Crime & Thrillers Books

Book Synopsis'Electrifying' - A.J. Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the WindowA Sunday Times Best Thriller Book of the Year. More than two million copies sold in Spain alone. Red Queen is the first in Juan Gómez-Jurado's internationally bestselling serial killer thriller series, translated by Nick Caistor.You've never met anyone like her . . .Antonia Scott is special. Very special. She is not a policewoman or a lawyer. She has never wielded a weapon or carried a badge, and yet, she has solved dozens of crimes.But it's been a while since Antonia left her attic in Madrid. The things she has lost are much more important to her than the things awaiting her outside.She also doesn't receive visitors. That's why she really, really doesn't like it when she hears unknown footsteps coming up the stairs.Whoever it is, Antonia is sure that they are coming to look for her.And she likes that even less . . .Praise for Red Queen:'A Spanish spin on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo . . . A female Sherlock Holmes' - The Times'Often compared with Lisbeth Salander . . . Antonia Scott looks destined to leave every bit as lasting an impression.' - Daily Mail'This fast-paced story crackles with energy as it roams between Madrid's most exclusive enclaves and seedy back streets' – Best Books of 2023, Financial TimesTrade ReviewBest thriller books of 2023 . . . What impresses is the brainy brio of Gómez-Jurado's storytelling, as well as his striking depiction of Madrid as two cities, an elegant baroque facade concealing a gothic underworld * Sunday Times *Fizzes with energy and lively scene-setting, switching . . . There are obvious echoes of Lisbeth Salander, but the crackling interplay between Scott and Inspector Gutiérrez, a gay Basque policeman, adds an extra layer of originality, as does Nick Caistor’s sparkling translation. * Financial Times *An electrifying serial-killer thriller, a fiendishly clever puzzle mystery . . . Red Queen tops even The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as a thinking reader’s thriller. -- A.J. Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the WindowA Spanish spin on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo . . . stylish and stylised . . . A female Sherlock Holmes * The Times *Often compared with Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Antonia Scott looks destined to leave every bit as lasting an impression. * Daily Mail *What Gómez-Jurado excels at, as conveyed in Nick Caistor’s brisk translation, is pacing of the breakneck variety. Short chapters, funny asides, lethally potent descriptions: They all contribute to a frenetic page-turning momentum . .. you’ll have great fun reading it. * New York Times *Fast paced, memorable characters and a cinematic story that draws you in hook, line and sinker. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next in the series. -- John Marrs, author of The OneJuan Gomez-Jurado has written a fast, exciting page-turner and it’s the first in a trilogy featuring Antonia and Jon. You’ll be wanting more. * The Record *Fans of Scandinavian crime thrillers might want to broaden their horizons with the first book in a Spanish trilogy featuring a mismatched duo . . . Already an international hit, Gómez-Jurado’s smart page-turner has been made into an Prime Video series that will debut later in 2023 * Washington Post *A fast-paced thriller . . . giving us a mash-up of Nordic noir and an old-school detective with a neurodivergent mind . . . Red Queen works because along with a genius-protagonist, Gomez-Jurado has successfully wo­ven in the other ingredients that thrill a mystery reader: a diabolical antago­nist, a twisty game and a ticking clock. * Open The Magazine *A labyrinth of mystery, crisply plotted and paced, way ahead of the pack. -- Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Kaiser’s Web Suspenseful and terrifying . . . A bit of Clarice Starling and a lot of Lisbeth Salander make Antonia a thoroughly compelling character, who will return in two more translations to complete Gómez-Jurado’s trilogy, -- Jane Murphy * Booklist starred review *Exciting . . . a nice balance among character, action, and setting . . . The next two, Loba Negra (Black Wolf) and Rey Blanco (White King), must be translated into English, because thriller fans will be waiting. Fast-moving and quirky fiction from Madrid. * Kirkus Reviews *Nail-biting . . . tantalizing . . . Lizbeth Salander fans will find much to like. * Publishers Weekly *This has all the velocity and thrills of Stieg Larson’s Millennium series but none of the eyeroll-inducing misogyny . . . it's all-engrossing. * First Clue (starred review) *Fresh and appealing to those that enjoy interesting characters and stories that constantly move forward and tales that end in unexpected ways. * Mystery and Suspense *Red Queen is a smart, addictive thriller, beautiful in both its complexity and devotion to characterization. Between the stunning plot twists, bold structural choices and surprising moments of wry humour, you won’t be able to put this one down -- Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of Find MeThis terrific novel has all the page-turning elements of the very best thrillers, but what makes it truly remarkable is the writing itself. Engaging and heartbreaking, witty and wry and immersive . . . Juan Gómez-Jurado has written an instant classic -- Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of Her Perfect LifeReaders are going to fall for Antonia Scott. This character is, without a doubt, the best thing that has happened to the international thriller in the last ten years * ABC *Red Queen is terrific – a complex story that unfolds at breakneck speed, a compelling plot filled with twist after twist, a story told with rich, fluid language, and a fascinating, well-realized unlikely pair of characters, especially the brilliant Antonia Scott. -- David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of Murder as a Fine ArtThe most compelling and original detective since Lisbeth Salander * The Times South Africa *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA story told by a condemned man leads Maigret to a bar by the Seine and into the sleazy underside of respectable Parisian life. In the oppressive heat of summer, a forgotten crime comes to light.Trade ReviewPraise for Georges Simenon:“One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.” —The Guardian “These Maigret books are as timeless as Paris itself.” —The Washington Post “Maigret ranks with Holmes and Poirot in the pantheon of fictional detective immortals.” —People “I love reading Simenon. He makes me think of Chekhov.” —William Faulkner “The greatest of all, the most genuine novelist we have had in literature.” —André Gide “A supreme writer . . . Unforgettable vividness.” —The Independent (London) “Superb . . . The most addictive of writers . . . A unique teller of tales.” —The Observer (London) “Compelling, remorseless, brilliant.” —John Gray “A truly wonderful writer . . . Marvelously readable—lucid, simple, absolutely in tune with the world he creates.” —Muriel Spark “A novelist who entered his fictional world as if he were a part of it.”lle —Peter Ackroyd “Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century.” —John Banville"Gem-hard soul-probes . . . not just the world's bestselling detective series, but an imperishable literary legend . . . he exposes secrets and crimes not by forensic wizardry, but by the melded powers of therapist, philosopher and confessor" ― Times (London)"Strangely comforting . . . so many lovely bistros from the Paris of mid-20th C. The corpses are incidental, it's the food that counts." ― Margaret Atwood"One of the greatest writers of the 20th century . . . no other writer can set up a scene as sharply and with such economy as Simenon does . . . the conjuring of a world, a place, a time, a set of characters - above all, an atmosphere." ― Financial Times"Gripping . . . richly rewarding . . . You'll quickly find yourself obsessing about his life as you tackle each mystery in turn."-- Stig Abell ― The Sunday Times (London)

