Thriller / suspense fiction

Book SynopsisOn her first shift at an Edinburgh halfway house for violent offenders, a young woman is taken hostage … and that's just the beginning… The twisty, shocking, darkly funny thriller by award-winning author Helen FitzGerald. 'A new novel from Helen Fitzgerald is always a major event … magnificent' Mark Billingham ‘Outrageous, hilarious and dark as hell – this is Helen FitzGerald on absolute top form’ Doug Johnstone ‘[Lou] is irresistible and very funny … The set-up is fascinating, the narrative is both fast-moving and convincing’ Literary Review _______ They’re the housemates from Hell… When her disastrous Australian love affair ends, Lou O’Dowd heads to Edinburgh for a fresh start, moving in with her cousin, and preparing for the only job she can find … working at a halfway house for very high-risk offenders. Two killers, a celebrity paedophile and a paranoid coke dealer – all out on parole and all sharing their outwardly elegant Edinburgh townhouse with rookie night-worker Lou… And instead of finding some meaning and purpose to her life, she finds herself trapped in a terrifying game of cat and mouse where she stands to lose everything – including her life. Slick, darkly funny and nerve-janglingly tense, Halfway House is both a breathtaking thriller and an unapologetic reminder never to corner a desperate woman… __________________________ ‘Tense, claustrophobic and laugh-out-loud funny … an amazingly talented writer’ Michael Wood ‘A genius combination of horror, humour and humanity' B M Carroll Praise for Helen FitzGerald **Shortlisted for Theakston Crime Novel of the Year** 'Sharp, shocking and savagely funny’ Chris Whitaker ‘Dark, dark, deliciously dark' Amanda Jennings 'Wickedly funny, breath-stealingly tense and utterly chilling' Miranda Dickinson 'The main character is one of the most extraordinary you'll meet between the pages of a book' Ian Rankin 'Sublime' Guardian 'A dark, comic masterpiece' Mark Edwards 'Urgent, angry, absolutely terrifying’ Erin Kelly 'Tantalisingly powerful' The Times 'The classic thriller gets a hell of a twist' Heat 'FitzGerald writes like a more focused Irvine Welsh or a less misogynist Philip Roth' Daily Telegraph 'Domestic life is rarely served up quite so dark as this’ Sun

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Book SynopsisFeatures: New cover art In-universe short story Warm Up A teaser for the forthcoming sequel Vengeance Specially designed end papers - unique to this edition Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in one another. A shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death-experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. They become EOs, ExtraOrdinaries, leaving a body in their wake and turning on each other. Ten years later Victor has escaped from prison and is determined to get his revenge on the man who put him there, aided by a young girl with the ability to raise the dead. Eli has spent the years hunting down and killing every EO he can find, convinced that they are a crime against God, all except his sidekick, a woman whose power is persuasion and whom he cannot defy. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the arch-nemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

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Book SynopsisThe official novelization of the blockbuster Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, the latest film in the Monsterverse franchise, starring Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall and Brian Tyree Henry.

