Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisA teenage girl clashes with her new stepmother in this debut thriller with an unforgettable twistA pile-up of devastating plot twists' Bernardine Evaristo, author of Booker-winning Girl, Woman, OtherDark, deep, thought-provoking. Go and read it!' Adele ParksSimilar in spirit to We Need to Talk About Kevin' Sunday TimesGenuinely unputdownable' Clare Fisher, author of All the Good ThingsSure to be a reading group favourite' MetroStunning' Laura Marshall, author of Friend RequestThe twists and turns left me reeling' Eleanor Wasserberg, author of FoxloweI knew she was trouble from the moment I saw her. I felt it as she stood in the doorway that day: disaster. Not just because she was so different, that skin and that hair, as different from me as it's possible to be. There was something wrong about her. Wrong for us. It was never going to work.Now she is dead and only I am left to love him. She is dead, and it's all my fault.Trade Review'An impressive concoction of characterisation, language and daring, leading to a pile-up of devastating plot twists at the end. It's telly-ready!' Bernardine Evaristo, Booker Prize winning author of Girl, Woman, Other ‘Dark, deep, thought-provoking . What a debut! I recommend you go and read it!’ Adele Parks ‘A page-turning thriller that grips the reader with its twisty exploration of the complex relationship between step mother and step daughter’ Kate Hamer ‘Similar in spirit to We Need to Talk About Kevin’ Sunday Times ‘A fast-moving story about love, race and jealousy, sure to be a reading group favourite’ Metro ‘Oh so good’ Elle ‘Stunning. I swung back and forth, not knowing who to trust’ Laura Marshall ‘A tense novel about creating new families that explores the lengths people will go to in order to find and keep love. As it goes on, it becomes clear that Darling is not the story you thought it was’ Stylist ‘A brilliant and surprising chameleon of a novel. I was so absorbed in the voices of Darling and Lola that the twists and turns of their story left me reeling’ Eleanor Wasserberg, author of Foxlowe’ ‘I devoured Darling in a couple of days; told by two unforgettable female narrators, it's urgent, original and genuinely unputdownable’ Clare Fisher, author of All the Good Things ‘Dark, provocative and a refreshing take on the psychological thriller genre. Darling and Lola are both brilliant creations’ Emma Curtis, author of One Little Mistake

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Book SynopsisThe Flanders Road' is not only a masterpiece of stylistic innovation, but also a haunting portrayal - based on a real-life incident - of the chaos and savagery of war.Trade ReviewHis imagination, working through the controlled riot of words, flames and flares magnificently, and nowhere is he better than in conveying the sense of disintegration that overtook the French in 1940. * The Times *

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Book Synopsis'Vera Morris is one of those unexpected gems who turn up occasionally on the crime fiction scene' Mystery PeopleSomeone knows what happened . . .1971. David was thirteen when he went missing two years ago. It's now up to Laurel Bowman and Frank Diamond, partners in the newly formed Anglian Detective Agency, to find him.But how do you solve a cold case with no leads? Could it have anything to do with the brutal deaths of three local residents?As their first big case unravels, they uncover a circle of temptations, destruction and deceit. But the closer they get to solving the case, the more exposed they are to danger. And now both Laurel and Frank's lives are at risk . . .Readers LOVE Vera Morris's Anglian Detective Agency series:'I sat up to past midnight reading this book' *****'Full of twists and turns' *****'A book you just know you are going to like from the 1st page' *****'A perfect detective novel' *****'I started it early one morning and had finished it by bed-time that same day!' *****'A super read' *****'This book stands head and shoulders above the rest in this overcrowded genre' *****'Absolute must read' *****

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Book SynopsisMEET DETECTIVE GEREON RATH IN THE BOOKS THAT INSPIRED THE HIT TV SERIES BABYLON BERLIN ‘Tough, gritty and altogether superb, Goldstein is a worthy addition to the addictive Gereon Rath series.’ -William Ryan, author of The Constant Soldier Volker Kutscher continues his Gereon Rath Mystery series with Goldstein. Inspector Gereon Rath investigates crime and corruption in decadent 1930s Berlin as the Nazi movement grows around him. Berlin, 1931. Infamous American gangster Abraham Goldstein takes up residence at the Excelsior, Berlin’s most expensive and exclusive hotel. Gereon Rath is assigned to keep Goldstein under surveillance as a favour to the FBI. Seeing this as a waste of his time, Rath takes on a private case for Johann Marlow, a morally dubious friend, and finds himself in the middle of a street war. Meanwhile, Rath’s on-off girlfriend, Charly, lets a young woman prisoner escape, unknowingly entangling their professional lives once more. With corruption and violence all around, Berlin is a divided city where two worlds are about to collide: the American gangsters and the expanding influence of Nazism. And both Rath and Charly are caught in the crossfire… About the Gereon Rath Mysteries 1930s Berlin is a hotbed of vice and organised crime. When Inspector Gereon Rath leaves Cologne to join Berlin’s murder squad, he cannot begin to imagine the brutality and complexity of the world he is stepping into as communists and Nazis struggle for power.Trade ReviewSplendid and chilling... This is as good as Philip Kerr’s Bernie Gunther series. * Crime Time *‘Even better than the first two... a strong storyline, set against an increasing buildup in 1930s Berlin between Nazi and communist factions.’ * The Journal of the Law Society of Scotland *‘Volker Kutscher’s books following Detective Inspector Gereon Rath through Berlin are gripping thrillers set against a wonderfully evoked background of Germany in the dying days of the Weimar Republic.’ * The New European *Tough, gritty and altogether superb, Goldstein is a worthy addition to the addictive Gereon Rath series. * William Ryan, author of The Constant Soldier *Horrible history indeed, but this is a fascinating novel. * Literary Review *Wonderfully atmospheric. * The Sunday Times *Noir of exceptional quality… Truly entertaining and deliciously dark novel. Full marks to Sandstone Press for recognising the quality of the German original and getting the novels translated. * Nudge-Book *‘Goldstein is maybe the best of the series so far ... like the bastard love child of Christopher Isherwood and Raymond Chandler’ * CrimeReads *

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Book Synopsis20,000 Leagues Under the Sea tells the story of a kidnapped professor and harpoonist who embarks on an exhilarating undersea journey aboard the submarine of the eccentric Captain Nemo.

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Book Synopsis''Note-perfect, multi-layered, rugged as a T-34 tank. Grimwood is about to become your new favourite thriller writer'' IndependentA tense, atmospheric and breathtaking thriller that drops you deep into the icy heart of the Cold War - fans of A Gentleman in Moscow, John Le Carré and Red Sparrow will be gripped. ___________1986, the Cold War is thawing . . .But not for British intelligence officer Major Tom Fox. Smuggled into East Berlin, Fox''s orders are clear: repatriate a remorseful defector. But they are less clear about what to do when his mission is compromised.Trapped in East Berlin, hunted by an army of Stasi agents and wanted for murder on both sides of the Wall, Fox must stay free and get out alive.To do both he must discover who sabotaged his mission - and why . . .___________''A fine book for those who enjoy vintage Le CarréTrade ReviewA fine book this, for those who enjoy vintage Le Carre * Ian Rankin *Moskva was one of the most impressive spy thrillers of 2016 . . . Nightfall Berlin is even better. Grimwood's portrayal of dark and frightening East Berlin is excellent and he is skilful at describing the politics of espionage * The Times *A gripping Cold War tale that manages to be original as well as give a nod to classic John Le Carre * The Sun *The atmosphere and tension perfectly pitched this excellent Cold War thriller with memorable well-drawn characters is compulsive reading * Choice Magazine *A twisty tale of Cold War conflict, which sees tormented intelligence officer Tom Fox caught up in a dark story of establishment lies and long-buried secrets * The Independent *A book that pulls you in, teaches you something and gives you a protagonist you can't get enough of ... If you liked Ian McEwan's The Innocent, you'll love this evocation of Berlin at the other end of the Cold War * The Pool *The new Le Carre . . . an absolutely brilliant page turner . . . if you love thrillers, Jack Grimwood is a name you need to remember * BBC Radio 2 The Sara Cox Show *Nightfall Berlin is just fabulous. So atmospheric, so elegantly written. The character, Major Tom Fox is intriguing... like Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, or like early le Carre. I really recommend it. I just disappeared into it totally. -- Marian KeyesA gripping Cold War thriller where life hangs by a thread. Dark secrets from the lawless rubble of WW2 threaten world peace and the family of British spy Tom Fox. After the success of Moskva, Grimwood works his magic on the grey but edgy streets of East Berlin. A powerful, addictive, twisty tale where no-one can be trusted. -- David Young, author of Stasi ChildSpring's best thriller * Observer *Note-perfect ... Jack Grimwood is about to become your new favourite thriller writer * Independent *An extraordinarily atmospheric and immersive read ... escapism at its best * Good Housekeeping *The rejuvenation of the espionage thriller continues apace with Nightfall Berlin * Guardian *The thriller of the summer ... Grimwood raises the stakes in this dark, twisty tale of Cold War conflict * iPaper *The superior spy thriller of the year. Le Carré fans will be delighted -- Amanda CraigIf you love thrillers Jack Grimwood is the name you need to remember... * BBC Radio 2, Sara Cox Show *Mesmerising, surefooted, vividly realised . . . something special in the arena of international thrillers * Financial Times *A compulsive and supremely intelligent thriller from a master stylist -- Michael Marshall * author of The Straw Men *Even better than Child 44 . . . A blizzard of exciting set pieces, superbly realized * Daily Telegraph *Grimwood is a damned fine writer * Independent *The writing is elegant, the dialogue razor sharp, the characters drawn economically but effectively, and the action is unrelenting * SciFi Now *

