Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisFor a brilliant detective and an avid mystery reader, truth really is stranger—and deadlier—than fiction in a suspenseful and wickedly entertaining novel about the games killers play.In 1985, Kat McCann was six years old when renowned Austrian detective Alik Lisser solved her mother’s murder. And unfortunately proved Kat’s father as the culprit.Ten years later Kat is still obsessed with the heroic criminologist. She’s also addicted to the bestselling novels inspired by Alik’s ingenious deductions—penned by the grande dame of whodunits, who’s a bit of a mystery herself. Kat has devoured them all. Even the one based on her father’s crime.When Kat and Alik fatefully cross paths again, a friendship evolves, and Alik is delighted to share the secrets of his success with such an eager and clever girl by inviting Kat to solve a murder of her very own. One that challenges everything Kat believes about the dete

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Book SynopsisAfter Alejandro Velasco is found dead, a handsome stranger visits the family. But when this newcomer’s secrets collide with those of Alejandro’s sister, sparks fly—and blood is shed.A handsome young man named Julian Villareal arrives at the opulent Velasco estate to pay his respects after the unexpected death of Alejandro Velasco, his close friend and tennis rival. But he soon becomes entwined in the Velasco family’s glamourous lifestyle—and their daughter Sofia’s mysterious allure. Mercurial and quick-witted, Sofia seems determined to give Julian a run for his money. And he’s prepared to play along—both on and off the tennis courts.As the tension between Julian and Sofia sizzles, Julian hides a much darker secret: Alejandro’s death was no accident. And the more Julian learns about the inner workings of the Velasco family, the greater the danger he uncovers. With power and status come opponents bent on toppling the empire, by blackmail, revenge, or even murder. Julian’s quest for answers will only lure him deeper into this den of vipers, but teasing out Sofia’s own intentions may be the steamiest—and deadliest—game of all.

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Book SynopsisIn a poor West Virginia town decimated by the opioid epidemic, teenagers Henry and Jane have it worse than most. Their father is Hollis Lusher, a convicted serial killer known as “the Blind Spot Slasher.”Despite being bullied and ostracized, the siblings maintain their father’s innocence. But now, a popular true-crime podcast is coming to town, and their presence turns all eyes to the Blind Spot Slasher’s case . . . and Henry and Jane.Meanwhile, an eager young officer, Lieutenant Elena Garcia, is put on the case of a missing girl. Despite warnings from her superiors, Garcia begins to dig deeper into the case and realizes there may be other mysteries buried in the flood of opioid-related crimes. With many deaths quickly labeled as overdoses, or “No Human Involved,” she fears the drug epidemic has created the perfect storm for a Blind Spot Slasher copycat to thrive. Unless that is, they never caught the real Blind Spot Slasher.An amateur private investigator is also on the case: Henry’s new friend, Otis. A home-schooled genius with his own family issues and a suspicion their father might be innocent, Otis makes it his mission to help Henry and Jane find the real killer. As the three probe into the evidence, they discover a possible connection between the killings and a doomsday, snake-handling cult—propelling them all down the dark backroads of Appalachia to find justice for Hollis and themselves.Trade Review“An infectious mix of thriller and social commentary... brilliant.” —Publishers Weekly“Unsettling and unforgettable, Paradise, WV walks a line between pulp fiction and compassionate storytelling.” —Foreword Reviews“Paradise, WV is chock-full of transient characters seeking truth and belonging amid bleak circumstances. Rufus adeptly explores the often-overlooked angles of the opioid epidemic and true crime fascination: empathy and hope. Between the eerie backroads, disturbing killings, and a snake-handling cult—I couldn’t look away! If Flannery O’Connor’s fiction and Metallica’s music had a baby, it would be this book.” —Jennifer Moffett, author of Those Who Prey“Paradise, WV takes readers on a heart-pounding thrill ride that exposes the dark underbelly of humanity. In it, the opioid crisis, cults, and family dysfunction counterpoint a complex mystery about a serial killer haunting a West Virginia town and the children of a wrongfully-convicted murderer who'll do anything to prove their father's innocence. Rufus's prose is sharp and cutting; his damaged characters painfully realistic and memorable. Lovers of both the horror and mystery genres will find much to enjoy in this macabre thriller.” —D.K. Stone, Giller Prize nominated author of Edge of Wild, The Dark Divide, and Fall of Night“Rufus's thriller was an atmospheric ride that started quick, had me holding on for dear life through the twists and turns, and swept me up to a stunning and surprising end. Excellent.” —CL Walters, author of The Stories Stars Tell"Paradise, WV strikes like a copperhead, filled with dark hilarity, crackling Appalachian gothic mystery, and buzzsaw punk rock energy. Fans of Elmore Leonard, Harry Crews, and Daniel Woodrell, take note.” —Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of The Serpent King“What do you get when you have a story about friendship, family and hope intertwined with a town overridden with drug addiction, a cult and a serial killer? Rufus' seamlessly-told tale Paradise, WV. Rufus' exceptional storytelling showcases the novel's distinctive characters through their flaws, their actions and their motivations. Always engaging and never lacking in satisfaction, Paradise, WV is a literary pleasure.” —Cyn Vargas, author of On The Way“Rufus's multi-layered page-turner about cults, murder, and deep, dark secrets is a thrilling, creeptastic ride from the punch-you-in-the-gut beginning to an EPIC ending you won't see coming.” —Candace Ganger Powell, author of Six Goodbyes We Never Said

