Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisA triple homicide in a small Pennsylvania town is no small event. And when one of the locals is a writer with a hefty dose of curiosity, the secrets that people have been trying their best to hide never stay hidden for long...Acclaimed author Randall Silvis pushes the boundaries of crime fiction with The Deepest Black, a gripping and twisty novel written in the style of a true crime memoir that blends fact and fiction and leaves the reader guessing every step of the way.

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Book SynopsisIn the seventh and final book of Bree Baker's critically acclaimed Seaside Café Mystery series, Pleading the Fish, Everly Swan's wedding plans are upended by a dead body. She'll have to run her teashop, find a dress, and catch a murderer all before she can walk down the aisle!Hitting all the sweet-tea spots, this series is:A delightful Tea Shop and Café Culinary MysteryThe ideal cozy beach readPerfect for fans of Laura Childs and Kate CarlisleCafé owner and amateur sleuth Everly Swan, like every Swan woman before her, is cursed in love. The only problem? Her fiancé Detective Grady Hayes has something to say about it—he doesn't believe in magic and is determined to prove the curse wrong so they can spend their lives together. Everly wishes it could be so simple!It feels like a sign when a historian looking into Swan history is found dead in an antique wishing well, and Everly fears the curse is spreading. Grady takes the case, looking to find justice and prove the curse wrong, while Everly does a bit of investigating on her own. Big change is coming for Everly and her friends, but with mysterious strangers lurking about and someone leaving increasingly threatening messages for the happy couple, Everly's not sure she'll get her happily-ever-after!"A smart and likable protagonist, a vividly rendered setting, a suitably twisty plot, and some colorful supporting characters are the ingredients for a concoction as appealing as any of Everly Swan's specialty sweet teas."—Livia J. Washburn, national bestselling author, for Live and Let ChaiINCLUDES DELICIOUS FOOD AND DRINK RECIPES

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Book SynopsisTHE NATIONAL BESTSELLER!"Ingeniously plotted, irresistibly readable, brimming with inside information about the high-stakes art world of theft, forgery, and murder...Also included are brilliantly rendered drawings by the author, who is as accomplished an artist as he is a writer of suspense thrillers." —Joyce Carol OatesFrom the author of the much-praised The Last Mona Lisa comes another thrilling story of masterpieces, masterminds, and mystery. For years, there have been whispers that, before his death, Van Gogh completed a final self-portrait. Curators and art historians have savored this rumor, hoping it could illuminate some of the troubled artist’s many secrets, but even they have to concede that the missing painting is likely lost forever.But when Luke Perrone, artist and great-grandson of the man who stole the Mona Lisa, and Alexis Verde, daughter of a notorious art thief, discover what may be the missing portrait, they are drawn into a most epic art puzzles. When only days later the painting disappears again, they are reunited with INTERPOL agent John Washington Smith in a dangerous and deadly search that will not only expose secrets of the artist’s last days but draws them into one of history’s darkest eras.Beneath the paint and canvas, beneath the beauty and the legend, the artwork has become linked with something evil, something that continues to flourish on the dark web and on the shadiest corridors of the underground art world.Alternating between Luke Perrone’s perilous hunt for the painting, and a history of stolen art and stolen lives, The Lost Van Gogh is an intricately layered historical thriller perfect for fans of The Last Mona Lisa and The Night Portrait.Trade ReviewIngeniously plotted, irresistibly readable * Joyce Carol Oates *A kaleidoscope…a tremendously entertaining read. * Joseph Finder *

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Book SynopsisSome legacies are best abandoned...A legacy of loss.1600s: Hawaiian fishermen attempt to carve a life on a small island of rugged beauty. Mid-century, those who've survived the tsunamis and floods flee the place forever, dubbing it Kaumaha-Misery Island.A legacy of lies.1847: King Kamehameha chuckles at his good fortune when he rids himself of Kaumaha in a sale to Reverend Amyas Lathrop of Massachusetts, who is looking for a fresh start for his congregation. But faith is stretched to its limits when a mysterious illness devastates the island year after year...A legacy of bones.Present day: Ogden Lathrop hates Kaumaha, and his apathy has ruined all that his ancestors built. He is beyond thrilled when he closes a deal to sell the crumbling tax liability to a local developer for twenty million dollars-villagers and family be damned.But the Lathrop women feel differently. Family matriarch Eleanor seeks a fair solution for all involved, while her strong-willed granddaughter, Lani, born of two cultures, vows she will protect the island and its people to the last. When violence erupts, more than one casualty is found amidst the rubble, and the family grapples with the sins of both present and past generations. Now they must choose the legacy they'll leave behind. Can an island named Misery ever hope for a better future?

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Book SynopsisFive years after witnessing murder on the Aegean island of Paros, Alistair Haston receives a call from a man claiming to be his son s grandfather, but Alistair has no knowledge of a son .until now.

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Book SynopsisHenry II, now in his late 50''s, exhausted from a lifetime of war remains one of the greatest Kings who ruled England. The founder of the ''Devil''s Brood'', he and his advisors modernized England''s government and society and much more. But it was his jealous family life which caused his life to fall apart. Alys was the timid 8-year-old daughter of the King of France when sent to England and ultimately forced into marriage with Henry''s violent son PrinceRichard, but he ridiculed and rejected her. Within six years, Alys had developed into a ravishing beauty, who was suddenly appealing to the old King himself.

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Book SynopsisWhen the body of Alex Ballantyne is found in Barnes Pond the police are baffled. Who could want to kill the newly retired teacher? Investigations bring them to St Jude s, the prestigious private school where Ballantyne taught, and to the discovery that Ballantyne had been blackmailing several of his colleagues. Sex. Money. Drugs. It seems that Ballantyne knew all about his victims secrets, and they were prepared to pay to buy his silence. Is one of the St Jude s staff the killer? And, if so, which one? DI Moriarty s on the case and he s soon discovering that nothing is quite as it seems. So runs the blurb of Schooled in Murder , a crime novel written by Ben Joseph, who is found dead in Barnes Pond the morning after giving a talk as part of the Barnes Book Festival. DI Garibaldi and his team are shocked to discover that the writer has been killed in exactly the same place, and in exactly the same way, as the victim in Schooled in Murder . When they look at the novel they see more connections with real life. Ben Joseph is the pseudonym of Liam Allerton who , like the victim in his novel, is a retired teacher. And he taught at St Mark s, a school very similar to St Jude s, the school in his novel. But is that where the similarities end? How much of Allerton s own life, and the lives of those he knew, had he put into his novel? And could the clue to the killer s identity lie in its pages?