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Book SynopsisIt is the autumn of 1910, and for fifteen long years Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson have battled R'lluhloig, the Hidden Mind that was once Professor James Moriarty. Europe is creeping inexorably towards war, and a more cosmic conflict is nearing its zenith, as in a single night all the most eminent members of the Diogenes Club die horribly, seemingly by their own hands. Holmes suspects it is the handiwork of a German spy working for R'lluhloig, but his search for vengeance costs an old friend his life. The companions retreat to Holmes's farm on the Sussex Downs, and it is not long before a client comes calling. Three young women have disappeared from the nearby town of Newford, and the locals have no doubt who is responsible. For legend has it that strange amphibious creatures dwell in a city on the seabed, coming ashore every few centuries to take fresh captives. As Holmes and Watson seek out the terrifying interlopers, the scene is set for the final battle that will bring them face to face with the Sussex Sea-Devils, and perhaps with Cthulhu himself...Trade Review“Certainly in contention for the year’s best read” - Borg.com “A truly literary work combining a smart Holmesian adventure and the dark mind of H.P. Lovecraft” - Borg.com

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Book SynopsisThe Overnight Kidnapper is the twenty-third Inspector Montalbano mystery, from the international bestselling author Andrea Camilleri.After a hectic morning involving two rather irritating cases of mistaken identity, Inspector Montalbano finally arrives in his office ready to find out what’s troubling Vigàta this week. What he discovers is unnerving. A woman on her way home from work has been held up at gunpoint, chloroformed and kidnapped, but then released just hours later – unharmed and with all her possessions – into the open countryside.Later that day, Montalbano hears from Enzo, the owner of his favourite restaurant, that his niece has recently been the victim of the exact same crime. Before long, a third instance of this baffling overnight kidnapping has been reported. As far as Montalbano can tell, there is no link between the attacker and the victims. So what exactly is this mystery assailant gaining from these fleeting kidnappings? And what can he do to stop them? Montalbano must use all his logic and intuition if he is to answer these pressing questions before the kidnapper finds his next victim . . .The Overnight Kidnapper is followed by the twenty-fourth gripping Montalbano mystery, The Other End of the Line.Trade ReviewMontalbano’s colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction’s greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe’s greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisA beautiful and sweeping historical novel that takes the reader from the west coast of New Zealand, to Scotland and Melbourne in the 1870s'Its portrayal of life in a gold-rush town is vivid, and Rose's story is absorbing' The Times'Worth reading for its occasional streaks of brilliance and insight' Telegraph India'A epic read . . . a beautifully written, evocative novel that I anticipate you reading and re-reading for years to come' Woman's Way'A gripping page-turner' Woman 1866. Will Stewart is one of many who have left their old lives behind to seek their fortunes in New Zealand's last great gold rush. The conditions are hostile and the outlook bleak, but he must push on in his uncertain search for the elusive buried treasure.Rose is about to arrive on the shores of South Island when a storm hits and her ship is wrecked. Just when all seems lost she is snatched from the jaws of death by Will, who risks his life to save her. Drawn together by circumstance, they stay together by choice and for a while it seems that their stars have finally aligned.But after a terrible misunderstanding they are cruelly separated, and their new-found happiness is shattered. As Will chases Rose across oceans and continents, he must come to terms with the possibility that he might never see her again. And if he does, he will have to face the man who took her . . .Readers love Alchemy and Rose:'A real rollercoaster of emotions' 5* reader review'One of her best yet' 5* reader review'Both gripping and romantic (quite a combination!) and keeps you hooked right up to the end' 5* reader review'One of those books that you need to find out what happened, but at the same time you don't want it to finish' 5* reader review'Couldn't put it down, a real page turner' 5* reader reviewTrade ReviewIts portrayal of life in a gold-rush town is vivid, and Rose's story is absorbing * The Times *Maine reworks the conventions of historical romance in a narrative that regularly undercuts expectations of what is to come * The Sunday Times (Culture) *A gripping page-turner * Woman Magazine *Worth reading for its occasional streaks of brilliance and insight * Telegraph India *This feels like an epic read, and it is a beautifully written, evocative novel that I anticipate you reading and re-reading for years to come * Woman's Way *

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Book SynopsisThe sixth instalment of the popular Birder Murder series A trail of a murder leads Domenic Jejeune across a vast continent… Newly estranged from his girlfriend, Lindy Hey, Inspector Domenic Jejeune returns to Southern Ontario, where he receives news that his brother, Damian, has gone missing in Wood Buffalo National Park while conducting research on Whooping Cranes. Domenic immediately heads out to try to find him. Back in the U.K., Jejeune's plan to protect Lindy has failed, and she has been kidnapped by his old foe, Ray Hayes. Jejeune's trusty sergeant, Danny Maik, tracks down Lindy, but there is far more to the situation than he anticipated. With Lindy in imminent danger, Maik is forced into a desperate rescue attempt. Will either of them survive? And if so, can they find their way back to each other?Trade Review'Irresistible...a marvelous series of books.' * 10,000 Birds blog *'Burrows has the ability to make the North Norfolk coast come alive in a way that few other authors have managed.' * The Bookbag *Praise for the Birder Murder Mysteries: 'A murder plot built around birdwatching doesn’t, at first, seem plausible or even possible. But Burrows pulls it off... Riveting from first page to final line.' Globe and Mail 'A suspenseful and well-crafted mystery perfect for the beach.’ Morning Star 'A neatly-constructed and well-told police procedural. If you like north Norfolk you'll feel as though you're there. If you like birds you'll feel as though you're in heaven.' The Bookbag 'Skillfully written, full of moral ambiguities and artful puzzles, with a spine-tingling final sentence.' Kirkus starred review

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Book SynopsisThe thrilling sequel to GODBLIND, the biggest fantasy debut of 2017.The Wolves lie dead beside Rilpor's soldiers, slaughtered at the hands of the Mireces and their fanatical army.The veil that once kept the Red Gods at bay has been left in tatters as the Dark Lady's plans for the world come to fruition. Where the gods walk, blood is spilled on the earth.All that stands between the Mireces army and complete control of the Kingdom of Rilpor are the walls of its capital, Rilporin, and those besieged inside.But hope might yet bloom in the unlikeliest of places: in the heart of a former slave, in the mind of a soldier with the eyes of a fox, and in the hands of a general destined to be king.Trade Review‘A great achievement…no one does swordfights quite like Anna Stephens. We salute her with a bloody gauntlet’Daily Mail ‘Believable characters, real consequences, and plenty of action and wonder’Grimdark Magazine ‘An unrelenting, heart-hammering, merciless thrill ride’The Fantasy Hive PRAISE FOR GODBLIND: ‘Writes her name in blood on the roster of masters of grimdark alongside the likes of Mark Lawrence and Joe Abercrombie’B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog ‘GODBLIND is a triumph of its genre.’Starburst ‘Has all the signs of being a sensational series’SFX

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Book SynopsisThis atmospheric mystery set against the backdrop of 1945 blackout London sees Lorac's CID man MacDonald pit his considerable wits against a host of characterful suspects. Also includes the Lorac short story, 'Permanent Policeman'.

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Book Synopsis________________Set in a 5th century Britain besieged by invading bands of Saxons and Franks, Irish and Picts, Giles Kristian's epic novel tells - in Lancelot's own words - the story of the most revered yet reviled of all Arthur's knights, the warrior who fought at his lord's side - yet stole his wife.Trade ReviewIt is a masterpiece in the true sense of the word. -- CONN IGGULDEN, author of The Falcon of SpartaSome of us grew up with T H White’s Once and Future King as our touchstone for authenticity in the Arthurian myths; others found that Rosemary Sutcliff, Bernard Cornwell or Mary Stewart filled that role. Giles Kristian pulls together the best of the best and infuses it with his own utterly transformative understanding of myth, magic – and the many faces of love . . . There are so many modern retellings of the Arthurian myth, but this one stands head and shoulders above the rest, in the company of true greatness. -- MANDA SCOTT, author of BoudicaWithout doubt this is Giles Kristian’s finest novel to date. Glorious. Tragic. Lyrical. Totally gripping. I loved it. -- BEN KANE, author of Clash of EmpiresThis most fascinating character from Arthurian legend has been plucked from the 14th-century romances and positioned firmly back in the early medieval environment he belongs in. Giles is an extraordinary writer, able to capture sounds, smells, sensations in a sentence. No other writer thinks and feels his way back to the medieval past the way he does . . . Lancelot is an exceptional book and does what only great historical fiction can do: transport you back through time to feast, fight and feel alongside fascinating characters from the past. No one does this better than Giles Kristian. -- DR JANINA RAMIREZA gorgeous, rich retelling of the Arthurian tale. -- Antonia Senior * THE TIMES *I loved the post Roman chaos of Giles’ vision, just as I imagine it would have been but with the life of that vision breathed into it to render it in stark and bloody tones. But what I enjoyed most was the sheer glorious brutality of the age, delivered by a writer with the heart of a warrior and the soul of a poet. It’s really, really good. -- ANTHONY RICHES, author of The Centurions seriesHis Lancelot is no airy tale of magic and romance, but a muscular telling of warriors and survival, beautifully rendered in a prose that is both visceral and lyrical. This is historical fiction at its very best. -- ELIZABETH FREMANTLE, author of The Girl in the Glass TowerIntense and powerful . . . written with deep expression and enormous feeling. It is a marvellous historical adventure. * Sunday Express *Kristian is a writer with rare power to grab you at the opening of the story and to keep the pace going. Lancelot is a powerful reworking of the King Arthur myths. The pages turn by themselves. -- JUSTIN HILL, author of Viking FireMy impression as I was reading Lancelot was of a flare being held up in the gloom of this peculiarly dark passage of history. Every detail illuminated, every motive believable, every heart laid bare. A bright intensity but passing away, guttering, about to go out. And, by the time his tale comes to its conclusion, that seems to be his point. A gentle lament at the onrushing of a dark and inexorable tide which comes to extinguish a bright and golden age of Britain forever. Lancelot is a gem of a book. If there were six stars, it could have them all. Or, to use the words of Spinal Tap, “This one goes to eleven.” Loved it. -- THEODORE BRUN, author of The Wanderer ChroniclesTruly magical . . . reads with the authority and gravitas of Manda Scott's Boudica books, such that I found it utterly believable throughout . . . it was a stroke of genius to retell this legend through Lancelot's POV, the betrayer rather than the betrayed. -- ANNA STEPHENS, author of GodblindGiles Kristian’s brilliant take on the Arthurian love-triangle is impressively fresh and original . . . the language is arrestingly beautiful, poetic and poignant; the fights are satisfyingly bloody; the background is a believably muddy, pagan and benighted post-Roman Britain, against which Giles unfolds a tender and tragic love story. We know it will end badly, but reading this enchanting and elegiac novel, you can’t help rooting for Lancelot and his love and hoping it will all work out somehow by the final page. -- ANGUS DONALD, author of OutlawAuthentic, epic, and wonderfully Arthurian. -- CHRISTIAN CAMERON, author of The Ill-Made KnightKristian is one of the finest storytellers in the genre . . . this is a novel that you feel as much as you read. What we end up with is utterly staggering . . . Giles has surpassed the Cornwell trilogy in a single title. -- ROBIN CARTER * Parmenion Books *Fiercely beautiful and gripping. -- ANNA SMITH-SPARK, author of The Court of Broken KnivesIt’s difficult to think of any author more gifted to retell Lancelot’s story than Giles Kristian . . . [he] writes so beautifully. He brings these post-Roman years so vividly to life. I love the way in which the recent Roman past haunts this landscape. There is myth here, there is the Druid Merlin, and we’re reminded of many of the famous Arthurian legends, such as Excalibur, but Giles Kristian evokes a time rooted in history and in the land around us even now . . . his writing comes closest to the feeling, mood and beauty of the Old and Middle English verse that I love so much . . . there is power here, deep expression and enormous feeling. I cried and cried as the story ended in the only way it could. -- KATE ATHERTON * For Winter Nights *

