Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisAfter cracking their first case together as a private investigation team, Oz Blackstone and Primavera Phillips find themselves simultaneously in love and in the money. And where better to lie back and contemplate life than the picturesque village of St Marti, on the rugged Costa Brava. But beneath the surface of their idyllic new home bubbles a brew of intrigue, deception - and murder. Before long Prim and Oz find themselves helping to evict a skeletal squatter whom the locals fear might harm the tourist trade, as well as trying to authenticate a previously undiscovered Dali masterpiece bought by a gullible client at a highly unconventional auction...

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Book SynopsisThe death of a squatter is not all it seems...Ann Granger introduces the unemployed and soon-to-be-homeless amateur sleuth Fran Varady in the first of this riveting crime series. The perfect read for fans of Edward Marston and LJ Ross. ''It looks as if Ann Granger is on to another winner'' - Birmingham Post Fran Varady is insolvent, unemployed and, though for the moment she''s got the leaky roof of the squat she shares in Jubilee Street over her head, she''ll very soon be homeless thanks to the council eviction department. Her dreams of becoming an actress, nurtured when her father and grandmother were still alive, seem a long way off. But Fran is a survivor ... which her former housemate, Terry, found hanging from the ceiling of her room, clearly is not.Terry, secretive and selfish, was far from popular with the rest of the household, but her death shakes the Jubilee Street Creative Artists'' Commune, as the squat residents half-

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Book SynopsisWhen a stranger is stabbed to death, Fran''s own life is put in danger...Amateur sleuth Fran Varady has to stay ahead of a killer in Running Scared, the third exciting mystery in Ann Granger''s Fran Varady series. The perfect read for fans of LJ Ross and Elly Griffiths. ''One of crime fiction''s most engaging heroines'' - Yorkshire Post Aspiring actress and part-time private investigator Fran Varady knew there would be maximum disruption when her friend Ganesh decided to modernise his uncle''s newsagents, starting with the washroom. But she isn''t prepared for the nightmare that begins when an agitated passer-by asks to use it: hours later, he''s found stabbed to death, leaving a message for Fran to meet him, and a mysterious roll of film hidden behind the old pipes... Fran realises that whoever wanted the negatives knows where they were hidden. And, probably, where they are now. With her police protection more a hindrance Trade ReviewPraise for Ann Granger's previous crime novels: 'Characterisation, as ever with Granger, is sharp and astringent' * The Times *'The plot is neat and ingenious, the characters rounded and touchingly credible, and the writing of this darkly humorous but humane and generous novel fluent, supple and a pleasure to read' * Ham and High *'The reader can expect a treat. Lively, different and fun' * Yorkshire Post *'Ann Granger's skill with character together with her sprightly writing make the most of the story....she is on to another winner' * Birmingham Post *'One of crime fiction's most engaging heroines' * Yorkshire Post *

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Book SynopsisA place of worship is vandalised, daubed swastikas testifying to a hatred that, for a time at least, defies understanding.But the Deckers, Rina and her detective husband Peter, soon realise the violence done to their synagogue can be traced to one deeply disturbed adolescent, Ernesto Golding. Born into privilege but obsessed by the past, he is eventually charged, his case closed. But Peter Decker still worries that others were involved. And six months later Ernesto is found murdered. Suddenly Decker and his family are plunged into a ghastly world of damaged youth, ruthless parents and secrets, with roots deep in the horrors of the last generation, which seem to demand ultimate retribution...Trade Review...seamlessly weaves her themes of religious belief and familial respect into a multilayered thriller, with finely realized characters and a tangible sense of place. * Publisher's Weekly *Kellerman blends family and police procedural dramas to great effect, creating a powerful and absorbing plot with realistic and engaging characters * Waterstone's Books Quarterly *

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Book SynopsisThe Great War is over; but the war in Ireland is only just beginning, as the IRA and the Black and Tans move on to the attack. It all seems very remote to Miranda Martin, during that miraculous Indian summer. Her father, hoping to forget his dead wife, thinks of nothing but his trees; Miranda thinks of the future, a future which must surely include Cathal, who brings news from Dublin. Everything seems calm and serene. But then Andrew, her officer brother, comes home, bringing his eccentric, likeable friend Harry, and as the Indian summer fades, the scene is set for tragedy.Trade ReviewUncliched, wondrously (and deftly) evocative of time and place, and remarkably moving * Kirkus Reviews *One of Ireland's finest writers * Sunday Tribune *An immaculate artist: understated, unshowy, a careful and economical craftswoman of language and all the loose, unwieldy stuff of emotion * Scotsman *One of our most impressive novelists * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisHis great battles against the sea raiders in the Nile Delta have left Pharoah Tuthmosis II frail, but he finds solace in victory and in the welcome he is sure to receive on his return to Thebes. Across the river from Thebes, however, there are those who do not relish his homecoming, and a group of assassins has taken a witch to pollute the Pharaoh''s unfinished tomb. Reunited with his wife, Hatusu, and his people, Tuthmosis stands before the statue of Amun-Ra, the roar of the crowd and the fanfare of trumpets ringing in his ears. But within an hour he is dead and the people of Thebes cannot forget the omen of wounded doves flying overhead. Rumours run rife, speculation sweeps the royal city and Hatusu vows to uncover the truth. With the aid of Amerotke, a respected judge of Thebes, she embarks on a path destined to reveal the great secrets of Egypt.Trade Review'Doherty excels at historical detail, bringing ancient Egypt to life in his descriptions of daily life and characters drawn from every caste. This novel launches a series - and that's good news' Publishers Weekly'The historical mystery genre is still thriving and Paul Doherty's THE MASK OF RA is the best of its kind since the death of Ellis Peters. As ever, Doherty dazzles with his knowledge an intimate feel for ancient Egypt' Time Out'Paul Doherty has a lively sense of history' New Statesman

