Crime & Thrillers Books

Book Synopsis'The battle of the Teutoburg Forest, or Varian Disaster, took place in Germany, in September of AD 9. Three Roman legions were massacred by native tribes in a supremely well executed ambush. The defeat was one of the greatest ever suffered by Rome, and the body blow it delivered was one of the reasons that the Empire never again made a serious attempt to conquer Germany. All my books are born from my obsession with Roman history, and this one was no different. Planning and writing a series of novels about the lead-up to this conflict, the battle itself and its aftermath has been thrilling. I have twice visited the area of Germany in which the battle took place, and its many museums. Seeing the equipment, weapons, coins and even the bones of legionaries who'd died in battle didn't just fuel my imagination it stirred my soul. Eagles at War is the first in my 'Eagles' trilogy of novels about the Varian disaster, and although it is a work of fiction,Trade ReviewMilitary historical fiction at its best * Sunday Express *Masterfully done * The Times *You can bank on Kane to deliver an accurate version of events fictionalised with verve and served up with a large dose of bloody violence. * Sunday Sport *Ben Kane has put himself at the top of the historical fiction writing tree, and with Eagles of War he has begun a new trilogy which will leave his fans eager for more * Western Mail *Gripping, brutal and brilliant -- Giles KristianBen Kane’s ability to illustrate the major turning points in Roman history at the level where the blood gets shed is second to none, and in Eagles at War his ability to put believable characters into the heart of the battle is stronger than ever. -- Tony RichesBen Kane lifts the genre into a space all his own where honour and duty, love and hate, legions and tribes clash in spectacular, bloody, heart-breaking glory... I loved this book. It dragged me in on the first page, held me spellbound to the end and I can’t wait for the next one. More! -- Manda Scott

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Book SynopsisIt's just another day of high school for Zack Lightman. He's daydreaming through another boring math class, with just one more month to go until graduation and freedom-if he can make it that long without getting suspended again. Then he glances out his classroom window and spots the flying saucer. At first, Zack thinks he's going crazy.Trade ReviewA paean to the videogames of a bygone era – a tremendous amount of fun for anyone who remembers that time and played those games. * George R. R. Martin *

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Book SynopsisA Greek gangster arrives in Stockholm, only to be murdered in a macabre fashion at Skansen zoo, his body consumed by animals.As the Intercrime Unit a team dedicated to solving international violent crime investigate what brought him to Sweden, eight Eastern European women vanish from a refugee centre outside of the city while an elderly professor, the tattooed numbers on his arm hinting at his terrible past, is executed at the Jewish cemetery. Three cases, one team of detectives and an investigation that will take them across Europe and back through history as they desperately search for answers, and the identities of their killers.Trade ReviewEuropa Blues is a superlative crime novel: a complex network of narrative rivulets that all flow to a central roiling torrent that deals with the Holocaust, sex trafficking, the Mafia and some very peckish wolverines. In Dahl’s deft hands this potentially overwhelming plot is rendered effortlessly gripping by writing that is in turns simple and evocative – the crime novel as literary fiction. But Dahl’s elegant writing is not above getting its hands dirty. Europa Blues is violent, exciting and satisfying too * Metro *

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Book SynopsisA brilliant debut psychological thriller by a former police psychologist. Perfect for fans of Nicci French, Tana French and S. J. Watson.A plane falls out of the sky. A woman is murdered. Four people all have something to hide. Jim is a retired police officer, and worried father. His beloved daughter has disappeared and he knows something is wrong. Tom has woken up to discover that his wife was on the plane and must break the news to their only son.Cecilia had packed up and left her family. Now she has survived a tragedy, and sees no way out. Freya is struggling to cope with the loss of her father. But as she delves into his past, she may not like what she finds.Before the plane crash, after the plane crash, such a short amount of time for the world to turn on its head Trade ReviewKavanagh tells the story with great verve, weaving the strands of her story expertly. * Daily Mail *Dark, tense and convincing, this is a brilliantly executed and engrossing thriller. An extremely assured debut. * Sunday Mirror *A brilliant debut. * Marie Claire *We predict big things for Emma Kavanagh ... addictive. * Good Housekeeping *Thoughtful, often dark and devastatingly honest ... Falling marks the arrival on the crime scene of a major new talent, one with the potential to join the likes of PD James and Ruth Rendell as a writer who thrills her readers by making them think. * Shots Crime and Thriller Magazine *

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Book SynopsisMalta 1941. To most people HMS Saracen is just an ugly, obsolete ship with an equally ugly recent history: her last commander is due for court-martial after shelling the troops he was sent to protect. But to Captain Richard Chesnaye she brings back memories - memories of the First World War when he and the old monitor went through the Gallipoli campaign together. It seems that captain and ship are both past their best. But as the war enters a new phase Chesnaye senses the possibility of a fresh, significant role - for him and the Saracen.

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Book SynopsisYou thought you could leave the past behind.Think again.Donnie Miller counts himself lucky. Living in a beautiful, spacious house in the wild and remote landscape of central Canada, he spends his days writing for the local newspaper, working on a film script, and acting as house-husband. After a troubled and impoverished upbringing in Scotland, he now has all he wants: a caring wife, a bright and happy son, a generous father-in-law. As the brutal northern winter begins to bite, he can sit back and enjoy life.But his peace is soon broken. There are noises in the nearby woods, signs of some mysterious watcher. When the family dog disappears, Donnie makes a horrifying discovery. Is it wolves, as the police suspect, or something far more dangerous, far darker? What secrets has Donnie been keeping? And why does he have the terrible sense that his dream was never going to last?A taut, shocking and visceral novel that will leave you gasping for breath, <Trade ReviewPerhaps the most cleverly constructed and incendiary thriller I've ever read. The great books in this genre take you on an emotional roller-coaster, but the best, like this one, also have you trampling through a moral minefield. * Irvine Welsh *Niven is a deft writer who pumps unease like gas into the space between what Donnie was and what he has become…[a] gripping piece of work. * Guardian *[Niven has] a depth and empathy for his characters that few modern thrillers can match…The pace, dialogue and narrative voice are all pitch-perfect, and the flashback scenes of Donnie’s childhood are frighteningly realistic. Niven proves himself expert at creating a sense of foreboding, and when all Donnie’s worst fears come to pass, the author clearly uses his own experience as an occasional screenwriter to ramp up the tension to almost unbearable levels. A thriller that delivers on every level, Cold Hands is a fantastic change of style and pace for Niven. -- Doug Johnstone * Big Issue *A heart-racing page-turner of redemption and retribution... The book's twists and turns come to a cinematic, savage climax and it seems destined to join John's other books and be bought up for the big screen. * Sunday Mail, Scotland *Cold Hands is certainly one of the year’s smartest thrillers, as well as its most blood-soaked. * The List *

