Crime & Thrillers Books

Book Synopsis''A compelling, prescient tale of an alternate world with far too many scary similarities to our own.'' Angela ClarkeLet me repeat myself, so we can be very clear. Women are not the enemy. We must protect them from themselves, just as much as we must protect ourselves.Imagine a world in which witchcraft is real. In which mothers hand down power to their daughters, power that is used harmlessly and peacefully.Then imagine that the US President is a populist demagogue who decides that all witches must be imprisoned for their own safety, as well as the safety of those around them - creating a world in which to be female is one step away from being criminal...As witches across the world are rounded up, one young woman discovers a power she did not know she had. It''s a dangerous force and it puts her top of the list in a global witch hunt.But she - and the women around her - won''t givTrade ReviewA gripping and vividly drawn dystopian fantasy about the power and potential of women which feels easier to enjoy now Trump has gone. * Heat *Vivid and urgent... an immersive and fast-paced must for fans of The Power and The Handmaid's Tale * Woman & Home *A chase thriller with magical elements, and good fun it is too * Morning Star *A great read ... you'll be glad you picked up a copy * Independent *

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Book SynopsisDisappearing intelligence analysts lead the Gray Man deep into a conspiracy in the latest explosive novel from number one New York Times bestseller Mark Greaney.The first agent''s disappearance was a puzzle.The second was a mystery.The third was a conspiracy.Intelligence operatives around the world are disappearing. When a missing American agent reappears in Venezuela, Court Gentry, the Gray Man, is dispatched to bring him in, but a team of assassins has other ideas. Court escapes with his life and a vital piece of intelligence.Meanwhile, CIA agent Zoya Zakharova is in Berlin. Her mission: to infiltrate a private intelligence firm with some alarming connections. The closer she gets to answers, the less likely she is to get out alive.Court and Zoya are just two pieces on this international chessboard, and they''re about to discover one undeniable truth: sometimes capturing a king requires sacrificing some pawns.Trade ReviewRemarkable. Spy thriller fans will be enthralled. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book Synopsis''Lottie Parker is one of the most compelling characters in Irish detective fiction'' LIZ NUGENT, bestselling author of Our Little CrueltiesShe lifted the flap of the envelope and pulled out the single white page. As she opened it up she stared, open mouthed. Four words were typed on the page. I am watching you. When Amy Whyte and Penny Brogan leave a local nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning and don''t arrive home, their families are beside themselves with worry. Conor Dowling has just been released from prison, a man full of hatred for Amy, the girl who put him behind bars in the first place.The case is given to Detective Lottie Parker, when the girls'' blood-soaked bodies are found, days later, in a derelict squat. Chillingly, both girls are clutching silver coins in their hands - what message is this killer leaving behind? All the signs point to Conor but his aliTrade ReviewGripping . . . Palpable tension from the very start to its electrifying twist - Irish Independent on THE MISSING ONESGibney expertly ratchets up the tension, making this exceptionally hard to put down . . . You won't be able to help rooting for our flawed heroine (Read of the Week) - Heat on THE STOLEN GIRLSAn atmospheric page-turner - Irish Examiner on THE MISSING ONESExcellent . . . Fast-paced, gritty - Irish Independent on THE STOLEN GIRLS

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Book SynopsisMALLORY IS BACK - WITH A DEATH WISH AND A MISSIONYou''ve heard his true story, now go deeper into Ant Middleton''s world with his ultra-authentic thriller series.''Great to see Mallory back in action - my favourite vigilante!'' --- Stephen LeatherHiding out in a small village in France, ex-Special Forces veteran turned vigilante Mallory is trying to keep out of trouble, aware that there is a darkness within him that seeks out trouble - that enjoys it.But one night in a bar he meets an old man afraid for his granddaughter, worried about the young man with whom she''s become involved.Unable to resist the pull of action, and of helping a family in need, Mallory is quickly drawn into a turf war that it will take all his special skills to survive.The Sunday Times-bestselling book one in the Mallory series, Cold Justice, is available now.''The action is all too credible. You just know MalloryTrade ReviewAnt Middleton is up there with Andy McNab and Chris Ryan when it comes to walking the walk and talking the talk. Great to see Mallory back in action - my favourite vigilante! * Stephen Leather *Mallory is an engaging protagonist... the inspirations are chosen with taste and the action is all too credible. You just know Mallory could eat three Shredded Wheat. * The Times *I loved Red Mist, not only because it's a gripping, rollercoaster read, but because Middleton's hero Mallory is, like Lee Child's Jack Reacher, a guy you really want to win. -- Damien Lewis * Daily Express *Red Mist is a smart, taut and hard-hitting thriller that grabbed me from the first page and held on tight until the end. In Mallory we have a hero who not only accepts the darker side of his nature, he revels in it, making him a captivating protagonist but also a man you wouldn't want to cross. * Giles Kristian, Sunday Times bestselling author of Where Blood Runs Cold *Move over Jack Reacher, you have a serious rival! * Yours Magazine *Whisper it softly but Jack Reacher just may have a rival in the form of ex-Special Forces soldier turned knight-in-shining-armour vigilante Mallory * Shots *

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Book SynopsisA classic mystery starring the glamorous Mitford sisters and inspired real events, The Mitford Vanishing is the perfect story for fans of Agatha Christie.1937. War with Germany is dawning, and a civil war already raging in Spain. Split across political lines, the six Mitford sisters are more divided than ever. Meanwhile their former maid Louisa Cannon is now a private detective, working with her ex-policeman husband Guy Sullivan. Louisa and Guy are surprised when a call comes in from novelist Nancy Mitford requesting that they look into the disappearance of her Communist sister Jessica, nicknamed Decca. It quickly becomes clear that Decca may have made for the war in Spain - and not alone. As a second, separate missing person case is opened, Louisa and Guy discover that every marriage has its secrets - but some are more deadly than others . . .PRAISE FOR THE MITFORD MURDERS SERIES''A glittering, entertaining, perfectly for