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Book SynopsisAs the sun sets, Chaucer''s pilgrims find themselves lost in a Kent forest rumoured to be haunted. Huddled around the fire, trying to ignore the cries of screech owls and other, more frightening sounds of the night, the Clerk of Oxford agrees to tell a ghostly tale of love and death that will chill the blood.Trade ReviewPraise for Paul Doherty's other novels: 'I really like these medieval whodunnits * Bookseller *A romping good read * Time Out *Historically informative, excellently plotted and, as ever, superbly entertaining * CADS 20 *This rich tale ... seeps authenticity and is written with wonderfully efficient style. A gem of an historical thriller * Huddersfield Daily Examiner *

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Book Synopsis313 AD. Under the rule of Emperor Constantine, Rome finally appears to be emerging from its turbulent past. In order to consolidate his control and under the guidance of his mother Helena, Constantine plans to harness the power of the increasingly influential Christian Church. But his loyalties are brought into question when three courtesans from the Guild of Aphrodite - a guild Constantine himself frequents - are found dead. All three bodies have crosses etched on their foreheads and each cheek. Aiming to protect her son''s future, Helena calls upon the service of an ''agente in rebus politicis'' - or spy. Claudia is the niece of a tavern-owner and is placed as a wine-server in Constantine''s household. But Claudia has secret motives of her own...Trade ReviewPraise for Paul Doherty's other novels: 'I really like these medieval whodunnits * Bookseller *A romping good read * Time Out *Historically informative, excellently plotted and, as ever, superbly entertaining * CADS 20 *This rich tale ... seeps authenticity and is written with wonderfully efficient style. A gem of an historical thriller * Huddersfield Daily Examiner *

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Book SynopsisWhen a man is found murdered on the doorstep of a respectable house in Bedford Square, Victorian England''s finest and most controversial policeman, Thomas Pitt, is called immediately to the scene. The only clue to the victim''s identity is a silver snuff box found on the body, curiously at odds with the man''s dishevelled appearance. Pitt soon discovers that the box, and the house where the body was found, belong to General Balantyne, a man Pitt knows to be a pillar of the community. He is dismayed to learn that Balantyne can barely recall the evening, let alone account for his movements.Trade Review'A splendidly plotted yarn' Publishers WeeklyGive her a good murder and a shameful social evil, and Anne Perry can write a Victorian mystery that would make Dickens' eyes pop out * New York Times Book Review *Beautifully crafted * Cosmopolitan *'The Troubles perfectly suit Perry's gift for rooting large-scale social conflict in the minutiae of domestic intrigue' Kirkus ReviewsHer Victorian England pulsates with life and is peopled with wonderfully memorable characters * Faye Kellerman *'Perry's narrative is as statley and elegant as a royal barge on the Thames' Washington Post'Master storyteller Anne Perry moves closer to Dickens as she lifts the lace curtain from Victorian society to reveal its shocking secrets' Sharyn McCrumbThe novel has a totally contemporary feel and is admirably well-written * Guardian *A complex plot supported by superb storytelling * Scotland on Sunday *'A complex plot supported by superb storytelling...and William Monk, a contender for the post of Most Original Investigator in recent fiction' Scotland on Sunday'Ms Perry fashions a Victorian story with the sophisticated characterisation and psychological suspense that are everyday tools of the contemporary writer...the result is first rate' New York Times Book Review'Her Victorian England pulsates with life and is peopled with wonderfully memorable characters' Faye Kellerman'[A] surpassingly excellent historical and psychologically intricate mystery' Publishers Weekly'Beautifully crafted' Cosmopolitan'Perry's narrative is as stately and elegant as a royal barge on the Thames...with a final courtroom confrontation that's a humdinger' Washington Post Book World'The novel has a totally contemporary feel and is admirably well-written' Guardian