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Book SynopsisAVAILABLE NOW: the 25th Ben Hope thriller, from the Number One bestseller.Some legends lie buried for a reasonTo fight extraordinary odds, you need an extraordinary man.Under the fierce heat of the Australian outback, the laws of nature serve a rough justice. When a man vanishes deep in the Northern Territory, local police write it off. But his family suspect otherwise and when the call for help goes out, Ben Hope and Jeff Decker are there to hear it.Ben's instincts, honed by years of Special Forces missions, soon see the story told by a trail of bullet casings, rumours of a missing map and a lethal cocktail of greed, power and money.This savagely beautiful land holds a secret it won't give up easily and for Ben, discovering the truth will mean not only going up against a small army of hired guns and their twisted paymaster, but also surviving a place where the wilderness is as powerful as the weapons his enemies have trained on him.Trade Review Praise for Scott Mariani: ‘Compelling from the first page until the last, Mariani and his fabulous protagonist Ben Hope entertain in a gripping tale that will have you turning the pages well into the night’ Mark Dawson ‘Thrilling. Scott Mariani is at the top of his game’ Andy McDermott ‘A high level of realism … the action scenes come thick and fast. Like the father of the modern thriller, Frederick Forsyth, Mariani has a knack for embedding his plots in the fears and preoccupations of their time’ Shots Magazine ‘James Bond meets Jason Bourne meets The Da Vinci Code’ J. L. Carrell ‘Fans of Dan Brown will love this thrilling adventure’ Closer 'Non-stop action – this book delivers’ Steve Berry ‘If you’ve got a pulse, you’ll love Scott Mariani; if you haven’t, then maybe you crossed Ben Hope’ Simon Toyne ‘Full of authentic detail and heart-stopping action – a real thrill ride’ Ed Macy ‘Establishes Scott Mariani as an author to watch’ M. J. Rose ‘Packed with dark intrigue, danger around every corner, bullets flying, sexual tension, and an endless assault of nasty villains . . . everything a thriller should be and more’ Joe Moore ‘Scott Mariani is an awesome writer’ Chris Kuzneski

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Book Synopsis''While Oxford had Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl''Daily Mail Murder Fest is the sixth book in Julie Wassmer''s popular crime series - now a major Acorn TV drama, Whitstable Pearl, starring Kerry Godliman as private detective and restaurateur, Pearl Nolan.Pearl''s detective agency takes a back seat as she prepares to offer a warm welcome to a group of special visitors. A local Arts Festival is being held to honour a cultural exchange visit from representatives of Borken - Whitstable''s Twin Town in Germany. Yet very soon, personality clashes surface among the participants; local politicians try to use the festival for their own ends while others jostle for improved billing on the festival programme. Tempers flare, old feuds re-surface and on the eve of the first event, a cryptic message - Murder Fest - is received by the local police. Before DCI Mike McGuire has a chance to investigate, the festival commences Trade ReviewThoroughly enjoyable with a host of wonderful characters - I adore Dolly! - and evocative descriptions of Whitstable. Perfect for foodies too. Pearl is great and the ongoing will they/won't they love story with McGuire is compelling. Comforting, cosy and entertaining with excellent Agatha Christie-style reveals. I love these books! -- Jane Wenham-Jones, author of Mum in the Middle

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Book SynopsisThe unconventional Hamish Macbeth finds that his own impetuousness places him at the center of a murder investigation. Death accompanies a tattooed stranger to a tiny Highland town... Everyone in Lochdubh knows about the Macho Man - a mean bully claiming to be a professional wrestler and part-time explorer. His insults at the pub have caused brawls, while his furtive sneaking around arouses suspicion he is romancing some of the local wives. And when he challenges Hamish Macbeth to a public bout, it triggers an epidemic of betting. Everyone expects Hamish to take a pounding, but no one anticipates a murder instead. And amid all the excitement it''s up to level-headed Hamish to track down the heartless killer of the brutal Macho Man . . .Praise for M C Beaton:''The books are a delight: clever, intricate, sardonic and amazingly true to the real Highlands'' Kerry Greenwood''It''s always a special treat to return to Lochdubh'

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Book SynopsisRed Riding Nineteen Eighty is set against an evolving backdrop of power, corruption and lies. The nightmare continues during the winter of 1980 when the Ripper murders his thirteenth victim and the whole of Yorkshire is terrorised. Assistant Chief Constable Hunter struggles to solve the hellish crimes and bring an end to the horror, but is drawn ever deeper into a world of bent coppers and sleaze. After his house is burned down, his wife is threatened and his colleagues turn against him, Hunter's quest becomes personal as he has nothing left to lose. Nineteen Eighty is a compelling battle between two desperate men, each determined to destroy the other. This third volume of the Red Riding Quartet displays Peace's unique voice which places him as one of the UK's finest crime writers.Trade ReviewThe slow-burning, word-of-mouth success story of British publishing... These four books recreated the pervasive sense of terror and corruption with a hammering, semi-magical style loosely reminiscent of James Ellroy, but steeped in something far more bleak and English... the evil twin of Life On Mars... Peace may have succeeded in creating an enduring literature for a curiously undocumented area of Britain -- Justin Quirk * Guaridan Guide *Singular and memorable -- Ian Jack * Guardian *Bleakly brilliant * Radio Times *Compelling * Sunday Times *He's in a class of his own in terms of ambition. He's trying to write these alternative histories of events we know quite well in a challenging way. The fact that he's dealing with very English subjects from Japan is very interesting -- Alex Clark * editor of Granta Magazine *A British crime master work. Required reading... * Maxim *Original, difficult, brilliant * Observer *Haunting evocations of 70s and 80s Yorkshire - interlinking tales of very fallible coppers, very noir hacks, very human killers -- Euan Ferguson * Observer *

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Book Synopsis'A gripping chronicle of pitched battle, treachery and cruelty' ROBERT FABBRI. Tuscany, 1358: Thomas Blackstone has built a formidable reputation in exile, fighting as a mercenary amid the ceaseless internecine warring of Italy's City States. But success has bred many enemies, and when a dying man delivers a message recalling him to England, it seems almost certain to be a trap. Yet Blackstone cannot disobey – the summons is at the Queen's demand. On his journey, Blackstone will brave the terrors of the High Alps in winter, face the Black Prince in tournament, confront the bloody anarchy of a popular revolt and submit to trial by combat. And every step of the way, he will be shadowed by a notorious assassin with orders to despatch him to Hell.Trade ReviewI'm totally bedazzled. The suspense is ratcheted up to a truly brutal level – it is impossible for a reader to predict what will be coming next -- Sharon PenmanPage-turning and gritty * Daily Mail *Gilman does heart pounding action superlatively * The Times *The 100 Years' War is the new Rome for historical adventure novels -- Ben KaneLike a punch from a mailed fist, Master of War gives a true taste of the Hundred Years War. It is a gripping chronicle of pitched battle, treachery and cruelty. The stench and harshness of medieval life is ever present -- Robert Fabbri, bestselling author of the Vespasian seriesA very original and real picture of the time, no gloss of modern sensibility is added to this fantastic tale of personal growth in bloody times * Parmenion Books *

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Book SynopsisThe Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories contained four of these perfectly formed stories, and this companion volume contains a further six, published here together for the first time.As the six murderous tales unfold, the dark motive of revenge is revealed at the heart of each.

