Crime & Thrillers Books

Book Synopsis'Jo, it's me. We've found another body.'A body is discovered on a canal towpath in the small Yorkshire town of Shipley. DCI Callum Ferguson calls on forensic psychologist Jo McCready to help investigate the mysterious crime.The victim is the second to be found on the canal in as many weeks, and Jo believes a single killer is responsible. Then, when one of her troubled patients is found brutally murdered, a puzzling connection emerges: is the murderer taking inspiration from the most notorious serial killer in Britain's history?As DCI Ferguson and Jo McCready race to find the killer, the investigation takes more twists and turns than Yorkshire's canals. And with more questions than answers, can they solve it before another body turns up?*** 'McEvoy really knows her stuff.' IAN RANKIN ***Author Lesley McEvoy uses her insider knowledge to create unbelievably gripping, unputdownable crime novels - perfect for fans of Rachel McLean, J.R. Ellis and Elly Griffiths.Trade ReviewThere are plenty of twists in this gripping read * YORKSHIRE TIMES *Gripping from the first page to the last!! * Goodreads reviewer, FIVE STARS ***** *I just couldn't guess whodunnit! * Goodreads reviewer, FIVE STARS ***** *Totally gripping with twists & turns that leaves everyone stumped!! * Goodreads reviewer, FIVE STARS ***** *I'm tired and need to sleep, but I just want to finish!! * Twitter reviewer *

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Book SynopsisJulia Chapman is the pseudonym of Julia Stagg, writer of the Fogas Chronicles set in the French Pyrenees. She is also the author of the Dales Detective series which follows the adventures of Samson O'Brien and Delilah Metcalfe as they solve cases in the Yorkshire Dales.Born with a wanderlust that keeps her moving, Julia has followed her restless feet to Japan, Australia, the USA and France. She spent the majority of that time as a teacher of English as a Foreign Language but also dabbled in bookselling, pawnbroking, waitressing and was once checkout chick of the month' at a supermarket in South Australia. She also ran an auberge in the French Pyrenees for six years with her husband.Having spent many years wandering, she is now glad to call the Yorkshire Dales home. Its distinctive landscape and way of life provide the setting for her latest set of novels, the Dales Detective series.Trade ReviewBags of Yorkshire charm and wit * The Northern Echo *A delightful read * The Dalesman *A classic whodunnit set in the spectacular landscape of the Yorkshire Dales, written with affection for the area and its people. A satisfying read riddled with dry Yorkshire humour (and dry-stone walls) -- Cath Staincliffe, author of The Silence Between BreathsGreat fun! -- Carol Drinkwater, actress (All Creatures Great and Small) and author of The Olive FarmThe barbed electricity flowing between the two central protagonists . . . bring fire and drive to the narrative * The Yorkshire Times *

