Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisTake a trip to exotic South Florida with this dark, funny book that established Carl Hiaasen as one of the top mystery writers in the game.The first sign of trouble is a Shriner''s fez washed up on a Miami beach. The next is a suitcase containing the almost-legless body of the local chamber of commerce president found floating in a canal.The locals are desperate to keep the murders under wraps and the tourist money flowing. But it will take a reporter-turned-private eye to make sense of a caper that mixes football players, politicians, and one very hungry crocodile . . . ''One of the top ten destination reads of all time'' - GQ''Leaves you grinning'' - New York Times

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Book Synopsis''Inspector Morse would appear to have a rival'' - Scotland on Sunday''A perfect accompaniment to a sunny afternoon, a hammock and a glass of Pimms'' - Guardian''An undiluted pleasure'' - Scotsman_______________Sidney Chambers, the Vicar of Grantchester, is a thirty-two year old bachelor. Sidney is an unconventional clergyman and can go where the police cannot.Together with his roguish friend Inspector Geordie Keating, Sidney inquires into the suspect suicide of a Cambridge solicitor, a scandalous jewellery theft at a New Year''s Eve dinner party, the unexplained death of a well-known jazz promoter and a shocking art forgery, the disclosure of which puts a close friend in danger. Sidney discovers that being a detective, like being a clergyman, means that you are never off duty..._______________''A charmingly effective tale of detection ... a satisfyingly old-fashioned read'' - The Times''No detective since Father Trade ReviewNo detective since Father Brown has been more engaging than Canon Sidney Chambers. Perfect company in bed * Salley Vickers *Inspector Morse would appear to have a rival * Scotland on Sunday *A charmingly effective tale of detection ... evoking oodles of churchy village atmosphere, circa 1953, provides a satisfyingly old-fashioned read * The Times *The clerical milieu is well rendered as an affectionate eye is cast over post-war England - a perfect accompaniment to a sunny afternoon, a hammock and a glass of Pimm's -- Laura Wilson * Guardian *James Runcie has written the coziest of cozy murder mysteries. Taken individually, each of these clerical whodunits poses a clever puzzle for armchair detectives. Viewed as a collective study of British life as it was lived when Elizabeth II first ascended the throne, these stories present a consistently charming and occasionally cutting commentary on 'a postwar landscape full of industry, promise and concrete * New York Times Book Review *An undiluted pleasure * Scotsman *Full of witty phrases to delight the reader ... This entertaining first volume about Canon Chambers will have Runcie's readers longing for the next * Peggy Woodford, Church Times *An evocation of a more genteel era ... Chambers turns out to be a winning clergyman-sleuth, and Runcie's literary authority is repeatedly demonstrated in the construction of his elegant tales. In fact, it is the plotting that really distinguishes this collection, and will make many more readers more than ready to follow the God-fearing hero from the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953 to the wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981 ... there is no denying the winning charm of these artfully fashioned mysteries * Independent *Gentle criminal entertainment with a pleasantly old-fashioned feel to it -- Andrew Taylor * Spectator *The plots are intriguing ... While the diminutive priest detective created by G. K. Chesterton led the way, Sidney Chambers is set fair to be a worthy successor. In a sceptical age this is quite an achievement. Then again, the author is a son of an archbishop. And who better to portray the sleuth in ecclesiastical clothing? -- Barry Turner * Daily Mail *At last, an Anglican Father Brown ... Each tale is beautifully crafted and surprising. I hope for many more volumes -- A.N. Wilson * Spectator *

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Book Synopsis''Laetitia Rodd is a warm and engaging heroine'' The TimesFor readers of The Thursday Murder Club, M.C. Beaton and James Runcie, The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden is the charming third mystery in Kate Saunder's series about Laetitia Rodd, the indomitable Victorian lady detective. In the spring of 1853, private detective Laetitia Rodd receives a delicate request from a retired actor, whose days on the stage were ended by a theatre fire ten years before. His great friend, and the man he rescued from the fire, Thomas Transome, has decided to leave his wife, who now needs assistance in securing a worthy settlement. Though Mrs Rodd is reluctant to get involved with the scandalous world of the theatre, she cannot turn away the woman in need. She agrees to take the case. But what starts out as a simple matter of negotiation becomes complicated when a body is discovered in the burnt husk of the old theatre. Soon Mrs Rodd finds herself embroiled in familyTrade ReviewA witty, genteel tale of secrets, lies and hidden gold ... Enormous fun -- Praise for 'The Wandering Scholar' * The Times *With a well-crafted plot, an engaging protagonist, and astute nods to the literature and theological squabbles of the period, this is a perfect novel for a summer afternoon -- Praise for 'The Wandering Scholar' * The Guardian *Charmingly written, combining nods to manners of the time with a bit of modern sass -- Praise for 'The Wandering Scholar' * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES, NEW STATESMAN AND SPECTATOR BOOK OF THE YEAR''Vivid, illuminating and unbearably tense ... A masterly meditation on trauma, on beauty, on the idea of home and the limits of love'' GuardianCharlie's experiences at the Battle of Kohima and the months he spent lost in the remote jungles of Nagaland during the Second World War are now history. Home and settled on a farm in Norfolk and newly married to Claire, he is one of the lucky survivors. Starting a family and working the land seem the best things a man can be doing. But a chasm exists between them. Memories flood Charlie's mind; at night, on rain-slicked roads and misty mornings in the fields, the past can feel more real than the present. Though hidden even to himself, the darkest secrets of Charlie's adventures in the strange and shadowy ridges of the Nagaland mountains, his dream-like encounters with the mysterious and ancient tribesmen, leak and bleed through his consciouTrade ReviewVivid, illuminating and unbearably tense, Land of the Living is a masterly meditation on trauma, on beauty, on the idea of home and the limits of love * Guardian *Georgina Harding’s beautiful novels tell of wars, and troubled homecomings as traumatised fighting men try to re-enter interrupted marriages and homes grown strange ... Land of the Living is as wise and haunting as its predecessors * New Statesman, Books of the Year *Georgina Harding’s beautiful novels tell of wars, and troubled homecomings as traumatised fighting men try to re-enter interrupted marriages and homes grown strange … Her Land of the Living is as wise and haunting as its predecessors -- Lucy Hughes Hallett * New Statesman, Books of the Year *A quietly powerful novel * Observer *Audacious and moving … Elegiac, often elliptical vignettes that immaculately simulate Charlie’s shame, regret and grief … Masterly * Sunday Times *Remarkable and rare * Daily Mail *Elegant and precise, Georgina Harding wonderfully describes Charlie’s sense of dislocation, his emotional unease and the impossibility of communicating complex feelings to those who haven’t experienced war * Sunday Express *Tremendously imaginative, really compassionate … Manages to make them almost tangibly real, really immersive -- Frances Macmillan * BBC Radio 4 ‘Open Book’ *A lyrical novel about war and memory * Guardian, Ones to Watch 2018 *In sombre, elegant prose, Harding wonderfully describes Charlie’s sense of dislocation, his emotional unease and the impossibility of communicating his complex feelings and fears to those closest to him -- Eithne Farry * Mail on Sunday, The Best New Fiction *Revelatory in many ways, shining a light on the darker aspects of war … Quiet power and unexpected grace … Adds to Harding’s reputation as an incisive chronicler of war and its aftermath * Financial Times *Written with an admirable precision, and the dark of the narrative has to be teased out … It is a novel of ideas, for it invites you to think of questions of responsibility, exploitation, cruelty, brutality ... One of those rare novels which has you thinking, when you reach the end, that there is much you have passed over which demands a second reading to be fully felt and understood -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *Over several restrained, poetic novels, Georgina Harding has carved out a space for herself as one of the most incisive explorers of physical adversity and its psychological effects … Harding’s graceful style and self-control illuminate the crushing weight of history on the individual, and how different strategies for survival can cause a lifetime of pain and regret … Land of the Living is a poised and carefully crafted novel of powerful, submerged emotions, taking an under-explored aspect of Britain’s war and finding in it something graceful and strange, mythic as well * Herald *Disquieting * Times Literary Supplement *Perfect – a flawless gem of a novel from start to finish … Wonderful, strange and wise -- Patrick McGrath

