Political / legal thriller

Book Synopsis*ONE OF 40 BOOKS FOR SUMMER* 'gripping'- iNews'A panoramic thriller ...chockful of vivid characters.' - THE SUNDAY TIMES'An intriguing, timely and unsettling new thriller' - SAM BOURNE'Exhilarating and beautiful' - AMOL RAJAN'Catapults you from first word to last... pacy, sinister and timely read.' - ALAN JUDD'Another page-turner from a writer who can take you into gripping worlds, real and virtual.' MISHAL HUSAIN 'A terrific thriller - vivid, quick-witted and dynamic, crackling with energy, dread and rage as it crosses continents and digs down into the human heart.' - NICCI GERRARD 'The dark world of private cyber-surveillance crackles off the page - full of jeopardy and suspense.' - ALLAN LITTLE 'A vividly written thriller of ruthless tech entrepreneurs exploiting their surveillance powers and morally compromised journalists feeling their way in the dark towards the truth.' - RORY CELLAN-JONES'Carver is a marvellous creation.' - MIKE RIPLEY, SHOTS MAGKNOWLEDGE IS POWER. AND THEY KNOW EVERYTHING.The tech company Public Square believes in 'doing well by doing good'. It's built a multi-billion dollar business on this philosophy and by getting to know what people want. They know a lot. But who else can access all that information and what are they planning to do with it?Reporter William Carver is an analogue man in a digital world. He isn't the most tech-savvy reporter, he's definitely old school, but he needs to learn fast - the people he cares most about are in harm's way.From the Chilean mines where they dig for raw materials that enable the tech revolution, to the streets of Hong Kong where anti-government protesters are fighting against the Chinese State, to the shiny research laboratories of Silicon Valley where personal data is being mined everyday - A Cursed Place is a gripping thriller set against the global forces that shape our times.'A true page turner - highly recommended'. TORTOISETrade Review*Praise for A Cursed Place* A panoramic thriller that shuttles with aplomb between four continents... chockful of vivid characters -- JOHN DUGDALE * The Sunday Times *Whether in rioting Hong Kong, or a doomed Chilean mining town, or a sinister data-mining outfit in Silicon Valley, or the shabbiness of London's Elephant & Castle, Peter Hanington sustains a narrative drive that catapults you from first word to last. Just make sure you don't miss the scenery on the way - seeing from the inside how the BBC works and how news is made leaves you feeling that W1A may not be entirely caricature. A good, pacy, sinister and timely read. -- ALAN JUDD * author of A Fine Madness *Peter Hanington draws you into the dark world of private cyber-surveillance, and the menace of the world he conjures - the world we all now live in - crackles off the page. His characters are beautifully drawn and so convincing that I found myself shouting "Get out of there now!" The writing is taut - not a wasted word - and the story is fast-paced, moving and twisting and quickening to a conclusion that is full of jeopardy and suspense. And when it ends, it doesn't end: it leaves you wanting the next chapter. -- ALLAN LITTLEA Cursed Place is an exhilarating and beautiful novel that answers the most pressing question of our time: how to reconcile new technology with timeless human needs. It is written with such verve and precision, and its plot emerges with such terrifying force, that I enjoyed it even when the message it conveyed terrified me. Its characters will, I think, become literary legends. I have gotten to know William Carver quite well. He feels achingly familiar from my newspaper days. I don't always like him. But I do always admire him: especially that itchy yearning to hold mighty powers to account, and to discover the truth behind their dissembling. Peter Hanington's remarkable achievement is to have told a story which is as important as it is unputdownable. Anyone vaguely interested in the survival of our species ought to read this book - and will be thrilled they did so. -- AMOL RAJANHanington's third thriller featuring veteran BBC reporter, William Carver, is a true page-turner, combining the author's insights and expertise as a distinguished foreign correspondent with a pace that keeps the reader guessing and embroiled in a plot that sweeps us from Peckham, via Hong Kong and Chile, to the Big Tech citadels of Silicon Valley...highly recommended. * Tortoise *Another page-turner from a writer who can take you into gripping worlds, real and virtual. -- MISHAL HUSAINAn intriguing, timely and unsettling new thriller. -- SAM BOURNE (JONATHAN FREEDLAND)A Cursed Place is a fast-paced and vividly written thriller. It takes the reader on a journey from the dark heart of Silicon Valley via a Chilean mining town and Hong Kong street protests and into the bowels of New Broadcasting House, in a dystopian tale of ruthless tech entrepreneurs exploiting their surveillance powers and morally compromised journalists feeling their way in the dark towards the truth. -- RORY CELLAN-JONESAstute, pacy and possibly too true for its own good. -- GILLIAN REYNOLDSCarver is a marvellous creation, just the sort of tough-as-old-boots hero we need in a world run by algorithms. -- MIKE RIPLEY * Shots Mag *A Cursed Place will have readers cancelling meetings and postponing dinner plans so as to read just one more page, just one more chapter. This beautifully-written thriller tells a story centred not around spies or mobsters but the state of frontline journalism in the era of big tech. More widely it grapples with the possibility of resisting the total-surveillance society we are almost definitely otherwise hurtling towards. -- SEB EMINA * The Happy Reader *Exciting, addictive & just plain brilliant; a timely political thriller with that authentic insider's view shining through in the gripping plot, spot-on characters, & sharp dialogue. A must-read for 2021. -- CAROLINE SKANNE * editor of the journal of the British Haiku Society *A gripping... thriller that spins from Hong Kong protests to Silicon Valley surveillance in a heartbeat. * i Magazine *Gorgeous... blocks out the world when my brain [wants] superb distraction * Fi Glover **Praise for A Dying Breed*A former stalwart on the Today programme, Hanington is as good on BBC politics as he is on the UK's ambiguous role east of Suez, and excels, too, at character portraits of figures such as the British ambassador. There are nods to John le Carré, but his impressive debut is its own thing, with three radio men (including the Radio 4 breakfast show's dissolute editor) at its centre, not spooks or civil servants. * The Sunday Times (Thriller of the Month) *A tremendous novel - shot-through with great authenticity and insider knowledge - wholly compelling and shrewdly wise. -- WILLIAM BOYDAn impressive debut by Peter Hanington... The multilayered plot, set in Afghanistan and BBC headquarters, moves excitingly and entertainingly but also raises serious current issues about dodgy political and commercial interference with the search for truth by journalists...The subplots and secondary characters are admirable. Hanington has true talent. * The Times *A Dying Breed is an enthralling page-turner, and, as befits an author steeped in newsgathering, there's a real sense of authority and authenticity at work in this quality thriller. -- MICHAEL PALINIt is a fine thriller: pacy without being frenetic, complex without being convoluted, innovative but without abandoning all of the satisfying clichés and conventions o the genre. Hannington seems to have an innate sense of how and when to push the plot along, while still giving us enough time to savour the characterisation and locations (Hong Kong, in particular). * Michael Duggan *