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Book SynopsisTHE HEART-STOPPING THRILLER FROM THE 6-MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER BEHIND BBC SERIES THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS AND RICHARD & JUDY PICK WHEN SHE WAS GOOD''No one does suspense better'' STEPHEN KING''Why won''t he let you go?'' I ask. ''He thinks he owns me.'' To Philomena McCarthy, being a police officer means never turning your back on someone in trouble. So when a decorated detective beats his girlfriend and the case is covered up, Phil secretly helps her. But as Phil lets her new friend deeper into her life, sinister things start happening. And by the time she''s truly afraid, it''s already too late . . .''With each new book, I say it''s his best. Well, THIS is his best'' LINWOOD BARCLAY''Superb. Twists the knife with skill and precision'' GLOBE AND MAIL''A heart-clutching psychological thriller'' PEOPLE''An astonishTrade ReviewPraise for When You Are Mine * - *No one does suspense better -- Stephen KingMichael Robotham keeps upping his game. With each new book, I say it's his best. Well, THIS is his best -- Linwood BarclayRobotham is quickly becoming the go-to author for the psychological thriller and this book, his 16th, is a superb example . . . He twists the knife with skill and precision * Globe and Mail *A page-turner featuring a feisty heroine * Irish Independent *A heart-clutching psychological thriller * People *A twisty, turny, second-guessing great read with a killer ending * Herald Sun *A flawless and compassionate psychological thriller * Kirkus Reviews *Robotham delivers again with a pacey tale that ratchets up the tension and refuses to be put down * Courier Mail *All thrills and chills * Toronto Star *A nail-biter . . . Robotham tightens the screws on his sympathetic lead incrementally as the action builds to a satisfying climax * Publisher's Weekly *Robotham creates flesh and blood characters, and you won't forget Philomena McCarthy . . . A nail-biter * Peterborough Telegraph *Praise for Michael Robotham * - *An absolute master -- Stephen KingI love this guy's books -- Lee ChildHeart-stopping, heart-breaking and heart-wrenching -- Val McDermidRobotham is the real deal -- David BaldacciA writer of the highest class who can create terror from the commonplace and crush the breath out of you * Daily Mail *Robotham doesn't just make me scared for his characters, he makes my heart ache for them -- Linwood BarclayHe writes in a voice with a haunting sense of soul -- Peter JamesA highly skilled thriller writer * Daily Express *One of crime's greatest practitioners . . . a ripper, suspenseful read * The Australian *Michael Robotham has done it again - another accomplished crime novel unlike anything he has ever written before * Sydney Morning Herald *

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Book SynopsisA stunning 20th anniversary paperback edition of the groundbreaking first Tom Thorne novel, a case that changed crime fiction forever . . . Alison Willetts has survived a stroke, deliberately induced by a skilful manipulation of pressure points on the head and neck. She can see, hear and feel but she is completely unable to move or communicate. In leaving Alison Willetts alive, the police believe the killer''s made his first mistake.Then DI Tom Thorne discovers the horrifying truth: it isn''t Alison who is the mistake, it''s the three women already dead.Thorne must find a killer whose agenda is disturbingly unique, and Alison, the one person who holds the key to the killer''s identity, is unable to say anything . . .''One of my favourite authors'' Harlan Coben''A terrifically stylish debut novel'' Independent on Sunday ''The next superstar detective'' Lee ChildTrade ReviewA terrifically stylish debut novel - Independent on SundayExtremely capable and unsettling - Literary ReviewA cunning variation on the serial-murder theme - Sunday TelegraphMark Billingham is one of my favourite new authors. Highly recommended

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Book Synopsis THE RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK FOR AUTUMN 2022 Can YOU guess who killed Jamie Lawrence? ***Don''t miss the new spectacularly entertaining thriller from Celia Walden - THE SQUARE is available to pre-order now***''Impossible to put down'' HELEN FIELDING international bestselling author of Bridget Jones''s Diary''I adored it'' GILLIAN MCALLISTER Sunday Times bestselling author of That Night''Totally gripping . . . Nicole Kidman TV miniseries is written all over it'' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH ''The final twist genuinely blindsided me'' Reader Review''Immensely entertaining'' LOUISE CANDLISH Sunday Times bestselling author of Our House''A runaway train ridTrade ReviewWith complex female characters spiralling out of control, Payday is tense, full of twists, and impossible to put down -- HELEN FIELDINGA satisfyingly nuanced take on the #MeToo novel . . . fearless, stylish, suspenseful and immensely entertaining -- LOUISE CANDLISHWonderful . . . a fast-paced psychological thriller and a feminist unpicking of the issues that unite and divide women. I adored it -- GILLIAN MCALLISTERModern, intelligent and totally gripping. Nicole Kidman TV miniseries is written all over it * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will inhale this in one sitting, as I did -- JESSICA FELLOWESSensational. Full of twists and turns and ambushes that keep you guessing up until the very last page. PAYDAY is the best book you will read all year about where men and women are right now. -- TONY PARSONSI think every working woman will relate to this story. I was enraged in places and cheering certain characters on, then questioning my own judgement. An intelligent, thought-provoking and highly topical story with some great twists. -- ALLIE REYNOLDSClever, compelling and chillingly plausible, Payday is a deftly plotted thriller that ratchets up the tension right until the final couldn't-see-it-coming twist. -- ELLERY LLOYDSeductive. Intelligent. Should have a 'must read' advisory on it -- JANE CORRYWith assured writing and a deftly-handled plot, Payday is a page turner that will provoke many a debate -- C.J. COOPERJournalist Walden's debut is a cracking feminist revenge thriller that rips along, full of tension and drama. Telling the story from the three women's separate points of view means well-developed characters and acres of room for deception, suspense and a neat twist in the tail * DAILY MAIL *A runaway train ride of a thriller * THE SUN *A brilliant and clever read * CLOSER *A fast-paced story, you'll be hooked from the first line * BELLA *Slick, shrewd and wildly entertaining, Payday is the very definition of a one-sitting read. Nuanced, believable characters drive this dynamite plot to its unexpected end. Prepare to be wrong-footed at every turn! -- CAZ FREAR, the Number One bestselling author of 'Sweet Little Lies'I absolutely loved it. It's unputdownable, a great mystery and a fantastic read -- BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD, international bestselling authorThe writing and plot draw you in and the female-first perspective packs a punch * BELFAST TELEGRAPH *Topical and timely, this buzzing page-turner will have you on the edge of your seat * THE LADY *Brilliant mystery combined with a morality tale * BEST *The ultimate page-turner! * THE SUN *A mystery that's as thought-provoking as it is compelling. * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Compulsively readable . . . fans of Liz Nugent's Unravelling Oliver will find much to enjoy in a novel that is provocatively complex as it explores the grey areas that exist between right and wrong. * IRISH TIMES *Brilliantly plotted, with twists that will leave you gasping. This is likely to be the most addictive book you'll read all year. -- B.P. WALTER, Sunday Times bestselling author of THE DINNER GUEST