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Book Synopsis'Dark, strange, thick with mystery and twists Book of Night is everything delicious and frightening I've come to expect from Holly Black.' Leigh Bardugo, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ninth House'Black is a master at world-building.' The New York Times Book Review_______________________________________________________________________#1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black makes her stunning adult debut with Book of Night, a modern dark fantasy of shadowy thieves and secret societies.Charlie Hall has never found a lock she couldn't pick, a book she couldn't steal, or a bad decision she wouldn't make. She's spent half her life working for gloamists, magicians who manipulate shadows to peer into locked rooms, strangle people in their beds, or worse. Gloamists guard their secrets greedily, creating an underground economy of grimoires. And to rob their fellow magicians, they need Charlie.Now, she's trying to distance herself from past mistakes, but going straight isn't easy. Bartending at a dive, she's still entirely too close to the corrupt underbelly of the Berkshires. Not to mention that her sister Posey is desperate for magic, and that her shadowless and possibly soulless boyfriend has been keeping secrets from her. When a terrible figure from her past returns, Charlie descends back into a maelstrom of murder and lies. Determined to survive, she's up against a cast of doppelgängers, mercurial billionaires, gloamists, and the people she loves best in the world - all trying to steal a secret that will allow them control of the shadow world and more.'I will never forget my first time reading Holly Black . . . Such a beautiful writer.' Daisy Johnson, Man Booker Prize finalist and author of SistersBook of Night, Sunday Times bestseller w/e 15th May 2022.Trade ReviewWith a gripping, perfectly paced story and a killer ending, this dark fantasy feels like an instant classic * Guardian *Dark, strange, thick with mystery and twists -- a story so believable in its magic, you'll be keeping one eye on your shadow as you turn the pages. * Leigh Bardugo, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ninth House *If Neil Gaiman channelled Stephen King, the result might be this book . . . scintillating prose, whiplash twists, and a voice of character that demands to be heard from again. * James Rollins, New York Times bestseller of The Starless Crown *Holly Black is a master of fantasy with the Midas touch -- there is no story she cannot turn to gold. * V.E. Schwab, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue *Superb, entangling magic and mystery around the gritty horrors of human nature, neglectful parenting and the scourge of severe income inequalities . . . Will have you frantically turning pages and finishing in less time than you thought possible. Everything you could want from a modern fantasy. * SFX *A gripping ride from start to finish. Book of Night invites you to reckon with the shadows of your past. * Olivie Blake, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six *Fuelled by Holly Black's wonderfully limitless imagination, Book of Night is a whip-smart and mysterious novel * CultureFly *Heart, soul, and a bit of kink -- Book of Night is smart, decadent fun. * Kelly Link, Pulitzer Prize Finalist *A delicious, dark, adrenaline rush of a book. I'm already dying to see Charlie Hall's next con. * Alix E. Harrow, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Once and Future Witches *A deliciously clever page-turner. * Paolo Bacigalupi, New York Times Bestselling author of The Water Knife *A dark romp full of danger and shadows with a razor-sharp heroine and vivid magic. * Zoraida Córdova, bestselling author of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina *Black is a master at world-building. * The New York Times *The many mysteries keep the suspense sizzling as Charlie guides readers through this slippery world. Black's adult fans and readers looking for dark urban fantasy will be thrilled. * Publishers Weekly *Book of Night delivers hot sex, a breathless plot, perfect characters, and some of the most gorgeous writing I've read in years, sharp as a razor blade, clear as a one-way glass. * Ellen Kushner, award-winning author of Swordspoint *...[T]he story builds to an exciting climax that will certainly leave you crossing your fingers for a sequel. * Paste Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe new Hercule Poirot novel another brilliant murder mystery that can only be solved by the eponymous Belgian detective and his little grey cells'.Since the publication of her first book in 1920, Agatha Christie wrote 33 novels, two plays and more than 50 short stories featuring Hercule Poirot. Now, for the first time ever, the guardians of her legacy have approved a brand new novel featuring Dame Agatha''s most beloved creation.Hercule Poirot''s quiet supper in a London coffee house is interrupted when a young woman confides to him that she is about to be murdered. She is terrified, but begs Poirot not to find and punish her killer. Once she is dead, she insists, justice will have been done.Later that night, Poirot learns that three guests at the fashionable Bloxham Hotel have been murdered, a cufflink placed in each one's mouth. Could there be a connection with the frightened woman? While Poirot struggles to put together the bizarre pieces of the puzzle, the murderer prepares anothTrade Review“Hannah gets it right in every particular – her extraordinary feat is to make the reader forget very quickly that the novel is not, in fact, written by Dame Agatha herself.”—The Times “Poirot purists will be in seventh heaven.”—Daily Telegraph “Within the first few pages of The Monogram Murders it is obvious that we are in safe hands. Sophie Hannah has written a novel that would have delighted the Queen of Crime.”—The Independent “A brilliant new murder mystery which picks up where the grande dame of crime left off”—Mail on Sunday “Both faithful to the character and an entirely worthy addition to the canon. The plot is as tricky as anything written by Agatha Christie. Nothing is obvious or predictable in this very difficult Sudoku of a novel. The Monogram Murders has a life and freshness of its own. Poirot is still Poirot. Poirot is back.”— Alexander McCall Smith in The New York Times “Sophie Hannah had large boots to fill… Nevertheless, she manages it with considerable wit, charm and ingenuity.”—Sunday Express “Equal parts charming and ingenious, dark and quirky and utterly engaging … I was thrilled to see Poirot in such very, very good hands. Reading The Monogram Murders was like returning to a favourite room of a long-lost home.”—Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl “Perfect … a pure treat for Agatha Christie fans.”—Tana French, author of The Secret Place “Sophie Hannah’s The Monogram Murders does Christie proud. Our favourite detective is back and in impeccable form!”—Charles Todd “Sophie Hannah is a prodigious talent. I can’t wait to see what she does next.”—Laura Lippman

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Book SynopsisHercule Poirot is determined to solve an old husband and wife double murder that is still an open verdictHercule Poirot stood on the cliff-top. Here, many years earlier, there had been a tragic accident. This was followed by the grisly discovery of two more bodies a husband and wife shot dead.But who had killed whom? Was it a suicide pact? A crime of passion? Or cold-blooded murder? Poirot delves back into the past and discovers that old sin leave long shadows'.Trade Review‘Splendid… she tells us all we want to know and nothing that is irrelevant.’ THE TIMES

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Book SynopsisA thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last!A kidnapped childA young boy is snatched in broad daylight outside his Stockholm nursery. He has vanished without a trace.A race against timeDetective Mina Dabiri calls on her close friend Vincent to help with the investigation. As they uncover links to other missing children, it becomes clear they are up against the clock.A world full of secretsThen Mina and Vincent find themselves caught up in a mysterious cult with terrifying motives. Can they stop them before it's too late?Trade ReviewPraise for Camilla Lackberg: ‘A sexy, sensational novel with intoxicating vengeance and an unexpected tenderness – The Golden Cage is tensely and skillfully drawn’ Karin Slaughter ‘Lackberg’s new embrace of a terrifying revenge scenario furnishes visceral psychological crime.’ Financial Times ‘The Golden Cage is a twisting, brutal tale of betrayal and revenge. Lackberg paints a vivid portrait of a dark and complicated anti-heroine who is both the abused and abuser, victim and victimizer. A chilling, timely read sure to thrill her international legion of fans!’ Lisa Unger,New York Times bestselling author of The Stranger Inside ‘A wonderful, take-no-prisoners mashup of Gone Girl, Billions, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ Chris Bohjalian, New York Times best-selling author of The Flight Attendant and The Red Lotus ‘Camilla Läckberg is a master of psychological suspense: she grabbed me by the throat with this sharply written, wildly entertaining tale of wealth, power and revenge and kept me up straight through the night’ Cristina Alger, New York Times best-selling author of Girls Like Us ‘Domesticity and brutality are Lackberg staples… Tightly plotted… Unflinching’ Sunday Times ‘Heart-stopping and heart-warming … a masterclass in Scandinavian crime writing’ Val McDermid ‘Pacy … with flashing insight into the dark places of the psyche’ Sunday Times ‘A top-class Scandinavian crime writer’ The Times ‘The rock star of Nordic Noir’ Independent ‘Lackberg is an expert at mixing scenes of domestic cosiness with blood-curdling horror’ Guardian ‘Both chilling and thrilling’ Sun ‘A satisfying and counterintuitive clash between the cosy and gruesome strands of the genre’ Guardian

