Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisNorthern Monkeys is the gritty, unfiltered story of working-class lads in Bradford, looking at football firms, addiction, loyalty and identity.

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

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Book SynopsisMy son is missing, and everyone is lying to me.** Last night my son, Shay, sneaked out of the house and didn’t come home. He promised not to go to the illegal party in the woods. But someone’s been attacked and Shay has gone missing. The police want to know if he saw what happened. I’m worried he could be involved.After all the trouble he’s been in lately, mixing with the wrong crowd, coming home beaten up and scared, I thought we’d put it all behind us. Trouble is, Shay resents me moving my new boyfriend into the family home. I found all sorts on his laptop, including a half-written email warning me not to trust David. What does he know that I don’t?I’m beginning to fear for his safety. What is David hiding from me? Who have I let into our lives?I don’t know who I can trust. Will I ever see my son alive again?*'A page-turning thriller with a **shocking and original conclusion. Mesmerising.' Catherine Cooper, author of The Cruise'A great take on the missing child narrative and a total page turner - I simply HAD to know what had happened.' S E Lynes, author of The Ex'A twisty page-turner of a novel that kept me guessing until the very end!' Mandy Byatt, author of The Younger Woman'A brilliant read. Such an anxiety-inducing, suspenseful domestic thriller!' Alice Hunter, author of The Serial Killer's Daughter'Raced through he gripping *Gone. A compelling and original page-turner!' Roz Watkins, author of *Cut to the Bone'A talent to watch' Sam Blake, author of Remember My Name'Gone is any parents' worst nightmare, a twisty domestic thriller with an ending that will take your breath away' S. A. Harris, author of Haverscroft‘A fantastic, fast-paced novel with at its heart the strained relationship between a loving mother and her wayward teenage son. Unpredictable and unputdownable.’ Diane Jeffrey author of The Guilty Mother

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Book SynopsisAn epic dragon-rider quest where Empress of Salt and Fortune meets TemeraireMéka must capture a king dragon, or die trying. War between the island states of Kattaka and Mazemoor has left no one unscathed. Méka’s nomadic people, the Ba’Suon, were driven from their homeland by the Kattakans. Those who remained were forced to live under the Kattakan yoke, to serve their greed for gold alongside the dragons with whom the Ba’Suon share an empathic connection. A decade later and under a fragile truce, Méka returns home from her exile for an ancient, necessary rite: gathering a king dragon of the Crown Mountains to maintain balance in the wild country. But Méka’s act of compassion toward an imprisoned dragon and Lilley, a Kattakan veteran of the war, soon draws the ire of the imperialistic authorities. They order the unwelcome addition of an enigmatic Ba’Suon traitor named Raka to accompany Méka and Lilley to the mountains. The journey is filled with dangers both within and without. As conflict threatens to reignite, the survival of the Ba’Suon people, their dragons, and the land itself will depend on the decisions - defiant or compliant - that Méka and her companions choose to make. But not even Méka, kin to the great dragons of the North, can anticipate the depth of the consequences to her world.

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Book Synopsis''Poor Girls is a brave, bold novel... You''ll fall hard for Nell and the Forty Elephants.'' ARAMINTA HALL''Funny, fast-paced and dark, Poor Girls is a riveting read, with dialogue that absolutely crackles and a fabulously unsentimental heroine in Nell.'' ELODIE HARPERWe were never destined to have anything so you know what we did? We took it anyway. 1922. Twenty-year-old Eleanor Mackridge is horrified by the future mapped out for her to serve the upper classes or find a man to marry (preferably kind). She ''proved useful'' working in a munitions factory during the war handling explosives but now, society is returning to normal and women are being put back in their place.But Eleanor has never paid attention to what society expects of her. When she crosses paths with a member of the notorious female-led gang the Forty Elephants, she is in awe of these bold women who wear diamonds a

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Book SynopsisA gripping read from New York Times bestseller C.J. Box, author of the Joe Pickett and Cassie Dewell series, now adapted into the hit TV shows Joe Pickett and Big Sky. When local ranch owner and matriarch Opal Scarlett vanishes under suspicious circumstances, Joe Pickett grows convinced that her family are responsible.In her absence, two of her sons, Hank and Arlen, battle for control of their mother''s multi-million-dollar empire. The whole town is so caught up in the infighting that they seem to have forgotten that Opal is still missing.Determined to uncover the truth and prove one of the brothers murdered their mother, he is attacked and nearly beaten to death by Hank's new right-hand man on the ranch a recently arrived stranger who looks eerily familiar...At first, Joe thinks the attack is connected to his investigation into Opal''s disappearance, but he soon learns that someone else is after him someone with a very p

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Book SynopsisA death in the family spells tragedy and trouble for Joe Pickett. A thrilling read from New York Times bestseller C.J. Box, award-winning author of the Joe Pickett and Cassie Dewell series.A body hangs from a wind turbine, a bullet hole in his chest: Earl Alden, millionaire property developer. His wife, Missy, is the prime suspect. The case seems open and shut. None of this would be a problem for Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett... if Missy wasn''t his mother-in-law. Missy claims she''s innocent, and for his wife''s sake, Joe would like to believe her, but all the early signs point to her being as guilty as sin.Could the real killer still be out there somewhere? With his wife on one side and the law on the other, Joe needs to get to the truth before his family is ripped apart.Reviews for Cold Wind''A nonstop thrill ride not to be missed!'' Bookpage''Superlative...Box''s many fans won''t be disappointed.'' Booklist''A page-turner.'' Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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Book SynopsisA Young Adult Mystery Adventure set in Cornwall, by the 2013 winner of The Next Novelist. When fourteen-year-old Holly Champion's father sends her to an exclusive clifftop academy in Cornwall, she must race against time to save the people she loves and expose a chilling plot.

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Book SynopsisFollowing up on an opportunity to get his book published, David Jones becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue following a murder linked to his publisher and then, the police who investigate it. While trying to establish the right thing to do, Jones finds himself getting drawn into the world of DS Paul Craven, an officer with a chequered past. But Jones and Craven have their own agendas to follow and as one works to attain his ambition to have his book published, the other, unbeknown to Jones or colleagues, tries to bring down a branch of the European mafia while fending them off as they seek their revenge. The two very different strands of the story involve a possible involvement with Hollywood on the one hand and Interpol on the other as both men try to balance the achievement of their aims alongside a deepening involvement with the important women in their lives. Jones and Craven find their lives going in directions and ending up in places they never imagined.

