Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisFor fans of M.C. Beaton, Martha Grimes, and Alexander McCall Smith, the first in a charming new mystery series set in the English countryside, as a retired San Diego police detective embarks upon group walking tours in England?s most scenic counties…After a long career as a detective in San Diego, Rick ?Chase? Chasen has traded in his badge for a change of scenery in the coastal comforts of Devon, England, until a local murder takes him on a deadly detour . . . Still grieving the death of his long-time partner, Chase reunites with his dear friend and fellow Anglophile Billie Mondreau for a seacoast holiday of historic sightseeing. Assigned a pair of guides from the tour company Wanderers, Chase and Billie join seven other like-minded Americans looking forward to an English getaway. All except for Ronald Gretz. The wealthy entrepreneur behind the international Golden Sunset nursing home chain doesn?t like anything about walking, touring, or England. Coarse and opinionated, Gretz?s complaints get on the nerves of his fellow Wanderers?and his long-suffering trophy wife.But Gretz?s gripes are tied to his own nerves being frayed. He has been receiving threatening texts and emails signed ?An Avenger.? Convinced someone means him harm, Gretz asks Chase to watch his back. Soon, Gretz falls afoul of several ?accidents,? leading to more friction with the other walkers. Until one final ?accident? results in Gretz dead at the bottom of a cliff.Chase, whose investigative instincts remain sharp, knows Gretz?s death was no accident. While helping the police investigate, he discovers that members of the tour group not only disliked the victim but had legitimate motives for wanting him dead. Now, he just has to uncover who among them is willing to kill . . .

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Book SynopsisLibrarian Alice Pepper always had a natural talent for figuring out people and puzzles in the small Oregon town of West Hazel. But as a mystery permeates the quiet Pacific Northwestern community, murder is a challenge she?s not prepared to solve . . .Down-on-her-luck Alice had hoped to retire before turning sixty-five, not struggle to keep her cozy home and dependable job. But even after divorce leaves her golden years a mess, the pieces always come together with a little help from her friends?a fun-loving crew who thrive on jigsaws over coffee, cocktails, and gossip. So, when it?s time to defend close confidant Ruby Milliner, she springs into action. Only, in this case, supporting Ruby means proving she didn?t murder her cheating husband!Ruby never wanted to kill George, although anger can make a person say questionable?and incriminating?things. And scheming, deceitful George made a lot of people angry. Alice, fiercely committed to cracking the crime, dives into a secret search to exonerate Ruby. But slimming down a massive suspect list and restoring peace to West Hazel is a real gamble. Because if successful, Alice will meet a vengeful killer whose game she doesn?t yet know how to play.

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Book SynopsisFollowing in her mother Daisy?s footsteps, Jazzi Swanson has transformed her rural New York bookshop and tea bar, Tomes & Tea, into a must-stop destination in the lakeside resort town of Belltower Landing, New York, where, in addition to her talent for tea, Jazzi has shown a skill for sleuthing when trouble is brewing . . .The Gentleman?s Bake-off is not only good for the town?s tourism, it?s bound to boost business at Tomes & Tea. The celebrity judges of the contest?chefs, bakers, restauranteurs?will all be signing their cookbooks at Jazzi?s shop. But with all the big personalities and inflated egos, she?s starting to wonder if there are?as the saying goes?too many cooks.The competition is far from killer, with mostly residents and neighbors vying for bragging rights. But when local photographer Finn Yarrow takes first place, someone commits a most ungentlemanly act. Jazzi?s partner Dawn finds the man bludgeoned next to his prizewinning Black Forest Cake.Between the judges and the contestants, the bookshop shop owner soon finds herself steeped in suspects as she tries to solve the crime. Was the murder connected to the bake-off?or did the shutterbug perhaps photograph something he shouldn?t have? Either way, Jazzi is determined to find a killer who?s trying to have their cake and eat it too . . .

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Book SynopsisLindsey Bakewell?s iconic lighthouse bakeshop in beautiful Beacon Harbor, Michigan, is hosting a celebrity cookbook author from the UK?but the notorious diva is now DOA . . .Lindsey?s patrons have a new outdoor patio where they can eat their treats in the glorious summer weather. But even more exciting is that the Beacon Bakeshop is going to host British celebrity chef Vivi Lemonberry?and what could be a more appropriate event than a tea party?What Lindsey didn?t realize is that Vivi is here to put some distance between herself and her recent professional and personal scandals. Despite assurances that Vivi is as sweet as a chocolate-dipped strawberry, Lindsey is cooling rapidly toward the culinary icon . . . especially after she banishes Lindsey?s beloved dog, Wellington, from the bakeshop and then flirts outrageously with Lindsey?s boyfriend.She?s not the only one feeling hostile, though. While Vivi?s in the middle of making a tart in front of the cameras, a woman runs up and slaps her. Soon, Vivi?s nowhere to be found, and folks are speculating on whether she?s run off with her secret lover or just laying low due to embarrassment. That is, until Lindsey finds a body bobbing near the surface of Lake Michigan. It?s a sour ending for the diva, but Lindsey is determined to squeeze the truth out of every clue until she finds the killer . . .

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Book SynopsisIntrepid amateur sleuth and bakery owner Hannah Swensen finds herself judging a baking contest where the competition is really murder in this cozy culinary mystery for fans ofJenn McKinlay, Ellie Alexander, Laura Childs and Kate Carlisle.When the president of Hartland Flour chooses cozy Lake Eden, Minnesota, as the spot for their first annual Dessert Bake-Off, Hannah is thrilled to serve as the head judge. But when a fellow judge, Coach Boyd Watson, is found stone-cold dead, facedown in Hannah?s celebrated strawberry shortcake, Lake Eden?s sweet ride to fame turns very sour indeed.Between perfecting her Cheddar Cheese Apple Pie and Chocolate Crunchies, Hannah?s snooping into the coach?s private life and not coming up short on suspects. And could Watson?s harsh criticism during the judging have given one of the contestants a license to kill? The stakes are rising faster than dough, and Hannah will have to be very careful, because somebody is cooking up a recipe for murder . . . with Hannah landing on the ?necessary ingredients? list.

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Book SynopsisMelanie Travis and her pedigree poodles are back on the case in an adorably giftable, fall time-themed hardcover by award-winning author Laurien Berenson!It?s autumn in Connecticut and there?s a chill in the air, the fall leaves are a riot of color, and pumpkin spice is the flavor of the season. Melanie Travis is perennially busy, of course?but when the owner of a local pet supply shop is found murdered, sleuthing tops her To Do list . . . Between taking care of her family and assorted Standard Poodles, Melanie is also working as a special needs tutor for Howard Academy, a private school in Greenwich, where her younger son attends kindergarten. This year, the headmaster has come up with an idea for a school fundraiser. All students will participate in a town-wide treasure hunt, with grades competing against each other.Tokens shaped like pumpkin spice muffins have been hidden in downtown stores. Students will scramble to collect as many as they can in exchange for prizes. At first all goes smoothly, and the uptick in foot traffic to the stores is a win-win.. . . .Until the pet supply shop owner lodges a complaint. When Melanie stops by to smooth things over, she instead finds the man dead, a knife in his back, and his loyal, ever-vigilant Chow Chow locked in the storeroom.Over the headmaster''s objections, Melanie is once again drawn into an investigation. It doesn''t take her long to gather a list of suspects, from neighbors balking about the number of rescue Chows the man was fostering in his home, to the landlord who?d filed an eviction notice against him, to the bitter ex-wife who is happy he''s gone. With the fundraiser soon drawing to a close and celebrations imminent, Melanie will have to follow every clue?before the biggest prize is staying alive . . .

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Book SynopsisCelebrating the 25th anniversary of Joanne Fluke?s bestselling culinary capers, a deluxe collectors? edition featuring sprayed edges with stenciled artwork, designed endpapers, reversible dust jacket, foil stamped cloth binding, and a brand new recipe!No one cooks up a delectable, suspense-filled mystery quite like Hannah Swensen, Joanne Fluke?s dessert-baking, red-haired heroine whose gingersnaps are as tart as her comebacks, and whose penchant for solving crimes?one delicious clue at a time?has made her a bestselling favorite. And it all began on these pages, with a bakery, a murder, and some suddenly scandalous chocolate-chip crunchies. Featuring a bonus short story and brand new, mouthwatering recipes, this new edition of the very first Hannah Swensen mystery is sure to have readers coming back for seconds . . .Hannah already has her hands full trying to dodge her mother?s attempts to marry her off while running The Cookie Jar, Lake Eden?s most popular bakery. But once Ron LaSalle, the beloved delivery man from the Cozy Cow Dairy, is found murdered behind her bakery with Hannah?s famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, her life just can?t get any worse. Determined not to let her cookies get a bad reputation, she sets out to track down a killer. But if she doesn?t watch her back, Hannah?s sweet life may get burned to a crisp.

