Political / legal thriller

Book SynopsisRed Hands is a deeply compelling tale of a woman caught inside the destruction of a regime. Iordana is a normal girl, brought up with all the perks of Romania's corrupt communist regime. Then she falls in love and marries the eldest son of her parents' arch-rival, Romania's monstrous dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. They become the in-laws from hell, but she brings them their only grandson. And then there's the 1989 revolution, when crowds will kill anyone with the Ceausescu name. In all the blood and chaos, can Iordana keep her little son alive? Drawn from eighty hours of unique interviews and told in Iordana's own voice; a true-life tale that spins readers into the pleasures, excesses and horrors of late twentieth-century Europe. AUTHOR: Colin Sargent is the founding editor and publisher of the award-winning Portland Magazine in Maine, USA. Colin teaches Creative Writing at William & Mary in Williamsburg and is the author of Museum of Human Beings and The Boston Castrato, currently optioned for film by Gideon Films. He has a PhD in creative writing from Lancaster University and has also written 3 collections of poetry. Colin edited Approach Magazine, the US Navy's international flying magazine, whose contributors included Tom Wolfe. SELLING POINTS: . The remarkable fictionalised life of Iordana Ceausescu, who married Nicolae Ceausescu's eldest son,Valentin and became the mother of the Ceausescu's only grandson . A true-life tale that spins readers into the pleasures, excesses and horrors of late twentieth-century Europe . Drawn from 80 hours of unique interviewsTrade Review'Red Hands gives a unique insider’s view of the rise and fall of the dystopian regime of Nicolae and his wife, Elena. It is also a love story of Iordana for the couple’s eldest son, Valentin, as told to Sargent by Iordana during her exile in Old Orchard Beach, where she hid for several years after the bloody 1989 revolution... The taut, vivid writing in Red Hands – there are no wasted words – makes for a fast-paced, heartfelt book for our time.' - Maine Sunday Telegram“Sargent’s work reads like memoir, written in Iordana’s voice. But Sargent’s skilled writing provides vivid images, lively character studies, a portrait of a brutal, controlling regime, insights into the nature of love, friendship and courage, and tension maintained at such a pitch, that it was almost a relief when the blood eventually began to spill. In an era of books geared to gendered markets, there’s more than enough of both romance and political intrigue to satisfy both groups.”- Historical Novel Society“A very personal story of love and loss amidst senior political families. Sargent’s description of the street battles and looting in Bucharest are palpitatingly told, fully engaging the reader in the narrowness of their survival. This is a fine book and an excellent read.” – Morning Star, UK"Colin Sargent describes crafting Red Hands, his latest novel about Iordana Ceausescu, like salvaging scattered crystals from a shattered chandelier... Sargent's depiction restores her as a luminescent and resilient whole set against a turbulent background." Midwest Book Review"Sargent’s novel is both a personal story of deep romantic love and a terrifying historical lesson about life in a police state helmed by a ruthless, cult-of-personality dictator... Poignant, frightening, packed with historical nuggets—a cautionary tale for contemporary times." - Kirkus Reviews

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Book Synopsis"A dark, fascinating exploration of man's nature." - The Lancet. A riveting thriller about greed, power, hormones, illicit sex, and women … and the monstrous megalomaniac who believes he can have it all. Vainglorious Mordechai de Paauw is ruthless: in the years before World War II, the Dutch pharmaceutical entrepreneur is on the cutting edge of science and determined to develop the contraceptive pill… no matter what the cost. Testing hormonal treatments on his female workers, and sexually exploiting them, Mordechai’s secret immoral life and his successful company are threatened by the rise of Hitler and, years later, a shocking scandal involving his brash son. Will Mordechai ever find redemption, and will the women he manipulates regain control over their own bodies?Trade Review“The Hormone Factory is a dark, fascinating exploration of man's nature set during an era of exciting scientific discovery and geopolitical turmoil.”“A story written with colour and momentum.”“A beautiful novel about the proud tyrant De Paauw that is based on imagination, but probably contains a lot more truth than we would like.” -- Brabants Dagblad.“A gripping story in which the birth of modern medical science, the post-war explosion of wealth and the bargaining that goes on between science and commerce are brought together.”“Goldschmidt’s narrative style is arresting, picturesque and humorous. A gripping story, which seduces the reader with wonderful sentences.”

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Book Synopsis'Roma Tearne is an exquisite writer and captivating storyteller' Aminatta FornaThrough endless years of glacial winter, artist Hera has known loss: her brother's arrest and imprisonment on terrorism charges, her mother's resulting death, and the collapse of normal life in a devastated London. Her one comfort has been her relationship with Raphael. As the thaw begins, can she track down her elusive lover?Trade Review'Roma Tearne is an exquisite writer and captivating storyteller' Aminatta Forna; 'Skilled and sensitive ... Tearne's training as a painter shows in the subtle descriptions that fill each page with lyrical power' Independent on Sunday; 'Tearne captures a shifting social and political landscape and questions notions of home and homeland' The Independent; 'Tearne brings her skills as a painter to her writing' Sunday Telegraph; 'She has a wonderful ability to create atmosphere.' The Times; 'Tearne charts the patterns of love and loss with beautiful prose' Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisSomething is rotten in the heart of the capital The Ming dynasty is at its zenith. All under heaven bow towards the Forbidden City, where the Celestial Emperor and his servants grace the earth. Yet rot festers deep in the palace...Emperor Jiajing has sealed himself away, more interested in Taoist magics than the Dragon Throne. In his absence, the corruption of ambitious men grows unchecked. Among such shameless villains stride the Yan, a ruthless clan whose lustful grasp on the state ever tightens. Few dare stand against them, but heaven's mandate calls for balance, and a humble clerk named Hai Rui rises to answer. Across land and over water, forces awaken, stirred by the shadows emanating from the halls of power. No one knows if or when the peace of the Great Ming will collapse. Perhaps the cracks can be healed. Perhaps fate can be appeased. Or perhaps the old saying holds true: a realm long united, must divide...

