Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisA DARK PAST It is 1894, and Sherlock Holmes is called to a Covent Garden art gallery where dozens of patrons lie dead before a painting of the Undying Man. Holmes and Watson are soon on the trail of a mysterious figure in black, whose astounding speed and agility make capture impossible. The same suspect is then implicated in another murder, when the servant of a visiting Russian grand duke is found terribly mutilated in a notorious slum. But what links the two crimes, and do they have anything to do with the suicide of an unpopular schoolteacher at a remote boarding school? So begins a case that will reveal the dark shadows that past misdeeds can cast, and test the companions to their limits...Trade ReviewBritish author Kyme (Rebirth) instantly establishes himself as a top-notch pasticheur with his outstanding mystery, which is especially effective at capturing Sherlock Holmes’s dry sense of humor and warm relationship with Dr. Watson....Sherlockians will look forward to more from Kyme. -- Pubishers Weekly Starred Review

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Book SynopsisA series of grisly murders rocks London. At each location, only a jumble of bones remains of the deceased, along with a bizarre sphere covered in strange symbols. The son of the latest victim seeks the help of Sherlock Holmes and his former partner, Dr. John Watson.They discover the common thread tying together the murders. Bizarre geometries, based on ancient schematics, enable otherworldly creatures to enter our dimension, seeking to wreak havoc and destruction.The persons responsible are gaining so much power that even Holmes's greatest enemy fears them-to the point that he seeks an unholy alliance.Trade Review"THE ADVENTURE OF THE DEADLY DIMENSIONS is a wild, exciting and thoroughly satisfying collision of otherworldly horror and deductive reasoning. So much fun!"--Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of V-WARS and PREDATOR ONE.

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Book SynopsisA HAUNTED HOUSE Sherlock Holmes receives a request for aid from Lord Cary, whose family home, Torre Abbey, is seemingly haunted. While skeptical, Holmes believes that the Carys are in danger, a belief that proves horrifyingly accurate when a household member dies mysteriously. As strange sightings and threatening apparitions become almost commonplace, Holmes and Watson must uncover the secrets of the abbey if they are to have any hope of protecting the living and avenging the dead.Trade Review"Bugge captures the essence of Holmes as well as the spirit of the time. For all Sherlock fans." -- "Library Journal"

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Book SynopsisA blistering, timely tale of revenge from the bestselling author of The Passenger GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS What do you love? What do you hate? What do you want? It starts with this simple writing prompt from Alex Witt to her students at Stonebridge Academy. When their answers raise disturbing questions of their own, Ms. Witt knows there's more going on at the school than anyone will admit. She finds the few girls who've started to question the school's `boys will be boys' attitude and incites a resistance that quickly becomes a movement. As the school's secrets begin to trickle out, the skirmish turns into an all-out war, with deeply personal - and potentially fatal - consequences for everyone involved.Trade Review“Riveting . . . full of imagination and power” —Caroline Kepnes, author of You and Providence; “I devoured The Swallows. You’ll laugh out loud even as you anxiously flip the pages” —New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen; “In her witty and charming style, Lutz offers a genre-busting work of fiction that will satisfy readers looking for a seriously engaging read. The story itself is disturbingly plausible, and the humanly flawed characters make choices, good and bad, based on their backgrounds, all blending smoothly into a darkly comedic mystery... This novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats while opening a conversation about public shaming, economic privilege, gender inequity, and revenge versus justice” —Booklist (starred review) ; “It's the era of #MeToo, and literature is beginning to reflect that in a big way. In Lisa Lutz’s The Swallows, a prep school teacher ignites a gender war when she begins the question the institution's overpowering ‘boys will be boys’ mentality. She soon learns that starting a revolution and threatening the status quo comes with steep consequences” —Bustle; “A new teacher at a ritzy New England prep school ignites a fierce battle between the male and female students that ends with revenge, threats, and a fatality. So, just another average day in high school... just kidding” —PopSugar; “The latest campus novel teetering between thriller and satire, Lutz’s book throws readers into the drama of a New England prep school, where one inscrutable new teacher brings about ideas that ignite a deadly gender-war” —Entertainment Weekly; “Liza Lutz is a treasure. Her Spellman Files series manages to be both charming and shrewd, and The Swallows promises to follow suit—it looks witty and caustic, winsome and clever. It’s also, and this is a classic Lutz move, a fresh, unique spin on a genre that already has been reworked a million times. . . . Lutz, searing as ever . . . illuminate[s] how various institutions excuse the oppression or silencing of women and girls” —CrimeReads; “[Lutz] takes no prisoners. . . . She builds her plot cannily and walks a neat line between satire and realism [in a] withering portrayal of how the #MeToo movement plays out in this rarefied setting” —Publishers Weekly; “Lutz draws on the droll humor and idiosyncratic characterizations that make her Spellman novels so appealing... An offbeat, darkly witty pre-#MeToo revenge tale. The patriarchy doesn’t stand a chance” —Kirkus Reviews; “With a memorable cast of characters and more than a few secrets, Lutz’s latest is a turbocharged tale for our times” —Newsweek; “Extraordinarily fun and blood pressure-raising . . . The Swallows goes surprising places (axes are employed) and isn’t afraid to let everyone roll around in the muck—though some characters come out smelling sweeter than others” —Vulture; “Wes Anderson meets Muriel Spark in this delicious and vicious battle of the sexes set within a private school. Wickedly fun and wildly subversive but packing an emotional punch, The Swallows is as powerful as it is timely” —Nationally bestselling author Megan Abbott ; “Sharpen your axes, ladies, and get ready for this fierce, fun, unsparing novel of female rage, power, and friendship” —Camille Perri, author of The Assistants and When Katie Met Cassidy; PRAISE FOR THE AUTHOR; "Told with enormous verve and at a breakneck pace, the story twists and turns like a corkscrew" —Daily Mail; "Psychological suspense lovers will tear through this thriller, a new direction for best seller Lutz (How To Start a Fire)" —The Library Journal; "Lutz’s complex web of finely honed characters will keep readers turning the pages" —Publishers Weekly; “[Lutz] steps smartly out of her comfort zone to write a dead-serious thriller (with a funny bone) about a Wisconsin woman who dashes cross-country when her husband dies in a fall and she knows she’ll be accused of killing him" —Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review; “Lutz's comedic novels about the Spellman clan are terrific, but this stand-alone is darker and trickier and, for me, funnier — Elmore Leonard funny” —Carole E. Barrowman, Minneapolis Star Tribune; “Lutz develops riveting suspense by slowly revealing the events that first sent [her main character] on the run, while pouring threats on her gritty heroine’s increasingly tenuous bids at survival. Binge-worthy fare, especially for those drawn to strong female protagonists” —Booklist, starred review; “At the outset of The Passenger, Lutz's narrator knows that her only chance for freedom is to lose herself, and thus, leaving one dead man behind, she hits the diamond lane of America—and storytelling—with a carload of identities, including the reader, who is carried along as both passenger and pursuer. This tenacious and resourceful heroine will keep you chasing, rooting, lip-biting, and above all reading until you reach the ending you never saw coming. My advice: buckle up” —Tim Johnston, New York Times bestselling Author of Descent; "A sharp, clever, and utterly compelling thriller about a woman running from the mistakes and misfortunes of her past. Terrific" —Chris Pavone, New York Times bestselling author of The Expats and The Accident; "With whip-smart writing and a breakneck pace, The Passenger's clever plot twists and sharp characters are sure to keep you guessing long into the night, hoping against hope that its complex protagonist isn't nearly as guilty as she seems" —Kim McCreight, New York Times bestselling author of Reconstructing Amelia;

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Book SynopsisFollowing a summons to a fictional patient, Dr Watson finds himself arrested for the horrific murder of an elderly woman. Imprisoned and with the evidence against him, Watson's only hope is that Sherlock Holmes can discover the identity of the real killer. But when a mysterious letter appears to link Watson to blackmail and a notorious street gang, Holmes must use all his powers of reasoning to save his friend from the hangman’s noose.

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Book SynopsisFrom Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner - during his life, the best-selling American author of all time -- comes a lost classic of detective fiction featuring private eyes Donald Lam (once played by Frank Sinatra!) and Bertha Cool. Has Donald Lam gone to the dark side? From the world-famous creator of "Perry Mason," Erle Stanley Gardner - at his death the best-selling American writer of all time - comes another baffling case for the Cool & Lam detective agency: SHILLS CAN'T CASH CHIPS. Return to the 1960s as a simple insurance investigation into a car accident puts Bertha Cool and Donald Lam on the trail of murder - and Donald hip-deep in danger when he poses as an ex-con to infiltrate a criminal gang. It's Gardner's twistiest caper ever, and a fitting capper to Hard Case Crime's revival of this classic (and long unavailable) detective series.Trade Review"A high-spirited romp you'll be sorry to see end." - Kirkus Reviews "Just the ticket for fans of retro crime fiction." - Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisSherlock Holmes’s latest case takes him to the heart of Paris, in pursuit of Marguerite Hardy – a mysterious Frenchwoman who fled her comfortable English home when she received a strange letter. Desperate for her safe return, her husband begs for Holmes’s help. But Holmes’s investigations will take him and his cousin, Henry Vernier, into a world of theft, seduction and betrayal – and uncover a secret that has been buried for over twenty years.

