Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisA suspenseful full-cast BBC radio adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's classic psychological thrillerWhen Guy Haines meets Charles Bruno in the dining car of a Texas-bound train, they share their secrets in the way that only strangers can. Charles confides his hatred for his controlling father, Guy confesses that he is divorcing his unfaithful wife. As the drink flows and the conversation turns darker, Charles proposes the perfect solution to both their problems - a murder swap - and Guy laughingly agrees.Back home, he quickly forgets their drunken pact: but Charles does not. Soon Guy is facing a nightmarish choice - fulfil his part of the bargain, or be framed for a murder he didn't commit...Dramatised for radio by award-winning playwright Craig Warner, this disturbing tale of obsession, blackmail, guilt and fear stars Michael Sheen (Good Omens, Staged) as Guy Haines and Anton Lesser (Game of Thrones, Endeavour) as Charles Bruno.CreditsWritten by Craig Warner, based on the novel by Patricia HighsmithOriginal music by Craig WarnerDirected by Andy JordanCastCharles Bruno........................Anton LesserGuy Haines........................Michael SheenAnne........................Saskia ReevesGerard........................Bill NighyElsie Bruno........................Jane WhittenshawAlex........................Denys HawthorneMyers........................Roger MayTreacher........................Stephen CritchlowCop........................John HartleyFrear........................Andrew BranchFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 25 January 1996Strangers on a Train © 1993 by Diogenes Verlag AG Zurich, all rights reserved.© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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Book SynopsisTHE FINAL NOVEL IN THE **BESTSELLING** SHIPYARD GIRLS SERIES!January 1945. Spring is in the air. And so is victory.Wedding bells are ringing at long last for Gloria and her soon-to-be husband Jack. But she can't rest until her youngest son is safely home.Head welder Rosie is delighted her own husband has returned from enemy territory. But the promise of victory brings more change... Her squad has come so far - what will happen when the war ends?Meanwhile Helen is caught between two men - but must hide her true feelings from the one she loves. Can her fellow women welders help Helen follow her heart?Only by working together will the Shipyard Girls win the day!______________________________Praise for Nancy Revell:'Nancy Revell knows how to stir the passions and soothe the heart!' Northern Echo'Stirring and heartfelt storytelling' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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Book SynopsisBeing a railway girl isn't always easy but together, they can overcome every challenge that stands in their way...___________________Manchester, 1942 A new year brings new hope for the railway girls. Alison's romance with the charming Dr Maitland is blossoming, but then she is posted away from Manchester. Working in a canteen isn't part of her plan, nor is meeting her beau's old girlfriend - one who just happens to want him back. Margaret is supportive of her friend's new relationship until she realises exactly who he is. Torn between keeping her secret and warning Alison, she turns to Joan for help. Working in Lost Property wouldn't be Joan's first choice of job, but with a baby on the way she knows she can't continue being a station porter. As she looks to the future, can she put the troubles of her past behind her?'The characters are fresh and stand out from the page, there is tension, pathos and heartbreak, but more than that, there is joy...' FROST MagazineReaders LOVE the Railway Girls:'Make yourself a cuppa and find a comfy spot on the sofa because you are not going to be able to put this down''I simply cannot wait for the next one - I am hooked!''Gives a vivid picture of women's lives in wartime Manchester''Dramatic, intriguing and sprinkled with plenty of wit and heart''It's just like catching up with old friends'

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Book SynopsisWhen a wealthy man is found murdered in his hilltop home, Deputy Coroner Clay Edison is shocked to discover a link to his own brother, Luke, on the scene.Luke is fresh out of prison and struggling to stay on the right path. When he suddenly goes missing, Clay can't help but question his innocence.As blackouts and wildfires continue to sweep through the state of California, the search for answers becomes ever more treacherous.Is Luke capable of murder? Or could he be a victim too? ____________________________________________________________________________Praise for Jonathan Kellerman's New York Times No. 1 bestselling thrillers: 'Sophisticated, cleverly plotted and satisfying' Sunday Telegraph 'High-octane entertainment' The Times

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Book Synopsis'Smart characters, shocking twists' Lisa Gardner'I couldn't turn the pages quick enough' Heidi Perks'Terrific, high-octane, really pacy' Jo Spain'A compelling read with great set pieces and, most of all, that charismatic cast of characters' Sun______________The Sunday Times bestsellerWill she live to see her twenty-first birthday?When a distraught mother pleads with reporter Cindy Thomas to investigate the disappearance of her daughter, Tara, and her baby granddaughter, Cindy goes straight to SFPD Sergeant Lindsay Boxer.The prime suspect is Tara's husband, but he tells a conflicting story that paints Tara as a wayward wife, not a missing person.Is this a tragic case of domestic violence? Or is the truth linked to a more complex network of killings?As the case grows into something far bigger than any of them could have imagined, the Women's Murder Club will need to work together to unpick the truth from a web of lies.______________More praise for the Women's Murder Club'Fast-moving, intricately plotted . . . Boxer steals the show as the tough cop with a good heart' Mirror'I have never begun a Patterson book and been able to put it down' Larry King'Patterson and Paetro at their best.... A series that shows no signs of fatigue or flagging' BookReporter.comTrade ReviewPatterson knows where our deepest fears are buried... there's no stopping his imagination. -- NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEWNo one gets this big without natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades. -- LEE CHILD, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher seriesPatterson boils a scene down to a single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind. -- MICHAEL CONNELLYJames Patterson is the boss. End of. -- IAN RANKIN, bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus seriesJames Patterson is the gold standard by which all others are judged. -- STEVE BERRY, bestselling author of the Colton Malone seriesPatterson is in a class by himself. -- VANITY FAIR

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Book Synopsis'A tense rollercoaster' Sarah Vaughan'Brilliantly plotted' Liz Nugent'Incredibly compelling' Shari Lapena'I raced through' Claire Douglas'Packs a punch' Sarah Pearse'Wonderfully atmospheric' BA Paris'Lures you in until you can't escape' Jane Corry'Explosive' Samantha Downing'Dazzlingly clever' Chris Ewan'Ominous, absorbing and atmospheric' Christina McDonald'Upredictable and pacy' Tim Weaver'A tense page turner' Jane Shemilt'Completely absorbing' Will Dean_______________________________________________By the time you read this, I'll have killed one of your husbands.In an isolated retreat, deep in the Northumbria moors, three women arrive for a weekend getaway.Their husbands will be joining them in the morning. Or so they think.But when they get to Dark Fell Barn, the women find a devastating note that claims one of their husbands has been murdered. Their phones are out of range. There's no internet. They're stranded. And a storm's coming in.Friendships fracture and the situation spins out of control as each wife tries to find out what's going on, who is responsible and which husband has been targeted.This was a tight-knit group. They've survived a lot. But they won't weather this. Because someone has decided that enough is enough.That it's time for a reckoning.'Fast paced, unpredictable and original with a twist that made me gasp out loud. I loved it' CLAIRE DOUGLAS, author of The Couple at No. 9'A gripping thriller that starts on simmer and builds to a boil' The Sun'Gilly Macmillan serves up the ingredients for a perfect night from hell' The New York Times'Gilly Macmillan's tense thriller remorselessly exposes the web of secrets and betrayal behind the facade of friendship' Daily Mail

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Book Synopsis'Richly evocative and glittering with atmosphere, this tale of ambition and identity had me gripped from start to finish' STACEY HALLS, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Familiars'Theatre of Marvels is a fascinating, empowering story of a young woman's search for identity and justice in Victorian London, a world which Lianne Dillsworth evokes so richly' JENNIFER SAINT, author of Ariadne_________________________________Behind the spectacle there are always secrets.Unruly crowds descend on Crillick's Variety Theatre. A black, British actress, Zillah, is headlining tonight. An orphan from the slums of St Giles, her rise to stardom is her ticket out - to be gawped and gazed at is a price she's willing to pay.Rising up the echelons of society is everything Zillah has ever dreamed of. But when a new stage act disappears, Zillah is haunted by a feeling that something is amiss. Is the woman in danger?Her pursuit of the truth takes her into the underbelly of the city - from gas-lit streets to the sumptuous parlours of Mayfair - as she seeks the help of notorious criminals from her past and finds herself torn between two powerful admirers.Caught in a labyrinth of dangerous truths, will Zillah face ruin - or will she be the maker of her fate?A deliciously immersive tale, Theatre of Marvels whisks you on an unforgettable journey across Victorian London in this bold exploration of race, class and gothic spectacle.AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW_______________________________'Zillah is a memorable heroine' Sunday Times'Exploitation and empowerment, race and class are all explored in this gripping historical novel. Dillsworth is a class act' Woman & Home'A thought-provoking, atmospheric debut' Daily Express'Very much enjoyed Theatre of Marvels. Zillah is a brilliant character who leads us through a Victorian London little spoken of, making for an illuminating, page-turning tale of self-actualisation. Loved it' KATE SAWYER'A tale steeped in Victorian London, I fell in love with Zillah and her theatre world. I was gripped from the opening pages - highly recommended for anyone who loves mystery, drama and Victorian London' LOUISE HARE, author of This Lovely City'A startling, original and utterly compelling novel which subtly navigates the core issues of race, gender and class' MARY CHAMBERLAIN, author of The Dressmaker of Dachau'Thrilling, eye-opening and absorbing' LIZZIE POOK, author of Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter'Fresh, original and full of atmosphere - a compelling story with a heroine I'll remember for a long time' FRANCES QUINN, author of The Smallest Man'A story that shines a spotlight into the shadows of the 19th century, while also exploring very relevant themes of identity. So fantastic to read a novel that centres POC in the Victorian era. Loved it!' SAARA EL-ARIFI, author of The Final Strife'Loved Lianne Dillsworth's Theatre of Marvels. A gripping story about identity and belonging with a strong sense of place. Can't wait for everybody to meet Zillah who is such strong and nuanced heroine.' LAURE VAN RENSBURG, author of Nobody But Us

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Book SynopsisIf you could test your son for a gene that predicts violence, would you do it?Antonia and Bea are sisters, and doting mothers to their sons. But that is where their similarities end.Antonia had her son tested to make sure he didn't possess the "violent" M gene.Bea refuses to let her son take the test. His life should not be determined by a positive or negative result.These women will go to any length to protect their sons.But one of them is hiding a monster.And there will be fatal consequences for everybody....PRAISE FOR JAYNE COWIE: 'Nature, nurture, and parenting styles go to war in Jayne Cowie's tense thriller with a twist' Christina Dalcher, Sunday Times bestselling author of VOX'Original and unsettling' The Sun'So timely, so relevant and so remarkably written, it's going to live with me for some time to come' John Marrs, #1 bestselling author of The One

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Book SynopsisSOON TO BE AN ORIGINAL AMAZON PRIME SERIES'ALEX CROSS IS A LEGEND' HARLAN COBEN ________________________ Alex Cross faces his toughest case yet in the explosive new thriller from multi-million copy bestseller James Patterson A killer strikes under cover of darkness, triggers no alarms, and leaves no evidence behind. Detective Alex Cross is on the hunt of a killer who is targeting entire families around Washington, DC. But Cross isn't the only one investigating - a charismatic true-crime author has spotted patterns in the case of 'The Family Man' killer that others have missed. It's up to Cross to determine whether the writer's theories are fact or fiction - before another family falls victim. ________________________ Readers are loving Triple Cross... 'Another 5 star read' 'Non-stop action from beginning to end' 'A complete page turner and can-not-put-down book' 'James Patterson just gets better and better. A fast-paced thrilling read' 'This is vintage Patterson and vintage Alex Cross'_________________________________________PRAISE FOR THE ALEX CROSS THRILLERS'Alex Cross. . . only gets better and better' LISA SCOTTOLINE 'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades. The Alex Cross series proves it' LEE CHILD 'A character for the ages' DOUGLAS PRESTON & LINCOLN CHILD________________________________________PRAISE FOR JAMES PATTERSON'James Patterson is the gold standard by which all others are judged.' Steve Berry'James Patterson is The Boss. End of.' Ian Rankin'Nobody does it better.' Jeffery DeaverTrade ReviewNo one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades. The Alex Cross series proves it. -- LEE CHILDAlex Cross is a legend. -- HARLAN COBENIt's no mystery why James Patterson is the world's most popular thriller writer ... Simply put: Nobody does it better. -- JEFFERY DEAVERPatterson boils a scene down to the single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind. -- MICHAEL CONNELLYJames Patterson is The Boss. End of. -- IAN RANKINI wrote, "Along Came a Spider is the best thriller I've come across in many a year. It deserves to be this season's no. 1 bestseller and should instantly make James Patterson a household name." A household name, indeed. -- NELSON DEMILLEJames Patterson is the gold standard by which all others are judged. -- STEVE BERRY, bestselling author of the Colton Malone series[Alex Cross] has become one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time, a character for the ages. -- DOUGLAS PRESTON and LINCOLN CHILDPatterson knows where our deepest fears are buried... there's no stopping his imagination. -- NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEWPatterson is in a class by himself. -- VANITY FAIR

