Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisFrom the author of Thirteen Hours - A Sunday Times ''100 best crime novels and thrillers since 1945'' pickAn antiques dealer is burned with a blowtorch and executed with a single shot to the back of the head. The only clues at the scene are a scrap of paper and an unusual choice of gun.Ex-cop Zatopek ''Zed'' van Heerden has just seven days to solve the case - an almost impossible task made even harder when he discovers that, until a few years ago, there was no proof that the victim even existed . . .Trade ReviewDeon Meyer recreates the beauty, wildness, and danger of modern Africa with an immediacy and force no other writer has achieved * Sunday Telegraph *If DEAD AT DAYBREAK is anything to go by, we are seeing the rise of a major new, international writing talent. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. * Big Issue *A highly entertaining, page-turning transposition of the American private eye genre to an exotic and vibrant setting . . . a terrific new talent. * Irish Independent *DEAD AT DAYBREAK is a gripping read with a flawed but human protagonist who invites our compassion. The brutal terror of the hunt that develops is matched by the compulsive but increasingly ominous revelations of van Heerden's past transgression. This is the second novel by South African Deon Meyer, a fresh voice and a compelling storyteller. * Manchester Evening News *A breathtaking pace, heart-pounding action set against a psychological backdrop, and a fascinating protagonist makes this book a winner. * Library Journal *South African crime writer Meyer's expertly crafted second thriller confirms his place as one of the genre's finest new stylists. This is a remarkable achievement from a singular new talent. * Publishers Weekly *Meyer manages to ratchet up the tension so effectively that readers will have a hard time decideing which mystery they wish to pierce first . . . A narrative gem. * Booklist *[A] densely woven crime thriller . . . With DEAD AT DAYBREAK Deon Meyer has built an impressive and gripping book, a double helping of suspense . . . gripping, exciting and solidly written. * Eurocrime *

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Book SynopsisThe Western as you've never seen it before!Trade ReviewNunslinger is more serious than its name would imply. It is an exceedingly fun read with good people, bad people, blazing guns, chases, jailbreaks, derring-do and all sorts of wildness. But it is also the sort of complex morality tale that harkens back to the best of the Western genre - when writers used the chaos of the uncivilised society and the bleakness of the landscape as a setting for discussions of what makes us human. Sister Josephine is part of that great tradition, and, indeed, Nunslinger already ranks amongst the best that the Western genre has to offer. -- PornokitschI have no idea who is behind the pseudonym of Stark Holborn but whoever it is has written a gripping tale filled with well fleshed-out characters. The story is told in the first person through Sister Josephine. The superb series title, Nunslinger, and the cartoonish cover illustration hints at this perhaps being a comedy western but this isn't the fact. The story is an action-packed traditional western with some hard-hitting scenes. Sister Josephine's struggles to see more than goodness in people adding intrigue to the tale. -- Western Fiction ReviewMore fun than a rattlesnake in a barn dance brantub. -- Reading AddictsI love a good western, and NUNSLINGER is a great one. Sharp writing, moral ambiguity, and a story-line that will rope you in and won't let you go. Addictive and original. * Sarah Lotz *Witty and atmospheric, with a cliffhanger every few chapters, NUNSLINGER is thrilling stuff, even if - as I used to think - westerns aren't really your thing. I galloped through the omnibus edition in one bumpy sitting. * The Observer *

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Book SynopsisNumber One New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown returns with another suspenseful thrillerWhen Jordie Bennet and Shaw Kinnard lock eyes across a disreputable backwater bar, something sparks. Shaw''s dangerous vibe makes men wary and women sit up and take notice... Jordie included. It''s an unlikely meeting. She doesn''t belong in a seedy dive on the banks of a bayou, but here she is...and Shaw Kinnard is there to kill her.Jordie''s certain her time is up, but Shaw has other plans. He abducts her, hoping to get his hands on the thirty million dollars her brother has stolen. However, he''s not the only one looking for the fortune. Now on the run from the feds and a notorious criminal, Jordie and Shaw must rely on their wits - and each other - to stay alive.Miles away from civilization, Jordie''s only chance of survival is to outwit Shaw, but it soon becomes clear that neither is entirely trustworthy.Trade Review[An] exceptional romantic thriller... Brown handles the romance with her usual panache and adds some nifty plot twists that will keep readers guessing * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *Sting is Sandra Brown running on all cylinders * Fort Worth Star-Telegram *Brown continues her transformation from the queen of romantic suspense to the queen of thriller form- eriod... Gritty, crime noir at its absolute best. Superb in all respects * Providence Sunday Journal *Brown is an excellent and almost effortless writer...The chemistry is undeniable * Kirkus Reviews *Brown crafts facets and depths of characters in a taut novel full of surprises * Booklist *[A] page-turner...This is a story of corruption, treachery and unending deception that will keep you intrigued until the very last page. * The Westerly Sun *A web of intrigue and sexual tension... Sting is a thriller. It's a romance. It's a mystery. It's a family drama. It's all those things wrapped up in a book you will be glued to until the end * B&N Reads *Filled with action, disclosures, chases and mayhem * BookPage *Sandra Brown knows how to create unbearable tension, and Sting has it in spades . . . complex and riveting . . . well crafted, fast-paced, with just enough romance to satisfy the most discriminate reader * Fresh Fiction *

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Book SynopsisThe extraordinary, unforgettable new thriller for fans of The Shining Girls, The Passage and Lost.Trade ReviewTHE THREE is really wonderful. A cross between Michael Crichton and Shirley Jackson, hard to put down and vastly entertaining. -- Stephen KingSarah Lotz is a ferociously imaginative storyteller whose twisty plots will kick the stairs out from under you. She's a talent to watch. -- Lauren BeukesThe finest thriller I've read in years. Dark, subtle and completely unputdownable, I was enthralled from the opening line to the last. -- Sarah PinboroughCompulsive reading * Marie-Claire *Sarah Lotz has just written the perfect horror story. This will be undoubtedly one of the best horror stories published in 2014. * The Book Plank *It's reminiscent of Stephen King's CARRIE and THE THREE comes preloaded with praise from the master of horror himself. It deserves it: this high-concept thriller is a blast. * The Guardian *Tiptoeing the tightrope between fantasy and horror * Daily Mail *One of the finest, freakiest horror novels I've read. -- Chuck WendigThe author's use of the oral-history format, with its shifting voices and points of view, is a stroke of genius: the reader is in a state of near-constant confusion at the beginning, which is slowly replaced by unease and then dread as the various commentators start to see the bigger picture. A very creepy, very effective novel. -- David Pitt * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisThe Saint is back - the thirty-five original books starring the debonair classic crime hero are being republished in print and ebook with new introductions and extra content.