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

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

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Book SynopsisFans of William Johnstone and Ralph Compton will love this action-packed historical western featuring a lone gunman and the people he's tasked with protecting.Jake Paynter escaped the noose, but the price of salvation is pain.Since reluctantly accepting the marshal's job at South Pass City, Jake's life has become an unending run of solving other people's problems. When outlaw boss Dutch van Zandt and his ruthless band mount a campaign of mayhem in Jake's corner of the Wyoming Territory, Jake learns that Lucien Ashley, his persistent adversary, may be aiding the criminals to expand his burgeoning cattle fortune. The fact that Lucien is the brother of Rosalyn, a woman Jake admires, complicates matters.Determined to thwart van Zandt and Lucien, Jake recruits a posse of old friends and former platoon-mates that puts the outlaw gang on the run. When Lucien betrays van Zandt, the outlaw leader loots Jake's town and takes captive Rosalyn and four children. With friends few and enemies in abundance, Jake must thread a harrowing needle to run down van Zandt in the rugged Wyoming wilderness and save Rosalyn and the children without ending up in a shallow grave.

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Book SynopsisExpat Zoe Barlow has settled well into her artist's life among the Lost Generation in 1920s Paris. When a too-tipsy guest at her weekly poker game breaks Zoe's favorite clock, she's off to a Montparnasse flea market to bargain with the vendor Laurette for a replacement. What Zoe didn't bargain for was the lost Chagall painting that's been used like a rag to wrap her purchases! Eager to learn whether Laurette has more Chagalls lying about like trash, Zoe sets off to track her down at her storage shed. With no Laurette in sight, Zoe snoops around and indeed finds several additional Chagallsand then she finds Laurette herself, dead beneath a scrap heap, her beautiful face bashed in.With Paris hosting the 1924 Summer Olympics, the police are far too busy with tourist-related crimes to devote much time to the clock seller's murder. After returning the paintings to a grateful Marc Chagall, Zoe begins her own investigation. Did the stolen paintings play any part in the brutal ki

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Book SynopsisCoates ratchets up the ghostly manifestations till you can''t imagine there are any more stops to pull outthough of course there are. Kirkus Reviews for Gallows HillWhen Jenine finds an abandoned polaroid camera, she playfully snaps a photo without a second thought. But there's something wrong with the image: a ghostly figure stands in the background, watching her.Fixated on her.Moving one step closer with every picture she takes.Desperate, Jenine shares her secret with her best friend, Bree. Together they realize the camera captures unsettling impressions of the dead. But now the ghosts seem to be following the two friends. And with each new photo taken, a terrible danger grows ever clearerINCLUDES CHILLING NEW BONUS STORIES: A woman survives a plane crash in a remote arctic tundra, accompanied only by a stranger who seems fixated on something moving through the blinding snow. A house stands empty. Hu

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Book SynopsisA headless corpse a missing person case closed? June, and as Copenhagen swelters under record temperatures, a headless corpse surfaces in the murky harbour, landing a new case on DI Henrik Jungersen s desk just as his holiday is about to start.

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Book SynopsisRazor-tongued lawyer Stella Blomkvist is called in to investigate the murder of a friend's father and his girlfriend, just as she's responding to a deathbed request to find a girl who vanished a decade ago. Then there's the mystery behind the arm that emerges from an ice cap, with a mysterious ruby ring on one frozen finger...

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Book SynopsisTony is a young man who has always been on the losing side in life. He was brought up by his troubled, alcoholic mother who had a past of her own as a talented ballerina, until a life-changing accident brought her dreams to a sudden end. As her own ambitions for fame and success were crushed, she used cruel and brutal methods to project them onto her young son - with devastating consequences. There's no doubt that a body found on Reykjavik's OEskjuhlid hillside has been there for a long time. The case is handed to veteran detective Valdimar, supported by Ylfa, who is taking her tentative first steps as a police officer with the city's CID while coping with her own family difficulties. It's not long before it's clear a vicious killer is on the loose - and very little about the case is what it appears to be at first glance.