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Book SynopsisThe sixth Dave Robicheaux novel from SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author James Lee Burke.Hunting a sadistic killer who targets young prostitutes, Detective Dave Robicheaux has no mind to be sidetracked into persuading ex-schoolmate mobster Julie ''Baby Feet'' Balboni to leave town. And it turns out that Balboni is the money behind a Civil War movie that''s bringing in good business.But then the film crew stumble on a skeleton out in the bayou, and the links between a thirty-year-old lynching, a Civil War general, Balboni and the serial killer lead Dave into treacherous waters, with only a handful of unexpected allies to help him protect his own.Praise for one of the great American crime writers, James Lee Burke:''James Lee Burke is the heavyweight champ, a great American novelist whose work, taken individually or as a whole, is unsurpassed.'' Michael Connelly''A gorgeous prose stylist.'' Stephen King''Richly deserves to be deTrade ReviewJames Lee Burke is the heavyweight champ, a great American novelist whose work, taken individually or as a whole, is unsurpassed. * Michael Connelly *A gorgeous prose stylist. * Stephen King *Richly deserves to be described now as one of the finest crime writers America has ever produced. * Daily Mail *The gentle giant of US crime writers, Burke always ensures that his Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux grapples with hot topics as much as with his own inner demons. * i newspaper *There are not many crime writers about whom one might invoke the name of Zola for comparison, but Burke is very much in that territory. His stamping ground is the Gulf coast, and one of the great strengths of his work has always been the atmospheric background of New Orleans and the bayous. His big, baggy novels are always about much more than the mechanics of the detective plot; his real subject, like the French master, is the human condition, seen in every situation of society. * Independent *The king of Southern noir * Daily Mirror *His lyrical prose, his deep understanding of what makes people behave as they do, and his control of plot and pace are masterly. * Sunday Telegraph *One of the finest American writers. * Guardian *When it comes to literate, pungently characterised American crime writing, James Lee Burke has few peers. * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisAnother classic crime novel featuring Cornwall''s Superintendent Wycliffe.The girl was young, with auburn hair arranged on the pillow. Wycliffe could almost believe she was asleep - that is, until he saw her face. She had been strangled, and someone had brutally smashed her face - but after death, not before... She lay in a seedy hotel room down by the docks, but her luggage, her clothes and her make-up all suggested she had more class than her surroundings.Superintendent Wycliffe was officially on holiday, but the case fascinated him. Who was the girl? Why was she lying naked in a shabby hotel room? What was she doing with a thousand pounds hidden underneath some clothing? And, above all, why had someone mutilated her after she was dead?As Wycliffe begins to investigate, he finds there are too many suspects, too many motives - and too many lies . . .

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Book SynopsisA case involving a dead woman with a deformed foot and a mysterious past requires all Superintendent Wycliffe''s investigative skills.The peace of the village of Kergwyns in Cornwall has been shattered by a bizarre murder. A beautiful young woman has been shot. The only thing taken from the scene is the shoe and stocking from her left leg - exposing her deformed foot. Detective Superintendent Wycliffe uncovers evidence of an unhappy woman who routinely manipulated the men in her life. As half the men in the village have been known to visit her, and most have reason to lie about it, finding the murderer will not be easy. Wycliffe''s task is complicated by the discovery of some clues in the form of crossword puzzles left by the victim herself. If Pussy knew she was going to die why did she make no effort to save herself? When several men have been incriminated in the murder Wycliffe begins to wonder if someone very powerful is stage-managing events . . .

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Book SynopsisThe classic novel of the LA Police

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Book SynopsisWashington has a new menace... a serial killer whose victims don''t exist...Washington, embroiled in the mid-term elections, did not want to hear about serial killings. But when the newspapers reported a fourth murder, when they gave the killer a name and details of his horrendous crimes, there were few people that could ignore it. Detective Robert Miller is assigned to the case, and rapidly uncover a complication. The victims do not officially exist. Their personal details do not register on any known systems. And as Miller unearths ever more disturbing facts, he starts to face truths so far-removed from his own reality that he begins to fear for his life.Trade ReviewA stunning work of crime fiction...a gem of a crime novel that should be up there with the best of them. -- Anthony Lund * ALLBOOKS REVIEW *A standout thriller...Ellory seamlessly connects this whodunit with a dirty history of the CIA, crafting a tale that grimly makes the personal political. * THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER *

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Book SynopsisTHE FIRST BOOK IN THE MULTI-MILLION COPY, INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING ERAST FANDORIN MYSTERIES SERIES''A sparkling romp of a story'' TLS''In Russia Boris Akunin is roughly the counterpart of John Grisham'' TIME''Think Tolstoy writing James Bond with the logical rigour of Sherlock Holmes'' GUARDIANMoscow 1876. A young law student commits suicide in broad daylight in Moscow''s Alexander Gardens. But this is no ordinary death, for the young man was the son of an influential industrialist and has left a considerable fortune.Erast Fandorin, a hotheaded new recruit to the Criminal Investigation Department, is assigned to the case. Brilliant, young, and sophisticated, Fandorin embarks on an investigation that will take him from the palatial mansions of Moscow to the seedy backstreets of London in his hunt for the conspirators behind this mysterious death.Trade Review... a sparkling romp of a story... [with a] witty and beautifully constructed plot ... The Winter Queen has echoes of the plots of the nineteenth-century classics all Russians know: duels, reckless gambling, superfluous men and mysterious beauties whose salons are full of despairing admirers -- Jasper Rees * TLS *He's [Fandorin] ... an engaging personality - conscientious, honourable, and pleasingly naive. Hence one feels the instant appeal of this gentle mystery, and appreciates the extraordinary Russian success of Boris Akunin ... It's a parable about the death of hope and innocence, as well as an effectively concocted story -- Lesley Chamberlain * Independent *Boris Akunin has written a series of novels set in Tsarist Russia in the 1970s and featuring Erast Fandorin, a naive young police investigator ... the story propels the idealistic Fandorin into the company of enigmatic and beautiful women, devious conspirators and a most unlikely Svengali intent on world domination ... This may not be what we expect from Russian fiction, but it's all very fast-moving and enjoyable -- Nick Rennison * Crime Time *The mixture of the grisly and the lighthearted is characteristic of Boris Akunin, who in Russia is roughly the counterpart of John Grisham ... The Winter Queen is as delicate and elegant as a Fabergé egg -- Lev Grossman * Time Magazine *A masterful tongue-in-cheek mixture of crime and historical fiction -- Ash Tarhuni, Bookseller * WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY *