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Book SynopsisA magisterial anthology of American noir writing in the 20th century by the best-selling author of the LA Quartet: The Black Dahlia. The Big Nowhere , LA Confidential and White Jazz. In his intoduction to The Best American Noir of the Century, James Ellroy writes, noir is the most scrutinised offshoot of the hard-boiled school of fiction. It''s the long drop off the short pier and the wrong man and the wrong woman in perfect misalliance. It''s the nightmare of flawed souls with big dreams and the precise how and why of the all-time sure thing that goes bad. Offering the best examples of literary sure things gone bad, this collection ensures that nowhere else can readers find a darker, more thorough distillation of American noir fiction. James Ellroy and Otto Penzler, series editor of the annual The Best American Mystery Stories, mined one hundred years of writing - 1910-2010 - to find this treasure trove of thirty-nine stories. From noir

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No.1 New York Timesbestselling author Brad Thor returns with his hottest and most action-packed thriller yet! And don't miss FREE FALL: A Prelude to Hidden Order, available for free download now!The most secretive organization in America operates without any accountability to the American people. Hiding in the shadows, pretending to be part of the United States government, its power is beyond measure. Control of this organization has just been lost and the future of the nation thrust into peril. When the five candidates being considered to head this mysterious agency suddenly go missing, covert counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath is summoned to Washington and set loose on the most dangerous chase ever to playout on American soil. But as the candidates begin turning up murdered, the chase becomes an all-too-public spectacle, with every indicator suggesting that the plot has its roots in a shadowy American cabal founded in the 1700s. With the United States on the verge of collapse, Harvath must untangle a web of conspiracy centuries in the making and head off the greatest threat America has ever seen. This is thriller writing at its absolute best, where the stakes have never been higher, nor the line between good and evil so hard to discern.

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Book SynopsisRarely had Mrs Jeffries encountered a murderer as brazen as the killer of Peter Hornsley, who even left behind his name . . . which was Inspector Witherspoon! Mrs Jeffries knew that her mild-mannered employer couldn''t possibly be the real culprit, but would she be able to solve the mystery and convince Scotland Yard of the truth in time. This charming series of Victorian murder mysteries features mild-mannered Inspector Witherspoon of Scotland Yard and, more importantly, Mrs Jeffries, his housekeeper. A policeman''s widow herself, her quick wits allow her to nudge the Inspector in the right direction to solve the crime.Trade ReviewIt's murder most English all the way! * The LIterary Times *

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Book SynopsisPaul Doherty''s most popular series character returns. It is the Summer of 1311 and Hugh Corbett is about to take up a life of danger again in the eighteenth novel in his series, DARK SERPENT, the follow up to THE MYSTERIUM. If you love historical mysteries from Robin Hobb, Susanna Gregory, Michael Jecks, Peter Tremayne and Bernard Knight you will love this.After his recent unveiling of a devious assassin, Sir Hugh Corbett has returned to service as the Keeper of the Secret Seal, begrudgingly admitting that his appetite for adventure has once again been whetted. Summoned to meet the King to be congratulated on their work together, Corbett and Ranulf learn of the death of Corbett''s close friend, Ralph Grandison. Ralph, a leper, has been found dead in a rowing boat, a dagger thrust through his chest. But this murder is not the first of its kind. Other patients of the hospital in which Ralph was staying have similarly slaughtered and it seems as though the leper

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Book Synopsis1930s London. Poor Lady Georgiana - thirty-fourth in line to the throne - has nothing to serve her Bavarian princess houseguest, even though the Queen of England has requested that she entertain her. Then there''s the matter of the body in the bookshop and the princess''s unwitting involvement with the Communist party. It''s enough to drive a girl mad.Trade ReviewBrilliant...Part love story, part social commentary, part fun and part downright terrifying. And completely riveting...This book is perfect -- Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author It's the perfect fix between seasons for Downton Abbey addicts -- Deborah Crombie, New York Times bestselling author A feisty new heroine to delight a legion of Anglophile readers -- Jacqueline Winspear, New York Times bestselling author Whimsical...Bowen successfully melds a whodunit with comedy as few contemporary writers can Publishers Weekly [A] charming, delightfully fresh series...fans of historical cozies who like Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series will snap this up Library Journal

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Book SynopsisDeath and blackmail make an unwelcome visit to the hottest dancehall in town in this delicious Miss Fisher mystery.Dancing divinely through the murder and mayhem of her fifth adventure, the elegant Phryne Fisher remains unflappable. Gorgeous in her sparkling lobelia-coloured georgette dress, delighted by her dancing skill, pleased with her partner and warmed by the admiring regard of the banjo player, Miss Phryne Fisher had thought of tonight as a promising evening at the hottest dancehall in town, the Green Mill.But that was before death broke in. In jazz-mad 1920s Melbourne, Phryne finds there are hidden perils in dancing the night away like murder, blackmail and young men who vanish. This adventure leads to smoke-filled clubs, a dashingly handsome band leader, some fancy flying indeed across the Australian Alps and a most unexpected tryst with a gentle stranger.''Independent, wealthy, spirited and possessed of an uninhibited style that makes every one moveTrade ReviewFrom beginning to end, Greenwood infuses her series with evocative settings, multidimensional characters and satisfying mysteries. * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisSister Fidelma must call on all her deductive powers when religious gathering spills over into murder . . . Super sleuth Sister Fidelma returns in the twenty-fifth historical mystery by Peter Tremayne, acclaimed author of ATONEMENT OF BLOOD, THE SEVENTH TRUMPET and many more.PRAISE FOR THE SISTER FIDELMA SERIES: ''Rich helpings of evil and tension with lively and varied characters'' Historical Novels Review, ''The most detailed and vivid recreations of ancient Ireland'' Irish Examiner Ireland, AD 671. When a curious deputation of religieux arrive in Cashel, death follows close behind. Sister Fidelma and her companion, Eadulf, seem unable to stem the bloodshed.Is one of the deputation responsible? What was the Venerable Verax, the scholar from Rome, hiding? Was there an evil secret behind the austere Bishop Arwald? Indeed, what was the real reason behind Eadulf''s brother Egric''s unexpected appearance at Cashel - couTrade ReviewThe background detail is brilliantly defined...wonderfully evocative - The TimesA brilliant and beguiling heroine. Immensely appealing, difficult to put down - Publishers' WeeklyDefinitely an Ellis Peter competitor...the background detail is marvellous - Evening StandardTremayne's super-sleuth is a vibrant creation, a woman of wit and courage who would stand out in any era, but brings a special sparkle to the wild beauty of medieval Ireland - Morgan Llywelyn

