Espionage and spy thriller

Book SynopsisThe Third Ben Schroeder Novel 1965. The British Establishment is reeling after a series of defections and acts of treachery by high- ranking intelligence officers. When Francis Hollander, an American academic, accuses Sir James Digby QC, a baronet and leader of the Bar, of being a Soviet spy, Digby retains Ben Schroeder and his head of Chambers to represent him. At first, it seems to be a simple case of libel, but as evidence starts to emerge of Digby's association with the Cambridge spies, and as MI6 becomes involved, Ben can no longer be sure that he can save Digby from prosecution and ruin. To obtain vital evidence, Ben will have to put his career at risk. But will it be enough?Trade ReviewAn intelligent amalgam of spy story and legal drama -- Marcel Berlins * Times *a story that captures the zeitgeist of a turbulent time in British history -- Peter Murphy * Publishers Weekly *A gripping, enjoyable and informative read...Promoting Crime Fiction loves Peter Murphy's And is there Honey Still for Tea? -- Jo Hesslewood * Promoting Crime Fiction *The ability of an author to create living characters is always dependent on his knowledge of what they would do and say in any given circumstances - a talent that Peter Murphy possesses in abundance...Arnold Taylor loves And Is There Honey Still for Tea? -- Arnold Taylor * Crime Review UK *Murphy's clever legal thriller revels in the chicanery of the English law courts of the period -- Barry Forshaw * The Independent *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Christopher Marlowe Cobb Thriller It is 1915 and Germany has allied itself with the Ottoman empire, persuading the caliphs of Turkey to declare a jihad on the British empire, as President Woodrow Wilson hesitates to enter the fray. War correspondent Christopher Marlowe Cobb has been tasked to follow Brauer, a German intellectual and possible secret service agent suspected of holding information vital to the war effort. As they travel on the Lusitania's fateful voyage, Cobb becomes smitten with famed actress Selene Bourgani. Cobb soon realizes that this simple actress is anything but, as she harbours secrets that could add fuel to the already raging conflict. Surviving the night of the infamous German U-Boat attack, Cobb follows Selene and Brauer into the darkest alleyways of London and on to the powder keg that is Istanbul. He must use all the cunning he possesses to uncover Selene's true motives, only to realize her hidden agenda could bring down some of the world's most powerful leaders.Trade Reviewa rollicking thriller with a keen eye for period detail -- Rosemary Goring * Herald Scotland *A thrilling, old-fashioned tale of intrigue and adventure that grabs you immediately with a historical timebomb -- Andre * Crime Fiction Lover *"well-researched and well-written historical fiction" -- Chris Roberts * Crime Review UK *Zestful, thrilling... a ripping good yarn * Wall Street Journal *An outstanding work of historical fiction * Huntington News *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Christopher Marlowe Cobb Thriller It is 1915, and "Kit" Cobb is working undercover in a castle on the Kent coast owned by a suspected British government mole, Sir Albert Stockman. Kit is working with his mother, the beautiful and mercurial spy, Isabel Cobb, who also happens to be a world-famous stage actress. Isabel's offstage role is to keep tabs on Stockman, while Kit tries to figure out his agenda. Following his mother and her escort from the relative safety of Britain into the lion's den of Berlin, Kit must remain in character, even under the very nose of the Kaiser.Trade Reviewhe's [Butler] now fully into his stride -- Philip Burrell * Nudge *The plot has plenty of unexpected turns, and the characters of the main actors are explored in sufficient depth to make them interesting. Coupled with a well-developed historical setting, this is a book with plenty to enjoy -- Chris Roberts * Crime Review UK *Mr. Butler does a terrific job