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Book Synopsis'A lyrical and lovely novel that takes Burke back to the top of the crimewriting tree where he richly belongs' Independent On SundayTrade ReviewJames Lee Burke is the heavyweight champ, a great American novelist whose work, taken individually or as a whole, is unsurpassed. * Michael Connelly *A gorgeous prose stylist. * Stephen King *Richly deserves to be described now as one of the finest crime writers America has ever produced. * Daily Mail *The gentle giant of US crime writers, Burke always ensures that his Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux grapples with hot topics as much as with his own inner demons. * i newspaper *There are not many crime writers about whom one might invoke the name of Zola for comparison, but Burke is very much in that territory. His stamping ground is the Gulf coast, and one of the great strengths of his work has always been the atmospheric background of New Orleans and the bayous. His big, baggy novels are always about much more than the mechanics of the detective plot; his real subject, like the French master, is the human condition, seen in every situation of society. * Independent *The king of Southern noir. * Daily Mirror *His lyrical prose, his deep understanding of what makes people behave as they do, and his control of plot and pace are masterly. * Sunday Telegraph *One of the finest American writers. * Guardian *When it comes to literate, pungently characterised American crime writing, James Lee Burke has few peers. * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisOrdell Robbie and Louis Gara have lots in common - time in the same gaol, convictions for auto theft, and a grand plan. They''re going to snatch the wife of a Detroit developer and collect some easy ransom money. At least that''s what they think...What they haven''t figured on is the fact that the husband has a secret mistress and has absolutely no desire to get his wife back. So now it''s time for Plan B. With the help of one seriously ticked-off housewife they are going to take the scumbag for everything he''s got...THE SWITCH has been adapted for the big screen as LIFE OF CRIME, starring Jennifer Aniston, Tim Robbins and Isla Fisher.

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Book SynopsisA vintage title by Elmore Leonard - The New York Times bestselling author of Be Cool and Get ShortyPhotographer Joe LaBrava specialises in capturing the soul of Miami''s street life - and since he used to do dirty jobs for the Government, he understands his subject very well. So when his friend Maury enlists his help to sort out a problem with an ex-film star Joe fell for when he was twelve, the low-grade hustlers behind a ransom scam would need to be a lot smarter than they seem to pull it off.But there''s a surprise in the bag for Joe - some people really are smarter than they seem.

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Book SynopsisThe stories of an American Indian sniper caught up in the Great War and of his aunt, one of the last Cree Indians to live off the land, are intertwined in a mesmerising journey as they travel home over three daysThis beautiful, haunting novel begins as Niska is reunited with her nephew, Xavier, after he returns from the horrors of the First World War. As she slowly paddles her canoe on the 3-day journey to take him home, travelling through the stark but stunning landscape of Northern Canada, their respective stories emerge. Niska is the last Cree Indian woman living off the land in Canada. She recalls her memories of growing up among her kinsfolk, of trying to remain true to her ancestors and traditions in a rapidly changing world.Xavier joined the war reluctantly at the urging of his only friend, Elijah - a Cree boy raised in the reservation schools. Elijah and Xavier honed their hunting skills as snipers in the horrors of the trenches and the wastes of No-man''s land. But as the war continues, they react in very different ways to the never-ending carnage around them.Niska realises that in the aftermath of war, Xavier''s very soul is dying - but will the three day journey home be enough to help him find hope again?Trade ReviewAn absorbing read, with chilling, exhaustive detail * Scotland on Sunday *It takes an exceptionally intense and clear vision for a writer to persuade us that there is anything new to be said about the Great War. Yet every now and then a book comes along that rescues from the mire and carnage a genuinely new perspective on the awful events of 1914-1918. Focusing on the rarely-told stories of indigenous people enlisted into the Canadian army, Joseph Boyden's first novel, is one such book * Glasgow Herald *There are also lyrical moments which posses an eerie power - especially where Boyden writes about the northern landscape and the human relationship to it. He has illuminated a forgotten corner of the Great War and that, in itself is a prodigious achievement * Independent *Perhaps the most startling success of this book is the way it combines a tale of racial and cultural displacement with a mystic saga... He guides us through immensely complex stories with subtlety and grace * Independent on Sunday *There have been so many fine novels inspired by the First World War that to read one that is not just harrowing, but fresh, comes as a pleasant surprise ... (it's) a fully rounded work of fiction which, after a quiet opening, develops into a real page-turner ... His portrait of an indigenous people who are, in their way, hunted to near-extinction is poignant and convincing * Sunday Telegraph *A first rate read * Canada Post *a rich and moving novel... a story that will be deeply felt by the reader. * THE GOOD BOOK GUIDE *

