Crime & Thrillers Books

Book Synopsis‘Just the right mixture of doomed fun, melancholy and faintly lascivious despair’ Observer ‘I am afraid I have something to tell you. It is that we are all about to be destroyed.’ 1914. The old standards are going. There is bitterness in politics, talk of civil war in Ireland. But all this means little to Cynthia Weston, attractive wife of cabinet member Aylmer Weston, and her nephew by marriage Philip. They are caught up in the charmed, perilous toils of a mutual passion that will destroy all they hold most dear – while the shadow of war lengthens and darkens, ready to swallow their world whole. A captivating portrait of a lost world, Statues in a Garden is a rediscovered masterpiece by one of the most important and neglected British female writers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.Trade ReviewColegate’s novels offer readers clear-eyed, illuminating windows onto this now bygone world ... Colegate has no equal ... In shining a light on the past, Colegate also illuminates the present * Paris Review *She should be a household name -- Eleanor CattonAn extraordinary achievement -- Frances Wilson * Times Literary Supplement, Summer Reading Picks 2020 *Stylish, funny, as vivid and brilliant as a painting on glass * Daily Telegraph *Combine the slightly offbeat sensibility of Muriel Spark with the milieu of an Iris Murdoch novel and you’ll have something of an idea about this witty tale * BBC Culture *She writes so gracefully and with such skill that her “private fable” acquires a truly fabulous quality * Times Literary Supplement *Threads of romance, social comment, country lore and intrigue both above and below stairs are cunningly worked together to create a brilliant tapestry * Sunday Telegraph *Remarkable … I can think of no work of fiction that brings [this period] to life so fully and subtly * Washington Post *‘Isabel Colegate is not afraid of ideas nor of using fiction to express them … In this rich and fascinating book, someone is hiding something - possibly everyone is. Time itself obscures the truth. Can the past be known? Or is what we call history the best of recollection, not absolute but consensual, and always subject to interpretation? * Los Angeles Times *

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Book Synopsis‘I would compare her to writers like Helen Dunmore, Elizabeth Strout, Jon McGregor’ BBC Radio 4 ‘Harding achieves a weighty sense of silence and things not said in this unsettling book about the aftershocks of trauma and the burdens of bearing witness’ Sunday Times 'A masterly achievement, illuminating with wisdom and compassion the darkest corners of the human heart' Guardian A farm in Norfolk in the 1970s. A Japanese girl comes to visit her English lover in the house where he was born. She arrives on a day of perfect summer, stands with his mother in a garden filled with roses, watches as his brother walks fields of ripening wheat. But between the two brothers lies the shadow of their father’s violent death almost twenty years before, the unresolved narrative of their childhood – a story that has gone untold, a story that began in the last war. In the presence of the girl, the old trauma begins to surface as the work of the harvest begins. ‘Taut and unsettling ... A fine meditation on war’s long reach’ Mail on SundayTrade ReviewLuminescent … Organic and vital … Remarkable … Harvest is a work of delicate, devastating beauty, proof that Harding is a writer of rare insight who deserves to be read more widely * Financial Times *Harding moves fluently between each character … The payoff is devastating * Daily Mail *Harding’s cycle of books stand as a masterly achievement, illuminating with wisdom and compassion the darkest corners of the human heart * Guardian *Harding achieves a weighty sense of silence and things not said in this unsettling book about the aftershocks of trauma and the burdens of bearing witness * The Times *So deeply engaging, so threatening, so mild, so controlled — at every stage it seems as if desperate damage is about to be done, and then bit by excruciating bit you realise it was done long, long ago, and nobody you’re looking at now can do anything about it. What a writer! -- Louisa Young, author of My Dear I Wanted to Tell YouHarvest is an old-fashioned novel in the best possible sense ... The rewards are many. The heartbeat of the book continues to echo long after the last page has been turned’ * Times Literary Supplement *Taut and unsettling, this fine meditation on war’s long reach follows on from Land Of The Living but more than satisfies as a stand-alone * Mail on Sunday *An absolutely exceptional novel … She has a deeply humane and developed sense of what it means to be a woman, and also what it means to belong -- Clover StroudStaggering … An unparalleled masterpiece * Lunate.co.uk *

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Book Synopsis'It is seldom that one can say a book is perfect, but this is as close as I've seen in a very long time' SUNDAY INDEPENDENT 'A bold and unsettling parable about guilt, atonement and redemption' IRISH TIMES Michael has travelled a long way from his boyhood under the endless skies of the Midwest. His retirement is peaceful, if solitary. But one day there is a visitation: a mysterious car on the seafront, and a package delivered. From its contents, Michael understands that he has been commissioned to undertake a final journey. As Michael makes his way deep into a distant desert – a strange and liminal landscape that lies between hell and redemption – he undertakes another journey, into long-suppressed memories: of Vietnam and the dying days of war, and to face a final accounting for what was done. ‘Another compact marvel … This is a meditative novel that, while investing heavily in a patient build-up of atmosphere, never forgets the need to put a foot on the gas’ DAILY MAIL ‘David Park’s novels are always elegantly written’ INDEPENDENT 'Unflinching, courageous, wise, alert to the thrill and sorrow of violence ... Adds to David Park's status as a superb novelist' FRANK MCGUINNESSTrade ReviewA layered tale told in masterful style. A writer's writer, a purveyor of thoughtful, atmospheric fiction that is mature in observation, structure, pace, character- all the good things that bring a book to life * IRISH TIMES *A short, sharp novel about memory, longing, regret and atonement * SUNDAY TIMES IRELAND *David Park’s novels are always elegantly written and I liked Spies in Canaan, a story about the redemption of a retired man whose past in Vietnam catches up with him * INDEPENDENT *Virtuosic ... A gripping, poignant story of loss and betrayal, of youthful ignorance and a lifetime's worth of regret, of the unreliability of memory when recounting the violence of war, set against the vital importance of having such testimony recorded for the ages * IRISH TIMES *Set in the last months of the Vietnam War and in contemporary America, David Park's wonderfully complex novel is the work of a master craftsman. A wise reader will take it once straight through, gripped by the narrative, then read it a second time slowly, savouring its complexity, savouring the art and intelligence with which it has been made * SCOTSMAN *With its superbly rich and descriptive language- a tornado, the desert and the teeming-with-life streets of Saigon all come alive under his pen and razor sharp dialogue. Near perfect * HOT PRESS *David Park transplants his great imagination from the fight at home to the shifting, scarifying battlegrounds of Asia in his new novel. How well he can create these landscapes and these people battling on both sides, fraught with suspicion, committing acts of treachery and redemption, ending as all wars must end with no peace, no peace at all. Unflinching, courageous, wise, alert to the thrill and sorrow of violence, Spies In Canaan adds to David Park's status as a superb novelist -- FRANK MCGUINNESSAnother compact marvel … electrifying … This is a meditative novel that, while investing heavily in a patient build-up of atmosphere, never forgets the need to put a foot on the gas * DAILY MAIL *The Belfast author has steadily built a reputation as one of the finest writers on this island. In his tenth novel, he explores themes of guilt, atonement and redemption through the story of Michael, a Vietnam vet who faces his past on a journey into the desert * IRISH EXAMINER *Spies in Canaan by David Park … Is an unsettling parable about guilt, atonement and redemption set in the US * IRISH TIMES, BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2022 *The tenth novel from the Co Down author follows retiree Michael on one last journey into a distant desert, and his inner journey into long-suppressed memories of the Vietnam War * IRISH INDEPENDENT *Praise for David Park: Delicate, beautifully written -- DAVID NICHOLLSBreathtaking, brave, exhilarating … Every sentence in Parks’s book is felt. The author has weighed up each word and considered every image, electing only those that carry sufficient freight to bear the reader to his intended destination -- CLAIRE KILROY * GUARDIAN *Wrings the heart -- BERNARD MACLAVERTYThe tenth novel from the Co Down author follows retiree Michael on one last journey into a distant desert, and his inner journey into long-suppressed memories of the Vietnam War * IRISH INDEPENDENT, BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2022 *A mighty book ... An eruption of love and sorrow, overwhelmingly compassionate and wise, hearing the heart break and maybe even heal, bearing the deepest testimony to the love, unending love -- FRANK MCGUINESSExtraordinary, raw and moving a chronicle of pain and powerlessness as could be written -- LISA MCINERNEYBeautiful, intensely human * IRISH TIMES, BOOKS OF THE YEAR *Tense, thrilling, strange and profoundly moving ... There isn’t a wasted syllable in this short, beautiful book -- DONAL RYAN * IRISH TIMES *Park appears to write effortlessly, with one foot planted firmly in the canon of traditional Irish lyricism and another flirting with modern parlance … His emotional intelligence is remarkable * DAILY MAIL *The Belfast Turgenev ... One of the truest observers of life * Big Issue *

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE DESMOND ELLIOT PRIZE 2022 ‘Utterly original … A bolt from the blue for Irish writing’ Niamh Campbell, winner of the Rooney Prize for This Happy 'A queer underworld Thelma & Louise with better jokes' Sarah Moss ‘This year’s most ambitious and well-written debut' Irish Independent When Dundalk underworld regular Aoife brings the wild and magnetic Annie to the Town, her desire to love and cling to this dangerous stranger culminates in a road trip through Britain to dispose of ten kilos of cocaine for her business partner, The Rat King. But when Annie decides not to return to Ireland, Aoife makes a decision that changes everything. Tender, tragic but ultimately hopeful, Iron Annie is a breakneck journey that crackles with energy, warmth and heart, and marks the arrival of a truly original new voice in literary fiction. 'Written in an exhilarating, lyrical vernacular, in much the way of Anna Burns, Kevin Barry or even Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting' Daily MailTrade ReviewA queer underworld Thelma & Louise with better jokes ... Very funny ... Cassidy keeps tight control of a story that's simultaneously state of the nation, romance and crime. * Sarah Moss, Irish Times *Written in an exhilarating, lyrical vernacular, in much the way of Anna Burns, Kevin Barry or even Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting ... Aoife is a character redeemed to a large extent by her extraordinary narrative voice, yet Cassidy also summons up an entire small-town world here, one that’s both fiercely informed by under-the-radar community bonds and at the mercy of wider seismic political forces. Terrific * Daily Mail *[A] barnstorming gangland comedy set among a motley band of drug-runners from Dundalk, Ireland, where debut author Luke Cassidy was born ... Cassidy’s ingenious use of rhythm and phonetics make Aoife’s voice sing from the page ... Iron Annie is a blast – tender and brutal, funny and sad. It also has interesting things to say about hot topics such as gender and Ireland’s relationship with post-Brexit Britain. Above all, though, it’s a spectacular feat of firecracker prose. Not to be missed ... A full-spectrum thrill from a first-time novelist who looks destined for great things * Metro *Absolutely brilliant. Fizzes with energy - and with raunchiness, colour, beauty, and insight * Sue Leonard, Irish Examiner *What an exquisite novel Iron Annie is. The narrative voice fair crackles: it’s full of wonder, grit, insight, sadness and joy, and is quite beautiful. And Aoife is one of those fictional characters that arrives only once or twice in an age, sublimely rendered and completely unforgettable. -- Donal Ryan, author of The Spinning Heart and From a Low and Quiet SeaIron Annie is absolutely everything I love in a book. The energy, the voice, the language, the characters, all real, raw and utterly convincing. Luke Cassidy is an incredible talent, with an ear for language to rival that of Kevin Barry, I could hear every single word. * Fíona Scarlett, author of Boys Don’t Cry *Wonderful, imaginative, highly original emotional rollercoaster of a story -- Peter JamesIron Annie is a novel full of grit and pearls – its language crackles with life. Luke Cassidy is a writer with a keen eye and a finely-tuned ear -- Ronan Hession, author of Leonard and Hungry PaulUtterly original ... I think this book is like a bolt from the blue for Irish writing -- Niamh Campbell, author of This Happy.It’s apparent from the opening lines of Iron Annie that Luke Cassidy can write. His prose fizzes with energy and music, and the reader is immediately plunged into the anarchic underbelly of Ireland and the lives of Cassidy’s vivid characters. -- Graeme Macrae Burnet, author of His Bloody ProjectIt’s wild and fierce and full of awful life. Also dead funny . . . This needs to be slapped on the arse and let out snorting into the world like a mustang horse -- Niall Griffiths, author of Grits, Sheepshagger and StumpIron Annie marks the arrival of a fresh and compelling young voice in literary fiction . . . These complex, funny, tender, lewd and lovely characters will grab you by the throat from the first line and dare you to stop reading -- Emily Rapp Black, author of Poster Child, The Still Point of the Turning World, Cartography for Cripples and SanctuaryIron Annie is a staggering debut novel. And what makes it so stylish and ferocious isn’t the drugs, the brutal violence, or even the wild love and sex – it’s the language. I’ve never read anything like the sentences in here. -- Rachel DeWoskin, author of Banshee, Big Girl Small, and Foreign Babes in BeijingBrave and fearless … Put me in the mind of Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting … It snaps and crackles. * Claudia Carroll, Eason Books Club *Amazing first novel filled with drugs and sex and rock and roll … It’s so dense and rich. I’m dying to see the play. * Keith Walsh, Eason Book Club *