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Book SynopsisFROM THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF RAGDOLL - SOON TO BE A MAJOR TV SERIES''Brilliant'' M.J. Arlidge''Exciting'' Linwood BarclayA locked room. A dead body. A secret that went to the grave.When retired police officer Finlay Shaw is found dead in a locked room, everyone thinks it''s suicide. But disgraced detective William ''Wolf'' Fawkes isn''t so sure. Together with his former partner Detective Emily Baxter and private detective Edmunds, Wolf''s team begin to dig into Shaw''s early days on the beat. Was Shaw as innocent as he seemed? Or is there more to his past than he''d ever let on?But not everyone wants Wolf back - and as his investigation draws him ever deeper into police corruption, it will not only be his career on the line - but the lives of those he holds closest as well...The explosive new thriller from the Sunday Times and international bestseller, perfect for fans of Fiona CTrade ReviewGive an arm or a leg to get hold of a copy... An exciting thriller. - Linwood BarclayA star is born. Killer plot. Killer pace. Twisted killer and a killer twist. Kill to get a copy. - Simon Toyne on RagdollA brilliant, breathless thriller. If you liked Se7en, you'll love this! - M.J. ArlidgeA first class, dark thriller. - Emlyn ReesCole is sure to be a brilliant and accomplished new voice for crime readers to devour. - Ali Land

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Book Synopsis‘Donald is a writer not only at the top of his game, but of the game’ Giles Kristian, author of the Raven series‘Donald delivers a masterclass’ Theodore Brun, author of A Burning Sea'A gory, gleeful treat' The TimesThe greatest warriors are forged in the flamesTwo pagan fighters771AD, Northern Europe. Bjarki Bloodhand and Tor Hildarsdottir are journeying south into Saxony. Their destination is the Irminsul, the One Tree that links the Nine Worlds of the Middle-Realm. In this most holy place, they hope to learn how to summon their animal spirits so they can enter the ranks of the legendary berserkir: the elite frenzied fighters of the North.One Christian kingKarolus, newly crowned King of the Franks, has a thorn in his side: the warlike Saxon tribes on his northern borders who shun the teachings of the Church, blasphemously continuing to worship their pagan gods.An epic battle for the soul of the NorthThe West’s greatest warlord vows to stamp out his neighbours’ superstitions and bring the light of the True Faith to the Northmen – at the point of a sword. It will fall to Bjarki, Tor and the men and women of Saxony to resist him in a struggle for the fate of all Europe.Praise for The Last Berserker ‘Donald has taken the legendary berserkers, those frothing-at-the-mouth shield-biters, and made them human, which once again proves that Donald is a writer not only at the top of his game, but of the game ... It is a wonderful, rich and violent brew. I welcome Angus Donald to the shield wall of Viking fiction like a thirsty man welcomes a mead-brother to the feast ... A tale worthy of the skalds’ Giles Kristian, author of the Raven series‘With The Last Berserker, Donald has given us the first cut of some serious Dark Age beef. By turns heart-racing, intriguing, and touching, this is not a book for the faint-hearted – I can’t wait for more’ Theodore Brun, author of A Burning Sea‘The Last Berserker strikes with the thundering power of Thor's hammer... rich with the earthy depth, historical detail, intrigue, violence and adventure that we expect from Donald. But it is Bjarki and Tor that make The Last Berserker stand out... Donald's masterful creations will live on in the imagination long after the final page’ Matthew Harffy, author of the Bernicia Chronicles'A wonderful, blood-soaked tale of redemption and revenge, set amidst the eighth century clash of civilisations between Pagan Vikings and Christian Franks, by a master of the genre’ Saul David, author of Zulu Hart'Loved this tale of a berserker facing up against the tidal wave of Charlemagne’s expansion. Great characters, brilliantly paced and explosive, gritty battle-scenes. Highly recommended' John Gwynne, author of Malice‘Well researched detail and stunning battle scenes make The Last Berserker a white knuckle ride. A thrilling, up-all-night read’ C. R. May, author of The Day of the Wolf'I loved it. Bjarki and Tor are great characters, instantly relatable. The depth of the immersion in their world and their values gives the book authenticity and weight' Cecelia Holland, author of The Soul Thief

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Book Synopsis''Dazzling'' The Guardian on Borderlands''A clever web of intrigue that deepens and darkens as it twists'' Peter James on Gallows Lane''Some of the very best crime fiction being written today'' Lee Child on Bad Blood________Lucy Black must protect the young and vulnerable ...but can she protect herself? Late December. A sixteen-year-old girl is found dead on a train line. Detective Sergeant Lucy Black is called to identify the body. The only clues to the dead teenager''s last movements are stored in her mobile phone and on social media - and it soon becomes clear that her ''friends'' were not as trustworthy as she thought. Lucy is no stranger to death: she is still haunted by the memory of the child she failed to save, and the killer she failed to put behind bars. And with a new boss scrutinizing her every move, she is determ

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Book Synopsis The Cook of the Halcyon is the penultimate novel in the Inspector Montalbano mystery series from the master of Sicilian crime, Andrea Camilleri.Moments later the all-white schooner, which looked like a hospital ship, began to pass ever so slowly before him, as if wanting to show itself off in all its beauty. The name on the prow said: Halcyon.Two deaths – the suicide of a recently fired worker and the murder of an unscrupulous businessman – lead Inspector Montalbano to the Halcyon, a mysterious ship that visits Vigàta’s port each day. With very few crewmen, no passengers, and a stern large enough to land a helicopter, it piques the Inspector’s interest straight away. In the midst of this, a rare trip to Genoa to visit Livia ends with the Vigàta police department in disarray, and Inspector Montalbano’s position as the head of the commissariat in jeopardy. It will be up to Montalbano to fix the damage done.Trade ReviewMontalbano’s colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction’s greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe’s greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *

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*pre-order The Butterfly House, the next book in the Kørner and Werner series, now*They share a house.And all its secrets . . .When a young woman is discovered brutally murdered in her own apartment, with an intricate pattern of lines carved into her face, Copenhagen police detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner are assigned to the case. They quickly establish a link between the victim, Julie Stender, and her complex landlady, Esther. Esther is a budding novelist - and when Julie features as a murder victim in the still-unfinished mystery she's writing, the link between fiction and real life grows more urgent.But is Esther guilty or merely another victim in a far more dangerous game of vengeance? Anette and Jeppe must dig more deeply into the two women's pasts to discover the secret that links them both . . .See what readers are saying about The Tenant:'Full of intrigue and clever twists' *****'This is as tense and gripping as anything I've read this year.' *****'Gripping Scandi police procedural' *****'Kept me engrossed with a strong sense of location and plenty of tension' *****'This will keep you hooked! It kept me guessing all the way through' *****'A great thriller full of twists and turns that will keep you engaged to the end' *****

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Book SynopsisTrinity in Tempest is the grand tour of Rimiru's world that fans have always wanted. Through the eyes of three cute little monsters, one from the fox clan, one from the dragon clan, and one from the winged clan, readers will meet the residents of the utopia in Jura Forest, and get a peek at how they live their lives. The little group's leader, Phos, is a fox girl from the Beast Kingdom of Eurazania. But this isn't just a pleasure trip for her; she's visiting Tempest on secret orders from Lord Carrion. What would a demon lord want with Rimiru's monster paradise?

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Book SynopsisTHE THIRD TOM REYNOLDS MYSTERY FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE PERFECT LIEAs he scanned the glade, his stomach lurched. One, two, three, four. Five, counting the mound of earth disturbed under the tent. Somebody had cleared the earth of its natural layer and sown their own flowers. In five places. Five graves.A young woman, Fiona Holland, has gone missing from a small Irish village. A search is mounted, but there are whispers. Fiona had a wild reputation. Was she abducted, or has she run away?A week later, a gruesome discovery is made in the woods at Ireland's most scenic beauty spot - the valley of Glendalough. The bodies are all young women who disappeared in recent years. D.I. Tom Reynolds and his team are faced with the toughest case of their careers - a serial killer, who hunts vulnerable women, and holds his victims captive before he ends their lives.Soon the race is on to find Fiona Holland before it's too late. . .PRAISE FOR JO SPAIN'S TOM REYNOLDS SERIES'A stunning read' Woman's Way'Refreshing and full of twists' Express'Clever, pacey, compulsive' Sunday Mirror'Expertly crafted, deeply immersive and timely' Irish IndependentTrade ReviewDeft plotting and expert handling of tension make for an intelligent mystery * Guardian *Fiendishly clever . . . and a big fat twist is lobbed into the ending like a hand grenade * Irish Sunday Independent *Brilliant! Fast paced, well researched and sensitive. Jo Spain is a sparkling new talent * Irish Examiner *Spain's vivid thriller explores the dark secrets of Ireland's past that are a real-life situation haunting so many people within Irish society today * Irish Country Living *In a very strong year for Irish crime-fiction debuts, Jo Spain's With Our Blessing is among the most assured . . . With Our Blessing picks at the scabs of recent Irish history to reveal raw and gaping wounds * Irish Times *Jo Spain's vivid thriller explores the dark secrets from Ireland's past that continue to haunt Irish society today * Martin Sixsmith, author of Philomena *Atmospheric and compelling * Sinéad Crowley *Spain handles the inevitable tensions with aplomb * Sunday Times *Packed with fascinating details . . . this is a satisfying mystery * Irish Independent *Absolutely my comfort reading * Ann Cleeves *