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Book SynopsisHeike Lerner has a charmed life. ​​​A stay-at-home mother married to a prominent psychiatrist, it's a far cry from the​ damaged​ ​child she used to be. But her world is ​shaken when her four-year-old son​ ​befriends a little girl at a nearby lake, who​ vanishes under the water. ​And when Heike dives in after her, there's no sign of a body. Desperate to ​discover what happened to the child, Heike​ seeks out Leo Dolan, a television writer exploring the paranormal​, but finds herself caught between her controlling husband and the intense Dolan​. Then her son disappears, and Heike's husband was the last to see him alive​...​

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Book SynopsisThe real story, unvarnished and uncensored, of the Mob's rise to power during Prohibition. ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF PROHIBITION, LEARN WHAT REALLY HAPPENED. In 1919, the National Prohibition Act was passed, making it illegal across America to produce, distribute, or sell liquor. With this act, the U.S. Congress also created organized crime as we know it. Italian, Jewish, and Irish mobs sprang up to supply the suddenly illegal commodity to the millions of people still eager to drink it. Men like Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky, Dutch Schultz and Bugsy Siegel, Al Capone in Chicago and Nucky Johnson in Atlantic City, waged a brutal war for power in the streets and on the waterfronts. But if you think you already know this story...think again, since you've never seen it through the eyes of one of the mobsters who lived it. Called "one of the most significant organized crime figures in the United States" by the U.S. District Attorney, Vincent "Jimmy Blue Eyes" Alo was just 15 years old when Prohibition became law. Over the next decade, Alo would work side by side with Lansky and Luciano as they navigated the brutal underworld of bootlegging, thievery and murder. Alo's later career included prison time and the ultimate Mob tribute: being immortalized as "Johnny Ola" in The Godfather, Part II. Introduced to the 91-year-old Alo living in retirement in Florida, Dylan Struzan based this book on more than 50 hours of recorded testimony-stories Alo had never shared, and that he forbid her to publish until "after I'm gone." Alo died, peacefully, two months short of his 97th birthday. And now his stories-bracing and violent, full of intrigue and betrayal, hunger and hubris-can finally be told. "Dylan Struzan has delivered a soaring treat for those of us who love mobster history, a sprawling saga drawn not from rumor or recycled myth, but directly from the horse's mouth. Her exploration of mob life and the shadow empires the bootleggers built is an exhilarating rush, a must-read." - FRANK DARABONT, director of THE GREEN MILE and THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTIONTrade ReviewDylan Struzan has delivered a soaring treat for those of us who love mobster history, a sprawling saga drawn not from rumor or recycled myth, but directly from the horse's mouth. Her exploration of mob life and the shadow empires the bootleggers built is an exhilarating rush, a must-read. -- Frank Darabont, director of THE GREEN MILE and THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION "Just in time for the 100th anniversary...this crime saga thunders along with the authority of an erupting Tommy gun." - Publishers Weekly "one of the best things the Hard Case imprint has done. Hugely recommended." - Atomic Junkshop

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Book SynopsisHE’S KNOWN AS THE BLACK PANTHER. HIS HOME IS WAKANDA. WELCOME TO T’CHALLA’S WORLD. The African nation of Wakanda stood alone as an unconquerable land filled with incredible technological advancements for ten centuries. T’Challa, the latest in a lineage of warrior-kings, is the Black Panther, endowed with enhanced speed and strength, along with a suit made of the indestructible metal that secured his country’s future: Vibranium. Now, outsiders have returned to plunder Wakanda’s riches–including its store of the rare metal. Leading this brutal assault is Klaw, an assassin with the blood of T’Challa’s father on his hands. Klaw brings with him a powerful army of super-powered mercenaries, all hell-bent on raining death and destruction on this pristine land. CAN THE BLACK PANTHER PREVAIL AGAINST SUCH A MASSIVE INVADING FORCE?Trade ReviewPraise for the Film writer Marc Bernardin wrote for Nerdist. "The chance to fill every corner of their fictional Wakanda with the same level of craft and detail usually reserved for British-star-studded period pieces. An opportunity to tell a story about black lives, which matter and are not defined by their pain but, instead, by their glory. An answer to a culture's question, 'When will it be our time in the sun?'" The Verge's Bryan Bishop: "Not only is [the movie] a long-overdue embrace of diversity and representation, it's a film that actually has something to say -- and it's able to do so without stepping away from the superhero dynamics that make the larger franchise work. It's gripping, funny and full of spectacle, but it also feels like a turning point, one where the studio has finally recognized that its movies can be about more than just selling the next installment."

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Book SynopsisA dark mystery unfolds in Rio Youers's riveting tale, for fans of Paul Tremblay and Joe Hill. “She possesses a unique and powerful ability. Just like we can erase data from a computer hard drive, Sally can erase memories from a person’s mind.” Abducted and brutally beaten by a group of thugs, street performer Harvey Anderson is convinced he’s a victim of mistaken identity when they demand to know the location of his girlfriend, Sally Starling. Harvey Anderson has been single for years. She dominated my dreams. Sometimes as a lover, more often as a scared, lonely girl running from something that slathered and swooped. I woke with her name on my lips, clutching the empty half of the bed, knowing beyond all doubt that she should have been next to me. Aided by his thugs, a sinister man known as “the spider” has tracked Sally to Harvey. He has pursued her for nine years, desperate to possess her remarkable talents. Yet emotion runs deeper than memory, and so Harvey goes looking for a woman he loves but can’t remember, and encounters a danger beyond anything he could ever imagine.

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Antonia Hodgson's, The Devil in the Marshalsea, and M.J. Carter's, The Strangler Vine, The Body on the Doorstep is the first Romney Marsh Mystery by A. J. MacKenzieKent, 1796. Shocked to discover a dying man on his doorstep - and lucky to avoid a bullet himself - Reverend Hardcastle finds himself entrusted with the victim's cryptic last words.With smuggling rife on England's south-east coast, the obvious conclusion is that this was a falling out among thieves. But why is the leader of the local Customs service so reluctant to investigate? Ably assisted by the ingenious Mrs Chaytor, Hardcastle sets out to solve the mystery for himself. But smugglers are not the only ones to lurk off the Kent coast, and the more he discovers, the more he realises he might have bitten off more than he can chew.Trade ReviewAn enjoyable murder mystery with engaging characters, nicely observed historical detail and gentle humour. -- Tracey Warr * Historical Novel Review *A welcome addition to the genre... I know if the next book in the series had been published I would be reading that now. I'll have to look forward to it but in the meantime, I thoroughly recommend this to all * hairpastafreckle72.blogspot.co.uk *A gripping, atmospheric page turner... The plot itself is extremely clever...The Body on the Doorstep is fresh and exciting in addition to being skilfully written. * The Bookbag *An enjoyable murder mystery with engaging characters, nicely observed historical detail and gentle humour * Historical Novel Review *This is an enjoyable read, lots of interesting historical detail, engaging characters and plenty of twists to the plot. There is definitely potential for a series based on these characters and setting, I would like to read more * A Good Read Blog *This is a most impressive debut from a new writing team. The setting pre-dates most of the war between England and France, i.e.. pre-Bonaparte, but is beautifully realised with lots of understanding of both the politics and everyday life. The plot is cleverly put together with differing explanations and characters and motives that may or may not be true. All in all a terrific book and I want to read more! * Plucked Highbrow *A clever and gripping atmospheric page turner, with engaging and believable characters, plenty of twists and turns, nicely observed historical detail and touches of gentle humour...The characterisation throughout is superb. The artist JMW Turner makes an interesting and sympathetic appearance and even the minor players appear authentic and individual. The background is impeccably presented and the pace picks up as the story progresses. If the showdown owes more to Christie than Le Carre it is nonetheless in keeping with the overall tone of a quite brilliant and traditional period novel * Crime Review Book Blog *This debut mystery by MacKenzie is a high-stakes, atmospheric adventure set on the colorful Kent coast and headed by two well-developed protagonists * Library Journal *A dark and thrilling story * Visit Kent *

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Book SynopsisA gripping tale of murder and mystery in eighteenth century England. Across the still, dark English Channel come the smugglers. But tonight they carry an unusual cargo: a coffin. Several miles inland, a respected banker holds a birthday party for his wife. Within days, one of the guests is found shot dead.What links this apparently senseless killing to the smugglers lurking in the mists? Why has the local bank been buying and hoarding gold? And who was in the mysterious coffin?Reverend Hardcastle and Mrs Chaytor find themselves drawn into the worlds of high finance and organised crime in this dramatic and dark Georgian mystery. With its unique cast of characters and captivating amateur sleuths, The Body in the Boat is a twisting tale that vividly brings to life eighteenth-century Kent and draws readers into its pages.Trade ReviewA gripping, atmospheric page turner * The Bookbag *An enjoyable murder mystery with engaging characters, nicely observed historical detail and gentle humour * Historical Novel Review *This is an enjoyable read, lots of interesting historical detail, engaging characters and plenty of twists to the plot * A Good Read blog *A cracking adventure and I whizzed through it - a real page-turner * The People's Friend *A high-stakes, atmospheric adventure * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisA gripping novel from a queen of psychological suspense and New York Times bestselling author, Joy Fielding. Perfect for readers of Liz Nugget's Lying in Wait, BA Paris and Jenny Blackhurst.'I think my real name is Samantha. I think I'm your daughter.'When Caroline Shipley's two-year-old daughter disappeared, her whole world came crashing down.Now, fifteen years later, Caroline receives a phone-call that could change everything.But could this stranger really be her daughter? And what happened all those years ago to make her vanish without a trace? As Caroline pieces together the events of that ill-fated holiday, she begins to question whether the answers could lie dangerously close to home . . .'Fielding at her finest. Readers will not be able to put it down' BooklistPraise for Joy Fielding's Someone Is Watching'Someone Is Watching gripped me from the first to the very last page. Bailey Carpenter is a heroine who's both victim and warrior woman, a fascinating sleuth who will linger with you long after you've finished this thrilling read.' Tess Gerritsen'Fielding pens a spiraling tale of paranoia and suspense, as sultry as a Miami night.' Jenny Milchman'An edge-of-your-seat read . . . With Fielding's patented blend of complex characters and escalating suspense, she is in top form here.' Karen Robards'Engrossing . . . The characters pulsate with life.' Publishers Weekly (starred review)'A gripping, fast-paced psychological thriller . . . Fielding's story of one woman's search for justice, understanding, and internal peace is nothing short of arresting.' Booklist (starred review)Trade Review'She's Not There' is more an emotional exploration of family dynamics than a thrilling whodunnit, but there's a decent frisson of suspense throughout and I really liked the way the ending drew a number of elements together * Buried Under Books *This book kept me hooked from the beginning till the end * Maureen's Books *This is the first book I have read by this author and it certainly won't be the last! This is one of those slow burners that gently draws you in and then before you know it, it has got you hook, line and sinker, not allowing you to go anywhere until you get to the very end. She's Not There is a brilliant read. It lulls you into a false sense of security, dropping a few treats along the way, but like with a meal, my favourite part has to be, the dessert, or in this case the ending. Superb! * By The Letter Book Reviews *This novel has pace, heart, and deals with an issue that is painful even to contemplate. It could well be one for you. * Frost Magazine *Fifteen years ago, Caroline Shipley's toddler daughter was kidnapped while they were on holiday in Mexico. Now a young woman has made contact, claiming to be the missing girl. Is she really Samantha? As Caroline digs deeper into this coldest of cold cases, she begins to doubt the veracity of everything she previously held as true in this taut psychological thriller from the author of New York Times best-sellers The First Time and Kiss Mommy Goodbye. Out now. * Crime Fiction Lover *It takes an experienced novelist to bring such a painful scenario to life without descending into mawkish sentimentality; fortunately Joy Fielding is that novelist. She creates locations with a sure hand...But mainly this is a novel about people, and the effect such a traumatic event has on both individuals and relationships. Fielding has produced a cast of characters of such variety and humanity that it's easy to be drawn into the unfolding of both past and present. * Mystery People (Promoting Crime) *She's Not There' is more an emotional exploration of family dynamics than a thrilling whodunnit, but there's a decent frisson of suspense throughout and I really liked the way the ending drew a number of elements together. * Buried Under Books *She's Not There is an edge of your seat kind of read, it had me totally engrossed from page one. Joy Fielding has written a story where the words just flow over the pages and totally draw you in hook , line and sinker. This being the first book I have read by this author I will definitely be having a look to see what other books I have been missing out on and highly recommend She's Not There, it's a cracker. * It’s All About the Books *From about the 150 page mark I literally could not put my Kindle down until I'd reached the dramatic conclusion of this story and the truth was finally revealed and who was involved. I thought the story was heading in one direction but then it took me in a totally different jaw-dropping direction which is testament to the writing skills of the author. Joy Fielding was a new author to me but having had a look on Amazon I can see she has quite a back catalogue so it looks like my TBR pile is going to be added to over the next couple of years. * Shaz’s Book Blog *I have enjoyed Joy Fielding's books in the past and this was no different. A fast read that I devoured in one day and would definitely recommend. * Chloe’s Book Blog *The premise of the story was interesting...there was a big twist at the end which I did not see coming at all and I was shocked by it. Over all this was an enjoyable read with a twist and I would highly recommend it. * Literary Wisdom *A 'ripped-from-the-headlines' style thriller * BookNoir *