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Book SynopsisA superb, lightning-paced thriller from the No. 1 bestselling author of NO TIME FOR GOODBYE and FIND YOU FIRSTTrade ReviewA gripping web of deception and intrigue -- Fanny Blake * WOMAN & HOME *compelling... the author doesn't flinch as he portrays grisly and gruesome deeds in suburbia * SUNDAY HERALD *

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Book Synopsis''Rollins is what you might end up with if you tossed Michael Crichton and Dan Brown into a particle accelerator together'' New York TimesAn inexplicable explosion rocks the antiquities collection of a London museum - and sets off alarms in clandestine organisations around the world...Lady Kara Kensington''s family paid a high price in money and blood to found the gallery that now lies in ruins. And her search for answers is about to lead her into a world she never imagined existed: a lost city, buried beneath the Arabian desert, where something astonishing is waiting...A covert government operative hunting down a traitor is being drawn there. But at the end of a perilous journey lies an ageless power that can create a utopia - or tear down everything humankind has built over millennia of civilisation...''A non-stop thrill-a-minute ride'' Tess Gerritsen

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Book SynopsisA heart-stopping global thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling master storyteller...On Parrish Island, off the coast of Virginia, there is a little-known and never visited psychiatric facility where the government stores former intelligence employees whose psychiatric state makes them a danger to their own government. One of these employees is former agent Hal Ambler. But there''s one difference between Hal and the other patients - Hal isn''t crazy. Hal pulls off a daring escape, and now he''s out to discover who stashed him there and why. But the world he returns to has changed. No one remembers him, there are no official records of Hal Ambler and, when he first looks in the mirror, the face he sees is not his own...Trade ReviewA writer who bests the bestsellers * DAILY TELEGRAPH *The real titan of the genre is Robert Ludlum * GQ *Olympic style, all-out espionage * DAILY EXPRESS *Ludlum stuffs more surprises into his novels than any other six-pack of thriller writers combined * NEW YORK TIMES *

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Book SynopsisTwo and a half thousand years ago, the Greeks and the Persians fought an epic battle to decide the future of the world...Arimnestos of Plataea grew up wanting to be a bronzesmith, like his father. Then, in the chaos of war, he was taken to a city in the Persian empire and sold as a slave. To win his freedom he had to show that he could fight and kill. Now, to preserve that freedom, he must kill again.For the Persians are coming. A vast army sent by King Darius to put down the rebellious Greeks and burn the city of Athens to the ground. Standing against them on the plain of Marathon is a much smaller force of Athenians, alongside their Plataean allies. To defeat such overwhelming force seems impossible. And yet to yield would mean the destruction of everything the Greeks have dreamed of. In the dust and heat of Marathon, in the clash of shields and the rush of spears, amid the thunder of hooves and the screams of the dying, those dreams will undergo th

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Book Synopsis480 BC. Arimnestos of Plataea has already lived through several lifetimes'' worth of adventure, from being a rich man''s slave in Ephesus to winning glory at the battle of Marathon against the might of the Persian Empire. But the gods - and the Persians - aren''t finished with him yet. As an experienced sea captain - his enemies might say pirate - he has a part to play in the final epic confrontation of the Long War between the Greeks and Persians, the Battle of Salamis. It is a battle where many debts of blood will be repaid, ancient grudges settled, fame won and treachery exposed, where the Greeks must finally bury their differences and fight as one - for against them Xerxes, the Great King, has assembled the greatest fleet the world has ever known, his sworn purpose to brutally extinguish the flame of freedom and make every Greek his slave.Trade ReviewCameron's ability to conjure up what Homer called "the battle haze" might make the ancient bard proud - GLOBE AND MAIL[A] great page-turner - ANCIENT WARFAREThe minutiae of military logistics, the mediations in inter-tribe rivalries, and the casual contemporary scene-setting prove unexpectedly engrossing ... a sword-slash above the rest of its ilk - IRISH EXAMINERThe battles ... are described with enormous verve and power. The ruthless intrigue and politicking that dominate his court are also brilliantly evoked. And, as fate and his own insatiable desire for conquest and glory drive Alexander towards death in Babylon at the age of 32, a genuine sense of an extraordinary personality emerges - SUNDAY TIMES on God of WarA sweeping, deeply moving epic that takes the reader into the heart of a different time and culture - HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW

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Book SynopsisCosy crime historical mysteries featuring Flavia de Luce - the teenage amateur sleuth you'll never forget. Perfect for fans of Midsomer Murders and Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.Trade ReviewPraise for the cosy crime Flavia de Luce Mysteries - perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders: The Flavia de Luce novels are now a cult favourite * Mail on Sunday *Certain to become a national treasure * Daily Mail *Delightfully entertaining * Guardian *Flavia is enchanting * New York Times *A breath of fresh air to the world of period-piece sleuthing * Independent *Flavia is mercilessly addictive * New York Times *A clever, witty and totally gripping read with lots of surprises * Essentials *At once precocious and endearing. Flavia is a marvellous character. Quirkily appealing, this is definitely a crime novel with a difference * Choice *It's like entering the lost world of the Mitford sisters where the girls are allowed to run completely wild * Crime Squad *Hilarious, eccentric and mischievous * Deadly Pleasures *Engaging, entertaining, bright and breezy; and above all, great fun! * Good Book Guide *This is the fourth murder mystery for eleven year old sleuth, master chemist and expert on poisons, Flavia de Luce. While her father is preoccupied with a deepening financial crisis, and her sisters continue to outdo one another in beastliness to their younger sibling, the undaunted Flavia brings her keen eye and sharp mind to all that's' going on around her. * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *[T]his breezily entertaining novel set in 1950s England both lives up to its predecessors and points the way to momentous events in the next book. Great fun! * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *