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Book Synopsis'Smart and topical' Financial Times (An FT Best New Thriller 2023)'A compelling, fast-paced thriller' SunAustralian inventor and geoengineer Clive Winner is the genius who brought the Great Barrier Reef back from the brink, yet his ambition goes well beyond that. He wants to save the planet.For the all-powerful fossil-fuel industry, Winner is their 'get out of jail free card'. If he can engineer a solution to climate change, business can continue as usual.When old-school journalist William Carver is tipped off by a trusted Whitehall source that climate scientists have begun to go missing in suspicious circumstances, his gut instinct tells him to follow the story. It rapidly becomes clear that scientists, green campaigners and well-intentioned politicians are in the firing line; William Carver and his colleagues must move fast to find out who is behind the disappearances. They know the journalist's job is to speak truth to power - but first you must uncover that truth and this time it's buried deeper than ever.Racing between Sydney, New York, Seville and London, The Burning Time is an intelligent, timely and fast-paced thriller for the twenty-first century.'Deftly plotted . . . a propulsive read' Straits Times'This adrenaline-laced adventure packs a mighty punch' Irish Independent'A brilliant thriller with a timely and essential reminder of what journalism is supposed to be' James O'Brien, LBCTrade ReviewA smart and topical thriller * Financial Times (Best New Thrillers 2023) *A compelling, fast-paced thriller blended with environmental issues. Hotly topical * Sun *This adrenalin-laced adventure packs a mighty punch . . . Peter Hanington's global thriller could not be more topical * Irish Independent *Deftly plotted . . . a propulsive read * Straits Times *Peter Hanington is a master of his craft and in William Carver he gives us the hero we didn't know we needed in an age of fake news and egregious political liars . . . Hanington's triumph is to blend a brilliant thriller with a timely and essential reminder of what journalism is supposed to be. He rides the zeitgeist like Frankie Dettori rides horses -- James O'Brien, LBCThe Burning Time is terrific. [It] will be a classic of the genre -- Peter Hennessy, author of A DUTY OF CAREA wonderfully taut piece of plotting and, like all good roller-coasters, it regularly turns your stomach over as you are swept along; Hanington's endlessly inventive story telling gives you that edgy feeling that everything (the whole world, in this case) could go horribly wrong by the end of the book, and it boasts more bodies than a Jacobean Revenge charity. Thank God for the reassuring presence of William Carver -- Edward StourtonWell written and paced, this thriller is both a tribute to and a demonstration of the importance of traditional investigative journalism * Literary Review *Peter Hanington has a journalist's nose for stories likely to make tomorrow's Radio 4 news . . . The Burning Time is a headline-grabbing thriller * Shots Mag *Seeks to expose the dark arts, denialism and danger of the carbon lobby and adds another fine and important thriller to an exceptional series -- Material Witness blog

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Book Synopsis'Ryan never fails to nail the target with a well-aimed burst of rapid-fire realism.' - Crime ReviewEx-SAS heroes Bald and Porter take on the Deep State in the nail-shredding new Strike Back thrillerIn a world run by rich and powerful men, Julian Cantwell is more powerful than most. A ruthless political consultant, Cantwell has manipulated elections around the world, bribing opponents and blackmailing political rivals. Doing whatever it takes for his clients to win. But when a freelance journalist threatens to expose his alleged involvement in a terrifying conspiracy, Cantwell suddenly finds himself under threat. Backed into a corner, he is forced to take drastic action. Meanwhile in London, former Regiment hero John Porter and ex-SAS vagabond John Bald are drafted in by their MI6 paymasters for a highly secretive - and dangerous - mission. A respected British academic has been arrested in chaos-stricken Venezuela. Accused of spying for the British government, she is being held captive by the President's notorious security forces. Working alongside a team of ex-Navy SEALs, Bald and Porter are tasked with infiltrating Venezuela and rescuing the academic before she caves in to her interrogators. But as they get closer to their target, Bald and Porter begin to uncover a terrifying plot. A conspiracy that goes right to the very heart of power. To survive, they must face down their deadliest enemy yet, in a desperate fight to the death. In the battle between the SAS and the Navy SEALs there can be only one winner. Will Bald and Porter prevail? Or have our heroes finally met their match?Trade ReviewPraise for Chris Ryan * : *Ryan chooses fiercely up-to-the-minute plots, and laces them with an exceptional eye for detail and insider knowledge ... Fearsome and fast-moving * Daily Mail *A shockingly authentic tale to keep your adrenaline pumping as fast as the blood on the pages. * The Sun *Nobody takes you to the action better than Ryan, because he's the real deal, and this muscle-and-bone thriller will have fans' blood pumping. * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisEx-SAS heroes Bald and Porter take on the Deep State in the nail-shredding new Strike Back thrillerIn a world run by rich and powerful men, Julian Cantwell is more powerful than most. A ruthless political consultant, Cantwell has manipulated elections around the world, bribing opponents and blackmailing political rivals. Doing whatever it takes for his clients to win. But when a freelance journalist threatens to expose his alleged involvement in a terrifying conspiracy, Cantwell suddenly finds himself under threat. Backed into a corner, he is forced to take drastic action. Meanwhile in London, former Regiment hero John Porter and ex-SAS vagabond John Bald are drafted in by their MI6 paymasters for a highly secretive - and dangerous - mission. A respected British academic has been arrested in chaos-stricken Venezuela. Accused of spying for the British government, she is being held captive by the President's notorious security forces. Working alongside a team of ex-Navy SEALs, Bald and Porter are tasked with infiltrating Venezuela and rescuing the academic before she caves in to her interrogators. But as they get closer to their target, Bald and Porter begin to uncover a terrifying plot. A conspiracy that goes right to the very heart of power. To survive, they must face down their deadliest enemy yet, in a desperate fight to the death. In the battle between the SAS and the Navy SEALs there can be only one winner. Will Bald and Porter prevail? Or have our heroes finally met their match?Trade ReviewPraise for Chris Ryan * : *Ryan chooses fiercely up-to-the-minute plots, and laces them with an exceptional eye for detail and insider knowledge ... Fearsome and fast-moving * Daily Mail *A shockingly authentic tale to keep your adrenaline pumping as fast as the blood on the pages. * The Sun *Nobody takes you to the action better than Ryan, because he's the real deal, and this muscle-and-bone thriller will have fans' blood pumping. * Evening Standard *