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Book SynopsisLaura travels the world before returning to Sydney, where she works for a publisher of travel guides. Ravi dreams of being a tourist until he is driven from Sri Lanka by devastating events. An enthralling array of people, places and stories surround these superbly drawn characters - from Theo, whose life plays out in the long shadow of the past, to Hana, an Ethiopian woman determined to reinvent herself. Michelle de Kretser illuminates travel, work and modern dreams in this brilliant evocation of the way we live now. Questions of Travel is infused with wit, imagination, uncanny common sense and a deep understanding of what makes us tick.Trade ReviewThis is a novel unlike any other I have read... It is not really possible to describe, in a short space, the originality and depth of this long and beautifully crafted book. -- A.S. Byatt * The Guardian *Ambitious and entertaining... Questions of Travel should ensure her place as a serious international novelist of the first rank. * The Economist *Sweeping and virtuosic... An outstanding novel. -- Stephanie Cross * Daily Mail *Novel by novel, the Sri Lankan-born Australian has emerged as one of the most fiercely intelligent voices in fiction today. This new work, her most ambitious yet, makes globalisation and its discontents the focus of a multi-faceted story that unites grandeur and intimacy. -- Boyd Tonkin * The Independent *An artful meditation on movement and migration. * The Times Literary Supplement *Man Booker-longlisted de Kretser's precisely written novel is concerned with tourists, refugees and the complexities of immigration... a nuanced and ambivalent look at the crassness of tourism. * The Sunday Times *This truly is a book for our times. * Irish Times *

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Book Synopsis'Centred on three female outcasts who live on the margins of a cliquey community, this exquisite Australian noir novel shimmers with secrets, unlikely sisterhood and gasp-inducing twists.' – Love Reading'An incredible debut full of rich characters and a plot that will keep you guessing. Louise Wolhuter is a writer to watch' – J.P. Pomare author of In the Clearing'Darkly addictive. Once An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb gets its teeth into you, there’s no escape' – Adrian Hyland, author of Canticle CreekJessie Else disappeared the summer the Lambs came to Magpie Beach. Not that the two events were connected at all, in reality; only in my own head, in my own world. They marked for me the end of a certain quiet time and the start of a more complicated living. Magpie Beach is a quiet seaside town – full of small-town prejudices and small-town cliques. Meg, Rosemary and Lily are all outsiders. Meg and Lily because they came to Magpie Beach to escape their former lives, Rosemary because her upbringing was the subject of much local gossip and upturned noses. The three women come together as friends, partly because their homes are so close together on the outskirts of town – and partly because their neighbours treat them with such suspicion. When Jessie Else, all of 9 years old, goes missing – it’s easy to see why this small band of outcasts are first on the list of suspects – but what they didn't realise is that Jessie’s disappearance is only the beginning of their troubles. Soon all those secrets they’ve been trying to hide are going to be uncovered – and nothing will ever be the same again. Trade Review'Centred on three female outcasts who live on the margins of a cliquey community, this exquisite Australian noir novel shimmers with secrets, unlikely sisterhood and gasp-inducing twists.' -- Joanne Owen * Love Reading *

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Book Synopsis‘This gripping tale of three women who are suspected in the disappearance of a 9-year-old is a powerful read you won’t want to put down.’ – Pedestrian.tv‘An incredible debut full of rich characters and a plot that will keep you guessing. Louise Wolhuter is a writer to watch.’ – J.P. Pomare, author of In The Clearing and The Wrong WomanJessie Else disappeared the summer the Lambs came to Magpie Beach. Not that the two events were connected at all, in reality; only in my own head, in my own world. They marked for me the end of a certain quiet time and the start of a more complicated living.Winifred is a small town full of prejudices and assumptions. Meg and Lily are outsiders who live on its margins at Magpie Beach, where they’ve managed to keep out of each other’s – and everyone else’s – way for years. That is, until Rosemary comes along and draws them into an unlikely friendship. When nine-year-old Jessie Else goes missing, the residents of Winifred begin locking their doors, and fingers soon start pointing towards Magpie Beach. Questions threaten to undo Meg, Rosemary and Lily’s quiet existence, and the women band together to protect themselves, and to protect each other, but all three are holding secrets that are too big for them to keep on their own. It’s only a matter of time before they start to unravel–and nothing will ever be the same again.Trade Review‘Louise Wolhuter has created three unforgettable women in An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb. Escaping complex pasts and navigating uncertain futures, Meg, Rosemary and Lily forge a friendship that crackles off the page and dives deep into your heart. The mystery at the heart of the novel had me urgently racing towards the end, but Wolhuter’s distinctive voice and her beautiful prose had me immersed and lingering on every page.’ * Shankari Chandran, author of Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens *‘Darkly addictive. Once An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb gets its teeth into you, there's no escape.’ * Adrian Hyland, author of Canticle Creek *‘An incredible debut full of rich characters and a plot that will keep you guessing. Louise Wolhuter is a writer to watch.’ * J.P. Pomare, author of In The Clearing and The Wrong Woman *‘Charming, quirky and original. This beautifully written portrait of a small community of outliers keeps unfolding until the very end, revealing how little we ever really know about another person. Wolhuter is a real talent.’ * Inga Simpson, author of The Last Woman in the World and Willowman *‘A deeply evocative, hauntingly nostalgic and profoundly unsettling mystery.’ * Sulari Gentill, author of The Woman in the Library *‘The author’s care with her craft—this book is 25 years in the making—results in a magic alchemy of words that provides fresh and enchanting imagery. This novel is engrossing, mostly for the depth with which the characters are drawn and linger in our sentiments. It will be compared with books by writers such as Liane Moriarty—female friendships, small-town drama-mysteries, secret-filled pasts—and should not disappoint.’ * Books + Publishing *‘This gripping tale of three women who are suspected in the disappearance of a 9-year-old is a powerful read you won’t want to put down.’ * Pedestrian.tv *‘a slow burn, but a compelling and complex one, steadily entangling the reader in the women's lives. As the fires are stoked to a final conflagration, you won't want to put it down.’ * The Canberra Times *‘It's a finely wrought mystery notable for unusual depth of character - a slow burn with unexpected twists.’ * Sydney Morning Herald *

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Book Synopsis" A cracking slice of Aussie Noir." – Heat magazine A murder made to look like an accident. A disgraced cop trying to forget his past. Nash Baker was once a celebrated cop, but his career was ended when he chose to take justice into his own hands. Now he’s living a quiet life in a small town caring for the local wildlife and trying to stay away from trouble. Jesse Redpath has a new job in a new town, Satellite – the stormy weather that greets her first few days on the new beat seems like a sign for what’s to come. A local has died in what seems like an accident, but Jessie isn’t so sure that ‘accident’ wasn’t planned. All evidence seems to point to Nash, but Jessie’s not sure about that either. Seems like Nash has enemies. And what looks like a close knit community might just be cover for dark secrets.No amount of rain will wash this town clean. The new Jesse Redpath crime thriller from the bestselling author of Canticle Creek.Praise for Canticle Creek: ‘The rural crime fiction wave continues with this brilliant new arid drama.’ ― Australian Women's Weekly ‘Hyland has mastered the architecture of noir – his sinister tale seethes with small-town atmosphere and satisfying twists, set against the dangers and harsh beauty of the Australian landscape.’ ― Sydney Morning Herald ‘an entertaining and engrossing novel. Hyland has written the ideal story for a long, hot summer, where fire always seems a possibility.’ ― The Canberra Times ‘You can almost feel the blanketing heat and crunch of dry foliage underfoot while reading Canticle Creek ... a well-paced, atmospheric thriller with unexpected twists’ ― The West AustralianTrade Review"This new Australian thriller crackles with danger ... rival to Chris Hammer’s Oz bestsellers." * Peterborough Telegraph *"A cracking slice of Aussie noir" * Heat magazine *

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Book SynopsisA teenage girl walks home in a burgeoning blizzard, happy to have an unexpected snow day. Ignoring an Elder's warning about the terror the blizzard holds, she finds herself alone in her home with an unseen presence stalking and tormenting her. What does it want? And will she survive?