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Book SynopsisThe brand new novel from Britain's best-loved saga authorWhitby, 1845Amber Ainsley works as a laundry maid for the wealthy Greenwood family, but when she falls pregnant with her employer's illegitimate child, she is cast out, left homeless and destitute. She flees to Whitby, but Barnaby Greenwood follows, offering to find a family to raise their daughter, to save her being sent to the workhouse. Broken-hearted but wanting the best for her child, Amber hands her daughter over. Meanwhile, Barnaby's wife, Louisa, is overjoyed when she gives birth to twins - but the babies are weak, and she is terrified they won't survive. Poverty-stricken, Amber soon has no choice but to return to work for the Greenwoods. There, one twin is flourishing while the other sickens. And when Amber notices a familiar birth mark on the infant girl's leg, her world is turned upside-down . . .Will Amber ever be able to have the family life she hopes for?

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Book SynopsisTHINK YOU KNOW THE SAS?THINK AGAIN...From no.1 bestselling SAS hero Chris Ryan, comes MANHUNTER: the first book in an explosive new series featuring Josh Bowman, a battle-worn Regiment soldier hand-picked to join a shadowy unit within the SAS._________________When foreign governments act like gangsters, a new kind of SAS is needed . . .In London, assassins carry out a deadly chemical weapons attack at the royal wedding. All the signs point to a Kremlin-sanctioned hit. Their victim: a notorious mobster.'The Cell' is a shadowy unit within the SAS, dedicated to fighting global organised crime. In a world where the Russian government is the real mob, it's the job of the Cell to defend British interests at home and abroad. Only the elite are selected; only the very best will survive. For SAS staff sergeant Josh Bowman, whose young family was brutally murdered by an Albanian crime gang, it's a chance for revenge - and to bury his secret opioid addiction.But the Russians have only just begun. When the Cell uncovers a sinister plot against a British-backed tyrant in Africa, they are quickly drawn into a deadly race against time. Soon they find themselves fighting a terrifying enemy in a brutal fight to the death.Outnumbered, outgunned and with no military support, Bowman and his comrades are all that stand between Moscow and ultimate victory . . ._________________Praise for SAS legend Chris Ryan:'Ryan writes with the authority of a man familiar with every nuance of the regiment's tactics, training, weapons and equipment' - SUNDAY TIMES'Nobody takes you to the action better than Ryan' - EVENING STANDARD'Intelligent and enthralling' - FINANCIAL TIMES'The action comes bullet-fast' - THE SUN'Fearsome and fast-moving' - DAILY MAIL

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Book SynopsisA feminist thriller for anyone who's ever sworn revenge on an ex. Perfect for fans of How to Kill Your Family, You, Clickbait and Blood Orange.'Lively, shocking ... A fresh, modern take on the revenge story' THE GUARDIAN'Tense, topical and stylish' TM LOGAN'An addictive read!' ALICE HUNTER'Dark and gripping' CASS GREENCharlotte Goodwin looks directly at the camera and reveals a chilling truth to the thousands watching her Instagram Live broadcast. She has killed her ex-boyfriend's new partner in cold blood. But she is not finished yet. The viewers must now vote to decide whether he should live or die.The public display sends shockwaves rippling through the online community and the numbers of viewers skyrockets. But as Lincoln's past is revealed, how will he be judged?The Hive explores our darkest fears of the relationship between social media and mental health, but, most importantly, the strength of sisterhood against all the odds. 'A gripping page-turner' NADINE MATHESON'Social media and sisterhood - what's not to like?' LIZZIE FRY'A read-in-one-go revenge thriller. Get it on your summer list' WILL CARVER'Pacy, original and addictive' LOUISE BEECH'A terrific tale of a tortured soul' ROBERT SCRAGG

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Book SynopsisRosamund Lupton meets Lupin in this accomplished debut from an eclectic, cut-throat new voice in thriller writing.**DON'T MISS MEGAN DAVIS' NEXT THRILLER, BAY OF THIEVES. AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW**'A sleek, sinister debut' WOMAN'S OWN'A strong, twisting, literary journey of revelation and redemption. Five stars' JANICE HALLETT'An intelligent, gripping and stylish literary thriller - I couldn't put it down. Megan Davis is a major new talent' SOPHIE HANNAH'A sharply written, clever and classy thrill-ride through the streets of Paris' CHRIS WHITAKER A crime he didn't commit. A truth he must deliver.Wealthy and privileged, Alex has an easy path to success in the Parisian elite his father mingles with. But the two have never seen eye to eye. Desperate to escape the increasingly suffocating atmosphere of their apartment, Alex seeks freedom on the streets of Paris where his new-found friend Sami teaches him how to survive. But everything has a price - and one night of rebellion changes their lives forever.A simple plan to steal money takes a sinister turn when Alex's father is found dead. Despite protesting their innocence, both boys are imprisoned for murder. Seven years later Alex is released from prison with a single purpose: to discover who really killed his father. Yet as he searches for answers and atones for the sins of his past, Alex uncovers a disturbing truth with far-reaching consequences.Playing out against a backdrop of corruption, fake news and civil unrest, The Messenger exposes the gritty reality of a changing city through one son's journey to redemption and the truth.'Megan Davis's electric, suspenseful and stunning evocation of contemporary Paris is unforgettable' ELIZABETH MACNEAL'A well-written, intriguing novel with an excellent sense of place' KAMILA SHAMSIE 'Compelling ... A deft blend of murder mystery, political intrigue and family secrets' DOMINIC NOLANTrade ReviewA sleek, sinister debut * Woman's Own *A conspiracy thriller with strong Catcher In The Rye vibes, The Messenger is so evocatively written it transported me to Paris and tore up my return ticket. A strong, twisting, literary journey of revelation and redemption. Five stars * Janice Hallett *An intelligent, gripping and stylish literary thriller - I couldn't put it down. Megan Davis is a major new talent * Sophie Hannah *A sharply written, clever and classy thrill-ride through the streets of Paris. Atmospheric and twisting, The Messenger is a wonderful debut * Chris Whitaker *A well-written, intriguing novel with an excellent sense of place * Kamila Shamsie *Megan Davis's electric, suspenseful and stunning evocation of contemporary Paris is unforgettable * Elizabeth Macneal *An elegantly written, compelling thriller, baked into a rich Paris of riots, sex and excitement. A deft blend of murder mystery, political intrigue and family secrets * Dominic Nolan, author of Vine Street *An unusual and engaging mixture of a conspiracy story concerning both the cold war and modern gangster capitalism, along with a coming-of-age tale of revenge and redemption * Morning Star *Few, if any, English-writing authors have caught the essence of modern Paris with such accuracy and powers of evocation; add a compelling plot with social, personal and political issues to the fore and you have a splendid thriller debut to die for * Maxim Jakubowski *Pulsating ... It's a thrill ride from start to finish * Wigan Today *