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Book Synopsis'Soyinka's greatest novel ... No one else can write such a book' - Ben Okri 'A lion of African literature' - Financial Times 'Chronicles is many things at once: a caustic political satire, a murder mystery, a conspiracy story and a deeply felt lament for the spirit of a nation' - Juan Gabriel Vásquez, New York Times A FINANCIAL TIMES AND SPECTATOR BOOK OF THE YEAR To Doctor Menka’s horror, some cunning entrepreneur has decided to sell body parts from his hospital for use in ritualistic practices. Already at the end of his tether from the horrors he routinely sees in surgery, he shares this latest development with his oldest college friend, bon viveur, star engineer and Yoruba royal, Duyole Pitan-Payne, who has never before met a puzzle he couldn’t solve. Neither realise how close the enemy is, nor how powerful. Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth is at once a savagely witty whodunit, a scathing indictment of Nigeria’s political elite, and a provocative call to arms from one of the country’s most relentless political activists and an international literary giant. 'A high-jinks state-of-the-nation novel' - Chibundu Onuzo 'Chronicles is a good model for what the political novel should be: fearless, disdaining formal constraints, sparing no one' - GuardianTrade ReviewIs this a good place to confess my crush, an overly bashful crush, on this politically courageous literary stylist … I look to Soyinka’s life, not so much the choices he has made but the courage it took to make them, as a source of light * Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Sunday Times *A vivid and wild romp … A vast danse macabre. No one else can write such a book ... Chronicles is Soyinka’s greatest novel … It ought to be widely read * Ben Okri, Observer *A lion of African literature … A brutally satirical look at power and corruption in Nigeria, told in the form of a whodunnit * Financial Times *A Nigerian icon … A high-jinks state-of-the-nation novel * Chibundu Onuzo, Guardian *A black-humoured satire of contemporary Nigeria * Telegraph *Chronicles is a good model for what the political novel should be: fearless, disdaining formal constraints, sparing no one … A triumph * Guardian *This is an extraordinary novel that is both in and of Nigeria. It contains elements of Yoruba culture and, in the middle of it all, is a gourd full of satire, humor and pathos. It is a chronicle of human folly among the happiest people on earth. The writing alone is a wonder and a fitting coda for the career of this great writer * New York Journal of Books *Inspiring and original ... Soyinka's analysis of the 20th century problem of memory and forgiveness in the African world is both timely and important. Soyinka's analysis of the problem is an initial volley in what will surely become a 21st century debate * New York Times Book Review *With caustic wit, Soyinka’s carnivalesque depictions of venality ferret out hypocrisy from behind its elaborate guises and condemn crimes that challenge “the collective notion of soul". * New Yorker *He employs characteristically flamboyant language in a devastatingly detailed examination of Nigerian society * TLS *Chronicles is many things at once: a caustic political satire, a murder mystery, a conspiracy story and a deeply felt lament for the spirit of a nation ... For all its sarcastic undertones, for all its puns and plays on names, Chronicles From the Land of the Happiest People on Earth is a pessimistic novel, the work of a man with no illusions * Juan Gabriel Vásquez, New York TImes *Wole Soyinka is a legendary writer … He has inspired generations of writers worldwide … Wole draws on his lifetime steeped in resistance for his new novel, Chronicles From the Land of the Happiest People on Earth. The title is ironic. It’s a caustic, satirical takedown of corruption in a country not unlike his native Nigeria * Kirsty Wark, Newsnight *Swaggering and scabrous, at once a verbal spree and a fierce assault on totalitarianism * Observer *A whodunnit that turns into a searing indictment of modern Nigeria * i paper *A caustic satire * Daily Mail *A savagely witty whodunit, a scathing indictment of Nigeria’s political elite and a provocative call to arms from one of the country’s most relentless political activists and an international literary giant * The Voice *Soyinka … Is the tour guide for the last sixty years of Nigerian history and there is so much to see … bursting with humour and irony * Litro *Back with a roar … Kafkaesque … A shocking, scathing and gripping look at society and human behaviour all in one * Shiny New Books *A juggernaut of a novel … Bold and chaotic, it is somehow of the moment ... This is literature of the dynamic kind, fed not so much by carefully honed craft as by a profound, urgent energy: both cry for help and call to arms; a response, a lament, a reckoning * Lunate.co.uk *PRAISE FOR WOLE SOYINKA: You don't see things the same when you encounter a voice like that. * Toni Morrison *He is one of the best there is today, a poet and thinker who knows both how the world actually works and how the world should work. * Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie *Wole Soyinka is a giant of modern literature. * Robert McFarlane *To have contained in the body of his work the fullness of individual vision, the potency of myth, the corruptions of power, and the misery of the oppressed, is a rare feat. * Ben Okri *

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Book SynopsisGuardian Crime Book of the Month WINNER OF THE CRIMEFEST LAST LAUGH AWARD _______________ 'A giddy spell of sheer delight' Daily Mail 'Ingenious ' Sunday Times Crime Club Brighton, 1957. Inspector Steine rather enjoys his life as a policeman by the sea. No criminals, no crime, no stress. So it’s really rather annoying when an ambitious new constable shows up to work and starts investigating a series of burglaries. And it’s even more annoying when, after Constable Twitten is despatched to the theatre for the night, he sits next to a vicious theatre critic who is promptly shot dead part way through the opening night of a new play. It seems Brighton may be in need of a police force after all… A sparkling historical mystery set in sunny Sussex by the sea, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Robert Thorogood and Elly Griffiths. _______________ 'Entertaining' Observer 'Will make you laugh out loud' Sunday Times 'Truss can work miracles' TelegraphTrade ReviewA farce that gathers hilarious pace with every page … More Marx Brothers than Agatha Christie, this is crime fiction turned on its head – a giddy spell of sheer delight * Daily Mail *[An] entertaining new crime series … Truss’s affection for a rollicking, twisty caper has transferred to the page with ease … There’s some fine storytelling on display here * Observer *Funny, clever, charming, imaginative, nostalgic and gently satirical * The Times *With plenty of brightly coloured bucket-and-spadery, including ghost trains and Punch and Judy and variety acts, this clever, tongue-in-cheek escapade is a perfect summer read -- Crime Books of the Month * Guardian *Pitch-perfect send-up of 1950s Brighton with nods to Graham Greene ... The ingenious plot involves such period attractions as the Ghost Train, theatrical landladies, Pathé News and cherry Genoa cake. Hilarious * Sunday Times Crime Club *One of those rare books that actually makes you laugh out loud ... Impossible not to read in one sitting * Sunday Times *A Shot in the Dark is an intricately plotted murder mystery that’s darkly humorous and beautifully written * Herald *It takes a writer of Lynne Truss’s wit and intelligence ... to take on both the cosy and comic fields, shaking them up to forge something fresh and beguiling ... Delightfully witty -- Barry Forshaw * i *This book is as much a comedy as a crime novel… Lynne Truss is a national treasure, and this is a gentle, complicated, humorous tale * Literary Review *Truss’s new crime novel is an unqualified masterpiece * Glasgow Herald *Bringing the undoubted comic talents of Lynne Truss to crime fiction should be a marriage made in heaven, and that is exactly what it turns out to be. A Shot in the Dark is sheer, witty delight ... Enchanting -- Simon BrettA Shot in the Dark is an intricately plotted murder mystery that’s darkly humorous and beautifully written * Yorkshire Post *We all know that Truss can work miracles … but I doubt even Constable Twitten could work out how she has produced a whodunit that exudes heartwarming cosiness while boasting Game of Thrones levels of violent death, or given her cast of amusing characters more life than most of the characters I’ve encountered in fiction this year -- Jake Kerridge * Telegraph *Praise for Lynne Truss: 'Truss deserves to be piled high with honours * Sunday Times *A wonderful tale full of parodies, pastiches and paradoxes … Pure joy * Daily Telegraph *A novel as entertaining as it is addictive ... The best in humorous writing * Sunday Telegraph *A comic chiller in the best tradition of mad British humour * Daily Express *A Shot in the Dark couples suspense with dark hilarity ... The funniest crime novel of 2018 * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisThe fate of the lost Franklin Expedition of 1847 is an enigma that has tantalised generations of historians, archaeologists and adventurers. The expedition was lost without a trace and all 129 men died in what is arguably the worst disaster in Britain's history of polar exploration. In the aftermath of the crew's disappearance, Lady Jane Franklin, Sir John's widow, maintained a crusade to secure her husband's reputation, imperiled alongside him and his crew in the frozen wastes of the Artic. Lady Franklin was an uncommon woman for her age, a socially and politically astute figure who ravaged anyone who she viewed as a threat to her husband's legacy. Meanwhile John Rae, an explorer and employee of the Hudson Bay Company, recovered deeply disturbing information from the Expedition. His shocking conclusions embroiled him in a bitter dispute with Lady Franklin which led to the ruin of his reputation and career. Against the background of Victorian society and the rise of the explorer celebrity, we learn of Lady Franklin's formidable grit to honour her husband's legacy; of John Rae being discredited and his eventual ruin, despite later being proven right. It is a fascinating assessment of the aftermath of the Franklin Expedition and its legacy.

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Book SynopsisCrime Fiction. A detective who once snared a notorious murderer retires after a scarring acid attack. But he is pulled back to investigate a copycat killer. But is the killer just a copycat? Or did the officer lock up the wrong man the first time round?

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Winner of the Schlegel-Tieck Prize for German Translation'Both a great anti-war novel and a love story, full of tenderness – as around it the world shatters.' – Der Spiegel, 'Novel of the Year'The year is 1944 and Veit Kolbe, a young German soldier, injured fighting in Russia, is recovering at Mondsee, a village and a lake below Drachenwand mountain, close to Salzburg in Austria. Here he meets Margot and Margarete, two young women who share his hope that sometime, sooner or later, life will begin again.The war is lost but how long will it take before it finally comes to its end? In Hinterland, Arno Geiger tells of Veit’s nightmares and the strangely normal life of the small village, of the Brazilian who dreams of returning to Rio de Janeiro, of the landlady and her rallying calls, of Margarete the teacher with whom Veit falls in love, but who doesn't return his affection.But when Veit’s wounds are healed his next call-up orders arrive. The military outlook for Germany and Austria looks increasingly grim and Veit’s luck has run out . . .Translated from the German by Jamie Bulloch

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Schlegel-Tieck Prize for German Translation'Both a great anti-war novel and a love story, full of tenderness – as around it the world shatters.' – Der Spiegel, 'Novel of the Year'The year is 1944 and Veit Kolbe, a young German soldier, injured fighting in Russia, is recovering in a small village below Drachenwand mountain in Austria. Here he meets Margot and Margarete, two young women who share his hope that sometime, sooner or later, life will begin again.The war is lost but how long will it take before it finally comes to its end? Arno Geiger’s Hinterland, translated from the German by Jamie Bulloch, tells of Veit’s nightmares and the strangely normal life of the village, of the Brazilian who dreams of returning to Rio de Janeiro, of the landlady and her rallying calls, of Margarete the teacher with whom Veit falls in love, but who doesn’t return his affection.But when Veit’s wounds are healed his next call-up orders arrive. The military outlook for Germany and Austria looks increasingly grim and Veit’s luck has run out . . .Translated from the German by Jamie BullochTrade ReviewA great anti-war novel, in the middle of which a love story . . . develops, full of tenderness - as around it the world shatters . . . This impressive, subtle book * Der Spiegel *A profound, distinctive and timeless investigation into what concerns everyone of us: aging and illness, home and family. A meditation on the things we find hard to deal with. A great work of literature about what makes life worth living no matter what * Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung *A book about the search for a lost world, a lost home and a character presumed lost, as well as about a rediscovered relationship. A powerful, grown-up, curious, and touchingly delightful book -- Die Welt

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Book SynopsisThe Interview is a gripping locked-room thriller from C. M. Ewan, the acclaimed author of A Window Breaks and the half-a-million-copy bestseller Safe House.It’s 5 p.m. on a Friday.You have been called to an interview for your dream job.In a stunning office thirteen floors above the city below, you are all alone with the man interviewing you.Everyone else has gone home for the weekend.The interview gets more and more disturbing.You’re feeling scared.Your only way out is to answer a seemingly impossible question.If you can’t . . . what happens next?What authors are saying . . .‘C.M. Ewan never once drops the pace in this heart-pounding rollercoaster of a thriller that had me up all night’ - Clare Mackintosh, author of Hostage‘A brilliant hook, a breakneck game of cat and mouse, and twists galore’ - Tim Weaver, author of The Shadow at the Door‘A fast-paced twisty read that races along like an action movie’ - Sarah Pinborough, author of Insomnia‘I can’t stop thinking about The Interview. I loved it’ - Sarah Hilary, author of Fragile‘I couldn’t put The Interview down. Totally brilliant’ - B A Paris, author of The Therapist‘A terrifying, heart-stopping ride’ - Sharon Bolton, author of The Split‘So tense and twisty. An absolute nail-biter of a novel!’ - Gilly Macmillan, author of The Long WeekendWhat readers are saying . . .‘Oh boy did I enjoy this book! The definition of a keep you up all night, read in one sitting thriller’‘I read this beauty in a day, had so much else to do but just couldn't put it down’‘Wow, this book blew me away! I was hooked immediately and found the concept, both exciting and highly original’‘YOU GUYS! If you haven't read this book, DO IT NOW!’Trade ReviewC M Ewan never once drops the pace in this heart-pounding rollercoaster of a thriller that had me up all night. -- Clare Mackintosh, Sunday Times bestselling author of The HostageA brilliant hook, a breakneck game of cat and mouse, and twists galore: Ewan always delivers . . . -- Tim Weaver, author of the David Raker seriesA fast-paced twisty read that races along like an action movie -- Sarah PinboroughA terrifying, heart-stopping ride and a highly original and deeply disturbing thriller. I've been a Chris Ewan fan for a while, but in this book he soars to another level entirely. -- Sharon Bolton, author of The SplitI couldn't put The Interview down. Totally brilliant -- B A ParisC. M. Ewan has created the most incredible cat and mouse game in his propulsive novel, The Interview. He is an absolute master of the knife-edge thriller. -- Liv Matthews, author of The PrankI can't stop thinking about The Interview. I loved it -- Sarah Hilary, author of FragileCM Ewan has a well-deserved reputation as one of Britain’s best thriller writers. The Interview is a tense, twisting novel that will keep you gripped until the very last page. -- Adam Hamdy, author of Black 13 and Red WolvesA fast-paced and incredibly tense locked room thriller. Kept me guessing all the way to the end. It makes the job interviews in The Apprentice look like a walk in the park . . . -- John Marrs, author of The OneThis was so tense and twisty! An absolute nail biter of a novel. It inspires me to double down on the writing career as I'm never, ever going to a job interview again! -- Gilly Macmillan, author of To Tell You The TruthA slick, adrenalin-soaked corporate thriller that will keep you right on the edge of your seat -- Catherine Ryan Howard, author of 56 DaysIt's brilliant. This startling novel upends the reader’s cocky expectations. I have never found it so difficult to resist flipping ahead to see if what I think is happening is happening. Don’t do it! You’ll be wrong and you’ll miss half the fun. -- Hart Hanson, the creator/showrunner of BonesGripping. * Choice Magazine *