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Book SynopsisWhen terrorists attacked on September 11, 2001, Lieutenant Brian Murphy rescued seven people from the World Trade Center. Even as steel girders buckled and groaned, Brian rushed back up the stairs of the North Tower in search of those in need. He died a hero, one of more than four hundred police officers, firefighters, and other first responders who perished that fateful day. Three years later, Vietnam veteran and retired NYPD detective-sergeant Jimmy Murphy is on a mission to find the truth behind his son''s death. Why was Brian in the tower that morning? Had he anticipated the attack? Suspecting a cover-up of a deeper truth, Jimmy must confront his family, friends, and old colleagues in the police department to discover what happened to Brian and who his eldest son really was.Murphy''s investigation takes him from his home turf in the Irish American enclave of Rockaway Beach to Muslim Atlantic Avenue and beyond in order to find his own truth about 9/11. Dry-eyed and Trade ReviewLarry Kirwan's sweeping novel, "Rockaway Blue," is a defiant and celebratory tour of Irish-American life in the town best known for the long-gone amusement park and the Ramones' 1970s siren song that gleefully beckons: "we can hitch a ride to Rock, Rock, Rockaway Beach." * Echo Book Review *Rockaway Blue is a well-told, emotional journey... Rockaway Blue is a great read, Highly Recommended, and a Top Shelf Selection. * Ohio Irish American News *

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Book SynopsisNever trust a blackmailer. Vermont’s promising young governor, Andrew Kane, is at another public meet-and-greet when a stranger from the crowd slips him a cell phone and whispers, “Keep this with you…keep it secret…you’re going to need it after the arrest.” Hours later, Andrew’s brother, Tyler, is taken into custody—framed for the brutal murder of a young woman—and Andrew discovers there is only one way to free him: answer the mysterious phone and agree to a blackmailer’s demands. All the governor has to do to make it all go away is compromise everything he stands for and grant a full pardon to a convicted felon. With no better option, he complies. Which is his first mistake…because the stranger isn’t through with him. He has another little condition. Then another. And another. And Andrew has no choice but to play along until he can find a way out of this personal and political nightmare. But he isn’t prepared for what he will face, or how far he will have to go to save his brother and keep his family together.Trade Review“Hankins’s latest offering is big on suspense…A Blood Thing is the type of page-turner that you’ll want to tell everyone you know about as soon as you turn the final page.” —The Real Book Spy “Plenty of sharp turns and tense moments…Calculated, intense, and vengeful.” —Novelgossip “A Blood Thing by James Hankins is a suspenseful thriller that puts a family on the edge of ruin and explores how far siblings will go to protect each other…Hankins doles out family secrets…at exactly the right pace.” —Criminal Element “Defining what makes James’s writing so fine is a tough task…But this book is such a perfect craft that it may be his best novel yet. Highly recommended.” —San Francisco Review of Books “Unique in its approach and bracing in its execution, A Blood Thing bleeds terrific reading entertainment on every page.” —Providence Journal “[A] superbly confident novel of suspense…with an enjoyably tricky final act.” —Open Letters Review “A Blood Thing is a great book…This is a quick and enjoyable murder mystery to read.” —Fresh Fiction “Two brothers put to the ultimate test. How far will they go to save a sibling they love, and at what cost? James Hankins’s characters are perfectly imperfect, the dilemma they face increasingly intense, and the ending anything but certain for everyone involved in A Blood Thing.” —Robert Dugoni, #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series “This dark, edgy tale touches a multitude of human emotions and is filled with sacrifice, loss, and terror. Hang on tight and remember to breathe.” —Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author “Both a family saga and a political thriller, Hankins’s latest novel puts a governor’s family on the brink of destruction and explores how far siblings will go to protect each other. This is James Patterson on steroids.” —Charlie Donlea, USA Today bestselling author of The Girl Who Was Taken

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Book SynopsisHome is where the heart is. The danger too… The Martinellis were the closest thing to family Cat Johnson ever had. That’s why she ran—to protect them from her threatening past. The orphaned child of classical musicians, she’s been lying low in Nashville and performing at the No Name Café. When Cat reluctantly agrees to attend the wedding of her beloved foster sister, the plan is simple: make a quick appearance at the Martinellis’, then disappear again. Instead, she’s thrust headlong into a nightmare. After a wedding guest is murdered, Cat’s past becomes harder and harder to avoid. So does handsome and inquisitive Safe Harbor cop Nick Stanton, who will stop at nothing to uncover the town’s secrets. That means exposing Cat’s as well. The more intimate Nick’s feelings for Cat become, the more driven he is to find out what she’s hiding. As things in Safe Harbor take a terrifying turn, Cat realizes that the man she’s afraid to trust might be the only one she can turn to.Trade Review“Mann is an exciting storyteller. Deadly Melody is the perfect combination of romance and suspense. I loved Cat and Nick. You will too. Not to be missed.” —Rachel Hauck, New York Times bestselling author “Mann’s book will take you on a wild ride. The main character is intriguing, well-drawn, and brave. The romance is sizzling and the danger is palpable. A must-read for fans of romantic suspense!” —Christy Barritt, bestselling romantic suspense author “An engaging story that has it all—mystery, suspense, and a nice dose of sweet romance!” —Cindy Kirk, bestselling author of the Good Hope series

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Book SynopsisAn Amazon Charts, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal bestseller. A pulse-pounding thriller of espionage, spy games, and treachery by the New York Times bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series. Former CIA case officer Charles Jenkins is a man at a crossroads: in his early sixties, he has a family, a new baby on the way, and a security consulting business on the brink of bankruptcy. Then his former bureau chief shows up at his house with a risky new assignment: travel undercover to Moscow and locate a Russian agent believed to be killing members of a clandestine US spy cell known as the seven sisters. Desperate for money, Jenkins agrees to the mission and heads to the Russian capital. But when he finds the mastermind agent behind the assassinations—the so-called eighth sister—she is not who or what he was led to believe. Then again, neither is anyone else in this deadly game of cat and mouse. Pursued by a dogged Russian intelligence officer, Jenkins executes a daring escape across the Black Sea, only to find himself abandoned by the agency he serves. With his family and freedom at risk, Jenkins is in the fight of his life—against his own country.

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Book SynopsisThe perfect life becomes the perfect nightmare in a twisting novel of psychological suspense from #1 USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Jaynes… Dr. Daniel Winters is living a fairy-tale life. He has a beachfront home in Malibu, a career as a respected pediatrician at a thriving Los Angeles practice, and a gorgeous new wife, Mia. For a man whose past was rife with mental illness, addiction, and thoughts of suicide, it seems too good to be true. Then Daniel learns that a fellow pediatrician and his family were found slaughtered in their home. It’s just the first chip in the facade of Daniel’s perfect life. Little by little, everything starts to fall away. At work, his career becomes at risk when he’s asked to remain silent about a dangerous new drug. At home, Mia has gone from an affectionate newlywed to a mysterious woman carefully hiding secrets—and possibly a lover. Then, another doctor is found dead, and as Mia’s behavior becomes increasingly suspicious, Daniel begins to wonder: Is paranoia getting the best of him…or has his fairy-tale life become a nightmare worse than he could have ever imagined?

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Book SynopsisWhat’s a lie among friends? It’s murder—in this riveting thriller by Viveca Sten, bestselling author of Tonight You’re Dead… It’s Midsummer’s Eve, the celebration of the longest day of the year, and on Sandhamn it’s the longest party of the year. But the fun comes to a dead halt when a young reveler is murdered, a teenage girl is found drugged and dazed on the beach, and other young women vanish. So far, what links the victims is a mystery. For Nora Linde and her new boyfriend, Jonas Sköld, the crimes are personal: one of the missing girls is Wilma, Jonas’s daughter. And her disappearance could test Nora and Jonas’s relationship in ways they never expected. Thrust into the investigation, they soon discover that it’s more than a case of bad blood between friends. But the truth, which has receded into a haze of carousing, drugs, and liquor, is getting harder to see. If Nora and Jonas are going to find out what happened to Wilma, they’d better do it fast—before the ebbing tides sweep away all the terrible secrets of that night on Sandhamn Island.

