Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisIt won’t be much longer now. Keep your head and hold your tongue.” In Shadows Before, events from the past are the catalyst for murder. In hope of a fresh start after being acquitted of the murder of his sister-in-law, Matthew Weir has moved his family to Spanwater, a remote manor in the Cotswolds. But his heiress wife Catherine is traumatised by her sister’s death and Matthew’s trial, and has retreated into childhood memories, believing she is living in the Welsh border cottage of her childhood. Hired to keep Catherine safe in her wanderings, companion Aurelia Brett is fleeing poverty and hunger in London, Matthew’s brother Augustus is trying to elude past debts. His nephew is haunted by the death of his father. Then Catherine dies suddenly, and arsenic is found in her home-made tea. Evidence suggests someone in the house, but Chief Inspector Pardoe finds conflicting clues and suspicious behaviour among Spanwater’s neighbours too. When a second death occurs, Pardoe – and the reader – must decide which shadows points to the perpetrator and why. Dorothy Bowers (1902 – 1948) was a champion of “fair play” mysteries, in which all the clues are cunningly displayed within the context of the story.Trade Review“Dorothy Bowers’ second novel fully lives up to the promise of her first, to which it is a sequel only in the sense that it employs the same cool, reasonable Inspector Pardoe. But the murder that he has to investigate in “Shadows Before” is a sequel; it was because Matthew Weir was accused (though acquitted) of his sister-in-law’s murder that he moved to the Cotswold country that his wife’s mental state grew peculiar enough to lead to the engagement of a companion for her. It was a natural sequel too that, when Mrs Weir died of arsenic, Scotland Yard was instantly called in; and it was natural to find the shadows of the past lying across the characters involved by the second crime. There are other shadows too. Though this is not one of those chess-board problems that set all the pieces on the board from the start, there is plenty of material evidence to occupy the reader’s attention; indeed, the reader is more generously treated than Pardoe. But the author (fairly enough, and principally by the high quality of her writing) diverts the attention to the realm of character, and so successfully that the absence of adequate motive for Mrs Weir’s murder (and for others that follow) seems a negligible factor. But when the truth is revealed, the motive is unquestionable; and for all the melodrama we have a picture of a dreadful but far from incredible killer. At certain points the construction is deliberately obscure: I think this is a mistake, but not so serious a one as to detract from the book’s outstanding merit.” -- Milward Kennedy * The Sunday Times *It is often said that not a first book but the second that is the true test of a young author's ability. If this is so the test is one Miss Dorothy Bowers passes with distinction in "Shadows Before," which improves even upon the promise of her earlier effort. The story tells of the death by poisoning of the wife of Matthew Weir, already tried and acquitted of the murder of his sister-in-law. The investigation is in the hands of Chief Inspector Pardoe, and even after he has begun his inquiry the murderer strikes again and again. Then, too, a friend of the dead woman has mysteriously disappeared, and there is an heiress to a great fortune of whom nothing can be heard. Characterisation and writing are both excellent, though possibly the narrative might be more effective if Miss Bowers were a trifle less addicted to the oblique approach. It is often an impressive and successful method, but one Miss Bowers is inclined to overwork. -- E.R. Punshon * The Manchester Guardian *Miss Dorothy Bowers is going to be a good writer of detective stories. She can tell her story, make her people real, cast her "Shadows Before", so that her readers feel intheir bones that something terrible is going to happen. -- William Blunt * The Observer *Table of ContentsIntroduction PROLOGUE Shadows PART I Coming Events I Situation Vacant II Arrivals III Encounter IV Steeple Cloudy to the World PART II Herb Tea V The Weir Case VI Scotland Yard to Steeple Cloudy VII The Husband VIII The Servants IX The Companion X The Doctor XI Somewhat Bellicose XII Friends and Relations XIII Design for an Accident XIV Titt's Cote PART III Light XV Cloudy Sabbath XVI Again Poison XVII Pie Wood XVIII The Truth XIX The Whole Truth EPILOGUE Nothing But The Truth

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Book SynopsisLeo Moran - connoisseur, private investigator, seer of visions - sets out from the splendid isolation of his Glasgow apartment for Biggnarbriggs Hall in Kirkcudbrightshire. He soon finds himself haunted by visions after a local girl mysteriously disappears.

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Book SynopsisCaught in a Trap draws back the veil of secrecy on the most dramatic event in the life of Elvis Presley. In October of 1975, Elvis was abducted and spirited away to a cabin in the Kentucky mountains where he was made to sing for his supper. After a week in captivity, a ransom was paid to ensure his release, a bizarre episode that was hushed up on orders from the White House, no less. This psychological thriller not only reveals the dramatic details of how Elvis was snatched but also delves into the innermost thoughts of the King of rock'n'roll. How does Elvis react when he is treated like an ordinary person, told to sweep floors and chop wood? How does he interact with his kidnappers? Will his songs grant him his freedom? And how do those close him, among them ex-wife Priscilla and manager Colonel Tom Parker, respond to the crisis? Caught in a Trap is so believable you'll be asking yourself why it has taken so long for the story to get out.