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Book SynopsisTHE #2 WATERSTONES BESTSELLER'Beautifully explored and deeply complex' Gal GadotJoyful, devastating, and profound, Meet Me in Another Life is a story of love and connection in every possible form that will captivate fans of Stuart Turton, Claire North, and Audrey Niffenegger.Thora and Santi have met beforeUnder the clocktower in central Cologne, with nothing but the stars above and their futures ahead.They will meet againThey don't know it yet, but they'll meet again: in numerous lives they will become friends, colleagues, lovers, enemies meeting over and over for the first time, every time; each coming to know every version of the other.Only they can make sure it's not for the last time.But as they're endlessly drawn together and the lines between their different lives begin to blur, they are faced with one question: why?They must discover the truth of their strange attachment before this, and all their lives, are lost forever.Trade Review‘Engaging and inventive, this debut novel will appeal to fans of THE TIME TRAVELLER’S WIFE’’BookBub, The Best Books of Spring 2021 ‘Will break your heart in the best possible way’ Popsugar, The 25 Best Books of April ‘Clever and, in the end, heartbreaking’Financial Times ‘I'm psyched about . . . MEET ME IN ANOTHER LIFE (been waiting for this one!!)’Jodi Picoult ‘A remarkable debut, haunting, genre-transcending. The human condition reflected in a shattered mirror’Stephen Baxter ‘Science fiction can reach out to the stars and at the same time hold tight to the human heart. The many layers of mystery in this beautiful love story lead to a breathtaking ending’Sue Burke, author of SEMIOSIS ‘An incredibly clever book that takes a thought experiment and gives it heart and depth. A brilliant premise beautifully executed’Christina Sweeney-Baird, author of THE END OF MEN ‘A sweet, melancholy heartache of a novel’Kate Mascarenhas, author of THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME TRAVEL ‘Inventive, bold, and surprising – from where the novel starts I could have never imagined where it ends. Along the way the story of Thora and Santi builds in suspense and emotion, revealing itself page by page, layer by layer. Cleverly constructed and highly entertaining’Charles Yu ‘Brilliant, lush, and achingly imaginative! I love this book in every life’Beth Revis, bestselling author of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and A WORLD WITHOUT YOU ‘A truly captivating work with an ending that rocked my socks off’Erika Swyler, author of LIGHT FROM OTHER STARS and THE BOOK OF SPECULATION

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Book SynopsisStill traumatised by her brush with a psychopath, Detective Cassie Maddox transfers out of the Murder squad and starts a relationship with fellow detective Sam O''Neill. When he calls her to the scene of his new case, she is shocked to find that the murdered girl is her double. What''s more, her ID shows she is Lexie Madison - the identity Cassie used, years ago, as an undercover detective. With no leads, no suspects and no clues to Lexie''s real identity, Cassie''s old boss spots the opportunity of a lifetime: send Cassie undercover in her place, to tempt the killer out of hiding to finish the job.Trade ReviewFrench's second foray into the dark world of psychological crime more than proves she's the real deal * Daily Mirror *An intricate and edgy top-notch psychological thriller. * Woman and Home *Beautifully written and elegantly descriptive, this is a true literary detective novel rather than a whodunnit * Irish Mail on Sunday *An eerie thriller, perfect for holidays * Sunday World *Creepily melding elements of Donna Tartt's "The Secret History" . . . THE LIKENESS by Tana French, seduces from the start . . . A nifty tale of desire for belonging, as well as a cool thriller * Time Out *Skilfully written . . . French has a brilliant ear for dialogue . . . in the best tradition of classic crime writers, such as P D James and Ruth Rendell, her characters are fully-rounded people and she is able to layer plots and storylines with a mastery that belies the fact that it is only her second book. * Sunday Independent, Dublin *If you want well-made, lyrical thrillers that will have you gripped without pretending to be something else, why not try Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series? Indulgent, ingenious - and utterly unputdownable. * The Times *