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Book SynopsisGreed and mismanagement have almost toppled the Ming empire. Raiders from beyond the Great Wall have set the north ablaze. Along the southern coast, Japanese pirates are severing heads. Hu Zongxian, the honourable governor of Zhejiang Province, is leading the charge of China’s heroes as they meet the invaders head-on.In the capital, it is down to a humble magistrate named Hai Rui to restore justice. Peril unknown and opponents even more deadly than the ruthless Yan clan await him. If he discovers blood on divine hands, he will find himself on a collision course with the chief eunuch, Lu Fang, whose loyalty to the Taoist Emperor is matched only by Hai’s loyalty to the common people.Criminals walk the halls in silk robes. Hidden eyes are everywhere. Will the path of righteousness prevail, or shall the corrupt go unpunished? The fate of all under heaven hangs in the balance.

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Book SynopsisThe fate of the Ming hangs on a knife edge. In the south, defence against relentless pirate raids is escalating into all-out war. The beleaguered Chinese forces must rally for a desperate last stand fought across salt and sand. Nearby, fearless magistrate Hai Rui is tasked with investigating a major corruption scandal. In Beijing, a chance to trump the embezzling viper Yan Song and his influential clan presents itself. There to snatch it is the Crown Prince, and his coalition of the righteous. At a time when the appearance of a mysterious 'blood scripture' could either turn the tide or unleash chaos untold, chief eunuch Lu Fang, a loyal and yet crafty kingmaker, is forced to choose sides. In war as in the Forbidden City, the game is sudden death. Now, China's heroes make their move: a perilous gambit to salvage centuries of progress. If they fail everything burns.

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Book SynopsisThe empire is in mortal danger. Hai Rui and his allies bought her time, but now it is spent. Endless war. Mass starvation. Bleak omens. Addled by mercury and aided by sycophants, Emperor Jiajing is squandering the last remnants of the treasury.Minutes to midnight, Hai Rui is ordered to the capital. He alone is prepared to fight the rot at its source. In the Forbidden City, such bravery cannot go unpunished. It will be down to Hai Rui’s allies – foremost the honourable Crown Prince – to initiate the endgame.This is it. No more hiding. No more half-measures. Now it is time to rescue the once-mighty Ming, or join in the plunder as it descends in flames to a hell of no return.

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Book SynopsisATTENTION ALL PARTY BODIES OF H PROVINCE: After consultation with relevant authorities it has been determined the local state organs have failed to undeviatingly serve the people of H province, and the entire local apparatus is riddled with corruption. Attempts to rectify the situation have failed because morally degenerate senior officials have resorted to increasingly desperate measures to cover their tracks. Effective immediately, Comrade Hou Liangping, veteran of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau, is to be sent to the province to help expedite a resolution to this crisis. Every assistance will be given to Comrade Hou. Any deviation from this directive will be identified and strictly disciplined. END OF MESSAGE.Trade Review'In The Name Of The People casts light on the dark underbelly of Chinese politics' - The Straits Times. 'Unprecedented...politically sensitive' - ABC Australia. 'A taste of forbidden fruit' - The Economist.

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Book SynopsisScotland, 1685With Monmouth and Argyll planning to overthrow James VII and II, the Covenanters see an opportunity to further their own cause, but dissent among the faithful causes factions to start appearing.As tensions heighten and rumours of an invasion spread, John Steele must continue to evade capture in an ever-tightening net.From the shepherds and the farmer''s wives of the Lanarkshire hills, to the innkeepers, the apothecaries and the washerwomen of the towns, Ethyl Smith portrays with exquisite detail the lives of the ordinary men and women of 17th century Scotland.

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Book Synopsis'BRAZILIAN PSYCHO is a riveting and explosive masterpiece of political crime fiction that deserves to share the shelf with AMERICAN TABLOID, THE POWER OF THE DOG and A BRIEF HISTORY OF SEVEN KILLINGS, and confirms Joe Thomas as one of our very best contemporary crime writers.' David Peace'Complex and compelling, and shot through with moments of horror and beauty, BRAZILIAN PSYCHO is a magnificent achievement.' The Times Crime Club'Fans of Don Winslow and James Ellroy's epic forays into the societal effects of systematic dysfunction and corruption will want to check this out' Publishers WeeklyBrazil, 1 January 2003: President Luis Inacio 'Lula' da Silva begins fifteen years of left-wing government. 1 January 2019: Jair Bolsonaro is inaugurated, a president of the populist right. How did it come to this? A blockbusting novel of our times, Brazilian Psycho introduces and completes Joe Thomas's acclaimed Sao Paulo quartet. Over sixteen years, a diverse cast of characters live through the unfolding social and political drama, setting in motion a whirlwind of plots and counterplots: the murder of a British school headmaster and the consequent cover-up; the chaos and score-settling of the PCC drug gang rebellion over the Mothers' Day weekend of 2006; a copycat serial killer; the secret international funding of nationwide anti-government protests; the bribes, kickbacks and shakedowns of the Mensalao and Lava Jato political corruption scandals, the biggest in Brazilian historyBrazilian Psycho weaves social crime fiction, historical fact, and personal experience to record the radical tale of one of the world's most fascinating, glamorous, corrupt, violent, and thrilling cities. PRAISE FOR JOE THOMAS 'Brilliant' The Times 'Feverish energy' Guardian 'Wonderfully vivid' Mail on Sunday'Sophisticated, dizzying' GQ'Vivid and visceral' The Times'Superbly realised vivid and atmospheric' Guardian'Original' Mail on Sunday'A stylish, atmospheric treat an inspired blend of David Peace and early Pinter' Irish Times 'Sparse, energetic, fragmented prose' The Spectator 'Vibrant, colourful, and complex' Irish Independent 'Stylish, sharp-witted, taut. A must for modern noir fans' NB Magazine 'Definitive confident and energetic' Crime Time 'Brilliant manic energy' Jake Arnott 'Wildly stylish and hugely entertaining' Lucy Caldwell 'Vivid, stylish, funny' Mick Herron 'Gripping, fast-paced, darkly atmospheric' Susanna Jones 'Snappy, thoughtful, moving' John King 'Exciting, fresh, incredibly assured' Stav Sherez 'Happy days!' Mark Timlin 'Utterly brilliant' Cathi Unsworth 'Had James Ellroy and David Peace collaborated on a novel they'd have written something like this' Paul Willets