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Book SynopsisDeaver's first novel, rewritten since first publication to bring it up to the highest possible standard.Trade ReviewThe best psychological thriller writer around * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe tenth staggering Joe Hunter novel from Matt Hilton, perfect for fans of Jack Reacher and Alex Cross!Trade ReviewThe pace rattles along with the intensity of a disgruntled rattlesnake . . . A fantastic tale of "derring do" . . . The prose is Lycra tight and there is more atmosphere than previous novels. The Arizona desert is so well drawn it almost becomes a character itself. * www.crimesquad.com *Sharp and hard hitting . . . Matt doesn't allow himself to get complacent, but continually delves deeper into the psyche of Joe . . . Fast-paced, action-filled and completely addictive, Matt shows his continuing maturity as a writer with an exhilarating ride that still maintains humour and wit. * www.shotsmag.co.uk *A thrill-a-thon book that packs in more action than all three hit Bourne films rolled into one. This is Hilton's fifth Hunter adventure and he's motoring so fast he's coming up on the tail of Lee Child and stellar creation Jack Reacher. . . It's a wham, bam, bone-crunching treat! * Alex Gordon, Peterborough Evening Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisPeople will die,' says the panic-stricken woman outside police headquarters. She refuses to speak to anyone besides Commissaire Adamsberg. Her daughter has seen a vision: ghostly horsemen who target the most nefarious characters in Normandy. Since the middle ages there have been stories of murderers, rapists, those with serious crimes on their conscience, meeting a grisly end following a visitation by the riders. Soon after the young woman's vision a notoriously vicious and cruel man disappears. Although the case is far outside his jurisdiction, Adamsberg agrees to investigate the strange happenings in a village terrorised by wild rumours and ancient feuds.Trade ReviewThis latest outing for the offbeat Commissaire Adamsberg is [Vargas'] best * Independent *After decades in which crime fiction in French was dominated by the Belgian author Georges Simenon, it has an indisputable new star in Fred Vargas -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times *Vargas depicts brilliantly a rural community riven with superstition, where class distinctions have existed for centuries * The Times *An early contender for outstanding crime novel of the year * Sunday Times *A glorious mix of myth, quirky observation and gallic humour * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisSOON TO BE THE MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES, TOTENFRAUKILL BILL meets DEXTER via THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, WOMAN OF THE DEAD is a wild ride of a thriller where the first stage of grief is revenge. And revenge is a dish best served bloody.How far would you go to avenge the one you love? Blum has a secret buried deep in her past.She thought she'd left the past behind.But then Mark, the man she loves, dies.His death looks like a hit-and-run. It isn't a hit-and-run. Mark has been killed by the men he was investigating. And then, suddenly, Blum rediscovers what she's capable of...'An ironclad guarantee of sleepless nights' Barry Forshaw, Independent'Fast, edgy and gripping ... full of quirks, with a conflicted heroine as killer at its heart. Do not miss it' Geoffrey Wansell, Daily MailTrade ReviewOne of the most arresting thrillers I've read for years. Hypnotic! Aichner plumbs the darkest depths of the human psyche in this compelling tale of a female undertaker. As a mother, Blum is touching and relatable. But as a vengeful wife determined to hunt down her husband's killers... Be afraid. Be very, very afraid. -- Lisa GardnerAn ironclad guarantee of sleepless nights * INDEPENDENT *Aichner has a talent for keeping readers hooked - this is a gripping read and the character of Blum lives long in the mind. * TELEGRAPH *Woman of the Dead is a horrifying thriller with strong links to Jeff Linday's Dexter . . . Aichner's character is so strongly realised that, like Dexter, the reader wills her on to succeed. Woman of the Dead will surprise as it horrifies. * SYDNEY MORNING HERALD *There is a wicked and thrilling high concept to the story, lots of action, and a sexy and dangerous female protagonist. * CRIME FICTION LOVER *A wonderful thriller about love and retribution - playful, dark and dangerous - I read it in one sitting * William Ryan *Blum is a great character and when Aichner's ghost-train plot ends in the only place it can - a crematorium - you feel like cheering * THE GUARDIAN *Aichner is one of the stars of Austrian crime fiction. This strongly written bestseller synthesises elements from Kill Bill and the Lisbeth Salander books to grimly mesmerising effect. -- Barry Forshaw * FINANCIAL TIMES *An inventive, forceful, engrossing revenge thriller * THE TIMES *Fast, edgy and gripping . . . full of quirks, with a conflicted heroine as killer at its heart. Do not miss it. * DAILY MAIL *European crime fiction at its best * RAVEN CRIME READS *Completely enthralling. A beautifully written novel that really gets into the psyche of the female vigilante . . . I certainly hope that we hear more from this promising young Austrian author * THE CRIME WARP *Fast, edgy and gripping... full of quirks, with a conflicted heroine as killer at its heart. Do not miss it -- Geoffrey Wansell * Daily Mail *an inventive, forceful, engrossing revenge thriller -- Marcel Berlins * THE TIMES *

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Book SynopsisJames Herbert was not just Britain's number one bestselling writer of chiller fiction, a position he held ever since publication of his first novel, but was also one of our greatest popular novelists. Widely imitated and hugely influential, his twenty-three novels have sold more than fifty-four million copies worldwide, and have been translated into over thirty languages, including Russian and Chinese. In 2010, he was made the Grand Master of Horror by the World Horror Convention and was also awarded an OBE by the Queen for services to literature. His final novel was Ash. James Herbert died in March 2013.Trade ReviewDisplaying his usual talent for spine-chilling plots, this new thriller is the work of genius. * Worldbooks *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the compelling and addictive adventure from one of the nation''s favourite historical writers, perfect for fans of Game of Thrones ''A brilliant storyteller, The Lymond Chronicles will keep you reading late into the night'' The Times Literary Supplement ________ ''I despised men who accepted their fate. I shaped mine twenty times and had it broken twenty times in my hands'' 1547. After five years imprisonment and exile far from his homeland, Francis Crawford of Lymond - scholar, soldier, rebel, nobleman, outlaw - returns to Edinburgh. But for many in an already divided Scotland, where conspiracies swarm around the infant Queen Mary, he is not welcome. Lymond is wanted for treason and murder, and he is accompanied by a band of killers and ruffians who will only bring further violence and strife. Is he back to foment rebellion? Does he seek revenge on those who banished him? Or has he returned to clear his name? No one but the enigmatic Lymond himself knows the truth - and no one will discover it until he is ready . . . ________ ''A storyteller who could teach Scheherazade a thing or two about pace, suspense and imaginative invention'' New York Times ''Melodrama of the most magnificent kind'' Guardian VOTED ONE OF BRITAIN''S FAVOURITE HISTORICAL NOVELSTrade ReviewPraise for Dorothy Dunnett * - *A storyteller who could teach Scheherazade a thing or two about pace, suspense and imaginative invention * New York Times *Marvellous, breathtaking * The Times *A masterpiece of historical fiction * Washington Post *One of the greatest tale-spinners since Dumas * Cleveland Plain Dealer *Lashings of excitement, colour and subtlety * The Times *Vivid, engaging, densely plotted - are almost certainly destined to be counted among the classics of popular fiction * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisA death in the family-from-hell bring Detectives Fry and Cooper to a remote and unfriendly rural community in their fourth psychological thriller.Trade ReviewPraise for Blind to the Bones: ‘He has got better with each book. This is another very fine book, masterfully plotted and filled with real flesh-and-blood personalities’ Daily Telegraph ‘Another of Booth’s fine Derbyshire mysteries’ Scotsman Praise for Stephen Booth: ‘Stephen Booth creates a fine sense of place and atmosphere … the unguessable solution to the crime comes as a real surprise’ Sunday Telegraph ‘The complex relationship between [Cooper and Fry] is excellently drawn, and is combined with an intriguing plot and a real sense of place: Stephen Booth is an author to keep an eye on’ Evening Standard ‘Stephen Booth makes high summer in Derbyshire as dark and terrifying as midwinter’ Val McDermid ‘A dark star may be born!’ Reginald Hill 'A leading light of British crime writing' Maxim Jakubowski, Guardian

