Psychological thriller

Book SynopsisThe Snow Angel is a deliciously dark family saga from Lulu Taylor, the bestselling author of The Winter Folly.A forbidden passion. A lifetime of consequences. In 1960s London, Cressida Felbridge is living the high life as a debutante when she is courted by a friend of her brother's and set to marry. But as soon as she meets the painter Ralph Few, Cressie knows her life will never be the same again. Soon, she is deeply in love with Ralph, but there is one problem: Ralph is still married to Catherine. Soon, Cressie is drawn into a strange, triangular relationship. As Catherine's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic, Ralph and Cressie escape to Cressie's family home in Cumbria. But Catherine will not give up Ralph that easily . . .In the present day, Emily Conway has everything she could wish for: a huge house in West London, two beautiful children and a successful husband, Will. But as Emily and Will drive to a party, Will reveals that he has been betrayed by his business partner. Steering the car off the road at high speed, their perfect life is abruptly ended. When she wakes from her injuries, Emily is told of a mysterious legacy: a house in Cumbria on the edge of an estate, left to her by a woman she has never met. Could this house provide the chance to start anew, or must secrets be uncovered before it can be at peace?

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Book Synopsis'I read Saint X in a night, captivated by its mystery but also by the smart, evocative way Schaitkin writes about race, loss and place.’ – Maggie Shipstead, The Guardian, ‘The 30 best holiday reads’ ‘Hypnotic, delivering acute social commentary on everything from class and race to familial bonds and community . . . I devoured Saint X in a day.’ – Oyinkan Braithwaite (author of My Sister, the Serial Killer), New York TimesClaire is only seven years old when her college-age sister Alison vanishes from the luxury resort on the Caribbean island of Saint X on the last night of her family’s vacation. Several days later Alison’s body is found in a remote spot on a nearby cay, and two local men, employees at the resort, are arrested. But the evidence is slim, the timeline against it, and the men are soon released. It’s national tabloid news, a lurid mystery that will go unsolved, but for Claire’s family, there is only the sad return home to broken lives.Years later, riding in a New York City taxi, Claire recognizes the name on the cab driver’s licence: Clive Richardson, one of the men originally suspected of murdering her sister. The fateful encounter sets her on an obsessive pursuit of the truth as to not only what happened on the night of Alison’s death, but the no-less-elusive question of exactly who was this sister she was barely old enough to know: a beautiful, changeable, provocative girl of eighteen at a turbulent moment of identity formation. As Claire doggedly shadows Clive, hoping to gain his trust, waiting for the slip that will uncover the truth, an unlikely intimacy develops between them, two people whose lives were forever marked by a tragedy.Alexis Schaitkin’s Saint X is a flawlessly drawn and deeply moving story that hurtles to a devastating end.Trade ReviewA remarkable debut . . . A richly polyphonic, prismatic novel . . . Issues are raised — tourism, racial bias, reality TV, sisterhood, excessive grief — but Schaitkin’s central preoccupation is with how we misperceive and misremember those around us. * Sunday Times *Saint X is hypnotic . . . Schaitkin's characters . . . are so intelligent and distinctive it feels not just easy, but necessary, to follow them. I devoured Saint X in a day. -- Oyinkan Braithwaite, author of My Sister, The Serial Killer * New York Times *Saint X imagines a chorus of voices in the aftermath of the alleged rape/murder of a privileged American girl vacationing in an exotic Caribbean country . . . irresistibly suspenseful and canny. -- Joyce Carol OatesA kaleidoscopic examination of race and privilege, family and self, told with the propulsive, kinetic focus of a crime thriller . . . I simply couldn’t stop reading. -- Chang-Rae LeeSaint X is more than the story of a missing girl. It’s a story about why such stories fascinate us . . . [It] also unpacks timely social and cultural issues — about grief, truth, white privilege and our murder-as-entertainment culture. * Washington Post *Saint X is captivating right from the jump. * Entertainment Weekly *Engrossing -- Vogue US, 'The 22 Best Books To Read This Winter'

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Book Synopsis*Winner of the CWA New Blood Dagger 2023*'A heart-wrenching mystery' – Jane Harper, author of The DryTwelve year-old Esther Bianchi disappears on her way home from school in the small town of Durton – and the truth will not come easily. Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor is an atmospheric crime novel set in rural Australia.Dirt town. Dirt and hurt – that’s what others would remember about our town . . .The DetectiveAs the community is thrown into a state of grief and suspicion, Detective Sergeant Sarah Michaels begins her investigation into the disappearance of Esther Bianchi. She questions those who knew the girl, attempting to unpick the secrets which bind them together.The MotherThe girl’s mother believes that her daughter going missing is the worst thing that can happen to her. But as the search for Esther develops, she learns that things can always get worse.The FriendsRonnie is Esther’s best friend and is determined to bring her home. So when her classmate Lewis tells her that he saw Esther with a strange man at the creek the afternoon she went missing, Ronnie feels she is one step closer to finding her. But why is Lewis refusing to speak to the police?And who else is keeping quiet about what happened to Esther?'I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough' - Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of We Begin at the End'A stunning debut' - Ann CleevesTrade ReviewA heart-wrenching mystery, Hayley Scrivenor’s remarkable sense of place brings Dirt Town to life. A stellar debut -- Jane Harper, bestselling author of The DryA stunning debut. Achingly atmospheric, thrilling and heartfelt, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough -- Chris Whitaker, internationally bestselling author of We Begin at the EndBeautifully written, compassionate, with an entirely credible but heart-breaking ending. A stunning debut -- Ann Cleeves, The Sunday Times bestselling authorDirt Town deserves its praise. It is an intelligent novel, one that grapples with complex social and political dynamics, and brings a fresh voice to familiar narratives * Guardian *[A] deeply impressive first novel . . . It is a powerful story, shot through with moments of horror and tenderness, and another devastating indictment of the outback mentality * The Times *Best crime debut in ages, Hayley Scrivenor is a major new talent. Page-turning, heart-breaking, gut-wrenching stuff. I can’t remember when I enjoyed a book so much -- Erin Kelly, The Sunday Times bestselling author of He Said/She SaidMasterful. Australian crime has a new star. The characters of Dirt Town are rich, raw and beautifully realized. One of the crime books of the year. Intelligent, nuanced and compassionate -- Chris Hammer, bestselling author of ScrublandsA chilling and darkly atmospheric novel. I literally couldn’t put it down. -- Ruth Hogan, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost ThingsRaw and intimate, Hayley Scrivenor unpacks small town life and its tragedies with heart and prowess -- Anna BaileyHighly doubt I will read a better debut in 2022. Evocative, immersive, heart-breaking and ultimately hopeful. In a word, brilliant -- Sarah Hilary, author of FragileA gripping mystery told in authentic and innovative fashion, Dirt Town will keep you engrossed. Hayley Scrivenor is an exciting new voice and an author to watch -- Adam Hamdy, The Sunday Times bestselling authorDirt Town is a remarkable debut, Hayley Scrivenor is masterful in her deft handling of the tensions underpinning a small, regional town, and the complex characters that populate it. You will not be able to put it down -- Hannah KentI loved it. Brilliantly written, evocative and touching -- Charlotte LevinBroadchurch but in a scorched, dying town in rural Australia. Immersive, sweeping and superb -- Catherine Ryan Howard[An] exceptional slice of outback noir * i online *

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Book Synopsis*Winner of the Crime Writers' Association New Blood Dagger Award 2023*Twelve year-old Esther Bianchi disappears on her way home from school in the small town of Durton – and the truth will not come easily. Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor is an atmospheric crime novel set in rural Australia.'A heart-wrenching mystery' – Jane Harper, author of The Dry'A stunning debut' - Ann CleevesTHE DETECTIVEAs the community is thrown into a state of grief and suspicion, Detective Sergeant Sarah Michaels begins her investigation into the disappearance of Esther Bianchi. She questions those who knew the girl, attempting to unpick the secrets which bind them together.THE MOTHERThe girl’s mother, Constance, believes that her daughter going missing is the worst thing that can happen to her. But as the search for Esther develops, she learns that things can always get worse.THE FRIENDSRonnie is Esther’s best friend and is determined to bring her home. So when her classmate Lewis tells her that he saw Esther with a strange man at the creek the afternoon she went missing, Ronnie feels she is one step closer to finding her. But why is Lewis refusing to speak to the police?And who else is keeping quiet about what happened to Esther?Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor is perfect for fans of Jane Harper's The Dry and Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End.Trade ReviewA heart-wrenching mystery, Hayley Scrivenor’s remarkable sense of place brings Dirt Town to life. A stellar debut -- Jane Harper, bestselling author of The DryA stunning debut. Achingly atmospheric, thrilling and heartfelt, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough -- Chris Whitaker, internationally bestselling author of We Begin at the EndBeautifully written, compassionate, with an entirely credible but heart-breaking ending. A stunning debut -- Ann Cleeves, The Sunday Times bestselling author of Vera and ShetlandDirt Town deserves its praise. It is an intelligent novel, one that grapples with complex social and political dynamics, and brings a fresh voice to familiar narratives * Guardian *[A] deeply impressive first novel . . . It is a powerful story, shot through with moments of horror and tenderness, and another devastating indictment of the outback mentality * The Times *Best crime debut in ages, Hayley Scrivenor is a major new talent. Page-turning, heart-breaking, gut-wrenching stuff. I can’t remember when I enjoyed a book so much -- Erin Kelly, The Sunday Times bestselling author of He Said/She SaidMasterful. Australian crime has a new star. The characters of Dirt Town are rich, raw and beautifully realized. One of the crime books of the year. Intelligent, nuanced and compassionate -- Chris Hammer, bestselling author of ScrublandsA chilling and darkly atmospheric novel. I literally couldn’t put it down. -- Ruth Hogan, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost ThingsRaw and intimate, Hayley Scrivenor unpacks small town life and its tragedies with heart and prowess -- Anna Bailey, author of Tall BonesHighly doubt I will read a better debut in 2022. Evocative, immersive, heart-breaking and ultimately hopeful. In a word, brilliant -- Sarah Hilary, author of FragileA gripping mystery told in authentic and innovative fashion, Dirt Town will keep you engrossed. Hayley Scrivenor is an exciting new voice and an author to watch -- Adam Hamdy, The Sunday Times bestselling authorDirt Town is a remarkable debut, Hayley Scrivenor is masterful in her deft handling of the tensions underpinning a small, regional town, and the complex characters that populate it. You will not be able to put it down -- Hannah KentI loved it. Brilliantly written, evocative and touching -- Charlotte LevinBroadchurch but in a scorched, dying town in rural Australia. Immersive, sweeping and superb -- Catherine Ryan Howard[An] exceptional slice of outback noir * i online *

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Book SynopsisPerfect People is a compelling and thought-provoking thriller from bestselling author Peter James.It’s every parent’s worst nightmare . . .John and Naomi are grieving the death of their four-year-old son from a rare genetic disorder. They desperately want another child, but when they find out they are both carriers of a rogue gene, they realize the odds of their next child contracting the same disease are very high.Then they hear about geneticist Doctor Leo Dettore. He has methods that can spare them the heartache of ever losing another child to any disease – even if his methods cost more than they can afford. But surely a healthy child is worth all the money in the world?His clinic is where their nightmare begins.They should have realized that something was wrong when they saw the list. Choices of eye colour, hair, sporting abilities. They can literally design their child. Is this what they really wanted? Now it’s too late to turn back. Naomi is pregnant, and already she knows something is very wrong. . .Trade ReviewPeter James is one of the best crime writers in the business -- Karin SlaughterAnother stonking story from the master of the craft * Express *The king of crime is now a miracle worker * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisA major film from the makers of Normal People and Room, starring Florence Pugh and streaming on Netflix.'An old-school page turner with crackling intensity' Stephen King'Powerful, compulsively readable' Irish TimesEleven-year-old Anna O'Donnell stops eating, but remains miraculously alive and well. A nurse, sent to investigate whether she is a fraud, meets a journalist hungry for a story . . .Set in the Irish Midlands in the 1850s, Emma Donoghue's The Wonder – inspired by numerous European and North American cases of 'fasting girls' between the sixteenth century and the twentieth – is a psychological thriller about a child's murder threatening to happen in slow motion before our eyes.Trade ReviewEmma Donoghue's writing is superb alchemy, changing innocence into horror and horror into tenderness -- Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's WifeFascinating . . . Like The Turn of the Screw, the novel opens irresistibly, when a young woman with a troubled past gets an enigmatic posting in a remote place . . . Heartbreaking and transcendent and almost religious in itself -- Sarah Lyall * New York Times *A fine, fact-based historical novel, an old-school page turner . . . Donoghue has written, with crackling intensity, about [spirituality's] power to destroy -- Stephen King * New York Times Book Review *A riveting allegory about the trickle-down effect of trauma * Vogue *Donoghue mines material that on the face of it appears intractably bleak and surfaces with a powerful, compulsively readable work of fiction * Irish Times *Deliciously gothic * USA Today *Heartbreaking and transcendent * New York Times *Fans of Emma Donoghue's first novel Room will not be disappointed with The Wonder . . . a tale of claustrophobic suspense and the intense relationship between a woman and a child * Red Magazine *Like [Room], The Wonder explores a dark, insular, and rigidly controlled environment . . . there is more to this mystery than superstitions and local dialect. * The Oprah Magazine *Donoghue proves herself endlessly inventive . . . This is the kind of book that will keep you up at night and make you smarter -- Julie Buntin * Cosmopolitan *Ingenious * Wall Street Journal *Lib is a heroine the modern woman can admire * Time Magazine *

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Book Synopsis'Utterly Gripping' Sunday TelegraphMeet Chloe. First-year student. Ordinary girl next door. Psychopath.Chloe Sevre can be whoever you want her to be. A cool girl, a best friend, someone to tell secrets to over midnight snacks. She has an impressive IQ, loves working out and frat parties.She's also a psychopath.In between her university classes and taking part in a secret clinical study of young psychopaths, Chloe is plotting to kill childhood friend Will Bachman.They say you should never trust a psychopath. But when you hear what Will Bachman did to Chloe Sevre, you might just change your mind...**Perfect for fans of How To Kill Your Family, You and Killing Eve*'I fell in love with self-confessed psychopath Chloe on page one' Erin Kelly, bestselling author of Watch Her Fall'Deliciously wicked and utterly addictive' Alice Hunter, author of The Serial Killer's WifeReaders love NEVER SAW ME COMING:'A fantastic read that absolutely kept me guessing.' *****'I was hooked... There's plenty of dark humour...but there's also suspense, a lot of twists' *****'A darkly comic, complicated tale.' *****'A profoundly disturbing and well written book with an ending I didn't see coming.' *****'This book was perfectly pitched and pure fun. Highly recommended.' ******Trade ReviewI devoured this riveting book through a day of travel - in a taxi, on the plane, in the next taxi - and into the night. My desire to rush to the end clashed with my desire to savor every word. Who would be the last psychopath standing? * New York Times *Kurian dazzles with a unique protagonist and tight plotting. This one will keep you awake at night and force you to question how well you know the people in your life. Not to be missed! * Christina Dalcher, author of Vox *Utterly gripping * Sunday Telegraph *An up-and-coming voice in fiction...a game of cat and mouse * Tatler *An audacious, break-the-mould thriller from a new voice -- Sarra Manning * Red *