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Book SynopsisKILLERS DON'T JUST DISAPPEAR . . .The unmissable brand new Detective Jack Warr thriller from the Queen of Crime Drama, Lynda La Plante - now available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.______________________When an eccentric widow claims she is being stalked by her former lodger, Detective Jack Warr is the only person who believes her wild claims.Days later, she is found brutally murdered in her home.When the investigation uncovers an international drugs operation on the widow's property, the case grows even more complex. And as the hunt for the widow's lodger hits dead end after dead end, it seems that the prime suspect has vanished without a trace.To find answers, Jack must decide how far is he willing to go - and what he is willing to risk - in his search for justice. Because if he crosses the line of the law, one wrong move could cost him everything . . .__________________PRAISE FOR LYNDA LA PLANTE:'DC Jack Warr is clearly destined for higher things, and I look forward to following his progress' - PETER ROBINSON, No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the DCI Banks series'A compelling, clever plot with a brilliant cast of diverse characters. Utterly riveting' - RACHEL ABBOTT, million-selling author of ONLY THE INNOCENT'Lynda La Plante practically invented the thriller' - KARIN SLAUGHTER

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Book SynopsisThe new Courtney Series epic A BATTLE FOR HONOUR AGAINST A POWERFUL NEW ENEMYSouth Africa, 1820When Ann Waite discovers a battered longboat washed ashore in Algoa Bay, she is stunned to find two survivors: a badly scarred sailor and a little boy. As the man walks away into the morning mist alone, refusing to take the child - Harry - with him, Ann is left with no choice but to raise the boy as her own.After two years of disaster and hardship in the African interior, desperation drives Ann and Harry back into the path of the mysterious shipwrecked man. Ralph Courtney has recently escaped from Robben Island and is determined to seek his fortune in Nativity Bay, the hidden harbour that his father told him about when he was a boy.But it isn't long before Ralph, Ann and their fellow settlers learn that Nativity Bay now lies on the borders of a mighty kingdom, where the warrior king Shaka rules. With no means of making their way back to Al

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Book Synopsis'Richly evocative' STACEY HALLS'Heartbreaking' RACHEL HORE'Touching, absorbing'' DAILY MAIL'Poignant . . . There'll be tears' WOMAN & HOME'An enveloping story to savour' KATE SAWYERA luminous debut novel of a love affair set against the terrible aftermath of war, for readers of IN MEMORIAM by Alice Winn, WAKE by Anna Hope and THE OUTCAST by Sadie JonesNo one survives war unscathed. But even in the darkest days, seeds of hope can grow.It is 1946 and in the village of Oakbourne the men are home from the war. Their bodies are healing but their psychological wounds run deep. Everyone is scarred - those who fought and those left behind.Alice Rayne is married to Stephen, heir to crumbling Oakbourne Hall. Once a sweet, gentle man, he has returned a bitter and angry stranger, destroyed by what he has seen and done, torme

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Book SynopsisA TIMES BEST CRIME BOOK OF THE YEARIn London, private investigator Dr Rayhana Crane is contacted by a woman who has received an unexpected letter from her estranged son Jason, not seen since he left to become a fighter for Islamic State. When his steps are traced back to the old stamping ground of her partner, Cal Drake, the former policeman goes undercover to infiltrate the sinister network which took Jason abroad.Meanwhile, Crane pursues a woman whose seemingly unconnected disappearance off the English coast is soon found to reveal a deadlier connection. As the two investigators delve deeper, they find themselves mired in a violent world where terror and organised crime intersect.Trade ReviewParker Bilal has his finger on the racing pulse of London, a multicultural nexus of organised crime and terrorism whether you're in a swanky penthouse or on a sink estate. The miasma of corruption is inescapable; bile and rage make the prose sting. A senior cop remarks: 'It's a f***ed up world whichever way you look at it.' That's why we need and read excellent crime fiction like this -- Mark Sanderson * * The Times * *Praise for The Heights: Inventive and original . . . The Heights is a complex and satisfying mystery involving finance, gangland, trafficking and prostitution. A layered, no nonsense thriller that is intriguing and exciting * * NB Magazine * *Praise for The Divinities: Terrific crime fiction rooted in geopolitics * * Sunday Times * *Bilal tells the story with ferocious, exhilarating energy . . . essential reading * * Daily Telegraph * *A firecracker of a novel that delves deep into the rot infecting both politics and big business -- ERIC VAN LUSTBADER, author of The Bourne LegacyTold with a delicate elegance . . . It promises to be a fine series * * Daily Mail * *A brilliantly-written London Noir from a master of the crime genre -- MASON CROSS, author of Presumed DeadA fresh and vivid portrait of a city that is less melting pot than explosive pressure cooker * * Guardian * *A razor-sharp reimagining of hard-boiled crime fiction transposed to a noirish London. With themes of power, violence and betrayal, The Trenches is smart, complex and that rarest of things: utterly original -- KIA ABDULLAH