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Book SynopsisWhen a car-bomb explodes in the centre of London the bomb-maker is soon identified. But there's one big problem with the chief suspect; he died fifteen years ago. DS Robert McGraw soon discovers that looking for the dead among the living is a risky business when terrorism and organised crime work together. Old friends and acquaintances aren't what they seem.

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Book Synopsis‘But for that slender connection with the mainland, Andalıç would have been a regular island,’ says Aslı Biçen in the opening chapter of this deliciously multi-layered novel. And it would have been an ordinary story about love and loss, if it weren't for the earthquake that unexpectedly sets the landmass afloat on the Aegean, kindling a series of increasingly oppressive measures by the authorities; ostensibly to keep public order. As Andalıç drifts between Greece and Turkey, things get from bad to worse, until eventually our heroes, Cemal and Jülide, join the growing resistance, and even nature lends a helping hand, offering a secret underground system that plays its part in ousting the tyranny. What starts as the realistic tale of a charming provincial town develops into a richly detailed political novel in a fantastic setting. Biçen’s dreamy language weaves a flowing style that transports the reader into every nook and cranny of Andalıç and the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean; her metaphors are imaginative, her observations insightful, and her descriptions melodious.

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Book SynopsisA young TV journalist is forced to revisit her harrowing past when she’s thrust into a sex-trafficking investigation in her hometown. A startling, searing, debut thriller by award-winning CNN journalist Sarah Sultoon. ‘A brave and thought-provoking debut novel. Sarah Sultoon tackles a challenging and disturbing subject without sensation, and her sensitive handling, tight plotting and authentic storytelling make for a compelling read’ Adam Hamdy ‘A stunning debut … a powerhouse writer’ Jo Spain ‘Delving into corruption, abuse of power and the resilience of the human spirit, The Source is a taut and thought-provoking book that’s all the more unnerving for how much it echoes the headlines in real life’ CultureFly –––––––––––– One last chance to reveal the truth… 1996. Essex. Thirteen-year-old schoolgirl Carly lives in a disenfranchised town dominated by a military base, struggling to care for her baby sister while her mum sleeps off another binge. When her squaddie brother brings food and treats, and offers an exclusive invitation to army parties, things start to look a little less bleak... 2006. London. Junior TV newsroom journalist Marie has spent six months exposing a gang of sex traffickers, but everything is derailed when New Scotland Yard announces the re-opening of Operation Andromeda, the notorious investigation into allegations of sex abuse at an army base a decade earlier... As the lives of these two characters intertwine around a single, defining event, a series of utterly chilling experiences is revealed, sparking a nail-biting race to find the truth ... and justice. A riveting, searing and devastatingly dark thriller, The Source is also a story about survival, about hopes and dreams, about power, abuse and resilience ... an immense, tense and thought-provoking debut that you will never, ever forget. For fans of Holly Watt, Abigail Dean, Fiona Barton, Abi Daré, Kate Elizabeth Russell, Sarah Vaughan and Casey Kelleher ––––––––––––– ‘Carly and Marie’s stories are about to collide, the secrets of the past are devastating, the investigation in the present urgent. This is a tense thriller, a remarkable debut, heartbreaking, but ultimately this is a story of resilience and survival’ New Books Magazine ‘A powerful, compelling read that doesn’t shy away from some upsetting truths … written with such energy’ Fanny Blake ‘Tautly written and compelling, not afraid to shine a spotlight on the darker forces at work in society’ Rupert Wallis ‘So authentic and exhilarating … breathtaking pace and relentless ingenuity’ Nick Paton Walsh, CNN ‘A powerful, intense whammy of a debut that is both uncomfortable and exhilarating to read … Thought-provoking, tense, and expressive, The Source is an utterly compelling debut’ LoveReading ‘A gripping, dark thriller’ Geoff Hill, ITV ‘A cleverly constructed story that offers an authentic view behind the scenes in a British newsroom … an original and wholly engaging debut. Definitely a name to watch’ Crime Fiction Lover ‘My heart was racing … fiction to thrill even the most hard-core adrenaline junkies’ Diana Magnay, Sky News ‘Unflinching and sharply observed. A hard-hitting, deftly woven debut’ Ruth Field ‘With this gripping, fast-paced debut thriller, it’s easy to see what made Sultoon such a great journalist’ Clarissa Ward, CNN ‘A hard-hitting, myth-busting rollercoaster of a debut’ Eve Smith ‘I could picture and feel each scene, all the fear, tension and hope’ Katie Allen

