep her . . . That's why I've escaped them while I can, while I still have the opportunity . . .Kate is on the run with her daughter Heather, her identity hidden and their destination unknown to the family they've left behind. She's found a place where they can live in solitude, a grand old house full of empty rooms and dark secrets. But they're not alone: in the cottage next door live two strange older ladies, sisters Matty and Sissy. They know what happened here long ago, and are curious about Kate. How long can she hide Heather's presence from them?When an eccentric band of newcomers arrive, led by the charismatic Archer, Kate realizes that the past she's so desperate to escape is abTrade ReviewIt's psychologically intense, brilliantly written and perfect escapism * Daily Mail *This is a fantastic, all-consuming read * Heat *[A] gripping story * Hello! *Slipping between the present day and the house's past as the centre of Victoria cult led by a fantastically creepy religious leader, this brooding psychological thriller makes a rather unlikely scenario wonderfully convincing * Sunday Mirror *Lulu's suspenseful story keeps you guessing throughout * People's Friend *

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Book SynopsisFrom The Times bestselling author of The Other Mrs Walker - Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2017 - comes Mary Paulson-Ellis's second stunning historical mystery, The Inheritance of Solomon Farthing. Solomon knew that he had one advantage. A pawn ticket belonging to a dead man tucked into his top pocket - the only clue to the truth . . . An old soldier dies alone in his Edinburgh nursing home. No known relatives, and no Will to enact. Just a pawn ticket found amongst his belongings, and fifty thousand pounds in used notes sewn into the lining of his burial suit . . . Heir Hunter, Solomon Farthing - down on his luck, until, perhaps, now - is tipped off on this unexplained fortune. Armed with only the deceased’s name and the crumpled pawn ticket, he must find the dead man’s closest living relative if he is to get a cut of this much-needed cash. But in trawling through the deceased’sTrade ReviewA richly rewarding, gripping page-turner -- Val McDermidA profound and moving book * Woman's Weekly *The characterisation is great and the atmosphere powerful. The bored and fractious platoon is wonderfully evoked. * Daily Mail *Skilful juggling of the twin timelines in this engaging mystery reveals a darkness at its core * Sunday Times Crime Club *Riveting . . . A deftly woven, moving plot * Woman & Home *Richly enjoyable. Paulson-Ellis writes with verve and vividness, also with sympathy. * The Scotsman *

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