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Book SynopsisDark, atmospheric and terrifying psychological serial killer thriller set in a freezing Ontario winter, guaranteed to chill readers to the bone: Forty Words for Sorrow is brilliant' Jonathan KellermanWhen four teenagers go missing in the small northern town of Algonquin Bay, the extensive police investigation comes up empty. Everyone is ready to give up, except Detective John Cardinal, an all-too-human loner whose persistence only serves to get him removed from homicide.Then the mutilated body of thirteen-year-old Katie Pine is pulled out of an abandoned mineshaft. And only Cardinal is willing to consider the horrible truth: that this quiet town is home to the most vicious of killers. With the media, the provincial police and his own department questioning his every move, Cardinal follows increasingly tenuous threads towards the unthinkable. But time isn't only running out for him: there's also another young victim tied up in a basement wondering how and when he will die.Trade Review‘Intensely vivid characters, terrible crimes and a brutal deep-frozen landscape all prove beyond a reasonable doubt that cold nurtures good and evil as readily as heat…and that Giles Blunt is a really tremendous crime novelist’ Lee Child ‘One of the finest crime novels I’ve ever read. Giles Blunt writes with uncommon grace, style and compassion and he plots like a demon. This book has it all – unforgettable characters, beautiful language, throat-constricting suspense’ Jonathan Kellerman ‘A taut and enthralling tale that is as dark as the Canadian winter setting is cold. Humane, intelligent and gripping, Forty Words for Sorrow is a haunting journey into the human heart in all its complexities’ Val McDermid ‘A fine debut that deserves to do well, and promises much from a talented new author’ Jim Driver, Time Out ‘A superior Canadian police procedural with an evocative sense of place: the frozen lakes and forests are as integral to the plot as the flawed detective … an impressive achievement’ Maxim Jakubowski, Guardian

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Book SynopsisDark secrets will be revealed in this unputdownable novel from international NO.1 BESTSELLING author Lesley Pearse''Gripping from start to finish'' 5***** Reader Review________A woman washes up on a Sussex beach, barely alive.She''s wearing an old-fashioned dress and her hair has been hacked off.There are signs she has been bound by her wrists and ankles.She doesn''t know how she ended up there, or even her own name.The police are baffled and when the doctors examine her, they make a shocking discovery: She has recently given birth.Who is she?And where is her baby?________''Storytelling at its very best'' Daily Mail''Lose yourself in this epic saga'' Bella''An emotional and moving epic you won''t forget in a hurry'' Woman''s WeeklyTrade ReviewShe's half-drowned, her memory lost . . . who is she? Shocking secrets will come out in the unputdownableStolen . . . This is just one of many thrilling novels from the international NO.1 BESTSELLING author Lesley Pearse. * from the publisher's description *Praise for Lesley Pearse * - *Evocative, compelling, told from the heart * Sunday Express *Utterly riveting, brilliant * Closer *Full of love, passion and heartbreak * Best *Glorious, heartwarming * Woman & Home *

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Book SynopsisNameless is a gripping underworld thriller by bestselling author Jessie Keane.She never forgot, and she'll never forgive . . .In 1941, mixed race Ruby Darke is born into a family that seem to hate her, but why? While her two brothers dive into a life of gangland violence, Ruby has to work in their family store. As she blossoms into a beautiful young woman she crosses paths with aristocrat Cornelius Bray, a chance meeting that will change her life forever. When she finds herself pregnant, and then has twins, she is forced to give her children away. At that point she vows never to trust another man again. As the years pass, Ruby never forgets her babies, and as the family store turns into a retail empire, Ruby wants her children back. But secrets were whispered and bargains made, and if Ruby wants to stay alive she needs to forget the past, or the past will come back and kill her.Nameless is followed by theTrade ReviewGripping Thriller * Look Magazine *Fans of Martina Cole will enjoy Nameless * Daily Express *This is a fast-moving story full of drama with a lot of twists and turns. If you like Martina Cole, you'll love Jessie Keane * Bella *THIS WEEK'S HOT READ...This book combines tales of gangster underworld with history, romance and a little bit of mystery too * Woman *Fast moving, intriguing and a jolly good read. * Shropshire Star *Fans of Martina Cole should try Keane's tough gangster family sagas. They'll love her latest which introduces Ruby Darke * The Local (Bourne) *Jessie Keane gives us a fascinating insight into the rivalries and lifestyles of those who make fortunes out of a criminal way of life and of the lowlifes that carry out their orders. * Lincolnshire Echo *This is the sort of competition Martina Cole could do without and if Keane does hit the No. 1 spot it could be handbags, or more likely knuckledusters, at dawn * The Northern Echo *The book is incredibly well written and the author allows you to develop a real empathy for the characters... The only disappointment I had was when I had finished the book, I wanted more! This is not the usual sort of material that I would read but I was gripped from the very beginning right through to the end. I would thoroughly recommend it. * www.Mojomums.co.uk *I didn't want this story to end and it certainly didn't end as expected. The last sting in the tails tears it all apart and the final chapter made me want to shout out in anger and dismay. A brilliant book. I really hope a sequel is written as so many questions are left unanswered. * jayneanderson.blogspot.co.uk *All I can say is that Jessie Keane is a force to be reckoned with in the crime genre now. Not only has she produced a great series (Annie Carter) she has also written some absolutely blinding stand alones. With this latest addition, Jessie Keane is quickly proving herself to be un-stoppable. Nameless has only made me want to read more (I sincerely hope this is going to have a follow up!) and as usual Jessie Keane does not disappoint. BLINDING!!! * www.bestcrimebooks.co.uk *Nameless is great at proving that a woman's strength should never be underestimated and a mothers love is eternal. I cannot wait for the next book!!!! * nicolemcmanusreviews.wordpress.com *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2019 H.R.F. Keating Award for best biography or critical book related to crime fiction!A lavish full-colour celebration of the 2000 books by more than 250 authors published by the iconic Crime Club between 1930 and 1994.The Hooded Gunman was the sinister figure who, having appeared in various guises on the covers of Collins' various series of Mystery and Detective books in the 1920s, finally gained recognition with the launch of Collins' Crime Club, becoming the definitive imprint stamp on more than 2,000 books published by that august imprint between 1930 and 1994. From Agatha Christie to Reginald Hill, the Hooded Gunman was a guarantee of a first-class crime novel for almost 65 years, and those books are now as sought after and collectable and almost any other book series, with many commanding high prices and almost impossible to find.In the year that Collins the publisher founded by William Collins in Glasgow in 1819 is enjoying its 200th birthday, this book celebratTrade ReviewREVIEWS FOR AGATHA CHRISTIE’S SECRET NOTEBOOKS: 'Many of Curran's discoveries will shape how Christie is read in future… This book is fascinating.' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY ‘Agatha Christie’s notebooks have had to wait for the meticulous attention, dedication and prodigious knowledge of John Curran to achieve publication.’ THE TIMES ‘A meticulously detailed study that is packed with shrewd perceptions about Christie's fiction… Curran has produced an enthralling miscellany of a book, in which her fans will rummage to their heart's content.' SUNDAY TIMES 'Curran has organized his material as efficiently as an Agatha Christie mystery… His enthusiasm for his subject carries us along.' IRISH TIMES