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Book SynopsisWhen a Botswana mine is robbed of 100,000 carats of diamonds and the thieves are murdered execution-style, Botswana’s Detective Kubu’s first case becomes a terrifying international investigation … The stunning, chilling PREQUEL to the award-winning Detective Kubu series. ‘A wonderful, original voice – McCall Smith with a dark edge and even darker underbelly’ Peter James ’My favourite writing duo since Ellery Queen’ Ragnar Jónasson ‘A thrilling and intriguing ride-along with Botswana’s Number 1 good-guy detective' Tony Park _______________ Detective Kubu’s first case may also be his last… Recruited straight from university to Botswana’s CID, David ‘Kubu’ Bengu has raised his colleagues’ suspicions with his meteoric rise within the department, and he has a lot to prove… When the richest diamond mine in the world is robbed of 100,000 carats worth of gems, and then the thieves are killed, execution-style, Kubu leaps at the chance to prove himself. But where are the diamonds? And what role does a witch doctor and his son play? Does this young detective have the skill – and integrity – to engineer an international trap? Or could it cost him everything, including his life…? A riveting, chilling prequel to the award-winning Detective Kubu series, Facets of Death introduces the beloved Kubu and his richly described native Botswana, in a dark, sophisticated thriller that will leave you breathless. _______________ ‘Great African crime fiction’ Deon Meyer ‘Easily one of the best heist novels I’ve read since Gerald Browne’s classic 11 Harrowhouse’ Bookpage ‘A natural for fans of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency' Booklist ‘The series you didn’t know you needed in your life … an absolute joy’ Grab this Book ‘Original, mind-bending and twisty … it’s impossible to tell the innocent from the guilty until the grand finale’ Loarn Paterson ‘Twists a classic heist story with local legends and beliefs in a believable and entertaining way … thoroughly intriguing’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews ‘You will be captivated by the chilling, snappy chapters and the exquisite, atmospheric writing’ The Reading Closet ’Under the African sun, Michael Stanley’s Detective Kubu investigates crimes as dark as the darkest of Nordic Noir. Call it Sunshine Noir, if you will – a must read’ Yrsa Sigurðardóttir ‘Detective David “Kubu” Bengu is a wonderful creation, complex and beguiling. The exotic smells and sounds of Botswana fill the pages as well as the changes and struggles of a country brimming with modern technology yet fiercely clinging to old traditions. Compelling and deceptively written...’ New York Journal of Books ‘Impossible to put down’ Library Journal ‘Richly atmospheric … a gritty depiction of corruption and deception’ Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisA mother, having suffered two cot deaths, was wrongly accused of murdering her babies. "What if I had been on the jury...?" Things heat up in the courtroom when a juror is invited by the judge to cross examine the expert witness, a professor who says the chances of cot deaths are only one in seventy-two million. "Thus, it has to be murder." But, there's more to this case than meets the eye... Readers must depict fact from fiction in this compelling venture into the inner workings of a courtroom. Inspired by the teachings of Nassim Taleb, it is also an entertaining layman's introduction to probability and the use and misuse of mathematical evidence in a court of law.

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Book SynopsisWhen Esme Kanha receives a secret dossier containing evidence ofgovernment corruption, she knows she must investigate. Meanwhile, Harry Colbeyis working his own leads. As evidence of suspicious deaths in Parliament grow,they again join forces and are quickly locked into a deadly race againstpolitical corruption, no matter what the cost.

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Book SynopsisOpposition MP Harry Colbey uncovers a corrupt conspiracy between senior ministers and a powerful tech giant, only to become haunted by bizarre harassment. His every move is sabotaged. With his daughter engaged to the tech mogul's son, Colbey must confront a dangerous elite, under constant surveillance in a world ruled by AI.

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Book SynopsisA writer in self-imposed exile in London receives a call from the Prime Minister of his former country, inviting him to return to write the Prime Minister's biography. As he embarks from his small flat in west London to the modern Caribbean island he once called home, he immediately finds himself thrust into a world of exceptional wealth, power, and corruption.In the midst of this turmoil the writer falls deeply in love. As the love affair advances, the writer's passion for the island resurfaces, until the loss of a close friend propels him to make one final, potentially cataclysmic decision that will change everything.

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Book SynopsisGet ready to be thrilled by a brand new heroine, Ylva Norvahl.Fighter pilot Ylva Norvahl has returned to her hometown, Bodø, in Norway's frozen north where tension is escalating across the border with Russia. NATO has launched the "Arctic Blizzard" excercise, mobilising 60,000 soldiers, many of them American.All it takes is one false move to trigger a major political crisis, or even a war.When her plane is forced down over Russian territory, Ylva and the veteran U.S. Major John Evans must race against time across a frozen landscape to avoid capture by the Russian Spetsnaz special forces in pursuit. Complicating their journey is Evans' involvement with an American military contractor Titans Security which has its own agenda across international frontiers.As the hunt closes in, Ylva uses her local Sami knowledge to survive in the excruciating cold, and her family history reveals dark secrets of its own in this geopolitical game of chess.Trade Review'The best crime debut I have read – ever' -- Tor-Hammerø, Nettavisen'A Norwegian crime sensation. Bravo!' -- Catherine Krøger, Dagbladet'Grethe Bøe, and her main character Ylva are a refreshing and welcome addition to the Norwegian crime novel universe' -- Elin Brend Bjørhei, VG