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Book SynopsisEvelyn Waugh''s masterful depiction of World War II, with an introduction by Martin StannardWaugh''s own unhappy experience of being a soldier is superbly re-enacted in this story of Guy Crouchback, a Catholic and a gentleman, commissioned into the Royal Corps of Halberdiers during the war years 1939-45. High comedy - in the company of Brigadier Ritchie-Hook or the denizens of Bellamy''s Club - is only part of the shambles of Crouchback''s war. When action comes in Crete and in Yugoslavia, he discovers not heroism, but humanity. Sword of Honour combines three volumes: Officers and Gentlemen, Men at Arms and Unconditional Surrender, which were originally published separately. Extensively revised by Waugh, they were published as the one-volume Sword of Honour in 1965, in the form in which Waugh himself wished them to be read.''Marvellous ... one of the masterpieces of the century''John Banville, Irish Times

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Book Synopsis''Simply written and highly memorable'' Ireland on Sunday''A subtle, calculatedly simple and ultimately moving story'' Irish Times''Stays ahead of its readers before delivering its killer-punch final pages'' Independent''A small wonder of a book . . . A particular historical moment, one that cannot be told too often'' Guardian''An extraordinary tale of friendship and the horrors of war...Raw literary talent at its best'' Irish Independent______________What happens when innocence is confronted by monstrous evil?Nine-year-old Bruno knows nothing of the Final Solution and the Holocaust. He is oblivious to the appalling cruelties being inflicted on the people of Europe by his country.All he knows is that he has been moved from a comfortable home in Berlin to a house in a desolate area where there is nothing to do and no-one to play with. Until he meets Shmuel, aTrade ReviewA small wonder of a book . . . A particular historical moment, one that cannot be told too often * Guardian *The Holocaust as a subject insists on respect, precludes criticism, prefers silence. One thing is clear: this book will not go gently into any good night * Observer *An extraordinary tale of friendship and the horrors of war . . . Raw literary talent at its best * Irish Independent *A book that lingers in the mind for quite some time . . . A subtle, calculatedly simple and ultimately moving story * The Irish Times *Simply written and highly memorable. There are no monstrosities on the page but the true horror is all the more potent for being implicit * Ireland on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis'Lee Child's protagonist, Jack Reacher, is a hero in the Dirty Harry style, a man who lives by his own principles .Trade ReviewLee Child writes edgy American thrillers to rival the likes of Thomas Harris and John Grisham * Daily Mirror *Sixth in seriously good series featuring Jack Reacher...Exciting, absorbing and intriguing, with hero big and bold enough to handle the percussive action * Literary Review *For most fans of Lee Child the greatest draw is his military police tough guy Jack Reacher...To be fair, Reacher is more of a thinking girl's beefcake - I can see Russell Crowe already angling for the movie part * The Times *Jack Reacher is a most magnetic creation, tough, cool and ultimately moral * Irish Independent *Lee Child's protagonist, Jack Reacher, is a hero in the Dirty Harry style, a man who lives by his own principles...Produces a surprising twist when it's least expected * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisTHEY''VE FAKED YOUR CHILD''S DEATH. AND IF YOU DON''T GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT, THEY''LL MAKE IT A REALITY.Things have been difficult for Annie since her husband left; her teenage daughter, Isla, has become a ghost of her former self. Annie''s terrified that Isla might do something desperate, and she''ll lose her, too. So when Annie receives a video of herself crying at Isla''s funeral, her blood runs cold.Confused and horrified, Annie races upstairs to check on Isla, who is alive and well. The video has been faked. But who sent it and what do they want?One dark truth soon becomes clear: Annie is the latest in a string of parents being blackmailed, and Isla will be killed if Annie goes to the police or if she fails to give the sender what they want. Annie has a deadly choice: comply with the demands, or try to unmask the dangerous criminal.Your Child Next is a thrilling and unputdownable novel that asks you how far you''d go to protect the ones you love. Perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and Steve Cavanagh.Read what everyone is saying about Your Child Next:''Grips from the very first page and doesn''t let go until the final twist... A captivating, heart-pounding psychological thriller... Will keep you up at night. Highly recommended... I loved it.'' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Literally couldn''t put it down it was fantastic'' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''W.O.W, what a fantastic read. It had me on the edge of my seat and my heart racing... Every parent''s nightmare... Explosive... Highly recommend.'' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Fast-paced, exhilarating and full of hold-your-breath moments.'' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''I was holding my breath, cheering them on and yelling at them to run all at the same time... Non-stop action and will have you turning the pages... A rollercoaster of a read.'' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''I got really involved in the story... An absolute page turner.'' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Wow!! What a chilling thriller!... Great suspense... fantastic characters, and some crazy twists and turns!... I highly recommend reading this book!'' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Oh this was so good... So good I read it in one sitting'' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''What a unique storyline. I really loved it and could not put it down'' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''An intense, action-packed, edge-of-the-seat thriller'' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book Synopsis''Delightfully twisted and evil'' GUARDIAN''Highly recommended ... seek it out'' Joe HillInquisitor Glokta, a crippled and increasingly bitter relic of the last war, former fencing champion turned torturer extraordinaire, is trapped in a twisted and broken body - not that he allows it to distract him from his daily routine of torturing smugglers.Nobleman, dashing officer and would-be fencing champion Captain Jezal dan Luthar is living a life of ease by cheating his friends at cards. Vain, shallow, selfish and self-obsessed, the biggest blot on his horizon is having to get out of bed in the morning to train with obsessive and boring old men. And Logen Ninefingers, an infamous warrior with a bloody past, is about to wake up in a hole in the snow with plans to settle a blood feud with Bethod, the new King of the Northmen, once and for all - ideally by running away from it. But as he''s discovering, old habits die really, really hard indeed.Trade ReviewHighly recommended - a funny, finely-wrought, terrifically energetic work of high fantasy. Seek it out -- Joe HillTwisty plotting and gallows humour. * SUNDAY TIMES *I might not end up marrying this book, but I'm certainly infatuated with it right at the moment. It's delicious, the characters sharply drawn and their motivations believable, the clash of cultures (always particularly difficult for an author to pull off) believable as well. -- Lilith SaintcrowThere is a gritty edge to his world and an awareness of the human cost of violence that is very contemporary * THE TIMES *Delightfully twisted and evil * GUARDIAN *The Blade Itself is a page-turner powered by a combination of fast-paced action and juicy doses of cynicism. Perhaps more remarkable, however, is the way Abercrombie sets the scene * EDGE MAGAZINE *There's a fat vein of cynicism and dark humour throughout. The action scenes are fast-paced and the violence takes its toll both mentally and physically. A great start to a long journey * DREAMWATCH *You'd never guess that The Blade Itself is Joe Abercrombie's debut novel. He writes like a natural. There are great characters, sparky dialogue, an action-packed plot, and from the very first words and an opening scene that is literally a cliff-hanger, you know you are in for a cheeky, vivid, exhilarating ride * STARBURST *An admirably hard, fast and unpretentious read from debut author Joe Abercrombie. Packs a mean punch in the bloodthirsty mayhem and mystery departments. Crammed full of torture, vengeance and bad behaviour, it's a lively tale of savagery vs. civilisation. The Blade Itself may not reinvent the wheel, but it does serve up a whole banquet of violent action and intrigue * SFX *The star of the show is doubtlessly Inquisitor Glotka for simply being one of the most wonderfully bitter and cynical characters I've come across. With a very funny and clever internal monologue going on during every conversation he has, Glotka's as miserable and nasty at the end as he was to start with and, especially in a heroic fantasy novel, it works perfectly * SF CROWSNEST *The books are good, really good. They pulled me in. Well-developed world. Unique, compelling characters. I like them so much that when I got to the end of the second book and found out the third book wasn'tgoing to be out in the US for another three months, I experienced a fit of rage, then a fit of depression, then I ate some lunch and had a bit of a lay down * Patrick Rothfuss on The First Law trilogy *Abercrombie writes dark, adult fantasy, by which I mean there's a lot of stabbing in it, and after people stab each other they sometimes have sex with each other. His tone is morbid and funny and hard-boiled, not wholly dissimilar to that of Iain Banks . . . And like George R.R. Martin Abercrombie has the will and the cruelty to actually kill and maim his characters . . . Volumetrically speaking, it's hard to think of another fantasy novel in which this much blood gets spilled * Lev Grossman *I might not end up marrying this book, but I'm certainly infatuated with it right at the moment. It's delicious, the characters sharply drawn and their motivations believable, the clash of cultures (always particularly difficult for an author to pull off) believable as well. -- Lilith SaintcrowThere is a gritty edge to his world and an awareness of the human cost of violence that is very contemporary -- The TimesDelightfully twisted and evil -- The GuardianThe Blade Itself is a page-turner powered by a combination of fast-paced action and juicy doses of cynicism. Perhaps more remarkable, however, is the way Abercrombie sets the scene -- Edge MagazineThere's a fat vein of cynicism and dark humour throughout. The action scenes are fast-paced and the violence takes its toll both mentally and physically. A great start to a long journey -- DreamwatchYou'd never guess that The Blade Itself is Joe Abercrombie's debut novel. He writes like a natural. There are great characters, sparky dialogue, an action-packed plot, and from the very first words and an opening scene that is literally a cliff-hanger, you know you are in for a cheeky, vivid, exhilarating ride -- StarburstAn admirably hard, fast and unpretentious read from debut author Joe Abercrombie. Packs a mean punch in the bloodthirsty mayhem and mystery departments. Crammed full of torture, vengeance and bad behaviour, it's a lively tale of savagery vs. civilisation. The Blade Itself may not reinvent the wheel, but it does serve up a whole banquet of violent action and intrigue -- SFXThe star of the show is doubtlessly Inquisitor Glotka for simply being one of the most wonderfully bitter and cynical characters I've come across. With a very funny and clever internal monologue going on during every conversation he has, Glotka's as miserable and nasty at the end as he was to start with and, especially in a heroic fantasy novel, it works perfectly -- SF Crowsnest

