Crime & Thrillers Books

Book Synopsis'Dark and terrifying, utterly compelling' SARAH PEARSE********A luxury resort. Three missing women. One body.When young London professional Alex Evans is informed that his sister's body has been pulled from an icy lake in Northern Lapland, he assumes his irresponsible sister accidentally drowned. He travels to the wealthy winter resort where Vicky worked as a tour-guide and meets Agatha Koskinen, the detective in charge. Agatha is a no-nonsense single mother of three who already thinks there's more to Vicky's case than meets the eye.As the two form an unlikely alliance, Alex also begins to suspect the small town where his sister lived and died is harbouring secrets. It's not long before he learns that three other women have gone missing from the area in the past and that his sister may have left him a message.On the surface, Koppe, Lapland is a winter wonderland. But in this remote, frozen place, death seems only ever a heartbeat away.********'A breathless, tense thriller' B. P. Walter'Utterly ingenious' Liz Nugent'Tense and atmospheric' Catherine Cooper'Unforgettable!' Allie Reynolds'Jo Spain never disappoints' Chris WhitakerTrade ReviewSmall-town Finnish life is engagingly drawn and Spain's straightforward style makes for an easy, enjoyable read as she steadily builds the sense of threat * Financial Times *I was absolutely blown away by this utterly ingenious book. So deftly plotted with entirely credible characters. Even though it's early in the year, I doubt I'll read a better crime novel in 2022. I absolutely loved it * Liz Nugent *Tense and atmospheric, set against a frozen landscape with reindeer, snowmobiles and interesting, varied and realistic characters. Beautifully written - loved it * Catherine Cooper *A superb crime thriller, brilliantly written, with a unique winter wonderland setting and a fascinating bunch of characters. The story offers terrifying glimpses of the darkness inside us. Unforgettable! * Allie Reynolds *A tense, breathless thriller with such an evocatively drawn setting, you feel like you're right there in the ice yourself, on the hunt for a killer. The Last to Disappear is absolutely stunning * B. P. Walter *What an amazing thriller! I loved everything about it. So vivid, atmospheric and chilling with a tight, unpredictable plot and a cast of characters that jumped off the page. A triumph! * Claire Douglas *Spain has always been one of the finest Irish crime writers and The Last to Disappear is her best book yet * Irish Times *This brilliant book captured me from the first page and didn't let go! Jo Spain's beautifully atmospheric prose transports you to the beautiful, frozen landscape of Finland, immersing you in a dark and terrifying mystery that kept me constantly guessing. Agatha Koskinen, the detective, is utterly compelling as a character and I relished following her throughout the twists and turns of the investigation. A fantastic, page-turning read. I absolutely loved it! * Sarah Pearse *Thrilling and twisty, with a plot as chilling as the setting. The Last to Disappear is further proof that Jo Spain never disappoints * Chris Whitaker *Whether you're heading off on holiday or just chilling in the garden, this gripping new thriller from Jo Spain should be on your to-read list * YOU Magazine *Spain's best mystery yet * Irish Independent *Building to an incendiary, skilfully contrived, genuinely unexpected series of revelations,The Last to Disappear is a compelling, immensely satisfying crime novel * Irish Times *A Scandi thriller to give you chills! * Peterborough Telegraph *An exceptionally good crime novel; fluently written with some nicely-judged surprises and insights * Shots *Vividly described . . . Brilliant * Belfast Telegraph *A fast-paced thriller with captivating characters * Candis *The queen of the corkscrew plot has not lost her Midas touch * Sunday Times Crime Club *The plot is gripping, driven by snappy writing, expertly crafted with unexpected twists * Sunday Independent *Makes for ideal poolside reading * STELLAR Magazine *Fans of Wisting and other Scandi writing will love this * Irish Independent *Ingenious * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisHow do you escape a past you can't remember?'Had me gripped from the start' 5* reader review'An outstanding debut' 5* reader review 'Such a mega page-turner' 5* reader reviewKate Sullivan has a beautiful home, a job she loves and a handsome fiancé: all she'd ever dreamed of since getting sober and painstakingly piecing her life back together.But a chance encounter with her old best friend Becky threatens Kate's newfound and fragile happiness. Kate remembers nothing of their last drunken night out, the night Becky broke off their friendship without warning or explanation.With Becky back in her life, Kate is desperate to make amends for the past. For the closure she craves, Kate needs to know what she did that ruined everything. But what if the truth is worse than Kate could have imagined?'A clever tale of how our demons shape our lives' ALEXANDRA SHULMAN'A cracking debut' IRISH INDEPENDENT'Gut-wrenching and powerful' CHARLOTTE DUCKWORTH'[An] emotional page-turner' WOMAN'S WEEKLY'Beautiful writing and devastating twists' MIRANDA SMITH'A real, clever page-turner. Dare I say addictive' TINA BAKER***Previously published as Closure***Trade ReviewA clever tale of how our demons shape our lives . . . vivid and completely believable * Alexandra Shulman *A powerful novel . . . I was gripped with a rising sense of dread. Emily Freud brilliantly captures the destructive inner voice of a woman struggling to stay on course * Jane Lythell, author of THE LIE OF YOU *A raw depiction of addiction and examines the complexities of female friendship. Filled with beautiful writing and devastating twists, this debut is not to be missed * Miranda Smith *A pacey, heartfelt story about the perils of addiction and adolescence, from a writer who clearly understands the world she creates. Moving and compelling, I read it in one sitting * Charlotte Philby *Gut-wrenching and powerful . . . a story that will resonate with many women who struggled to find their place as a young adult. This is a thoughtful, nuanced and authentic portrayal of female friendship and addiction. It's also highly original - I can't wait to see what Emily writes next * Charlotte Duckworth, author of THE PERFECT FATHER *An absolute page-turner of a book * Samantha Hayes *A real, clever page-turner. Dare I say addictive * Tina Baker *A stunning, thoughtful debut which explores the nature of friendship, addiction and how events of the past stay with us. Utterly compelling * Catherine Cooper *Insightful, nuanced . . . authentic . . . an engaging multi-layered story that highlights how we can often let our demons and destructive inner voice shape the course of our lives. Coupled with superb writing, the pacing is perfect and the characters are so relatable. This is a cracking debut that deserves to do well . . . outstanding * Irish Independent *[An] emotional page-turner * Woman's Weekly *A tense and taut psychological thriller about sobriety, friendship and fallen women learning to move beyond the traumas of the past * Culturefly *Accomplished . . . well-paced and intricately plotted, with plenty of tension and an almighty twist * Promoting Crime Fiction *

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Book SynopsisIn the autumn of 2016 a wave of suicides swept through Stockholm's underworld...Investigative journalist Tommy T's star has faded since he was a fixture on Sweden's talk-show circuit. His deep dive into the mysterious suicides-and the role of the elusive 'X' who seems to be behind everything-will be his ticket back to the top. And the trail is hot: it leads him first to a murdered friend and then to a huge batch of cocaine.Meanwhile, Tommy's seventeen-year-old nephew Linus is getting in deep himself. He's been selling his ADHD medication since he was thirteen, hoping for bigger opportunities. Now there's one staring him in the face-in the form of a huge batch of cocaine. But there's a larger plan behind what is happening, and the business turns out to be both stranger and more dangerous than either of them could have imagined.I Am the Tiger is the culmination of the series that began with I Am Behind You and I Always Find You. John Ajvide Lindqvist spins the crime novel into the realm of the supernatural, as forces beyond human control infiltrate the suburbs of Stockholm.