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Book SynopsisWhen evidence presented in court by Thomas Pitt leads to the execution of a distinguished soldier and archaeologist, the retaliation from the hanged man''s influential friends is swift. The murderer was a member of the Inner Circle, a group of men whose power extends further than Pitt realised was possible, and, within days, he loses command of the Bow Street police station. To protect him from the Inner Circle''s hatred, he is forced to leave his family to work undercover in the dangerously volatile East End.Trade ReviewAnne Perry's novels are New York Times bestsellers and have earned much critical acclaim: 'Give her a good murder and a shameful social evil, and Anne Perry can write a Victorian mystery that would make Dickens' eyes pop out * New York Times Book Review *A totally contemporary feel ... admirably well-written * Guardian *Her Victorian England pulsates with life and is peopled with wonderfully memorable characters * Faye Kellerman *A complex plot supported by superb storytelling ... and William Monk, a contender for the post of Most Original Investigator in recent fiction * Scotland on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisHatusu, the remarkable young widow of Pharaoh Tuthmosis II, has forced Egyptian society to acknowledge her as Pharaoh, and her success in battle is spreading Egypt''s glory well beyond its frontiers. In the Temple of Anubis, Hatusu and the defeated King Tushratta of Mitanni are negotiating a peace treaty that will seal her greatest victory. But then two hideous murders in the temple and the theft of the Glory of Anubis threaten the tentative truce, and the respected judge Amerotke must find the perpetrators.Trade ReviewPraise for Paul Doherty: 'Vitality in the landscape...angst in the mystery, it's Peters minus the herbs but plus a few crates of sack * Oxford Times *Absolutely superb * CADS *The best of its kind since Ellis Peters * Time Out *I really like these medieval whodunnits * Sarah Broadhurst, Bookseller *Wholly excellent, this is one of those books you hate to put down * Prima *If you like the Paul Doherty style you will enjoy this hugely. The pace never flags and despite all this larger-than-life flamboyance Doherty's Egypt has the ring of truth about it. Doherty has done his homework well and it shows * Historical Review *

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Book SynopsisIn the village of Melford, a local lord is executed for a spate of vicious murders. It''s not until the killing begins again, and the dead lord''s son alleges that a miscarriage of justice has taken place, that a serious investigation begins. Hugh Corbett realises that for the last five years a serial killer has terrorised the villagers and that when, not if, the next victim is chosen, he must be ready to act.Trade ReviewPraise for the series: 'Death and mystery pack the pages - but there's humour too * Colchester Evening News *Vitality in the landscape...angst in the mystery, it's Peters minus the herbs but plus a few crates of sack * Oxford Times *Absolutely superb * CADS *

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Book SynopsisIn the American Civil War the opposing armies are desperate for arms. A London trader selling weapons to the South faces a moral dilemma when his daughter, in love with a Confederate, insists he change sides. When he is brutally murdered, her lover is the immediate suspect. William and Hester Monk must bring the pair back from the front line in America to face justice in an English court.Trade ReviewAnne Perry's novels are New York Times bestsellers and have earned much critical acclaim: 'Give her a good murder and a shameful social evil, and Anne Perry can write a Victorian mystery that would make Dickens' eyes pop out * New York Times Book Review *A totally contemporary feel ... admirably well-written * Guardian *Her Victorian England pulsates with life and is peopled with wonderfully memorable characters * Faye Kellerman *A complex plot supported by superb storytelling ... and William Monk, a contender for the post of Most Original Investigator in recent fiction * Scotland on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisPeter Tremayne, highly acclaimed author of HEMLOCK AT VESPERSand ACT OF MERCY, presents OUR LADY OF DARKNESS, the tenth gripping Celtic mystery featuring super-sleuth Sister Fidelma.PRAISE FOR THE SISTER FIDELMA SERIES: ''Definitely an Ellis Peters competitor'' Evening Standard, ''This is masterly storytelling from an author who breathes fascinating life into the worth he is writing about'' Belfast Telegraph Arriving home from a pilgrim voyage, Sister Fidelma hears that her faithful Saxon companion, Brother Eadulf, is under sentence of death for murder. She hastens to the capital of Laigin, where he is being held, determined to appeal against the sentence. The crime took place at the abbey of Fearna where Fidelma clashes with the sinister Abbess Fainder. The evidence against Eadulf seems overwhelming - can he actually be guilty? Will Fidelma''s emotional involvement blind her in her desperate search for the truth? Trade ReviewThe latest Sister Fidelma mystery is one of the best... an excellent mystery with rich helpings of evil and tension set within a culture struggling to keep its identity and laws in the face of pressure from the Roman Church. Peter Tremayne paints a believable picture of time and place with a set of lively and varied characters * HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW *'Strong on historical whodunnit, as sharp as a sword and as colourful as any medieval manuscript' Northern Echo'The latest Sister Fidelma mystery is one of the best... an excellent mystery with rich helpings of evil and tension set within a culture struggling to keep its identity and laws in the face of pressure from the Roman Church. Peter Tremayne paints a believable picture of time and place with a set of lively and varied characters' Historical Novels ReviewStrong on historical whodunnit, as sharp as a sword and as colourful as any medieval manuscript * NORTHERN ECHO *HEMLOCK AT VESPERS'Peter Tremayne's collection of Celtic mysteries is an ideal introduction..to Sister Fidelma; a beguiling figure... A girl with definite ideas and distinct authority; a girl for our times as much as for her own' Historical Novels Review'This collection is an essential canonical text for Sister Fidelma acolytes' Publisher's Weekly'Fidelma's fans will welcome this first-ever collection, many stories of which are appearing here for the first time' Kirkus Reviews'A treasure trove of small gems for historical mystery fans' Booklist'A complex mesh of betrayals that also catch up the sleuth, exploiting both Fidelma's strengths and vulnerabilities' Kirkus Reviews'Beguiling' Peterborough Evening TelegraphACT OF MERCY'The background detail is brilliantly defined... Wonderfully evocative' The TimesVALLEY OF THE SHADOW'Tremayne's discriminating sense of history distinguishing ever-finer conflicts...creates an equally complex mystery for history-mad readers with eyes as sharp as Fidelma's' Kikus ReviewsPraise for previous novels:'The Sister Fidelma books give the readers a rattling good yarn. But more than that, they bring vividly and viscerally to life the fascinating lost world of the Celtic Irish. I put down The Spider's Web with a sense of satisfaction at a good story well told, but also speculating on what modern life might have been like had that civilisation survived' Ronan Bennett'A heroine whom many readers will willingly follow' Kirkus Reviews;'A brilliant and beguiling heroine. Immensely appealing, difficult to put down' PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY; 'Definitely an Ellis Peter competitor...the background detail is marvellous' EVENING STANDARD;