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Book SynopsisIF YOU WERE HOOKED ON THE TRAITORS, YOU WON''T WANT TO MISS A GAME OF LIES... THE TWISTY RICHARD & JUDY PICK, SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING THRILLER AND NO.1 KINDLE BESTSELLERThey say the camera never lies.But on this show, you can''t trust anything you see.Seven reality show contestants arrive in the Welsh mountains to compete for a life-changing prize, not realising what they''re truly signing up for.Each stranger has a secret - and the show will force them to expose one another live on air.It''s not long before things take an even darker turn, and Detective Ffion Morgan is summoned to untangle the truth behind the scenes.And when a murderer strikes, every one of Ffion''s suspects has an alibi . . . and a secret worth killing for.''Twisty and clever'' Karin Slaughter''Clever plot and smart, sharp writing'' Shari Lapena''Packed with suspects, twists and turns''

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Book SynopsisWhen Yuko Moriguchi''s four-year-old daughter died in the middle school where she teaches, everyone thought it was a tragic accident. It''s the last day of term, and Yuko''s last day at work. She tells her students that she has resigned because of what happened - but not for the reasons they think. Her daughter didn''t die in an accident. Her daughter was killed by two people in the class. And before she leaves, she has a lesson to teach...But revenge has a way of spinning out of control, and Yuko''s last lecture is only the start of the story. In this bestselling Japanese thriller of love, despair and murder, everyone has a confession to make, and no one will escape unharmed.Trade ReviewExplosive... A dark thriller about love, despair and murder * Irish Tatler *Think of CONFESSIONS as the Gone Girl of Japan....[A] gut-wrenching thrill ride...its thrust should hit home for any reader with a pulse. It's a nauseating tale of morality and justice, with violent turns that will drop your jaw right to the floor * Los Angeles Times *Has the captivating quality of a gruesome car crash: As the murders grow bloodier and bloodier, the characters more and more twisted, we find ourselves fascinated and repulsed, unable to look away * New Republic *A reader is almost certain to be caught off guard more than once by the revelations of this award-winning best seller....Implacable, relentless * Wall Street Journal *Minato's intricate plotting and unnervingly understated sentences make the horrors follow each other as logically as pearls on a string * NPR *A spellbinding read, a fascinating peek into modern Japanese society, and a glimpse into the dark corners of the human psyche * Booklist *A creepy and mesmerizing psychological thriller that challenges the conventions of right vs. wrong, good vs. evil, and law vs. justice. There are no happy endings here, but Minato has pieced together an intriguing puzzle that will keep readers glued to their seats * Library Journal *A nasty little masterpiece...That rare creature in fiction: an ambitious investigation into the darkest corners of human nature that - unlike certain relatively sluggish models by Dostoevsky and Camus that Minato references here - is also a crackling good yarn * Chicago Tribune *A dark, dystopic portrait of Japanese adolescence gone wrong. If Albert Camus had written Heathers, it would have looked a lot like this. * Alex Marwood, author of THE WICKED GIRLS *

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Book SynopsisThink moving in with your mother-in-law is your worst nightmare? You have no idea . . . A jaw-dropping novel of domestic suspense from the author of the critically acclaimed Brigid Quinn series.Chilling, smart . . . and what a voice Gillian Flynn on Rage Against the DyingA thriller that must be read Lisa Gardner on Rage Against the DyingDon''t let them know what you''re thinking, Althea Deming tells herself. It''s your best defense. Althea didn''t want her good natured but thoughtless step-son Hal and manipulative daughter-in-law Grace to move in with her, relegating her to a corner of the house that was once just hers, but she doesn''t have much choice. She''s been powerless since her beloved husband Robert''s death. According to the will, everything that was hers now belongs to Hal - and to Grace. Grace Deming didn''t want to uproot her family to care for her difficult mother-in-law, but she''s det

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Book SynopsisA gripping, propulsive and atmospheric crime thriller perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves and Peter James. When cold case diver Cam Killick discovers the sunken car of a family missing for thirty years, he thinks it will be the end of their story. But it's only the beginning...

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Book SynopsisFrance''s favourite country policeman investigates a suicide and gets involved in a tricky local issue in the latest adventure in this ever popular and bestselling mystery series.''FRENCH TOURISM SHOULD RAISE A GLASS TO WALKER''S DORDOGNE MYSTERIES'' Daily MailBruno Courr?ges is chief of police of the lovely Dordogne town of St Denis with a remit that covers the beautiful valley of the river Véz?re. One autumn morning he comes across an abandoned car parked near a local beauty spot. Inside is a dead woman, Monique, an apparent suicide resulting from depression. But there are circumstances surrounding the death that raise Bruno''s suspicions, particularly when disputes arise surrounding her Will. At the same time, Bruno makes the mistake of interfering in a local marital dispute. Deputy mayor Xavier has been playing away and finds himself evicted from the family home. Old controversies about deer culls take on new life and then a second campaign begins, stating that Bruno is less of a village copper and more of a secret policeman, whose main job is working for French intelligence. Some of the ammunition for this attack, Bruno learns, comes from Xavier, who sees this as a way to topple Bruno and the mayor and succeed to the mayor''s job himself. Suddenly Bruno''s shiny reputation is looking a little tarnished as he battles to save his name and answer the questions surrounding Monique''s suicide.

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Book Synopsis Blending high-octane pulp action, low-flying dirigibles, and more art-deco rayguns than you could shake a walking stick at, Adventuremanis ahigh-flying, senses-obliterating,imagination-quakingadventure for the whole family! "WHERE HIS STORY ENDED...HER STORY BEGINS! Everyone knows the story of how ADVENTUREMAN, the greatest pulp hero of all time, ended in a heartbreaking CLIFFHANGER with our hero facing his very execution... Now, learn the startling truth about how, 80 years after his seeming demise, single mother Claire and her Adventurefan son Tommy light the spark of RESURRECTION! Can these inheritors of the Adventureman legacy rise up to face down the evil that bested the original? Collects ADVENTUREMAN #1-5"