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Book SynopsisAn aspiring TV journalist faces a shattering moral dilemma and the prospect of losing her career and her life, when she joins an impetuous photographer in the Middle East. A shocking, searingly authentic thriller by award-winning ex-CNN news executive Sarah Sultoon.‘Shocking and visceral, this novel deals with the horrors of war … a brave, important and utterly compelling book’ S J Watson ‘Gritty, hard-hitting and often harrowing … a hugely exciting voice in crime fiction’ Victoria Selman‘A powerhouse writer’ Jo Spain––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––An act of mercyOr the ultimate betrayal…Who decides?Samira is an up-and-coming TV journalist, working the nightshift at a major news channel and yearning for greater things. So when she’s offered a trip to the Middle East, with Kris, the station’s brilliant but impetuous star photographer, she leaps at the chanceIn the field together, Sami and Kris feel invincible, shining a light into the darkest of corners … except the newsroom, and the rest of the world, doesn’t seem to care as much as they do. Until Kris takes the photograph.With a single image of young Sudanese mother, injured in a raid on her camp, Sami and the genocide in Darfur are catapulted into the limelight. But everything is not as it seems, and the shots taken by Kris reveal something deeper and much darker … something that puts not only their careers but their lives in mortal danger.Sarah Sultoon brings all her experience as a CNN news executive to bear on this shocking, searingly authentic thriller, which asks immense questions about the world we live in. You'll never look at a news report in the same way again... ‘A powerful story of the brutality of front-line journalism. Authentic, provocative and terrifyingly relevant’ Will Carver ‘A gritty, jarring page-turner’ Peter Hain ‘Passionate, disturbing storytelling at its best’ James Brabazon ‘You won't read another book like this in 2022! Raw, authentic, powerful ... you won't see the end coming!’ E C Scullion ‘Brilliantly conveys both the exhilaration and the unspeakable horror of life on the international news frontline’ Jo Turner ‘Astute and penetrating, evoking feelings that are long lasting and hard to shake off … Sarah Sultoon is a new and welcome voice in what can be a very crowded genre’ Random Things through My Letterbox ‘A masterclass in storytelling and cinematic in scope’ Live & Deadly ‘Brutally honest, extremely thought-provoking, stark and vivid … impossible to put down’ Jen Med’s Book ReviewsPraise for The Source**Winner: Crime Fiction Lover Best Debut Award**‘A brave and thought-provoking debut novel. Sarah Sultoon tackles a challenging and disturbing subject without sensation, and her sensitive handling, tight plotting and authentic storytelling make for a compelling read’ Adam Hamdy‘A taut and thought-provoking book that’s all the more unnerving for how much it echoes the headlines in real life’ CultureFly‘A tense thriller, a remarkable debut, heartbreaking, but ultimately this is a story of resilience and survival’ New Books Magazine‘A powerful, compelling read that doesn’t shy away from some upsetting truths … written with such energy’ Fanny Blake‘Tautly written and compelling, not afraid to shine a spotlight on the darker forces at work in society’ Rupert Wallis‘So authentic and exhilarating … breathtaking pace and relentless ingenuity’ Nick Paton Walsh, CNN‘A powerful, intense whammy of a debut that is both uncomfortable and exhilarating to read … Thought-provoking, tense, and expressive’ LoveReading‘A gripping, dark thriller’ Geoff Hill, ITV‘A cleverly constructed story that offers an authentic view behind the scenes in a British newsroom … an original and wholly engaging debut. Definitely a name to watch’ Crime Fiction Lover‘My heart was racing … fiction to thrill even the most hard-core adrenaline junkies’ Diana Magnay, Sky News ‘Unflinching and sharply observed. A hard-hitting, deftly woven debut’ Ruth Field‘With this gripping, fast-paced debut thriller, it’s easy to see what made Sultoon such a great journalist’ Clarissa Ward, CNN ‘A hard-hitting, myth-busting rollercoaster of a debut’ Eve Smith‘I could picture and feel each scene, all the fear, tension and hope’ Katie Allen For fans of Holly Watt, Sarah Vaughan, Laura Lippman and Karin Slaughter

