Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisKate Morton’s heartbreaking novel, The Secret Keeper, is a spellbinding story of mysteries and secrets, murder and enduring love, moving between the 1930s, the 1960s and the 2010s.1961: On a sweltering summer’s day, while her family picnics by the stream on their Suffolk farm, sixteen-year-old Laurel hides out in her childhood tree-house dreaming of a boy called Billy, a move to London, and the bright future she can’t wait to seize. But before the idyllic afternoon is over, Laurel will have witnessed a shocking crime that changes everything.2011: Now a much-loved actress, Laurel finds herself overwhelmed by shades of the past. Haunted by memories, and the mystery of what she saw that day, she returns to her family home and begins to piece together a secret history. A tale of three strangers from vastly different worlds – Dorothy, Vivien and Jimmy – who are brought together by chance in war-time London and whose lives become fiercely and fatefully entwined.

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Book SynopsisDevastating, deceptive and darkly funny' SARAH WINMANIt had me holding my breath!' MARIAN KEYES'I loved this novel. It was perfection. Highly recommend' CECELIA AHERNA stupendous novel complicated, dark, funny and very human' FERN BRITTONMEET LINDA.Linda lives a nice, normal life, on a nice, normal street with Terry, her perfectly ordinary husband.Linda's not like everyone else, she keeps herself to herself. But she's good at solving puzzles and there are times she sees things other people might have overlooked.Because nothing on Cavendish Avenue is quite as it seems. People have started to go missing in the neighbourhood and Linda will soon discover that some secrets can't stay buried forever-Genuinely haunting' THE TIMES, Thrillers of the YearA curtain-twitching, darkly funny tale with a gloriously sinister twist' OBSERVERJoanna Cannon creates a world that is so real, so parochial and stifling Then adds in a killer. Glorious' JANE FALLONNot just a twist-laden mystery, but a keenly obTrade Review‘Compellingly creepy, with precisely observed characterisation… combines pathos with lovely flashes of humour and a wholly unexpected ending’ Guardian ‘Devastating, deceptive and darkly funny. Classic Cannon’ Sarah Winman ‘Original, macabre… intriguing, it had me holding my breath!’ Marian Keyes ‘Cannon’s shrewd characterisation, sparky observations and subtly menacing plot makes this a darkly funny and delightfully sinister read’ Mail On Sunday ‘Meticulously plotted and darkly comic… a masterclass in misdirection [that] offers a deliciously satisfying denouement’ Observer ‘Genuinely haunting’ The Times ‘Written with warmth and wit… not just a twist-laden mystery, but a keenly observed slice of life. Her best yet’ Clare Mackintosh ‘A stupendous novel… complicated, dark, funny and very human’ Fern Britton ‘A dark, creepy domestic noir’ Sun ‘Entertaining and dark’ Stylist ‘A genuinely funny, and moving, novel about a serial killer… Cannon’s version of suburbia is wonderfully creepy and claustrophobic… Linda is still tugging at my heart strings a little, days after finishing’ Observer ‘I literally put the light on in the middle of the night in order to carry on reading it. Compelling, sinister, brilliantly written, it is a complete triumph’ Katie Fforde ‘Cleverly structured, building up to shocking and ingenious revelations’ Sunday Express ‘Joanna Cannon creates a world that is so real, so parochial & stifling you can feel it. Then adds in a killer. Glorious’ Jane Fallon ‘A compellingly crafted, darkly funny and compulsive read, full of twists… a joy and a triumph’ Rachel Joyce ‘Jo’s writing is as delicate and precise as tapestry and Linda is a character you’ll never forget’ Jill Mansell ‘Dark and moreish’ i paper ‘One heck of a read’ Love Reading

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Book SynopsisThink Jack Reacher fronting Line of Duty' Ian RankinYou get away with murder.In a remote sea loch on the west coast of Scotland, a fisherman vanishes without trace. His remains are never found.You make people disappear.A young man jumps from a bridge in Glasgow and falls to his death in the water below. DS Max Craigie uncovers evidence that links both victims. But if he can't find out what cost them their lives, it won't be long before more bodies turn up at the morgueYou come back for revenge.Soon cracks start to appear in the investigation, and Max's past hurtles back to haunt him. When his loved ones are threatened, he faces a terrifying choice: let the only man he ever feared walk free, or watch his closest friend dieLONGLISTED FOR THE 2022 McILVANNEY PRIZE FOR SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR! Max, Janie and Ross return in the second gripping novel in this explosive Scottish crime series.Readers LOVE The Blood TideLine of Duty on steroids It just never lets up!' John BarlowThe Blood Tide grabs you from page one and doesn't let go. Be warned: don't sit down planning to read only a few pages!' Kate LondonTightly plotted, tense and thrilling. Neil Lancaster just gets better and better' Marion ToddYou can't beat the voice of experience A rugged tale from a writer who's done this chilling stuff for real' Paul FinchA rattlingly good read. The pages practically turn themselves' John SutherlandAn absolutely thrilling read from a brand-new star of Tartan Noir. Superb.' Cass GreenAuthentic to a tee. A story to die for. Characters that leap of all the page-turny pages.' Imran MahmoodWhat a gripping page-turner it kept me guessing until the very end' Michelle DaviesI've been hooked on this for a few days. It has it all: action, humour, tightly plotted with the most satisfying of endings!' Chris McDonaldTrade Review Readers love The Blood Tide ‘Wow!! A must for any avid crime/thriller fan! You feel like you are right there in the moment with the characters! Every chapter just left you wanting more!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘With each page I turned there was more suspense and intrigue. Add that to the inevitable twists and turns and you've got a must read book!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This was amazing. It was fast paced and believable, with a great cast of characters. If you liked Line of Duty this is for you.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book was really good! It had suspense, intrigue some really bad guys and great police work! There were plenty of heart pounding moments and lots of twists and turns!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Phew! What a ride! A great read and highly recommended.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A fast paced, engaging and heart in the mouth book. Loved it, couldn't put it down.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘It had me up until the wee hours, but I just didn’t want it to end it was that exciting.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Praise for Neil Lancaster:‘The best police procedural I've read in years – fast-paced, compelling and deeply authentic. DS Max Craigie is a brilliant hero and I can't wait for the next in the series’ Jane Casey ‘A genuinely thrilling adventure’ Scottish Sun ‘Compelling, quirky and engaging, this is a page-turner you won't want to miss!’ Denzil Meyrick ‘Genuinely gripping, a total page-turner and one of my favourite reads of the year’ Matt Nixson, Daily Express ‘Great storytelling with a whiplash smart hero and heroine’ Daily Mail ‘A thriller writer set to blow up the bestseller lists’ C. L. Taylor ‘An edge-of-your-seat, read-in-one-sitting book. If you like Line of Duty, you must snap this up’ Cass Green ‘A stone cold classic of the genre; the strongest start to a series I’ve seen in years’ Tony Kent

