Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisThe 26th instalment of the Number One bestselling series''The master of the police procedural'' Mail on Sunday''The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I''m wrong'' Stephen King***A skinny young boy is found dead - his body carelessly stuffed into wheelie bin. Detective Superintendent Alan Banks and his team are called to investigate. Who is the boy, and where did he come from? Was he discarded as rubbish, or left as a warning to someone? He looks Middle Eastern, but no one on the East Side Estate has seen him before.As the local press seize upon an illegal immigrant angle, and the national media the story of another stabbing, the police are called to investigate a less newsworthy death: a middle-aged heroin addict found dead of an overdose in another estate, scheduled for redevelopment.Banks finds the threads of each case Trade ReviewPraise for the DCI Banks series * : *Near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league. * Times *The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong. -- Stephen KingThis is vintage Banks - a dogged search for truth which never once loses its grip on its hero's intuition and charm. * Daily Mail *The master of the police procedural. * Mail on Sunday *Robinson is prolific, but with each book he manages to ring the changes. * Guardian *Banks' slow but dogged pursuit of murderers and his meditations on the past make him a figure readers feel they know intimately and trust implicitly and, despite moments of darkness, the series warmth makes you feel all's right with the world. * S Magazine *Robinson has a unique knack of revealing to the layman the painstaking and ingenious ways in which the numerous experts who work for the police can wheedle out the most infinitesimal clues surrounding a suspicious death * On Yorkshire Magazine *Robinson also has a way of undercutting the genre's familiarity. With a deceptively unspectacular language, he sets about the process of unsettling the reader. * Independent *Banks is up against people tracking, racism, drug dealing and murder, in this unfinchingly tough case. It kicks of with the discovery of a Middle Eastern boy's body stuffed in a wheelie bin and twists and shocks from there * Peterborough Telegraph *Nobody can touch Robinson when it comes to scalpel-sharp police procedurals and Many Rivers to Cross is one of his very best. * Sunderland Echo *Many Rivers To Cross is a well-written and suspenseful crime novel that will be welcomed and read by Peter Robinson's many fans, as well as newcomers to the crime series. * Washington Times *Reliable procedural entertainment from a pro's pro, with an ending that guarantees more drama ahead. * Kirkus Reviews *Many Rivers to Cross is an ultra-modern novel. It covers subjects that are brutal and pitiless, and probably not in the experience of a high percentage of its readers, but are very relevant to today's world and perhaps always have been. Robinson's subject matter for his trilogy is easy to regard as being a million miles from our experience, but nevertheless it exists, and it should not exist. Robinson's exposure in a detective book primarily meant to be read for pleasure is a brave move, but works brilliantly well. We have the horror of being involved in the loathing and bestiality of the crimes, and the joy and satisfaction when at least some of them are cornered and their reign of terror has ended. We pay homage to Banks and to Robinson for having pulled this off, and we sleep easier. I look forward to the final book in this brilliant trilogy. -- Sandra Callard * On: Yorkshire magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe brutal murder of a beautiful vineyard expert and a devastating storm force Virginia winemaker Lucie Montgomery to confront painful changes on the eve of her wedding. In just over a week vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery and winemaker Quinn Santori will be married in a ceremony overlooking what should be acres of lush flowering grapevines. Instead they are confronted by an ugly swathe of slowly dying vines and a nursery owner who denies responsibility for selling the diseased plants. With neighboring vineyards facing the same problem, accusations fly and the ugly stand-off between supplier and growers looks set to escalate into open warfare.When Eve Kerr, a stunning blonde who works at the nursery, is found dead a few days later, everyone wonders if someone in the winemaking community went too far. What especially troubles Lucie is why Eve secretly arranged to meet Quinn on the day she was murdered - and whether Lucie''s soon-to-be husband knows somet

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Book SynopsisOCEAN''S 8 meets Janet Evanovich, this fast-paced crime caper features one badass mother, with a certain set of skills who is forced to come out of retirement to protect her son, and teach a few men a few lessons!Ex-con artist Bee Cardello is going legit. Divorced from her mafia boss husband, she is determined to stay on the straight and narrow. So, when ex-hubby Charlie steals $37.5 million from a dangerous kingpin, who puts out a hit on Bee and her ten-year-old son Oliver, she finds herself pulled back into the life she''s worked so hard to escape.Part of that old life being one Adam Gage - an old flame and all-round sexy badass who Charlie''s now employed to keep her and Oliver safe . . . well, that''s what he tells her. Bee has been in this game long enough to know that everyone is in it for themselves, and she''d be stupid to trust Adam . . . again.When Oliver is snatched from right under their noses, rather than risk losing him forever,