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Book SynopsisRuth Rendell was an exceptional crime writer, and will be remembered as a legend in her own lifetime. Her groundbreaking debut novel, From Doon With Death, was first published in 1964 and introduced the reader to her enduring and popular detective, Inspector Reginald Wexford, who went on to feature in twenty-four of her subsequent novels.With worldwide sales of approximately 20 million copies, Rendell was a regular Sunday Times bestseller. Her sixty bestselling novels include police procedurals, some of which have been successfully adapted for TV, stand-alone psychological mysteries, and a third strand of crime novels under the pseudonym Barbara Vine. Very much abreast of her times, the Wexford books in particular often engaged with social or political issues close to her heart.Rendell won numerous awards, including the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger for 1976's best crime novel with A Demon in My View, a Gold Dagger award for Live FlesTrade ReviewThe Girl Next Door is vintage Rendell and a perfect celebration of her half-century. She’s so effortlessly prolific that it’s easy to take her for granted; we assume that if we miss one of her books, there’ll be another one along in a minute. This novel, however, reminded me of the singularity of Ruth Rendell’s talent, her effortless mastery of language and her uncanny genius for mapping a criminal mind. * The Times *Rendell is as masterful as ever; her writing tense, brittle, and brilliant. * Sunday Mirror *She is the peer of Kingsley Amis and Muriel Spark. The Girl Next Door is as great a novel as Stanley and the Women or Memento Mori . . . a joy to read. Rendell's novels establish a sense of order that is deeply satisfying. * Evening Standard *Fifty years on, the girl from Essex has become the unchallenged crime queen of suburbia. Her powers of observation are as acute as ever, and she writes about old age with as much gusto as any of the subjects she has tackled in her long career. * Sunday Times *This book is extraordinarily courageous, a demonstration that fiction can take us where reportage dares not go. * Independent *Rendell gives an acutely observed portrayal of old age through her characters’ regrets, losses and bewilderment . . . Difficult themes such as death, usually dressed up in mystery in a crime novel are, thanks to these elderly protagonists, real, hard-hitting and constant. * Observer *That The Girl Next Door works as a standalone novel is partly attributable to Rendell’s deftness in parrying comparisons with her best-known creation. It also unravels a satisfying mystery, stretching tentacles into the past. * Spectator *An excellent analysis of re-found youth, this novel shows how people can surprise themselves even in their winter years. * Sunday Express *In this engaging novel, the portraits of elderly people living today and their preoccupations are presented with almost sociological precision, and scattered throughout are acute observations about changing language and manners. * Literary Review *Nobody does the suburbs like Ruth Rendell: in her expert hands they exert a morbid fascination. Behind the immaculate exteriors lurks a world of unhappiness and deceit – and at times murder. An excellent read. * The Lady *

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Book SynopsisWas it murder? Was it horribly botched surgery - accidental malpractice? Was someone in the great Boston medical centre -violating the Hippocratic oath? No one knows exactly. . . Only one doctor is willing to push his way through the mysterious maze of hidden medical data and shocking secrets to learn the truth. This explosive medical thriller is vintage Michael Crichton - with the breathtaking blend of riveting suspense and authentic medical detail that has made him one of today''s most fascinating writers.Trade ReviewFantastic...I loved it! * Stephen King *Superb! * Los Angeles Times *

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Book SynopsisJohn Buchan (1875-1940) was born in Perth, Scotland and educated at Oxford where he published five books and won several awards, including one for poetry. He went on to be a barrister, a member of parliament, a soldier, a publisher, a historical biographer, and - in 1935 - he became the Govenor-General of Canada. Today he is best remembered as the author of his perennially popular adventure novels.

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Book SynopsisGrasshopper is an enthralling, chilling novel by the bestselling queen of crime Barbara Vine''They have sent me here because of what happened on the pylon''When Clodagh Brown writes these words at the age of nineteen, she believes that she is leaving behind the traumatic events of her youth. But Clodagh soon learns that you can never entirely escape your past.In the aftermath of the incident on the pylon - a gargantuan electrified grasshopper - Clodagh goes off to university, moves into a basement flat arranged by her unsympathetic family, and finds freedom trekking across London''s rooftops with a gang of neighborhood misfits. As she begins a thrilling relationship with a fellow climber, however, both Clodagh and the reader are haunted by the memory of the pylon and of the terrible thing that happened there - and by the eerie sense that another tragedy is just a footfall away.Grasshopper is a modern crime masterpiece that will have you

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Book SynopsisThe Second World War was turned on its head at the moment Admiral Kolhammer's ultra-modern stealth warships were hurled back through time from 2021. But no one could have predicted just how much of a nightmare would ensue . . . Only months after the Transition, the great powers scramble to develop the weapons of tomorrow. The year 1942 is now a world of crude jet fighters, monstrous attack helicopters, and unholy dirty bombs a mongrel technology, born decades prematurely. Then, in a radical rewriting of history, Japanese forces sweep into Australia, foreign agents begin a campaign of terror in the USA, and Germany prepares for an all-out attack on Britain. The twenty-first-century forces must resort to the most extreme measures yet and face a future rife with possibilities all of them apocalyptic . . . Picking up from where he left off with Weapons of Choice, John Birmingham shocks and awes us with this gripping second instalment in tTrade ReviewPraise for Weapons of Choice:'An excellent page-turner' FHM 'Breathless plotting, catholic geekery and the central premise suggest great things for the next two volumes' Daily Telegraph'If there was a Booker for explosive alternative history techno-thrillers with guts and brains, it would be a cinch' Sydney Morning Herald

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Book SynopsisAs the nights draw in so the killings begin... A missing girl is found dead in a parking lot, her throat cut. Two young immigrants are gunned down in their apartment. And with each passing day the body count rises... For Minneapolis homicide detectives Gino and Magozzi it seems that this autumn the bodies are falling faster than the leaves.Trade ReviewOutrageously suspenseful -- Harlan CobenA fast-paced gripping read with thrills and devilish twists * Guardian *All of the elements that made the previous books under the Tracy banner so successful are in evidence in Two Evils... plotting of immense ingenuity and the authors' gift for genuinely speakable, sardonic dialogue * welovethisbook.com *A truly brilliant crime thriller, fast-paced and edgy, full of deception and retribution with the essential incredible twist! * Newmarket Journal *A powerful thriller and an ingenious plot * Observer Review *Some of the best new blood work in the genre . . . Scary funny, witty, and genuinely perplexing right to the end * Glasgow Herald *

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Book Synopsis''Fire as she bears. Rake her, lads.''Winter, 1793. Newly promoted Master and Commander Charles Hayden''s orders are to deliver the frigate HMS Themis to Lord Admiral Hood, whose fleet is sheltering in the Mediterranean. Only hours out of port, however, and the Themis is engaging with the French navy. Hayden''s destination is Toulon, a French port under Lord Hood''s protection. But there Hayden''s captaincy and seamanship are stretched to their limits. For Toulon holds a deadly surprise for the unwary . . .A Battle Won is the brilliant second instalment in the epic maritime adventures of Charles Hayden. A masterpiece in the tradition of Bernard Cornwell and Patrick O''Brian.