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Book SynopsisDI Amy Winter knows evil. She’s lived through it. Four-year-old Ellen is snatched by a stranger in the dead of night. Her devastated mother, Nicole, receives four identical phials and a threatening note in a familiar scrawl that chills her to the bone. But she always knew this would happen. She’s been expecting it for years . . . According to the note, one of the phials is poisoned. Nicole is given a deadly challenge: if she drinks one, the sadistic kidnapper will notify the police of Ellen’s location. The sender claims to be Luka Volkov but Luka is supposed to be dead, killed long ago in a fire that haunts all those involved. DI Amy Winter is still reeling from the discovery that she is the daughter of a serial killer, and her childhood trauma only makes her more determined to bring Ellen home. When another child is taken, Amy finds herself in a race against time. To rescue the children, must she seek help from the one person she wants to forget?

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Book SynopsisIn the feeble light of a London winter, Joe Tiplady walks his dog in the snow. He is not alone. Two men are tracking him, as is a woman with wolf eyes. Soon Joe will find himself caught in a storm of violence and retribution that he does not yet understand. Around the world, a chain of events is in motion that will make Joe a priceless target. A retired Soviet general hunts for his missing daughter after a series of brutal murders. A ruthless assassin loses something so precious he will do anything to get it back. And in the mountains of Utah, a brilliant ex-CIA chief wrestles with his religion. In the shadow of them all lies Zoba, strongman ruler of Russia and puppet-master of the world’s darkest operatives. Can Joe save himself from this dangerous web of power and revenge? Where can he run when there’s nowhere left to hide? Please note: this book contains strong language and scenes of torture.Trade Review“Brutally realistic...[Tiplady is] a fresh hero for our times...There are echoes of other loner heroes, including, of course, Jack Reacher, but Tiplady is perhaps a little more nuanced, and a touch more compassionate.” —The Daily Mail “Rarely is a book so engrossing and pacy that it makes me miss my train stop...The action shifts effortlessly across the globe and between Sweeney’s cast of eerily convincing characters, many based on his experiences as an investigative reporter.” —The Yorkshire Post

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Book SynopsisThe Wall Street Journal bestselling sequel to The Last Girl. Zoey is not the woman she once was. She’s watched her friends die at the hands of their captors, been hunted, and returned from the brink of death. Now she must find the truth about who she is. In search of the family she never knew, Zoey learns of personal records stored in an Idaho missile silo that may contain the information she and the other women seek. With the help of her group of newfound friends, Zoey travels to the missile facility, but among the records, they uncover information that leads to an insidious and horrific new foe: the Fae Trade, a macabre carnival of slavery and pain. Zoey’s journey into the darkest parts of the human psyche brings her perilously close to the ever-thinning line between good and evil, and the final cost in her quest for justice might be her own humanity.

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Book SynopsisDetective Wade Jackson is in for a shock when he’s summoned to the police chief’s office—his sergeant has been poisoned, and Jackson’s been tapped to lead the investigation. But before the Eugene Violent Crimes unit has a chance to respond, two people are gunned down at a licensed marijuana nursery. Jackson and his colleague Detective Lara Evans are on the case—but there are more suspects than evidence, and the crime is baffling. Soon, more people are hospitalized, and when Evans discovers a link between the poisonings and edible pot, she and Jackson suspect that the product tampering and shootings are connected. As the task force investigates new leads, it’s clear that the detectives are on a dangerous trail, one that forces them to question everyone—even their own team. But they’ll have to uncover the truth fast…before the next victim falls prey.

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Book SynopsisIn this #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, Tracy Crosswhite must first identify the victim to catch the killer. When a woman's body is discovered submerged in a crab pot in the chilly waters of Puget Sound, Detective Tracy Crosswhite finds herself with a tough case to untangle. Before they can identify the killer, Tracy and her colleagues on the Seattle PD's Violent Crimes Section must figure out who the victim is. Her autopsy, however, reveals she may have gone to great lengths to conceal her identity. So who was she running from? After evidence surfaces that their Jane Doe may be a woman who suspiciously disappeared months earlier, Tracy is once again haunted by the memory of her sister's unsolved murder. Dredging up details from the woman's past leads to conflicting clues that only seem to muddy the investigation. As Tracy begins to uncover a twisted tale of brutal betrayal and desperate greed, she'll find herself risking everything to confront a killer who won't go down without a deadly fight. Once again, New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni delivers a taut, riveting thriller in the fourth installment of his acclaimed Tracy Crosswhite series.Trade Review"In Dugoni’s outstanding fourth Tracy Crosswhite mystery, the Seattle homicide detective investigates the death of Andrea Strickland, a young woman whose body a fisherman finds in a crab pot raised from the sea...In less deft hands this tale wouldn’t hold water, but Dugoni presents his victim’s life in discrete pieces, each revealing a bit more about Andrea and her struggle to find happiness. Tracy’s quest to uncover the truth leads her into life-altering peril in this exceptional installment." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review “Dugoni drills so deep into the troubled relationships among his characters that each new revelation shows them in a disturbing new light…an unholy tangle of crimes makes this his best book to date.” —Kirkus Reviews “Dugoni has a gift for creating compelling characters and mysteries that seem straightforward, but his stories, like an onion, have many hidden layers. He also is able to capture the spirit and atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest, making the environment come alive.…another winner from Dugoni.” —Associated Press “All of Robert Dugoni's talents are once again firmly on display in The Trapped Girl, a blisteringly effective crime thriller…structured along classical lines drawn years ago by the likes of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. A fiendishly clever tale that colors its pages with crisp shades of postmodern noir.” —Providence Journal “Robert Dugoni, yet again, delivers an excellent read.…With many twists, turns, and jumps in the road traveled by the detective and her cohorts, this absolutely superb plot becomes more than just a little entertaining. The problem remains the same: Readers must now once again wait impatiently for the next book by Robert Dugoni to arrive.” —Suspense Magazine “The Trapped Girl is a blistering mystery, and some of Robert Dugoni’s best work to date.” —The Real Book Spy “Dugoni weaves an intricate and absorbing story that’s as hot as the unseasonable Seattle weather his detective battles through.” —Authorlink Praise for The Tracy Crosswhite Series: “Combines the best of a police procedural with a legal thriller, and the end result is outstanding…Dugoni continues to deliver emotional and gut-wrenching, character-driven suspense stories that will resonate with any fan of the thriller genre.” —Library Journal, Starred Review “Dugoni does a masterful job... If you are not already reading his books, you should be!” —BookReporter “Dugoni does a superior job of positioning [the plot elements] for maximum impact...” —Publishers Weekly “Well written, and its classic premise is sure to absorb legal-thriller fans…The characters are richly detailed and true to life, and the ending is sure to please fans.” —Kirkus Reviews “A stunningly suspenseful exercise in terror that hits every note at the perfect pitch.” —Providence Journal “Dugoni has become one of the best crime novelists in the business, and his latest featuring Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite will only draw more accolades.” —Romantic Times, Top Pick