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Book Synopsis''Simply the best detective writer since Agatha Christie'' The Sunday TimesNamed by the CWAs as one of ''The Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time'', The Killings at Badger''s Drift is the first spectacular novel in the Midsomer Murders series by Caroline Graham, the novel that inspired the ITV hit drama, now featuring an exclusive foreword by John Nettles who played best-loved TV detective and star of Midsomer Murders, DCI Tom Barnaby.If you love Agatha Christie, M C Beaton and James Runcie''s The Grantchester Mysteries, you won''t be able to get enough of the Midsomer Murders mysteries. The village of Badger''s Drift is the essence of tranquillity. But when resident and well-loved spinster Miss Simpson takes a stroll in the nearby woods, she stumbles across something she was never meant to see, and there''s only one way to keep her quiet.Miss Simpson''s death is not suspiTrade ReviewA mystery of which Agatha Christie would have been proud. . . A beautifully written crime novel * The Times *Tension builds, bitchery flares, resentment seethes . . . lots of atmosphere, colourful characters and fair clues * Mail on Sunday *Everyone gets what they deserve in this high-class mystery * Sunday Telegraph *A witty, well-plotted, absolute joy of a book * Yorkshire Post *A treat . . . haunting stuff * Woman's Realm *Swift, tense and highly alarming * TLS *Lots of excellent character sketches . . . and the dialogue is lively and convincing * Independent *Hard to praise highly enough * The Sunday Times *Her books are not just great whodunits but great novels in their own right -- Julie BurchillEnlivened by a very sardonic wit and turn of phrase, the narrative drive never falters * Birmingham Post *Read her and you'll be astonished . . . very sexy, very hip and very funny * Scotsman *The mystery is intriguing, the wit shafts through like sunlight . . . do not miss this book * Family Circle *Wickedly acid, yet sympathetic * Publishers Weekly *One to savour -- Val McDermid

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Book SynopsisPicked as one of Stylist magazine's 'Fiction Books You Can't Miss' and longlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Award.Fortune favours the brave in Lizzie Pook's mesmerising and fiercely feminist historical novel, Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter.'Immersive storytelling, a rollicking mystery and a take-no-prisoners heroine' – Stylist1896, Bannin Bay, Australia. When British pearl-boat captain Charles Brightwell goes missing out at sea, rumours of mutiny and murder swell within the bay's dens and back alleys. Only his headstrong daughter, Eliza, refuses to believe her father is dead, and sets out on a dangerous journey to uncover the truth.But in a town teeming with corruption, prejudice, and blackmail, Eliza soon learns that the answers she seeks might cost more than pearls. How much is she willing to sacrifice to find them?‘Tense and vividly atmospheric, with a determined, independent heroine intent on the truth ’ - Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne'Adventure, feminist heroine, grief, love and hope . . . Lizzie shines a light on a dark part of British history with grace, skill, sensitivity and honesty. I LOVED IT' - Nikki May, author of WahalaTrade ReviewImmersive storytelling, a rollicking mystery and a take-no-prisoners heroine * Stylist Magazine *Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter is a gorgeous debut. Both a breathtaking adventure story and a moving testimony to the lengths we go to for the people we love, it swept me away from the first page . . . A gleaming achievement -- Emma Stonex, bestselling author of The LamplightersA lively tale with a gutsy, likeable heroine -- Nick Rennison * Sunday Times *Tense and vividly atmospheric, with a determined, independent heroine intent on the truth. It’s beautifully written, unflinching and brimming with adventure. I loved the journey to a world I knew nothing about - it’s gloriously transporting -- Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of AriadneWritten with sensitivity and heart, we defy you not to fall in love with this feisty, headstrong heroine * Woman & Home *Lizzie Pook's plot rattles along, but the real draw is her description of the bay, a place where pearlers risk their lives diving for that elusive, perfect pearl that will set them up for life . . . It is an unfamiliar, unforgiving world and Eliza is an engaging guide * The Times *With prose as beautiful as its pearlescent cover, this is an absolute gem -- Woman's WeeklyA compelling, atmospheric mystery set in western Australia in the late 19th century. Brilliantly manages to recognise the details of the time, including the injustices of colonialism and the pearling industry, alongside a rollicking adventure. A sure fire hit -- Kate Sawyer, Costa shortlisted author of The StrandingI loved it: a gritty plot, exquisite prose, and a vivid evocation of a dangerous time and place. Wonderfully researched and realised -- Rosie Andrews, author of The LeviathanA stunning debut. From the very first line, this novel drew me fully into its gritty yet captivating world . . . I will never look at a string of pearls in quite the same way -- Charmaine Wilkerson, author of Black CakeGritty, lyrical, breathtaking. I couldn’t put it down, drawn in by its vivid characters and wealth of historical detail -- Fiona Valpy, author of The Dressmaker's GiftThis story of a daughter searching for her father in 19th century Bannin Bay is exquisite. You can feel the swell of the sea and smell the fish guts. Teeming with atmosphere and a drama that keeps you turning the pages . . . I loved it -- Julie Owen Moylan, author of That Green Eyed GirlThe exquisite prose tugged me in and held me in the eye of the storm, my fingers tightly crossed for Eliza. It’s not just good, it’s important. Lizzie shines a light on a dark part of British history with grace, skill, sensitivity and honesty. I LOVED IT -- Nikki May, author of WahalaThis story is a voyage I won't forget readily. Days after reading, I still feel the thrum of the ocean beneath my feet. Phenomenal -- Saara El-Arifi, author of The Final StrifeI devoured Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter . . . Gorgeous, lyrical writing that brings the stifling heat and brutal landscape of North-Western Australia to life, with a courageous heroine in Eliza whose quest I was thoroughly invested in. Incredible! -- Amy McCulloch, author of BreathlessEerie and atmospheric with a steadily building sense of mystery and intrigue. I loved all the strands and how they connected in an unexpected and glorious way as the story crescendoed to the climax. Superb storytelling -- Melissa Fu, author of Peach Blossom SpringA stunning debut. Lizzie's gloriously descriptive and vivid prose envelops us in 19th century Western Australia as if it were yesterday. A moving debut with a truly relatable protagonist -- Laura Price, author of Single Bald FemaleA luscious, mysterious, adventure novel set in the halcyon days of Australia's lucrative pearl industry in the late 1800's . . . Pook spins an expert tale of corruption, fate and family in this dazzling debut -- Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The Good Left UndoneMoonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter is a gift for anyone who likes their historical fiction impeccably researched, beautifully written and with an amazing sense of place. -- Lianne Dillsworth, author of The Theatre of MarvelsA transporting and thought provoking novel. The story is as lustrous as a pearl, but just like a pearl, there is real grit at its heart -- Polly Crosby, author of The UnravellingAtmospheric, fascinating, and beautiful, a fantastic story with unexpected twists and turns, and vivid characters that seared their way into my heart like a noon sun on a blisteringly hot day . . . Magnificent -- Liz Hyder, author of The GiftsA journey of discovery * Sunday Express *A perilous, richly-imagined story . . . a thrilling read * The Express *A powerful debut, and brilliantly escapist -- Best Magazine