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Book Synopsis'A masterclass in psychological suspense' Claire Douglas'A gripping new thriller' Shari Lapena'A superbly plotted' Lucy Clarke'A one-sit read' Sarah Pearse'Twisty and propulsive' Harriet Tyce______________________________Be careful what you wish for...Nicole and Tom's lives are changed overnight by a ten-million-pound lottery win.Before they know it they've moved into a state-of-the-art Glass Barn conversion in the stunning grounds of Lancaut Manor in Gloucestershire.But their dream quickly turns into a nightmare when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool, with a wound on his head.Someone close to home must be responsible. But other than the young couple who live in the Manor, and their housekeeper in the Coach House next door, there's no one around for miles.Who among them is capable of murder?_____________________________Praise for Gilly Macmillan:'Gilly Macmillan writes with verve and emotional acuity' New York Times'Brilliantly written, completely unputdownable, absolutely unmissable' Tim Weaver'A smart, well-told story that allows us to indulge our sneaky curiosity about what instant money can do to people's lives' Daily Mail'Plenty of twists and turns in this truly layered novel. Cleverly put together, it'll have you thinking long after you've finished reading' Belfast Telegraph'Great characters and a clever plot make for a highly engaging read. Storytelling at its best!' B.A. Paris'A truly excellent read' Jane Shemilt'Full of devious twists and turns' Cara Hunter'White-knuckled suspense' Tess Gerritsen'This is another winner for me. Absolutely loved it. Gripping, page turning and so cleverly plotted. I had real sympathy for the characters (some of them at least!)' Emma Curtis'What a tangly, twisting story! The Fall is completely unpredictable, and absolutely un-putdownable' Ava Glass'The Fall is an out-and-out winner! Hugely enjoyable, flawlessly crafted, beautifully written. This is a superior mystery of the highest order' C.M. Ewan'Brilliantly crafted' Woman & Home'Cleverly put together, it'll have you thinking long after you've finished reading' Press Association'Its intense plot, relatable characters and plethora of exciting twists and turns will leave readers gasping. I devoured each and every delicious page' Mystery and Suspense'Gilly Macmillan [is] one of the best writers of dark and twisty thrillers currently at work' Shots Magazine

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

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Book SynopsisOne woman is about to become the victim of her own success.On the surface Emily Atkinson has it all. A successful job, a luxury apartment in New York City and a glamorous life. But then she lands in the hospital with a double diagnosis.She parties too much... and she's pregnant.Her nurse and new friend, Betsey, helps Emily recuperate and rediscover morning runs in the park and quiet nights at home.But as a series of women go missing, Emily's pregnancy becomes decidedly high-risk...Will she live to see it through?--------------------------------Praise for James Patterson'Nobody does it better.' Jeffery Deaver'One of the greatest storytellers of all time.' Patricia Cornwell'James Patterson is The Boss. End of.' Ian Rankin'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades.' Lee ChildTrade ReviewPatterson knows where our deepest fears are buried... there's no stopping his imagination. -- NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEWNo one gets this big without natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades. -- LEE CHILD, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher seriesPatterson boils a scene down to a single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind. -- MICHAEL CONNELLYJames Patterson is the boss. End of. -- IAN RANKIN, bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus seriesJames Patterson is the gold standard by which all others are judged. -- STEVE BERRY, bestselling author of the Colton Malone seriesPatterson is in a class by himself. -- VANITY FAIR

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Book SynopsisThe global number one bestseller, set to become a hit movie produced by Reese Witherspoon and starring Dolly Parton. AN UNFORGETTABLE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE BELOVED INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR AND THE WORLD'S #1 BESTSELLING THRILLER WRITER__________________________'A GRIPPING AND HEARTBREAKING BOOK I COULDN'T PUT DOWN' REESE WITHERSPOON'LIKE HAVING DOLLY IN THE ROOM WITH YOU' VAL McDERMID'UNFORGETTABLY GOOD STUFF' TONY PARSONS___________________________Find a future. Lose a past.She's a star on the rise, singing about the hard life behind her.She's also on the run.Nashville is where she's come to claim her destiny.It's also where the darkness she's fled might find her. And destroy her . . .RUN ROSE RUN: a story glittering with danger and desire.Also available: an album of 12 original Dolly Parton songs made for the novel!____________________________Readers are loving Run Rose Run'It feels so authentic''This book pulls you in from page 1 and you don't want to put it down.''I would give the novel ten stars were it possible''Fabulous book. Could feel Dolly in the writing. James was his usual, story telling at his best''A great read, fabulous characters, short sharp chapters . . . A terrific collaboration'____________________________More praise for Run Rose Run'Deserves to be a runaway success' Express'Enthralling, terrifying, moving' Lee Smith'A thrilling journey' Kathleen Grissom'I absolutely loved it!' Ross King'A sublime partnership' Sun'This is going to be BIG' The Times'You'll find yourself pulled right in' I Paper'Told with passion and sensitivity' Daily Mail'Will have you rooting for them all the way' Guardian'One great read' Lisa Gardner'A diverting duet' Financial Times'Smart, spirited and entertaining' Daily MirrorRun Rose Run was a no.1 Sunday Times bestseller 18th March 2022Trade ReviewWarm, feisty. Like having Dolly in the room with you -- VAL McDERMIDRun Rose Run grips your heart from the start and never lets go. Like a great Dolly Parton song, it is rich with heart, humour and humanity, full of a yearning for the light even in the darkest of nights. Unforgettably good stuff. -- TONY PARSONS, bestselling author of the DC Max Wolfe seriesTaut and exciting. Patterson's mastery plus Parton's insider knowledge of Nashville's dark underbelly equals one great read. -- LISA GARDNER, bestselling author of the Detective D. D. Warren seriesRun Rose Run is a suspenseful tale of a young musician desperate to escape her troubled past. A thrilling journey from two beloved voices, set against the backdrop of the country-music scene. -- KATHLEEN GRISSOM, bestselling author of The Kitchen House and Glory Over EverythingDolly Parton is the beating heart and yearning soul of this amazing novel. Enter James Patterson, who knows how to grab a reader by the throat, kick up the suspense, and move a novel along better than anybody else in the world. Run Rose Run is enthralling, terrifying, enlightening, and moving all at once. -- LEE SMITH, bestselling author of The Last Girls and DimestoreI absolutely loved it! -- ROSS KINGA detailed, loving, professional portrait of a country music songwriter's process, whether alone and dreaming or down in the studio. * The Times *One of the most eagerly anticipated thrillers of 2022 * Daily Express *Told with passion and sensitivity it is as much a tribute to Parton's warmth and humanity as it is to Patterson's skill as a thriller writer * Daily Mail *A diverting duet . . . [Dolly Parton] is able to supply an authenticity in the details of the American music business . . . The autobiographical aspects of the novel are foregrounded: AnnieLee is as diminutive as Run Rose Run's co-author, with a similarly sparky, self-deprecating character. * Financial Times *Just like Parton's hit songs, you'll find yourself pulled right in * i Paper *Smart, spirited and thoroughly entertaining . . . set against the backdrop of the toxic music industry, Dolly's fury at the way women are treated blazes off the page. A wish fulfilment fairytale grounded in grit . . . deserves to be a runaway success * Daily Express *An iconic singer and a master storyteller make for a sublime partnership in this fun and fast tale. * Sun *All the great country songs are about heartbreak, about gittin' back on your feet and startin' over. Ultimately, that is where this book scores. AnnieLee is an adorable firecracker of a heroine . . . Run Rose Run has a sweet moreishness that will keep millions happily turning its 409 pages (plus lyrics at the back). Parton and Patterson may have invented a new style; let's call it Dolly Mixtures . . . Seriously, is there anything this phenomenal 76-year-old cannot do? * Daily Telegraph *The likable trio will have you rooting for them all the way * Guardian *If you love Dolly (and let's be honest, who doesn't?), you'll enjoy the ride. * Woman's Weekly *A deliciously hokey yarn about a young singer-songwriter (AnnieLee) struggling to shake off her murky past and make a career in Nashville. * Independent *Dreams, drama and danger, with a generous sprinkling of magic and wisdom at every turn, it makes for a super holiday or bedtime read * Herald *A perfect daily serving of soapy escapism * Guardian Weekly *A big-hearted tale of music and perseverance from a living country legend is our top literary pick this month . . . Along the way, we get plenty of genuinely interesting information about the country-music world . . . Frankly bonkers fun * Reader's Digest *Sassy AnnieLee and the Nashville music scene come across as authentic, and the plot speeds along with good humour and energy * Irish Independent *James Patterson is promiscuous with his charms. He has co-written thrillers with Bill Clinton, now he has snuggled up to another Southern institution, Dolly Parton. In this thriller a young singer-songwriter in Nashville is determined to make it big, but - surprise, surprise - she's on the run from her deadly past . . . It's going to be big. * The Times *America's master storyteller and much-loved performer join forces * Sun *Tells the story of a down-on-her-luck singer songwriter whose career is turbo-charged by a country music legend bearing more than a passing resemblance to the legendary Parton herself * Sunday Express *Who doesn't love Dolly Parton? As well as being a wonderful singer, songwriter and actor, she has created a remarkable legacy as a philanthropist for children's literacy. Parton has now joined forces for a writing duet with bestselling author James Patterson. * Independent *