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Book SynopsisTHE WINNER OF THE 2022 FINGERPRINT AWARDS' CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE DR RUTH GALLOWAY MYSTERIESA propulsive new thriller set in London featuring Detective Harbinder Kaur. A murderer hides in plain sight - in the police.DS Cassie Fitzherbert has a secret. When she was at school, she and her friends were responsible for the death of a fellow pupil. Decades later, Cassie is happily married and loves her job as a police officer.Her husband persuades her to go to a school reunion and another ex-pupil, Garfield Rice, is found dead, supposedly from a drug overdose. As Garfield was an eminent MP and the investigation is high profile, it's headed by Cassie's new boss, DI Harbinder Kaur. Trouble is, Cassie can't shake the feeling that one of her old friends is behind it.Is Cassie right, or was Garfield murdered by one of his political cronies? It's in Cassie's interest to skew the investigation so that it looks like the latter and she seems to be succeeding. Until someone else is killed...PRAISE FOR ELLY GRIFFITHS:'Elly Griffiths writes with a sharp, smart eye and great elegance' PETER JAMES 'Great on character and suspense' VAL MCDERMID'One of my flat-out favourite contemporary suspense writers' AJ FINNTrade ReviewAs ever, Griffiths skilfully blends complex plotting with a cast of wonderfully vivid characters * Mail on Sunday *This standalone thriller is a page-turner with an engaging cast of characters. It provides an enjoyable take on the classic killer-at-a-school-reunion, horror-movie trope, before delivering a jaw-dropping twist * Sunday Express *Witty takes on life, love and relationships pepper the novel and make the plot all the more appealing * Belfast Telegraph *The third outing for Detective Harbinder Kaur, this is an easy-to-read, rewarding mystery * Best *Filled with Griffiths's trademark good humour, this is not only a well-researched police procedural but also a very comforting novel * Literary Review *Once again Elly Griffiths has created an ingenious mystery with hidden depths * The Times *A tightly paced, character-driven book * Woman & Home *A cleverly plotted page-turner that's well up to Griffiths's vertiginously high standard * Guardian *A typically twisty treat from Griffiths * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisWith a stunning new cover look, King''s chilling classic of a small new England town about to be engulfed in terror.Turn off the television - in fact, why don''t you turn off all the lights except for the one over your favourite chair? - and we''ll talk about vampires here in the dim. I think I can make you believe in them. Stephen King, from the Introduction. ''Salem''s Lot is a small New England town with the usual quota of gossips, drinkers, weirdos and respectable folk. Of course there are tales of strange happenings - but not more than in any other town its size.Ben Mears, a moderately successful writer, returns to the Lot to write a novel based on his early years, and to exorcise the terrors that have haunted him since childhood. The event he witnessed in the house now rented by a new resident. A newcomer with a strange allure. A man who causes Ben some unease as things start to happen: a child disappears, a dog is brutally killed -Trade ReviewMr. King's gift of storytelling is unrivaled. His ferocious imagination is unlimited. * George Pelecanos *

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Book SynopsisFrom internationally bestselling author Terry Goodkind, comes this outstanding epic adventure set in the captivating world of his classic Sword of Truth novels.As her husband, Richard, desperately searches for his beloved, who only he remembers, he knows that if she doesn't soon discover who she really is, she will unwittingly become the instrument that will unleash annihilation. But Kahlan learns that if she ever were to unlock the truth of her lost identify, the evil itself would finally possess her, body and soul.If she is to survive in a murky world of deception and betrayal, where life is not cheap but fleeting, Kahlan must find out why she is such a central figure in the war-torn world swirling around her. What she uncovers are secrets darker than she could ever have imagined.Trade ReviewPraise for Terry Goodkind: ‘A real born storyteller'Anne McCaffrey 'Everything one could ask for in an epic fantasy'Publishers Weekly

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Book Synopsis* THE FIRST NOVEL IN THE BESTSELLING MODESTY BLAISE SERIES *'The finest escapist thrillers ever written' THE TIMES'Before Buffy, before Charlie's Angels, before Purdy and Emma Peel, there was Modesty Blaise' OBSERVERIn her first adventure for British Intelligence, Modesty Blaise with her loyal lieutenant, Willie Garvin, must foil a multi-million pound diamond heist. Bored and restive, Modesty is looking for a mission when she is approached by the head of the British Intelligence. Britain is shipping ten million pounds worth of diamonds from South Africa to Beirut as partial payment for an oil concession to a Middle Eastern sheikh and the rumour is that the secrecy of this mission has been uncovered and someone may try to steal it. Modesty's knowledge and contacts within the international underworld make her the perfect person to solve the case. Knowing the difficulty of the mission, she first has to save Willie from captivity in South America. Then they travel from London to the South Trade ReviewIn the beginning there was Modesty. Cooler than the pretentious James Bond, tougher than the brain-dead Mike Hammer -- Lauren Henderson, author of Dead White FemaleThese books are the finest escapist thrillers ever written * The Times *Before Buffy, before Charlie's Angels, before Purdy and Emma Peel there was Modesty Blaise. For almost 40 years, Peter O'Donnell's iconic heroine drop-kicked her way through a swath of villains and into a unique place in popular culture * Observer *One of the great partnerships in fiction, bearing comparison with that of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson -- Kingsley AmisO'Donnell is one of those rare popular writers, like Josephine Tey or P.G. Wodehouse, who inspire not just fandom but love * New York Times Book Review *Modesty Blaise was the comic-strip criminal genius, turned occasional secret service operative, who managed to combine timeless beauty and elegance with the ability to break every bone in your body... there's never been a better time to become acquainted * The Crack *The continuing renaissance of the immortal heroine: thrilling, humorous and timeless adventures, the Modesty Blaise series are seminal British crime novels * Crime Time *The stories of Modesty are better than James Bond and funnier * Tribune *