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Book Synopsis"Instantly absorbing, suspenseful, romantic, and stylish—like binge-watching a great British drama on Masterpiece Theater." —Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author Winner of the Left Coast Crime Award winner for Best Historical Mystery Novel and the Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel. World War II comes to Farleigh Place, the ancestral home of Lord Westerham and his five daughters, when a soldier with a failed parachute falls to his death on the estate. After his uniform and possessions raise suspicions, MI5 operative and family friend Ben Cresswell is covertly tasked with determining if the man is a German spy. The assignment also offers Ben the chance to be near Lord Westerham's middle daughter, Pamela, whom he furtively loves. But Pamela has her own secret: she has taken a job at Bletchley Park, the British code-breaking facility. As Ben follows a trail of spies and traitors, which may include another member of Pamela's family, he discovers that some within the realm have an appalling, history-altering agenda. Can he, with Pamela's help, stop them before England falls? Inspired by the events and people of World War II, writer Rhys Bowen crafts a sweeping and riveting saga of class, family, love, and betrayal.Trade Review"…well-crafted, thoroughly entertaining thriller…a game of spy versus spy, and with every twist and turn, the reader is unsure whom to trust." —Publishers Weekly "The skills Bowen brings to her several mystery series, including Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness, inform the plotting in this character-rich tale, which will be welcomed by her fans as well as by readers who enjoy fiction about the British home front." —Booklist "In what could easily become a PBS show of its own, Bowen's novel winningly details a World War II spy game. It features an English aristocrat's daughter who works at London's top-secret home of code breakers, Bletchley Park, and a number of others with high-stakes plots and plans." —Library Journal "Suspenseful and thrilling, with some espionage too, this novel will keep readers deeply involved until the end." —Portland Book Review "In Farleigh Field delivers the same entertainment mixed with intellectual intrigue and realistic setting for which Bowen has earned awards and loyal fans." —New York Journal of Books "Well-plotted and thoroughly entertaining…With characters who are so fully fleshed out, you can imagine meeting them on the street…" —Historical Novel Society "This story of war, love, and mystery is extremely suspenseful... both realistic and believable. Through the character's eyes, readers will be drawn into the era and begin to understand the sacrifices and hardships placed on English society." —Crimespree Magazine "A thrill a minute…highly recommend." —Night Owl Reviews, Top Pick "Riveting…" —Military Press "Instantly absorbing, suspenseful, romantic and stylish - like binge-watching a great British drama on Masterpiece Theater." —Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author "In Farleigh Field is brilliant. The plotting is razor sharp and ingenious, the setting in World War Two Britain is so tangible it's eerie. The depth and breadth of character is astonishing. They're likeable and repulsive and warm and stand-offish. And oh, so human. And so relatable. All this would be enough to propel In Farleigh Field to the top of your favourites list, but what truly distinguishes this book, indeed all her books, is the quality of writing. Rhys Bowen is one of the very best fiction writers of the day. With a deep understanding of the wounded human heart, and an uncanny ability to capture the quiet emotions and the grand scale of war, she rises above her contemporaries. This is magnificently written and a must read." —Louise Penny, New York Times bestselling author "Irresistible, charming and heartbreakingly authentic. Rhys Bowen's knowing voice transports Downton fans into a unputdownable family saga…a compelling journey through history, loss, honor and love. When war gets personal, every heart is in peril." —Hank Phillippi Ryan, author of Say No More

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Book SynopsisFrom the moment she was banished by her father, the king, Princess Maia journeyed to seek sanctuary at Muirwood Abbey, the epicenter of magic and good in the land. Now safe for the first time since her cruel abandonment, Maia must foster uneasy friendships with other girls training to be Ciphers: women who learn to read and engrave tomes of ancient power, despite the laws forbidding them to do so. As Maia tries to judge whom to trust, she makes a shocking discovery: her destiny is to open the Apse Veil and release trapped spirits from her world. Then she learns that her father is coming to Muirwood Abbey to celebrate the Whitsunday festival—and Maia’s estranged husband, whom she was forced to abandon, will join him. Torn between deadly political machinations and unstoppable spiritual forces, Maia must channel unknown powers within herself to save her friends, the abbey, and the entire kingdom of Muirwood.

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Book SynopsisKnowledge is power…and they know everything. NSA director Theodore Anders has a simple goal: collect every phone call, email, and keystroke tapped on the Internet. He knows unlimited surveillance is the only way to keep America safe. Evelyn Gallagher doesn’t care much about any of that. She just wants to keep her head down and manage the NSA’s camera network and facial recognition program so she can afford private school for her deaf son, Dash. But when Evelyn discovers the existence of an NSA program code-named God’s Eye, and connects it with the mysterious deaths of a string of journalists and whistle-blowers, her doubts put her and Dash in the crosshairs of a pair of government assassins: Delgado, a sadistic bomb maker and hacker; and Manus, a damaged giant of a man who until now has cared for nothing beyond protecting the director. Within an elaborate game of political blackmail, terrorist provocations, and White House scheming, a global war is being fought—a war between those desperate to keep the state’s darkest secrets and those intent on revealing them. A war that Evelyn will need all her espionage training and savvy to survive. A war in which the director has the ultimate informational advantage: The God’s Eye View.Trade ReviewAn Amazon.com Best Books of the Month Selection: Mystery & Thriller “Eisler’s expert knowledge of spycraft and hand-to-hand combat combine with his ultra-deep distrust of government intelligence to propel this suspenseful yarn into the front ranks of paranoid thrillers.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review “A timely thriller that will make readers wonder how much the government really knows about them...An engaging tale about a serious issue. Read it and squirm.” —Kirkus Reviews “Award-winning author Eisler craftily incorporates his CIA background and detailed research in this electrifying thriller. Numerous hand-to-hand combat scenes and espionage galore are sure to captivate fans of Lee Child or Daniel Silva.” —Library Journal “Eisler has managed to evoke a half-hidden global conflict that is still largely misunderstood even by many of its own participants. In documenting the parts and making accessible the whole, he has done the public a profound service that goes well beyond entertainment.” —Barrett Brown, activist and journalist “Read this book because it’s wildly entertaining. Respect it because it paints a portrait of America that is more timely, terrifying, and relevant than anything gracing the bestseller lists. This is fiction that thrills, makes you think, and makes you consider the surveillance state that is fast becoming our daily lives. What more can a novel aspire to do? The God’s Eye View is one of the most important books that will be published this year.” —Blake Crouch, author of The Wayward Pines Series “Barry Eisler writes terrific political thrillers, but they have a deeper message. He wants us to think about the surveillance state we’re creating, a world of pervasive spying on everything we say and do. This book will entertain, as all good thrillers do, but it’ll also ask you to consider the price we’ll all pay if unaccountable governments know everything about us while we know little or nothing about what they do with our money and in our names.” —Dan Gillmor, teacher of digital media literacy at Arizona State University, journalist, and author “Barry Eisler takes us into the most forbidding—and forbidden—places, programs, and conversations in the Intelligence Community. We’re in the room as the generals and bureaucrats charged with protecting us instead plot to deny Americans our constitutional liberties. It’s not pretty, and blood is going to be spilled. The only way I can sleep after reading this book is by trying to convince myself it’s fiction.” —John Kiriakou, whistleblower, former CIA “Creepy. This story is much more plausible than I expected—or care to admit.” —Chelsea Manning, former army intelligence analyst and transparency advocate “An absolute page-turner I couldn’t put down—complete with real world details and references. If you want to learn why we should fear the NSA, while being tremendously entertained, this is the book for you.” —Mike Masnick, founder and CEO of Techdirt “Barry Eisler has done it again. The God’s Eye View is a character-driven action tale grounded in real-life events. With the knowledge of an intelligence community insider, Eisler explores the slippery slope of authoritarian impulses that are unleashed when fear and power combine in unaccountable government agencies, and the destruction—of lives and ideals—that inevitably follows.” —Elisa Massimino, president and CEO of Human Rights First “The God’s Eye View is a delicious, thrilling read about a deep state surveillance program that even Edward Snowden did not unearth…This page-turner is replete with references to real-life voices of truth and transparency, and shows how easily and quickly democracy can be subverted by government secrecy and unchecked power.” —Jesselyn Radack, lawyer for Edward Snowden “There are few authors alive who can weave real-life headlines and state-of-the-art technology into riveting storytelling as convincingly as Eisler. The God’s Eye View is a prescient and page-turning tale about just how powerful secretive government spy agencies like the NSA have become...and how quickly they can spin out of control.” —Trevor Timm, executive director, Freedom of the Press Foundation “This is the nightmare scenario: when the director of our national surveillance machine goes out of control. But there are certainly hints in both leaked and released documents that such a scenario might be possible, as well as in the ease with which intelligence officials can contract out specific tasks. The God’s Eye View is a compelling picture of why we need to rein in our surveillance state. Plus, it’s an awesome read.” —Marcy Wheeler, Emptywheel

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Book SynopsisSeeing is believing in the Dark Circus, where truth and illusion collide, and where the heart of a holy conspiracy pounds?At an art auction in Madrid, Elías Segado, a religious art appraiser and detective, is getting ready to secure a painting for the bishop of Cartagena. But in a brilliant sleight of hand, the iconic work is stolen, drawing Elías into the confidence of its corrupt and seductive thief.Her name is L. Raised by her uncle in a threadbare circus, she lived by the twisted rules of the carnies she grew up with. Exploited for public awe, and ritually abused for private pleasure, L came to endure all that was encouraged by the circus?s perverted sense of righteousness. Debauchery is the only thing she trusts. But behind the curtains of the Dark Circus is a greater secret to be avenged. And she needs Elías Segado to help expose it.As their worlds of sacrilege and devotion collide, so do temptation and indulgence?and a faith in both good and evil, where morality is just another illusion. But to survive the mystery, Elías must also dare to accept something more shattering: everything he and L have in common.