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Book Synopsis''POWERFUL . . . SUSPENSEFUL . . . RICHLY TEXTURED . . . [A] CHILLING, PRECOCIOUSLY GOOD START TO A BRIGHT NEW NOVELIST''S CAREER'' New York Times ''[A] gripping psychological thriller . . . In the winter of 1919, a young mother named Mathilda Neumann drowns beneath the ice of a rural Wisconsin lake. The shock of her death dramatically changes the lives of her daughter, troubled sister, and husband . . . The narrative gradually and tantalizingly reveals the dark family secrets and the unsettling discoveries that lead to the truth of what actually happened the night of the drowning'' FRANCINE PROSE, US Weekly ''DEFT AND ASSURED . . . [WITH] STRONG CHARACTERS AND A PLOT LONG ON TENSION AND SURPRISES'' Time ''A strong sense of portent and unusually vivid characters distinguish this mesmerizing first novel about horrifying family secrets . . . a complex and rewarding debut. ANITA SHREVE RIVETING . .Trade Review'A gripping read' Choice magazine * Choice *'A compelling mystery' The Times * Play (The Times) *'Assured and dense debut...Schwarz's real achievement is in matching the complexities of her plot with vivid characters' The Scotsman * The Scotsman *'Austere, tense, painful and rewarding, this book keeps you reading until the vertebrae sulk - and the aftertaste has the bitterness of a linctus whose sharpness conveys its benefit' Frank Delaney * Frank Delaney *In [the] assured last stroke, Ms Schwarz affirms the psychological underpinnings of a book that would have worked page-turningly well as a straightforward mystery alone. She gives it the extra wisdom that marks DROWNING RUTH as the chilling, precociously good start to a bright new novelist's career * New York Times *'This is a book that really ought not to be missed' Sentinel Sunday * Sentinel Sunday *A strong sense of portent and unusually vivid characters distinguish this mesmerizing first novel about horrifying family secrets and nearly annihilating guilt. DROWNING RUTH is a complex and rewarding debut * Anita Shreve *A riveting first novel... A very suspenseful tale, one that will keep readers up shivering in the heat of an August night * USA Today *Quietly powerful prose and carefully nuanced description... Creates a satisfying fictional world. An engrossing debut from a writer to watch * Kirkus Reviews *The first sentence of this brilliantly understated psychological thriller leaps off the page and captures the reader's imagination...Schwarz deftly uses first-person narration to heighten the drama. Her prose is spare but bewitching, and she juggles the speakers and time periods with the surety of a seasoned novelist * Publishers Weekly *This unusually deft and assured first novel conveys a good deal more than thrills and chills * Time *The stars of DROWNING RUTH are the beautifully imagined lakes in summer and winter, the desolate farmhouse where Ruth grows up... The book offers ... more tender gifts * Washington Post *It remains gripping to the end * New York Post *A remarkable debut: surprising, unsettling and sure * New York Times Book Review *'It is not hard to see why DROWNING RUTH became a bestseller...Where many historical novels are weighed down by detail, DROWNING RUTH is drenched in the melancholic atmosphere of its setting...an intriguing story' New Statesman * New Statesman *'The compelling quality of Christina Schwarz's first novel, DROWNING RUTH, is quite unique' Independent * Independent *