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Book SynopsisThe Chimney Sweeper''s Boy - a classic crime novel by bestselling, prize-winning author Barbara Vine''Gripping, almost impossible to put down'' Guardian''One of the most frightening novels I have ever read ... Gerald Candless, the monster at the heart of the maze, is a marvellous creation'' Amanda Craig, Express on SundayWhen successful author Gerald Candless dies of a sudden heart attack, his eldest, adoring daughter Sarah embarks on a memoir of him and soon discovers that her perfect father was not all he appeared to be. That in fact he wasn''t Gerald Candless at all. But then, who was he? And what terrible secret had driven him to live a lie for all those years?''So ingeniously constructed, its truth and falsehoods are so deftly and convincingly interwoven, that its solution ... is as jolting as a flash of lightning'' Sunday Times''About the power of taboos, transgressions, guilts, deceptions, horrors, atonemeTrade Review'So ingeniously constructed, its truths and falsehoods are so deftly and convincingly interwoven, that its solution... is as jolting as a flash of lightning' Sunday Times 'About the power of taboos, transgressions, guitls, deceptions, horrors, atonements, upsets and upheavals... gripping' Independent 'Vine's control of plot and pure horripilation... simultaneously thrills and disquiets. She goes for the imagination as a lesser writer would go for the jugular' Literary Review

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Book SynopsisDiscover the action-packed adventure thriller, perfect for fans of The Da Vinci Code, Indiana Jones and C. J. SansomHidden away in a dusty antiquities shop in Egypt, an ancient artefact is discovered.Quickly, it becomes the centre of the deadliest archaeological hunt in history . . .________The 20,000 year-old relic is inscribed with what appears to be the long lost language of Atlantis.Only one man is able to decode its meaning: the world''s foremost linguist, Dr Thomas Lourdes. But can he stay alive long enough?Meanwhile, an earthquake shocks Spain, uncovering a most unexpected site - one which the Vatican rushes to be the first to explore.Could it be that the lost city of Atlantis is ready to be found?And if so, is the world ready for her secrets?________''Brokaw''s hero is Indiana Jones without the whip. Who knew archaeology could be so exciting? Wonderful entertainment'Trade ReviewThe Atlantis Code will take you to a new level of mystery, wonder, adventure and excitement * Deepak Chopra *Short, gripping chapters move the action from Egypt to Russia to Africa to London. Indiana Jones meets The Da Vinci Code. Look out, Dan Brown, Brokaw can play this game a lot better than most of your imitators * Booklist Review *In the 19th century, the equivalent of a blockbuster movie was a tense, thrilling novel, often told in serial form. We tend to forget that the modern novel need not be anything more significant than excellent entertainment, which is the perfect description of Charles Brokaw's The Atlantis Code . . . A rollicking adventure, with nonstop action and suspense. Readers can only hope that Brokaw is prepared to send Professor Lourds on further quests * Publishers Weekly *A winning combination of all the ingredients an adventure addict could want: great action, intrepid archeologists, dark conspiracies, cliffhangers, and a real sense of wonder -- Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling co-author of PAUL OF DUNE and author of THE EDGE OF THE WORLDBrokaw's hero is Indiana Jones without the whip. Who knew archeology could be so exciting? Wonderful entertainment. -- Stephen Coonts, New York Times bestselling author of THE TRAITORStorytelling doesn't get much better than this. I've set this one aside to read again! -- David Hagberg, New York Times bestselling author of THE EXPEDITER

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Book SynopsisThe Spy is the third of Clive Cussler''s brilliant historical thrillers. 1908, and American engineering geniuses are being killed off one by one . . .When a brilliant battleship gun engineer commits suicide, his disbelieving family turn to legendary Van Dorn Detective Agency. Quickly on the case, Isaac Bell establishes that the clues point not to suicide, but murder.So when further deaths connected to a top-secret project follow, Bell realizes that this is sabotage. With the world plunging towards war, it''s clearly a spy at large. But which of the many foreign agents he has encountered is responsible? Or is there a more sinister explanation? In a blistering story featuring dreadnaught battleships and railroards, criminal gangs and beautiful women, The Spy is a breathtaking thriller that just happens to have at stake the fate of the world. Bestseller Clive Cussler - author of the Dirk Pitt novels Arctic Drift and Crescent Dawn - and co-author Justin Scott place hero Isaac Bell at the centre of a mysterious espionage conspiracy in the third novel of historical thriller series The Isaac Bell Adventures, The Spy. Praise for Clive Cussler:''Cussler is hard to beat'' Daily Mail''The guy I read'' Tom Clancy

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Book SynopsisPrimo Levi was one of the most astonishing voices to emerge from the twentieth century: a man who survived one of the ugliest times in history, yet who was able to describe his own Auschwitz experience with an unaffected tenderness.Levi was a master storyteller but he did not write fairytales. These stories are an elegy to the human figures who stood out against the tragic background of Auschwitz, ''the ones in whom I had recognized the will and capacity to react, and hence a rudiment of virtue''. Each centres on an individual who - whether it be through a juggling trick, a slice of apple or a letter - discovers one of the ''bizarre, marginal moments of reprieve''.

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Book SynopsisDescribed as a ''riveting read'' by Sarah Waters and acclaimed by crime writers such as Andrew Taylor, The Pursued is a dark, gripping 1930s psychological thriller by C. S. Forester, the author of Hornblower.The story begins when Marjorie, a young woman, arrives home one summer evening and finds her sister, dead, with her head in the oven. She looks peaceful, as if she is asleep. Their mother suspects, however, that Dot''s death was far from natural - and that she knows who the killer is. So, slowly and meticulously, she plots her terrible revenge. C. S. Forester''s 1935 thriller The Pursued, lost for decades, rewrote the traditions of crime fiction to create a dark, twisted portrayal of obsession and retribution.Trade ReviewC. S. Forester is a splendid storyteller * Guardian *I recommend Forester to every literate I know -- Ernest HemingwayThe Pursued is a wonderful, almost miraculous discovery: a hitherto unknown crime novel by an author who is the unsung godfather of English noir * Andrew Taylor *Forester has a great eye and a subtle understanding of the dangerous passions lurking just beneath the surface of everyday life. A riveting read. * Sarah Waters *a tale of very English murder, it foreshadows the unease of metropolitan life in its near-contemporaries, George Orwell's Coming Up for Air, Patrick Hamilton's Hangover Square and Graham Greene's Brighton Rock -- Adrian Turpin * Financial Times *A brilliant tale of twisted minds in suburban Thirties London * Daily Telegraph *Skilful and chilling ... a tense psychological drama * Sunday Times *Murder, lust, obsession, retribution, they're all here * Daily Mail *Exposes the passions that lurk behind the net curtains of lower-middle-class suburbia ... teeming with atmosphere * The Times *