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Book SynopsisThe gripping third book in the internationally acclaimed series by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni. Detective Tracy Crosswhite has a skill, and a soft spot, for tackling unsolved crimes. Having lost her own sister to murder at a young age, Tracy has dedicated her career to bringing justice and closure to the families and friends of victims of crime. So when Jenny, a former police academy classmate and protégé, asks Tracy to help solve a cold case that involves the suspicious suicide of a Native American high school girl forty years earlier, Tracy agrees. Following up on evidence Jenny’s detective father collected when he was the investigating deputy, Tracy probes one small town’s memory and finds dark, well-concealed secrets hidden within the community’s fabric. Can Tracy uphold the promise she’s made to the dead girl’s family and deliver the truth of what happened to their daughter? Or will she become the next victim?Trade Review“Dugoni’s third Tracy Crosswhite novel (after Her Final Breath) continues his series’s standard of excellence with superb plotting and skillful balancing of the two story lines. ­VERDICT: New readers can enjoy this as a stand-alone; they and series fans will be captivated by the issues and foibles that drive Tracy and strengthen her resolve.” —Library Journal, Starred Review “Tracy is a well-crafted character...Readers of the first two books will enjoy this one, and, because it can be read as a stand-alone, newcomers can jump right in.” —Booklist “Dugoni has become one of the best crime novelists in the business...Dugoni brings humor, emotional resonance, and gripping prose to his entire cast of characters. Newcomers will seek out the previous two novels in the series, and readers of the earlier entries will love this one as well.” —RT Book Reviews, Top Pick “[Robert Dugoni] tops himself in the darkly brilliant and mesmerizing In the Clearing, an ironically apt title for a tale in which nothing at all is clear...Dugoni, once known for Grisham-esque legal thrillers, continues to expand his considerable talents on a much broader canvas, staking out a claim to literary relevance established by the likes of Tony Hillerman and John D. MacDonald. Clearly not to be missed.” —Providence Rhode Island Journal “In the Clearing is Dugoni’s third crime novel featuring the Seattle homicide detective. Tracy Crosswhite returns in a well plotted narrative that presents readers with a complex and engrossing story to keep them turning the pages to the last. Recommended for all fans of modern detective fiction.” —AuthorLink “Not to be missed. The characters and case will draw you in and hold you til the last page.” —Night Owl Reviews

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Book SynopsisLittle by little, an amnesiac pieces together the truth about her Southern family, her old life, and a friend’s murder, in this engrossing novel of suspense. Waking up with amnesia in an Atlanta hospital, Cassie Barber-Davenport goes home to a life she doesn’t recognize. She gradually learns that her associations with neo-Confederates and white supremacists have left her estranged from her husband and alienated from her children. Cassie no longer wants to embrace these views—but breaking away from that world and from her wealthy Southern family is not so simple. Meanwhile, she still suffers confusion and disorientation—experiencing nightmares about an unknown Englishman; hearing from her friend Marcie that she apparently had been having an affair; being dismissed by the police after she’s awakened by a frightening phone call. Then a body is found—and a series of revelations brings Cassie’s past into sh

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of The Missing Girl, Jenny Quintana’s gripping novel, Our Dark Secret, tells the story of two girls, two deaths and two decades of silence . . . The crazy girls, they called them – or at least, Elizabeth liked to think they did. As a teenager in the late 1970s, she was clever, overweight and a perfect victim for the bullies. Then Rachel and her family arrived in town and, for Elizabeth, it was as if a light had been switched on. She was drawn to the bright and beautiful Rachel like a moth to a flame.Rachel had her own reasons for wanting Elizabeth as a friend, and although their relationship was far from equal, Elizabeth would do anything for Rachel.Then the first body was discovered.Twenty years on, Elizabeth wants nothing more than to keep the secrets of her teenage years where they belong: in the past. But another body has been found, and she can’t keep running from what happened.Can she?Trade ReviewEmotional and gripping: Our Dark Secret confirms Jenny Quintana as the mistress of the heartbreaking thriller -- Erin Kelly, author of He Said/She Said and Stone MothersDarkly compelling, tender characterisation — I read this in a few greedy gulps -- Jane Shemilt, author of Daughter and Little FriendsBittersweet, full of growing menace, yet poignant and full of longing . . . Fans of The Missing Girl will fall in love with this! -- Karen Hamilton, author of The Perfect GirlfriendJenny Quintana is a rare talent . . . Superb plotting, razor-sharp characterisation, and a creeping sense of dread makes Our Dark Secret a novel that you won’t be able to put down -- Caz Frear, author of Sweet Little Lies and Stone Cold HeartA compulsive page-turner; a beautifully written coming-of-age story; a murder mystery peopled with characters who live and breathe . . . and a brilliant read -- Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle and The NeighbourExcellent – a dark and moving mystery, woven from the tales of truly memorable characters -- Rachel Edwards, author of DarlingOur Dark Secret has everything I look for in a novel — beautiful writing, memorable characters and a gripping mystery. Elizabeth is a wonderful creation — I worried for her, rooted for her and feared her in equal measure. Bravo Jenny! -- Emily Elgar, author of If You Knew Her and Grace is GoneEmotional and heartfelt this is a dark, atmospheric coming of age story that’s beautifully written, and grips from the start. One to watch out for! -- Amanda Jennings, author of In Her Wake and The Cliff HousePart coming of age story, part mystery, totally gripping! -- Jo Jakeman, author of Sticks and Stones and Safe HouseCrime fans will love Our Dark Secret for the unguessable murder mystery at the heart of the plot. But the book is also a beautifully nostalgic coming of age story with subtly engaging characters whose heartbreaking dilemmas turn our initial perceptions inside out. The novel is so acutely observed and involving that it has the power to transport all of us who grew up in the 1970s back to the chicken chasseur, Barry White and Purdy-haircut filled suburbia of our childhoods -- Carolyn Kirby, author of The conviction of Cora Burns and When We FallAddictive * Woman's Weekly *The friendship of two girls bonded by secrets fizzes on a slow burning fuse that has you waiting for the big bang when the past explosively catches up * Peterborough Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisZoe Ball's BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick.Mesmerising and haunting, Emma Flint's Other Women is a devastating story of fantasy, obsession inspired by a murder that took place almost a hundred years ago.'A pitch-perfect historical mystery' – The Guardian'Bloody brilliant' – Dinah Jefferies, author of The Missing Sister'Compelling, twisty, and wonderfully suspenseful' – Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled GroundIt is 1923 and a country is in mourning. Thousands of husbands, fathers, sons and sweethearts were lost in the war, millions more returned home wounded and forever changed.Beatrice Cade is an orphan, unmarried and childless. After her brother's death, she decides to make a new life for herself. She takes a room in a Bloomsbury ladies’ club and a job in the City. But just when her new world is starting to take shape, a fleeting encounter threatens to ruin everything.Kate Ryan is an ordinary wife and mother. Since the end of the war, she has managed to build an enviable life with her husband and young daughter. From the outside, they seem like a normal, happy family. But when two policemen knock on Kate's door and jeopardize the facade Kate has created, she knows what she has to do to protect the people she loves. And suddenly, two women who never should have met are connected for ever . . .'Exquisite' - Will Dean, author of Dark Pines'This is a book that will stay with you' – Ann Cleeves, bestselling author of the Vera series'A thoroughly captivating and unsettling page-turner' – iNewsTrade ReviewThe tension grows throughout the book until it's almost unbearable. This is a book that will stay with you. -- Ann CleevesThis beautifully written, pitch-perfect historical mystery is based on a real case – here, a murder that took place in 1924 . . . a moving study of loneliness, desperation, shame and public prurience. -- Laura Wilson * The Guardian *Exquisite and my book of the year. Utterly brilliant. -- Will Dean, author of Dark PinesFlint maintains suspense in what is a thoroughly captivating and unsettling page-turner that deserves to land her on awards lists again. -- Robert Epstein * iNews *Emma Flint reworks the details of a notorious historical murder and unspools the fate of her three entirely convincing main characters. * Daily Mail *Based on a shocking real-life murder in the 1920s Other Women focuses on Beatrice, almost invisible until she falls in love with a colleague, and Kate, seen as a devoted wife and mother, until their lives converge. I expect to see it on all the awards shortlists. * Red *Other Women is compelling and twisty, and wonderfully suspenseful, and yet still full of empathy for the female characters. -- Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled GroundMoving, gripping . . . Other Women takes another tale of a true crime and reimagines it into a novel – this time, the murder of Emily Beilby Kaye by her married lover, Herbert Patrick Mahon. -- Alison Flood * The observer *Bloody brilliant -- Dinah JeffriesSet in the early 1920s, this clever mix of romance, thriller and courtroom drama proves love and heartbreak never ages, whatever the era. * Woman & Home *Utterly, utterly brilliant. Other Women is compelling, thought-provoking, harrowing and incredibly urgent. -- Caroline LeaStaggeringly brilliant, harrowing, haunting and entirely beautiful. Other Women takes a thrilling yet compassionate look at the making of a murder, at loneliness and love, at fixation and the sting of shame. A wonderful novel. -- Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the EndThe tension is superb and I honestly couldn't put it down. * Prima *Poignant and elegant, brutal and beautiful, Other Women, is a masterclass in modern storytelling. -- Helen Cullen, author of The Truth Must Dazzle GraduallyA glittering black diamond of a book. Beautiful and devastating literary true crime. Emma Flint takes a real murder from the 1920s and gives voice to the women involved. Bubbling anger beneath exquisite prose. -- Anna Mazolla, author of The Clockwork GirlIt is brilliant. I was swept up in a turmoil of emotion as I read. This is a book that starts as a love story and turns into something much darker indeed. -- Harriet Tyce, author of The Lies You ToldThe disturbing narrative unspools with a veneer of unsettling normalcy, which make the reveals which Flint masterfully serves up all the more gripping and profound when we reach them. -- Philippa East, author of I'll Never TellPassion, betrayal, and obsessive love combine to create the stunning tour de force that is Other Women . . . Chilling and heart-stopping, this is an instant classic. -- Eleni Kyriacou, author of She Came to StayHeartbreaking. I wanted it to go on and on, even as I raced to the end. Excellent, absorbing and totally gripping. -- Melanie Golding, author of The ReplacementsOther Women is a book about fantasy and the lengths that people will go to to protect what they love, whether that’s another adult, a child, or the dream of another kind of life. * Take a Break *. . . this haunting tale of love and obsession will stay with you. * Heat *Emma Flint has used a murder that shocked Britain almost a century ago - and paved the way for forensic science - as inspiration for her latest thriller. * The Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisThe Winter Secret is a thrilling mystery from Lulu Taylor, top ten bestselling author of The Snow Rose.‘My dear boy, the place is cursed. It always has been and it always will be . . .’Buttercup Redmain has a life of pampered luxury, living in beautiful Charcombe Park, Dorset. Her older husband, Charles Redmain, is wealthy and successful, and proud of the house he has painstakingly restored, once owned by a famous ancestor. Buttercup is surrounded by people who make her life delightfully easy. But the one thing she really wants seems impossible.There are other discomforting realities: her husband’s ex-wife still lives nearby – though Buttercup has never met her. Soon, it becomes very clear that all the people who make Buttercup’s life so carefree are also watching her every move. Does she actually live in a comfortable but inescapable cage? And what is the truth of her husband’s previous marriage?In the late 1940s, Xenia Arkadyoff lived in Charcombe Park with her father, a Russian prince, and her mother, a famous film star. Life seemed charmed, full of glamour and beauty. But behind the glittering facade lay pain, betrayal, and the truth about the woman Xenia spent her life protecting.Now Charcombe Park is calling back people who were once part of its story, and the secrets that have stayed long hidden are bubbling inexorably to the surface . . .Trade ReviewDon't you just want to grab this, switch off the phone and curl up on the sofa? Winter bliss from Lulu Taylor -- Veronica Henry, top ten bestselling author of Christmas at the Beach HutTold across both time lines, this easy read has a sting in the tale * Sunday Mirror *I raced through this gripping tale about secrets and lies and long-buried emotions bubbling explosively to the surface -- Daily Mail on The Winter Children