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Book SynopsisA compulsive, searing political thriller set on a kibbutz in Northern Israel, where the discovery of the body of an Israeli-Arab worker sets off a devastating chain of events… ‘A first-class political thriller’ Steve Cavanagh ‘A bitingly sharp, pacy thriller. Devilishly good. I inhaled it’ Freya Berry ‘A powerful political thriller that brims with authentic detail. Clever, compulsive and achingly atmospheric’ Kia Abdullah –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––This is no utopia… 1996. Northern Israel. Lola leaves an unhappy home life in England for the fabled utopian life of a kibbutz, but this heavily guarded farming community on the Arab-Israeli border isn’t the idyll it seems, and tensions are festering. Hundreds of miles away, in the Jerusalem offices of the International Tribune newspaper, all eyes are on Israel’s response to a spate of rocket attacks from Lebanon, until cub reporter Jonny Murphy gets a tip from a mysterious source that sends him straight into the danger zone. When the body of an Arab worker is discovered in the dirt of the kibbutz chicken house, it triggers a series of events that puts Lola and the whole community in jeopardy, and Jonny begins to uncover a series of secrets that put everything at risk, as he begins to realise just how far some people will go to belong… ––––––––––––––––––––– ‘A fantastic page-turner and an intriguing look at a complex and dangerous world. Sarah Sultoon creates intelligent, memorable characters and fascinating stories’ Holly Watt ‘A powerhouse writer’ Jo Spain ‘An extraordinary piece of writing from a political thriller writer at the very top of her game’ Victoria Selman ‘Brilliant and gripping’ S J Watson ‘An immersive and evocative political thriller that thrust me into a unique, razor-edged world, with a plot filled with tension and complexity. The narrative twists around itself, becoming increasingly claustrophobic and fraught, until it arrives at its explosive dénouement’ Philippa East ‘Full of danger and pulsating characters’ Louise Beech ‘Sarah Sultoon draws on her time spent as a journalist in the Middle East to bring northern Israel, its people, its beauty, and its complexities to life in vibrant colour in this twisting whodunnit…' Antony Dunford ‘A compelling thriller that weaves a complex tale … escalating to a shocking finale' Eve Smith ‘Unsettling, riveting, gets under your skin’ Peter Hain Praise for Sarah Sultoon: **Longlisted for the John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger** **WINNER of the Crime Fiction Lover Debut Thriller Award** ‘A brave and thought-provoking debut novel’ Adam Hamdy ‘A taut and thought-provoking book that’s all the more unnerving for how much it echoes the headlines in real life’ CultureFly ‘A tense thriller, a remarkable debut, heartbreaking, but ultimately this is a story of resilience and survival’ NB Magazine ‘A powerful, compelling read that doesn’t shy away from some upsetting truths … written with such energy’ Fanny Blake ‘A powerful story of the brutality of front-line journalism. Authentic, provocative and terrifyingly relevant’ Will Carver

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Book SynopsisA riveting financial thriller about temptation, choices, and the ruthless pursuit of profit and power in the City of London and the oil and gas fields of America. In 2014, environmentalists want to ban fracking, which has powered America to become the top oil producer in the world. Saudi Arabia is worried that too much supply will depress oil prices. One man has a plan that will make him billions. Into this world, twenty-four-year-old Sebastian has the seemingly good fortune to be offered a dream job working for Edouard de Tocqueville, one of the most powerful bankers in the City of London. But, dazzled by the opportunity laid out before him, Sebastian fails to see the devastating consequences of his actions...

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Book Synopsis"Who the hell are you?" "They call me The Hunter and I've been hunting you, Mister Hoskins." In a world where unscrupulous businessmen, rogues and thieves operate across borders and beyond the reach of the Law, the hope for justice lies with a brilliant former agent known only by a codename: The Hunter. When a job goes wrong and an international conspiracy threatens all our lives, the Hunter's team must move quickly. There is a traitor at the heart of the British Government. And there is only one person who can stop him ... Where do you turn when the Law catches flies but lets hornets go free?Trade ReviewPraise for Michael Bartlett - 'Some of the best stories are quests ... This is a book to make everyone think twice about easy assumptions' - SIMON BRETT - 'I did not want this book to end, ever ... believable, well researched and memorable' - READER REVIEW - 'Hard to put down' - READER REVIEW - 'Highly entertaining. Highly recommended' - READER REVIEW -

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Book SynopsisHellSans is set in a fictional UK, where HellSans is a ubiquitous typeface, enforced by the government in all communications and in all public spaces. It is the ultimate control device. The majority of the population experience bliss when they see the typeface, but there’s a minority who are allergic to it. The HellSans Allergic (HSAs) are persecuted, and live on the streets or in a ghetto on the outskirts of the capital city. Jane Ward, CEO of the company that manufactures the Inex (a cyborg doll-like creature that has replaced the smart phone as the essential aid and accessory) has everything: fame and fortune, until she falls ill with the allergy and becomes embroiled in the government’s internal power struggles. She loses her job and her wealth, ending up in the ghetto until she is rescued by Dr Icho Smith. Icho is a scientist who has developed a cure for the allergy, but she is on the run from the government and the Seraphs (the ghetto ‘terrorist’ group), who all have their own agenda for the cure. Jane and Icho work together, aiming to expose government corruption and bring the cure to the HSAs. HellSans is written in three parts. Parts one and two can be read in either order which provides a unique approach to the perspectives of the haves and have-nots in the run-up to the revolutionary conclusion. File Under: Science Fiction [ Dystopian Nightmare Typography Matters Artificial Friends Nevertheless Resist ]Trade Review"the best debut fiction by a Scottish author since 2012"“Terrific… Goblin brims throughout with reckless joy.”“Enthralling... a captivating debut.""Speculative fiction at its best: political, fearless, smart, badass. To put it down is unthinkable, you care about everything and everyone all the time.""a dark, brilliantly imagined world.""A dark and clever sci-fi social satire.""Clever, terrifying, and full of love and rage – I'm deeply jealous.""I was enraged, I was inspired - I want to read every word that Ever Dundas writes.""wildly imaginative debut" "A smart and unique dystopian thriller""So smart and provocative it hurts,""A violent and compelling thriller,""HellSans is a remarkable and admirable work.""It is a visceral and vicious novel... a body horror with brains,""This novel. Oh wow, this novel.""A cracking read.""innately cinematic, with relentless action, dramatic backdrops, unexpected twists."HellSans is a must-read book for fans of dystopias"