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Book SynopsisCosy crime historical mysteries featuring Flavia de Luce - the teenage amateur sleuth you'll never forget. Perfect for fans of Midsomer Murders and Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.Trade ReviewPraise for the cosy crime Flavia de Luce Mysteries - perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders: The Flavia de Luce novels are now a cult favourite * Mail on Sunday *Certain to become a national treasure * Daily Mail *Delightfully entertaining * Guardian *Flavia is enchanting * New York Times *A breath of fresh air to the world of period-piece sleuthing * Independent *Flavia is mercilessly addictive * Daily Telegraph *A clever, witty and totally gripping read with lots of surprises * Essentials *At once precocious and endearing. Flavia is a marvellous character. Quirkily appealing, this is definitely a crime novel with a difference * Choice *It's like entering the lost world of the Mitford sisters where the girls are allowed to run completely wild * Crime Squad *Hilarious, eccentric and mischievous * Deadly Pleasures *Engaging, entertaining, bright and breezy; and above all, great fun! * Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisWhat would you do if you witnessed a murder - but no one believed you . . .?Another masterful suspense novel from the bestselling author of the Richard & Judy summer read winner, NO TIME FOR GOODBYE and FIND YOU FIRSTTrade ReviewMy idea of a sweet ride is three days of rain, a fridge filled with snacks, and a new Linwood Barclay. I just had all three. TRUST YOUR EYES is the best Barclay so far, a tale Hitchcock would have loved. It has more spins than the Whirl360 computer program Thomas Kilbride is so fascinated with. The book is riveting, frequently scary, occasionally funny, and surprisingly, wonderfully tender. I could believe this might happen to people living two streets over from me. Great entertainment from a suspense master -- STEPHEN KINGAs always author Linwood Barclay grabs you from the first and Trust Your Eyes is a belter. * DAILY EXPRESS *I've seldom, if ever, been as hooked after reading a prologue as with Trust Your Eyes, A twisty tale that well told. * INDEPENDENT *No one can thrill you and chill you better than Linwood Barclay. Trust me when I say you won't want to miss [this] -- Tess GerritsenUpdates the voyeuristic hook of Rear Window for the Internet age....An up-to-the-moment thrill ride, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. -- William LandayOne of the best thriller writers in the world hands down and this is him at the top of his game... Fantastically well done... Top notch thriller writing * MARK BILLINGHAM on Trust Your Eyes *You're not going to put this book down * LEE CHILD on Trust Your Eyes *A magnificent piece of storytelling... A real page turner * KATE MOSSE on Trust Your Eyes *

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Book Synopsis''Be warned: once started, you''ll have to cancel all engagements until you finish it'' Independent on Sunday''The action in THE SENTRY is intense and the body count high but what is more memorable is the manner in which Crais cracks open the door into the enigmatic Pike''s emotions'' L A TimesAfter the nightmare of Hurricane Katrina, Dru Rayne and her uncle relocated to Los Angeles. Five years later, their struggling restaurant faces a different danger. When Joe Pike witnesses Dru''s uncle beaten by a neighbourhood gang, he offers his own brand of protection, but neither Dru nor her uncle want his help. And neither do the federal agents mysteriously watching their store . . .But Pike is falling for Dru, and won''t back away whether she wants his help or not. As the violence escalates, Joe discovers Dru and her uncle are not who they seem - and now a vengeful, murderous force from their past is catching up with them...Trade ReviewA rip-roaring read, and a smart and careful character study * ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY *The action in THE SENTRY is intense and the body count high but what is more memorable is the manner in which Crais cracks open the door into the enigmatic Pike's emotions * L A TIMES *Robert Crais is a crime writer of incredible talent - his novels are not only suspenseful and deeply atmospheric ... they are very hard to put down -- Dan BrownTeeth-rattlingly good -- Alex Gorden * Evening Telegraph (Peterborough) *

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Book SynopsisA modern gothic thriller, perfect for fans of Dan Brown's THE DA VINCI CODE.

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Book SynopsisA botched investigation - and a killer walks free...

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Book SynopsisOfficial, original James Bond from a writer described by Len Deighton as a ''master storyteller''.When the body of a mysterious woman is found to be carrying the phone number of James Bond, Bond is called in by M to help the investigation. But before he can even reach headquarters he is nearly run off the road in a high-speed motorway chase. Someone wants Bond dead.Then Bond discovers that the woman was a member of a cult society known as The Meek Ones, with murky links to a wealthy arms dealer. Soon, hideous acts of terrorism begin to roll out across Britain and Bond finds himself in a race against time to track down the faceless criminal behind the horror ...

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Book SynopsisOfficial, original James Bond from a writer described by Len Deighton as a ''master storyteller''.James Bond is back in action, with the stunning Flicka von Grusse at his side and his licence to kill renewed once more. His target is Sir Maxwell Tarn: a businessman whose legitimate empire spans the globe, whose wealth is uncountable, who also deals in illegal weapons on a breathtaking scale.But even Bond is unprepared for the speed of events, as a sting operation in a Cambridge hotel leads rapidly to an assassination in Spain, a fugitive in Israel and neo-Nazi plotters in Germany. Bond finally catches up with Tarn in Puerto Rico where his prey becomes his captor. Can he escape in time to stop Tarn?

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Book SynopsisA gripping, high-concept Sigma Force adventure from bestselling author James Rollins.Trade Review[A] complex thriller to make The Da Vinci Code look like a crossword puzzle. * BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH *

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Book SynopsisFast paced and full of grit, this is the first crime novel from the UK''s most charismatic sporting genius.WHEN THE GAME IS MURDER, YOU CAN''T AFFORD TO LOSE.An innocent man. Frankie James is a young man with a lot on his shoulders. His mother disappeared when he was sixteen; his father''s in jail for armed robbery; and he owes rent on the Soho snooker club he inherited to one of London''s toughest gangsters. A brutal murder.And things are about to get a whole lot worse when Frankie''s brother Jack is accused of killing a bride-to-be. He needs to find out who framed Jack and why; but that means entering the sordid world of bent coppers, ruthless mobsters and twisted killers. But in the dog-eat-dog underworld of 1990s Soho, is he tough enough, and smart enough to come out on top?If you like Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers, you''ll LOVE this.Trade ReviewThe running is literal as well as metaphorical...it's a heartbreaking story - METRO on RUNNINGRUNNING is a chaotic race through O'Sullivan's life, but this does little to dethrone him as the people's champion - it simply adds further to his legend. - PRESS ASSOCIATION on RUNNINGWhen he starts talking about snooker and his rivals, he is fascinating. Yet it wasn't snooker that ended up saving him from the booze and drugs - it was distance running. - DAILY TELEGRAPH on RUNNINGAt snooker, O'Sullivan is easily the best in the world. At running, he is club class...His frank memoir, which reads like a transcript from the psychiatrist's coach, explains that running - and the running community - gave him a sense of acceptance and achievement. - THE SUNDAY TIMES on RUNNINGLike a lot of shy people, he can look arrogant and aloof when he is performing, while underneath there's turmoil. - DAILY MAIL on RUNNING

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Book SynopsisA hanged man. A stolen painting. An impossible crime.A marine engineer is found hanged in a locked apartment. Some artwork is stolen, then mysteriously returned. And a security guard is found dead at the base of a Welsh cliff.When Fiona Griffiths is tasked to look through a stackload of cold cases, her bosses don''t expect her to find anything of interest. But then she discovers that an impossible robbery really happened. That the supposed suicide was anything but. That the dead security guard was almost certainly murdered.Before long, Fiona is embroiled in what will become the most terrifying case of her career so far - one that forces her to enter the heart of darkness, and a journey that will test her mental toughness to its very limits.Praise for the Fiona Griffiths mystery series: ''A stunner with precision plotting, an unusual setting, and a deeply complex protagonist'' The Seattle Times''This cleverly plotteTrade ReviewPraise for gripping, atmospheric crime thriller THE DEAD HOUSE: Chilling, atmospheric and so gripping it hurts. The Dead House is a masterpiece. You won't read a better crime novel this year -- MARK EDWARDSIntriguing and compelling - I love Fiona Griffiths -- SHARON BOLTONIn a word - brilliant. One of the most enjoyable crime novels I've read in a while -- JAMES OSWALDCompelling and claustrophic, Without a doubt, Fiona Griffiths is one of crime's most memorable heroines -- SARAH HILARYOne of the most interesting and complicated protagonists in current UK crime fiction. Truly unforgettable -- MICK HERRONFiona Griffiths is one of the most unusual and engaging characters in British crime fiction. Those who haven't yet encountered Fiona will be drawn into a beautifully crafted world -- SINEAD CROWLEYGripping...Fiona Griffiths kept me hooked to the last page and left me hungry for more -- RACHEL ABBOTTA stunner with precision plotting, an unusual setting, and a deeply complex protagonist * THE SEATTLE TIMES *The easiest five stars I've ever awarded a book. Fiona Griffiths is by far the most original detective I've come across -- LORETTA MILANCompelling...a new crime talent to treasure -- DAILY MAIL