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Book SynopsisThe Amazon Princess' first assignment takes her to Man's World to teach humanity the ways of the goddess Gaea no matter who objects!

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Book SynopsisIn this companion volume to Titans: Beast World, witness the shape-shifting infection spread across the DC Universe, from Metropolis to Gotham and beyond!

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Book SynopsisAn atmospheric and gripping mystery set in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland from Lady Antonia Fraser's Jemima Shore series.'I warned you, Jemima Shore, things up here are seldom all they seem . . .'The body of a young man has been found floating in a pool on a remote island in the Scottish Highlands. It just happens to be the island that TV reporter Jemima Shore has rented for a holiday - a holiday that is rapidly falling apart. Confronted with a foreboding stone house, a bitter family feud and cryptic warnings from locals Jemima begins to regret her choice.It is only when another body is found tangled in weeds in the river she begins to realize she has become caught up in something very dark indeed. As she tries to fight her attraction to a suspect, Jemima struggles to work out just who she can trust. In this lonely spot it seems that nobody is quite as they first appear...Trade ReviewA judicious mixture of puzzle, excitement, and terror ... [the story] is written with humour and sympathy and has a heroine of whom, happily, it is promised that we shall know moreFraser writes with fluent flair - SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

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Book SynopsisHernia''s fourth Billy Goat Gruff Festival is derailed by murder and a series of outrageous pranks in this hilariously entertaining cozy mystery filled with quirky characters - the latest delectable offering in the longrunning Pennsylvania-Dutch mystery series featuring the irrepressible Magdalena Yoder.The annual Billy Goat Gruff Festival is the undisputed highlight of Hernia''s social calendar. But when Magdalena Yoder, village mayor and owner of the PennDutch Inn, had the brainwave four years ago, little did she realize that it would soon attract visitors from far and wide - even Australia, as the unexpected arrival of Gabe''s long-lost cousin, Miriam, at the inn confirms.Unfortunately, the shock of Miriam''s one-legged appearance is soon usurped by a gruesome discovery, followed by a series of bizarre pranks as the festivities take place. As chaos ensues, Magdalena is spurred into finding a killer. But is the festival really the target, or is it Magdalena herself?A deliciously laugh-out-loud, kooky culinary cozy full of unexpected twists that will entertain and intrigue from start to finish, perfect for fans of Diane Mott Davidson.

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Book SynopsisA midwife disappears after attending the birth of a child in another community, leading to an investigation that uncovers innumerable lies and secrets.1790s, Maine. In the depths of winter Hortense, a midwife, disappears after attending a birth in the woodlands. During the search Will Rees finds her struggling through the snow and woods without shoes or a coat. After two young men begin stalking the community in search of her - including targeting Rees''s own family - she is questioned further and claims she was kidnapped . . . but Rees and his wife Lydia are suspicious. It is agreed Hortense''s presence is endangering everyone''s safety and she needs to leave. As the arrangements are made she is hidden in Zion, the local Shaker community, only while there a Shaker Sister is murdered. Witnesses describe a man fitting Josiah Wooten''s description, a ferocious man living in the woods with two young sons.What is the truth behind Hortense''s disappearance, and who is responsible for the death of the Shaker Sister?

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Book SynopsisIntroducing criminologist Will Traynor in the first of a gripping new forensic mystery series from an expert in the field.When a headless body is discovered on a popular jogging trail, Detective Inspector Bernard Watts and his team are plunged headlong into a baffling murder investigation. Why would someone stab to death a young woman on her daily run - and take her head? When a close examination of the crime scene results in a shocking discovery linking the present murder to a past crime, criminologist Will Traynor is brought in to assist the police. Aware of Traynor''s troubled past and already having to deal with inexperienced rookie PC Chloe Judd on his team, Watts is sceptical that Traynor will bring anything useful to the investigation. He''s about to be proved very wrong ...

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Book SynopsisJane Ferguson suffers from horrific nightmares which she claims not to be able to explain. And when her traumatised 6-year-old daughter finds Jane dead, hanging by the neck in the hallway of the family''s seaside home, it is assumed she took her own life.But routine police enquiries reveal evidence indicating that Jane has been murdered, and her businessman husband Felix, commodore of the local yacht club, becomes the chief suspect.Called in to launch a major inquiry, Detective Inspector David Vogel discovers that nothing connected with Jane Ferguson''s death is as it seems. Gradually, he uncovers a deeply disturbing story involving a succession of shocking family secrets stretching back over three decades.

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Book SynopsisHarry Tate has one rule: you don''t abandon your friends. When he learns that former colleague Rik Ferris has had a breakdown and disappeared, allegedly in possession of highly sensitive secrets from MI6''s archives, he agrees to look for him and, if possible, bring him back in. But where to begin? Rik could be anywhere in the world.All Harry knows is, if he doesn''t find Rik, others will be sent out instead. And they won''t play by the same rules.What Harry doesn''t know is that Rik is being held prisoner and tortured for information relating to a high-level mole in the British establishment. If he doesn''t tell his captors what he knows, it will result in a devastating cyber attack designed to bring the UK to its knees.

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Book SynopsisMoney is the root of all evil, according to the Reverend Mother - but is it the motive for her cousin''s murder?Wealthy widow Charlotte Hendrick had always promised that her riches would be divided equally between her seven closest relatives when she died. Now she has changed her mind and summoned her nearest and dearest, including her cousin, the Reverend Mother, to her substantial home on Bachelor''s Quay to inform them of her decision. As Mrs Hendrick''s relatives desperately make their case to retain a share of her wealth, riots break out on the quays outside as the flood waters rise ...The following morning, a body is discovered in the master bedroom, its throat cut. Could there be a connection to the riots of the night before - or does the killer lie closer to home? In her efforts to uncover the truth, the Reverend Mother unearths a tale of greed, cruelty, forbidden passion ... and cold-blooded malice.

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Book SynopsisPrivate investigator Jennie Redhead is hired to investigate a murder that''s left the police baffled, in this gripping historical mystery set partly in 1970s Oxford and partly in war-torn 1940s London.Oxford, 1975. Three years ago, world-renowned anthropologist Grace Stockton was slain in a brutal, unprovoked attack. Despite a large-scale police investigation, the identity of the prime suspect was never uncovered . . . and neither was the location of Grace''s head.But Grace''s daughter, the wealthy academic Julia Pemberton, refuses to accept that the trail has run cold. Determined to find out who killed her mother, she knows just the woman for the job: private investigator Jennie Redhead.Who was the woman caught on CCTV visiting Grace''s isolated home on the day of the murder? And why did she cut off her victim''s head? Jennie''s search for answers takes her on a dark, disturbing journey into the past, from the ancient tribal customs of Papua New Guinea, to war-torn 1940s London - and to a dark tangle of secrets and scandal that someone is desperate should never be revealed . . .