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Book SynopsisBill Nighy stars as the suave thespian sleuth in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisationLife is good for Charles Paris. He's moved back in with his estranged wife, and has landed a plum stage role as Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night. But it can't last. First his attempts to woo Frances fall flat, then the play's director is taken ill with gastric trouble. His replacement, Romanian wunderkind Alex Radelescu, is determined to take the play in a radical new direction - with or without Charles.When a second member of the company falls sick, Charles begins to suspect a poisoner is on the loose - and the next victim could be him. Can he unmask the culprit before this comedy turns into a tragedy?Adapted by Jeremy Front, this engaging dramatisation stars Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances, Jon Glover as Maurice and Julian Rhind-Tutt as Alex Radelescu.'Always a treat' Gillian Reynolds, Sunday TimesProduction creditsWritten by Simon BrettAdapted by Jeremy FrontProduced and directed by Sally AvensFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 30 August-20 September 2006CastCharles Paris - Bill NighyFrances - Suzanne BurdenMaurice - Jon GloverKen Carter - Peter WightAlex Radelescu - Julian Rhind-TuttVivienne Marlin - Elizabeth BellGavin Scholes - Thomas WheatleyJack Bradley - John CumminsSally Luther - Tracy WilesBen Ritson - Tom LawrenceVasile Bogdan/Scott - Ryan McCluskeyTalya Northcott - Alex TregearInspector Dewar - Kim Wall© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. ? 2022 BBC Studios Distribution LtdTrade ReviewAlways a treat -- Gillian Reynolds * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month, one of The Times Best Crime Novels of 2021, The Sunday Times Crime Club Book of the Week, one of The Times best books to read this summer and one of the Observers thrillers of the month.'Riveting . . . Shindler's second novel displays an acute understanding of family dynamics, easily fulfilling the promise of his debut, The Burning Men' SUNDAY TIMES, CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTHTHE SECOND NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BURNING MEN, FEATURING DI ALEX FINN AND DCI MATTIE PAULSENA FRIDAY NIGHTKarl and his daughter Leah are on their weekly evening stroll through Crystal Palace Park.A HOODED FIGUREFrom out of the shadows, a figure wearing a blank mask ambushes them, armed with a large knife.A CHOICE TO MAKEKarl is forced to make an impossible decision: stay and die, or walk away from Leah with a knife at her throat and the promise that they will both survive. Could Karl ever live with himself if he left his daughter? Does he really have a choice?Soon, more seemingly unconnected and innocent people across London are offered a deal in exchange for their lives. DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen must hunt for a killer that appears to have no face, no motive and no conscience before more victims' blood is spilled.Praise for THE KILLING CHOICE'The explosive opening hooked me straight in . . . With a cast of credible characters, a twisting plotline and some ingenious twists, the book develops at a cracking pace' Lesley Sanderson, author of The Orchid Girls'An outstanding page-turner' Robin Morgan-Bentley, author of The Wreckage'DI Alex Finn and DCI Mattie Paulsen are back, this time chasing someone who forces their victims to make an impossible life-and-death decision. This is sitting up and begging to be developed for television' Sunday Times, Pick of the Week'Riveting . . . Shindler's second novel displays an acute understanding of family dynamics, easily fulfilling the promise of his debut, The Burning Men' Sunday Times, Book of the month'An excellent second outing for the cop pair following their introduction in The Burning Men - and as fine a police procedural as you'd want for a cold winter's night' Weekend Sport'The Killing Choice is the second in a series that opened with The Burning Men, and is another adept police procedural, building the sense of dread to breaking point as Finn and Paulsen rush to uncover any links between the victims. This is an immersive read that leaves the reader wondering how they would react if faced with such an unimaginable choice' Observer***Order the third novel in the Finn and Paulsen series, THE HUNTING GROUND, now!***Trade ReviewThe explosive opening hooked me straight in . . . With a cast of credible characters, a twisting plotline and some ingenious twists, the book develops at a cracking pace * Lesley Sanderson, author of The Orchid Girls *An outstanding page-turner * Robin Morgan-Bentley, author of The Wreckage *Warm and dealing with recognisable emotions, this is the best kind of police procedural * Literary Review *DI Alex Finn and DCI Mattie Paulsen are back, this time chasing someone who forces their victims to make an impossible life-and-death decision. This is sitting up and begging to be developed for television * Sunday Times, Pick of the Week *Riveting . . . Shindler's second novel displays an acute understanding of family dynamics, easily fulfilling the promise of his debut, The Burning Men * Sunday Times, Book of the month *An excellent second outing for the cop pair following their introduction in The Burning Men - and as fine a police procedural as you'd want for a cold winter's night * Weekend Sport *The Killing Choice is the second in a series that opened with The Burning Men , and is another adept police procedural, building the sense of dread to breaking point as Finn and Paulsen rush to uncover any links between the victims. This is an immersive read that leaves the reader wondering how they would react if faced with such an unimaginable choice * Observer *Riveting * The Times, Best thrillers and crime novels of 2021 so far *This slick tense thriller about families, loyalty, guilt and revenge is top notch * The Sun, Pick of the Week *This slick, tense thriller about families, loyalty, guilt and revenge is top notch - and no doubt heading to TV screens soon * The Sun *This riveting novel has a protagonist faced with a choice no parent should have to make: does he save his own life or that of his daughter? His decision has catastrophic consequences * Times Online, 'top 50 best books to read for summer 2021' *Thrilling * The Killing Choice *

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Book Synopsis'Shiveringly good suspense!' Lisa GardnerTHE BRAND NEW NOVEL FROM 30 MILLION COPY SELLING AUTHORThe Cahill family are famous for two things: their wealth, and the scandals that surround them.James Cahill has always tried to make his own way in the world, though he has enjoyed the many women taken in by the easy charms of a handsome, soon-to-be-rich bad boy.Waking up in hospital, bandaged and bruised, James barely recognises the gorgeous blonde at his bedside; Sophia, his mistress. As James' memories gradually return, pieces of a terrifying puzzle begin to slot into place. His girlfriend, Megan, had found out about his affair. Megan is missing. His family is hounding him. The police are asking him questions. James insists he has no idea what happened to Megan. But the betrayal you can't remember may be worse than you can imagine . . .A fast-paced psychological thriller for fans of Martina Cole, Lisa Gardner and Karen Rose, with Lisa Jackson's trademark mix of dark secrets and stunning twists.'Shiveringly good suspense!' Lisa Gardner'One of the best' Harlan Coben

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Book SynopsisTHE BRAND NEW PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE THRILLER FROM THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERThe deadliest killer is back...There are some killers so savage, so twisted, that they leave a mark not just on their victims, but on everyone who crosses their path.Years ago Detective Bentz left one such monster to die in the swamp. The world was a better place without Father John, a serial killer who posed as a priest. But now a new victim has surfaced, her body staged in deliberate, unmistakable detail.As the bodies start piling up, Bentz soon grows convinced that Father John isn''t just back. He''s circling closer, targeting those Bentz loves most.And this time, he won''t be stopped until the last sinner has paid the ultimate price...A return to fan-favourite characters Detectives Bentz and Montoya, The Last Sinner is a pulse-pounding psychological suspense thriller perfect for fans of Karen Rose and Lisa Gard

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Book Synopsis'Riveting and thrilling in equal measure. I didn't come up for air until the very last page. Filled with fantastic characters who find themselves in terrifying and unexpected situations. I kept asking myself, what would I do if it was me? A fantastic read with so many great twists. The best book from Louise Phillips so far.' Patricia Gibney'Compelling and clever. They All Lied grips you from the opening page and doesn't let you go.' Brian McGilloway When Nadine Fitzmaurice, a manager in an insurance company, gets a distressed phone call from her eighteen-year-old daughter, Becca, telling her she's killed someone, Nadine's life is turned upside down.Now Becca is being held against her will and, determined to save her daughter, Nadine finds herself dragged into the underworld of organised crime - and under the scrutiny of Detective Sergeant Wren Moore.But the more Nadine gets sucked in by those holding Becca, elements of her past, and a 'TRUTH or DARE' game that went terribly wrong years before, come to the surface.Eighteen years earlier, teenager Evie Nolan went missing. She never came home.One day Becca was there, and now she is gone too.But can Nadine help her daughter before it's too late?'One of the most original and distinctive voices in Irish crime fiction.' Jane Casey'Cleverly plotted and deftly woven, with surprises at every turn.' Andrea Mara'An explosive thriller with brilliant twists.' Anthony Quinn'From the opening psychological dilemma to the breathtaking denouement, They All Lied is Louise Phillips' best yet' Sharon Dempsey Trade ReviewRiveting and thrilling, you will not come up for air until the very last page * Patricia Gibney *Grips you from the opening page and doesn't let you go. Compassionate, clever and compelling * Brian McGilloway *One of the most original and distinctive voices in Irish crime fiction ... They All Lied will delight Louise Phillips' many fans * Jane Casey *An explosive thriller with brilliant twists * Anthony Quinn *Cleverly plotted, with surprises at every turn * Andrea Mara *

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Book SynopsisThe internationally bestselling novel that inspired the Disney+ Original series, The Clearing, featuring an all-star cast'Past and present collide in this taut and unpredictable thriller' - Chris Hammer, bestselling author of Scrublands'A dark, chilling, atmospheric thriller populated with mysterious and wonderfully flawed characters.' - Christian White, bestselling author of The Nowhere ChildTHE NUMBER ONE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERHow far would you go to protect your family?Amy has only ever known life in the Clearing. She knows what's expected of her. She knows what to do to please her elders, and how to make sure the community remains happy and calm. That is, until a new young girl joins the group. She isn't fitting in; she doesn't want to stay. What happens next will turn life as Amy knows it on its head.Freya has gone to great lengths to feel like a 'normal person'. In fact, if you saw her go about her day with her young son, you'd think she was an everyday mum. That is, until a young girl goes missing and someone from her past, someone she hasn't seen for a very long time, arrives in town.As secrets of the past bubble up to the surface, this small town's dark secrets will be exposed and lives will be destroyed.PRAISE FOR IN THE CLEARING:'A chilling depiction of the ferocious hold exerted by a cult and its adherents. This is totally absorbing fiction' - Jock Serong, author of The Rules of Backyard Cricket and Preservation'J.P. Pomare captivates in this haunting novel . . . A sure-fire bestseller' Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Mother-In-Law and The Family Next Door'Breathtaking page-turner' Christian White, bestselling author of The Nowhere ChildTrade ReviewPraise for In The Clearing:Beautifully written and disturbingly addictive -- Lesley KaraPomare's new novel, In the Clearing, is written with a technical aplomb that proves his first was no fluke. There's no doubt about it: Pomare is a master of the carefully constructed, impeccably paced psycho-thriller * The Australian *There are lots of premium crime-fiction offerings this summer, but this bloodcurdling exploration of the asphyxiating grip of a cult on its followers deserves to be at the top of your pile. * The New Daily *Clear your schedules, because after reading page one you won't be able to stop. In The Clearing is another breathtaking page-turner from the author of Call Me Evie. A dark, chilling, atmospheric thriller populated with mysterious and wonderfully flawed characters. * Christian White, bestselling author of The Nowhere Child *'Smart Australian thriller ... Amy and Freya's worlds creepily collide in this unputdownable tale.' * Peterborough Telegraph *Pomare alternates between Freya and Amy's stories in ways that challenge the reader to work out how these two characters connect, gradually revealing the secrets of the past until all the pieces of the puzzle fit satisfyingly * Sydney Morning Herald *Both his books are testament to the fact that he could be one of the most exciting literary thriller authors to come out of the country * The Saturday Paper *Still in his early thirties, he already writes with more assurance, and more subtlety, than some of the giants in his field. It seems safe to predict that he will one day be regarded as a giant in the field too * The Australian *If J P Pomare's Call Me Evie was a slow-burner of a psychological thriller, his follow-up, In the Clearing, is a pared-back firecracker * Books + Publishing *Past and present collide in this taut and unpredictable thriller ... Twist follows twist and nothing is as it seems * Chris Hammer, bestselling author of Scrublands *A chilling depiction of the ferocious hold exerted by a cult and its adherents. This is totally absorbing fiction, made all the more shocking by the realisation that these stories recur again and again in Australian society * Jock Serong, author of The Rules of Backyard Cricket and Preservation *J.P. Pomare captivates in this haunting novel, In the Clearing. I was utterly gripped with the stories of Amy and Freya from start to finish, and fascinated by the unexpected way the two came together ... A sure-fire bestseller * Sally Hepworth *This story plays on our worst fears - the peril faced by children and young people when predators strike. In the Clearing explores the psychology of cults and the experience of survivors and those who don't make it out. A complex and satisfying psychological mystery. * N.B. Magazine *Pomare teases out the mystery of both Freya's past and its connection to Amy's story, delivering a thriller that's tense, twisty and eerily atmospheric. * Gemma Nisbet, The West Australian *Praise for Call Me Evie:Pomare skilfully controls the drip-feed of information to create a nerve-racking love story that continually blindsides the reader. * The Times *