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Book Synopsis'One of the best football books I've ever read.' John Motson on Provided You Don't Kiss Me'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed by that attitude. I can assure you it's much more important than that' - Bill ShanklyWhat Shankly said isn't even half-true. In fact, it's bollocks. Football isn't the be-all and end-all of everything. If nothing else, I know that much.As a player, Thom Callaghan was defined by the winning goal he scored in an FA Cup final. The goal wasn't the blessing he imagined it would be. His whole career was defined by that brief moment of glory.With his playing days over, Callaghan, still a local hero, is tempted back to his old club as caretaker manager. His task to rescue it from relegation. He's got the job solely on the recommendation of his former boss and mentor Frank Mallory, now desperately ill and responsible for the team's precipitous decline.Callaghan is pitched into the Premier League during the last months of the 1996-1997 season, where - among reputations more gilded than his own - he finds himself pitted against the likes of Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, chasing their fourth title in five years, and also one of the newest recruits to the English game, Arsene Wenger.Can Callaghan save his club from what seems the inevitability of the drop? Does Mallory - eccentric, inspirational and manipulative - even want him to succeed? What if the prize of a personal triumph isn't worth it in the end?Injury Time is the first novel from the multiple award-winning sportswriter Duncan Hamilton.Trade Review'What I enjoy most about this beautifully written and tender account of the relationship between a nervous young provincial reporter and a football genius is the sense of genuine proximity to its subject, so that Clough's obvious flaws seem forgivable and even beguiling, rather than cruel and unbearable. Wonderful book' Russel Brand, Guardian on Provided You Don't Kiss Me'One of the best football books I've ever read.' John Motson on Provided You Don't Kiss MeHamilton...expresses the passion that millions like him, in pursuit of happiness and belonging, feel for the beautiful game. Simply magnificent * Mail on Sunday *A marriage of prose and detail so fine and fastidious that it takes the breath away * Independent *Justifiably prize-winning * Mail on Sunday *A convincing behind the scenes re-enactment of English football... Hamilton has a perceptively humane understanding of men for whom football was never just a game * Guardian *A fictional look at action, on and off the pitch, past and present, that will leave you smiling * Sun *Set in the last decades of the 20th Century and mingling real-life footballers with fictional characters, this is a thoughtful, entertaining debut novel by one of our finest sports writers, in which the beautiful game becomes a moving metaphor for the vicissitudes of human experience. * Mail on Sunday *With spare, sharp prose and knowing insights, Hamilton has written a heartwarming as well as heartbreaking winner. * Weekend Sport *An immersive character study of people damaged by sport and its temptations of glory, how some overcome, and how others are crushed by it. * Strong Words *

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Book SynopsisSet in the South of France, a fiendishly clever thriller about the back-stabbing literary world, from the bestselling author of the Bernie Gunther series of prize-winning historical novels.Robert Harris's THE GHOST meets Patricia HighsmithIf you want to write a murder mystery, you have to do some research... or pay someone else to do it for you. In a luxury flat in Monaco, John Houston's supermodel wife lies in bed, a bullet in her skull.Houston is the world's most successful thriller writer, the playboy head of a literary empire that produces far more books than he could ever actually write. Now the man who has invented hundreds of bestselling killings is wanted for a real murder and on the run from the police, his life transformed into something out of one of his books.And in London, the ghostwriter who is really behind those books has some questions for him too...Trade ReviewA quirky Hitchcockian fable that pokes savage fun at publishers, the book trade and the business of authorship * Spectator *This clever thriller is packed with sardonic one-liners and ribald humour * Sunday Mirror *

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Book SynopsisIt takes a village to save a child in this pulse-pounding standalone thriller from the acclaimed author of The Man on the Street.'Fast-paced and gripping' Harriet Tyce'A propulsive page-turner' Vaseem KhanIt wasn't her dad they were after. It was her.Ruby Winter is surprised when her reclusive father invites a stranger into their house. She eavesdrops on their conversation and is alarmed when she hears a fight break out. She dashes into the kitchen to save her dad but the stranger's the one lying on the floor in a pool of blood.Her dad urges her to pack a bag. They must quit their Northumbrian cottage and run. There isn't time to explain why. But as they try to flee her dad is captured.The only people who can help her are the villagers she has shunned her whole life. But, desperate to find her father and to work out who took him and why, she must seek their help.But what if learning the truth means discovering the life she once knew was a lie?******************************************Discover what readers are saying about You Can Run'A fast-paced, edge-of-the-seat ride from start to finish' 5* Reader Review'This story had me hooked from the start . . . Trevor Wood is now one of my favourite authors' 5* Reader Review'The tight, twisty plot keeps you guessing right up to the end' 5* Reader Review''A brilliantly written book which I found very difficult to put down' 5* Reader ReviewTrade ReviewFast paced and gripping but with a heart of solid gold. Great stuff -- Harriet TyceI raced through it. I loved the characters and the dark humour. A cracking, pacy read. -- Patricia GibneyA tour de force. From behind the twitching curtains of a small divided village a force of unlikely ne'er do wells come together in this edgy, electrifying modern thriller. Once again Wood proves himself a brilliant champion of the underdog -- William ShawAt once tense and compelling, Ruby is a character that no one could fail to root for * Daily Mail *Begins at the speed of a runaway train. A propulsive page-turner * Vaseem Khan *Punchy, pacy and packed with powerful scenes. Nailed on to be one of THE books of 2023 -- Robert ScraggA good thriller needs more than just a compelling plot, I want to care about the characters too. Trevor Wood pulls that off superbly in You Can Run with a cast of characters I was sorry to say goodbye to at the end. -- Frances QuinnTrevor Wood has written another cracker of a book. A different cast of characters from his previous trilogy but equally engaging with a theme that focuses on community and what it takes to belong. I loved it -- Nikki SmithGot up early to finish this smashing new book. Go Ruby! What a hero! Books of 2023 will definitely include You Can Run -- Fiona ErskineSuperb. Wood delivers the perfect package with brilliantly authentic voices and a wildly exciting plot. But it's a thriller with heart. The perfect balance of pace, compassion and black humour as we rally for his exquisitely executed underdogs. Everything you want from a book -- Emma ChristieA menacing isolation action thriller. At once an affecting mediation on family and identity, and also a heart-pounding survival tale that digs into issues of power and class -- Dominic NolanA masterclass in suspense ... vividly-drawn villagers take on a foe that exudes genuine menace. Wood has distilled the authenticity and wry humour of his Jimmy Mullen trilogy into this compulsive thriller. Be careful picking it up - you won't want to put it down! -- Tom BenjaminAn incredibly fun, page-turner locked village thriller (is that a thing? It is now!). It's exciting, has a cast of great characters, humour and is full of personality! * Charlotte Levin *Trevor Wood is a force to be reckoned with in the genre * Mystery People *Wood's punchy prose is perfect for such an enticing set-up, and he's a past master at keeping those cliff-hangers (and revelations) coming * The Crack *Cracking . . . Breathlessly gripping * Peterborough Telegraph *Trevor Wood has fashioned a rip-roaring, action-packed and nail-bitingly tense thriller * Irish Independent Review *Original and unputdownable * Promoting Crime Fiction *A gripping new tale from adopted Geordie Trevor Wood * Living North *Trevor's inimitable voice, humanity and humour really shone through in this locked village mystery * Mari Hannah *A sinister standalone thriller * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis'A full throttle, adrenaline-laced espionage page-turner . . . Get ready to blast off and enjoy the ride!' Jack Carr, former Navy SEAL Sniper and #1 New York Times bestselling author of the James Reece Terminal List series'Continuous action, Mach-speed mayhem, sharp intrigue, and well-rounded characters - what more could you want from a thriller?' Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The 9th Man and the Cotton Malone seriesIsrael, late 1973. As the Yom Kippur War flares into life, a state-of-the-art Soviet MIG fighter is racing at breakneck speed over the arid scrublands below . . . and promptly disappears.NASA Flight Controller and former US Navy test pilot Kaz Zemeckis watches the scene from the ground - and is quickly pulled into a dizzying, high-stakes game of spies, lies and a possible high-level defection that plays out across three continents. The prize is beyond value: the secrets of the Soviets' mythical 'Foxbat' MiG-25, the fastest, highest-flying fighter plane in the world and the key to Cold War air supremacy. But every defection is double-edged with risk, and Kaz must tread a careful line between trust and suspicion. Ultimately, he must invite the fox into the henhouse - bringing the defector into the heart of the United States' most secret test site - and hope that, with skill and cunning, the game plays out his way. For Chris Hadfield's second heart-stopping thriller, we move from Space to another rich and exciting part of Chris's CV: his time as a top test pilot in both the US Air Force and the US Navy, and as an RCAF fighter pilot intercepting armed Soviet bombers in North American airspace. Full of insider detail, excitement and political intrigue drawn from real events, The Defector brings us the nerve-shredding rush of aerial combat, as told by one of the world's best fighter pilots.Praise for The Apollo Murders'A nail-biting Cold War thriller' James Cameron'An exciting journey to an alternate past' Andy Weir 'Not to be missed' Frederick Forsyth 'Explosive' Gregg Hurwitz 'Exciting, authentic' Linwood BarclayTrade ReviewTom Clancy-style fighter jets and a sprinkling of reality from Hadfield's time as a test pilot . . . It is a thriller in every sense * New Scientist *He controls the story with a fighter pilot's verve and confidence, bringing real insider expertise to a fast-paced cold war tale * Financial Times *As a writer, his strength is his ability to draw on his specialist knowledge to add verisimilitude . . . while his high-octane depiction of aerial dogfights stirs memories of Top Gun and Craig Thomas's Firefox. Afterburners on! * The Times *Chris Hadfield uses his experiences to great effect in this thrilling story about a defecting Russian pilot . . . [The Defector] moves at great speed and contains mesmerising descriptions of flying under supreme pressure * Literary Review *Nail-bitingly exciting . . . Hadfield is clearly destined to inherit the late Tom Clancy's mantle as master of the techno-thriller genre * Irish Independent *Action-packed, cleverly plotted and rich with the kind of satisfyingly authentic detail and keen insights that only a writer with Hadfield's extraordinary resume can provide, The Defector delivers on every level. Wondering what to do until Top Gun 3 arrives? Don't worry, Chris Hadfield's got it covered * Rowland White *Packed with the kind of insider knowledge you simply don't get in thrillers these days, The Defector is not just an intelligent book, it's an exciting book. Expertly paced with breathtaking set pieces, I raced through it in a couple of sittings. It reminded me of Frederick Forsyth in his pomp - highly recommended * M.W. Craven, Sunday Times bestselling author of Dead Ground and The Botanist *An extraordinary novel, brimming with detail and realism and full of pulse-pounding action * Mark Greaney, bestselling author of Burner, a Gray Man novel *Real-life figures collide with fictional espionage in former astronaut Hadfield's gripping sequel to The Apollo Murders . . . Hadfield keeps the suspense steady before delivering a knockout air battle that brings everything to a white-knuckle close. Kaz's adventures continue to electrify * Publishers Weekly *Ideal exciting escapist reading * Aerospace *