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Book SynopsisWhen a murder is staged at magnificent Knebworth House, Victorian writer-sleuths, Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins investigate.August, 1856. Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens are spending the summer at Knebworth House, the magnificent Hertfordshire home of fellow writer Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton, where they are putting on a charity performance of one of Lord Edward''s most successful plays, The Lady of Lyon. But the dress rehearsal is disrupted by the discovery of a body lying in the centre of the stage, shot to death.With everyone involved in the play coming under suspicion, the two writer-sleuths feel compelled to investigate. Their enquiries unearth a number of scandalous secrets lurking among the writers, artists and actors assembled at Knebworth. Secrets that stretch back more than twenty years. Secrets that will have devastating repercussions for the present.

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Book SynopsisChristine de Pizan is in danger when she is sent to the Priory of Poissy to catch the killer of a young nun in this vividly imagined historical mystery set in fourteenth-century France.Paris, 1399. Scribe Christine de Pizan is sent to the Priory of Poissy by the palace to copy a manuscript for the prioress. But the prioress already has many copyists, and Christine senses that something is amiss.Her suspicions are confirmed when the prioress reveals that one of the sisters has been found murdered in the cloister. Fearing for the welfare of the king''s young daughter who resides at the abbey, she is eager for Christine to find out who killed the young nun - and why.As Christine investigates, she uncovers dark mischief and closely guarded secrets, but can she unmask a killer?

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Book SynopsisHealer Lassair returns to England and uncovers a secret that puts the lives of everyone she knows in grave danger, in the final Aelf Fen medieval mystery. It is the summer of 1100, and after seven long years away in Spain, Lassair is finally going home. Back to her beloved mentor Gurdyman. Back to her family. And back to young lawman Jack Chevestrier, who Lassair hopes still carries the same deep feelings for her as she does for him.Before she can reunite with her loved ones, however, Lassair has a long-overdue task to perform. Old flame - and king''s spy - Rollo Guiscard left her a chest before he died, and it is finally time for her to collect it. But the chest contains more than gold, and soon Lassair is caught up in a web of danger and deception that threatens not just her own life, but the lives of everyone she holds dear.And this is not the only peril Lassair must face. For although she''s left the south behind her forever, the south is not done with her yet . . .Gripping, tense and moving, the last installment of the Aelf Fen series provides both a twisty and compelling historical murder mystery and a hugely satisfying end to Lassair''s story, which began over a decade ago with OUT OF THE DAWN LIGHT.

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Book SynopsisWill DCI Andy Gilchrist end up like the others - dead, beheaded on a beach?The middle of winter in St Andrews. When a young woman's half-naked body is found on Fife's Coastal Path, frozen and with remnants of a rope manacle around her wrist, DCI Andy Gilchrist is given the case. Gilchrist's investigation uncovers a bloody trail of shootings and executions that lead him to the heart of a trafficking war. Links to Scotland's foremost criminal family, the Home Office and a killer intent on expanding his territory, pull Gilchrist deeper into this murderous web until he comes face to face with the most dangerous man he has ever met. Praise for T. F. Muir:'Everything I look for in a crime novel.' Louise Welsh'A truly gripping read, with all the makings of a classic series.' Mick Herron'A clever thriller, tinged with melancholy.' Karen Campbell.'Rebus did it for Edinburgh. Laidlaw did it for Glasgow. Gilchrist might just be the bloke to put St Andrews on the crime fiction map.' Daily Record

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Book SynopsisBored socialite Phryne Fisher leaves the tedium of the London season for adventure in Australia!Tea-dances in West End hotels, weekends in the country with guns and dogs... Phryne Fisher - she of the grey-green eyes and diamante garters - is rapidly tiring of the boredom of chit-chatting with retired colonels and foxtrotting with weak-chinned wonders. Instead, Phryne decides it might be amusing to try her hand at being a lady detective - on the other side of the world!As soon as she books into the Windsor Hotel in Melbourne, Phryne is embroiled in mystery: poisoned wives, drug smuggling rings and corrupt cops... not to mention erotic encounters with beautiful Russian ballet star Sasha de Lisse; England's green and pleasant land just can't compete with these new, exotic pleasures!Trade ReviewFrom beginning to end, Greenwood infuses her series with evocative settings, multidimensional characters, and satisfying mysteries. * Booklist *

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Book Synopsis'WALKER'S FINEST YET ... A FIRST-RATE MYSTERY' - Entertainment WeeklyBruno, Chief of Police, investigates when a body is found floating in the river showing marks of Satanism. France's favourite cop must track down a murderer while quelling his town's superstitious fears in this page-turning mystery, part of an internationally bestselling series.It is springtime France's Périgord, a time of beauty and calm. But not for Bruno, chief of police of the small town of St Denis. A woman's body has been found on a boat, bearing signs of a black magic ritual. Bruno has too much on his plate as it is - mediating a domestic abuse case that needs careful handling and a dodgy local development proposal that seems just too good to be true. But a murder case must take precedent and the roots of this one lie buried deep in the past - linked to a chateau above a bend in the river, to the reclusive old woman who lives there, and to the secret hidden in the Devil's Cave.Trade ReviewIf you're looking for some engaging entertainment as a beach read or for a wet afternoon then you're unlikely to go far wrong * Bookbag *The irresistible Bruno ... leaping up mountains and plunging into caves as he prevents various ingenious crimes and plots from upsetting the traditional way of life in St Denis * Literary Review *A page turning thriller ... well crafted and enjoyable * Tribune *Makes for pleasant holiday reading with its panoramic picture of life in all those Dordogne towns and hamlets * Shotsmag *The book's darker edges are balanced out by a likeable main character and Walker's obvious love for and understanding of French country life is obvious in every page * Irish Examiner *Walker's finest yet, a first-rate mystery * Entertainment Weekly *

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Book Synopsis'WALKER BRINGS TO LIFE A COMPLETE COMMUNITY AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE WHO IS ITS PROTECTOR, TEACHER AND FRIEND' - Literary ReviewIn rural Dordogne, Bruno, Chief of Police, knows that WW2 casts the longest shadow. Rare bank notes are found, linking to the famous Neuvic train robbery of 1944 in the sixth internationally-bestselling case for France's favourite cop.In the small town of St Denis, Bruno, can't get a moment's rest. Some rare bank notes have come to light that may have links to the legendary Neuvic train robbery in 1944. The investigation is fraught with issues. Bruno is also dealing with a wave of local burglaries, which have brought his old flame, Isabelle - and their complicated history - back to the town. Worse is to come. Tasked with piecing together these past crimes, Bruno now finds he has the more pressing matter of a body on his hands. He must now trace the links between past and present to restore peace in his beloved town of St Denis.