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Book SynopsisFOR FANS OF SHARON BOLTON AND PETER SWANSON COMES ANOTHER GRIPPING READ FROM THE AUTHOR OF EYES LIKE MINE. Nora Watts is being hunted . . . When Nora Watts is approached by a man claiming to know her late father, she is thrown into turmoil. Struggling with the imminent death, from cancer, of her friend and mentor Sebastian Crow, she is unprepared for the memories that this encounter brings back. What happened to her father that made him kill himself and abandon Nora and her sister?Heading to Detroit to try and find some answers about his life there, Nora expects to discover a reason behind his suicide. Instead, she finds more questions than answers.But trouble always follows Nora, and it's found her in Detroit, a city that is as broken as she is.'Suspenseful, atmospheric' ALISON GAYLIN'A brave, unflinching heroine' LEE CHILD'The next Gillian Flynn' IRISH INDEPENDENTTrade ReviewSheena Kamal writes with urgency and authority. I read this book in huge gulps, and in Nora Watts, Kamal has created a fresh and compelling heroine that readers will love. Outstanding * ROD REYNOLDS *Intricately plotted. A tense, taut thriller with a flawed, compelling heroine. I want to read more about Nora Watts * ANDREA CARTER *Sheena Kamal's writing is as fearless as her protagonist, Nora Watts. It has a dynamite premise that reminded me of Michael Connelly's Blood Work, in which the hero is asked to solve the murder of the woman whose heart ended up in his chest. Kamal has an equally devious starting point . . . Kamal uses the conventions of the crime novel to cast a critical eye on Vancouver's societal dysfunction, racism and poverty * LINWOOD BARCLAY on Eyes Like Mine *Private investigator Nora Watts is troubled to say the least. In Kamal's first novel, Eyes Like Mine, Nora searched for the missing daughter she had to give up for adoption when she was herself a teenager whereas here she attempts to uncover the secrets of her dead father's past. The search takes Nora from Vancouver to Detroit and via some very dark places along the way - but Nora's bone-dry, understated wit and casual fearlessness carry her, and us, through the novel with an irresistible momentum. Highly recommended * W. C. RYAN *

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Book SynopsisA gripping, twisty new thriller from the bestselling author of The Ice Beneath Her, perfect for fans of Will Dean's Dark Pines.A case as cold as the season. A profiler who can't remember. A killer ready to strike again. Psychological profiler Hanne Lagerlind-Schön and her partner, investigator Peter Lindgren are invited to the small, sleepy industrial town of Ormberg to investigate a cold case: ten years earlier a five-year-old girl's remains were found in a cairn near the town. But when a recurring memory problem resurfaces, Hanne struggles to keep track of the case. She begins keeping a diary, noting down everything she is likely to forget to keep up appearances so she doesn't lose her job. When the body of a woman is found at the cairn and one of Hanne's shoes is found nearby covered in the victim's blood, can Hanne's diary hold the key to what happened? How does this new murder connect to their old one? How can you put together what happened when the pieces keep fading away?Trade ReviewA dark and gritty thriller, as a true Nordic Noir should be * Lilja Sigurðardóttir *One of the most adroit of current practitioners of the Nordic Noir genre . . . After She's Gone is more proof that there is plenty of life in the Scandicrime genre * Barry Forshaw, Riveting Reviews *After She's Gone was deservedly recognised as the Best Swedish Crime Novel of the Year. Camilla Grebe has succeeded in writing a gripping, atmospheric tale that tackles a number of burning contemporary issues in a compelling way. Highly recommended * Adam Hamdy *Unsettling, menacing and compulsively written * Heat on The Ice Beneath Her *Captivating . . . deftly ensure[s] reader's certainties stay on the very thin ice * Sunday Mirror on The Ice Beneath Her *Scandi-noir at it powerful bleakest * Daily Mail on The Ice Beneath Her *I read it in one sitting. The twists are superb . . . * Cecilia Ekbäck on The Ice Beneath Her *

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Book Synopsis'Original and pacy' CLARE MACKINTOSH'Fresh, wonderful and unexpected' LISA JEWELL'My debut of the year. Kate Helm is an exceptional story teller' C. L. TAYLOR*****IN HER EYES, NO ONE IS INNOCENTGeorgia Sage has a gift: she can see evil in people. As a courtroom artist she uses her skills to help condemn those who commit terrible crimes. After all, her own brutal past means she knows innocence is even rarer than justice. But when she is drawn back into the trial that defined her career - a case of twisted family betrayal - she realises that her own reckless pursuit of justice may have helped the guilty go free.As Georgia gets closer to the truth behind that case, something happens that threatens not only her career, but even her sanity. At first, she fears her guilt around the events of her terrible childhood is finally coming back to haunt her. But the truth turns out to be even more terrifying . . . *****IF YOU LIKE YOUR THRILLERS ORIGINAL, TWISTY, EXCITING AND FRESH, THEN YOU WILL LOVE THE SECRETS YOU HIDE - perfect for fans of Anatomy of a Scandal and Let Me Lie. Every layer, every twist, every revelation makes you question the very characters you thought you could trust, and rethink a plot you thought you were beginning to unravel . . .'I read the whole thing in on huge unstoppable whoosh' JILL MANSELL'Clever concept so brilliantly executed' ARAMINTA HALL'Terrifying and disorienting, shocking and completely original' MIRANDA DICKINSON'Brilliant, original and shocking' CAZ FREARTrade ReviewFresh, wonderful and unexpected * Lisa Jewell *Original and pacy, with intriguing characters and a great back story * Clare Mackintosh *I read the whole thing in one huge unstoppable whoosh and it was just so great, hugely original, unexpected and completely fascinating. I loved it * Jill Mansell *My debut of the year. Kate Helm is an exceptional story teller with a fresh, innovative, exciting approach to crime writing. The Secrets You Hide is gripping, pacy and utterly compelling. A must read! I can't wait to see what Kate writes next * C. L. Taylor *The Secrets You Hide is clever, twisty and chilling, with an absolutely compelling heroine * Julie Cohen *Clever concept so brilliantly executed. Compelling plot but more compelling character study that left me desperate to find out why instead of who. First class psych thriller * Araminta Hall *Terrifying and disorienting, shocking and completely original * Miranda Dickinson *There aren't enough adjectives to describe how much I loved The Secrets You Hide, but after careful consideration, I'll go with brilliant, original and shocking * Caz Frear, internationally bestselling author of Sweet Little Lies *An incredible, unique and compelling novel. I tore through this book. So, so good, and I did not see the end coming! A new talent has exploded onto the crime scene * Angela Clarke *Smart, absorbing and brilliantly original - The Secrets You Hide is a fantastic debut * T M Logan, bestselling author of Lies *One of the most original characters I've come across, this debut is an absolute gripper. I predict big things for Kate Helm * Cass Green *An incredible, unique and compelling novel. I tore through this book. So so good, and I did not see the end coming! A new talent has exploded onto the crime scene * Angela Clarke *Devoured this book in a couple of days. Loved it! Highly original, gripping and very chilling. Soooo well written. Fantastic read. Recommend it massively * Luca Veste *Expertly plotted, beautifully written and with a unique main character dealing with desperate tragedies - this deserves to be huge * SJI Holliday *This is definitely a knockout of a thriller, with plenty of emotional and gripping moments to keep you hooked and desperate for more. I cannot wait for more to come from Kate Helm * Life of a Bookworm *Brilliant in its orginality and razor sharp in its execution * Years of Reading Selfishly *Well-plotted, brilliantly written, addictive and hugely satisfying * Novel Deelights *An original and gripping addition to the psychological thriller genre... one of those books that I couldn't stop reading but really wanted to slow down to savour the writing * Off the Shelf Books *The two main reasons that I enjoyed this book are its originality which I think sets it apart and the quality of the narrative. This is a highly original and compelling psychological thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed, could not put down and left me thinking about its themes weeks later * Bella Jones Blog *The Secrets You Hide is a well written and complex psychological thriller. . . The story is compellingly addictive and once started I found that i really couldn't put the book down * Jaffa Reads Too *