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Book Synopsis''The father of contemporary European detective fiction'' Ann Cleeves ''Just take a look,'' Duclos said in an undertone, pointing to the scene all round them, the picture-book town, with everything in its place, like ornaments on the mantlepiece of a careful housewife . . . ''Everyone here earns his living. Everyone''s more or less content. And above all, everyone keeps his instincts under control, because that''s the rule here, and a necessity if people want to live in society.''When a French professor visiting the quiet, Dutch coastal town of Delfzjil is accused of murder, Maigret is sent to investigate. The community seem happy to blame an unknown outsider, but there are people much closer to home who seem to know much more than they''re letting on: Beetje, the dissatisfied daughter of a local farmer, Amy van Elst, sister-in-law of the deceased and a notorious local crook.This novel has been published in a previous translation as Maigret in Holland.''Compelling, remorseless, brilliant'' John Gray''One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century'' GuardianTrade ReviewPraise for Georges Simenon:“One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.” —The Guardian “These Maigret books are as timeless as Paris itself.” —The Washington Post “Maigret ranks with Holmes and Poirot in the pantheon of fictional detective immortals.” —People “I love reading Simenon. He makes me think of Chekhov.” —William Faulkner “The greatest of all, the most genuine novelist we have had in literature.” —André Gide “A supreme writer . . . Unforgettable vividness.” —The Independent (London) “Superb . . . The most addictive of writers . . . A unique teller of tales.” —The Observer (London) “Compelling, remorseless, brilliant.” —John Gray “A truly wonderful writer . . . Marvelously readable—lucid, simple, absolutely in tune with the world he creates.” —Muriel Spark “A novelist who entered his fictional world as if he were a part of it.”lle —Peter Ackroyd “Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century.” —John Banville"Gem-hard soul-probes . . . not just the world's bestselling detective series, but an imperishable literary legend . . . he exposes secrets and crimes not by forensic wizardry, but by the melded powers of therapist, philosopher and confessor" ― Times (London)"Strangely comforting . . . so many lovely bistros from the Paris of mid-20th C. The corpses are incidental, it's the food that counts." ― Margaret Atwood"One of the greatest writers of the 20th century . . . no other writer can set up a scene as sharply and with such economy as Simenon does . . . the conjuring of a world, a place, a time, a set of characters - above all, an atmosphere." ― Financial Times"Gripping . . . richly rewarding . . . You'll quickly find yourself obsessing about his life as you tackle each mystery in turn."-- Stig Abell ― The Sunday Times (London)

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Book Synopsis“One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.” —The GuardianAn Inspector Maigret mystery and a gripping tale of lost identity“A man picked up for wandering in obvious distress among the cars and buses on the Grands Boulevards. Questioned in French, he remains mute . . . A madman? In Maigret's office, he is searched. His suit is new, his underwear is new, his shoes are new. All identifying labels have been removed. No identification papers. No wallet. Five crisp thousand-franc bills have been slipped into one of his pockets.”A distressed man is found wandering the streets of Paris, with no memory of who he is or how he got there. The answers lead Maigret to a small harbour town, whose quiet citizens conceal a poisonous malice.Trade ReviewPraise for Georges Simenon:“One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.” —The Guardian “These Maigret books are as timeless as Paris itself.” —The Washington Post “Maigret ranks with Holmes and Poirot in the pantheon of fictional detective immortals.” —People “I love reading Simenon. He makes me think of Chekhov.” —William Faulkner “The greatest of all, the most genuine novelist we have had in literature.” —André Gide “A supreme writer . . . Unforgettable vividness.” —The Independent (London) “Superb . . . The most addictive of writers . . . A unique teller of tales.” —The Observer (London) “Compelling, remorseless, brilliant.” —John Gray “A truly wonderful writer . . . Marvelously readable—lucid, simple, absolutely in tune with the world he creates.” —Muriel Spark “A novelist who entered his fictional world as if he were a part of it.”lle —Peter Ackroyd “Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century.” —John Banville"Gem-hard soul-probes . . . not just the world's bestselling detective series, but an imperishable literary legend . . . he exposes secrets and crimes not by forensic wizardry, but by the melded powers of therapist, philosopher and confessor" ― Times (London)"Strangely comforting . . . so many lovely bistros from the Paris of mid-20th C. The corpses are incidental, it's the food that counts." ― Margaret Atwood"One of the greatest writers of the 20th century . . . no other writer can set up a scene as sharply and with such economy as Simenon does . . . the conjuring of a world, a place, a time, a set of characters - above all, an atmosphere." ― Financial Times"Gripping . . . richly rewarding . . . You'll quickly find yourself obsessing about his life as you tackle each mystery in turn."-- Stig Abell ― The Sunday Times (London)

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Book Synopsis“One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.” —The GuardianThe classic Inspector Maigret mystery set in a claustraphobic provincial town“Cars drove past along with the trucks and trams, but by now Maigret had realized that they were not important. Whatever roared by like this along the road was not part of the landscape. . . . What really counted was the lock, the hooting of the tugs, the stone crusher, the barges and the cranes, the two pilots’ bars and especially the tall house where he could make out Ducrau’s red chair framed by a window.”Trade ReviewPraise for Georges Simenon:“One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.” —The Guardian “These Maigret books are as timeless as Paris itself.” —The Washington Post “Maigret ranks with Holmes and Poirot in the pantheon of fictional detective immortals.” —People “I love reading Simenon. He makes me think of Chekhov.” —William Faulkner “The greatest of all, the most genuine novelist we have had in literature.” —André Gide “A supreme writer . . . Unforgettable vividness.” —The Independent (London) “Superb . . . The most addictive of writers . . . A unique teller of tales.” —The Observer (London) “Compelling, remorseless, brilliant.” —John Gray “A truly wonderful writer . . . Marvelously readable—lucid, simple, absolutely in tune with the world he creates.” —Muriel Spark “A novelist who entered his fictional world as if he were a part of it.”lle —Peter Ackroyd “Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century.” —John Banville"Gem-hard soul-probes . . . not just the world's bestselling detective series, but an imperishable literary legend . . . he exposes secrets and crimes not by forensic wizardry, but by the melded powers of therapist, philosopher and confessor" ― Times (London)"Strangely comforting . . . so many lovely bistros from the Paris of mid-20th C. The corpses are incidental, it's the food that counts." ― Margaret Atwood"One of the greatest writers of the 20th century . . . no other writer can set up a scene as sharply and with such economy as Simenon does . . . the conjuring of a world, a place, a time, a set of characters - above all, an atmosphere." ― Financial Times"Gripping . . . richly rewarding . . . You'll quickly find yourself obsessing about his life as you tackle each mystery in turn."-- Stig Abell ― The Sunday Times (London)

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Book SynopsisA landmark selection of the works one of the greatest Greek writers of the twentieth centuryStripped of their ancestral lands and persecuted by other proud dynasties, the once illustrious Eumorphopoulos family have been brought low. But when their rivals begin to falter, two Eumorphopoulos brothers, Aristodemus and Dimitrakis, resolve to restore their line''s ancient glory. Yet they disagree about the best path forward: do they look to the ancient past - to long-lost language and culture - or to the ideology and technology of the present. . . The Archeologist, Andreas Karkavitsas'' masterpiece, is at once a powerful allegory for the questions facing Greek nationalism at the turn of the century, as well as a vision of Europe that, conceived on the precipice of the First World War, now resounds with tragedy.Also included in this edition are a selection of ''sea tales'' - folk stories told to Karakvitas by sailors, fishermen and sponge-divers during his travels in the Mediterranean. Staples of Greek literature, these four sea stories are considered some of Karakvitsas'' greatest achievements.