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Book SynopsisTHE THIRD IN THE ORIGINAL LAIDLAW TRILOGYTHE DARK REMAINS, Laidlaw's first case, out 2 September 2021. PRE-ORDER NOW!'The Laidlaw books are not just great crime novels, they are important ones' Mark Billingham'It's doubtful I would be a crime writer without the influence of McIlvanney's Laidlaw' Ian RankinWhen his brother dies stepping out in front of a car, Jack Laidlaw is determined to find out what really happened. Laidlaw begins an emotional quest through Glasgow's underworld, and into the past. He discovers as much about himself as about the brother he has lost, in a search that leads to a shattering climax.Acclaimed for its corrosive wit, dark themes and original maverick detective, the Laidlaw trilogy has earned the status of classic crime fiction.Trade ReviewIt's doubtful I would be a crime writer without the influence of McIlvanney's Laidlaw -- IAN RANKINHis Laidlaw is an enduring hero with the dry wit and insight to make other literary detectives seem two-dimensional -- GORDON FERRISThe Laidlaw books are not just great crime novels, they are important ones -- MARK BILLINGHAMTransfixing * * Sunday Times * *He kicked the door open so the likes of Ian Rankin, Denise Mina and me could sneak through behind him -- VAL McDERMIDThe pure distilled essence of Scottish crime writing -- PETER MAYA crime trilogy so searing it will burn forever into your memory. McIlvanney is the original Scottish criminal mastermind -- CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYREThe good news is that Laidlaw is back * * Observer * *In a class of his own * * Guardian * *Reads like a breathless scalpel cut through the bloody heart of a city -- DENISE MINA

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Book SynopsisGermany's king of the thriller takes to the skies with a terrifying and twisted new novel. You know your fear is irrational, you've checked the statistics. Flying is safer than driving – nineteen times safer. Irrational, perhaps. But you're not wrong. Mats Krüger is terrified of flying. But his daughter, Nele, is about to give birth to his first grandchild, so, for once, he's taking the risk and making the thirteen-hour flight from Buenos Aires to Berlin. Of course, he's taken precautions. He's bought the five statistically safest seats on the plane, as well as seat 7A – the spot where you are most likely to die in a plane accident – so no one can sit there. Just in case. But Mats has to give up seat 7A to another passenger. Moments later, he receives a phone call. Nele has been kidnapped. The caller has a single demand. Convince the pilot to crash the plane. Or Nele dies.Trade ReviewOne of his best... The thrill of the ride' * Irish Independent *With its outlandish premise, its surfeit of shrinks (there are two more) and its improbable coincidences, Fitzek's brainy thriller is always at risk of becoming impossible to take seriously. And while it never quite topples over into farce, you keep reading more to find out what bonkers twist he'll come up with next rather than because you're anxious about the characters' fates * Sunday Times *There are so many tense moments and unexpected turns of events, my head was in a whirl by the last page. A highly recommended exceptional psychological chiller. Especially if the reader is not afraid of flying! * Promoting Crime Fiction *If the reader can accept the outrageous high-concept plot device here, a compulsive experience is guaranteed * Financial Times *With stories that confuse the mind and keep the heart pumping, Fitzek has the reader guessing by layering ideas and dramatic twists into a strong narrative * Mystery & Suspense *

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Book SynopsisTHEY'RE THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S SECRET WEAPON. They call them the Taskforce. Designed to operate outside the bounds of law, trained to exist on the ragged edge of human capability, their existence is as essential as it is illegal. Recruited from top operators in the intelligence spheres and led by ex-Special Forces Operator Pike Logan, they are apex predators. An unrivalled hunting machine, until now. On a counter-terrorist mission in the triple frontier – the lawless border region where Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay join – the Taskforce meets its match. And then the unthinkable happens, Logan's unit goes missing. As he heads to Brazil to investigate, Logan runs headlong into a crew of Russian assassins. Forged in combat, the Russians are the Taskforce's equal... but Logan's on the warpath. He'll do whatever it takes to save his team. Praise for Brad Taylor: 'It's an excellent read, and I greatly enjoyed it' Nelson DeMille 'Pike ranks right up there with Jason Bourne, Jack Reacher and Jack Bauer' John Lescroart 'Logan is a tough, appealing hero you're sure to root for Joseph Finder 'Fresh plot, great actions, and Taylor clearly knows what he is writing about' Vince FlynnTrade ReviewHunter Killer allows you to enter a hidden world of fast-moving action from the comfort of your armchair, it's a whammy of a novel and thoroughly entertaining * LoveReading *This fast-paced and action-packed military thriller from former Special Forces Officer Brad Taylor reads like a mix of The Bourne Identity and Jack Reacher. A brilliant read with a hero you can really root for * CultureFly *A thriller that never lets up, yet at the end you'll want more * Weekend Sport *PRAISE FOR BRAD TAYLOR: 'It's an excellent read, and I greatly enjoyed it' Nelson DeMille. 'Pike ranks right up there with Jason Bourne, Jack Reacher and Jack Bauer' John Lescroart. 'Logan is a tough, appealing hero you're sure to root for' Joseph Finder. 'Pike Logan is a [...] feisty, devil-may-care hero' Steve Berry. 'Fresh plot, great actions, and Taylor clearly knows what he is writing about... When it comes to tactics and hardware he is spot-on' -- Vince Flynn

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Book SynopsisThis beautiful hardback collection features the world's most famous detective in his most classic adventures. We begin with A Study in Scarlet, the novel that introduces the most famous characters in literature - Sherlock Holmes and Dr. watson. Then, in The Sign of Four we delve into the East India Company and a pact between four convicts. Finally, in The Hound of Baskerville, we follow Sherlock and Watson as they investigate murder with a legendary twist on the Dartmoor Moors.

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Book SynopsisBlood's a Rover takes us into the 70s. RFK and MLK are dead. A kid private eye clashes with a mob goon and an enforcer for FBI director Edgar Hoover in L.A. There's an armoured-car heist and a cache of missing emeralds. Revolution brews in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Amidst all this, all three anti-heros fall for Red revolutionary Joan Rosen Klein. Each will pay 'a dear and savage price to live History'.