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Book SynopsisGuardian Best Book of 2020 Irish Times Best Crime Fiction of 2020 Times Book of the Month Mail on Sunday Thriller of the Month The Spectator Crime Fiction of the Month Crime Time Book of the Year 2020 'Vivid, stylish, funny' Mick Heron The first time I met Harold Challenor, he frisked me for weapons - I was ten years old. Bent is the explosive story of the rise and fall of SAS commando, and notorious Detective Sergeant, Harold 'Tanky' Challenor. During the Second World War, Challenor was parachuted behind enemy lines into Italy and France, performing remarkable feats of bravery. In the grimy underbelly of 1960s Soho, he was a ferocious and controversial presence, mediating between factions of club owners and racketeers, and cultivating informers. But just how far will he go to break the protection gang that has a grip on his manor? It can be a fine line that divides hero and villain. PRAISE FOR JOE THOMAS 'Brilliant' The Times 'Feverish energy' Guardian 'Wonderfully vivid' Mail on Sunday'Sophisticated, dizzying' GQ'Vivid and visceral' The Times'Superbly realised vivid and atmospheric' Guardian'Original' Mail on Sunday'A stylish, atmospheric treat an inspired blend of David Peace and early Pinter' Irish Times 'Sparse, energetic, fragmented prose' The Spectator 'Vibrant, colourful, and complex' Irish Independent 'Stylish, sharp-witted, taut. A must for modern noir fans' NB Magazine 'Definitive confident and energetic' Crime Time 'Brilliant manic energy' Jake Arnott 'Wildly stylish and hugely entertaining' Lucy Caldwell 'Vivid, stylish, funny' Mick Herron 'Gripping, fast-paced, darkly atmospheric' Susanna Jones 'Snappy, thoughtful, moving' John King 'Exciting, fresh, incredibly assured' Stav Sherez 'Happy days!' Mark Timlin 'Utterly brilliant' Cathi Unsworth 'Had James Ellroy and David Peace collaborated on a novel they'd have written something like this' Paul WilletsTrade ReviewBrilliant. Bent compellingly re-imagines a shocking true story of bravery and deception with all the manic energy and terrifying presence of its subject -- Jake Arnott, author of The Long Firm TrilogyA wildly stylish and hugely entertaining read, Bent brings the worlds of sixties Soho and Nazi-occupied Italy thrillingly to life. It's taut, evocative and laugh-out-loud funny and, like its anti-hero, Challenor, slick, pacy and just crooked enough to keep you guessing, right up until its gut-punch of an ending -- Lucy Caldwell, winner of the Dylan Thomas PrizeVivid, stylish, funny -- Mick HerronFrom the cool spine of Italy to the burning heart of London, Bent merges war and peace as it shows how our traumatised heroes helped shape Britain in the decades following the Second World War. While the Sixties swing, one man's need for order is undercut by a seething anger and some righteous violence. Written with love and respect, Bent is a snappy, thoughtful, moving novel -- John King, author of The Football FactoryBent makes me remember Fridays bunking off work early, slipping and sliding on mashed fruit and veg through a deserted old Covent Garden, down to Berwick Street market to buy a few ex-jukebox 45's for half a dollar each, then to the Nellie Dean for a couple of pints of Guinness, followed by a nap in Soho square gardens if the weather was clement. Shoot off home to change into something sharper, and back up for an all-nighter at the mingo, all pilled up and glassy eyed. We were far from innocent, but they seemed like innocent times. Not bent at all. Happy days! -- Mark Timlin, author of the Sharman novelsPerhaps the most notorious copper of the post-War era, Harold 'Tanky' Challenor has taken many literary guises, his contradictory, charismatic presence and catchphrase 'You're nicked, me old beauty' muscling its way into work by Joe Orton and Jake Arnott. But no one has delved so deeply into what turned a Wartime hero of the SAS into a peacetime detective whose attempts to 'clean up Soho' led to igimony and the epithet most readily applied to him Bent until Joe Thomas braved his way into Tanky's skull, effectively channeling Challenor in this vivid recreation of the events that forged and then destroyed his reputation. Utterly brilliant -- Cathi Unsworth, author of That Old Black Magic and Bad Penny BluesHad James Ellroy and David Peace collaborated on a novel about a corrupt 1960s Soho copper, they'd have written something like this. Bent has left its Size 12 boot-prints across my memory -- Paul Willetts, author of Members Only, filmed as The Look of Love