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Book Synopsis'This is a thrilling story with a compelling hook' Adele Parks, author of One Last Secret'Grabs the reader by the heart from the first pages and ramps up the tension to the last. A stellar, shivers-down-the-spine debut' Erin Kelly, author of The Skeleton Key THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH: FIRST, DO NO HARM...Dr Rea Dharmasena is devastated when she loses out on her dream research job to her med-school rival and best friend, Dr Julia Stone.To add insult to injury, Julia used Rea's own cutting-edge research to get it.But just as Rea finds it in her to forgive the betrayal, Julia, after a life-changing medical discovery, is found murdered.Now Rea has the dream job she's always wanted.But at what cost?Perfect for fans of The Silent Patient and The Holiday, this is a heart-stopping thriller of betrayal, secrets and ruthless ambition that will leave you breathless.Trade ReviewDEADLY CURE is a gripping, exhilarating read. I loved the medical setting, clearly written with the benefit of experience and authority, the high stakes plotting, the twists and turns. It's an addictive read that ramps up the tension again and again, and that took me to a place I hadn't seen coming at all. I loved it. * Emily Barr *A taut, sizzling thriller with, at its heart, a friendship gone badly wrong. Addictive and brilliant. * Gytha Lodge *The line between female friendship and rivalry blurs to deadly effect in this pacy, authentic medical thriller which grabs the reader by the heart from the first pages and ramps up the tension to the last. A stellar, shivers-down-the-spine debut. * Erin Kelly *

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Book SynopsisA suspenseful full-cast BBC radio adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's classic psychological thrillerWhen Guy Haines meets Charles Bruno in the dining car of a Texas-bound train, they share their secrets in the way that only strangers can. Charles confides his hatred for his controlling father, Guy confesses that he is divorcing his unfaithful wife. As the drink flows and the conversation turns darker, Charles proposes the perfect solution to both their problems - a murder swap - and Guy laughingly agrees.Back home, he quickly forgets their drunken pact: but Charles does not. Soon Guy is facing a nightmarish choice - fulfil his part of the bargain, or be framed for a murder he didn't commit...Dramatised for radio by award-winning playwright Craig Warner, this disturbing tale of obsession, blackmail, guilt and fear stars Michael Sheen (Good Omens, Staged) as Guy Haines and Anton Lesser (Game of Thrones, Endeavour) as Charles Bruno.CreditsWritten by Craig Warner, based on the novel by Patricia HighsmithOriginal music by Craig WarnerDirected by Andy JordanCastCharles Bruno........................Anton LesserGuy Haines........................Michael SheenAnne........................Saskia ReevesGerard........................Bill NighyElsie Bruno........................Jane WhittenshawAlex........................Denys HawthorneMyers........................Roger MayTreacher........................Stephen CritchlowCop........................John HartleyFrear........................Andrew BranchFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 25 January 1996Strangers on a Train © 1993 by Diogenes Verlag AG Zurich, all rights reserved.© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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Book Synopsis'A masterclass in psychological suspense' Claire Douglas'A gripping new thriller' Shari Lapena'A superbly plotted' Lucy Clarke'A one-sit read' Sarah Pearse'Twisty and propulsive' Harriet Tyce______________________________Be careful what you wish for...Nicole and Tom's lives are changed overnight by a ten-million-pound lottery win.Before they know it they've moved into a state-of-the-art Glass Barn conversion in the stunning grounds of Lancaut Manor in Gloucestershire.But their dream quickly turns into a nightmare when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool, with a wound on his head.Someone close to home must be responsible. But other than the young couple who live in the Manor, and their housekeeper in the Coach House next door, there's no one around for miles.Who among them is capable of murder?_____________________________Praise for Gilly Macmillan:'Gilly Macmillan writes with verve and emotional acuity' New York Times'Brilliantly written, completely unputdownable, absolutely unmissable' Tim Weaver'A smart, well-told story that allows us to indulge our sneaky curiosity about what instant money can do to people's lives' Daily Mail'Plenty of twists and turns in this truly layered novel. Cleverly put together, it'll have you thinking long after you've finished reading' Belfast Telegraph'Great characters and a clever plot make for a highly engaging read. Storytelling at its best!' B.A. Paris'A truly excellent read' Jane Shemilt'Full of devious twists and turns' Cara Hunter'White-knuckled suspense' Tess Gerritsen'This is another winner for me. Absolutely loved it. Gripping, page turning and so cleverly plotted. I had real sympathy for the characters (some of them at least!)' Emma Curtis'What a tangly, twisting story! The Fall is completely unpredictable, and absolutely un-putdownable' Ava Glass'The Fall is an out-and-out winner! Hugely enjoyable, flawlessly crafted, beautifully written. This is a superior mystery of the highest order' C.M. Ewan'Brilliantly crafted' Woman & Home'Cleverly put together, it'll have you thinking long after you've finished reading' Press Association'Its intense plot, relatable characters and plethora of exciting twists and turns will leave readers gasping. I devoured each and every delicious page' Mystery and Suspense'Gilly Macmillan [is] one of the best writers of dark and twisty thrillers currently at work' Shots Magazine

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Book SynopsisOne woman is about to become the victim of her own success.On the surface Emily Atkinson has it all. A successful job, a luxury apartment in New York City and a glamorous life. But then she lands in the hospital with a double diagnosis.She parties too much... and she's pregnant.Her nurse and new friend, Betsey, helps Emily recuperate and rediscover morning runs in the park and quiet nights at home.But as a series of women go missing, Emily's pregnancy becomes decidedly high-risk...Will she live to see it through?--------------------------------Praise for James Patterson'Nobody does it better.' Jeffery Deaver'One of the greatest storytellers of all time.' Patricia Cornwell'James Patterson is The Boss. End of.' Ian Rankin'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades.' Lee ChildTrade ReviewPatterson knows where our deepest fears are buried... there's no stopping his imagination. -- NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEWNo one gets this big without natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades. -- LEE CHILD, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher seriesPatterson boils a scene down to a single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind. -- MICHAEL CONNELLYJames Patterson is the boss. End of. -- IAN RANKIN, bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus seriesJames Patterson is the gold standard by which all others are judged. -- STEVE BERRY, bestselling author of the Colton Malone seriesPatterson is in a class by himself. -- VANITY FAIR

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Book Synopsis'Shiveringly good suspense!' Lisa GardnerTHE BRAND NEW NOVEL FROM 30 MILLION COPY SELLING AUTHORThe Cahill family are famous for two things: their wealth, and the scandals that surround them.James Cahill has always tried to make his own way in the world, though he has enjoyed the many women taken in by the easy charms of a handsome, soon-to-be-rich bad boy.Waking up in hospital, bandaged and bruised, James barely recognises the gorgeous blonde at his bedside; Sophia, his mistress. As James' memories gradually return, pieces of a terrifying puzzle begin to slot into place. His girlfriend, Megan, had found out about his affair. Megan is missing. His family is hounding him. The police are asking him questions. James insists he has no idea what happened to Megan. But the betrayal you can't remember may be worse than you can imagine . . .A fast-paced psychological thriller for fans of Martina Cole, Lisa Gardner and Karen Rose, with Lisa Jackson's trademark mix of dark secrets and stunning twists.'Shiveringly good suspense!' Lisa Gardner'One of the best' Harlan Coben

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Book SynopsisThe internationally bestselling novel that inspired the Disney+ Original series, The Clearing, featuring an all-star cast'Past and present collide in this taut and unpredictable thriller' - Chris Hammer, bestselling author of Scrublands'A dark, chilling, atmospheric thriller populated with mysterious and wonderfully flawed characters.' - Christian White, bestselling author of The Nowhere ChildTHE NUMBER ONE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERHow far would you go to protect your family?Amy has only ever known life in the Clearing. She knows what's expected of her. She knows what to do to please her elders, and how to make sure the community remains happy and calm. That is, until a new young girl joins the group. She isn't fitting in; she doesn't want to stay. What happens next will turn life as Amy knows it on its head.Freya has gone to great lengths to feel like a 'normal person'. In fact, if you saw her go about her day with her young son, you'd think she was an everyday mum. That is, until a young girl goes missing and someone from her past, someone she hasn't seen for a very long time, arrives in town.As secrets of the past bubble up to the surface, this small town's dark secrets will be exposed and lives will be destroyed.PRAISE FOR IN THE CLEARING:'A chilling depiction of the ferocious hold exerted by a cult and its adherents. This is totally absorbing fiction' - Jock Serong, author of The Rules of Backyard Cricket and Preservation'J.P. Pomare captivates in this haunting novel . . . A sure-fire bestseller' Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Mother-In-Law and The Family Next Door'Breathtaking page-turner' Christian White, bestselling author of The Nowhere ChildTrade ReviewPraise for In The Clearing:Beautifully written and disturbingly addictive -- Lesley KaraPomare's new novel, In the Clearing, is written with a technical aplomb that proves his first was no fluke. There's no doubt about it: Pomare is a master of the carefully constructed, impeccably paced psycho-thriller * The Australian *There are lots of premium crime-fiction offerings this summer, but this bloodcurdling exploration of the asphyxiating grip of a cult on its followers deserves to be at the top of your pile. * The New Daily *Clear your schedules, because after reading page one you won't be able to stop. In The Clearing is another breathtaking page-turner from the author of Call Me Evie. A dark, chilling, atmospheric thriller populated with mysterious and wonderfully flawed characters. * Christian White, bestselling author of The Nowhere Child *'Smart Australian thriller ... Amy and Freya's worlds creepily collide in this unputdownable tale.' * Peterborough Telegraph *Pomare alternates between Freya and Amy's stories in ways that challenge the reader to work out how these two characters connect, gradually revealing the secrets of the past until all the pieces of the puzzle fit satisfyingly * Sydney Morning Herald *Both his books are testament to the fact that he could be one of the most exciting literary thriller authors to come out of the country * The Saturday Paper *Still in his early thirties, he already writes with more assurance, and more subtlety, than some of the giants in his field. It seems safe to predict that he will one day be regarded as a giant in the field too * The Australian *If J P Pomare's Call Me Evie was a slow-burner of a psychological thriller, his follow-up, In the Clearing, is a pared-back firecracker * Books + Publishing *Past and present collide in this taut and unpredictable thriller ... Twist follows twist and nothing is as it seems * Chris Hammer, bestselling author of Scrublands *A chilling depiction of the ferocious hold exerted by a cult and its adherents. This is totally absorbing fiction, made all the more shocking by the realisation that these stories recur again and again in Australian society * Jock Serong, author of The Rules of Backyard Cricket and Preservation *J.P. Pomare captivates in this haunting novel, In the Clearing. I was utterly gripped with the stories of Amy and Freya from start to finish, and fascinated by the unexpected way the two came together ... A sure-fire bestseller * Sally Hepworth *This story plays on our worst fears - the peril faced by children and young people when predators strike. In the Clearing explores the psychology of cults and the experience of survivors and those who don't make it out. A complex and satisfying psychological mystery. * N.B. Magazine *Pomare teases out the mystery of both Freya's past and its connection to Amy's story, delivering a thriller that's tense, twisty and eerily atmospheric. * Gemma Nisbet, The West Australian *Praise for Call Me Evie:Pomare skilfully controls the drip-feed of information to create a nerve-racking love story that continually blindsides the reader. * The Times *

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Book Synopsis'J.P. Pomare keeps you guessing all the way through this creepy cyber-nightmare'The Times Crime Club'Bump it to the top of your must-read list immediately.'Anna Downes'A cunning, complex, contemporary thrill-ride 'Christian White'Pomare's latest creation will keep you guessing right up to the last page'Rose CarlyleEver get the feeling that you're being watched? Newlyweds Lina and Cain don't make it out to their vacation home on gorgeous Lake Tarawera as often as they'd like, so when Cain suggests they rent the property out on weekends, Lina reluctantly agrees. While the home has been special to her family for generations, their neighbours are already renting our their properties, and to be honest, she and Cain could use the extra money. What could go wrong? At first, Lina is amazed at how quickly guests line up - and at how much they're willing to pay. But both Lina and Cain have been keeping secrets, secrets that won't be kept out by a new alarm system or a locked cupboard. When strange things begin happening on their property, and a visit takes a deadly turn, Lina becomes convinced that someone out there knows something they shouldn't. And when they come for her, there will be nowhere left to hide.More praise for JP Pomare:'A master of the carefully constructed, impeccably paced psycho-thriller' The Australian 'Able to pull off red herrings galore and crafty, satisfying twists.' Kirkus'A writer to watch.' Publishers WeeklyTrade ReviewJP Pomare keeps you guessing all the way through this creepy cyber-nightmare. * The Times Crime Club *Gripping * Peterborough Telegraph *Meticulously-plotted and relentlessly tense, THE LAST GUESTS is JP Pomare at the top of his psych-thriller game. On one hand, it's an innovative, exhilarating and deeply unsettling story about technology and the underbelly of cyber-crime . . . on the other, it's a sharp and thoughtful exploration of marriage, intimacy, trust, and the things we do for love. The characters and settings get right under your skin and stay there. Couldn't put it down, can't stop thinking about it. Bump it to the top of your must-read list immediately. -- Anna Downes, author of THE SAFE PLACEA smart, innovative thriller, THE LAST GUESTS will have you moving off-grid and throwing your cellphone in the nearest lake. This nerve-wracking, fast-paced tale takes all our fears about surveillance technology and twists them into one nightmarish Gordian knot. Carefully constructed, chilling and compelling, Pomare's latest creation will keep you guessing right up to the last page -- Rose Carlyle, author of THE GIRL IN THE MIRRORJ.P. Pomare's first two books rocked my world - this one manages to exceed them. THE LAST GUESTS is a cunning, complex, contemporary thrill-ride that seems poised for the bestseller list. -- Christian White, author of THE NOWHERE CHILDA twisty thriller with an ending I didn't see coming. A cautionary tale for our times -- Megan Goldin, author of THE ESCAPE ROOM