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Book Synopsis'The plot is ingenious, and the writing as clever and tantalising as ever' – Daily MailFrom Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, the authors of the top ten bestseller The Wife Between Us and An Anonymous Girl, comes You Are Not Alone – a gripping novel about a group of women who appear to have the perfect lives, but all is not what it seems . . .You probably know someone like Shay Miller. She wants to find love, but it eludes her. She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end. She wants to belong, but her life is becoming increasingly isolated.You probably don’t know anyone like the Moore sisters. They have an unbreakable circle of friends. They live a life of glamour and perfection. They always get what they desire.Shay thinks she wants their life.But what they really want is hers.Trade ReviewThis is the latest excellent offering from the classy double act that gave us the The Wife Between Us . . . Intelligent and disturbing * Daily Mail *A thriller not to be missed -- Candis on An Anonymous GirlTackling big issues of morality and ethics, the story explores what happens when boundaries are crossed and creepy obsessiveness takes over from cool professionalism -- Psychologies on An Anonymous GirlFans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will adore this classy domestic noir set in New York . . . It has a humdinger of a twist which I didn’t see coming . . . The result is a fast-paced and hugely enjoyable thriller -- Sunday Express on The Wife Between Us

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Robin Cook takes on the ripped-from-the-headlines topic of using DNA tracking to catch a killer in Genesis, an unforgettable medical thriller.When the body of social worker Kera Jacobsen shows up on Chief Medical Examiner Laurie Montgomery’s autopsy table, it appears at first that she was the victim of a tragic drug overdose. But for Laurie and her new pathology resident, the brilliant but outspoken Dr. Aria Nichols, further investigation reveals an alarming discovery. The young woman was ten weeks pregnant when she died, but nobody seems to know who the father was – or whether he holds the key to Kera’s final moments alive.While Laurie faces a personal crisis with the support of her husband, forensic pathologist Jack Stapleton, the impulsive Aria investigates a controversial new technique to progress the case: using DNA databases to track down those who don’t want to be found. Working with experts at a genealogy website based in New York, she plans to trace the foetus’s DNA in the hopes of identifying the mystery father.After Kera’s closest friend is found murdered days later, the need for answers becomes critical. Because someone outthere clearly doesn’t want Kera’s secrets to come to light . . . and if Aria gets any closer to the truth, she and Laurie face becoming targets for a ruthless killer.Trade ReviewForensic pathologists and doctors-turned-detectives do battle against epidemics, lethal illness and drug-related deaths, the causes of which are far from natural . . . You’ll find yourself completely hooked * Daily Mail *Likeable heroes, a compelling medical mystery and growing suspense – the result is a highly entertaining read. Commercial fiction, at its best, is pure entertainment. But Cook, like Michael Crichton, offers readers a smart dissection of contemporary issues that affect us all * USA Today *Robin Cook virtually invented the medical thriller in the 1970s with Coma * Guardian *Gripping . . . Terrifying * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisA sinister killer is hiding the bodies of his victims in Glasgow's derelict cinemas in Picture Her Dead, the eighth novel in Lin Anderson's forensic crime series featuring Rhona MacLeod.When art student Jude Evans disappears on a trip to photograph one of Glasgow’s many derelict cinemas, her friend Liam reports her missing to the local police. Unable to get the authorities to take him seriously, he enlists the help of his mother, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod, in his search for the missing girl.In an attempt to retrace the last known steps of Jude, they begin working through the list of cinemas she had intended to visit. Their efforts lead them to make a grisly discovery, hidden behind one of the cinema’s crumbling walls, and soon a murder hunt is under way.Dealing with personal trauma arising from the unknown fate of a close friend, Rhona must maintain focus as the investigation gains momentum. Fearing the girl’s disappearance could be linked with something she wasn’t supposed to see at the ruined picture house, time is running out, and if she’s not found soon it could be too late . . .Trade ReviewForensic scientist Rhona MacLeod has become one of the most satisfying characters in modern crime fiction — honourable, inquisitive and yet plagued by doubts and, sometimes, fears . . . As ever, the landscape is stunningly evoked and MacLeod’s decency and humanity shine through on every page * Daily Mail *The best Scottish crime series since Rebus * Daily Record *The bleak landscape is beautifully described, giving this popular series a new lease of life * Sunday Times *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 MacBride *

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Book SynopsisThe Crime Writers' Association Historical Dagger Winning AuthorCity of Vengeance is an explosive debut novel in an historical thriller series by D. V. Bishop, set in Renaissance Florence.'An impressive and immersive debut set in a beautifully realized sixteenth-century Florence' – Antonia Hodgson'A first-class historical thriller . . . Bishop’s spirited and richly detailed story is a tour-de-force' – David BaldacciFlorence. Winter, 1536. A prominent Jewish moneylender is murdered in his home, a death with wide implications in a city powered by immense wealth.Cesare Aldo, a former soldier and now an officer of the Renaissance city’s most feared criminal court, is given four days to solve the murder: catch the killer before the feast of Epiphany – or suffer the consequences.During his investigations Aldo uncovers a plot to overthrow the volatile ruler of Florence, Alessandro de’ Medici. If the Duke falls, it will endanger the whole city. But a rival officer of the court is determined to expose details about Aldo’s private life that could lead to his ruin. Can Aldo stop the conspiracy before anyone else dies, or will his own secrets destroy him first?'Richly atmospheric . . . transports you to another time and place' – Ambrose Parry, author of The Way of All FleshContinue the historical series with The Darkest Sin.Trade ReviewAn impressive and immersive debut set in a beautifully realized sixteenth-century Florence. Investigator Cesare Aldo is a fascinating and charismatic protagonist. Highly recommended -- Antonia HodgsonA first-class historical thriller with echoes of The Name of the Rose. Bishop’s spirited and richly detailed story, layered with issues of humanity that still bedevil society today, is a tour-de-force and clearly demonstrates the sixteenth century was as full of thrills and mysteries as the twenty-first, perhaps even a shade more -- David BaldacciRichly atmospheric . . . transports you to another time and place -- Ambrose Parry, author of The Way of All FleshSo fluid and fluent, the pages almost turn themselves . . . Aldo is a great creation, resourceful, driven and forced to hide who he really is, but nevertheless is compelled to find justice for those who deserve it -- James Oswald, bestselling author of the Inspector McLean seriesCross-dressing, torture, oodles of violence — this pungent example of historical noir has the lot * The Times *Brings to life the 16th century Italian city, from the rankest taverns in its darkest alleys to the corridors of power showing a city of art and literature that is also riddled with corruption, anti-Semitism and violence * Evening Standard *Written with a finesse and authenticity which augurs well for a series with all the hallmarks of historical fiction masters like CJ Sansom and Ken Follett, City of Vengeance delivers a trip to Florence that you won’t forget! * Lancashire Evening Post *A complex, intriguing plot which weaves its way through the treacherous streets of sixteenth century Florence, encountering danger at every dark corner -- Sarah MaineIn Cesare Aldo, Bishop has created a character with the cunning, bravery and balls of steel to take on the twisty, toxic politics of the Medicis with panache. I can't wait for his next outing -- Alison BelshamThis atmospheric murder mystery is packed with political intrigue and questionable morality. Secrets and conspiracies abound, danger is ever present and tension rises within the complex plotting * Choice *Rich in period detail - a compelling journey into Florence’s dark past -- Philip Gwynne Jones, author of the Nathan Sutherland Venetian mysteriesCompelling and assured. Does not miss a step through the dark intrigues of sixteenth century Florence, but convinces to the last. Aldo is a man as fitting for our times as for the bloody streets he takes us to. And D. V. Bishop makes it all seem effortless -- Shirley McKayDramatic and compelling, a great example of quality historical crime fiction . . . But the crowning glory of the book has to be the character of Cesare Aldo: bold, disquieting and complex; beautifully crafted with a deep and sensitive understanding of human frailty. An exciting, engaging story, masterfully told -- Laura Carlin, Author of The Wicked ComethThis dramatic and compelling book, with the larger than life, complex, charismatic and enduring and towering figure of Aldo holding it all together, is for all who enjoy well-written and enthralling historical mysteries * Crime Review *D. V. Bishop has hit the ground running by introducing us to Cesare Aldo, a “hero” we can all root for as he continues to seek justice in this beautiful, rich but corrupt medieval city . . . A terrific historical thriller that held me gripped from start to finish * Historical Novel Society *Rich in atmosphere, and chilling in its authenticity, Bishops paints a vivid image of 16th-century Italy * Scottish Field *Bishop has an impressive command of Florence’s history, its beauty, ambition, and taste for violence. Readers will eagerly await the sequel * Publishers Weekly *

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Book Synopsis'An engrossing and evocative read. Jenny Quintana captures layered atmosphere and complex emotions beautifully, alongside writing a compulsive tale. I loved it' – Kate Hamer, author of CrushedSome houses have their secrets. But so do some people . . .From the bestselling author of The Missing Girl and Our Dark Secret, comes The Hiding Place: a story about identity, love, long-buried secrets and lies.Abandoned as a baby in the hallway of a shared house in London, Marina has never known her parents, and the circumstances of her birth still remain a mystery.Now an adult, Marina has returned to the house where it all started, determined to find out who she really is. But the walls of this house hold more than memories, and Marina’s reappearance hasn’t gone unnoticed by the other tenants.Someone is watching Marina. Someone who knows the truth . . .Trade ReviewAn engrossing and evocative read. Jenny Quintana captures layered atmosphere and complex emotions beautifully, alongside writing a compulsive tale. I loved it -- Kate Hamer, author of The Girl in the Red Coat and CrushedTense [and] skillful * Daily Mail *An emotionally taut, spellbinding, vivid mystery . . . This is definitely a book readers won’t be able to put down -- Karen Hamilton, author of The Perfect Girlfriend and The Last WifeI loved The Hiding Place. Wonderful writing, mystery and intrigue, and a great story . . . I shed a tear at the end -- Emma Curtis, author of The Night You Left and Keep Her QuietAn emotional read for anyone who loves a good mystery * Woman's Weekly * The Hiding Place is a real gem of a book. Jenny Quintana's evocation of the 1960s bursts from the page and the human stories that unfold for the residents of 24 Harrington Gardens are breath-taking and compelling. A gripping plot with characters who will keep you guessing (and break your heart a little, too) -- Eleni Kyriacou, author of She Came to StayRead this if you like Lisa Jewell . . . An emotional drama, skilfully divided across two timelines -- Best magazineAnother beguiling Quintana mystery . . . The Hiding Place is about the hopes, fears and impossible choices of ordinary people. It is about the things that connect and separate us. It is a testament to the fragile nature of truth and a masterpiece of storytelling -- Claire Dyer, author of The Last DayA gripping suspense story that expertly interweaves the past and present . . . Beautifully written and extremely moving -- Nikki Smith, author of All In Her HeadAn absorbing and moving mystery which Quintana unpacks with her inimitable flair -- Rachel Edwards, author of Darling and LuckyFrom the first page of The Hiding Place I felt the delicious sense of security that comes from being in the hands of an expert storyteller . . . The Hiding Place is both a flawlessly-written mystery and a moving meditation on what it means to belong -- Carolyn Kirby, author of When We Fall and The Conviction of Cora BurnsEffortlessly engaging & full of secrets, I thoroughly enjoyed The Hiding Place, a credible mystery, intriguingly unravelled over two timelines, that kept me guessing to the very end -- Anita Frank, author of The Lost OnesThe Hiding Place is domestic suspense at its finest - tense, emotional and chock-full of secrets. Jenny Quintana's novels are always rich with atmosphere and social observation, but this is undoubtedly her best yet. Moving effortlessly between 1960s and 1990s London, Quintana keeps you guessing from the first page to the last -- Caz Frear, author of Sweet Little Lies and Shed No TearsThe Hiding Place is an emotionally-resonant and intriguing mystery, in which past and present, secrets and memories converge to unlock a vital truth, all woven together through Quintana's assured and sensitive prose -- Philippa East, author of Little White Lies and Safe And SoundMarina, a foundling, tries to discover who she really is. But the house she was found in is full of secrets and the truth becomes more and more dangerous. Gripping and full of goose bumps - I couldn’t put it down -- Frances Maynard, author of The Seven Imperfect Rules of Elvira Carr and Maggsie McNaughton's Second ChanceAt a time when I was finding it very difficult to read or concentrate, The Hiding Place came to my rescue. What a gently captivating and beautifully told mystery – I loved it -- Nicola Rayner, author of You and Me and The Girl Before YouWith a cast of fascinating characters, a gripping, emotion-packed mystery rolling out across two timelines, and written with an insightful and languorous elegance, this absorbing, heartbreaking drama sees Quintana at her storytelling best * Lancashire Post *