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Book SynopsisSet amidst the urban fantasia of Hong Kong, William Marshall's Yellowthread Street novels raise crime fiction to a high art form. Surrealistic and suspenseful, vivid in their procedural details and brilliant in their scope, they are the work of a uniquely gifted writer. "As an inspired poet of the bizarre, [Marshall] orchestrates underlying insanity into an apocalyptic vision of the future." - New York Times Book Review "Marshall's novels feature seemingly supernatural events that turn out to have logical, if not precisely rational, origins. He has savage fun with police procedure." - TIME The first in Marshall's unforgettable, classic series of police procedurals – suspenseful and hilarious in equal measure. Yellowthread Street is the sort of place that breeds more crime than any cops can handle. Among the gangsters and the goldsmiths of Hong Bay, Chief Inspector Feiffer and his police department had their hands full ... tourist troubles, a US sailor turned stick-up artist, and the jealous Chinese who solved his marital difficulties with an axe. Then the Mongolian with a kukri brought an extra touch of terror to the district ... Yellowthread Street brings to vivid life a seamy world where people called Osaka Oniki the Disemboweller, Shotgun Sen and The Chopper feel at home, a world of surreal possibility recorded with unique humour and a poignant sense of humanity.

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Book SynopsisFifty-something librarian Shona is a proud former pupil of the Marcia Blaine School for Girls, but has a deep loathing for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, which she thinks gives her alma mater a bad name. Impeccably educated and an accomplished martial artist, linguist and musician, Shona is personally selected by Marcia Blaine herself to travel back in time for an important mission in fin-de-siecle France. But Shona finds this mission very confusing. Why, for example, have so many people been torn to death by wild animals, what are Maman and the mayor up to, and is the reclusive aristocrat really suffering from toothache? It's a race against time to solve the mystery. It is also a very tall order - but as Shona is wont to remind herself: Never underestimate a librarian!Trade ReviewComedy Women in Print prize 2020: LONGLISTED; “Audacious … witty and fun.” Alastair Mabbott, Herald; “Effortlessly blends together a number of genres … Smart, funny and all-round good company, wherever Shona goes, readers will eagerly follow.” Rhona Shennan, Scotsman; “Miss Blaine’s Prefect and the Vampire Menace is a marvellous romp through history, myth, and legend, and delights by playing with all of these … often impish and wry … rip-roaring, genuinely thrilling, and laugh-out-loud funny.” Alistair Braidwood, Scots Whay Hae; “The plot is engaging and keeps you turning the page … it is the journey itself that is the reward. Highly recommended.” Undiscovered Scotland; “I couldn’t wait to be reunited with this character. I utterly love her company. So funny, so brisk, and above all, so well educated! More, more, more, please.” Lynne Truss; “Miss Blaine’s Prefect and the Vampire Menace is so clever, hugely enjoyable and absolutely hilarious.” Portobello Book Blog; “The genius of Olga Wojtas’ writing is that she is able to combine fact and fiction to delightful effect. Wojtas wears her erudition very lightly and uses it to charm and delight the reader in a whole host of laugh out loud moments … Folklore, legends and historical figures are all used to fabulous effect in a magnificent time-travelling oeuvre that delights and entertains … the sheer brio and delicacy of her writing is a real joy to read. It’s warm, original, funny and irredeemably Scottish without losing its wider appeal.” Live and Deadly; “Witty and enjoyable … well-paced [with] relentless adventure … original, unique.” Jane Hunt Writer blog; “A thoroughly enjoyable romp.” York Press: Book of the Week Praise for Miss Blaine’s Prefect and the Golden Samovar: Crimefest Last Laugh Prize 2019, SHORTLISTED; Comedy Women in Print Prize 2019, LONGLISTED; a Kirkus top 10 title of 2018; “A delightful addition to the ranks of comic crime.” Laura Wilson, Guardian (Pick of the Month); “Jane Austen stylings and Stella Gibbons satirical wit.” Scotsman; “Like being trapped inside a Marx Brothers’ film.” David Robinson; “The crème de la crème of crime fiction debuts.” Al Guthrie (author & agent); “Absolutely delightful ... perfect for fans of Jasper Fforde.” Library Journal (starred review); “Marvellous... [a] laugh-out-loud farce.” Publishers Weekly (starred review); “Anna Karenina written by P.G. Wodehouse.” Linda Cracknell