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Book SynopsisA superb Dave Robicheaux mystery from the multi award-winning crime writer.Trade ReviewJames Lee Burke is the heavyweight champ, a great American novelist whose work, taken individually or as a whole, is unsurpassed. * Michael Connelly *A gorgeous prose stylist. * Stephen King *Richly deserves to be described now as one of the finest crime writers America has ever produced. * Daily Mail *The gentle giant of US crime writers, Burke always ensures that his Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux grapples with hot topics as much as with his own inner demons. * i newspaper *There are not many crime writers about whom one might invoke the name of Zola for comparison, but Burke is very much in that territory. His stamping ground is the Gulf coast, and one of the great strengths of his work has always been the atmospheric background of New Orleans and the bayous. His big, baggy novels are always about much more than the mechanics of the detective plot; his real subject, like the French master, is the human condition, seen in every situation of society. * Independent *The king of Southern noir. * Daily Mirror *His lyrical prose, his deep understanding of what makes people behave as they do, and his control of plot and pace are masterly. * Sunday Telegraph *One of the finest American writers. * Guardian *When it comes to literate, pungently characterised American crime writing, James Lee Burke has few peers. * Daily Express *

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Book Synopsis''Another gem . . . a masterpiece of duplicity'' Washington Post ''Leonard provides the fizziest and cleverest dialogue in crime fiction. A total delight'' The Times Every prison inmate needs a Road Dog - someone to watch their back, someone they can trust on the inside and out. For wealthy Cuban criminal Cundo Rey, that person is Jack Foley: charmer, ladies'' man and infamous bank robber.With the services of a shark attorney and a whole heap of cash, Cundo engineers his buddy''s early release, and Jack is soon living large in Cundo''s house in Venice Beach, enjoying the attentions of his sexy wife, Dawn. But Dawn has ulterior motives and a plan: to relieve her husband of his considerable fortune... and she needs Jack''s help. But with Cundo''s release imminent and rogue FBI agent Lou Adams on his tail, just who can Jack trust if he''s to pull off the biggest score of his life...?Trade Review'Leonard may be 85 years old, but Road Dogs shows he's still the best crime writer on the planet.' SUNDAY BUSINESS POST, Ireland 'Brilliant, as ever.' HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER

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Book SynopsisA trio of short stories featuring legendary lawman Carl Webster - star of THE HOT KID.1940s'' Oklahoma. Germans in a stateside POW camp have murdered one of their own and US Marshal Carl Webster, back from a tour of duty in the Pacific, is called in to investigate. Among others, he comes across a Jewish gangster bent on revenge for the Holocaust; a rodeo bull rider turned lawman; and a former Nazi guard who is a persistent runaway.Befriending the escapee, Carl becomes embroiled in a tale of gangsters'' molls, enemy lines, espionage, double-crossing and a lovers'' wartime promise that could to more trouble than he ever imagined...Trade Review'Leonard fans will love it.' CATHOLIC HERALD

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Book SynopsisVintage Elmore Leonard - a searing tale of gambling, gangsters, hidden agendas and a whole heap of trouble from the virtuoso of American crime fiction.Daredevil Dennis Lenahan has brought his act to the Tishomingo Lodge & Casino in Tunica, Mississippi - diving off an eighty-foot ladder into nine feet of water for the amusement of gamblers, gangsters, and luscious belles. His riskiest feat, however, was witnessing a Dixie-style mob execution while atop his diving platform.Robert Taylor saw the hit also. A blues-loving Detroit hustler touring the Southland, Taylor''s got his own secret agenda and he wants Dennis in on the game. And high-diver Dennis could be about to take a long, fatal fall - right into a mess of hoop skirts, Civil War play-acting... and more trouble than he ever dreamed possible.Trade ReviewAnother superb thriller from Leonard * HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER *

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Book SynopsisDave Robicheaux is on the trail of a serial killer, while trying to protect his daughter from a boyfriend with a dark side, in the eighteenth novel in James Lee Burke's classic series.Trade ReviewJames Lee Burke is the heavyweight champ, a great American novelist whose work, taken individually or as a whole, is unsurpassed. * Michael Connelly *A gorgeous prose stylist. * Stephen King *Richly deserves to be described now as one of the finest crime writers America has ever produced. * Daily Mail *There are not many crime writers about whom one might invoke the name of Zola for comparison, but Burke is very much in that territory. His stamping ground is the Gulf coast, and one of the great strengths of his work has always been the atmospheric background of New Orleans and the bayous. His big, baggy novels are always about much more than the mechanics of the detective plot; his real subject, like the French master, is the human condition, seen in every situation of society. * Independent *The king of Southern noir. * Daily Mirror *His lyrical prose, his deep understanding of what makes people behave as they do, and his control of plot and pace are masterly. * Sunday Telegraph *One of the finest American writers. * Guardian *When it comes to literate, pungently characterised American crime writing, James Lee Burke has few peers. * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisA serial killer is stalking the streets of Istanbul, seemingly targeting gay men. A man is found dead in a hotel room, a single stab wound in his heart. Could he be a victim of the ''Peeper''? Inspector Mehmet Suleyman is assigned to the case, and is shocked to discover that the victim''s body has been delivered to forensics entirely ''clean''. Has someone tampered with vital evidence? Meanwhile a young carpet dealer, on the brink of a huge sale, is discovered in the mangled remains of his Jeep, a bullet between his shoulder blades. The deal would have made him - the carpet he wanted to sell used to belong to Lawrence of Arabia. Did the young salesman know too much? Inspectors Cetin Ikmen and Suleyman uncover an incredible story and quickly realise that behind even the most respectable facade lurk passion, savagery and madness...Trade ReviewNadel's novels take in all of Istanbul - the mysterious, the beautiful, the hidden, the banal... Fascinating * Scotland on Sunday *'Fascinating. Crime fiction can do many things, and here it offers both a well-crafted mystery and a form of armchair tourism, with Nadel as an expert guide' * Spectator *Nadel makes full use of the rich variety of possibilities offered by modern Istanbul and its inhabitants... both a well-crafted mystery and a form of armchair tourism, with Nadel as an expert guide * Spectator *A thoroughly enjoyable read * The Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisMariah Ellison isn''t merely disappointed to learn that she won''t spend Christmas at home with her married granddaughter: she is furious. Instead, Grandmama is being packed off to a house in the Romney Marshes to stay with her ex-daughter-in-law. Never having got on with Caroline, Mariah much disapproves of her new husband: decades younger than her, Joshua, an actor, is scarcely even respectable. There will be nothing to do, no one to visit, and no doubt the terrible weather will make even taking a walk impossible. It is going to be the worst Christmas of Grandmama''s life. As if that weren''t enough, another visitor is foisted on the household. Then something shocking and quite unexpected happens. Has a crime been committed? Grandmama is surprised to find herself turning detective - another profession she deplores - and proving extremely good at it.Trade ReviewPraise for Anne Perry's other Christmas novellas: 'This brief work has an almost Jamesian subtlety, and with its powerful message of responsibility and redemption - "We need both to forgive and to be forgiven" - it conveys a moral force in keeping with the season * Wall Street Journal *The tale is redolent with Victorian atmosphere, from the hypocritical snobbishness to the rigid social conventions of the time * Tangled Web *If you don't have a lump in your throat by the time you finish the final few pages, you shouldn't have had all that sherry * Yorkshire Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisThe 10 year anniversary edition of a dazzling literary thriller including brand new material, THE INTERPRETATION OF MURDER is the story of Sigmund Freud assisting a Manhattan murder investigation. Think SHADOW OF THE WIND meets THE HISTORIAN.THE INTERPRETATION OF MURDER is an inventive tour de force inspired by Sigmund Freud''s 1909 visit to America, accompanied by protégé and rival Carl Jung. When a wealthy young debutante is discovered bound, whipped and strangled in a luxurious apartment overlooking the city, and another society beauty narrowly escapes the same fate, the mayor of New York calls upon Freud to use his revolutionary new ideas to help the surviving victim recover her memory of the attack, and solve the crime. But nothing about the attacks - or about the surviving victim, Nora - is quite as it seems. And there are those in very high places determined to stop the truth coming out, and Freud''s startling theories taking root on American soil.Trade Review'A spectacular debut... fiendishly clever... a fascinating recreation of a golden age in which much of the New York of today is recognisable' * Guardian *'Rubenfeld writes beautifully, his style skillfully evoking the period, as he weaves all these threads into an intriguing mystery with a fascinating glimpse into the early days of psychoanalysis' * Sunday Telegraph *'An unusually intelligent novel which entertains, informs and intrigues on several levels' * The Times *