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Book SynopsisA secret State. A dark conspiracy. A terrible crime.Karin Müller of the German Democratic Republic's People's Police is called to a factory in the east of the country. A man has been murdered - bound and trapped as a fire burned nearby, slowly suffocating him. But who is he? Why was he targeted? Could his murderer simply be someone with a grudge against the factory's nationalisation, as Müller's Stasi colleagues insist? Why too is her deputy Werner Tilsner behaving so strangely? As more victims surface, it becomes clear that there is a cold-blooded killer out there taking their revenge. Soon Müller begins to realise that in order to solve these terrible crimes, she will need to delve into the region's dark past. But are the Stasi really working with her on this case? Or against her? For those who really run this Republic have secrets they would rather remain uncovered. And they will stop at nothing to keep them that way . . .A gripping and evocative crime thriller, moving between the devastating closing weeks of the Second World War and the Stasi-controlled 1970s, STASI 77 is David Young's most compelling and powerful novel yet.Trade ReviewThe series continues to entertain, with a gutsy protagonist fighting a sinister obstructive bureaucracy which can be relied upon to impose maximum opposition * CrimeReview.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Blessed Child; perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Katie Flynn and Catherine Cookson. 'Goodwin is a master of her craft. The perfect book for a cold winter's evening' Lancashire Evening Post'Goodwin is a fabulous writer' Worcester Evening News 'A vibrant page-turner with entrancing characters' Margaret Dickinson'Rosie writes such heartwarming sagas' Lyn AndrewsThursday's child has far to go . . . 1912, London.Eighteen-year-old Flora Butler is going up in the world. She has the prized position of lady's maid to young Constance Ogilvie, and is able to provide for her beloved parents and four younger siblings. She has even fallen in love, and though she does not feel quite ready to marry the charming Jamie Branning, her future seems clear.But Flora's life is turned upside down when her mistress's father dies in a tragic accident. Connie is forced to move to New York to live with her aunt until she comes of age, and begs Flora to go with her. Flora has never left the country before, and now faces a difficult decision - give up her position, or leave her family behind. But when her beau lets her down, her mind is made up.Soon Connie and Flora head for Southampton to board the RMS Titanic ...A Maiden's Voyage is the fifth book in Rosie Goodwin's Days of the Week Collection. Why not try the rest, Mothering Sunday, The Little Angel, A Mother's Grace, The Blessed Child, A Precious Gift and Time to Say Goodbye?Trade ReviewWith strong settings and likeable characters, this is a page turner of a book to sail away with. * Frost Magazine *

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Book SynopsisSOME KILLERS CAN'T BE TAMED . . .The brand new Detective Jack Warr thriller from the Queen of Crime Drama, Lynda La Plante - now available in hardback, eBook and audiobook.__________________'Do you know what a Judas Horse is? When the wild mustangs are running free, you corral one and train it. When he's ready, you release him and he'll bring his team back into the corral - like Judas betraying them...'Violent burglars have been terrorising residents across the English countryside. But when a mutilated body is discovered in a Cotswolds house, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary group of opportunist thieves.As Detective Jack Warr investigates, he discovers locals with dark secrets, unearths hidden crimes - and hits countless dead ends. With few leads and the violent attacks escalating, he will have to act as audaciously as the criminals if he hopes to stop them.When Warr meets Charlotte Miles, a terrified woman with links to the group, he must use her to lure the unsuspecting killers into one last job, and into his trap. But with the law already stretched to breaking point, any failure will be on Warr's head - and any more blood spilled, on his hands...__________________PRAISE FOR LYNDA LA PLANTE:'DC Jack Warr is clearly destined for higher things, and I look forward to following his progress' - PETER ROBINSON, No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the DCI Banks series 'A compelling, clever plot with a brilliant cast of diverse characters. Utterly riveting' - RACHEL ABBOTT, million-selling author of ONLY THE INNOCENT'Lynda La Plante practically invented the thriller' KARIN SLAUGHTERTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR LYNDA LA PLANTE:'DC Jack Warr is clearly destined for higher things, and I look forward to following his progress' - PETER ROBINSON, No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the DCI Banks series'A compelling, clever plot with a brilliant cast of diverse characters. Utterly riveting' - RACHEL ABBOTT, million-selling author of ONLY THE INNOCENT'Lynda La Plante practically invented the thriller' KARIN SLAUGHTER

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Book SynopsisIT'S NOT JUST MURDER THAT IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT . . .The blinding new Detective Jane Tennison thriller from the Queen of Crime Drama, Lynda La Plante.__________________Things can't get much worse for detective Jane Tennison. Unceremoniously kicked off the adrenaline-fuelled Flying Squad, she's been relegated to Gerald Road, a small and sleepy police station in the heart of London's affluent Knightsbridge. With only petty crime to sink her teeth into, Tennison can feel her career slowly flatlining. That is until the discovery of the most brutal murder Jane has ever seen: Charlie Foxley has been found viciously beaten to death, his body dismembered and disembowelled. As a big-time showbiz agent, Foxley had a lot of powerful friends - but even more enemies. And alongside her old friend DS Spencer Gibbs, Tennison must journey into the salacious world of show business to find the killer, before they strike again . . .In Lynda La Plante's most gripping thriller yet, Tennison discovers that the brightest lights hide the darkest secrets - and the killer doesn't always hide in the shadows . . .__________________PRAISE FOR LYNDA LA PLANTE:'A compelling, clever plot with a brilliant cast of diverse characters. Utterly riveting' - RACHEL ABBOTT, million-selling author of ONLY THE INNOCENT'Lynda La Plante practically invented the thriller' KARIN SLAUGHTER'Nail-biting' DAILY MAIL

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling novel series by Steig Larson come this English translation of the phenomenal French comics adaptation! Discredited journalist Mikel Blompkvist is hired to investigate a unresolved family disappearance. Aided by the mysterious computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander, the two soon discover a brutal trail of murder, deception and dark secrets leading right up to the present day.Trade Review"Excellent. 4.5 out of 5!" - ICV2"Very cinematic, very mature themes, and very skillfully written and drawn.” - Nerdly "An excellent adaptation of Stieg Larsson‘s best-selling novel, with the tone and atmosphere of the book being ever present throughout.” - Snap Pow "A beautiful, heartfelt adaptation to the Swedish mysteries...Fantastic. 97%!” - Comics Verse

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Book SynopsisA notorious loan shark is shot dead, in broad daylight, right outside the front doors of the Old Bailey. The killer is arrested at the scene and Adrian Stanford is lined up to take on the toughest defence case of his career. Can he steer his client past the no-nonsense Detective Chief Superintendent ‘Iron-Rod’ Stokes, hell-bent on achieving a murder conviction in his last case before retirement? That’s assuming he can keep his client alive in prison long enough for the trial to go ahead. Can his illustrious defence QC, Patrick ‘The Edge’ Gorman, swerve the case past the acerbic judge known to all as Mack the Knife, whose own resolve is being tested to the limit by an adulterous wife? And why is London underworld numero uno Big Jake Davenport showing such a keen interest in the proceedings? A wickedly eccentric cast of brilliantly drawn characters populate this daring debut from one of Britain’s top criminal defence lawyers. Dripping with sparkling dialogue and delicious wit, Murder at the Bailey is a masterly picaresque romp through the courtrooms, custody suites and London restaurants graced by the cognoscenti.

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Book Synopsis"Why is your first impulse to reach for your swords and never a screwdriver?"The Doctor and Romana's search for the fourth segment of the all-powerful Key to Time leads them to the planet Tara, where courtly intrigue and romantic pageantry employ the most sophisticated technology.Within hours of arriving, Romana is mistaken for a powerful princess and the Doctor forced to dally with robotic royalty - and both are quickly embroiled in the scheming ambitions of the wicked Count Grendel. Finding the segment of the Key is easy enough, but escaping with it in one piece will prove an altogether more colourful affair...Trade ReviewThis is so much more than merchandise...these novels are connecting us together even now. All the way across time and space -- Russell T DaviesTarget books offered much more than just a window into Doctor Who: they were a formative part of my reading experience -- Alastair ReynoldsTarget writers performed quite a invaluable service in 'saving' these stories...so don't think of this book as just another novel. It's a slice of Who history -- Stephen BaxterIt became a ritual, saving pocket money, then deciding which Target book to go for. I devoured them -- Mark Gatiss

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Book Synopsis"To protect a muddy little hillside, you doomed your whole world!"The Doctor takes Bill and Nardole back to 2nd century Scotland to learn the fate of the 'lost' Ninth Legion of the Imperial Roman Army. 5,000 soldiers vanished without explanation - how?The search for the truth leads the Doctor and his friends into a deadly mystery. Who is the Guardian of the Gate? What nightmare creature roams the wildlands, darkening the sky and destroying all in its path? A threat from another dimension has been unleashed on the Earth, and only a terrible sacrifice can put things right...Trade ReviewThis is so much more than merchandise...these novels are connecting us together even now. All the way across time and space -- Russell T DaviesTarget books offered much more than just a window into Doctor Who: they were a formative part of my reading experience -- Alastair ReynoldsTarget writers performed quite a invaluable service in 'saving' these stories...so don't think of this book as just another novel. It's a slice of Who history -- Stephen BaxterIt became a ritual, saving pocket money, then deciding which Target book to go for. I devoured them -- Mark Gatiss

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Book Synopsis"The Ood came from a distant world, they voyaged across the stars, all for one purpose... to serve."The TARDIS lands on the Ood-Sphere in the year 4126. Here, human profiteers have subjugated the Ood: the gentle creatures are forced into servitude and sold across the galaxy as the perfect slaves. But now, some are fighting back. Their eyes turn red as they throw off their chains and kill their oppressors... The Doctor and Donna soon learn that the planet of the Ood holds cruel and awesome secrets. As they battle for justice and survival, the fate of the entire Ood race hangs in the balance. Will the outcome be salvation - or extinction?

