Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisDeath with a Double Edge is the fourth thrilling instalment in an exciting new generation of Pitt novels, from the New York Times bestselling author and queen of Victorian crime, Anne Perry.It is May 1911 when Daniel Pitt is summoned to a murder scene in the slums of London''s East End. He fears the victim is his friend Toby Kitteridge, but relief is quickly followed by dismay when Daniel identifies the dead man as Jonah Drake, a distinguished senior barrister who has been killed with a double-edged sword. But what was Drake doing in Mile End? And does their head of chambers, Marcus fford Croft, know more than he is willing to admit . . . ?With the police holding out little hope of finding Drake''s killer, Daniel and Kitteridge rise to the challenge. Within days, they have leads that take them from the underbelly of the East End to the very highest echelons of society. Then Daniel''s father, Thomas Pitt, receives a warning from Special Branch to cease tTrade ReviewPraise for Anne Perry: 'One of her most teasing mysteries, this time with a courtroom finale that may be her strongest ever * Kirkus Reviews *A truly unusual mystery * Publishers Weekly *Elegantly constructed and nail-bitingly tense * Good Book Guide *Engrossing . . . The book gallops to a dramatic conclusion * Washington Times Daily *There is a freshness about [Perry's] writing which makes it truly exceptional * Eurocrime *Anne Perry's Victorian mysteries are marvels of plot construction * New York Times *

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Book Synopsis***A RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK***''Glorious and tender . . . I finished it with tears in my eyes'' JENNIFER SAINT''A stunning achievement'' CHRISTY LEFTERI''An immersive, expertly plotted and elegantly written novel '' SHARLENE TEOWith every misfortune there is a blessing and within every blessing, the seeds of misfortune, and so it goes, until the end of time.China, 1938: Meilin and her four-year-old son, Renshu, flee their burning city as Japanese forces advance. In their perilous journey across the country seeking refuge, they find comfort and wisdom in their most treasured possession - a beautifully illustrated hand scroll, filled with ancient fables.Years later, separated from his mother by thousands of miles, Renshu now calls himself Henry Dao. His daughter, Lily, is desperate to understand her place in the world, but Henry refuses to share wiTrade ReviewI absolutely adored this novel about love and war, migration and belonging. I walked with the characters, felt what they felt. They took me with them on their incredible journey. During moments of deep sadness and loss, there is also beauty - the beauty of enduring love, of identity, of hope. Melissa Fu portrays the time, the culture, the place and the struggles of this family so vividly, with nuance and colour and life. Her writing is subtle and powerful, it stays with you, it follows you like the smell of the peach blossoms, it evokes emotions and questions and enlightens you. This is such a stunning achievement! -- Christy Lefteri, author of THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPOWhat an immersive, expertly plotted and elegantly written novel. In its sweep and scope, it would appeal to fans of Madeleine Thien and Min Jin Lee and its lyrical voice - championing the vitality and ingenuity of the immigrant experience across three settings - confirms Melissa Fu as a writer to watch. -- Sharlene Teo, author of PONTIUnputdownable. The settings are so vibrant and Meilin and her son Renshu so tenderly evoked it's as though we're enduring their extraordinary struggle for survival with them -- Rachel Hore, author of LAST LETTER HOMEThis intricately woven journey of four generations of a family buffeted by the complex tectonics of 20th century China and the US is so well told that I often paused to admire Fu's poetic magic in bringing her characters and real historical moments to life -- Helen Zia, author of LAST BOAT OUT OF SHANGHAI: THE EPIC STORY OF THE CHINESE WHO FLED MAO'S REVOLUTIONA rich, sprawling saga straddling continents, decades and fractured histories, Melissa Fu has written a gorgeous book of family love and loss. Fu braids together historical details with characters whose hopes and fears pull you along on every page, and leave you wanting more -- Te-Ping Chen, author of LAND OF BIG NUMBERSExpansive, atmospheric, and affecting. Peach Blossom Spring shows just how much the human heart can hold, and it left me breathless. -- Susie Yang, author of WHITE IVYIt's hard to believe this is a debut novel so accomplished is [Fu's] multi-generational family saga steeped in place and full of insightful political history. A new literary star dazzles in this stunning debut. -- Paul McVeighTender and graceful, this vivid historical novel shows the cost of war while celebrating the resilience of the human spirit and the life-affirming gifts of storytelling. -- Eithne Farry * The Mirror *A sweeping epic that transports the reader from war-torn China, where a mother consoles her son with ancient fables while they seek refuge, through to modern-day America, where a little girl searches for her identity and the secrets of her father's history. Melissa Fu effortlessly conjures a world rich in texture, taste and detail in this gentle, heartfelt and moving story. It's glorious and tender, exquisitely written and beautifully nuanced. I finished it with tears in my eyes and will be recommending it to everyone I know -- Jennifer Saint, author of ARIADNEAccomplished and utterly gripping, Peach Blossom Spring had me hooked, and completely unable to put it down until I'd finished. Crossing multiple generations and continents, this is the story of a single family living through war, heartbreak and passion. The full political complexity of twentieth-century Chinese history is here, and Fu effortlessly transports the reader into the mind of Meilin, a young girl living through it. We see how her devotion and the trauma she undergoes echoes through the generations of her family. Her son, Henry, is caught between two worlds and longs to be able to leave his past behind. Fu imbues all her characters with real, complex personalities and desires, which makes this a compulsive read. One of my best books of the year -- Catherine Menon, author of FRAGILE MONSTERSA beautifully rendered meditation on the trials and triumphs of a family torn apart by war, Peach Blossom Spring left me pondering how the stories we choose to pass down have the power not only to define us, but to buoy us -- to help us persevere through the most challenging of times -- Georgia Hunter, author of WE WERE THE LUCKY ONESA brilliant multigenerational tale that stretches across the decades from pre-WWII China to post-Cold War America. A captivating debut, Fu's novel is full of dynamic characters whose lives fill the pages with beauty and tragedy that tug on our heartstrings as they flee an everchanging China into the precarious worlds of first Taiwan and then America. It's a timely story of displaced Chinese immigrants searching for home and identity after war and revolution ravage their homeland -- Mary Lynn Bracht, author of WHITE CRYSANTHEMUMMelissa Fu chronicles a tumultuous period in Chinese history with stunning grace, while also offering us a fresh and important take on the immigrant story. In Dao Renshu's family journey-fleeing from China during WWII, then finding and refinding himself in America-I recognized so many pieces of my own. Captivating from beginning to end -- Mira T Lee, author of EVERYTHING HERE IS BEAUTIFULMagical, and powerful, Peach Blossom Spring brings to life the costs of wars and conflicts while illuminating the spirit of human survival. Inspired by her father's real-life experiences and her determination to comprehend her family's past, Melissa Fu has gifted us with a timely, moving, and universal novel -- Nguyen Phan Que Mai, author of THE MOUNTAINS SINGUnputdownable. The settings are so vibrant and Meilin and her son Renshu so tenderly evoked it's as though we're enduring their extraordinary struggle for survival with them -- Rachel Hore, author of A BEAUTIFUL SPY

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Book Synopsis''With fascinating characters and an intriguing plot, this is a real page turner'' KATIE FFORDE''Lesley Cookman is the Queen of Cosy Crime'' PAUL MAGRSA new year dawns over the sleepy coastal town of Heronsbourne and brings with it a brand-new case for amateur sleuth Libby Sarjeant.When a woman''s body is found on the local golf course after an illicit New Year''s party, news quickly spreads, and Libby finds herself being tracked down by locals desperate to share information about the victim, Jackie Stapleton.But things are never that simple in Libby''s world. Whilst everyone had an opinion on Jackie, it seems nobody really knew much about her. Libby''s chum DCI Connell is being more tight-lipped than usual, and even with her friend Fran Wolfe''s help, discovering a motive for the killing is frustratingly difficult.Is the murder linked to some distinctly dodgy dealing, a dispute with the local golf Trade ReviewWith fascinating characters and an intriguing plot, this is a real page turner -- KATIE FFORDELesley Cookman is the Queen of Cosy Crime -- PAUL MAGRSIntrigue, romance and a touch of murder in a picturesque village setting -- LIZ YOUNGA compelling series where each book leaves you satisfied but also eagerly waiting for the next one -- BERNADINE KENNEDYNicely staged drama and memorable and strangely likeable characters -- TRISHA ASHLEYA quaint, British cozy, complete with characters who are both likeable and quirky -- ROSALEE RICHLAND

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Book SynopsisThe gripping new mystery in Quintin Jardine''s bestselling Bob Skinner series, not to be missed by readers of Ian Rankin and Peter May.Sir Robert Skinner''s stock is rising - after retiring from the police service he''s been promoted to head an international media organisation. Yet a series of unexplained deaths on his home turf in Scotland threaten to bring him crashing back down to earth.As Skinner helps the elderly in his local community, several residents seem to die of natural causes. But when a gruesome discovery is made in a Glasgow flat and one of Skinner''s long-time friends - an aspiring politician - emerges as the prime suspect, things become very murky indeed.After unpicking clues that go nowhere, Skinner and his team are left grappling the most baffling conundrum they have ever encountered - is there a mystery at all?Praise for Quintin Jardine''s Bob Skinner series:''The legendary QTrade ReviewPraise for Quintin Jardine's novels: 'Well constructed, fast-paced, Jardine's narrative has many an ingenious twist and turn * Observer *The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer -- Denzil MeyrickScottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns, bodies and plenty of brutality * Sun *Another powerful tartan noir that packs a punch * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *Incredibly difficult to put the book down . . . a guide through a world of tangled family politics, hostile takeovers, government-sanctioned killing, extortion and the seedier side of publishing . . . Quintin Jardine should be . . . your first choice! * Scots magazine *Well constructed, fast-paced, Jardine's narrative has many an ingenious twist and turn * Observer *

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Book Synopsis''The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer'' DENZIL MEYRICKAmidst a family celebration, a cataclysmic storm uncovers long-buried horrors - and a team of detectives struggle to solve a thirty-year-old double murder.The police are also searching two countries for traces of a mysterious crime novelist who appears to have vanished. Has the faking of his own death been his masterpiece?Alongside each inquiry as it evolves is former Chief Constable Sir Robert Skinner, relishing his new role as a media magnate, but drawn into reluctant action and towards a chilling discovery of his own.With evil on one hand and intrigue on the other, will Skinner escape with either his integrity or career intact . . . or is it open season on him? Praise for Quintin Jardine''s Bob Skinner series:''Scottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns, bodies and plenty of brutality'' SUN