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Book Synopsis''Jurassic Park with dragons'' NEIL OLIVER''Completely believable'' WASHINGTON POST GET READY FOR ACTION ON A GIGANTIC SCALEThe Chinese government has been keeping a secret for forty years: they have found a species of animal no one believed even existed.Now the Chinese are ready to unveil their astonishing discovery within the greatest zoo ever constructed. A small group of VIPs and journalists has been brought to the zoo deep within China to see its fabulous creatures for the first time. Among them is Dr Cassandra Jane ''CJ'' Cameron, a writer for NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and an expert on reptiles.The visitors are assured by their Chinese hosts that they will marvel at these beasts, that they are perfectly safe, that nothing can go wrong . . .READERS LOVE THE GREAT ZOO OF CHINA''A thrill-a-minute rollercoaster ride''''Reilly delivers every time''''Sit back and escape inTrade ReviewJurassic Park with dragons instead of dinosaurs... so compellingly written that you get caught up in the furiously dramatic story... THE GREAT ZOO OF CHINA is a blockbuster of a book that tears along at a shrieking pace. * SCI-FI NOW *I enjoyed The Great Zoo of China from start to finish and found it difficult to put down. It's fun, it's tense, action-packed and rewarding with a subtle humour that offsets all the action and bloodletting. A Hollywood Blockbuster in Book form. * SFBOOK.COM *The science and the setting of "The Great Zoo of China" make the scenario completely believable. The action is overwhelming, making the reader feel giddy as the pages fly. You will believe that dragons are real. * WASHINGTON POST *When it comes to thrillers from Matthew Reilly, phrases like 'high octane' and 'intense action' don't even come close to adequately convey how much insanity he manages to cram into every novel. I've come to expect twisty-turny plots that rattle along at a breakneck pace and that I'll be so caught up that I'll be frightened to even blink. The good news is that The Great Zoo of China is no exception to this rule. * THEELOQUENTPAGE *A very exciting book... I loved every page of The Great Zoo of China. It's undemanding, great fun to read, thrilling, exciting, gory and did I say thrilling? * FORWINTERNIGHTS *Brace yourself for non-stop action... Fast furious, this is a must read for fans of Matthew Reilly and the action genre. * YORKSHIRE EVENING POST *'If you liked Jurassic Park prepared to be totally blown away by this action-packed blockbuster.' * PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH *

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Book SynopsisWhen the Metropolitan Police fail to realise a serial killer is at work, London ignites over the fact that the killer''s victims are young black and mixed race boys. Institutionalised racism is claimed by the community''s activists and tabloids alike. Acting Superintendent Thomas Lynley is given the case, and his Scotland Yard task force is soon handling more killings and a looming tragedy.Elizabeth George brings to the familiar subject of the serial killer a freshness and clarity of vision that provide illuminating insight into the psychological complexity of the tortured criminal mind. She does so within a richly textured, thrillingly suspenseful narrative that defies any reader to predict its outcome. Nor does she neglect our favourite characters, whose private lives provide an engrossing counterpoint to their professional duties.Trade ReviewGeorge is a master * Chicago Tribune *George explores her characters' dreams and fears with a penetrating grace that makes reading her books a joy * Washington Post Book World *Enough twists and shocks . . . to startle even the most jaded reader * Wall Street Journal *Complex, convincing and completely absorbing * Woman's Day *

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Book SynopsisCassandra Cain, the fan-favourite Batgirl introduced at the turn of the millennium, shines in this collection of her early 2000s adventures and team-ups!

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Book SynopsisNAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY ESQUIRE This twisty, absorbing thriller is both a moving love story and fascinating speculative fiction exploring memory, time and reality' GUARDIAN An expertly crafted puzzle of a story' NEW SCIENTIST 'Old-school creepy a five-star horror novel' STEPHEN KING on Ascension 'A vivid, unputdownable story, about love and loss and all it means to be human' SUNYI DEAN, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book Eaters An outstanding puzzle box of a novel thrilling, intelligent sci-fi with a touch of horror' GARETH BROWN, internationally bestselling author of The Book of Doors 'A nimbly constructed story that starkly explores the dangers of neuroscience run amok' KIRKUS In this staggeringly mind-bending speculative thriller for fans of Blake Crouch and Ted Chiang, a woman dives into her husband's memories to uncover a decades-old threat to reality itself Maggie Webb has lived the last decade caring for her elderly husband, Stanley, as memory loss gradually erases all the beautiful moments they created together. It's the loneliest she's ever felt in her life. When a mysterious stranger named Hassan appears at her door, he reveals a shocking truth: Stanley isn't losing his memories. Someone is actively removing them to hide a long-buried secret from coming to light. If Maggie does what she's told, she can reverse it. She can get her husband back. Led by Hassan and his technological marvels, Maggie breaks into her husband's mind, probing the depths of his memories in an effort to save him. The deeper she dives, the more she unravels a mystery spanning continents and centuries, each layer more complex than the last. But Hassan cannot be trusted. Not just memories are disappearing, but pieces of reality itself. If Maggie cannot find out what Stanley did all those years ago, and what Hassan is after, she risks far more than her husband's life. The very course of human history hangs in the balance. 'A compelling narrative that takes the reader on a page-turning journey through both time and memory' T.R. Napper, award-winning author of 36 Streets A tender and compelling tale of love and memory across time and history. Thrilling, thought-provoking and melancholy. Superb' David Wragg, author of The Black Hawks