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Book SynopsisFate favours the infant son of John and Alice Clayton when he is found and adopted by a female ape after the death of his parents. Growing up in the African jungle, Tarzan becomes a skilled hunter and the protector of animals from the local tribe. When a new party of white people arrive, an unexpected chain of events occur that lead Tarzan to discover his true ancestry and fall in love with the first white woman he has ever met - Jane Porter. Will his love for Jane lead to Tarzan claiming his rightful place in society, or will he renounce his heritage to remain as Lord of the Jungle? This Arcturus Classics edition brings this timeless tale to a new readership, featuring a modern graphic cover design.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Classics series brings together high-quality paperback editions of classics works, presented with contemporary graphic cover designs. Together they make a wonderful collection which is perfect for any home library.

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Book Synopsis*Shortlisted for the John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger Award 2017* World-weary Jonathan Craine is a detective at the LAPD who has spent his entire career as a studio ‘fixer’, covering up crimes of the studio players to protect the billion-dollar industry that built Los Angeles. When one of the producers of The Wizard of Oz is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Craine must make sure the incident passes without scandal and that the deceased’s widow, the beautiful starlet Gale Goodwin, comes through the ordeal with her reputation unscathed. But against his better instincts, Craine finds himself increasingly drawn to Gale. And when a series of unsavoury truths begin to surface, Craine finds himself at the centre of a conspiracy involving a Chicago crime syndicate, a prostitution racket and a set of stolen pictures that could hold the key to unravelling the mystery.Trade Review‘Superbly realised.’ * Telegraph, Books of the Year *‘Three more debuts introduced splendid anti-heroes…. The Pictures follows a morally dubious studio fixer in a superbly realised Thirties Hollywood.’ * The Telegraph *‘The Pictures is a compelling and dazzling debut for fans of Raymond Chandler and James Ellroy. Bolton's tightly paced mystery vividly re-creates 1930s Hollywood and is enriched with complicated, fascinating and flawed characters.’ * Shelf Awareness *'Star-studded, deliciously dark noir.' * Express *'If Bolton manages to combine his natural talent for place with Black's guidance on character, mystery lovers will have a great deal to anticipate.' * NPR Books *'An astonishingly accomplished debut.' * Daily Mail *‘A splendid read…handled with great skill…[Bolton] paints a portrait of the period with a confidence usually reserved for old survivors.’ * The Times *'A solid read for fans of the silver screen and intelligent detective novels.' * Library Journal *'Bolton spins a lurid tale of Hollywood after dark, complete with drugs, prostitution, and pornography...nicely mixing Hollywood glamour with backroom sleaze.' * Booklist *'A laser-sharp noir thriller.' * Financial Times *‘Brilliantly atmospheric and compelling.’ * Mail on Sunday *‘Craine is not the usual maverick cop and his ambiguous nature makes this novel tick… Place and period are lovingly described.’ * Spectator *‘A skilfully written, atmospheric tale.’ * Literary Review *‘It's one of those books which you pick up idly - and don't put down. I read it in a couple of days and I'm still thinking about a couple of the characters. Definitely recommended…. There's a real pace to the story and an effortless evocation of the Hollywood of the nineteen thirties…It's his first novel and is particularly assured for a debut.’ * The Bookbag *‘Moody Hollywood thriller with a tarnished cop looking into a producer's apparent suicide that puts him up against the studio bosses who pay him, the mob that's muscling in, and his old love. Set against the release of The Wizard of Oz, Bolton creates a time and place both accurate and dreamlike as he delves into wounded men looking for a shot to be better.’ * Mystery People bookstore Picked one of the top six debut mystery novels of 2017 *

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Book SynopsisIt’s summer in Adders Fork. The sun is out, the sky is blue and things are going swimmingly for Rosie Strange, thank you very much. The Essex Witch Museum has been relaunched with a new Ursula Cadence wing and picnic grounds. Then developers roll into the sleepy village to widen the road. When the centuries-old Blackly Be boulder, said to mark the grave of a notorious witch but now in the car park of the Seven Stars, is moved, all hell breaks out. Within hours a slew of peculiar phenomena descends and, when a severed head is discovered atop the boulder, the locals can take no more and storm the Museum to demand someone take action. Can Rosie and Sam unravel the mystery? And what of the ancient treasure that could drastically change someone’s fortunes and offer a motive for murder?Trade Review'The rarest of things: a book which sets out unashamedly to entertain, and does so with wit, style and erudition.' * Sarah Perry *‘It was fun to spend time in this little corner of Essex. There was some real threat and excitement as well as a few spooky chills. And proof, as if it needed repeating, that you shouldn’t mess with an Essex girl or her family.’ * Crime Review *'Strange Fascination is the most entertaining, intricate, ingeniously structured and beautifully written entry so far... Moore’s storytelling has once again achieved a level most other supernaturally-themed mysteries can only dark-dream about.' * Starburst *‘It makes for a thoroughly good read… Very much recommended.’ * Mystery People *‘Like an episode of Midsomer Murders, we get local rivalries, protestors, sexual undercurrents and nasty deaths – and that's even before the supernatural seems to breaking loose… All in all I think this book – and the series its part of - an absolute triumph, with its own distinct voice, humour and – at the centre – a rather sweetly romantic story.’ * Bluebookballoon *Praise for Syd Moore: 'A fun and thrilling read, one hugely impressive element is that Moore uses her light tone and intricate character relationships to address some serious points - ranging from people trafficking through to the derogatory stereotype of the Essex Girl. Lead character Rosie Strange is a woman to be admired with her ballsy, no-nonsense attitude, excellent boots and compelling family history. I can't wait to see more of Rosie, Sam and the Essex Witch museum in the future.' Cathi Unsworth, author of Weirdo ‘Dennis Wheatley meets Caitlin Moran.’ Starburst 'The Strange novels are a breath of fresh air for fans of supernatural mysteries...all fantastic books...I can’t recommend them highly enough' Paranormal Underground

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Book SynopsisThe fourth instalment in Syd Moore's spooktacular witch detective series Halloween in Essex and the Mystery and Suspense creative writing course at old Ratchette Hall is off to a satisfyingly creepy start. But things take a turn for the worse when the course administrator is discovered dead, clutching a marble finger to his chest. For why would anyone, undead or alive, want to kill mild-mannered Graham? Luckily Rosie Strange and Sam Stone are on the case. Soon, however, they are digging up more questions than answers: who are the unearthly howls emanating from neighbouring Witch Wood every night? How has a stone crusader, on display in the church, managed to lose a finger? And, more sinister yet, why is one of the tombs missing a corpse?Trade Review'A hugely enjoyable series.' * i news *'In this fourth book the series shows no sign of flagging, indeed with the season of walking ghosts and the looming darkness of winter it appears to be heading for new revelations and a chillier tone. Still great fun, and with some sharp messages besides)… I'd strongly recommend.' * Blue Book Balloon *‘Rosie Strange is a great character and it’s always a pleasure to spend time in her company.’ * Crime Review *Praise for Syd Moore: 'A fun and thrilling read, one hugely impressive element is that Moore uses her light tone and intricate character relationships to address some serious points – ranging from people trafficking through to the derogatory stereotype of the Essex Girl. Lead character Rosie Strange is a woman to be admired with her ballsy, no-nonsense attitude, excellent boots and compelling family history. I can't wait to see more of Rosie, Sam and the Essex Witch Museum in the future.' Cathi Unsworth, author of Weirdo ‘Dennis Wheatley meets Caitlin Moran.’ Starburst 'The Strange novels are a breath of fresh air for fans of supernatural mysteries...all fantastic books... I can’t recommend them highly enough' Paranormal Underground