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Book Synopsis'J.P. Pomare keeps you guessing all the way through this creepy cyber-nightmare'The Times Crime Club'Bump it to the top of your must-read list immediately.'Anna Downes'A cunning, complex, contemporary thrill-ride 'Christian White'Pomare's latest creation will keep you guessing right up to the last page'Rose CarlyleEver get the feeling that you're being watched? Newlyweds Lina and Cain don't make it out to their vacation home on gorgeous Lake Tarawera as often as they'd like, so when Cain suggests they rent the property out on weekends, Lina reluctantly agrees. While the home has been special to her family for generations, their neighbours are already renting our their properties, and to be honest, she and Cain could use the extra money. What could go wrong? At first, Lina is amazed at how quickly guests line up - and at how much they're willing to pay. But both Lina and Cain have been keeping secrets, secrets that won't be kept out by a new alarm system or a locked cupboard. When strange things begin happening on their property, and a visit takes a deadly turn, Lina becomes convinced that someone out there knows something they shouldn't. And when they come for her, there will be nowhere left to hide.More praise for JP Pomare:'A master of the carefully constructed, impeccably paced psycho-thriller' The Australian 'Able to pull off red herrings galore and crafty, satisfying twists.' Kirkus'A writer to watch.' Publishers WeeklyTrade ReviewJP Pomare keeps you guessing all the way through this creepy cyber-nightmare. * The Times Crime Club *Gripping * Peterborough Telegraph *Meticulously-plotted and relentlessly tense, THE LAST GUESTS is JP Pomare at the top of his psych-thriller game. On one hand, it's an innovative, exhilarating and deeply unsettling story about technology and the underbelly of cyber-crime . . . on the other, it's a sharp and thoughtful exploration of marriage, intimacy, trust, and the things we do for love. The characters and settings get right under your skin and stay there. Couldn't put it down, can't stop thinking about it. Bump it to the top of your must-read list immediately. -- Anna Downes, author of THE SAFE PLACEA smart, innovative thriller, THE LAST GUESTS will have you moving off-grid and throwing your cellphone in the nearest lake. This nerve-wracking, fast-paced tale takes all our fears about surveillance technology and twists them into one nightmarish Gordian knot. Carefully constructed, chilling and compelling, Pomare's latest creation will keep you guessing right up to the last page -- Rose Carlyle, author of THE GIRL IN THE MIRRORJ.P. Pomare's first two books rocked my world - this one manages to exceed them. THE LAST GUESTS is a cunning, complex, contemporary thrill-ride that seems poised for the bestseller list. -- Christian White, author of THE NOWHERE CHILDA twisty thriller with an ending I didn't see coming. A cautionary tale for our times -- Megan Goldin, author of THE ESCAPE ROOM

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Book Synopsis'This powerful, unforgettable crime novel is a coming-of-age book to rival some of the best, such as William Kent Krueger's Ordinary Grace or Larry Watson's Montana 1948 . . . A must-read.' Library Journal (starred review)In a small town where loyalty is valued above all, defying unspoken rules can be deadly. A coming-of-age novel for fans of Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter.At fifteen, Boady Sanden dreams of being anywhere other than Jessup, Missouri. Then the Elgins move in across the road. Getting to know his new neighbours - a black family in a community where notions of "us" and "them" still carry weight - Boady is forced to rethink the world he took for granted.Secrets hidden in plain sight begin to unfold. There's the mother consumed by loss of her husband, the neighbour who carries the wounds of a mysterious past, the quiet boss fighting a hidden battle.But the biggest secret of all is the disappearance of Lida Poe, the African-American woman who keeps the books at the local factory. Although Boady has never met the missing woman, he discovers that the threads of her life are woven into the deepest fabric of his world.As the mystery of Lida's fate plays out, Boady begins to see the stark lines of race and class that both bind and divide this small town - and he will be forced to choose sides.Trade ReviewPraise for Allen Eskens * - *Elegant but chilly prose, like winter in the blood * New York Times Book Review *A taut, intelligent, heart-ripping story that explores the darkest places in the human psyche -- William Kent KruegerSatisfying in every way. I loved it -- Lee ChildThe tension builds to an all-stops-out finale that works on every level. Thriller fans should keep their eyes on Eskens * Booklist *Gripping...Eskens tells us in an author's note that he started this book in 1991 and kept putting it away, never quite feeling it was ready. He can proudly pronounce it ready now * Minneapolis Star Tribune *

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Book Synopsis'An eerie and atmospheric mystery that kept me guessing from start to finish' Allie Reynolds, author of Shiver One year ago, Leah's twenty-one-year-old niece, Amy, mysteriously drowned near her family-owned luxury resort on the shores of Lake Garda. Now, returning to Italy for the first time since Amy's death, Leah is shocked to find her family seem to have erased all reminders of Amy. Despite the murky circumstances, they insist her death was an accident but Leah knows she must look deeper if she is to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, in Derby, university counsellor Joanna is recovering from a surprising break-up when she is swept off her feet by a handsome bartender. But after she invites him into her home, Joanna is forced to accept that she doesn't know him as well as she thought.What follows is a propulsive game of cat-and mouse as both women begin to realise that appearances can be deceptive - and that the darkest secrets often lie closest to home.Trade ReviewA luxury Italian resort with a dark side. A cast of suspicious, secretive characters. The Other Guest is an eerie and atmospheric mystery that kept me guessing from start to finish * Allie Reynolds, author of Shiver *Teased out against the slick and stylish backdrop of Lake Garda, The Other Guest had me simultaneously glued to my seat and wanting to jump on a flight. It served up the perfect combination of glamour, intrigue and sibling rivalry. I really enjoyed it! * Polly Phillips *Sinister and beautifully atmospheric, The Other Guest lures you with the promise of a luxury island before revealing its darker, claustrophobic side. I loved it. * L. V. Matthews *A cleverly-plotted thriller in a luxurious and sun-drenched setting, where two seemingly-unconnected stories come together in a totally unexpected way. A great holiday read * Catherine Cooper *An exquisite setting masks layers of secrets in this captivating thriller . . . beautifully written, powerfully conveyed, and swirling with mysteries you'll race to the last page to solve * Megan Collins *Masterfully written, drawing you in to the lives of the fascinating characters as the tension builds and builds. Compelling, perfectly paced, and packed full of suspense * Sarah Bonner *Difficult-to-put down thriller... Brilliantly characterized, boldly plotted, and boasting an ending that readers will think they have figured out only to have everything turned around. The perfect vacation thriller. * Booklist *[A] strong psychological thriller...Credible characters enhance the suspenseful plot. Cooper remains a writer to watch. * Publishers Weekly *In this captivating slow-burner, dark secrets lurk beneath a luxurious lakeside resort in Italy with mysterious connections to a handsome bartender in England. Helen Cooper deftly navigates between what seems like two completely separate narratives bundled in The Other Guest: One involves a murder hushed up by the victim's own family, and the other involves a blossoming romance. You'll be hooked on trying to solve this puzzle! * Reader's Digest *A masterpiece of storytelling with twist after unguessable twist. I relished every delicious page. If you can't actually go on holiday, just read this book and you're in a luxury Italian resort, you can smell it, taste it, feel it. * Lucy Martin *

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Book SynopsisAs the Great War rages on, will the truth come out?1915. Best friends Irene, Maggie and Annie are proud members of the newly renamed Women's Police Service. While Britain's men are away fighting in France, the girls are doing their bit by keeping the peace at home in London's East End. But out of the blue, Irene is given the opportunity to be stationed near an army barracks in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Having recently experienced some heartbreak and keen for the adventure, she decides to go. What could possibly go wrong? It turns out, plenty. One of the other WPS girls takes an immediate dislike to her and makes her life a misery. On top of that, the man she thinks could be the answer to all her problems isn't all he seems. And when she finds a psychologically disturbed deserter in hiding, she has a very difficult decision to make . . . Can Irene overcome all these obstacles without Maggie and Annie by her side, and find true happiness at last?Praise for THE BOBBY GIRLS:Filled with richly drawn characters that leap from the page, and a plot that's so well researched and well written you will believe you are in the thick of wartime policing, The Bobby Girls is a must-read for all saga fans.' - Fiona Ford, bestselling author of Christmas at Liberty's'I really enjoyed reading about Britain's first female police officers. A lot of research has gone into this book and it's all the richer and more readable for it. An exciting new voice in women's fiction.' - Kate Thompson, bestselling author of Secrets of the Singer Girls'I really did enjoy The Bobby Girls. It has a lovely warm feeling about it and is excellently written.' - Maureen Lee, RNA award-winning author of Dancing in the Dark'A well-researched and interesting story giving a great insight into early women's policing.' - Anna Jacobs, bestselling author of the Ellindale series'Written with warmth and compassion, the novel gives fascinating insights into the lives of three courageous young women.' - Margaret Kaine, RNA award-winning author of Ring of Clay'Johanna Bell has hit the jackpot with this striking WW1 crime story. The author places the focus firmly on the girls' growth into independent members of society in a rapidly changing world. It's a heartening central message conveyed with verve and empathy and remains relevant to today's readers, both young and old.' - Jenny Holmes, author of The Spitfire Girls'This is a story that needed to be told. As a former Special Constable, I love Johanna Bell from the bottom of my heart for giving a voice to the women who first made a way for me and countless others like me - to work as real police officers in the service of our communities.' - Penny Thorpe, author of The Quality Street Girls'A lovely story! The author has researched the era and the theme very well. The characters stood out on the page and through their eyes you are transported back to a different age.' - AnneMarie Brear, author of Beneath a Stormy SkyTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE BOBBY GIRLS SERIES * - *Brilliantly written and a great story - what more could you ask for? * Sun *Filled with richly drawn characters that leap from the page, and a plot that's so well researched and well written you will believe you are in the thick of wartime policing, The Bobby Girls is a must-read for all saga fans. * Fiona Ford, bestselling author of Christmas at Liberty's *I really enjoyed reading about Britain's first female police officers. A lot of research has gone into this book and it's all the richer and more readable for it. An exciting new voice in women's fiction. * Kate Thompson, bestselling author of Secrets of the Singer Girls *Johanna Bell has hit the jackpot with this striking WW1 crime story. The author places the focus firmly on the girls' growth into independent members of society in a rapidly changing world. It's a heartening central message conveyed with verve and empathy and remains relevant to today's readers, both young and old. * Jenny Holmes, author of The Spitfire Girls *A well-researched and interesting story giving a great insight into early women's policing. * Anna Jacobs, bestselling author of the Ellindale series *I really did enjoy The Bobby Girls. It has a lovely warm feeling about it and is excellently written. * Maureen Lee, RNA award-winning author of Dancing in the Dark *Written with warmth and compassion, the novel gives fascinating insights into the lives of three courageous young women. * Margaret Kaine, RNA award-winning author of Ring of Clay *This is a story that needed to be told. As a former Special Constable, I love Johanna Bell from the bottom of my heart for giving a voice to the women who first made a way for me and countless others like me - to work as real police officers in the service of our communities. * Penny Thorpe, bestselling author of The Quality Street Girls *

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Book Synopsis''Totally, brilliantly original.'' Stephen King on HEX''Creepy and gripping and original'' - George R.R. Martin on HEXThe latest spine-chilling horror thriller from the Hugo award-winning author, Thomas Olde Heuvelt. Perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman, Adam Nevill and Stephen King.On a foggy winter morning two children discover the impossible: the wreck of an eighteenth-century ship stranded in a field.One enters the hatch on the deck and is never seen again. And she isn''t the last to disappear . . .Soon a government agency begins to investigate, determined to uncover the ship''s secrets before a media storm erupts. They enlist Robert Grim, a retired specialist of the occult, to unravel the mystery, who soon realises the ship could be a harbinger of an ancient doom awakened under the sea. In a maelstrom of international intrigue and pure terror, Grim must race against time as he comes face to face with