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Book Synopsis'Ryan and Ray go from strength to strength, and this, their third outing, is the best yet. Simon Mason has created crime fiction's most entertaining double act in decades' Mick HerronOxford, city of rich and poor, where the homeless camp out in the shadows of the gorgeous buildings and monuments. A city of lost things - and buried crimes. At three o'clock in the morning, Emergency Services receives a call. 'This is Zara Fanshawe. Always lost and never found.' An hour later, the wayward celebrity's Rolls Royce Phantom is found abandoned in dingy Becket Street. The paparazzi go wild. For some reason, news of Zara's disappearance prompts homeless woman Lena Wójcik to search the camps, nervously, for the bad-tempered vagrant known as 'Waitrose', a familiar sight in Oxford pushing his trolley of possessions. But he's nowhere to be found either. Who will lead the investigation and cope with the media frenzy? Suave, prize-winning, Oxford-educated DI Ray Wilkins is passed over in favour of his partner, gobby, trailer-park educated DI Ryan Wilkins (no relation). You wouldn't think Ray would be happy. He isn't. You wouldn't think Ryan would be any good at national press presentations. He isn't. And when legendary cop Chester Lynch takes a shine to Ray - and takes against Ryan - things are only going to get even messier.Trade ReviewAs in all fine novels, it is the voice that grips you: ironic, eloquent, but compassionate. -- Nicholas Chee * Bookbrunch *Better than Morse in its bite, pace, urgency and characterisation. * The Critic *Mason has created a gripping case while making his cops so human they leap off the pages. * Peterborough Telegraph *Superb * Sun *Class conflict and police corruption are at the heart of the third novel in this superb series. * Sunday Times (Pick of the Month, Jan 2024) *

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Book SynopsisOne of The Times' "Best Crime Novels by Women since 2000" "Rebecka Martinsson: the new Scandi-noir heroine to rival Saga Noren and Sarah Lund" iNews "In a television world now awash in female coppers, there aren't many as interesting and human as Rebecka" Wall Street JournalThe frozen body of a woman is found in a fishing ark on the ice near Torneträsk in northern Sweden. She has been brutally tortured, but the killing blow was clumsy, almost amateur. The body is quickly identified, raising hopes of an open-and-shut solution. But when a six-month-old suicide is disinterred, Rebecka Martinsson and Anna-Maria Mella find themselves investigating shocking corruption at the heart of one of Sweden's most successful mining companies. One that has powerful enemies of its own.Trade ReviewÅsa Larsson's genius is in telling the story from multiple viewpoints, so cleverly that you can't see the dots connecting until they hit you right in the face at the end * The Times *