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Book SynopsisScarred by their pasts, Jenna and Luke fall in love, brimming with hope for a rosy future. But someone has been watching, with chilling plans for revenge … An emotive, twisty, disturbing new psychological thriller by the critically acclaimed author of A Suitable Lie and In the Absence of Miracles.‘Compelling, disturbing and engaging' Caro Ramsay‘Malone is the master of twists, turns and the unexpected, with the skill to keep things grounded … a master of his craft’ Herald Scotland‘Tense, pacey and lyrical … cements Malone in the firmament of Tartan Noir, marrying McIlvanney and Banks to a modern domestic noir that’ll have you reading into the wee sma’ hours’ Ed James______________________________________________The darker the memory, the deadlier the obsession… Jenna is trying to rebuild her life after a series of disastrous relationships. Luke is struggling to provide a safe, loving home for his deceased partner’s young son, following a devastating tragedy.When Jenna and Luke meet and fall in love, they are certain they can achieve the stability and happiness they both desperately need. And yet, someone is watching.Someone who has been scarred by past events.Someone who will stop at nothing to get revenge…Dark, unsettling and immensely moving, Quicksand of Memory is a chilling reminder that we are not only punished for our sins, but by them, and that memories left to blacken and sharpen over time are the perfect breeding ground for obsession, and murder…________________________________________________________‘Complex, human characters living in a page-turning world’ Douglas Skelton ‘Long-held secrets, complex relationships and an ever increasing sense of menace … fantastic’ Steph Broadribb ‘A fascinating exploration of damage, toxicity, trauma and love’ Sharon Bairden ‘Darkly compelling and provocative … from the outset, whiplike tendrils of disquiet creep their way into the story’ LoveReading‘Masterfully combines the dark, cruel elements of people’s lives and nature with a glimmer of light and hope’ Fiona Sharp ‘An almost perfect storm of circumstances that lead us to a dramatic and potentially deadly conclusion … an emotionally charged story’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews ‘I can genuinely say: Fiction doesn’t get any better than this’ Book Review Café Praise for Michael J. Malone‘A beautifully written tale, original, engrossing and scary … a dark joy’ The Times ‘A complex and multilayered story – perfect for a wintry night’ Sunday Express‘Vivid, visceral and compulsive’ Ian Rankin‘A terrific read … I read it in one sitting’ Martina Cole‘A deeply satisfying read’ Sunday Times‘A fine, page-turning thriller’ Daily Mail‘Malone’s latest is an unsettling, multi-layered and expertly paced domestic noir drama that delves into one family’s dark secrets, shame and lies’ CultureFly‘Engrossing, hard-hitting – even shocking – with a light poetic frosting. Another superb read!’ Douglas Skelton'A dark and unnerving psychological thriller that draws you deep into the lives of the characters and refuses to let go. This is a brilliantly written book; I could not put it down’ Caroline Mitchell‘A chilling tale of the unexpected that journeys right into the dark heart of domesticity’ Marnie Riches For fans of Jodie Picoult, Gillian McAllister, Cara Hunter, Shari Lapena, Liz Nugent and Mark Edward

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Book SynopsisNever underestimate a librarian. Intelligent cosy crime with razor-sharp wit and an unlikely hero, for fans of P.G. Wodehouse and Muriel Spark "So funny." Lynne Truss Shona McMonagle is back, once again personally selected by Marcia Blaine, founder of her alma mater, the Marcia Blaine School for Girls – this time for a crucial mission involving time travel, Macbeth, the Weird Sisters and a black cat. Unsure which version of history she’s in – and fully aware of Shakespeare’s egregious inaccuracies - Shona tries to figure out who she’s here to save. But between playing the Fool and being turned into a mouse, things don’t always go her way. Shona’s expertise in martial arts is put to the test as family tensions rise and fingers are pointed for murder. Can Shona unravel the mystery in time to complete her mission? Never underestimate a librarian!Trade Review'Witty and surrealistically humorous … Extremely light-hearted, funny and easy to read.' -- Dundee Courier, Book of the Week

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Book SynopsisThe attempted robbery of the armoured car in the back streets of Montevideo is a miserable failure. A lucky break for the intrepid Ursula Lopez who manages to snatch all the loot, more hindered than helped by her faint-hearted and reluctant companion Diego. Only now, the wannabe robbers are hot on her heels. As is the police. And Ursula's sister. But Ursula turns out to be enormously talented when it comes to criminal undertakings, and given the hilarious ineptitude of those in pursuit, she might just pull it off.She is an irresistible heroine. A murderess with a sense of humour, a lovable criminal with an edge and she is practically invisible to the men who dominate the deeply macho society of Uruguay.Praise for Crocodile Tears:'Fast, slick and acerbically funny: buckle up and enjoy the ride.' — Guardian'Rosende smoothly combines dark humor and farce with moving depictions of the grimmer aspects of life. Elmore Leonard fans will look forward to the sequel.' — Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisAn artist races to finish his forgery of a masterpiece while held captive in surreal, menacing splendor.José Federico Burgos is a failed painter turned forger trapped in surreal, an architectural masterpiece hidden behind high walls, an impish vagabond, and some very resourceful, very intimidating twins—Forgery pays homage to greats like Juan Rulfo and Luis Barragán, traversing late 20th Century Guadalajara with the exuberance and eccentricity of an 18th Century picaresque.Trade Review"Ave Barrera eases us into this microcosmos as strange and shocking as it is true, constructing powerful atmospheres imbued with very varied sensations, ranging from dreamlike hallucinations to terror, horror and beauty." —El País"We must pay serious attention to the work of Ave Barrera."" —Cristina Rivera Garza , author of NO ONE WILL SEE ME CRY"The plot flows in an intelligent and audacious way: It surprises by the simplicity and malice in which complex technical aspects are solved."" —Geney Beltrán Félix"A wild ride for protagonist and reader alike." —Kirkus"A fun and entertaining story of a great literary quality." —Milenio"Delightfully written, full of revelations … Such a literary discovery." —Radio 3 (RTVE)