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Book SynopsisBerlin, 1979. When the CIA’s most valuable spy is compromised, the Agency realizes it does not have the capability to bring him to safety. If he cannot evade the dreaded East German security service, the result will be chaos and a cascade of failures throughout the Agency’s worldwide operations.Master Sergeant Kim Becker lived through the hell of Vietnam as a member of the elite Studies and Operations Group. When he lost one of his best men in a pointless operation, he began to question his mission. Now, he is serving with an even more secretive Army Special Forces unit based in Berlin on the front line of the Cold War.The CIA turns to Becker’s team of unconventional warfare specialists to pull their bacon out of the fire. Becker and his men must devise a plan to get him out by whatever means possible. It's a race against time to prepare and execute the plan while, alone in East Berlin, the agent must avoid his nemesis and play for time inside the hostile secret service headquarters he has betrayed.One question remains - is the man worth the risk?Trade ReviewWhat's true and what's fiction? Former Special Forces Berlin soldier James Stejskal places you in a tense and thrilling story of a US Special Forces mission to East Germany. * Cold War Conversations Podcast *A Question of Time combines the intrigue of le Carré and the story-telling ability of Forsyth with the authenticity of Chris Ryan. An excellent cold-war thriller. * Matt Johnson, CWA Dagger nominated author, ex-soldier, Patron of Forces Online, and Co-chair Crime Cymru 04/06/2021 *Fiction that reads like fact. Boots on the ground, real-life drama, rich with details only an insider could write… an outstanding book. * John Stryker Meyer, MACV SOG Veteran and Author of Across The Fence: The Secret War in Vietnam *…the author is certainly qualified to write about the military, espionage and counter-terrorism […] This familiarity with weaponry, spy procedures and dynamics are evident in the writing. This man knows his Glocks and/or sabotage devices, and this adds a convincing layer to the story. * Historical Novels Review *The action is described with just enough detail to make it believable and not so much that the story bogs down. The writing is clear and compelling and doesn’t get in the way of the telling. * Crime Fiction Lover *The tale Mr. Stejskal, a veteran of the US Army Special Forces, has woven is a taut, fast-moving, totally-plausible story of inter-agency cooperation at its finest. This is an excellent work of fiction. It is a story about a secret US Army Special Forces unit in Berlin that served throughout the Cold War, a unit that would have probably been wiped out if the Cold War had turned hot. The book is well-crafted, pays attention to detail, and gives long overdue credit to the men and women who were the tip of spear behind enemy lines in East Germany. Put this on your 'must read' list * Barry Broman, Former CIA Chief of Station, author of "Risk Taker, Spy Maker: Tales of a CIA Case Officer *James Stejskal’s A Question of Time will grab you, immerse you in the times, and leave you ready for the next installment. * LTG Charles Cleveland (US Army Retired) Commander *...a good read – action packed and evoking the atmosphere of the times. * Army Rumour Service *Stejskal brings a lively new twist to a familiar area… an intriguing debut… the tradecraft and operational planning are well-drawn and Stejskal takes us into the heart of the American spy set-up in Berlin… The plot feels authentic and Berlin is vividly detailed, right down to the Stasi’s secret door in the Wall. * Financial Times *A thrilling, riveting, and whip-smart novel that feels as though you are being served a slice of Cold War military history. * Love Reading *

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Book SynopsisJohn Grisham meets Yellowstone in a gripping political thriller by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Robert Bailey, as one man fights for family against a government with a shattering secret. The president of the United States has terminal cancer. Chief of Staff Eli James, his faithful consigliere and best friend, is one of the few who know. But just as the president's condition mysteriously improves, Eli's hit with another blow: his daughter has cancer too. Hell-bent on helping her, Eli turns to Big Pharma's top lobbyist for advice, but their encounter yields more questions than answers. As he races along a twisted trail to the truth, he stumbles upon a devastating cover-up worth billions of dollarsand millions of lives. Armed with this deadly secret, Eli goes rogue, fleeing with his family out west. To keep them safe, he forms an uneasy alliance with land baron Nester the Beast Sanchez, known for his ruthless power tactics. An epic showdown brews, and it's the state versus one desperate citizen, willing to risk everything to save his daughter. Can Eli broker a truce with his once allies? Or will there be war in the desert?

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Consort of Fire comes a scorching romantasy novel full of courtly intrigue and erotic crackle riding the swells of immortal love.Aleksi, the charming and charismatic god of love, is dying. But nothing can stop the Lover from completing his final quest: a dangerous diplomatic visit to a former adversary.Setting sail for a mystical kingdom of ice, Aleksi is joined by Einar the Kraken, infamous pirate lord, and Naia, a sweet young water nymph. Intoxicated by the pair?s electric connection, Aleksi vows to enjoy his last days by playing matchmaker, pushing away his own desires for the sake of theirs. But he?s unexpectedly caught up in a raging game of seduction.As the trio navigates turbulent seas and the political perils of the Ice Queen?s court, dark secrets reveal clues to one?s tragic past and another?s epic destiny. Aleksi?s powers spin out of control while love and lust run wild. And when enemies emerge from the shadows, the Lover is forced to make a choice. Will he give away his heart to save all that he holds dear?

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Book SynopsisA stinging tale of old friendship turned deadly. By turns glamorous, devious and decidedly dark, Tiny Daggers is a twisty delight.Alex Michaelides, author of The Silent PatientAn absolutely essential book for everyone's summer reading list.Katy Brent, author of How to Kill Men and Get Away With ItThe most dangerous predators in Miami don't bite. They brunch. Expat Holly Jones has built the perfect life for herself in an exclusive area of Miami: the beautiful house, the enviable family. So the last person she expects to bump into one morning is a ghost from her old life in London, someone she hasn't seen in over twenty years: the other Holly, Holly Wild. Single, sexy, and a world away from the frumpy sidekick she was at school, Holly Wild quickly becomes an unavoidable part of Holly Jones's life. She is everywherein her home, in her marriage, and especially in her head. Is this really just a chance reunion or is there something more sinister lurking behind her seemingly flawless facade?As the oppressive heat intensifies, Holly Jones is haunted by memories she's spent decades trying to bury. Is she being paranoid or is Holly Wild really out to steal her life? At school they were known as Good Holly and Bad Hollybut as their twisted game of cat and mouse escalates, it's no longer clear which one is which

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Book SynopsisShe needs to write the ending before she meets hers.

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Book SynopsisThe murder of a personal fitness trainer draws DCI Bill Slider and his team into a baffling investigation where nothing is as it first appears. Fitness trainer Erik Lingoss is found dead in his west London flat, his head smashed by one of his own dumbbells. His heartlessly-dumped girlfriend, blood on her clothes and hands, is the prime suspect. She had means, opportunity, and motive.But is the case as clear-cut as it seems? Handsome Erik Lingoss had clients in high places; and he seemed to engender powerful emotions. If it was a crime of passion, there was plenty of that to go round: love strong as death, jealousy cruel as the grave.Who did he let in to his flat that evening? Where is his missing mobile phone? Why is seven hundred pounds in cash stuffed under his pillow? The deeper Slider and his team dig, the clearer it becomes there''s far more to this case than meets the eye.