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Book Synopsis''I love Fiona Griffiths'' Sharon BoltonA crime from the past. A murder from the future. DS Fiona Griffiths is bored. It''s been months since she had a good corpse. Then she gets news; not just of a murder, but of a decapitation, and one committed with an antique sword no less. All that, and, a murder scene laid out like a gruesome crossword clue.Gaynor Charteris was an archaeologist excavating a nearby iron-age site. Genial, respected, well-liked, it was hard to see why anyone would want to kill her. But as Fiona starts to investigate, she finds evidence of a crime that seems to have its origins in King Arthur''s greatest battle - a crime so bizarre that getting her superiors to take it seriously is going to be her toughest job. Especially since the crime hasn''t yet been committed.Praise for the Fiona Griffiths mystery series:''Compelling and claustrophobic. Without a doubt, Fiona Griffiths is one of crime''s Trade ReviewPraise for gripping, atmospheric Fiona Griffiths crime thriller series:Chilling, atmospheric and so gripping it hurts. You won't read a better crime novel this year -- MARK EDWARDSIntriguing and compelling - I love Fiona Griffiths -- SHARON BOLTONIn a word - brilliant. One of the most enjoyable crime novels I've read in a while -- JAMES OSWALDCompelling and claustrophic, Without a doubt, Fiona Griffiths is one of crime's most memorable heroines -- SARAH HILARYOne of the most interesting and complicated protagonists in current UK crime fiction. Truly unforgettable -- MICK HERRONFiona Griffiths is one of the most unusual and engaging characters in British crime fiction. Those who haven't yet encountered Fiona will be drawn into a beautifully crafted world -- SINEAD CROWLEYGripping...Fiona Griffiths kept me hooked to the last page and left me hungry for more -- RACHEL ABBOTTCompelling...a new crime talent to treasure -- DAILY MAIL

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Book SynopsisDS Jimmy Suttle investigates a murder in a house haunted by the past in the latest from ''one of the UK''s finest crime novelists'' (INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY), author of LAST FLIGHT TO STALINGRADA rich old man, Rupert Moncrieff, is beaten to death in the silence of his West Country waterside mansion, his head hooded and his throat cut. His extended family are still living beneath his roof, each with their own room, their own story, their own ghosts, and their own motives for murder. And in this world of darkness and dysfunction are the artefacts and memories of colonial atrocities that are returning to haunt them all.At the heart of the murder investigation is DS Jimmy Suttle who, along with his estranged journalist wife Lizzie, is fighting his own demons after the abduction and death of their young daughter, Grace.But who killed Rupert Moncrieff? And what secrets is the house holding onto that could unravel this whole investigation? The enquiry tTrade ReviewSuperior crime fiction -- India Knight * Sunday Times *Hurley's DS Jimmy Suttle thrillers are my favourite British crime series right now... Hurley's a master of plotting and superb characterisation... A terrific and tantalising read." * PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH *One of the best of the two dozen or so novels he's written....the book is as much a story of Suttle and Lizzie's emotional battles as it is a police who-dunnit, but as it happens the detective element is first class....past atrocities mingling cleverly with present injustice. * THE TIMES *'A clever, complex story, harnessing the dark secrets of a dysfunctional family to the disbelief and despair of a family torn apart by a cruel and senseless killing.' * LANCASTER GUARDIAN *"One of the best of the two dozen or so novels he's written....the book is as much a story of Suttle and Lizzie's emotional battles as it is a police who-dunnit, but as it happens the detective element is first class....past atrocities mingling cleverly with present injustice. * TIMES *

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Book SynopsisThe fourth novel in the Jimmy Suttle series, from ''one of the UK''s finest crime novelists'' (INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY), author of LAST FLIGHT TO STALINGRAD''There is no-one writing better police procedurals today'' Sunday TelegraphD/S Jimmy Suttle is called to a brutal murder in the picturesque Devon village of Lympstone. Harriet Reilly, a local GP, has been found disembowelled in the bedroom of her partner, climate scientist Alois Bentner. Suttle''s estranged wife, Lizzie, has abandoned Portsmouth, moved to Exeter and returned to journalism, hearing rumours of a local GP offering mercy killings to patients meeting certain criteria. The name of the GP is Harriet Reilly.So begins two investigations of the same crime. Operation Buzzard, with D/S Suttle at its heart, and Lizzie, piecing together her own version of the events that led to Harriet Reilly''s death.The fourth novel in the Jimmy Suttle series is a story of ulTrade ReviewSuperior crime fiction -- India Knight * Sunday Times *There is no-one writing better police procedurals today. * Sunday Telegraph *Graham Hurley's determination to look the seamy reality full in the face is refreshing because it is so rare ... Hurley's devastating account of Suttle's marriage is one of the best things he has done. * Daily Telegraph *'This book more than lives up to the previous three. It succeeds on several levels. It is a superb police procedural... it is a very cleverly manipulated whodunnit, with a trickle-down conclusion that contains one final twist; away from the police station, we have some memorable characters who are convincing if not always likable; and lastly we have one of the nastiest and most menacing villains that you are likely to encounter.' * CRIME FICTION LOVER *Hurley writes inch-perfect, matter-of-fact police procedurals, but he peoples them with an almost Dickensian cast that set the books way above most of his peers. -- Sharon Wheeler * CRIMEREVIEW *A pleasurably intricate plot leads to a satisfying grotesque resolution, further enhancing the reputation of one of Britain's best-ever police procedural writers. -- Mat Coward * MORNING STAR *There are some mighty subjects explored here within the context of a brilliant police procedural thriller... wrapped up in a typically tight and gripping plot. * PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH *This is an excellent police procedural mystery with an intricate plot... Hurley gets better and better with every new title. Superb. * CRIMESQUAD *

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Book SynopsisFor readers who enjoy Angela Marsons, Robert Bryndza and Mark Edwards. Fawkes and Baxter return in the rocket-paced followup to the global bestseller RAGDOLL

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Book SynopsisThe latest thriller in Lara Dearman's atmospheric crime series set in the Channel IslandsTrade ReviewCrisply written... An intricate plot, intriguing characters, and an unusual setting make this a winner. * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *Brilliant! * Alison Belsham *In Dark Sky Island Lara Dearman portrays island life and landscape so vividly, you might believe you'd actually been there. Tense, intriguing and alive with island atmosphere. I loved it. * Niki Mackay *In Dark Sky Island Lara Dearman portrays island life and landscape so vividly, you might believe you'd actually been there. Tense, intriguing and alive with island atmosphere. I loved it. * Isabel Ashdown, author of Little Sister *Lara Dearman's second novel is even more accomplished than her debut. Atmospheric, mysterious, and brilliantly-written. Highly recommended. * Mason Cross *A deeply atmospheric and gripping thriller with a wonderful sense of place. * Roz Watkins *