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Book SynopsisFor classic murder mystery readers, a scintillating anthology of lost treasures to read alongside Edgar Allan Poe and Sherlock HolmesA Penguin ClassicFor The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries, writer and anthologist Michael Sims did not summon the usual suspects. He sought the unfamiliar, the unjustly forgotten, and little-known gems by writers from outside the genre.This historical tour of one of our most popular literary categories includes stories never before reprinted, features rebellious early ?lady detectives, and spotlights former stars of the crime field?Austrian novelist Auguste Groner and prolific American Geraldine Bonner among them. For twenty-first century connoisseurs of crime, The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries celebrates how the nineteenth century added a fierce modern twist to the ancient theme of bloody murder.

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Book SynopsisJohn Buchan wrote The Thirty-Nine Steps while he was seriously ill at the beginning of the First World War. In it he introduces his most famous hero, Richard Hannay, who, despite claiming to be an `ordinary fellow'', is caught up in the dramatic race against a plot to devastate the British war effort. Hannay is hunted across the Scottish moors by police and spy-ring alike, and must outwit his intelligent and pitiless enemy in the corridors of Whitehall and, finally, at the site of the mysterious thirty-nine steps.The best-known of Buchan''s thrillers, The Thirty-Nine Steps has been continuously in print since first publication and has been filmed three times, most notably by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935. In this, the only critical edition, Christopher Harvie''s introduction interweaves the writing of the tale with the equally fascinating story of how John Buchan, publisher and lawyer, came in from the cold and, via The Thirty-Nine Steps, ended the war as spy-master and propaganda chief. AB

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Book SynopsisA unique anthology of Kipling''s war stories and poems, from the frontier wars of empire to the Boer War and the First World War. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade ReviewAt the price, this book is a must for everyone interested in humour, war and fine literature. Buy it. * Friends of the Imperial War Museum Newsletter *Table of ContentsStories include: The Drums of the Fore and Aft; A Conference of the Powers; The Light that Failed; The Mutiny of the Mavericks; The Lost Legion; The Way that he Took; A Sahib's War; The Comprehension of Private Copper; The Captive; A Friend of the Family; A Madonna of the Trenches; The Gardener

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Book SynopsisBucharest, 1938: while Hitler gains power in Germany, the Romanian police start arresting students they suspect of belonging to the Iron Guard. Meanwhile, a man who has spent his life studying languages, poetry, and history - a man who thought his life was over - lies in a hospital bed, inexplicably alive and miraculously healthy.Trade Review"Comparisons with Borges, Cortazar, Calvino, and others...are beside the point. Eliade was always out on a limb of his own." - New York Times "I was excited to discover in this tale by Eliade the key themes that I most hope to understand better: time, consciousness, and the dream-like basis of reality. For me it is indeed a return to the ambitions I had for my work in cinema as a student." - Francis Ford Coppola "A wonderful blend of realism, surrealism, and fantasy, [Eliade's novellas] suggest the importance of the mythic and the supernatural to finding meaning in the everyday. Highly recommended." - Library Journal "Youth Without Youth reads like a surreal collaboration by Jorge Luis Borges, Kurt Vonnegut, and Carl Jung. Mircea Eliade left me with the rare sense that I had been entertained by a genius." - William Allen, author of Starkweather and The Fire in the Birdbath and Other Disturbances"

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Book SynopsisParker goes toe-to-toe with the mob - hitting them with heist after heist after heist - and the entire underworld learns an unforgettable lesson: whatever Parker does, he does deadly.Trade Review"Whatever Stark writes, I read. He's a stylist, a pro, and I thoroughly enjoy his attitude." - Elmore Leonard "Richard Stark's Parker novels... are among the most poised and polished fictions of their time and, in fact, of any time." - John Banville, Bookforum "Parker is a true treasure.... The master thief is back, along with Richard Stark." - Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review "Westlake knows precisely how to grab a reader, draw him or her into the story, and then slowly tighten his grip until escape is impossible." - Washington Post Book World "Elmore Leonard wouldn't write what he does if Stark hadn't been there before. And Quentin Tarantino wouldn't write what he does without Leonard.... Old master that he is, Stark does all of them one better." - Los Angeles Times "Donald Westlake's Parker novels are among the small number of books I read over and over. Forget all that crap you've been telling yourself about War and Peace and Proust - these are the books you'll want on that desert island." - Lawrence Block"

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Book SynopsisJudge Dee has been appointed emergency governor of the plague- and drought-ridden Imperial City. As his guards help the city fend off a popular uprising, an aristocrat from one of the oldest families in China suffers an 'accident' in a deserted mansion.Trade Review"Entertaining, instructive and oddly impressive." - Times Literary Supplement "A tense and exotic mystery." - Publishers Weekly"

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Book SynopsisFIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES MARRIAGE, THEN COMES MURDER...THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLING THRILLER YOU WON''T BE ABLE TO PUT DOWN_________________ What if your life was built on a lie?When lawyer Lily marries Ed, she''s determined to make a fresh start. To leave the secrets of the past behind.But when she takes on her first criminal case, she starts to find herself strangely drawn to her client. A man who''s accused of murder. A man she will soon be willing to risk everything for.But is he really innocent?And who is she to judge?_________________''JANE CORRY IS THE NEW QUEEN OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER'' KATE FURNIVALL''You will be hooked after the first page'' CLOSER ''A roller-coaster of dramatic twists . . . chilling and suspenseful'' ELIZABETH HAYNES''Twisty, feverish and utterly gripping'Trade Review'A blockbuster of a psychological thriller. My head's still spinning from all the twists!' * Mark Edwards *This engaging page-turner kept me guessing till the very end * Katerina Diamond, author of THE TEACHER *I have been thoroughly immersed in this wonderful and engaging novel...full of unexpected twists I didn't see coming! * Luana Lewis, author of Don't Stand So Close *My Husband's Wife had me gripped from the first page to the last * Ava Marsh, author of Untouchable *A clever tale of secrets and lies with an emotional punch. The characters all contained a little darkness, and I was captivated as each layer of deceit was stripped away. -- Mel SherrattMy Husband's Wife is a thrilling page-turner that chronicles the nightmarish dynamics within a marriage * Sarah Ward, Crime blogger and author of In Bitter Chill *A rollercoaster of suspense and intrigue -- Rosanna LeyA dark and gripping thriller that vibrates with tension...a must-read for thriller lovers -- Kate FurnivallPick up this book and you won't be able to put it down * Sandra Howard *'A fantastic and powerful novel of heart-pounding suspense, expertly written to draw the reader in and never let go!' -- Kathryn CroftA compelling thriller! I thoroughly enjoyed every fast turning page * Vanessa Ronan, author of The Last Days of Summer *