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Book SynopsisAll-Colour, Hard Cover Edition ---- Feeling life is slipping him by, an American agriculturalist heads to Vietnam to try and make a difference in the lives of the people as part of President Johnson's 'Hearts and Minds' campaign. There is just one big problem - there's a war going on. ---- Eddie joins a small group of civilian advisors chosen to work with local farmers to help make Vietnam once again self-sufficient in rice. He is drawn to the adventure, the challenge, and the opportunity to make a difference, but he is leaving some problems behind. ---- His story follows the ups and downs of cultural and tropical agriculture training in Washington DC and the Philippines, and then his assignment in the Gia Dinh province just outside Saigon. The stakes increase as the war intensifies and Eddie's connections in the country deepen, providing the backdrop for the cultural, political and personal struggles that unfold. ---- This fictional memoir shines a light on a relatively unknown part of Vietnam War history as elements of Asian history and culture, including the introduction of 'miracle rice', are woven into the challenges of being a civilian trying to work - and live - in a war zone. ---- The poignant Foreword by his daughter, the Afterword by his second wife, the Appendix, and 25 hand painted illustrations by his granddaughter provide added layers to the story. The fragility of life was the late author's parting lesson; however, these words left behind were his ultimate gift.Trade ReviewWhat a brilliant, moving and vivid "through the looking glass" book this is. An irresistible read; beautiful, cover to cover. -Gareth J. Mitchell, Presenter, BBC World Service ---- Don't Break My Rice Bowl is an inspiring story - showing one man's dedication to helping others - at considerable personal cost. It is also instructive - revealing the limits of such dedication. I can only imagine what it meant to Robert Dodd's daughter to find this "hidden treasure". -Dr Kenneth Greene, Retired Chair of Social Sciences and History Department, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ, USA ---- From the fundamentals of getting food on the table, to the role and impact of fathers, from ambitions to benevolence, not to mention a "Godless" war, there is something for everyone. If I were back in the classroom, I'd teach this book in a heartbeat. It would encourage a plethora of classroom conversation! -Nicholas M. Guarracino, Editor and former English Teacher ---- To the thousands of histories, memoirs, and novels of America's Vietnam Experience, this is a laudable addition, a descriptive, fast-paced story told from the point of view, not of a combatant, journalist or citizen, but by a civilian agricultural expert inspired by the miracle of rice. Eddie represents the America and the Americans who really wanted to make life better for the Vietnamese. This thought-provoking book deserves a place in the light (not in a dark drawer from where it came!). It is about survival, and so much more than a story of war. -Dr Peter J. Woolley, American Political Scientist. ---- The making of Don't Break My Rice Bowl brought Dad back to me, one more time. I never expected this. It feels like we have had one last conversation, one I thought we would never have. -Patricia RykielTable of ContentsForeword * Prologue: The Jog * PART ONE * Hearts and Minds * RICE * Davinia and Rosita * PART TWO * Saigon, 'the Pearl of the Far East' * The Docks * Colonel Horst * The Orphanage * The Cooperative * Ted * Dynamo Will * Very Big Luck * Zoom * The VIPs * Carl * Village Piglets * Marshmallow and Cricket * House Party * PART THREE * Lunar New Year, 1968 * Deadly Believers * The Weed Killers * Evil Machine * Broken Rice Bowls * Face-Off * Love Song * Afterword * APPENDIX * A Vietnam Vet's Book Review * Character List * Writer Inspiration * Robert H. Dodd, Overseas Assignment Life * Acknowledgement and Thanks * Book Club Questions * The Team DBMRB Bios

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Book SynopsisA poetic and mesmerizing novel, Ultramarine pushes us to the very edges of the narrative genre. Narrated in the first person by a female captain, the only woman amongst the crew of a transatlantic ship, Ultramarine reflects on the fears, strengths, and insecurities of female authority. In a ghostly, almost dream-like, atmosphere, the captain agrees to break one of her rules, letting the crew take a dip in the middle of the ocean. Something changes during that unprecedented swim; an uncertain atmosphere takes over their journey and the ship. A simple business trip turned into a true adventure.Trade Review"In this poetically written debut novel, Mariette Navarro successfully gets to the writing of metaphysical vertigo." Le Monde. "The story is slow and strong, like a marine animal moving forward on the lock-out while sounding the invisible […]. The story treads carefully between realism and a fantastic world. It will land on its feet at final with such elegance." Le Figaro

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Book SynopsisCassy smiled, blew them a kiss. 'See you in September,' she said. It was a throwaway line. Just words uttered casually by a young woman in a hurry. And then she'd gone. It was supposed to be a short trip - a break in New Zealand before her best friend's wedding. But when Cassy waved goodbye to her parents, they never dreamed that it would be years before they'd see her again. Having broken up with her boyfriend, Cassy accepts an invitation to stay in an idyllic farming collective. Overcome by the peace and beauty of the valley and swept up in the charisma of Justin, the community's leader, Cassy becomes convinced that she has to stay.As Cassy becomes more and more entrenched in the group's rituals and beliefs, her frantic parents fight to bring her home - before Justin's prophesied Last Day can come to pass.A powerful story of family, faith and finding yourself, See You in September is an unputdownable new novel from this hugely compelling author.Trade ReviewThis is a big, gripping and heartbreaking read... I couldn't put it down. * Daily Mail *A riveting, fascinating read. I was absolutely gripped. * Julie Cohen *See You in September is one of those novels that really gets beneath the skin... I love the way Charity Norman is able to show the greys between the obvious black and whites; how she draws such multi-layered characters; and, of course, how she describes her stunning but often sinister locations. * Tracy Buchanan *Norman does a fine job delving into the insidious psychology of cults. But this is no human freak show: it's a creepy portrayal of an ordinary young woman, feeling the lure of total belonging, who is groomed into accepting a sinister price for it. * Sydney Morning Herald *This is the author's fourth book and although I've said it before, it's her best. I can't wait to see what subject she'll tackle next. * The Sun on THE NEW WOMAN *Completely brilliant - you won't be able to turn the pages fast enough. * Bella on THE NEW WOMAN *I shouted at this novel. I cast it away, abandoned, only to return to its beguiling pages. * Buzz on THE NEW WOMAN *Engrossing * Woman and Home on THE SON-IN-LAW *A gripping tale that would appeal to fans of Jodi Picoult and Joanna Trollope... A page turning book to while away a winter's evening. * Red Online on AFTER THE FALL *Easy to read, hard to put down, it'll move you to tears. * Easy Living on FREEING GRACE *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Crime Fiction Lover Best Indie Crime Novel of 2022‘Ingenious, light-hearted and old-fashioned in the best possible way. A great read.’ – Maxim Jakubowski, Crime Time‘A seriously fun read.’ – Dervla McTiernan, author of The Murder Rule‘Wickedly clever, highly original and thoroughly entertaining – I loved it!’ – Chris Hammer, author of Scrublands‘Sulari Gentill delivers another murder mystery gem.’ – Tim Ayliffe, author of The Enemy Within Hannah Tigone, bestselling Australian crime author, is crafting a new novel that begins in the Boston Public Library: four strangers; Winifred, Cain, Marigold and Whit are sitting at the same table when a bloodcurdling scream breaks the silence. A woman has been murdered. They are all suspects, and, as it turns out, each character has their own secrets and motivations – and one of them is a murderer. While crafting this new thriller, Hannah shares each chapter with her biggest fan and aspirational novelist, Leo. But Leo seems to know a lot about violence, motive, and how exactly to kill someone. Perhaps he is not all that he seems... The Woman in the Library is an unexpectedly twisty literary adventure that examines the complicated nature of friendship – and shows that words can be the most treacherous weapons of all. Trade ReviewThe Woman in the Library is a wonderful novel that is compelling and sharp and it is unique and extremely clever. * TheLastWordBookReview.com *Clever, compelling, and laced with juicy clues, Sulari Gentill’s The Woman in the Library is an elegantly written work of murder mystery magnificence - an addictive game of Cluedo that pivots from death in a library, to dark secrets from the past. * Joanne Owen, Love Reading *The whole thing is a superb crime novel, but also a masterclass in experimenting with the genre – full of suspense, with plenty of pace. * It Takes a Woman blog *Ingenious, light-hearted and old-fashioned in the best possible way. A great read. * Maxim Jakubowski, CrimeTime *