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Book Synopsis''The master of historical fiction'' SUNDAY TIMESSharpen your sword and prepare for battle...1367: Europe stands on the brink of total war.Political alliances are beginning to rupture, and no state is immune: England, France, the Holy Roman Empire, Milan Genoa, Venice, Constantinople . . . Every mercenary knight must sharpen his sword and prepare for battle.But Sir William Gold has other problems. Just to reach Europe, he must capture its most unassailable fortress. He must also protect his liege lord, the Green Count, from assassins hell-bent on his death.The balance of power in the West will change. William Gold must trust in hope, and his men, that he lands on the winning side...Praise for Christian Cameron:''A storyteller at the height of his powers'' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY''Superb'' THE TIMES''OTrade Review[An] authentic and gripping historical drama that's getting better with each book -- Jon Wise * Weekend Sport *

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Book SynopsisCosy crime historical mysteries featuring Flavia de Luce - the teenage amateur sleuth you'll never forget. Perfect for fans of Midsomer Murders and Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.Trade ReviewPraise for the cosy crime Flavia de Luce Mysteries - perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders: The Flavia de Luce novels are now a cult favourite * Mail on Sunday *Certain to become a national treasure * Daily Mail *Delightfully entertaining * Guardian *Flavia is enchanting * New York Times *A breath of fresh air to the world of period-piece sleuthing * Independent *Flavia is mercilessly addictive * Daily Telegraph *A clever, witty and totally gripping read with lots of surprises * Essentials *At once precocious and endearing. Flavia is a marvellous character. Quirkily appealing, this is definitely a crime novel with a difference * Choice *It's like entering the lost world of the Mitford sisters where the girls are allowed to run completely wild * Crime Squad *Hilarious, eccentric and mischievous * Deadly Pleasures *Engaging, entertaining, bright and breezy; and above all, great fun! * Good Book Guide *Despite a climactic attempt on her life, Bradley's unquenchable heroine brings "the most complicated case I had ever come across" to a highly satisfying conclusion, with the promise of still brighter days ahead. * Kirkus *As usual, Bradley makes his improbable series conceit work and relieves the plot's inherent darkness with clever humor. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisOptioned for television by the hit team behind KILLING EVE.''Filled with intrigue and suspense. The Craftsman is spellbinding.'' - Clare Mackintosh''Sharon Bolton at her absolute finest. Beautifully dark and disturbing.'' - Jenny Blackhurst ''Darkly gothic and brilliantly original, The Craftsman will have you spellbound.'' - JP Delaney ''An absolutely terrific crime novel that takes your darkest fear and makes it reality.'' - Elly Griffiths **********************Devoted father or merciless killer?His secrets are buried with him.Florence Lovelady''s career was made when she convicted coffin-maker Larry Glassbrook of a series of child murders 30 years ago. Like something from our worst nightmares the victims were buried...ALIVE.Larry confessed to the crimes; it was an open and shut case. But now he''s dead, and events from the past start to repeat themselves. Trade ReviewThe Craftsman is one of those rare books that hooked me on page one, and didn't let go until the final sentence. Engaging, compulsive reading. Sharon Bolton at her best. * Rachel Abbott *Just finished The Craftsman and it is Sharon Bolton at her absolute finest. Beautifully dark and disturbing, I won't sleep well tonight. * Jenny Blackhurst *Sharon Bolton raises the bar with each new book. The Craftsman goes to some very dark places, and will have readers looking nervously over their shoulders with every page they turn. * Mick Herron *I was obsessed with The Craftsman, reading it every snatched moment I could. Pitch perfect creepiness, air punching female empowerment and sinister mysteries kept me hooked to the very last page. * Holly Seddon *Darkly gothic and brilliantly original, THE CRAFTSMAN will have you spellbound. * JP Delaney *The Craftsman is a brilliant blend of rich crime thriller with a hint of the gothic. Dark, disturbing and with women who totally rock, with the Craftsman Sharon Bolton has proven herself to be a master Craftsman herself. Buy it. Read it. Tell your friends. Then sleep with the light on. * Sarah Pinborough *Sharon is a master of her craft. The Craftsman is an absolutely terrific crime novel that takes your darkest fear and makes it reality. * Elly Griffiths *Grisly and compelling. I was so pleased to hear it's the start of a new series as it's top notch. * Sarah Hilary *I dare you to read it after dark. The Craftsman is a blood-chilling thriller that will cast a spell on you. * Mark Edwards, No.1 Kindle bestseller *Utterly terrifying and gripping. * Sabine Durrant, author of TAKE ME IN *A masterclass in the craft of writing. Fabulous, utterly unique storyline, that will effortlessly stand out in the crowd of thrillers. Also, it'll give you the creeps, and I don't say that lightly. * Helen Fields *Sharon Bolton is an absolute master and I've read, and loved, her other books, but this is a whole new level. This is the work of a writer at the absolute top of her game. The Craftsman is an original, dark, and twisted tale and the words just sparkle on the page. * Niki Mackay *Sharon Bolton's army of fans will be storming bookshops for this one. * Belinda Bauer *Filled with intrigue and suspense. The Craftsman is spellbinding. * Clare Mackintosh *[The Craftsman] will have you gripped -- Nina Pottell * PRIMA MAGAZINE *A chilling novel of witchcraft and suspense -- Fanny Blake * WOMAN & HOME *Bolton is at her best -- Barry Forshaw * GUARDIAN *[The Craftsman] reads like something by Gladys Mitchell is she were demonically possessed -- Jake Kerridge * S MAGAZINE, SUNDAY EXPRESS *This beautifully written story, which includes a richly woven seam of witchcraft and folklore, will keep you up at night. -- Deirdre O'Brien * Sunday Mirror *Sharon Bolton's most chilling novel yet * CHOICE MAGAZINE *Unpredictable, unsettling, utterly addictive and with a twist in the tail that will leave you gasping, The Craftsman is unique, bold and brilliant... but best read before dark! * Lancashire Post *

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Book SynopsisA troubling disappearance. A puzzling mystery. A new investigation for Detective Wycliffe.Detective Superintendent Wycliffe is holidaying in Cornwall when he meets the intriguing Kemp family. The Kemps have lived in Kellycork, their decaying family seat, for almost 500 years and have a tragic history. Roger Kemp''s first wife disappeared mysteriously in what was presumed to be a boating accident and now the Kemps are struggling to maintain their family home. When Roger''s wealthy second wife, Bridget, also disappears Wycliffe is inevitably drawn into the case.Wycliffe is troubled by the dysfunctional family he is investigating. Can the loss of their mother account for the Kemp children''s strange behaviour or is there a more sinister explanation? And why is his main suspect doing so little to save himself?Trade ReviewPraise for the Wycliffe Cornish Detective Series:Wycliffe teases out the truth with delicate skill that leaves the reader intrigued and convinced * MAIL ON SUNDAY *You can always count on Wycliffe...he inevitably guarantees a good story, convincing characters and appealing landsacape * FINANCIAL TIMES *First-class, old-time, hyper-ingenious whodunit * OBSERVER *Gripping * THE TIMES *