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Book SynopsisReturning to L''Escala, the idyllic Spanish village where they were once so happy, Oz Blackstone and Primavera Phillips are looking to forget the past. But old ghosts are not so easy to placate, and the shadow of Oz''s childhood sweetheart Jan, now tragically dead, is threatening to turn their relationship into a seething cauldron of recrimination. Until a body turns up face down in the swimming pool of their new villa, and suddenly they are very much back in the harness again. Faced with the indifference of the local police, Oz and Prim are forced to investigate the murder themselves, and soon they begin to uncover a nest of vipers beneath L''Escala''s sunny exterior...Trade Review'Jardine manages to combine the picturesque with the thrilling and the dream-like with the coldly rational' The Times'This book will have you guessing until the last and will throw up more surprises than a good magician' South Wales Evening Post'Jardine's plot is very cleverly constructed, every incident and every character has a justified place in the labyrinth of motives, and the final series of revelations follows logically from a surreptitious but well-placed series of clues.' Gerald Kaufman, Scotsman

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Book SynopsisWhen Oz Blackstone is offered a major role in a cop movie shooting in Edinburgh, he cannot resist taking centre stage. And he has had a brief liaison with Susie Gantry, a beautiful and self-possessed business woman, that is turning into something much more long term. It all looks like a bowl of cherries until ex-lover Alison Goodchild turns up asking for a favour. When he finds Alison''s business partner murdered in her flat, Oz can''t help but suspect he''s been set up. And when he discovers a trail of intrigue leading to the cast of the star-studded movie in which he is performing, those cherries begin to taste very rancid indeed...Trade ReviewPraise for Quintin Jardine:The perfect mix for a highly charged, fast moving crime thriller * Glasgow Herald *Deplorably readable * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisRick would do anything for his girlfriend Bert. He''d even spend his vacation in the wilderness, walking the trails around Fern Lake. After what happened last time, it''s the one place in the world he''d prefer not to go. But Bert is a woman with a passion for the outdoors - and a passion for other things too. Rick would follow her to hell and back - which is what he''s about to do. Gillian is off on vacation too, only her idea of a holiday is a little weird. She likes breaking into people''s homes while they are away and living there. Pity that this time she chances on the home of a serial-killer. The kind of guy who likes to take his female victims out into the wilderness for his fun. Rick and Bert are not the only ones heading to Fern Lake...

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Book SynopsisWhen will Fran Varady learn to trust her instincts?Young amateur sleuth Fran Varady is being hunted down by a suspicious private investigator in Risking it All, the fourth compelling mystery in Ann Granger''s Fran Varady series. The perfect read for fans of LJ Ross and Joss Sheldon. ''A fascinating tale... Highly recommended'' - Mystery Women NewsletterWhen Fran Varady is approached by Private Investigator Clarence Duke, she mistrusts him on instinct. But she can''t ignore what he has to tell her. Her mother, Eva, who walked out on Fran when she was only seven years old, has hired Clarence to find her daughter. And for good reason. Eva is dying. Within days, Fran is reunited with the mother she hasn''t seen for fifteen years, and is soon to lose again. But the biggest bombshell is still to come. Eva has another child - a daughter she gave up soon after her birth - and she wants Fran to find her. Matters aren''t heTrade ReviewPraise for Ann Granger's previous crime novels: 'Characterisation, as ever with Granger, is sharp and astringent' * The Times *'The plot is neat and ingenious, the characters rounded and touchingly credible, and the writing of this darkly humorous but humane and generous novel fluent, supple and a pleasure to read' * Ham and High *'The reader can expect a treat. Lively, different and fun' * Yorkshire Post *'Ann Granger's skill with character together with her sprightly writing make the most of the story....she is on to another winner' * Birmingham Post *'One of crime fiction's most engaging heroines' * Yorkshire Post *

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Book SynopsisThere''s trouble ahead for Fran Varady... Just as amateur sleuth Fran Varady is getting her life back on track, problems arise in Watching Out, the fifth fantastic Fran Varady mystery by Ann Granger. The perfect read for fans of M.C. Beaton and Rebecca Tope. ''One of crime fiction''s most engaging heroines'' - Yorkshire Post Fran Varady fell into private detective work by accident rather than design. Now she''s got a ''real'' job at a trendy pizzeria, she''s back on track with her acting ambitions, and she''s even found a nice flat to rent. But things aren''t as straightforward as they seem. The job, for a start: there''s something rather sinister about the way the pizzeria is run. And the play rehearsals aren''t going well. As if all this doesn''t bring problems enough, Fran has rashly undertaken to help a young boy, illegally in the country, find an elusive people-trafficker called Max. When the trail Fran is following isTrade ReviewPraise for Ann Granger's previous crime novels: 'Characterisation, as ever with Granger, is sharp and astringent' * The Times *'The plot is neat and ingenious, the characters rounded and touchingly credible, and the writing of this darkly humorous but humane and generous novel fluent, supple and a pleasure to read' * Ham and High *'The reader can expect a treat. Lively, different and fun' * Yorkshire Post *'Ann Granger's skill with character together with her sprightly writing make the most of the story....she is on to another winner' * Birmingham Post *'One of crime fiction's most engaging heroines' * Yorkshire Post *