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Book SynopsisRosie Strange is back in the latest of the fabulously creepy Essex Witch Museum Mysteries Secretly Rosie Strange has always thought herself a little bit more interesting than most people – the legacy her family has bequeathed her is definitely so, she’s long believed. But then life takes a peculiar turn when the Strange legacy turns out not just to be the Essex Witch Museum, but perhaps some otherworldly gifts that Rosie finds difficult to fathom. Meanwhile Sam Stone, Rosie’s curator, is oddly distracted as breadcrumb clues into what happened to his missing younger brother and other abducted boys from the past are poised to lead him and Rosie deep into a dark wood where there lurks something far scarier than Hansel and Gretel’s witch… Praise for the Essex Witch Museum Mysteries: ‘I gleefully submitted to a tale of witchcraft, feminism, mysterious strangers, historical atrocities, plucky heroines and ghastly apparitions – and came away more proud than ever to be an Essex girl.’ Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent ‘Confident, down-to-earth Essex girl Rosie is an appealing character, and there is plenty of spooky fun in this spirited genre mashup.’ GuardianTrade Review‘If you’re looking for a first-rate mystery that is full of humour, heart and will also give you the heebie-jeebies, Strange Tricks is the book for you. Charming, tense and addictive, I couldn’t get enough of Rosie and will be buying and listening to the other books as soon as possible.’ -- Emma's Biblio Treasures‘Mysterious, intriguing, humorous and highly entertaining, Strange Tricks is a fantastic audiobook and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end; both the writing and the narration are exceptional.’ -- The Book Magnet‘The narrative of Strange Tricks is near impeccable. Rosie’s musings on her surroundings and life in general, are as hilarious as they are relatable. Under a facade of a devil may care, adventurous, rather feisty Essex girl, there’s an extremely sensitive and quite a sweet character whose whole life has been defined by a series of unfortunate events which cast long shadows on her future. The world of Strange Tricks offers many avenues for exploration. On the surface, it’s a well-woven mystery that introduces us to a twisted serial killer. Still, it touches upon the themes of feminism and women’s rights without being preachy or reproachful. It takes a dive into the subject with a very cool head and firm resolve to challenge without losing its entertainment value.’ -- Kon Frankowski's Book Blog‘Wow finished Strange Tricks by Syd Moore last night, that book is dark and awesome and dark, i did not expect that twist 5* all the way from me.’ -- Caroline Maston, founder of the facebook UK Crime Book Club‘I thoroughly enjoyed this audio book and was quite sad to reach the end... the nice little hook into the next book has me intrigued too!’ -- Brown Flopsy's Blogspot‘Both author and narrator are exceptionally skilled and manage to weave a tale that is as compulsive as the summer days are long... All in all a brilliant read, and a series I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to!’ -- Tomes with Tea blog‘The characters are vivid, complex and fascinating. The premise is inventive and interesting and I just love the whole idea of the Essex Witch Museum being taken on by a Benefits Fraud investigator!’ -- Live and Deadly blog‘Unique and intense... A highly recommended eerie story!’ -- Welsh Book Lover‘Sleuth in matters of the supernatural, Rosie Strange, returns in the rollickingly funny and spooky sixth case in the Essex Witch Museum series.’ -- Peterborough Telegraph‘This story has a much darker tone than Rosie Strange’s previous outings. She still investigates with the same lightness of touch and determination to confound any expectations of an Essex Girl, while wearing cowboy boots, of course!... It’s always fun to spend time with Rosie Strange.’ -- Crime ReviewPraise for Syd Moore: ‘I gleefully submitted to a tale of witchcraft, feminism, mysterious strangers, historical atrocities, plucky heroines and ghastly apparitions – and came away more proud than ever to be an Essex girl.’ Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent 'Dennis Wheatley meets Caitlin Moran.' Starburst ‘Confident, down-to-earth Essex girl Rosie is an appealing character, and there is plenty of spooky fun in this spirited genre mashup.’ Guardian

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Book Synopsis‘This is a well paced and exciting read. More please!’ Alexander McCall Smith ‘It's a rare talent that creates a work that is both whip smart, fast paced and at the same time gloriously genteel. Carter is that talent.’ Amanda Prowse The second Susie Mahl Mystery. If only death came with a warning… Flirtatious American blonde, Miss Hailey Dune, should never have accepted a summer weekend invitation to Fontaburn Hall. But when the Honourable Archibald Cooke Wellingham’s gentrified house party are woken, in the early hours of Sunday morning, it’s too late: Miss Dune’s blood is on their hands. With the aid of well-mannered Detective Chief Inspector Reynolds, intelligent Sergeant Ayari and loyal friend Dr Toby Cropper, Susie Mahl, on a timely commission drawing six racehorses nearby, seizes the opportunity to play detective for a second time. Her inquisitive nature, tenacity for truth and artist’s eye for detail make her ideally suited to the task in hand, but is she getting carried away by her previous triumph - even to the extent of endangering her reputation and her burgeoning relationship with Toby? Enriched with candid observations of the British social classes, insights into the artist’s craft, and a strong dose of good humour, The Colours of Murder is a welcome return of Ali Carter’s amateur sleuth.Trade Review'This is a well paced and exciting read. More please!' * Alexander McCall Smith *'It's a rare talent that creates a work that is both whip smart, fast paced and at the same time gloriously genteel. Carter is that talent.' * Amanda Prowse *‘This whip-smart, pacey, yet at the same time effortlessly genteel Christie homage is a more than welcome return for Ali Carter’s artistic amateur sleuth Susie Mahl…. Susie is everything a cosy detective should be – absorbing, witty, warm, charming, funny and endlessly inquisitive. Carter has created a character Agatha Christie would be proud of – a sort of 21st century Jane Marple, although it is hard to imagine what that most correct and starchy lady would have thought about Susie’s passion for racy French silk underwear!’ * Crime Review *‘A Christie homage whose upper-crust humour targets readers who recognize the differences between a country house and a stately home.’ * Kirkus *‘Charming... I loved it.’ * Promoting Crime *Praise for A Brush with Death: 'A riveting, charming and very funny new crime series from the fabulously talented Ali Carter.' Piers Morgan 'A delicious new voice in crime writing... Excellent on the English aristocracy and written in a fine wry style.' Daily Mail 'Absorbing, charming and funny, A Brush With Death heralds a fresh and welcome new voice in crime writing. Susie Mahl is also a welcome new detective: witty, warm and very inquisitive.' Antonia Fraser

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Book Synopsis ‘An ingenious marriage of comedy and crime.’ Olga Tokarczuk, 2018 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature Shortlisted for the EBRD Literature Prize 2022 For fans of The Thursday Murder Club and Frank Tallis's Vienna Blood comes the thrilling sequel to the critically-acclaimed Mrs Mohr Goes Missing Easter, 1895. The biggest event in the Catholic calendar is a disaster in Zofia Turbotyńska’s household. Her maid Karolina has handed in her notice and worse, gone missing. When Karolina’s body is discovered, violated and stabbed, Zofia knows she has to investigate. Following a trail that leads her from the poorest districts of Galicia to the highest echelons of society, Zofia uncovers a web of gang crimes, sex-trafficking and corruption that will force her to question everything she knows. Set against the backdrop of the women’s cause, Karolina, or the Torn Curtain refuses to turn a blind eye to the injustices and inequalities of its era – and ours. Praise for the series: ‘The sprightly narrative and vivid evocation of turn-of-the-century Poland make for an enjoyable tale.’ Guardian ‘It’s fun and sparky and the glimpse of turn-of-the-century Polish manners and mores is beguiling.’ Daily Mail ‘The story fuses high comedy with an evocative portrayal of the period.’ Sunday Express Trade Review‘The novel presents a fascinating picture of life in late-nineteenth century Poland... Recommended.’ -- Mystery People‘A witty and engaging historical murder mystery, a clever pastiche of British golden-age crime fiction projected onto an earlier time and a distant place… A thoroughly entertaining, breezy thriller.’ -- European Literature Network‘Karolina, or the Torn Curtain has a light feathery touch, it's a witty and engaging mystery that oozes charm. Equally endearing for its clever pastiche of golden age crime fiction and it’s incisive portrait of the customs and manners of the day that are so revealing of Cracow society and its values... This is a crime story rich in period detail and telling observations on human nature.’ -- Crime Time‘Szymiczkowa (the pen name of writing duo Jacek Dehnel and Piotr Tarczynski) brings Cracow vividly to life and presents the period’s views on women with sly wit. This mystery will please readers looking for an unusual amateur sleuth and a picturesque setting.’ -- Publishers Weekly‘Vividly steeped in the politics and the life and times of 1895 Cracow, this mystery, with its charming heroine and dry humor, will appeal to fans of Anne Perry’s Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series, which also weaves the social issues of the day into the story.’ -- Booklist‘Pseudonymous partners Jacek Dehnel and Piotr Tarczyński bring both the do-gooders and the criminals of fin-de-siècle Cracow to entertaining life, but their deepest interest is in the unlikely detective lurking beneath ‘the sedate Mrs. Jekyll’: "the hidden Mrs. Hyde, the fearless stalker of criminals." A gravely decorous period piece that vividly evokes its moment while maintaining an archly amused distance from it.’ -- KirkusPraise for Mrs Mohr Goes Missing: ‘Strong-minded Zofia is an appealing character and the sprightly narrative and vivid evocation of turn-of-the-century Poland make for an enjoyable tale.’ Guardian ‘The unravelling of the mystery is ingenious... It’s fun and sparky and the glimpse of turn-of-the-century Polish manners and mores is beguiling.’ Daily Mail ‘An ingenious marriage of comedy and crime.’ Olga Tokarczuk, 2018 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

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Book Synopsis‘A dark, mysterious, adrenaline-pumping rollercoaster of a story’ Kieran Larwood, author of The Five Realms ‘Clever, funny, exciting and occasionally downright nasty – terrific stuff!’ Alastair Chisholm, author of Orion Lost ‘A brilliant sequel’ Jennifer Killick, author of Crater Lake The thrilling sequel to Monstrous Devices – Alex and his grandfather hold the fate of history itself in their hands in a Rick Riordan meets Raiders of the Lost Ark adventure of epic proportions! When Alex’s grandfather sent him a tin robot with strange powers, his world changed forever… Now, Alex must help his grandfather rescue his old friend Harry, who has fallen into the clutches of a formidable foe. The duo’s mission takes them on a desperate dash across Europe, chasing down the mystery Harry was investigating when he disappeared. But can Alex work out the ancient secret that lies hidden in the depths of Germany’s Black Forest and harness the powers of his robot before it’s too late? Innocent lives – and even history itself – are at stake. Trade Review‘It's taken everything I loved from the first book and turned it up to eleven. Clever, funny, exciting and occasionally downright nasty – terrific stuff!’ -- Alastair Chisholm, author of Orion Lost‘A brilliant sequel.’ -- Jennifer Killick, author of Crater Lake‘A dark, mysterious, adrenaline-pumping, rollercoaster of a story. You won’t be able to stop reading!’ -- Kieran Larwood, author of The Five Realms'Car chases and wrecks, sudden attacks, desperate battles, weird visions…Breathlessly paced adventure with rousingly eerie and icky notes.' * Kirkus *‘Damien has a fabulous imagination, these books are truly unique in plot. They are both high action, great pace and full of peril to ensure those pages just keep on turning… Very happy to recommend both of these books for aged 9 to 109 year olds.’ -- Independent Book Reviews‘Alex and his granddad’s next breathtaking adventure is set in a magical and mysterious corner of Europe… a superbly assured sequel where detailed settings, a clever plot, and cliffhanging action combine in an unforgettable read. At 400 pages, it’s epic and all-consuming. Car chases, thrilling attacks, desperate escapes, and otherworldly magic will draw you into this roller coaster of a story… Highly recommended.’ -- South China Morning Post