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe last novel from the unsurpassed master of American detective fiction, Dashiell Hammett''s The Thin Man is a genre-defining mystery novel, published in Penguin Modern Classics.Ex-detective Nick Charles plans to spend a quiet Christmas holed up in a hotel suite with his glamorous wife Nora, their pet Schnauzer and a case of good Scotch. But then a bullet-riddled corpse and a missing inventor (not to mention the attentions of a beautiful young woman) force him out of retirement and back into business. Trying to make sense of false leads, suspicious alibis and mistaken identities, Nick and Nora are thrown into a world of gangsters, hoodlums and speakeasies, where no-one can be trusted. Dashiell Hammett was credited with inventing the hardboiled crime novel, and this story of murder and mayhem in Manhattan, with its breakneck plot, snappy dialogue - and the hard-drinking, wisecracking couple Nick and Nora - is one of his most thrillingly enjoyable mysteries. DaTrade Review'The exuberance of language, the relish with which seediness is described .. it's a pleasure to imagine Hammett cutting loose with whatever rascally high jinks he could cook up' * Margaret Atwood *'The ace performer' * Raymond Chandler *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'BEGUILING, EVOCATIVE, WONDERFUL ... THE ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH OF FRANCE' Francis WheenIn the second mystery of this mouthwatering and bestselling series, Bruno, Chief of Police of a small rural French town, must balance local tradition and modern progress while bringing a killer to justice.Just before dawn one summer morning Bruno is summoned by the wail of the siren in the little town of St Denis in the Périgord. A fire is raging in a local barn and spreading to the surrounding fields. When Bruno arrives at the scene, the smell of petrol leaves no doubt: it was arson. The barn belongs to an agricultural research company experimenting with genetically modified crops - an unpopular move in deeply traditional St Denis.Meanwhile, a Californian producer wants to set up a wine-making business in the valley. Despite the money and jobs this would bring, many fear it would destroy their town. When a violent death follows the crop burning, it looks as though someone is prepared to do anything to stop the scheme. Bruno will have to draw on all his local knowledge to reach the truth.Trade ReviewSure to appeal to readers with a palate for mysteries with social nuance and understated charm * Wall Street Journal *The delights of [Walker's Dordogne] - from the chateaux along the rivers to the prehistoric cave paintings to the food on the tables - are very real.... Absorbing * New York Times Book Review *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt is the autumn of 1880, and Dr John Watson has just returned from Afghanistan. Badly injured and desperate to forget a nightmarish expedition that left him doubting his sanity, Watson is close to destitution when he meets the extraordinary Sherlock Holmes, who is investigating a series of deaths in the Shadwell district of London. Several bodies have been found, the victims appearing to have starved to death over the course of several weeks, and yet they were reported alive and well mere days before. Moreover, there are disturbing reports of creeping shadows that inspire dread in any who stray too close.Holmes deduces a connection between the deaths and a sinister drug lord who is seeking to expand his criminal empire. Yet both he and Watson are soon forced to accept that there are forces at work far more powerful than they could ever have imagined. Forces that can be summoned, if one is brave - or mad - enough to dare...Trade ReviewA must-read -Bio Gamer Girl"

Read more less

Book SynopsisMurder was work. Some went about the job devotedly, others carelessly. And for some, murder was a labour of love.On the day of his sixtieth birthday, Walter C. Pettibone is blissfully unaware of his impending death. His final act in life is to accept a glass of champagne by a woman with startling green eyes. A big mistake.Homicide lieutenant Eve Dallas knows she faces a deadly foe - one with a frightening vendetta. And as the chase draws Eve dangerously close to her own dark past, her focus slips.But then Eve''s billionaire husband''s name is put on Julianna''s fatal list - and Eve ups her game. Luring Julianna into a dangerous trap which puts everyone at risk, Eve finds herself fighting for more than justice.Trade ReviewGut-searing emotional drama David Baldacci Anchored by terrific characters, sudden twists that spin the whole narrative on a dime, and a thrills-to-chills ratio that will raise hairs of even the most jaded reader, the J.D. Robb books are the epitome of great popular fiction Dennis Lehane J.D. Robb's novels are can't miss pleasures Harlan Coben Whether she writes as J.D. Robb or under her own name, I love Nora Roberts. She is a woman who just doesn't know how to tell a bad story Stephen King This series gets better with every book Publishers Weekly The most popular novelist on planet earth Washington Post A perfect balance of suspense, futuristic police procedural and steamy romance...truly fine entertainment... sure to leave you hungering for more Publishers Weekly Great fun Cosmopolitan

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the year of our Lord 1141, August comes in golden as a lion, and two monks ride into the Benedictine abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul bringing with them disturbing news of war- and a mystery. The strangers tell how the strife between the Empress Maud and King Stephen has destroyed the town of Winchester and their priory. Now Brother Humilis, who is handsome, gaunt and very ill, and Brother Fidelis, youthful, comely- and mute- must seek refuge at Shrewsbury.From the moment he meets them, Brother Cadfael senses that they are bound by something deeper than their common vows. What the link is he can only guess; what it will lead to is beyond imagining. But as Brother Humilis''s health fails, Brother Cadfael faces a poignant test of his discretion and his beliefs as he unravels a secret so great it can destroy a life, a future, and a holy order.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE CAPTIVATING EIGHT NOVEL IN THE MULTI-MILLION BESTSELLING OUTLANDER SERIES - NOW ON AMAZON PRIME!''A series that will keep you turning the pages long into the night'' Rebecca Yarros***** ''Jamie & Claire fans should not be disappointed''''Epic, magical, and deeply romantic. A true gift to all readers'' Ali Hazelwood***** ''Of course I loved it! Did you have any doubt? I mean, it''s Diana mad skillz Gabaldon and it''s an OUTLANDER book! Could it be anything less than magical?''''Adventure. Drama. History. Time travel. Romance. An epic story that grabs you by the throat and doesn''t let go'' Kristin Hannah***** ''Diana Gabaldon poured her heart along with some of her own blood into this book!!''''Outlander remains a treasure to be enjoyed and shared'' Ian Rankin____________It is June 1778, and the world seems to be turning upside-down.The British Army is withdrawing from Philadelphia, with George Washington in pursuit, and for the first time, it looks as if the rebels might actually win. But for Claire Fraser and her family, there are even more tumultuous revolutions that have to be accommodated.Her former husband, Jamie, has returned from the dead, demanding to know why in his absence she married his best friend, Lord John Grey. Lord John''s son, the ninth Earl of Ellesmere, is no less shocked to discover that his real father is actually the newly resurrected Jamie Fraser, and Jamie''s nephew Ian Murray discovers that his new-found cousin has an eye for the woman who has just agreed to marry him.And while Claire is terrified that one of her husbands may be about to murder the other, in the 20th century her descendants face even more desperate turns of events. Her daughter Brianna is trying to protect her son from a vicious criminal with murder on his mind, while her husband Roger has disappeared into the past . . .____________''An utter delight to experience. Open the pages and prepare to be swept away.'' Rebecca Ross''A stone-cold classic'' Katherine Arden''An unforgettable, unparalleled love story that will leave you craving more.'' Olivie Blake''An enchanting escape for new readers and destined for countless rereads.'' Jennifer L. ArmentroutTrade ReviewHistory comes deliciously alive on the page - NEW YORK DAILY NEWSA grand adventure written on a canvas that probes the heart, weighs the soul and measures the human spirit across ten generations - CNNA blockbuster hit - WALL STREET JOURNALRiveting. Gabaldon has a true storyteller's voice - GLOBE AND MAILGabaldon is a born storyteller - LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