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Book SynopsisTHE ANGLIAN DETECTIVE AGENCY ARE BACKAldeburgh, 1972. The local community is devastated by the accidental death of a local fisherman. Another tragedy to add to the recent murders of three young women.Soon, Laurel Bowman, Frank Diamond and the rest of the Anglian Detective Agency are pulled in to investigate another complex and dangerous case. But one of them is convinced that the fisherman''s death is not an accident and they''ll do anything to prove it. Even risk breaking up the agency.With a killer on the loose, time is of the essence, but can Frank and Laurel unravel the mystery before another life is lost? And will the agency survive the investigation?Join Laurel Bowman, Frank Diamond and the rest of the Anglian Detective Agency as they embark on their latest case in this fifth instalment of Vera Morris''s much-loved and unputdownable mystery series.Readers LOVE Vera Morris''s Angl

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Book SynopsisTHE ANGLIAN DETECTIVE AGENCY ARE BACK! Thorpeness, 1973. Wrongly exiled from London, Judge Neville Hanmer sought solace and a quiet life on the Suffolk coast. But then a face from the past unexpectedly resurfaces and he turns to The Anglian Detective Agency for help.Laurel, Frank, and the rest of the team are busier than ever trying to solve the mysterious theft of rare plants from Yoxford Hall Gardens. But when Judge Hanmer doesn''t show for their meeting, they find themselves embroiled in yet another case - one that will take them to darker places than they''ve ever been before. With Laurel and Frank''s relationship see-sawing out of control, can the team uncover the truth before it''s too late? Or will a depraved killer succeed, and separate Laurel and Frank forever?----- Readers LOVE Vera Morris''s Anglian Detective Agency series:''A perfect detective novel'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ &

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Book SynopsisPaul Doherty''s twenty-third medieval mystery featuring Sir Hugh Corbett is a gripping and gruesome tale of murder and mayhem sure to appeal to fans of C. J. Sansom and Bernard Cornwell.Spring, 1312. Edward II of England is absorbed with his favourite, Peter Gaveston, while his young wife, Isabella, is with child. Isabella''s father, the ruthless Philip of France, dreams of a grandson wearing the Crown of the Confessor and starts to meddle - even if that means murder...Amaury de Craon, Philip''s Master of Secrets, is despatched to carry out his deadly deeds and Edward II summons Sir Hugh Corbett, Keeper of the Secret Seal, to intercept. Both master spies lodge at the Benedictine abbey of St Michael''s in the forest of Ashdown. Supposedly a house of prayer, the abbey holds sinister secrets and treasures which include the world''s most exquisite diamond, The Glory of Heaven. However, shortly after their arrival, the diamond is stolen and its guardian murdered. OtherTrade ReviewHis fascination for history comes off the page * Daily Express *Deliciously suspenseful, gorgeously written and atmospheric * Historical Novels Review *Paul Doherty has a lively sense of history . . . evocative and lyrical descriptions * New Statesman *An opulent banquet to satisfy the most murderous appetite * Northern Echo *Supremely evocative, scrupulously researched * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisA HIGH-OCTANE NEW WILDE & CHASE ADVENTURE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHORWorld-renowned archaeologist Nina Wilde and her husband, former SAS soldier Eddie Chase, now lead a quiet life - the only real danger posed by their rebellious teenage daughter. Until, on a visit to a newly discovered temple, they''re suddenly engulfed in a deadly hunt for an ancient weapon which threatens the entire globe.From the bustling streets of Mexico City to the mountainous jungles of Guatemala, Nina and Eddie - with daughter Macy in tow - are the only ones who can prevent an apocalyptic evil seizing control of an unstoppable power.Battling special operations soldiers and blood-thirsty cults, Nina and Eddie must once again risk their lives to save the world. . .Praise for Andy McDermott:''Action, adventure and mayhem aplenty'' SCOTT MARIANI''A writer of almost cinematic talent'' DAILY EXPRESS''Adventure stories don''t get much m

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Book SynopsisNo one feels safe when there''s a murderer in their midst...Ann Granger returns to her fan favourite series with the gripping sixteenth Mitchell and Markby novel, featuring her trademark strong and appealing characters, gentle wit and engrossing intrigue.Superintendent Alan Markby and his wife Meredith have retired for the night when they are disturbed by a visitor. It''s not the first time someone has called at the Old Vicarage in search of a priest, but in this case, having just found a dead body in the churchyard, Callum Henderson needs the police. Accompanying Callum to the graveyard, Alan declares that this has all the hallmarks of a murder scene.News of the incident travels fast in the market town of Bamford, but no one seems willing to admit to knowing the dead man or how he ended up in the cemetery. As Alan and his team search for clues, Meredith becomes convinced that something must have been overlooked. Meanwhile, Trade ReviewCharacterisation, as ever with Granger, is sharp and astringent * The Times *Her usual impeccable plotting is fully in place * Good Book Guide *A clever and lively book -- Margaret YorkeTo be savoured by connoisseurs of characterisation * Publishers Weekly *Lovely characterisation and a neat plot * Yorkshire Post *Her characterisation is excellent * Cotswold Life *Good plotting and believable motivation * Crime Time *

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Book SynopsisThe gripping new thriller in the brilliant Constance Fairchild series, from one of Scotland''s foremost crime writers.On compassionate leave following the death of her mother, Detective Constable Constance Fairchild thought renting a cottage near Aberystwyth, Wales would get her far enough from London to finally relax. But trouble always seems to find Con, and it''s not long before she is cooling off in a police station cell after defending herself from two would-be rapists.In custody she meets a young Ukrainian woman, Lila, who confides in Con that she''s been forced by her manipulative boyfriend into prostitution and running drugs. Fearing for her life, she has run away from him, only to end up in the cells.Con offers to help, but when her cottage is ransacked, and Lila subsequently disappears, she realises she''s stumbled into very dangerous company. International drug smugglers and ruthless people traffickers - those who will stop at nothing to proTrade ReviewCrime fiction's next big thing * Sunday Telegraph *Oswald's writing is in a class above most * Daily Express *Creepy, gritty and gruesome * Sunday Mirror *The new Ian Rankin * The Daily Record *Oswald is among the leaders in the new batch of excellent Scottish crime writers * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisBrilliant, compelling, heart-wrenching writing.' PETER JAMESSOMEONE KILLED YOUR DAUGHTER. SOMEONE YOU KNOW... Your daughter isn't answering your calls. She's not replying to your messages.     You rush to her house.  She's slumped in the basement, dying and alone.     You desperately call for help.  She whispers a single word: 'pushed'.     Someone is keeping secrets.  And it must be someone you know...Praise for Erin Kinsley: 'An unputdownable thriller.' ELLY GRIFFITHS 'Sensitive and moving...but with a core of pure tension' SUNDAY TIMES 'Full of twists and turns to keep you guessing, this is a gripping and compelling read you won't want to put down' HEATTrade ReviewPraise for Erin Kinsley:Brilliant, compelling, heart-wrenching writing -- PETER JAMESAn unputdownable thriller -- ELLY GRIFFITHSSensitive and moving...but with a core of pure tension * SUNDAY TIMES *Took me on the kind of twisting journey that kept me turning the pages until the early hours -- CHRIS WHITAKERFull of twists and turns...this is a gripping and compelling read you won't want to put down * HEAT *This may be the perfect staycation read * THE TIMES *One of those rare finds - a page turner that is equally remarkable for the beauty of the writing. -- JO SPAINA tense and intriguing thriller you'll find difficult to put down * WOMAN'S WEEKLY *This razor-sharp thriller keeps you guessing until the last page * WOMAN'S OWN *

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Book SynopsisEuphemia Martin''s seventeenth gripping mystery is a nail-biting adventure of espionage and suspense set at the beginning of the Great War.When Fitzroy saved his valet, Griffin, from the hangman''s noose after the death of his wife, the facts behind those events were known only to the two of them. Now, years later, the body of a dead woman has been discovered, mutilated in exactly the same way as Griffin''s wife, and troubling secrets from the past cast a deadly shadow over those involved.As the war intensifies, Fitzroy is sent on an overseas mission, Griffin is arrested, and a recovering Euphemia Martins is left to get to the bottom of the situation. With her brother-in-law Hans, and Fitzroy''s dog, Jack, in tow, she journeys to the University of Edinburgh''s medical school, where Griffin studied many years ago, to uncover the shocking truth behind his wife''s murder...Trade ReviewA sparkling and witty crime debut with a female protagonist to challenge Miss Marple -- Lin AndersonImpeccable historical detail with a light touch -- Lesley Cookman, The Libby Serjeant SeriesEuphemia Martins is feisty, funny and completely adorable -- Colette McCormick, Ribbons in Her HairA rattlingly good dose of Edwardian country house intrigue with plenty of twist and turns and clues to puzzle through along with the heroine of the book, Euphemia Martins * Booklore.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisA Stargrave supplement of exploration and adventure, full of strange and wonderful alien worlds, species, and technologies.Just beyond the rim of what was once civilized space' lies the vast, colourful expanse of the Crokoan Nebula. Seeking their fortunes, bold independent crews press deep into this largely unexplored sector. But the Ravaged Galaxy is a dangerous place, and the threats that crews face are not limited to those found on a planet's surface. In fact, more independent crews meet their ends in the dark void of space than are wiped out in gunfights. Black holes, asteroid fields, and even the legendary space kraken can all destroy a ship and its crew. It takes a deft hand on the controls, a sharp eye on navigation, and a bit of wizardry with the engines to fly between the stars.This supplement for Stargrave focuses on the ships that serve as the crews' transports, strategic headquarters, and homes, including new upgrades, a damage system, and rules for cre