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Book SynopsisTHE NO. 1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR27 MILLION BOOKS SOLDWINNER OF THE GLASS KEY AWARDJussi Adler-Olsen returns with his most captivating and suspenseful novel yet...In a Copenhagen park the body of an elderly woman is discovered. Though the case bears a striking resemblance to another unsolved homicide from over a decade ago, the police cannot find any connection between the two victims. Across town a group of young women are being hunted down. The attacks seem random, but could these brutal acts of violence be related? Detective Carl Mørck of Department Q is charged with solving the mystery.Back at headquarters, Carl and his team are under pressure to deliver results: failure to meet his superiors' expectations will mean the end of Department Q. Solving the case, however, is not their only concern. After a breakdown, their colleague Rose is struggling to deal with the ghosts of her past - a past seemingly connected to one of the division's most sinister case-files. It is up to Carl, Assad and Gordon to unearth the dark and violent truth plaguing Rose before it is too late.Translated by William FrostPerfect for fans of Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbo.Trade ReviewThe new "it" boy of Nordic Noir * Times *Gripping story-telling * Guardian *Adler-Olsen's prose is superior to Larsson's, his tortures are less discomfiting, and he has a sense of humour * Booklist on Mercy *[A] sordid tale . . . inspired by actual events during a dark period of Danish history. Ah, but there is more, so much more in this frenzied thriller * New York Times on Guilt *Mesmerising writing * Independent *Scandinavian crime novels don't get much darker than Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q police procedurals * New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisTHE EPIC HISTORICAL NOVEL FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR CONN IGGULDEN - FANS OF GAME OF THRONES AND WOLF HALL WILL BE HOOKED''Superbly plotted and paced'' THE TIMES________Winter 1461. Richard Duke of York is dead, his ambitions in ruins, his head spiked on the walls of the city.King Henry VI is still held prisoner. His Lancastrian Queen rides south with an army of victorious northerners, accompanied by painted warriors from the Scottish Highlands.With the death of York, Margaret and her army seem unstoppable.Yet in killing the father, Margaret has unleashed the sons.Edward of March, now Duke of York, proclaims himself England''s rightful king.Through blood and treason, through broken men and vengeful women, brother shall confront brother, king shall face king.Two men can always claim a crown. But only one can keep it . . .________PTrade ReviewOne of our finest historical novelists has produced another impressively researched, cleverly plotted and gripping take on the Wars of the Roses * Daily Express *Iggulden is in a class of his own when it comes to epic, historical fiction * Daily Mirror *Superbly plotted and paced * The Times *Breathes new life into the darkest and most dramatic of times, with a flair for both the huge scale and human interest of it all * Star *Exceptionally well-written and gripping * Stylist *Compelling * Woman and Home *A page-turning thriller * Mail on Sunday *Pacey and juicy, and packed with action * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisFROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER THE CALLER A freak accident in rural Wyoming leads the Sheriff's Department to arrest a man for a possible double homicide, but further investigations suggest a much more horrifying discovery – a serial killer who has been kidnapping, torturing and mutilating victims all over the United States for at least twenty-five years. The suspect claims he is a pawn in a huge labyrinth of lies and deception – and he will now only speak to Detective Robert Hunter . . . PRAISE FOR CHRIS CARTER  'A touch of Patricia Cornwell about Chris Carter's plotting' Mail on Sunday 'Gripping . . . not for the squeamish' Heat 'A page-turner' Express