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Book Synopsis***THE SUNDAY TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTH***'Besides the usual Grisham virtues of an arresting idea, polished plotting and vivid social snapshots, what's impressive here is his willingness to take on fresh challenges' THE SUNDAY TIMESNonstop suspense from the Sunday Times bestselling author: Investigator Lacy Stoltz follows the trail of a serial killer, and closes in on a shocking suspect - a sitting judge.In The Whistler, Lacy Stoltz investigated a corrupt judge who was taking millions in bribes from a crime syndicate. She put the criminals away, but only after being attacked and nearly killed. Three years later, and approaching forty, she is tired of her work for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct and ready for a change.Then she meets a mysterious woman who is so frightened she uses a number of aliases. Jeri Crosby's father was murdered twenty years earlier in a case that remains unsolved and that has grown stone cold. But Jeri has a suspect whom she has become obsessed with and has stalked for two decades. Along the way, she has discovered other victims.Suspicions are easy enough, but proof seems impossible. The man is brilliant, patient, and always one step ahead of law enforcement. He is the most cunning of all serial killers. He knows forensics, police procedure, and most important: he knows the law.He is a judge, in Florida - under Lacy's jurisdiction.He has a list, with the names of his victims and targets, all unsuspecting people unlucky enough to have crossed his path and wronged him in some way. How can Lacy pursue him, without becoming the next name on his list?The Judge's List is by any measure John Grisham's most surprising, chilling novel yet.'The shocks come thick and fast in this slick thriller that is impossible to put down' THE SUN'An excellent nail-bitingly tense thriller' IRISH INDEPENDENT 350+ million copies, 45 languages, 9 blockbuster films:NO ONE WRITES DRAMA LIKE JOHN GRISHAMTrade ReviewBesides the usual Grisham virtues of an arresting idea, polished plotting and vivid social snapshots, what's impressive here is his willingness to take on fresh challenges * The Sunday Times *The shocks come thick and fast in this slick thriller that is impossible to put down * The Sun *Mary-Louise Parker narrates with a methodical clarity and an ominous energy that had me chewing my nails anxiously * THE TIMES, Audiobook of the Week *An excellent nail-bitingly tense thriller * Irish Independent *This year's must read * SAGA Magazine *

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Book Synopsis***THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER***'A master of plotting and pacing' - New York Times'With every new book I appreciate John Grisham a little more, for his compassion for the underdog, and his willingness to strike out in new directions' - Entertainment WeeklyONE MAN. ONE HOPE. ONCE CHANCE TO BECOME A LEGEND. ONE MAN Seventeen-year-old Samuel Sooleyman comes from a village in South Sudan, a war-torn country where one third of the population is a refugee. His great love is basketball: his prodigious leap and lightning speed make him an exceptional player. And it may also bring him his big chance: he has been noticed by a coach taking a youth team to the United States. ONE HOPE If he gets through the tournament, Samuel's life will change beyond recognition. But it's the longest of long shots. His talent is raw and uncoached. There are hundreds of better-known players ahead of him. And he must leave his family behind, at least at the beginning. ONE CHANCE As American success beckons, devastating news reaches Samuel from home. Caught between his dream and the nightmare unfolding thousands of miles away, 'Sooley', as he's nicknamed by his classmates, must make hard choices about his future. This quiet, dedicated boy must do what no other player has achieved in the history of his chosen game: become a legend in twelve short months. Global bestseller John Grisham takes you to a different kind of court in this gripping and incredibly moving novel that showcases his storytelling powers in an entirely new light.'Grisham's books are smart, imaginative, and funny, populated by complex interesting people' - The Washington Post'A superb, instinctive storyteller' - The Times350+ million copies, 45 languages, 9 blockbuster films:NO ONE WRITES DRAMA LIKE JOHN GRISHAMTrade ReviewRead it, you'll want to cry too * Bill Clinton for The Guardian *The joy of a Grisham novel is turning the pages as the plot propels you forward . . . Suffice it to say SOOLEY follows the familiar Grisham playbook - short chapters, plenty of foreshadowing, and a rapid-fire prose that's easy to read and hard to put down * Independent *