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Book SynopsisTwo years into a devastating flu pandemic, food shortages are critical. The streets are full of angry protestors objecting to the government’s proposed rationing. Policing demonstrations is firmly outside the Health Enforcement Team’s remit, but that doesn’t stop their boss sending them in. As the threat escalates, the team find themselves being drawn into a government cover up, investigating a terrorist cell, and tugging at the threads of a global conspiracy. As tensions rise throughout the city and the nation, the stakes have never been higher. Dead Man Driving by Lesley Kelly is the latest book in the Health of Strangers series.

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Book SynopsisThe lives of five strangers collide on a London train carriage, as they become involved in an incident that will change them all forever. A shocking, intensely emotive and wildly original new thriller from Will Carver… ‘Impossibly original, stylish, sinister and heartfelt. The Daves Next Door is so wildly fresh and unmatched, and once again proves that Will Carver has talent and creativity to burn’ Chris Whitaker ‘Once again, Will bends and twists the genre with a novel that is astonishing, profound and hard-hitting’ David Jackson ‘So clever, so dark, so utterly original. Where does Will Carver get his ideas?’ Victoria Selman ‘Stirring. Ambitious. Irreverent. Compassionate. Completely devoid of giveable f*@ks’ Dominic Nolan ___________________________________________________________ A disillusioned nurse suddenly learns how to care. An injured young sportsman wakes up find that he can see only in black and white. A desperate old widower takes too many pills and believes that two angels have arrived to usher him through purgatory. Two agoraphobic men called Dave share the symptoms of a brain tumour, and frequently waken their neighbour with their ongoing rows. Separate lives, running in parallel, destined to collide and then explode. Like the suicide bomber, riding the Circle Line, day after day, waiting for the right time to detonate, waiting for answers to his questions: Am I God? Am I dead? Will I blow up this train? Shocking, intensely emotive and wildly original, Will Carver’s The Daves Next Door is an explosive existential thriller and a piercing examination of what it means to be human … or not. ___________________________________________________________ ‘Will Carver is a thought-provoking and masterful writer of gut-punching fiction ... a powerhouse of a novel. Think Ira Levin at his best’ Michael Wood ‘Will has this uncanny knack of delving into your soul and revealing all the things you really think but are too scared to voice. Absolute GENIUS’ Lisa Hall ‘Another ingenious genre-bender … provocative, twisted and mind-bendingly original’ Sarah Sultoon ‘Sharp, wild and thrilling’ Danielle Louise ‘Completely unpredictable and definitely unputdownable’ Little Miss Book Lover ‘Risk-taking, provocative fiction at its absolute finest … unmissable’ Hair Past a Freckle ‘You don't just read a Will Carver, you experience it. It draws you in and not only entertains, but challenges you’ From Belgium with Booklove Praise for Will Carver ‘One of the most exciting authors in Britain. After this, he’ll have his own cult following’ Daily Express ‘Unlike anything you’ll read this year’ Heat ‘Move the hell over Brett Easton Ellis and Chuck Palahniuk … Will Carver is the new lit prince of 21st-century disenfranchised, pop darkness’ Stephen J. Golds ‘Incredibly dark and very funny’ Harriet Tyce ‘I fell in love with Carver's murderous Maeve. This is an Eleanor Oliphant for crime fans. Carver truly at his best’ Sarah Pinborough ‘A darkly delicious page-turner’ S J Watson ‘One of the most compelling and original voices in crime fiction’ Alex North ‘Weirdly page-turning’ Sunday Times ‘Laying bare our 21st-century weaknesses and dilemmas, Carver has created a highly original state-of-the-nation novel’ Literary Review ‘Arguably the most original crime novel published this year’ Independent ‘This mesmeric novel paints a thought-provoking if depressing picture of modern life’ Guardian ‘This book is most memorable for its unrepentant darkness…’ Telegraph ‘Utterly mesmerising…’ Crime Monthly ‘Will Carver’s most exciting, original, hilarious and freaky outing yet’ Helen FitzGerald ‘Vivid and engaging and completely unexpected’ Lia Middleton