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Book SynopsisWhen you''re caught between two evils, only the most decisive will survive . . .A violent South London gang will be destroyed if Dan ''Spider'' Shepherd can gather enough evidence against them while posing as a ruthless hitman. What he doesn''t know is that his work as an undercover agent for MI5 is about to intersect with the biggest terrorist operation ever carried out on British soil.Only weeks before Shepherd witnessed a highly skilled IS sniper escape from a targeted missile strike in Syria. But never in his wildest dreams did he expect to next come across the shooter in a grimy East London flat.Spider''s going to have to proceed with extreme caution if he is to prevent the death of hundreds of people, but at the same time, when the crucial moment comes he knows he will have to act decisively. The clock is ticking and only he stands between us and Armageddon . . .''Let Spider draw you into his web, you won''t reTrade ReviewA master of the thriller genre - Irish TimesThe sheer impetus of his storytelling is damned hard to resist - Sunday ExpressAs tough as British thriller writers get - Irish Independent

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Book SynopsisHe is one of the world''s most ruthless terrorists, codenamed Saladin. He plans and executes devastating attacks and then, ghost-like, he disappears.Ten years ago he blew a plane out of the sky above New York - and now he''s killed dozens in a London strike.But one of the latest victims is related to the acting head of MI5, who knows exactly who she wants on the case: Spider Shepherd.Dean Martin, a psychologically damaged former Navy SEAL, is the only person in the world who can identify Saladin. But Martin was killed ten years ago - wasn''t he?Shepherd must find Martin and take him back to the killing fields on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Revenge on the world''s most wanted terrorist is long overdue, and Shepherd is determined to be the one to deliver it . . .******************Praise for Stephen Leather''A master of the thriller genre''Irish Times''As tough as BritiTrade ReviewA master of the thriller genre * Irish Times *As tough as British thrillers get . . . gripping * Irish Independent *The sheer impetus of his story-telling is damned hard to resist * Sunday Express *

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Book Synopsis''Davis''s prose is a lively joy, and Flavia''s Rome is sinister and gloriously real'' The Times on SaturdayFlavia Albia''s day-old marriage is in trouble - her new husband may be permanently disabled and they have no funds. So when Palace officials ask her to expose a traitor in their midst she is ready for the task.Ever since the Emperor Nero committed suicide in AD 68, Rome has been haunted by reports that he is actually alive and ready to reclaim his throne. Two Nero pretenders have emerged from the East and met grisly fates.But now a new pretender has been smuggled into Rome by the traitor. Flavia must negotiate with spies, dodge assassins and reveal this third Nero before he can make his move. Will she act in time or will Rome once more be plunged into civil war?Trade ReviewDavis's prose is a lively joy, and Flavia's Rome is sinister and gloriously real. * The Times on Saturday *

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Book Synopsis''UK readers, you have a nice surprise coming. No, not Brexit, FEVER, by Deon Meyer. Reminiscent of THE STAND and THE PASSAGE. Great stuff'' STEPHEN KINGI want to tell you about my Father''s murder.I want to tell you who killed him and why.This is the story of my life.And the story of your life and your world too, as you will see.Nico Storm and his father drive across a desolate South Africa, constantly alert for feral dogs, motorcycle gangs, nuclear contamination. They are among the few survivors of a virus that has killed most of the world''s population. Young as he is, Nico realises that his superb marksmanship and cool head mean he is destined to be his father''s protector.But Willem Storm, though not a fighter, is a man with a vision. He is searching for a place that can become a refuge, a beacon of light and hope in a dark and hopeless world, a community that survivors will rebuildTrade ReviewEmotional and atmospheric...There are shades of Cormac McCarthy's superb The Road, but FEVER grips even more. * The Times *Reminiscent of The Stand and The Passage. Great stuff. -- Stephen KingAn epic read that has a dystopian feel and makes you ask the question: What if? * Sun *FEVER bears comparison with landmarks in the genre such as The Stand...The novel explores humanity at its best and worst; the crushing loss of civilisation with everything that means for the structure of society...This great book asks us to reflect on our own hidden natures - how would we react if the world we knew came to an end tomorrow? -- Vaseem Khan, author of The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector ChopraFEVER is one of the best books of the year. Deon Meyer is a masterful writer and has created a stunning epic that brims with emotion. The mystery, thrills, and action kept me riveted to every page. Highly recommended. -- Adam Hamdy, author of PendulumCompelling, action-packed and fraught with emotion. At its heart it is a powerful exploration of humanity at its best and worst and bears favourable comparison with landmarks of the genre such as Stephen King's The Stand and Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Simply stunning. * Daily Express *Moving and gripping. * South China Morning Post *Deon Meyer should be applauded for this brutal, unflinching tale of the excesses of humanity coiled like a python around a coming-of-age tale; one that makes one think deeply about the human condition as it entertains as well as warns of the dangers ahead...Miss this insightful thriller at your peril, because as crime thrillers go, this is the big summer read of 2017. * Shotsmag *Meyer justifies at every point the book's daunting length * Financial Times *Praise for Deon Meyer * - *The narrative is well-plotted, and the novel brings to life the rich and volatile diversity of contemporary South Africa. There's nothing flashy here, just a good story, very well told. Would there were more like it. * Spectator *Deon Meyer is a top notch plotter and has created one of the best ensemble (and multi-racial) casts of any modern police procedural series. * Shots magazine *Crime fiction with real texture and intelligence. * Independent *Tells a cracking story and captures the criminal kaleidoscope of a nation. * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisThe fourth novel in Antonia Hodgson's award-winning series featuring Thomas Hawkins and Kitty Sparks is at once her most thrilling and the most darkly disturbing story yet.Trade ReviewPraise for The Silver Collar:The Silver Collar is a triumph, a fine addition to a historical crime series that gets better with every book. Antonia Hodgson gives us dark melodrama with wit, and a driving narrative with impeccable research. It's a rare combination, and it leaves the reader hungry for more * Andrew Taylor *Set at a blistering pace, The Silver Collar is a wholly entertaining thriller. Brimming with equal parts wit and evil, Antonia Hodgson's unforgettable characters leap into a dangerous adventure. I loved every tension-filled page * Kate Mayfield *Written with flair, sly wit, and a meticulous eye for detail . . . The Silver Collar takes us into the dark heart of colonial slavery, making this one of the most topical books of the year . . . Thrilling * Vaseem Khan *The inimitable Thomas Hawkins is back, and I am so glad he is. In Antonia Hodgson's tale of revenge, love, and the nature of evil, the reader is taken on a breath-taking journey into the darkest corners of Hogarthian London. At turns witty, savage, and deeply moving, this is a glorious book - I couldn't put it down * Sophia Tobin *A brilliant, moving novel that takes us to some very dark places in our history - but which also succeeds in being very witty and entertaining * SD Sykes *Not just a superb thriller but very topical too. Antonia's novels have cheered and entertained me like nothing else during lockdown, and the return to a plot about somebody in captivity felt appropriate as well. Her characters are so strongly drawn, and her feel for the period, sense of humour, compassion and ability to create heart-stopping suspense put her right up in the first division of historical crime * Amanda Craig *Beautifully written and packed with atmosphere, wit and historical details, I didn't want it to end. And in shining an uncomfortable light on colonial slavery, it's also timely and relevant * The Daily Mirror *This clever novel gives a brilliant picture of both London and Antigua in the early 18th century, when slavery provided huge profits for many Englishmen. . . There is humour as well as impressive research and convincing horror here * Literary Review *Hodgson once again shows what a skilful writer of historical thrillers she is * The Sunday Times *It has been a long wait, but fans of Thomas Hawkins and Kitty Sparks should rejoice as Hodgson makes a wonderful return with a dark tale of kidnap, slavery and seduction * The i *Fourth instalment of the wonderful Thomas Hawkins crime novels . . . [Fans] are in for a treat - this instalment is gripping * The Times *With bawdy humour and a breakneck pace set against a brilliantly evoked 18th-century backdrop, who needs a Tardis? Read this to feel like you're truly travelling back in time * The Sunday Times S Magazine *Throws readers right back into the grimy, stinking streets of 18th Century London * BBC History Magazine *Hodgson's rollicking Tom Hawkins novels are among the best crime series out there thanks to her irrepressible hero and his equally likeable partner, Kitty. This fourth book is a dark and addictive story of slavery and long-hidden secrets in which the often-harrowing central story is lightened by some great set pieces and acerbic one-liners. * iNews *This is a book to savour. A thrilling journey through the squalor & splendour of Georgian London, bristling with threat & memorable characters * Erin Young *Praise for Death at Fountains Abbey:A tale that more than matches its predecessors for pace and atmosphere. * The Sunday Times *Through an admirable amount of research the award-winning author has used real people, events and settings to create a delightfully enjoyable standalone thriller. It crackles with wit and charm and cements Hawkins' place as the most lovable rogue in historical fiction. * Express Online *I love Antonia Hodgson's slightly wicked sense of humour and it's put to good use here and her clear affection for Tom and Kitty and Sam, as well as her enthusiasm for the period, is infectious. This is such a strong series and I hope it goes on and on. * For Winter Nights *Antonia Hodgson weaves a fantastic tale of both fact and fiction and emerges with a thoroughly enjoyable romp of a story. * Nudge *A cracking murder mystery . . . The writing is clever, witty, eloquent and gripping, a real pleasure to read . . . you can almost feel that you are living in 18th century London. Historical fiction fans will lap this up, as did I. * Breakaway Reviewers *

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Book Synopsis''Shiveringly good suspense!'' Lisa GardnerTHE FINAL BOOK IN A GRIPPING CRIME SERIES FROM 30 MILLION COPY SELLING AUTHOR.Cassie Kramer and her sister Allie dreamed of taking Hollywood by storm. But Allie was more beautiful, more talented, more driven. While Cassie got bit parts, Allie rose to stardom. But now her body double has been killed - and Allie herself is missing. To the police, Cassie looks like a suspect: the jealous sister who grew sick of playing a supporting role. As the tabloids go into a frenzy, Cassie ends up on a Portland psych ward, where a sinister figure comes to her bedside, whispering about Allie. Is someone trying to help - or drive her mad? A slew of murders makes Cassie fear for her safety and her sanity. The only way to end the nightmare is to find out what really happened to Allie. And with each discovery, Cassie realizes that no one can be trusted to keep her safe - least of all herself...Trade ReviewPraise for Lisa Jackson * . *Jam-packed with scary chills. * Booklist on TELL ME *Absolutely tension filled...Jackson is on top of her game. * Suspense Magazine on TELL ME *Lisa Jackson shows yet again why she is one of the best...A pure nail biter. * Harlan Coben on YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW *Shiveringly good suspense! Lisa Jackson ratchets up the tension as one woman's desperate search for her missing son takes her to the very brink of losing her husband, her sanity, her very self. Each chapter will leave you wondering who to trust. The answer: You don't want to know... * Lisa Gardner on YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW *Terrifying...a creepy thriller sure to please Jackson's many fans. * Publishers Weekly on DEVIOUS *Her latest whodunit hits all the marks, taking readers on a nail-biting roller-coaster ride. * Library Journal on WITHOUT MERCY *