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Book SynopsisWITH JUST ONE LOOK, SHE KNOWS HOW AND WHEN YOU WILL DIE . . .''Strikingly well-told, and with a compelling central character'' Daily Mail _______Nothing surprises Adam Brandt anymore. As a forensic psychologist, he''s seen and heard everything. That is, until he meets Kassie. Because she claims to have a terrible gift - with one look into your eyes, she can see when and how you will die.Adam doesn''t believe her, obviously. But then a serial killer starts wreaking havoc across the city, and only Kassie seems to know where he''ll strike next.Against all his intuition, Adam starts to believe her. He just doesn''t realise how dangerous this trust might be . . .Don''t miss this gripping new thriller from The Sunday Times bestselling author of the Helen Grace series - perfect for fans of James Patterson, Angela Marsons and Karin Slaughter. Praise for M. J. ATrade ReviewStrikingly well-told, and with a compelling central character, it has the feel of a television drama * Daily Mail *The bestselling author of the Helen Grace series is back with another gripping thriller that will be sure to keep you up late into the night turning those pages * Living North, 2019's best books *Best new books to read this March * Cosmopolitan *Praise for MJ Arlidge * - *The New Jo Nesbo * Judy Finnigan *Chills to the bone * Daily Mail *A grisly, gripping thriller * Sunday Mirror *

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Book SynopsisThe sea never forgets. The sea never forgivesScuttler's Cove is a working village, nestling in dramatic coastal scenery in Cornwall, where life has gone on uninterrupted for centuries until this seaside idyll was discovered by the rich.Now the quaint harbour-front cottages have been snapped up by second-homers and rental companies, and the locals can barely afford to live in their own town.It is a very different place for Merrin Moon, who left for university at the age of eighteen and never looked back. Now in her thirties, she returns to the Cove for the first time since, after the death of her mother.She soon discovers that there are forces at play in the village that she could never have imagined. Is someone trying to drive out the second homers? And has their arrival started a chain of events none of them will be able to stop?For something old and terrible is awakening beneath the town's hallowed ground. And with it comes a horror that the residents have fought for generations to keep a secret.A dark and mysterious folk horror of the sea, and a timely exploration of the displacement of our modern moment, with a twist that will leave you reeling.

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Book SynopsisONE MISSING BOY. ONE MAN UNDERCOVER. A WHOLE NATION AT RISK.''The plot races to a splendidly dramatic ending; Chowdhury's writing is compelling and compassionate'' Guardian''Chowdhury is brilliant at...unexpected plot twists, while highlighting the conflicts experienced by characters with a foot in more than one culture'' Sunday Times Detective Kamil Rahman is working for the Metropolitan Police when he gets the call from MI5. They''ve received intelligence of a terrorist plot, and it''s Kamil they need.Posing as a disaffected cop, and working back in his friend Anjoli''s beloved restaurant on Brick Lane, Kamil attempts to infiltrate the cell.But when a young boy goes missing, Kamil finds the disappearance is linked to his case. What he uncovers leads him halfway across the world to Kashmir, and face to face with an old nemesisFrom Ajay Chowdhury, the award-winning author of THE WAITER, comes the thrilling new Detective Kamil Rahman mystery that''s his toughest assignment yet...*This is the fourth in the Detective Kamil Rahman series, though each novel can be enjoyed as a stand-alone*READERS LOVE THE SPY:WOW! The Spy is the perfect mix of contemporary politics, humour, action and romance''In Kamal and Anjoli, Ajay Chowdhury has created a modern day Holmes and Watson'Full of intrigue and twists and turns which gave an insight into the fight against terrorism'Praise for the Detective Kamil Rahman series:''Outstanding'' SUNDAY TIMES''Hugely entertaining'' ANN CLEEVES''Rip-roaring'' ABIR MUKHERJEE

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Book SynopsisThe adventure continues . . . At the time of his death, Patrick O''Brian had begun to write the twenty-first book in his famous and much-loved AubreyMaturin series. The chapters he left behind are presented here, both in printed version and a facsimile of his manuscript, which goes several pages beyond the end of the typescript and includes O'Brian's own marginal notes.The story picks up from the end of Blue at the Mizzen when Jack Aubrey receives the news, in Chile, of his elevation to flag rank: Rear Admiral of the Blue Squadron, with orders to sail to the South Africa station.This fragment is both delightful and tantalising, with hints of a plot that might have involved Jack and Stephen with St Helena or Napoleon himself.'Literary ReviewTrade Review‘If O’Brian’s novels have become a cult, this is because they are truly addictive. . . They are, quite magnificently, adventure yarns whose superb authenticity never distracts from the sheer thrill of the action.’Caroline Moore, Sunday Telegraph ‘The Aubrey–Maturin novels, by Patrick O’Brian, are so addictive that after I finish one I have to hide the next from myself for a little while in order to do anything else but read.’Louise Erdrich ‘In Aubrey and Maturin, Patrick O’Brian has created two of the most enjoyable characters in twentieth-century fiction. Their relationship sustains an absorbing and thrilling sequence of naval stories, unrivalled in their complexity, full of impeccable detail and psychological insight. O’Brian switches from the intimate to the epic with equal assurance. One of the greatest authors to sail with.’Michael Palin ‘My hero is Patrick O’Brian. It’s basically impossible to write that well.’David Mamet ‘One of the most compelling and brilliant novelists of his time . . . Beyond his superbly elegant writing, wit and originality, Patrick O’Brian showed an understanding of the nature of a floating world at the mercy of the wind and the sea which has never been surpassed.’Max Hastings, Evening Standard ‘I devoured Patrick O’Brian’s twenty-volume masterpiece as if it had been so many tots of Jamaica grog.’Christopher Hitchens ‘Written with most engaging enthusiasm that can’t fail to give pleasure to anybody who enjoys historical adventure flavoured with more than a dash of realism.’The Sunday Times ‘One of the most brilliantly sustained pieces of historical fictional writing this century.’James Teacher, Spectator ‘Patrick O’Brian brings depth to his sea-stories with outstanding dialogue, characterisation, humour and a golden thread of romance. You don’t have to love books about naval battles to become entranced.’Katie Fforde