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Bestseller 2021. As recommended by the BBC Radio 2 Book Club'The novel I've enjoyed most this year' - Hilary Mantel'A mystery, a love story and a ghost story, all at once. Wonderful' - S J WatsonCornwall, 1972. Three keepers vanish from a remote lighthouse, miles from the shore. The entrance door is locked from the inside. The clocks have stopped. The Principal Keeper’s weather log describes a mighty storm, but the skies have been clear all week. What happened to those three men, out on the tower? The heavy sea whispers their names. The tide shifts beneath the swell, drowning ghosts. Can their secrets ever be recovered from the waves? Twenty years later, the women they left behind are still struggling to move on. Helen, Jenny and Michelle should have been united by the tragedy, but instead it drove them apart. And then a writer approaches them. He wants to give them a chance to tell their side of the story. But only in confronting their darkest fears can the truth begin to surface . . . Inspired by real events, The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex is an intoxicating and suspenseful mystery, an unforgettable story of love and grief that explores the way our fears blur the line between the real and the imagined.'Gripping' - Guardian'Riveting' - Independent'Excellent' - Observer 'A triumph' - Daily Mail'Stunning' - The TimesTrade ReviewI loved The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex – lighthouse keepers, ghosts, warring widows. It’s a wonderfully smart and atmospheric story * Observer *The novel I've enjoyed most this year -- Hilary MantelOutstanding. Literary and insanely gripping. -- India KnightA remarkable book, through every page, every character, the writing resonates with the dark, powerful presence of the sea -- Raynor Winn, author of The Salt PathStonex’s story has the mesmerism of a churned winter sea * Sunday Times *Superbly accomplished . . . The Lamplighters is a whodunnit, horror novel, ghost story and fantastically gripping psychological investigation rolled into one. It is also a pitch-perfect piece of writing * Guardian *An intoxicating and beautifully written mystery about love and loss, as moving as it is suspenseful -- C.L. Taylor, Sunday Times bestselling author of The MissingFull of atmosphere and dread, it’s the perfect way to escape right now * Stylist *Atmospheric and suspenseful . . . Part psychological drama, part mystery, part ghost story, The Lamplighters is a triumph * Daily Mail *Beautifully written and evocative, this is a mystery, a love story and a ghost story, all at once. It kept me gripped throughout, and I didn’t want it to end. Wonderful. -- S J Watson, bestselling author of Before I Go to SleepRiveting . . . Stonex’s clever slow reveal is as much keen psychological drama as it is an intriguing thriller * Independent *The Lamplighters transported me effortlessly to the mysterious Maiden Rock and life on the Cornish coast. Stonex creates a most engaging collection of voices and perspectives that unveil what happened in true pager-turner fashion, a mystery told through vivid prose that had me completely absorbed from start to finish. Haunting, harrowing and heartbreaking, this is a novel that will stay with you. -- Ashley Audrain, author of The PushThe Lamplighters draws you in and keeps you utterly gripped, with Stonex's writing particularly excelling in her gorgeous and evocative descriptions of the sea. A haunting, hugely atmospheric book * Heat *Beautiful, absorbing and utterly riveting, The Lamplighters is a hymn to loneliness, to the sea, and to the stories we allow ourselves to believe when we are alone. I treasured every moment of this dazzlingly accomplished and completely unforgettable novel. -- Rosie Walsh, author of The Man Who Didn't CallA really enjoyable literary mystery. Stonex's descriptions of the storms and the sea are wonderful -- Claire Fuller * author of Unsettled Ground *A gorgeous page-turner that is at once a mystery and a novel about mysteries — about how we all write our own endings and suffer betrayals, but still light the lamps so the people we love can find their way home. -- Charlotte Rogan, author of The LifeboatWise, beautiful and quietly devastating, The Lamplighters gets under the skin in a way that few books do. Weeks on from reading the last page, it still makes my heart ache -- Kate Riordan, author of The Heat WaveA deeply atmospheric and utterly gripping mystery . . . Superb -- Wyl Menmuir, Man Booker Prize longlisted author of The ManyCompulsive, taut, and unforgettable. The Lamplighters is that rare book which is as exquisitely written as it is page-turning. I'm already telling everyone I know to read it. -- Lucy Clarke, author of The Sea SistersA beautifully written, utterly compelling tale. -- Jenny Colgan, Sunday Times bestselling author of Meet Me at the Cupcake CaféThe Lamplighters took my breath away. A cracking mystery, perfectly plotted, and oh-so-beautifully written. -- Lucy DiamondBeautifully written, gripping and haunting . . . This genre-defying, literary mystery has it all, including an eerily accurate insight into relationships and marriage – and a haunting look at love, loss and guilt. We loved it. * Woman and Home *The Lamplighters is one of the most magical books I’ve ever read. The writing is dazzlingly good. The mystery is uniquely crafted and utterly beguiling. And it’s full of such tenderness and humanity and grace. I loved it with all my heart. -- Emylia Hall, author of The Book of SummersI can't remember when I last enjoyed a book this much. The Lamplighters is a compulsive, bewitching read. The sea and wind get into your bones, the riddle pulling you through the pages like a tide. Deftly written and atmospheric, I didn't want it to end. Brilliant. -- Tor Udall, author of A Thousand Paper BirdsA brilliant page-turner, a compelling mystery laced with the most haunting descriptions of the ocean and life on a remote lighthouse . . . Stonex gradually illuminates each character's story, until the darkest truths are brought into the light and the full spectrum of love, desire, loss and grief is revealed. -- Hannah Richell, author of Secrets of the TidesA beautifully written but totally gripping page-turner * Fabulous Magazine *Gorgeously written * The i *Stonex's spectacular debut wraps a haunting mystery in precise, starkly beautiful prose . . . Seamlessly marrying quotidian detail with ghostly touches, the author captures both the lighthouse’s lure and the damage its isolation and confinement wreak on minds and families. The convincing resolution brings a welcome note of healing. * Publishers Weekly *Immersive, chilling, atmospheric and beautifully written -- Harriet Tyce, author of Blood OrangeLyrical, poetical and intensely gripping. Emma Stonex captures the harsh beauty of the sea and the stark isolation of the tower in this compelling mystery, where sinister shadows cast intrigue over the lives of each of the three men who keep the light. -- Fiona Valpy, author of The Beekeeper's PromiseA compelling, deeply evocative mystery * iNews *Stonex is excellent on the tensions between the three men . . . her plot turns with as much precision as Arthur’s beloved timepieces before coming to a satisfying, surprising conclusion. Yet rather than the mystery, it is the complicated relationship between the three women left behind that is most vivid . . . Hatred, distrust, lies and an unexpected sort of love binds these women in an elegant novel that is as interested in the notion of hope and acceptance as it is in murder and revenge. * Observer *Gripping . . . A haunting mystery in the tradition of Wilkie Collins * Sunday Express *Stunning . . . The Lamplighters amounts to much more than a locked-room puzzle. It is about love, loss and betrayal, with a tantalising hint of the supernatural, and the writing – particularly about the sea – is beautiful * The Times *

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Book SynopsisRobert Louis Stevenson's classic, swashbuckling novel about a young boy who is forced to go to sea and who is then caught up in high drama, daring adventure and political intrigue. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is introduced by Louise Welsh and features black and white illustrations.Headstrong David Balfour, orphaned at seventeen, sets out from the Scottish Lowlands to seek his fortune in Edinburgh. Betrayed by his wealthy Uncle Ebenezer, he is carried away to sea to be sold into slavery in the Carolinas. On board, he secures a timely alliance with Jacobite adventurer Alan Breck, and together they make an epic escape across the western Highlands. Inspired by real events, Kidnapped is a swashbuckling adventure of bizarre encounters, political assassination and wild carousings with Robert Louis Stevenson’s unique counterpoint of low morals and high comedy threaded throughout.Trade ReviewStevenson’s ability to create other worlds is at the heart of his writing * Scottish Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisDetective Superintendent Roy Grace unearths a powerful criminal network in the sinister crime novel Find Them Dead, by award winning author Peter James.Ending his secondment to London’s Met Police, Roy Grace gets a tip-off about a drugs mastermind operating out of Brighton. On his first day back in his old job, he is called to a seemingly senseless murder.Gradually, Grace’s investigation draws him into the evil sphere of an utterly ruthless drug dealer on trial. A man prepared to order the death of anyone it takes to enable him to walk free from court.Sitting in the jury is Meg Magellan, whose daughter's life is being threatened by a stranger who tells her that if she ever wants to see her alive again, it is very simple. At the end of the trial, all she has to do is make sure the jury says just two words . . . Not guilty.Although the Roy Grace novels can be read in any order, Find Them Dead is the sixteenth title in the bestselling series. Discover more of the Brighton detective’s investigations with Left You Dead.Now a major ITV series, Grace, starring John Simm.Trade ReviewAs ever, the pages become blurred as you race to discover the verdict. The plot also leaves you hungry for the next episode in DS Grace’s personal drama * the i *An intriguing glimpse into the justice system and drugs crime * Sussex Life *Sharp, engrossing, and unexpected! -- What's Better Than BooksPeter James is one of the best crime writers in the business -- Karin SlaughterMeticulous research gives his prose great authenticity . . . James manages to add enough surprises and drama that by the end you’re rooting for the police and really don’t know if they will finally get their men * Sunday Express *James just gets better and better and deserves the success he has achieved with this first-class series * Independent on Sunday *Peter James has penetrated the inner workings of police procedures, and the inner thoughts and attitudes of real detectives, as no English crime writer before him. His hero, Roy Grace, may not be the most lively cop, nor the most damaged by drink, weight or misery, but he's one of the most believable * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe Golden Couple is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing to the very end - from Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, the authors of the top ten bestseller The Wife Between Us.Marissa and Mathew Bishop seem like the golden couple, until Marissa cheats. She wants to repair things – both because she loves her husband, and for the sake of their eight-year-old son. After a friend forwards an article about Avery, Marissa takes a chance on this maverick therapist, who lost her licence due to controversial methods.If Avery Chambers can’t fix you in ten sessions, she won’t take you on as a client. She helps people overcome everything, from anxiety to domineering parents. Her successes almost help her absorb the emptiness she feels since her husband’s death.When the Bishops glide through Avery’s door, all three are immediately set on a collision course. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger.‘The Golden Couple is propulsive and thrilling. It grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. A page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end’ - Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones and The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoTrade ReviewThe Golden Couple is propulsive and thrilling. It grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. A page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end -- Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones and The Six and Malibu RisingThe Golden Couple is my favorite kind of thriller: a guessing game filled with characters you care about and twists you don't see coming . . . an utterly compelling, spellbinding read -- Lisa Jewell, bestselling author of The Family UpstairsA propulsive, twisty, unputdownable thriller – with two heroines you won't be able to get enough of . . . and a twist you'll never see coming -- Laura Dave, author of The Last Thing He Told MeA riveting cat-and-mouse game of a novel that explores the intricacies of marriage, and the many ways in which people lie to themselves . . . and others. This is a psychological thriller in every sense of the word -- Lori Gottlieb, author of Maybe You Should Talk To Someone

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Book SynopsisKiller twists. Heroes to believe in. Trust Baldacci. Private Investigator and WWII veteran, Aloysius Archer, returns to solve a new case in Hollywood in this riveting thriller from international number 1 bestselling author, David Baldacci.All that glitters . . . 1952, Los Angeles. It is New Year’s Eve and PI Aloysius Archer is dining with his friend and rising Hollywood actress Liberty Callahan when they’re approached by Eleanor Lamb, a screenwriter who would like to hire him, as she suspects someone is trying to kill her.Murder and mysteryA visit to Lamb’s Malibu residence leaves Archer knocked unconscious after he stumbles over a dead body in the hallway; and Lamb seems to have vanished. With the police now involved in the case, a close friend and colleague of Lamb’s employs Archer to find out what’s happened to the screenwriter.The City of Angels – or somewhere much, much darker?Archer’s investigation takes him from the rich, glamorous and glitzy LA to the seedy, dark side of the city, and onward to the gambling mecca of Las Vegas, just now hitting its stride as a hot spot for celebrities and a money-making machine for the mob. In a place where cops and crooks work hand in hand, Archer will cross paths with Hollywood stars, politicians and notorious criminals. He’ll almost die several times, and he’ll discover bodies and secrets from the canyons and beaches of Malibu and the luxurious mansions of Bel Air and Beverly Hills to the narcotics clubs of Chinatown.With the help of Liberty and his PI partner Willie Dash, Archer will risk everything and leave no stone unturned in finding the missing Eleanor Lamb, and in bringing to justice killers who would love nothing better than to plant Archer six feet under.