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Book SynopsisONE ROOM. FIVE SUSPECTS. THREE HOURS TO FIND A KILLER.''An impressive debut'' James Oswald************** GUESS WHO A waitress. A cleaner. An actress. A lawyer. A student. Everyone is a suspect.WHERE In a locked room - with no escape, and no idea how they got there. WHAT In the bathtub, the body of a man they all knew. Someone murdered him. Someone in this room. WHY They have three hours to find out. Or they all die. THE RULES ARE SIMPLE. THE GAME IS NOT Imagine Agatha Christie had created an interactive Escape the Room game, and GUESS WHO would be the result. For fans of the DI Helen Grace series by MJ Arlidge, The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware, Ragdoll by Daniel Cole, and Rattle by Fiona Cummins.**************Trade ReviewGuess Who boils with claustrophobic intensity. Packed with gripping twists and turns, Guess Who is an inventive, entertaining locked room mystery that kept me utterly hooked. * Adam Hamdy *An ingenious twisty mystery in a totally unique setting. * Claire McGowan *An impressive debut and a sign of great things to come. * James Oswald *Chris McGeorge's Guess Who is a fresh take on the locked room murder mystery. The plotting is intricate, the characters well drawn, and the pace never lets up as it drives headlong to the surprising end. * David C. Taylor, Edgar-nominated, Nero Wolfe Award-winning author of Night Life *Guess Who is an incredibly satisfying, intelligent thriller running at break-neck pace right until it's closing pages. A marvellous debut. * Francesca Dorricott, author of After the Eclipse *One hotel room. Six strangers. One corpse. Good fun. * Cavan Scott *This is brilliant, so cleverly written and still surprising despite the team's love of escape rooms. * Woman's Way *A FANTASTIC whodunnit with more twists than a Great Hotel corkscrew. * Jenny Blackhurst *

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Book Synopsis From the international bestselling author of Dexter come a brilliant new thriller starring Riley Wolfe: a master thief, expert at disguise, and not averse to violence when it''s needed. ********''Another blockbuster from a can''t-miss master. Enjoy the ride. - David Baldacci''The Dexter creator''s new hero-thief is a blast...Far-fetched, foulmouthed and very funny.'' - Mark Sanderson, The Times''Vastly entertaining, and written with verve and charm, it ushers in a character that is impossible to forget.'' - Geoffrey Wansell, Daily Mail********It''s no accident, though, that Riley targets the wealthiest 0.1 percent and is willing to kill them when they''re in his way: he despises the degenerate and immoral rich and loves stealing their undeserved and unearned valuables.In this series launch, Riley aims for an extraordinary target in a heist that will make history. Riley will try to steTrade ReviewAnother blockbuster from a can't-miss master. Enjoy the ride. -- David Baldacci, author of One Good DeedWith master thief Riley Wolfe, Jeff Lindsay gives us an anti-hero for our times, as morally-ambiguous and hard to resist as his serial killer Dexter * Sarah Dunn, author of The Arrangement *Echoes of The Thomas Crown Affair and Ocean's Eleven, but with even more twists...Vastly entertaining, and written with verve and charm, it ushers in a character that is impossible to forget * Daily Mail *The Dexter creator's new hero-thief is a blast...Far-fetched, foulmouthed and very funny. * The Times *Jeff Lindsay is back! With a character everyone will want to root for-Riley Wolfe, a super-thief who leaves no trace other than bodies, as necessary. What actor wouldn't want to play him? * Andy Garcia *A blast! * Peterborough Telegraph *A caper novel on steroids * Associated Press *

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Book Synopsis''Shadow Man is a harrowing and horrific game of consequences'' Val McDermid THE BRILLIANTLY COMPELLING SECOND NOVEL IN THE DI LUKAS MAHLER SERIESA missing child. A seventy-year-old murder. And a killer who''s still on the loose.Ten year-old Erin is missing; taken in broad daylight during a friend''s birthday party. With no witnesses and no leads, DI Lukas Mahler races against time to find her. But is it already too late for Erin - and will her abductor stop at one stolen child?And the discovery of human remains on a construction site near Inverness confronts Mahler''s team with a cold case from the 1940s. Was Aeneas Grant''s murder linked to a nearby POW camp, or is there an even darker story to be uncovered?With his team stretched to the limit, Mahler''s hunt for Erin''s abductor takes him from Inverness to the Lake District. And decades-old family secrets link both casesin a shocking final twist.WHAT RTrade ReviewMargaret Kirk's brilliant Inverness series is atmospheric and gripping. She goes from strength to strength. What Lies Buried is an absolute cracker! * Cass Green *Told with an admirable grasp on police procedure and an unerring feel for character, the truth gradually emerges from the horror: this is Tartan Noir at its very best. * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis''In Detective Eddie Giral, Chris Lloyd has created a flawed hero not just for occupied Paris, but for our own times, too'' KATHERINE STANSFIELDParis, 1940. As the city adjusts to life under Nazi occupation, Detective Eddie Giral struggles to reconcile his job as a policeman with his new role enforcing a regime he cannot believe in but must work under.He''s sacrificed so much in order to survive in this new world, but the past is not so easily forgotten. When an old friend and an old flame reappear, begging for his help, Eddie must decide how far he will go to help those he loves.He can remain a good man and do nothing, or risk it all in a desperate act of resistance...Praise for Chris Lloyd and Detective Eddie Giral''Terrific'' SUNDAY TIMES''Gripping... a vivid recreation of Paris under German Occupation'' ANDREW TAYLOR''A thoughtful, haunting thriller'' MICK HERRON''Sharp and compellinTrade ReviewA corpse is discovered in a derelict jazz club, its lips sewn tight with twine. The victim, Eddie finds out, is an old lag who should be in prison. After he learns that other criminals are also out on the streets, given early release in mysterious circumstances, he realises that he has stumbled on a conspiracy involving French criminals and German occupiers. A page-turning, morally complex thriller. (Best Historical Fiction Books of 2023) * SUNDAY TIMES *Chris Lloyd follows up the excellent The Unwanted Dead with another terrific slice of historical noir. In his vivid recreation of Paris under German occupation, French policeman Eddie Giral - trapped between Nazis, gangsters and his own conscience - finds himself morally compromised following the discovery of several mutilated bodies. Once again, the prose sparkles with Lloyd's mordant wit and gallows humour, illuminating the depravity of an evil regime. * VASEEM KHAN *Lloyd does a masterly job of conjuring a hungry, defeated Paris. Eddie is a convincing protagonist; a flawed man trying his best to be a good one. * THE TIMES *It's the book Raymond Chandler might have written if he had lived and breathed the Nazi Occupation of Paris... Paris Requiem is more than a historical crime novel, it's a tour de force. To read it is to have lived in occupied Paris, to have experienced its many-layered devastation. But to read it is also to have walked, in Eddie Giral's skin, through the decisions and betrayals, the compromises and dubious triumphs of an investigation which should, by rights, have killed him. * ALIS HAWKINS *A haunting and eye-opening portrayal of life under occupation. * ADELE PARKS *A stellar sequel to 2020's The Unwanted Dead. In 1940 Nazi-occupied Paris, police detective Eddie Giral, a wise-cracking maverick determined to stay faithful to his responsibilities despite the risks to his life, investigates the death of a man found in a jazz club...Little details, such as the occupied city now being governed by German time, which runs an hour ahead of French time, bring the period to life. Admirers of J. Robert Jane's St-Cyr and Kohler series will be delighted. * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review) *[A] superbly atmospheric thriller, which oozes moral ambiguity. * BOOKLIST (starred review) *This smart historical thriller centers on a WWII-era Paris policeman who finds himself working on behalf of the occupiers, pushing him into a moral crisis and a new case that forces him to confront the true extent of the damage being done to the soul of his city. * DWYER MURPHY, CrimeReads Editor in Chief *Lloyd paints a vivid picture of Paris: the lines of people trying to buy highly rationed food, the jazz clubs where they try to escape their miseries, and their persistent attempts to block out the brutal facts of the occupation. The plot action is suspenseful and intense. The characters-both heroes and villains-are vividly drawn. This is definitely a captivating read! * HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY *In Chris Lloyd's historical mystery "Paris Requiem," the year is 1940. The City of Light is occupied by German troops. The Eiffel Tower is closed. All songbirds have fled . . . [Detective Eddie Giral] ekes partial wins out of this amoral game: "Private triumphs I could share with no one"-except the spellbound reader. * WALL STREET JOURNAL *