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Book SynopsisFollowing his transmigration, during which he bartered away his memories in exchange for rare and powerful skills, Kelvin is fully enjoying his new life as an adventurer. After making a name for himself in Parth, becoming the city's most famous and respected adventurer along with his close-knit motley crew, he next sets his sights on Toraj, the Country of Water. But what should have been a peaceful visit to satiate his heartfelt cry of I haven't had a grain of rice since arriving in this world I want some rice!! was, of course, never fated to go smoothly. The unfortunate (or fortunate?) souls who just happened to catch the attention of this sarcastic, adventurous battle junkie are...none other than the Heroes of Deramis?! Join this black-clad warrior and his allies as they continue to make a name for themselves in the second volume of this epic journey!

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Book SynopsisThe new Sherlock Holmes novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Age of Odin. It is 1890, and in the days before Christmas Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson are visited at Baker Street by a new client. Eve Allerthorpe - eldest daughter of a grand but somewhat eccentric Yorkshire-based dynasty - is greatly distressed, as she believes she is being haunted by a demonic Christmas spirit. Her late mother told her terrifying tales of the sinister Black Thurrick, and Eve is sure that she has seen the creature from her bedroom window. What is more, she has begun to receive mysterious parcels of birch twigs, the Black Thurrick's calling card... Eve stands to inherit a fortune if she is sound in mind, but it seems that something - or someone - is threatening her sanity. Holmes and Watson travel to the Allerthorpe family seat at Fellscar Keep to investigate, but soon discover that there is more to the case than at first appeared. There is another spirit haunting the family, and when a member of the household is found dead, the companions realise that no one is beyond suspicion.Trade Review"Atmosphere, setting, plot and style combine in a compelling tale" Sherlock Holmes Journal "Compelling and inherently fascinating" Midwest Book Review "Lovegrove has nailed the tone and rhythm of Conan Doyle's storytelling to a tee" Starburst "This is a wonderful, joyous Christmas treat" Starburst "A beautiful book that you'll want to revisit year after year" Culturefly Praise for The Thinking Engine "An enjoyable read that respects Conan Doyle's canon." Crime Scene ""The plot, like the device, is ingenious, with a chilling twist... an entertaining, intelligent and pacy read." The Sherlock Holmes Journal "The world of 19th century academia with its snobbery, petty conflicts and student pranks is brought to life vividly." Baker Street Babes Praise for Gods of War "For fans of the non-canon Holmes stories, this one's a must-read." Booklist "This is an atmospheric mystery which shows just why Lovegrove has become a force to be reckoned with in genre fiction. More, please." Starburst "It's set by the seaside and is the story of a failed holiday... but I will recommend it even if you're not going to the sea this summer, as it is very enjoyable at any distance from the ocean." Baker Street Babes Praise for The Stuff of Nightmares "Lovegrove deftly weaves social commentary on religion, family, love and war into the contest between theocracy and humanism." Publishers Weekly (starred review) "The novel is perfectly structured and characters are introduced with flair and humanity. The overall effect is of a tremendously accomplished thriller which leaves the reader in no doubt that they are in the hands of a confident and skilful craftsman." Starburst "This is delicious stuff, marrying the standard notions of Holmesiana with the kind of imagination and we expect from Lovegrove." Crime Time

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Book SynopsisGunslinger Spawn returns!The Gunslinger learns that a former enemy is still alive and is eager to find out more about his rival's activities. Removing another name from his list, not realizing that the Law is closing in on him. While trying to flee from the police, the roof of his motel falls in, trapping him under the rubble. After this incident, he slips into a coma, overwhelmed by memories from his past. Additional features include a gallery of covers and artwork from behind the scenes. Collects GUNSLINGER SPAWN Issues #31 36

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Book SynopsisThe eighth Logan McRae novel in the No.1 bestselling crime series from Stuart MacBride.Every murder tells a story. But not every victim tells the truth. A terrific writer McRae is a delight' The TimesSticks and stones may break your bonesThe first body is chained to a stake: strangled, and stabbed, with a burning tyre around its neck. But is this a gangland execution or something much darker?Someone's leaving little knots of bones on DI Logan McRae's doorstep, but he's got bigger concerns. Rival drug gangs are fighting over product and territory; two teenage lovers are missing; someone's crippling Asian immigrants; and Logan's been lumbered with an ambitious new Detective Sergeant and gained the unwelcome attention of the local crime boss.When another body turns up, the similarities between these murders and the plot of a bestselling novel seem like more than just a coincidence. And perhaps those little knots of bones are more important than they lookTrade ReviewPraise for Stuart MacBride: ‘MacBride is the natural heir to the late and much lamented Reginald Hill’ Andrew Taylor, SPECTATOR ‘MacBride is a damned fine writer – no one does dark and gritty like him’ PETER JAMES ‘Fierce, unflinching and shot through with the blackest of humour; this is crime fiction of the highest order’Mark Billingham ‘Some of the grittiest crime-writing in the field’Independent ‘Admirers of tough, modern crime novels will be in seventh heaven – or should that be hell?’Express ‘Ferocious and funny’Val McDermid ‘Hard-hitting prose with a bone-dry humour and characters you can genuinely believe in, Stuart MacBride’s novels are a real treat’Simon Kernick