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Book SynopsisAll he wants is for them to say sorry... In the latest novel from the Queen of Icelandic crime, Freyja and Huldar must stop a ruthless killer taking revenge on teenage bullies.Trade ReviewFreyja and Huldar are one of the most intriguing crime detecting partnerships around and THE ABSOLUTION is a gripping, fascinating insight into the dark side of social media and children at risk. THE ABSOLUTION confirms Yrsa as a master storyteller with a satisfyingly slanted view of the world she recreates. -- William Ryan, author of A House of GhostsYrsa Sigurdardottir gets better and better with each book. The relationships and the humour lighten the darkest plot. -- Liz Nugent, author of Skin DeepSigurdardottir doesn't shy away from the hideous effects of bullying, combining a tough novel about a grim social phenomenon with a fast-paced plot * The Sunday Times *Praise for Yrsa Sigurdardottir's Freyja and Huldar series * . *Yrsa is a magnificent writer. -- Karin SlaughterOne of the best books I've read for a long time: dark, creepy, and gripping from beginning to end. -- Stuart MacBride, author of the Logan McRae seriesTHE RECKONING is another chilling, atmospheric tale from the undisputed Queen of Icelandic Noir. I loved it. -- Simon KernickIceland's outstanding crime novelist * Daily Express *Yrsa Sigurdardóttir has with her large-scale and genuinely intelligent stories attempted to find the core of Iceland's distinctive society, and thus pushed the Icelandic crime novel tradition many steps forward. -- Arne DahlA dark story by a brilliant author. A densely plotted, multifaceted and compelling book. Exceeds most novels in the thriller genre. -- Eric Axl SundIf you like your crime fiction dark and engaging, look no further. THE LEGACY is as brutal as it gets. A cracking start to a new series by Yrsa Sigurdardottir. -- Mari Hannah, author of the DCI Kate Daniels seriesThere's no waffle in The Reckoning: it is brutal, baroque and ends with a brilliant last-minute twist. * Evening Standard *It's addictive, bleak, and will give you thrills and chills in equal measures. * Cosmopolitan Magazine *Yrsa remains the queen of Icelandic thriller writers. * Guardian *Credited as the queen of Icelandic crime, Sigurdardottir's story about the dark side of school and social media is as gripping as it is grisly * Heat *

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Book SynopsisV.I. Warshawski''s impossible god-daughter Bernie convinces her to look for August, a young film-maker who has disappeared. The evidence indicates that he has gone to Kansas in the company of Emerald, an older black movie actress who wants to film the story of her life. Her search takes V.I. from the military base Emerald was born on, to the farm where she grew up outside a university town, ploughing up past and present-day secrets as she goes. What is happening at the former nuclear missile site next door to the farm? What happened at the site in 1983, when students tried to stage their own version of Greenham Common? Everywhere V.I. turns she seems to be finding more trouble - with not a sign of August and Emerald. And then trouble turns to death . . .Trade ReviewV.I. Warshawski is the perfect heroine . . . What [Paretsky] brings to the classic private-eye novel is something entirely original; a dry crackle of wit and a deep emotional sympathy with her characters * The Sunday Times *Fallout is the best yet in one of our genre's crucial, solid-gold, best-ever series. Paretsky is a genius, and she's never afraid to dig a little deeper * Lee Child *Simply superb! As a fan of V.I. Warshawski from the very beginning, I can say without doubt that FALLOUT finds both author and protagonist at the top of their games * Jeffery Deaver *V. I. Warshawski is one of my all-time favorite investigators. Doesn't get any better than this! * Lisa Gardner *An astonishing tour de force - thrilling, moving, illuminating - from an author of matchless intelligence, craft, and power. This is why Sara Paretsky reigns as one of the all-time greats * Karin Slaughter *

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Book Synopsis''I can make good bad and bad badder, and most fun of all, really bad seem good.'' Jeffery DeaverAnd that is exactly what he does in this superb collection. In ''Beautiful'' former supermodel Kari''s stalker has followed her through retirement to her new small town home. The police can do nothing. The only thing that will end the nightmare is the stalker''s death or her own. In the Edgar-nominated ''Triangle'' Pete finds a true crime book - and uses the lessons contained therein to kill Mo''s lover. The award-winning ''Without Jonathan'' introduces us to Marissa, about to go on the first date of her life since she married Jonathan, with a man she met through the personals. As she wonders whether she will ever truly fall in love again, the man she is about to meet is killing a housewife in another part of town... And in the brand-new ''The Christmas Present'', we see a side of Lincoln Rhyme we''ve never met before.Trade ReviewA master of suspense * Guardian *Teeth-chattering suspense * Daily Mail *The best psychological thriller writer around * The Times *The most creative, skilled and intriguing thriller writer in the world * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisImagine a city within a city, where monsters walk the street and magic fills the night. This is New York, but not as you know it. This New York is a city of magic and monsters. Where ordinary people live alongside demons and nightmares, completely unaware of them. New York is home to M, a man with a past... and a secret. He knows more about the creatures who call his city home than anyone else in the world. He walks between the two worlds, at home in neither but more than comfortable in both. M is the man the monsters call when things get bad.And things are about to get really, really bad.Trade ReviewMachiavellian clockwork glory. -- Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of ThornsThose looking for well-createed and beautifully created fantasy, which also happen to be both darkly comic and devastatingly grim, will find themselves swiftly addicted. * Starburst *Dark fantasy with a decidedly military bent, THOSE ABOVE is the perfect opener for Daniel Polansky's career beyond Low Town. With his unmistakeable voice and his highly original new world, he draws the reader slowly in until it's impossible to put the book down and escape back to reality. A brilliant start to what is sure to be one of the fantasy epics of all time, THOSE ABOVE is the work of an author at the top of his game and brings with it the promise of a lot more to come. * Reader Dad *THOSE ABOVE is I, Claudius by way of Tolkien and filtered through Chandler. That is to say, really damn good. * Pornokitsch *From low conflict to high skulduggery, this is Daniel Polansky's most assured and engrossing novel yet. * The Sci Fi Bulletin *Gripping... Polansky has pulled off a polished fantasy thriller that's very much in the George RR Martin/Joe Abercrombie vein, but has still given the book its own distinctive style and voice, alongside plenty of evocative world-building. The Empty Throne (series) looks set to be fascinating and provocative. * SFX *"With THE STRAIGHT RAZOR CURE, Polansky pushed the envelope of modern fantasy. With TOMORROW THE KILLING, he tears through the envelope and pushes for horizons yet unseen." * Myke Cole, author of Control Point *'In Tomorrow the Killing, Polansky shows us he is no one-book wonder... If you haven't read Polansky yet, you must remedy this ASAP. He writes gripping, addictive stories with a grim eloquence...Very, very highly recommended. Polansky is definitely among my new favourite authors. Essential reading.' * civilian-reader.blogspot.com *'Tomorrow The Killing delivers more of the same noir-esque brilliance that placed The Straight Razor Cure amongst the top releases of last year.' * The British Fantasy Society *Praise for THE STRAIGHT RAZOR CURE'Quite brilliant... The Straight Razor Cure is as good a debut as I've read in along time. [It] has it all - and as the name suggests, it is sharp, steely and viciously bloody. Highly recommended' * John Berlyne, SF Revu *'Quite possibly the newest, freshest fantasy novel since Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind. It is, in short, the bastard son of George R. R. Martin and Raymond Chandler, an unusual combination of hard-boiled crime novel in a fantasy world setting. * readerdad.co.uk *'Polansky's writing is confident and punchy from the offset. The action rips along at a brilliant pace allowing us to experience this gritty world through the eyes of a thrilling, dangerous, flawed, yet strangely endearing protagonist. This is modern, dark fantasy at its best and a debut to be envied.' * British Fantasy Society *'Polansky hits all the right notes in his intelligent first novel, a blend of dystopian fantasy and hard-boiled crime... Sharp, noir-tinged dialogue and astute insights into class struggle mark Polansky as a writer with a future' * Publishers Weekly *'A strong debut novel with a hero who doesn't waste time worrying about the moral implications of cutting someone's throat' * Kirkus Reviews *'Polansky transplants his love of crime noir into a magic-steeped, secondary-world fantasy setting. It's an inherently troublesome mash-up that could only work in the hands of a silly satirist or a deft, sensitive dramatist with the blackest sense of humor. Polansky is wholeheartedly the latter - and Low Town is brilliant proof ... Wielding vivid characters and scalpel-sharp banter worthy of fellow dark fantasists Scott Lynch and Joe Abercrombie, Polansky ratchets up the pace ... Polansky has managed to craft an assured, roaring, and rollicking hybrid, a cross-genre free-for-all that relishes its tropes while spitting out their bones. And he does it all while spinning one hell of a gripping mystery' * avclub.com *'Daniel Polansky has crafted a thrilling novel steeped in noir sensibilities and relentless action, and set in an original world of stunning imagination, leading to a gut-wrenching, unforeseeable conclusion. Low Town is an attention-grabbing debut that will leave readers riveted . . . and hungry for more' * missiontoread.com *An impossible to put down read, showing how dark fantasy can truly be * thefoundingfields.com *'The Straight Razor Cure is dark, eloquent work filled with a very real presence that permeates both the world and the characters within it. Polansky has created a wickedly delicious fantasy that leaves a profound impression on the reader. Despite the plague, murderers and dark magic, I can't wait to pay another visit to Low Town' * mithrilwisdom.blogspot.com *'I can't remember when I last enjoyed a fantasy book this much' * Books Monthly *