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Book SynopsisCelebrating Fifty Years of Picador Books Winner of the National Book Award 1990 The Apocalypse would definitely put a crimp in my career plans. Rutherford Calhoun, a puckish rogue and newly freed slave, spends his days loitering around the docks of New Orleans, dodging debt collectors, gangsters, and Isadora Bailey, a prim and frugal woman who seeks to marry him and curb his mischievous instincts. When the heat from these respective pursuers becomes too much to bear, he cons his way on to the next ship leaving the dock: the Republic. Upon boarding, to his horror he discovers that he is on an illegal slave ship embarking on the Middle Passage, the portion of the triangular trade route that saw slaves transported from Africa to the US. Staffed by a crew of criminals and degenerates, the Republic is on a mission to enslave members of the legendary Allmuseri tribe, while the sadistic yet philosophical Captain Falcon has a secondary objective: securing a mysterious cargo that possesses a terrifying and otherworldly power. What follows is a story of Rutherford’s battle for survival, as he finds himself juggling loyalties between the ship’s crew and the enslaved passengers, and is forced to use every ounce of the charm and cunning that he possesses to endure the desperate conditions and battle the myriad deadly forces on the high seas. A masterful blend of allegory, black comedy, naval adventure and supernatural horror, Charles Johnson's wildly inventive Middle Passage is a true modern classic.Part of the Picador Collection, a series showcasing the best of modern literature.Trade ReviewLong after we’d stopped believe in the great American novel, along comes a spellbinding adventure story that may be just that * Chicago Tribune *A novel in the honorable tradition of Billy Budd and Moby Dick... heroic in proportion...fiction that hooks into the mind * New York Times Book Review *A rousing adventure yarn that resonates with and echoes the spirit of early sea stories. . . Johnson has fashioned a tale of travel and tragedy, yearning and history, and done so from a different, rarely explored viewpoint. . . .Middle Passage is a story of slavery, often brilliant in its structure and riveting in the way it's told * San Francisco Chronicle *Middle Passage has it all - rich lyricism and erudition, apocalyptic storms, clumsy ships disintegrating beneath their sputtering sailors and perilous philosophical conflicts. * Independent *No American writer has returned to the past as effectively as this since Toni Morrison's Beloved...a brilliantly written, human, tragicomic odyssey. * Irish Times *History, philosophy and powerful story-telling converge and somehow Johnson gives this indictment of inhumanity grace and humour. * Observer *Stunningly good. . . and in its analysis of the black predicament in America, ranks with the classic Invisble Man * Time Out *

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The Accidental Medium is the first book in a hilarious series from Tracy Whitwell featuring Tanz, the accidental medium who, with the help of the dead, is about to become an unwilling crime-solver.Tanz is a wine-loving, straight-talking, once-successful TV actress from Gateshead, whose career has shrivelled like an antique walnut. She is still grieving for her friend Frank, who died in a car crash three years ago, and she has to find a normal job in London to fund her cocktail habit. When she starts work in a ‘new age’ shop, Tanz suddenly discovers that the voices she’s hearing in her head are real, not the first signs of madness, and that she can give people ‘messages’ from beyond the grave. Alarmed, she confronts her little mam and discovers she is from a long line of psychic mediums.Despite an exciting new avenue of life opening up to Tanz, darkness isn’t far away and all too soon there’s murder in the air . . .

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Book SynopsisThe Times bestseller and winner of the Bloody Scotland Pitch Perfect Award and the Bloody Scotland Crime Debut of the Year.'A masterpiece' – Janice Hallett, author of The AppealInspired by a real-life case, Kate Foster's The Maiden is a remarkable story with a feminist revisionist twist, giving a voice to women otherwise silenced by history.In the end, it did not matter what I said at my trial. No one believed me.Edinburgh, October 1679. Lady Christian is arrested and charged with the murder of her lover, James Forrester. News of her imprisonment and subsequent trial is splashed across the broadsides, with headlines that leave little room for doubt: Adulteress. Whore. Murderess. Only a year before, Lady Christian was newly married, leading a life of privilege and respectability. So, what led her to risk everything for an affair? And does that make her guilty of murder? She wasn't the only woman in Forrester's life, and certainly not the only one who might have had cause to wish him dead . . .'Exceptional – a tense, thrilling investigation, with a decidedly feminist slant' – Daily Mail'Riveting . . . the tension persists until the last page’ — The TimesTrade ReviewThe Maiden is a masterpiece. A thrilling historical murder tale but so much more. Vivid, evocative and full of humanity. -- Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal and The Twyford CodeThis riveting debut novel by Kate Foster takes the true story of the murder [of James Forrester] and spins it into a mystery full of twists . . . The tension persists until the last page. -- Antonia Senior * The Times *Kate Foster expands the slender facts of the case into something exceptional — a tense, thrilling investigation, with a decidedly feminist slant. * Daily Mail *Threat hangs over every page like the awaiting guillotine, but the women in this book gleam sharper. Witty, gritty and full of heart, their voices rise through the brutality and hardship of 17th century Edinburgh, battling to be heard -- Cari Thomas, bestselling author of ThreadneedleThe language and pace of The Maiden is fluent and driving . . . I was quickly gripped. Offers to film Foster’s novel should follow if there’s any sense in this world . . . This is an extremely promising debut by Foster. * The National *A gripping read with strong, compelling and unusual female characters - and a twisty plot that keeps the reader guessing. It cast a fresh light on a period of history when women have too often been seen merely as victims and brought them to life as protagonists in their own right -- Sally Hinchcliffe, author of Hare HouseInspired by a real-life case, this historical murder mystery fictionalises an infamous crime of passion. Kate Foster reimagines the lives of the women at the centre of the story and paints a vivid and fascinating picture of 17th century Edinburgh * Yours magazine *Page-turning, transportive, funny, and tremendously moving, The Maiden is a book to lose yourself in - just make sure you don't have any plans, because once you start reading, you won't want to stop -- Jenny Ashcroft, author of Under the Golden Sun and The Echoes of LoveBrave, bold and at times deliciously indecent with vivid characters that leap from the page and demand attention. Kate Foster has such a fresh, exhilarating voice -- Lizzie Pook, author of Moonlight and the Pearler's DaughterThe Maiden is historical fiction at its finest. A true-life murder tale told thrilingly through the eyes of two very different women, yet both are fighting for their futures in a patriarchal world riven by hypocrisy -- D. V. Bishop, author of City of VengeanceA fabulous book . . . The writing is exquisite and it felt like a rare treat – a story totally rooted in its time and place, but that speaks across the generations -- Claire Evans, author of The Fourteenth Letter and The Graves of WhitechapelAn engrossing, sometimes chilling, read as Kate Foster's imaginative retelling of an old tale takes her colourful characters on a complex ride through the intrigues and prejudices of seventeenth century Scotland -- Sarah Maine, author of The House Between Tides and The AwakeningsA pleasingly female-led re-imagining of true historical events, The Maiden brings 17th century Edinburgh vividly to life in all its colour and stink -- Mary Paulson-Ellis, author of The Other Mrs Walker and Emily Noble's DisgraceA brilliantly bawdy, fabulously feminist take on a real life tragedy. A beautifully written thriller full of all too human characters. I loved it! -- Tina Baker, author of Call Me Mummy and Nasty Little CutsHugely compelling and completely unputdownable. Every time you think you know where the book is going, Kate Foster surprises you. The characterisation and the narrative voice are both so assured -- Katie Lumsden, author of The Secrets of Hartwood HallAn unforgettably vivid and very human story that had me glued to its twists and turns from the very first page. A strong contender for my top reads of 2023 already. A must read slice of historical fiction * 17 Degrees Magazine *This is a thrilling revenge tragedy, atmospheric, compelling and delivering everything a good historical novel should * Historical Novel Society *The Maiden triumphs in its portrayal of the fight to overcome not just class, gender, and society, but the wayward, and often dubious, inclinations of the heart. * The Saltire Society *

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Book SynopsisNow an Amazon Prime Original series, Red Queen is the first in Juan Gómez-Jurado's internationally bestselling thriller series, translated by Nick Caistor. Winner of the Cognac Prize 2022 with more than two million copies sold in Spain alone.Sunday Times - Best Thriller Books of the Year'A Spanish spin on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo . . . A female Sherlock Holmes' – The Times'Fizzes with energy . . . echoes of Lisbeth Salander, but the crackling interplay . . . adds an extra layer of originality . . . sparkling' – Best Books of 2023, Financial TimesYou've never met anyone like her . . .Antonia Scott is special. Very special. She is not a policewoman or a lawyer. She has never wielded a weapon or carried a badge, and yet, she has solved dozens of crimes.But it's been awhile since Antonia left her attic in Madrid. The things she has lost are much more important to her than the things awaiting her outside.She also doesn't receive visitors. That's why she really, really doesn't like it when she hears unknown footsteps coming up the stairs.Whoever it is, Antonia is sure that they are coming to look for her.And she likes that even less.Praise for Red Queen:'Often compared with Lisbeth Salander . . . Antonia Scott looks destined to leave every bit as lasting an impression' – Daily Mail'One of the most extravagantly entertaining novels I’ve ever read. It's an electrifying serial-killer thriller . . . I loved every word' – A.J. Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the WindowTrade ReviewBest thriller books of 2023 . . . What impresses is the brainy brio of Gómez-Jurado's storytelling, as well as his striking depiction of Madrid as two cities, an elegant baroque facade concealing a gothic underworld * Sunday Times *Fizzes with energy and lively scene-setting, switching . . . There are obvious echoes of Lisbeth Salander, but the crackling interplay between Scott and Inspector Gutiérrez, a gay Basque policeman, adds an extra layer of originality, as does Nick Caistor’s sparkling translation. * Financial Times *An electrifying serial-killer thriller, a fiendishly clever puzzle mystery . . . Red Queen tops even The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as a thinking reader’s thriller. -- A.J. Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the WindowA Spanish spin on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo . . . stylish and stylised . . . A female Sherlock Holmes * The Times *Often compared with Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Antonia Scott looks destined to leave every bit as lasting an impression. * Daily Mail *What Gómez-Jurado excels at, as conveyed in Nick Caistor’s brisk translation, is pacing of the breakneck variety. Short chapters, funny asides, lethally potent descriptions: They all contribute to a frenetic page-turning momentum . .. you’ll have great fun reading it. * New York Times *This thriller is going to have you gripping that wine glass tight as you race through the pages. * Glamour Magazine *Fast paced, memorable characters and a cinematic story that draws you in hook, line and sinker. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next in the series. -- John Marrs, author of The OneJuan Gomez-Jurado has written a fast, exciting page-turner and it’s the first in a trilogy featuring Antonia and Jon. You’ll be wanting more. * The Record *Fans of Scandinavian crime thrillers might want to broaden their horizons with the first book in a Spanish trilogy featuring a mismatched duo . . . Already an international hit, Gómez-Jurado’s smart page-turner has been made into an Prime Video series that will debut later in 2023 * Washington Post *A fast-paced thriller . . . giving us a mash-up of Nordic noir and an old-school detective with a neurodivergent mind . . . Red Queen works because along with a genius-protagonist, Gomez-Jurado has successfully wo­ven in the other ingredients that thrill a mystery reader: a diabolical antago­nist, a twisty game and a ticking clock. * Open The Magazine *A labyrinth of mystery, crisply plotted and paced, way ahead of the pack. -- Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Kaiser's WebSuspenseful and terrifying . . . A bit of Clarice Starling and a lot of Lisbeth Salander make Antonia a thoroughly compelling character, who will return in two more translations to complete Gómez-Jurado’s trilogy, -- Jane Murphy * Booklist starred review *Exciting . . . a nice balance among character, action, and setting . . . The next two, Loba Negra (Black Wolf) and Rey Blanco (White King), must be translated into English, because thriller fans will be waiting. Fast-moving and quirky fiction from Madrid. * Kirkus Reviews *Nail-biting . . . tantalizing . . . Lizbeth Salander fans will find much to like. * Publishers Weekly *This has all the velocity and thrills of Stieg Larson’s Millennium series but none of the eyeroll-inducing misogyny . . . it's all-engrossing. * First Clue (starred review) *Fresh and appealing to those that enjoy interesting characters and stories that constantly move forward and tales that end in unexpected ways. * Mystery and Suspense *Red Queen is a smart, addictive thriller, beautiful in both its complexity and devotion to characterization. Between the stunning plot twists, bold structural choices and surprising moments of wry humour, you won’t be able to put this one down -- Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of Find MeThis terrific novel has all the page-turning elements of the very best thrillers, but what makes it truly remarkable is the writing itself. Engaging and heartbreaking, witty and wry and immersive . . . Juan Gómez-Jurado has written an instant classic -- Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of Her Perfect LifeReaders are going to fall for Antonia Scott. This character is, without a doubt, the best thing that has happened to the international thriller in the last ten years * ABC *Red Queen is terrific – a complex story that unfolds at breakneck speed, a compelling plot filled with twist after twist, a story told with rich, fluid language, and a fascinating, well-realized unlikely pair of characters, especially the brilliant Antonia Scott. -- David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of Murder as a Fine ArtThe most compelling and original detective since Lisbeth Salander * The Times South Africa *