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Book SynopsisIt is 1955, and the three Fayette sisters have lived their whole lives in the enchanting French Quarter of New Orleans. Though neglected by their parents, they share a close bond with one another--from afternoons in their small, shared bedroom, to trying to speak with ghosts beneath the sweeping trees in their garden. When the middle sister Constance disappears, the family believes she has run away, as she has done before; it is only the youngest--thirteen-year-old Bonavere (known as Bonnie)--who suspects there is more to it. Met only with grief from her family and resistance from the police, Bonnie embarks on a journey to bring her sister home, venturing through fabled Red Honey Swamp, and the city's vibrant and brutal history. Unravelling the layers of her sister's secret life, Bonnie discovers a pattern of girls found half-mad in the Louisiana swampland, and a connection to the wealthy, notorious Lasalle family. To rescue her sister, she must confront the realities of true violence, and the very nature of insanity.

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Book SynopsisThe satirical 1980s Justice League adventures are collected in a single hardcover edition for the first time.

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Book SynopsisThis dark and intriguing Eisner Award-winning series, written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Eduardo Risso, is now re-collected in 100 Bullets Book One!

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Book SynopsisDC Comics proudly presents the acclaimed run on Justice League from the Eisner Award-winning team of artist Alex Ross and writer Paul Dini!Between 1998 and 2003, Dini, the Emmy Award-winning producer of Batman Beyond and The New Batman/Superman Adventures, joined forces with the incomparable Ross to create six oversize tabloid editions of stories featuring the World's Greatest Super Heroes. These classic works for all ages feature the iconic DC characters in a unique storytelling format that combines aspects of both comics and picture books. Also included are several pages of promotional art, preliminary art and thumbnails, art done for DC Direct product, model-to-finished-painting comparisons, reflections by the book's creators and much more! This landmark volume also features an introduction by award-winning book designer and author Chip Kidd, and an eight-page foldout featuring an image of every JLA member by Ross. Collects SUPERMAN: PEACE ON EARTH, BATMAN: WAR ON CRIME, SHAZAM!

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed series Green Lantern written by Geoff Johns continues!

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Book SynopsisIntroducing 14th century poet Geoffrey Chaucer as a memorable new amateur sleuth in the first of an ingeniously-conceived medieval mystery series. April, 1380. About to set off on his annual pilgrimage, Comptroller of the King''s Woollens and court poet Geoffrey Chaucer is forced to abandon his plans following an appeal for help from an old friend. The Duke of Clarence, Chaucer''s former guardian, has been found dead in his bed at his Suffolk castle, his bedroom door locked and bolted from the inside. The man who found him, Sir Richard Glanville, suspects foul play and has asked Chaucer to investigate.On arrival at Clare Castle, Chaucer finds his childhood home rife with bitter rivalries, ill-advised love affairs and dangerous secrets. As he questions the castle''s inhabitants, it becomes clear that more than one member of the Duke''s household had reason to wish him ill. But who among them is a cold-hearted killer? It''s up to Chaucer, with his sharp wits and eye for detail, to root out the evil within.

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Book SynopsisIn the first of a new mystery series, we meet Nora Best as she flees her old life - cheating husband and all - and takes to the road with an Airstream trailer. Nora Best is the envy of her friends. She''s just turned fifty and has traded in her home with The Perfect-Ass Husband for an Airstream trailer and an adventure of a lifetime across the US. But during their leaving party, Nora finds her husband in a compromising position with a friend. Storming out of the party she jumps into her truck with no idea how to tow the Airstream or where she''s going. Nora ends up in a campground in the mountains of Wyoming, drowning her sorrows with its managers, Brad and Miranda. When she is woken by a frantic Miranda after Brad has disappeared and bloodstains have been found around the campsite, Nora finds herself caught up in an adventure she could never have expected . . . facing a charge of murder.