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Book Synopsis***SHORTLISTED FOR THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION***From the bestselling author of Asylum, Trauma and Spider'Ghosts of the theatre and the spectre of fascism haunt cold and grimy London in this atmospheric tale from a master of the grotesque.' GuardianJANUARY 1947.London is in ruins, there’s nothing to eat, and it’s the coldest winter in living memory. To make matters worse, Charlie Grice, one of the great stage actors of the day, has suddenly died. His widow Joan, the wardrobe mistress, is beside herself with grief.Then one night she discovers Gricey’s secret. Plunged into a dark new world, Joan realises that though fascism might hide, it never dies. Her war isn’t over after all. 'McGrath is one of the age's most elegantly accomplished divers into the human psyche . . . a master writer.' John Banville‘McGrath is that rare yet essential thing, a writer who can expose our darkest fears without making us run away from them.' New Statesman'Wonderfully sinister … a delight … you are in for a thrilling ride.' Spectator'A brilliant evocation of the theatrical world’s seedy glamour, The Wardrobe Mistress is also a moving portrait of a woman struggling to make sense of her past and imagine a future for herself.' Sunday Times'[A] rich and highly spiced feast of a novel, even before it reaches its classically gothic McGrath climax.' Reader's DigestTrade ReviewThe Wardrobe Mistress isn’t just an entertaining ghost story, assembled by a master-manipulator to be full of narrative trapdoors, tantalising at one moment and agreeably grotesque the next: it’s also an exploration of the deep mythology of theatre . . . McGrath himself seems ambivalent about the sentimentality he depicts. But there’s no political ambivalence here: by the end of the novel, the icy postwar alleys, the shattered theatres and public houses are under the malign enchantment of a quietly resurgent politics. The plentiful mirrorings, the doppelgangers and dybbuks both real and false, make that plain, and make plain that fascism is also a kind of theatre – always already a re-enactment of itself. * Guardian *A brilliant evocation of the theatrical world’s seedy glamour, The Wardrobe Mistress is also a moving portrait of a woman struggling to make sense of her past and imagine a future for herself. * Sunday Times *McGrath is so adept at creating a sense of foreboding that one is never sure whether there will be a rational, a psychiatric or a supernatural explanation . . . wonderfully sinister . . . a delight . . . you are in for a thrilling ride. * Spectator *A chilling novel of grief, passion and unfulfilled longing, where secrets lurk in every dark alley . . . McGrath takes us backstage in the London theatre — and you can just about smell the greasepaint. But he also opens out his story to embrace the zeitgeist of the time, the misery and deprivation of post-war Britain, the persistent running sore of fascism and the feeling that life after victory isn’t what it was supposed to be. * Daily Mail *A rich and highly spiced feast of a novel, even before it reaches its classically gothic McGrath climax * Reader’s Digest *

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Book SynopsisSOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY STEVEN SPIELBERGIt's the year 2044, and the real world has become an ugly place. We're out of oil. We've wrecked the climate. Famine, poverty, and disease are widespread. Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes this depressing reality by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia where you can be anything you want to be, where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. And like most of humanity, Wade is obsessed by the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this alternate reality: OASIS founder James Halliday, who dies with no heir, has promised that control of the OASIS - and his massive fortune - will go to the person who can solve the riddles he has left scattered throughout his creation. For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that the riddles are based in the culture of the late twentieth century. And then Wade stumbles onto the key to the first puzzle.Suddenly, he finds himself pitted against thousands of competitors in a desperate race to claim the ultimate prize, a chase that soon takes on terrifying real-world dimensions - and that will leave both Wade and his world profoundly changed.Trade ReviewAt once wildly original and stuffed with irresistible nostalgia, Ready Player One is a spectacularly genre-busting, ambitious, and charming debut—part quest novel, part love story, and part virtual space opera set in a universe where spell-slinging mages battle giant Japanese robots, entire planets are inspired byBlade Runner, and flying DeLoreans achieve light speed -- Justin Trudeau * Independent *The science-fiction writer John Scalzi has aptly referred to Ready Player One as a 'nerdgasm' [and] there can be no better one-word description of this ardent fantasy artifact about fantasy culture…But Mr. Cline is able to incorporate his favourite toys and games into a perfectly accessible narrative -- Janet Maslin * New York Times *A most excellent ride . . . the conceit is a smart one, and we happily root for [the heroes] on their quest . . . fully satisfying * Boston Globe *Gorgeously geeky, superbly entertaining, this really is a spectacularly successful debut * Daily Mail *If you grew up with an Atari or maybe had a Commodore 64 back in the day, you are going to really enjoy this one. Cline really captures the feeling of those good old days in Ready Player One * WIRED *

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Book SynopsisRandom House presents the audiobook edition of Target: Alex Cross, by James Patterson.'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'Alex Cross is a legend.' HARLAN COBEN______________________________TARGET: HEAD OF STATEAlex Cross and his family join men and women from across the nation lining the streets of Washington, DC to mourn the unexpected death of the president.TARGET: UNITED STATES CABINETWith the country still in shock, the assassination of a prominent senator strikes another devastating blow to the heart of the nation's capital.TARGET: ALEX CROSSCross is called on to lead the FBI investigation to find America's most wanted criminal. But what follows will plunge the country into chaos, and draw Cross into the most important case of his life.______________________________THE BEST ALEX CROSS YET?Here's what the fans say:'It's been a while since I last read a James Patterson Alex Cross novel and I had forgotten what a good series this is. A fabulous read''Another winner for Alex Cross and the great J. P.!''Once again, the author produces a very readable book. It is fast moving and the plot develops at a real pace. I thoroughly enjoyed this and recommend it to all.''Target: Alex Cross is from page 1 till the last one a warm bed for every thriller lover. Snuggling down, on a rainy day, and this book in your hands, you'll forget the rest of the world.''Multiple story lines woven into one keeps you interested and will make you hate yourself for finishing this book in one go. Where's number 27??? I want it now.''I've been following Alex Cross since Along Came A Spider and I'm not ready for his story to end yet! This was a fast, fun ride and it did not disappoint.'Trade ReviewAs fast-paced and twisty as everFast-paced, action-packed and intricately plotted, it’s another winner from the prolific author.It's no mystery why James Patterson is the world's most popular thriller writer ... Simply put: Nobody does it better. -- JEFFERY DEAVERBehind all the noise and the numbers, we shouldn't forget that 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, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher seriesJames Patterson is The Boss. End of. -- IAN RANKIN, bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus series

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Book Synopsis_____________________AN UNEXPECTED QUEST. TWO WORLDS AT STAKE. ARE YOU READY? Days after winning OASIS founder James Halliday's contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything. Hidden within Halliday's vaults, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS a thousand times more wondrous- and addictive- than even Wade dreamed possible. With it comes a new riddle, and a new quest- a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize. And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who'll kill millions to get what he wants. Wade's life and the future of the OASIS are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance. Lovingly nostalgic and wildly original as only Ernest Cline could conceive it, Ready Player Two takes us on another imaginative, fun, action-packed adventure through his beloved virtual universe, and jolts us thrillingly into the future once again. _____________________Praise for Ready Player One:'Enchanting . . . Willy Wonka meets The Matrix.' USA Today'An addictive read . . . part intergalactic scavenger hunt, part romance, and all heart.' CNN'Delightful . . . the grown-up's Harry Potter.' HuffPost'As one adventure leads expertly to the next, time simply evaporates.' Entertainment Weekly'Gorgeously geeky, superbly entertaining, [and] spectacularly successful.' Daily Mail'A smart, funny thriller that both celebrates and critiques online culture.' San Francisco Chronicle'A geek fantasia, '80s culture memoir and commentary on the future of online behavior all at once.' Austin American-Statesman

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Book SynopsisBrought to you by Penguin. A scandalous double homicide opens the psychological case files on Alex Cross . . .When a glamorous socialite and high school principal are found murdered, lying half naked in a car, the shocking double homicide dominates tabloid headlines. Kay Willingham was a well-known philanthropist and ex-wife of the US vice president. Randall Christopher was a respected educator with political ambitions, as well as a wife and family.Alex Cross knew both victims well. Especially Kay, who had been his patient once. And maybe more. Cross is left grieving, questioning who would want them dead, and why.While Cross's former Metro Homicide partner John Sampson tracks Christopher's final movements, Cross and FBI Special Agent Ned Mahoney travel to Alabama to investigate Kay's past. They discover that although Kay had many enemies, none of them had a full motive.In a world of trouble, corruption, and secrets, Cross is left facing a desperate choice between breaking a trust and losing his way . . .'Alex Cross is a legend.' Harlan Coben© James Patterson 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020Trade ReviewIt's no mystery why James Patterson is the world's most popular thriller writer ... Simply put: Nobody does it better. -- JEFFREY DEAVERBehind all the noise and the numbers, we shouldn't forget that 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, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher seriesJames Patterson is The Boss. End of. -- IAN RANKIN, bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus seriesI 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

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Book SynopsisJack Reacher gets off a bus in Nashville, Tennessee, in a quest for food, lodging and some good country music. But when he encounters a band of musicians who have been cheated by an unscrupulous bar owner, he steps in to help...Trade ReviewI loved The Sentinel! Classic Reacher, great story. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. * Conn Iggulden *The Sentinel shows that two Childs are even better than one. * James Patterson *The one man revenge machine seems revitalised. Great stuff. * Sun *Thoroughly entertaining . . . when the world is crumbling, it's good to have some of Reacher's brutal certainties back. * The Times *It's great to be back in Reacher's company in a world where the bad guys get what's coming to them. A smooth transition for a much-loved character. * Observer *