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Book SynopsisNumber one New York Times bestselling author Jocko Willink’s fast-paced thriller Final Spin is a story of love, brotherhood, suffering, happiness and sacrifice – a story about life.Johnny . . .Shouldn’t be in a dead-end job.Shouldn’t be in a dead-end bar.Shouldn’t be in a dead-end life.But he is.It’s a hamster-wheel existence. Stocking warehouse store shelves by day, drinking too much whisky and beer by night. In between, Johnny lives in his childhood home, making sure his alcoholic mother hasn’t drunk herself to death, and looking after his idiosyncratic older brother Arty, whose world revolves around his laundromat job.Rinse and repeat.Then Johnny’s monotonous life takes a tumble. The laundromat where Arty works, and the one thing that gives him happiness, is about to be sold. Johnny doesn’t want that to happen, so he takes measures into his own hands. Johnny, along with his friend Goat, come up with a plan to get the money to buy the laundromat.But things don’t always go as planned . . .Trade ReviewWillink tells his story in quick blasts of haiku-like writing, with dialogue reminiscent of early David Mamet. Told with a gritty simplicity, this retains a hold on the reader right through to the inevitable tragic climax * Publishers Weekly *A crackerjack thriller . . . You've read this book before, and you've seen the movie, but Willink gives it a nice spin, a reminder of why the theme is timeless * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisThe Murders at Fleat House is the suspenseful and utterly compelling crime novel from the author of the multimillion-selling The Seven Sisters series, Lucinda Riley.'A cleverly woven mystery to savour' – Sunday ExpressThe sudden death of a pupil in Fleat House at St Stephen’s – a small private boarding school in deepest Norfolk – is a shocking event that the headmaster is very keen to call a tragic accident.But the local police cannot rule out foul play, and the case prompts the reluctant return of high-flying Detective Inspector Jazmine ‘Jazz’ Hunter to the force. Reunited with her loyal sergeant, she enters the closed world of the school and begins to probe the circumstances surrounding Charlie Cavendish’s tragic death.When staff at the school close ranks, the disappearance of a young pupil and the death of an elderly classics master provide Jazz with important leads. But, while snow covers the landscape, a suspect goes missing.As Jazz must confront her personal demons, a grim discovery at the school will make this the most challenging murder investigation of her career. Fleat House hides secrets darker than even Jazz could ever have imagined . . .'A thrilling whodunit for crime fans. Another Lucinda Riley legacy to treasure' – Lancashire PostTrade ReviewWith likeable, complex characters and a fast-paced plot, this is a cleverly woven mystery to savour * Sunday Express *An intriguing mystery held together by racy dialogue and believable characters * Daily Mail *This is a thrilling whodunit for crime fans, and another Lucinda Riley legacy to treasure * Lancashire Post *A masterclass in beautiful writing -- The Sun on The Sun SisterCaptivating . . . This multi-generational tale is a poignant yet uplifting novel that strikes just the right balance with its tone and characters -- Woman's Own on The Butterfly Room

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Book Synopsis'Absolutely stunning . . . thrilling and unique' - Gillian Flynn'Creepy, provocative and wildly entertaining' - Emma Stonex'A banger!' - Chelsea G Summers'Fantastic . . . compelling . . . wonderful' - The ObserverWelcome to The Centre. You'll never be the same . . . Anisa Ellahi spends her days writing subtitles for Bollywood films in her London flat, all the while longing to be a translator of ‘great works of literature’. Her boyfriend Adam’s extraordinary aptitude for languages only makes her feel worse, but when Adam learns to speak Urdu practically overnight, Anisa forces him to reveal his secret.Adam tells Anisa about the Centre, an elite, invite-only programme that guarantees total fluency in any language in just ten days. Sceptical but intrigued, Anisa enrols. Stripped of her belongings and contact with the outside world, she undergoes the Centre’s strange and rigorous processes. But as she enmeshes herself further within the organization, seduced by all that it’s made possible, she soon realizes the disturbing, hidden cost of its services.By turns dark, funny and surreal, The Centre takes the reader on a journey through Karachi, London and New Delhi, interrogating the sticky politics of language, translation and appropriation with biting specificity, and ultimately asking: what price would you be willing to pay for success?A remarkable debut from Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi, announcing the arrival of an extraordinary new talent.Trade ReviewFantastic . . . This Black Mirror take on the world of language opens up questions of cultural appropriation, the power of language, memory and privilege . . . Siddiqi’s easy storytelling and her heroine Anisa’s sweet narrative voice slip down like summer rosé. Siddiqi has the gift of maintaining propulsion and mystery, while keeping things human and realistic . . . compelling . . . wonderful * The Observer *An absolutely stunning and unique novel . . . A book that is not only thrilling but deeply thought provoking, a combination that is truly rare -- Gillian Flynn, author of Gone GirlSiddiqi . . . has the gift of maintaining propulsion and mystery, while keeping things human and realistic . . . a wonderful novel -- Bidisha Mamata * The Guardian *Creepy, provocative and wildly entertaining . . . I was gripped -- Emma Stonex, author of The LamplightersIngenious . . . This is a book whose many delights and horrors are unlikely to be lost in translation * New York Times *The Centre is a banger! . . . A book that feels both cheery and terrifying, The Centre draws you in with a gentle hand until it throws the mallet down in the last thirty pages. A terrific meditation on language, diaspora, alienation, and culture, it will stay with you long after you read -- Chelsea G Summers, author of A Certain HungerPropulsive and profound. I was gripped by the mystery haunting the core of the book — and equally gripped by Siddiqi’s exploration of the power of language . . . a debut of dazzling wit and insight -- Helen Phillips, author of The NeedA twisting mystery and nuanced exploration of identity and assimilation, The Centre cuts deep . . . A compelling, witty, sometimes gruesome tale of how we use language to connect and to sever, appropriate and explore -- Julia Fine, author of Maddalena and the Dark and The Upstairs HouseI am obsessed with this book and you will be too! A brilliant meditation on language and translation and the most gripping novel I've read in forever . . . I'm in awe -- Jennifer Croft, author of HomesickAs haunting as it is tempting; this book devoured me back -- Sarah Gailey, author of Just Like Home and Eat the RichA gripping, surreal mystery about language, identity, and greed. The Centre explores impossible success at an equally impossible price—and the difference between merely paying for something and truly understanding its dark cost -- Peng Shepherd, bestselling author of The CartographersThe most fascinating debut I've read in years—enigmatic, biting, absurd, and right when you think you've got it figured out, utterly horrifying -- Daniel Kraus, New York Times bestselling author of The Shape of Water (with Guillermo del Toro)Incredible . . . it's creepy AF, in the best way possible. Highly recommend! -- Lamya H, author of Hijab Butch BluesFilled with astute insights into life as a brown person in a predominantly white country . . . A fast-paced thriller with its finger firmly on the pulse of contemporary social discourse * Kirkus *Manazir Siddiqi’s ambitious debut packs insightful observations about racism, classism, and colonialism into a dark mystery . . . a writer to watch * Publishers Weekly *[An] inventive debut... The Centre informs the current social discourse by offering wry, shrewd insights into colonialism, appropriation and classism, resonant of Elaine Hsieh Chou’s Disorientation and RF Kuang’s Yellowface -- Rabeea Saleem, The Irish TimesTruly fascinating . . . a dialogue-rich drama with comic undertones and a creepy thriller nestled within * Shelf Awareness *One of the most original books published this year * Eastern Eye, Best books of 2023 *The novel explores friendship, purpose, and power * New Yorker, The Best Books of 2023 *

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Book Synopsis'I love Jane Harper's Australia-based mysteries' - Stephen King'Addictive storytelling' – Ann Cleeves'An avalanche of suspense' – David BaldacciThe Sunday Times bestseller from acclaimed international bestselling sensation Jane Harper. Exiles is the gripping mystery of one woman's unsolved disappearance in Australia's wine country.A mother disappears from a busy festival on a warm spring night.Her baby lies alone in the pram, her mother’s possessions surrounding her, waiting for a return which never comes.A year later, Kim Gillespie’s absence still casts a long shadow as her friends and loved ones gather to welcome a new addition to the family.Joining the celebrations on a rare break from work is federal investigator Aaron Falk, who begins to suspect that all is not as it seems.As he looks into Kim’s case, long-held secrets and resentments begin to come to the fore, secrets that show that her community is not as close as it appears.Falk will have to tread carefully if he is to expose the dark fractures at its heart, but sometimes it takes an outsider to get to the truth . . .An outstanding novel, a brilliant mystery and a heart-pounding read from the author of The Dry, Force of Nature, The Lost Man and The Survivors.Praise for Jane Harper:Exiles'I loved Exiles. Jane is a hugely gifted writer' – Marian Keyes'Incontrovertibly the reigning queen of Aussie Crime' – Financial Times'Exceptional' – Jane Casey'Harper skillfully ratchets up the tension in this powerful, slow-burning portrait of small-town life... high quality, atmospheric crime fiction' – Mail on Sunday'Outstanding' – C. L. TaylorThe Dry‘Spellbinding’ – Ian Rankin‘A sense of place so vivid that you can almost feel the blistering heat’ – Guardian‘A stunningly atmospheric read’ – Val McDermidForce of Nature‘This gripping thriller will have readers hooked’ – Sunday Telegraph‘Brilliantly paced, it wrong-foots the reader like a rocky trail through the bush. I adored it’ – Susie Steiner‘Thoughtful, moving, troubling’ – Irish TimesThe Lost Man‘I devoured it in a day. Her best yet!’ – Liane Moriarty‘Harper secures her place as queen of outback noir’ – Sunday Times‘It totally transcends genre, and it should win all the prizes’ – Marian KeyesThe Survivors‘A gripping mystery. . . her best book yet’ – Evening Standard‘Phenomenal’ – Chris Whitaker‘A compelling, terrifying thriller’ – ObserverTrade ReviewOnce again Harper proves that she is peerless in creating an avalanche of suspense with intimate, character-driven set pieces that are as exquisitely engineered as the inner workings of a Steinway. Harper’s legions of fans will exult in reading Exiles -- David Baldacci, bestselling author of The 6:20 ManWhile so much egregiously repetitive, flatly written fare holds sway in the crime fiction idiom, it’s a cause for celebration when genuinely accomplished writers energise things. A prime example? Antipodean star Jane Harper... she remains incontrovertibly the reigning queen of Aussie crime fiction. * Financial Times *I loved Exiles, Jane is a hugely gifted writer and her depiction of the relationships in it is masterful -- Marian Keyes, bestselling author of Rachel's HolidayHarper skillfully ratchets up the tension in this powerful, slow-burning portrait of small-town life. . . high quality, atmospheric crime fiction * The Mail on Sunday *I love Jane Harper's Australia-based mysteries -- Stephen KingExiles is the kind of crime novel you move into rather than just reading it - a wholly absorbing set of mysteries, a cast of characters that feels entirely real and a setting so vivid you can practically smell the breeze through the bushland. Aaron Falk is the still centre of the novel, a quiet presence like no other in crime fiction. Exceptional in every way. -- Jane Casey, Author of The Burning A truly wonderful read. Rich in detail, landscape and character and deeply satisfying on all levels. -- Sarah Hilary, Author of Someone Else's Skin Exiles is an outstanding crime novel, rich in mystery and atmosphere and full of heart. Utterly immersive, captivating and beautifully written; I lost myself completely within its pages and was bereft when it ended. Jane Harper is a rare jewel of an author and Exiles deserves to be huge. It blew me away. It's my book of the year so far. -- C. L. Taylor author of The Guilty Couple'Jane Harper has once again produced an ingenious, moving and hugely satisfying mystery. This is crime writing perfection' -- C. M. Ewan, author of The Interview‘This is a softer, gentler Harper, but with the same fine writing and addictive storytelling’ -- Ann Cleeves, bestselling author of the Shetland, Venn and Vera Stanhope seriesFalk’s investigation is a terrific one, but what makes the book memorable is Harper’s skill at plumbing personal mysteries — for instance, why a friendship has ebbed, or how not knowing the fate of a loved one affects a family. * New York Times *Atmospheric, beautifully observed and fluently written, this is Harper back at her very best * Daily Mail *Jane Harper is laying the foundations of a very clever plot that is built on character rather than carnage. . . Only a writer sure of her considerable abilities would dare to proceed so leisurely, embedding clues and red herrings, so that the final hundred pages are thrilling and devastating. -- The Times Book of the MonthA murky, unsolved crime in the past; an Australian setting so dramatic it’s almost a character in itself; a tall, thin Melbourne federal agent with close-cropped, white-blond hair and invisible eyelashes: These are the hallmarks of Jane Harper’s Aaron Falk mysteries * Washington Post *I have loved every thriller Australian author Jane Harper has written, and Exiles is no exception. . . As ever with Harper, the facts begin to lock together with supremely satisfying effect, as Falk gets closer to the truth of what happened to Kim. The Lost Man, set in the vast, scorched outback of Queensland, remains my favourite of her thrillers, but Exiles is now a close second. -- Alison Flood, The ObserverThe possibility of Falk finding love is a tender counterpoint to the murder mystery in this worthy conclusion to one of the most outstanding of recent crime series * Daily Express *If you're a fan of Jane's The Dry and The Lost Man, you won't be surprised to hear this is another must-read, one that you'll reluctantly leave to do life things like eating and tidying * Belfast Telegraph *The only disappointment in this outing for Aaron Falk is that Harper is adament it is to be his last. A powerful and affecting novel -- SJ WatsonThe tight-knit group has rifts so deep nobody might have imagined * SimpleNews *Atmospheric, beautifully observed and fluently written, this is Harper back at her very best * Mail Online *Exiles is perhaps her best mystery yet -- Penny McCormick, The GlossI will give anything by Jane Harper a read. Exiles was my favourite — it's the third and final of the Aaron Falk books. . . by god am I proud to know someone as gifted as her comes from Down Under * Mamamia *