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Book SynopsisA perfect atmospheric thriller for this Halloween . . .A house stands alone in the woods.Deep in the forests of Norway, Lexi finds a fresh start with Tom and his two young daughters, working as their new nanny.The darkness creeps closer.But Lexi is telling lies, and she's not the only one. This family has a history and this place has a past. Something was destroyed to build this house, and in the dark, dark woods, a menacing presence lurks.Lexi must protect the children in her care but protect them from what? Atmospheric, gothic, spine-chilling, the new thriller from C.J Cooke will haunt you long after you turn the last page . . . Vvivid and compelling' Rosamund LuptonA gorgeous, atmospheric book that chilled me to the bone' Samantha DowningA dark but gripping read' BellaSo eerie I wanted to sleep with the light on' PrimaAtmospheric' New York Post, Best Books to ReadReader reviews for The NestingWorth far more than five stars' ?????Very atmospheric and eerie' ?????A real treat' ?????Very atmospheric and a fantastic read' ?????A brilliant combination of a gothic style mystery and a cast of troubled characters, all with secrets to hide' ?????A great tale for a winter read' ?????This is perfect for lovers of gothic, dark, ghost stories' ?????Haunting and wonderful' ?????Trade Review‘Norwegian Fjords and folktales are beautifully evoked in this vivid and compelling novel’ Rosamund Lupton ‘The Nesting is a gorgeous, atmospheric book that chilled me to the bone. The perfect escape book into the deep woods of Norway, where nothing is as it seems. C.J. Cooke just became one of my favourite authors’ Samantha Downing ‘An original and haunting thriller, filled with secrets, ghosts, and Norse folk tales. The Nesting is an evocative and chilling tale that will keep you guessing, and is best read with the lights on’ Alice Feeney ‘It's been such a tonic – chilling, totally engrossing and full of intrigue. The pages just whizzed by while I ignored everyone! It's marvellous’ Katherine May ‘Nordic folklore, snowy landscapes, and an ever-turning screw of tension – a fun, gothic treat’ Kirsty Logan ‘gothic and suspenseful’ Woman and Home ‘This claustrophobic, cloying read with Gothic undertones was so eerie I wanted to sleep with the light on’ Prima ‘A taut, scary thriller that winds the suspense so tightly you can barely breathe’ Simone St. James

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Book Synopsis''Absolutely gripping! Was great from start to finish'' NetGalley reviewer ?????My precious daughter. You have no idea how dangerous the world is. No idea of the horrors I've shielded you from. The things I've endured . . . our past.We've been happy. We've been hidden. We've been safe.But our perfect life is about to come crashing down.Because they've found me. And they're about to reveal my darkest secret . . . to you.I'll do anything to protect you, darling, because if you knew I'd lose you forever.You can never discover what I've done . . . or what I'm willing to do to keep you safe.A nail-biting new psychological thriller perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Shalini Boland.Praise for My Lovely Daughter''I had to see how it would end'' NetGalley reviewer ?????''Full of suspense, twists, intrigue and unexpected turns in all the right places' NetGalley reviewer ?????''A gripping tale'' NetGalley reviewer ?????''Read in one sitting'' NetGalley reviewer ?????''Absolutely gripping! Was gTrade Review'I had to see how it would end' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Full of suspense, twists, intrigue and unexpected turns in all the right places’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A gripping tale' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Read in one sitting' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I didn’t put it down once I started reading' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A gripping, cleverly plotted thriller but also a heart-wrenching story of a mother's love’ Sarah Clarke, author of A Mother Never Lies ‘Sucked me in from the very first page’ Karin Nordin, author of Where Ravens Roost

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Book SynopsisThe sleeper book of the year so much fun to read that you forget to even try and solve the case. And good luck solving it anyway, with twists within twists within twists' ?????Donna Nightshade's first rule of composting: shred. Things rot quicker that way cabbages, flowers, dead bodiesWhen Donna branches out from floristry to private investigation and opens The Edge of the World Detective Agency, the last thing she expects is to have a murder fall into her lap almost immediately. Now, normally she wouldn't be one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but there's one significant problem with the case all the evidence points to Donna as the murderer!Donna may have hated the man, but she's not the only one who had the means and motive, so she dons her deerstalker. Staying two steps ahead of the police specifically her ex, Detective Sergeant Joe Enys won't be easy, but with pirate blood in her veins nothing can stop deadly' Donna from claiming her bounty and making the real culprit walk tTrade Review‘Reflects (exaggerates) the eccentricities of the British people, in particular the Cornish… the author brought wicked sarcasm and snark into her characters’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book SynopsisA Cold War thriller from the master of spy fiction, John le Carré''s The Looking Glass War is a gripping novel of double-crosses, audacious bluffs and the ever-present threat of nuclear war, published in Penguin Modern Classics.When the Department - faded since the war and busy only with bureaucratic battles - hears rumour of a missile base near the West German border, it seems like the perfect opportunity to regain some political standing in the Intelligence market place. The Cold War is at its height and the Department is dying for a piece of the action.Swiftly becoming carried away by fear and pride, the Department and her officers send deactivated agent Fred Leiser back into East Germany, armed only with some schoolboy training and his memories of the war. In the land of eloquent silence that is Communist East Germany, Leiser''s fate becomes inseparable from the Department''s.If you enjoyed The Looking Glass War, you might like le Carré''s The Secret Pilgrim, also available in Penguin Modern Classics.''A devastating and tragic record of human, not glamour, spies'' New York Herald Tribune''A book of rare and great power'' Financial TimesTrade ReviewA book of rare and great power * Financial Times *A devastating and tragic record of human, not glamour, spies * New York Herald Tribune *

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Book Synopsis''The new crime and espionage series from Penguin Classics makes for a mouth-watering prospect'' Daily TelegraphLos Angeles, the late 1940''s. A serial killer stalks the foggy streets at night ...Dix Steele, a former fighter pilot, moved to L.A. after the war, looking for a new life. But the city is gripped by fear of a murderer in its midst. Dix, however, is not scared. And when he bumps into his old friend Brub, now a detective on the trail of the culprit, he is excited to follow the police''s progress. A dark and terrible truth is revealed, in a noir novel like no other.Trade ReviewDorothy B. Hughes was in a class of her own. To be a female author of hard-boiled fiction back in the 1940s was unusual enough, but to write a first-person narrative from the viewpoint of a male serial killer was breaking new ground by anybody's standards. She marked out this territory years before most other writers even knew it existed. -- Max Decharne, author of Hardboiled Hollywood: The Origins of Great Crime Films