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Book SynopsisWelcome to Borley Rectory, the most haunted house in England . . . The year is 1926 and Sarah Grey has landed herself an unlikely new job: personal assistant to Harry Price, London's most infamous ghost hunter. Equal parts brilliant and neurotic, Harry has devoted his life to exposing the truth behind England's many 'false hauntings', and never has he left a case unsolved. So when Harry and Sarah are invited to Borley, they're sure this case will be just like any other. But when night falls and still no artifice can be found, the ghost hunters are forced to confront an uncomfortable possibility: the ghost of Borley Rectory may be real . . .'Deliciously creepy' Herald'Another brilliant, all-absorbing tale from Neil Spring' 5* reader review'Prepare to be pleasantly scared' Metro'Chilling and tense' 5* reader reviewNOW A MAJOR ITV DRAMA STARRING RAFE SPALLTrade ReviewA deft, spooky psychological drama based on a true story * Daily Mail *Surprising, serpentine and clever * Sunday Times *A gloriously spooky tale, perfect for dark Autumn nights * Netmums *Prepare to be pleasantly scared * Metro *Genuinely spine chilling . . . an excellent blending of fact and fiction * Light Magazine *I was gripped by the supernatural menace and the gradual revelation of mysteries and secrets * Fortean Times *'Surprising, serpentine and clever' Sunday Times. * Sunday Times *Close the curtains, pull up a chair, open a book - and prepare to be pleasantly scared * Metro *A deft, spooky psychological drama based on a true story * Daily Mail *I was gripped by the supernatural menace and the gradual revelation of mysteries and secrets * Fortean Times *Genuinely spine chilling . . . an excellent blending of fact and fiction * Light Magazine *A gloriously spooky tale, perfect for dark Autumn nights * Netmums.com *

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Book Synopsis1913. The clouds of war are gathering and Europe is in turmoil. A body is discovered on the shore below Beachy Head, just a mile from Sherlock Holmes' retirement cottage. Suicide, or murder? As Holmes and Watson investigate, they uncover a conspiracy with shocking ramifications: men who welcome the idea of a world war are seeking divine aid to make it a reality.Trade Review"Very intense." - Geek Dad "A must-read." - Booklist "A completely enjoyable romp and a perfect vacation read." - Pop Mythology

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Book SynopsisIn 1940, England is desperate and fearful. The threat of a German invasion is real, and many German Nationals are interned in camps across the country. When a young woman is found murdered on a desolate country road, Tom Tyler, a detective inspector, finds himself drawn into an uneasy alliance with one of the Prees Heath internees, a psychiatrist, who is an expert on the criminal mind.Trade Review"Master storyteller and screenwriter Jennings... launches a trilogy with this superb entry. Readers will be swept away by the sagalike tone and the characters' singular problems and traits." (Library Journal (starred)"

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Book Synopsis'Just brilliant.' DONAL RYAN 'An exceptionally good book.' C. J. SANSOM1816 was the year without a summer. A rare climatic event has brought frost to July, and a lingering fog casts a pall over a Dublin stirred by zealotry and civil unrest, torn between evangelical and rationalist dogma.Amid the disquiet, a young nursemaid in a pious household conceals a pregnancy and then murders her newborn. Rumours swirl about the identity of the child’s father, but before an inquest can be held, the maid is found dead. When Abigail Lawless, the eighteen-year-old daughter of Dublin's coroner, by chance discovers a message from the maid’s seducer, she is drawn into a world of hidden meanings and deceit.An only child, Abigail has been raised amid the books and instruments of her father’s grim profession. Pushing against the restrictions society places on a girl her age, she pursues an increasingly dangerous investigation. As she leads us through dissection rooms and dead houses, Gothic churches and elegant ballrooms, a sinister figure watches from the shadows - an individual she believes has already killed twice, and is waiting to kill again... Determined, resourceful and intuitive, Abigail Lawless emerges as a memorable young sleuth operating at the dawn of forensic science.Trade ReviewWhat a story he tells and what a voice he uses to tell it: Abigail Lawless is a joy. This is the kind of writing that pushes you gently into a different world then holds you there until the last sentence. Just brilliant.An exceptionally good book . . . Abigail is a marvellous character, who half-inhabits a Jane Austen-like world of balls and fine clothes, yet whose real interest and talent is in science, especially forensic science . . . [she] speculates ceaselessly, and that and her humanity are what makes her such a rich and satisfying character.The Coroner's Daughter starts with the best first sentence I have read in an age . . . Abigail is a wonderful heroine; fascinated by the macabre, scientifically minded and spiked with wit. Historical fiction is awash with amateur sleuths following ye olde clues but this sparkling crime novel breathes life into the genre. * THE TIMES *The Coroner's Daughter is that rare thing, a beautifully-crafted novel that is also gripping and powerful. It’s superb.The plot is intriguing and the father-daughter relationship honest and delightful, but it is Abigail – one of the most attractive heroines in a long time – who carries the day. * DAILY MAIL *

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Book Synopsis"Much With Body is modern and approachable, with an undercurrent of irony. All in all, a powerfully potent reading experience" Buzz Magazine"I was moved by this collection which places the joy of nature alongside the lived experience of those who suffer, the wild and free next to images of confinement and inaccessibility. Atkin has crafted poems in both traditional and highly experimental forms with huge success." - London Grip"This collection is a keeper, I can''t recommend it highly enough."- Caroline Bracken Atkins splits her collection into three unique parts. Atkins begins with refreshing perspective on the innocence and light-hearted descriptions of her experience with her local wildlife in Cumbria. Her next section is focused on ignored poetry from Dorothy Wordsworth, taking on an experimental style to share Atkins'' struggle with lockdown, weather and illness. In her final section, Atkins highlights the ableism she experiences, linking the medical to the personal and her identity as a long-term sufferer from a chronic illness.

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Book SynopsisFREE LOVE. DEADLY PRICE.'William Shaw is one of the great rising talents of UK crime fiction' Peter James'If you're not a fan yet, why not?' Val McDermid'A first-rate police thriller set amidst the seamy underside of the swinging sixties' C. J. SansomThe RunawayA nameless young woman is found naked and strangled in an alley on Abbey Road.The RejectDS Cathal Breen, an outcast in the Marylebone CID, struggles to make sense of the case.The RookieUntil new recruit WPC Helen Tozer - the first woman to join the team - makes a breakthrough.And as hippies slam doors in their face, and locals suspect the new African neighbours, Breen and Tozer tread down a perilous path, closing in on a cruel conspiracy that goes far beyond class, colour and creed.Trade ReviewShaw skilfully re-creates an era of social turmoil and class conflict ... against a vivid background of pop culture, casual racism and Britain's involvement in the bitter civil war in Nigeria * Sunday Times *A first-rate police thriller set amidst the seamy underside of the swinging sixties ... The totemic year of '68 will never seem the same again * C. J. Sansom *Excellent procedural ... A gripping story, with two appealing protagonists and impeccably researched period details deployed throughout -- Laura Wilson * Guardian *Convincing atmosphere, lively dialogue and a fun cop duo unite Beatlemania, English racism and the Biafran war * The Times *Excellent * Mail on Sunday *Superb characterisation, a vivid recreation of the era, its sights, sounds and prejudices make this a highly enjoyable and readable debut for the pairing . . . Shaw is certainly a name to note for the future and we shall see this original and likeable couple again soon * Crime Review *Excellent ... authentic, often humorous ... The Sixties have been examined and presented every which way, but A Song From Dead Lips manages to be something fresh, both in this regard and as a detective novel * Killing Time Crime *