Read more less

Book SynopsisUmberto Eco (19322016) wrote fiction, literary criticism and philosophy. His first novel, The Name of the Rose, was a major international bestseller. His other works include Foucault's Pendulum, The Island of the Day Before, Baudolino, The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana, The Prague Cemetery and Numero Zero along with many brilliant collections of essays.Trade ReviewThe late medieval world, teetering on the edge of discoveries and ideas that will hurl it into one more recognisably like ours...evoked with a force and wit that are breathtaking * Financial Times *A novel of sunning intelligence, linguistic richness, thematic complexity * Il Giorno *This novel belongs with Voltaire' philosophical tales-in the entertaining guise of an erudite fiction story, it is also a vibrant plea for freedom, moderation and wisdom * L'Express *A brilliant deconstruction of the traditional crime novel -- Iain Rankin * Mail on Sunday *Whether you’re into Sherlock Holmes, Montaillou, Borges, the nouvelle critique, the Rule of St. Benedict, metaphysics, library design, or The Thing from the Crypt, you’ll love it. Who can that miss out? * Sunday Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWinner of the Fingerprint Award for Thriller of the Year THE NEW CAUTIONARY TALE OF OBSESSION, LOVE, JEALOUSY AND DECEPTION FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF OUR HOUSE AND THE OTHER PASSENGER Wrong time. Wrong place. Wrong man.   Alex lives a comfortable life with his wife Beth in the leafy suburb of Silver Vale. Fine, so he’s not the most sociable guy on the street, he prefers to keep himself to himself, but he’s a good husband and an easy-going neighbour.   That’s until Beth announces the creation of a nature trail on a local site that’s been disused for decades and suddenly Alex is a changed man. Now he’s always watching. Questioning. Struggling to hide his dread . . .   As the landscapers get to work, a secret threatens to surface from years ago, back in Alex’s twenties when he got entangled with a seductive yoTrade ReviewLouise Candlish has done it again! The writing is exquisite and I devoured every succulent twist and turn on my way to the wholly satisfying conclusion -- Russ Thomas A superstar of psychological thrillers -- Daily Mail Candlish controls the drip feed of information and ramps up the tension to great effect -- The Guardian [Candlish] confirms her reputation for unsettling, well-carpentered plots -- Sunday Times You’ll have a delightful sense of disorientation on the long road to discovering how the two storylines are connected, before arriving at the immensely satisfying conclusion -- Daily Express/Daily Mirror Candlish has a distinctive take on the contemporary psychological thriller. She skilfully mixes a droll portrayal of middle-class London suburban life with some extremely cunning plots -- Mail on Sunday This dual-timeline, domestic-noir tale is a tense, read-in-one-sitting thriller -- The Sun on Sunday Fabulous Magazine The plot is clever, the characters are unpleasantly credible and the revelations give the tiniest sense of reassurance -- Literary Review When it comes to mind-blowing twists, award-winning author Louise Candlish knows her stuff -- Woman & Home I’m a huge fan of this thriller writer’s clever, serpentine stories. When the waste ground behind his house is approved for development, it spells trouble for Alex, who is hiding a big secret – but what? Just when I thought I’d figured it out, along came another twist! -- Good Housekeeping From an author who really does know how to knock it out of the park with her gripping plots… taut and tense, this is fabulous -- Prima Tense, taut and twisty. Candlish is a master of her craft -- Plantinum Just when you think you’ve got this twisty thriller sussed, the rug gets pulled yet again -- Crime Monthly Expect twists and double twists from the queen of the domestic noir thriller -- Red The queen of mind-blowing twists, Louise Candlish has done it again with her latest can’t-put-it-down thriller -- Woman’s WeeklyA compelling, nerve-tingling treat -- Nicci FrenchA twisting, seductive, ingenious thriller from the consistently brilliant Louise Candlish. I'm a huge fan -- Chris WhitakerIncredibly tense. Louise Candlish is one of my favourite writers and this is her best book yet -- Clare MackintoshCompletely addictive and devilishly clever - the queen of the killer twist strikes again! -- T. M. LoganSuch a vivid sense of place, a gripping plot, elegantly told, and a twist that left me reeling - brilliant! -- Sarah PearsePsychological suspense has a new adjective - pure Candlish -- Cara HunterI'm blown away by how good it is. A gripping tale of love, secrets and deception - it's the best psychological thriller I've read in a long time -- Mark EdwardsI loved The Only Suspect: a heady dose of mid Nineties nostalgia, with trademark whiplash twists and satire. Louise Candlish has surpassed her own, always high standards. Quite possibly her best yet -- Sarah VaughanThe Only Suspect is a suspenseful, thrilling and breath-taking mystery about the dark secrets that live in the past, and the paralysing fear that they'll be uncovered. If you thought you misbehaved in the nineties you've got nothing on the devious, duplicitous cast of this book. Gripping, unpredictable and tense, it'll keep you guessing all the way through -- C. L. TaylorI was completely pulled in by the story and the layers of clever plotting; the twists and turns - though well set up, took me completely by surprise and I found myself staying up late to finish it, utterly absorbed by the excellent story telling -- Jane ShemiltThe Only Suspect kept me guessing all the way through. It’s the book version of a Rubik's Cube with so many unexpected twists and turns. An adrenaline burner for sure! -- Liz NugentAs good as I hoped it would be. Messy relationships, deception and some big surprises. Loved it! -- Jane FallonWOW. As always Louise Candlish has written a taut, unsettling, compulsive and ingenious novel with gasp-out-loud twists and fatally flawed characters forced into tragedy by circumstances. I LOVED it! -- Isabelle BroomI was sucked in from the beginning, hooked and hoodwinked. A masterclass in psychological thriller writing -- Diane JeffreyI couldn't put it down -- Shari LapenaI couldn't put it down! Fantastic characters, a trip down memory lane into '90s London and I honestly didn't see that ending coming AT ALL. Deliciously dark and devastating -- Nikki SmithTense, taut and twisty. Candlish is a master of her craft -- Adele ParksA nerve-shredding plot that kept me guessing to the finish. Another triumph! -- Fiona BartonI absolutely adored The Only Suspect. Tightly plotted and brilliantly written with twists so perfect they made me gasp out loud on more than one occasion. The story was so tense I couldn’t stop turning the pages, desperate to know the outcome. My favourite Louise Candlish book so far. Highly recommended -- Claire DouglasAn incredible page-turner…An absolute must-read. Get this on your 2023 wish list -- BA ParisThe Only Suspect is a heady pleasure from the very first page. It's both a page-tearing mystery and a pitch-perfect 90s period piece. Shimmers with mystery, tension, and dirty glamour -- Abigail DeanThis book should come with a warning: you won't speak to anyone until the last page -- Celia Walden