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Book Synopsis''A work of dazzling imagination and linguistic inventiveness'' ObserverNewgate Gaol, 1726. An anonymous writer sets down the words of Edgworth Bess as she confides the adventures and misfortunes that led her all too soon to the judgement of London:Cruelly deceived, Bess is cast out onto the streets of the wicked city - and by nightfall her ruin is already certain. What matters now is her survival of it.In that dangerous underworld known in thieves'' cant as Romeville, she will learn new tricks and trades. And all begins with her fateful meeting, that very first night, with the corrupt thief-taker general Jonathan Wild.But it is the infamous gaol-breaker, Jack Sheppard, who will lay Romeville at her feet . . . Drawing on the true story that mesmerised eighteenth-century society, the acclaimed author of The Long Firm delivers a tour de force: a riveting, artful tale of crime and rough justice, love and betrayal. Rich in theTrade ReviewA work of dazzling imagination and linguistic inventiveness -- Alex Preston * Observer *A rambunctious narrative of venery, theft, death and a devil-may-care braggadocio, its doomed love story undercuts and counterpoints the swagger with a touching melancholy. -- Elizabeth Buchan * Daily Mail *Jake Arnott, who is probably best known for excellent novels such as The Long Firm about London gangsters in the 1960s, has done much more than update the work of his 18th-century predecessors. Unlike them, he shows the citizens of Romeville as people, not as folk heroes or bogeymen . . . Arnott explores what poor Bess calls 'the felony of love', a crime that is not on the statute book. The result is powerful, poignant and readable. -- Andrew Taylor * Spectator *Jack's awkward courtship of Bess is a highlight of the book - Arnott's best so far - and genuinely moving . . . an astonishingly vivid act of ventriloquy that breathes life into infamous corpses -- Mark Sanderson * Evening Standard *The narrative is woven through with vividly portrayed characters, from Bess and Jack themselves to the superbly realised, wonderfully named Punk Alice and Poll Maggot, the transvestite Princess Seraphina; and the mixed-race heavy, Blueskin. Arnott delights too in the secret language of thieves -- Wyl Menmuir * Observer *Bawdy and rich with vivid evocations of the past . . . The Fatal Tree is Arnott on beguiling form, with the libidinous Bess a wonderfully multifaceted character. Who would have thought that a cult crime writer would become the Daniel Defoe of our day? -- Barry Forshaw * i News *A seductive, cunning tale of crime, punishment and love among the thieves, prostitutes and charlatans of 1720's London. Laced with vibrant detail and deliciously evocative period language, Arnott's atmospheric novel is a Hogarth print come to life . . . With a cast of delightfully convincing characters and lines that are reminiscent of Dickens or Wilde, Arnott has triumphantly breathed life into history - and the result is glorious. * Attitude *A dazzling mix of fact and fiction . . . the Hogarthian tale of a Harlot's Progress -- Jackie McGlone * Sunday Herald *[Arnott's] flair for noir - corruption, menace and the psychosexuality of gangsters - transposes well into "Romeville" . . . He gifts his prig-nappers and pot-valiant bawds the kind of one-liners Moll Flanders would have rejoiced in. -- Hermione Eyre * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisThe perfect summer read set on the Mediterranean island of Sicily - perfect for fans of Alexander McCall Smith and Inspector Montalbano.Trade ReviewMario Giordano - a Bavarian of Sicilian parentage who writes in German - has created a delightful detective and a lively, humorous portrait of Sicilian society and gastronomy * The Times, Book of the Month *Mario Giordano - a Bavarian of Sicilian parentage who writes in German - has created a delightful detective and a lively, humorous portrait of Sicilian society and gastronomy * The Times, Book of the Month *Giordano is a novelist of high skill and originality with an eye for eccentric comedy, idiosyncratic characters and vivid scenes. John Brownjohn's translation is stylish and this book is a masterly treat * Times Literary Supplement *Giordano is a novelist of high skill and originality with an eye for eccentric comedy, idiosyncratic characters and vivid scenes. John Brownjohn's translation is stylish and this book is a masterly treat * Times Literary Supplement *Wonderfully evocative . . . a joyful light read * Crime Review *Wonderfully evocative . . . a joyful light read * Crime Review *The whole book is alive with a tang of lemons to set the senses zinging. Refreshing * The Spectator *The whole book is alive with a tang of lemons to set the senses zinging. Refreshing * The Spectator *The most enchanting novel I've read in ages! Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions is a lush, sexy, and slightly madcap romp, much like Auntie Poldi herself. She's the aunt your mother warned you about - the one who never turns down a drink or a date with a dashing stranger, never mind the consequences . . . Mario Giordano has a gift for eccentric storytelling, snappy dialogue, and sly wit, making this a tart and delectable treat that you'll press on all your friends. I can't wait for the next installment! * Amy Stewart *The most enchanting novel I've read in ages! Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions is a lush, sexy, and slightly madcap romp, much like Auntie Poldi herself. She's the aunt your mother warned you about - the one who never turns down a drink or a date with a dashing stranger, never mind the consequences . . . Mario Giordano has a gift for eccentric storytelling, snappy dialogue, and sly wit, making this a tart and delectable treat that you'll press on all your friends. I can't wait for the next installment! * Amy Stewart *Cross Alexander McCall Smith with Janet Evanovich, add a sensuously imagined Sicilian setting and an exuberant narrator, and you get the feel of Mario Giordano's Auntie Poldi detective books * The Times *Cross Alexander McCall Smith with Janet Evanovich, add a sensuously imagined Sicilian setting and an exuberant narrator, and you get the feel of Mario Giordano's Auntie Poldi detective books * The Times *

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Book Synopsis''She is one of the best'' Harlan Coben'' The first victim is pushed to her death. The second suffers a fatal overdose. The third takes a bullet to the heart. Three down, more to go. They''re people who deserve to die. They''re people who are in the way. And when she''s finished there will be no one left... Cissy Cahill''s world is unravelling fast. One by one, her family are dying. Cissy''s right to be afraid - but not for the reasons she thinks. The truth is much more terrifying and cunning.Hidden in the shadows of the Cahill family''s twisted past is a shocking secret - a secret that will only be satisfied by blood. And Cissy must uncover the deadly truth before it''s too late.Fear is coming home - with a vengeance.********************If you like Karin Slaughter, Tess Gerritsen and Karen Rose you will love Lisa Jackson. But don''t take our word for it...''WOW. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole Trade ReviewLisa Jackson shows yet again why she is one of the best at romantic suspense. A pure nail biter. * Harlan Coben on YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW *Shiveringly good suspense! Lisa Jackson ratchets up the tension as one woman's desperate search for her missing son takes her to the very brink of losing her husband, her sanity, her very self. Each chapter will leave you wondering who to trust. The answer: You don't want to know... * Lisa Gardner on YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW *Absolutely tension filled... Jackson is on top of her game. * Suspense Magazine on TELL ME *The spookily atmospheric plot is jam-packed with scary chills and sexy thrills. * Booklist on TELL ME *a fast moving thriller with plenty of twists and turns, and an easy flowing style that readily catches the reader up in its thrall. * Canberra Times on MALICE *Gripping... Jackson heightens the creep factor. * Publisher’s Weekly on MALICE *As a beach read, this is a cracker. Read it at night and it certainly will keep you up. For after the prologue, Jackson slips into her real agenda, and out of your comfort zone. * Courier Mail, Brisbane on DEEP FREEZE *Tense... Suspenseful . . . shocking . . . will leave readers on the edge of their seats. * Booklist on ABSOLUTE FEAR *Her latest whodunit hits all the marks, taking readers on a nail-biting roller coaster ride. * Library Journal on WITHOUT MERCY *Jackson takes creepy to a new level with her latest chilling offering... A frightening tale filled with danger and shocking twists. * RT Book Reviews on WITHOUT MERCY *Jackson... shows a mastery of the true-crime thriller formula that will please fans * Kirkus Reviews on TELL ME *Graphic, terrifying suspense and gripping emotion are what makes all of Lisa Jackson's thrillers so unforgettable. THE MORNING AFTER just adds to her growing inventory of terrific page-turners. * Romantic Times on THE MORNING AFTER *In a word: clever * The Herald Sun on CHOSEN TO DIE *The highly suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat reads that Lisa Jackson provides are unparalleled * Publisher’s Weekly on LEFT TO DIE *