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Book Synopsis'Wonderfully imaginative' Bernard Cornwell, author of The Last Kingdom. The thrilling second instalment in the series. Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow and Bernard Cornwell.The Iberian Peninsula, 1809. French troops led by one of Napoleon's best generals are massing on the border. Wellington's outnumbered force needs to pick off the smaller French units if they are to stand their ground. For that they need information, which is where Captain James Keane and his company of reformed scouting officers come in. But it soon becomes apparent that someone high up in Wellington's headquarters is a spy for the French...and Keane's enemies within the army are quick to point the finger. Keane must defend his crew against their accusers - or root out the traitor himself.Keane's Challenge draws a fascinating picture of a disparate group of men brought together in a Peninsular War adventure that sees maverick hero Keane ride again.Trade ReviewRichard Sharpe would be delighted to have James Keane on his side! Iain Gale's creation is a wonderfully imaginative addition to the fascinating tales of Britain's defiance of Bonaparte - Bernard CornwellThis exciting military adventure is ideal for any fans of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books - The Good Book Guide

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Book Synopsis'One of the greatest anti-heroes ever written' LEE CHILDSummer 1942. When Bernie Gunther is ordered to speak at an international police conference, an old acquaintance has a favour to ask. Little does Bernie suspect what this simple surveillance task will provoke... One year later, resurfacing from the hell of the Eastern Front, a superior gives him another task that seems straightforward: locating the father of Dalia Dresner, the rising star of German cinema. Bernie accepts the job. Not that he has much choice - the superior is Goebbels himself. But Dresner's father hails from Yugoslavia, a country so riven by sectarian horrors that even Bernie's stomach is turned. Yet even with monsters at home and abroad, one thing alone drives him on from Berlin to Zagreb to Zurich: Bernie Gunther has fallen in love.Trade ReviewStill streets ahead of most other historical thrillers in its blend of wit, careful plotting and the kind of detail that brings the past to life -- Nick Rennison * Sunday Times *Bernie Gunther is one of the more interesting and original private eyes in thriller fiction... as the other nine Bernie Gunther novels show, Kerr thoroughly researches the period he writes about. In particular, he excels in his atmospheric portrayal of Berlin... -- Marcel Berlins * The Times *...a return to form for Kerr: it will keep diehard admirers of the Gunther novels happy and will also garner new supporters. As an alternative view of the Nazi world order, it's hard to beat. The Lady * The Lady *...a satisfying slab of hardcore historical thrills... fans of the sleuth will happily add this to their growing bookshelves, but it will win over other genre-lovers too. * Weekend Sport *Kerr's novels are modern classics -- Simon Sebag MontefioreThe best crime novels around today -- Malcolm ForbesThe good detective trying to do his best within a corrupt regime, few writers have tackled the theme with the rigour of Philip Kerr * Independent *Still streets ahead of most other historical thrillers in its blend of wit, careful plotting and the kind of detail that brings the past to life -- Nick Rennison * Sunday Times *Bernie Gunther is one of the more interesting and original private eyes in thriller fiction... as the other nine Bernie Gunther novels show, Kerr thoroughly researches the period he writes about. In particular, he excels in his atmospheric portrayal of Berlin... -- Marcel Berlins * The Times *...a return to form for Kerr: it will keep diehard admirers of the Gunther novels happy and will also garner new supporters. As an alternative view of the Nazi world order, it's hard to beat. The Lady * The Lady *...a satisfying slab of hardcore historical thrills... fans of the sleuth will happily add this to their growing bookshelves, but it will win over other genre-lovers too. * Weekend Sport *Kerr's novels are modern classics -- Simon Sebag MontefioreThe best crime novels around today -- Malcolm ForbesThe good detective trying to do his best within a corrupt regime, few writers have tackled the theme with the rigour of Philip Kerr * Independent *

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Book SynopsisThe Greatcoats have found the heir to the throne . . . but now they must keep her alive, against all the odds.'These books are just joyous - first-rate fiction, first rate adventure, first rate full stop.' Conn Iggulden, author of The Golden Age seriesThe Greatcoats have found the heir to the throne . . . but now they must keep her alive, against all the odds.Falcio Val Mond has completed the final task given to him by the late King Paelis: he has found the King's Charoites (well, one at least). But his task isn't over, and now he, Kest and Brasti must protect the girl from those her want her dead.'Sebastien, write faster!' John Gwynne, author of the award-winning series The Faithful and the FallenThat would be simple enough, if it weren't for the renegade Knights and legendary Dashini assassins, getting in their way, not to mention the Dukes, who are desperate to hold on to their power at any cost, or Trin, the merciless daughter of the ruthless Duke of Rijou and the cruel Duchess of Hervor, who is determined to be Queen of Tristia. Of course, the fact that the heir to the throne is thirteen years old doesn't help, nor the fact that every day brings Falcio closer to dying from the poison running through his veins.And then there is the Greatcoat's Lament . . . .Trade ReviewAn energetic, fun adventure that puts the "musk" back in "musketeer." Guaranteed to increase household swashbuckling by 100%. * Library Journal *Don't hesitate to buy this if you love a great hero and story . . . What a voice! What story-telling brio! If you love Dumas, or Game of Thrones or The False Prince this is the swashbuckling fantasy for you. * Amanda Craig, author of Hearts And Minds *One hell of a good book * Conn Iggulden *Fantastic from the first sentence to the last. Combining old-school swashbuckling action with contemporary characters and a good dose of grit, these books are the rarest of things, great rollicking fun combined with an emotional punch . . . Sebastien, write faster! * John Gwynne, Author of the Faithful and the Fallen *High energy, highly unique, swashbuckling-cop-epic-noir story. Buy it. BUY IT NOW. * Sam Sykes, author of The City Stained Red * Knight's Shadow is an excellent and engaging story, one of the best books I've read in a long time. 10/10 * Fantasy-Faction *Excels at telling a fun, exciting adventure. . . Knight's Shadow is a strong tale in its own right * Fanboy Comics *It's easy to love de Castell's work. Two books in and "Greatcoats" still remains approachable and readable fantasy at its finest * Upcoming4.me *Sebastien De Castell manages to wring every heart wrenching moment and ounce of anticipation from every scene, his fight scenes contain dark humour, explosive action and a great awareness of the art of sword fighting, all of which has you hanging on the edge of every page. . . . This really is an exceptional book and series * Parmenion Books *Everything that de Castell did well in the first book - the action, the adventure, the high drama, the zinging character interaction and dialogue - is taken to a fresh level here . . . Knight's Shadow raises its own bar . . . This story is bigger, darker and full of more violence than its predecessor * Over the Effing Rainbow *Greatcoats is now up there on my list of favorite fantasy series * Bibliosanctum *A breathless rollercoaster of a ride that will engage, fascinate and compel the reader ever onwards, there is a beauty to the tale that gets right to the heart of you . . . this is exactly how it should be done * Liz Loves Books *The fantastic dialogue, the humor, the twists and the exhilarating action all make this a worthy sequel to Traitor's Blade * Draumr Kopa Blog *I would still very much recommend the series to anyone looking for a well-written fantasy series * Civilian Reader *Action, drama, betrayals, I do look forward to reading more * Books For Life *One of the best book's you'll read this year, coming highly recommended. 9.5/10 * The Fictional Hangout *The best book I have read this year . . . I think everyone who enjoys a good story of adventure should pick up their copies of Traitor's Blade and Knight's Shadow first chance they get! * Arched Doorway *This ends on a satisfying conclusion that leaves room for the story to continue * Starburst Magazine *It was what I was hoping for and I was not disappointed! * Not Yet Read *Truly is a must-read book . . . the kind of historical fantasy that makes everything else pale in comparison * Beauty in Ruins *This second book has cemented my love for the series . . . It was so invigorating to go on this dangerous, and sometimes painful, but ultimately satisfying adventure with Falcio, Kest, Brasti and the rest of the Greatcoats. This is a series I recommend everyone to read! * Bookish Wimsy *I loved the story, I loved the style, the book just kept on giving and never lets you down. It's a perfect fantasy story * Book Geek Says *This book brought me to tears on numerous occasions, I felt so deeply involved with the plot and the characters . . . I don't think I'll ever tire of this series * Juniper's Jungle *Knights Shadow is a perfect book if you love engaging and hilarious characters, amazingly well sculpted fight scenes and that rush of excitement that only comes with being truly and utterly swept away by a writer of incredible talent * A Reading Machine *Better than its predecessor, Knight's Shadow is a wonderful sequel, managing to keep the tone of the original intact while at the same time expanding the themes that made it so good. The Greatcoats series is thriving, and I look forward to the next installment * Sean's Blog Now *A very entertaining series * Fantasy Review Barn *Resonates long after you close the book * Jennifer Melzer *The story was so gripping . . . I couldn't tear my eyes away. Recommended 100% * The Endless Reading List * Knight's Shadow is just amazing. The Greatcoats series with Traitor's Blade and Knight's Shadow should be on every reading list. Period. * The Book Plank * De Castell's superb writing and pacing results in a headlong rush of excitement to the very last page . . . The twists and turns make "Knight's Shadow" a page-turner in the truest, most satisfactory sense of the term * NewsOK *