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Book Synopsis''The new crime and espionage series from Penguin Classics makes for a mouth-watering prospect'' Daily TelegraphThe Second World War is over. Germany have won the battle. But the fight goes on...It is November 1941, nine months after the Nazis successfully invaded Britain. Churchill has been executed and the King imprisoned in the Tower of London. At Scotland Yard, renowned Detective Inspector Archer just tries to keep his head down. But when what seems a routine murder in a Mayfair flat leads him to something far deadlier, Archer becomes caught between his brutal superiors and the British resistance, and drawn into a plot that could change the future of the world.Trade ReviewLen Deighton is the Flaubert of the contemporary thriller writers. -- Michael Howard * Times Literary Supplement *Deighton's best book ... an absorbingly exciting spy story that is also a fascinating exercise in might-have-been speculation. -- Julian Symons * New York Times Book Review *Horrifyingly plausible. * The Independent *They don't, as they say, write them like this anymore. You will be entertained, informed, thrilled and dazzled. Long may he, and his creations, live on. * The Guardian *

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Book Synopsis''The new crime and espionage series from Penguin Classics makes for a mouth-watering prospect'' Daily TelegraphA mystery writer turns detective to protect the woman he loves. But is he hunter or hunted?The chance meeting between a crime novelist and a married woman blossoms into friendship. When she confides to him that she has been receiving threatening and sadistic letters from an ex-lover, who says he is watching her in the shadows, he knows he must help her. But the trail unexpectedly leads to another writer, Oe Shundei, the mysterious and secretive author of works of grotesque violence. Suddenly nothing is as it seems, and nobody is safe.

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Book SynopsisThe third in the late Philip Kerr''s universally acclaimed Berlin Noir trilogy, A German Requiem sees detective Bernie Gunther enter the new and terrifying world of post-war Vienna. In the bitter winter of 1947 the Russian Zone is closing ever more tightly around Berlin. So when an enigmatic Russian colonel asks Bernie Gunther to go to Vienna, where his ex-Kripo colleague Emil Becker faces a murder charge, Bernie doesn''t hesitate for long. Despite Becker''s unsavoury past, Gunther is convinced that shooting an American Nazi-hunter is one crime he didn''t commit.But Vienna is not the peaceful haven Bernie expects it to be. Communism is the new enemy, and with the Nuremberg trials over, some strange alliances are being forged against the Red Menace - alignments that make many wartime atrocities look lily-white by comparison.Vividly evoking the atmosphere of postwar Vienna, A Germen Requiem brings all Philip Kerr''s pace and mordant wit to the tangle of guilt, suspicion, and double-dealing that laid the foundations for the Cold War.''For Christmas, I would like all of Philip Kerr''s Berlin Noir novels'' Sam Mendes, Guardian''Philip Kerr is the contemporary master of the morally complex thriller'' New York ObserverTrade ReviewPhilip Kerr is the contemporary master of the morally complex thriller... * New York Observer *

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Book SynopsisJames Herbert was not just Britain's number one bestselling writer of chiller fiction, a position he held ever since publication of his first novel, but was also one of our greatest popular novelists. Widely imitated and hugely influential, his twenty-three novels have sold more than fifty-four million copies worldwide, and have been translated into over thirty languages, including Russian and Chinese. In 2010, he was made the Grand Master of Horror by the World Horror Convention and was also awarded an OBE by the Queen for services to literature. His final novel was Ash. James Herbert died in March 2013.Trade ReviewThis is a powerfully disturbing read…two pages in, the reader is hooked, and Herbert has done his job. The horror. The horror. * Guardian *A literary Steven Spielberg * Sunday Times *A chilling classic haunted house tale -- Publishers Weekly, starred reviewA new James Herbert novel is always a mesmerizing experience * Fangoria *

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Book SynopsisWhen a man is discovered dead by poisoning in his empty home his beautiful wife, Ayane, immediately falls under suspicion. All clues point to Ayane being the logical suspect, but how could she have committed the crime when she was hundreds of miles away?As Tokyo police detective Kusanagi tries to unpick a seemingly unrelated sequence of events he finds himself falling for Ayane. When his judgement becomes dangerously clouded his assistant must call on an old friend for help; it will take a genius to unravel the most spectacular web of deceit they have ever faced...SALVATION OF A SAINT is a magnificently complex and page-turning thriller starring international crime fiction''s most enigmatic sleuth.This is essential reading for all fans of exceptional crime fiction.Trade ReviewBrilliant ... While readers of classic mysteries will be delighted with the elegant solution, the book will also appeal to fans of procedurals that carefully develop the relationships among the investigative team members * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisAmanda Quick, the New York Times bestselling author of 'Til Death Do Us Part, transports readers to 1930s California, where glamour and seduction spawn a multitude of sins . . .

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Book SynopsisThe Confessions of Frannie Langton meets The Ghost Ship in this epic tale of adventure and forbidden love that reimagines one of the first purported female pirates.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPearse's The Sanatorium will keep you checking over your shoulder. This spine-tingling, atmospheric thriller has it all: an eerie Alpine setting, sharp prose, and twists you'll never see coming. A must-read. * Richard Osman, internationally bestselling author of THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB *Dark, suspenseful and downright chilling, The Sanatorium is a triumph. Vividly set against the backdrop of the Swiss Alps, it had me on the edge of my seat from the first page. Pearse's writing is sublime. What a talent! Pearse has a big future ahead of her. * Sally Hepworth, author of THE MOTHER-IN-LAW *The Sanatorium is an absolutely splendid Gothic thriller - gracious in its nods to the classic locked-room mystery, yet bold enough to burst out of that room through the window. Pearse writes prose fresh and crisp as Swiss Alp powder, and her characters fascinate even as their numbers dwindle. * A. J. Finn, bestselling author of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW *The Sanatorium is definitely a debut novel to watch out for. Wow, what a chilling read! One of the creepiest thrillers I've ever read. So atmospheric, clever and compulsive. LOVED it! * Claire Douglas, author of LOCAL GIRL MISSING *Creepy, deeply claustrophobic, mind-numbing, teasing, twists and turns galore, this book is a towering example of a masterful hand at work. If only Hitchcock were still around to film it. * David Baldacci, internationally bestselling author of MERCY *

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Book SynopsisA masked predator is stalking the small town of Oakridge. Known only as The Phantom, he strikes at night, attacking sleeping couples in their beds, raping and murdering with impunity. Despite the best efforts of the local deputy, he manages to elude capture, and finally former marshal Ed Burton is brought in to assist the investigation.