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Book SynopsisThe fifteenth instalment in the globally bestselling Michael Bennett series.--------------------Detective Michael Bennett must discover who's murdering glamorous young women - before his eldest daughter is targeted.Detective Michael Bennett and the NYPD are aboard a police boat in the Hudson River searching for a murder victim - a young college student.They find her tossed in the dark waves, dressed for a night out. The gruesome sight fills Bennett with dread only a father could fathom.As the obsessive killer extends his spree, a pattern emerges. One that Bennett's eldest daughter fits to a harrowing degree.Now NYPD's top detective must lure the murderer into the light of day before the next deadly strike lands closer to home than Bennett could ever bear - as a parent and a protector.--------------------Readers are loving Obsessed . . . 'Excellent''I can't wait for the next one''Another absolute cracker from James Patterson''My go-to author. Always guaranteed to deliver!''Captivating'_____________________________________Praise for James Patterson'Nobody does it better.' Jeffery Deaver'One of the greatest storytellers of all time.' Patricia Cornwell'James Patterson is The Boss. End of.' Ian Rankin'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades.' Lee ChildObsessed was a No. 7 Sunday Times bestseller 15/07/23Trade ReviewPatterson knows where our deepest fears are buried... there's no stopping his imagination * New York Times Book Review *A writer with an unusual skill at thriller plotting * The Guardian *The master storyteller of our times -- Hillary Rodham ClintonIt's no mystery why James Patterson is the world's most popular thriller writer ... Simply put: nobody does it better -- Jeffrey DeaverNo one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades -- Lee Child

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Book SynopsisJAMES PATTERSON is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. Among his creations are some of the world's most popular series including Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Michael Bennett and the Private novels. He has written many other number one bestsellers including collaborations with President Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, stand-alone thrillers and non-fiction. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed adult author in UK libraries for the past fourteen years in a row. He lives in Florida with his family.

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Book SynopsisWritten By Sophie Hannah, BA Paris, Clare Mackintosh, and Holly Brown, this psychological thriller is perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Louise CandlishHOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO PROTECT YOUR DAUGHTER?Carolyn, Bronnie, Elise, and Kendall are bound together by one thing - their four daughters are best friends at the highly competitive Orla Flynn Academy for the Performing Arts.Imogen Curwood is a new girl at the Academy and her behaviour is odd from the start. On the day she arrives, bad things start to happen. As one threatening incident follows another, the four mothers begin to ask themselves: are their girls in danger? When an attempted murder rocks the school, Imogen is pleased to report that she has an alibi. If she isn't the guilty party, someone else must be.Carolyn, Bronnie, Elise and Kendall are determined to uncover the truth and protect their daughters. But are they prepared to risk their own secrets being exposed?THE UNDERSTUDY IS THE OUTSTANDING NEW NOVEL FROM FOUR MASTERS OF SUSPENSETrade ReviewA powerhouse of a gripping, bitchy thriller, that zeroes in on the jealousy riven dark heart of female friendship - On My Life

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Book Synopsis'A wonderful addition to a fantastic series' ELLY GRIFFITHSThere is more to solving a crime than following the clues.Welcome to Chief Inspector Gamache's world of facts and feelings.When Armand Gamache receives a letter inviting him to an abandoned farmhouse outside of Three Pines, the former head of the Sûreté du Québec discovers that a complete stranger has named him as an executor of her will. The bequests are so wildly unlikely that he suspects the woman must have been delusional - until a body is found.But it isn't the only menace Gamache is facing. The investigation into the events that led to his suspension delves deeper, and he takes increasingly desperate measures to rectify previous actions. As he does, Gamache begins to see his own blind spots - and the terrible things hiding there . . .Ten million readers.Three pines.One inimitable Chief Inspector Gamache.'This gloriously shocking book grips from the very first page' DENISE MINATrade ReviewThis gloriously shocking book grips from the very first page and spans centuries and continents, worlds and underworlds. Louise Penny is one of the greatest crime writers of our times * Denise Mina *No one does atmospheric quite like Louise Penny. Kingdom of the Blind tackles some tough contemporary issues whilst retaining the timeless small-town charm of Three Pines. A wonderful addition to a fantastic series * Elly Griffiths *Kingdom of the Blind is an ingenious mystery that follows a thoughtful group of beloved characters navigating their way through a fallen world. What more could a mystery reader - or any reader for that matter - want? * Washington Post *Outstanding . . . a constantly surprising series that deepens and darkens as it evolves * New York Times *The premise is an intriguing one . . . I loved the setting. A welcome return to Three Pines and its inhabitants. * Scotland on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisThe first in a police procedural series with a twist. Jack Parker, a Newcastle DCI, has a secret. He has Early Onset Dementia and will do anything to keep it hidden.