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Book SynopsisFROM THE No.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR'Chilling, spectacular stuff' Mark Billingham_____________________________________A young boy wakes to find his mother missing. Outside, he sees her favourite scarf - wrapped around the neck of a snowman.Detective Harry Hole soon discovers that an alarming number of wives and mothers have gone missing over the years.When a second woman disappears, Harry's worst suspicion is confirmed: a serial killer is operating on his home turf.SOON THE FIRST SNOW WILL COMEAND THEN HE WILL APPEAR AGAINAND WHEN THE SNOW HAS GONEHE WILL HAVE TAKEN SOMEONE ELSE. . .___________________________________*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 55 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE**Watch out for KILLING MOON, the new Jo Nesbo book, out now*Trade ReviewThe Snowman is a superb thriller. Jo Nesbo is astonishingly good; he knows how to grab you, by the throat and by the heartChillingly adept...creepy, creepy stuff from the very first page * Time Out *Nesbo handles the tension with aplomb * Metro *Nesbo's plotting and pared-back prose style effectively keeps the reader hooked as he ramps up the action to a gripping climax * Big Issue *Hole is all a fictional detective should be...each scene is succinct, dovetails with another, shifts the reader's perspective, and keeps the pace fast and interesting...he ensures his readers keep turning the page to read more * Times Literary Supplement *Norwegian crime novel that's as gripping as The Silence of the Lambs * The Sunday Times *The quality of the writing (and its translation) is so impressive * Literary Review *Nesbo is shaping up to be the next big name in Scandinavian crime fiction... With its tensile-steel narrative grip, this most ambitious of Nesbo's crime novels banishes any fears that the omniscient serial killer scenario has been exhausted * Independent *With Henning Mankell having written his last Wallander novel and Stieg Larsson no longer with us, I have had to make the decision, to my own satisfaction, on whom to confer the title of best current Nordic writer of crime fiction. After finishing Jo Nesbo's The Snowman, I hesitate no longer. The Norwegian wins... This is crime writing of the highest order, in which the characters are as strong as the story, where an atmosphere of evil permeates, and the tension never lets up * The Times *There is no doubt in my mind that The Snowman is the best so far of Jo Nesbø's series about Inspector Harry Hole of the Oslo police... The Snowman is a complex, intellectually satisfying plot with many twists and turns... Do yourself a favour and read it * Eurocrime *An ingenious, bizarre and exceptional serial-killer investigation...as riveting as The Silence of the Lambs * Sunday Times Summer Reading *Readers wondering where to turn after finishing Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy would be well advised to give Jo Nesbo a try. His Oslo-set thrillers about troubled detective Harry Hole feature a similar mix of icebound settings, relentless action, sexual violence and social comment * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisThe sequel to All Quiet on the Western Front, one of the most powerful novels of the First World War and a twentieth-century classic. After four gruelling years the survivors of the Great War finally make their way home. Young, spirited Ernst is one. Finding himself inexplicably returned to his childhood bedroom, restless, chafing, confused, he knows he must somehow resurrect his life. But the way back to peace is far more treacherous than he ever imagined. If All Quiet on the Western Front was a lament for a lost generation, this sequel speaks with the same resonant voice for those who came back.The is a new definitive English translation by expert Remarque translator Brian Murdoch. ‘Remarque is a craftsman of unquestionably first rank’ New York Times Book ReviewTrade ReviewRemarque is a craftsman of unquestionably first rank -- New York Times Book Review

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW LUKE CARLTON THRILLER.BBC Security Correspondent FRANK GARDNER''S thrillers are . . .''Fast, taut, tense, accurate.'' FREDERICK FORSYTH''Utterly authentic.'' DAILY MAIL''Enthralling, intelligent.'' FINANCIAL TIMES ''Nerve-shredding.'' TONY PARSONS''Heart-in-mouth.'' i-NEWSPAPER''Compulsively readable.'' RADIO TIMES __________________________________________The world is on high alert. Across the Strait from Taiwan, China's armed forces appear to be readying for war. Could the People's Republic be preparing to invade its island neighbour?Britain's Secret Intelligence Service has a mole deep within the Chinese Communist Party leadership an individual in possession of intel that could defuse this fast-escalating situation. A collector' is sent to meet the spy and, in an anonymous Hong Kon

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Book SynopsisHettie and Tilly are invited to host a Christmas Eve murder mystery aboard the Santa Claws Express. No sooner has the train left the station at Mogbury-on-the-Tilt than our two feline detectives are caught up in a murderous family feud between the Shuttles and the Stokers. Is the ghost of Hornby Stoker haunting the line? Are there enough sausage rolls in the Biscuit Jar Buffet? Who will hit the buffers at Hissingford Holt? And will Hettie and Tilly’s Christmas be derailed? Join our tabby heroes as they plough their way through red herrings, hot chestnuts and snowbound platforms in a hunt for a festive fiend who will stop at nothing.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE NO. 2 FELINE DETECTIVE AGENCY ‘The world that Morton has created is irresistible’ Publishers Weekly ‘Original and intriguing… a world without people which cat lovers will enter and enjoy’ P. D. James'I loved it. The whole concept is just so “real”!’ Barbara Erskine‘Mandy Morton’s Feline Detective Agency instigates a new genre, both wonderful and surreal’ Maddy Prior‘Witty and smart. Prepare to be besotted' M.K. Graff‘Mandy Morton’s series is both charming and whimsical’ Barry Forshaw ‘Hettie Bagshot might be a new face at the scene of a crime, but already she could teach most fictional detectives a thing or two’ The Hunts Post