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Book Synopsis'Sharply written . . . takes readers on a thrillingly doomed journey amid the simmering heat of an Italian landscape - a captivating portrayal of self and want' Christine Mangan, author of Sunday Times bestselling TangerineTo cool-headed, fastidious Pricilla Messing, Italy will be an escape, a brief glimpse of freedom from a life that's starting to feel like one long decline.Rescued from the bedside of her difficult mother, forty-something Cilla finds herself called away to Rome to keep an eye on her wayward teenage niece, Hannah. But after years of caregiving, babysitting is the last thing Cilla wants to do. Instead she throws herself into Hannah's youthful, heedless world - drinking, dancing, smoking - relishing the heady atmosphere of the Italian summer. After years of feeling used up and overlooked, Cilla feels like she's coming back to life.But being so close to Hannah brings up complicated memories, making Cilla restless and increasingly reckless, and a dangerous flirtation with a teenage boy soon threatens to send her into a tailspin.With the sharp-edged insight of Ottessa Moshfegh and the taut seduction of Patricia Highsmith, The Worst Kind of Want is a dark, hypnotic literary noir about a woman whose unruly desires and troubled past push her to the brink of disaster.***Praise for The Worst Kind of Want:'Masterfully constructed . . . Dazzling . . . Wonderfully surprising and a pleasure to read' LA Review of Books'Worth obsessing over' PopSugar'Noirish and sexy, this provocative novel explores what it's like to be a woman on the edge, and what happens when dreams are deferred for too long' Esquire'As death-steeped, sultry, and delicious as the ancient Italian cities in which it's set' Lit Hub'Intoxicating' Publishers Weekly'Sets her narrator on a dark psychological journey in sweltering, sun-bleached locales . . . Darkly compelling' BooklistTrade ReviewDark, seductive . . . Noirish and sexy, this provocative novel explores what it's like to be a woman on the edge, and what happens when dreams are deferred for too long. * Esquire *A Book you have to read ASAP . . . Womanhood. Death. Sex. A risky flirtation with a teenage boy. In Jacobs's latest novel, she weaves together desire and disaster as a burned-out 40-something throws herself into the nightlife of teenagers in the heat of the Italian summer. Sounds like . . . she predicted my future? * Cosmopolitan *An unconventional - and disastrous - love story, as death-steeped, sultry, and delicious as the ancient Italian cities in which it's set * Lit Hub *Liska Jacobs's work captivates in the present because it reflects the trauma of the past. . . Jacobs takes us on a wrenching journey into the catacombs * Alta *Jacobs's intoxicating second novel is a love letter to Italy and an evocative study of grief and desire . . . Jacobs's haunting portrait of one woman's transformative and, ultimately, tragic summer will linger with readers. * Publishers Weekly *Jacobs sets her narrator on a dark psychological journey in sweltering, sun-bleached locales . . . Darkly compelling * Booklist *Liska Jacobs's psychologically tense novel The Worst Kind of Want deftly explores matters of age and aging, of modernity and women, as seen through the lens of forty-something Cilla's propulsive desires. In this sharply written feminist noir, Jacobs takes readers on a thrillingly doomed journey amid the simmering heat of an Italian landscape - a captivating portrayal of self and want.This crispy biscotti of a novel is about a producer who goes to Italy, has a scandalous relationship, and decodes not just the meaning of life but also the meaning of death, sex, dance clubs, and emoji. You'll feel indecent reading it in public * Vulture *

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Book SynopsisJude Lyon of MI6 has narrowly foiled the traitor Fowle's plot to level London, but the public are demanding answers.Answers the government doesn't have. As the country reels, a new populist political figure carves a stratospheric trajectory - but is he all he seems? In Moscow the President is furious. The world now knows the destructive power of the programme his people had been developing, and as the Russians scramble to understand how it got into Fowle's hands, they start to worry that perhaps it could be used against them . . . But Jude Lyon has just one question on his mind: Guy Fowle is missing, with nothing left to lose, So what is he planning next? Seething with political machinations, burning with blood-thumping action, and featuring the best returning MI6 operative since James Bond The Survivor brings the espionage novel crashing into the modern day.Trade ReviewAn engrossing, flawless fusion of globe-trotting adventure and evocative writing * Sunday Times Thriller of the Month *The Survivor, like its predecessors, combines high-tech expertise with bare-knuckle thrills. It's like being strapped to a rocket. A triumph. * Mick Herron, on The Survivor *Since their debuts in The Stranger, MI6 operative Jude Lyon's antagonism with rogue terrorist Guy Fowle has been among the most memorable in contemporary thrillerdom. Conway's military experience imbues the bloody showdowns with bone-jarring authenticity. In the final reckoning, however, this is a duel between two big beasts - the old school crazed villain and Lyon's modern incarnation of Galahad, a paladin with feelings, but up for it when what he holds dear is threatened * The Times *Simon Conway is one of the great thriller writers of our times - and in Jude Lyon has created a truly fascinating investigator . . . This is a proper international thriller, with Conway sweeping the reader from Belarus to Africa to London, and all the time bringing the scene to life with the lightest of touches * Holly Watt, author of To The Lions, on The Survivor *If you like your villains suave, if irredeemably vicious and evil, and your heroes incredibly brave and resourceful, Simon Conway's The Surviror, a hold-on-tight action-packed thriller, ticks all the boxes with considerable brio * Independent *A former British army officer and overseas aid worker, Conway brings insider knowledge of the military and geopolitics to add an extra layer to the finale in a terrifyingly plausible trilogy * Financial Times *A nail-bitingly believable cloak-and-dagger thriller * Peterborough Telegraph *Conway's military experience brings insider detail, but the riveting storytelling of the near-apocalyptic struggle between dark and light is the real triumph * Financial Times *Praise for Simon Conway:The Saboteur takes his storytelling to a new level * Financial Times, on The Saboteur *A novel with visceral thrills and the grand chess of international espionage. Throw in a hero and an anti-hero for our times, and you have one of the best thrillers of recent years * Misha Glenny, author of McMafia, on The Stranger *The Stranger renders Simon Conway one of the 21st century's masters of the thriller genre * Jon Snow on The Stranger *There's a healthy crop of younger spy writers just now, and Simon Conway is among the pick of the bunch. His military background renders the action scenes bloodily and the novel's apocalyptic scenario all too plausibly * The Times on The Saboteur *Violent, authentic and alarmingly believable story about modern spying * the Sun on The Saboteur *It's a hugely entertaining read, featuring the nastiest, most charismatic villain of recent years, and barely pauses for breath throughout * Mick Herron, author of Slough House, on The Saboteur *This book puts Simon Conway into the top flight of thriller writers probing the darker corners of the 'war on terror' * Allan Little, BBC special correspondent on The Stranger *

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A storm. A disappearance. A race against time . . .Mustique is in a state of breathless calm as tropical storm Cristobal edges towards it across the Atlantic. Most villa owners have escaped the island but a few young socialites remain, unwilling to let summer's partying end. American heiress Amanda Fortini is one such thrill-seeker - until she heads out for a morning swim and doesn't return. Detective Sergeant Solomon Nile is just 28 years old and the island's only fully trained police officer. He quickly realises he needs to contact Lord and Lady Blake, who bought the island decades ago and have invested time, money and love creating a paradise. Jasper is in St Lucia designing a new village of luxury villas but Lady Veronica (Vee to her friends) catches a plane immediately. Her beloved god-daughter, Lily, is on the island and this disappearance has alarming echoes of what happened to Lily's mother many years ago. Lady Vee would never desert a friend in need, and she can keep a cool head in a crisis. When Amanda's body is found, a murder investigation begins. Nile knows the killer must be an islander because flights and ferry crossings have stopped due to the storm warning, but the local community isn't co-operating. And then the storm hits, and someone else disappears . . .

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Book SynopsisThe thrilling new novel from the acclaimed author of Murder on Mustique, based on the childhood described in her international bestseller Lady in Waiting.January 1950. Lady Anne Coke, daughter of the 5th Earl of Leicester, is in Scunthorpe on a business trip when she is called home after a sudden death in the family. She returns to Holkham Hall to discover a mystery: her beloved grandfather has been found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs with a valuable piece of jewellery in his pocket. No one can find a cause of death, and some even suspect foul play from the ghost who supposedly haunts the house. But Anne's suspicions are aroused; she grew close to her grandfather when they lived together during the war and she is determined to discover the truth.During World War II, Holkham Hall was an army base with large sections out of bounds, and 11-year-old Anne was in the care of a new governess, whom she hated and believed to be deceitful. Although she had been told to stay away from certain parts of the house, Anne used the secret passageways and the cellars to move around unnoticed. And something she saw then could unlock the mystery of her grandfather's death now ...Full of rich historical detail, this is a gripping novel of wartime secrets, intrigue and deceit.Trade Review[A] winning, well-plotted read . . . the mystery's denouement at the dance makes a glamorous and dramatic conclusion -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail *A breezily entertaining read from the author of Lady In Waiting, with clever plotting and a beautiful setting * Daily Mirror *Stirring story of wartime secrets and intrigue * Best *Delightfully intriguing * Peterborough Telegraph *Thrilling . . . The atmosphere is perfect, the anxieties and fears of the young Anne are particularly realistic, and the mystery is the perfect riddle. This is a superb story, told with verve and love. Lady Anne Glenconner seems to have been born to write, and one wonders why she came to it so late in life . . . Hats off to Lady Anne for producing such a brilliant story! * Books-Monthly.co.uk *Lady Glenconner's intimate knowledge of Holkham shines through . . . an enjoyable winter read to be savoured over the upcoming holiday season * The Wee Review *It is the picture of life at Holkham and the training of an aristocrat to take on anything that may be thrown at her that makes this novel stand out * Literary Review *The story's main hero is the magnificent house of the title . . . it will certainly give pleasure to many readers * Spectator *Lady Anne Glenconner - who turns 90 in July - is remarkable . . . This, her second mystery, takes place in the grand house and estate where she grew up . . . As light as a soufflé but just as delicious * Irish Independent *A truly great read with a brilliant twist at the end * Yours *

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Book SynopsisNever Have I Ever been punished for what I have done . . .'An unsettling whirlwind of a novel with a startlingly dark core. 5 Stars' Sun on The Other TwinTwenty years agoFour teenagers discover a new game.They add their own rules, going from sharing secrets to sharing firsts. And then it all goes spiraling out of control.NowA woman gets a note through her door which chills her blood'Never have I ever been punished for what I have done'She thought this was over. But it looks like it's her turn to playBecause no matter how far it goes, you have to obey the rules of the game. And the game is never really over.'Well written, engrossing and brilliantly unique, this is a fab debut' Heat on The Other TwinTrade ReviewPraise for L.V. Hay - -An unsettling whirlwind of a novel with a startlingly dark core. 5 Stars - SunWell written, engrossing and brilliantly unique, this is a fab debut - HeatAs dark and twisty as the Brighton Lanes - Dead if you Don'tThis will wrong-foot you in ALL the best ways - Sweet Little LiesA dark, tense and atmospheric thriller . . . a brilliant and unique psychological thriller that's well worth picking up! - The Crime Review

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Book SynopsisA world at war. A beautiful young star. A mission no one expected.'A truly outstanding novel, brilliantly written, that captured me and held me in its grip from page one. The Black Swan of Paris reminds us of the power of love, hope and courage'Heather Morris, #1 bestselling author of The Tattooist of AuschwitzParis, 1944Celebrated singer Genevieve Dumont is both a star and a smokescreen. An unwilling darling of the Nazis, her position of privilege allows her to go undetected as an ally to the resistance.When her estranged mother, Lillian de Rocheford, is captured by Nazis, Genevieve is shaken. She knows it won't be long before the Gestapo succeeds in torturing information out of Lillian that will derail the upcoming allied invasion. The resistance movement is tasked with silencing her by any means necessary - including assassination.But Genevieve refuses to let her mother become yet one more victim of the war. Reuniting with her long-lost sister, she must find a way to navigate the perilous cross-currents of Occupied France undetected - and in time to save Lillian's life.For fans of Danielle Steele's The Spy, Jane Thynne's Black Roses and Heather Morris' The Tattooist of Auschwitz, this exquisite novel illuminates three women's strength, courage and capacity for unconditional love.PRAISE FOR THE BLACK SWAN OF PARIS'Emotional and powerful'Pam Jenoff, bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris'Beautifully written and completely absorbing. 'Noelle Salazar, bestselling author of The Flight Girls'An extraordinarily suspenseful, emotional read'Kelly Rimmer, bestselling author of The Things We Cannot SayReader Reviews:'Perfect! This novel was the first I've read by this author but I will definitely be reading more of her work. It was pacy, exciting, heart-breaking in places, with a truly believable romance sub-plot that was centred around characters I cared about.''A high octane read which is a real page turner and captures the heightened tension of the war perfectly. A brilliant read that I would recommend.''This is an excellent WWII historical fiction novel and it is for anyone that loves a good plot, suspense, and anyone that loves to read about the impressive underdog of the Resistance in France during the Occupation.'Robards paints a beautiful capture of the true Parisian Paris during WWII. Her first historical fiction should be praised for the attention to detail, emotional and action packed novel.'Trade ReviewWWII history buffs will appreciate the accurate depictions and backdrop, while romantic-suspense lovers will eagerly follow Genevieve from the seashores of France to the hilltops of Germany * Booklist *Robards blends commendable attention to historical detail with intense realism and deep feeling. Historical fiction fans will be enthralled with this richly hewn novel and the romance and danger lurking around its every corner * Publishers Weekly *the latest page-turner from Karen Robards * Choice *