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Book SynopsisA car chase ending with the murder of a senior living centre employee draws Detective Sarah Burke into a chilling case where her career - and her life - are soon at risk.Detective Sarah Burke and new cop Zivko ''Bogey'' Boganicevic are sent to an incident at Fairweather Farms senior living center in Tucson. The center''s van has suddenly been chased at reckless speed by a carload of bandits firing high-powered rifles, and crashed into its own garage. Arriving at the scene, Sarah makes a grisly discovery: the driver, Enrique Lopez, was shot in the head during the chase. Why was a kindly man, dedicated to looking after the elderly, targeted and killed so dramatically by a team of hoodlums?As Sarah works through her list of questions, she soon finds herself drawn into the high-stakes world of drugs, deception and mistaken identity where nothing is as it first appears, and she is forced to risk her career - and her life - in her search for answers.

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Book SynopsisThe stakes couldn''t be higher for Patrick Gillard when he is drawn out of retirement to find a missing former Met commander - but Patrick''s not the only one on his tail . . .Patrick Gillard is drawn out of retirement when his former NCA boss, Commander Michael Greenway, appears on his doorstep. John Brinkley, a newly retired commander of the Metropolitan Police, has gone missing, and Greenway wants Patrick to find him.Brinkley is wanted in connection with corruption in the Met, but Patrick is convinced that there''s more to his disappearance than meets the eye. Why is Brinkley''s old boss, Assistant Commissioner Luke Wallingford, so keen on his arrest, and what does Brinkley know that has the Met, MI5 and dangerous mobsters all on his tail?Patrick and his wife and working partner, Ingrid Langley, soon realize that the stakes are far higher than they imagined - and that someone is prepared to go to any lengths to keep what Brinkle

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Book SynopsisTess Grey is tasked with investigating a plane crash in the Great North Woods after rumors surface of a survivor. but she and her partner Po aren''t the only ones heading there.Three field biologists are distracted from their studies when a plane crashes in the Great North Woods. They find two pilots dead only to be confronted by a female survivor. Once they call the authorities, they claim they found only the pilots.Private Investigator Tess Grey is hired by an insurance firm to investigate rumors another person was aboard the downed plane. She sets off into the woods with her partner Po Villere and friend Jerome ''Pinky'' Leclerc in order to search the crash site and interview the biologists. But they aren''t the only ones heading into the woods. There are also teams of mercenaries investigating the crash and killers hunting Pinky to claim a bounty that has been placed on his head. Can Tess get to the bottom of what happened at the crash site while they''re also being hunted?

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Book SynopsisAn uninvited house guest throws Bea Abbot''s summer plans into chaos, bringing danger and peril to Bea''s door.Bea Abbot is looking forward to spending the summer with her fourteen-year-old ward, Bernice, but her plans go awry when one of Bernice''s schoolfriends finds herself in trouble. Evelina Trescott''s uncle has died in a mysterious accident at their country house, and her aunt, Mrs Trescott, is keen to hide Evelina away from the police.Evelina arrives on Bea''s doorstep catatonic, heavily drugged up on epilepsy medication and unable to remember finding her uncle''s body. Is she really a hapless victim, or is Bea harbouring a wily criminal?The more Bea learns about the troublesome Trescotts, the more she realizes something is horribly wrong, and soon finds herself drawn into a dark web of greed, abuse, and murder.

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Book SynopsisThis powerful exploration of motherhood, guilt and redemption questions whether we can truly be free from the mistakes of our past.

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Book SynopsisTHE AWARD-WINNING DEBUT NOVEL, AND FIRST JACK IRISH THRILLER, FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BROKEN SHORE AND TRUTH.'Put simply, Temple is a master' John Harvey'Great locations, hard-nosed dialogue and a twisting plot . . . super entertainment' Evening StandardJack Irish doesn't spook too easy. He's had guns pointed at him too many times - more often since he started hiring himself out as a debt collector - and he saves his nerves for the racetrack. So when he receives a phone message from an ex-client begging for help, he's inclined to ignore it. It's not an acquaintance he's looking to renew. Some-time lawyer, part-time private eye, he has some old memories - and old friends - he'd do better to forget. But then the caller turns up dead. And Jack has no choice but to take a trip down memory lane - into dangerous territories. There are some old debts that need chasing . . .Loved Bad Debts? Then read the second novel in the Jack Irish series, Black Tide.Trade Review'A writer who assuredly takes the reader to places they have never been before' Michael Connelly. * Michael Connelly *'Put simply, Temple is a master' John Harvey. * John Harvey *

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Book SynopsisThere is one great love in everyone's life. For Ducky, Princess Victoria Melita, hers was a Romanov cousin, a member of the doomed Russian royal family. Her father is Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Victoria's second son. Her mother is Grand Duchess Marie, the daughter of Tsar Alexander II. Ducky seems doomed to be a pawn on her grandmother's dynastic chessboard.But Ducky is not so easily controlled. In an era when death is considered preferable to divorce she fights for the freedom to be with the true love of her life. From disgraced exile in Paris to the glitter of St Petersburg and the mud and carnage of the Eastern Front, she forges her own path.As Russia descends into the chaos of 1917 and the Romanov dynasty falters, Ducky is right at the heart of events.Exiled once more, she tells us her story.Trade ReviewLiterary treats don't come much better . . . I loved this book and didn't want to reach the end * Daily Mail *A fascinating glimpse into a vanished world * Sunday Times *An engaging and entertaining read * The Lady *

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Book SynopsisAfter the Lights Go Out is a propulsive exploration of mixed-race identity, the price that athletes pay to entertain, and one man's battle to reconcile his past, from the CWA-shortlisted author of Three-Fifths.