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Book SynopsisOprah.com raved that Asa Larsson's Rebecka Martinsson is a crime fighter who has all the needed gut insticts," and listed the series as "Mysteries Every Thinking Woman Should Read." In Until Thy Wrath Be Past the body of a young woman surfaces in the River Torne, in the far north of Sweden. Meanwhile, Rebecka Martinsson is working as a prosecutor in nearby Kiruna. Her sleep has been disturbed by haunting visions of a shadowy, accusing figure. Could the body be connected to the ghostly young woman in her dreams?Joining forces once again with Police Inspector Anna-Maria Mella, Rebecka is drawn into a murder and missing-person investigation that becomes entangled with old rumors of a German supply plane that mysteriously disappeared in 1943. Shame and secrecy shroud the locals' memories of the war, with Sweden's early collaboration with the Nazis still a raw wound. And on the windswept shore of a frozen lake lurks a faceless killer determined to keep the past buried forever beneath half a century's silent ice and snow. With its psychologically complex twists and turns, this harrowing thriller captivates from the very first page.Trade ReviewLarsson's laid-back style makes her unflinching probing of the icy depths of the human heart all the more chilling * Telegraph *In a world awash with female coppers, there aren't many as interesting and human as Rebecka * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisOne of the Washington Post's top ten feel-good novels of the year: a perfect gift for book lovers everywhere!During a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy Hart found solace in books, especially Jack Masterson's Clock Island series. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher's aide, she has shared her love of reading with bright, orphaned seven-year-old Christopher Lamb. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he's finally written a new book. Even better, he's holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy.For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack "the Mastermind" Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.'Clever, dark, and hopeful' -V. E. Schwab, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRueTrade ReviewMeg Shaffer's beautiful novel is part Willy Wonka, part magical realism, and wholly moving. It broke my heart and patched it over and reminded me that even as an adult, if you look hard enough, you can find the child still inside you * Jodi PIcoult *Our list of must-read fiction books wouldn't be complete without a novel that reminds readers of the power books hold between their pages. Meg Shaffer's The Wishing Game may not contain any magic--this is a whimsical tale, but it's grounded in reality--yet there's something magical about the book * Readers Digest *A heartwarming, page-turning story of found family, love triumphing over indifference, and the world-changing power of a good book * Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood *A dreamy, inventive novel about how books can not only change lives but save them too. Full of the power of imagination, it's one of my favorite books of the year. * Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author of Other Birds *A magical ode to storytelling, imagination, and the mystery of the creative life . . . Wildly imaginative, clever, and inspiring, The Wishing Game is for anyone who has found light in a story just when they need it * Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea *Meg Shaffer's debut establishes her as one of the best. The Wishing Game sees the secret child hidden inside all of us, and it takes us on the thrilling, magical journey we all long for--where we might end up with everything we want but only if we risk it all * Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds *Shaffer blends tragedy and triumph in a whimsical and gratifying debut about what makes a family. This is wish fulfillment in the best way * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *A meditation on the power of hope when all else seems lost * Kirkus *A work by turns clever, dark, and hopeful, Shaffer's debut is a love letter to reading and the power childhood stories have over us long after we've grown up * V. E. Schwab, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue *

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Book SynopsisYou think you know how this ends. Think again.''Irresistible'' Abigail Dean''Mind blowing'' Nikki SmithSTRAY TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE . . . New York-based writers Felix and Emma have it all. As the husband and wife team behind the bestselling Morgan Savage thrillers, their meteoric rise to global literary fame seemed unstoppable.Until Felix messed up.AND SOMEONE''S GOING TO GET HURT. Now, the couple has been exiled to the south of France. Their sentence: a long, hot summer to cure their writers'' block - and save their marriage. But as tensions rise beneath the sweltering sun, Felix and Emma become trapped in a deathly plot of their own making . . .SEE WHAT EVERYONE''S SAYING ABOUT EMILY FREUD''S THRILLERS''Completely addictive'' B P WALTER'' I couldn''t put it down'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ READER REVIEW''Atmospheric, propulsive'' L V MATTHEWS''Unputdownable!'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ READER REVIEW''Twisty and compulsive, with a killer twist'' CHARLOTTE PHILBY''A completely addictive page-turner that left me reeling!'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ READER REVIEW''Outstanding, immersive, rich and vivid'' LIZZY BARBER''The PERFECT summer thriller!'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ READER REVIEW''A breathless thriller with a high stakes plot'' LUCY CLARKE

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Book Synopsis''A heart-breaking, moving, and soaring novel. An important literary feat from an exciting new voice'' NGUY?N PHAN QU? MAI, global best-selling author of The Mountains Sing and Dust ChildHong Kong, 1941. Following the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, the wealthy Tang family flee to Hong Kong.As the First Wife of the family, Mingzhu leads a sheltered - if lonely - existence overseeing her daughter Qiang and managing the household alongside her devoted maid, Biyu.But when the Japanese army invade, the three women are scattered. Mingzhu is coerced into working for a Japanese captain. Qiang and Biyu escape the island, only to be forced into factory work then separated after an encounter with the East River Column Resistance fighters.The longer the brutal occupation lasts, the more determined the women are to resist. And as war rages around the world, each is holding onto the hope that the other is alive.Beautifully told and compulsively written, When Sleeping Women Wake is an utterly transporting story of female resistance and untold bravery, at once epic and intimate, heartbreaking and hopeful.Perfect for fans of Lisa See, Nguy?n Phan Qu? Mai and Kristin Hannah.''A lushly romantic and impassioned story of women''s agency and resilience'' JUHEA KIM''Compelling, beautiful, and deeply moving . . . [a] stunning tale of love, loyalty and survival'' WEINA DAI RANDEL''A breathtaking, important story of family, love and endurance . . . historical fiction at its finest'' WIZ WHARTON

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Book SynopsisThe murderers have committed the crimes, now it''s up to you to put in the time to solve each of the heinous homicides, revealed via 100 puzzles. Using your logical powers of deduction, can you play detective and help put the killers behind bars?5 Minute Murder features 100 logic and code-based murder-mystery puzzles, skillfully compiled by acclaimed US psychological thriller writer Christopher J. Yates and puzzle expert Bruce Pitchers.Each murder-based puzzle forms part of a complete storyline set across one of 10 scenarios, including the dreaming spires of Oxford University, the City of London''s stuffy gentlemen''s clubs and the gritty streets of New York.5 Minute Murder combines classic logic problems and code-cracking with Christopher J. Yates''s crime-writing to create a sleuthing experience that''s perfect for all puzzle and whodunnit fans. If you''re an armchair detective with a 5-minute coffee break to spare, can you crack the case? Jus

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Book Synopsis'I raced through it. Brilliant writing' Harriet Tyce author of Blood OrangeSingle mother Revelle Lee spends her days translating the words of witnesses and defendants in London’s court rooms.Only she knows what they're saying; a misinterpreted word could decide their fate.So when she believes a grave injustice is about to take a place, and a guilty man might be declared innocent, Revelle twists an alibi to change the verdict and send him to prison. No one can ever find out that she interfered or she will lose everything – even her son.But someone knows what she’s done... And they want justice of their own.Discover the shocking, unguessable thriller for fans of Louise Candlish, Harriet Tyce and Sarah Vaughan***'An ingenious premise, cleverly executed' Sunday Times bestseller Sabine Durrant'Compelling and ingenious' Prima'Exciting and original' Heat'Intriguing' Daily Mail***Readers love THE INTERPRETER:'I couldn't put it down... gripping''Loved this one! Gripping and exciting''Tense and enjoyable''I was instantly immersed' 'Unique... I was immediately drawn in by the characters''Incredible... had me completely engrossed' 'I loved how different the plot is''A great crime thriller''Completely fresh... it captures you from the start''This book is going to be huge!'Trade ReviewI raced through it. Brilliant writing, properly tense and a fascinating perspective on criminal trials with an interpreter protagonist * Harriet Tyce *An ingenious premise, cleverly executed, THE INTERPRETER is multi-layered and intriguing, gripping from beginning to end * Sabine Durrant, Sunday Times bestselling author of Lie With Me *CLEVER, ATMOSPHERIC AND UTTERLY ABSORBING - I LOVED IT * Alice Clark-Platts, author of THE COVE *In this stellar debut thriller... Robinson is marvelous at mining the moral murk of Revelle's choices, and chapters from the perspective of her stalker ratchet up the suspense. Minnette Walters fans will be delighted * Publishers Weekly *Compelling and ingenious, this thriller explores the lengths people go to to protect others * Prima *