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Book SynopsisThe slow-burning, brilliantly twisty mystery from Jane Harper, the international bestselling Number One author of The Dry'A fantastic crime writer' - Bella MackieIn Exiles, Investigator Aaron Falk finds himself drawn into a complex web of tightly held secrets in South Australia's wine country.A mother disappears from a busy festival on a warm spring night.Her baby lies alone in the pram, waiting for a return that never comes.A year later, Kim Gillespie’s absence still casts a long shadow as her friends and loved ones gather to welcome a new addition to the family.Joining the celebrations on a rare break from work is federal investigator Aaron Falk, who begins to suspect that all is not as it seems.As he looks into Kim’s case, long-held secrets and resentments begin to come to the fore, secrets that show that her community is not as close as it appears.Falk will have to tread carefully if he is to expose the dark fractures at its heart, but sometimes it takes an outsider to get to the truth . . .Exiles is a New York Times and Sunday Times Top 10 bestseller and the final Aaron falk mystery********Praise for Jane Harper'An avalanche of suspense' - David Baldacci'Addictive storytelling' - Ann Cleeves‘A hugely gifted writer’ - Marian Keyes'Exceptional' - Jane Casey'Outstanding' - C.L. Taylor‘Spellbinding’ - Ian Rankin‘A stunningly atmospheric read’ - Val McDermid‘Brilliantly paced’ - Susie Steiner‘I devoured it in a day. Her best yet!’ - Liane Moriarty‘Phenomenal’ - Chris WhitakerTrade ReviewOnce again Harper proves that she is peerless in creating an avalanche of suspense with intimate, character-driven set pieces that are as exquisitely engineered as the inner workings of a Steinway. Harper’s legions of fans will exult in reading Exiles -- David Baldacci, bestselling author of MercyWhile so much egregiously repetitive, flatly written fare holds sway in the crime fiction idiom, it’s a cause for celebration when genuinely accomplished writers energise things. A prime example? Antipodean star Jane Harper... she remains incontrovertibly the reigning queen of Aussie crime fiction. * Financial Times *‘This is a softer, gentler Harper, but with the same fine writing and addictive storytelling’ -- Ann Cleeves, bestselling author of the Vera Stanhope seriesHarper skillfully ratchets up the tension in this powerful, slow-burning portrait of small-town life. . . high quality, atmospheric crime fiction * The Mail on Sunday *I loved Exiles, Jane is a hugely gifted writer and her depiction of the relationships in it is masterful -- Marian Keyes, bestselling author of Rachel's HolidayJane Harper is laying the foundations of a very clever plot that is built on character rather than carnage. . . Only a writer sure of her considerable abilities would dare to proceed so leisurely. . . the final hundred pages are thrilling and devastating. -- The Times Book of the MonthThe possibility of Falk finding love is a tender counterpoint to the murder mystery in this worthy conclusion to one of the most outstanding of recent crime series * Daily Express *A truly wonderful read. Rich in detail, landscape and character and deeply satisfying on all levels. -- Sarah Hilary, Author of Someone Else's Skin Exiles is the kind of crime novel you move into rather than just reading it - a wholly absorbing set of mysteries. . . Aaron Falk is the still centre of the novel, a quiet presence like no other in crime fiction. Exceptional in every way. -- Jane Casey, Author of The Burning Exiles is an outstanding crime novel. . . Utterly immersive, captivating and beautifully written; I lost myself completely within its pages and was bereft when it ended. Jane Harper is a rare jewel of an author and Exiles deserves to be huge. It blew me away. It's my book of the year so far. -- C. L. Taylor author of The Guilty Couple'Jane Harper has once again produced an ingenious, moving and hugely satisfying mystery. This is crime writing perfection' -- C. M. Ewan, author of The InterviewAtmospheric, beautifully observed and fluently written, this is Harper back at her very best * Daily Mail *Falk’s investigation is a terrific one, but what makes the book memorable is Harper’s skill at plumbing personal mysteries — for instance, why a friendship has ebbed, or how not knowing the fate of a loved one affects a family. * New York Times *A murky, unsolved crime in the past; an Australian setting so dramatic it’s almost a character in itself; a tall, thin Melbourne federal agent with close-cropped, white-blond hair and invisible eyelashes: These are the hallmarks of Jane Harper’s Aaron Falk mysteries * Washington Post *I have loved every thriller Australian author Jane Harper has written, and Exiles is no exception -- Alison Flood, The ObserverIf you're a fan of Jane's The Dry and The Lost Man, you won't be surprised to hear this is another must-read, one that you'll reluctantly leave to do life things like eating and tidying * Belfast Telegraph *The only disappointment in this outing for Aaron Falk is that Harper is adament it is to be his last. A powerful and affecting novel -- SJ WatsonThe tight-knit group has rifts so deep nobody might have imagined * SimpleNews *Atmospheric, beautifully observed and fluently written, this is Harper back at her very best * Mail Online *

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Book Synopsis________________________'The final twist turns out to be a full-on gut punch' Sunday TimesTwo sisters. One fortune to claim. But who is...the better liar? Estranged for a decade, sisters Leslie and Robin must reunite if they are to claim the fortune their father left them. But when Leslie arrives at her sister's apartment in Las Vegas, she finds her body instead. And without Robin, she won't see a penny. Mary spends her nights waitressing at a seedy restaurant. She'd do anything to start her life over again. When Leslie offers her a huge sum of money if she pretends to be Robin, she takes it. But Robin's life isn't as straightforward as Mary thought it would be. And Leslie seems to have dark secrets of her own...________________________PRAISE FOR THE BETTER LIAR:'Gripping, suspenseful' Daily Mail'A compulsively page-turning story' Claire Fuller, author of Bitter Orange'A brilliantly claustrophobic thriller with a gasp-inducing sting in the tail' Christobel Kent, author of The Loving HusbandTrade ReviewI couldn’t help becoming so drawn in . . . Tanen Jones has written a compulsively page-turning story. She cleverly drip-feeds nuggets of information, each more surprising than the last, until the final shocking revelationJones’ sensational debut has the bones of a thriller but reads like literary fiction: lean, shrewd, and gratifyingly real. * Entertainment Weekly *Gripping, suspenseful […] The chracters are deep and complex and unpredictable – exactly the kind of characters a thriller should deliver […] the story makes a bold and thought provoking statement on women, sisterhood and motherhood. * Daily Mail *THE BETTER LIAR is a knockout, a stunner of a debut that left me in awe of this new writer’s talent. Smart, fresh, twisty, and compelling, with utterly believable characters, gorgeous prose, and a storyline that kept me guessing until the final pages. You know a book is good when you wish you'd written it! -- Karen Dionne, author of HomeAn incredibly unique thriller with beautiful relationships and cracking twists. * C.C. MacDonald, author of HAPPY EVER AFTER *

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Book Synopsis'The undisputed King of the Icelandic Thriller' Guardian'One of the greats of modern crime fiction' Sunday Times________________________A frozen body is discovered in the icy depths of Langjökull glacier.The victim: a businessman missing for thirty years.The case: impossible to solve. Until now. Konrád, the retired policeman who originally investigated the disappearance, is called back to reopen the case that has weighed on his mind for decades.Then a woman approaches him with new information that she obtained from her deceased brother.Will this be enough to solve the mystery at last?Can Konrád uncover the poisonous secrets and cruel truths that have built up over the decades? In The Darkness Knows, the master of Icelandic crime writing returns with a powerful and haunting story about the poisonous secrets and cruel truths that time eventually uncovers.Trade ReviewOne of the greats of modern crime fiction. * Sunday Times *The undisputed King of the Icelandic Thriller. * Guardian *An international literary phenomenon - and it's easy to see why. His novels are gripping, authentic, haunting and lyrical. * Harlan Coben, international bestseller *A tragic tale of football, fathers and fear' * The Times *

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Book Synopsis'Simply put: nobody does it better.' Jeffrey Deaver'A writer with an unusual skill at thriller plotting.' Guardian'James Patterson is The Boss. End of.' Ian Rankin__________________________________The dynamics are simple in the Wolf family. They eat you if you let them.Joe Wolf has raised his children to have the same cut-throat mentality that built his own California business empire: kill or be killed.When Joe's body is discovered adrift in the San Francisco Bay, his daughter Jenny finds herself head of the Wolf empire.With her brothers trying to seize her newfound power and assets from under her, Jenny discovers that each of them has the means and motive to kill.Which of them is capable of murder?__________________________________Readers are loving House of Wolves'Lots of twists till the end''As usual a great read from James Patterson''Excellent read from start to finish''Unputdownable''Another great book from the master of fiction'__________________________________Praise for James Patterson:'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades.' Lee Child'Patterson boils a scene down to the single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind.' Michael ConnellyTrade ReviewNo one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades. -- Lee ChildThe master storyteller of our times -- Hillary Rodham ClintonIt's no mystery why James Patterson is the world's most popular thriller writer . . . Simply put: nobody does it better. -- Jeffery DeaverPatterson boils a scene down to the single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind. -- Michael ConnellyOne of the greatest storytellers of all time -- Patricia Cornwell

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Book SynopsisFive gripping full-cast adaptations of Patricia Highsmith's bestselling 'Ripley' series - plus bonus materialCharming, cultured and clever, Tom Ripley has a taste for the finer things in life. And he is determined to get them, by any means necessary...These five plays - The Talented Mr Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley and Ripley Under Water - chart Tom's journey from impoverished conman to wealthy bon viveur and serial killer. His homicidal adventures begin when he befriends shipping heir Dickie Greenleaf: he wants money, success, and he's willing to kill for it. But when he attains the luxurious lifestyle he craves, he is always on the edge of being discovered. Will his shadowy past finally catch up with him?BAFTA-winning actor Ian Hart stars as Ripley in these tense, thrilling dramas. Also included are two bonus documentaries: Looking for Ripley, in which crime writer Mark Billingham unravels the mystery behind our lasting fascination with Tom Ripley, and A Passionate Affair, presented by Marcel Berlins, who asks whether Patricia Highsmith fell in love with her suave, amoral anti-hero.Text © 1993 by Diogenes Verlag AG Zurich, all rights reserved.© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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Book SynopsisFROM THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ASYLUM, TRAUMA AND THE WARDROBE MISTRESS'Wonderful, thrilling' JOHN BANVILLE'Has pleasure on every page' TIMESIt's 1975 and Francis McNulty, ageing poet, retired, is living in his childhood home in Cleaver Square with his daughter Gilly. Haunted by memories of the Spanish Civil War, in which he drove an ambulance, he sees awful visions of his old nemesis, General Franco, and is powerfully reminded of a terrible act of betrayal he committed in Spain. When Gilly announces her upcoming marriage, Francis is forced to confront his past, once and for all.'Impressive' GUARDIAN'A very moving portrayal of a complicated father-daughter relationship, neither of them fully able to break away' RACHEL JOYCETrade ReviewIt's not until you read a novel by Patrick McGrath that you remember how boring most books are. Even stories that keep readers turning the pages for the plot can be flatly told, and many first-person narrators have no individuality. Not so with McGrath, whose novels make a distinctive voice an essential part of the telling, and remind us that the bias of the teller is an integral element in any tale. Last Days in Cleaver Square is a passionate, tempest-tossed memoir by Francis McNulty - made up of equal parts what he's telling us and what he isn't . . . The narrative voice might be his ripest yet . . . The pleasure in a Patrick McGrath novel is the travelling, not the arrival, and this is a rare novel that has pleasure on every page. * The Times *McGrath expertly deploys some of his trademark elements . . . and is unfailingly deft in his handling of trauma and deceit. Tiny elements fleetingly present in the story return later on like a whole arsenal of Chekhov's guns to be duly discharged, or occasionally decommissioned. By its conclusion Last Days in Cleaver Square manages to pull off the impressive trick of being narratively coherent and satisfying, yet still true to the messy businesses of memory, ageing, guilt and how to tell the story of a life. * Guardian *This is a wonderful, thrilling novel, based on a fascinating conceit. The story will hook you on the first page and hold you a willing captive until the end. Patrick McGrath writes with his accustomed control and clarity, but in Last Days in Cleaver Square he has broken through to new depths of insight and emotion.Last Days in Cleaver Square has a wonderful otherworldly quality that keeps you turning the pages, without ever seeming implausible. I found myself drawn deeper and deeper into Francis McNulty's story, in much the same way he feels haunted by the strange ghost, and the past. I can't think of anything else quite like it. It weaves a kind of spell. And it's a very moving portrayal too of a complicated father-daughter relationship, neither of them fully able to break away.An atmospheric novel, with a magnificently unreliable narrator, combining family comedy with harrowing themes of death and betrayal ... In the often-mannered first person prose, which is replete with panicky ejaculations, this book enjoys playing with the conventions of the ghost story, of tales of sensation and the supernatural ... McGrath is a connoisseur of this literary tradition. * Financial Times *The novel's hallucinatory texture is a potent mechanism for the portrayal of trauma and denial. * Daily Mail *This is vintage McGrath material: a narrative patchwork rich in repressed memory, guilt, self deception and torment ... [A] moving, mischievous novel * Telegraph Best Books of 2021 *As ever with McGrath, the gothic elements in the story are given full rein, but such is the pace and vigour of the storytelling that he takes his readers with him every step of the way. * Mail on Sunday *Wonderful. So atmospheric, engaging and engrossing . . . all the characters and relationships were superb. -- Cathy RetzenbrinkProfound and haunting; a gripping unsettling novel by a brilliant storyteller. -- Gabriel Byrne