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Book SynopsisThe gripping and immersive historical thriller from the author of Witchfinder, based on the true events of a scandalous blackmail plot hidden in the shadows...'A compelling story of power, passion and intrigue based on real events. A terrific read' NICK ROBINSON, BBC Today presenter'A wickedly entertaining tale of political chicanery' DAILY TELEGRAPH___________London 1929. Very much not a land fit for heroes. Frenchie knows his occasional work for MI5 serves only the ruling classes. But he needs to feed his children. Scruples died in the trenches.When Ramsay MacDonald, Britain's first Labour Prime Minister, is blackmailed by a former lover, Frenchie must go to Paris to buy her silence.It is clear there are many people who would see MacDonald fall - the Conservatives, their friends in the press, even some of his own colleagues. But his own secret service? When Frenchie hears the other side of the story, everything changes.___________'If le Carre needs a successor, Williams has all the equipment for the role' TIMES Literary Supplement Books of the Year'Spy tradecraft of the old school, with no computers, fast cars or mobile phones, but not a whit less exciting for that. Highly recommended as both a spy story and a piece of social and political history' Shots MagazineTrade ReviewA compelling story of power, passion and intrigue based on real events, The Prime Minister's Affair is a terrific read -- Nick RobinsonSpy tradecraft of the old school, with no computers, fast cars or mobile phones, but not a whit less exciting for that. Highly recommended as both a spy story and a piece of social and political history * Shots Magazine *Andrew Williams has fashioned a wickedly entertaining tale of political chicanery * Daily Telegraph *Williams blends reality and fiction in a tense and intricate story that shows politics has always been a brutal business * Sun *His new novel quietly ticks all the boxes . . . Albeit set in a period Le Carré never explored, this has all the trademark qualities of the Grand Master himself, an historical spy thriller which springs to life due to the complexity and humanity of its characters, both public and private -- Maxim Jakubowski * Crime Time *A must read for anyone with any interest in politics of the past or the present -- Edward WilsonCompelling and full of rich portrayals of both real and fictional characters from the period . . . A wonderful read -- Sarah Ward, author of the DC Childs seriesAn entertaining yarn * The Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisLoved House of Cards?Terribly gripping, ***** Cedrick'Utterly fascinating.' ***** Perlustra'Absolutely brilliant.' ***** BertrandHe thought the worst was behind them. The primaries done and dusted. The Presidency within arm's reach.He couldn't have been more wrong.Not only were the primaries rigged; they had revealeda web of lies that was but the tip of a huge iceberg.But where there's a will, there's a way...

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Book SynopsisA New York Times Editor's Choice A Herald's Best Summer Book'An unusual and accomplished first novel . . . moves in intriguing leaps and twists.' Economist'Gorgeous' New York Times'Grapples with the complexity of familial love.' Marie ClaireFrench teenager Margot is the illegitimate daughter of a prominent stage actress and an influential politician. The comings and goings of their unconventional family, in a small Parisian apartment, cast her whole life under a veil of secrecy and shame.One summer, Margot decides to exercise her own agency when she meets a well-regarded journalist whose trust seems surprisingly easy to gain. But as Margot is drawn into an adult world, she learns how one impulsive decision can change the contours of her life, and the lives of those around her, in ways she could never have imagined. In this simmering debut Sanaë Lemoine explores private and public faces, truth and deceit, love and persuasion. The Margot Affair is a novel about the bone-deep bond between mothers and daughters, the devotion and betrayal of friendship and the dangers of pushing beyond the boundaries of a life lived in the shadows.Trade ReviewAn unusual and accomplished first novel . . . moves in intriguing leaps and twists. * Economist *Absorbing... The emotional mapping of the novel is intricate and precise... Lemoine captures with painful accuracy the clumsy ignorance of adolescence. * Financial Times *Missing Paris? Look no further than this atmospheric coming-of-age tale . . . * I News *Gorgeous . . . very French. . . in lush, lyrical prose that perfectly captures the heightened emotion and confusion of being a young woman with a bruised heart and limited experience . . . It asks the ultimate question about this most complicated of relationships: What will a mother do for her child? * Sarah Lyall, New York Times *Deftly crafted, thoughtfully observed, this absorbing coming-of-age novel explores the tense and complex relationship between Anouk and Margot, the notions of family and motherhood, deceit and betrayal. * Fanny Blake, Daily Mail *Drumming with tension, The Margot Affair grapples with the complexity of familial love. * Marie Claire *A raw, honest account of the tenderness and cruelty that lurks between mothers and daughters. Lemoine illuminates the ways in which violence and care are strung through generations like nerves and sinews. A brave portrayal of love in all of its complexities that questions whether we should endeavour to hold onto the people we love, or whether we should let them go. * Jessica Andrews, author of Saltwater *Subtle, beautiful, serious. * Karen Russell, author of Swamplandia *Another coming-of-age tale... about the lasting effects of deceit and betrayal. * Herald *Undoubtedly one of the top literary fiction reads of the summer, this brilliant debut, touted as a 'coming of age' novel, is a wonderful study of the mother-daughter relationship. * Women's Weekly *An engaging examination of youth, age and cruelty. A stimulating and provocative read. * Irish Times *