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Book Synopsis*If you love The Butlers, meet QUEENIE! Kimberley Chambers' new No.1 bestseller and prequel to The Butler series is out now!*Three ButlersTwo weddingsOne funeralTwo weddings. One funeral.It's the 1980s and although the East End's heyday is over, one family still rules the manor.Michael and Vinny Butler have always provided for their own and made sure business stopped at the front door. But the old ways are changing women and children are fair game and nothing can protect them.Though blood is thicker than water, it's now brother vs brother. The question is, who will come out on top?And there's a new generation determined to make their mark. Little Vinny has just married the sweet Sammi-Lou and is battling not to follow in his father's footsteps. But it's only a matter of time before his dark secret comes out and destroys them all.Is this the final nail in this East End family's coffin?Trade Review"This beautifully crafted, sharp, well-paced novel will keep you hooked until the very end. An outstanding tale of betrayal, violence and love. Buy it. Read it. You'll love it. I did." Amanda Prowse ‘[Kimberley Chambers is] the queen of the gritty, low-life tale . . .a fast-paced, thrill-a-minute ride that takes you on all sorts of twists and turns’ Bella ‘Easily as good as Martina Cole’ News of the World ‘Brilliantly delivers a story of violence, treachery and family ties… Easy to read and hard to put down’ News of the World ‘[a] fast-paced tale with gritty authenticity’ The Guardian

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Book Synopsis'Superior crime fiction set in Iceland' The Times'As chilling as an Icelandic winter' S. J. BoltonFollowing her promotion and working now from Reykjavik, Gunnhildur is given responsibility for two cases - the first in tracking down an escaped convict who's keen to settle old scores, and the other, the murder of a TV fitness presenter in her city centre apartment.With the police short staffed and underfunded following the financial crash, Gunnhildur and her team set about delving into the backgrounds of both, where they uncover some unwelcome secrets and some influential friends of both who have no wish to be in the public eye.Set in an Iceland that is coming to terms with the deepening recession, Gunnhildur has to take stock of the whirlwind changes that have taken place as she investigates criminals at opposite ends of the social scale as some uncomfortable links appear between the two cases.The second chilling and atmospheric thriller in Quentin Bates's Icelandic crime series. A dark page-turner perfect for fans of Jo Nesbo, Henning Mankell and Søren Sveistrup's The Chestnut Man.Praise for Quentin Bates:'A great read - leaves you craving the next installment' Yrsa Sigurðardóttir'A perfect book to curl up with in front of the fire' The Bookbag'Well written and absorbing' Woman's Way'Captures the chilly spirit of Nordic crime fiction . . . Fans of Arnaldur Indridason's Reykjavík mysteries will want to add Bates to their reading lists' Booklist'[A] crackling fiction debut ... palpable authenticity' Publishers Weekly'A superb new series' EurocrimeTrade ReviewA great read - leaves you craving the next installment -- Yrsa SigurðardóttirA meticulously constructed thriller, peopled with exceptionally convincing characters and shot through with black humour. Frozen Out is as chilling as an Icelandic winter -- S.J. BoltonSuperior crime fiction set in Iceland... this is a well constructed, well written and satisfying police procedural * The Times *[A] crackling fiction debut ... palpable authenticity * Publishers Weekly on Frozen Out *[With] an in-depth knowledge of just how Iceland works it's a perfect book to curl up with in front of the fire ... We've had quite a few books set in Iceland recently, but this one will give them a run for their money * The Bookbag on Frozen Out *A flying start to ... a superb new series * Eurocrime on Frozen Out *'Superior crime fiction set in Iceland... this is a well constructed, well written and satisfying police procedural' -- Marcel Berlins * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe hot summer heat could put anyone anyone on edge but to Daisy Dalrymple, it does seem that her brother-in-law, Lord John Frobisher, is exceptionally tense - and with good reason. Someone with an evil sense of humour is sending him a series of poisoned pen letters that threaten to reveal racy secrets which could ruin him completely. Promising to protect Lord John from public scandal, Daisy travels to his village in Kent only to discover it's teeming with enough gossip, resentment and intrigue to make everyone a suspect... or victim. But then a murder is committed, and Daisy is forced to find the killer before the ink dries on her own death warrant!Trade ReviewCunning ... appropriate historical detail and witty dialogue are the finishing touches on this engaging 1920s period piece. * Publishers Weekly *As always, Dunn evokes the life and times of 1920s England while providing a plot that is a cut above the average British cosy. This will delight readers who love country-house mysteries. * Booklist *For fans of Dorothy L. Sayers' novels.' * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisCon men and killers, aliens and zombies, priests and soldiers - just some of the characters that kill and thrill in this compelling collection of gun-toting, double-crossing, back-stabbing, pulse-pounding stories. Jeffery Deaver investigates the suspicious death of a crime-writer in 'The Plot'; Karin Slaughter's grieving widow takes revenge on her dying ex-husband in 'Cold, Cold Heart'; Stephen Coonts discovers a flying saucer in the depths of the ocean in 'Savage Planet' and John Lescroat's secret field agent finds himself caught up in a complex game of cat-and-mouse in 'The Gate Conundrum'. Handpicked by world number one Lee Child, celebrity authors and stars of the future are brought together, writing brand-new stories, especially commissioned for this must-have collection. Whether you're reading today's bestseller or tomorrow's phenomenon, grisly horror or paranoia thriller, historical suspense or supernatural crime, one thing's for certain. You'll be thrilled to the core.Trade ReviewThis is an incredible lineup of new talent. I'm delighted to be part of their introduction to an eager fan base. Readers will be surprised by just how good they are. -- Lee ChildHands down one of the best short story collections you're ever likely to read * Booklist *STARRED REVIEW* *Twenty-five twisted imaginations... an admirable attempt to give a boost to writers with whom the public may not be familiar... Lee Child, who edited the anthology is a master of the genre, but his choice of opener, by the acclaimed Gregg Hurwitz, is a risk: it is so accomplished and involving that the narratives which follow necessarily struggle to reach the same level. However, none of the 25 is a stinker... There is a whole new lexicon to be learnt from at times but it doesn't take away from the quality of the tales and... it adds authenticity to what is often hardboiled crime fiction. * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisThe heir to Martina Cole's crown with a story of murder, the underworld, violence and treachery.It's 1983 and Stephanie Crouch's life is dull. She is desperate to escape the run-down, pokey council house she shares with her overbearing family, but at fourteen years old she has nowhere to go.When Stephanie meets East End wide-boy Barry, his cockney charm and quick tongue soon have her head over heels in love. Finally Stephanie feels like her dreary life is on the up. But too young to control their fate, Stephanie and Barry are torn apart when he is whisked away to Spain by his family.Lonely and heartbroken Stephanie turns to Barry's childhood friend Wayne for comfort, and their friendship soon blossoms into romance, leaving Barry fuming and promising revengeTen years later Barry returns to England. Within one month Stephanie''s happy world with Wayne is turned upside down. People immediately start to point the finger of accusation at Barry, but is he the one to blame?Or, should StephaniTrade ReviewPraise for Kimberley Chambers: ‘Easily as good as Martina Cole’ News of the World ‘Brilliantly delivers a story of violence, treachery and family ties… Easy to read and hard to put down’ News of the World ‘[a] faced-paced tale with gritty authenticity’ The Guardian