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Book SynopsisAs civil war between Caesar and Pompey engulfs the Roman world, Gordianus the Finder receives an anonymous message informing him of the death of his son Meto who has been acting as a double agent for Caesar. The search for Meto's fate brings Gordianus to the besieged seaport of Massilia, which is stubbornly holding out against Caesar's troops. As famine and slaughter threaten the blockaded city, Gordianus is drawn into the intrigues of exiled Romans and duplicitous Massilians. His only friend in the city, Hieronymous, has been made the doomed scapegoat elected by city officials to bear the sins of the populace and save them all from annihilation. Meanwhile, Gordianus is constantly frustrated in his efforts to find out what happened to his son - and when he witnesses the fall of a young woman from a precipice outside the city called the Sacrifice Rock, then the plot begins to thicken...Trade ReviewRemarkable.. a stirring blend of history and mystery, well seasoned with conspiracy, passion and intrigue * Publishers Weekly *Will delight readers in virtually every page.... Saylor has acquired the information of a historian but he enjoys the gifts of a born novelist * Boston Globe *

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Book Synopsis52 BC, and Rome is in turmoil. Rival gangs prowl the streets as Publius Clodius, a high-born populist politician, and his arch-enemy Titus Milo fight to control the consular elections. But when Clodius is murdered on the famed Appian Way and Milo is accused of the crime, the city explodes with riots and arson.As accusations and rumours fly, Gordianus is charged by Pompey the Great with discovering what really happened on the Appian Way that dark January night. Was it murder? And if so, should the perpetrator be condemned as a villain - or hailed as the saviour of the Roman Republic? For on the truth of that hangs the fate of Titus Milo . . .Praise for Steven Saylor:''Saylor evokes the ancient world more convincingly than any other writer of his generation.''Sunday Times''Saylor''s scholarship is breathtaking and his writing enthrals.''Ruth Rendell''With the scalpel-like deftness of a Hollywood director, Saylor puts his finger on the ver

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Book SynopsisIn this latest Amelia Peabody mystery there's more trouble in store for our intrepid Egyptologist. This time it is of a distinctly personal nature.Her niece's new, Egyptian, husband stands accused of forging priceless antiquities. Is he guilty, or merely the fall guy for some unscrupulous villain? Meanwhile, matters are complicated by the arrival of Amelia's detestable nephew who begins an ardently amorous pursuit of her son's wife, Nefret...Trade ReviewI can't wait for the next Peabody story... I really do think Elizabeth Peters' books are great entertainment. -- Angela RipponA writer so popular that the public library has to keep her books under lock and key. * Washington Post Book World *Think Miss Marple with early feminist gloss crossed with Indiana Jones... accomplished entertainment. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisBanned from the Valley of the Kings, Amelia Peabody and her distinguished husband have returned to England with their 19-year-old son Ramses and their foster daughter, Nefret. Ramses is secretly in love with Nefret and plans to flee to Germany to avoid temptation. Then a mysterious visitor changes the plan for the whole family. Set in the Sudan, this is another exciting adventure which follows the Peabody family as they confront all the forces against them armed only with a crumbling map and an important letter...Trade ReviewElizabeth Peters has always known how to romance us' New York Times Book Review * 'I can't wait for the next Peabody story... I really do think [Elizabeth Peters'] books are great entertainment. -- Angela RipponA writer so popular that the public library has to keep her books under lock and key. * Washington Post Book World *Think Miss Marple with early feminist gloss crossed with Indiana Jones... accomplished entertainment. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisWhen a senior Edinburgh Civil Servant spectacularly takes his own life in Kinloch Harbour, D.C.I. Jim Daley comes face-to-face with the murky world of politics. To add to his woes, two local drug dealers lie dead, ritually assassinated. It's clear that dark forces are at work in the town. With his boss under investigation, his marriage hanging on by a thread, and his sidekick wrestling with his own demons, Daley's world is in meltdown. When strange lights appear in the sky over Kinloch, it becomes clear that the townsfolk are not the only people at risk. The fate of nations is at stake. Jim Daley must face his worst fears as tragedy strikes. This is not just about a successful investigation, it’s about survival.Trade Review'If you thought Denzil Meyrick’s previous book, The Last Witness was thrilling, this one is truly mesmerising... completely captivating... DCI Daley is shaping up to be the West Coast’s answer to Edinburgh’s Rebus' * Scottish Home & Country *‘The right amount of authenticity ... gritty writing ... most memorable’ * The Herald *‘Touches of dark humour, multi-layered and compelling’ * The Daily Record *‘Has the ability to give even the least important person in the plot character and the skill to tell a good tale’ * The Scots Magazine *'Simultaneously dark and funny' * Scottish Field *

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Book SynopsisVoted Culture NL's Book of the Year for 2020 Teenager Alison Doig disappeared from Kinloch over thirty years ago under mysterious circumstances. Her reclusive family still live in a remote part of the Kintyre peninsula, amidst rumours of wrecking, smuggling and barbaric cruelty. Now rich American hotelier Alice Wenger has arrived in town, determined to punish those who made her suffer in the past. But someone has vowed to keep hidden sins concealed for ever. Daley’s team must race against time to expose long-held secrets and shameful lies before there are any more victims.Trade Review'Absorbing ... no run-of-the-mill tartan noir' * The Times *'in high demand across the globe ... A runaway hit. Readers instantly warm to Daley' * Daily Mail *'A unique, atmospheric and all-consuming thriller ... DS Scott is "pure dead brilliant”, at times laugh out loud. Meyrick brings his usual skilful storytelling and gives us another engrossing page-turner' * Journal of the Law Society of Scotland *'With Meyrick it's visceral and this one is no exception from its chillingly atmospheric prologue to the epilogue's final, deadpan line. Will chime with crime connoisseurs' * Sunday Post *'Tragic incidents and mysterious goings-on keep us eagerly turning the pages. And of course there’s a dose of irreverent humour…the historical scenes are beautifully realised from the weather through to the visceral horrors that unfold. … You will be horrified and fascinated in equal measure. There’s no escaping the past, and no escaping family ties. Secrets will always out….Deftly done' -- Louis Fairbairn * CrimeBookGirl.com *'Absorbing… Meyrick’s humorous dialogue set this book apart – he has an ability to inject wit into police proceedings' * Scottish Field *'An absolute delight, full of dark humour and packed with warmly drawn and well-developed characters. …an absorbing mystery' * Irish Independent *'I discovered the most amazing series during lockdown #DCIDaley by Denzil Meyrick ... I cannot recommend them enough. Having devoured all the crime series in the shop & wanting something meaty but funny this just hit the spot. Read them you will love them. Eight in series' -- Waterstones bookseller, Horsham'A character-driven yarn with plenty of intrigue, but also humour and warmth amidst the murky goings-on. Meyrick proves once again that rural policing can be every bit as captivating, and gritty, as its urban equivalent’ * Herald *'The new novel is a rich broth... a fine example of tartan noir, superior to most of the genre... moments of chilling horror... with a fine twist in the tail' -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *'As an ex detective, ex procurator fiscal depute and now an advocate, I was reluctant to buy another Scottish crime series. I was tired of the plastic and sanitised fictional detectives portrayed in crime novels set in Scotland, where clearly the author had no idea of the workings of the Scottish police or legal system. I should have had no such fears with regards to Mr Meyrick's DCI Daley novels. I have now read all the books in the series and love the characters. I feel I have even worked with some of them. I am always sad when I come to the end of his books. It’s like being separated from friends. I am looking forward to meeting up with them again in his next novel Jeremiah's Bell' -- Joe Cahill, Advocate'A corker! More twists and turns than a Kintyre road' -- Douglas Skelton'Slipping back into Meyrick's world is a criminal joy ... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!' -- Michael J Malone'Crime, humour, intrigue and atmosphere, and that was just the first page!' -- Gordon Brown'What a cracking series! As a crime writer, the highest complement I can give is to say I've yet to work out an ending ...' -- Lin Anderson'Dark, gutsy, and smirky Tartan Noir… wonderful storytelling, Jeremiah’s Bell continues the series in fine style' * LoveReading.co.uk *'Denzil Meyrick’s DCI Daley series covers the named detective in the fictional town of Kinloch…The novels are suitably dark and unfold slowly' * CityWire - Wealth Management Magazine *'Spellbinding ... one of the UK's most loved crime writers' * Sunday Post *'A compelling lead ... a satisfyingly twisted plot' * Publisher's Weekly *‘Dripping with mystery, full of moments that will have the nerves jangling, and, if you are anything like me, your face screwing up in the odd wince or too as well… Another absolute winner that really kept me glued to the book whilst completely making my skin crawl. Loved it.’ * JenMed's Book Reviews *