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Book SynopsisThe brand new high-concept domestic suspense that asks the important question - are women ever truly safe? Perfect for fans of Vox, The End of Men and John Marrs. Curfew law keeps men at home after 7pm. It keeps women safe after dark. It changed things for the better... until now. SARAH Sarah rebuilt her life after her husband was sent to prison. Now he's about to be released, and Sarah isn't expecting a happy reunion given she's the reason he was sent there... CASS Seventeen-year-old Cass disagrees with Curfew. She believes men and women should be equal. And she's determined to prove she's right - whatever the cost. HELEN Helen wants a baby more than anything, so things are moving quickly with her boyfriend. She loves him. But should she trust him? All of these women are in danger. And one will end up dead. Evidence will suggest that she was killed late at night and that she knew her attacker. It couldn't have been a man because a Curfew tag is a solid alibi... Isn't it?Trade ReviewWhat a thought-provoking read. So timely, so relevant and so remarkably written, it's going to live with me for some time to come -- John MarrsThis book is so clever and timely. It is written so well and is so clever. Original and brilliant * Frost Magazine *

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Book SynopsisFreddy is an ex-L.A. cop on the skids. He snuffed a cop killer in cold blood - and it got to him bad. Now he's a sleazoid private eye, a shakedown artist, a pimp - and, most notably, the head strongarm goon for Confidential magazine.Welcome to the world of the malevolent monarch of the Hollywood underground - a tale of pervasive paranoia teeming with communist conspiracies, FBI finks, celebrity smut films and strange bedfellows.Trade ReviewUnfolds in shimmering Ellroyvision -- Tom Nolan * The Wall Street Journal *Purgatory is rarely this much fun * Financial Times *Like drinking a pint of espresso -- Sam Leith * TLS *Extraordinary... Ellroy's legion of fans will love it -- Mark Sanderson * The Times *James Ellroy is the king of macho noir -- Laura Wilson * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis'His exploration of warped minds is as gripping as the kinks in the complex plot' The Times'An intelligent and dark ride' Peterborough Telegraph'A book that will delight [...] with its familiar mix of detection and psychological insight' Shots Magazine_________________________The electrifying new Alex Delaware thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense.At 5am in the upscale neighbourhood of Westwood Village, two removal men are making a routine pick-up when they make a fatal hit. It's a man - who appeared from nowhere - naked and with no means of identification.Not long after, a woman is found dead in a house nearby, which neighbours suspect to be a brothel. Could the man have come from there?When LAPD homicide lieutenant Milo Sturgis calls brilliant psychologist Alex Delaware is called to the scene, the case gets even more complicated. Delaware has met the woman before. She's a psychologist too.Are the two deaths linked? Or is there a darker force at work?

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Book Synopsis'If you have never entered the curious world of Bryant and May, you're in for a treat.' THE TIMESIt was the kind of story that barely made the news.When 91-year-old Amelia Hoffman died in her top-floor flat on a busy London road, it's considered an example of what has gone wrong with modern society: she slipped through the cracks in a failing system.But detectives Arthur Bryant and John May of the Peculiar Crimes Unit have their doubts. Mrs Hoffman was once a government security expert, even though no one can quite remember her. When a link emerges between the old lady and a diplomat trying to flee the country, it seems that an impossible murder has been committed.Mrs Hoffman wasn't the only one at risk. Bryant is convinced that other forgotten women with hidden talents are also in danger. And, curiously, they all own models of London Bridge.With the help of some of their more certifiable informants, the detectives follow the strangest of clues in an investigation that will lead them through forgotten alleyways to the city's oldest bridge in search of a desperate killer.But just when the case appears to be solved, they discover that Mrs Hoffman was smarter than anyone imagined. There's a bigger game afoot that could have terrible consequences. It's time to celebrate Bryant and May's twentieth anniversary as their most lunatic case yet brings death and rebirth to London's most peculiar crimes unit.Trade ReviewOne of the glories of the modern crime fiction field? The deliriously eccentric books by Christopher Fowler . . . this exuberantly written entry is as entertaining as any of its predecessors -- Barry Forshaw * FINANCIAL TIMES *Clever, funny * THE SUN *As always, Fowler does a masterly job of balancing humour with an ingeniously crafted plot. Devoted fans will be more than satisfied. * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred review *Christopher Fowler's writing is exquisite. His deep reverence for - and knowledge of - the dark and lonely pathways trodden by centuries of Londoners is compelling . . . the dialogue sparkles and the jokes are laugh-out-loud.' * FULLY BOOKED 2017 *There is always room for comic crime capers on the bookshelves of discerning readers, with Christopher Fowler's books having long been on the forefront of the subgenre. Here's to many more tales of our intrepid heroes as they solve seemingly impossible crimes in the most entertaining fashion. * CRIMINAL ELEMENT *

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Book Synopsis''An excellent action-thriller'' Daily Telegraph''The action never lets up for a moment'' Daily Mail''Very entertaining'' Guardian''An old-fashioned blockbuster...Conway writes with brio and ambition'' Financial Times''The most incredible spy franchise since Ian Fleming' Matthew Vaughn_____________________The globe-trotting spy thriller that inspired the upcoming action blockbuster Argylle , featuring a star-studded cast including Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, and John Cena.One Russian magnate''s dream of restoring a nation to greatness has set in motion a chain of events which will take the world to the brink of chaos. Only Frances Coffey, the CIA''s most legendary spymaster, can prevent it. But to do so, she needs someone special.Enter Argylle. His life came to a crashing halt as a teenager. Since then he has been treading water

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Book Synopsis 'AN UNMISSABLE DEBUT' Sunday Express Magazine'A GRIPPING DEBUT (...) YOU WON'T WANT IT TO END' HeatTHE FIRST IN A PHENOMENAL NEW SERIES FEATURING DI ALEX FINN AND DC MATTIE PAULSEN.Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Peter James and Peter Robinson.When a development in South London catches fire mid-construction, a close-knit team of fire fighters runs in to save a man spotted at the window.They come out without a body. They quit the service. They plan never to speak to each other again.Five years later one of them is set alight at his own wedding. Soon after, a second is found, nothing but a smoking corpse. It appears that someone knows what they did that night. What they chose over their duty. And there are still three men left to burn . . .DI Alex Finn and his new partner DC Mattie Paulsen are an unlikely pairing, but they need to discover who is behind these killings before the next man faces the fire.This is first in Will Shindler's Finn and Paulsen series - a British detective series that ranks with Mark Billingham, M.J. Arlidge, Stuart MacBride.***Order the second novel in the Finn and Paulsen series, THE KILLING CHOICE, now!***REAL READERS ARE LOVING THE BURNING MENRATED 4.5 STARS ON NETGALLEY'Well-constructed and cleverly penned, this is one that starts strongly, continues powerfully and ends with a very satisfying bang. It's about consequences, consciences and morals intertwined with some gruesome scenes and a thumping good ride''A real page turner. I loved this book . . . There must be more of these two, they are fascinating. More please, equally well thought out, equally well written . . . please. SOON!''If, like me, you are the kind of reader who likes to be in on the ground floor of a brand-new series, then get The Burning Men on your pre-order to be read lists because this is one of those times . . .''This is a great read about greed and treachery. An engaging, exciting read which I read in one sitting. Lots of red herrings, twists and turns''I absolutely loved it, it drew me in from the first page and didn't let go until the end. I cannot wait to read the next book by this author'Trade ReviewAn unmissable debut * Sunday Express S Magazine, Books to look forward to in 2020 *The pace is good and Finn is a great character. There is also an excellently portrayed organised crime boss * Literary Review *This debut is, simply put, fantastic. It has such a strong opening, you'll be hooked after the first chapter * Yahoo *A gripping debut with well-rounded characters and an intriguing plot. You won't want it to end * Heat *This thriller's hot stuff. A blaze of action and surprises, making it a sure crime debut of the year contender. Shindler's list (sorry!) of successes include an original plot, gasp-out-loud twists and a brilliant new detective team... the case is a humdinger. 10/10 * The Peterborough Telegraph *Arresting... an unusual novel with a rising sense of menace * The Sunday Times *Fans of police novels and dramas will lap up this tale, and as it's the first in the Finn and Paulsen series, I can't wait for the next instalment * Daily Record *Blistering debut... this is a gritty and cleverly plotted police drama - the very definition of a page- turner * Culture Fly *A highly accomplished police procedural with intriguing characters and plenty of twists to keep readers guessing until its explosive finale * The Daily Express *The Burning Men hooked me from the start and never gave me second thoughts (...) The sharp scenes, good pacing and deft characterisation mark this as a series to follow * Crime Review *

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Book SynopsisA cold case. A recent discovery. A very real threat...Amongst the ruins of the old Beaumont mansion lies a terrible secret. In the cellar are three graves - but only two skeletons. They belong to Holly and Poppy Duval who disappeared 20 years ago. But where is their missing youngest sister? Detective Pierce Reed is assigned to the case, which becomes complicated by his reporter wife, Nikki, trying to get the scoop on the ground-breaking new find. As Reed and Nikki start to piece together what really happened all those years ago, it becomes clear that the killer is anything but finished. And the question remains - where is Rose Duval? A return to fan-favourite characters Pierce Reed and Nikki Gillette, The Third Grave is an atmospheric, twisty psychological thriller perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and Patricia Cornwell.

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Book SynopsisOne of Kirkus Reviews' Top 100 Books of 2019A compelling new thriller for fans of CJ Box and David Baldacci.Jess Winslow is a former US Marine struggling to adjust to civilian life after the horrors of Afghanistan. All she has in the world is her black and white pitbull mix, Lucy.Mason Burke trained Lucy for the service animal program while serving fifteen years in prison. Lucy helped keep him sane; now he'll stop at nothing to keep her safe.So when a corrupt deputy sheriff takes Lucy hostage over a package Jess's late husband allegedly stole, newly-released Mason promises to help.But saving Lucy and finding the package is only the start. Soon Mason and Jess are caught up in someone else's private war. Will they be able to trust each other and face their demons in time to save themselves?Deception Cove is a gripping story of survival and redemption set against the beautiful and dangerous coastline of the Pacific Northwest.Trade ReviewOwen Laukkanen is a powerhouse writer, and Deception Cove cements that fact. This is a harrowing story of redemption that feels intimate and cinematic at the same time. A must-read -- Alex Segura, author of BlackoutLaukkanen's thrillers go beyond bloodshed and giving bad guys their due. His protagonists show a level of humanity that makes his stories a real pleasure. * Kirkus *Superb . . . a first-rate thriller with plenty of action * Mail Online *Fans of C. J. Box and Michael Koryta will enjoy the authenticity of this gut-wrenching story * Booklist *Deeply sympathetic . . . a tender if melancholy mystery * New York Times Book Review *I could write pages singing the praises of Deception Cove's vivid characters and ruthless pace - but here's the short version: Owen Laukkanen sure as hell knows how to tell a story. Read this one, you won't regret it -- Nick Petrie, national bestselling author of The DrifterEverything you could want in a thriller - rich setting, breakneck pacing, thrilling action, a ton of heart, and a great dog. This is a cancel-your-plans-so-you-can-stay-in-to-read book -- Rob Hart, author of The WarehousePraise for GALE FORCE * - *As good as thrillers get. -- Lee ChildOne of the most outstanding adventures of the year -- Clive CusslerA fresh and sweeping thriller . . . A terrific heroine--gutsy, smart, and full of heart -- Meg GardinerAn adventure tour-de-force and a heroine to be reckoned with -- Gayle Lynds

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Book SynopsisWith the Great War raging, can they keep Britain going?1915. On Beth Healey's eighteenth birthday, she hopes that she will be able to forget the ghastly war and celebrate. But that evening, her twin brother Ned announces that he has signed up to fight. No longer able to stand working in her parents' village shop while others are doing their bit, Beth applies to join the Army Post Office's new Home Depot on the Regent's Park, and is astounded to be accepted. She will be responsible for making sure that letters and parcels get through to the troops on the front line. Beth is thrilled to be a crucial part of the war effort and soon makes friends with fellow post girls Milly and Nora, and meets the handsome James. But just as she begins to feel that her life has finally begun, everything starts falling apart, with devastating consequences for Beth and perhaps even the outcome of the war itself. Can Beth and her new friends keep it all together and find happiness at last?The Post Office Girls is perfect for fans of Johanna Bell, Daisy Styles and Nancy Revell.READERS LOVE THE POST OFFICE GIRLS!'A superb debut novel' - 5 STARS'Entertaining, enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable' - 5 STARS'I absolutely loved this book and I am already eagerly awaiting book two in the series' - 5 STARS'The book gave a wonderful in sight into postal-service life during the war. Well done, Poppy' - 5 STARS'An excellent WW1 book' - 5 STARSTrade ReviewI loved The Post Office Girls! It really captured what it was like for women at home during the war. And the ending had me on the edge of my seat! * Johanna Bell *A wonderful coming-of-age story, full of humour against such an emotional backdrop * Jessica Ryn *Brimming over with period detail, this coming-of-age story has an endearing heroine and an absorbing plot. A sparkling debut saga * Maisie Thomas *

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