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Book Synopsis Set in the final days before a shocking tragedy forces an elite boarding school to shut its doors for good, Ellie Eaton's The Divines is a razor-sharp debut that asks the question: were you really as good as you remember?I am Divine. My mother was Divine and her mother before that, which isn't uncommon. Although that was at a time when being Divine meant something . . .The girls of elite English boarding school, St. John the Divine, were notorious for flipping their hair, harassing teachers, chasing boys and chain-smoking cigarettes. They were fiercely loyal, sharp-tongued, and cutting in the way that only teenage girls can be. But for Josephine, now in her thirties, her time at St. John feels like a lifetime ago. She hasn't spoken to another Divine in fifteen years, not since the day the school shut its doors in disgrace . . .But an impromptu visit reawakens blurry recollections of those doomed final weeks that rocked the community. With each memory that resurfaces, she circles closer to the ugly secret at the heart of the school's scandal. But the more Josephine recalls, the further her life unravels, derailing not just her marriage and career, but her entire sense of self.With the emotional power of My Dark Vanessa and the reflective haze of The Girls, The Divines is a compulsive debut exploring the intoxicating, destructive relationships between teenage girls. 'A cool, chilling and elegant novel' Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent'Perfectly twisted . . . Impossible to put down' Refinery29'Captivating' Vulture'An explosive debut' StylistTrade ReviewA dark delight . . . The Divines is perfectly twisted in its reflection of an utterly toxic environment, making it impossible to put down till you get to its end. * Refinery29 *Chilling and twisty, this story will have you at once compelled, and cringing at the awfulness of teenage girls * Cosmopolitan *Exploring the destructive relationships of teenage girls and the echoes they have on our grown lives, this is an explosive debut * Stylist *This elegant tale of class privilege and bullying at an exclusive girl's boarding school in the 90s makes you feel as though you are trapped alongside conflicted protagonist Josephine * iNews, Best Books of 2021 *Remembering the girls of St. John the Divine, Josephine, in her 30s, ruminates on her bullying days at boarding school. In this captivating debut novel, Ellie Eaton traces adolescent female sexuality, class divides, and the weight of formative memories on adults * New York Magazine *Compelling and very atmospheric. Really interesting on how we remember the past and carry it with us * Kate Sawyer, author of THE STRANDING *THE DIVINES is a cool, chilling and elegant novel that intrigues and compels the reader, while filleting the absurdities of British class hierarchy with a very, very sharp knife. In Eaton's stylish and controlled prose, the oppressive atmosphere of a girls' boarding school becomes the site of a violent and mysterious act, but also a lens through which to examine the intoxicating and unnerving power of adolescent sexuality, the dangers and consolations of friendship, and the toxic nature of the class divide. It's a terrific, entertaining and astute work and one of considerable relevance to the way we live now. * Sarah Perry, author of THE ESSEX SERPENT *A potent novel about what it means to remember and how responsible we are for the actions of our youth. Seething with teenage sexuality, friendship and that peculiarly British obsession, class, this is an absorbing read * Araminta Hall *'Girls are vicious,' a character in The Divines says towards the end, and Ellie Eaton has given us every ounce of that viciousness, meticulously portioned and weighed, the pain of it held up to the light. Seductive and uncomfortable in equal measure, the real raw strange runs through this book, that indigestible part of the human experience we all choke on from time to time * Rufi Thorpe, author of The Knockout Queen and The Girls from Corona Del Mar *The Divines is an absorbing, sharp exploration of the ways our adolescent secrets, relationships, and cruelties shape and haunt us into adulthood. Ellie Eaton's writing is thrilling and intoxicating, whether about the inexplicable power teenage girls have over one another or the challenges of defining a self outside of long-held traditions. A compulsively readable book; I couldn't put it down * Alexandra Chang, author of Days of Distraction *From the very first page, The Divines throws the reader headfirst into the crucible of adolescent girlhood, in all its insecurity and entitlement, brittle vulnerability and callous cruelty. Eaton turns a keen eye toward class, privilege, and trauma, but this novel is above all a ruthlessly compassionate exploration of the stories we tell ourselves about the past-our drive to assuage our regrets, even as we are reluctant to reckon with their repercussions. A confident, nuanced, impeccably paced debut * Micah Nemerever, author of These Violent Delights *The Divines is a scintillating coming-of-age story about the brutal bonds of female boarding school friendships, class prejudices, and the ways in which false memories can take the place of truth. Sephine is an unflinching and utterly convincing narrator. I lapped up every delicious detail * Susie Yang, author of White Ivy *A nostalgia filled story, full of the intensity of adolescent friendships * Best Magazine *

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Book Synopsis'The Butterfly House is an original and absorbing piece of work . . . Engberg's novels are bestsellers in Denmark and she is a name to look out for' SUNDAY TIMESFrom the internationally bestselling author of The Tenant, which Kathy Reichs called a 'stunning debut', comes a gripping new thriller featuring investigators Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner.In the coronary care unit at one of Copenhagen's leading medical centres, a nurse fills a syringe with an overdose of heart medication and stealthily enters the room of an older male patient. Six days earlier, a paperboy on his route in the centre of the city stumbles upon a macabre find: the body of a dead woman, lying in a fountain, her arms marked with small incisions. Cause of death? Exsanguination - the draining of all the blood in her body. Clearly, this is no ordinary murder. Jeppe Kørner, recovering from a painful divorce and in the throes of a new relationship, takes on the investigation. His partner, Anette Werner, now on leave after an unexpected pregnancy, is restless at home. While Jeppe leads the official search, Anette can't stop herself from doing a little detective work as well. But operating on her own exposes her to dangers she can't even begin to realise. As the investigation ventures into dark and dangerous corners, it uncovers an ambition and greed festering beneath the surface of caregiving institutions, all leading back to the mysterious Butterfly House . . .Trade ReviewThe Butterfly House is an original and absorbing piece of work . . . Engberg has a natural human sympathy that makes the victims more than cardboard cutouts . . .Engberg's novels are bestsellers in Denmark and she is a name to look out for * The Sunday Times *Nordic noir fans will be thrilled with this * My Weekly *

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Book Synopsis***WINNER OF THE 2023 CWA DAGGER IN THE LIBRARY***THE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Completely ingenious, entirely satisfying - a delight from start to finish' ALEX MICHAELIDES'BY FAR Sophie Hannah's best one yet. Relatable, funny, high concept and so satisfying I watched in awe as the pieces fell into place' GILLIAN McALLISTER'You'll love this brain-melting thriller!' FABULOUS'A wise and witty portrait of modern marriage and murder' THE TIMES'One of the best crime writers current working' THE SCOTSMANSIX COUPLES. ONE LUXURY RESORT. AND THE PERFECT MURDER . . .You're on your honeymoon at an exclusive couples-only resort. You receive a note warning you to 'Beware of the couple at the table nearest to yours'. At dinner that night, five other couples are present, and none of their tables is any nearer or further away than any of the others. It's as if someone has set the scene in order to make the warning note meaningless - but why would anyone do that? You have no idea. You also don't know that you're about to be murdered, or that once you're dead, all the evidence will suggest that no one there that night could possibly have committed the crime. So who might be trying to warn you? And who might be about to commit the perfect murder?SOPHIE HANNAH IS THE QUEEN OF THE UNGUESSABLE MYSTERY!'Complex and satisfying outing' CRIME TIME'A fabulously twisty and entertaining read!' My WeeklyTrade ReviewTwisty * Crime Monthly, Ones to Watch for 2022 *One of the best crime writers currently working * The Scotsman *The Couple at the Table is a wise and witty portrait of modern marriage and murder * The Times *Complex and satisfying outing * Crime Time *A fabulously twisty and entertaining read! * My Weekly *A new novel by Sophie Hannah is a cause for celebration. The Couple at The Table has everything you want in a mystery - a cryptic threat, a murder, a closed circle of suspects and an unguessable solution. Completely ingenious, entirely satisfying - a delight from start to finish * Alex Michaelides, author of THE SILENT PATIENT *I have just finished The Couple At The Table and it is BY FAR Sophie Hannah's best one yet. Relatable, funny, high concept and so satisfying I watched in awe as the pieces fell into place. Bravo! * Gillian McAllister, author of THAT NIGHT *You'll love this brain-melting thriller! * Fabulous *Brain-bending * Good Housekeeping *The award-winning crime writer returns with another gripping psychological suspense * Surrey Life *As much head-scratching fun as ever * The Observer *Intriguing * Heat *Another winning thriller * Belfast Telegraph *Sly and twisty whodunnit * Peterborough Telegraph *Clever and wonderfully plotted * Irish Independent *An absorbing thriller with an abundance of red herrings and a gradual drip-drip of clues. A fantastic mystery * Woman Magazine *Has a gift for scouring the inner psychological depths of perplexing characters, probing deserved fates and debunking evil and innocence - a desterity that defines her novels. The Couple at the Table is no exception. -- Miriam Balanescu * Cambridge Edition *There are clues and red herrings galore - Mark Sanderson * The Times *

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Book SynopsisONE DEAD BODY. TWELVE SUSPECTS. TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR DARKNESS.'Outstanding ... Haughton writes vividly about a claustrophobic community ... her novel really is a superlative locked-room mystery' Sunday Times (Crime Book of the Month)'Haughton has created a fantastically atmospheric setting ... it's a chilling race to the finish to discover whodunnit' ObserverIn the most inhospitable environment - cut off from the rest of the world - there's a killer on the loose.A&E doctor Kate North has been knocked out of her orbit by a personal tragedy. So when she's offered the opportunity to be an emergency replacement at the UN research station in Antarctica, she jumps at the chance. The previous doctor, Jean-Luc, died in a tragic accident while out on the ice.The move seems an ideal solution for Kate: no one knows about her past; no one is checking up on her. But as total darkness descends for the winter, she begins to suspect that Jean-Luc's death wasn't accidental at all.And the more questions she asks, the more dangerous it becomes . . .'A sense of growing menace pervades ... the freezing wasteland and claustrophobic workings of the research station are finely rendered' Financial Times'The kind of heart-pounding, sleep-stealing read that you want to recommend to everyone you meet. An absolutely thrilling book' CASS GREEN'Chilling and atmospheric . . . had me turning the pages late into the night' MARK EDWARDS'Tense, thrilling and unpredictable, with one of the most unique and dangerous settings imaginable' ALLIE REYNOLDS'Set against the dangerous sub-zero temperatures end endless night of the Antarctic... Brilliantly atmospheric and terrifying' CATHERINE COOPER'Tense, twisted and quite literally chilling - a locked room mystery in a unique setting where no one can be trusted' SUSI HOLLIDAY'Atmospheric, original and full of tension' AMANDA JENNINGS'A real edge-of-the-seat plot. I loved it. Original and accomplished' J.A. CORRIGANTrade ReviewTHE DARK is the kind of heart-pounding, sleep-stealing read that you want to recommend to everyone you meet. An absolutely thrilling book * Cass Green *Chilling and atmospheric, THE DARK had me turning the pages late into the night * Mark Edwards *Tense, thrilling and unpredictable, with one of the most unique and dangerous settings imaginable, THE DARK is a totally chilling read * Allie Reynolds, author of SHIVER *A real edge-of-the-seat plot. I loved it * J.A. Corrigan *Tense, twisted and quite literally chilling - a locked room mystery in a unique setting where no one can be trusted * Susi Holliday *Atmospheric, original and full of tension * Amanda Jennings *Set against the dangerous sub-zero temperatures end endless night of the Antarctic, there's a killer on the base who could be anyone. Brilliantly atmospheric and terrifying * Catherine Cooper, author of Sunday Times bestseller THE CHALET *Anyone who loves a genuine page-turner with hugely believable characters at its core will adore it * On Magazine *A modern-day Agatha Christie on ice, this is so remarkably well written, that you'll start shivering while you read it! A chillingly good pick * Woman & Home Online *A modern-day Agatha Christie on ice, you'll get shivers as you read it * Woman & Home *Exciting and involving, this has the makings of a classic thriller * Literary Review *This claustrophobic locked room mystery will definitely give you chills * Real People Mag *Gripping * Heat *You'll get shivers as you read it * Women's Own *Outstanding * Sunday Times, Crime Book of the Month *Haughton has created a fantastically atmospheric setting . . . its a chilling race to the finish to discover whodunnit * The Observer *Perfect * Grazia *This tension packed story is like a Christie whodunnit on ice. The creeping dear and icy setting leaves you gasping * The Peterborough Telegraph *Fantastic and atmospheric debut thriller, dark in more ways than one * NB Magazine *A sense of growing menace pervades Emma Haughton's The Dark . . . the freezing wasteland and the claustrophobic workings of the research station are finely rendered * Financial Times *Great characterisation, possible unreliable narrator, increasingly tense plot * Marian Keyes *Terrific . . . modern locked-room mystery * The Times and Sunday times, Best Crime Books 2021 *

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Book Synopsis The day she left was only the beginning . . .Sam was eleven when his mother went out and never came back. He waited for her and then he grieved for her, as his family fell apart around him.Sam tried to get on with his life in the intervening years. But it's only as his father lies dying that Sam begins to realise the cracks and inconsistencies in their family history.Who was his mother and why did she need to disappear? Why cover it up? As Sam searches for answers, and the trial leads him from the UK to the US, danger builds around him . . .Taut, thrilling and full of tension, YOU NEVER SAID GOODBYE is about a man who discovers his entire life is built on lies. But what price is the truth?Praise for Luca Veste:'Fantastic' MARK BILLINGHAM'High-concept serial killer thriller with twists and heart. Stunning' STEVE CAVANAGH'Properly Stephen King-style creepy' IAN RANKIN'Perfectly terrifying' AMANDA JENNINGS'Seriously creepy with a killer twist - Luca Veste goes from strength to strength' MARK EDWARDS'Creepy and compelling. The serial killer thriller of the year' MASON CROSS'Urban legend meets serial killer thriller - terrifying' STUART NEVILLETrade ReviewGrips from the first page to the last. A UK thriller writer that gives giants like Linwood Barclay and Harlan Coben a run for their money -- Mark BillinghamLocal Woman Missing meets The Fugitive, You Never Said Goodbye breathes new life into the psychological thriller genre with a captivating and gripping storyline that is part missing person mystery, part all out action thriller. A heart-in-mouth story that will pull at your heart strings and keep you on the edge of your seat, You Never Said Goodbye is everything I look for in an action thriller. I couldn't put it down * C.L. Taylor *A truly pulse-pounding thriller. The relentless tension is leavened only by its heart-rending emotion * Christopher Brookmyre *A barnstorming, rocket-paced thriller about an ordinary man thrown into an extraordinary situation. Fans of John Connolly and Linwood Barclay will love it * Mark Edwards *An absolutely gripping and immersive thrill ride from start to finish. A white-knuckle rollercoaster that's also full of heart and soul * Doug Johnstone *Action packed suspense * The Sunday Times Crime Club *This is an electrifying edge-of-the-seat thriller, a must-read for fans of Harlan Coben * Candis *This is a rip-roaring and, at times, a touching thriller from a writer who has been favourably compared to Harlan Coben and Linwood Barclay...and rightly so. Heart pumping action...thoroughly recommended and a must for everyone who enjoys high octane thrills * Belfast Telegraph *There are many gasp-inducing revelations before skilful writer Veste produces a gripping and surprise climax. * Peterborough Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis'My Sweet Girl is like nothing else I've read. Set in San Francisco and Sri Lanka, this is a story about friendship, lies, and guilt. A stunning and original must-read' Samantha Downing, Sunday Times bestselling author of My Lovely WifeA girl in a new country.A dark secret left behind.A dead body which might tell all.Ever since she was adopted from an orphanage in Sri Lanka, Paloma has led a privileged Californian life: the best schools, a generous allowance and parents so perfect that Paloma fears she'll never live up to them.Now at thirty, Paloma has managed to disappoint her parents so thoroughly that their relationship will never recover. Unemployed and friendless, the only person still talking to her is Arun - the Indian man subletting her spare room. That is until Arun discovers Paloma's darkest secret, one that could jeopardize her fragile place in this country, and the next day is found face down in a pool of blood.On finding Arun's body Paloma flees her apartment. But by the time the police arrive, there's no body to be found or signs of struggle - and no evidence that Arun ever even existed in the first place.The police may be quick to dismiss everything, but Paloma knows what she saw. Is this tangled up in her childhood in Sri Lanka and the desperate actions she took to leave so many years ago? And did Paloma's secret die with Arun or is she now in greater danger than ever before?Trade ReviewMy Sweet Girl is like nothing else I've read. Set in San Francisco and Sri Lanka, this is a story about friendship, lies, and guilt. A stunning and original must-read * Samantha Downing, Sunday Times bestselling author of My Lovely Wife *This breathtaking debut somehow manages to be terrifying and heartbreaking at the same time. Astonishingly crafted and constantly surprising, the talented Jayatissa lures us into the story with confident hands, and then yanks the rug right out from under us. Ridiculously good. Crazy good. Scary good. This is a big big book * Hank Phillippi Ryan, internationally bestselling author of THE FIRST TO LIE and HER PERFECT LIFE *My Sweet Girl starts with a bang and doesn't let up. Haunted by her past, hunted in her present, Paloma must find her life in America, or lose it forever. A richly layered, firecracker of a thriller * Eliza Jane Brazier, author of If I Disappear *MY SWEET GIRL is equal parts witty, chilling, and hypnotic, and it includes some of the creepiest lines and images I've ever read. By expertly pulling the strings of this riveting story, Amanda Jayatissa will have you thinking you know the answers to the book's layers of mysteries-until she upends every expectation with a series of shocking reveals. * Megan Collins, author of The Winter Sister and Behind the Red Door *A delicious, twisty, fast-paced thriller with the perfect hint of ghost story, MY SWEET GIRL is sheer reading pleasure * Michele Campbell, internationally bestselling author of It's Always the Husband *Dark, compelling and utterly original, My Sweet Girl heralds a fresh, new voice in psychological suspense * Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of Home Before Dark *

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Book SynopsisWhen Amaya is invited to Kaavi's over-the-top wedding in Sri Lanka, Amaya is surprised and a little hurt to hear from her former best-friend after so many years of radio silence. But when Amaya learns that the groom is her very own ex-boyfriend, she is consumed by a single thought: she must stop the wedding from happening, no matter the cost.But Amaya might not be the only one with a plan to keep the bride from getting her happily ever after. When Kaavi goes missing and is presumed dead, the evidence points towards Amaya.Caught between excessive Sri Lankan wedding celebrations, old wounds and dark secrets, will Amaya be able to prove she's being framed for a murder she's almost positive she didn't commit?