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Book SynopsisA SUNDAY POST TOP PICK FOR SUMMER READING 'This latest DCI Daley thriller is deftly plotted and peopled with sympathetically drawn local characters and satisfyingly nuanced local wrongdoers' – Irish Independent When a light aircraft crash-lands at Machrie airport, DCI Jim Daley and his colleague Brian Scott rush to the scene. But it soon becomes clear that both occupants of the plane were dead before take-off ... Meanwhile in Kinloch, local fisherman Hamish is unwittingly dragged into danger when he witnesses something he shouldn’t, and hotel manager Annie is beginning to suspect her new boss may not be as he first appeared. And just as Chief Superintendent Carrie Symington thinks she has finally escaped the sins of her past, she finds herself caught in an even deadlier trap. As the action spills across the sea to County Antrim – all under the scrutiny of the Security Service – the search is on for any other truth.Trade Review'This latest DCI Daley thriller is deftly plotted and peopled with sympathetically drawn local characters and satisfyingly nuanced local wrongdoers' * Irish Independent *'a novel which you are likely to read with deepening pleasure' -- Allan Massie * The Scotsman *'Meyrick has really hit his stride with this one, with the development of DCI Daley and his rather complex sidekick DI Scott particularly well done. Well-considered smatterings of dark humour break the tension, there is a satisfying pace and beautiful Scottish backdrops are an added bonus' * Scottish Field *'in high demand across the globe ... A runaway hit. Readers instantly warm to Daley' * Daily Mail on the DCI Daley Series *'Gritty, gripping story, Fabulous characters, full of humour and if that was not enough the sense of place is just superb. Every time I finish one I think "When is the next one coming?"' * Bookseller review *'A complex but compelling plot keeps the reader firmly on their toes as they turn each page; it becomes almost impossible to put it down. This one wrung all the emotions from me, it had my jaw clattering off the floor a fair few times and a wee hankie dabbing at the eyes at others. Do yourself a favour and go buy this now!' * Chapter of My Life *'a fine example of tartan noir, superior to most of the genre' * The Scotsman on the DCI Daley Series *'I am in awe of any writer who can make you hold your breath on the one hand and laugh out loud on the other. Such is For Any Other Truth' -- Waterstones Bookseller, Horsham'The DCI Daley books have the right ingredients to become hit TV: Stunning scenery, gripping stories, compelling characters' * The Scottish Sun *'Just finished Denzil Meyrick’s 'For Any Other Truth' - take a tale, twist it and twist it thrice - a cool, addictive roller coaster of a read' -- Gordon Brown (author of Thirty-One Bones)'A twisty, intricate, and action-packed crime novel… demands that you keep on your toes as it splinters thoughts and catches emotions unawares ... With a fabulous cast and intricate plot, this crime novel packs a punch on the emotional front too' * LoveReading *'Dramatic … satisfying … Definitely a book to take on holiday and read by the beach or pool, or wherever we end up this year!' * Press and Journal, Scottish Book of the Week *'It's a complex story… Meyrick is skilled enough to pull it together' -- Alastair Mabbott * Herald *'Denzil Meyrick writes fine crime novels and they get better with every outing. One of the few crime thrillers where the dialogue makes [you] laugh out loud. Meyrick brings real life and depth to his fictional community. Compelling' * Journal of the Legal Society of Scotland *'This book is the best so far, the storyline was original and fast paced, I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through… thank you for another brilliant read' * Judesbookwormblog.com *

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Book SynopsisGANGLAND BOSS ZANDER FINN DISAPPEARED AFTER THE BRUTAL MURDER OF HIS SON.He fled to London, seeking salvation by walking away from his money, his career and his legacy. But when his old second-in-command Malky Maloney tracks him down, Finn knows he must return. Both his real family and his crime family face an existential threat from Albanian mobsters hellbent on taking control of the Scottish underworld and the forces of law and order determined to inflict their own retribution.Finn's fight for survival is a rollercoaster ride of brutality, misplaced loyalties and the utterly unexpected. The road to redemption is perilous and paved with blood.

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Book SynopsisSettling into her new life running a coffee and beignet café in the small town of Table Rock, Arizona, Maggie Miller expects nothing but smooth sailing from here on. But she''s blown way off course when Clive Rothschild, co-owner of The Hitching Post, the bridal shop next door, begs her for a favour. That favour leads to Clive and Maggie discovering a dead body buried beneath a wedding cake. And with the evidence stacking up against Clive and his partner, former professional skater Johnny Wolfe, it''s up to Maggie to dig through the layers of deceit and hem in the real killer. But she may have to skirt the law to do it . . .

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Book SynopsisWhen he''s offered an exorbitant fee to photograph a murder scene, PI Dek Elstrom doesn''t ask too many questions. But his photos reveal something surprising: there''s a witness to the murder, a tagger who''s returned to the scene to paint what he saw. What is it the mysterious graffiti artist wants Elstrom to notice?