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Book SynopsisSelected by the Sunday Times as one of the 40 best crime novels published 2015-2020WINNER OF THE MCILVANNEY DEBUT PRIZELONGLISTED FOR THE MCILVANNEY PRIZE SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA GOLD DAGGER AND CWA JOHN CREASEY (NEW BLOOD) AWARDS''(a) meticulous and compelling novel about the aftermath of a major crime and its effect on the affected families and investigating officers both.'' Ian Rankin***In the aftermath of a tragedy, the world needs an explanation.In Edinburgh, after the Three Rivers College shooting, some things are clear. They know who. They know when. No one can say why.For three women the lack of answers is unbearable: DI Helen Birch, the detective charged with solving the case. Ishbel, the mother of the first victim, struggling to cope with her grief. And Moira, mother of the killer, who needs to understand whatTrade ReviewStunning debut... compellingly written. * Daily Mail *(a) meticulous and compelling novel about the aftermath of a major crime and its effect on the affected families and investigating officers both. -- Ian RankinGripping, heartbreaking and horrifyingly plausible. I couldn't tear myself away from this book. Claire Askew is a stunning new voice in crime fiction. -- Erin Kelly, author of He Said/She SaidAs scarily plausible as it is utterly captivating, this is an absorbing and unforgettable debut. * Heat *Raw, powerful, compassionate and deeply moving, with page-turning tension to the end. A stunning debut. -- Karen Robinson, Sunday Times Crime ClubMoving and memorable. * The Sunday Times *Splendid debut... thoughtful and well-written. * Guardian *You'll be gripped by the unexpected truths that emerge. Compelling. * Marie Claire *An intricate, pacy, risky and intriguing novel. -- Jenn AshworthClaire Askew takes us away from the obvious plot and asks us tantalising questions... the three women... form an absorbing psychological trio for Askew's thought-provoking, upsetting entry into crime fiction. * The Times *A fantastic read. -- Cara HunterThis is a such a clever, brave book. Askew looks unflinchingly at the unimaginable, but her writing is wrought with compassion. It's as heart-rending as it is gripping. -- Sabine Durrant, author of Lie With MeWhen we think about Edinburgh crime our thoughts turn to Ian Rankin and Val McDermid. Claire Askew could be up there with them. * The Bookbag *(a) Fine, thought-provoking debut * Mail on Sunday *A searing, heart-breaking thriller. * The Herald, Scotland *Emotionally engrossing, morally challenging, horribly topical -- Tammy CohenA well-written investigation of individual and collective responsibility. * Guardian *Damn, this is a good book... a debut of such power, and of such verve. * SHOTS *ALL THE HIDDEN TRUTHS is a marvel... Absorbing and suspenseful, it's a thought-provoking debut novel * The Skinny *This is a gripping debut crime thriller that draws you in with plenty of accurately-observed characters and a well-drawn setting. It is the page-turner promised and well worth losing yourself in. * South Wales Echo *Gripping * Grazia *This is a gripping debut crime thriller that draws you in with plenty of accurately observed characters and a well-drawn setting. It is the page-turner promised and well worth losing yourself in. * Daily Record *This novel will no doubt be a summer hit. * North London Local Magazine *There's so much to enjoy about this compelling debut. The three different viewpoints really pulled me in to the story, and got me thinking about the nature of victimhood as well as collective social responsibility. This is a timely, relevant, and thought-provoking novel. -- Sarah Franklin, author of ShelterReally excellent - totally gripping... very realistic. One to look out for -- Sophie Cameron, author of Out Of The BlueA novel so shockingly current that it seems to fictionalise the world even as it changes around us. -- Shelley Harris, author of VigilanteA gripping, thought provoking and ultimately uplifting crime debut. I love that this book, which focusses on a crime against women, is itself about women and not the man that committed the crime. A story of how, when something terrible happens, you might start to pick up some of the tiny little pieces of your life and try to find a way through. The story, the characters and the city are all vivid and utterly alive and they left me feeling angry and full of adrenaline and love. -- Lucy Ayrton, author of One More ChanceIan Rankin and the capital's other crime writers are going to have to look to their laurels. There's a new kid in town. * The Scotsman *...it deserves every accolade. This psychological suspense story is one of the best books of the year...Askew is a writer on the rise. * The Globe and Mail (Canada) *Claire Askew brought us a new kind of crime story in 2018. ALL THE HIDDEN TRUTHS is a taut and thoughtful look at toxic masculinity, public tragedy and the women left picking up the pieces. * The List *UK publisher Hodder & Stoughton touts ALL THE HIDDEN TRUTHS as its lead crime debut of the year, and it's not just hype. * Toronto Star *The aftermath of an Edinburgh college shooting is seen through the experiences of three women: a victim'smother, the shooter's mother and the detective in charge of the case. Raw, powerful, compassionate anddeeply moving, with page-turning tension to the end. * The Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisFROM THE AUTHOR OF ALL THE HIDDEN TRUTHS, WHICH IS SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA GOLD DAGGER AWARD AND WON THE MCILVANNEY DEBUT PRIZE''(a) meticulous and compelling novel about the aftermath of a major crime and its effect on the affected families and investigating officers both. Set in Edinburgh, too'' - Ian Rankin ''Askew asks intricate moral questions, while never ignoring the rigours of crime'' - Daily MailDI Helen Birch faces a terrible choice - family or justice? - in the gripping second novel from the author of All the Hidden TruthsDI Birch joined the police to find her little brother, who walked out of his life one day and was never seen again. She stayed to help others, determined to seek justice where she could.On the fourteenth anniversary of Charlie''s disappearance, Birch takes part in a raid on one of Scotland''s most feared criminal organisations. It''s a good day''s work - a chance to Trade ReviewPraise for What You Pay For * : *Ambitious * Sunday Times Crime Club *Askew is a master of dialogue ... Birch is a great character ... There's a pleasing vein of dark humour ... The breakneck pace and adrenaline will leave readers as spent as the sleep-deprived DI Birch * The Scotsman *Intriguing and brilliant * The Skinny *Another top-notch slice of Scottish noir * Mail on Sunday *Askew is a writer to watch * The Sunday Times *Askew asks intricate moral questions, while never ignoring the rigours of crime * Daily Mail *Explosive... the breakneck pace and adrenaline rushes will leave readers as spent as the sleep- deprived DI Birch * The Scotsman Book of the Year *We all need some escapism right now and Claire Askew's latest book is the ideal read to help you swap your worrying Covid-19 thoughts for something grimy and gripping * Daily Record *Praise for All The Hidden Truths * . *Stunning debut... compellingly written. * Daily Mail *Gripping, heartbreaking and horrifyingly plausible. I couldn't tear myself away from this book. Claire Askew is a stunning new voice in crime fiction.As scarily plausible as it is utterly captivating, this is an absorbing and unforgettable debut. * Heat *Moving and memorable. * The Sunday Times *Splendid debut... thoughtful and well-written. * Guardian *An intricate, pacy, risky and intriguing novel.Vivid and powerful

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Book SynopsisA classic golden age mystery, and the fourth book in the hugely popular Miss Silver series.Trade ReviewRanks with the best of the golden-age detectives - Daily MailA first-rate storyteller - Daily TelegraphYou can't go wrong with Miss Maud Silver - ObserverMiss Silver is marvellous - Daily MailBetter than Miss Marple A particular favouriteMiss Wentworth's plot is ingenious, her characterization acute, her solution satisfying - ScotsmanMiss Silver has her place in detective fiction as surely as Lord Peter Wimsey or Hercule Poirot - Manchester Evening News

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Book SynopsisCLASSIC GOLDEN AGE MYSTERY PERFECT FOR FANS OF AGATHA CHRISTIEMiss Silver must foil a plot to murder a beautiful young heiress''Ranks with the best of the golden-age detectives'' Daily MailFurious at being jilted at the altar by his once-fiancé Margaret Langton, Charles Moray left England behind him. Now, four years later, he returns to his family home, only to find it unlocked and with a light burning in one of its abandoned rooms. Eavesdropping, Charles soon discovers that a criminal gang has been using his house to plan a vicious crime. The target is the beautiful Margot Standing, who is due to inherit a considerable fortune. And what''s more he recognises the voices of one of the conspirators - his lost love Margaret Langton.How did Margaret come to be involved? And who is the terrifying masked man who has her in his thrall? Charles contacts Miss Silver to unravel the mysteries of the case aTrade ReviewMiss Wentworth is a first-rate storyteller * Daily Telegraph *Miss Silver is marvellous * Daily Mail *Miss Wentworth's plot is ingenious, her characterization acute, her solution satisfying * Scotsman *Miss Silver has her place in detective fiction as surely as Lord Peter Wimsey or Hercule Poirot * Manchester Evening News *You can't go wrong with Miss Maud Silver * Observer *

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Book Synopsis''I couldn''t help thinking of Harper Lee''s great American novel To Kill a Mockingbird while reading The Reckoning . . . [Grisham] knows how to spin a yarn'' - Chicago Sun-Times''May be his greatest work yet'' - David Grann, New York Times bestselling author of Killers of the Flower MoonIn his unforgettable novel, John Grisham tells the story of an unthinkable murder, the bizarre trial that followed it, and its profound and lasting effect on the people of Ford County.Pete Banning was Clanton''s favourite son, a returning war hero, the patriarch of a prominent family; a farmer, father, and a faithful member of the Methodist Church. Then one cool October morning in 1946, he rose early, drove into town, walked into the Church, and calmly shot and killed the Reverend Dexter Bell.As if the murder wasn''t shocking enough, it was even more baffling that Pete''s only statement about it - to the sheriff,Trade ReviewI couldn't help thinking of Harper Lee's great American novel To Kill a Mockingbird while reading The Reckoning . . . [Grisham] knows how to spin a yarn * Chicago Sun-Times *Beautifully constructed, [The Reckoning] captures the racial tensions of the Deep South and weaves a truly magical spell * Daily Mail *In this saga of love and war, John Grisham has given us a sprawling and engrossing story about a southern family, a global conflict, and the kinds of secrets that can shape all of us. From the courtrooms and jails of rural Mississippi to the war-torn Pacific, Grisham spins a tale that is at once entertaining and illuminating * Jon Meacham, New York Times bestselling author of The Soul of America *John Grisham is the master of legal fiction, and his latest starts with a literal bang - and then travels backward through the horrors of war to explore what makes a hero, what makes a villain, and how thin the line between the two might be * Jodi Picoult, internationally bestselling author of A Spark of Light and Small Great Things *When a master of storytelling and suspense takes on one of the most wrenching stories in history, the result is a book that will break your heart, set your blood pumping and your mind racing, and leave you gasping for breath by the final page. I'm still trying to recover from The Reckoning * Candice Millard, New York Times bestselling author of The River of Doubt and Destiny of the Republic *A murder mystery, a courtroom drama, a family saga, a coming-of-age story, a war narrative, a period piece: The Reckoning is Grisham's argument that he's not just a boilerplate thriller writer. Most jurors will think he has made his case * USA Today *

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The first case of New York Times bestseller Steve Berry's iconic hero, Cotton Malone.History notes that the ugly feud between J. Edgar Hoover and Martin Luther King, Jr., marked by years of illegal surveillance and the accumulation of secret files, ended on April 4, 1968 when King was assassinated by James Earl Ray. But that may not have been the case.Now, fifty years later, former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone must reckon with what really happened on that fateful day in Memphis.It all turns on an incident from eighteen years ago, when Malone, a young Navy lawyer trying hard not to live up to his maverick reputation, is asked by Stephanie Nelle at the Justice Department to help with an investigation. He soon discovers that the Department and the FBI are at war over a hugely valuable rare coin - and a cache of secret files containing explosive revelations about the King assassination, information that could ruin innocent lives and threaten the legacy of the civil rights movement's greatest martyr.Malone's decision to see his first case through to the end - from the clear waters of the Dry Tortugas to the halls of power in Washington D.C. itself - not only changes his own life, but the course of history.