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Book Synopsis'High energy, highly unique, swashbuckling-cop-epic-noir story. Buy it. BUY IT NOW' Sam SykesThe Greatcoats are back - and this time it's personal.How do you kill a Saint? Falcio, Brasti and Kest are about to find out, as someone is doing just that, and they've started with a friend.The Dukes were already looking for ways to weasel out of their promise to put Aline on her father's throne - but with Saints turning up dead, and Church Inquistitors pushing for control - rumours are spreading that the Gods themselves oppose her ascension.The only way Falcio can stop the country turning into a vicious theocracy is to find and stop the Saint-killer - but his only clue is the iron mask encasing the head of the Saint of Mercy, which prevents her from speaking. And even if he can find the murderer, he will still have to face them in battle - and this may be a duel that no swordsman, no matter how skilled, can win.Trade ReviewCombining old-school swashbuckling action with contemporary characters and a good dose of grit, these books are the rarest of things, great rollicking fun combined with an emotional punch . . . Sebastien, write faster! * John Gwynne, author of The Faithless and the Fallen *This is a one in a million series. Each book is fantastic yet manages to be better than the last and with Saint's Blood Castell takes the characters and readers into some hugely unexpected and exciting places with the consummate precision and skill of a master dueller * Fantasy Faction *Sebastien de Castell exhibits his finest form yet in Saint's Blood . . . If you enjoy fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat adventure and compelling, believable characters battling overwhelming odds yet never giving in, you can't beat the Greatcoats series. To read them is to love them * The Oklahoman *It's like The Three Musketeers with magic. On steroids. But for all of the wild adventuring, peril and spectacle, there is a real heart emerging from beneath it all * Over the Effing Rainbow *Sebastien de Castell keeps delivering amazing books, displaying his talent for weaving a web of humour, tension, ingenious plots and fantastic characters . . . An exhilarating journey that took me at breakneck speed through a whole array of emotions * Draumr Kopa *Wildly entertaining and thoroughly intense, Saint's Blood is the kind of book that makes you wish all epic heroic fantasy can be this awesome * Bibliosanctum *Huge amounts of adventurous fun, witty and incisive dialogue, a set of characters to die for and layer upon layer of fantastic world building - with laugh out loud moments interspersed with dark and dastardly doings. Plus swordfights. What more could you ask * Liz Loves Books *From the first line we remember how funny the writing is in this series as we are immersed back into the world of the Greatcoats, their bone-plated attire and their dueling swords. . . De Castell retains that wonderful, witty delivery that made the first two books in the series such a success' * British Fantasy Society *A perfect and fresh addition to the Epic Fantasy genre, I loved every bit of it . . . The bottom-line is: Read Saint's Blood * The Book Plank *Don't hesitate to buy this if you love a great hero and story . . . What a voice! What story-telling brio! If you love Dumas, or Game of Thrones or The False Prince this is the swashbuckling fantasy for you. * Amanda Craig, author of Hearts And Minds *One hell of a good book * Conn Iggulden *High energy, highly unique, swashbuckling-cop-epic-noir story. Buy it. BUY IT NOW. * Sam Sykes, author of The City Stained Red *Highly entertaining . . . I loved everything about this book * Smorgasbord Fantasia *One of my all time favourite fantasy series . . . simply stunning' * Parmenion books *The character growth is stunning, the advancement of themes indescribable, and the escalation of tension to unimaginable heights breathtaking. I have no idea how de Castell can possibly top this, but you can be assured I'll be there to watch him try * Speculative Herald *Swept me along and I did not want to put it down * Blodeuedd *Sebastien de Castell keeps delivering amazing books, displaying his talent for weaving a web of humour, tension, ingenious plots and fantastic characters * DraumrKopa *The Greatcoats series is definitely one of my favorite Fantasy reads, and Saint's Blood was an amazing installment. Exciting, fast-paced, and full of major twists - the finale to this series is absolutely my most anticipated book now! * Bookish Whimsy *There's so much about this book to love . . . If you like swashbuckling fantasy, this is the story for you * Throw this Book at Me *The writing is clever and exquisite, each character voice unique and vibrant, and the relationships between the core characters is absolutely brilliant * Jennifer Melzer *This book, and series, is so close to perfection in my eyes . . . This book broke me. This book killed me. This book, then, resurrected me and gave me life. Then, I read the bonus content and this book ripped my f****** heart out, and now is going to make me wait a year to maybe get it back * Mel To The Any *