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Book SynopsisPenny Vincenzi''s Sunday Times No 1 bestseller, FORBIDDEN PLACES is an unmissable novel about love and marriage, families and secrets, and about wartime and what it does to every accepted social value. ''Deliciously readable'' Mail on Sunday. It is the story of three women and one family. One is married and widowed within five years. She is free to start again. Or is she? The second has a perfect husband she thinks she loves. He becomes a grotesque parody of what he once was. Is that love real? The third becomes trapped in a nightmare marriage. Can the war free her?Trade Review'Another absorbing page-turner, packed with believable characters' * Good Housekeeping *'A wonderful saga of passion, relationships and families' * Prima *'Mesmerising from start to finish' * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisIn the sixth of Anne Perry''s charming Christmas novellas, a community learns to come to terms with a terrible event from its past. Emily Radley''s Christmas plans are shattered when she learns that her aunt is dying. Although estranged from her, Emily decides that she must journey to Susannah''s home in Ireland to assist her in her final days. When she reaches Connemara though, it is evident that Susannah has more on her mind than her health. Then Daniel, the lone survivor of a ship wrecked in a violent storm, seeks refuge in Susannah''s house. Determined to understand why the village is not welcoming its new arrival, Emily discovers strange parallels with the unsolved death of another young man, Connor, many years before. Susannah, desperate to find out what happened to Connor before she dies, urges Emily to investigate. And as she does, Emily learns that some people will do anything to keep their secrets safe.Trade ReviewPraise for Anne Perry's other Christmas novellas: 'This brief work has an almost Jamesian subtlety, and with its powerful message of responsibility and redemption - "We need both to forgive and to be forgiven" - it conveys a moral force in keeping with the season * Wall Street Journal *The tale is redolent with Victorian atmosphere, from the hypocritical snobbishness to the rigid social conventions of the time * Tangled Web *If you don't have a lump in your throat by the time you finish the final few pages, you shouldn't have had all that sherry * Yorkshire Evening Post *

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Book Synopsis''I have heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold wickedness of the human heart''. Scandal, treachery and crime are rife in Old London Town. A king blackmailed by his mistress, dark dealings in Opium dens, stolen jewels, a missing bride - these are cases so fiendishly complex that only the great Sherlock Holmes would dare to investigate. For he, and he alone, has the extraordinary faculty of perception and almost unhuman energy which could solve them ...Trade ReviewHe is unique in simultaneously bringing down the curtain on an era and raising one on another, ushering in a genre of writing that... has never been surpassed. His own life, as footballer... eye surgeon, champion of injustice and investigator into the paranormal, is the stuff of legend. Personally, I would walk a mile in tight boots to read his letters to the milkman * Stephen Fry, The Arthur Conan Doyle Collection *

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Book SynopsisA group of anarchists are under surveillance by Scotland Yard in Chesterton''s hugely popular metaphysical thriller. The Supreme Anarchists Council is dedicated to overthrowing the world order. To keep their identities a secret, each of them has been named a day of the week. Gabriel Syme, an eccentric poet, is recruited by Scotland Yard to infiltrate the group. He tracks down the six men and manages to win a place on the council. But in a bizarre and surreal twist of events, Syme realises that five of the six members are not at all what they seem . . .Trade ReviewGloriously entertaining * Simon Hammond, The Guardian *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of THE HUNT FOR ATLANTIS, comes an electrifying new novel. Nina Wilde is on the hunt for the Tomb of Hercules. Studies of an ancient text have convinced archaeologist Nina Wilde that a tomb containing the remains of legendary warrior Hercules may actually exist. If she can locate it, it will be the most important historical find ever to be unearthed.As Nina and Eddie Chase, her ex-SAS bodyguard and now boyfriend, begin their search it''s clear that others want to find the tomb - and the unimaginable riches contained within. Nina and Chase are soon following a violent trail of corruption and conspiracy around the globe. From Switzerland to Shanghai, Botswana to London, it''s a race against time to find the Tomb of Hercules before it falls into the most evil of hands...Trade Review'Adventure stories don't get much more epic than this' * Mirror *

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Book SynopsisIn the brilliant fourth book from Andy McDermott, Nina Wilde must battle the Covenant of Genesis if she is to find the world''s greatest archaeological treasure...Off the coast of Indonesia, archaeologist Nina Wilde makes an explosive find: evidence of a settlement that existed over a hundred thousand years before any previously known civilisation. But when her ship is attacked, it becomes clear that the clandestine religious group calling itself the Covenant of Genesis will stop at nothing to prevent her from revealing this knowledge.With her fiancé Eddie Chase, Nina embarks upon a dangerous worldwide search to expose the Covenant of Genesis - and the incredible secret they will kill to conceal. Is she about to discover the greatest legend of all time?