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Book SynopsisDelve into this stunning gift edition boasting the complete collection of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Other Tales and original, iconic illustrations by John Tenniel. The next elegant edition in the Timeless Classics series, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Other Talesis unabridged and complete, and comprised of: Both Alice books (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass) The nonsense poems, including “The Hunting of the Snark” and “Jabberwocky” The novels Sylvie and Bruno and Sylvie and Bruno Concluded Carroll’s essays and other miscellaneous writings Also included are the original, iconic illustrations by John Tenniel and an introduction by Lori Campbell. Lewis Carroll fans worldwide will fall in love with this stunning hardcover gift edition complete with gorgeous foil cover detail, decorative endpapers, and a ribbon marker. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Other Tales contains every piece ever written by this master of puns, puzzles, and fantasy that have been delighting adults and children alike for over 150 years. The Timeless Classics series from Rock Point brings together the works of classic authors from around the world. Complete and unabridged, these elegantly designed gift editions feature luxe, patterned endpapers, ribbon markers, and foil and deboss details on vibrantly colored cases. Celebrate these beloved works of literature as true standouts in your personal library collection.Table of ContentsContents chronological table xv introduction xix i. alice’s adventures in wonderland christmas-greetings i. down the rabbit-hole ii. the pool of tears iii. a caucus-race and a long tale iv. the rabbit sends in a little bill v. advice from a caterpillar vi. pig and pepper vii. a mad tea-party viii. the queen’s croquet ground ix. the mock turtle’s story x. the lobster-quadrille xi. who stole the tarts? xii. alice’s evidence ii. through the looking-glass preface to 1896 edition i. looking-glass house 101ii. the garden of live flowers iii. looking-glass insects iv. tweedledum and tweedledee v. wool and water vi. humpty dumpty vii. the lion and the unicorn viii. “it’s my own invention” ix. queen alice x. shaking xi. waking xii. which dreamed it? iii. sylvie and bruno preface i. less bread! more taxes! ii. l’amie inconnue iii. birthday-presents iv. a cunning conspiracy v. a beggar’s palace vi. the magic locket vii. the baron’s embassy viii. a ride on a lion xi. a jester and a bear x. the other professor xi. peter and paul xii. a musical gardener xiii. a visit to dogland xiv. fairy-sylvie xv. bruno’s revenge xvi. a changed crocodile xvii. the three badgers xviii. queer street, number forty xix. how to make a phlizz xx. light come, light go xxi. through the ivory door xxii. crossing the line xxiii. an outlandish watch xxiv. the frogs’ birthday-treat xxv. looking eastward iv. sylvie and bruno concluded preface i. bruno’s lessons ii. love’s curfew iii. streaks of dawn iv. the dog-king v. matilda jane vi. willie’s wife vii. mein herr viii. in a shady place ix. the farewell-party x. jabbering and jam xi. the man in the moon xii. fairy-music xiii. what tottles meant xiv. bruno’s picnic xv. the little foxes xvi. beyond these voices xvii. to the rescue! xviii. a newspaper-cutting xix. a fairy-duet xx. gammon and spinach xxi. the professor’s lecture xxii. the banquet xxiii. the pig-tale xxiv. the beggar’s return xxv. life out of death v. verse the hunting of the snark preface to the hunting of the snark fit the first the landing fit the second the bellman’s speech fit the third the baker’s tale fit the fourth the hunting fit the fifth the beaver’s lesson fit the sixth the barrister’s dream fit the seventh the banker’s fate fit the eighth the vanishing early verse my fairy punctuality melodies brother and sister facts rules and regulations horrors misunderstandings as it fell upon a day ye fattale cheyse lays of sorrow, no. 1 lays of sorrow, no. 2 the two brothers the lady of the ladle coronach she’s all my fancy painted him photography extraordinary lays of mystery, imagination, and humour, no. 1: the palace of humbug the mock turtle’s song upon the lonely moor miss jones puzzles from wonderland puzzles solutions prologues to plays prologue to “la guida di bragia” prologue prologue phantasmagoria canto i: the trystyng canto ii: hys fyve rules canto iii: scarmoges canto iv: hys nouryture canto v: byckerment canto vi: discomfyture canto vii: sad souvenaunce echoes a sea dirge ye carpette knyghte hiawatha’s photographing melancholetta a valentine the three voices theme with variations a game of fives poeta fit, non nascitur size and tears atalanta in camden-town the lang coortin’ four riddles fame’s penny-trumpet college rhymes and notes by an oxford chiel ode to damon those horrid hurdy-gurdies! my fancy the majesty of justice the elections to the hebdomadal council the deserted parks examination statute acrostics, inscriptions, and other verses acrostic: little maidens, when you look to three puzzled little girls, from the author double acrostic: i sing a place wherein agree three little maids puzzle three children two thieves two acrostics: round the wondrous globe maidens, if a maid you meet double acrostic: two little girls near london dwell acrostic: “are you deaf, father william?” acrostic: maidens! if you love the tale acrostic: love-lighted eyes, that will not start to m. a. b. acrostic: maiden, though thy heart may quail madrigal love among the roses two poems to rachel daniel the lyceum acrostic: around my lonely hearth tonight dreamland to my child-friend a riddle a limerick rhyme? and reason? a nursery darling maggie’s visit to oxford maggie b—— three sunsets and other poems three sunsets the path of roses the valley of the shadow of death solitude beatrice stolen waters the willow-tree only a woman’s hair the sailor’s wife after three days faces in the fire a lesson in latin puck lost and found vi. stories a tangled tale novelty and romancement a photographer’s day out wilhelm von schmitz the legend of scotland vii. a miscellany the offer of the clarendon trustees the new method of evaluation the dynamics of a parti-cle the new belfry of christ church, oxford the vision of the three t’s the blank cheque twelve months in a curatorship three years in a curatorship by one whom it has tried resident women-students some popular fallacies about vivisection lawn tennis tournaments eight or nine wise words about letter writing what the tortoise said to achilles the two clocks photography extraordinary hints for etiquette; or, dining out made easy a hemispherical problem a selection from symbolic logic rules for court circular croquet castles mischmasch doublets a postal problem the alphabet-cipher introduction to “the lost plum cake” endnotes index of first lines of verse the life and times of lewis carroll further reading