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Book SynopsisSeventy-three-year-old Eugene Washington appears to have died in an unremarkable way, but LAPD homicide detective Elouise "Lou" Norton is positive that something isn't right. Especially when she learns that the only family Washington had was his fellow church-goers. Could the murderer be sitting in one of those red velvet pews? And is someone protecting the wolf in the flock? Lou must force the truth into the light before it's too late.

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Book SynopsisParis, April 1968. The cafes are alive with talk of revolution, but for Will Flemyng – secret servant at the British embassy – the crisis is personal. A few words from a stranger on the metro change his life. His family is threatened with ruin and he now faces the spy's oldest fear: exposure. Freddy Craven is the hero and mentor Flemyng would trust with his life, but when he is tempted into a dark, Cold War labyrinth, he chooses the dangerous path and plays his game alone. As the streets of Paris become a smoke-filled battleground, Flemyng, like his friends and enemies, discovers that where secrets are at stake, lives are too...Trade ReviewJames Naughtie's brilliant spy thriller is written with authority as well as a deep understanding of time and place * The Scotsman *[Flemyng] is an interesting, well-drawn character. Naughtie tells a good story with his much-loved trademark excess of words * The Times *Striking character studies * The Sunday Times *A hugely gripping and atmospheric read -- Alexander McCall Smith, Mail on SundayThis cracking debut pits brother against brother in a gritty, sprawling epic * Daily Express *I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot, and surprises turn up around every corner... A very good read' * Crime Squad *A concise thriller... a satisfying and well-conceived novel' * The Tablet *Although complex this is quite a quick read... enjoyable' * New Books Magazine *Naughtie writes with a cool authority reminiscent of that now neglected master of the novel of espionage, William Haggard * Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisMarriage is complicated, especially for Kate. Her husband Jack has a temper on him, and has been an absent father for years. Kate knows it''s time for a divorce. The trouble is, Jack refuses. And now that he has found out Kate has met another man, his jealous rages escalate. Can Kate rid herself of her jealous husband before it''s too late?