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Book SynopsisPerfect for fans of John le Carré, a gripping and suspenseful spy thriller from the master of the modern spy thriller' (Mail on Sunday)Mark and Benjamin Keen have not seen their father, Christopher, for more than twenty years.Hoping for a reconciliation, Christopher reappears, but he has only just begun to shed light on his life in the secret service when he is murdered in cold blood by an unidentified assassin.Was his death connected to his MI6 past? Did Christopher uncover a dangerous conspiracy involving his elder son? And what were his links to Moscow, Afghanistan and the Russian mafia in London?To discover the truth and avenge their father's death the brothers are drawn into the legacy of his life as a spy.And inheritance can be deadlyTrade ReviewPraise for The Hidden Man: ‘confirms that Cumming is a man put on earth to perpetuate the spy thriller’ Daily Telegraph ‘Cumming's depiction of contemporary intelligence work rings painfully true. Disquieting, brutal, riveting. I hardly dared put the book down’ Literary Review ‘The dialogue is bitingly sharp, the characterisation first-class’ Sunday Telegraph ‘A must read’ Tatler Praise for A Foreign Country: ‘We are in Smiley country, but with extra 21st century nuance … Cumming has an exquisite touch and we should treasure him’ Daily Mail ‘A thriller that has everything you could ask for – a twisty, sexy plot, topical themes, memorable characters and plentiful spy lore’ Sunday Times, Books of the Year ‘Refreshing, plausible and effective … Best of all is the sheer pace of the narrative’ Spectator ‘You are likely to be up for most of the night to find out how this novel ends. It grips from the first page … A fast-moving treat’ The Scotsman

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Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR ITV DRAMAThe Master House, close to the Welsh border, is medieval and slowly falling into ruins. Now the house and its surrounding land have been sold to the Duchy of Cornwall. But the Duchy's plans to renovate the house and its outbuildings are frustrated when the specialist builder refuses to work there. 'This is a place,' he tells the Prince's land-steward, 'that doesn't want to be restored.'Directed by the Bishop of Hereford to investigate, deliverance consultant Merrily Watkins discovers ancient connections between the house and the nearby church, built by the Knights Templar whose shadow still envelopes isolated Garway Hill and its scattered communities. Why did all the local inns have astrological names? What deep history lies behind the vicious feud between two local families? And what happened here to intimidate even the great Edwardian ghost-story writer M R James? When Merrily learns that she - and even her daughter, Jane - are under surveillance by the security services, she's ready to quit. But a sudden death changes everything, and she returns to Garway to uncover fibres of fear and hatred stitched into history and now insidiously twisted in the corridors - and the cloisters - of power.Trade ReviewCompassionate, original and sharply contemporary. Rickman's crime series is one of the best around - Spectator * Spectator *First rate. A passionate, flawed modern woman, every bit as concerned with the intricacies of crime as with demons that go bump in the night - Daily Mail * Daily Mail *I thoroughly recommend both these books …. They would make a solid Christmassy read, appropriate to the season … Rickman's work has a satisfying refusal to find easy answers or to take sides in spiritual debates. The destabilizing combination of death and religion is fascinatingly observed in this series. What T.S.Eliot did for Canterbury Cathedral, Rickman does for Hereford - Shotsmag on Fabric of Sin and To Dream of the Dead. * Shotsmag *

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Book SynopsisSuperintendent Dalziel falls for the recently bereaved Mrs Fielding's ample charms, and has to be rescued from a litter of fresh corpses by Inspector Pascoe.Superintendent Andy Dalziel's holiday runs into trouble when he gets marooned by flood water. Rescued and taken to nearby Lake House, he discovers all is not well: the owner has just died tragically and the family fortunes are in decline. He also finds himself drawn to attractive widow, Bonnie Fielding.But several more deaths are to follow. And by the time Pascoe gets involved, it looks like the normally hard-headed Dalziel might have compromised himself beyond redemption.Trade Review'Few writers in the genre today have Hill's gifts: formidable intelligence, quick humour, compassion and a prose style that blends elegance and grace' Donna Leon, Sunday Times 'The finest male English contemporary crime writer' Val McDermid 'Reginald Hill's novels are really dances to the music of time, his heroes and villains interconnecting, their stories intertwining'Ian Rankin 'One of Britain's most consistently excellent crime novelists' The Times 'These novels last, like a grand malt whisky – rounded, rich, intoxicating… Here is an author at his formidable best'Frances Fyfield, Mail on Sunday 'So far out in front that he need not bother looking over his shoulder' Sunday Telegraph 'He is probably the best living male crime writer in the English-speaking world' Andrew Taylor, Independent 'Reginald Hill stands head and shoulders above any other writer of homebred crime fiction' Tom Hiney, Observer

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Book SynopsisFrom Richard and Judy bestselling author Saskia Sarginson, The Stranger is a devastating love story full of intrigue and dark secrets. ''Immersive, gripping, will pull at your heartstrings'' Gilly Macmillan, international bestselling author We all have our secrets. Eleanor Rathmell has kept one her whole life. But when her husband dies and a stranger arrives at her door, her safe life in the idyllic English village she''s chosen as her home begins to topple. Everyone is suspicious of this stranger, except for Eleanor. But her trust in him will put her life in danger, because nothing is as it seems; not her dead husband, the man who claims to love her, or the inscrutable outsider to whom she''s opened her home and her heart. Praise for Saskia Sarginson:''Outstandingly good. Part thriller, part love story, I guarantee you will not be able to put it down'' Sun on The Twins Trade ReviewImmersive, gripping, will pull at your heartstrings * Gilly Macmillan, international bestselling author *Outstandingly good. Part thriller, part love story, I guarantee you will not be able to put it down * Sun on The Twins *Atmospheric, readable, beautifully evoked * Sunday Mirror on Without You *Stunning in its insight and beautifully written * Judy Finnigan on The Twins *A stunning writer with deep insight into people, their thoughts and behaviour * NZ Women's Weekly *A devastating love story! * My Weekly *Tightly plotted, intelligent and full of menace. * Sunday Mirror *'Immersive, gripping, will pull at your heartstrings' * Gilly Macmillan, international bestselling author *A stunning writer with deep insight into people, their thoughts and behaviour * NZ Women's Weekly *Outstandingly good. Part thriller, part love story, I guarantee you will not be able to put it down * Sun on The Twins *Stunning in its insight and beautifully written * Judy Finnigan on The Twins *Atmospheric, readable, beautifully evoked * Sunday Mirror on Without You *Tightly plotted, intelligent and full of menace - a cracking thriller. * The People *Both a thriller and a love story, [The Stranger] lives up to the reputation [Saskia Sarginson] has built up since her debut bestseller The Twins. * Evening Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis''Frances Brody has made it to the top rank of crime writers'' Daily MailA Maharajah on the MoorsWhen the India Office seek help in finding Maharajah Narayan, last seen hunting on the Bolton Abbey estate, they call upon the expertise of renowned PI Kate Shackleton to investigate.A Priceless JewelA missing person''s case turns to murder when, shot through the heart, it''s clear to Kate that Narayan''s body has not been in the woods overnight. Who brought it here, and from where? And what has happened to the hugely valuable diamond that was in the Maharajah''s possession?An inexplicable murder . . .As Kate digs deeper, she soon discovers that vengeance takes many forms. Was the Maharajah''s sacrilegious act of shooting a white doe to blame? Or are growing rumours of a political motive too powerful for Kate to discount?One thing Kate is sure of: her own skills aTrade ReviewElegantly written * Independent *Well, it's brilliant * The Bookbag *There are shades of [Agatha] Christie in Brody's popular 1920s series featuring amateur sleuth Kate Shackleton * Rutland Times *