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Book Synopsis The gripping race-against-time debut thriller from the internationally bestselling author of The Silence of the Lambs.Vietnam veteran Michael Lander wants the country that made him suffer to suffer in return.Al-Fatah operative Dahlia Iyad wants to help him turn his bold plan into devastating reality. David Kabakov, Mossad's most dedicated soldier, is determined to uncover the plot before it's too late. All he and the FBI know is that it will be apocalyptic. They don't know about the 1,200 pounds of explosives on their way to the states.The largest, deadliest bomb on American soil. That it will detonate in front of millions at the biggest sporting event of the season. The day of horror is nearly here...Black Sunday.Trade ReviewA racing read * The Times *Inescapably readable thriller * Guardian *Very well written in a terse, hardboiled American style, and it is a riveting read * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis***THE SUNDAY TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTH***'Besides the usual Grisham virtues of an arresting idea, polished plotting and vivid social snapshots, what's impressive here is his willingness to take on fresh challenges' THE SUNDAY TIMESNonstop suspense from the Sunday Times bestselling author: Investigator Lacy Stoltz follows the trail of a serial killer, and closes in on a shocking suspect - a sitting judge.In The Whistler, Lacy Stoltz investigated a corrupt judge who was taking millions in bribes from a crime syndicate. She put the criminals away, but only after being attacked and nearly killed. Three years later, and approaching forty, she is tired of her work for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct and ready for a change.Then she meets a mysterious woman who is so frightened she uses a number of aliases. Jeri Crosby's father was murdered twenty years earlier in a case that remains unsolved and that has grown stone cold. But Jeri has a suspect whom she has become obsessed with and has stalked for two decades. Along the way, she has discovered other victims.Suspicions are easy enough, but proof seems impossible. The man is brilliant, patient, and always one step ahead of law enforcement. He is the most cunning of all serial killers. He knows forensics, police procedure, and most important: he knows the law.He is a judge, in Florida - under Lacy's jurisdiction.He has a list, with the names of his victims and targets, all unsuspecting people unlucky enough to have crossed his path and wronged him in some way. How can Lacy pursue him, without becoming the next name on his list?The Judge's List is by any measure John Grisham's most surprising, chilling novel yet.'The shocks come thick and fast in this slick thriller that is impossible to put down' THE SUN'An excellent nail-bitingly tense thriller' IRISH INDEPENDENT 350+ million copies, 45 languages, 9 blockbuster films:NO ONE WRITES DRAMA LIKE JOHN GRISHAMTrade ReviewBesides the usual Grisham virtues of an arresting idea, polished plotting and vivid social snapshots, what's impressive here is his willingness to take on fresh challenges * The Sunday Times *The shocks come thick and fast in this slick thriller that is impossible to put down * The Sun *Mary-Louise Parker narrates with a methodical clarity and an ominous energy that had me chewing my nails anxiously * THE TIMES, Audiobook of the Week *An excellent nail-bitingly tense thriller * Irish Independent *This year's must read * SAGA Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of the Department Q series is back, with a terrifyingly relevant stand-alone novel about an America in chaos. THE NO. 1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR27 MILLION BOOKS SOLDWINNER OF THE GLASS KEY AWARD"The president has gone way too far. . . . These are practically dictatorial methods we're talking about." When Democratic Senator Bruce Jansen is elected president of the United States, it is a personal victory for Dorothy "Dottie" Rogers. She has secured a job in the White House, has proved to her Republican father that she was right to support Jansen, and is proud to see the rise of an intelligent, inspiring leader who shares her ideals. But the triumph is short-lived: Jansen's pregnant wife is assassinated on election night, and the alleged mastermind behind the shooting is none other than Dottie's own father. When Jansen ascends to the White House, he is a changed man, determined to end gun violence by any means necessary. Rights are taken away as quickly as weapons. Checkpoints and roadblocks destroy infrastructure. The media is censored. Militias declare civil war on the government. The country is in chaos, and Dottie's finds herself fighting for the life of her father, who just may be innocent.Trade ReviewAdler-Olsen weaves a thought-provoking dystopia...a hauntingly timely political thriller - BooklistTantalizing and timely - Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author

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Book SynopsisA masterclass in espionage thriller fiction from the heir to John le Carre for fans of Mick Herron, Charles Cumming and David McCloskey. Meet ''a female agent for our times'', disgraced MI5 operative Slim Parsons.''SURPRISING, ENGROSSING, WITH A BLAZING MORAL ENERGY'' Rory Stewart''READS LIKE IT WAS DRAWN FROM TODAY''S HEADLINES'' Paul Vidich''ONE OF BRITAIN''S FINEST SPY WRITERS'' Daily MailSlim Parsons is all but burned.Her last deep cover job for MI5 ended with a life-and-death struggle on a private jet that caused her to go on the run from both the deadly target and her angry bosses in the Security Service. They say that violence comes too easily to her; that she''s bordering on delinquent and unsuitable for the roll of an MI5 operative.Yet she is recalled and asked to infiltrate a news website that''s causing alarm in the highest circles. It is staffed by a group descended from wartime codebreakers operating from an unassuming office block near Bletchley Park. Operation Linesman looks like a come down, the curtain on a brilliant career in the shadows. However, she accepts the assignment on condition that the Security Service searches for her missing brother. Linesman turns out to be anything but simple. Her personal loss, her previous deep cover role, and a threat to MI5 itself from her original target come together in a three-way collision. And all the while she is watched by someone even deeper in the shadows than she is.

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Book SynopsisA thrilling SOE spy novel by a former special forces officer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carré' 'Edward Wilson seems poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carré' Irish Independent'More George Smiley than James Bond, Catesby will delight those readers looking for less blood and more intelligence in their spy thrillers' Publishers WeeklyCambridge, 1941. A teenage William Catesby leaves his studies to join the war effort.Parachuted into Occupied France as an SOE officer, he witnesses remarkable feats of bravery during theFrench Resistance.Yet he is also privy to infighting and betrayal - some of the Maquisards are more concerned with controlling the peace than fighting the war. Double agents and informers abound, and with torture a certainty if he is taken, Catesby knows there is no one he can trust.Passed from safe house to safe house, with the Abwehr on his tail, he is drawn towards Lyon, a city of backstreets and blind alleys. His mission is simple: thwart an act of treachery that could shape the future of France.'Edward Wilson's excellent Portrait of the Spy as a Young Man draws on his own special forces training'Independent'Engaging . . . Dynamic . . . Wilson's fascination is as much with how the spy betrays himself as with howhe manipulates others' The Times Praise for Edward Wilson: 'Stylistically sophisticated . . . Wilson knows how to hold the reader's attention' W.G. Sebald'A reader is really privileged to come across something like this' Alan Sillitoe'All too often, amid the glitzy gadgetry of the spy thriller, all the fast cars and sexual adventures, we lose sight of the essential seriousness of what is at stake. John le Carré reminds us, often, and so does Edward Wilson' Independent