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Book Synopsis'One of the most reliable thriller writers in the world' Daily MailTo do what is right, she risks losing everything...1937Sibil Hellinger is enjoying market day in the small Spanish town of Guernica when clouds of German planes suddenly fill the sky. As the bombs rain down, Sibil escapes with her sister but her mother is tragically killed.1944The world is at war and Sibil has grown into a beautiful young woman fuelled by a dark rage. Working with her father, a scientist and member of the undercover German resistance, she is the perfect spy to fight back against those responsible for her mother's death - the Nazis. To avenge the family she lost and protect those she loves, she must risk everything.From the bestselling author of The Black Swan of Paris, Fire in the Sky comes an absorbing novel of bravery, danger, love and women's unbelievable reserves of strength.PRAISE FOR THE BLACK SWAN OF PARIS'A truly outstanding novel, brilliantly written, that captured me and held me in its grip from page one. The Black Swan of Paris reminds us of the power of love, hope and courage'Heather Morris, #1 bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz'Emotional and powerful'Pam Jenoff, bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris'Beautifully written and completely absorbing. 'Noelle Salazar, bestselling author of The Flight Girls'An extraordinarily suspenseful, emotional read'Kelly Rimmer, bestselling author of The Things We Cannot Say

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Book Synopsis'Exquisite'New York Times'A superb family drama'Daily Mail'A searingly intelligent writer' Jennifer Egan'A twist of eerie magic'Tessa Hadley'A singular, extraordinary delight' Claire Lombardo'Every novel of Margot Livesey's is a joyous discovery'Alice Sebold'A tender, deeply humane exploration of what it means to hold another's heart in yours with tenderness and mercy'Elizabeth WetmoreOne September afternoon in 1999, teenagers Matthew, Zoe, and Duncan Lang are walking home from school when they discover a boy lying in a field, bloody and unconscious. Thanks to their intervention, the boy's life is saved. In the aftermath, all three siblings are irrevocably changed.Matthew, the oldest, becomes obsessed with tracking down the assailant, secretly searching the local town with the victim's brother. Zoe wanders the streets of Oxford, looking at men, and one of them, a visiting American graduate student, looks back. Duncan, the youngest, who has seldom thought about being adopted, suddenly decides he wants to find his birth mother. Overshadowing all three is the awareness that something is amiss in their parents' marriage.Over the course of the autumn, as each of the siblings confronts the complications and contradictions of their approaching adulthood, they find themselves at once drawn together and driven apart.A New York Times Notable Book of the Year and Daily Mail and O Magazine Book of the year.Trade ReviewThis is the kind of book you ration yourself reading because you don't want to get to the end. A gripping, beautifully written novel showing the light and shade of modern family life * Daily Mail *Written in elegant, spare prose, this story flies swiftly forward from the transfixing opening pages. A charming, complicated family dynamic, a twist of eerie magic -- Tessa HadleyExquisite . . . Livesey's writing is quiet, observant and beautifully efficient * New York Times *A superb family drama -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail, Best Books of 2020 *I loved every single sentence of The Boy in the Field. This novel is so intricately woven, its world so vibrantly built, its characters so beautifully and empathically wrought. To experience the world as rendered by Margot Livesey is a singular, extraordinary delight. -- Claire Lombardo, author of THE MOST FUN WE EVER HADElegant writing, intriguing and subtle -- Lucy AtkinsLuminous... Livesey's language is crystalline-clear and immersive, replete with vibrant imagery... Full of kindness * Boston Globe *How lucky the world is that Margot Livesey has turned her usual keen and sympathetic writer's eye to the Lang children - Duncan, Zoe, and Matthew- as they struggle to make sense of a terrible crime and the sensitive, mysterious young victim who suffers in the aftermath. From its taut and frightening opening chapter to its final, mournful pages, The Boy in the Field is a tender, deeply humane exploration of family, philosophy, and what it means to grow up, to keep secrets, to care for one another, and most importantly, what it means to hold another's heart in yours, always, with tenderness and mercy -- Elizabeth Wetmore, author of VALENTINEFamily bonds are fraught, fragile, yet ultimately enduring in Livesey's nuanced account of the siblings' separate but conjoined odysseys . . . Livesey demonstrates . . . respect for the mysteries of the human heart . . . Quietly yet powerfully affecting. * Kirkus (starred) *Every character rings true; every observation and reaction feels real. Braiding three separate views of the same incident, Livesey weaves a masterful tapestry of emotion and action focused on the indelible impact of random events * Booklist (starred review) *Livesey deftly portrays the rich inner lives of adolescents . . . [she] does well by her teenage protagonists while offering a vivid portrait of life among intellectuals in an Oxford-vicinity village. * Library Journal *Margot Livesey has the unique ability to find the hidden darkness beneath the surface of our lives, no matter how deeply buried. A deceptively simple story that explores the aftermath of a moment of violence, The Boy in the Field amazed me with its insight, and the subtlety of Livesey's beautiful, almost dreamlike prose. -- Kevin Wilson, author of NOTHING TO SEE HEREFilled with detailed observation and a precisely delineated plot, The Boy in the Field will please readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories written with psychological precision and empathy. * BookPage *A stunning novel of tenderness, interconnectedness, cause and effect . . . this brilliant novel offers a sense of beauty and safety in its quiet ruminations * Shelf Awareness *Margot Livesey is a searingly intelligent writer at the height of her powers. -- Jennifer EganEvery novel of Margot Livesey's is, for her readers, a joyous discovery. Her work radiates with compassion and intelligence and always, deliciously, mystery -- Alice Sebold, author of THE LOVELY BONESMargot Livesey should be better known . . . [She] writes as well as anyone and is clearly steeped in the literary canon . . . She's a patient builder of complex characters who are often brought face to face with uncomfortable truths about themselves. -- Mark Kamine * Wall Street Journal *Livesey knows her way around human desire and disappointment. * New York Times *MERCURY explores that thrilling, terrifying moment when grief turns blind, when passion becomes obsession. As always, Livesey tells her tale masterfully, with intelligence, tenderness and a shrewd understanding of all our mercurial human impulses. -- Lily King on MERCURYConsuming . . . Explores themes of honesty and understanding by showing the impact that obsessions - grief, rapacity - can have on a marriage * New Yorker on MERCURY *

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Book Synopsis Set in the final days before a shocking tragedy forces an elite boarding school to shut its doors for good, Ellie Eaton's The Divines is a razor-sharp debut that asks the question: were you really as good as you remember?I am Divine. My mother was Divine and her mother before that, which isn't uncommon. Although that was at a time when being Divine meant something . . .The girls of elite English boarding school, St. John the Divine, were notorious for flipping their hair, harassing teachers, chasing boys and chain-smoking cigarettes. They were fiercely loyal, sharp-tongued, and cutting in the way that only teenage girls can be. But for Josephine, now in her thirties, her time at St. John feels like a lifetime ago. She hasn't spoken to another Divine in fifteen years, not since the day the school shut its doors in disgrace . . .But an impromptu visit reawakens blurry recollections of those doomed final weeks that rocked the community. With each memory that resurfaces, she circles closer to the ugly secret at the heart of the school's scandal. But the more Josephine recalls, the further her life unravels, derailing not just her marriage and career, but her entire sense of self.With the emotional power of My Dark Vanessa and the reflective haze of The Girls, The Divines is a compulsive debut exploring the intoxicating, destructive relationships between teenage girls. 'A cool, chilling and elegant novel' Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent'Perfectly twisted . . . Impossible to put down' Refinery29'Captivating' Vulture'An explosive debut' StylistTrade ReviewA dark delight . . . The Divines is perfectly twisted in its reflection of an utterly toxic environment, making it impossible to put down till you get to its end. * Refinery29 *Chilling and twisty, this story will have you at once compelled, and cringing at the awfulness of teenage girls * Cosmopolitan *Exploring the destructive relationships of teenage girls and the echoes they have on our grown lives, this is an explosive debut * Stylist *This elegant tale of class privilege and bullying at an exclusive girl's boarding school in the 90s makes you feel as though you are trapped alongside conflicted protagonist Josephine * iNews, Best Books of 2021 *Remembering the girls of St. John the Divine, Josephine, in her 30s, ruminates on her bullying days at boarding school. In this captivating debut novel, Ellie Eaton traces adolescent female sexuality, class divides, and the weight of formative memories on adults * New York Magazine *Compelling and very atmospheric. Really interesting on how we remember the past and carry it with us * Kate Sawyer, author of THE STRANDING *THE DIVINES is a cool, chilling and elegant novel that intrigues and compels the reader, while filleting the absurdities of British class hierarchy with a very, very sharp knife. In Eaton's stylish and controlled prose, the oppressive atmosphere of a girls' boarding school becomes the site of a violent and mysterious act, but also a lens through which to examine the intoxicating and unnerving power of adolescent sexuality, the dangers and consolations of friendship, and the toxic nature of the class divide. It's a terrific, entertaining and astute work and one of considerable relevance to the way we live now. * Sarah Perry, author of THE ESSEX SERPENT *A potent novel about what it means to remember and how responsible we are for the actions of our youth. Seething with teenage sexuality, friendship and that peculiarly British obsession, class, this is an absorbing read * Araminta Hall *'Girls are vicious,' a character in The Divines says towards the end, and Ellie Eaton has given us every ounce of that viciousness, meticulously portioned and weighed, the pain of it held up to the light. Seductive and uncomfortable in equal measure, the real raw strange runs through this book, that indigestible part of the human experience we all choke on from time to time * Rufi Thorpe, author of The Knockout Queen and The Girls from Corona Del Mar *The Divines is an absorbing, sharp exploration of the ways our adolescent secrets, relationships, and cruelties shape and haunt us into adulthood. Ellie Eaton's writing is thrilling and intoxicating, whether about the inexplicable power teenage girls have over one another or the challenges of defining a self outside of long-held traditions. A compulsively readable book; I couldn't put it down * Alexandra Chang, author of Days of Distraction *From the very first page, The Divines throws the reader headfirst into the crucible of adolescent girlhood, in all its insecurity and entitlement, brittle vulnerability and callous cruelty. Eaton turns a keen eye toward class, privilege, and trauma, but this novel is above all a ruthlessly compassionate exploration of the stories we tell ourselves about the past-our drive to assuage our regrets, even as we are reluctant to reckon with their repercussions. A confident, nuanced, impeccably paced debut * Micah Nemerever, author of These Violent Delights *The Divines is a scintillating coming-of-age story about the brutal bonds of female boarding school friendships, class prejudices, and the ways in which false memories can take the place of truth. Sephine is an unflinching and utterly convincing narrator. I lapped up every delicious detail * Susie Yang, author of White Ivy *A nostalgia filled story, full of the intensity of adolescent friendships * Best Magazine *

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Book SynopsisTHE THIRD NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BURNING MEN AND THE KILLING CHOICE, FEATURING DI ALEX FIN AND DCI MATTIE PAULSENTHE THIRD NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BURNING MEN AND THE KILLING CHOICE, FEATURING DI ALEX FIN AND DCI MATTIE PAULSENSadie Nicholls has been found dead, brutally and strangely murdered, in her South East London flat. Her little boy is missing.DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen know that, in the case of a missing child, it's the first 24 hours that count. They don't have many left to find out where Sadie's son might be and the identity of her killer. Why would anyone want a struggling single mother, loved by many, dead?But when they realise a similar crime was committed at the same house nearly 20 years ago, a question is on everyone's lips: is this more than just a coincidence?This is third in Will Shindler's Finn and Paulsen series - a British detective series that ranks with Mark Billingham, M.J. Arlidge and Stuart MacBride.PRAISE FOR THE DI ALEX FINN AND DC MATTIE PAULSEN SERIES'Arresting ... an unusual novel with a rising sense of menace' The Sunday Times'Warm and dealing with recognisable emotions, this is the best kind of police procedural' Literary Review'An outstanding page-turner' Robin Morgan-Bentley, author of The Wreckage'A gripping debut with well-rounded characters and an intriguing plot. You won't want it to end' Heat'The explosive opening hooked me straight in . . . With a cast of credible characters, a twisting plotline and some ingenious twists, the book develops at a cracking pace' Lesley Sanderson, author of The Orchid GirlsTrade ReviewPraise for the DI Alex Finn series * : *Arresting ... an unusual novel with a rising sense of menace * The Sunday Times *Well-rounded characters and an intriguing plot. You won't want it to end * Heat *The pace is good and Finn is a great character. There is also an excellently portrayed organised crime boss * Literary Review *Praise for The Hunting Ground: * - *I thoroughly enjoyed this - expertly paced and meticulously planned, with sharp twists and turns all the way through. It's loaded with sub-plots, blind alleys and dark secrets, all leading to a satisfying grim finale * Ben Creed *A complex and riveting storyline with an intriguing cast of characters * Rachel Abbott *A clever thriller with characters you don't want to leave behind * Lesley Sanderson *[Shindler's] third book proves he'll be a long-term bestseller. It's a crime cracker! * Peterborough Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER BY THE 80 MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR1920, TexasSoldier Thatcher Hutton returns to a country unlike the one he left behind - where Prohibition is the new law of the land. When he is caught up in a crime on his journey home, he must gain the sheriff's trust to clear his name.Tragic events and betrayed trust have left Laurel Plummer alone and destitute. With few wage-earning opportunities open to women, she boldly enters an industry rife with danger and dominated by the men of the town.Her success comes at a cost when her cutthroat competitors resort to violence. Now deputy sheriff, Thatcher is powerless to defend Laurel as they find themselves on opposite sides of the moonshine war, where blood flows as freely as whiskey...A new suspenseful novel of murder, mayhem, danger and lust from the #1 New York Times bestseller, perfect for fans of Nora Roberts and Danielle Steel.