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Book SynopsisIF YOU COULD NEVER STAY, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?Escape into this spellbinding novel of adventure, wonder and self-discovery, for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Midnight Library and Life of Pi. Paris, 1885: Aubry Tourvel, a spoiled and stubborn nine-year-old girl, comes across a wooden puzzle ball on her walk home from school. She tosses it over the fence, only to find it in her satchel that evening. Days later, at the family dinner table, she starts to succumb to a mysterious illness. When a visit to a doctor only makes her worse, she flees to the outskirts of the city, where she realises that it is this very act of movement that keeps her alive. So begins her incredible lifelong journey around the world . . . From scorched sand dunes to snow-packed mountain peaks, from a bottomless well in a Parisian courtyard to the shelves of an infinite underground library, we follow Aubry as she learns what it takes to survive and, ultimately, to truly live. But it soon becomes clear that the world she travels through is not quite the same as everyone else's. * As seen on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show Book Club *Imagine Life of Pi and The Midnight Library rolled into one fantastical fable' NEW YORK TIMESExtraordinary . . . Welcome to [Aubry's] exciting, dangerous and romantic life' OPRAH DAILYREADERS LOVE A SHORT WALK:This book is incredible'I loved every page of it . . . you just cannot put the book down'A perfect read . . . Aubry is a marvellous character'A true love letter to travel, adventure and discovery . . . fantastic'Wow, what a stunning book!'Beautifully written . . . I loved following her journey'A unique blend of adventure and fantasy . . . the world-building is nothing short of amazing'I just couldn't stop reading . . . inspiring'

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Book SynopsisMysterious vigilante Renato Jones showed the One% that for all their money, for all their power, they are not untouchable. But now they're pushing back, and resulting class warfare may be more than even Renato can handle. When full-time villains control the whole word the only hero who can take on the job is self-employed... a Freelancer.KAARE KYLE ANDREWS proudly presents Season Two of the most dangerous comic on the planet!Collecting Renato Jones Season Two #1-5

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Book SynopsisPulls tight on readers' heartstrings and doesn't let go, delivering an epic, emotional journey set in an imaginative world. Pages & PanelsWhen a mysterious force kidnaps their daughter, parents Sam and Duncan must do whatever it takes to bring her home in this heartbreaking and action-packed graphic novel duology. Sam and Duncan LaMarr love their six-year-old daughter, Penny, more than anything in the whole world. But half a year ago, she was taken by the Cascade, an evil force they barely understand. Now, Sam and Duncan must fight side by side with the magical beings Penny cherished to try and get her backbefore she's gone forever.Collects The Moon Is Following Us #1-5 (of ten total).

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

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Book SynopsisFan-favorite SPAWN and Punisher artist SZYMON KUDRANSKI is back with a second installment in theworld where the only limitation is your imagination!Noa Carpenter, a down-on-her-luck paranormal investigator, is called into the world of imagination to help solve a series of strange occurrences involving some of literature and legend''s most iconic characters. From creator SZYMON KUDRANSKI, artist of Spawn and Punisher. The bestselling, groundbreaking EPIC series returns!Collects groundbreaking hit series SOMETHING EPIC #8-12.

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Book SynopsisRYAN STEGMAN (VANISH, Venom), KENNY PORTER (Superboy, The Flash), TYRELL CANNON (Beef Bros), MIKE SPICER (Beta Ray Bill), and JOHN J. HILL (Harley Quinn) team up for a new action/comedy series!Failing dentist Roger Dalton blames the world for his problems until he is body-swapped with the world’s greatest superhero. Can Roger save Earth and finally prove to his family he’s not a loser? Or are we doomed? Featuring cataclysmic clashes! Enraged parents! Outer space action! Tender Romance! Brutal fisticuffs! Tooth extractions! All this and more in one colossal collection. Collects THE SCHLUB #1-#6

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Book SynopsisAn Amazon Charts bestseller. From the bestselling author of The Neon Lawyer comes a gripping thriller about a prosecutor confronted with the darkest part of her past and the worst fears for her future… Fourteen years ago, prosecutor Jessica Yardley’s husband went to prison for a series of brutal murders. She’s finally created a life with her daughter and is a well-respected attorney. She’s moving on. But when a new rash of homicides has her ex-husband, Eddie, written all over them—the nightmares of her past come back to life. The FBI asks Jessica to get involved in the hunt for this copycat killer—which means visiting her ex and collaborating with the man who tore her life apart. As the copycat’s motives become clearer, the new life Jessica created for herself gets darker. She must ask herself who she can trust and if she’s capable of stopping the killer—a man whose every crime is a bloody valentine from a twisted mastermind she’s afraid she may never escape.Trade ReviewAn Amazon Best Book of the Month: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense “A Killer’s Wife is a high-stakes legal thriller loaded with intense courtroom drama, compelling characters, and surprising twists that will keep you turning the pages at breakneck speed.” —T.R. Ragan, New York Times bestselling author “Exquisitely paced and skillfully crafted, A Killer’s Wife delivers a wicked psychological suspense wrapped around a hypnotic legal thriller. One cleverly designed twist after another kept me saying—I did not see that coming.” —Steven Konkoly, Wall Street Journal bestselling author “A gripping thriller that doesn’t let up for a single page. Surprising twists with a hero you care about. I read the whole book in one sitting!” —Chad Zunker, bestselling author of An Equal Justice

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The End of Power comes an edge-of-your-seat political thriller about rival spies, dangerous love, and one of history’s most devastating revolutions. Venezuela, 1992. Unknown colonel Hugo Chávez stages an ill-fated coup against a corrupt government, igniting the passions of Venezuela’s poor and catapulting the oil-rich country to international attention. For two rival spies hurriedly dispatched to Caracas—one from Washington, DC, and the other from Fidel Castro’s Cuba—this is a career-defining mission. Smooth-talking Iván Rincón of Cuba’s Intelligence Directorate needs a rebel ally to secure the future of his own country. His job: support Chávez and the revolution by rallying the militants and neutralizing any opposing agents. Meanwhile, the CIA’s Cristina Garza will do everything in her power to cut Chávez’s influence short. Her priority: stabilize the greatest oil reserves on the planet by ferreting out and eliminating Cuba’s principal operative. As Chávez surges to power, Iván and Cristina are caught in the fallout of a toxic political time bomb: an intrepid female reporter and unwitting informant, a drug lord and key architect in Chávez’s rise, and personal entanglements between the spies themselves. With everything at stake, the adversaries find themselves at the center of a game of espionage, seduction, murder, and shifting alliances playing out against the precarious backdrop of a nation in free fall. A thrilling fictional story based on unimaginable real-life events.Trade ReviewPraise for Two Spies in Caracas A New York Times Globetrotting Pick! An Amazon Best Book of the Month: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense “Naím wields his experiences as an international affairs writer and former Venezuelan economic cabinet member to provide authoritative insights into the severe economic downturns and rises in violence stemming from the power plays of external actors seeking to exploit a vulnerable nation in turmoil. This is a must for anyone who wants to explore this tumultuous and often strange period in modern Latin American history.” —Publishers Weekly Praise for The End of Power “A remarkable new book by the remarkable Moisés Naím.” —Richard Cohen, Washington Post “Naím is a courageous writer who seeks to dissect big subjects in new ways.” —Wall Street Journal “[A] highly original, interdisciplinary meditation on the degeneration of international power…The End of Power makes a truly important contribution.” —Washington Post “This fascinating book…should provoke a debate about how to govern the world when more and more people are in charge.” —Foreign Affairs “After you read The End of Power, you will see the world through different eyes. Moisés Naím provides a compelling and original perspective.” —Arianna Huffington “[Naím] makes his case with eloquence.” —Financial Times “A timely and timeless book.” —Booklist “Having served as editor in chief of Foreign Policy and executive director of the World Bank, Naím knows better than most what power on a global scale looks like…[A] timely, insightful, and eloquent message.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “The End of Power will change the way you read the news, the way you think about politics, and the way you look at the world.” —William Jefferson Clinton “In my own experience as president of Brazil, I observed firsthand many of the trends that Naím identifies in this book, but he describes them in a way that is as original as it is delightful to read. All those who have power—or want it—should read this book.” —Fernando Henrique Cardoso