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Book SynopsisLieutenant Amanda Bostick is ordered to investigate why scientists on a distant outpost on the planet of Lorian are being murdered with no alarm raised. In the past ninety days, sixteen colonists have been murdered, and nobody thought to report it until now?When a number of scientists are mysteriously killed on an insignificant scientific outpost on the planet of Loria and no alarm is raised, Commander Rickets of the Galactic Space Arm (GSA) is angered that no one can explain why. Rickets orders Lieutenant Amanda Bostick along with two armed Guardians, Sergeant Hamoud and Corporal Nasim, to investigate.All three have faced setbacks in their careers and time is against them: the GSA is demanding answers within ten days. But they have no idea what to expect as there are few reports on the planet. Why are the scientists being killed? Is there more to the mission than first appears? Are the sentient Lorians who inhabit the planet mor

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Book SynopsisWhen an exhibition featuring London''s top engineers results in sudden, violent death, Victorian writer-sleuths Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens investigate.Victorian whodunits don''t get much better than this - Publishers Weekly Starred ReviewMarch, 1859. After the ''Great Stink'' of the previous summer when Parliament was overwhelmed by the stench of sewage from the River Thames, and with cholera running rife throughout the city, Charles Dickens has a new enthusiasm. Having formed a firm friendship with Joseph Bazalgette, he is assisting the ambitious young engineer in his efforts to find a solution to London''s pollution problem. Dickens'' friend and fellow writer Wilkie Collins meanwhile is distracted by thoughts of his pretty new housekeeper and her charming daughter. But what does he really know of his new employee''s past - and just who - or what - is making her so frightened?During an exhibition to showcas

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Book SynopsisA tense small town mystery that packs a big punch starring Nora Best.Nora Best is enjoying the quiet life . . . finally. She''s parked up the Airstream on a quiet stretch of beach and is now a seventh-grade teacher in a small peninsula town in the Pacific Northwest. Her biggest worry is keeping up with her quick-witted bunch of students. No drama. No danger. And most importantly - no one turning up dead.Until they do, that is . . . When a local environmental activist - and dad to one of her most troublesome students - is killed, Nora once again finds herself in the thick of an investigation that threatens her new-found peace. She soon uncovers that Ward''s death is most likely linked to the building of the school''s emergency tsunami tower - a project financed by Ward''s ex-wife''s new husband . . . and one that is testing the town''s loyalty.With emotions, and gossip, running high, in a community where everyone knows everyone else''s

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Book SynopsisPet chef Kitty finds herself reluctantly hosting a new cooking show called 'The Pampered Pet'. While shooting the pilot, the show's producer is found in her office with a knife in her back - one of Kitty's knives, to be exact. The list of suspects is long and time is short. If Kitty can't find the killer soon, her own goose might be cooked...

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Book SynopsisSeptember, 1925. After their recent adventures in Transylvania, Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes look forward to spending time with Holmes'' son, the famous artist Damian Adler, and his family. But when they arrive at Damian''s house in the French countryside, they discover that the Adlers have fled from a mysterious threat. In the ominously empty house, Russell discovers four crates packed with memorabilia related to the artist Horace Vernet, including an old journal written in a nearly impenetrable code. Intrigued, Russell sets about deciphering the intricate cryptograph. The secrets of the past appear to be reaching into the present. Could there be things about Holmes'' own history that even the master detective does not perceive?

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Book SynopsisSpring, 1941. The Second World War has entered a dangerous phase, with British ships being torpedoed in the Atlantic and nightly bombing raids on major ports. At Bletchley Park, top secret home of the nation''s code-breakers, the race is on to crack the German Enigma code and thus prevent further naval and military losses. This endeavour is suddenly very close to home for Frederick Rowlands, blind veteran of the Great War, when his daughter, Margaret, who works at ''the Park'' as a cryptographer, is arrested on suspicion of betraying secrets to the enemy.Then a young woman is found murdered, and Rowlands is drawn into a deadly battle of wits where he must decode a series of clues that will lead him to the killer and enable him to discover the real traitor at Bletchley Park.

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Book SynopsisBuy Val McDermid''s masterful new thriller, 1989, now!___________________''Brilliant . . . sensational . . . unforgettable'' Guardian''The queen of crime is still at the top of her game'' IndependentThere is one serial killer who has shaped and defined police profiler Tony Hill''s life. One serial killer whose evil surpasses all others. One serial killer who has the power to chill him to the bone: Jacko Vance.And now Jacko is back in Tony''s life. Even more twisted and cunning than ever before, he is focused on wreaking revenge on Tony - and DCI Carol Jordan - for the years he has spent in prison.Tony doesn''t know when Jacko will strike, or where. All he knows is that Jacko will cause him to feel fear like he has never known before - and devastate his life in ways he cannot imagine...A gripping new thriller in the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, from the number one bestsTrade ReviewIt's perhaps fitting that for McDermid's 25th novel she's revisited her most thrillingly murderous creation, Jacko Vance * Daily Mirror *Val McDermid's 25th novel is stunningly good, but it comes with a health warning. It is truly disturbing * The Times *McDermid never pulls her punches in her graphic descriptions of the evils men (and women) inflict on each other...tension filled from start to finish * Irish Independent *Her writing is taut, her plotting pacy... McDermid is particularly good at analysing human damage and its effects * Scotsman *To write one brilliant book is hard. To write 25 is a miracle. That is what Val McDermid has achieved over the course of her career and it's why she is a much-loved legend in the literary world...the pace here is flawless and the various storylines are expertly interwoven...a superb crime novel * Sunday Express *Brilliant ... sensational ...unforgettable * Guardian *It's a tribute to McDermid's skill as a storyteller that she deliberately creates a trio of central characters who are essentially incapable of conventional empathy yet still manages to sustain reader sympathy right through to the coldly brutal finale * Irish Times *McDermid has pulled out all the stops, delivering a fast-moving tale * Herald *