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Book Synopsis'A high quality, sharply written thriller whose motley cast of deviants and misfits delivers some breathtaking twists on the way to a bleak but very satisfying conclusion. This is the reality of motherhood - red in tooth and claw' Sarah J Naughton, bestselling author of The Festival'An achingly raw, emotional story that was beautifully written. From the heartbreaking beginning to the shocking conclusion, it was a journey so powerful that it'll stay with me for a long time to come' Alice Hunter, bestselling author of The Serial Killer's Wife'Raw, powerful, beautiful - devastatingly good' TM Logan, bestselling author of The Holiday'Beautiful and harrowing and everything in between' Chris Whitaker, award-winning author of We Begin at the EndSometimes it's better not to ask questions. Sometimes it's better not to know.Eve Taggert's life has been spent steadily climbing away from her roots. Her mother, a hard and cruel woman who dragged her up in a rundown trailer park, was not who she wanted to be to her own daughter, Junie.But 12-year old Junie is now dead. Found next to the body of her best friend in the park of their small, broken town. Eve has nothing left but who she used to be.Despite the corrupt police force that patrol her dirt-poor town deep in the Missouri Ozarks, Eve is going to find what happened to her daughter. Even if it means using her own mother's cruel brand of strength to unearth secrets that don't want to be discovered and face truths it might be better not to know.Everyone is a suspect.Everyone has something to hide.And someone will answer for her daughter's murder.From the bestselling author of The Roanoke Girls, The Familiar Dark is a spellbinding story about the bonds of family as well as a story about how even the darkest and most terrifying of places can provide the comfort of home. The Familiar Dark will blow you away.PRAISE FOR THE FAMILIAR DARK'Dark and beautifully written. Spellbinding' Catherine Steadman, bestselling author of Something in the Water'Absolutely bloody brilliant. It's so well-written I felt like I was living her pain' Fiona Cummins, award-winning author of The Neighbour'Dark, moving, intriguing. Truly inspiring' Susan Lewis, bestselling author of One Minute Later'Powerful, gripping, heart-stopping' Laura McHugh, award-winning author of The Wolf Wants In'From its gripping beginning to its sobering finale, Amy Engel's The Familiar Dark never fails to enthral with surprising twists' Daily Mail'This is fierce and brilliant' The ObserverTrade ReviewA dark and beautifully written thriller with a haunting ending that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. Engel's ability to conjure the harsh beauty of the Ozarks is spellbinding. An emotional & powerful read -- Catherine Steadman, bestselling author of * Something in the Water *Absolutely bloody brilliant. A down-at-heel mother burns with a need to exact her own brand of justice after the murder of her 12-year-old daughter. It's so well-written I felt like I was living her pain. Very highly recommended. -- Fiona Cummins, bestselling author of * The Neighbour *I was completely enthralled from start to finish. Very dark, moving, intriguing and such compelling characters. What a fantastic writer Amy is. Truly inspiring; a real talent at work and I hope this book receives all the success it deserves -- Susan Lewis, bestselling author of * One Minute Later *I'm such a HUGE Roanoke fan so my hopes were sky high and it delivered in every possible way. As visceral as it is gripping, the story packs the kind of haunting gut-punch that Amy is so good at. It's just beautiful and harrowing and everything in between. * Chris Whitaker, award winning author of All The Wicked Girls *The Familiar Dark is full of very bad people who occasionally do the right thing and seemingly good people who hide their own demons, every nuance of human nature is here wrapped up in a hugely addictive piece of storytelling. The end, when it comes, is extraordinarily horrific in its reality and leaves you melancholy and full of feeling. This was brilliant. All the way. Don't miss it in 2020. * Liz Loves Books *A harrowing thriller . . . This rural noir stakes Engel's claim to that dystopian terrain somewhere between Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects and Daniel Woodrell's Winter's Bone * Publishers Weekly *This is fierce and brilliant * The Observer *From its gripping beginning to its sobering finale, Amy Engel's The Familiar Dark never fails to enthral with surprising twists . . . a perceptive story about women surviving against odds, a mother´s unconditional love, as well as grief, poverty and classism . . . Engel´s characters would have much in common with those in Gillian Flynn´s Sharp Objects * Daily Mail *Raw, powerful, beautiful - devastatingly good * TM Logan, bestselling author of The Holiday *Powerful, gripping, heart-stopping * Laura McHugh, award-winning author of The Wolf Wants In *This rural noir is full of twists and turns . . . Gripping and hard to put down * Hello Magazine *A story about grief, pretence and family, written by a former criminal defence lawyer, it tugs at the heartstrings with its raw emotional truth * Daily Mail *icily heartbreaking * The Metro *Engel's prose is sharp and often brutal, and result is a seriously impressive thriller * Spectator *I enjoyed it so much. A high quality, sharply written thriller whose motley cast of deviants and misfits delivers some breathtaking twists on the way to a bleak but very satisfying conclusion. This is the reality of motherhood - red in tooth and claw. -- Sarah J Naughton, bestselling author of * The Festival *An achingly raw, emotional story that was beautifully written. From the heartbreaking beginning to the shocking conclusion, it was a journey so powerful that it'll stay with me for a long time to come -- Alice Hunter, author of * The Serial Killer's Wife *

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Book SynopsisCaroline has a good life - a job she likes, a daughter she'd do anything for. In the midst of the Christmas rush, covering events and parties, the local journalist is looking forward to the holidays and having some quality time with the ones she loves. But Caroline's good life is not her only life. When, out of the blue, she spots a frighteningly familiar figure in the crowd - a man she hasn't laid eyes on in more than twenty years - she is jolted shockingly back to a secret past she'd hoped she'd put behind her forever. As Christmas nudges closer and alarming events unfold, she feels him closing in on her. Caroline must come up with a plan to keep this man away from her family. But just how far will one woman go to protect a good life? And just how far will one man go to destroy it?Trade ReviewA cat and mouse psychological thriller for your festive reading list * Sunday Independent *An absorbing page-turner * Sheila O’Flanagan *

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Book Synopsis NO PHONESNO OUTSIDERSNO ESCAPE'An exciting and compelling new voice, Anna Downes' The Safe Place is a very accomplished debut' B.A. Paris, Sunday Times bestselling author of The DilemmaRated 4.5 * on NetGalley, this international bestseller is perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Lesley Kara and Ruth WareA BEAUTIFUL HOME MIGHT HIDE DANGEROUS SECRETSEmily Proudman has been offered the chance of a lifetime - leave her messy London life, move to a beautiful estate in France and help her boss' wife take care of their daughter, Aurelia. It seems like the perfect opportunity to start again.But once there, Emily soon starts to suspect that her charismatic new employers aren't telling her the whole truth. That there are even dangerous secrets hidden beneath the glamourous facade. Rather than throwing herself headlong into this oasis of wine-soaked days by the pool, Emily can't help but ask questions. Why have the family been moved to this isolated house so far from home? Why does Aurelia refuse to speak or be touched? Why are there whispers in the night? The only problem is, the more Emily knows, the less chance there is she will ever be able to leave . . .PRAISE FOR THE SAFE PLACE'Tense and atmospheric with the seemingly idyllic, yet eerie, setting. A truly gripping read'Karen Hamilton, bestselling author of The Perfect Girlfriend'An outstanding debut. The Safe Place is destined to be a book club favourite'Chris Hammer, award-winning author of Scrublands'It's such a rare thing - a claustrophobic, addictive thriller that lets you actually feel for all of the characters involved'Gytha Lodge, bestselling author of She Lies in Wait'Compellingly disturbing. Anna Downes is a powerful story writer who will lull you into a false sense of security - and then pounce. An author to be watched'Jane Corry, bestselling author of My Husband's Wife 'A brilliantly atmospheric novel that keeps you equally gripped and unsettled from page one. Starkly original and with an alarmingly plausible premise, this is destined to be a bestseller'J.P. Pomare, bestselling author of Call Me Evie'A dark and wonderful debut that lulls you in with beautiful prose and complex, believable characters, then beats you over the head with a killer plot and a thrilling climax. Everyone will be talking about this book!'Christian White, bestselling author of The Nowhere ChildTrade ReviewThe tension ratchets up and up in this beautifully paced thriller - an outstanding debut which is atmospheric and populated by complex and sympathetic characters. You'll be thinking about them long after you've finished reading. The Safe Place is destined to be a book club favourite, as readers debate the morality and motivation driving the characters and plot * Chris Hammer, award-winning author of Scrublands *It's such a rare thing - a claustrophobic, addictive thriller that lets you actually feel for all of the characters involved. Anna has such skill in combining the heart-in-mouth feeling that everything is building to a disaster with genuine emotion * Gytha Lodge, bestselling author of, She Lies in Wait *A brilliantly atmospheric novel that keeps you equally gripped and unsettled from page one. Starkly original and with an alarmingly plausible premise, this is destined to be a bestseller * Call Me Evie *The Safe Place is a dark and wonderful debut that lulls you in with beautiful prose and complex, believable characters, then beats you over the head with a killer plot and a thrilling climax. It's the kind of book you race through as quickly as you can so you can start it again. Everyone will be talking about this book! * Christian White, author of The Nowhere Child and The Wife and the Widow *The Safe Place is compellingly disturbing. Anna Downes is a powerful story writer who will lull you into a false sense of security - and then pounce. An author to be watched * Jane Corry, The Sunday Times bestselling author of My Husband’s Wife and I Made a Mistake *I loved THE SAFE PLACE... it was tense and atmospheric with the seemingly idyllic yet eerie setting. A truly gripping read * Karen Hamilton, author of the Sunday Times bestseller The Perfect Girlfriend *An exciting and compelling new voice, Anna Downes' The Safe Place is a very accomplished debut * B.A. Paris *I was completely captivated, which, let me tell you, is rare these days. I loved the characters, how clearly they were painted, their quirks, their flaws and strengths, and I blazed through the book. Richly evocative with a dark, atmospheric heart, THE SAFE PLACE is seductive, irresistible and suspenseful. I was completely gripped from the first page to the pulse-pounding end. I recommend reading THE SAFE PLACE poolside with a strawberry margarita in hand. It's the perfect summer suspense. Five stars from me * Christina McDonald, author of The Night Olivia Fell *As thrilling and gripping as everyone is saying. Can't wait to see this making a splash in the book world on its release. Put this on your #mustread list now * Kate Mildenhall, author of The Mother Fault *A gripping, brilliantly written thriller * The Sun *The Safe Place by Anna Downes is truly a one-sitting read for me as once I'd started it, I honestly couldn't stop. Anna's writing is so immersive that I was with her protagonist Emily every step of the way until the very end, when I realized I'd forgotten to breathe! A mesmerizing debut * Sandie Jones, author of The New York Times bestseller The Other Woman *When something seems too good to be true, it probably is. A captivating narration by author Anna Downes adds that extra spark to her neo-gothic novel . . . Downes knows her characters and delivers them with professional expertise, original plotting, and a masterful performance. She creates an uneasy atmosphere from the first, adding layers of uncertainty that cause Emily (and the listener) to question reality. Chilling. Disturbing. A nail-biter to the end. * Audiofile Magazine *A great read and one that should be made in one sitting * WW Magazine *