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Book SynopsisNow a BBC Radio 4 Drama Series.Former dancer and party loyalist Wen Liping vanishes in rural China just before she was to leave the country. Her husband, a key witness against a smuggling ring suspected of importing aliens to the US, refuses to testify until she is found and brought to join him in America. A few days later, a badly mutilated body turns up in Shanghai''s Bund Park. It bears all the hallmarks of a triad killing. The US immigration agency, convinced that the Chinese government are hiding something, send US Marshal Catherine Rohn to Shanghai to join the investigation. Inspector Chen, an astute young policeman with twin passions for food and poetry, is under political pressure to find answers fast. When Catherine Rohn joins him he must decide what is more dangerous: to hide the truth, or to risk unleashing a scandal that could destroy his career.Trade ReviewA sequel that in many ways is even more impressive * Chicago Tribune *A luminescent synthesis of a thriller and a literary novel. * Independent *Xiaolong's astute rendering of the many contradictions of contemporary Chinese life centres on the brilliant Inspector Chen . . . A series that might well get you hooked. * Sunday Telegraph *Chen is a great creation, an honourable man in a world full of deception and treachery. * Guardian *With strong and subtle characterisation, Qiu Xiaolong draws us into a fascinating world where the greatest mystery revealed is the mystery of present-day China itself. -- John HarveyThe first police whodunnit written by a Chinese author in English and set in contemporary China . . . its quality matches its novelty. * The Times *The usual enjoyable mix of murder, poetry and contradictions of contemporary Chinese culture. Chen is a splendid creation. * Independent on Sunday *A vivid portrait of modern Chinese society . . . full of the sights, sounds and smells of Shanghai . . . A work of real distinction. * Wall Street Journal *Qiu Xiaolong is one of the brightest stars in the firmament of modern literary crime fiction. His Inspector Chen mysteries dazzle as they entertain, combining crime with Chinese philosophy, poetry and food, Triad gangsters and corrupt officials. * Canberra Times, Australia *Gripping . . . Chen stands in a class with Martin Cruz Smith's Russian investigator, Arkady Renko, and P.D. James's Scotland Yard inspector, Adam Dalgliesh. * Publishers Weekly *Wonderful. * Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisNow a BBC Radio 4 Drama Series.When Inspector Chen Cao agrees to do a translation job for a Triad-connected businessman he is given a laptop, a ''little secretary'' to provide for his every need, medical care for his mother. There are, it seems, no strings attached . . . Then a murder is reported: Chen is loath to shorten his working holiday, so Sergeant Yu is forced to take charge of the investigation. The victim, a middle-aged teacher, has been found dead in her tiny room in a converted multi-family house. Only a neighbour could have committed the crime, but there is no motive. It is only when Chen returns and starts to investigate the past that he finds answers. But by then he has troubles of his own.Trade ReviewThis third novel offers further fascinating insights into a country and procedures so far neglected by mystery fiction . . . a great read. * Guardian *Xiaolong's astute rendering of the many contradictions of contemporary Chinese life centres on the brilliant Inspector Chen . . . A series that might well get you hooked. * Sunday Telegraph *Atmospheric and rich in behind the scenes detail . . . Morse of the Far East. * Independent *With strong and subtle characterisation, Qiu Xiaolong draws us into a fascinating world where the greatest mystery revealed is the mystery of present-day China itself. -- John HarveyThe first police whodunnit written by a Chinese author in English and set in contemporary China . . . its quality matches its novelty. * The Times *The usual enjoyable mix of murder, poetry and contradictions of contemporary Chinese culture. Chen is a splendid creation. * Independent on Sunday *A vivid portrait of modern Chinese society . . . full of the sights, sounds and smells of Shanghai . . . A work of real distinction. * Wall Street Journal *Qiu Xiaolong is one of the brightest stars in the firmament of modern literary crime fiction. His Inspector Chen mysteries dazzle as they entertain, combining crime with Chinese philosophy, poetry and food, Triad gangsters and corrupt officials. * Canberra Times, Australia *Gripping . . . Chen stands in a class with Martin Cruz Smith's Russian investigator, Arkady Renko, and P.D. James's Scotland Yard inspector, Adam Dalgliesh. * Publishers Weekly *Wonderful. * Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisNothing much ever seemed to happen in the sleepy village of Hazel Green apart from the occasional tea-party, spiced with local gossip. Until Maggie Bell went out one evening for a breath of fresh air and never came back.Could Maggie''s disappearance be linked to security leaks at the nearby Air Ministry? Or is a sinister scheme being hatched closer to home? Miss Silver is called in to solve the mystery just as a second person goes missing . . .Trade ReviewPraise for Patricia Wentworth:I like Wentworth very much - she captures the mores of pre-war middle class England perfectly, and she writes rather better than Christie. They are romantic cosies, of course, but with an edge to them and an intelligence to the writing that has lasted. * Andrew Taylor *Miss Silver is marvellous * Daily Mail *You can't go wrong with Miss Maud Silver. * Observer *Miss Silver has her place in detective fiction as surely as Lord Peter Wimsey or Hercule Poirot * Manchester Evening News *Miss Wentworth is a first-rate storyteller * Daily Telegraph *Patricia Wentworth has created a great detective in Miss Silver, the little old lady who nobody notices, but who in turn notices everything * Paula Gosling *

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Book SynopsisInternational bestselling author Stephen Leather's first gripping thriller. Revenge, drugs, terrorism and the underworld collide in one man's quest to avenge a cold blooded murder.Trade Review'Stephen Leather should be nestling in your bookshelves alongside Frederick Forsyth and Jack Higgins' -- Daily Mail 'This is an aggressively topical novel but a genuinely thrilling one, too.' -- Daily Telegraph on COLD KILL