Read more less

Book SynopsisBored with the distractions of London, Judy Cameron insists on taking herself, her parents and her fiance to remote Glen Suilag in the Scottish Highlands. Leaving behind the busy whirl of the capital, she becomes absorbed in an unknown and yet strangely familiar world. As Judy explores the house and glen, secrets begin to unravel and questions arise that she must find the answers to. Why does the strange house feel so familiar? How does she know the laird, Ian Macdonald? Why does she feel so terrified of the middle window in the parlour? And who is the mysterious Judith who haunts her dreams?Trade ReviewMiss Goudge is an artist of very considerable ability - Oxford MailAbout the novels of Elizabeth Goudge there is always something of the fairy-tale - The ScotsmanElizabeth Goudge's novels, long or short, have always been distinguished by a quality of lyrical joyousness more usually associated with poetry than with prose and, perhaps, with music than with writing. - New York TimesMiss Goudge has the art of presenting men and women, to say nothing of children, as genuinely convincing persons, too human to be either wholly good or wholly bad - The ScotsmanGenuine discernment and poignancy - The Sunday Times

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Denise Mina is a one-of-a-kind storyteller'' James PattersonThis is Marlowe.Mr. Philip Marlowe? She asked.I glanced at the clock. It was exactly eleven am, as if she had been waiting by thephone for an appointed hour, following someone else''s orders to the letter.What, d''you think we''re a troupe of brothers? There is only me.It''s mid-September, a heatwave has descended on the parched hills of LA and Private Detective Philip Marlowe is called to the Montgomery estate, an almost mythic place sitting high on top of Beverly Hills. Wealthy twenty-two-year-old Chrissie Montgomery, set to inherit an enormous fortune, is missing. She''s a walking target, ripe for someone to get their claws into. Her dying father, along with his sultry bottle blonde girlfriend, wants her found before that happens. They''ve hired Anna Riorden, Marlowe''s nemesis, too. The search takes them to the roughest neighbourhoods o

Read more less

Book Synopsis"FAULTLESS." —The Guardian *** "A SLY PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER." —The Observer Like every other girl in her class, twelve-year-old Justine is drawn to her glamorous, charismatic new teacher and longs to be her pet. However, when a thief begins to target the school, Justine’s sense that something isn’t quite right grows ever stronger. With each twist of the plot, this gripping story of deception and the corrosive power of guilt takes a yet darker turn. Young as she is, Justine must decide where her loyalties lie. Set in New Zealand in the 1980s and probing themes of racism, misogyny and the oppressive reaches of Catholicism, Pet will take a rightful place next to other classic portraits of childhood betrayal: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Go-Between, Heavenly Creatures and Au Revoir Les Enfants among them.Trade Review"A superb character study, delivered with panache." * The Bookseller’s “Fiction Book of the Month” *“A remarkable and original writer, whose novels have the golden combination of being both riveting and superbly-written.” * Lissa Evans *"A dark and compelling story of guilt and betrayal. Add to it a near-perfect plot twist and you have a novel that lives long in the mind.” * Alex Preston *“Catherine Chidgey mobilises the misgivings shared by all children who love and lose, the fear of being odd, the longing to be special, the horror of being supplanted. Pet is a novel hard not to swallow entire in one go, by when the reader will be full of hooks and wary as an old pike.” * Candia McWilliam *"Catherine Chidgey brilliantly evokes the very particular preoccupations, fascinations, and cruelties of 11 and 12 year olds. The story is built of details which accumulate in a growing unease till the reader too begins to doubt her own judgement. Rivetingly tense and observant.” * Elizabeth Cook *“Refreshing, compelling and surprising, this novel skirts around familiar tropes to deliver something new and troubling. Sharp writing, keen observations and killer wit.” * Ann Morgan *"Pet is a page-turning psychological thriller: tense, uncomfortable and completely gripping." * NZ Herald *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO RETURNSThe iconic character who has captivated 100 million readers worldwide."Not just the extraordinary conclusion to the trilogy, but a work that contains its own fully-rounded plot . . . Brilliant" Val McdermidLisbeth Salander is a threat to national security. Since she was thirteen, shady government forces have conspired to keep her quiet.Prone to violence, deemed mentally disturbed, she has had her freedom removed and her every movement watched. Yet still, she is an unstoppable force for justice.Salander has a bullet in her head. She is wanted for murder. She knows that the secrets and corruption at the heart of her country's government go right to the top.And she won't take it lying down . . ."Some novels claim to be page-turners, this trilogy is the real deal" Financial Times"This is a grown-up novel for grown-up readers, who want something more than a quick fix and a car chase . . . A publishing phenomenon all over the world" Kate MosseTrade ReviewWith the spiky and sassy Lisbeth Salander - punkish wild child, traumatised survivor of the 'care' system, sexual adventurer and computer hacker of genius - Larsson created the most original heroine to emerge in crime fiction for many years * Independent *Complex, satisfying, clever, moral ... a grown-up novel for grown-up readers ... this is why the Millennium Trilogy is rightly a publishing phenomenon all over the world -- Kate Mosse

Read more less

Book SynopsisDCI Matilda Darke is back. And it might be her most personal case yet. Pre-order the most intense new thriller yet from Michael Wood!Matilda Darke is the perfect heroine' Elly GriffithsFIVE PERFECT MURDERSDCI Matilda Darke receives an anonymous email from someone claiming to have committed the perfect murder. Experience tells her this isn't possible, but as she investigates, she discovers a killer questioning everything she's ever known.HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHTNow, Matilda is on the trail of a murderer who targets the most vulnerable people in society. Apart from With Sympathy' cards, hand delivered to the family of his victims, he leaves no trace of his crimes.A KILLER'S DEADLY GAMEAs the threat escalates, and those closest to Matilda are targeted, she finds herself isolated and alone in bringing down her opponent before it's game over. After all, there can only be one winner in this game of cat-and-mouse, and the clock is ticking

Read more less

Book SynopsisAva, Lennox and Heather make contact with alien Sandy and head for a profound confrontation … The awe-inspiring, exquisitely moving sequel to The Space Between Us, as seen on BBC Two's Between the Covers.   ‘A barnstorming thriller … and a wonderful and radical sense of a greater, wider way of seeing life on our planet’ Martin MacInnes   ‘Terrifyingly plausible and an excellent allegory for our times … I’ll be recommending this to everyone’ James Oswald   ‘A powerful and epic multi-layered story. Doug Johnstone is a true literary master’ Michael Wood   **Longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book**_________________   Six months since the earth-shattering events of The Space Between Us, the revelatory hope of the aliens’ visit has turne