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Book Synopsis'Joe Thomas brilliantly recaptures an ugly episode in our recent past. Lest we forget . . .' Val McDermid'A timely, powerful and gorgeously readable novel that represents everything that is good and important about the crime fiction genre' Irish Times1978: The National Front is gaining ground in Hackney. To counter their influence, anti-fascist groups launch the Carnival Against Racism in Victoria Park. Observing the event is Detective Constable Patrick Noble, charged with investigating racist attacks in the area and running Spycops in both far-right and left wing groups. As Noble's superiors are drawn further into political meddling, he's inveigled into a plot against the embattled Labour government as the Winter of Discontent begins to bite.1983: Under a disciplinary cloud after a Spycops op ended in tragedy, Noble is offered a reprieve by an old mentor. He is dispatched in the early hours to Stoke Newington police station, where a young black man has died in suspicious circumstances. This is Thatcher's Britain now, a new world that Noble unwittingly helped to usher in, where racial tensions are weaponised by those in power. His investigation will expose the dark heart of a nation at war with itself.'Gripping' The Times'Enthralling' Sunday Times'A propulsive crime novel' Guardian'One of our very best contemporary crime writers' David PeaceTrade ReviewStylish and pacy, White Riot throbs with a restless, punky energy, bringing Hackney of the late 70s and early 80s compellingly and disturbingly to life. A full-throated, swaggering roar of a book -- Lucy CaldwellWhite Riot is an electrifying novel of politics, the counterculture, and music as a powerful force. In Suzi Scialfa, Thomas has given us a pioneering character - a female journalist, forging her way in a man's world; you believe in her, root for her, want to hear more. I loved this book -- Laura BartonPolice and thieves, punks and spycops. White Riot captures the raw energy of the times in spectacular fashion, evoking a visceral narrative of power and corruption -- Jake ArnottJoe Thomas takes on the inflammable end of the Seventies, when Rock Against Racism took the National Front head on and Margaret Thatcher turned the Winter of Discontent into her own Springtime . . . Like Daniel Rachel's Walls Come Tumbling Down meets David Peace's GB84 in a dark labyrinth of bent coppers, sleeping policemen, political polarity and the greatest sounds of the dirtiest decade -- Cathi UnsworthThis book does not mess about. Punchy pithy prose page to page. Thrilling, entertaining, expertly crafted - a winner in every way. Loved it -- Ashley Hickson-LovenceEnthralling -- John Dugdale * Sunday Times *Gripping . . . Deeply moving . . . A love letter to London, seething with outrage, that leads you keen to read its planned sequels -- Mark Sanderson * The Times *A propulsive crime novel. Thomas ably captures local community anger, interracial tensions and especially the foreboding atmosphere . . . This ambitious work on a big canvas is an admirable attempt at portraying a fraught and fracturing nation * Guardian *Captures the searing energy and polarised nature of the capital in the late 1970s and early 1980s . . . Thomas creates a potent drama from the counterculture of a period when Rock Against Racism and the Anti-Nazi League were battling prejudice. White Riot adroitly blends fact and fiction. -- Martin Chilton * Independent *With real life and fictional characters rubbing shoulders in a turbo-charged and multi-layered narrative, this is truly a State of Britain thriller . . . A genuine, undiluted 'punk' epic, with a ready-made soundtrack and I can't wait for the next instalment -- Maxim Jakubowski * Crime Time *A timely, powerful and gorgeously readable novel that represents everything that is good and important about the crime fiction genre -- Declan Burke * Irish Times *Joe Thomas brilliantly recaptures an ugly episode in our recent past. Lest we forget... -- Val McDermid

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Book SynopsisLive Aid, July 1985. The great and the good of the music scene converge to save the world. But the TV glitz cannot disguise ugly truths about Thatcher's Britain.Jon Davies and Suzi Scialfa have moved on since the inquest into the death of Colin Roach, but they're about to be drawn back into the struggle ­­­- Jon by his restless curiosity and Suzi by the reappearance of DC Patrick Noble.Noble's other asset, the salaried spycop Parker, is a pawn in a game he only dimly comprehends. First, he's ordered to infiltrate the Broadwater Farm Estate in Tottenham; next will come Wapping, ground zero of a plot to smash the print unions. But who is Noble working for, and how far can he be trusted?The Iron Lady is reforging the nation, and London with it. Right to Buy may secure her votes, but who really stands to benefit? Corruption is endemic and the gap between rich and poor grows wider by the day. Insurrection seems imminent - all that's needed is a spark.REVIEWS FOR WHITE RIOT, A SUNDAY TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTH'Rpresents everything that is good and important about the crime fiction genre' Irish Times'Enthralling' Sunday Times 'Gripping' The Times 'Propulsive' GuardianTrade ReviewThe second chapter in Thomas's epic trilogy of policing and corruption in 1980s East London . . . Juggling storylines like a box-set drama rather than a conventional thriller, Thomas builds up an absorbing portrait of a time when everything was in the balance -- John Williams * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisA spy thriller that will change your view of the Cold War forever, by a former special forces officer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carré' 'Edward Wilson seems poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carré' Irish Independent'More George Smiley than James Bond, Catesby will delight those readers looking for less blood and more intelligence in their spy thrillers' Publishers WeeklyAugust, 1956. A generation of British spies is haunted by the ghosts of friends turned traitor. Whitehall spymaster Henry Bone has long held Butterfly to be the Holy Grail of Cold War Intelligence. His brain is an archive of deadly secrets - he can identify each and every traitor spy as well as the serving British agents who helped them. And now Bone learns that Butterfly plans to defect to the Americans. Unless Bone gets to him first. William Catesby, a spy with his reputation in tatters, is pressured into posing as a defector in order to track down Butterfly. His quest leads him from Berlin, through a shower of Molotov cocktails in Budapest, to dinner alone with the East German espionage legend Mischa Wolf. 'A gripping Cold War story centred on a Berlin seething with agents and counterspies' Mail on Sunday'Smart, finely written' Publishers Weekly Starred Review'All you could want in a spy thriller' Oliver JamesPraise for Edward Wilson:'Stylistically sophisticated . . . Wilson knows how to hold the reader's attention' W.G. Sebald'A reader is really privileged to come across something like this' Alan Sillitoe