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Book Synopsis"Cottam is a masterly maven of the deeply disturbing occult. His latest may well leave you with nightmares Kirkus ReviewsIn the 1500s an almanac full of magic spells was put together by someone intent on bringing about The End Times. It has resurfaced and is being used indiscriminately.An unexpected lunar eclipse. A poisonous fog that cripples the capital. Statues that weep blood.As the catalogue of calamities mount, fear and paranoia provoke rumours of terrorist attacks. But from whom?History professor Juliet Harrington is an authority on sixteenth-century mysticism and a long-time believer in the existence of the Almanac of Forbidden Wisdom, a potent spell-book legend insists was compiled in that period by a cabal of powerful occultists. Its magic is summoned though only at disastrous cost, signalled by The Auguries. Juliet is convinced that the recent plague of disasters means someone reckless is using the book - and she has little time left to stop them.,br>

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Book SynopsisFurther exciting instalments of the popular aerial combat story from the classic war comic, Battle! Johnny Redburn has just led Falcon Squadron on a successful mission over Stalingrad. But Major Rastovitch has a new mission for Johnny: to fly an important Russian official to a top-secret conference in England in the incredible “Flying Gun”. The stakes are high and danger never far away ...

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Book Synopsis'This novel is a real, out-of-the-blue original. I've never read anything like it' New York Times Book ReviewTHE BOOK THAT INSPIRED THE ITV SERIES STARRING KEVIN McKIDD AND VINETTE ROBINSON.THE MILLION-SELLING JAPANESE CRIME PHENOMENON, NOW A UK BESTSELLER.SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2016 CWA INTERNATIONAL DAGGER.NAMED IN NEW YORK TIMES 100 NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2017.SIX FOUR.THE NIGHTMARE NO PARENT COULD ENDURE. THE CASE NO DETECTIVE COULD SOLVE. THE TWIST NO READER COULD PREDICT. For five days in January 1989, the parents of a seven-year-old Tokyo schoolgirl sat and listened to the demands of their daughter's kidnapper. They would never learn his identity. They would never see their daughter again.For the fourteen years that followed, the Japanese public listened to the police's apologies. They would never forget the botched investigation that became known as 'Six Four'. They would never forgive the authorities their failure.For one week in late 2002, the press officer attached to the police department in question confronted an anomaly in the case. He could never imagine what he would uncover. He would never have looked if he'd known what he would find.Loved Six Four and want more Yokoyama? Then why not try Seventeen or Prefecture D . . .Trade ReviewNot only is Six Four an addictive read, it is an education about Japan, its police and its society, and simply one of the best crime novels I have ever read. -- David PeaceA classic plot about a decent cop painstakingly uncovering corruption suddenly turns into one of the most remarkable revenge dramas in modern detective fiction. * Sunday Times *It's very different, in tone, narrative and style, from almost anything out there . . . the twist and the pay-off are worth the wait. * Observer *A huge hit in Japan and it's easy to see why . . . steadily gathers menace and power until it becomes addictive. * The Times *The plot would grip in any language . . . not just a police procedural but a guide book to Japan . . . There's much talk these days of binge viewing; here is a binge read. * Guardian *Slow building, meticulous in its insistence on unfolding all the procedural elements of a Japanese crime investigation and its political ramifications, this is a novel that insidiously grows on you until you are fully captive of its narrative flow and can't put it down. -- Maxim JakubowskiAvoids every crime-fiction cliché . . . complex, ingenious and engrossing . . . If not a bow, you will at least want to give Hideo Yokoyama a tip of your hat for writing such a highly entertaining book. * Washington Post *Six Four gives back in abundance everything that the reader is prepared to give . . . demonstrating that crime fiction can be freighted with the weight and authority of serious literature. * Independent *An astonishing book, poetically translated, containing one of the most complex central characters in crime fiction. Sometimes publishing sensations exceed expectations; Six Four deserves its success - past, present and future. * Crime Scene *This novel is a real, out-of-the-blue original. I've never read anything like it . . . He's a master. * New York Times Book Review *Absorbing . . . Six Four is an intensely complicated work, fleshed out by dozens of well-sketched characters, filled with changing perceptions and surprising twists . . . Its rewards are commensurate: unexpected revelations and quiet instances of human connection. -- Best New Mysteries * Wall Street Journal *Six Four avoids every crime-fiction cliché. The reward is a gripping novel . . . Complex, ingenious and engrossing . . . Yokoyama possesses that elusive trait of a first-rate novelist: the ability to grab readers' interest and never let go. * Washington Post *Already a bestseller in Japan and the U.K., this cinematic crime novel suffused with fascinating cultural details follows a police department reinvestigating a chilling kidnapping that stumped them 14 years earlier. * Entertainment Weekly *Yokoyama's novel is a Jenga tower, each plot point and peripheral character part of an intricate balance . . . What is perhaps most striking about Six Four is the number of stories it contains. It probes the cruelty, pettiness and endless face-saving and ass-covering that come with bureaucratic infighting, as well as the anguished obsession that plagues the bereaved . . . a demanding and absorbing book. * O: The Oprah Magazine *Though it deploys common tropes of crime fiction and its lightly noir style, Six Four's unusual focus on the PR side of police work sets it apart and gives it unexpected heat. Yokoyama avoids simplistic moralizing, and instead offers the reader a compelling interrogation of duty. * Time magazine *Hideo Yokoyama's Six Four, translated by Jonathan Lloyd-Davies, is by no means just another mystery novel . . . thoroughly believable and compelling. This is a major book, one that will stay in your mind well after you have turned the last page. * BookPage *Extremely detailed style and carefully wrought characters. Six Four succeeds on several levels: as a police procedural, an incisive character study, and a cold-case mystery. * Booklist *[Six Four] takes leisurely twists into the well-kept offices of Japan's elite while providing a kind of informal sociological treatise on crime and punishment in Japanese society, to say nothing of an inside view of the police and their testy relationship with the media. Elaborate, but worth the effort. Think Jo Nesbø by way of Haruki Murakami, and with a most satisfying payoff. * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisSophie is haunted by the things she can't remember - and visions from the past she will never forget.One morning, she wakes to find that the little boy in her care is dead. She has no memory of what happened. And whatever the truth, her side of the story is no match for the evidence piled against her. Her only hiding place is in a new identity. A new life, with a man she has met online. But Sophie is not the only one keeping secrets . . .For fans of Gone Girl and Lemaitre's own internationally bestselling Alex, Blood Wedding is a compelling psychological thriller with a formidable female protagonist.Translated from the French by Frank WynneTrade ReviewA really excellent suspense novelist -- Stephen King.After the award-winning Brigade Criminelle trilogy of Irene, Alex and Camille, the French author returns with a deliciously dark tale of obsession, betrayal and revenge. * Daily Express *A scorching, serpentine novel . . . Lemaitre's skill with suspense shines from every page, supported at every turn by an elegantly constructed plot complete with elements of noir that would make even James Ellroy proud. -- Geoffrey Wansell * Daily Mail. *Absorbing and disturbing . . . the Psycho-based denouement is extraordinary. -- Marcel Berlins * The Times. *BLOOD WEDDING is agonisingly suspenseful . . . it twists and turns with grace and verve to reach a blistering conclusion -- Declan Hughes * Irish Times *Lemaitre is worthy of all the fuss * Independent. *