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Book SynopsisTom is grieving for his girlfriend. Her powerful family, convinced he is responsible for her death, place a bounty on his head. On the run, Tom seeks refuge in the Bothy, a dilapidated moorland pub run by ageing gangster Frank. Tom tries to keep the bounty a secret, but news travels fast, even in the middle of nowhere.Trevor Mark Thomas’s first novel is a tense, violent drama involving desperate characters with little to lose apart from their lives. Amid moments of black humour and rare tenderness, buried fears and rivalries rise to the surface, creating an atmosphere of claustrophobia that builds to almost unbearable levels.Trade Review4/4 The Bothy is a confident debut novel, exciting and fast paced, an exhilarating read. It is also a very subtle exploration of grief, betrayal, love and loyalty, a thriller with real depth … Shovels, frost bite, guns, gangs, and cracked pipes all feature in this clever ensemble piece. The moorland pub at the dead of winter, hinting at horror, is a cracking setting. Tom begins to realise that it’s out of the frying pan into the fire! He will need all the guile and strength he can muster, and one or two friends, if he is to survive The Bothy. -- Paul Burke * NB Magazine *The Bothy is horribly engrossing: a blackly comic gangster horror that reads like a northern cousin of Ben Wheatley’s Down Terrace. Its cast of strangely ambivalent villains will linger in your mind. And if you've never tasted pickled egg before, you certainly won't want to after reading this. -- Gregory NormintonAfter his girlfriend dies, and her family of gangsters blame him for the death, Tom goes into hiding in the Bothy, a remote pub on the Yorkshire moors. In the Bothy he finds another group of gangsters, led by Frank, and as the pub is cut off by snow (and food supplies dwindle to crisps past their sell-by date) the bodies begin to pile up. It is a classic set-up and The Bothy is a gripping read, Trevor Mark Thomas embraces the crime novel’s ability to create atmosphere from description: “After a while, Tom put the book down and watched the snow. It fell like ash.” -- James Doyle * Bookmunch *Hiding out in a remote pub from a vengeful gang family, Tom finds his hosts are just as dangerous. Excellent darkly comic rural noir; a touch of Magnus Mills in the escalating body count. Lots to enjoy here! * 255bookreview.com *In Mark Thomas's intensely gritty debut, Tom hides out in an isolated Yorkshire moors pub to escape his dead girlfriend’s criminal family, but sanctuary eludes him — what can he do to survive? Grim northern realism painted with heart and humour. -- Karen Robinson * The Times *The Bothy by Trevor Mark Thomas, published last month, is the tale of an innocent man with a price on his head. He’s stranded in a truly grotty pub on the border of Yorkshire and Lancashire that’s populated by some truly dodgy characters ... What will become of Tom, and how in fact did his girlfriend die, and will her criminal family find him? -- Andrew WilleThis debut novel begins with Tom fleeing to a remote, run-down pub called the Bothy. His girlfriend’s family blame Tom for her death, and now there is a price on his head. He is taken in by Frank, the gangster in charge of the Bothy, but even this may not be enough to protect him. By keeping the focus tightly on Tom’s present predicament, rather than the background that led up to it, Thomas gives his novel a sense of urgency and drive which pushes the reader on. The Bothy is a hothouse of character that remains tense to the end. -- David Hebblethwaite * David’s Book World *There's a pervading sense of rot and decay which oozes from the pages and seeped into my pores as I read this one. A fantastic sense of place, one that left me in need of a cleansing shower after each session reading the book. Tom is a sympathetic character, one driven low by events which have now escalated and spiralled totally out of control. He's not quite without hope but his resolve is severely tested. Reading to the end, I was anxious to see what final hand fate dealt him. Setting, character, mood, plot, narrative and outcome – all ticks in the box. The Bothy is Trevor Mark Thomas's debut novel – something I find hard to believe. It's very good. -- Colman Keane * Col’s Criminal Library *This taut and extremely violent thriller, as claustrophobic as a single-setting play, is about characters whose desperation comes not so much from having nothing to lose but from their conviction that they have nothing to gain either. Lean, sharp writing supports a striking talent for uncovering the emotional lives of people who are determined not to have any emotions. -- Mat Coward * Morning Star *Thomas has absolutely nailed the sticky floor of the pub, the muddy yard and its ever-present smell of sewage, not forgetting the temperamental boiler. You can imagine the dankness of the inside of The Bothy and the tangle of untidy rooms in need of redecoration stretching out behind the bar – yet with a roaring fire going, bacon sizzling in the frying pan, even letting the sun shine for a bit, and you do get an illusion of being in ‘God’s country’, (well just about!). I also loved that the lack of mobile signal means that communications are via a proper telephone – it added to the old-fashioned gangster feel and there’s more menace in having to pick up the ringing phone without knowing who’s at the other end. * Annabookbel *★★★★ A compelling nervy tension runs through the back heart of the grity debut novel. Its bleak descriptions are cinematic, from Tom’s “haven” with its picked eggs and sticky carpets, to the moment our lead character crashes in the snow and has to pick freedom or protection… The tension builds to the final pages, so much so the shocking climax is almost a relief. -- Alex Lloyd * Daily Express *★★★★★ An original spin on the gangster crime novel and helps makes this book an original and compelling tale. While on some levels The Bothy is a story about gangsters, it’s not a gangster novel in the traditional sense. This is a much slower burn novel than many that feature gangsters, much more about the tension between the people living and working in The Bothy, their almost hand-to-mouth existence, the mounting suspicion and paranoia as things start to go wrong and both Frank’s enemies, and The Conways who have put a bounty on Tom’s head, start to encroach. I thoroughly enjoyed The Bothy and would recommend it highly. -- James Pierson * Adventures in Crime Fiction Land *The isolation of the countryside is more complellingly rendered in Trevor Mark Thomas’s The Bothy. The novel’s hero, Tom, has a price on his head because his girlfriend has recently been killed in a car accident and her father, a notorious gangster, holds Tom responsible. The Bothy succeeds on its own modest terms: there are no strained topical hooks or cod philosophical musings, just plenty of violence and dread. One noteworthy motif is its sporadic allusions to the lives of local strippers and glamour models. These vignettes are understatedly powerful, evoking a melancholic sympathy for the hidden human histories beneath the seedy glamour. -- Houman Barekat * Times Literary Supplement *In reality the most memorable character here is The Bothy itself – the author does an amazing job of bringing the dingy and depressing place to life, expertly conveying the neglect, the assault on the senses and the sense of doom that imprisons the characters. He does a similarly powerful job in describing the rural surroundings and the horrendous weather conditions that only serve to cut it off from reality and civilisation even more. With a tale so explicitly based in a specific location, the characters speaking in regional dialect might have added even more authenticity, but that does not detract from what is a very fine read. You’ll want to find out what happens – but you might not thank your curiosity when you do! -- Delme Jones * Storgy *★★★★★ This is a violent book, but with all gangsters there is a ‘shoot now, ask later’ attitude to their mentality. Whilst reading it I kept getting flashbacks of great films like Get Carter and The Long Good Friday and this is in a similar vein. The Bothy was a wonderful unexpected surprise. Big, bold characters and a cracking plot. Not everything was tied up in a neat bow, but I wouldn’t expect any book with gangsters to be pretty. ‘The Bothy’ is raw and hugely enjoyable. I look forward to see what Thomas delivers with his second novel. * CrimeSquad *Described by yours truly on Twitter as akin to Magnus Mills on meth, The Bothy proved to be something quite special from the outset. Tapping into the rising reputation and visibility of working class writing in the UK of late, Thomas has, with a limited cast of characters, constructed a dark, and unsettling book, packed to the gills with atmosphere and an overhanging miasma of violence. * Raven Crime Reads *Here is a situation rather than a plot. A doomed man waits for his pursuers to catch up. Action is subordinate to suspense and the burgeoning dread as everyone anticipates the outcome when the inevitable confrontation occurs. -- Gwen Moffat * Shots Crime & Thriller Ezine *I’m always intrigued when a non-genre publisher puts out a crime novel and The Bothy more than delivers on its curious premise. Well-paced, well-written and peppered with random acts of violence, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing what Trevor Mark Thomas tackles next. -- Tom Leins * Dirty Books *