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Book SynopsisYou can cover up the truth but it won’t stay buried forever. A man is found bludgeoned to death in woodland by the village of Canwick, and the close-knit community is sent into shock. Detective Karen Hart, still haunted by the tragic loss of her husband and daughter nearby, is brought in to investigate the horrific murder. It soon becomes clear that dark secrets lie behind Canwick’s unspoiled appearance. When Hart begins to suspect that a modern-day slavery ring has been hiding in plain sight among the villagers, she faces a race to find proof before the culprits slip from her grasp. But when key witnesses start disappearing, it’s obvious that there’s a deep-rooted conspiracy to keep prying eyes away from the truth. But in a village where everyone knows everyone, who knows more than they are letting on—and who can Hart really trust? She’s in deep and she’s never been more alone. She must confront the tragedy of her own past if she wants to catch the killers before it’s too late. Because one thing’s for certain—there’s no turning back…

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Book SynopsisIn this tense thriller from the bestselling author of What You Did and The Other Wife, a woman finds a dead body. Will she make the same mistake as last time? When Rachel stumbles upon a body in the woods, she knows what she has to do: run. Get away. Do not be found at the scene. Last time, she didn’t know, and she ended up accused of murder. But when this victim is identified as her boyfriend’s estranged wife, Rachel realises she’s already the prime suspect. With mounting evidence against her, Rachel’s only hope is to keep the truth about herself well hidden. Because twenty years ago she was someone else—Casey, a young nanny trying to make it as an actress in Los Angeles. When the family she worked for were brutally murdered, all the evidence pointed to her and she went to prison. Back then, she narrowly escaped the death penalty and managed to free herself on appeal. Now she’s fighting to save the life she’s spent years piecing back together. But with her behaviour raising suspicion and the police closing in, Rachel can’t help wondering: Was her discovery in the woods really just an awful coincidence, or is someone framing her for murder? Someone who knows who she is, and wants revenge…Trade Review“This tense, twisty thriller keeps the reader on tenterhooks right through to its breathless ending.” —Good Housekeeping “You’ll be guessing until the very end.” —Woman & Home “An addictive pulse-pounder.” —Heat magazine “Gripping, incredibly tense and twisty with real emotional heart.” —Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request “A totally compelling read. McGowan is brilliant at writing from the point of view of a woman trapped by her own toxic reputation.” —William Shaw, author of the DS Alexandra Cupidi series

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Book SynopsisSummer 1911. A scorching heatwave engulfs the quiet town of Littleton Cotterell and brings about an unusually early harvest. The villagers are thrilled, but events quickly turn sour when one of them turns up dead in an apple orchard, stabbed through the heart. Amateur sleuth Lady Hardcastle and her trusty lady’s maid, Flo, suddenly have a juicy case on their hands. Might the mysterious stranger they recently met in the village be to blame? When a second cider-related murder takes place, it quickly becomes clear that there’s more to these mysterious deaths than meets the eye. The daring duo uncover whispers of an ancient order and moonlit rituals. And evidence points to a macabre secret in the village stretching back years. A secret someone will do anything—anything at all—to keep hidden. Something is rotten, that’s for sure. With the local constabulary baffled, Lady Hardcastle and Flo must use all their powers of wit and whimsy to get to the bottom of the dastardly deed. But can they catch the killer before any more people drop dead?

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Book SynopsisA sizzling international romance about an unlikely matchup between an Irish footballer who likes to play the field and a shoe designer with her own ambitions from Open Play author JN Welsh.After Charlotte Bowman hooks up with hot Irish footballer Eoghan O’Farrell, she doesn’t expect to see him again. For one thing, she’s too busy for romance. She’s got her designer shoe company, a globe-trotting best friend to keep up with, and a frenetic lifestyle in New York City.But when an elite Irish soccer team reaches out to Charlotte about designing a shoe for its star player, she can’t believe it. Could her random hookup be the celebrity footballer with a penchant for new cleats?Yes, as it turns out. But Eoghan isn’t just a flashy soccer player. For Charlotte, he’s a professional opportunity—a chance to convert her small business into a juggernaut. She’s hoping they can move past the fact that they’ve seen each other naked.Eoghan’s up for it, too, of course. But there’s a reason they fell into bed that first time.

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Book Synopsis“I thoroughly enjoyed this most suspenseful, intriguing and entertaining story… It definitely had Big Little Lies vibes!” —Liz Nugent, author of Strange Sally Diamond From bestselling author Lisa Gray comes a thrilling tale of a cutthroat contest for the ultimate house-selling commission… one million dollars. In the elite world of luxury real estate, it is often kill or be killed, something agent Andi Hart knows all too well—and after recent events, she’s ready to set her own rules. So when her boss challenges the team to find a buyer for a glitzy Malibu beach house, with a prize commission of a cool $1 million, she knows it’s her ticket to a new life. But she’s not the only one who not only wants but needs the money. Each of her four colleagues has secrets they’re eager to hide—secrets $1 million would go a long way in concealing. And soon, it becomes clear all five would do just about anything to get their hands on it… When a dead body is found at the open house, the dream home becomes a nightmarish crime scene. Has the contest reached a deadly new level, or is there something more sinister at work?Trade Review“Slick, smart and sassy as hell, To Die For has more twists than the Pacific Coast Highway. Lisa knows how to grab your attention from the get go with this memorable ensemble and it never lets up. Her best book yet.” —John Marrs, author of Keep It in the Family “Utterly fantastic! Like Selling Sunset meets Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles with murder! One of my top reads of 2023.” —Steph Broadribb, author of Death in the Sunshine “A glossy, glamorous surface gives way to a dark undercurrent in this oh-so-clever mystery.” —Marion Todd, author of the Detective Clare Mackay series “Set in one of my favourite cities, LA, it's a clever, twisty plot involving multi-million $ property deals and a great cast of characters. Think Selling Sunset with murder! I loved it.” —Michelle Davies, author of the DC Maggie Neville series “I thoroughly enjoyed this most suspenseful, intriguing and entertaining story…It definitely had Big Little Lies vibes!” —Liz Nugent, author of Strange Sally Diamond

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Book SynopsisLate October 1909, and the season of ghouls and things that go bump in the night has descended on the village of Littleton Cotterell. Lady Hardcastle and her trusted lady’s maid, Florence, find themselves hosting a colourful cast of actors whose spooky moving picture, The Witch’s Downfall, is being shown to mark Halloween. But things take a macabre turn when the first night’s screening ends with a mysterious murder, and the second night with another…One by one the actors turn up dead in ways that eerily echo their film. With the police left scratching their heads, Lady Hardcastle calls upon her amateur sleuthing skills to launch an investigation, with Flo’s able assistance. Surrounded by suspects both human and supernatural, Lady Hardcastle must use a little trickery of her own to unmask the murderer.