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Book SynopsisA missing person enquiry leads Manchester DCI Rick Castle to Nepal. Manchester. DCI Rick Castle is inspecting his bees when his boss phones. A minor cannabis dealer has been reported missingThree missing. Two continents. One detective.

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Book SynopsisVINTAGE CLASSICS' AMERICAN GOTHIC SERIESSpine-tingling, mind-altering and deliciously atmospheric, journey into the dark side of America with nine of its most uncanny classics.*SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE***FROM THE AUTHOR OF TIKTOK SENSATION MY YEAR OF REST AND RELAXATION**Trapped between caring for her alcoholic father and her job as a secretary at the boys' prison, Eileen Dunlop dreams of escaping to the big city.In the meantime, her nights and weekends are filled with shoplifting and cleaning up her increasingly deranged father's messes.When the beautiful, charismatic Rebecca Saint John arrives on the scene as the new counsellor at the prison, Eileen is enchanted, unable to resist what appears to be a miraculously budding friendship. But soon, Eileen's affection for Rebecca pull her into a crime that far surpasses even her own wild imagination.'Fully lives up to the hype. A taut psychological thriller, rippled with comedy as black as a raven's wing, Eileen is effortlessly stylish and compelling' The Times*SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA NEW BLOOD DAGGER AWARD*