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis__________________________From the bestselling author of the acclaimed The Power of the Dog comes The Cartel, a gripping true-to-life epic, ripped from the headlines, spanning the past decade of the Mexican–American drug wars.It’s 2004. DEA agent Art Keller has been fighting the war on drugs for thirty years in a blood feud against Adan Barrera, the head of El Federación, the world’s most powerful cartel, and the man who brutally murdered Keller’s partner. Putting Barrera away costs Keller dearly – the woman he loves, the beliefs he cherishes, the life he wants to lead.Then Barrera gets out, determined to rebuild the empire that Keller shattered. Unwilling to live in a world with Barrera in it, Keller goes on a ten-year odyssey to take him down. The Cartel is a true-to-life story of power, corruption, revenge, honour and sacrifice, as one man tries to face down the devil without losing his soul.__________________________'Sensationally good' LEE CHILD'Tense, brutal, wildly atmospheric, stunningly plotted' JAMES ELLROY'A gut-punch of a novel... an absolute must-read' HARLAN COBENTrade ReviewDon Winslow delivers his longest and finest novel yet in The Cartel. This is the War and Peace of dope-war books. Tense, brutal, wildly atmospheric, stunningly plotted, deeply etched. It’s got the jazz-dog feel of a shot of pure meth. -- James EllroySensationally good, even after the near-perfection of The Power of the Dog. Less of a sequel than an integral part of a solid-gold whole. -- Lee ChildThe Cartel is a gut-punch of a novel. Big, ambitious, violent and widely entertaining, Don Winslow's latest is an absolute must-read. -- Harlan CobenDon Winslow is one of the most exciting and well-researched crime writers of modern times. The Cartel is a masterpiece of storytelling. -- Simon KernickAstoundingly ambitious…Draws on real events and people as it chronicles Mexico’s drug wars…Masterfully organised and teeming with memorable characters, it is unlikely to be bettered this year. * Sunday Times (Thriller of the month) *

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Book Synopsis 'A compelling novel about the tragedy of corrupting power, set in post-independence Kenya... Ngugi writes with passion about every form, shape and colour which power can take' Sunday Times After decades of British rule Kenya has declared its independence, but drought and poor harvests still govern the village of Ilmorog. Undeterred, Munira, Karega, Wanja and Abdulla each move to Ilmorog in search of a more provincial life, only to find themselves suspects in a crime that signals a dark turning of the times. A classic of modern African literature, Ngugi wa Thiong'o's damning satire of politics and corruption in Kenya would prove the catalyst for his imprisonment by the Kenyan government.Trade ReviewA compelling novel about the tragedy of corrupting power, set in post-independence Kenya. . . Ngugi writes with passion about every form, shape and colour which power can take * Sunday Times *A mind-blowing political statement, an anguished cry of despair… a bombshell * The Weekly Review, Kenya *

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Book SynopsisA beautiful hardback edition of one of the most subversive anti-war novels ever written - reading Catch-22 is a rite of passage.Set in the closing months of World War II, this is the story of a bombardier named Yossarian who is frantic and furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. His real problem is not the enemy - it is his own army which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. If Yossarian makes any attempts to excuse himself from the perilous missions then he is caught in Catch-22: if he flies he is crazy, and doesn't have to; but if he doesn't want to he must be sane and has to. That's some catch...'The greatest satirical work in the English language' Observer'Wildly original, brutally gruesome, a dazzling performance...it will not be forgotten' New York TimesVINTAGE QUARTERBOUND CLASSICS: Bound to be beautiful

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Book SynopsisWhere there’s a body in Malvern End, there are secrets to be uncovered…Jude Gray has worked hard to bring a steady equilibrium to life on Malvern Farm and things are going well.The only fly in the ointment is the foul addition of a new face in the village: staunch townie and chauvinistic sleaze, Des Smith. Jude has nothing but sympathy for his caring, patient wife, Loretta, who has become a regular visitor to the farm for a cup of tea and a chat.But things take a turn for the worse when a hit and run outside The Lamb brings death once again to the village. Is it an accident or is something more sinister afoot?Perhaps the answer lies in the stranger with red trainers who’s been seen wandering through the village and through Jude’s fields at night. Following the clues, Jude desperately hopes she will find the right answers, because the murderer being someone she knows is unfathomable…-'A hugely enjoyable and clever murder mystery.' C L Miller, author of The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder'...like a lovely visit to the countryside, a tense murder mystery, and a visit with people I’d want to be friends with all rolled into one.’ Kristen Perrin, author of How to Solve Your Own Murder'This book had a bit of everything! ... Action packed, intrigue, mystery, murder, revenge, a fantastic who done it, great plot twist, and some crazy twists and turns!' netgalley reviewer

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Book SynopsisA triple bill of archive BBC radio dramas, believed lost for over half a century and only recently rediscovered. Butter in a Lordly Dish, written specially for radio in 1948, features Richard Williams as Sir Luke Enderby KC, whose infidelities lead him into trouble when he goes to meet his latest flame. Williams also stars as Hercule Poirot in Murder in the Mews, a 1955 adaptation of a short story. A young woman is found dead in her flat, the day after Guy Fawkes night. Did she die by her own hand, or someone else's? In Personal Call, also written specially for radio by Agatha Christie, a disturbing telephone call from a woman named Fay has consequences for both Richard Brent and his wife Pam. This 1960 production stars Ivan Brandt and Barbara Lott.

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Book SynopsisNewly assigned to CID, Detective Constable Elizabeth Burnet needs to prove herself more than most. In an era rife with misogynistic attitudes, some see her as little more than a pretty face hired to make the department more palatable to the public, giving her the nickname 'The Friday Girl'. So when she stumbles across evidence of a nascent serial killer - dubbed The Werewolf by the local press - her theories are dismissed as the product of an overactive imagination, and the more she tries to persuade people of the truth, the more she's alienated from her colleagues. But the killer is out there, hunting for their next victim in the Templeton Woods. The only person who believes Burnet is a recently dismissed detective with his own agenda: exposing corruption within Tayside Police. Working together, they soon realise that some within the police force may have their own reasons for covering up the recent deaths. And as the killer is exposed, Burnet uncovers the mind of a monster pushed to the edge.

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