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Book Synopsis''A moving and enchanting story with an uplifting message of hope at its heart... Be warned - you will need tissues. Caroline''s best book yet!'' Dinah Jefferies''Warm, moving, romantic'' Prue Leith''Tender and moving'' Jane Bailey''A beautiful portrait of love and loss, and of hope in adversity'' Sarah SteeleMarina and Hugh were once madly in love. But after the loss of their beautiful little daughter, grief has created a distance between them that feels impossible to bridge. Marina knows leaving Italy is the only way they will be able to move on, but Thorncliffe Hall, Hugh''s family home in England, is so grey and unwelcoming.Just when life feels like it may never regain colour, Marina and Hugh come across a striking china coffee pot in a London shop window, adorned with a fox flying through the night sky. The coffee pot comes attached with a mystery, one that is connected with H

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Book SynopsisDetective Dave Robicheaux is caught in the crossfire of Louisiana''s oldest and bloodiest gangland feud...From the wreckage of Louisiana''s oldest and family rivalry, Detective Dave Robicheaux faces his most sinister enemy yet . . .Isolde and Johnny - the star-crossed teenage heirs to New Iberia''s criminal empires - have run away together, and Robicheaux is tasked with finding them. But when his investigation brings him too close to both Isolde''s mother and her father''s mistress, the venomous mafioso orders a hit on Robicheaux and his partner, Clete Purcel.In order to rescue the young lovers, and save hi self, Robicheaux must face a terrifying time-traveling superhuman hitman capable of inflicting horrifying hallucinations on his victims, and overcome the demons that have tormented him his whole life...Trade ReviewIf you don't know Lee Burke and his steamy underworld, you're missing a lifelong pleasure -- James Naughtie * RADIO TIMES *Burke is peerless, his novels setting the standard for his genre -- Paschal Donohoe * THE IRISH TIMES *

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Book SynopsisA brilliantly mind-boggling locked door mystery created in collaboration with Hampton Court Palace.

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Book SynopsisTrilobite and his friends are back, and the hunt for fame and fortune continues in this hilarious graphic novel series from the bestselling cartoonist behind the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series The beloved team of prehistoricand hystericalcreatures is back! This wacky, hilarious, and totally unique graphic novel series is perfect for fans of Dog Man and InvestiGators. Trilobite and his friends hope to strike it rich making a documentary about an Ice Age super pig called the Entelodont. This mega pig is a cross between a hippo, a razorback, and a bag of chainsaws. A dangerous creature feature is sure to be a big hit with their audience. What could go wrong?Their quest for a viral video takes a chaotic turn when they accidentally create the Hog-Rocketa flying Entelodont with a love for destruction. Now Trilobite and company have no video, no moneyand no way to stop the mayhem they set in motion.

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

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Book SynopsisThe gripping new novel featuring PI Jack Nightingale - who fights the powers of Hell itself - by bestselling author Stephen Leather.Trade Review'Written with panache, and a fine ear for dialogue, Leather manages the collision between the real and the occult with exceptional skill, adding a superb time-shift twist at the end'. * Daily Mail *'Another great thriller from Stephen Leather but this time with a devilish twist!' * James Herbert on NIGHTFALL *'Suffused with mysterious pentagrams, not to mention a creeping sense of evil, I suspect that down-to-earth Nightingale is a man we'll hear more of' * Daily Mail on NIGHTFALL *'A disturbing, blood-chilling read from a writer at the top of his game' **** * Sunday Express on MIDNIGHT *

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Book SynopsisThe Number One bestseller and winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for Besy NovelAfter years of Hollywood success composer Chris Lowndes wanted only one thing: to take his beloved wife home to the Yorkshire Dales.But Laura is gone, and Chris is on his own.He welcomes the isolation of Kilnsgate House, and the beauty of the dale. And it doesn''t surprise him that a man died there, sixty years ago.That his wife was convicted of murder.That something is pulling him deeper and deeper into the story of Grace Elizabeth Fox, who was hanged by the neck until she was dead . . .Trade ReviewIf Robinson is to turn out one-off novels as assured as this perhaps we wouldn't mind too much if Alan Banks was to retire and take up beekeeping in Sussex. * Barry Forshaw, Daily Express *With this stand-alone novel, Mr. Robinson - best-known for his award-winning Inspector Banks mystery series - has fashioned a gripping tale that brings to mind not only old-time Hollywood but also British "golden age" storytelling in the Agatha Christie and Daphne du Maurier tradition * Wall Street Journal *With adept professionalism, Robinson brings to the reader a story that is tantalisingly unravelled like a poisoned present . . . a haunting, moving tale that will get you thinking days after the last word has been read * crimesquad.com *A gripping tale of guilt and self-sacrifice, it will haunt you to the final page - and beyond * Bella *Most admirers of Robinson will find themselves utterly involved in this haunting, textured mystery . . . If Robinson is to turn out one-off novels as assured as this perhaps we wouldn't mind too much if Alan Banks was to retire and take up beekeeping in Sussex * Barry Forshaw, Daily Express *Robinson outdoes Daphne du Maurier in creating the proper atmosphere for the imaginative fancies of a grief-stricken man * New York Times *'Together with a stunning landscape, vibrant characters and an evocative story, Robinson has created a highly intelligent and well-crafted standalone novel . . . Gripping stuff and highly recommended.' * www.milorambles.com *With adept professionalism, Robinson brings to the reader a story that is tantalisingly unravelled like a poisoned present . . . a haunting, moving tale that will get you thinking days after the last word has been read. * crimesquad.com *'A gripping tale of guilt and self-sacrifice, it will haunt you to the final page - and beyond.' * Bella *'Peter Robinson has for too long, and unfairly, been in the shadow of Ian Rankin; perhaps PIECE OF MY HEART, the latest in the Chief Inspector Banks series, will give him the status he deserves, near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league' * Marcel Berlins, The Times *'Brilliant! . . . Gut-wrenching plotting, alongside heart-wrenching portraits of the characters who populate his world, not to mention the top-notch police procedure.' * Jeffery Deaver *