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Book Synopsis''Brilliant...wild and exhilarating'' New YorkerSgt Raymond Shaw is a hero of the first order. He''s an ex-prisoner of war who saved the life of his entire outfit, a winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the stepson of an influential senator...and the perfect assassin. Brainwashed during his time as a POW he is a ''sleeper'', a living weapon to be triggered by a secret signal. He will act without question, no matter what order he is made to carry out. To stop Shaw, his former commanding officer must uncover the truth behind a twisted conspiracy of torture, betrayal and power that will lead both to the highest levels of the government. - and to Shaw''s own past...Trade ReviewBrilliant ... wild and exhilarating * New Yorker *This masterpiece is even more trenchant these days than when it was first written * Catholic Herald *Apocalyptic ... Condon is wickedly skilful * Time *Shocking, tense ... high-grade adventure-suspense * San Francisco Chronicle *This masterpiece is even more trenchant these days than when it was first written * CATHOLIC HERALD *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Goodreads Awards 2023.From the bestselling author of The One, now an eight-part NETFLIX series. Set in the same world as The One, The Marriage Act is a dark, high-concept thriller.‘One of the most exciting original thriller writers’ - Simon KernickWhat if marriage was the law? Dare you disobey?Britain. The near future. A right-wing government believes it has the answer to society’s ills – the Sanctity of Marriage Act, which actively encourages marriage as the norm, punishing those who choose to remain single.But four couples are about to discover just how impossible relationships can be when the government is supervising every aspect of our personal lives, monitoring every word, every minor disagreement . . . and will use every tool in its arsenal to ensure everyone will love, honour and obey.'Black Mirror' meets thriller with a dash of Naomi Alderman’s The Power.Praise for John Marrs:'Clever, compelling and terrifyingly plausible . . . And talk about a page-turner. This one will leave you with paper cuts!' - C. J. Tudor, author of A Sliver of Darkness'A brilliantly tricksy read' Liz Nugent, author of Strange Sally Diamond'Dark, immersive speculative fiction at it’s very best!' - Sarah Pearse, author of The Retreat and The SanatoriumTrade ReviewClever, compelling and terrifyingly plausible. A near future nightmare that grips from the first page and never let’s go. The Marriage Act is a brilliant examination of relationships and the power we let others have over us. And talk about a page-turner. This one will leave you with paper cuts! -- C. J. Tudor, author of A Sliver of DarknessA scarily plausible alternative future with a truly twisted narrative. Tensely plotted and terrifyingly imagined - it’ll put you off marriage and modern technology for life! -- Harriet Tyce, author of Blood OrangeThe king of near-future what ifs is back with a smart and chilling page-turner. Twisty, unsettling, scarily believable and thought provoking, this is his best yet. -- Ellery Lloyd, author of The ClubOne of the most exciting original thriller writers -- Simon Kernick, author of Good Cop Bad CopJohn’s creative, high-concept thrillers never fail to keep me furiously turning the pages and The Marriage Act is no exception. Pacy and packed full of tension, the book kept me constantly guessing as the thought-provoking plot about marriage and everything that comes with it unfolded in the most sinister of ways . . . dark, immersive speculative fiction at it’s very best! -- Sarah Pearse, author of The Retreat and The SanatoriumJohn Marrs can do no wrong. Like Huxley and Orwell before him, Marrs manages to take real life sanctities and twist them into something terrifyingly plausible. All hail the master of the speculative thriller! -- Jack Jordan, author of Sunday Times bestseller Do No HarmAn absolute blinder of a book . . . another gripping page turner. -- Claire Allan on The Marriage ActI really loved it… a plot that had me guessing all the way through. A triumph. -- Justin Myers on The Marriage ActClever, original, and impossible to put down. The Marriage Act had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. John Marrs is a master of suspense. -- Jeneva Rose, international bestselling author of The Perfect MarriageMarrs is brilliant at twists . . . for the addicts of adrenaline-fuelled twisty rides -- Peter James, author of Picture You DeadA page-turning and thought-provoking read * Daily Mirror *Skilfully evokes a future Britain . . . Marrs also excells when it comes to worldbuilding . . . a socially aware novel packed with thought-provoking questions * SFX Magazine *Another savagely clever near-future thriller. Provocative, terrifying and compulsive. If you loved The One, you'll love this! -- Cara Hunter, author of Hope to DieA tense, thrilling read – I found it impossible to put down. It’s dark and twisted, and I loved it -- Alex Michaelides, bestselling author of The Silent PatientOriginal thriller with lots of surprises * My Weekly *Dark, twisted, and full of surprises -- Mark Edwards, bestselling author of Her to Stay and The RetreatFour couples navigate an increasingly claustrophobic world in this razor sharp and chillingly plausible tale from the masterful John Marrs * Woman's Own Magazine *