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen his beloved little brother is stolen away, five-year-old Tommy Farrier is left alone with his alcoholic mam, his violent step-dad and his guilt. Too young to understand what has really happened, Tommy is sure of only one thing. He is to blame.Tommy tries to be good, to live-up to his brother''s increasingly hazy memory, but trapped in a world of shame and degradation he grows up with just two options; poverty or crime. And crime pays. Or so he thinks.A teenage drug-dealer for the vicious Burns gang, Tommy''s life is headed for disaster, until, in the place he least expects, Tommy sees a familiar face... And then things get a whole lot worse.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE NEW FRONTLIST THRILLER FROM THE MILLION-SELLING AUTHOR OF COFFIN ROAD AND THE BLACKHOUSEIn 1989, a killer dumped the body of twenty-year-old Lucie Martin into a picturesque lake in the West of France. Fourteen years later, during a summer heat wave, a drought exposed her remains - bleached bones amid the scorched mud and slime.No one was ever convicted of her murder. But now, forensic expert Enzo Macleod is reviewing this stone-cold case - the toughest of those he has been challenged to solve.Yet when Enzo finds a flaw in the original evidence surrounding Lucie''s murder, he opens a Pandora''s box that not only raises old ghosts but endangers his entire family.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe best police procedural I've read in years' Jane CaseyGrabbed me from the first page' Ian RankinThis grave can never be opened.The head of Scotland's most powerful crime family is brutally murdered, his body dumped inside an ancient grave in a remote cemetery.This murder can never be forgotten.Detectives Max Craigie and Janie Calder arrive at the scene, a small town where everyone has secrets to hide. They soon realise this murder is part of a blood feud between two Scottish families that stretches back to the 1800s. One thing's for certain: it might be the latest killing, but it won't be the lastThis killer can never be caught.As the body count rises, the investigation uncovers large-scale corruption at the heart of the Scottish Police Service. Now Max and Janie must turn against their closest colleagues to solve a case that could cost them far more than just their livesLONGLISTED FOR THE 2021 McILVANNEY PRIZE FOR SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEARThe 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 CaseyGenuinely gripping, a total page-turner and one of my favourite reads of the year' Matt Nixon, Daily ExpressA stone cold classic of the genre; the strongest start to a series I've seen in years' Tony KentAbsolutely blown away by how good this is' Marion ToddA thriller writer set to blow up the bestseller lists' C. L. TaylorThe most authentic voice in thriller writing' Tony ParsonsA genuinely thrilling adventure' Scottish SunA page turner you won't want to miss' Denzil MeyrickDon't miss the first stunning thriller in the new DS Max Craigie Scottish Crime series!Trade Review‘Grabbed me from the first page … think Jack Reacher fronting Line of Duty’ Ian Rankin ‘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 cracking good story … kept me turning the pages, and loving the twists. I can’t wait for the second Craigie instalment’ Gytha Lodge ‘Gripping’ Bella ‘A sizzling start to a new series’ Crime Monthly ‘A thriller writer set to blow up the bestseller lists’ C. L. Taylor ‘Rock hard cop stuff, from a writer who’s done it for real. Absolutely terrific’ Paul Finch ‘If you liked Line of Duty, you’ll love this’ Real People Magazine ‘The most authentic voice in thriller writing’ Tony Parsons ‘An edge-of-your-seat, read-in-one-sitting book. If you like Line of Duty, you must snap this up’ Cass Green ‘A fast-paced read’ Suffolk Magazine ‘An authentic and compelling thriller. Highly recommended’ Mark Dawson ‘Absolutely blown away by how good this is’ Marion Todd ‘If you loved his Tom Novak series, you’ll love this even more’ Stephen Leather ‘A powerful and gripping story … D. S. Max Craigie is a fantastic creation’ Howard Linskey ‘An incredible piece of work. Great storytelling, pacy and written with such a sense of place’ Chris MacDonald ‘A stone cold classic of the genre; the strongest start to a series I’ve seen in years’ Tony Kent ‘The best police procedural money can buy’ Imran Mahmood

Read more less

Book SynopsisJim Taylor, Sally Lockhart's oldest friend, is bodyguard to a princess. But Crown Princess Adelaide is not what you'd expect. She'sthe slum-girl Jim has been searching for ever since she vanishedten years ago. Now her life is in mortal danger, and together theymust battle against unknown enemies in a country where no onecan be trusted.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen a celebrated government official is found dead after his surprise birthday party, a young police officer uncovers a terrifying world of financial crime, sinister cults and disturbing secret lives. Icelandic politician Katrín Júlíusdóttir's award-winning debut – first in a breathtaking series…  **Winner of the Blackbird Award for Best Icelandic Crime Debut**   ‘A sophisticated, multi-layered thriller … a series with great potential’ Financial Times  A murder is just the beginning…   When Óttar Karlsson, a wealthy and respected government official and businessman, is found murdered, after failing to turn up at his own surprise birthday party, the police are at a loss. It isn’t until young police officer Sigurdís finds a well-hidden safe in his impersonal luxury apartment that clues start emer

Read more less

Book SynopsisOn a cold night shortly before Christmas, an immigrant street vendor is killed in Venice's Campo Santo Stefano.Trade ReviewThe thoughtful and charming [Brunetti] is on top form . . . His nicely balanced world . . . is cumulatively engrossing. In this domestic detail, Leon roots the power of the ordinary, moral individual * Sunday Times *Leon writes with great literary panache and evocative power about the world's most beautiful and mysterious city * Spectator *Donna Leon has a wonderful feel for the hidden evils that lie below the façade of the magical city, and Brunetti, sturdy family man and cynic, is an endearing guide into the machinations of Italian society * The Times *It would be simply perverse not to acknowledge [Leon's] skill . . . The reader comes to look forward to Paola's elegant Venetian lunches as much as Brunetti does . . . The plot of Blood from a Stone both stands up to and complements the cast . . . Comfort reading of the highest order * TLS *The fabulous Donna Leon -- Antonia Fraser * Spectator *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn escaped convict threatens more than the summer tourist trade in the gripping fifth thriller featuring Detectives Fry and Cooper.''Today was the day Detective Constable Ben Cooper was supposed to have died. For practical purposes, he was already dead.''Fourteen years ago Mansell Quinn was jailed for murdering his mistress. Now he has escaped and is on the run, hiding amongst the Peak District''s many summer tourists. When Quinn''s ex-wife is found dead, DC Cooper and his tough boss DS Fry suspect it is only a matter of time before another victim is found. And Cooper as the son of Quinn''s arresting officer is high on the list.As they desperately search the case files for clues and the death toll rises, darker possibilities emerge. Are the killings the work of a deranged killer who cannot be found or a desperate man, wrongly convicted?Trade ReviewPraise for ‘One Last Breath’: ‘One Last Breath underlines Stephen Booth’s status as one of our best story-tellers… his skilful plotting makes story-telling look deceptively easy’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Stephen Booth endows the crime novel with a literary strength that lifts it above the general ruck…he is a crime writer who gives a satisfying read rather than a quick fix’ Independent ‘The complex relationship between [Cooper and Fry] is excellently drawn, and is combined with an intriguing plot and a real sense of place: Stephen Booth is an author to keep an eye on’ Evening Standard Praise for Stephen Booth: ‘In this atmospheric debut, Stephen Booth makes high summer in Derbyshire as dark and terrifying as midwinter’ Val McDermid ‘Sinks its teeth into you and doesn’t let go … A dark star may be born!’ Reginald Hill 'A leading light of British crime writing' Maxim Jakubowski, Guardian