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Book SynopsisThe twenty-first novel in Number One bestselling author Peter Robinson''s critically acclaimed DCI Banks series.Ex-college lecturer Gavin Miller is found dead; his distorted body strewn across a disused railway track near his home. There''s no sign of a struggle, and no concrete evidence except for one distinguishing package: 5,000 of cash, tucked inside the man''s pocket. But when DCI Banks delves into Miller''s past, he uncovers a troubled existence tarnished by accusations of abuse and misconduct which throws up an array of puzzling questions.What really occurred at the college where the victim used to teach?How was he embroiled in political activism at Essex University, over forty years ago?And what links him to an upstanding pillar of the community, who also harbours a dark secret from her past?One thing is clear: someone will stop at nothing - even murder - to prevent Banks from discovering the truth . . .Trade ReviewThe Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are, simply put, the best series on the market * Stephen King *Robinson's gift for realistic characterisation is matched by an authentically realised sense of place; landscape is a crucial element in his work * Good Book Guide *A wonderful, well-written plot with a great twist and strong characters . . . a page-turning read * Woman's Way *Peter Robinson deserves a place near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league * The Times *A wonderful, well-written plot with a great twist and strong characters and there's even romance on the cards for Banks too. A page-turning read for both fans of Robinson and Banks and readers who really enjoy a good crime-thriller. * Woman's Way *Classic Robinson: a labyrinthine plot merged with deft characterisation * Observer *Brilliant! . . . Gut-wrenching plotting, alongside heart-wrenching portraits of the characters who populate his world, not to mention the top-notch police procedure. -- Jeffery DeaverDetective Chief Inspector Banks, the artsy and melancholic Yorkshire detective, and his snarky sidekick, Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot, are consistently fun to watch . . . As usual with a Banks novel, the chief inspector's frictions with higher-ups are nearly as gripping as the unraveling of the case itself. First-rate procedural and character study . . . this is one of the series' highlights. -- Starred Review * Booklist *Robinson's gift for realistic characterisation is matched by an authentically realised sense of place; landscape is a crucial element in his work. The Alan Banks books have won many awards over the years including the Arthur Ellis award for best crime novel for Past Reason Hated and the Anthony Award for In a Dry Season; Children of the Revolution is a solid entry. * Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisThe original queen of the page-turner Mary Stewart leads her readers on a thrilling journey through a dangerous and deadly Provence in this tale perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym. ''Mary Stewart is magic'' New York Times''One of the great British storytellers of the 20th century'' Independent''The terrible thirsty heat of the Provençal summer, the noise of the cicadas, the dust of the country buses . . . an excellent tale of mystery'' The TimesIt sounds idyllic: a leisurely drive through the sun-drenched landscape of Provence. But Charity''s dream holiday turns into a nightmare when she becomes embroiled in a sinister plot to kidnap a young boy. She soon finds herself in a deadly pursuit and must uncover who to trust . . . and who to fall for. Whenever I look back now on the strange and terrifying events of that holiday in Southern France, I remember the minutes I spent gaziTrade ReviewThe tension mounts steadily until it reaches breaking-point ... an excellent tale of mystery. * The Times *She set the bench mark for pace, suspense and romance - with a great dollop of escapism as the icing * Elizabeth Buchan *A comfortable chair and a Mary Stewart: total heaven. I'd rather read her than most other authors. * Harriet Evans *

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Book Synopsis''A master of the genre'' The TimesBritannia has been subdued - and an epic new chapter in Marcus Valerius Aquila''s life begins. The murderous Roman agents who nearly captured Marcus have been defeated by his friends. But in order to protect those very friends from the wrath of the emperor, he must leave the province which has been giving him shelter. As Marcus Tribulus Corvus, centurion of the second Tungrian auxiliary cohort, he leads his men from Hadrian''s Wall to the Tungrians'' original home in Germania Inferior. There he finds a very different world from the turbulent British frontier - but one with its own dangers. Tungrorum, the center of a once-prosperous farming province, a city already broght low by the ravages of the eastern plague that has swept through the empire, is now threatened by an outbreak of brutally violent robbery. A bandit chieftain called Obduro, his identity always hidden behind an iron cavalry helmet, is robbing Trade ReviewThis is 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 Scott *'Muscular in prose and approach, the novel is riveting and direct.' * History Today on THE LEOPARD SWORD *'This is a fast-paced, action-packed read. Anthony Riches brings alive the harsh reality of the Roman world - the period, people, and culture - in a frenetic and exciting novel which is well researched and tinged with humour. The battle scenes are vivid and expertly told . . . Difficult to put down, this is a welcome addition to the genre . . . Recommended' * Historical Novels Review on THE LEOPARD SWORD *

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Book SynopsisSet in Florence in the 1960s, this is the third in the Inspector Bordelli series of atmospheric Italian crime.Trade Review'Once again [Vichi's] depiction of Italian history and culture is both fascinating and complex . . . As a portrait of a country struggling with its past, present and future, DEATH IN SARDINIA is a sharply observed slice of crime fiction with real depth.' * www.crimetime.co.uk *'A real find for anyone who likes their crime novels atmospheric, discursive, humorous and thought-provoking.' * Guardian *'Vichi's crime novels are enjoyable, mystifying and well worth reading.' * Literary Review *'[Italian] writers are justifiably growing in popularity here: Marco Vichi deserves to be among them . . . [Bordelli] is stubborn, womanless, cynical and impatient, but strangely appealing.' * Marcel Berlins, The Times *'Over the course of his police procedurals, Vichi shows us ever more secret and dark sides to an otherwise sunny and open city. But his happiest creation, in my opinion, remains the character of Inspector Bordelli, a disillusioned anti-hero who is difficult to forget.' * Andrea Camilleri *'An outstanding package combining an envious narrative, a colourful and multi-faceted detective and a cornucopia of Italian food to die for . . . Magical and moreish' * www.milorambles.com on DEATH AND THE OLIVE GROVE *[The Inspector Bordelli books] feature a fascinating cop and disillusioned anti-hero who rails against both injustice and the corrupt system but faces classic murder cases with a familiar Christie-like ring * Maxim Jakubowski *'Vichi's stellar first in a new mystery series introduces endearingly melancholic Inspector Bordelli . . . [and] delivers a plausible solution worthy of a golden age crime novel. Readers will look forward to seeing more of this flawed hero.' * Publishers Weekly, starred review for DEATH IN AUGUST *

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Book SynopsisA thrilling tale of adventure and deception set in 1950s Austria, from the queen of romantic suspense and author of Madam, Will You Talk? ''This zestful romantic adventure grips, amuses, frightens and delights'' Sunday Telegraph Vanessa March''s husband Lewis is meant to be on a business trip in Stockholm. So why does he briefly appear in newsreel footage of a fire at a circus in Vienna, with his arm around another woman? Vanessa flies to Austria to find her husband - and inadvertently becomes involved in a mystery surrounding the famous dancing stallions of Austria''s Spanish Riding School . . . Praise for Mary Stewart:''Mary Stewart is magic'' New York Times''I''d rather read her than most other authors'' Harriet Evans''One of the great British storytellers of the 20th cenTrade ReviewFrom opening to finale, this zestful romantic adventure grips, amuses, frightens and delights * Sunday Telegraph *Mary Stewart is magic * New York Times *She set the bench mark for pace, suspense and romance - with a great dollop of escapism as the icing * Elizabeth Buchan *A comfortable chair and a Mary Stewart: total heaven. I'd rather read her than most other authors. * Harriet Evans *The stylish, educated novels of Mary Stewart . . . arguably inspired the deluge of bestselling romantic fiction that has flooded the market in recent decades. * Guardian *Mary Stewart sprinkled intelligence around like stardust . . . She built the bridge between classic literature and modern popular fiction. She did it first and she did it best -- Melanie Reid * Herald *A writer of considerable skill . . . [with an] intuitive feel for the past and its re-creation in vivid, poetic detail * Telegraph *A wonderful wordsmith . . . Stewart was among the first authors to seamlessly integrate a mystery and a romance thus allowing the two to come alive and complement each other. * Scotsman *

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