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Book SynopsisHER PERFECT TWIN. YOUR NEW OBSESSION.'Sarah Bonner's debut novel made my jaw drop. There are so many twists in this story, I never knew what was coming next. You won't want to miss this one!' Samantha Downing, author of My Lovely Wife'A terrifyingly vivid psychological thriller - paranoid, claustrophobic and captivating' Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The AppealWhen Megan discovers photographs of her estranged identical twin sister on her husband's phone, she wants answers. Leah already has everything Megan has ever wanted. Fame, fortune, freedom to do what she wants. And when Megan confronts Leah, an argument turns to murder. The only way Megan can get away with killing her twin is to become her. But then lockdown hits. How can she continue living two lives? And what happens if someone else knows her secret too? HER PERFECT TWIN IS THE MOST ADDICTIVE, TWISTY THRILLER YOU'LL READ IN 2022. DON'T MISS THIS WILD RIDE OF A NOVEL.'Brilliantly twisty and thoroughly entertaining - an extremely impressive debut' T. M. Logan, bestselling author of The Holiday'Unique, gripping and packed with devious characters, this uber-twisty thriller pulls the rug on the reader so many times!' Allie Reynolds, author of Shiver'A deliciously sticky web of a tale that snared me from the very first page and didn't let me go until the shocking end' C. L. Pattison, author of The Housemate'Intense, sharp, and surprising. Everything I love in a thriller' Jo Jakeman, author of Safe House'A perfect storm of sly revenge and rivalry' LV Matthews, author of The Prank'Twisty, compelling and clever, this is a fabulous debut with a heroine you'll root for' Penny Batchelor, author of Her New Best Friend'I was gripped by this unpredictable rollercoaster of a novel! Full of conniving characters, clever twists and high stakes. It had me constantly wondering what the characters were going to try next and who was going to prevail' Helen Cooper, author of The Downstairs Neighbour'More deliciously twisty than Gone Girl . . . Dark and compelling, Her Perfect Twin is the perfect thriller. Sharp as a knife and so twisty, it hooked me from the very first page' Vikki Patis, author of In The DarkReal readers love Her Perfect Twin:'An outstanding debut from Sarah Bonner. I have never read anything quite like it''Cleverly plotted with great characters . . . A top notch thriller!''This book definitely had me hooked. It's one of those that gets under your skin''A devious, twisty story laced with dark humour, with characters you'll love and love to hate . . . Echoes of Hitchcock and du Maurier, but also more contemporary thrillers like Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. Brilliant''Absolutely amazing'Trade ReviewA terrifyingly vivid psychological thriller - paranoid, claustrophobic and captivating -- Janice Hallett, author of The AppealSarah Bonner's debut novel made my jaw drop. There are so many twists in this story, I never knew what was coming next. You won't want to miss this one! -- Samantha Downing, author of My Lovely WifeBrilliantly twisty and thoroughly entertaining - an extremely impressive debut -- T. M. Logan, bestselling author of The HolidayIntense, sharp, and surprising. Everything I love in a thriller -- Jo Jakeman, author of Safe HouseA deliciously sticky web of a tale that snared me from the very first page and didn't let me go until the shocking end -- C. L. Pattison, author of The HousemateA twisted tale I could not have loved more -- Natasha Harding * Sun *Sarah Bonner has created a perfect storm of sly revenge and rivalry, in her addictive and disturbing debut Her Perfect Twin -- LV Matthews, author of The PrankBe prepared to stay up all night with this twisty, addictive read. Her Perfect Twin is surprising, compelling, and furiously paced - the perfect can't-put-it-down, edge of your seat thriller. Just when I thought I had it figured out, my jaw would drop all over again -- Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of The Girls Are All So Nice HereI was gripped by this unpredictable rollercoaster of a novel! Full of conniving characters, clever twists and high stakes. It had me constantly wondering what the characters were going to try next and who was going to prevail -- Helen Cooper, author of The Downstairs NeighbourMore deliciously twisty than Gone Girl . . . Dark and compelling, Her Perfect Twin is the perfect thriller. Sharp as a knife and so twisty, it hooked me from the very first page -- Vikki Patis, author of In The Dark Identical twins Megan and Leah used to swap places for a laugh but now it's deadly serious. Can Megan fool those closest to her to get away with murder? It was a question that kept me guessing to the final reveal on the very last page of this fast and pacy thriller. Her Perfect Twin is a nail-biting, page-turning debut - Sarah Bonner is one to watch! -- Amy McLellan, author of Remember MeUnique, gripping and packed with devious characters, this uber-twisty thriller pulls the rug on the reader so many times! -- Allie Reynolds, author of ShiverHer publishers acclaim her as an exciting new British voice in psychological thriller fiction - and they're right. My goodness, it thrills * SHOTS magazine *This cleverly plotted story builds up anger, frustration and resentment within the characters, and leaves the reader wondering, what will happen next? -- Zoe West * Woman's Weekly *A wonderfully twisty, and twisted, thriller that'll have you up until the early hours, and with an ending that you will NOT see coming. Brilliant -- S J Watson, author of Before I Go To SleepA perfect thriller, we read this in one sitting * Closer *A dangerous thriller about family secrets, gaslighting, and a deadly sibling rivalry -- Jane Shilling * Daily Mail *Bonner writes with a flair unusual for a debut, and has delivered a satisfying, addictive ride, both twisty and twisted, that left me hungry to see what delights she will cook up for us next -- S J Watson * Perspective Magazine *If you're going into Her Perfect Twin assuming this is going to be standard psychological thriller fare, you've underestimated Bonner from the off. This is a novel of constant twists, turns and delicious backstabbing betrayals. Her Perfect Twin really is a shocking, twisty and suspenseful mind game of a story that revels in blindsiding readers. Just make sure you clear your schedule ahead of time, because once you start reading this, you won't be able to put it down. * Culturefly *A compelling read, surely destined for the screen. Harlan Coben meets Liz Nugent in a thrilling tale of deadly deceit. * Sunday Independent *A jaw-droppingly clever debut * Irish Independent *Just when you think authors have written about every type of murder and covered every storyline, along comes a book that proves you wrong * CrimeSquad *If you fancy a smart twisty thriller, then look no further * Peterborough Telegraph *

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HER PERFECT TWIN. YOUR NEW OBSESSION.'Sarah Bonner's debut novel made my jaw drop. There are so many twists in this story, I never knew what was coming next. You won't want to miss this one!' Samantha Downing, author of My Lovely Wife'A wonderfully twisty, and twisted, thriller that'll have you up until the early hours, and with an ending that you will NOT see coming. Brilliant' S J Watson, author of Before I Go To Sleep'A terrifyingly vivid psychological thriller - paranoid, claustrophobic and captivating' Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The AppealWhen Megan discovers photographs of her estranged identical twin sister on her husband's phone, she wants answers. Leah already has everything Megan has ever wanted. Fame, fortune, freedom to do what she wants. And when Megan confronts Leah, an argument turns to murder. The only way Megan can get away with killing her twin is to become her. But then lockdown hits. How can she continue living two lives? And what happens if someone else knows her secret too? HER PERFECT TWIN IS THE MOST ADDICTIVE, TWISTY THRILLER YOU'LL READ IN 2022. DON'T MISS THIS WILD RIDE OF A NOVEL.'Brilliantly twisty and thoroughly entertaining - an extremely impressive debut' TM Logan, bestselling author of The Holiday 'A deliciously sticky web of a tale that snared me from the very first page and didn't let me go until the shocking end' C. L. Pattison, author of The Housemate'Intense, sharp, and surprising. Everything I love in a thriller' Jo Jakeman, author of Safe House'A perfect storm of sly revenge and rivalry' LV Matthews, author of The Prank'Twisty, compelling and clever, this is a fabulous debut with a heroine you'll root for' Penny Batchelor, author of Her New Best Friend'I was gripped by this unpredictable rollercoaster of a novel! Full of conniving characters, clever twists and high stakes. It had me constantly wondering what the characters were going to try next and who was going to prevail' Helen Cooper, author of The Downstairs Neighbour'More deliciously twisty than Gone Girl . . . Dark and compelling, Her Perfect Twin is the perfect thriller. Sharp as a knife and so twisty, it hooked me from the very first page' Vikki Patis, author of In The DarkReal readers love Her Perfect Twin:'An outstanding debut from Sarah Bonner. I have never read anything quite like it''Cleverly plotted with great characters . . . A top notch thriller!''This book definitely had me hooked. It's one of those that gets under your skin''A devious, twisty story laced with dark humour, with characters you'll love and love to hate . . . Echoes of Hitchcock and du Maurier, but also more contemporary thrillers like Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. Brilliant''Absolutely amazing'

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Book Synopsis'A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN STORY OF SISTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHOSE LIVES ARE PROFOUNDLY CHANGED BY WAR. GREY IS NOT AFRAID TO SEARCH IN THE SHADOWS FOR THE TRUTH. A TERRIFIC AND THOUGHT PROVOKING READ' ELIZABETH BUCHANIdentical twin sisters Freya and Shona take very different paths, leading to long-buried family secrets that reverberate through the generations in this thrilling novel of psychological suspense by the author of Tell Me How It Ends. There are some choices you can't come back from.It is 1944 in war-battered London. Freya and Shona are identical twins, close despite their different characters. Freya is a newly qualified doctor treating the injured in an East End hospital, while Shona has been recruited by the SOE. The sisters are so physically alike that they can fool people into thinking that one is the other. It's a game they've played since childhood. But when Shona persuades her twin to swap roles to meet her Polish lover, he is angered at being tricked.Then Shona proposes a far more dangerous swapping of roles. At first Freya refuses but finally she agrees, with consequences that threaten not only the happiness but the lives of both sisters.Forty-five years later in November 1989 Freya, now aged 69, is watching television with her daughter Kirsty. Freya is gripped as she witnesses crowds of Berliners attempting to knock down their hated Wall. This sight stirs long buried memories of her own and her sister's war, especially the tragedy of the Warsaw Uprising - memories that she has never shared with anyone. Even if she wanted to reveal them now, she can't. She's suffering from a brain tumour and is unable to speak although her reason is unimpaired. And this is what she's thinking: if they succeed in knocking down the Wall, what secrets will come tumbling through? If her own were revealed, it would be devastating for all those close to her, especially her daughter.Trade ReviewMoving smoothly between two time periods, Grey investigates how secrets from the past continue to warp the present * The Sunday Times *This psychological suspense delivers not one, but two gripping heroines * Sunday Post *a perceptive, engaging novel... The plot is a finely carved jigsaw, the pieces fitting together seamlessly * Shots Magazine *A powerful story * Choice *A beautifully written story of sisters and their families whose lives are profoundly changed by war. A terrific and thought-provoking read * Elizabeth Buchan, author of TWO WOMEN IN ROME *I enjoyed it very much...involving and exciting with not one but two engaging heroines and a story that takes many unexpected turns * Adele Geras author of DANGEROUS WOMEN *Told with masterly clarity - an absorbing journey through a slice of Poland's gripping wartime history and a heart-rending exploration of the effect on one family of secrets kept for too long * Carolyn Kirby, author of WHEN WE FALL *

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Book SynopsisShe says he is a killer. He says she is delusional. Somebody is lying.When Claire Fontaine learns that her ex-husband Simon is marrying again, to a woman with a teenage daughter, her blood runs cold. She is sure that years ago Simon molested her own daughter and was responsible for her mysterious death. She can't let him get away with it a second time. Vandalism, harassment; whatever it takes, Claire will expose him.Simon doesn't know where Claire got this delusion from; her daughter's death was ruled a suicide, but she has always blamed herself - is she just lashing out? Wanting to protect his new fiancee, he hires Sloane Wilson, an ex-cop turned 'sin-eater', whose job it is to handle delicate cases without getting the police involved, to get Claire off his back.Sloane must navigate the wreckage of Claire and Simon's marriage to discover the truth. Two people with conflicting stories and a whole lot of reasons to want to hurt each other. Is she crazy or is he manipulative? And can Sloane stay clear-headed enough to figure it out?Trade ReviewPacked with suspense and surprises, it is hard to put down * Daily Mail *Remarkably polished first mystery * New York Times *A hangman's noose of a thriller, airtight and inescapable, each strand expertly braided, each loop perfectly knotted. Harrowing yet humane - a novel as provocative as it is suspenseful -- A.J. FinnAn Inconvenient Woman is beautifully, beautifully written and suspenseful from the chilling opening until the end -- James PattersonAbsolutely stunning! A brilliant concept meets perfect execution in An Inconvenient Woman, a twisting thriller in which a looming tragedy and a horrific crime from the past are masterfully woven together. It's hard to believe that this is Buelens's first novel; I truly hope more are in the future-preferably the near future -- Jeffery DeaverOld problems told by conflicting voices. A new, sharp view of female realty. Sin Eater! What a fascinating concept. I could not put it down! -- Anne PerryAddictive, immersive, unputdownable. The powerful women at the beating heart of this beautifully-wrought thriller - women with grudges and looking for a certain brand of justice - give the old school noir vibe a thoroughly modern energy. As deep and human as it is rocket-paced, An Inconvenient Woman is a slick, accomplished debut -- Lisa UngerStephanie Buelens has the freshness and originality of a new writer, and the style and assuredness of an old master. For true fans of the psychological thriller, An Inconvenient Woman is as good a debut novel as I've read in years. Beautifully written, tense, taut, and tightly plotted, with fully developed characters who may or may not be telling the whole truth. A true mind-twister that will keep you guessing until the end -- Nelson DeMilleBy turns lyrical and enraged, but always poignant, An Inconvenient Woman provides relentless thrills. Buelens will inevitably invite comparisons to Liane Moriarty and Gillian Flynn - a taut, gripping noir mystery that is as timely as it is ferocious -- Lyndsay FayeA dark and riveting thriller with unexpected twists at every turn. I loved the two women at the heart of the story -- Camilla LachbergI wouldn't hesitate to recommend this masterpiece of apparent inevitability and tension building to anybody * Mystery People *

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Deliver Me comes a gripping new thriller with a twist you'll never see coming! Thirty-two-year-old Jessica is newly divorced and has returned home to live with her parents whilst she puts the pieces of her life back together. But Jessica isn't the only one with problems, as her mother, Jean, has recently been diagnosed with dementia. Shortly after Jessica's arrival, one of the neighbours falls to her death, in what appears to be a terrible accident. However, Jean claims that the woman was murdered by her husband and that she witnessed the whole thing. With Jean's memory rapidly deteriorating, her family dismiss her story, believing Jean is confused. But when Jessica learns that the couple next door's marriage may have been in trouble, she begins to wonder if her mother did see something after all. Jessica is determined to discover the truth, but soon uncovers much more than she bargained for... An addictive psychological thriller for fans of Rachel Abbott and CL Taylor.See what readers are saying about Karen Cole:'This is one of the best books I've ever read. Gripped me from page one' Sue, Amazon reviewer'If you like Karin Slaughter you will love this!'Cath, Amazon reviewer'That reveal?!? I was constantly guessing throughout and I still didn't see that ending coming even though the clues are there!'Chanel, Amazon reviewer'This book is stunning - I was completely hooked from start to finish'Donna, Amazon reviewer