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAnother perfect page-turner' The TimesA triumph from the master thriller writer' The SunIn this twisty thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author, a man desperately tries to track down his father in witness protection before his enemies can get to him.Your dad's not a good person. Your dad killed people, son.These are some of the last words Jack Givins's father spoke to him before he was whisked away by witness protection, leaving Jack and his mother to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives.Years later, Jack is a struggling author, recruited by the U.S. Marshals to create false histories for people in witness protection. Jack realises this may be a chance to find his dad but then he discovers he's gone missing, and he could be in serious danger.Jack knows he has to track him down. But how will he find a man he's never truly known? And how will he evade his father's deadly enemies enemies who wouldn't think twice about using his own son against him?PRAISE FOR THE LIE MAKETrade Review PRAISE FOR LINWOOD BARCLAY: ‘A superior thriller’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘The twists keep coming’ THE TIMES ‘Find You First starts with a bang and ends with an even bigger one. Barclay is a terrific writer, but he’s outdone himself with this. It’s the best book of his career. I couldn’t put it down, and you won’t be able to either. If you enjoy thrillers, this is the real deal. It never lets up’ STEPHEN KING ‘A full-throttle powerhouse of a thriller – Linwood Barclay is in a class of his own’ T.M. LOGAN ‘Genius … but terrifying’ THE SUN ‘This novel moves as fast as a falling elevator and hits with just as much force. Linwood Barclay is a stone-cold pro and Elevator Pitch is a shameless good time’ JOE HILL ‘A great cast of characters,tension, humour and a thrilling ending; this book takes Linwood to new heights!’ MARK EDWARDS ‘A fast-moving, high-concept thriller from the talented Barclay … a rip-roaring rollercoaster of a ride’ DAILY MAIL ‘Linwood Barclay’s thrillers move at breakneck speed … pacy, exciting’ WOMAN & HOME ‘Linwood Barclay presses all the right buttons’ MICHAEL ROBOTHAM ‘One of the finest thriller writers in the world at the very top of his game’ MARK BILLINGHAM 'A relentlessly tense thriller … there's plenty of the sardonic humour that came to the fore in Mr Barclay's previous novel Elevator Pitch … the comedy enhances the edgy atmosphere’ THE TIMES CRIME CLUB 'Another gripping thriller from bestselling master of tension Linwood Barclay' HELLO!

Read more less

Book SynopsisWelcome to Merrywell. Population: small. Secrets: aplenty.Murder in Merrywell is an entertaining and engaging cozy mystery set against a beautiful backdrop.' Clare ChaseEx-journalist Violet Brewster is keen to make a good first impression in her new community, having just moved to the small village of Merrywell. When Violet hears about the mystery of Helen Slingsby, who disappeared from the village forty years earlier, she decides to help uncover what happened. But despite Violet's best efforts, she can find no trace of the missing woman.As Violet talks to the other residents, it becomes apparent that something sinister is lurking beneath the village's idyllic exterior.When a villager is found dead in their home, Violet becomes convinced that the murder is connected to Helen. Did Helen ever really leave Merrywell? Who in the village is hiding something? And can Violet finally solve this forty-year-old mystery before someone else gets hurt?An utterly gripping and page-turning English c

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA gripping tragedy of crime and class, widely regarded as one of multi-million copy and SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author Ruth Rendell''s seminal masterworks and a crime fiction classic. Fans of PD James, Ann Cleeves and Donna Leon will not be disappointed. ''One of her masterpieces'' -- Telegraph''A classic'' - The Times''Quite possibly the best crime book I have ever read'' -- ***** Reader review''One hell of a book'' -- ***** Reader review''An altogether engrossing book'' -- ***** Reader review''A compelling and addictive read'' -- ***** Reader review''An absolute classic - can only be described in superlatives'' -- ***** Reader review**********************************************************************************************''Eunice Parchman killed the Coverdale family because she could not read oTrade ReviewOne of her masterpieces. -- Jake Kerridge * Telegraph *Rendell's psychological insights are so absorbing, it's easy to forget what a superb plotter she is * The Times *Ruth Rendell is not only the finest crime novelist there is, but one of the finest novelists writing in the English language * Scotsman *The most brilliant mystery novelist of our time - mesmerizing -- Patricia CornwellRuth Rendell has quite simply transformed the genre of crime writing. She displays her peerless skill in blending the mundane, commonplace aspects of life with the potent murky impulses of desire and greed, obsession and fear * Sunday Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIrène Némirovsky was born in Kiev in 1903, the daughter of a successful Jewish banker. In 1918 her family fled the Russian Revolution for France where she became a bestselling novelist, author of David Golder, Le Bal and other works published in her lifetime or soon after, as well as the posthumous Suite Française and Fire in the Blood. In July 1942 she was arrested by the French police and interned in Pithiviers concentration camp, and from there immediately deported to Auschwitz where she died in August 1942.Trade ReviewA masterpiece * Sunday Times *Quite outstanding, full of beauty, pain and truth -- Anne Chisholm * Sunday Telegraph *An irresistible work. Suite Francaise clutches the heart -- Carmen Callil * The Times *The work of a genuine artist -- Julian Barnes * Guardian *Magnificent * The Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisToni Morrison was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. She was the author of many novels, including The Bluest Eye, Sula, Beloved, Paradise and Love. She received the National Book Critics Circle Award and a Pulitzer Prize for her fiction and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honour, in 2012 by Barack Obama. Toni Morrison died on 5 August 2019 at the age of eighty-eight.Trade ReviewToni Morrison makes me believe in God. She makes me believe in a divine being, because luck and genetics don’t seem to come close to explaining her * Guardian *A triumph * Sunday Times *A heartbreaking account of lost innocence and fractured dreams... Haunting * New York Times *I read Toni Morrison's Home in one sitting and was moved to tears. It's a novella only in length: the deceptively straightforward narrative contains worlds * Scotsman *Morrison’s writing is so deft that even barely sketched characters leap off the page * Sunday Telegraph *

Read more less

Book Synopsis*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 50 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE*''An incendiary cocktail of murder, revenge and a hitman with multiple problems'' IndependentThe contract killer.Olav lives the lonely life of a fixer. When you ''fix'' people for a living - terminally - it''s hard to get close to anyone.The gangster''s wife. Now he''s finally met the woman of his dreams. But she''s his boss''s wife. And Olav''s just been hired to kill her. Two very big problems.''Nesbo is in bracing form...gripping'' The SunWatch out for The Jealousy Man, the new Jo Nesbo book, out nowTrade ReviewDeserves to be a smash... A perfectly pitched thriller * Sunday Mirror *[An] incendiary cocktail of murder, revenge and a hitman with multiple problems * Independent *Nesbo is in bracing form...gripping * Sun *Striking in its simplicity… Nesbo is a writer at the top of his game who continues to amaze in new and confounding ways * Daily Express *The undisputed king of Scandinavian crime fiction...I am so used to the energetic plot twists, fiendish violence and addictive verbosity of Nesbo’s writing that Blood on Snow, with its simplicity, brevity and unlikely poetry, comes as a welcome antidote. It is set in the 1970s, an era of increasing fascination to Nesbo, and has a first-person narrative that provides a window into its protagonist’s lonely, tortured soul * The Times *