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Book Synopsis''I love the Gray Man''Lee ChildThe Gray Man is back in another nonstop international thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Tom Clancy''s Jack Ryan novels Court Gentry is back in action. This time he''s working on behalf of a well-connected group of Syrian expats to secure the Syrian president''s mistress so they can use her to bring down the president''s regime. But the expats'' plan goes awry when it''s discovered the mistress has a baby--the Syrian president''s only male heir--hidden away in a Damascus safe house. Court goes after the baby, a decision that comes at the price of the mistress''s life. The expat organization deems the boy now useless to their cause and refuses to protect him against the Syrian first lady and the notorious Swiss assassin in her employ. With no support on the way, Court realizes he''ll have to take down the Syrian president himself if he and the boy are going to make iTrade ReviewGreaney's steady escalation of the risks that Court faces, and the exceedingly clever ways he tackles them, make this entry in the exemplary Gray Man series a can't-miss. * Publishers Weekly *Somehow, Greaney cranks out one winner after another. That's a lot of work for the Gray Man and plenty of pleasure for thriller fans. * Kirkus *Mark Greaney continues his dominant run with Agent In Place, the best Gray Man thriller yet and one of the top must-read thrillers of 2018 * The Real Book Spy *

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Book SynopsisInvestigative Services Branch (ISB) ranger Ainsley Beaumont arrives in her hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, to investigate the murder of a three-month-pregnant teenager. While she wishes the visit was under better circumstances, she never imagined that she would become the killer''s next target--nor that she''d have to work alongside an old flame.After he almost killed a child, former FBI sniper Lincoln Steele couldn''t bring himself to fire a gun, which had deadly and unforeseen consequences for his best friend. Crushed beneath a load of guilt, Linc is working at Melrose Estate as an interpretive ranger. But as danger closes in on Ainsley during her murder investigation, Linc will have to find the courage to protect her. The only question is, will it be too little, too late?Award-winning author Patricia Bradley continues her Natchez Trace Park Rangers series with a story about how good must prevail when evil just won''t quit.'Bradley creates a sweet

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Book SynopsisCrime psychologist turned podcaster Erin Larson agrees to assist a county detective--who also happens to be her ex--in finding the answers to a cold case that has suddenly warmed up. The deeper they dig the more dangerous the situation gets. The stunning truth, once revealed, will change their lives forever.

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Book Synopsis* LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA GOLD DAGGER * A literary master across genres, award-winning author Chris Offutt's latest novel, The Killing Hills, is a compelling, propulsive thriller in which a suspicious death exposes the loyalties and rivalries of a deep-rooted and fiercely private community in the Kentucky backwoods....Trade ReviewWith wonderful descriptives of the wildlife and the people, this is fantastically stripped back, pared down storytelling with such superbly written depth and sense of place, I'm going to call it; this is Kentucky Noir, it gleams dark, is as hard as anthracite and Offutt is its undisputed Pappy * LoveReading *Pitch-perfect in its tone and dialogue, this is what Jack Reacher wants to be when it grows up -- James Owen * Times (Best New Thrillers for November) *It's genuinely thrilling to read and written with a propulsive momentum, a poet's eye for the small detail and an expert plotter's feel for twists and turns that come naturally, rather than bolted on out of the blue. Fantastic stuff * Big Issue *Offutt writes gently and movingly about the people and the land, the history and the present, and the interior landscapes of his carefully and convincingly wrought characters * Quietus *More than just a murder case, it's a voyage into rural backwoods Kentucky that doesn't shirk from the darkness to be found there, and unfolds with drive, noir style and wry humour * Herald *

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Book SynopsisIt's time to head north and work out who is trying to find him and why._________Although the Jack Reacher novels can be read in any order, Tripwire is 3rd in the series.And be sure not to miss Reacher's newest adventure, no.26, Better off Dead!Trade ReviewA slickly effective thriller which confirms Child's ability to keep the reader guessing - and sweating * The Times *A fast-moving, violent and gripping mystery with a very bad baddie, and a tough, pragmatic hero in Jack Reacher * Daily Telegraph *Lee Child continues his meteoric rise and mastery of suspense with Tripwire. It's a tightly-drawn and swift thriller that gives new meaning to what a page-turner should be -- Michael ConnellyEstablishes Child in the premier division.. Taut, with more than a touch of sweet romance, this is dangerously compulsive, so be warned - don't start it at bedtime or you'll be up all night * Manchester Evening News *Good thrillers exist in a class of their own. The point of such a book is total escape and Tripwire fills the bill... includes a bang-up finale which makes the reader sit back and gasp with both wonder and understanding * Denver Post *

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Book SynopsisJack 'No Middle Name' Reacher, lone wolf, knight errant, ex military cop, lover of women, scourge of the wicked and righter of wrongs, is the most iconic hero for our age. This book collects all Lee Child's shorter fiction featuring Jack Reacher. It sheds new light on Reacher's past.Trade ReviewAfter 21 missions in 20 years no one can be in any doubt that messing up bad guys is what the ex-military policeman does best — and these 12 tall tales suggest he’s been doing it all his life... Lee Child, like his creation, always knows exactly what he’s doing — and he does it well. Time in his company is never wasted. The first three chapters of his next Reacher novel, The Midnight Line — due in November — leave you wanting more. -- Mark Sanderson * Evening Standard *The Midnight Line...won't be published until early November. This collection of every short story Child has penned about the rootless Reacher will serve to keep any cravings at bay...True fans will love this. * Irish Independent *If you ever wonder about the past of Jack Reacher - the action hero whose adventures shift millions - then get this collection of short stories. Including a new novella, the clever, twisty tales reveal that even the 13-year-old Reacher was a force to be reckoned with. * Sunday Mirror *

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