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Book SynopsisA DAILY MAIL 'Must Read' title Bookriot's 50 spring must-read crime novels 'One part mystery, one million parts amazing.' Cosmopolitan 'A coming-of-age drama as much as a crime story…haunting, atmospheric and genuinely mysterious.' Guardian ‘An entrancing, melancholy debut... Mesmerising.’ Daily Mail We lost all three girls that summer. Let them slip away like the words of some half-remembered song and when one came back, she wasn't the one we were trying to recall to begin with. Tikka Molloy was eleven and one-sixth years old during the summer of 1992. That summer, the hottest on record, the Van Apfel sisters – Hannah, the beautiful Cordelia and Ruth – mysteriously disappeared. Did they run away? Or were they taken? The mystery of their disappearance has never been solved. Now, years later, Tikka has returned home and is beginning to piece together what really happened. The summer that shaped her. The girls she couldn’t forget.Trade Review'A coming-of-age drama as much as a crime story, this isn’t a book for those who like things wrapped up neatly, but readers who enjoy something haunting, atmospheric and genuinely mysterious have a treat in store.' * Guardian *'One part mystery, one million parts amazing, this debut from Felicity McLean will be a summer fave.' * Cosmopolitan *'Felicity McLean's accomplished debut...[is] a stunning piece of literary ventriloquism.' * Irish Times *‘An entrancing, melancholy debut... The landscape is superbly captured, but it is the relationship between Tikka and the sisters that lingers... Mesmerising.’ * Daily Mail *'Compelling...it doesn't disappoint...It's rare, and even unnerving, to read something like this and find it absent of fetishization of a young woman's life, and thus full of tenderness and compassion, and a real sense of what gets lost in these situations.' * Nylon magazine *'A taut, beautifully written thriller with a scorching expansive setting. The Van Apfel Girls Are Gone is a fantastic debut and a story that lingers.' * Lisa Ballantyne, author of The Guilty One *‘With echoes of Picnic at Hanging Rock, this is an atmospheric first novel.’ * Daily Mail, Must Read *'A smart, classy thriller that blazes with the heat of Australia and slowly reveals its many layers.' * Fiona Mozley, author of Elmet *'I deeply admire the languid, lived-in prose of Felicity McLean’s lovely novel The Van Apfel Girls are Gone. This is a story as much about forgiving ourselves our own childhoods, as it is about acknowledging and embracing the people we’ve become because of those adolescent (and sometimes life altering) choices.' * Hannah Pittard, author of Visible Empire *'This debut, part coming-of-age story and part crime thriller, is both forceful and unnerving.' * Publishers Weekly *'One would expect [Felicity McLean], who has a background in journalism and biography, to be particularly good at detailing the who, what, where, and when of a mysterious disappearance. She is.' * Washington Independent Review of Books *'Delicious attention to detail... [The Van Apfel Girls] is visceral and tangible.' * Trip Fiction *'Impressive... A well written story which convincingly evokes the place and time in which it is set.' * Crime Review *'Sharp, mysteriously moving and highly entertaining.' * Robert Drewe, author of Shark Net *'How do you escape your childhood, emotionally, actually? This compelling mystery by Felicity McLean has a rare depth of psychological and emotional truth. It will engage your heart.' * Delia Ephron, author of The Lion is In *'A hot, tense thriller set in the midst of a scorching Australian summer, The Van Apfel Girls Are Gone is provocative, gripping, and sure to get under your skin.' * The Bookbag *'McLean expertly maintains an air of suspense as the tragedy unfolds. Tikka is an unforgettable, if not entirely reliable, narrator full of black humour, brutal honesty and naive curiosity. This novel is one that will haunt readers long after they have turned the last page.' * Bookseller + Publisher Five Star Review *'Engrossing and goosebumpy from start to finish, this novel about three young sisters who vanish all together one night has the chilling feel of true events that are stranger than fiction, and the stuff of nightmares. But the magic of McLean's art is not just her gift for evoking, in almost hallucinogenic detail, her haunted narrator's childhood – a time and place linked to Australia's notorious true-life story of a baby dragged off in the night by a wild animal – but to do so in the most charming and irresistible of narrative voices. The result is a novel that is as delightful as it is terrifying, and just scary good.' * Tim Johnston, bestselling author of Descent and The Current *'A smart debut. Beautifully atmospheric with its great sense of time and place.' * Melina Marchetta, author of On the Jellicoe Road *'I loved it.' * Bryan Brown, actor *'A wry, sad coming-of-age story and a well-crafted first novel.' * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2019 CWA HISTORICAL DAGGER'A gripping tale of crime and sedition' Sunday Times on The Black Friar'The best historical crime novel of the year' Sunday Express on The SeekerCaptain Damian Seeker has gone north. Charged with preparing the way for the rule of the major-generals, he is now under the command of Colonel Robert Lilburne at York. But when Lilburne orders him to a small village on the North York moors with details of the stringent new anti-Royalist laws, Seeker finds that what should be a routine visit will reveal a plot to rival anything in scheming LondonAn invitation to dinner at the house of local businessman Matthew Pullan lifts the lid on the bubbling cauldron of grudges and resentment that is Faithly village. The local constable, drunk on the tiny bit of power he holds, using it to avenge old resentments. The hated lord of the manor, the last of a staunchly Royalist family who has managed to avoid suspicion of treachery - for now. The vicar on trial for his job and his home, accused of ungodly acts. And the Pullans themselves, proudly Puritan but disillusioned with Cromwell's government, respected and despised in Faithly in equal measure. The man for whom this unlikely gathering was organised - The Trier, the enforcer of Puritan morality for the local villages - hasn't shown up. And by the end of the night, on of those gathered around Matthew Pullan's table will be fatally poisoned.Seeker must find out the motive behind the death - mushroom misidentification, petty revenge, or part of a larger plot against Cromwell's government in the north? But who in Faithly, if anyone, can he trust? And when the most painful part of his past reappears after eleven years, will the Seeker meet his match?Trade ReviewA suspenseful, atmospheric addition to one of the best historical crime series around * The Times *Different elements are cleverly melded, with MacLean's depiction of the paranoia and fear caused by the Trier and his court particularly chilling and believable, as well as her talent for character development that makes the enigmatic Seeker such a compelling protagonist * Crime Review *

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Book SynopsisNicci Cloke is an author and editor based in Cambridgeshire. Her novels have been published in twelve languages and she previously worked at Faber Academy and as a cocktail waitress.

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Book SynopsisIn post-war Oxford, secrets lie behind every door. In 1947, with rationing still biting and the black market thriving, university don C.S. Jack' Lewis finds himself pulled into a mystery straight from one of his friend Dorothy Sayers' novels. Susan Temple, his brightest student, has hidden herself away at Rake Hall a hostel for unmarried, outcast mothers and hasn't been heard from since. With no experience beyond catching the occasional student plagiarist, Lewis is hardly a detective. But when Susan's absence continues to haunt him, he teams up with her concerned friend Lucy and together they delves into the disturbing rumours of a nasty racket at Rake Hall. Can Lewis's nose for the truth separate fact from fiction?InThe Mystery at Rake Hall, Maureen Paton whose mother lived at the real-life Rake Hall while pregnant with Maureen brilliantly recreates a post-war Oxford world, as well as imagining an alternative life for one of its most famous residents.