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Book Synopsis'Compulsive, twisty and deliciously dark' 5* reader review'Another brilliant book by Charlotte Duckworth!' 5* reader review'A fabulous twisty thriller' 5* reader review'Tense and gripping' 5* reader review'Addictive and devourable and I loved every second' 5* reader reviewFour pregnant women. Three nights of pampering at an exclusive yoga retreat. One too many deadly secrets . . .On a remote farm in the deepest Devonshire countryside, four pregnant women arrive at an exclusive yoga retreat for a five-star weekend of prenatal pampering. The location is idyllic.Their host, Selina, is eager to teach them all she knows about pregnancy and motherhood. But, like Selina, each of the women has a secret.And secrets can be deadly . . .Praise for The Sanctuary'Dark, compelling and wonderfully creepy' Karen Hamilton'A superbly plotted thriller - I could not put it down' Celia Rees'A fast-paced, twisty thriller' Nikki Smith'A writer at the top of her thriller game' Louise Mumford'Compelling' Jess Ryder'Full of tension and secrets and so many twists!' Lauren North'Gripping' Emma Christie'Wonderfully sinister and compelling' Caroline Hulse'Duckworth's best yet' Rebecca Fleet'A completely addictive read' Sophie FlynnTrade Review[A] dark, tense thriller * Bella *Dark, compelling and wonderfully creepy - a definite must-read * Karen Hamilton *Duckworth's best yet * Rebecca Fleet *A completely addictive read where no-one can be trusted and nothing is as it seems. I loved every page * Sophie Flynn *A perfect domestic suspense, wonderfully sinister and compelling with a pounding sense of upcoming doom. A real page-turner * Caroline Hulse *Duckworth has triumphed in fusing the unassuming serene with the abject sinister in her propulsive novel, The Sanctuary. With every chapter, there is layered tension and intrigue. I ripped through it * LV Matthews *I sped through this sinister locked-room mystery which is both gripping and compulsive with twists galore. More please Charlotte! * Emily Freud *A superbly plotted thriller - I could not put it down * Celia Rees *A fast-paced, twisty thriller about pregnancy and pampering in an isolated retreat where nothing is quite as it seems. I thoroughly enjoyed it * Nikki Smith *A writer at the top of her thriller game. Suspense, intrigue and a setting to die for * Louise Mumford *A compelling read. All credit to Charlotte for wrapping me up in the story and leading me astray * Jess Ryder *Full of tension and secrets and so many twists! I LOVED it! Another thrilling read from Charlotte Duckworth * Lauren North *Gripping, insightful and a wee bit creepy at times, I raced through The Sanctuary * Emma Christie *I always really enjoy Charlotte's books - the twists and turns will keep you riveted * Claire McGowan *Addictively readable and packed with secrets, I flew through this! * Allie Reynolds *Taut with tension from the outset and suspicious of everyone, you'll not be able to put this down until you reach the deliciously satisfying conclusion * Sandie Jones *Like a game of twister the shocks and surprises will tie you in knots * Peterborough Telegraph *Truly unsettling . . . creepy * Belfast Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisHe gave her everything. But can she trust him?'Get ready for a creepy, twisty ride' HeatLauren can't wait to leave London for a fresh start in the countryside with her new partner Paul and his two young children. She never thought she'd be so lucky. A dream glass house in the woods, a ready-made family, a second chance. But as dark rumours swirl about their new home, Lauren begins to question their happily-ever-after. When they met, she was at her most vulnerable. She would trust Paul with her life. But should she?'Tense, creepy and utterly chilling' Charlotte Duckworth'I devoured it in a single sitting' Charlotte Philby'Sly, tense and heartbreaking' L V Matthews'Unputdownable' Harriet Walker READERS LOVE WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND'Gripping, tense and chilling' 5* reader review'Heart-pounding' 5* reader review'Couldn't put it down' 5* reader review'A really brilliant thriller' 5* reader review'Oh my god, this book blew me away!' 5* reader reviewTrade ReviewWith all the ingredients needed to be turned into a cracking ITV thriller, get ready for a creepy, twisty ride * Heat *What She Left Behind is a masterpiece in the suspense thriller genre. Sly, tense, and heartbreaking in equal measure. I absolutely loved it * L V Matthews *Dark and menacing, What She Left Behind is a pacy, accomplished thriller that kept me reading on as the tension built with every page, until I had devoured it in a single sitting - never guessing the final twist * Charlotte Philby *[A] nerve-jangling thriller * Peterborough Telegraph *Emily Freud's What She Left Behind is a twisting evocative story which I devoured in just a few sittings. Brilliantly written and with a chilling isolated setting - I loved it! * Lia Middleton *Unsettling and unputdownable - I whizzed through this * Harriet Walker *I raced through this compelling novel in just two days. Tense, creepy and utterly chilling. What She Left Behind is easily the best thriller I've read this year. It's a proper page turner. So creepy and clever * Charlotte Duckworth *Set against the backdrop of a 'normal' life, this story simmers with foreboding and menace. The build-up to the ending is perfectly paced and executed. A highly recommended read for lovers of dark domestic noir thrillers. 5 stars from me * J. A. Corrigan *What She Left Behind is the perfect domestic thriller, truly gripping and shimmering with a dark undertone. My heart was in my mouth as I raced to the end. Mind-blowing and utterly compelling * Vikki Patis *A claustrophobic and very clever domestic noir thriller with a great sense of setting, believable characters and an excellent twist - I raced through this * Catherine Cooper *What a clever, involving and suspenseful novel about how vulnerability and self-doubt can be exploited so deeply. Emily Freud has written scenes which gave me goosebumps . . . Not to be missed * Jane Lythell *A deliciously dark and claustrophobic page-turner with a heartbreaking twist * Sophie Flynn *One of the best twists I've read in years. You won't want to miss this clever, addictive novel from Emily Freud * Sarah Lawton *Loved this dark, pacey and gripping [novel] with a twist that knocked me sideways. A killer thriller! * Kate Maxwell *What She Left Behind is an atmospheric and creepy thriller with a jaw-dropping ending. The twists and turns will have you hooked * Miranda Smith *An author whose work I'd be interested to read again and who appreciates how to leave enough breadcrumbs to tantalise thriller readers all book long * Peterborough Telegraph *I devoured this book - beautifully written, with masterful characterisation and that triumphant climatic finale took me by surprise * Mira V. Shah *

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Book Synopsis'The ending gave me shivers' Claire Douglas'A plot that tightens like a vice' Erin KellyIt all started to go wrong the day the Wrights moved in next doorMyles and Lana Butler live on a gorgeous new development in Wimbledon, leaning on a mortgage that is just within reach. When one of Myles' investments fails they are bound to lose everything.Gabriel and Holly Wright have just moved in next door. The Wrights are sophisticated, ambitious and apparently very wealthy. At an after-dinner drink with their new neighbours, Myles and Lana share their worries and a solution is suggested between the couples. Life Insurance fraud. For a cut of the pay out, the Wrights would help them.No one thought they were being serious. No one agreed they'd actually go through with it. And no one mentioned it would involve murder.Then, one night, Lana doesn't come home.Praise for The End of Us'Witty, dark, unpredictable. A book to be devoured in one sitting' Karen Hamilton'It reminded me of Hitchcock at his best. Tense, twisty, dark and so unpredictable' Claire Douglas 'The End Of Us is that rare book - beautifully written and impossible to put down' Fiona Cummins 'I loved it - easily Kiernan's best yet' Cara Hunter'Terrifically compelling. And that last line. Oh my. That is how a book should end' John Marrs'A superbly written tangled web of utter brilliance' Joanna CannonTrade ReviewAbsolutely loved The End Of Us, it reminded me of Hitchcock at his best. Tense, twisty, dark and so unpredictable I couldn't read it fast enough to see how it all played out. The ending gave me shivers. My favourite Olivia Kiernan book yet! * Claire Douglas *The End Of Us is that rare book - beautifully written and impossible to put down. A dark, complex and nuanced thriller, its protagonist Myles Butler is a Ripley for the 21st century, rotten to the core of his luxury lifestyle, but impossible to resist * Fiona Cummins *The End of Us is exactly the type of book I love to read: witty, dark, unpredictable, well-written and with great insight into the darker side of human nature. A book to be devoured in one sitting -- Karen HamiltonI loved it - easily Kiernan's best yet -- Cara HunterI loved everything about this stylish, addictive thriller from Olivia Kiernan. The End of Us entertains, it shocks, and it asks fascinating moral questions of its characters - and readers (my sympathies and allegiances were all over the place!) Beautifully written, masterfully executed. And THAT ending . . . -- Caz FrearA deliciously dark domestic noir - twisty, unpredictable and gripping -- J P DelaneyA golden couple whose reach exceeds their grasp, and their new neighbours who suggest a deal-with-the-devil solution. Beautiful prose and a plot that tightens like a vice -- Erin KellySickeningly good cat-and-mouse game of fraud with a spot of murder for good measure, in a bougie enclave of Wimbledon. Delicious right down to the last killer line. -- Dom NolanTense and twisty, this novel sits at the intersection of Hitchcock and Ripley - really enjoyed it. And that ending. Deliciously dark -- Catherine Ryan HowardIntoxicating, classy, twisty and just a total joy to read . . . I adored it -- Charlotte DuckworthThe characters jumped out of the pages and the chilling twists just kept coming. -- Nikki SmithAn unputdownable, gulp-in-one-sitting, utterly brilliant read -- C S GreenThis super chilling, heart-stoppingly suspenseful psychological thriller is not to be missed -- Steph BroadribbDark and compelling, with complex relationships that reveal shocking twists, I was sucked into the world of Belvedere Court and its wealthy inhabitants, where the gloss of respectability is only a veneer. -- Sam BlakeCompelling -- Harriet TyceKiernan's greatest achievement is to make Myles such a sympathetic character that his increasingly violent actions seem almost sensible. * Literary Review *Kiernan has delivered a standalone of style and substance. * Irish Times *A nerve-jangling thriller. * Woman's Own *If you love the old-style Hollywood glamour of films like Double Indemnity, this domestic noir tale, set in the contemporary opulence of a luxury Wimbledon housing estate, will do the trick. * Daily Mail *Strong characterisation, an unpredictable plot and an unexpected conclusion will keep readers gripped. Kiernan has proved she won't be confined to one genre and we look forward to what she does next. * Irish Independent *A gripping thriller * Bella *Beware, this psychological thriller is definitely a sit-up-all-night read * Woman's Weekly *It's a dark, twisted and satisfying read, which never lets up its pace. It's unpredictable, ingenious and brilliantly written. Read it. * Irish Examiner *Hitchcock and Highsmith would both have been proud if they'd written suburban horror-story The End of Us . . .You won't be able to stop reading. Each unfolding episode is unbearable. A bravura thriller. * The Tablet *Kiernan proves she's every bit as good at depicting the dark side of our interior lives as she is with her rollercoaster police procedurals. * Westmeath Examiner *Tom Ripley would see the narrator of this deliciously Highsmithian chiller as a soulmate. . . . * Telegraph (Best Books of 2023) *I really enjoyed this! Switchback Highsmith -- Ian RankinI couldn't stop reading. Perfect for fans of Louise Candlish and Patricia Highsmith * Jo Callaghan *

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Book Synopsis'Hausmann is a force to be reckoned with' DAVID BALDACCIThey say he's a murderer. But how could he be?Berlin, 2017: several young girls have been disappearing for the past fourteen years. Red ribbons show the police the way to their bodies, but there's no trace of the killer. One evening, internationally renowned philosophy professor and anthropologist Walter Lesniak is arrested on the suspicion of the murders in the presence of his daughter, Ann.'Professor Death' becomes the headline of the tabloid press and Lesniak himself refuses to cooperate with the police. Ann is certain this is all some kind of mistake. And she will prove it. Yet, with the arrest of her father, she begins a journey into the unknown . . .READERS LOVE ROMY HAUSMANN'Ingenious' 5 * reader review'Loved every minute' 5* reader review'The best thriller I have ever read' 5* reader review'Spellbinding' 5* reader review'Absolutely brilliant' 5* reader reviewTrade ReviewA deeply unsettling psychological thriller that will get under your skin . . . True crime fans will love this one * Hot Press *PRAISE FOR ROMY HAUSMANN: 'Hausmann is a force to be reckoned with' * David Baldacci *A peerless exercise in suspense * Financial Times *Claustrophobic, terrifying and fiercely compelling * Daily Mail *If you read only one thriller this year, choose this one * Alice Feeney *[B]eautifully written, intriguing and very compelling * Peter James *

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Book SynopsisA young woman's carefully constructed fantasy world implodes in this brilliantly conceived novel that blurs distinctions between right and wrong, comedy and tragedy, imagination and reality: "Surreal . . . filled with technicolor lies and terrible truths" (Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling and Hugo-award winning author).Most Anticipated by CrimeReads · Good Housekeeping · BookRiot · Goodreads · Bookish · OverDrive An Aardvark Book Club pickKatrina Kim may be broke, the black sheep of her family, and slightly unhinged, but she isn't a stalker. Her obsession with her co-worker, Kurt, is just one of many coping mechanisms-like her constant shape and number rituals, or the way scenes from her favorite children's book bleed into her vision whenever she feels anxious or stressed.But when Katrina finds a cryptic message from Kurt that implies he's aware of her surveillance, her tenuous hold on a normal life crumbles. Driven by compulsion, she enacts the most powerful ritual she has to reclaim control-a midnight visit to the Cayatoga Bridge-and arrives just in time to witness Kurt's suicide. Before he jumps, he slams her with a devastating accusation: his death is all her fault.Horrified, Katrina combs through the clues she's collected about Kurt over the last three years, but each revelation uncovers a menacing truth: for every moment she was watching him, he was watching her. And the past she thought she'd left behind? It's been following her more closely than she ever could have imagined.A gripping page-turner, as well as a sensitive exploration of mental health, Liar, Dreamer, Thief is an intimate portrayal of life in all its complexities-and the dangers inherent in unveiling people's most closely guarded secrets.Includes a Reading Group Guide.

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Book SynopsisDetective Carter knows all about torture—but he’s never known a case as dark as this one. The Six… An abandoned building goes up in flames. Six women are chained inside and left to die—the truth is left to burn with them. Only one piece of evidence remains, but will it be enough to find their killer? The Detective… Retired detective Warren Carter has been suffocated by grief for his wife and is looking for a new start. But when he gets a call that cuts to the heart of the force, investigating a corrupt police officer, he has to accept. This time, though, he’s going to have to face his demons and work out who to trust when the truth is guarded by his own colleagues. The Bad Cop… It was supposed to be the perfect crime: they knew the system well enough to beat it and get away with murder. But they didn’t know Detective Carter, and how far a man will go when he has nothing left to lose… Their Last Breath is the gripping new thriller perfect for fans of Line of Duty, from the bestselling author of Duplicity and Into The Darkness.

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Book SynopsisGlamorous messiah or charlatan? A mask of beauty hides deadly secrets in #1 New York Times and Amazon Charts bestselling author Gregg Olsen’s mesmerizing novel of suspense. In the Pacific Northwest, detective Lindsay Jackman is investigating the murder of a young journalist found at the bottom of a ravine. Lindsay soon learns that the victim was writing an exposé. Her subject: a charismatic wellness guru who’s pulled millions into her euphoric orbit… To hear Marnie Spellman tell it, when she was a child, a swarm of bees lifted her off the ground and toward the sunlight, illuming her spiritual connection with nature—an uncanny event on which Marnie built a cosmetics empire and became a legend, a healer, and the queen of holistic health and eternal beauty. In her inner circle is an intimate band of devotees called the Hive. They share Marnie’s secrets of success—including one cloaked in darkness for twenty years. Determined to uncover the possibly deadly mysteries of the group, Lindsay focuses her investigation on Marnie and the former members of the Hive, who are just as determined to keep Lindsay from their secrets as they are to maintain their status.Trade ReviewAn Amazon Best Book of the Month: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense “Readers who relish the aftershocks of cult exploitation will turn every page with keen anticipation.” —Kirkus Reviews “The Hive is Gregg Olsen at his finest. Exciting, anxiety provoking, and twisty…You will stay up all night reading…not wanting to put it down until the final and shocking conclusion. This book will take you right down a rabbit hole you never suspected.” —Mystery & Suspense Magazine “Mesmerizing! Gregg Olsen tautly reveals layer after layer of lies, secrets, and betrayals in an increasingly horrifying exposé of one cult leader and her terrible sway over others. Forget the evil men do. These women will have you fearing for your life.” —Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author “The Hive is a riveting thriller, a tsunami of a story that starts out strong and absolutely knocks you over at the end. The characters are fascinating, their world so real and absorbing—I was transfixed from the very start. Gregg Olsen is such a compelling writer.” —Luanne Rice, New York Times bestselling author “In this gripping thriller, everything is not as it seems, and beauty is only skin deep. The Hive is a brilliantly engrossing read—exactly what we have come to expect from Gregg Olsen.” —Karin Slaughter, New York Times and internationally bestselling author “A charismatic wellness guru, a dead young journalist, and a slew of secrets are the ingredients that make up this fiendishly fun thriller. The Hive will have readers buzzing.” —Greer Hendricks, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Wife Between Us “Gregg Olsen’s The Hive is a fast-paced, intriguing, intense, and suspenseful read that is as creepy as it is fantastic. Brilliant, thought-provoking, heartbreaking, and original, The Hive will keep you up at night and leave you reeling long after you’ve finished it. Every page carries weight in this novel. There are plenty of twists and turns to satisfy even the most seasoned crime fiction reader, and the characters feel authentic and alive in ways that only Olsen can achieve.” —Lisa Regan, #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series “Die-hard Gregg Olsen fans will love The Hive; new readers will become fans. Olsen deftly guides the reader through the pages, cranking up the suspense as long-held secrets rise to the surface. The result is compulsively page turning as Olsen keeps the reader’s mind buzzing in suspense. He hooks the reader as a dark crime from the past collides with a crime from the present.” —Kendra Elliot, Wall Street Journal bestselling author “Gregg Olsen’s The Hive begins with a fascinating premise and a spellbinding opening scene that held me in its grip as I flew through the pages. Olsen expertly weaves together a multilayered tale told by a complex array of unforgettable characters in his latest jaw-dropping thriller. In this dark and dangerously addictive read buzzing with secrets, betrayal, and murder, queen bees and wannabes take on a whole new meaning. Not to be missed.” —Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of This Is How I Lied