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Book SynopsisLondon, 1871. Traveller, photographer and sometime intelligencer Adam Carver is asked by a friend from the Foreign Office to find Dolly Delaney, a West End dancing girl who has been involved with a diplomat and since disappeared.What seems a straightforward case soon proves otherwise. Carver is discomfited to come across alluring daguerreotypes of Dolly and he seeks answers from one of her fellow dancers, the feisty Hetty Gallant. Soon, Carver and his stoical manservant Quint are drawn north to York, where they are implicated in a shocking death. The pair flee across the Channel, but soon encounter new treacheries in Berlin, the imposing and dangerous capital of the nascent Germany.Carver's Truth is both a compelling murder mystery and a splendidly full-blooded portrait of mid-Victorian England.Trade ReviewThis is the second outing for Nick Rennison's hero, and Carver's Truth does not disappoint. The trail of the missing Dolly Delaney has danger, unexpected twists and villains aplenty. The dialogue is wonderful ... Carver's Truth is gripping escapism at its best. * The Times *With his impressive knowledge of the Victorian world, the author confects a rattling good story of political shenanigans, sexual hypocrisies - and even murder. * Daily Mail *A richly textured, thoroughly relishable helping of ripe Victoriana * The Sunday Times on Carver's Quest *It's entertaining stuff - knowing, but never too knowing - and Rennison's love of Victorian slang reflects a broader linguistic flair * Guardian on Carver's Quest *It's got the lot: mystery, murder, theft, blackmail, infamy, treachery, bandits, a beautiful maiden, heroes, villains, romance and adventure in bucket loads -- Sarah Broadhurst * Bookseller on Carver's Quest *Bristles with an energy and inventiveness that positively leap off the page... Readers may well be looking to spend more time in the company of Carver and Quint -- Barry Forshaw * Crimetime.co.uk on Carver's Quest *

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Book SynopsisTwo of the finest early Spensers in a single volume - this is Classic Robert B. Parker. In the first novel, Promised Land, Harvey Shepard's wife has run away. Spenser has been hired to find her. A seemingly easy mission: go to Cape Cod, find the missing woman, then sit back and enjoy the sun. But it seems there is more to this case than meets the eye. Who are the shady figures Pam Shepard has been seen with? And why does Harvey keep showing up with bruises? Both Pam and Harvey are in over their heads, and soon Spenser will be too. In the second novel, Looking for Rachel Wallace, Spenser is hired to protect Rachel Wallace, the outspoken feminist. Left-wing lesbian meets muscles and machismo. Chalk meets cheese. It is not long before Rachel fires him. Then she disappears. Spenser feels it is his duty to save her. And once he has made up his mind then no bigot, Klansman, or family will get in his way. He will not stop until he finds Rachel Wallace.Table of ContentsContains LOOKING FOR RACHEL WALLACE and PROMISED LAND.

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Book SynopsisAn axe-wielding psychopath carves young Dora Suarez into pieces and smashes the head of Suarez's friend, an elderly woman. On the same night, in the West End, a firearm blows the top off the head of Felix Roatta, part-owner of the seedy Parallel Club. The unnamed narrator, a sergeant in the Metropolitan Police's Unexplained Deaths division, develops a fixation on the young woman whose murder he investigates. And he discovers that Suarez's death is even more bizarre than suspected: the murderer ate bits of flesh from Suarez's corpse and ejaculated against her thigh. Autopsy results compound the puzzle: Suarez was dying of AIDS, but the pathologist can't tell how the virus was introduced. Then a photo, supplied by a former Parallel hostess, links Suarez to Roatta, and inquiries at the club reveal how vile and inhuman exploitation can become. I Was Dora Suarez is the fourth book in the Factory seriesTrade ReviewA sulphurous mixture of ferocious violence and high-flown philosophy. * Prospect *A mixture of thin-lipped Chandleresque backchat and of idioms more icily subversive. * Observer *Deadbeat, downbeat but thoroughly believable, and evoked with the scary precision of a scalpel slicing through flesh... extreme, but like nothing else you'll ever read -- Richard Rayner * Los Angeles Times *I cannot think of another writer so obsessed with the skull beneath the skin. * The Times *Raymond writes with a stomach-churning exactness about murder, madness and mutilation. * The Times *If you think of the act of writing as a game of chicken between the author and his talent, then Derek Raymond is one author who achieves his ecstasy by sailing off cliffs. Everything about I Was Dora Suarez shrieks of the joy and pain of going too far. * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisRaymond Chandler’s first three novels, published here in one volume, established his reputation as an unsurpassed master of hard-boiled detective fiction. The Big Sleep, Chandler’s first novel, introduces Philip Marlowe, a private detective inhabiting the seamy side of Los Angeles in the 1930s, as he takes on a case involving a paralysed California millionaire, two psychotic daughters, blackmail and murder. In Farewell, My Lovely, Marlowe deals with the gambling circuit, a murder he stumbles upon, and three very beautiful but potentially deadly women. In The High Window, Marlowe searches the California underworld for a priceless gold coin and finds himself deep in the tangled affairs of a dead coin collector. In all three novels, Chandler’s hard-edged prose, colourful characters, vivid vernacular, and, above all, his enigmatic loner of a hero, establish his enduring claim to the heights of his chosen genre.

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