Read more less

Book Synopsis*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 50 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE**No 1 Sunday Times bestseller*''Immensely enjoyable and gloriously dark'' Daily ExpressHe''s the best cop they''ve got. When a drug bust turns into a bloodbath it''s up to Inspector Macbeth and his team to clean up the mess. He''s also an ex-drug addict with a troubled past. He''s rewarded for his success. Power. Money. Respect. They''re all within reach. But a man like him won''t get to the top.Plagued by hallucinations and paranoia, Macbeth starts to unravel. He''s convinced he won''t get what is rightfully his. Unless he kills for it. ''A deliciously oppressive page-turner'' GuardianWatch out for The Jealousy Man, the new Jo Nesbo book, out nowTrade ReviewMajestically satisfying...a deliciously oppressive page-turner -- Steven Poole * Guardian *Immensely enjoyable and gloriously dark... He has accomplished that toughest of literary feats: putting his own unmistakable mark on one of Shakespeare's most celebrated plays -- Matt Gibson * Daily Express *Inventive and deeply satisfying... a dark but ultimately hopeful Macbeth, one suited to our own troubled times -- James Shapiro * New York Times Book Review *Nesbo makes excellent use of all the atmosphere of his genre, and the stakes at play are every bit as convincing as those in the original... This is Nesbo doing what he's good at -- Lucy Scholes * Independent *Macbeth as a SWAT team leader. His wife as a former prostitute. The three witches as drug dealers. It's Shakespeare's darkest tale -- reimagined by the king of Nordic noir -- Graeme Thomson * Mail on Sunday *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Compelling, remorseless, brilliant'' John Gray I can still see Simenon coming into my office the next day, pleased with himself, displaying even more self-confidence, if possible, than before, but nevertheless with a touch of anxiety in his eyes.'' Maigret sets the record straight and tells the story of his own life, giving a rare glimpse into the mind of the great inspector - and the writer who would immortalise him.''One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequalled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories'' Guardian ''A supreme writer . . . unforgettable vividness'' IndependentTrade ReviewPraise for Georges Simenon:“One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.” —The Guardian “These Maigret books are as timeless as Paris itself.” —The Washington Post “Maigret ranks with Holmes and Poirot in the pantheon of fictional detective immortals.” —People “I love reading Simenon. He makes me think of Chekhov.” —William Faulkner “The greatest of all, the most genuine novelist we have had in literature.” —André Gide “A supreme writer . . . Unforgettable vividness.” —The Independent (London) “Superb . . . The most addictive of writers . . . A unique teller of tales.” —The Observer (London) “Compelling, remorseless, brilliant.” —John Gray “A truly wonderful writer . . . Marvelously readable—lucid, simple, absolutely in tune with the world he creates.” —Muriel Spark “A novelist who entered his fictional world as if he were a part of it.”lle —Peter Ackroyd “Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century.” —John Banville"Gem-hard soul-probes . . . not just the world's bestselling detective series, but an imperishable literary legend . . . he exposes secrets and crimes not by forensic wizardry, but by the melded powers of therapist, philosopher and confessor" ― Times (London)"Strangely comforting . . . so many lovely bistros from the Paris of mid-20th C. The corpses are incidental, it's the food that counts." ― Margaret Atwood"One of the greatest writers of the 20th century . . . no other writer can set up a scene as sharply and with such economy as Simenon does . . . the conjuring of a world, a place, a time, a set of characters - above all, an atmosphere." ― Financial Times"Gripping . . . richly rewarding . . . You'll quickly find yourself obsessing about his life as you tackle each mystery in turn."-- Stig Abell ― The Sunday Times (London)

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewHeart-tugging stories [...] his understanding of human frailties and sympathy for the underdog shine through on every page * Daily Mail *Powerfully evocative of impoverished, pre-modern Paris * Evening Standard *One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequalled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories * Guardian *A supreme writer . . . unforgettable vividness * Independent *The most addictive of writers . . . a unique teller of tales * Observer *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIntroducing Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world''s greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-SmithCelebrating the range and diversity of Penguin Classics, they take us from snowy Japan to springtime Vienna, from haunted New England to a sun-drenched Mediterranean island, and from a game of chess on the ocean to a love story on the moon. Beautifully designed and printed, these collectible editions are bound in colourful, tactile cloth and stamped with foil.Georges Simenon''s brilliant pipe-smoking detective, Jules Maigret, is one of the most beloved literary creations of the twentieth century. In this adventure, an officer from Scotland Yard is studying Maigret''s methods when a call from an island off the Côte d''Azure sends the two men off to an isolated community to investigate its eccentric inhabitants.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''The new crime and espionage series from Penguin Classics makes for a mouth-watering prospect'' Daily TelegraphTwo young children hold the key to a secret stash of money - and a relentless psychopath is on their trail...Harry ''Preacher'' Powell, his fingers tattooed with LOVE and HATE, is out of prison and doing the Devil''s work. He knows his ex-cellmate hid $10,000 somewhere. He knows how to charm his way into unsuspecting lives. And he knows where the man''s family lives. As he hunts them down, a terrifying game of cat and mouse begins. One of the great chase novels, The Night of the Hunter is a savage tale of innocence and evil in the Depression-era South.Trade ReviewDavis Grubb's The Night of the Hunter remains the gold standard of southern noir. Grubb's unforgettably charismatic and psychopathic villain, Harry Powell, still has the power to flood your twenty-first century dreams with terror. -- Richard PriceA thriller which commands one's frozen attention. It is also a work of beauty and power and astonishing verbal magic. * New York Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA new selection of the much-loved Father Brown stories, now part of the Penguin English Library''No man''s really any good till he knows how bad he is, or might be''With his round, unassuming face, his pipe and umbrella, the bumbling priest Father Brown makes for an improbable detective. Yet his innocent air hides a piercing understanding of the criminal mind, and a boundless knowledge of human nature. This selection brings together some of the best of G. K. Chesterton's beloved stories, in which we see the clerical sleuth foiling a jewel thief in London, solving a macabre mystery in a Scottish castle and unravelling dark deeds in a sleepy English suburb. With a beautiful new cover design by award-winning designer Coralie Bickford-Smith and presented in the delightful Penguin English Library series, this new selection brings together the very best of the Father Brown stories, inviting new readers to discover one of the most unforgettable characters in literature.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA rollicking tale of the 1970s Detroit criminal underworld from legendary crime writer Elmore LeonardTo get ahead in armed robbery, you just need to find the perfect business partner...When auto thief Stick steals a maroon '73 Camaro from Frank's used car lot, Frank spies an unexpected opportunity. He suggests' they combine forces, and soon they're embarking on a crime spree across Detroit, holding up liquor stores and supermarkets and causing mayhem wherever they go. As long as they keep sticking to their Ten Golden Rules for Successful Armed Robbery, the cash keeps rolling in. But what happens when you start bending your own rules?