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Book Synopsis''The father of contemporary European detective fiction'' Ann Cleeves''He hadn''t seen her arrive. She had stopped on the pavement a few steps away from him and was peering into the courtyard of the Police Judiciaire, where the small staff cars were parked. She ventured as far as the entrance, looked the officer up and down, then turned round and walked away towards the Pont-Neuf''When an old lady tells Maigret someone has been moving things in her apartment, she is dismissed as a fantasist - until a schocking event proves otherwise. ''One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century'' GuardianTrade ReviewOne of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequalled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories * Guardian *A supreme writer . . . unforgettable vividness * Independent *The most addictive of writers . . . a unique teller of tales * Observer *

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Book Synopsis''Reinvents the particulars of slavery in America with a comic rage ... The book explodes. Reed''s special grace is anger ... a muscular, luminous prose'' The New York Times''It always was, and will always be the most fearlessly original, most viciously political, most rambunctiously funny epic of slavery ever written. America almost doesn''t deserve it'' - Marlon James (2015 Man Booker Prize Winner)''I loves it here ... We gets whipped with a velvet whip, and there''s free dentalcare''Three slaves are on the run in the deep South, with their former master hot on their heels and the Civil War raging.One of them arms himself for a final showdown; one sells his body for pornographic movies; while the last, Raven Quickskill - hero, poet, heartbreaker - swigs champagne on a non-stop jumbo jet to Canada. Taking us on a wild ride through a nineteenth century littered with limousines, waterbeds and colour TVs, Flight to Canada<Trade ReviewGroundbreaking ... Ishmael Reed is a major figure in American letters * The Paris Review *A remorseless satire of America's appetite for slavery fantasies * New Yorker *

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Book Synopsis''I always wanted to be friends with both my sisters. Perhaps that was the source, really, of all the troubles of my life...''It is the summer of 1938 and Phyllis Forrester has returned to England after years abroad. Moving into her sister''s grand country house, she soon finds herself entangled in a new world of idealistic beliefs and seemingly innocent friendships. Fevered talk of another war infiltrates their small, privileged circle, giving way to a thrilling solution: a great and charismatic leader, who will restore England to its former glory. At a party hosted by her new friends, Phyllis lets down her guard for a single moment, with devastating consequences. Years later, Phyllis, alone and embittered, recounts the dramatic events which led to her imprisonment and changed the course of her life forever.''Wonderfully subtle and compelling'' Linda Grant''Uncanny, evocative, atmospheric'' Sunday Times''Connolly is a Trade ReviewProfound and moving and completely original, with a storyline that is completely satisfying. It'll be one of those novels that stays in my mind forever... it's a work of art -- Craig BrownI finished it in two days flat and I've never read anything quite like it. Everything about the book rings true, politically, psychologically, and in period detail, from the sunny beginnings to the grim end -- Hilary SpurlingA wonderfully subtle and interesting account of the Mosley women, with a compelling voice -- Linda GrantWonderful, tragicomic... beautifully researched -- Kate Saunders * The Times *One of the best books published this year * The Lady *Uncanny, evocative.... Connolly skilfully sets scenes in pared yet atmospheric prose * Sunday Times *Connolly gives an object lesson in how to tell a story in a non-judgmental way. The result is a brave, engrossing and unexpectedly moving novel * Mail on Sunday *Polished and reflective... a salutary masterclass on the values that really matter * Country Life *This historical novel is an absorbing, nuanced look at extremism dressed up with social niceties and class privilege, and is sure to resonate today * Stylist *In her latest novel, Cressida Connolly expertly evokes a changing nation, and a woman whose life is altered forever * Vogue *Connolly [is] an unerring storyteller who excels at both period and place * Daily Mail *[A] virtuoso novel * Telegraph Magazine *A wonderfully acute writer -- Allison Pearson * Sunday Telegraph Summer Reads *Connolly has tremendous fun with her posh characters' class-obsessed milieu, but the privations of Holloway Prison, with its rope-thick dust, bone-chilling cold and maggoty food, are equally sharply drawn * Daily Mail Summer Reads *Deeply impressive.... quietly devastating tale of world affairs played out on an intimate scale * Metro *Connolly is a terrifically subtle writer... [she] slyly sweeps her readers into the period drama as tensions tauten between families and social classes * Daily Telegraph, Five Stars *Chilling * Spectator *Extraordinary, gripping... Exquisitely written with lyricism and a stiletto-sharp and humorous pen, Connolly takes on a subject which resonates powerfully with current politics -- Sofka Zinovieff * The Lady *Beautifully written... Connolly's perfect control of tone and detail makes this very compelling. Excellent * Evening Standard *Connolly's research is immaculate... well-imagined * The Times Saturday Review *In pared yet atmospheric prose, Connolly skilfully evokes the scents of an English summer and hedonistic parties * Sunday Times Culture *Connolly has an ear for how people really speak. It's the gift of a proper writer * Daily Telegraph *Cressida Connolly's flawless new novel After the Party, for all its darkness, seems suffused with the "soft, buttery" light of an English summer afternoon. But in June of 1938, infernal shadows lengthen. Ms. Connolly is a master, revealing character while sustaining an effect of lightness and ease. We follow Phyllis through an indolent prewar season beautifully conjured, often in heady, sensual detail. Ms. Connolly is too astute and compassionate a novelist to provide neat conclusions. The novel leaves us with the mysterious sense of having inhabited a time and a life whose emotional gravity holds us still. * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisOctober 21, 1967, Washington, D.C. 20,000 to 200,000 protesters are marching to end the war in Vietnam, while helicopters hover overhead and federal marshals and soldiers with fixed bayonets await them on the Pentagon steps. Among the marchers is Norman Mailer. From his own singular participation in the day''s events and his even more extraordinary perceptions comes a classic work that shatters the mould of traditional reportage. Intellectuals and hippies, clergymen and cops, poets and army MPs crowd the pages of a book in which facts are fused with techniques of fiction to create the nerve-end reality of experiential truth.The Armies of the Night uniquely and unforgettably captures the Sixties'' tidal wave of love and rage at its crest and a towering genius at his peak.Trade ReviewOnly a born novelist could have written a piece of history so intelligent, mischievous, penetrating and alive * The New York Times Book Review *His genuine wit and bellicose charm, and his fervent and intense sense of legitimately caring, render The Armies of the Night an artful document, worthy to be judged as literature * Time *Mesmerising, and to re-read it today is to experience an additional punch: the one that verifies that history repeats itself as (malignant) farce * Guardian *A work of personal and political reportage that brings to the inner and developing crisis of the United States at this moment admirable sensibilities, candid intelligence, the most moving concern for America itself. Mailer's intuition in this book is that the times demand a new form. He has found it * New York Times *