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Book SynopsisA failed writer connects the murder of an American journalist, a drowned 80s musician and a Scottish politician’s resignation, in a heart-wrenching novel about ordinary people living in extraordinary times. ‘A dazzling, time-hopping patchwork of pop and politics, sewn together with wit and compassion’ Kirstin Innes ‘This amiable and ambitious transatlantic extravaganza is a busy social tapestry pegged to real-life events in Scotland and the US … Ross’s affection for his characters shines through. There’s so much going on here that value for money is pretty much all but guaranteed’ Daily Mail ‘A mesmerising road trip through the America of Kerouac, Warhol and Reagan. Dashboard Elvis may be dead, but this book is full of vibrant, authentic, colourful life’ Stuart Cosgrove **David F. Ross was shortlisted for Scottish Fiction Book of the Year in the Scottish Book Awards** ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Renowned photo-journalist Jude Montgomery arrives in Glasgow in 2014, in the wake of the failed Scottish independence referendum, and it’s clear that she’s searching for someone. Is it Anna Mason, who will go on to lead the country as First Minister? Jamie Hewitt, guitarist from eighties one-hit wonders The Hyptones? Or is it Rabbit – Jude’s estranged foster sister, now a world-famous artist? Three apparently unconnected people, who share a devastating secret, whose lives were forever changed by one traumatic night in Phoenix, forty years earlier. Taking us back to a school shooting in her Texas hometown, and a 1980s road trip across the American West – to San Francisco and on to New York – Jude’s search ends in Glasgow, and a final, shocking event that only one person can fully explain… An extraordinary, gritty and tender novel about fate and destiny, regret and absolution – and a road trip that changes everything… ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ‘Few do raw, authentic, almost palpably believable characters better than David F. Ross' The Times ‘A masterclass in transatlantic intertwining storytelling from one of Scotland’s finest writers’ Derek Steel, Razur Cuts ‘A rich and rewarding novel that takes in the culture and social history of both Scotland and the USA, beautifully weaving stories together over decades … devastating’ Alistair Braidwood, Scots Whay Hae ‘An ambitious, sweeping novel … Taut and gritty, Dashboard Elvis Is Dead interrogates truth, and pulses with life’ Donna McLean ‘An irresistible story of chances taken and missed, and of last-ditch hopes of redemption … the writing is exquisite’ Katie Allen ‘Gripping, gritty and gloriously written, David F. Ross captures characters, places and moods like few other writers … a triumph of a novel’ Martin Geissler ‘A rawness and sensitivity that is so visceral … another extraordinary novel from David F. Ross’ Anne Cater ‘Simultaneously intimate and epic … my head and heart are spinning’ From Belgium with Booklove

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Book SynopsisHotel Beresford: a grand old building, just outside the city, where any soul is welcome, and strange goings-on mask explosive, deadly secrets. A chilling, darkly funny sequel to Will Carver's bestselling The Beresford… ‘Superbly paced and remarkably inventive, a book that demands to be read in a single sitting’ M.W. Craven ‘Delightfully dark and wickedly inventive … with characters that stick around long after the final page is turned, whether you want them to or not’ S J Watson ‘Multi-layered and masterfully written, this darkly humorous tale will both shock and entertain’ Heat magazine Book of the Month ______________ There are worse places than hell… Hotel Beresford is a grand, old building, just outside the city. And any soul is welcome. Danielle Ortega works nights, singing at whatever dive bar will offer her a gig. She gets by, keeping to herself. Sam Walker gambles and drinks, and can't keep his hands to himself. Now he's tied up in a shoe closet with a dent in his head that matches Danielle's broken ashtray. The man in 731 has been dead for two days and his dog has not stopped barking. Two doors down, the couple who always smokes on the window ledge will mysteriously fall. Upstairs, in the penthouse, Mr Balliol sees it all. He can peer into every crevice of every floor of the hotel from his screen-filled suite. He witnesses humanity and inhumanity in all its forms: loneliness, passion and desperation in equal measure. All the ingredients he needs to make a deal. When Danielle returns home one night to find Sam gone, a series of sinister events begins to unfold. But strange things often occur at Hotel Beresford, and many are only a distraction to hide something much, much darker… For fans of Chuck Palahniuk, Bret Easton Ellis, Jennifer Egan and Jonathan Franzen __________________ ‘From the wondrous mind of Will Carver … a tour de force that covers life, death and everything beyond’ David Jackson Praise for Will Carver ‘One of the most exciting authors in Britain’ Daily Express 'A smart, stylish writer' Daily Mail ‘Incredibly dark and very funny’ Harriet Tyce ‘Unlike anything you’ll read this year’ Heat ‘Impossibly original, stylish, sinister and heartfelt’ Chris Whitaker ‘Weirdly page-turning’ Sunday Times ‘Ambitious, dark and funny’ Mike Gayle ‘A highly original state-of-the-nation novel’ Literary Review ‘Oozes malevolence from every page’ Victoria Selman ‘Arguably the most original crime novel published this year’ Independent ‘Mesmeric’ Guardian ‘Memorable for its unrepentant darkness…’ Telegraph ‘Perceptive and twisted in equal measure’ CultureFly ‘Pitch-dark, intelligent and utterly addictive' Michael Wood 'Unflinching, blunt and brutal' Sam Holland ‘Equally enthralling and appalling’ James Oswald ‘One of the most compelling and original voices in crime fiction’ Alex North