Read more less

Book SynopsisAt a New York City Wedding, on a sweltering summer night, four people are trying to get their lives started.Yun has everything he''s ever wanted, but somehow it''s never enough.Emory is finally making her mark, but feels the shame more than the success.Andrew just wants to be honest, but had lied to himself his whole life.Fin can''t resist falling in love, but can''t help wrecking it all either.Then the four of them watch as one of the guests sits down and never gets back up. Soon it''s happening everywhere. Is it an illness or a choice?Because how can anyone be happy in a world where the only choice is to feel everything - or nothing at all?Trade ReviewA dark, addictive novel * Red *Intense, twisty and beautifully written . . . unique * Daily Mail *Extraordinary -- Emily St John Mandel on THE LAST

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the international bestselling author of The Devotion of Suspect X. A Sunday Times Crime Club pick. Trade ReviewDetective Kaga has something of Columbo about him, zeroing in on the awkward inconsistency with seemingly artless accuracy. In a series of chapters that could almost be short stories, Kaga pursues the case of a murdered woman from suspect to suspect, through a nostalgia-tinged Tokyo of family-run shops and Ginza bar girls. Clever and charming * Sunday Times (Crime Club Star Pick) *An intriguing mashup of police procedural and golden age puzzle mystery. When fortysomething divorcee Mineko Mitsui is discovered strangled at her home, Detective Kyoichiro Kaga [...] begins tracing items found in the dead woman's flat to shops in the neighbourhood, using a mixture of Sherlockian deduction and legwork to lead him to the killer. What initially appears to be a chain of short stories coalesces into an investigation, as Kaga, in a delightfully low-key style, painstakingly builds up a picture of the dead woman's past and the events of the last days of her life * Guardian *This charming, gentle mystery, with its dogged, insightful investigator whose unorthodox approach spreads calm rather than confusion, is a thing of joy * Irish Independent *Higashino is the ideal choice for anyone who fancies an elegantly written traditional murder mystery in a fresh and fascinating setting * Morning Star *Kyoichiro Kaga joins an illustrious list of much-loved fictional detectives . . . The plot [of Newcomer] is as intricate and delicately poised as an antique three-sided clock Kaga encounters during his investigations. A charming, evocative and rewarding read * Western Gazette *For those who like their crime fiction layered with riddles within enigmas, [Keigo Higashino] is a master * Irish News *A unique take on the genre . . . mesmerising . . . this is a different kind of mystery novel. A delight to read * Spectator *One new mystery that stands out this year is Newcomer . . . its plotting is so unusual: a criminal investigation conducted through a series of tangential vignettes, each one connected by a wonderful sense of small-scale humanity -- Jeff Noon * Spectator (Books of the Year) *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThere's death amongst the dahlias... The totally gripping and delightfully quirky debut cosy crime novel by cottage-core queen and social-media sensation Paula Sutton, the creator of Hill House Vintage.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''IF YOU LIKE SCIENCE FICTION YOU WILL LOVE THIS. . . A ROLLICKING GOOD READ'' Scotsman on Beyond the Hallowed Sky''MACLEOD''S BEST BOOK TO DATE'' SFX on Beyond the Hallowed SkyHumanity has taken to the stars, using faster-than-light travel to reach distant planets and new worlds. But in the far reaches of the galaxy, John Grant will discover a planet of humans who believe he has travelled not only through space to find them, but time.On Apis, the mysterious Fermi appear to have vanished, taking with them knowledge of the universe that humanity desires. But Marcus Owen, the robot AI now plagued with sentience, knows that the Fermi would not easily abandon the native life of Apis, and that they won''t take kindly to mankind asserting dominance on a world that does not belong to them.Beyond the Light Horizon is the jaw-dropping conclusion to the Lightspeed trilogy from science fiction legend Ken MacLeo

Read more less

Book SynopsisNick Hunter, a senior officer in TIFAT, and his colleagues are brought in to protect an accountant who has stumbled upon evidence of EU corruption at the highest level and is targeted by assassins. TIFAT seek out the murderous thugs and eliminate them and to bring the corrupt EU officials to justice.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMichaelmas term, 1940. 18-year-old John Kemp has come down from Lancashire to Oxford University to begin his scholarship studying English. But when he invents an imaginary sister to win the attention of a rich but unreliable ''friend'', and then falls in love for real, undergraduate life becomes its own strange world Absolutely contemporary - perhaps even prophetic.'' Joyce Carol OatesRemarkable A book about innocence.' Simon Garfield''A cryptic literary manifesto [about] discovering a literary personality, and the consolation art can provide.'' Andrew MotionTrade Review"'The qualities one has learned to value in his poetry are there: control of emotion and language, keen observation, and in particular the very precise expression of half-success, anticipated failure or sadness.' New Statesman; 'Jill is, in a sense, a kind of cryptic literary manifesto. It is a novel about writing, about discovering a literary personality, and about the sorts of consolation that art can provide.' Andrew Motion"

Read more less

Book SynopsisWATERSTONES THRILLER OF THE MONTH AUTHOR: ''Britain''s Patricia Highsmith'' (Sunday Times)Discover the original psychological thriller as a sleep-deprived young mother struggles to stay sane.''A lost masterpiece.'' Peter Swanson''Brilliant ... Such clever, witty writing.'' Elly Griffiths''Fremlin packs a punch.'' Ian Rankin''Splendid ... Got me hooked.'' Ruth Rendell''A slow-burning chill of a read by a master of suspense.'' Janice Hallett''The grandmother of psycho-domestic noir; Britain''s Patricia Highsmith.'' Sunday TimesLouise would give anything - anything - for a good night's sleep. Forget the girls running errant in the garden and bothering the neighbours. Forget her husband who seems oblivious to it all. If the baby would just stop crying, everything would be fine.Or would it? What if Louise's growing fears about the family's new lodger, who seems

Read more less

Book SynopsisDecember 1938, and storm clouds hover once again over Europe. Josephine Tey and Archie Penrose gather with friends for a Cornish Christmas, but two strange and brutal deaths on St Michael's Mount - and the unexpected arrival of a world famous film star, in need of sanctuary - interrupt the festivities. Cut off by the sea and a relentless blizzard, the hunt for a murderer begins.Pivoting on a real moment in history, the ninth novel in the 'Josephine Tey' series draws on all the much-loved conventions of the Golden Age Christmas mystery, whilst giving them a thrilling contemporary twist.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhere does the adventure end . . .and the nightmare begin?Frank owns a service station on a little-used highway. His granddaughter, Allie, is sent to stay with him for the summer, but they don't talk a lot.Simon is a dreamer and an idealist, in thrall to the romance of the open road and desperately in search of something.Maggie is the woman who will bring them together, someone whose own personal journey will visit unimaginable terror on them all. . .''With echoes of Deliverance and Battle Royale, the Australian outback-set The Hunted is a truly terrifying, breathlessly exciting novel. It gut-punches you in the first few pages and doesn't let you recover until the final, thrilling climax. An extraordinary book.' M. W. CRAVENWhat readers are saying:''A high octane roller-coaster of a novel, brilliantly written with strong characters to cheer for. Just do

Read more less