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Book Synopsis***WINNER OF THE SPECSAVERS NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR CRIME THRILLER OF THE YEAR 2013***He swore he was a killer. The truth was worse.An overnight plane delay is bad.Having to share your hotel room with a stranger is worse.But that is only the beginning of Gaby Struthers'' problems.Gaby has never met Lauren Cookson before. So how does Lauren know so much about her? How does she know that the love of Gaby''s life has been accused of murder? Why is she telling her that he is innocent? And why is she so terrified of Gaby?If you loved Gone Girl, you''ll find this chilling domestic thriller impossible to put down.Trade ReviewA leading writer of psychological suspense . . . As ever, Hannah excels. Her books are so distinctive that they deserve to be placed in a separate sub-genre of their own. * Spectator *A tale of the power that weakness and passivity can have over strength and action, and how theories of love and duty can lead us astray . . . The genius of Hannah's domestic thrillers - along with the twistiest plots known to woman - is that she creates ordinary people whose psychological quirks make them as monstrous as any serial killer. * Guardian *A labyrinth of a psychological thriller . . . Hannah is masterly at leading the reader down the wrong path and here she excels once again. * Sunday Express *Absorbing, intricate . . . THE CARRIER is a vicarage whodunit as well as a psychological thriller. * Sunday Times *A hugely confident, beautifully written and bold mystery. Another gripping triumph. * Heat *[Hannah] confirms in this, her eighth novel, her fluent writing skills, taste for complicated layers and deft hand with character, not to mention a knack for producing compelling openings....[The Carrier] is the kind of puzzle Agatha Christie might have created. Delicate, with ever-increasing dread, it is a mature work - full of confidence and intrigue. * Daily Mail *Highly original . . . Hannah has once again ripped up the industry-standard 'A to Z of Writing a Whodunnit' and audaciously charted her own course . . . to produce a novel that is a classy, compulsive and chilling literary triumph. * Irish Independent *Such is the author's command of narrative, we find ourselves glued to the page. We remain hooked throughout this compelling novel. * Daily Express *Contemporary in its intent and setting, the novel is also a pleasingly old-fashioned 'locked room' mystery, with Hannah referencing Agatha Christie a number of times. All told, it's a very satisfying addition to Hannah's canon. * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisThe first in the acclaimed Lydmouth crime series, set on the Welsh/English border in the years after World War IITrade ReviewThe most under-rated crime writer in Britain today * Val McDermid *Captures perfectly the drab atmosphere and cloying morality of the 1950s . . . Taylor is an excellent writer. He plots with care and intelligence and the solution to the mystery is satisfyingly chilling * The Times *There is no denying Taylor's talent, his almost Victorian prose exudes a quality uncommon among his contemporaries... his eye for detail and an enviable ability to dissect relationships and communal habits make for a pleasurable read * Time Out *Engrossing launch of a series . . . Taylor subtly weaves the threads of this thoughtful, melancholy tale until they become an interlaced whole before the reader's eyes * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisA newlywed couple steps into the sauna in their deluxe honeymoon suite – and never steps out again. When another couple is killed while boarding their honeymoon flight to Rome, it becomes clear that someone is targeting honeymooners, and it’s anyone’s guess which happy couple is next on the list.FBI Agent John O’Hara is deep into the case, trying to figure out who this deranged killer is. At the same time, Special Agent Sarah Brubaker is hunting another ingenious serial killer, whose victims all have one chilling thing in common.As wedding hysteria rises to a frightening new level, John and Sarah work ever more closely together in a frantic attempt to decipher the logic behind two rampages.

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Book SynopsisAmelia finds good luck - in her dreams!'Stay away from tomb Twenty-Al' says an ominous message delivered by an unseen hand. The year is 1903, the place is Cairo, and it's time for Amelia's ninth adventure. She is asked for help by an old friend whose husband has fallen for a spiritualist; then a plea arrives from an expat colonel whose daughter is threatened by an unknown enemy, and Ramses, now a headstrong teenager, undertakes an adventure that is guaranteed to turn his mother's hair white!Amelia then dreams of a large cat, an Egyptian sign of good luck - which as the situation stands, is in precious short supply...Trade ReviewI can't wait for the next Peabody story... I really do think Elizabeth Peters' books are great entertainment.' -- Angela RipponA writer so popular that the public library has to keep her books under lock and key. * Washington Post Book World *Think Miss Marple with early feminist gloss crossed with Indiana Jones... accomplished entertainment. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisEleanor Trewynn, recently widowed, returns home from years of working overseas to retire to the cozy village of Port Maybn in Cornwall, England. Even in retirement though, she continues her charity work, leasing out the first floor of her house to a charity shop. One morning as she opens the shop, she finds both a particularly valuable donation and a corpse stuffed into the storeroom. The donation is linked to a violent robbery in London but the corpse looks nothing like the robbers being sought by the police. With the help of her niece, Detective Sergeant Megan Pencarrow, and, begrudgingly, Detective Inspector Scumble, Eleanor is determined to unscramble this confounding case of daring theft, double cross, and murder most foul.Trade ReviewManna from Hades is the modern-day version of the classic English village mystery * Kirkus Reviews *Adept at showing character through witty dialogue, Dunn paints an amusing picture of a small town that readers will want to visit again soon. * Publisher's Weekly *Dunn has a knack for writing meatier-than-usual cozies with strong female characters, and she has another charming winner here. * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisCorruption, murder, beauty and innocence . . . ''Great crime fiction started with Hammett'' James Ellroy''Not just the first of the tough school of crime-writing but the best'' THE TIMESNed Beaumont is a tall, thin, moustache-wearing, TB-ridden, drinking, gambling, hanger-on to the political boss of a corrupt Eastern city.Nevertheless, like every Hammett hero (and like Hammett himself), he has an unbreakable, if idiosyncratic, moral code. Ned''s boss wants to better himself with a thoroughbred senator''s daughter; but does he want it badly enough to commit murder? If he''s innocent, who wants him in the frame? Beaumont must find out.Trade ReviewNot just the first of the tough school of crime-writing but the best * THE TIMES *Great crime fiction started with Hammett -- James EllroyHe is master of the detective novel, yes, but also one hell of a writer * BOSTON GLOBE *He put these people down on paper as they are, and he made them talk and think in the language they customarily used -- Raymond ChandlerHis name remains one of the most important and recognisable in the crime fiction genre. Hammett set the standard for much of the work that would follow * INDEPENDENT *The dean of the school of hard-boiled fiction * NEW YORK TIMES *One of the foremost practitioners of the hard-boiled detective story * SCOTSMAN *

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Book SynopsisJune Whitfield stars as Miss Marple in eight thrilling full-cast BBC Radio 4 dramatisations.A Pocket Full of Rye A spate of unusual deaths is linked to the nursery rhyme 'Sing a Song of Sixpence'. 4.50 from Paddington After witnessing a murder on a train, Mrs McGillicuddy calls on Miss Marple. At Bertram’s Hotel Crime lurks beneath the surface of a respectable Mayfair hotel. The Body in the Library A mysterious blonde is found murdered in Dolly Bantry’s library. The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side At a benefit held at Gossington Hall, harmless Mrs Badcock is fatally poisoned. A Caribbean Mystery Bored in paradise, Miss Marple finds her interest aroused by an old soldier’s tale. Murder at the Vicarage Everyone in St Mary Mead detested Colonel Protheroe – but who killed him? A Murder is Announced A startling entry in a local paper’s personal column leads to a deadly shooting. These BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations feature eight of Miss Marple’s most complex and intriguing cases. Based on the original novels by Agatha Christie, they are performed by a stellar cast. Duration: 16 hours approx.

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