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Book SynopsisA brilliant Cuban Missile Crisis spy thriller by a former special forces officer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carré' 'Edward Wilson seems poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carré' Irish Independent'More George Smiley than James Bond, Catesby will delight those readers looking for less blood and more intelligence in their spy thrillers' Publishers WeeklyOctober, 1962. If the Cuban gamble goes wrong and war breaks out, Britain will cease to exist. Whitehall dispatches a secret envoy to defuse the confrontation. Spawned in the bleak poverty of an East Anglian fishing port, Catesby is a spy with an anti-establishment chip on his shoulder. He loves his country, but despises the class who run it. Though he is loathed by the Americans for his left-wing sympathies, Catesby is sent to Havana and Washington to make clandestine contacts. London has authorised Catesby to offer Moscow a secret deal to break the deadlock. But before it can be sealed, he meets the Midnight Swimmer, who has a chilling message for Washington.'An intellectually commanding thriller' Independent'An excellent spy novel . . . belongs on the bookshelf alongside similarly unsettling works by le Carré, Alan Furst and Eric Ambler' Huffington PostPraise for Edward Wilson: 'Stylistically sophisticated . . . Wilson knows how to hold the reader's attention' W.G. Sebald'A reader is really privileged to come across something like this' Alan Sillitoe'All too often, amid the glitzy gadgetry of the spy thriller, all the fast cars and sexual adventures, we lose sight of the essential seriousness of what is at stake. John le Carré reminds us, often, and so does Edward Wilson' Independent

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Book SynopsisA brilliant, eye-opening espionage thriller by a former special forces officer 'now at the forefront of spy writing' 'Edward Wilson seems poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carré' Irish Independent'More George Smiley than James Bond, Catesby will delight those readers looking for less blood and more intelligence in their spy thrillers' Publishers WeeklyApril, 1982. The British prime minister and the Argentine president are both clinging to power. Downing Street, having ignored alarm bells coming from the South Atlantic, finds itself in a full-blown crisis when Argentina invades the remote and forgotten British territory of the Falklands Islands. Catesby is dispatched urgently to prevent Argentina from obtaining more lethal Exocet missiles, by fair means or foul. From Patagonia to Paris, from Chevening to the White House, he plays a deadly game of diplomatic cat and mouse, determined to avert the loss of life. The clock is ticking. Diplomats and statesmen race for a last-minute settlement while the weapons of war are primed and aimed. 'Absolutely fascinating' Literary Review'Gets nearer to the truth of what happened in the Falklands War than any of the standard histories. Highly recommended' Clive Ponting'A classic of the genre . . . as good as espionage thriller writing gets' NB Magazine'A stunning and ingenious book' Crime ReviewPraise for Edward Wilson:'Stylistically sophisticated . . . Wilson knows how to hold the reader's attention' W.G. Sebald'A reader is really privileged to come across something like this' Alan Sillitoe'All too often, amid the glitzy gadgetry of the spy thriller, all the fast cars and sexual adventures, we lose sight of the essential seriousness of what is at stake. John le Carré reminds us, often, and so does Edward Wilson' Independent

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Book SynopsisA gripping espionage thriller about an establishment plot to take control of 1970s Britain, by a writer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carre' 'Edward Wilson seems poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carré' Irish Independent'More George Smiley than James Bond, Catesby will delight those readers looking for less blood and more intelligence in their spy thrillers' Publishers WeeklyMarch, 1976. A secret plot unfolds on both sides of the Atlantic to remove the British prime minister from power. 1947: As a hungry Britain freezes through a harsh winter, a young cabinet minister makes a deal with Moscow, trading jet engines for grain and wood. 1951: William Catesby executes a Nazi war criminal in the ruins of a U-boat bunker. The German turns out be a CIA asset. Both men have made powerful enemies in Washington, and their fates become entwined as one rises through MI6 and the other to Downing Street. Now the ghosts of the past are returning to haunt them. A coup d'état is imminent, and only Catesby stands in its way.'A fantastic read' Culture Matters'Le Carré fans will find a lot to like' Publishers Weekly'The best espionage story you'll read this year or any other' Crime ReviewPraise for Edward Wilson: 'Stylistically sophisticated . . . Wilson knows how to hold the reader's attention' W.G. Sebald'A reader is really privileged to come across something like this' Alan Sillitoe'All too often, amid the glitzy gadgetry of the spy thriller, all the fast cars and sexual adventures, we lose sight of the essential seriousness of what is at stake. John le Carré reminds us, often, and so does Edward Wilson' Independent

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Book SynopsisSoon to be a major ITV and StudioCanal TV show starring James Norton and Niamh AlgarThe kind of book that keeps you up at night'' My Weekly ''Utterly terrifying and compelling'' Stephanie Wrobel ''JP Delaney is King of Thrillers and Playing Nice is his best book yet'' Fiona Cummins Pete Riley answers the door one morning to a parent''s worst nightmare. On his doorstep is Miles Lambert, who breaks the devastating news that Pete''s two-year-old, Theo, isn''t Pete''s real son - their babies got mixed up at birth.The two families - Pete, his partner Maddie, and Miles and his wife Lucy - agree that, rather than swap the boys back, they''ll try to find a more flexible way to share their children''s lives. But a plan to sue the hospital triggers an investigation that unearths disturbing questions about just what happened the day the babies were switched.And when Theo is thrown