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from her bestselling historical fiction The Woolworths Girls, Christmas at Woolworths is the heartfelt second book in Elaine Everest's Woolworths series.Even though there was a war on, the Woolworths girls brought Christmas cheer to their customers.Best friends Sarah, Maisie and Freda are brought together by their jobs at Woolworths. With their loved ones away on the front line, their bonds of friendship strengthen each day. Betty Billington is the manager at Woolworths, and a rock for the girls, having given up on love . . . Until a mysterious stranger turns up one day – could he reignite a spark in Betty?As the year draws to a close, and Christmas approaches, the girls must rely on each other to navigate the dark days that lie ahead . . .With so much change, can their friendship survive the war?Trade ReviewExpect trouble and strife . . . and a big Christmas helping of love and goodwill as we join the girls for a seasonal visit to our favourite Woolworths store * Lancashire Evening Post *A real Christmas treat * Choice *Fabulous ... heartwarming * Take a Break *A warm, tender tale of friendship and love . . . sweet as a Woolies Pick 'n' Mix -- Milly Johnson (The Woolworths Girls)Heartwarming . . . a must-read -- Woman's Own (The Woolworths Girls)A lovely read -- Bella (The Woolworths Girls)Elaine brings the heyday of the iconic high-street giant to life in her charming novel -- S Magazine (The Woolworths Girls)

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Book SynopsisThe characters in this book are works of fiction. But, then, isn’t everyone . . . ?1988, Pencalenick, Cornwall.At seventeen, Jason wants much more from life than working at his father’s pub and when fate, in the form of twins Daisy and Bea and their small circle of friends, offers him a glimpse of another, more glamorous, world, he’s determined to become a part of it. It’s Daisy who Jason is most entranced by, though. Everyone is: she’s the sun around which others orbit.The trouble with the sun, of course, is that those who get too close risk getting burned – and by the end of the summer, one of the group will be dead.2018, Camberwell, London. When famous actress Daisy Hemmings decides it's time to publish her autobiography, she chooses James Tate to write it. James is a ghost writer: it’s his job to step into other people’s shoes; to tell their stories for them. And he’s good at it. Very good. After all, he’s had years of practice at pretending to be someone he’s not. But what happens when past and present – and truth and lies – collide?Joanna Nadin’s The Double Life of Daisy Hemmings is an unflinching, unforgettable novel about the people we are, the people we’d like to be, and the price we pay for getting what we want . . .Trade ReviewUnflinching, unforgettable . . . Nadin should be this year's summer sensation -- a step up for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid. * The Bookseller *The writing fizzes with energy and charm, and the story is bewitching. I didn't want it to end -- Emylia Hall, author of The Book of SummersTotally absorbing and evocative -- Kate Riordan, author of Summer FeverA gloriously shimmering and captivating novel, with a mystery at its heart that keeps you turning its pages -- Emily KochA clever novel . . . about truth, lies and what happens when the secrets we keep are exposed * Red *A gem. Atmospheric and thrilling and sexy and so clever -- Laura Pearson