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Book SynopsisEurope. Great Britain has long-since left the Union, but tensions between European countries remain and the international balance of power is firmly weighted towards China and the US. Seizing the opportunity for an unexpected comeback, disgraced former Paris mayor Vincent d’Amont makes an outrageous proposal: France and Germany should unite to create a new superpower: Charlemagny. The question will be put to the people in an historic vote on ROME, the ubiquitous social network of Europe. But, outraged by the progress of events and fearing a new order based on chaos and conflict, political vlogger Miss Cliché engages in a fierce battle against Vincent and his cronies. A bumpy journey filled with post-truth news and scorching betrayal lies ahead. Can Miss Cliché discover who is running the all-powerful ROME and reveal the real forces behind Charlemagny? And can she keep her own feelings under control before Charlemagny becomes a reality?Trade Review'At once of the recent past and of the moment, Alan Rhode’s The Eagle and the Cockerel is a meaty political thriller served in a distinctively wry style. Brilliantly comic on personality politics, and sharp on big picture politics, political comms, AI, and social media, The Eagle and the Cockerel exposes the absurdities of political games and power play in all their treachery, arrogance and self-serving cronyism.' -- LoveReading'Alan Rhode has woven an entertaining tale about where politics and a digital world might take the European Union in the future as it struggles to find unity and purpose in the face of the looming threats to economics, the environment and democracy that lurk in all countries across the continent.' -- Joe Kirwin'I’ve rarely read such witty political fiction with so much heart and flair! It’s at once both absurdist and glaringly realistic, not to be missed.' -- Leena Norms

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Book SynopsisWhite Suicide is initially set in the anni di piombo (the years of lead), the twenty years of Italian terrorism, and begins with the kidnap, and subsequent murder, of Aldo Moro in 1978, one of Italy’s, and the Cold War’s, visionary leaders.Trade Review‘White Suicide gripped me from page one, a modern thriller reminiscent of Eric Ambler that brings suspense, history and politics alive on the page. Not to be missed.’ -- Charles Glass, author of Soldiers Don’t Go Mad‘Simon Gaul’s novel investigates the web of mystery as the Milanese lawyer Pietro Albassi finds himself acting as a go-between during the hunt for the missing politician. Gaul has fun revealing the hidden hands many believe lay behind events at the time. Among these were the Vatican and the CIA.’ -- James Owen * The Times *‘A slow burn epic ... truly thought-provoking and credible.’ -- Paul Burke * Crime Time FM *'A brilliant, sprawling, action-packed saga set against a fascinating and murky part of recent European history.' -- Ray Celestin, award-winning author of the ‘City Blues Quartet’, two-time winner of the CWA Dagger Awards

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Book SynopsisLawyer Kelly McCann, defends men accused of rape.She's fought to build a successful career as a criminal defence attorney, with a speciality in defending men accused of sex crimes – falsely accused, she always maintains.Her detractors call her a traitor to her gender, but she doesn't care: she loves to win.Kelly's most recent victory is securing an acquittal for a world-renowned scientist accused of sexually assaulting his female employees.But the thrill of her victory is short-lived. That very night she, too, becomes the victim of a brutal sexual assault. And almost as horrific as the attack is the fact that she can't tell anyone who the perpetrator is – not without destroying her career in the process.Kelly has never backed down from a fight and she's not about to start pulling her punches now. As she joins forces with her rapist's victims, for the first time it's not about winning ― these wronged women are out for justice and for revenge."One of the most unique thriller setups I've ever read, and it keeps moving at warp speed. A must-read." -- Phillip Margolin, New York Times bestselling author of A Matter of Life and Death, on The Cage

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Book SynopsisA murder mystery with political overtones taking place partly in the UK and partly in Romania

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Book SynopsisEx-soldier Tom Scobie had won the safe parliamentary constituency of Ridgeway, against all the odds, only to discover that his seat is anything but safe. At home shady figures seek to undermine him and things get even more dangerous abroad. The prime minister sends him on a delicate mission and he quickly finds himself entangled in a world of multinational criminality. Tom finds himself pitted against unseen enemies at home and elusive criminals across the Balkans. His adversaries always seem one step ahead. The puppet master is still at work trying to lure an old friend of Tom's into his network of influence. The battle of wits becomes increasingly dangerous, Tom must untangle the web of corruption and intrigue, to save his old friend - and himself

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Book SynopsisIn 1990s Khartoum, MI6 officer Haydon Talbot uncovers a rising extremist threat as Al Qaeda plots a major attack on London. With sceptical superiors and his career at risk, he races to stop the bombers before it's too late.

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Book Synopsis"This is exactly the sort of big, meaty, ambitious thriller that the market needs. I haven't read a book like this since I Am Pilgrim." ANTHONY HOROWITZ------------"Superb - there's an ominous drumbeat throughout, and pace and tension, and a subtle and scarily plausible dystopia - and above all there's main character Alex Lamarque, who could be one of the greats. Greg Mosse writes like John Le Carre's hip grandson." LEE CHILD------------Paris, 2037. Global warming and pandemics have torn through the fabric of society. And Alexandre Lamarque of the French external security service is hunting for eco-terrorists. Experience has taught him there is no one he can trust. Experience has taught him there is no one he can trust - not his secretive lover Mariam, not even his old mentor, Professor Fayard, the man at the centre of the web. He is ready to give up. But he can't. In search of the truth, Alex must follow the trail through an ominous spiral of events, from a string of brutal child murders to a chaotic coup in North Africa. He rapidly finds himself in a heart-thumping race against chaos and destruction. He could be the world's only hope of preventing THE COMING DARKNESS . . .