of depicting both the journalist's facility for teasing information from his subjects and the spy's incessant fear of being discovered. There's something almost magical about the way the author re-creates this 1915 milieu -- Tom Nolan * The Wall Street Journal *This is a tale of betrayal, treason, acting, pretending to be someone you're not -- Carole Colbert * Carole's Book Corner *The reader is totally caught up in Cobb's mission and its eventual denouement -- Jennifer Palmer * Promoting Crime Fictiton *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWitnessing a dramatic death at London's Waterloo Station triggers a series of events that shatter Eva Scott's world. Dying words uttered on the station concourse awaken a history she had thought long buried. But the past is about to be resurrected, in all its brutal reality. Soon, Eva's life is out of her hands. A genetic key is keeping her alive; but foreshadowing her death. People she loved and lost materialise and then disappear, testing the limits of her sanity. Inextricably linked to her survival is the potential takedown of an economic power, on which hang the lives of many others. The only way out is through. But Eva's life is no longer her own. And it's killing her.Trade Reviewa seriously gripping page-turner from a talented writer * Closer *A complex, well-plotted, white-knuckle ride... in the second book of Alex Blackmore's brutal, breathless hi-tech thriller series -- Pam Norfolk * Blackpool Gazette *If you love sci-fi and intelligent reads with dynamic characters, this is the book for you * Candis Magazine *wonderfully intricate, darkly intriguing * My Weekly *A cracker of a thriller - five stars * The Last Word Book Review *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTWO MEN... ONE MISSION... TO KILL THE MAN WITH THE IRON HEART Based on true events, this gripping historical thriller is the culmination of Howard Linskey's fifteen-year fascination with the attempted assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, the architect of the Holocaust. With a plot that echoes The Day of the Jackal and The Eagle Has Landed, Hunting the Hangman is a thrilling tale of courage, resilience and betrayal. The story reads like a classic World War Two thriller and is the subject of two big-budget Hollywood films that coincide with the anniversary of Operation Anthropoid. In 1942 two men, trained by the British SOE, parachuted back into their native Czechoslovakia with one sole objective: to kill the man ruling their homeland. Jan Kubis and Josef Gabcik risked everything for their country. Their attempt on Reinhard Heydrich's life was one of the single most dramatic events of the Second World War, and had horrific consequences for thousands of innocent people.2017 marks the 75th anniversary of the attack on Heydrich, a man so evil even fellow SS officers referred to him as the 'Blond Beast'. In Prague, he was known as the Hangman. Hitler, who dubbed him 'The Man with the Iron Heart', considered Heydrich his heir, and entrusted him with the implementation of the 'Final Solution' to the Jewish 'problem': the systematic murder of eleven million people. 2017 marks the 75th anniversary of the attack on Heydrich, a man so evil even fellow SS officers referred to him as the 'Blond Beast'. In Prague, he was known as the Hangman. Hitler, who dubbed him 'The Man with the Iron Heart', considered Heydrich his heir, and entrusted him with the implementation of the 'Final Solution' to the Jewish 'problem': the systematic murder of eleven million people.Trade ReviewA cracking read -- Robert Ryan, bestselling author of Early One Morning Linksey has delivered a superior historical thriller...He is already a rising star of British crime fiction. Hunting the Hangman will do his reputation no harm whatsoever -- RoughJustice * Crime Fiction Lover *One of the single most dramatic events of the Second World War, Linskey makes the mission of Jan Kubis and Joseph Gabcik impossible to put down -- Steve Craggs * The Northern Echo *