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Book SynopsisJay Gardiner has given himself a fool's errand: to find the remains of his deceased father in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. He knows it's a long shot, but Jay feels it's the only way for him to lift the weight of guilt he has carried since his dad's death the previous year.The dive begins well enough, but the sudden appearance of a giant squid puts Jay in very real jeopardy, made infinitely worse by the arrival of a sperm whale looking to feed. Suddenly, Jay is caught in the squid's tentacles and drawn into the whale's mouth where he is pulled into the first of its four stomachs. He quickly realizes he has only one hour before his oxygen tanks run out - one hour to defeat his demons and escape the belly of a whale.

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Book SynopsisLaine Tavish is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life in the small town of Angel''s Gap, Maryland, as the proprietor of Remember When, an antique treasures and gift shop. At least, that''s what everyone in Angel''s Gap thinks. They have no idea that she used to be Elaine O''Hara, daughter of the notorious con man Big Jack O''Hara. Or that she grew up moving from place to place, one step ahead of the law. Laine''s past has just caught up with her, though - in a very dramatic way. Her long-lost uncle suddenly turned up in her shop, leaving only a cryptic warning before dying in the street, run down by a car. Soon afterward, her home is ransacked. Now it''s up to Laine, and a sexy stranger named Max Gannon, to find out who''s chasing her, and why. The answer lies in a hidden fortune - a fortune that will change not only Laine''s life but also the lives of future generations. And danger and death will surround that fortune for years to come. Until New York City Detective Lieutenant EvTrade ReviewThe most popular novelist on planet earth, Whether she's writing as Nora Roberts or as J.D. Robb, Roberts weaves a taut and powerful story with lush sensuality and masterful characterisation.

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Book SynopsisThe highly anticipated new thriller from the USA Today bestselling author of The Perfect Marriage.Opulence. Sex. Betrayal ... Sometimes friendship can be deadly.Meet the women of Buckhead-a place of expensive cars, huge houses, and competitive friendships.Shannon was once the queen bee of Buckhead. But she's been unceremoniously dumped by Bryce, her politician husband. When Bryce replaces her with a much younger woman, Shannon sets out to take revenge ...Crystal has stepped into Shannon's old shoes. A young, innocent Texan girl, she simply has no idea what she's up against ...Olivia has waited years to take Shannon's crown as the unofficial queen of Buckhead. Finally, her moment has come. But to take her rightful place, she will need to use every backstabbing, manipulative, underhand trick in the book ...Jenny owns Glow, the most exclusive salon in town. Jenny knows all her clients' secrets and darkest desires. But will she ever tell?Who amongst these women will be clever enough to survive Buckhead-and who will wind up dead? They say that friendships can be complex, but no one said it could ever be this deadly.Don't miss Jeneva Rose's sexy, shocking new thriller, You Shouldn't Have Come Here!