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Book SynopsisBrought to you by Penguin. Reacher never backs down from a problem.And he's about to find a big one, on a deserted road in Arizona, where a car has crashed into the only tree for miles around.Minutes later, Reacher is heading into town. To introduce himself to the shadowy crew who made it happen.Their boss has a terrifying reputation and the stakes are high. Just to get in and meet him, Reacher is going to have to achieve the impossible.To get answers will be even harder. There are people in this hostile, empty place who would rather die, than reveal their secrets.But then, if Reacher is coming after you, you might be better off dead.© Lee Child, Andrew Child 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021Trade ReviewClassic Reacher, great story. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. * Conn Iggulden on THE SENTINEL *Thoroughly entertaining . . . it's good to have some of Reacher's brutal certainties back. * The Times on THE SENTINEL *The one man revenge machine seems revitalised. Great stuff. * Sun on THE SENTINEL *The coolest continuing series character. * Stephen King *Jack Reacher is today's James Bond, a thriller hero we can't get enough of. * Ken Follett *

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Book SynopsisBrought to you by Penguin.The gripping new Jack Reacher thriller from the No.1 bestselling authors Lee Child and Andrew Child.Gerrardsville, Colorado. One tragic event. Two witnesses. Two conflicting accounts. One witness sees a woman throw herself in front of a bus - clearly suicide. The other witness is Jack Reacher. And he sees what really happened - a man in grey hoodie and jeans, swift and silent as a shadow, pushed the victim to her death, before grabbing her bag and sauntering away.Reacher follows the killer on foot, not knowing that this was no random act of violence. It is part of something much bigger...a sinister, secret conspiracy, with powerful people on the take, enmeshed in an elaborate plot that leaves no room for error. If any step is compromised, the threat will have to be quickly and permanently removed.But when the threat is Reacher, there is No Plan B...© Lee Child & Andrew Child 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022Trade ReviewLee and Andrew Child nail it again with NO PLAN B * Richard Osman *No Plan B is not to be missed. A perfectly plotted, fast paced thriller, with bigger twists than ever before.It's no wonder Jack Reacher is everyone's favourite rebel hero * Karin Slaughter *The world's favourite hero packs an even harder punch than ever. * Peter James *Contains more chases than James Bond could manage, a plot to keep the reader guessing, and enough bad guys to test Reacher's strength and guile. . .Destined to be another bestseller. * i *

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Book SynopsisBrought to you by Penguin.1992. Two strangers bring a hospital patient a list of names. They ask him for one more, but it's a question the patient can't answer. Minutes later he is dispatched through the 12th floor window.His death generates some unexpected attention. That attention comes from the Secretary of Defence, who brings in an inter-agency task force to investigate. Jack Reacher, recently demoted from Major to Captain, is assigned as the Army's representative.Reacher may be an exceptional soldier, but sweeping other people's secrets under the carpet isn't part of his skill set. As he races to find the killer, he must navigate around the ulterior motives of his new 'partners'. And all while moving into the sight line of some of the most dangerous people he has ever encountered.His mission is to uncover the truth. Fast. The question is: will Reacher bring the bad guys to justice the official way . . . or his way?PRAISE FOR THE JACK REACHER SERIES'There's only one Jack Reacher. Accept no substitutes.' MICK HERRON'Jack Reacher is today's James Bond, a thriller hero we can't get enough of.' KEN FOLLETT'Everyone needs to kick some butt sometimes, even if it's just imaginary.' JOJO MOYESAlthough the Jack Reacher novels can be read in any order, The Secret is the 28th book in the internationally bestselling series.©2023 Andrew Child & Lee Child (P)2023 Penguin AudioTrade ReviewThe Secret is a corker . . . Fast and furious, this is classic Jack Reacher doing what he does best – busting heads and breaking rules to get to the bottom of a conspiracy * Daily Express *A flow to the fight scenes . . . some flashes of humour . . . Welcome back, Jack * The Times *If there is a more iconic character in modern fiction than Jack Reacher, I’d like to meet them * Daily Mirror *Jack Reacher is on good form . . . Cue classic laconic violence * The Sun *

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Book SynopsisWhen hard-up aristocrat Lord `Ratty’ Ballashiels finds an old film reel in his attic he discovers that it’s a home movie of Charlie Chaplin’s visit to Rennes-le-Chateau in the south of France. But Ratty spots a strange anomaly: clearly visible behind Chaplin is the famous millionaire priest of that village, Bérenger Saunière. The film tin is labelled `Chaplin 1932’. Saunière died in 1917. Before Ratty can process the implication of what he has witnessed, the heat of the projector lamp ignites the film and starts a fire which rips through a wing of his manor house. Investigators subsequently discover a body amid the charred ruins and issue a warrant for Ratty’s arrest. The aristocrat has no intention of handing himself in. Knowing that Saunière reputedly buried a fabulous hoard of treasure, and convinced that the Chaplin film is a vital clue to its location, he stows away on a boat to France and becomes embroiled in a frightening and dangerous race to uncover the astonishing truth about Saunière’s legacy.

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Book SynopsisIn the majestic mountains of North Wales, retired MI5 agent Huw Cecil is reluctantly drawn back into a world of espionage and murder.While visiting his childhood home of Llangollen, Cecil becomes embroiled in a dangerous mission to obtain top-secret information that could lead to the total collapse of the NATO Alliance. But when his Russian contact is brutally killed, Huw knows that he is the next target.In a deadly game of cat and mouse, with no one left to trust, Cecil enlists the help of Lottie Williams-Parry, a local woman who is struggling to overcome her own dark secrets, and together they take on dark forces and evil assassins in a bid to outwit their enemies and expose the shocking truth...

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Book Synopsis'A rollicking good read' IAN RANKIN'Employs a turbulent 1930s India as the canvas for a nefarious assassination plot complete with tiger hunts and shady maharajahs. A rollicking Raj-era mystery' VASEEM KHAN The second in the series of the Dabble and Harris thrillers! Set in the mid-twentieth century, this adventure series is perfect for fans of action-packed, historical fiction.............................................................India, 1937. Intrepid reporter Sir Percival Harris is hunting tigers with his friend, Professor Ernest Drabble. Harris soon bags a man-eater - but later finds himself caught up in a hunt of a different kind...Harris is due to interview the Maharaja of Bikaner, a friend to the Raj, for his London newspaper - and he and Drabble soon find themselves accompanied by a local journalist, Miss Heinz. But is the lady all she seems? And the Maharaja himself is proving elusive...Meanwhile, the movement for Indian independence is becoming stronger, and Drabble and Harris witness some of the conflict first-hand. But even more drama comes on arrival at Bikaner when the friends find themselves confined to their quarters... and embroiled in an assassination plot!Just who is the enemy in the Maharaja's palace? What is the connection to a mysterious man Drabble meets in Delhi? And what secret plans do the British colonial officers have up their sleeves?............................................................Praise for Alec Marsh's Drabble and Harris thrillers:'An immensely readable treat!' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH'Told with humour and flair, Enemy of the Raj is a highly enjoyable, riveting read'ABIR MUKHERJEE'A thoroughly engaging and enjoyable diversion'NEW STATESMAN on Enemy of the Raj 'Tremendous stuff! With the arrival of Alec Marsh's first Drabble and Harris thriller, John Buchan must be stirring uneasily in his grave'STANLEY JOHNSONTrade ReviewA thoroughly engaging and enjoyable diversion * New Statesman *Tremendous stuff! With the arrival of Alec Marsh's first Drabble and Harris thriller, John Buchan must be stirring uneasily in his grave * Stanley Johnson *A rollicking good read * Ian Rankin *An immensely readable treat! * Alexander McCall Smith *Told with humour and flair, Enemy of the Raj is a highly enjoyable, riveting read. I'm already looking forward to the next one! * Abir Mukherjee *

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Book Synopsis'Lorraine Mace has done it again. Crime fiction at its absolute finest' MARION TODD'What an opening! Lorraine certainly knows how to write a gripping thriller. A chilling read' KAREN KINGIF HE WANTS YOU . . . THERE'S NO ESCAPE.A brutal murder . . .Responding to a tip-off, newly promoted Detective Chief Inspector Paolo Sterling arrives at an apartment block to find the dismembered body of a young woman. And with no indication of a break-in, all signs suggest the killer was known to her.An abduction in plain sight . . . Then the victim's friend is snatched with no witnesses and the unanswered questions mount up.At the same time, Sterling's team are leading the surveillance of a local club, thought to be involved in a drug operation. But when one of his colleagues ends up in hospital close to death, Paolo begins to lose his grip.A detective on the edge . . .With the odds stacked against him, and time running out, can DCI Sterling uncover the truth before it's too late? Or will this case finally tip him over the edge?Lorraine Mace returns with the fifth instalment in her dark, gritty and unflinching DI Sterling series. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, M. J. Arlidge and Karin Slaughter.LOVE FOR LORRAINE MACE'S WRITING:'I. Am. Not. Okay. That ending - mind blown!!!! Rage and Retribution deserves ALL the stars! It is AMAZING!' 5* Reader Review'Wow, just wow is all I can say. The whole series is just too good to miss.' 5* Reader Review'I am an absolutely massive fan of this series . . . the books are just getting better and better' 5* Reader Review'I am blown away by this story and LOVE everything about it. I cannot wait for the next instalment.' 5* Reader Review'OMG! That opening scene' 5* Reader Review'I could not put my kindle down while reading this!' 5* Reader ReviewTrade ReviewHer assured and fluid writing style truly brings characters and scenes to life on the page -- Rachel AbbottGritty, topical, sometimes lacerating, but always enthralling. A truly compulsive read -- Abbie FrostD.I. Paolo Sterling is instantly engaging - Children in Chains is a dark, gripping and unflinching read -- Louise Phillips, winner of the Best Irish Crime Novel of the YearGripping, fast-paced -- Sheila Bugler, Hunting ShadowsDelve into the dark side. Well-constructed with unflinching plots. Satisfying enough for the most discerning crime reader. -- Ruth DugdallFast-paced and compulsive reading with tension ratcheted to the max. D.I. Paolo Sterling's humanity is tested by gut-wrenching crimes and damaged killers. -- Chris CurranA visceral, no-punches-pulled, gut-wrenching thriller... Crime Noir at its darkest -- Caroline DunfordFrom page one the reader is parachuted into the epicentre of calculated, sinister murder. The pace is unrelenting as Mace presses on, hot on the heels of the enigmatic Pretender -- Anna Legat, author of Sandman

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