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Book Synopsis'Shockingly real, twisty and dark' - INDEPENDENT 'Tense, thrilling and darkly comedic' - HEAT 'The feminist update to Rosemary's Baby we all needed' - ANDREA BARTZ I wanted this baby so badly. But she may be the death of me... Anna Alcott is desperate to have a family. But as she tries to balance her increasingly public life as an indie actress with a gruelling IVF regime, she starts to suspect that someone is going to great lengths to make sure that never happens. Crucial medicines are lost. Appointments are moved without her knowledge. She's sure she's being followed. And when she finally does get pregnant, someone breaks into her house and steals the ultrasound photograph of her baby. But despite everything she's gone through, not even her husband is willing to believe that someone is playing twisted games with her. Then her doctors tell her she's lost the baby. Despite her grief, Anna ignores the grave-faced men lecturing her - because she can still feel the baby moving, can see the toll it's taking on her weakened body. Isolated in a remote snowbound town, Anna is sure that whoever has been following her is closing in on her and her unborn child. And as her symptoms become more terrifying, she can't help but wonder what exactly is growing inside her... and why no-one will listen when she says that something is horribly wrong. Exploring visceral themes of loss, medical misogyny and female power, The Push meets Behind Her Eyes in this spellbindingly dark thriller. 'A timely, terrifying, heartfelt thriller' - CHRIS WHITAKER 'Perfectly terrifying and terrifyingly perfect' - JANICE HALLETT 'A thrilling, visceral read' - HEATHER DARWENTTrade ReviewShockingly real, twisty and dark. A fabulous read * Independent *Tense, thrilling, and at times, darkly comedic. Ensnaring you from the very first page, it's a roller coaster of emotions * Heat *An indictment of how women are treated during pregnancy, dismissed and ignored, their pain overlooked * Observer *A really sinister, compelling read * Red *Perfectly terrifying and terrifyingly perfect. I swear my fists are still clenched and I finished it two days ago. Expect stratospheric tension from page one, vivid imagery and language so evocative I shivered throughout. Seizes Rosemary's Baby by the throat and drags it into the 21st century -- Janice Hallett, author of THE APPEALA timely, terrifying, heartfelt thriller. I devoured it in one sitting -- Chris Whitaker, author of WE BEGIN AT THE ENDAn absolute cracker of a read, one to be read by all women, everywhere. I could not put it down -- Lisa Hall, author of BETWEEN YOU AND METhe most sinister pregnancy since Rosemary's Baby. This book will keep you on edge the entire time -- Laure Van Rensburg, author of NOBODY BUT USHeartbreakingly visceral, eerie and intense, reading Delicate Condition is feeling, with every new turn of the page, what it's like for your body to no longer be your own. A spooky, devour-in-one-sitting story that's guaranteed to have everyone talking -- Leah Konen, author of ONE WHITE LIEYou may think you know where this is heading, but you'd be wrong. Whip smart and enjoyably gruesome -- Leonora Nattrass, author of BLUE WATERDelicate Condition is the feminist update to Rosemary's Baby we all needed - a twisty page-turner with unsettling details and crackling writing that's also a timely critique of sexism in modern medicine -- Andrea Bartz, author of WE WERE NEVER HEREDark visceral horror. Loved it -- Tina Baker, author of CALL ME MUMMYPitch black horror meets smart psychological thriller in this fantastically moreish debut. I devoured it, feeling simultaneously sick and thrilled. And that ending... just perfect -- SJI Holliday, author of THE DEATHS OF DECEMBERPacy, visceral and very very dark. I didn't want to put this one down -- Rebecca Netley, author of THE WHISTLINGSo many reader emotions, I didn't know who to trust; if anyone! Delicate Condition is a thriller, a horror, a mystery and it's lingering in my mind, an aftereffect of a chilling read! -- J.M. Hewitt, author of THE LIFE SHE WANTS

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Book SynopsisIn the sixth white-knuckle thriller from bestselling author Nick Petrie, Peter Ash hunts an assassin – if he suceeds in catching him, Peter's own record will be wiped clean... With two governments out to get him, ex-soldier Peter Ash has been keeping a low profile. His quiet existence in Milwaukee is far from the action-packed life he's been used to, but perhaps that's no bad thing... But when he spots a suspicious armed man walking into a busy market, Peter can't stand by and do nothing. He manages to prevent a tragedy, but the gunman escapes and his intended victim vanishes into the crowd. Then a powerful associate from Peter's past appears and makes him an irresistible offer: get to the bottom of what happened that day, and his record will be scrubbed clean. This is Peter's only path to a life free from the threat of prison. Now, he'll have to fight harder than ever before to ensure that freedom doesn't come at too high a cost...Trade ReviewNonstop action at a machine gun pace. If you aren't reading Nick Petrie, now is the time to start -- C.J. BoxPRAISE FOR NICK PETRIE: 'Lots of characters get compared to my own Jack Reacher, but Petrie's Peter Ash is the real deal' Lee Child. 'A gripping, beautifully written novel' Huffington Post, on The Drifter. 'A stunning debut novel... The pace is like a sniper round, extraordinarily fast and precisely calibrated' -- David Baldacci, on The Drifter

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Book SynopsisSome battles will be fought on the Homefront...The war has had a devastating effect on the Sweet Family with young Charlie Sweet, lost at sea, presumed dead and bombs falling on nearby Bristol.Still there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon in the form of Mary Sweet’s upcoming wedding to her Canadian beau. But even that has failed to rouse their father from his grief.But in London a baby has been found in a bombed out house, sheltered in the arms of his dead mother. A child to make life worth living again...Discover the gripping, heartfelt second instalment in Lizzie Lane's bestselling Sweet Sisters trilogy.Praise for Lizzie Lane:'A gripping saga and a storyline that will keep you hooked' Rosie Goodwin'The Tobacco Girls is another heartwarming tale of love and friendship and a must-read for all saga fans.' Jean Fullerton'Lizzie Lane opens the door to a past of factory girls, redolent with life-affirming friendship, drama, and choices that are as relevant today as they were then.' Catrin Collier'If you want an exciting, authentic historical saga then look no further than Lizzie Lane.' Fenella J Miller