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Book SynopsisIn life, horse-fancier and antiques dealer Glyn Cole caused a heap of trouble - for his girlfriends, their jealous partners and his creditors. His two-year absence from the close-knit Berkshire horse community has been something of a relief. Broken bridges have been mended; lives have been rebuilt. And his disappearance has been a miracle for one individual in particular: the person who killed him. But now Glyn is back - in bizarre circumstances. A record-breaking storm has ripped his corpse from its ingenious hiding place. How did he get there and how did he die? Many have benefited from his absence - but who is no longer sleeping so soundly at night? It seems that, even in death, bad boy Glyn is as much trouble as he ever was...

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Book SynopsisSkinner must help a criminal in order to catch a killer, in this sixth novel in the bestselling Edinburgh crime series. When an Edinburgh car showroom is torched, leaving a charred body among the burnt-out luxury cars, Deputy Chief Constable Bob Skinner wonders if a life of crime has finally caught up with one of the city''s most elusive villains. But the corpse turns out not to be that of Jackie Charles, the owner of the showroom, but his wife Carole. Skinner now finds himself on the same side as his old enemy in the search for the killer...

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Book SynopsisSkinner faces the greatest, most personal tests of his career in this gripping crime thriller.Deputy Chief Constable Bob Skinner could be forgiven for thinking not only that someone up there doesn''t like him, but that someone down here is out to get him. Suffering the strain of a marriage on the rocks, the last thing he needs is for his private life to be plastered across the front pages of a sleazy tabloid. To make matters worse, two brutal murders and new allegations about Skinner himself make simultaneous headlines. Unless he can clear his name and uncover the secret behind the series of brutal crimes, he stands to lose everything: his family, his career and even his life and liberty.

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Book SynopsisAttempted murder and a mysterious stalker are a little close for comfort for DCC Skinner, in this thrilling crime novel.As Bob Skinner takes an evening stroll with a gorgeous filmstar on his arm, surely the worst of his worries is that back at headquarters, an ambitious new colleague is scheming to enlarge his territory at Skinner''s expense. But when a frightening shot-gun attack sends Skinner and his old flame Louise Bankier diving for cover, it seems danger has zeroed in on him once again. Returning to Scotland to shoot her latest film, Louise is one of Scotland''s most popular exports. But it seems she has a stalker; someone who is clearly determined to scare her. For Skinner, tracking down her tormentor isn''t just business - it''s now very personal indeed...

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Book SynopsisBest be nimble, best be quick, I''m right here and you''re my pick: DID YOU MISS ME is a page-turning thriller from bestselling author Karen Rose, and part of the Baltimore series. The last thing Ford Elkhart remembers is walking his girlfriend back to her university dormitory. Now he''s lying tied and gagged on a cold, dark floor, with only one chance to escape before he ends up like the bones surrounding him... Assistant State''s Attorney Daphne Montgomery is devastated by her son''s disappearance, and is immediately convinced that his kidnapping is connected to the white supremacist she''s just had jailed for murder. FBI Special Agent Joseph Carter isn''t so sure - especially when he learns that Ford''s girlfriend is also missing. Is Ford''s abduction payback for Daphne''s courtroom victory? Or is he a pawn in an even more dangerous game?Trade Review'Intense, complex and unforgettable' * James Patterson *'Fast and furious' * Sun *

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Book SynopsisAn enthralling and hard-hitting story of violence and revenge from No. 1 bestselling author Martina ColeTrade Review'Cole is brilliant at portraying the good among the bad, and vice versa, so until the very end we never quite know who to trust. This is the very stuff that makes her so compelling' * Daily Mirror *No one writes about East End women and their vagaries like Martina Cole * Maxim Jakubowski, Murder One *'A powerful novel that pulls no punches... Cole has an ear for the vernacular of the East End, as well as an ability to portray the viciousness of life at the edge' the Guide * Guide *'Right from the start [Cole] has enjoyed unqualified approval for her distinctive and powerfully written fiction' * The Times *Intensely readable * Guardian *'Martina Cole explores the shady criminal underworld, a setting she is fast making her own' * Sunday Express *'Utterly compelling' * Mirror *'The story will grip you from the first pages' * Best *'Gritty novel from an author who knows intimately the world she writes about' * Express *

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Book SynopsisOnce you''re in the family, you''re in it for life... Devastatingly powerful, THE FAMILY by the ''undisputed queen of crime writing'' (Guardian) and Sunday Times No.1 bestseller Martina Cole reaches the darkest corners of family life. Philip Murphy expects loyalty from their nearest and dearest - for better or for worse... Family is everything for the Murphy clan. Philip runs his business empire with the help of his brother, and dotes on his two sons who will, one day, take over.His wife Christine is his perfect match. She''d always dreamed of a big happy family and, when she married into the Murphys, she thought she''d found one. But when that illusion is shattered, she''s already in too deep.The Murphys are dangerous and Christine can''t unsee the horrors she has now been forced to open her eyes to. But nor can she escape them.For more stories centred on family life, check out FACES, THE FAITHLESS and BETRAYAL.Trade Review'Right from the start [Cole] has enjoyed unqualified approval for her distinctive and powerfully written fiction' The Times Intensely readable Guardian 'Martina Cole explores the shady criminal underworld, a setting she is fast making her own' Sunday Express 'Utterly compelling' Mirror 'The story will grip you from the first pages' Best 'Gritty novel from an author who knows intimately the world she writes about' Express 'Cole is brilliant at portraying the good among the bad, and vice versa, so until the very end we never quite know who to trust. This is the very stuff that makes her so compelling' Daily Mirror