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Book SynopsisEvery Wednesday, like clockwork, the terror returns. It seems like an ordinary Wednesday, until the phone rings. A mysterious caller with a chilling threat. Journalist Alice Henderson hangs up, ready to dismiss it as a hoax against the newspaper. But the next Wednesday, the stalker makes another move—and it becomes clear that this is all about Alice. Someone wants her to suffer, but for what? Her articles have made her a popular local champion—could it be her past rather than her work that’s put her life in danger? Alice is determined not to give in to fear, but with the police investigation at a dead end, her boyfriend insists on hiring private investigator Matthew Hill. With every passing Wednesday the warnings escalate, until it’s not only Alice but also her family in the stalker’s sights. As her tormentor closes in, can Alice uncover what she’s being punished for before the terrifying threats become an unthinkable reality?Trade Review“Heart-wrenching at times, this story centres on a flawed but completely relatable character.” —Woman’s Weekly “Suspenseful writing with lots of twists and turns.” —My Weekly “A smart and intricate tale of revenge, with meticulously integrated clues and a conclusion you won’t believe you missed.” —Woman Magazine “Another highly accomplished, breathless thriller…had me awake until the early hours, bleary-eyed and craving just one more chapter.” —John Marrs, bestselling author of When You Disappeared “Scarily mesmerising . I Will Make You Pay sent butterflies of fear racing in my chest in the best possible way.” —Jane Corry, Sunday Times bestselling author of I Looked Away “[I] couldn’t put it down. It’s a beautifully written, deliciously dark thriller that kept me guessing right until the end.” —Nuala Ellwood, bestselling author of My Sister’s Bones “This book is highly entertaining, gripping and thrilling! Flawless, beautiful writing too. Loved it.” —Melanie Golding, bestselling author of Little Darlings “An enthralling story that held me in its clutches, with a resolution I didn’t see coming. Driscoll kept me guessing until the very end.” —Stephanie Wrobel, author of The Recovery of Rose Gold “I Will Make You Pay will have you turning pages well into the night, desperate to find out what happens next. I simply couldn’t put this one down!” —Matthew Farrell, bestselling author of What Have You Done “Driscoll tiptoes along your nerves and plunges you into icy waters when you least expect it.” —Gayle Curtis, author of I Choose You

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Book SynopsisBrave the terrifying world of PIGGY in this official illustrated novel based on the hit ROBLOX game!Diego was separated from his family in the early days of the Infection. Since then, he has moved from town to town and place to place -- getting by as best as he can.Recently, he has met and joined up with a motley crew of other survivors. After an encounter with a pack of the Infected, members of the group begin to disappear in mysterious and macabre ways.It''s becomes clear that not everyone in the group is telling the whole truth.Can Diego and his new friends discover the traitor amongst them before it's too late?

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Book SynopsisJohanna is one of the daughters of a migrant cobbler from the eastern backwoods of Pomerania, born in the German Empire of the 1880s. Aching for a life of accomplishment and respect, she resolves to escape her dad's fate of early death, the stigma of his mixed Slavic-German heritage, and the poverty that followed him.A headstrong girl, she refuses to be exploited as a housemaid for a wealthy family - the only choice for girls like her. She loses her job when the master of the house tries to rape her.With nothing to lose, she accepts a job as the concession shop operator with the railroad. On the first day of work, she sets up shop (and home) in an empty passenger railcar and meets Hendrik, a Dutchman, and the construction superintendent. Head over heels, they marry when Johanna becomes pregnant.It doesn't take long before the first babies arrive and continue arriving: within three years, Johanna delivers five children. The couple buys a farm with their savings in Hendrik's hometown.Then Johanna's real test of loyalty starts when the Nazis invade.

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Book SynopsisDuty and Honor: The Second Novel in the Drieborg Chronicles In the summer of 1862, the United States is gripped by the brutal reality of the Civil War, a conflict far longer and bloodier than anyone anticipated. Michael Drieborg, a young farm boy in rural Michigan, longs to serve the Union cause but is torn between duty to his family and the life he has built on the farm. His fate takes a dramatic turn one Saturday morning when he intervenes to protect a young boy from bullying, only to strike the bully?the son of the town?s influential banker. Arrested and charged with assault, Michael is presented with an impossible choice: go to jail or join the Union cavalry unit being raised nearby. Against his parents'' wishes, Michael leaves behind the only life he has known and answers the call to arms. What begins as the reluctant departure of a naive farm boy soon evolves into a journey of self-discovery, honor, and sacrifice. From the harsh realities of training camp to the political intrigues of Washington, D.C., Michael finds himself entangled in a love affair with a congressman''s daughter and thrust into the unimaginable horrors of battle. Duty and Honor chronicles one young man?s path to becoming a seasoned cavalryman, navigating the complexities of duty, love, and loss amidst the devastating tides of war. As Michael faces the tragedies of battle and the growing weight of leadership, his story becomes one of courage and sacrifice in the face of a nation torn apart. The second novel in the Drieborg Chronicles SeriesIn the summer of 1862, the United States is torn by Civil War, and what was supposed to be a short conflict has turned into a bloody campaign on both sides.Teenage farm boy Michael Drieborg lives with his family in Michigan and longs to join the cause, but he can''t juistify abandoning his parents or the farm. But fate interceeds one Saturday morning on the family''s weekly visit to town. Michael saves a young boy from being bullied. Unfortunately, he strikes the bully - the son of the town''s banker - and is arrested and charged with asswault.He was given two choices: go to jail or join a Union cavalry unit being formed in the area. Against the wishes of his parents, Michael leaves home and marches to war. Thus begins the story of a naive farm boy''s journey to becoming a seasoned Union cavalryman.From the harshness of training camp and the intrigues of Washington DC to falling in love with a congressman''s daughter and the horrific reality of leading troops into battle, Duty and Honor reveals one man''s dignity and sacrifice in the midst of tragic upheaval.