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Book Synopsis'A genuinely thrilling ride' - LISA GARDNER'Richly evocative and simmering with tension' - CHARITY NORMANONE GIRL LOST.In the unforgiving wilderness of New Zealand stands a small cabin, home to nine-year-old Effie, her three siblings and their survivalist father. But after violence threatens her home, Effie realises that the root of her isolated life is far more menacing than she knew... and that she needs to escape.ONE GIRL FOUND.Twenty years later, a young girl stumbles into a local store in Koraha, her hands stained with blood. She can't speak, but her path has been tracked through the woods to a cabin - Effie's cabin - and the scene of a harrowing double murder. Now, Effie must return to her childhood home. Is she ready to confront the truth about her past?Flooded with atmosphere and full of twists, The Vanishing Place is perfect for readers of Lucy Clarke and Sarah Pearse.

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Book SynopsisA controversial journalist, his estranged daughter in a crime syndicate, and a reformed thug with a dark past collide in Edinburgh's underworld. As they navigate family secrets, redemption, and betrayal, their hidden truths threaten to destroy them. A darkly comic crime thriller blending journalism, ageing, addiction, and organised crime.

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Book SynopsisAlice Bell grew up in South West England, in the sort of middle-of-nowhere where teenagers spend their weekends drinking Smirnoff Ice in a field that also has at least one horse in it. She is the deputy editor of Rock Paper Shotgun, a popular PC gaming website, and in 2019 she was named one of the 100 most influential women in the UK games industry. After spending several years in London, Alice now lives in Cork in Ireland. She has probably read more detective fiction and watched more episodes of Midsomer Murders than is sensible. Her debut novel, Grave Expectations, was selected for the BBC Radio 2 Book Club. Displeasure Island is her second novel.

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Book SynopsisSelected and Edited with an Introduction and Notes by David Blair, University of Kent at Canterbury. Late in the eighteenth century authors began to write ‘Gothic’ stories as a way of putting literature back in touch with the irrational, the supernatural and the bizarre, which had been neglected in the ‘Age of Reason’. This superb new collection brings together stories from the earliest decades of Gothic writing with later 19th and early 20th century tales from the period in which Gothic diversified into the familiar forms of the ghost- and-horror-story. Work by writers such as Poe, Dickens, Hawthorne, Gaskell and M. R. James appears alongside that of anonymous writers from the start of the period and many lesser-known authors from Britain and America. Some of these stories, like the haunting ‘The Lame Priest’ are ‘lost masterpieces’ and several have never been anthologised before. Together they cover the spectrum of Gothic story-telling – tales of madness and violence, of shape-shifters and spectres, that express some of the deepest fears of the human mind – insanity, sexuality, death and the often terrible power of the past to catch up with the present. In a lively, authoritative introduction David Blair provides fresh insights and a detailed commentary on the stories’ place in the complex traditions of Gothic writing in British and American literature.

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Book SynopsisTV presenting proves dangerous, when Ada and her partner Lil become involved in a new antiques show and get sucked into a morass of lies, secrets and murder . . .Barry Stromstein has a serious problem. If he can''t come up with a concept for a new TV antiques show asap, his terrifying boss - TV sensation Lenore Parks - will fire him, and his perfect life will be over. But when he talks to antiques columnist Lil Campbell, he unexpectedly hits pay dirt. Her partner, Ada Strauss, not only suggests the perfect hook for the show, but is the perfect woman to host it.Ada''s elated, but production of The Final Reckoning seems blighted before it''s even begun when, shockingly, Leonore dies. But Barry seems strangely determined to continue, and as Lenore''s children - the unsettling Rachel and her beloved older brother Richard - become involved, the pilot episode becomes increasingly ghoulish in tone.Ada''s enjoying herself - really, she is - but as she and Lil are drawn deeper into the lives and affairs of the Parks, they begin to suspect that there are dark, twisted secrets at the heart of the family, and very real danger for them all . . .

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Book SynopsisThe public think Ava’s a monster. Ava thinks she’s blameless. In prison, they called her Butcher Bird – but Ava’s not in prison any more. Released after 25 years to a new identity and a new home, Ava finally has the quiet life she’s always wanted. But someone knows who she is. The lies she’s told are about to unravel.Trade Review‘Disquieting, clever and captivating – I loved it.’‘Sensationally sinister, stunning from the first to the last page. I devoured it.’A fantastic read… Had me guessing till the last pages! * NetGalley *Eerie and unsettling... this little beauty was fab. * Instagram *Compelling... a really well written book that I couldn’t put down. * NetGalley *Claustrophobic… Very well done. * GoodReads *

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Book SynopsisIn this thrilling follow up to The Ninja Daughter,Lily Wong gets more trouble than she bargained for when her controlling grandparents come into town - at the same time as she goes undercover to dismantle a sex trafficking ring.

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Book SynopsisA crime thriller

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

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

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

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