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Book Synopsis"If you had the ability to travel back in time to witness any one thing, what would it be?” Guy Curtis has invented an extraordinary device. With it, he develops a plan to send his best friend, Ian Lambie, back to Whitechapel, in the heart of London’s East End. Back to November of the year 1888, to the time of Jack the Ripper. The plan for Ian is simple; hide in the shadows at the scene of the Ripper’s last atrocity and discretely follow him as he leaves. See where he goes. Do nothing more than that. From such basic data, his elusive identity can finally be established. What could possibly go wrong?... Now, in the year 2023, the East End of London is suddenly seeing the worst murders in over 130 years and the police have no idea who is responsible. It’s almost as though a nightmare from a dark past has returned…

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Book SynopsisApril 21, 1923. The SS Metagama is inching out of Stornoway harbour on the Isle of Lewis, bound for Canada. On board are Finlay and Mairead; they are young and hopeful, leaving behind a community that has been touched by tragedy to change their lives foreverOn the other side of the Atlantic, though, they face the realities of an uncaring industrial society. The effects of the Great Depression are inescapable, prejudice and division are rife, and though they remain bound by a shared past, their own lives soon diverge.In an adopted country that is tense with both opportunity and loss, social progress and violent backlash, can Mairead and Finlay keep their promises to one another, to look only forward, and resist the constant pull of home?From the author of the prize-winning As the Women Lay Dreaming comes a poignant and deeply evocative novel of the 20th-century emigrant experience in the New World. With lyrical prose and masterful storytelling, Murray paints a vivid portrait of the resilient Hebrideans-in-exile who struggled between holding on and letting go.

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author Tess Sharpe comes a new action packed, love-soaked thriller about two women whose livesand heartsare destined for each other.

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Book SynopsisIt's an FDNY firefighter's first and possibly last week on the job

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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 Synopsis'Searingly topical.' THE TELEGRAPH'Shocking.' HEATA fresh and topical debut thriller where two detectives on a chilling murder case begin a love affair, only for one of them to become a prime suspect.Detective Erin Crane is investigating sixteen-year-old Sophie Madson's murder along with detective Tom Radley. They have a close professional bond built on mutual trust and a shared contempt for the head of the anti-corruption team, Walker.During the investigation, Tom discovers Erin’s biggest secret, but to her surprise, the revelation brings them closer together, and Tom and Erin embark on a love affair - despite all the risks.Then Erin discovers dashcam footage showing Sophie getting into Tom’s car barely an hour before she died. Tom becomes the prime suspect and everything Erin thought she could trust begins to crumble...Reader reviews'If I could rate it higher than five stars, I would do!''So many twists and turns that kept me guessing all the way through!'Trade Review'This absorbing mystery also takes a look at police conduct' * Heat *'The tension kept me swiftly turning the pages.' Nina Pottell, Prima -- Nina Pottell * Prima *'Fun as well as thoughtful, this will be gobbled up by fans of Cara Hunter and the like' -- Jake Kerridge * Daily Telegraph *'This thriller is a read-in-one-gulp triumph' -- Claire Frost * Fabulous *

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Book SynopsisA master storyteller’s novel of crime, corruption, and antisemitism in early Manhattan, Ravage & Son reflects the lost world of Manhattan’s Lower East Side — the cradle of Jewish immigration during the first years of the twentieth century — in a dark mirror.Abraham Cahan, editor of the Jewish Daily Forward, serves as the conscience of the Jewish ghetto teeming with rogue cops and swindlers.He rescues Ben Ravage, an orphan, from a trade school and sends him off to Harvard to earn a law degree. But upon his return, Ben rejects the chance to escape his gritty origins and instead becomes a detective for the Kehilla, a quixotic gang backed by wealthy uptown patrons to help the police rid the Lower East Side of criminals.Charged with rooting out the Jewish 'Mr. Hyde', a half-mad villain who attacks the prostitutes of Allen Street, Ben discovers that his fate is irrevocably tied to that of this violent, sinister man.Trade Review'One of the most important writers in American literature.' -- Michael Chabon'Jerome Charyn, like Nabokov, is that most fiendish sort of writer—so seductive as to beg imitation, so singular as to make imitation impossible.' -- Tom Bissell'Charyn is a one off: no other living American writer crafts novels with his vibrancy of historical imagination. -- William Giraldi'Charyn’s sentences are pure vernacular music, his voice unmistakable.' -- Jonathan Lethem'One of our most rewarding novelists.' -- Larry McMurtry'No one does it better than Charyn.' * Crime Time *

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Book SynopsisMrs. Plansky's Revenge is bestselling author Spencer Quinn's first novel in a new series introducing the irresistible and unforgettable Mrs. Plansky.