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Book SynopsisFamily secrets, revenge, and righteous fury collide in an international bestselling novel of psychological suspense and intrigue. Clara and Henrik are married and living in a beautiful inherited villa in Oslo. She is a single-mindedly ambitious child-rights activist at the Ministry of Justice. Having grown up in rural Western Norway, she is also an Oslo outsider. Henrik is a doctor from a well-to-do Oslo family. Though their marriage is under serious strain, they share a devotion to their twin sons and their work. Outwardly, they’re a successful couple both dedicated to saving lives. Then a Pakistani Norwegian child is admitted to Henrik’s hospital and dies in his care. The boy had clearly been the victim of child abuse. Soon after, a related murder rocks the city. It won’t be the last. The events unearth years of trauma, secrets, and buried resentments at the heart of Clara and Henrik’s fragile marriage. Little by little, in the wake of these shattering crimes, the veneer of normalcy begins to fall away. But even then, nothing is as it appears.Trade Review“A refreshingly different kind of thriller. The story is riveting, the plot artful, with constant twists and surprises and a serious underlying theme. I devoured the book in two evenings, but the characters are still with me…” —Maja Lunde, internationally bestselling author of The History of Bees

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Book SynopsisA victim on display. A detective on the rails. Shopping with her sister, DI Amy Winter is admiring a Valentine’s Day window display of a perfect bride encrusted in diamonds and resplendent in lace—until she notices blood oozing from the mannequin’s mouth. This is no stunt. A post-mortem reveals the victim was left to die on her macabre throne for all to see. When a second victim is found, it emerges that both women were ‘Sugar Babes’ arranging dates with older men online—and Amy finds herself hunting an accomplished psychopath. As she tracks down the killer, Amy’s instincts go into overdrive when the charismatic head of the agency behind the display makes no attempt to hide his fascination with her serial-killer parents. What exactly does he want from Amy? With her own world in freefall as her biological mother, Lillian Grimes, appeals her conviction, Amy pushes the boundaries of police procedure when a third ‘Sugar Babe’ disappears…Is she as much at risk as the killer’s victims?

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Book SynopsisThe Amazon Charts bestselling series. What really happened in the forest? Hidden crimes and secrets of the past converge in a riveting thriller by Anne Frasier, the New York Times bestselling author of Find Me. No strangers to evil, criminal profiler Reni Fisher and detective Daniel Ellis both still grapple with traumatizing pasts. It unites them. So has a crime they must solve before someone else dies. At a campsite on California’s Pacific Crest Trail, a guide is murdered and three young hikers vanish without a trace. The only lead is a puzzle in itself: a video of the crime scene, looking eerily staged, uploaded to social media. The girl who posted it can’t be found. Is it a viral hoax gone unspeakably wrong, or is there something more sinister at play in the forest? The case intensifies when one of the missing is found wandering down a dirt road, confused and afraid. As Reni and Daniel struggle to sort fact from fiction, a secret past collides with the present, threatening to sever their relationship. Are some truths too much to bear? Will this be the case that finally breaks them?

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Book SynopsisRitual murder. Archaic clues. A visionary killer. In this heart-stopping novel by the Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Sydney Rose Parnell series, words can kill. On the muddy banks of the Calumet River, a body has been found posed next to a series of mysterious glyphs and bearing wounds from a ritualistic slaying. Chicago detective Addie Bisset knows only one man who can decipher the message left by the killer: her friend Dr. Evan Wilding. A brilliant forensic semiotician, Evan decodes the etchings as Viking Age runes. They suggest either human sacrifice or righteous punishment. But to what god? And for what sins? Only one thing is clear from the disturbing runic riddles: there are more victims to come. As Evan races to determine the identity of the Viking Poet, he and Addie uncover the killer’s most terrifying secret yet: the motive. This startling discovery puts Evan’s life in mortal danger, and verse by ancient verse, time is running out.Trade ReviewAn Amazon Best Book of the Month: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense “Well-researched…” —Kirkus Reviews “[In] this intense psychological thriller…Evan and Addie race to prevent more bloodshed. Hints of a romantic relationship between the pair enliven the story, and references to Beowulf and Viking history add depth. Readers will hope to see more of Addie and Evan.” —Publishers Weekly “Brilliant Evan Wilding, with his goshawk and unusual friendships, will fascinate those who read for character.” —Library Journal “The moment I finished this intelligent and pulse-pounding psychological thriller, I was ready for Book Two…Dr. Evan Wilding is one of the most interesting fictional characters I’ve met in some time…Author Nickless’s prose is crisp and, at times, poetic. Her descriptions are vivid but balanced. I became immediately attached to her engaging and well-drawn characters. In some respects, At First Light is reminiscent of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. I highly recommend this book to fans of fast-paced thrillers that include riddles, ancient languages and literature.” —Claudia N. Oltean, for the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union “At First Light is a stunner of a tale. Barbara Nickless has fashioned a deep exploration into moral depravity and the dark depths of the human soul in a fashion not seen since the brilliant David Fincher film SE7EN. This wholly realized tale is reminiscent of Lisa Gardner, Karin Slaughter, and Lisa Scottoline at their level best.” —Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author

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Book SynopsisIn this gripping thriller from the bestselling authors of Spare Room and Say Her Name, one woman’s mysterious death has led to a lifetime of pain. Can her daughter find out why? “A compelling psychological mystery that will keep you guessing.” —Woman’s Weekly Lawyer Gabby Lewis always knew she would die young. Since her mother’s death twenty-five years ago, she’s dreaded her upcoming fortieth birthday, the same age her mother died. When she discovers a connection between her mother and a suspicious mansion house, Ocean Haven, Gabby begins to suspect that her mother’s death wasn’t an accident, it was murder. Returning home Gabby sets out to uncover the truth despite her family, friends and the local police all telling her to stop. When she starts to develop the same mysterious symptoms that led to her mother’s death, she is certain she’s on the right track. But will she be able to catch the killer in time? Or will she become another victim of a murderer desperate to keep the past buried? Praise for Say Her Name “My book of the year so far.” —Lee ChildTrade Review“A compelling psychological mystery that will keep you guessing.” —Woman’s Weekly

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Book SynopsisEdgar Award Winner for Best Paperback Original. A secret love becomes a fatal affair in a twisting novel of suspense by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Joe Hart. When novelist Andy Drake returns to his hometown to care for his ailing father, a reconnection with his childhood friend Rachel escalates into a secret love affair. For Rachel, struggling to maintain the facade of a picture-perfect life, it’s an escape from an emotionally abusive marriage. Then Andy receives an anonymous note warning him to end the affair. Or else. Whoever’s been watching is going to make Andy pay. Weeks later, Rachel’s husband, David, is shot to death. Rachel and her two young sons vanish without a trace. One misstep, one careless reveal, and Andy could look as guilty as sin. Clue by clue, as his investigation into the mystery unfolds, Andy discovers that he and Rachel weren’t the only ones keeping secrets. Nothing in this quiet neighborhood is as it seems. No one peeking from behind the curtains of their homes can be trusted. And the worst is yet to come. Because David isn’t the only one who will die.Trade Review“Hart remains a suspense writer to watch.” —Publishers Weekly “Or Else is a thriller/suspense tour de force. Joe Hart has knocked it out of the park with a start-to-finish roller coaster ride of perfectly executed twists and expertly timed chills. Deep character development and rich narrative seals Or Else’s place as the not-to-be-missed domestic thriller/suspense of the year.” —Steven Konkoly, author of the Ryan Decker series and Deep Sleep “The perfect thriller for a rainy afternoon, Or Else draws you into a web of small town secrets, lies, and intrigue and doesn’t let you go. Hart’s well-rendered setting and characters resonate like people and places you’ve known. Loved every minute of this absolute page-turner!” —D.M. Pulley, bestselling author of The Dead Key “Joe Hart has written compelling stories before, but it’s in Or Else that he shows off just how good he is. This book checks all the boxes for me: a (seemingly) quiet, small town drama—filled with those little quirks and secrets nobody wants to talk about—that quickly blossoms into something big, sinister, and menacing. Hart doesn’t pull any punches on some serious issues, either: love, infidelity, family conflict…there’s plenty to think about right up to the explosive ending. THIS is the thriller you’ll be recommending for the foreseeable future.” —Matthew Iden, author of the Marty Singer series and The Winter Over

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Book Synopsis“Susi Holliday is one of our best and most original creators of tense and twisty tales . . . Nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted in this brilliant page-turner.” —Ian Rankin “Tense and twisty as all hell.” —Mark Billingham “Tense, creepy and utterly brilliant…” —Jenny Blackhurst, author of The Hiking Path “A brilliant concept, superbly executed. Susi Holliday is a master of her craft.” —Marion Todd, author of A Blind Eye “On this street, lock your doors, whisper your secrets, and don’t trust anyone. Compulsive, clever and I couldn’t put it down.” —Louise Swanson, author of End of Story Their neighbours welcomed them with open arms. Now they’ve vanished without a trace. Anna and Peter desperately need to escape London for a fresh start. And they’ve found just the place: a perfect house on a perfect street in a perfect new development on the Scottish coast. But before they’ve even unpacked, they discover that the community they’ve moved into might be keeping secrets of its own… Eager to fit in, Anna and Peter spend their first evening with their new neighbours, a couple who turn up on their doorstep to welcome them with open arms. But when Anna pops over the next morning to thank them for their hospitality, there’s no answer. The house is bare and unoccupied, and the neighbours have vanished without a trace. What’s more, everybody else on the street is convinced that no one ever lived there at all. As she battles a growing obsession with the mystery, Anna finds herself becoming increasingly paranoid. She thought she’d escaped her own troubled past, but as the truth catches up with her, life starts to unravel. Maybe she’s not the only resident of The Street with something to hide…Trade Review“Susi Holliday is one of our best and most original creators of tense and twisty tales…Nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted in this brilliant page-turner.” —Ian Rankin “Tense and twisty as all hell.” —Mark Billingham “Another cracker from Susi Holliday! A seemingly perfect street hides dark secrets in a twisty thriller with Don’t Worry Darling vibes where nothing is quite as it seems. Loved it!” —Lisa Gray, author of To Die For “A perfect locked room mystery—nail-bitingly tense, stomach-churningly suspenseful and utterly moreish!” —Steph Broadribb, author of Death on the Beach “Tense, creepy and utterly brilliant…Will have you twitching your curtains to check on your neighbours.” —Jenny Blackhurst, author of The Hiking Path “Another original and completely compelling read from a writer who never fails to deliver.” —C.S. Green, author of The Whisper House “Another addictive page-turner from Susi Holliday, filled with breath-holding intrigue and suspense, evocative writing and twists galore.” —Victoria Goldman, author of The Redeemer “Finished The Street last night. It's soooo goood. Like Stepford Wives meets Rosemary's Baby meets Don’t Worry Darling. The everyone-is-guilty vibe of The Hike turned up to eleven with dark secrets, guilt, double cross and danger on every page. Absolutely brilliant.” —Derek Farrell, author of the Danny Bird Mysteries “I raced through The Street. Twisty, tense with secrets and questions on every page. Satisfyingly gritty in places and such a brilliant finish! Loved it.” —Rachael Blok, author of The Fall “A brilliant concept, superbly executed. Susi Holliday is a master of her craft.” —Marion Todd, author of A Blind Eye “Doesn't relax the tension for a moment!” —Quentin Bates, author of the Gunnhildur Mysteries “In The Street, Holliday takes a startlingly original idea and runs with it. I got up early so that I could read the final chapters before starting work - it's compelling, twisty and unpredictable. Highly recommended.” —R.M. Ward, author of The Girl Who Vanished “On this street, lock your doors, whisper your secrets, and don’t trust anyone. Compulsive, clever and I couldn’t put it down.” —Louise Swanson, author of End of Story “Gripping.” —Crime Monthly

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Book SynopsisA forensic psychologist fights a mental war against two serial killers in this disturbing thriller from Mike Omer, Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author of A Killer’s Mind. An online video of a girl clawing at the ceiling of her own grave could be the worst thing FBI forensic psychologist Zoe Bentley has ever seen. Perhaps even more disturbing is the implication of the video’s title: “Experiment Number One.” Zoe and her partner, Special Agent Tatum Gray, work as fast as they can to find the monster behind the shocking video, but soon another one shows up online, and another girl turns up dead. Meanwhile, a different murderer is on Zoe’s mind. Rod Glover has been tormenting her since childhood, and his latest attack is a threatening photo of himself with Zoe’s sister. As Glover’s threats creep toward action, Zoe’s torn between family and duty. Zoe must think fast to prevent another murder. With her own family’s safety on the line, Zoe feels she’s never been in more danger. And while she’s always known her job could send her to an early grave, she always assumed she’d be dead first.

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Book SynopsisAn Amazon Charts bestseller. Emma’s darkest secrets are buried in the past. But the truth can’t stay hidden for long. Emma is a loving wife, a devoted mother…and an involuntary killer. For years she’s been hiding the dead body of the teacher who seduced her as a teen. It’s a secret that might have stayed buried if only her life had been less perfect. A promotion for Emma’s husband, Alex, means they can finally move to a bigger home with their young son. But with a buyer lined up for their old house, Emma can’t leave without destroying every last trace of her final revenge… Returning to the shallow grave in the garden, she finds it empty. The body is gone. Panicked, Emma confesses to her husband. But this is only the beginning. Soon, Alex will discover things about her he’ll wish he’d learned sooner. And others he’ll long to forget.Trade Review“Silent Victim is fast-paced, twisty, and it chilled me to the bone…I loved every minute of it!” —Robert Bryndza “The very definition of a page-turner. Unreliable narrators mean you never quite know where you stand until it all builds to a richly satisfying climax. A fantastic psychological thriller.” —John Marrs “Brilliantly gripping and deliciously creepy. Make sure you clear your day as you won't be able to put Silent Victim down!” —Sibel Hodge “Dark, shocking, and utterly compelling.” —Mel Sherratt

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Book SynopsisAn Amazon Charts bestseller. She’s a total stranger. But she knows who you are… Suzi did a bad thing. She’s paying for it now, pregnant, scared, and living in an isolated cottage with her jealous husband, Nick. When Nora moves into the only house nearby, Suzi is delighted to have a friend. So much so that she’s almost tempted to tell Nora her terrible secret. But there’s more to Nora than meets the eye. It’s impossible—does she already know what Suzi did? Meanwhile, Elle spends her days in her perfect home, fixated on keeping up appearances. But when her husband betrays her, it unravels a secret going all the way back to her childhood. She’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to him, even if that means murder. After all, she’s done it before… Caught up in their own secrets and lies, these strangers will soon realise they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. When a shocking event brings them together, their lives will never be the same again.