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Book Synopsis''Tremendously good'' Observer''The most vivid and compelling portrait of late Victorian London since The Crimson Petal and the White'' Sarah Perry''Part Wilkie Collins, part Conan Doyle'' Guardian''Huge fun'' Daily Mail''Has everything you could want in a novel'' Stylist ''Dickens is whirling enviously in his grave ... Read by a fire on a cold winter evening'' Irish Times''Ladies and gentlemen, the darkness is complete.'' It is the winter of 1893, and in London the snow is falling.It is falling as Gideon Bliss seeks shelter in a Soho church, where he finds Angie Tatton lying before the altar. His one-time love is at death''s door, murmuring about brightness and black air, and about those she calls the Spiriters. In the morning she is gone.The snow is falling as a seamstress climbs onto a ledge above Mayfair, a mTrade ReviewA gloriously unorthodox confection, part Wilkie Collins, part Conan Doyle, with a generous handful of police procedural and a splash of Stella Gibbons's Cold Comfort Farm. Both disquietingly eerie and impossible to read without laughing out loud ... A cracking good read. * Guardian *The House on Vesper Sands is tremendously good - and tremendously good fun * Observer *The most vivid and compelling portrait of late Victorian London since The Crimson Petal and the White -- Sarah Perry, author of THE ESSEX SERPENTClever and funny and exquisitely disturbing, an utter joy -- Joanna CannonCharles Dickens is whirling enviously in his grave ... Brilliantly written, compelling and satisfying in so many ways. It demands to be read by a fire on a cold winter evening (but make sure the doors are locked before you begin). I only wish it had been twice as long. * Irish Times *Witty, immersive, chock full of atmosphere and setting (hello Victorian London), three-dimensional characters, an addictive plot and snappy dialogue, The House On Vesper Sands has everything you want it in a novel. If you're stuck for a book to buy this Christmas, then this could well be it. * Stylist *Like the love child of Dickens and Conan Doyle, but funnier than both -- Liz Nugent, author of LYING IN WAITI'm not completely sure what the word 'rollicking' means, but I can personally guarantee that The House on Vesper Sands is a rollicking good read. For a novel about grief, estrangement, and the literal stealing of vulnerable young women's souls, this book is a lot more fun than it has any right to be. Paraic O'Donnell's sheer love of his characters is exuberant and infectious; the dialogue crackles with verve and wit, and the plotting is as intricately satisfying as a heavy pocket watch. The setting may be Victorian , but in modern parlance this novel is an absolute banger -- Jon McGregor, author of RESERVOIR 13A hugely entertaining read, spry of pace, funny, beautifully descriptive and satisfyingly sinister. A perfect book to read by winter candlelight * Sunday Express *A compelling, darkly funny portrait of late Victorian London, and focuses on crimes with a supernatural flavour * Observer, '50 Biggest Books of Autumn 2018' *An immersive and darkly entertaining story of love, loss and lies set in a vividly realised Victorian London * iNews, 'Best 19 Books for Autumn 2018' *A mash-up of Victoria Gothic and fantasy, this is huge fun * Daily Mail *Not since Sarah Waters has a modern novelist played with Victorian language and mores with such wit and skill ... This mastery of voice wouldn't be half as satisfying, of course, if the story were not a properly ripping yarn ... Liz Nugent compares The House on Vesper Sands to Dickens and Conan Doyle, but the novel's depiction of young women who are both physically and psychologically tormented by shadowy male forces in the 1890s suggests one of the most iconic books of that decade, Bram Stoker's Dracula. The appealing characters, however, are more complex than Stoker's, and there's a real humanity to the novel that will leave the reader hoping that O'Donnell returns to the gaslit streets of fin de siècle London for more sinister, beautifully told stories. * Sunday Business Post *O'Donnell's talent truly shines ... O'Donnell's style can be likened to Charles Dickens on steroids and The House on Vesper Sands sits comfortably with the likes of Sarah Perry's The Essex Serpent or Francis Spufford's Golden Hill as recent period-set page turners. Like those two, a gorgeous prose elevates this ... An expertly crafted and uproariously entertaining novel, spun by a writer approaching his peak * Irish Examiner *Engrossing ... The narrative canters from high-society soirees to East End tenements, infused with menace both earthly and supernatural * Irish Mail on Sunday *A rollocking romp through the dark alleys and gaslit streets of Victorian London ... Spine-tinglingly spooky with a touch of Dickens and also properly funny, this is the perfect Halloween read * Red magazine *Mysterious, unsettling and eerily lovely ... Perfect for fans of The Wicked Cometh and The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock. I adored it -- Melinda Salisbury, author of THE SIN EATER'S DAUGHTERThe House on Vesper Sands had everything - elegance, humour and shady supernatural foreboding, all wrapped up in a Victorian detective novel * Irish Independe *An atmospheric, moving, creepy and very funny story with one of the great fictional detectives -- Linda Grant, author of THE DARK CIRCLEReading this terrific Victorian-set mystery was the most fun I've had in ages. It unfolds so thrillingly and cleverly. Do not miss * The Bookseller, Editor’s Choice *I am giddy with love for The House on Vesper Sands. It is spooky and atmospheric and superbly drawn, absolutely jammed with brilliant characters and so funny -- Jenny Landreth, author of SWELLA lush, shape-shifting Victorian mystery, full of ghostliness, humour and chiaroscuro with satisfying detective and romance flavours added to the batter * Irish Independent *Some of the funniest lines of dialogue I've read in ages ... I liked Vesper Sands a lot. It's a clever Gothic mystery, evocative and meticulously faithful to its time and setting * Sunday Independent *A vivid and enjoyable romp * Heat Magazine *Like George Eliot, Paraic O'Donnell takes the bombastic and the sincere and throws them together for comic contrast; like Dickens, he does it in deliciously dark Victorian style. The House on Vesper Sands is an eerie, raucous novel, packed with pathos and wit. Read it! -- Nuala O'Connor, author of BECOMING BELLEO'Donnell writes wittily and well * SUNDAY TIMES *Moves effortlessly as the story needs between pacy dialogue, gripping drama and an elegiac, other-worldly mournfulness...creates a deeply satisfying world, where tone and language and character combine to provide a rich, credible texture. A comic delight * Associated Press *The House on Vesper Sands is a rare combination of chilling, delicate and funny -- Lissa Evans

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Book SynopsisA true modern classic, THE SMALL BACK ROOM is a towering novel of the Second World War.Sammy Rice is a weapons scientist, one of the ''back room boys'' of the Second World War. A crippling disability has left him cynical and disillusioned - he struggles with a drink problem at home, and politics and petty pride at work. Worse still, he fears he is not good enough for the woman he loves.The stakes are raised when the enemy begin to drop a new type of booby-trapped bomb, causing many casualties. Only Sammy has the know-how to diffuse it - but as he comes face to face with real danger, all his old inadequacies return to haunt him.Can he, at last, prove his worth and put his demons to rest?Trade ReviewOne of the hopes of British novel-writing . . . A writer of genius -- John BetjemanThe missing writer of the Forties . . . Balchin's professional skill gives a meaning to brilliance which the word doesn't usually possess -- Clive James * NEW REVIEW *[An] inexplicably neglected author * THE TIMES *Balchin writes about timeless things, the places in the heart -- Ruth Rendell * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *A little masterpiece like Nigel Balchin's The Small Back Room speaks to our own time, but with so much literary experience behind it -- Shirley HazzardBalchin has been absurdly overlooked for too long -- Julian FellowesI'd place him up there with Graham Greene -- Philippa GregoryA remarkable storyteller * DAILY MAIL *A brilliant novelist . . . A writer of real skill * NEW STATESMAN *He tells a story gloriously * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Balchin has the rare magnetic power that draws the human eye from one sentence to the next * EVENING STANDARD *Probably no other novelist of Mr. Balchin's value is so eminently and enjoyably readable . . . [He] never lets the reader down -- Elizabeth Bowen * TATLER *Balchin has done so much to raise the standard of the popular novel * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *A superb storyteller * SUNDAY TIMES *Balchin can tell an exciting story as well as any novelist alive * SUNDAY CHRONICLE *The novelist of men at work * GUARDIAN *He can always be relied on to give us the set-up magnificently * BBC *One of the best writers, and certainly one of the best stylists, to come out of the war years -- Michael PowellPerhaps the most successful British author to emerge during the war * SATURDAY EVENING POST *One of the hopes of British novel-writing . . . A writer of genius -- John Betjeman

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Book SynopsisWELCOME TO A SCHOOL REUNION YOU WON'T FORGET...Twenty-five years after a tragic incident, three friends return to their high-school for one final reunion: there's a body buried in the building, and they're the ones who put it there...Trade ReviewExtraordinary. -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times Culture *The Reunion will see him hailed as one of the great thriller writers of our age. -- Stuart Winter * DAILY EXPRESS *This vastly satisfying mystery is a huge bestseller in France - and it fully deserves to be... Written with fluency and charm, this is breathtakingly good. Do not miss it. * Daily Mail *Hugely enjoyable and beautifully staged, with an audacious authorial coup at the death that is simply breathtaking. -- Declan Hughes * Irish Times *Stylish and streamlined, nostalgic... More please. -- Mark Sanderson * The Times *A fun read, spiced with pop-cultural references. -- Laura Wilson * Guardian (Thrillers of the Month) *This immensely satisfying thriller about a prep school scandal and three friends' buried secrets had me turning the pages well into the night. The Reunion has everything a masterful thriller should: gut-wrenching suspense, a twisting story with blindsiding surprises, and a narrator with a mysterious past. It's no wonder that Guillaume Musso is one of France's most loved, bestselling authors. * Harlan Coben *In Musso's masterful plotting, Thomas faces fresh dangers at every turn. The atmospheric finale - which unfolds at Villa Fitzgerald and along Smugglers Way, the coastal path near some of the most lavish properties on the Côte d'Azur - brings shocking revelations. * BBC.com (The 10 Smartest Beach Reads of 2019) *Despite the ticking-clock premise, Musso takes time to set the atmosphere, with lush details that transport the reader to a locale that's at once glamorous and also laced with a deep, abiding sadness. * Crime Reads (The Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2019) *The French call it a coup de foudre: a strike of lightning. That's how The Reunion zapped me, electrified me. For almost a decade, Guillaume Musso has reigned supreme as France's most popular author, and with this, his American debut, he's instantly poised to join the ranks of Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbo. The Reunion zigzags so nimbly - between past and present, from intrigue to terror, amid possible suspects and potential victims - that you're at very real risk of whiplash. Witty, elegant, and peopled with complex characters, it's one of the most sheerly suspenseful novels I've read in years - and among the most enjoyable, too. * A.J. Finn, #1 bestselling author of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW *This is a suspenseful and utterly consuming novel... Highly addictive! -- Helena Gumley-Mason * THE LADY *Generations and eras intertwine against the backdrop of a murderous school campus... The perfect summer book to devour while lounging by a swimming pool * Elle *A fine tale of suspense from France's best-selling author. * Booklist *Despite the ticking-clock premise, Musso takes time to set the atmosphere, with lush details that transport the reader to a locale that's at once glamorous and also laced with a deep, abiding sadness. * CrimeReads *Long-buried secrets will give way to the truth in this tragic, riveting, French-Riviera-set story. * Globe and Mail *A fast-paced thriller, set on the Cote d'Azur, packed with a glamorous missing girl, a dead body, and enough references to Twin Peaks and raves and Belle and Sebastian to tickle anybody who came of age in the 1990s. * Vanity Fair *Hitchcock meets Twin Peaks * Repubblica *With a sun-drenched Cote d'Azur setting and a deliciously tangled plot of teenage passion, secret assignations, threats andbrutal violence, this elegant thriller keeps its nerve-jangling suspense until the very last page. -- Jane Shilling * DAILY MAIL *