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Book SynopsisWhat would you do if the man you love was accused of murder?Bad things never happen to Charlotte. She''s living the life she''s always wanted and about to marry wealthy banker, Dan. But Dan''s been hiding a secret, and the pressure is pushing him over the edge. After he''s arrested for the vicious killing of a nightclub owner, Charlotte''s future is shattered.Then she opens her door to Keisha, an angry and frustrated stranger with a story to tell. Convinced of Dan''s innocence, Charlotte must fight for him - even if it means destroying her perfect life. But what Keisha knows threatens everyone she loves, and puts her own life in danger.DC Matthew Hegarty is riding high on the success of Dan''s arrest. But he''s finding it difficult to ignore his growing doubts as well as the beautiful and vulnerable Charlotte. Can he really risk it all for what''s right?Three stories. One truth. They all need to brace themselves for the fall.Trade ReviewThere is nothing not to like . . . a compelling and flawless thriller -- Sharon BoltonThe characters are finely drawn, and it's concern for them, rather than for whodunnit, that provides the page-turning impetus in this promising debut * Guardian *Hugely impressive * Irish Examiner *Highly original and compelling -- Mark EdwardsOne of the very best novels I've read in a long while...astonishing, powerful and immensely satisfying * Peter James *There is nothing not to like...a compelling and flawless thriller * S J Bolton *A cool and twisted debut * Daily Mirror *She knows how to tell a cracking story. She will go far * Daily Mail *Page-turning * Guardian *It's crime-novel-meets-Hampstead-novel but without the contrivances of the former genre and the navel-gazing of the latter. Funny and perfectly paced, the pervading sense of "there but for the grace of God go you" chills you to the bone * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisAny bloody death will lead Inspectors Çetin Ikmen and Mehmet Süleyman out onto the dark streets of Istanbul. On 21 January, a half-decapitated corpse in the poor multicultural district of Tarlabasi poses a particularly frustrating and gruesome mystery. But as the months pass and the violence increases, it turns into a hunt for that rare phenomenon in the golden city on the Bosphorus: a serial killer.Desperate to uncover the killer''s twisted logic as the body count rises, Ikmen and Süleyman find only more questions. How are the victims connected? What is the significance of the number 21? And how many Istanbullus must die before they find the answers?Trade ReviewImpeccable mystery plotting, exotic and atmospheric - GuardianThe Morse of Istanbul - Daily TelegraphIntelligent and captivating - The Sunday TimesGripping and unusual detective story, vivid and poignant - Literary Review

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Book SynopsisLoyal, honest and, above all, principled. There is no finer detective in Victorian London than Thomas Pitt.It is 1896, and Thomas Pitt is in charge of Special Branch. He is beginning to understand the power he now commands, but is still ill at ease at the glittering events he and his wife Charlotte must attend. During a lavish party at the Spanish Embassy, a policeman breaks into Pitt''s conversation with investor Rawdon Quixwood to break the terrible news that Quixwood''s wife, Catherine, has been viciously assaulted at their home, and left for dead. Worse still, it appears that the assailant was someone she had trusted as she opened the door to the attacker herself.At the same party, Charlotte sees Angeles Castelbranco, an ambassador''s daughter, flinch in fear at the teasing of some young men. A few days later, Angeles flees from the same group and, in her terror, falls from a window - what could have caused her to take that fatal step?Pitt and hisTrade ReviewThat rare breed of novel that's a page-turning thriller yet literary * Jeffery Deaver *A surpassingly excellent historical and psychologically intricate mystery * Publishers Weekly *'A murder mystery made to make you think' * Lancashire Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisMurder is rarely cut and dried. Usually it follows its own unique, twisted logic... Deputy Chief Constable Bob Skinner has a failed marriage on his hands, and a death on his conscience. He faces the biggest challenge of his career within the secret corridors of Westminster, where dark power is wielded. Meanwhile, back in Edinburgh, Skinner''s daughter is being harassed by a stalker. Can he protect her? A bookmaker has taken one gamble too many and paid his debt in a gruesome fashion. Is it an underworld vendetta, or something more sinister? Alongside it all a casual call to the Chief Constable sets him on a personal crusade which quickly points to a bigamist at work. Or is it worse? Four crimes, four crises: can Skinner and his people solve them? Indeed can they survive them?

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Book SynopsisAlex must balance becoming a superhero tasked with defeating Kaiju, making it as a journalism student, and navigating life as a gay man in modern Europe.   Nine years after a mysterious ecological disaster, journalism students Alex and Rosalia investigate the strange company that rebuilt their city and turned it into a vision of the future—that is, until Alex’s world is turned upside down by a chance encounter with a gigantic monster from another world, a Kaiju, and the mysterious masked hero fighting it! Inheriting the masked hero’s power, Alex must now take on these powerful Kaiju when he transforms into the hero Blaze. As a gay man, Alex never imagined his cozy college life becoming deadly, but that’s just what happens as his battles uncover an unholy connection between his city, the most powerful company in Europe, and the Kaiju. Can he uncover the secret before it’s too late?Henshin!, a neTrade Review "A riveting superhero story that feels familiar and original..." * Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "Undeniably a shonen title with its ample action sequences and fights." * School Library Journal *"...a great purchase for library shelves serving teens where readers are fans of action stories and the tokusatsu genre." * Booklist *"Original, fun, and highly recommended..." * Midwest Book Review *Table of ContentsCONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: ENCOUNTER CHAPTER FIVE: PLACEMENT CHAPTER TWO: KAIJU CHAPTER SIX: OMINOUS CHAPTER THREE: PHOENIX RISING CHAPTER SEVEN: PRESSURE CHAPTER NINE: BRAWL CHAPTER FOUR: MY RESOLVE CHAPTER EIGHT: DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE CHAPTER TEN: BLAZE

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Book SynopsisAttacked and left in a coma, FBI Special Agent Addison Leigh has no memory of the incident or her estranged husband when she wakes. Full of regret over letting his military trauma ruin their marriage, Deputy U.S. Marshal Mack Jordan promises to hunt down the man who attacked her, and soon it becomes clear that the killer won't rest until Addison is dead.

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