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Book SynopsisIn THE LAST POLICEMAN, Edgar Award winner and New York Times bestselling author Ben H. Winters, offers readers something they've never seen before: A police procedural set on the brink of an apocalypse. What's the point in solving murders when we're going to die soon, anyway? Hank Palace, a homicide detective in Concord, New Hampshire, asks this question every day. Most people have stopped doing whatever it is they did before the asteroid 2011L47J hovered into view. Stopped selling real estate; stopped working at hospitals; stopped slinging hash or driving cabs or trading high-yield securities. A lot of folks spend their days on bended knee, praying to Jesus or Allah or whoever they think might save them. Others have gone the other way, roaming the streets, enjoying what pleasures they can before the grand finale. Government services are beginning to slip into disarray, crops are left to rot. When it first appeared, 2011L47J was just a speck, somewhere beyond Jupiter's orbit. By mid-October it revealed itself to be seven kilometers in diameter, and on a crash course with the Earth. Now it's March, and sometime in September, 2011L47J will slam into our planet and kill half the population immediately, and most of the rest in the miserable decades that follow. All of humanity now, every person in the world - we're like a bunch of little kids, in deep, deep trouble, just waiting till our dad gets home. So what do I do while I wait? I work. Today, Hank Palace is working the case of Peter Zell, an insurance man who has comitted suicide. To his fellow police officers, it's just one more death-by-hanging in a city that sees a dozen of suicides every week. But Palace senses something wrong. There's something odd about the crime scene. Something off. Palace becomes convinced that it's murder. And he's the only one who cares. What's the difference, Palace? We're all gonna die soon, anyway. As Palace digs deeper, we are drawn into his world. We meet his sister Nico and her screwup boyfriend, Derek, who are trying to beam S.O.S messages into outer space; we meet Erik Littlejohn, a spiritual advisor helping his clients through these difficult times. Palace's investigation plays out under the long shadow of 2011L47J, forcing everyone in the book - and those reading it - to confront hard questions way beyond who-dunn-it. What basis does civilization rest upon? What is life worth? What would any of us do, what would we really do, if our days were numbered?Trade ReviewWinner of the 2013 Edgar® Award for Best Paperback OriginalOne of Slate’s Best Books of 2012A July 2012 Indie Next List Pick “It’s funny, it’s thrilling, it’s crazy, it’s interesting.”—Jenna Bush Hager, TODAY with Hoda & Jenna“Winters’s apocalyptic detective story contains an earth-shattering element of science fiction that lifts it beyond a typical procedural.”—New York Times Book Review “An appealing hybrid of the best of science fiction and crime fiction.”—The Washington Post"[The] weird, beautiful, unapologetically apocalyptic Last Policeman trilogy is one of my favorite mystery series."—John Green, author of The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns “In his acclaimed Last Policeman trilogy, Winters showed off his mastery of edgy, sardonic wit — there’s nothing like an asteroid speeding toward Earth to bring out the black humor in people.”—Newsday “Sharp, funny, and deeply wise.”—Slate.com “Darkly intriguing.”—Discover “I’m in the middle of it and can’t put the dang thing down.”—USA Today’s Pop Candy “Exhilarating.”—E! Online “Ben Winters makes noir mystery even darker: his latest novel sets a despondent detective on a suspicious suicide case—while an asteroid hurtles toward earth.”—Wired.com “Winters’s writing is funny, surprisingly tender, and thoroughly human.”—Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine“A sturdy, functional, entertaining page-turner.”—Greg Cook, WBUR.org “I’m eager to read the other books, and expect that they’ll keep me as enthralled as the first one did.”—Mark Frauenfedler, Boing Boing “The Last Policeman is extraordinary—as well as brilliant, surprising, and, considering the circumstances, oddly uplifting.”—Mystery Scene “Full of compelling twists, likable characters, and a sad beauty, The Last Policeman is a gem.”—San Francisco Book Review “This is a book that asks big questions about civilization, community, desperation and hope.”—io9 “In his Last Policeman trilogy, for which he won both the Edgar Award and the Philip K. Dick Award, Winters took a standard science fiction trope — the final months before an asteroid slams into Earth — and mixed it with some of the conventions of the detective novel, imbuing his apocalyptic scenario with an extra measure of urgency and poignancy.”—The San Francisco Chronicle “The Last Policeman succeeds both as a mystery, with a quirky detective and an intriguing whodunit, and as a piece of apocalyptic speculative fiction.”—Sacramento News & Review “Resonant and powerful.”—Locus“A promising kickoff to a planned trilogy. For Winters, the beauty is in the details rather than the plot’s grim main thrust.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

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Book SynopsisBruno Johnson is a wanted fugitive—and unless he helps the Costa Rican police, they’re turning him in Ex-cop, ex-con Bruno Johnson is hiding from US law enforcement in Costa Rica with his wife, Marie, and the twelve children they rescued from toxic homes in south central Los Angeles. Bruno works at the Lido Cabana Bar at the Punta Bandera Hotel, and his friend, Karl Drago, is getting married on the beach right outside. After the festivities, Bruno and Marie go skinny dipping in the ocean, but they’re quickly interrupted by a visit from law enforcement. A shooting has just occurred at El Gato Gordo nightclub, and the victim is a prominent local figure and Bruno’s close friend. The chief of police asks Bruno to help investigate, but the stakes are higher than ever—if Bruno doesn’t find the shooter, the chief will turn him over to US authorities. Everything is complicated further when Bruno becomes a victim of a crime himself, realizing that someone else may be after him. Bruno has to juggle the police investigation with figuring out who’s targeting him—if he drops the ball, it might be the last thing he ever does.Perfect for fans of Michael Connelly and David Baldacci While all of the novels in the Bruno Johnson Crime Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is:The Disposables The Replacements The Squandered The Vanquished The Innocents The Reckless The Heartless The Ruthless The Sinister The Scorned The DiabolicalTrade ReviewPraise for The Diabolical ”The Diabolical is Bruno at his absolute best: quick-witted, quick with his fists, and frighteningly formidable in protecting those he loves.” —Glen Erik Hamilton, award-winning author of Island of ThievesPraise for the Bruno Johnson Crime Series *“[In The Sinister] the twists come fast, and Putnam’s brisk prose maintains the momentum. Fans of Marcia Clark’s Samantha Brinkman series will be gripped.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) “Riveting, scary, but with plenty of wit and humanity, author David Putnam brings ex-cop Bruno Johnson’s world alive in a way that only another ex-cop could. In Putnam’s capable hands, the characters jump off the page—even the dog.” —Janet Evanovich, New York Times best-selling author “Putnam is a master of the gritty realism of law and order at street level. I guarantee that The Ruthless will grab you by the throat, shove you against the wall, and won’t release you until the final, satisfying page.” —William Kent Krueger, New York Times best-selling author “I really loved The Disposables. It’s raw, powerful, and eloquent. It’s a gritty street poem recited by a voice unalterably committed to redemption and doing the right thing in a wrong world. I'll be first in line for the next one from David Putnam.” —Michael Connelly, New York Times best-selling author “David Putnam's The Heartless is terrific—a smart, well-written, relentless account of a battle against evil, fought by a protagonist who has a real man's flaws, but also shows us the kind of heroism that's real.” —Thomas Perry, New York Times best-selling author “This is a police procedural that dazzles with authenticity, sharply-drawn characters, crackling dialogue, and insider details that only a real cop could bring to the page. Putnam can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Joseph Wambaugh and Michael Connelly.” —Lee Goldberg, New York Times best-selling author “Dark, disturbing, and all too believable, this is the tale of one man’s quest for atonement in a world where innocence is a liability.” —T. Jefferson Parker, New York Times best-selling author “Reading a novel by David Putnam is almost as good as riding shotgun in a patrol car. He writes what he knows and what he knows is that justice on the mean streets isn’t always black and white. Gritty and dark, The Reckless is a realistic and highly entertaining police procedural.” —Robin Burcell, New York Times best-selling author “David Putnam provides an insider’s knowledge of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. His characters and settings are rich and authentic, and his dialogue is spot on accurate.” —Robert Dugoni, New York Times best-selling author “David Putnam knows the mean streets and the characters who inhabit them better than anyone writing crime fiction. In The Heartless, Putnam is at the top of his game. Fans of Bruno Johnson will rejoice at this latest offering.” —Alan Russell, New York Times best-selling author “Putnam puts his years of law enforcement experience to good use in The Squandered, a shocking and intense tale of brotherly love and redemption realized in the midst of moral decay. It’s a raw and gritty story I couldn’t put down.” —C. J. Box, New York Times best-selling author “[The Ruthless is] a true thriller that is fast-paced, with twists and turns you will never see coming.” —D. P. Lyle, Macavity and Benjamin Franklin Award-winning author

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