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Book Synopsis** FROM THE WINNER OF THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS CRIME AND THRILLER BOOK OF THE YEAR *** THE SMASH-HIT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ** AN INSTANT TIMES BESTSELLER ** A GUARDIAN BEST BOOK OF 2023 *'A Christmas treat' - OBSERVER'A great deal of festive fun' - GUARDIAN'Sharp, witty and suspenseful' - SUNDAY EXPRESSOne dead Santa. A town full of suspects. Will you discover the truth?Christmas in Lower Lockwood, and the Fairway Players are busy rehearsing their festive pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk. But there's not much good will among the amateur dramatics enthusiasts. Sarah-Jane is fending off threats to her new position as Chair, the beanstalk might be full of asbestos, and someone is trying to ruin the panto before the curtain even goes up.Plus, there's the small matter of the dead Santa. Who had the victim on their naughty list? Read the round robins, examine the emails and pore over the police transcripts to discover the truth. Will the show go on?'A perfect stocking filler' - INDIA KNIGH

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book Synopsis

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisVictor Hugo's tale of injustice, heroism and love follows the fortunes of Jean Valjean, an escaped convict determined to put his criminal past behind him. But his attempts to become a respected member of the community are constantly put under threat: by his own conscience, when, owing to a case of mistaken identity, another man is arrested in his place; and by the relentless investigations of the dogged Inspector Javert. It is not simply for himself that Valjean must stay free, however, for he has sworn to protect the baby daughter of Fantine, driven to prostitution by poverty. Norman Denny's lively English translation is accompanied by an introduction discussing Hugo's political and artistic aims in writing Les Misérables. Victor Hugo (1802-85) wrote volumes of criticism, dramas, satirical verse and political journalism but is best remembered for his novels, especially Notre-Dame de Paris (also known as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame) and Les Misérables, which was adapted into one of the most successful musicals of all time. 'All human life is here'Cameron Mackintosh, producer of the musical Les Misérables'One of the half-dozen greatest novels of the world'Upton Sinclair'A great writer - inventive, witty, sly, innovatory' A. S. Byatt, author of PossessionTrade Review"Hugo's genius was for the creation of simple and recognizable myth. The huge success of Les Misérables as a didactic work on behalf of the poor and oppressed is due to his poetic and myth-enlarged view of human nature." —V. S. Pritchett "It was Tolstoy who vindicated [Hugo's] early ambition by judging Les Misérables one of the world's great novels, if not the greatest… [His] ability to present the extremes of experience 'as they are' is, in the end, Hugo's great gift." —From the Introduction by Peter Washington

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Book SynopsisIn Three Fires, award-winning author Denise Mina re-imagines the 'Bonfire of the Vanities', a series of fires lit throughout Florence at the end of the fifteenth century - inspired by the fanatical Girolamo Savonarola. Girolamo Savonarola was a Dominican friar living in Florence at the tail end of the fifteenth century. An anti-corruption campaigner his hellfire preaching increasingly spilled over into tirades against all luxuries that tempted people towards sin. These sermons led to the infamous ‘Bonfire of the Vanities’ - a series of fires lit throughout Florence for the incineration of everything from books, extravagant clothing, playing cards, musical instruments, make-up and mirrors, to paintings, tapestries and sculptures. Railing against the vice and avarice of the ruling Medici family, he was instrumental in their removal from power, and for a time became the puritanical leader of the city. After turning his attention to corruption in the entire Catholic Church, he was first excommunicated and then executed by a combination of hanging and being burnt at the stake. Denise Mina brings a modern take to this fascinating historical story - drawing parallels between the febrile atmosphere of medieval Florence and the culture wars of the present day. In dramatising the life and last days of Savonarola she explores the downfall of the original architect of cancel culture and in the process explores the neverending tensions between wealth, inequality, and freedom of speech that so dominate our modern world.Trade Review'Three Fires is a brisk, pointed and eminently readable account that examines the virtues and failings of a remarkable individual, and helps us see our own world in relation to the late Middle Ages in a way that feels bracingly relevant and alive' * The Herald *'a slight but powerful morality tale about souring utopias and the dangers of absolute certainty' -- Antonia Senior * Times, Best New Historical Fiction *'Perfectly succinct and powerfully stirring, it’s a tour de force of historic fiction, delivered with sparkling style, astute social commentary and the kind of page-turning pace you’d hope for from a rip-roaring thriller' * LoveReading, Star Book *'Mina gives us literary gold with this reimagining of the Bonfire of the Vanities... exquisite prose' * Sunday Post *'This little book is beautifully done... remarkable, moving and thought-provoking... a rare achievement' -- Allan Massie * The Scotsman *'A fascinating book that works beautifully at several different levels' -- Ken Lussey * Undiscovered Scotland *'Denise's use of language brings real humanity to her characters... she also breathes humour into her tale' -- Nora McElhone * Dundee Courier *'Short, vibrant ... There is no mincing of words here. Mina sees clear parallels between yesterday’s horrors and today’s challenges. Nor does she find comfort in Savonarola’s execution. He was a man who wrote extensively—he is often credited as a source of inspiration to Martin Luther, for example—and for good and for bad, Savonarola's influence is with us now. Powerful stuff' * Historical Novel Society *'[Mina] writes about the political and religious conflicts of the day with well-informed precision, but she does so with a cheekily contemporary flair... Quite the gut punch for a novel of its slim stature, and one that will have readers pondering the frighteningly short distance between Savonarola’s times and our own' -- Book Reporter

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