Read more less

Book SynopsisBuried deep under Istanbul, a secret is about to resurface with explosive consequences… Alex Zegliwski has been savagely beheaded. His body is found hidden near the sacred archaeological site of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. When Sean arrives in the ancient city to identify his colleague’s body, he is handed an envelope of photographs belonging to Alek and soon finds himself in grave danger. Someone wants him dead but why? Aided by British diplomat Isabel Sharp, Sean begins to unravel the mystery of the mosaics in the photographs and inch closer to snaring Alek’s assassin. Evil is at work and when a lethal virus is unleashed on the city, panic spreads fast. Time is running out for Sean and Isabel. They must catch the killer before it’s too late. An electrifying conspiracy thriller which will entice fans of Scott Mariani, Sam Bourne and Dan Brown.Trade Review 'This stylish conspiracy thriller is a Turkish delight…combines plenty of stirring action with fascinating historical detail about a city and a country [Laurence] quite obviously loves.' Irish Independent 'A brisk plot…which draws the reader into a conspiratorial rapport…He's come late to fiction, clearly he means to enjoy it.' Telegraph

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Grey Man is a fast-paced adventure romance set in Ayrshire, Scotland, in the reign of James VI. Written when S.R. Crockett was at the height of his power and popularity as a novelist, the story deals with the violent feud between the Kennedys of Cassillis and the Kennedys of Bargany and introduces some of his most memorable characters drawn from local folklore. The fearsome grey-clad figure of John Mure of Auchindrayne and the legendary cannibal, Sawny Bean, stalk the canvas of a novel that captures the turbulence of Scottish history. With a new introduction that draws on unpublished material to trace Crockett's composition of the story and his transformation of historical sources, this edition offers an authoritative text of this once popular work which topped the best-seller charts of 1896. Richard D. Jackson is a graduate of the University of St Andrews. A former schoolteacher, HM Inspector of Schools and retired senior administrative civil servant, he co-edited The Forest Minstrel for The Collected Works of James Hogg, contributes regularly to Studies in Hogg and his World and has published essays in other journals on Walter Scott, John Buchan and Philip Larkin.

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘SUPERB… COLIN FORBES HAS NO EQUAL AT THIS SORT OF THING’ SUNDAY MIRROR ‘KEEPS THE READER ON THE EDGE OF HIS CHAIR’ DAILY TELEGRAPH In West Germany, a British agent is savagely murdered and left with a neo-Nazi sign carved into his back. In London, Tweed of the Secret Intelligence Service sends his most capable operator, Keith Martel, to replace the man – and to find the truth behind his death. Very soon, the top four Western leaders – American, British, French and German – will be on their way to meet their Soviet counterpart in Vienna for a crucial summit. Tweed and Martel believe one of them is the target for assassination. They must urgently work out which one – or a nightmare will come true… Double Jeopardy is the first in the Tweed & Co series of gripping and suspenseful spy thrillers – perfect for fans of John le Carré, Ken Follett and Charles Cumming. PRAISE FOR COLIN FORBES: ‘Utterly realistic and gripping action’Spectator ‘A projectile of a thriller’New York Times ‘Better than Alistair Maclean’s suspense novels’Pasadena Star-News ‘Suspense mounts swiftly, plenty of action and intrigue’ American Publishers Weekly ‘Out-Alistairs Maclean’ New York Times

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘SUPERB… COLIN FORBES HAS NO EQUAL AT THIS SORT OF THING’ SUNDAY MIRROR A terrible secret lurks within an exclusive Swiss Clinic… When news reporter Bob Newman gets a tip-off about a mysterious package smuggled across an eastern border, it’s yet another link in a chain of sinister incidents that have one thing in common – they are all connected with the Berne Clinic and something called Terminal. But what is Terminal? And why is Tweed of the British Secret Intelligence Service so desperate to find out? An ex-CIA hitman arrives in Switzerland and the mystery of the Berne Clinic deepens. Why is it surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by Dobermans and the Swiss Army? And why do the people who can answer these questions keep getting murdered? Tweed and Newman will not rest until they know exactly what is happening. And together they make a formidable force… Terminal – the second in the Tweed & Co series of thrillers – has all the hallmarks of Colin Forbes’s terrifying and brilliant novels – the surprises and twists, the violence and the tension – and it is one of his very best. PRAISE FOR COLIN FORBES: ‘Utterly realistic and gripping action’ Spectator ‘A projectile of a thriller’ New York Times ‘Keeps the reader on the edge of his chair’ Daily Telegraph ‘Better than Alistair Maclean’s suspense novels’ Pasadena Star-News ‘Suspense mounts swiftly, plenty of action and intrigue’ American Publishers Weekly ‘Out-Alistairs Maclean’ New York Times