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Book Synopsis'I raced through it. Brilliant writing' Harriet Tyce author of Blood OrangeSingle mother Revelle Lee spends her days translating the words of witnesses and defendants in London’s court rooms.Only she knows what they're saying; a misinterpreted word could decide their fate.So when she believes a grave injustice is about to take a place, and a guilty man might be declared innocent, Revelle twists an alibi to change the verdict and send him to prison. No one can ever find out that she interfered or she will lose everything – even her son.But someone knows what she’s done... And they want justice of their own.Discover the shocking, unguessable thriller for fans of Louise Candlish, Harriet Tyce and Sarah Vaughan***'An ingenious premise, cleverly executed' Sunday Times bestseller Sabine Durrant'Compelling and ingenious' Prima'Exciting and original' Heat'Intriguing' Daily Mail***Readers love THE INTERPRETER:'I couldn't put it down... gripping''Loved this one! Gripping and exciting''Tense and enjoyable''I was instantly immersed' 'Unique... I was immediately drawn in by the characters''Incredible... had me completely engrossed' 'I loved how different the plot is''A great crime thriller''Completely fresh... it captures you from the start''This book is going to be huge!'Trade ReviewI raced through it. Brilliant writing, properly tense and a fascinating perspective on criminal trials with an interpreter protagonist * Harriet Tyce *An ingenious premise, cleverly executed, THE INTERPRETER is multi-layered and intriguing, gripping from beginning to end * Sabine Durrant, Sunday Times bestselling author of Lie With Me *CLEVER, ATMOSPHERIC AND UTTERLY ABSORBING - I LOVED IT * Alice Clark-Platts, author of THE COVE *In this stellar debut thriller... Robinson is marvelous at mining the moral murk of Revelle's choices, and chapters from the perspective of her stalker ratchet up the suspense. Minnette Walters fans will be delighted * Publishers Weekly *Compelling and ingenious, this thriller explores the lengths people go to to protect others * Prima *

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Book SynopsisEarl Thomas, a straight-laced taxman with his fair share of police encounters, is the begrudging foreperson in a high-stakes trial in Miami. Laura Hurtado-Perez is a physician whose unassuming manner conceals a private pain. Joseph Cole is the founder of his local neighborhood watch, unduly obsessed with the families around him.Along with four others, these jurors of varying ages and walks of life whose paths would likely never have otherwise crossed must come together to make one of the most important decisions of their lives.On the night Melina Mora, a free-spirited woman both proud and kind, was murdered, she was seen with a young man of Gabriel Soto's description. Two strands of her hair were found in his bedroom. Sandy Grunwald, a young prosecutor whose political ambitions depend on securing a conviction, finds herself pitted against Jordan Whipple, a preening public defender armed with a freshly discovered, dynamite piece of evidence on the eve of the trial-if the Honorable Darla Tackett will admit it.What Sandy, Jordan, and Judge Tackett all know, however, is that the criminal justice system is complicated, and everyone has a story-especially the jury. And it's their experiences, biases, and beliefs that will ultimately shape the verdict.With striking originality and expert storytelling, Robin Peguero's debut novel explores the prejudice that hangs over every trial in America. You've never read a legal thriller quite like this. There's never been a thriller writer quite like Peguero. And you will not be able to predict how it all ends.

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Book SynopsisNo one knows what happened that night, and now seven strangers must decide, in this "exciting" and "clever" thriller (New York Times Book Review)On the night that Melina Mora, a proud, free-spirited woman, was murdered, she was seen with a young man that matched Gabriel Soto's description. Two strands of her hair were found in his bedroom. Sandy Grunwald, a young prosecutor whose political ambitions depend on securing a conviction, finds herself pitted against a preening public defender armed with a freshly discovered, dynamite piece of evidence on the eve of the trial.And then there's the jury for the high-stakes Miami trial: Earl Thomas, a straitlaced taxman with his fair share of police encounters, as the begrudging foreperson, and Laura Hurtado-Perez, a physician whose unassuming manner conceals a private pain. There's also Joseph Cole, who's the founder of his local neighbourhood watch and unduly obsessed with the families around him. Along with four others, these jurors from varied walks of life come together to make one of the most important decisions of their lives.But as the prosecutor, public defender, and judge know all too well, the criminal justice system is complex and the jury's experiences, biases, and beliefs will ultimately shape the verdict.With striking originality and expert storytelling, Robin Peguero's debut novel explores the prejudice that hangs over every trial in America.

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Book SynopsisThe #1 New York Times bestselling author of Presumed Innocent and The Last Trial returns with a riveting legal thriller in which a reckless private detective is embroiled in a fraught police scandal.For as long as Lucia Gomez has been the police chief in the city of Highland Isle, near Kindle County, she has known that any woman in law enforcement must walk a precarious line between authority and camaraderie to gain respect.  She has maintained a spotless reputation—until now. Three male police officers have accused her of soliciting sex in exchange for promotions to higher ranks. With few people left who she can trust, Chief Gomez turns to an old friend, Rik Dudek, to act as her attorney in the federal grand jury investigation, insisting to Rik that the accusations against her are part of an ugly smear campaign designed to destroy her career and empower her enemies—both outside the police force and within.. Clarice “Pinky” Granum spent most of her youth experimenting with an impressive array of drugs and failing out of various professions, including the police academy. Pinky knows that in the eyes of most people, she's nothing but a screwup—but she doesn't trust most people's opinions anyway. Moreover, she finally has a respectable-enough job as a licensed P.I. working for Rik on his roster of mostly minor cases, like workman's comp, DUIs and bar fights. Rik's shabby office and even shabbier cases are a far cry from the kinds of high-profile criminal matters Pinky became familiar with in the law office of her grandfather, Sandy Stern. But Rik and Pinky feel that Chief Gomez’s case, which has attracted national attention, is their chance to break into the legal big leagues.     Guided by her gut instinct and razor-sharp investigative skills, Pinky dives headfirst into a twisted scandal that will draw her into the deepest recesses of the city’s criminal networks, as well as the human mind. But she will need every scrap of tenacity and courage to unravel the dark secrets those closest to her are determined to keep hidden.

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