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Book SynopsisA mansion, a murder and a century-long mystery... Shades of Murder is the thirteenth mystery in the Mitchell & Markby series by Ann Granger, who is highly praised for her strong and appealing characters, wit and engrossing plots. The perfect read for fans of M. C. Beaton, Agatha Christie and ITV''s Midsomer Murders.''The narrative keeps the reader gripped until the end'' - Wiltshire Times In 1889 Cora Oakley died by inhaling a poisonous gas in her sleep, and her husband William was put on trial for her murder. Over a hundred years later, the only remaining members of the family are two elderly sisters who live in the ancestral home. Unable to maintain the mansion, the sisters decide to sell up and live off the proceeds. Then a young Polish man named Jan appears, claiming to be William Oakley''s great-grandson and threatening to ruin the sisters'' plans. When he is found dead, it seems that the shadow of murder has reTrade Review'The narrative keeps the reader gripped to the end - a fitting new member of the growing line-up of Mitchell and Markby classics' Wiltshire TimesInteresting, persuasive characters... A good readThese books keep getting better and betterCharacterisation, as ever with Granger, is sharp and astringent

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Book SynopsisA new investigation on an old case will bring shocking revelations to light... An old case Markby failed to solve over two decades ago resurfaces after the discovery of skeletal remains in A Restless Evil, the fourteenth gripping English village murder mystery in Ann Granger''s Mitchell & Markby series. The perfect read for fans of Rebecca Tope, Agatha Christie and ITV''s Midsomer Murders.''A gripping thriller. Ann Granger beautifully evokes a mellow village seemingly tranquil on the surface but bubbling with secrets underneath'' - Huddersfield Daily Examiner It sends a shiver down Detective Superintendent Alan Markby''s spine when he hears that a rambler has stumbled on human bones in Stovey Woods in the heart of the Cotswolds. Twenty-two years ago, as a fresh-faced young inspector, he had a rare failure in the hunt for a brutal serial rapist preying on local women. After the third rape, the attacker went to ground, never tTrade ReviewPraise for Ann Granger's Mitchell & Markby series: 'A good feel for understated humour, a nice ear for dialogue' * The Times *'A delightful pair of sleuths' * Margaret Yorke *'To be savoured by connoisseurs of characterisation' * Publishers Weekly *'Her characterisation is excellent' * Cotswold Life *'Good plotting and believable motivation' * Crime Time *

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Book SynopsisThomas Pitt is summoned to the offices of Victor Narraway, head of the Imperial Secret Service. An ex-army officer and promising young diplomat has been shot and the prime suspect is the Egyptian mistress of a senior cabinet minister. But some things don''t add up at the scene of the murder. When the Egyptian Ambassador puts in a call to Prime Minister Gladstone, it seems a major diplomatic row is brewing. Thomas is convinced Narraway knows more than he claims, and Pitt''s wife Charlotte fears there could be involvement with the secret organisation that destroyed Pitt''s Metropolitan Police career and nearly cost him his life. Can Pitt tread the tense diplomatic tightrope between protecting justice, the security of his country, and the safety of his family?Trade Review'From the Victorian murder capital of smog-hit London to the exotic land of the Pharaohs, this thrilling whodunnit is a must for all devotees of the classic murder mystery' Western Mail 22/2/03 * Western Mail *'Frequently compared to the great contemporary chronicler, Charles Dickens, Perry has a more simplistic perspective on the era, its social pleasures and their consequences...Offering an interesting slant on the grandeur of Britain's Empire, this novel will please fans of the series, especially those who enjoy the teamwork of Mr and Mrs Pitt' Scottish Sunday Herald 16/2/03 * Scottish Sunday Herald *'Anne Perry's novels of Victorian England are the equivalent of steak-and-kidney pudding or apple tart and custard; comfort food, plain cooking with no fancy ingredients. Frequently compared to the great contemporary chronicler, Charles Dickens, Perry has a more simplistic perspective on the era, its social pleasures and their consequences...Offering an interesting slant on the grandeur of Britain's Empire, this novel will please fans of the series, especially those who enjoy the teamwork of Mr and Mrs Pitt' Scottish Sunday Herald 16/2/03 * Scottish Sunday Herald *'Frequent readers of Perry cherish the magical passport she provides into the age of Victoria at its brilliant zenith' Western Mail 22/2/03 * Western Mail *'Miss Perry's leading protagonists are as finely and deeply drawn as any in her field and her feel for the Victorian era is unrivalled in her generation' Huddersfield Daily Examiner 8/2/03 * Huddersfield Daily Examiner *'Intricately plotted and painstakingly researched...Anne Perry brings alive the sights, sounds and smells of Victorian England in convincing detail' Western Daily Press (Bristol) 15/2/03 * Western Daily Press (Bristol) *