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Book SynopsisIn the funniest crime caper ever from Grandmaster Donald Westlake, four teams of international thieves race through Paris to steal a king's ransom from the walls of a disassembled castle. When four groups of international heist artists team up to pull off the theft of the century - stealing an entire castle, and the treasure secreted in its walls - what could possibly go wrong? Well, consider this: none of the master thieves speak each other's languages...and no one knows precisely where the loot is stashed...and every one of them wants to steal it all for him or herself. It's Westlake at his wildest, a breathless slapstick chase through the streets of France with the law in hot pursuit... 'Westlake is a talent of uncommon talent, imagination, flair and unpredictability' - Los Angeles Times 'The kookiest caper... The craziest con artists... The hilarious new misadventure by 'the Neil Simon of the crime novel' - The New York Times Book Review on original publicationTrade Review"This fast-moving, relatively short caper novel is worth your time, attention and money . . . Westlake’s cinematic narrative ability is on full display here."—BookReporter"So much enjoyment to be had from reading this caper . . . a cross between The Italian Job and Ocean's Eleven"—Crime Fiction Lover"An exciting adventure all the way through, with laughs on every page . . . another great entry to the Hard Case Crime collection."—Cinema Sentries

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Book Synopsis''Unique and stunning. One of the most powerful novels you''ll read this year''Stephen Booth on The FatherIn the second part of the highly acclaimed and internationally bestselling series Made in Sweden, one brother fictionalises the real crimes of his own family for a remarkable and epic novel.After six years in prison, Sweden''s most notorious criminal Leo Dûvnjac is free, acquitted of all but two of the ten bank robberies he and his two younger brothers pulled off.While behind bars, he befriended Sam Larsen, who was convicted of murdering his own father - and also happens to be the brother of the cop who caught Leo, Detective John Broncks.With Sam at his side, Leo seeks out his now-law-abiding brothers for one last job and a chance at redemption - or revenge. But Bronks is on to him, and Leo''s father has other plans for his sons . . .Now two sets of brothers will play out the tragic and thrilling destinies of childhoods built on heartbreaking betrayal.Praise for The Father and The Sons''A powerful real-life story''Guardian''The emotional centre of the story is truly compelling . . . the sweep and scope are epic''Herald''Superior. . . builds to a breathless climax''Sun''A deep, clean cut into the body of fathers, sons, loyalty and family''Sainsburys Magazine''Will delight fans of Nordic Noir''Crime Fiction Lover''Mind boggling and captivating''The Crime Warp''An incredible story''Crime Time''Incredibly efficient and easy to read . . . gripping and thrilling''Helsingborgs Dagblad, Sweden''An unbelievably exciting and authentic story. . . One of the year''s best crime stories''Östran, Sweden''An insider story that beats any action film''Aftonbladet, Sweden''A remarkable blend of fact and fiction''Skånska Dagbladet, Sweden''Many of the scenes stick with you''Expressen, Sweden''A powerful and riveting reading experience''Deckarbloggen, Sweden''One of the summer''s best thrillers''Café, Sweden''The action in The Father is captivating. It holds us in suspense from the first page to the last''LitteraturMagazinet, Sweden''I have a soft spot not only for suspense novels, but also for coming-of-age stories; here, I get both!''Bokbabbel, Sweden''The craftsmanship in this novel is first-class. It is both exciting and dramatic in an almost cinematic way''Gefle Dagblad, Sweden''It is hard to put The Father down for more than the briefest moment. It is an empathetic story that vividly portrays perpetrators, victims and police''Upsala Nya Tidning, Sweden''It is captivating to read about the inner workings of a gang of robbers''Borås Tidning, Sweden''A very clever suspense novel, a classic story of crime and punishment that is simultaneously a gripping family drama with a genuinely painful element''BTJ, Sweden''The Father is more than a traditional suspense novel. It is also a story of exclusion, a fractured family, an unfamiliar Sweden and a kind of honour culture. This is why it is so totally relevant to us''Mariestads-Tidningen, Sweden''The Father isn''t just exciting - it also gives a sincere picture of a home that is a far cry from that of your average Joe''Ölandsbladet, Sweden''A thrilling novel that becomes something much more than a book you can''t put down''Tara, Sweden''A flawlessly constructed thriller''Femina, Sweden''The Father is thoroughly exciting from the first line to the last. Seductively well-written''Kristianstadsbladet, Sweden''A gripping coming-of-age story, flush with exciting scenes and the psychological battle between father and son''Falu-Kuriren, Sweden''The Father is a novel where we know already from the beginning how it will all end, but the way there is worth our while''Aftonbladet, Sweden''A book that seems infallible: bring on the cartloads of stars, the stellar reviews and the millions of readers''de Volkskrant, Netherlands''The Father is a book that will elicit a lot of response, a must-read for every crime lover. Actually, a must for anyone who likes to read''Hebban, The Netherlands''An incredible crime novel''Brabants Dagblad, Netherlands''The meticulous preparation and execution of the robberies are depicted stunningly'' NRC Handelsblad, Netherlands''It is amazing how much tension the authors create while merely describing the preparations for the robberies. Even more exciting are the robberies themselves''VN Thriller & Detective Guide, Netherlands''Never before have I read a book that so successfully explains how people can end up as criminals''Het Nieuwsblad, Netherlands''The Father provides an intriguing insight in the criminal life''De Telegraaf, Netherlands''The Father is a technically wonderful novel crafted with breathtaking cleverness'' Corriere della Sera, Italy''Totally crazy, totally reckless and totally brilliant: a well-researched fictional reality of a book ... the best crime thriller of the year so far''Nordjyske Stiftstidende, Denmark''The structure is strictly cinematic: well-formed scenes with sharp dialogue and seamless progress, making reading a pleasure. Once you''ve started reading, it''s hard to put the book down''Politiken, Denmark''It''s extremely well written, thrilling, gripping, gruesome, cheerful, anguished, heartwarming, and ice cold - spectacular in all ways. The Father is a world-class piece of fiction''Fredericia Dagblad, Denmark''[An] action-packed page turner - not for the faint of heart''Elle, GermanyTrade ReviewThis hard-as-nails Scandi noir thriller reeks of authenticity and is totally electrifying. * Irish Independent *The novel is brimming with an excellent sense of timing and set-ups, heartbreaking empathy, and a ferocious inspiration that will give rise to the feeling of "we want more, more, and even more". * Dagbladet Holstebro, Denmark *Three brothers' bonds are put to the ultimate test in this well-written and nerve-racking thriller. * Litteratursiden, Denmark *A suspenseful and well-written psychological crime fiction novel. * DBC, Denmark *A page-turner! * Aftonbladet, Sweden *An extremely brutal and realistic novel, very well-written and with an intriguing plot. * Expressen, Sweden *The Sons is more multifaceted than most novels in the crime fiction genre. * Göteborgs-Posten, Sweden *A tragedy reminiscent of The Godfather. * Dagens Nyheter, Sweden *A current, important and immortal story. * Skånska Dagbladet, Sweden *The author duo manages to both build up tension and create a gripping story about a couple of individuals who are struggling to adapt to everyday life. * Upsala Nya Tidning, Sweden *A truly powerful and exciting thriller, but most of all it's a novel about brotherhood, loyalties and blood ties. * Smålandsposten, Sweden *The author duo writes a dense and forceful prose that keeps the reader nailed to the short and chiseled chapters. It's relentlessly suspenseful and realistic. * Mariestads-Tidningen, Sweden *The Sons is simply a page-turner where you want to get to the end and the resolution as quickly as possible. * Östra Småland, Sweden *The line between police and criminal, right and wrong, and bad and good is unusually blurry, and it's precisely that which, together with the strong bonds of loyalty between the main characters in the novel, makes this thriller highly worth reading. * Östgöta Correspondenten, Sweden *[The Sons] is intensely thrilling and thought-provoking at the same time. * Ölandsbladet, Sweden *The alternating narration, with its changes of tempo, is efficiently utilized in this story about masculinity, exploitation and revenge. Anders Roslund & Stefan Thunberg write stringently and engagingly. * DAST Magazine, Sweden *Thanks to the authors' skill in changing things up and constructing convincing details for every story, the result feels original. Anton Svensson rises above the crowd in the Swedish and international thriller literature. * LitteraturMagazinet, Sweden *Hard-boiled entertainment. * BTJ, Sweden *

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Book Synopsis''O''Dell could be Reacher''s long-lost twin'' LEE CHILDSpecial Agent Maggie O''Dell doesn''t need to set foot at a crime scene to catch a serial killer. From her small Quantico office, she''s profiled criminals using just Polaroids and faxed copies of evidence from homicide detectives across the country.Then comes Albert Stucky . . . and nothing will ever be the same.Stucky is a sadistic madman who places pieces of his victims in takeout containers and leaves them for innocent bystanders to find. He enjoys his twisted games as much as he enjoys the kill. And when Maggie is tasked with profiling his murders, Stucky is only too happy to rise to the challenge:''Let the chase begin.''New York Times bestselling author Alex Kava returns with a heart-stopping new thriller featuring special agent Maggie O''Dell, who will face one of the most terrifying serial killers of her career.''Rip-roaring action that only bui