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Book Synopsis'Jane Casey's police procedurals go from strength to strength!' Sunday Times'If you have not read Jane Casey, start immediately' Marian Keyes'The most dangerously addictive series in crime fiction. . .' Erin Kelly___________________Arson, accident or murder?After a fire rips through a North London tower block, two bodies are found locked in an eleventh-floor flat. But it is the third victim - the MP Geoff Armstrong - that requires the presence of detective Maeve Kerrigan and the murder squad.It appears that Armstrong, trapped by the fire, chose to jump to his death rather than wait for rescue. But why? And what was the controversial right-wing politician doing there in the first place?As Maeve picks through the wreckage, she will uncover a secret world where everyone has something to hide . . .

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Book SynopsisNew York Times Bestselling AuthorSweeping from Mexico City to the dark underbelly of LA, The Silent Widow has all the trademark glamour, suspense and unexpected twists of a classic Sidney Sheldon novel.A young American au pair, Charlotte Clancy, vanishes without a trace in Mexico City. The case is left cold, but its legacy will be devastating.A decade later, LA is shaken by a spate of violent murders. Psychologist Nikki Roberts is the common link between the victims, her patients at the heart of this treacherous web. When someone makes an attempt on Nikki's life, it's clear she is a marked woman.Nikki makes a living out of reading people, drawing out their secrets, but the key to this shocking pattern eludes her. With the police at a dead end Nikki drafts in Derek Williams, a PI who isn't afraid to put his hand into the hornet's nest. Williams was thwarted in the notorious Charlotte Clancy case all those years ago, but what he unearths in LA and the mention of one name in particular Trade ReviewPraise for Tilly Bagshawe as Sidney Sheldon: ‘Suspense could hardly be greater’ Daily Telegraph ‘What a pleasure to have Papa’s books live on through Tilly Bagshawe. How he would have delighted in her plot twists and characters. And she’s young and beautiful to boot – a Sidney Sheldon heroine come to life!’ Mary Sheldon ‘She seemed to catch that inner voice… she was one of his characters. I could feel Sidney smiling down on me, saying “this is perfect”’ Alexandra Sheldon

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Book SynopsisIF YOU HAD NEVER OPENED THE DOOR, YOUR FAMILY WOULD BE SAFE . . . THE UNMISSABLE NEW THRILLER FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING MASTER OF THE UP-ALL-NIGHT THRILLERAdam and Jess, along with their three children, move into a beautiful new home: a rambling Victorian house in a nice neighbourhood, right at the top of their price range. Then Adam discovers a door hidden behind a fitted wardrobe, concealing a secret room . . .But like the house, Adam has his secrets too. And soon he will find himself setting in motion a series of events that will place his family in terrible danger . . .Praise for T.M. Logan and THE DREAM HOME'Moves like a rocket' Daily Mail'Clever, taut and twisty . . . full of tension and gasp-out-loud moments'Claire Douglas, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Couple at No. 9'Darkly gripping and addictive

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES AND NO. 1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER__________________________________________**Order now to secure the special Collector's Edition available only while stocks last!**The Collector's Edition features a gold foiled design underneath the dust jacket and is exclusive to the first print run in the UK only.________________________________''Breathtaking and brilliant!'' Jeffery Deaver''The pages turn themselves'' Daily Mail''As thrilling and jaw-dropping as Jurassic Park'' Don Winslow''Heart-pounding storytelling at its finest'' T.J. Newman''One of the most entertaining novels I''ve read in years'' Adrian McKinty________________________________Two of the bestselling storytellers of all time have created an unforgettable thriller.A once-in-a-century volcanic eruption is about to