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Book Synopsis‘The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong’ – Stephen KingCold is the Grave is the eleventh novel in Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series, following on from In A Dry Season.A runaway girl. An inescapable past. Banks is pulled into a perilous world. With his personal life in turmoil DCI Banks is considering his options. But then late one night the architect of his professional misfortune, Chief Constable Riddle, summons Banks to his house for his daughter Emily has run away and compromising photos have appeared online. Riddle wants Banks to use his unorthodox methods to find her without a fuss.Banks, a father himself, cannot refuse and he follows the trail to the dark heart of London. But when a series of gruesome murders follows soon after, Banks finds himself pulled into the dangerous world of his most powerful enemy, Chief Constable Jimmy Riddle.Cold is the Grave is followed by the twelfth book in this Yorkshire-based crime series, Aftermath.Trade ReviewA writer at the very height of his powers -- Ian RankinThe master of the police procedural * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisThe Spear is a gripping supernatural thriller by the master of horror, James Herbert.A young Mossad agent is found dead and private detective Harry Steadman is asked to investigate. On the hunt for a sinister arms dealer, however, what he discovers is a conspiracy of unfathomable horror. Neo-nazi cultists want to unleash an ancient and demonic power. A power so terrible it threatens the world itself . . .Trade ReviewSpine-chilling ... violent, creepy and compulsive reading * Daily Mirror *Master of the horror genre * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis'The best Scottish crime series since Rebus.' – Daily RecordThe sins of the dead are all consuming . . . While illegally street racing in the underground tunnels of Glasgow, four Harley-Davidson riders make a horrifying discovery: a dead man left in the darkness, hands together on his chest as if peacefully laid to rest. The cause of death is unclear, the only clues being a half glass of red wine and a partially eaten chunk of bread by his side that echo the ancient religious practice of sin-eating.Called to the scene, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod is perplexed by the lack of evidence. But when another body is found near her own flat, laid out in a similar manner, she fears a forensically aware killer stalks the city and is marking the victims with their unique signature. Even more worryingly, the killer appears to be using skills they may have learned while attending her forensic science lectures at Glasgow University.There are signs that Rhona is being targeted, that the killer is playing with her and the police, drawing them into a deadly race against time, before the sin-eater’s next victim is chosen . . .Sins of the Dead is the thrilling thirteenth book in Lin Anderson’s forensic crime series featuring Rhona MacLeod, followed by Time for the Dead.Trade ReviewThe best Scottish crime series since Rebus * Daily Record *Shades of The Wicker Man, with a touch of Agatha Christie. Superb * Daily Mail *The bleak landscape is beautifully described, giving this popular series a new lease of life * Sunday Times *Hugely imaginative and exciting -- James Grieve (Emeritus Professor of Forensic Pathology)Brilliant book by a brilliant crime writer. True forensics at its very best -- Lorna Dawson, CBE (Principal Soil Scientist, James Hutton Institute & Professor, RGU)This book will keep you guessing to the end * People's Friend *Lin Anderson is one of Scotland’s national treasures – don’t be fooled by comparisons, her writing is unique, bringing warmth and depth to even the seediest parts of Glasgow. Lin’s Rhona MacLeod is a complex and compelling heroine who just gets better with every outing -- Stuart MacBrideThey don’t call Lin Anderson the Queen of Tartan Noir for nothing! [She] is an expert at atmospheric narrative and with one swoop of her pen her prose will chill you to the bone * chaptersinmylife *Anderson is a master storyteller, filling her novels with engaging characters, clever, compelling, contemporary plotlines and a beautifully descriptive prose that belies the death and darkness of her powerful, pulsating crime mysteries * Blackpool Gazette *Overall, this is a cracking five star read that is both dark and complex. Heartily recommended . Go on, treat yourself, you know you want to . . . * Love and Deadly *

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Book SynopsisThe First Mistake is the stunning second novel from The Other Woman author Sandie Jones, who delivers twist after heart-stopping twist, in this addictively readable domestic suspense about a wife, her husband, and her best friend. Perfect for fans of The Mother-in-Law and My Lovely Wife.For Alice, life has never been better. After the death of her first husband, she has remarried, has a successful business, two children and a beautiful house. In Beth, she also has the best friend she has always wanted. A friend without judgement, she is the most trustworthy and loyal person Alice knows. So when Alice begins to suspect her husband Nathan is having an affair, Alice turns to Beth to help her find the truth. She can trust Beth, can't she . . .?Trade ReviewAn absolute corker – wickedly relatable story, wonderful characters and a great twist -- T. M. Logan on The Other WomanA compulsive, claustrophobic read. It made my heart rate climb -- Emma Kavanagh on The Other WomanA nice twist . . . I think a lot of readers will probably identify with events in the book -- Jojo Moyes on The Other Woman

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Book SynopsisDCI Vera Stanhope returns in The Darkest Evening, the ninth novel in Sunday Times bestseller Ann Cleeves' enduringly popular series.Driving home during a swirling blizzard, Vera Stanhope's only thought is to get there quickly.But the snow is so heavy, she becomes disoriented and loses her way. Ploughing on, she sees a car slewed off the road ahead of her. With the driver's door open, Vera assumes the driver has sought shelter but when she inspects the car she is shocked to find a young toddler strapped in the back seat.Afraid they will freeze, Vera takes the child and drives on, arriving at Brockburn, a run-down stately home she immediately recognizes as the house her father Hector grew up in.Inside Brockburn a party is in full swing, with music and laughter to herald the coming Christmas. But outside in the snow, a young woman lies dead and Vera knows immediately she has a new case. Could this woman be the child's mother, and if so, what happened to her?A classic country house mystery with a contemporary twist, Ann Cleeves returns with a brilliant Vera novel to savour.Trade ReviewA thoroughly engrossing thriller * Mail on Sunday *Cleeves’s Northumberland novels are strong on atmosphere, combining old-fashioned detective work with a modern take on class * Sunday Times *Who doesn’t love “large and shabby” Vera Stanhope, the blunt detective in Ann Cleeves’s Northumberland police procedurals? She is already one of the genre immortals. Cleeves delivers some choice Vera moments in THE DARKEST EVENING * New York Times *Brilliantly written, with more twists and turns you can shake one of Vera's hats at * Heat *A gripping read * Sun *Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite mystery writers! -- Louise PennyFans will enjoy matching wits with Cleeves’ eccentric sleuth right up to the dangerous surprise in her denouement * Kirkus Reviews *Cleeves has a fine time constructing a clockwork murder plot * Booklist *Superb . . . This page-turner is must reading for fans as well as newcomers -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)This ninth instalment will keep you guessing until the end * My Weekly *Nobody does unsettling undercurrents better than Ann Cleeves -- Val McDermidOne of Britain's best crime writers * Daily Express *

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Book Synopsis'A master of suspense' – Sunday TimesWhen Inspector Gunnar Barbarotti returns to work after a personal tragedy, his boss hands him a cold case to ease him back in. But the case doesn't stay cold for long . . . The Axe Woman is the fifth Inspector Barbarotti novel from bestselling author Håkan Nesser.Five years previously, Arnold Morinder simply vanished. His partner claimed he had travelled abroad, never to return. But Arnold’s partner was Ellen Bjarnebo: one of Sweden’s most notorious killers, having served over ten years in prison for killing her first husband and dismembering his body with an axe. And when Barbarotti seeks to re-interview Ellen, she is nowhere to be found . . .With neither a body nor a prime suspect, Barbarotti must use all the ingenuity at his disposal. And as the cold case begins to thaw and he finally begins to make progress, he realizes that nothing about Ellen Bjarnebo can be taken for granted . . .Trade ReviewOne of the best Nordic Noir writers * The Guardian *One of Sweden's best crime writers * The Mail on Sunday *A master of suspense * The Sunday Times *The godfather of Swedish crime * Metro *Some aficionados would argue that the Swede Hakan Nesser is the most accomplished writer in the [Nordic noir] field today, and The Axe Woman is choice fare -- Barry Forshaw * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisBased on the popular Netflix series! In the early 20th century, esteemed writer Maurice Leblanc created Arsène Lupin, a French Sherlock Holmes-type who became known as the gentleman thief. Lupin's exploits, in pursuit of the rich, have been documented in more than twenty stories and books, as well as in film. In January 2021, Netflix released a major hit in the entertaining Lupin mystery-comedy series based on the stories.The Best Stories of Arsène Lupin is a collection of the most engaging of Leblanc's writing about Lupin, with a special foreword by West Point associate professor of English and writer Matthew Carey Salyer.