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Book Synopsis''A lively, well-written, entertaining whodunit'' THE TIMESLose yourself in the sumptuous first novel in a new series of Golden Age mysteries set amid the lives of the glamorous Mitford sisters.It''s 1919, and Louisa Cannon dreams of escaping her life of poverty in London, and most of all her oppressive and dangerous uncle.Louisa''s salvation is a position within the Mitford household at Asthall Manor, in the Oxfordshire countryside. There she will become nurserymaid, chaperone and confidante to the Mitford sisters, especially sixteen-year-old Nancy - an acerbic, bright young woman in love with stories.But when a nurse - Florence Nightingale Shore, goddaughter of her famous namesake - is killed on a train in broad daylight, Nancy and amateur sleuth Louisa find that in postwar England, everyone has something to hide . . . Written by Jessica Fellowes, author of the number one-bestselling Downton Abbey books, TheTrade ReviewA lively, well-written, entertaining whodunit * The Times (Crime Fiction Book of the Month) *Exactly the sort of book you might enjoy with the fire blazing, the snow falling etc. The solution is neat and the writing always enjoyable. (Best Crime Books of 2017) * Anthony Horowitz *An extraordinary meld of fact and fiction * Graham Norton *True and glorious indulgence. A dazzling example of a golden age mystery. * Daisy Goodwin *All the blissful escapism of a Sunday-night period drama in a book. * The Pool *Keeps the reader guessing to the very end. An accomplished crime debut and huge fun to read. * Evening Standard *This story is drenched in detail and feels both authentic and fun. Curl up in your favourite reading spot and enjoy. * Heat *The plan is that each book will focus on a different Mitford sister. On the strength of this initial entry, success is assured. * Financial Times *Elegant, whipsmart and brilliantly twisty-turny, this Downton-style mystery had me hooked from the first page * Viv Groskop *Full of period pleasure. * Woman & Home *Jessica Fellowes' deliciously immersive, effortlessly easy novel has a strong feel for period and a rollicking plot. * Metro *This novel truly is a wonderful surprise. Bring on the sequel! * Elle (France) *With nearly as much period detail as an episode of Downton, this delightful romp satisfies like a cup of strong nursery tea accompanied by a Battenburg cake * Washington Post *What a captivating crime novel and heroine Jessica has created in The Mitford Murders. The instant reassurance of being in the hands of a true storyteller with a feel for period detail makes this a real treat. * Amanda Craig *A locked room mystery . . . I enjoyed this cosy crime caper. * Red *Downton Abbey fans, rejoice. For those who miss Lady Mary and Bates, the Mitford series is a winner. * Globe & Mail *The premise is clever . . . a zippy read for those interested in the 1920s. * The Lady *Perfect for those missing their Downton Abbey fix. * Belfast Telegraph *Remarkably assured and with pitch-perfect period detail * Country Life *It's the perfect cosy crime read; an escapist, Sunday-night period drama wrapped up in a book. The start of a series that doesn't disappoint, and one I suspect the Mitford sisters would have approved of. * Image Magazine *It is impossible to not like this book . . . a light and entertaining read best saved for when it gets cold outside and you need something to cosy up with. * Crime Fiction Lover *Read it if you like Europe of mid-twenties and want to get immersed in the post-war goings on. * Snow Queen SVT (blog) *Everything in one book. Crime, mystery, romance, humour, gritty reality, fact, fiction and so much more. This book is special, and I can guarantee I'll be looking out for the next one. A 'Must read' highly recommended by me. * Starts At 60 (blog) *This is an outstanding first book in a series. Wonderful pacing, characters, and depth * Book Lover's Book Reviews (blog) *The Mitford Murders is a captivating read. Fellowes, perhaps best known for her Downtown Abbey books, is very good at what she does * Sandy's Book a Day Blog *It's well written and researched, touching on a lot of issues of the time * Debbish (blog) *

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Book SynopsisTWENTY-ONE DAYS is the first in an exciting new generation of Pitt novels, featuring Daniel Pitt, by New York Times bestseller and queen of Victorian crime, Anne Perry.1910. Sir Thomas Pitt''s son, Daniel, is in the middle of his first case as a barrister when he is summoned to the Old Bailey for an important trial. Renowned biographer Russell Graves is charged with the brutal murder of his wife and Daniel must assist in his defence.When the jury finds the accused guilty, Graves insists he has been framed. He is writing a shocking exposé of a powerful figure, revealing state secrets so damning that someone might well have wanted to silence him. With the reputations of those closest to him at stake, Daniel has twenty-one days to uncover the truth and ensure that an innocent man isn''t sent to the gallows . . .''Anne Perry''s Victorian mysteries are marvels of plot construction'' New York TimesTrade ReviewPraise for Anne Perry: 'There is a freshness about [Perry's] writing which makes it truly exceptional and I was gripped until the final page. Death on Blackheath was one of the best books I've read this year and I cannot recommend it highly enough' * Eurocrime *A page-turning thriller . . . blending compelling plotting with superbly realized human emotion and exquisite period detail -- Jeffery Deaver'Anne Perry's Victorian mysteries are marvels of plot construction' * New York Times *A truly unusual mystery * Publishers Weekly *'Elegantly constructed and nail-bitingly tense' * Good Book Guide *Perry is a master at illuminating the wrongs of the Victorian age * Booklist *The monsters Anne Perry creates are not easy to live with, and their actions linger long after the book is closed * New York Journal of Books *

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Book SynopsisThe classic fantasy adventure of a lost prehistoric world.Journalist Ed Malone is looking for an adventure, and that''s exactly what he finds when he meets the eccentric Professor Challenger - an adventure that leads Malone and his three companions deep into the Amazon jungle, to a lost world where dinosaurs roam free.

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Book SynopsisFROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE WEEKEND''Savage: think Atwood in the outback''Paula Hawkins''An unforgettable reading experience''Liane Moriarty''Ferocious... recalls the early Elena Ferrante''NPR''A masterpiece''Guardian''Devastating'' EconomistShe hears her own thick voice deep inside her ears when she says, ''I need to know where I am.''The man stands there, tall and narrow, hand still on the doorknob, surprised.He says, almost in sympathy, ''Oh, sweetie. You need to know what you are.''Two women awaken from a drugged sleep to find themselves imprisoned in a brokendownproperty in the middle of a desert.Strangers to each other, they have no idea where they are or how they came to be therewith eight other girls, their heads shaved, guarded by Trade ReviewExposing the threads of misogyny, cowardice and abuses of power embedded in contemporary society, this is a confronting, sometimes deeply painful novel to read. With an unflinching eye and audacious imagination, Charlotte Wood carries us from a nightmare of helplessness and despair to a fantasy of revenge and reckoning. * Guardian *One of those unforgettable reading experiences. -- Liane Moriarity, author of Big Little Lies * The New York Times *Beautiful and savage - think Atwood in the outback. -- Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train * Guardian *A haunting parable of contemporary misogyny, The Natural Way of Things . . . is The Handmaid's Tale for our age . . . Ms Wood's writing is direct and spare, yet capable of bursting with unexpected beauty. * The Economist *A prescient feminist horror novel you need to read: The girls of Wood's novel are in no dystopia. Instead, they are imprisoned by present policing of their bodies, the corrosive discrimination of political and economic systems that turns women's bodies against them, rebuilding them as flesh and blood prisons. -- Stassa Edwards * Jezebel.com *You can't shake off this novel; it gets under your skin, fills your lungs, breaks your heart. As allegory, as a novel, as vision and as art it is stunning. -- Christos TsiolkasThe Natural Way of Things is a brave, brilliant book. I would defy anyone to read it and not come out a changed person. -- Malcolm Knox, author of The Wonder Lover and The LifeA fully imagined dystopian parable, vivid, insightful, the voices of young women echoing through the gum trees . . . -- Joan London, author of The Golden AgeThis is a stunning exploration of ambiguities - of power, of morality, of judgement . . . It will not leave you easily; it took my breath away. -- Ashley Hay, author of The Railwayman’s WifeFew other novels have captured the stain of misogyny quite like Charlotte Wood's The Natural Way of Things . . . Terrifying, remarkable and utterly unforgettable. -- Clementine FordThe Natural Way of Things is both harrowing and gorgeous. It feels, at times, like a nightmare; but one in which women make serious pacts, take serious pleasures, and reimagine what it might mean to live in the world. I feel as if I've been witness to the most terrible injustice, but also the most astonishing beauty. -- Fiona McFarlane, author of The Night Guest and The High PlacesAt once brutal and beautiful . . . Surreal yet intensely vivid, the novel is disturbing and enthralling . . . An absorbing plot, lyrical prose, and discomfiting imagery makes Wood's novel decidedly gripping. * Kirkus Reviews *A confronting and blazing read . . . A novel to provoke thought, conversation, disgust, anger and concern, a work that will haunt the reader with its poetry and the stark truths buried within Wood's brilliant exploration of a toxic culture in extremis. * Weekend Australian *A virtuoso performance, plotted deftly through a minefield of potential traps, weighted with allegory yet swift and sure in its narrative advance. -- Rosemary Sorensen * Sydney Review of Books *Wood's prose is beautiful, but it doesn't coddle. The Natural Way of Things is an unapologetic confrontation of misogyny and rape culture. It's a tough and necessary read. -- Jakob Vala, Tin House * The Portland Mercury *A dystopian fable, both gripping and lyrical. * Saturday Age *This is an extraordinary novel: inspired, powerful, at once coherent and dreamlike. -- Kerryn Goldsworthy * Sydney Morning Herald *A moving, mesmerising and brilliantly topical interrogation of misogyny that demands to be read at a sitting. * Adelaide Advertiser *Bold, provocative, startling and insightful. The Natural Way of Things is what fiction should be. * Newton Review of Books *The latest from Australian novelist Wood is allegory at its best, a phantasmagoric portrait of modern culture's sexual politics textured by psychological realism and sparing lyricism. * Publisher's Weekly *A ferocious new novel by the Australian Charlotte Wood whose writing recalls the early Elena Ferrante - it's tough, direct, and makes no attempt to be ingratiating . . . what keeps all this from seeming doctrinaire is the book's sheer imaginative intensity. Wood's writing crackles with vivid precision . . . Yolanda and Verla strip away the historical veneer of female subservience. They recreate themselves based on a deeper, more complicated vision of the natural order, one that grasps the bond between all living beings. I'd like to tell you that this is a happy ending, but Wood is too honest to offer anything so reassuringly easy. Even as her heroines begin a radical new way of living, Wood knows that the natural way of things is as risky and wild as it is free. -- John Powers * NPR Fresh Air *Vicious and prescient and astonishingly visceral. The Natural Way Of Things resonates with you long after you've read the final pages. A Handmaid's Tale for end times, this is an important book about contemporary femininity. * The Believer *What sets Wood's The Natural Way of Things apart, what makes it a truly urgent read is that it is not an allegory and it is not a dystopian novel: it is a reality. As such, The Natural Way of Things, a work that takes the reality of misogyny and toxic cultural notions about women's sexuality and very bluntly bulldozes those ideas, is exactly what we should be reading right now. * Full Stop *With echoes of Kafka and The Lord of the Flies . . . Wood's raw and complex story delves into themes of friendship as two of the imprisoned form a strong yet unconventional bond through their survival efforts. It also depicts the tyranny of misogyny with the same coarse grit and degradation that scours women around the globe, while simultaneously spotlighting their courage and fortitude. Uncomfortably bold, The Natural Way of Things is an everywoman's hero tale. * Shelf Awareness *It's like digesting a living creature, one with claws still intact . . . if Wood is concerned with investigating and condemning masculine violence, both in its overt manifestations and those encoded in the structure of contemporary culture, she is too much of an artist to reduce her critique to a simple binary . . . the final effect is stunning. * The Saturday Paper *