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Book Synopsis''Impressive and unique. As relevant today as it was over two decades ago'' Bernardine Evaristo, from the IntroductionA gripping, propulsive courtroom thriller following barrister Lee Mitchell as she uncovers the dark secrets of London''s obscenely richLee Mitchell is a thirty-year-old barrister from a working-class Caribbean background: in the cut-throat environment of the courtroom, everything is stacked against her.After she takes on the high-profile case of notorious millionaire playboy Clive Omartian - arrested along with his father and stepbrother for eye-wateringly exorbitant fraud - the line between her personal and professional life becomes dangerously blurred.Spiralling further into Clive''s trail of debauchery and corruption, she finds herself in alarmingly deep waters.Can she survive her case, let alone win it?Selected by Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo, this series rediscovers and celebrates pioneerinTrade ReviewAn exciting legal thriller . . . [Williams] interweaves a textured social commentary * Bad Form *

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Book SynopsisDISCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT THE GOOD DAUGHTER IN THIS UNPUTDOWNABLE THRILLER . . .''A stark, stunning and deeply affecting thriller. The Good Daughter takes a tender, chilling look at family and fear, the illusion of safety and the power of inner-resolve. I loved it''CHRIS WHITAKER''A powerful Southern Gothic thriller about the dangers of blind faith, the strength of women, and the deceptive nature of memory'' ANNA BAILEY''Laure Van Rensurg has established herself as a master of the literary thriller. An eerie, chilling, gorgeously written novel that is unafraid to challenge and question its subject matter'' LAURIE ELIZABETH FLYNNAbigail is a proud member of the New America Baptist Church. Living miles away from the nearest town in South Carolina, she is safe from the depraved modern world.She is a good daughter. A valued member of the community.So when she is the sole survivor of a fire that burns hTrade ReviewA stark, stunning and deeply affecting thriller. The Good Daughter takes a tender, chilling look at family and fear, the illusion of safety and the power of inner-resolve. I loved it. -- CHRIS WHITAKERA thrilling read that really gets you thinking * Prima *A powerful Southern Gothic thriller about the dangers of blind faith, the strength of women, and the deceptive nature of memory -- ANNA BAILEYA powerful literary thriller charting a woman's complicated & brutal struggle to escape a puritanical modern-day cult. Immersive vividly-realised settings + beautiful prose. An unflinching spotlight on patriarchy, coercive control & the thorny paths to liberation -- PHILIPPA EASTLaure Van Rensurg has established herself as a master of the literary thriller with her sophomore novel, The Good Daughter. Intricate and carefully nuanced, this story will grip readers as it explores themes of family, faith, and the power of memory. An eerie, chilling, gorgeously written novel that is unafraid to challenge and question its subject matter. -- LAURIE ELIZABETH FLYNN, author of THE GIRLS ARE ALL SO NICE HEREAn atmospheric, vividly-told story of belief and betrayal, of family bonds stretched to breaking point - and beyond -- T. M. LOGAN

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Book Synopsis''A bawdy, brazen rollercoaster of a novel . . . the wildest'' The New York TimesA preacher called Deke O''Malley''s been selling false hope: the promise of a glorious new life in Africa for just $1,000 a family. But when thieves with machine guns steal the proceeds - and send one man''s brain matter flying - the con is up. Now Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed mean to bring the good people of Harlem back their $87,000, however many corpses they have to climb over to get it.Cotton Comes to Harlem is a non-stop ride, with violence, sex, double-crosses, and the two baddest detectives ever to wear a badge in Harlem.With an Introduction by Will SelfTrade ReviewThe greatest find in American crime fiction since Raymond Chandler. * Sunday Times *A bawdy, brazen rollercoaster of a novel . . . the wildest. * New York Times Book Review *Chester Himes is one of the towering figures of the black literary tradition. His command of nuances of character and dynamics of plot is preeminent among writers of crime fiction. He is a master craftsman. -- Henry Louis Gates, Jr.A fantasia with a hard brilliant core. * Evening Standard *A fine crime writer ... in a vein of sheer toughness very much his own. * The Times *The greatest find in American crime fiction since Raymond Chandler * Sunday Times *A bawdy, brazen rollercoaster of a novel . . . the wildest * New York Times Book Review *Himes wrote spectacularly successful entertainments, filled with gems of descriptive writing, plots that barely sidestep chaos, characters surreal, grotesque, comic, hip, Harlem recollected as a place that can make you laugh, cry, shudder.Chester Himes is one of the towering figures of the black literary tradition. His command of nuances of character and dynamics of plot is preeminent among writers of crime fiction. He is a master craftsman.A fantasia with a hard brilliant core * Evening Standard *A fine crime writer of Chandlerian subtlety though in a vein of sheer toughness very much his own * The Times *That he could channel this pain and misery into some of the greatest crime novels ever written is a testament to his skill as a writer and his spirit as a man. If this is the first Chester Himes novel you will read then, believe me, you are in for a treat.He belongs with those great demented realists ... whose writing pitilessly exposes the ridiculousness of the human conditionHieronymus Bosch meets Miles Davis * The New York Times *Chester Himes is the great lost crime writer, as well a great American dissident novelist per se, and an essential witness to his times. Every one of his beyond-cool Harlem novels is cherished by every reader who finds it.

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Book Synopsis''The greatest find in American crime fiction since Raymond Chandler'' Sunday TimesDetectives Coffin Ed and Grave Digger Jones have lost two criminals. Pinky ran off - but it shouldn''t be hard to track down a giant albino in Harlem. Jake the drug dealer, though, isn''t coming back - he died after Grave Digger punched him in the stomach. And his death might cost them both their badges. Unless they can track down the cause of all this mayhem - like the African with his throat slit and the dog the size of a lion with an open head wound.Chester Himes''s hardboiled tales of Harlem have a barely contained chaos and a visceral, macabre edge all their own.Trade ReviewThe greatest find in American crime fiction since Raymond Chandler * Sunday Times *Outrageous, shocking, wonderful * New York Times Book Review *Himes wrote spectacularly successful entertainments, filled with gems of descriptive writing, plots that barely sidestep chaos, characters surreal, grotesque, comic, hip, Harlem recollected as a place that can make you laugh, cry, shudder. -- John Edgar WidemanChester Himes is one of the towering figures of the black literary tradition. His command of nuances of character and dynamics of plot is preeminent among writers of crime fiction. He is a master craftsman. -- Henry Louis Gates, Jr.A fine crime writer of Chandlerian subtlety though in a vein of sheer toughness very much his own * The Times *Chester Himes is the great lost crime writer, as well a great American dissident novelist per se, and an essential witness to his times. Every one of his beyond-cool Harlem novels is cherished by every reader who finds it. -- Jonathan LethamHieronymus Bosch meets Miles Davis * The New York Times *He belongs with those great demented realists ... whose writing pitilessly exposes the ridiculousness of the human condition -- Will Self