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Book Synopsis‘I’m going to tell you about the worst thing that ever happened to me.’Will’s a nice guy. So when he takes a shortcut to the tube station after a few beers with his mates from work, he steps out of the way of the fellow who’s staggering towards him. But he – deliberately – moves back into his path. They knock each other as they pass.Moments later one man is dead and another’s life is changed forever. Or is it? There are no CCTV cameras. There was no one else in the out-of-the-way alley. Maybe the world doesn’t have to end for Will after all.But there’s always someone watching . . . and Will’s life is about to implode.Trade Review'An exciting, fast paced and tense thriller that will have you gripped as you shout at the pages' -- Nadine Matheson, author of The Jigsaw Man'Utterly compelling, we couldn’t read it fast enough.' * Heat Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe Poet's Game is a remarkably sophisticated, timely, and emotionally resonant portrait of a spy from a master of the genre.

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Book SynopsisWhen Ruby Davis gets a distressed call from Rosie Cowell, the latest inhabitant of Blakemort, little does she know that her life too will change forever, from the moment she steps over the threshold.

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Book SynopsisMulti-generational crime mystery taking place in the north of Iceland, as brutal retribution is exacted for childhood abuse

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Book SynopsisShe thought she was her own worst enemy ... until the real one came after her A DEATH ◆ AN ACCIDENT ◆ A STUPID MISTAKE Traumatised by the death of a patient in her chair, Glaswegian dentist Radha Bakshi succumbs to an addiction to Valium she can’t acknowledge – even to herself. The pills take the edge of trying to be the consummate professional, a perfect daughter, a devoted wife and a not-too-embarrassing mother to her teenage son. When increased scrutiny of her work forces her to find a new source of supply, she stumbles into the menacing clutches of blackmailing drug dealers. A mistake that could cost her everything. A gripping psychological thriller about the sadly common, insidious substance abuse among healthcare workers and the complexity of family relationships as children grow up. Perfect for fans of S.E. Lynes, Lauren North, Lesley Kara, Harriet Tyce, Paula Hawkins.Trade Review"What a book! Nail-biting tension on every page, alongside a poignant portrayal of a mother, wife, daughter and a woman juggling it all. Highly recommend!" -Lauren North; "An addictively tense read." -Lesley Kara; "A gripping story in which a clever, strong, loyal woman finds herself momentarily vulnerable, with disastrous consequences. Realistic, relateable, and frightening." -SE Lynes; "An absorbing tale of secrets and lies with a delicious sting in the tail." -Caroline England

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Book SynopsisEdinburgh, 1920. Three children are missing, abducted from the poorhouses of the city.When a body is found near the town of Liberton, Dr Thomas Stevenson, still suffering from the trauma of the First World War, finds himself drawn into the police investigation. But suspicion falls on the woman with the mysterious past who lives with Thomas. Could she be guilty of the brutal murder?With time running out and lives at stake, Thomas must prove her innocence, but to do that he has to find the real killer and unlock the truth about her secret past. A past that casts a long, dark shadow.

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Book SynopsisThe hotly-anticipated sequel to 2022 Sunday Times Thriller of the Year The Coming Darkness sees the return of hero Alexandre Lamarque. He may have prevented the world from falling into ruin, but his work is not done yet. From Paris, the lithium mines of Mali, and the Aswan Dam, he faces ever more malign forces, and there's more at stake than ever.

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Book SynopsisGo for the throne in Status Royale!Choose your teammates carefully and rank up fast because in the world of esports, anyone can snatch the crown!Status Royale is THE game to master if you want to join the rank of elite players in the competitive world of VR esports. Vell is just having fun as a casual gamer with her best friend and teammate Jun teaching her the tips and tricks…until he shuts her down and skips town! Vell’s competitive spirit is unlocked and she vows to challenge her former best friend with her own team of amateur Status Royale players and beat Jun at his own game, but does she really know who she’s competing against?

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Book SynopsisWhen a feisty college girl falls for a yakuza boss, she gets swept into a steamy and dangerous love affair.When feisty college student Yuri is attacked at a party, she’s saved by Toshiomi Oya, the underboss of a yakuza syndicate. Despite her obvious attraction to him, she convinces herself that she’s not in the market for a bad boy type. But when they meet again, she finds herself irresistibly drawn to him—kicking off a steamy and dangerous love affair that threatens to consume her, body and soul.After Oya rescues Yuri from Jin, a detective who was Yuri’s childhood friend, he’s enraged and consumed by the desire to claim her body once more, but his injuries get in the way. Jin refuses to give up on Yuri, forcing Oya to take drastic measures to put an end to this love triangle once and for all! Later, with Oya still unable to have sex, Yuri feels compelled to do “something” for him for the very first time!

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