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Book SynopsisErewhon, an anagram for “nowhere,” is a faraway land where citizens follow a unique set of rules disregarding conventional beliefs about money, health and science. Beneath the surface, Erewhon is fueled by hypocrisy and inhabitants are riddled with fear. A traveler stumbles across a remote country that appears to be a peaceful paradise. It’s a utopian society that doesn’t use or value money in a traditional way. Criminals are considered sick and treated as patients, while the ill are imprisoned and labeled as criminals. There’s also an overwhelming distrust of machines, which are outlawed due to their potential to evolve and overthrow their masters. Erewhon’s superficial qualities grow to become a source of contempt and distrust. Erewhon illustrates a world where an attempt to correct the ills of society causes more harm than good. It’s a profound examination of Victorian ethics, benefiting a minority over the majority. Butler’s groundbreaking novel has significantly influenced multiple writers in literature and beyond. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Erewhon is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisWhen King Richard the Lionheart’s health began to decline, the English leader organized a truce with the leader of the Islamic forces, Saladin. Agreeing to cease the battles on the condition that Jerusalem would be under Muslim control, the two leaders gave orders to their troops to return to their homes. However, Sir Kenneth, a Scottish knight, was in the search of a certain monk rather than his home when he encounters Emir, a cavalryman for Saladin’s forces. At first distrustful of each other and used to warfare, the two soldiers engage in a one-on-one battle. But when both refuse to surrender, the men realize that they are equally matched, and with the truces between their leaders, there was no reason to fight. Apon this realization, Amir and Kenneth become friends. When Kenneth later mentions that he is on a quest to find a Christian monk, Emir offers to accompany him, as he knows the terrain better than Kenneth. After happily accepting the offer, the two fighters set off on their journey, facing villains, deception, romance, and duels. Admired for its rich prose and skillfully portrayed plotline, Sir Walter Scott’s The Talisman is an intricate and theatrical work of literary art. With well-presented characters and an engrossing setting, The Talisman offers the rare depiction of a friendship between an Arabic and English soldier in the 11th century as well as the seldomly portrayed time of peace during the crusades. With themes of chivalry, virtue, and violence paired with compelling representation and a well-executed plot, Sir Walter Scott’s The Talisman exceeds high expectations. This edition of The Talisman by Sir Walter Scott now features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of The Talisman crafts an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original mastery and drama of Sir Walter Scott’s literature.

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Book SynopsisThe Mystery of the Yellow Room (1908) is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. Originally serialized in L’Illustration from September to November 1907, The Mystery of the Yellow Room marked the first appearance of popular character Joseph Rouletabille, a reporter and part-time sleuth who features in several of Leroux’s novels. Originally a journalist, Leroux turned to fiction after reading the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe. Often considered one of the best locked-room mysteries of all time, the novel has been adapted several times for film and television. Joseph Rouletabille is more than meets the eye. A reporter by profession, he spends his free time working as an amateur detective, using his journalistic talents to compile facts and track down leads. When the young daughter of a prominent professor is found badly beaten in a locked room at the Château du Glandier, Roulebatille sets out to investigate with his trusted assistant Sainclair. After conducting interviews with several members of the castle staff, he is told that France’s top detective Frédéric Larsan has been assigned to the case. Larsan soon names Robert Darzac, Ms. Stangerson’s fiancé, as his primary suspect. Having already ruled Darzac out, Roulebatille begins to grow suspicious when the man is arrested and seems hesitant to defend himself. Working behind the scenes, the unassuming sleuth must race against time to prove Darzac’s innocence and stop Ms. Stangerson’s attacker from finishing what he started. The Mystery of the Yellow Room is a story of danger and suspense from one of history’s finest detective novelists. Joseph Rouletabille is without a doubt France’s answer to Sherlock Holmes. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Gaston Leroux’s The Mystery of the Yellow Room is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book Synopsis*THE BRAND NEW MURDER MYSTERY FOR FANS OF RICHARD OSMAN* 'Another delectable crime story... While between the covers of her books, the world seems a better place' The Times 'A giddy spell of sheer delight!' Praise for the Constable Twitten Series, Daily Mail In the latest installment of this prize-winning crime mystery series, our trio of redoubtable detectives are faced with the arrival in town of an escaped convict... It’s September in Brighton and the town is playing host to weeks of endless rain and lashings of villainy. A trusted member of a local gang has disappeared part way through planning a huge heist; a violent criminal obsessed with hunting policemen has escaped Broadmoor and is rumoured to be headed towards the town, while at Gosling’s department store an American researcher has been found dead in the music section. Inspector Steine has other things on his mind as he typically bathes in unearned glory, but Sergeant Brunswick and Constable ‘Clever Clogs’ Twitten are both on the case. If only they could work out just who is behind these dastardly acts… 'Glorious... The fun is in Truss's keen ear for dialogue, original comic characters and affectionate recreation of a seaside resort' Praise for the Constable Twitten Series, Sunday Times Crime Club 'Outstanding. In her ability to blend crime and farce, Truss is in a class of her own' Publishers Weekly DISCOVER THE AWARD-WINNING CONSTABLE TWITTEN MYSTERY SERIES NOWTrade ReviewThe witty and action-packed Psycho by the Sea carries readers along in surprising fits and starts, like a bumper-car ride. Elaborate schemes go awry, architectural follies self-destruct and the intelligence of several characters increases ever so slightly. This is a book in which there is candor (if not honor) among thieves. * Wall Street Journal *Another delectable story of Brighton cock and bull ... Fortunately, in her fourth crime novel Lynne Truss has not changed her winning recipe of nuttiness, nostalgia and lots of cake. While between the covers of her books, the world seems a better place * The Times *You can’t help but laugh and commiserate with the police and villains alike and the writing is very, very good * Belfast Telegraph *Truss’s love of language and word play shine from the page … An awful lot of fun * NB Magazine *The fourth in Truss's Constable Twitten series is a knickerbocker glorious romp, an effortless blend of merriment, mischief and the macabre, rich in nostalgia for the days of donkey rides and Punch and Judy shows. * Saga *Glorious ... The fun is in Truss's keen ear for dialogue, original comic characters and affectionate(ish) recreation of a seaside resort in its slightly sleazy heyday -- Praise for the Constable Twitten Series * Sunday Times Crime Club *More Marx Brothers than Agatha Christie, this is crime fiction turned on its head – a giddy spell of sheer delight -- Praise for the Constable Twitten Series * Daily Mail *Lynne Truss has great affection for her characters, who fully inhabit 1950s Brighton ... Enormous fun -- Praise for the Constable Twitten Series, Simon Brett

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Book SynopsisCan Rook keep his criminal past a secret when facing the most dangerous case of his life? Thirteen men have died in a London prison. Barrister Elliot Rook QC, who risks losing everything if his secret criminal past is revealed, must defend Charli Meadows, the vulnerable single mother accused of smuggling the deadly tainted drugs inside. But just as Rook becomes suspicious of those closest to Charli, a note arrives at his flat – threatening violence if the trial is not called off. While Rook battles to defend Charli and protect himself, his young protégé Zara Barnes is fighting for her livelihood. In a few short weeks, only one tenancy at the legal chambers will be available to the ever-multiplying mass of pupils. Determined to make it hers, Zara takes on her biggest solo case yet. But will her gamble pay off? Praise for the Elliot Rook QC series: '[A] thriller I found hard to put down' - Observer 'Slick and wonderfully paced, I was hooked from the opening pages. One of the best legal thrillers I have read recently, it reminded me of early Grisham’ - AMW Books Blog 'A brilliant read' - A. N. Wilson, TabletTrade ReviewThe court scenes bristle with authenticity. Throughout, I had flashbacks to my time at the bar. And Rook is a compelling creation. Intrepid, irreverent and ingenious. I’m a follower. -- John FairfaxIt’s very well done - crackles with authenticity and warmth in the relationship between Rook and Zara. Rumpole of the Bailey dusted off and brought firmly up to date for the twenty first century. -- Harriet TycePost Mortem is brilliant in the court room and inventive. -- Paul Burke * Crime Time *

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE IAN FLEMING STEEL DAGGER 2024 ''Wonderful'' LEE CHILD ''Outstanding'' NADINE MATHESON''Deftly plotted'' GUARDIAN ''Vivid and immersive'' BIG ISSUE Folasade Dawodu is married to the Bishop of a Nigerian Megachurch. She is prominent, she is young, she inspires: she is the First Lady. But when Bishop Jeremiah Dawodu is arrested at the pulpit for the murder of his beloved wife, shock cuts through this tight community. The arrest is televised all around Lagos, but while Bishop consistently maintains his innocence, and his congregation believe him, the First Lady remains missing. Philip Taiwo, compassionate investigative psychologist, is asked by his sister, a member of the Dawodus' church, to take on the case: to find out the truth, whatever the cost. But as he searches for Folasade, his own beloved family begins to fracture. Gaslight is the sensational follow u

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