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Book Synopsis''Outrageous, shocking, wonderful'' The New York TimesA golden Cadillac big enough to cross the ocean has been seen sailing along the streets of Harlem. A hit-and-run victim''s been hit so hard she got embedded in the wall of a convent. A shootout with three heistmen dressed as cops has left an important politician in a coma - and a lot of money missing. And Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson are the ones who have to piece it all together.All Shot Up is chaotic, bloody - and completely unforgettable. Chester Himes wrote detective fiction darker, dirtier and more extreme than anyone else dared.Trade ReviewThe greatest find in American crime fiction since Raymond Chandler * Sunday Times *Himes wrote spectacularly successful entertainments, filled with gems of descriptive writing, plots that barely sidestep chaos, characters surreal, grotesque, comic, hip, Harlem recollected as a place that can make you laugh, cry, shudder. -- John Edgar WidemanChester Himes is one of the towering figures of the black literary tradition. His command of nuances of character and dynamics of plot is preeminent among writers of crime fiction. He is a master craftsman. -- Henry Louis Gates, Jr.A fantasia with a hard brilliant core * Evening Standard *That he could channel this pain and misery into some of the greatest crime novels ever written is a testament to his skill as a writer and his spirit as a man. If this is the first Chester Himes novel you will read then, believe me, you are in for a treat. -- Noel "Razor" SmithHe belongs with those great demented realists ... whose writing pitilessly exposes the ridiculousness of the human condition -- Will SelfHieronymus Bosch meets Miles Davis * The New York Times *Chester Himes is the great lost crime writer, as well a great American dissident novelist per se, and an essential witness to his times. Every one of his beyond-cool Harlem novels is cherished by every reader who finds it. -- Jonathan LethamA classic noir in the Elmore Leonard meets Ed McBain mould -- Jeffery Deaver * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis''You''ll get used to things, you''ll see. But you have to watch very carefully what you say and what you do.''Adil Bey is an outsider. Newly arrived as Turkish consul at a run-down Soviet port on the Black Sea, he receives only suspicion and hostility from the locals. His one intimacy is a growing, wary relationship with his Russian secretary Sonia, who he watches silently in her room opposite his apartment. But this is Stalin''s world before the war, and nothing is as it seems. Georges Simenon''s most starkly political work, The People Opposite is a tour de force of slow-burn tension.''Irresistible... read him at your peril, avoid him at your loss'' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewA unique teller of tales ... What interested Simenon was the average man losing control of his own fate * Observer *

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Book SynopsisTHE GRIPPING DAVID RAKER SHORT STORY COLLECTION FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR . . .''The mystery behind the stories had my imagination running wild'' 5***** READER REVIEW''Draws you in right from the start . . . Full of suspense'' 5***** READER REVIEW''Each story is intriguing, compelling and addictive. Brilliant'' 5***** READER REVIEW________FOUR MYSTERIESIt''s a night just like any other in the Conister home - but then Paul heads upstairs and never comes back.When his wife Maggie goes to see where he is, she can''t find him. His phone and wallet are by the bed. The windows are locked from the inside.Paul has vanished.FOUR STORIESMissing persons investigator David Raker is an expert in locating the lost. So when he''s hired by Maggie, he knows that in every disappearance - however impossible it seems - there''s an answer.What he doesnTrade ReviewPraise for Tim Weaver * - *Terrific * Sunday Times *Thrilling * Richard & Judy Book Club *Packed with twists * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisREAD THE THRILLING, ACERBIC AND HILARIOUS NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF SOON I WILL BE INVINCIBLE ''The Avengers meets The Breakfast Club? wry and engaging'' James Swallow, Sunday Times bestselling author of Nomad''A spiky, fierce, erudite riff on the wonderful world of silver age superheroes'' Charles Stross, bestselling author of The Atrocity Archives''Blending the lurid, anything-goes madness of Silver Age comic books with emotionally complicated characters and realistic consequences on a cosmic scale''SFX----Dr Rick Tower is a mild-mannered English professor easing into middle-age at a medium-sized New England college. A genial blur, he thinks. Even his vices are unremarkable.But it wasn?t always like this. Not until they changed his name, altered his looks and told him: ?pretend you were never different?.Because, decades earlier after a very bad day at high school, he was committed to a secret government facility with three other kids, Cat, Jack and Stephanie, each special in their own way. Tested, tutored and trained, this extraordinary quartet were then told to save the world.It was the best thing that ever happened to them. Until it became the worst.Now, twenty years after the tragedy that forced him into academic non-entity, a mysterious disappearance means Tower must reunite with his former comrades. Each returns with their own agenda. And while great power might come with great responsibility, there?s little of that on display from any of them.Combining compelling storytelling and fierce imagination with a rich cast of characters, Fight Me is a page-turning and distinctive thriller, a unique tale of good and evil, and a memorable portrait of man trying to do the right thing at any cost. Against impossible odds . . .----PRAISE FOR FIGHT ME''Hugely enjoyable? kept me up till 3am'' Conn Iggulden, Sunday Times bestselling author of Lion?Combining a coming-of-age story with costume thrills . . . it has sly, smart things to say? Herald''Fight Me embraces the fun of the genre, while treating its battle-weary characters with heart and empathy. A noir-tinged Big Chill for the superhero set'' Bob Proehl, author of The Nobody People?A treasure that manages to be sad, funny, and hilariously fun at all once. A thrilling adventure but also a searing, intimate look at what it would really cost to have such incredible power, and yet still be human? Peng Shepherd, bestselling author of The Cartographers''There is a vibrancy to the writing, and a beating heart, reminiscent of my favourite coming-of-age novels'' Nick Cutter''A sucker-punch of sheer delight, and couldn''t be happier to be on the receiving end'' Adam Christopher

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Book SynopsisDiscover the new Penguin Crime and Espionage seriesThere is nothing more dangerous than a desperate manBank clerk William Marble is facing financial ruin - until a visit from a wealthy young relative, a bottle of Cyanide and a shovel offer him an unexpected solution. But there is no such thing as the perfect murder. Gradually Marble becomes poisoned by guilt and fear, and his entire family corrupted. Sooner or later his deed will catch up with him, as events spiral out of control in the most unpredictable of ways...Trade ReviewThe unsung godfather of English noir. -- Andrew TaylorCompelling. * Sunday Times *

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