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Book Synopsis"This is exactly the sort of big, meaty, ambitious thriller that the market needs. I haven't read a book like this since I Am Pilgrim." ANTHONY HOROWITZ------------"Superb - there's an ominous drumbeat throughout, and pace and tension, and a subtle and scarily plausible dystopia - and above all there's main character Alex Lamarque, who could be one of the greats. Greg Mosse writes like John Le Carre's hip grandson." LEE CHILD------------Paris, 2037. The world has never been more dangerous. With a double threat of rising temperatures and new diseases threatening public health, governments face hard choices between cooperation and competition for scarce resources. French special agent Alexandre Lamarque notices signs of a new terror group - one that is widespread and reaches the highest levels. Experience has taught him there is no-one he can trust - not his secretive lover Mariam, not his intelligence colleagues, and not even the people who trained him to be a spy. As his investigation deepens, Alex identifies an ominous sequence of events: a theft from a Norwegian genetics lab; a string of gory child murders; a chaotic coup in a breakaway North African republic and the extraction under fire of its charismatic leader. As the one man able to see through the web of lies, Alex may be the world's only hope of preventing THE COMING DARKNESS...Trade Review"Equally good at derring-do and dialogue... Mosse displays admirable audacity. One of the best thrillers of 2022." The Times---"This is exactly the sort of big, meaty, ambitious thriller that the market needs. I haven't read a book like this since I AM PILGRIM." Anthony Horowitz---"A heart-thumping race against time." Saga Magazine---"A clever, fast-paced thriller with incredible world building... an impressive debut with a cinematic narrative style waiting to be adapted for the screen." The Independent---"Superb - there's an ominous drumbeat throughout, and pace and tension, and a subtle and scarily plausible dystopia - and above all there's main character Alex Lamarque, who could be one of the greats. Greg Mosse writes like John Le Carre's hip grandson." Lee Child---"Absorbing and intricately plotted." The Telegraph---"Fast and absorbing, action-packed and loaded with a dark conspiratorial atmosphere... This is ambitious and inventive storytelling, an impressive debut." Crime Fiction Lover---"An utterly satisfying story set in a forensically detailed dystopic future which is too close for comfort." Lesley Thomson.

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Book SynopsisIn a flash, everything changes. After a group of radical environmentalists breaks into the house of a prominent oil company executive and holds him and his family hostage, the stage is set for a popular movement to coalesce around the incident.They call themselves Tarstoppers, and by occupying Calgary''s parks and public areas they hope to shut down the oilsands. But even the most cynical of their number couldn''t anticipate what happened next.Now Tim and Shannon, an ordinary couple caught up in the middle of history, must navigate a world newly populated with fifth columnists, foreign radicals, agent provocateurs and black bloc anarchists as chaos ensues right outside their door.

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Book SynopsisSins don''t destroy people here. Dreams do.In a small city somewhere in an oil-rich Canadian province just east of the Rockies, a political scandal has erupted: an aging cabinet minister has struck and killed a member of his local constituency executive with his half-ton truck, in broad daylight. But the premier suspects that there is more to this accident than meets the eye-and he wants to know the real reasons behind it before the media or his political rivals do.Enter the premier''s old friend Harry Asher-lawyer, former hockey star, self-styled intellectual, and recent divorcé-who is hired to dig into the incident. And it isn''t long before Asher''s investigation threatens to expose a chain of corruption that implicates many of the province''s most powerful citizens-including the province''s legendary now-senile premier-as well as its most cherished founding myths.In Where the Bodies Lie, Mark Lisac (author of Alberta Politics Uncovered and The Klein Revolution) draws upon his decades of experience as a reporter at Alberta''s provincial legislature to craft an absorbing debut novel-part political thriller, part fable-that opens up timeless themes of friendship, love, the inescapability of grief, the weight of history, and the nature of truth.

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Book SynopsisFor rock and roll writer Mick Sever, another story, another deadly island paradise is all in a day’ s work. This time, Mick heads to Nassau, Bahamas, home of the legendary Highland Studio.Known for pumping out hits that burn up the charts, Highland is where the magic happens— or rather, where the magic happened until a devastating fire destroyed the entire studio. No one knows how the fire started, who started it— or whose body was found among the charred remains.Sent to get the inside story on the opening of the new Highland Studio, Mick finds this is hardly the Phoenix-rising-out-of-the-ashes story he expected. Some say the studio’ s haunted; some say it’ s cursed, but one thing is for sure: someone— or something— wants to stop the music. A smashed guitar and erased tracks send a subtle warning, but murder? That’ s an entirely different tune.If Mick doesn’ t act fast, Highland Studio, along with everything and everyone in its path, could go up in smoke.It’ s not always better to burn out than to fade away.

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Book Synopsis(Published as a Morris Jesup Book in association with the Westport Library, Westport, Connecticut) Written by an intimate participant in the turbulent civil rights movement in Mississippi, Nobody Said Amen tells the stories of two families' lives, one white, one black, as they navigate the challenging, tilting landscape created by the coming of "outside agitators" and social change to the Mississippi Delta in the 1960s. Owner of a great plantation, Luke Claybourne is a product of Southern attitudes, a decent man who feels responsible for the black families who make his plantation run, but who is loathe to accept the changes necessary for its survival. When he loses his plantation, his entire world is shattered. Led by his wife, Willy, and their friendship with a Northern journalist, Luke is forced to come to terms with a new way of life in the post--Civil Rights era South. Meanwhile, Jimmy Mack, a young black Mississippian leading a group of students who have come to Shiloh to help blacks gain the right to vote, has become a target of the Klan--savagely beaten while in jail and threatened with a burning cross. His love affair with Eula, a Claybourne employee, highlights the tensions and hazards of trying to love in the shadow of a racist world. Rich with a colorful roster of the people in Shiloh, Nobody Said Amen tells a triumphant American tale.

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