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Book SynopsisKathleen Paulson often seems to get mixed up in murder, but luckily her very special cats are on hand to help.

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Book SynopsisInspired by a terrifying true story from the author’s hometown, a heart-pounding novel of suspense about a small Minnesota community where nothing is as quiet—or as safe—as it seems. Cassie McDowell’s life in 1980s Minnesota seems perfectly wholesome. She lives on a farm, loves school, and has a crush on the nicest boy in class. Yes, there are her parents’ strange parties and their parade of deviant guests, but she’s grown accustomed to them. All that changes when someone comes hunting in Lilydale. One by one, local boys go missing. One by one, they return changed—violent, moody, and withdrawn. What happened to them becomes the stuff of shocking rumors. The accusations of who’s responsible grow just as wild, and dangerous town secrets start to surface. Then Cassie’s own sister undergoes the dark change. If she is to survive, Cassie must find her way in an adult world where every sin is justified, and only the truth is unforgivable.Trade Review“Set in Lilydale, Minn., in the 1980s…the suspense never wavers in this page-turner.” —Publishers Weekly “The atmospheric suspense novel is haunting because it’s narrated from the point of view of a 13-year-old, an age that should be more innocent but often isn’t. Even more chilling, it’s based on real-life incidents. Lourey may be known for comic capers (March of Crimes), but this tense novel combines the best of a coming-of-age story with suspense and an unforgettable young narrator.” —Library Journal “Part suspense, part coming-of-age, Jess Lourey’s Unspeakable Things is a story of creeping dread, about childhood when you know the monster under your bed is real. A novel that clings to you long after the last page.” —Lori Rader-Day, Edgar Award–nominated author of Under a Dark Sky “A noose of a novel that tightens by inches. The squirming tension comes from every direction—including the ones that are supposed to be safe. I felt complicit as I read, as if at any moment I stopped I would be abandoning Cassie, alone, in the dark, straining to listen and fearing to hear.” —Marcus Sakey, bestselling author of Brilliance “Unspeakable Things is an absolutely riveting novel about the poisonous secrets buried deep in towns and families. Jess Lourey has created a story that will chill you to the bone and a main character who will break your heart wide open.” —Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author of November Road “Inspired by a true story, Unspeakable Things crackles with authenticity, humanity, and humor. The novel reminded me of To Kill A Mockingbird and The Marsh King’s Daughter. Highly recommended.” —Mark Sullivan, bestselling author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky “Jess Lourey does a masterful job building tension and dread, but her greatest asset in Unspeakable Things is Cassie—an arresting narrator you identify with, root for, and desperately want to protect. This is a book that will stick with you long after you’ve torn through it.” —Rob Hart, author of The Warehouse “With Unspeakable Things, Jess Lourey has managed the near-impossible, crafting a mystery as harrowing as it is tender, as gut-wrenching as it is lyrical. There is real darkness here, a creeping, inescapable dread that more than once had me looking over my own shoulder. But at its heart beats the irrepressible—and irresistible—spirit of its 12-year-old heroine, a young woman so bright and vital and brave she kept even the fiercest monsters at bay. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time.” —Elizabeth Little, Los Angeles Times bestselling author of Dear Daughter and Pretty as a Picture

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Book SynopsisFor the twentieth anniversary of the start of the Matthew Bartholomew series, Sphere is delighted to reissue all of the medieval monk's cases with beautiful new series-style covers.Trade Review[A] richly imagined world of colourful medieval society and irresistible monkish sleuthing - Good Book GuideSusanna Gregory writes with fluency and energy, avoids archaic vocabulary, despite her 14th-century setting and, having had a career as an academic, bases the stories in this enjoyable series on careful research - Literary ReviewA first-rate treat for mystery lovers - Historical Novels ReviewSusanna Gregory has an extraordinary ability to conjure up a strong sense of time and place - Choice

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Book SynopsisZero Day is the explosive first instalment in David Baldacci's thrilling John Puller series.Distinguished as a top investigator in the US government, John Puller is called in to conduct an enquiry into the brutal murders of a family in a remote area of West Virginia. It soon becomes clear that the case has wider implications and as the body count rises he teams up with local homicide detective Samantha Cole. As the web of deceit is revealed, it quickly becomes apparent that there's much more to this case than they had first thought. It is an investigation where nothing is as it seems, and nothing can be taken at face value.When Puller and Cole discover a dangerous situation in the making, Puller finds he must turn to the one person who can help avert certain catastrophe. A person he has known all his life.In a breathtaking rollercoaster race against time, Cole fears for the community in which she was raised, and Puller knows he has to overcome the enemies of his country to avoid far reaching disaster.But in the end, you can't kill what you can't see is coming . . .Continue this fast-paced, breathtaking series with The Forgotten.Trade ReviewReaders expect excitement and intrigue in David Baldacci's books, and Zero Day is no exception . . . As Baldacci's new hero narrowly escapes countless close calls, the pairing of the author's imagination and knowledge create a wild ride for the reader. Puller is gutsy, brash and likable. Best of all, he survives to reappear in the next book of this new series. * The Free-Lance Star *Zero Day is a nifty, paranoid thriller disguised as a murder mystery, and Baldacci advances it at a speedy clip with a nice mix of intrigue, tantalizing clues and the occasional explosion . . . Baldacci's books are fast-paced battles between good and evil. * Richmond Times Dispatch *

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Book SynopsisAlready a great historian, Tracy Borman proves with this thrilling debut novel that she is also a born storyteller.As she helps to nurse the dying Queen Elizabeth, Frances Gorges longs for the fields and ancient woods of her parents'' Hampshire estate, where she has learned to use the flowers and herbs to become a much-loved healer.Frances is happy to stay in her beloved countryside when the new King arrives from Scotland, bringing change, fear and suspicion. His court may be shockingly decadent, but James''s religion is Puritan, intolerant of all the old ways; he has already put to death many men for treason and women for witchcraft.So when her ambitious uncle forcibly brings Frances to court, she is trapped in a claustrophobic world of intrigue and betrayal - and a ready target for the twisted scheming of Lord Cecil, the King''s first minister.Surrounded by mortal dangers, Frances finds happiness only with the precocious young Princess Elizabeth,Trade ReviewThe adventures of her courageous heroine put flesh on the bones of a fascinating historical framework. * Sunday Mirror *Tracy Borman's debut historical novel has it all: conspiracy, betrayal, dark intrigues, bloody deeds, a poignant love story - and the most famous plot in English history. -- Alison Weir, author of the Six Tudor Queens seriesAn accomplished novel with a vivid historical setting . . . the scenes in which Frances defends herself accusations of witchcraft are particularly strong * The Times *Exquisitely written, sumptuous in detail and thrillingly plotted . . . The first of what promises to be a magnificent trilogy. -- Kate Williams, broadcaster and author of Becoming QueenThe King's Witch is a superbly crafted story, and so great is Tracy Borman's skill that she really transported me back to the tumultuous days of the Jacobean court . . . I was both totally submerged and desperate for it not to end!' -- Nicola Tallis, author of Elizabeth's Rival: The Tumultuous Tale of Lettice Knollys, Countess of LeicesterA compelling tale of corruption, danger and coruscating suspicion, The King's Witch carries the reader right to the heart of James I's court - and casts a dazzling new light onto one of the most dramatic moments in British history.' -- Sarah GristwoodPlunging the reader into the claustrophobic and corrupt world of the court, the sometimes grisly period detail is brilliant . . . First rate fiction - and best of all, the first in a trilogy! * The People *A bewitching tale * Radio Times *An accomplished novel with a vivid historical setting * The Times *