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Book SynopsisWhen the Maude Idris docks at the Pool of London, laden with ebony, spices and first-grade tusks of ivory collected from her voyage to Zanzibar, Clement Louvain leaves four armed seamen on board to guard the precious cargo. But as soon as the relief for the night watch arrives ready for duty in the morning, he finds the ivory gone and one of the seamen dead. Hindered by his ignorance of the river and its customs, and ashamed of the fact that he so badly requires the huge fees that Louvain is prepared to pay, William Monk nevertheless begins his investigation into the theft and murder. Meanwhile Hester''s work at the refuge at Portpool Lane is encountering acute financial difficulties. Sick prostitutes are arriving daily and the medicines needed to help them are running out. When a man arrives promising to pay a huge amount of money for the care of one particular woman, Hester is astonished to meet him. He is none other than Clement Louvain. So who is the woman he is so generously heTrade Review'Anne Perry not only writes a dashed good story but almost outdoes Dickens for atmosphere and portrayal of the sleazy side of life' Northern Echo, 24/2/04 * Northern Echo *'Anne Perry not only writes a dashed good story but almost outdoes Dickens for atmosphere and portrayal of the sleazy side of life' Northern Echo, 24/2/04 * Northern Echo *'Anne Perry's command of story-telling and power of description is terrifyingly real...meaningful and illustrious writing, as if watching live theatre. She has such perception of passion too' Bangor Chronicle, 26/2/04 * Bangor Chronicle *'Perry uses her characters and story to comment on ethical issues that remain as relevant today as they were in Victorian times' Publishers Weekly, 29/3/04 * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisA novel that springs from shocking facts. During the 1950s and 1960s the CIA ran a series of programmes in mind-control or psychic driving, which they tested on ordinary US and Canadian citizens. These people were kept in ignorance of the experiment's nature which exposed them to electroshock.

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Book SynopsisEdward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.

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Book SynopsisSarah Hawkswood describes herself as a 'wordsmith' who is only really happy when writing. She read Modern History at Oxford and first published a non-fiction book on the Royal Marines in the First World War before moving on to medieval mysteries set in Worcestershire.Trade Review'Marked to Die is an engrossing read and definitely recommended.' Mystery People. `This medieval procedural charms its way past all obstacles. Whether it's action, reflection, personal feelings, simple, but vivid, description, humour, or even repeated gossip, Hawkswood's elegant prose will keep you turning the pages. Her ability to bring even the most minor characters to life in a credible and well-researched setting gives this story a must-read quality.' Crime Review. 'Now this is what I call historical detective fiction! Shades of Robin Hood... Bradecote and Catchpoll are no strangers to murder, set in a time when life was cheap, particularly for anyone who was not of noble birth. Superb.' Books Monthly

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Book SynopsisKevin Sullivan was born in Glasgow. His career in journalism has placed him in the frontline of defining historical moments in living memory, from documenting events at Tiananmen Square to covering the siege of Dubrovnik and the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His work has taken him to Singapore, Sri Lanka, Japan, the Western Balkans, and Spain. He lives in Sarajevo.

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Book SynopsisRebecca Tope is the author of three bestselling crime series, set in the Cotswolds, Lake District and West Country. She lives on a smallholding in rural Herefordshire, where she enjoys the silence and plants a lot of trees.

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Book SynopsisRebecca Tope is the author of three bestselling crime series, set in the Cotswolds, Lake District and West Country. She lives on a smallholding in rural Herefordshire, where she enjoys the silence and plants a lot of trees.

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Book SynopsisRebecca Tope is the author of three bestselling crime series, set in the Cotswolds, Lake District and West Country. She lives on a smallholding in rural Herefordshire, where she enjoys the silence and plants a lot of trees.

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Book SynopsisEdward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.

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Book SynopsisJAMES ANDERSON was born in Swindon but lived in or near to Cardiff most of his life. He took a degree in History at the University of Reading and worked as a salesman, copywriter and freelance journalist before writing his first novel. He went on to have fourteen novels and one play published. James passed away in 2007.

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Book SynopsisAllison & Busby are delighted to be the home to another of Marston's cracking historical fiction series, this time the glamorous world of translantic cruises in the early twentieth century.