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Book SynopsisA criminal walking free. A life hanging in the balance. The ultimate choice.Zach Bridger hasn't seen his ex-wife since their divorce. So he's shocked to learn that not only has Rebecca been placed on life support following an assault, but he's also still her Power of Attorney. Buckling under the responsibility, he leaves Rebecca in the care of her parents.Years later, when Rebecca's attacker is released from prison, savvy state prosecutor Kate is determined to see him justly punished. But Kate's ambitious legal strategy puts Zach in yet another heart-wrenching position regarding Rebecca's care. While he wrestles with the decision that no one should have to make, Zach and Kate's mutual attraction grows irresistible. Little do they know that Rebecca's attacker has no intention of going back to prison. He's plotting to stop them both - at any cost.A riveting thriller from the #1 New York Times bestseller, which pits conscience against ambition.

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Book SynopsisThirty-something Parisian artist Billie is working towards her next exhibition when she receives the news that her mother, with whom she has had no contact for years, has drowned in the river near her nursing home. In an attempt to understand the circumstances of her death, she returns to V, the village where she grew up in the parched, sun-drenched hills above the Mediterranean. When she arrives there, Billie finds herself reliving memories of another river drowning, 20 years earlier, memories she had tried to obliterate. What happened to Billie's dear friend Lila back then, at the age of 16, and why is Billie stalked by guilt? Sunlight Hours paints a picture of three generations of women, united by the secrets of a river.

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Book Synopsis'The Butterfly House is an original and absorbing piece of work . . . Engberg's novels are bestsellers in Denmark and she is a name to look out for' SUNDAY TIMESFrom the internationally bestselling author of The Tenant, which Kathy Reichs called a 'stunning debut', comes a gripping new thriller featuring investigators Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner.In the coronary care unit at one of Copenhagen's leading medical centres, a nurse fills a syringe with an overdose of heart medication and stealthily enters the room of an older male patient. Six days earlier, a paperboy on his route in the centre of the city stumbles upon a macabre find: the body of a dead woman, lying in a fountain, her arms marked with small incisions. Cause of death? Exsanguination - the draining of all the blood in her body. Clearly, this is no ordinary murder. Jeppe Kørner, recovering from a painful divorce and in the throes of a new relationship, takes on the investigation. His partner, Anette Werner, now on leave after an unexpected pregnancy, is restless at home. While Jeppe leads the official search, Anette can't stop herself from doing a little detective work as well. But operating on her own exposes her to dangers she can't even begin to realise. As the investigation ventures into dark and dangerous corners, it uncovers an ambition and greed festering beneath the surface of caregiving institutions, all leading back to the mysterious Butterfly House . . .Trade ReviewThe Butterfly House is an original and absorbing piece of work . . . Engberg has a natural human sympathy that makes the victims more than cardboard cutouts . . .Engberg's novels are bestsellers in Denmark and she is a name to look out for * The Sunday Times *Nordic noir fans will be thrilled with this * My Weekly *

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Book Synopsis'I doubt if a more exciting and muscular book will come along this year' Peterborough Telegraph Money can't buy everythingBut it can buy revenge Can a doctor take lives instead of saving them?British doctor Raj Patel puts his own life on the line to treat the injured in war-torn Syria. His medical skills help casualties survive against all the odds. But Raj needs to rely on a completely different set of skills when he is taken hostage in a dangerous case of mistaken identity.Billionaire big-game hunter Jon van der Sandt is driven by revenge - his family have been killed by jihadist terrorists and he wants his vengeance up close and personal. He has hired ex Special Forces hard men to snatch the ISIS killers from the desert and transport them halfway across the world to the vast wilderness of his American estate.But they grab Raj by mistake, and once the killing begins it's too late to plead mistaken identity. To survive, he'll have to become as ruthless a killer as the man who is hunting him.Trade ReviewYou'll find yourself getting through this in one sitting * The Afterword *I doubt if a more exciting and muscular book will come along this year * Peterborough Telegraph *While shooting first, it does ask a few questions as the extremists and Raj together try to outfox the hunter. Easy action, if not perhaps solid gold * The Times *

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Book SynopsisAs the bombs rain down on the city, Belfast's first ever female zookeeper must fight to save the baby elephant in her charge in this gripping, uplifting tale based on a true story.1941. With the men away fighting, animal-lover Hettie Quin is made Belfast Zoo's first ever female zookeeper. She is put in charge of Violet, a three-year-old Indian elephant, and they soon form a special bond. With Violet at her side, Hettie can almost escape the grim reality of her life: the father who has abandoned her family; the sister who recently died; the war that's raging hundreds of miles away.But the devastation of war is closer than she thought. When the bombs begin to rain down on the city, Hettie must gather all her courage to protect those she loves the most. Can she save Violet - and get through unscathed herself?Based on a true story, The Zookeeper of Belfast is a gripping and uplifting tribute to what one woman's courage and tenacity can achieve in the most dire of circumstances - perfect for fans of Heather Morris, Natasha Lester, Kate Furnivall, Mandy Robotham and Fiona Valpy.Praise for THE ZOOKEEPER OF BELFAST:'Walsh delivers a turbulent portrait of life in a divided city . . . A unique perspective of a country at war and the lengths people will go for those they love.' - Kirkus Reviews'Sensitively rendered and finely drawn, this remarkable story, based on true events, is both uplifting and heartbreaking.' - Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train'Walsh has written a novel of deep affection and knife-edge suspense. A brilliant debut.' - Margot Livesey, author of The Boy in The Field'An elephant, a young zookeeper, the city of Belfast, bombings, and an IRA member are the improbable characters in this captivating and intimately felt novel that tells the story of a young woman's uncommon devotion and courage under fire.' - Lily Tuck, author of Sisters'A zoo in wartime Belfast and a young woman's fierce love for the elephant in her care come vividly to life in this beautiful, beguiling, and atmospheric debut novel.' - Dominic Smith, author of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos'Cinematic in scope and brimming with emotion, this is a soaring work of historical imagination.' - Karen Olsson, author of All the Houses'Walsh's lovely debut spins this historical sliver into a vivid novel of redemption and mutual care' NYT Book Review'Based on real events, this engrossing novel takes place a year into the Second World War. A three-year-old elephant named Violet arrives at Belfast's Bellevue Zoo, where Hettie Quin, a young zookeeper mourning the recent death of a sister, finds purpose and solace in caring for her' The New YorkerThe Elephant of Belfast is deeply emotive . . . Action is heart-pounding; the imagery vivid; the message universal: connections and friendships among living creatures, both animal and human, offer solace, support, and strength in the darkest times' Historical Novels ReviewTrade ReviewWalsh delivers a turbulent portrait of life in a divided city . . . A unique perspective of a country at war and the lengths people will go for those they love. * Kirkus Reviews *The Zookeeper of Belfast boasts not one but two dauntless heroines: Hettie, a young Irish zookeeper and Violet, a young Indian elephant. From their first meeting, Hettie is determined to protect Violet and as dangers mount, we cannot help cheering on her devotion and her resourcefulness. Walsh has written a novel of deep affection and knife-edge suspense. A brilliant debut. * Margot Livesey, author of The Boy in The Field *Sensitively rendered and finely drawn, this remarkable story, based on true events, is both uplifting and heartbreaking. * Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train and The Exiles *The Zookeeper of Belfast is a lovely book about a fascinating piece of history, and its two heroines--animal and human--are enthralling and beautifully drawn. S. Kirk Walsh writes wonderfully about heartbreak both personal and historic. * Elizabeth McCracken, author of Bowlaway *The Zookeeper of Belfast knocked me flat and picked me up, not just once but many times over the course of S. Kirk Walsh's deeply satisfying telling. There's so much life in these pages, life as well as death - we're in wartime Belfast, dear reader, and the Luftwaffe is dropping bombs - that I couldn't help but feel changed by the end, experienced. Only the best novels do that, and the very fine Elephant of Belfast belongs in that rank. * Ben Fountain author of Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk *An elephant, a young zookeeper, the city of Belfast, bombings, and an IRA member are the improbable characters in this captivating and intimately felt novel that tells the story of a young woman's uncommon devotion and courage under fire. * Lily Tuck, author of Sisters and The Double Life of Liliane *A zoo in wartime Belfast and a young woman's fierce love for the elephant in her care come vividly to life in this beautiful, beguiling, and atmospheric debut novel. * Dominic Smith, author of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos *Cinematic in scope and brimming with emotion, The Zookeeper of Belfast imagines the life of a young woman zookeeper who, in the wake of family tragedy, develops a strong bond with an Asian elephant under her care. S. Kirk Walsh delivers a powerful depiction of the devastations of the Belfast Blitz, even as she poignantly renders her heroine's coming of age and sexual awakening. With a tender portrait of one woman's persistence at its heart, this is a soaring work of historical imagination. * Karen Olsson, author of The Weil Conjectures and All the Houses *In S. Kirk Walsh's hands, the city of Belfast, its zoo, and the creatures who resided there during the Belfast Blitz, come vividly and brilliantly alive. The Zookeeper of Belfast is impeccably researched and thrillingly suspenseful. I churned through the pages, anxious to know what became of Hettie Quin and Violet, the elephant in her charge: a heartbreaking animal heroine to rival Tarka the otter and the rabbits of Watership Down. * Louisa Hall, author of Trinity & Speak *

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Book Synopsis'Cool, meticulously crafted and mordantly amusing' Irish Times 'A chilling insight into a flawed justice system' Daily Mail A young lawyer puts aside her sense of justice to succeed at her new firm. A man who values silence is driven to murder by his noisy neighbours. A cheated wife seeks revenge. How do you decide what punishment fits the crime? Our narrator is a man you'd never want to meet unless you really needed him. A nameless lawyer, he coolly recounts the fates of twelve characters who cross his path, uncovering the loneliness and alienation, desire and desperation which drive their choices and shape the consequences they face. Drawn from Ferdinand von Schirach's eminent career as a criminal defence lawyer, each story in Punishment crackles with suspense, masterfully treading the line between fiction and truth.Trade ReviewThe stories are cool, meticulously crafted, pithy and mordantly amusing . . . this is an unsettling, affecting, extremely powerful book. Highly recommended -- Declan Hughes * Irish Times *Translated with economical elegance by Hall . . . and informed by insider knowledge . . . it's a chilling insight into a flawed justice system, the people who work in it and the guilty and guileless who find themselves judged * Daily Mail *Psychologically raw . . . delivered in a crisp translation by Katharina Hall, his unfussy prose is icily effective . . . it suggests that all justice systems are flawed, that they are all just processes. And, with immense empathy, von Schirach's stories show what happens to people when they are processed. -- Christian House * Financial Times *An impressive page-turner with substance and bite * Bookmunch *Thrilling and edgy, often carrying a twist in the tale * To the Ends of the Word blog *

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Book SynopsisA string of murders. A killer in the shadows. Only one man who can stop them...Dr Lucas Page, astrophysicist, university professor and former FBI agent, is settling into life away from the heat of the action. He hopes the days putting his extraordinary skills to use hunting New York City's deadliest killers are behind him. Now, he looks forward to a quiet life raising his children and supporting his wife Erin's career as an esteemed surgeon.But when attending a medical gala with Erin, Page is surprised by the annual memorial video - so many doctors have died in the last year, in freak accidents or by suicide. Utilising his unique gift at recognising patterns that others can't see, Page knows something is very wrong behind these statistics. The deaths don't make sense unless the doctors are being targeted and murdered by a particularly clever killer.In spite of himself, Page can't help but dig deeper and is forced to call on his old friends at the FBI for assistance. As clues start to come to light, it becomes clear that Page has unearthed a deadly operation. But someone has been watching. And the pattern soon reveals that the next victim is likely to be... Erin herself. Fast-paced and action-packed, Do No Harm is an edge-of-your-seat thriller with memorable characters and gripping twists.