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Book Synopsis'Grace Fisher ... is beautifully authentic and reliably flawed' Liz Loves Books'Fisher is a great heroine - resourceful and resilient' CrimeThrillerFellaSometimes the danger is too close to see. A dark and gripping crime thriller introducing DI Grace Fisher.Press intrusion and a bullying and misogynistic police culture complicate the hunt for a serial killer in the first of a new crime series from #1 Kindle bestselling author Isabelle Grey.Labelled a trouble maker for grassing up a fellow officer and driven brutally out of home and job, DI Grace Fisher is thankful to survive some dark times and find haven with the Major Investigation Team in Essex. Any hopes of a quiet start to her new life are shattered by the discovery of the body of a female university student, last seen at a popular bar in Colchester. Grace has her first case.When a second student, also out drinking, is murdered and left grotesquely posed, the case becomes headline news.Someone is leaking disturbing details to a tabloid crime reporter. threatening Grace's investigation and even her job. Is it the killer? Or a detective close to the case?With another victim dead, and under siege by the media, the murder inquiry hits a dead end. The review team brought in to shake things up is headed by Grace's old DCI. Will tribal loyalties stop her getting to the truth?Trade ReviewAssured, convincing and especially good on . . . the delicate - and often dodgy - nature of the relationship between the police and the press * Guardian *An absorbing, well-written whodunnit set in a corner of the world as it actually is in the year 2014 * Literary Review *Absolutely convincing, sad, touching - and horrifying too * N J Cooper *This fast-moving novel combines clever plot twists with a surprising delicacy of feeling * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisFrom the moment he first gazes at Marjory across the roulette table in the Côte d'Azur Jean-Marie is entranced, and when their feverish holiday romance comes to an end he decides to take the biggest gamble of his life - to follow the beautiful Englishwoman back to rainy Edinburgh. But no sooner has Jean-Marie arrived than his luck runs out. He is drawn into an impenetrable mystery and soon, with blood on his hands, trapped in the grey-granite labyrinth of the city, he is running out of time to save his sanity and his life. The King of Fools is a fiendish tale of passion, betrayal and murder.Trade ReviewThe French master of noir The Observer Alongside the Maigret novels of Georges Simenon there is a rich vein of period French crime still to be tapped. Frederic Dard is a case in point Daily Mail At heart, The King of Fools is another Dard Noir Romance, a book about a love story gone bad, which is charming and engaging far beyond the plot details International Crime Fiction The literary descendant of Simenon and Celine Le Figaro No question: for me, he was the greatest Philippe Geluck France's most popular post-war author L'Express His language is cutting, his point-of-view original and his verdict uncompromising... One of the few twentieth-century authors to win both critical acclaim and great popularity Solidarite Militaire

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 1957 Grand prix de la littérature policière It was fate that led her to step out in front of the car. A quiet mountain road. A crushed violin. And a beautiful woman lying motionless in the ditch. Carrying her back to his lodging on a beach near Barcelona, Daniel discovers that the woman is still alive but that she remembers nothing - not even her own name. And soon he has fallen for her mysterious allure. She is a blank canvas, a perfect muse, and his alone. But when Daniel travels to France in search of her past, he slips into a tangled vortex of lies, depravity and murder. The Executioner Weeps is a macabre thriller about the dangerous pitfalls of love. 'The French master of noir' Observer 'Unsettling... worthy of Agatha Christie at her devious best... classic French noir' Guardian 'Hugely atmospheric' The Times 'Spellbinding' Wall Street Journal 'Disturbing from the outset with strong echoes of Simenon' Sunday Times Frédéric Dard (1921-2000) was one of the best known and loved French crime writers of the twentieth century. Enormously prolific, he wrote more than three hundred thrillers, suspense stories, plays and screenplays, under a variety of noms de plume, throughout his long and illustrious career, which also saw him win the 1957 Grand prix de la littérature policière for The Executioner Weeps. Dard's Bird in a Cage, The Wicked Go to Hell, Crush, The Gravediggers' Bread and The King of Fools are also available or forthcoming from Pushkin Vertigo.Trade ReviewThe French master of noir Observer Disturbing from the outset with strong echoes of Dard's hero Simenon Sunday Times Crime Club (star pick) A great story full of suspense and intriguing twists International Crime Fiction (blog) Searing, dark and economical... Dard... expertly blends glossy thrills, social commentary and escapist lust Hits the Fan (blog) It's exceedingly clever - when surprising things happen they slap you in the face for being so obvious, so necessary and so vital yet so surprising at the same time, and you can only squirm more enjoyably into your seat as you read on Bookbag This short, sly novel of the night has more than enough substance and mystery to keep readers awake and engrossed The National No question: for me, he was the greatest -- Philippe Geluck The literary descendant of Simenon and Celine Le Figaro His language is cutting, his point-of-view original and his verdict uncompromising... One of the few twentieth-century authors to win both critical acclaim and great popularity Solidarite Militaire France's most popular post-war author L'Express

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Book SynopsisA nightmare is haunting Daisy Harker. Night after night she walks a strange cemetery in her dreams, until she comes to a grave that stops her in her tracks. It's Daisy's own, and according to the dates on the gravestone she's been dead for four years. What can this nightmare mean, and why is Daisy's husband so insistent that she forget it? Driven to desperation, she hires a private investigator to reconstruct the day of her dream death. But as she pieces her past together, her present begins to fall apart...

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Book SynopsisA building full of secrets. A key that will unleash them all The K Apartments for Ladies in Tokyo conceals a sinister past behind each door; a woman who has buried a child; a scavenger driven mad by ill-health; a wife mysteriously guarding her late husband's manuscripts; a talented violinist tortured by her own guilt. The master key, which opens the door to all 150 rooms, links their tangled stories. But now it has been stolen, and dirty tricks are afoot. For a deadly secret lies buried beneath the building. And when it is revealed, there will be murder.Trade Review"An outstanding puzzle mystery… The gradual, logical, but still surprising unfolding of the Russian nesting doll of a plot is a delight." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)"Fans of P.D. James, Robert Barnard and other literate writers in the genre will welcome this prize-winning author's first work... Superbly crafted and riveting from start to finish." — Kirkus Reviews"A twisted locked-room fable, made creepily seductive by masterful portrayals of the residents' eccentricities and hints of malevolent supernatural forces." — Booklist Online"Extraordinarily atmospheric Japanese thriller ... Miss Togawa writes with economy, subtlety and an astonishing feel for time, mood, and the eccentricities of loneliness. An eerie gem." — Marcel Berlins, The Times "As fascinating a weird yarn of mystery as you'll find... One word sums it up - superb!" — LA Times"If you seek a wickedly original, clever crime novel, a brilliant exploration of the weaknesses of the human mind, I strongly recommend you lose yourself in Togawa’s acutely portrayed sketch." — Thrillers Books Journal"Masako Togawa’s works have been recently reissued by Pushkin Press, and we can’t thank them enough!" — Crime Reads"Starts out on a high note of tension and stays that way up until the very end." — Crime Segments"A clever story... If you like creepy this will definitely be right up your street." — Crime Review"A clever, creepy story." — Mail on Sunday"The PD James of Japan." — Times Literary Supplement"A bizarre yarn of guilty secrets among the sad, mad and surprisingly bad occupants of Tokyo’s K Apartments for ladies only." — Sunday Times Crime Club "Slickly-readable… jaw-dropping moments… Sharply crafted plotting ... Is Masako Togawa Japan’s answer to P.D. James? James should be so lucky." — South China Morning Post

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