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Book Synopsis'Edward Marston is a master of his craft' - Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisThe must-read cosy crime series

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Book SynopsisSecrets, lies and bodies wash up on the Scottish shores.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThe thrilling inter-war mystery series.

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Book SynopsisThe unmissable cosy crime sensation for fans of Richard Osman.

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Book SynopsisWhen tragedy brings Merrin McKenzie back to St Ives, she knows adjusting might take time, even with the comfort of Christmas back in her hometown. Stepping back from her career as a solicitor, she agrees to clean holiday rentals for her friends who own cottages nearby. She anticipates dirty laundry and sandy floors, but she didn''t sign up for a dead body, neatly tucked up in one of the guest beds. The police are baffled by the young man''s identity and the strangeness of his death. For Merrin, however, coincidences are beginning to stack up. Even though Inspector Louis Peppiatt is sceptical of her theories, something sinister is hiding beneath the festive surface of this charming seaside town. As the case unfolds, a dark side to the Cornish coast emerges. A&B has longstanding success with local crime writers. Deborah''s books will appeal to fans of Stephanie Austin and Rebecca Tope and viewers of TV shows like Doc Martin. Deborah Fowler has already attracted a hungry readership for her self-published crime novels, now more widely and energetically published by Allison & Busby. Meet Merrin, a holiday let cleaner in the idyllic St Ives, who has access to dark secrets, dirty laundry and the odd dead body to clean up.

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Book SynopsisMidsummer, 1145. The steward of Evesham Abbey is found dead at the bottom of a well pit. The Abbot, whose relationship with the lord Sheriff of Worcestershire is strained at best, dislikes needing external help with the unfortunate incident. However, he grudgingly receives the trio of Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll and Underserjeant Walkelin.As the sheriff''s men probe who had more reason to want Walter the Steward dead, they discover that truth is in short supply. With the tensions between the Abbey and the local castle guard reaching boiling point, another killing will force the investigation down a dangerous path.

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Book SynopsisIn England's young silent-film industry, the megalomaniacal Randolph Fflytte is king. Nevertheless, Mary Russell is dispatched to investigate the criminal activities that surround Fflytte's popular movie studio. As filming gets underway on cinematic extravaganza, Pirate King, Russell soon senses a brewing storm of trouble.Trade Review'Will astonish and delight even the most seasoned of Holmes devotees' Katherine Neville bestselling author of The Eight

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Book SynopsisIt is 1852, and Inspector Robert Colbeck and his assistant Sergeant Victor Leeming are faced with their most difficult case to date. As a train speeds over the Sankey Viaduct, a man is hurled from a carriage into the canal below. It later transpires that he has been stabbed to death. This book is the third in the "Railway Detective" series.Trade Review"The third Colbeck mystery, THE RAILWAY VIADUCT, is wonderful. Once again, Marston's passion for the mysteries of architecture and the architectonics of mystery shines through his warmly satirical storytelling."--Reviewing the Evidence

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Book SynopsisNever has DI Wesley Peterson witnessed such a bizarre crime scene. The victim, Charles Marrick, has been murdered, his body drained of blood. Described by those who knew him as ''evil'', it seems that Wesley isn''t going to have any shortage of suspects - until a popular local vet is murdered in an identical fashion...and a third body is discovered many miles away.And when Wesley''s archaeologist friend, Neil Watson, starts getting disturbing anonymous letters written in gory detail about macabre events at a medieval abbey - which Neil fears are being sent by the killer Wesley is looking for - Wesley wonders whether there could be a connection between all these deaths and Neil''s letters. And could Neil himself be in danger? As the sinister truth unfolds, both Wesley and Neil are forced to face tragedy and shocking revelations...and a killer who bears the scars of past sins.Trade ReviewA beguiling author who interweaves past and present * The Times *Star author. Unputdownable * Bookseller *A gripping read * Best Magazine *Skilfully weaves crimes of past and present into a seamless narrative -- Gerald Kaufman * The Scotsman *Traditional detective fiction with a historical twist - fans will love it * Scotland on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisWhen a woman is burned to death in Grandal Field in Devon, it seems like a case of mistaken identity. Until DI Wesley Peterson learns of a legend involving a French woman who burned to death there in the thirteenth century. And when he discovers that records of a previous excavation on the site have vanished, and that two archaeologists involved in that dig died in tragic circumstances, Wesley starts to investigate the possibility of a link between the legend and recent events.But edging closer to the truth brings unexpected danger to Wesley. For the truth echoes a story of twisted love and obsession from many centuries ago - a truth that almost costs Wesley his life . . .Trade ReviewPraise for Kate Ellis:A beguiling author who interweaves past and present * The Times *Haunting * Independent *I loved this book . . . a powerful story of loss, malice and deception -- Ann CleevesThe chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end * Closer *Star author. Unputdownable * Bookseller *For anyone who enjoys a traditional detective story with an intriguing historical twist . . . Ellis is a fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *

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