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Book SynopsisDark, disturbing and deliciously twisty, Reptile Memoirs is a biting and brilliant exploration of the cold-bloodedness of humanity - perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Jo Nesbø and Tana French.What readers are saying about Reptile Memoirs'Truly unusual and terrifying' 'Dark, heart-wrenching and creepy''Graphic''Dark, challenging and unforgettable''Chilling''Not for the faint hearted''Unique, dark and disturbing, gripping and very, very clever'Late one night, Liv sees a TV nature show and finds herself compelled to buy a pet snake. As she bonds with her new Burmese python, she is unaware how much he takes in with his cold, impassive eyes. He watches.Thirteen years later, Mariam Lind goes on a shopping trip with her eleven-year-old daughter, Iben. Following an argument Mariam storms off, expecting her young daughter to make her own way home . . . but she never does. Detective Roe Olsvik is assigned to the case of Iben's disappearance. As he interrogates Mariam, he instantly suspects her - but his response to the situation seems unusually personal . . .A biting and constantly shifting tale of family secrets, rebirth and the legacy of trauma, Reptile Memoirs asks the question: Can you ever really shed your skin?Trade ReviewThe narrative twists make your jaw drop...An astonishing debut. * The Times - Books of the Year *This astonishing debut gradually tightens its grip and leaves you gasping...Silje Ulstein is a daringly original writer. * The Times *A remarkable literary debut offering a twist on the Nordic police procedural * Financial Times, Best books for summer *Original, sharp, tender and chilling, Reptile Memoirs is hugely ambitious and hypnotically readable. -- Chris Whitaker, author of WE BEGIN AT THE ENDA beautifully dark and twisty story with jaw-dropping twists and pin-point plotting. -- Joanna Cannon, author of THE TROUBLE WITH GOATS AND SHEEPNeither Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl), nor Paula Hawkins (Girl on the Train), nor Alex Michaelides (The Silent Patient) - to name some well-known examples from the last decade - can measure up to Ulstein . . . This debut is a great discovery . . . A thriller that really stands out. * Aftenposten *Ulstein has written the best and creepiest Norwegian crime debut in years . . . A novel that stands out due to both its dark, clever and intricate plot as well as the author's solid insight in the human mind. * Adresseavisen *A nerve-wrecking and highly original psychological thriller . . . The book is very hard to put down and if you do the plot will keep playing out in your mind. * Dagbladet *This book is a shapeshifting marvel. I found it compulsively readable, and not just for the unexpected paths by which it unpacks its secrets. Silje Ulstein writes about snakes in ways that made me feel I've never really seen them before: In language that is as seductive as it is prickly, she pries open the boundaries between reptiles and humans, adults and the children they once were, and criminals and victims. An uncanny, unsettling and totally immersive read. -- Emily Fridlund, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of HISTORY OF WOLVESReptile Memoirs is a magnetic ocean tide: a bold, heart-stopping and genre-defying debut which compels us to sink toward the darkest depths of our past. A masterfully shocking and at times wonderfully uncomfortable exploration of obsession, desire and rejection, sexuality and taboo, Ulstein leaves us breathless in her quest to examine which version of the self is capable of love and violence. -- Sarah Schmidt, author of SEE WHAT I HAVE DONEExtraordinary and terrifying, Reptile Memoirs sinks teeth into you from page one. Through relentless and, at times, almost unbearable tension, Ulstein delivers a menacingly layered thriller unlike any you've read before. -- P. J. Vernon, author of BATH HAUS

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Real Bad Things and Cottonmouths, a Los Angeles Review Best Book of 2017, comes the darkly suspenseful tale of a small-town Easter tradition and its murderous secrets. For seventeen years, a serial murderer has used the Presley, Arkansas, Annual Hunt for the Golden Egg to find prey. Or at least that’s what some people believe. Others, like the town’s devoted “Eggheads,” relish the tradition and think the deaths are just unfortunate accidents. But for Nell Holcomb, the town’s annual Hunt dredges up a particularly painful memory: her brother’s death, long believed to be “the Hunter’s” first kill. Nell has been caring for her nephew since then, trying to keep him safe and trying to conceal the role she played in his father’s death. Most importantly, she’s been trying to avoid the Hunt—despite the clashes that erupt in town over the event and her best friend’s obsession with winning the big prize. As Easter draws near and the town’s frenzy escalates, Nell must face her past and the Hunt as the danger once again veers close to home.Trade ReviewPraise for The Hunt “Truly absorbing…Ford renders the town of Presley, Ark., as a living entity swirling with resentments and loyalties, and governed by fear, thanks to wild rumors that a serial murderer stalks prey at the town’s famous ‘Hunt for the Golden Egg’ each Easter…You won’t find any tidy narratives or simple judgments here.” —New York Times Book Review “Ford is particularly good at laying down subtle bread crumbs for readers to follow, utilizing fun devices such as a Google Doc moderated by amateur sleuths who are trying to identify the Hunter. This basket is stuffed with surprises.” —Publishers Weekly “An Easter egg hunt in Presley, Arkansas is the unlikely springboard for a serial killer’s diabolical plot in Kelly J. Ford’s newest standout thriller. Ford takes all that small-town rumor and agitation and burns it down to its purest form, where every incident is loaded with significance and the race to untangle truth from supposition becomes almost impossible. Ford pulls off the high-wire act with coolness and style to spare.” —CrimeReads “Better than almost anyone writing today, Kelly J. Ford is able to spot the magic in the mundane and craft a compelling story around what others simply look right past. The Hunt is just the latest example of her ability to draw readers into the chaos and craziness of everyday life while exploring themes of shared trauma, family dynamics, and the societal constraints of small town America. Add a serial killer into the mix and you have yourself one hell of a book.” —Best Thriller Books “The Hunt by Kelly J Ford is a down home dark and suspenseful trip though the legends and lore that make the South the beautiful haunted place it is. Kelly is a wordsmith of the first order and this story grabs you on page one and never let's go!” —S.A. Cosby bestselling author of Razorblade Tears “No one does small town noir like Kelly J. Ford. With an enticing premise and characters rich in nuance if not money, The Hunt is a welcome addition to any crime fiction lovers bookshelf. I loved it.” —Kellye Garrett, award winning and Edgar nominated author of Like A Sister “Imagine if Megan Abbott penned a chilling yarn about an annual Easter egg hunt in backwoods Arkansas, and you’re getting close to what Kelly J. Ford’s pulled off in her next novel. The Hunt perfectly captures the strangeness that lurks behind the guise of so many small-town Southern traditions. Nobody does buried secrets better than Kelly. But this dark rural noir conjures up more than just old ghosts—it shines a fresh new light on the truth.” —Eli Cranor, author of Don’t Know Tough and Ozark Dogs “Ford’s The Hunt cements her as not only one of the best Southern fiction writers around but also one of the best contemporary writers period. There’s a macabre playfulness to The Hunt as each unpredictable twist builds to an ending no one will see coming. But despite the dark humor, this is ultimately a story about how guilt can consume and destroy, especially in small towns, where empathy can be in short supply and gossip is a sport. Ford knows how to put her characters’ humanity front and center even as they repeatedly stumble down dangerous paths. These are damaged people you want to see win.” —Heather Levy, author of the Anthony-nominated Walking through Needles “Kelly J. Ford is a modern master of the rural noir—dragging the elements of a classic tale and reshaping it with a tone and viewpoint that is undoubtedly modern and alive. The Hunt is loaded with tension and razor-sharp plotting but also lets readers engulf themselves in the all-too-human characters Ford is so adept at creating. A small-town suspense novel that evokes tales like Megan Abbott’s The Fever and Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects with Ford’s trademark voice. A winner.” —Alex Segura, bestselling author of Secret Identity Praise for Real Bad Things “Acclaimed author Kelly J. Ford spins a propulsive, sophisticated, and fearlessly queer tour de force in Real Bad Things. Ford’s richly drawn characters and breathtaking storytelling create an inescapable undertow of menace that will not let go until the final, shocking page. This is gothic suspense at its most haunting.” —P. J. Vernon, author of Bath Haus “Ford’s follow-up to her devastating debut novel, Cottonmouths, is a moving meditation on misplaced loyalties, love, and the legacy of violence and abuse, all wrapped in a mystery filled with guy-wire tension.” —John Vercher, author of Three-Fifths “A powerful, grounded, and dark dose of rural noir, Real Bad Things is a tale of a homecoming gone wrong. Kelly J. Ford evokes the work of superstars like Gillian Flynn and Daniel Woodrell in this story of dark secrets coming back to roost and pulls it all through the prism of her own potent voice. This is a down-and-dirty crime novel that nods to the masters while keeping both feet firmly planted in the present. I loved it.” —Alex Segura, acclaimed author of Secret Identity, Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall, and Blackout “This absolutely gripping and gorgeously written Southern noir grabs hold and does not let go until the very last page. Ford’s darkly atmospheric writing transports you right to the underbelly of Maud Bottoms—where the water teems with dead bodies, hidden secrets, forbidden love, and past betrayals—and pulls you inescapably into its ominous current, then shocks you with its final twist. Real Bad Things is Southern gothic perfection.” —Elizabeth Chiles Shelburne, Holding On to Nothing, winner of the IPPY Gold Award for Southern Regional Fiction “At the start of this gripping suspense novel from Ford, Jane Mooney, who’s been living in Boston, returns home to Maud Bottoms, Arkansas…The truth slowly unfolds as the plot builds toward a surprising conclusion foreshadowed by a trail of skillfully disguised clues. Ford delivers the goods.” —Publishers Weekly “A confessed killer’s return home brings long-buried secrets to life with a series of seismic jolts.” —Kirkus Reviews “Beautifully written and socially astute, Real Bad Things delivers on the promise of Ford’s debut, Cottonmouths.” —CrimeReads “With layers of storytelling portraying generational trauma, small towns, and the unbearable confines their scrutiny can place on anyone who feels different, as well as the unbreakable bonds that adversity can forge, Real Bad Things is sometimes a hard read but always an excellent one. Readers looking for slow-burn mystery with unforgettable characters and an unforgettable atmosphere will find here exactly what they need.” —Mystery and Suspense Magazine “This atmospheric, suspenseful novel will keep you guessing and page turning all the way to the end.” —Good Housekeeping “Some writers seem to have a natural affinity for originality and the kind of narrative-driven storytelling that immediately engages and then holds the reader’s total attention from first page to last. Clearly, with the publication of Real Bad Things, Kelly J. Ford has proven herself to be one of those novelists.” —Midwest Book Review “Kelly J. Ford is the moonshine-soaked voice rural noir has been looking for.” —S. A. Cosby Praise for Cottonmouths “Ford’s novel features a lesbian protagonist, yet sexuality is only one facet of her strongly drawn character. Emily suffers from unrequited love, from betrayal, and from a longing for meaning and acceptance. Her struggles, as well as those of her family and community, are universal struggles set in a brutal reality where choices are scarce. Read this debut novel for its ability to go beneath the surface, striking impressive depths of character and setting.” —Los Angeles Review, the Best Books of the Year, 2017 “Refreshingly, Cottonmouths refuses to romanticize unrequited love…Cottonmouths is not a love story: it’s a tale of resentment, venomous betrayal, and the wounds hidden beneath familiar surfaces. Through a kaleidoscope of characters, Ford’s dark novel shows us the choices people make when the world denies them good options and the consequences of complicity.” ―Lambda Literary “Filled with foreboding and anguished desire, Cottonmouths is a perfectly paced drama of the perils of loyalty, love, and homecoming. A terrific novel by an exciting new queer voice.” ―Christopher Castellani, author of All This Talk of Love and Leading Men “Gripping and atmospheric. A tense tale of the specific gravity of the places and the people we come from and can never fully leave behind.” ―Kate Racculia, Bellweather Rhapsody “A taut page-turner trembling with desire and regret, Kelly J. Ford’s debut, Cottonmouths, strips away nostalgia for person and place when the return of one young woman reveals the rotting core of a small Southern town, unraveling with the ferocity of addiction and forcing a painful lesson―she must learn to let go of her delusions in both love and friendship before it’s too late.” ―Michelle Hoover, author of Bottomland “Kelly J. Ford’s Cottonmouths is a fierce first novel―startling in its grip and authenticity. It’s a novel about desire and desperation and the perilous danger of loving broken people in broken places.” ―Travis Mulhauser, author of Sweetgirl “A compelling story of unrequited love, identity, and the power of letting go.” ―Heather Newton, author of Under the Mercy Trees “Part noir, part Southern gothic, Cottonmouths is far more than the sum of these parts―an original story that haunted me after I read it. Kelly J. Ford’s unflinching prose plunges readers into the town of Drear’s Bluff, where what’s familiar isn’t what’s safe and where desire proves deadly.” ―Stephanie Gayle, author of Idyll Threats “With prose as lyrical and languid as a hot Arkansas summer, Kelly J. Ford explores the myopia of desire―and its tragic aftermath. I found myself torn between wanting to rip through these pages to find out what would happen and a need to slow down and savor Ford’s sentences. A remarkable debut.” ―Lisa Borders, author of The Fifty-First State “Kelly J. Ford delivers a sharp punch to the gut with this tightly spun modern noir tale. I can’t wait to read more from this author.” ―Tiffany Quay Tyson, author of Three Rivers “Ford’s debut novel traces the sobering struggles of small-town meth addiction, sexual identity, and the choices people make when good options are in short supply.” ―Los Angeles Times “Kelly J. Ford’s novel Cottonmouths captures life in backwoods America like a fish in a frying pan. Ford takes her young, raw, flailing characters and rakes them over the heat of a high-octane plot until their vulnerable insides sizzle on the page.” ―Shelf Awareness “Cottonmouths, another book that seems to sample the new territory wrought by David Joy and Frank Bill, is an original addition to the meth-and-magnolia genre…This debut novel from Kelly J. Ford is sensitive yet brutal, with Ford giving her protagonist, Emily, believable flaws while nailing small-town Southern culture in the new world that has replaced Welty and Connery with Joy and Crews. A terrific new voice in the genre.” ―Shelf Discovery “Cottonmouths paints a disturbing picture of deep darkness lurking just below the surface of small-town America.” ―Mystery Scene magazine “A Southern gothic queer masterpiece.” ―S. A. Cosby, Do Some Damage “We talk about the need for diverse books in America; Cottonmouths shows us a version of our country seldom given its own narrative. Kelly J. Ford writes with honesty, subtlety, and grace.” —Patricia Park, Re Jane “Cottonmouths is an astonishingly assured debut from Kelly J. Ford, a writer who daringly plumbs the depths of both love and despair in a new and chilling South rendered with taut and pitch-perfect detail. Trust me, this is a book you will remember.” ―Kimberly Elkins, author of What Is Visible “Kelly J. Ford’s Cottonmouths is a heartbreaking debut about the lies we tell ourselves to brave the past—and the truths we hide that hurt us most. An honest, unflinching portrait of yearning and loss.” ―Andy Davidson, author of In the Valley of the Sun

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