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘SUPERB… COLIN FORBES HAS NO EQUAL AT THIS SORT OF THING’ SUNDAY MIRROR A journalist is brutally murdered and a video of her killing is sent to London by Soviet Intelligence with a warning – tell other people to keep away from Procane… Intelligence agencies are convinced that Adam Procane, a top Washington official, is about to defect. But the Presidential election is only two months away and it’s the last thing the Americans want. Trouble is, no one knows who Procane really is, so nothing can be done to stop him. In London, Tweed of SIS watches and waits. Four highly suspect Americans have already passed through London en route to Scandinavia – the Deputy Head of the CIA, the National Security Advisor and his wife, and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. Any one of them could be Procane. So it’s time for Tweed to act. To get back into the field. To find Procane before the Soviets wreak havoc… Cover Story is the third in the Tweed & Co series of gripping and suspenseful spy thrillers – perfect for fans of John le Carré, Ken Follett and Charles Cumming. PRAISE FOR COLIN FORBES: ‘Utterly realistic and gripping action’ Spectator ‘A projectile of a thriller’ New York Times ‘Will keep the reader on the edge of his chair’ Daily Telegraph ‘Better than Alistair Maclean’s suspense novels’ Pasadena Star-News ‘Suspense mounts swiftly, plenty of action and intrigue’ American Publishers Weekly ‘Out-Alistairs Maclean’ New York Times

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘COLIN FORBES HAS NO EQUAL AT THIS SORT OF THING’ SUNDAY MIRROR When a brilliant and ruthless master planner from the Soviet Union’s elite forces vanishes, Tweed of the SIS is summoned to an urgent and secret meeting with the Russians. To his shock, Tweed he is told the missing genius has turned maverick and Moscow does not know what he is planning – terrorism, extortion, or both? At first Tweed is sceptical – why should he help his great enemy? But gradually he begins to collect clues, which he reads as signs that some dark plan is being put into motion. The trouble is, whenever he finds a witness, it is too late – the witness has been murdered. And then Tweed discovers that a cargo of top secret high-power bombs and sea-mines has been smuggled out of Russia. Where has this huge armoury been hidden? And what is the ultimate target? Tweed faces the most difficult and dangerous task of his career as he and his allies must outwit a ruthless killer and prevent a catastrophe. Deadlock, the fifth book in the Tweed & Co. series, is an utterly gripping book, to be read and enjoyed equally as an adventure story, mystery novel or a spellbinding suspense thriller. PRAISE FOR COLIN FORBES: ‘Utterly realistic and gripping action’ Spectator ‘A projectile of a thriller’ New York Times ‘Better than Alistair Maclean’s suspense novels’ Pasadena Star-News ‘Suspense mounts swiftly, plenty of action and intrigue’ American Publishers Weekly ‘Out-Alistairs Maclean’ New York Times

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘COLIN FORBES HAS NO EQUAL AT THIS SORT OF THING’ SUNDAY MIRROR When one of Tweed’s sector chiefs is found dead at the foot of a Greek mountain, Tweed vows to use every resource at his disposal to find the killer and avenge the man’s death. The investigation quickly leads Tweed and his team to another unsolved murder, committed forty years ago during a World War Two Commando raid on the Greek island of Siros. Three of the Commandos who took part in the raid now live close to each other on Exmoor in the remote English countryside – and when Tweed finds them they are terrified. But of who? And why? Trapped in a vortex of violence and death, Tweed begins to uncover a diabolical plot. As time runs out, only Tweed can prevent a catastrophe – if he isn’t already too late.... The Greek Key, the sixth book in the Tweed & Co. series, is a spellbinding espionage thriller, a superb adventure story and an ingenious whodunnit – all in one gripping book. PRAISE FOR COLIN FORBES: ‘Utterly realistic and gripping action’ Spectator ‘A projectile of a thriller’ New York Times ‘Better than Alistair Maclean’s suspense novels’ Pasadena Star-News ‘Suspense mounts swiftly, plenty of action and intrigue’ American Publishers Weekly ‘Out-Alistairs Maclean’ New York Times

Read more less