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Book SynopsisPast and present collide in this sharp and darkly funny crime novel set in Argentina.Trade ReviewAn accomplished, inventive detective novel thrumming with tension, family secrets, and the trauma of a violent military dictatorship. Seamlessly moving between the Dirty War and the economic crisis of 2001, Eloísa Díaz displays an acute understanding of Argentine history and politics. Repentance is both a riveting noir and a moving exploration of one man's search to repair the past. * Sanaë Lemoine, author of THE MARGOT AFFAIR *An astonishingly assured first novel, written in English by a Spanish lawyer, that is both funny and moving -- Mark Sanderson * THE TIMES CRIME CLUB *Repentance is an apt title for this very impressive debut which works on multiple levels. It is an evocative crime thriller with a likeable, self-aware protagonist, but also skilfully explores the darkest period in Argentina's modern history -- Adam LeBor * FINANCIAL TIMES *An outstanding debut... Aficionados of mysteries with a hard edge will welcome Inspector Alzada. * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review) *A dark political thriller guaranteed to satisfy fans of Andrea Camilleri, Donna Leon, and Leonardo Padura. * BOOKLIST *Admirers of Buenos Aires' impeccable stylishness will be delighted, as will seekers of new brands of fictional police work * STRONG WORDS *This superbly written political conspiracy thriller shuns both sentimentality and cynicism * THE MORNING STAR *A powerful crime novel ... Opening old historical wounds that still strongly affect Argentinian society, this is a tale with many layers, many of them painful to evoke and a strong depiction of a country and a period that still simmers between the pages of history books and the crime novel is a perfect way of lancing the boil. Recommended. -- Maxim Jakubowski * CRIME TIME *Repentance is a brilliantly plotted thriller that was impossible for me to put down. Set in a Buenos Aires roiled by political corruption and economic crisis, we're introduced to the charismatic Inspector Alzada who must unravel a murder mystery in the present that unearths painful secrets from the past. Eloísa Díaz is a fantastically talented writer, and her debut is easily one of the best crime fiction reads of the year * Lauren Wilkinson, author of American Spy *This impressive, multi-layered debut is both an evocative crime thriller and a journey back to the darkest era in Argentina's modern history * Financial Times Summer Pick *A thriller that proves what this genre is capable of * Buchkultur *The criminal case takes a secondary seat as the author knows how to impressively transport the reader to the years under the brutal dictatorship and then the demonstrations of 2001, when the Argentine people rebelled against the economic crisis * Luzerner Zeitung *The novelist Eloisa Diaz signs a beautifully mastered novel set in a tormented historical context where family dramas intertwine with a great national tragedy. And where neutrality has become poison * Le Journal du Dimanche *Díaz combines skilfully constructed moments of tension with a history lesson about the Argentine military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983 * Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung *

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Book SynopsisIf Donald Westlake had given Dortmunder a sword, if Douglas Adams had hitchhiked with a unicorn, Weekes has crafted that rare fantasy novel that both embraces and challenges the genre . . . this is, simply, a terrific damn novel. - Greg Rucka, New York Times bestselling author of Alpha, The Punisher, and BatmanLoch is seeking revenge. It would help if she wasn't in jail.The plan: to steal a priceless elven manuscript that once belonged to her family, but now is in the hands of the most powerful man in the Republic. To do so Loch former soldier, former prisoner, current fugitive must assemble a crack team of magical misfits that includes a cynical illusionist, a shapeshifting unicorn, a repentant death priestess, a talking magical warhammer, and a lad with seemingly no skills to help her break into the floating fortress of Heaven's Spire and the vault that holds her family's treasure all while eluding the unrelenting pursuit of Justicar Pyvic, whose only mission is to see the law upheld.What could possibly go wrong?

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Book SynopsisCredited with vividly recreating an early chapter in American history with his first novel, A Matter of Honor, William C. Hammond continues the seafaring adventures of the prominent Massachusetts family in this second novel. Set in the years following the American Revolution, it offers an exciting look at the young republic at a time when America remained a weak nation with no Navy to protect its prosperous merchant fleet from Barbary pirates or nations intent on crippling its shipping. The novel opens with the capture of the Cutler merchant brig Eagle by Barbary pirates. Young Caleb Cutler and his shipmates are taken as prisoners to Algiers, and his brother Richard, the novel''s main protagonist, is sent to North Africa to pay ransoms demanded by the Dey of Algiers. But Richard learns of the Dey''s intent to reject the ransom, as well as threats from the British and French, and fights a fierce battle in the Mediterranean with two Arab xebecs.

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Book SynopsisFugitive Billy Houston, keen to bring about a Nazi-run Britain, needs money. Intent on burglary, his victim has in his possession the entire anti-invasion plans for Southern Britain. Billy must get the plans to the German delegation. Will he succeed? If he does, Hitler will lead Britain to a German invasion.

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Book Synopsis1938: While Hitler sets his sights on the Sudetenland, not everyone in Britain is willing to appease him. Convinced that the Fuhrer''s land-hunger is insatiable, the head of the SIS recruits Cal Jardine to help him prove that Czechoslovakia is threatened with invasion. As jealousy and mutual suspicions within secret service ranks make it impossible for Jardine to tell friend from foe, he rediscovers old friends of dubious loyalty and makes new enemies of untested ruthlessness. This is the final installment in Ludlow''s sweeping series set in the pre-WWII European powder-keg.

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Book Synopsis1033, on the NormanFrench border: It is thirty years before William Duke of Normandy sails to England and does battle at Hastings, but the events leading up to that epic moment are already taking shape. The twelve sons of Tancred de Hauteville are following in their father's footsteps. As knights, they have but one true purpose: to fight. But denied service with their duke, they are forced to take employment as mercenaries. Their unequalled battle skills are for hire to the highest bidder.Victory and defeat, betrayal and revenge combine as the desperation to rule becomes an intense battle, testing even the strongest of ties. But through it all shines the loyalty of blood that binds familiesand warriorstogether. This is the epic story of a true band of brothers.

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Book SynopsisEleventh-century Italy: The Byzantine Empire rules much of Europe, but in the Italian states to the south it does so in the face of constant revolt from its unwilling subjectsa strife that extends from the great trading ports to the rich agricultural lands of Apulia. The Lombards, heirs to a northern tribe, are no exception and their leader, Arduin of Fassano, feels the time may have come to rejoin his brethren and rise up in revolt against their Eastern rulers. And so he brings into the conflict the fearsome mercenary brothers, the de Hautevilles, to help him in his quest to destroy the power of Constantinople.Will the might of the Byzantine Empire crush Arduin''s revolt? Can his ambitious plan succeed, or will the treachery that stalks the land play into the hands of the Normans?

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Book SynopsisWhen the murder of a scientific genius on the verge of a momentous discovery upsets the wedding of their dear friends, Wrexford and Charlotte must risk all they hold dear to deconstruct a sinister conspiracy in the latest installment of Andrea Penrose?s USA Today bestselling Wrexford & Sloane Mysteries.Celebration is in the air at Wrexford and Charlotte?s country estate as they host the nuptials of their friends, Christopher Sheffield and Lady Cordelia Mansfield. But on the afternoon of the wedding, the festivities are interrupted when the local authorities arrive with news that a murdered man has been discovered at the bridge over King?s Crossing, his only identification an invitation to the wedding. Lady Cordelia is horrified when the victim is identified as Jasper Milton, her childhood friend and a brilliant engineer who is rumored to have discovered a revolutionary technological innovation in bridge design. That he had the invitation meant for her cousin Oliver, who never showed up for the wedding, stirs a number of unsettling questions.Both men were involved in the Revolutions-Per-Minute Society, a scientific group dedicated to making radical improvements in the speed and cost of transportation throughout Britain. Is someone plotting to steal Milton?s designs? And why has her cousin disappeared?Wrexford and Charlotte were looking forward to spending a peaceful interlude in the country, but when Lady Cordelia resolves to solve the mystery, they offer their help, along with that of the Weasels and their unconventional inner circle of friends. The investigation turns tangled and soon all of them are caught up in a treacherous web of greed, ambition, and dangerous secrets. And when the trail takes a shocking turn, Wrexford and Charlotte must decide what risks they are willing to take with their family to bring the villains to justice . . .

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Book SynopsisIn this engaging historical mystery, Agatha Christie’s ever-capable housekeeper, Phyllida Bright, not only keeps the celebrated author’s English country home in tip-top shape, she excels as an amateur sleuth. But when a murder-themed game goes awry, can she outfox the guilty party?“A murder will occur tonight at Beecham House . . .” Who could resist such a compelling invitation? Of course, the murder in question purports to be a party game, and Phyllida looks forward to using some of the deductive skills she has acquired thanks to her employer, Mrs. Agatha, who is unable to attend in person.The hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Wokesley, are new to the area, and Phyllida gladly offers their own overwhelmed housekeeper some guidance while events get underway. Family friends have been enlisted to play the suspects, and Mr. Wokesley excels in his role of dead body. Unfortunately, when the game’s solution is about to be unveiled, the participan

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