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Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Goodbye Man, discover Jeffery Deaver''s chilling series featuring much-loved protagonists Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs. Someone is killing couples just as they start their lives together. Newlyweds Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are on the hunt . . . The first victims, William and Anna, were collecting her engagement ring. 1.5 carat, almost flawless. But the Promisor had other ideas for their future . . . Their murder - and that of the diamond cutter they were visiting - is only the first of a series of macabre attacks. The killer is hunting down any witnesses who might lead to his capture. He has promised one thing: to destroy. But Rhyme and Sachs will do whatever it takes to break his vow. ''The best psychological thriller writer around'' The TimesTrade ReviewDeaver brings it all together and after drawing in the readers, delivers twist after twist, never letting up until the final chapter. Even then, he gives you a smack in the mouth. It is really top-drawer writing. * SHOTS *Deaver brings it all together and after drawing in the readers, delivers twist after twist, never letting up until the final chapter. Even then, he gives you a smack in the mouth. It is really top-drawer writing. * SHOTS *The nerve-jangling resolution of Deaver's latest chiller is as sparkling as any of the gems at the centre of The Cutting Edge, but he also manages in the final couple of pages to deliver one of the most vertiginous cliff-hangers any fan of the Lincoln Rhyme stories could ever wish for. * Saturday Independent (Dublin) *The nerve-jangling resolution of Deaver's latest chiller is as sparkling as any of the gems at the centre of The Cutting Edge, but he also manages in the final couple of pages to deliver one of the most vertiginous cliff-hangers any fan of the Lincoln Rhyme stories could ever wish for. * Saturday Independent (Dublin) *The tale is replete with Deaver's trademark twists and turns * Event Magazine *The tale is replete with Deaver's trademark twists and turns * Event Magazine *

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Book SynopsisA brilliant, twisty psychological thriller. Perfect for fans of Friend Request, He Said/She Said and A Simple Favour. 'Unsettling, layered, bold, unpredictable, dark. EXCELLENT' Will Dean, author of Dark Pines. 'Grips like a vice... REMARKABLE' Crime Time. Everyone has secrets. Even those who seem to be perfect... On a rainy October evening, Cecilia Wilborg – loving wife, devoted mother, tennis club regular – is waiting for her kids to finish their swimming lesson. It's been a long day. She can almost taste the crisp, cold glass of Chablis she'll pour for herself once the girls are tucked up in bed. But what Cecilia doesn't know, is that this is the last time life will feel normal. Tonight she'll be asked to drop a little boy home, a simple favour that will threaten to expose her deepest, darkest secret... 'STUNNING... Intricate and twisted with dark secrets emerging at every turn' ALEXANDRA BURT, author of Sunday Times bestseller Little Girl Gone. 'Heartbreaking and HEAD-SPINNING' MARY TORJUSSEN, author of Gone Without a Trace.Trade ReviewStunning... an extraordinary plot; intricate and twisted with dark secrets emerging at every turn. An engaging mystery with an ending you won't see coming' -- Alexandra BurtAtmospheric and beautifully written... combines complex and believable characters with a heart-breaking and head-spinning plot' -- Mary TorjussenDahl savagely delineates the price of living in a society that insists women must try to be perfect wives and mothers and have successful careers, too, or they'll be inevitably made to feel they're never good enough * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *Unsettling, layered, bold, unpredictable, dark. EXCELLENT -- Will DeanA novel of remarkable accomplishment that sets its nuanced and intriguing characters in the context of a plot that grips like a vice * Crime Time *A riveting psychological thriller * Excelle magazine *Alex Dahl's sharp characterisations make her story feel fresh * Sunday Express *[Dahl] adds some twisted black humour and creates a tense narration that will keep readers intrigued and wondering how to approach the main character * Crime Review *A rollicking great read... [Cecilia] is a fascinating character who lies relentlessly, with reckless abandon, in a desperate bid to protect the big secret she's hiding' * Connaught Telegraph. *

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Book SynopsisLady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, 34th in line for the throne, is flat broke. She''s bolted Scotland, her greedy brother, and her fish-faced betrothed for London. The place where she''ll experience freedom, learn life lessons aplenty, do a bit of spying for HRH - oh, and find a dead Frenchman in her tub. Now her new job is to clear her long family name.Trade ReviewBrilliant...Part love story, part social commentary, part fun and part downright terrifying. And completely riveting...This book is perfect -- Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author It's the perfect fix between seasons for Downton Abbey addicts -- Deborah Crombie, New York Times bestselling author A feisty new heroine to delight a legion of Anglophile readers -- Jacqueline Winspear, New York Times bestselling author Whimsical...Bowen successfully melds a whodunit with comedy as few contemporary writers can Publishers Weekly [A] charming, delightfully fresh series...fans of historical cozies who like Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series will snap this up Library Journal

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Book SynopsisSergeant Hamish Macbeth is alarmed to receive a report from a woman in the small village of Cronish in the Scottish Highlands. She has been brutally attacked and the criminal is on the loose. But upon further investigation, Hamish discovers that she was lying about the crime. So when the same woman calls him back about an intruder, he simply marvels at her compulsion to lie. This time, though, she is telling the truth. Her body is found in her home and Hamish must sort through all of her lies to solve the crime. Praise for Death of a Valentine:'A fun new read.' Woman's World 'An inventive, constantly surprising plot...explosive and engaging.' Booklist Praise for Death of a Witch: 'Full of the author's trademark zest and wit...Beaton fans will be delighted.' Publishers Weekly'A sound mystery featuring a generous portion of Hamish's complicated relationships and the usual delightful Highland descriptions.' KirkusTrade ReviewThe much-loved Hamish Macbeth series... a beguiling blend of wry humour and sharp observations of rural life. * Good Book Guide *The detective novels of M C Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status. * The Times *It's always a special treat to return to Lochdubh. * The New York Times *

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Book SynopsisUnder a Watchful Eye by Adam Nevill is a supernatural thriller from the award-winning writer of The Ritual and Last Days.Seb Logan is being watched. He just doesn't know by whom. When the sudden appearance of a dark figure shatters his idyllic coastal life, he soon realizes that the murky past he thought he'd left behind has far from forgotten him. What's more unsettling is the strange atmosphere that engulfs him at every sighting, plunging his mind into a terrifying paranoia. To be a victim without knowing the tormentor. To be despised without knowing the offence caused. To be seen by what nobody else can see. These are the thoughts which plague his every waking moment. Imprisoned by despair, Seb fears his stalker is not working alone, but rather is involved in a wider conspiracy that threatens everything he has worked for. For there are doors in this world that open into unknown places. Places used by the worst kind of people to achieve their own ends. And once his investigation leads him to stray across the line and into mortal danger, he risks becoming another fatality in a long line of victims . . .Trade ReviewNevill charts Logan’s descent into the eldritch realm surrounding Hazzard and his cult with subtlety, drip-feeding doses of horror to great effect, ramping up the tension to an edge-of-the-seat denouement. You don’t read an Adam Nevill horror novel: you live it * Guardian *While recalling titans such as King and Poe, it is original, surprising and (at times) eyes-to-the-side terrifying * SciFi Now *Compelling * SFX *

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Book Synopsis'Classy and ingenious new thriller' BA PARIS ‘Millionaires, marriage and murder make for a potent cocktail in this compelling tale set among the super-rich of New York’s elite’ TM LOGAN ‘Instantly compelling and filled with ingenious twists and brilliant characters. This is sublime thriller writing’ BP WALTERTHE RULES    1. Listen carefully    2. Do your research    3. Trust no one    4. Run for your life   Harriet Reed is newly engaged to Edward Holbeck, the heir to an extremely powerful American family. When Edward’s father hands her a tape of a book he’s been working on, she is desperate to listen. But as she presses play, it’s clear that this isn’t a novel. It’s a confession to murder. Feeling isolated

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Book SynopsisA banker hanged from Gallows Rock... An unknown child discovered in his flat...Iceland's Queen of Crime is back with a chillingly dark murder mystery.Trade ReviewPraise for Gallows Rock * : *Nail-biting... Iceland's long dark nights are at their most minatory in Sigurðardóttir's atmospheric thrillers * Financial Times *Sigurdardottir is as confident a writer as ever * The Sunday Times *The multi-award winning Icelandic writer has a growing UK fan base. The fourth thriller featuring child psychologist Freyja and detective Hulder, is as chilling as Scandi noir should be * Peterborough Telegraph *Sigurðardóttir hooks her readers very quickly... Eventually, justice is done and the loose ends are satisfactorily tied up * Literary Review *Pacey dealing out of the plot twists amid uniquely Icelandic characters and circumstances * The Sunday Times Crime Club *You'll devour it with fascination and you'll be head over heels with Sigurðardóttir's writing * Daily Record *Packs an all too timely punch - 5 Stars * Heat *Well-paced police procedural with a twist you may not see coming * Choice Magazine *

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Book SynopsisAfter saving the Empire''s richest province from a foreign army, Marcus and the men who protect him have been in hiding. Their lives will be forfeit if they are seen in Rome. But times have changed. Marcus''s protector, the patrician legion commander Scaurus, has been summoned home by his mentor, a powerful senator who has decided he must act to save the empire from its debauched ruler''s reign of terror. Rome is a hotbed of conspiracy and treachery: and the senator is not the only contender for power. The emperor himself plans to destroy those he mistrusts and no-one is safe.Marcus is assigned his own, unique role in the conspiracy. He will become a gladiator once more. But this time, his only opponent will be Commodus himself . . .Trade ReviewPraise for Anthony RichesRiver of Gold is the eleventh novel in Anthony Riches' best-selling Empire series and its considerable strengths are all the more impressive because of it. . . . a gripping narrative full of breath-taking action, unforgettable characters, and dazzling twists and turns -- Peter Tonkin * Aspects of History *A masterclass in military historical fiction * Sunday Express *A master of the genre * The Times *Fast-paced and gripping "read-through-the-night' fiction with marvellous characters and occasional moments of dark humour. Some authors are better historians than they are storytellers. Anthony Riches is brilliant at both * Conn Iggulden *A damn fine read . . . fast-paced, action-packed * Ben Kane *Stands head and shoulders above a crowded field . . . real, live characters act out their battles on the northern borders with an accuracy of detail and depth of raw emotion that is a rare combination * Manda Scot *

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