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A string of murders. A killer in the shadows. Only one man who can stop them...Dr Lucas Page, astrophysicist, university professor and former FBI agent, is settling into life away from the heat of the action. He hopes the days putting his extraordinary skills to use hunting New York City's deadliest killers are behind him. Now, he looks forward to a quiet life raising his children and supporting his wife Erin's career as an esteemed surgeon.But when attending a medical gala with Erin, Page is surprised by the annual memorial video - so many doctors have died in the last year, in freak accidents or by suicide. Utilising his unique gift at recognising patterns that others can't see, Page knows something is very wrong behind these statistics. The deaths don't make sense unless the doctors are being targeted and murdered by a particularly clever killer.In spite of himself, Page can't help but dig deeper and is forced to call on his old friends at the FBI for assistance. As clues start to come to light, it becomes clear that Page has unearthed a deadly operation. But someone has been watching. And the pattern soon reveals that the next victim is likely to be... Erin herself.Fast-paced and action-packed, Do No Harm is an edge-of-your-seat thriller with memorable characters and gripping twists.

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Book SynopsisKatharine Lawrence remembers the vicious burglars who shot her best friend, the terror she felt the night she nearly died.But there are things she doesn't remember at all. Like her lover's voice on the phone. Like her clothes in her luxurious Washington townhouse. Like the face in her mirror. Everything in her life feels utterly wrong, as if the trauma has given her some kind of amnesia.What she does know is that she is the special assistant to the head of the CIA, and she's lucky to be alive. She also knows that she can trust no one.Because the killers are back.'Top-notch ... Suspense mixed with heart-pounding sensual tension' Kirkus ReviewTrade ReviewA top-notch romantic suspense writer. * Booklist *One of the most popular voices in women's fiction. * Newsweek *Top-notch ... Suspense mixed with heart-pounding sensual tension. * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisFifteen years ago, the murder of teenager Tara Mitchell and the disappearance of her two friends changed their sleepy town forever. In the years since, all who have lived in the mansion where it happened have left in fear, claiming that the dead girls haunt the house. TV reporter Nicky Sullivan knows good television, and she arranges a live television séance to take place in the house. But it all goes horribly wrong when, during the show, a young woman is murdered in exactly the same way as Tara was all those years ago.When a sinister note is discovered warning that this isn't the last body, the television producers insist they push on regardless. Nicky doesn't know what she has unearthed, but she does know that a killer has returned, and that her life is in danger.'This is another winner from the popular and prolific Robards, who delivers a great romantic thriller filled with interesting characters in a classic edge-of-the-seat read' BooklistTrade ReviewFans of Tami Hoag and Kay Hooper will love SUPERSTITION ... Ms. Robards always delivers a thrilling reading experience. * Midwest Book Review *This is another winner from the popular and prolific Robards, who delivers a great romantic thriller filled with interesting characters in a classic edge-of-the-seat read. * Booklist *SUPERSTITION is a thrilling and satisfying crime romance that will keep you reading with its snappy dialogue and fast twisting plot. * Newcastle Herald (Australia) *

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Book Synopsis'Full of surprises you truly don't see coming' HARLAN COBEN'Instantly gripping and compulsively readable' RILEY SAGERGuilty or innocent? The primary suspect in a murder case is her father ... FBI Agent Nell Flynn has come home for the first time in a decade following her father's death. But almost immediately she is drawn into one of his last murder investigations. Two women have been found dead, the second body showing up shortly after Nell's arrival. And Nell quickly realizes the evidence points to one clear suspect - her own father. His colleagues and friends are covering for him, and Nell has no idea who she can trust or what may have been hidden from her. Desperate for answers, she is drawn deeper into the case. But is she prepared for what she might find?What READERS are saying about GIRLS LIKE US'I devoured every page of this novel, and stayed up way past my bedtime, because walking away wasn't an option''GIRLS LIKE US is a solid 5 star read!''Wow! Extremely atmospheric, well thought out and with great attention to detail, this book is just brilliant''I really couldn't put the book down as I followed Nell searching for answers''An excellent thriller!''This was a great pager turner and I had a hard time putting in down''I particularly enjoyed all of the strong, smart female characters. I was sorry for it to end!'What REVIEWERS are saying about GIRLS LIKE US'Alger expertly ratchets up the suspense all the way to the explosive finale' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY'Tension becomes nearly unbearable as Nell realizes she truly can't trust anyone' KIRKUS REVIEWS'GIRLS LIKE US is a smart thriller that will keep you guessing' POPSUGARTrade ReviewGIRLS LIKE US is the best of psychological suspense: nuanced, expertly fast-paced, and full of surprises you truly don't see coming. Cristina Alger is my kind of writer - as graceful on the page as she is gritty -- Harlan CobenA smashing read. Instantly gripping and compulsively readable, with a heroine as vulnerable as she is tenacious -- Riley Sager, author of The Final GirlsAn FBI agent suspects her late father of murder in this deeply felt crime novel * Sunday Times Culture *GIRLS LIKE US is something special: A beautiful, deeply textured novel and a poignant, surprising mystery. I loved it, every chapter and every word. I'm going to be thinking about it as a reader, a father, and a storyteller for a long, long time. -- Chris Bohjalian, author of The Flight AttendantCristina Alger, who is known for creating pulse-pounding plots and gutsy female protagonists, has done it again. Gritty, twisty, and unputdownable, GIRLS LIKE US is sure to be the thriller to read this season. -- Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, authors of The Wife Between Us[An] excellent crime novel. . . [Alger] captures the social dynamics of Suffolk's eastern extremes perfectly . . . Highly recommended * Booklist *Tautly wound police-procedural-thriller aside, Alger's novel is a smart, searing indictment of just one of the many contemporary examples of the haves vs. the have-nots. * Seattle Review of Books *

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Book Synopsis***WINNER OF THE 2023 CWA DAGGER IN THE LIBRARY***THE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Completely ingenious, entirely satisfying - a delight from start to finish' ALEX MICHAELIDES'BY FAR Sophie Hannah's best one yet. Relatable, funny, high concept and so satisfying I watched in awe as the pieces fell into place' GILLIAN McALLISTER'You'll love this brain-melting thriller!' FABULOUS'A wise and witty portrait of modern marriage and murder' THE TIMES'One of the best crime writers current working' THE SCOTSMANSIX COUPLES. ONE LUXURY RESORT. AND THE PERFECT MURDER . . .You're on your honeymoon at an exclusive couples-only resort. You receive a note warning you to 'Beware of the couple at the table nearest to yours'. At dinner that night, five other couples are present, and none of their tables is any nearer or further away than any of the others. It's as if someone has set the scene in order to make the warning note meaningless - but why would anyone do that? You have no idea. You also don't know that you're about to be murdered, or that once you're dead, all the evidence will suggest that no one there that night could possibly have committed the crime. So who might be trying to warn you? And who might be about to commit the perfect murder?SOPHIE HANNAH IS THE QUEEN OF THE UNGUESSABLE MYSTERY!'Complex and satisfying outing' CRIME TIME'A fabulously twisty and entertaining read!' My WeeklyTrade ReviewTwisty * Crime Monthly, Ones to Watch for 2022 *One of the best crime writers currently working * The Scotsman *The Couple at the Table is a wise and witty portrait of modern marriage and murder * The Times *Complex and satisfying outing * Crime Time *A fabulously twisty and entertaining read! * My Weekly *A new novel by Sophie Hannah is a cause for celebration. The Couple at The Table has everything you want in a mystery - a cryptic threat, a murder, a closed circle of suspects and an unguessable solution. Completely ingenious, entirely satisfying - a delight from start to finish * Alex Michaelides, author of THE SILENT PATIENT *I have just finished The Couple At The Table and it is BY FAR Sophie Hannah's best one yet. Relatable, funny, high concept and so satisfying I watched in awe as the pieces fell into place. Bravo! * Gillian McAllister, author of THAT NIGHT *You'll love this brain-melting thriller! * Fabulous *Brain-bending * Good Housekeeping *The award-winning crime writer returns with another gripping psychological suspense * Surrey Life *As much head-scratching fun as ever * The Observer *Intriguing * Heat *Another winning thriller * Belfast Telegraph *Sly and twisty whodunnit * Peterborough Telegraph *Clever and wonderfully plotted * Irish Independent *An absorbing thriller with an abundance of red herrings and a gradual drip-drip of clues. A fantastic mystery * Woman Magazine *Has a gift for scouring the inner psychological depths of perplexing characters, probing deserved fates and debunking evil and innocence - a desterity that defines her novels. The Couple at the Table is no exception. -- Miriam Balanescu * Cambridge Edition *There are clues and red herrings galore - Mark Sanderson * The Times *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE SWEDISH ACADEMY'S NORDIC PRIZE 2023'A book like a blade of light, searching out and illuminating the darkest corners of history . . . It's vivid, unputdownable, alive, and written with unerring artfulness and subtlety.' Neel MukherjeeGunnar Kampen grows up in Reykjavík during the Second World War in a household fiercely opposed to Hitler and Nazism. A caring brother and son, at nineteen he seems set to lead a conventional life. Yet in the spring of 1958, he founds a covert, anti-Semitic nationalist party with ties to a burgeoning international network of neo-Nazis - a cause that will take him on a clandestine mission to England from which he never returns.In this striking novel, inspired by one of the ringleaders of an Icelandic neo-Nazi group formed in the late 1950s, Sjón masterfully constructs the portrait of an ordinary young man who becomes a right-wing zealot. Exposing the roots of the far-right movements of today, Red Milk is a timely reminder that the seeds of extremism can be hard to detect and the allure of fascism remains dangerously potent.Trade ReviewSjón's policy of omission-of drama, psychology, violence, grandeur of any kind-results in a delicious tension. He tempts us to expect so much of the novel, and though he never provides the relief of clean culminations, he manages to keep the reader wanting. * Asymptote Journal *A slim forensic novel to strike a chill. * Saga *Sjón's prose is appropriately sharp and precise, illuminating the murky corners of his topic. -- Pippa Bailey * New Statesman *This is a landscape proper to a child's imagination, dreamlike but solid, with all the pronounced lucidity and wild agency that objects and colors assume . . . Sjón makes us think again about what empathy can - and frequently enough simply can't - achieve. -- Erica Banks * 4Columns *Like Iceland itself, Sjón's books are simultaneously tiny and huge, weird and normal, ancient and modern. Reading them feels like listening to that story of the beached whale: a wild invention that is actually a straight-faced confession. His books dance - with light, quick steps, never breaking eye contact - all over the line between the mythic and the mundane. -- Sam Anderson * New York Times *What Sjón leaves out of his work is as powerful as what he puts in. His fiction never seems to break into a sweat, yet it takes you a long, long way. * David Mitchell *The chapters move like the prose equivalent of flip-book images, quick and evocative . . . Sjón's story, based on research into a real-life band of Icelandic neo-Nazis, dovetails nicely with current preoccupations about the resurgence of fascism . . . By tarrying for a while with the everyday - the ultimate site of real politics - Sjón gets at how endlessly interesting it can be, and how much it can contain and conceal. -- Peter C. Baker * New York Times Book Review *

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