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Book SynopsisTHE ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES #5 'An absolute master of pace, plotting and character' ELLY GRIFFITHSA MISSING CHILD St Martin’s is shrouded in bitterly cold fog when Jade Minear and her twin brother, Ethan, are attacked in a field, late at night. Ethan manages to return home but the shocking events of Jade’s disappearance have rendered him mute.A LONG-HELD GRUDGE On a small island where there are few places a child can hide, DI Ben Kitto must battle the elements to search for Jade. When his investigation reveals that the Minear family have many enemies on the island, Kitto grows increasingly worried that Jade is in danger.A KILLER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT . . . Meanwhile, someone on the island knows exactly where the girl is. Someone with a deep-seated hatred of Jade's family. To find the truth, Kitto must investigate the lives of the people he has known all of

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Book SynopsisA body is discovered in an empty Atlanta warehouse. It's the body of an ex-cop, and from the moment Special Agent Will Trent walks in he knows this could be the most devastating case of his career. Bloody footprints leading away from the scene reveal that another victim - a woman - has left the scene and vanished into thin air.Trade ReviewSlaughter’s story twists and turns in inimitable style * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *Great thriller * Love It! *Karin Slaughter has once again delivered a dark and twisted thriller that hits all the buttons that readers love in her books … I cannot recommend The Kept Woman highly enough * Nudge *

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Book SynopsisSECRETS, DESIRE, BLOOD... It all comes out in the wash''Intelligent, perfectly observed, more-ish - I devoured it in two days'' Poorna Bell, In Case of Emergency''I was glued to this entertaining story of motherhood, marriage and friendship'' Daily Mail-------------Keep your friends close and your neighbours closer...Ciara has it all - a loving husband, well-behaved children and an immaculate home. But behind the filters, her reality is far from what it seems.Mishti is stuck in a loveless marriage, raising her daughter in a country that is too cold, among children who look nothing like her.Lauren is mostly happy, despite being judged for letting her kids run naked, wild and free.Then Ciara is found murdered in her pristine home and suddenly everyone is a suspect.Hushed whispers, secret rendezvous and bloody betrayals . . .Everyone has their dTrade ReviewA twisty tale of love gone wrong -- Joshilyn Jackson, Mother May ILethal, entertaining with characters you'll love to hate. A delicious take on people behaving badly -- Darby Kane, Pretty Little WifeBose masterfully creates deeply drawn and utterly human characters in this powerful suspense debut -- Liv Constantine, The Last Mrs ParrishWith characters that jump off the page, deep dark secrets and twisted webs of lies, Dirty Laundry is everything I want in a book - Desperate Housewives in a small-town setting, each turn in the story even better than the last -- Andrea Mara, All Her Fault

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Book SynopsisDiscover the new Penguin Crime and Espionage seriesAn impostor has a fortune to win - but he may be in danger of losing his life...Twenty-one-year-old Brat Farrar is an orphan, alone in the world without friends or family. So when he is offered the unexpected chance to impersonate Patrick Ashby, the long-lost heir to a vast fortune on a country estate, he agrees. Brat is the spitting image of Patrick, who disappeared years ago. At first it seems Brat can pull off this incredible deception, until he starts to realise that he is in far greater peril than he ever imagined.

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Book SynopsisYou'll have the baby monitor and you'll take it in turns to go back every half hour.Your daughter was sleeping when you checked on her last. Even then, you'll never guess the truth...until it's too late' LISA GARDNER***OUT NOW *** the brand-new unputdownable thriller: NOT A HAPPY FAMILY Trade ReviewShari Lapena furnishes a clever array of motives and suspects. The tension is high and remains to the last, stunning page * The Times *'I thought the read-it-in-one-sitting thing was a cliche. Not any more' * Linwood Barclay *‘2016’s most talked-about new thriller’ * Stylist *‘Real men read women writers - because of books like this. Trust me' * Lee Child *‘A twisty, utterly riveting tale that will send readers on a wild rollercoaster ride of emotions. Shocking revelations kept me turning the pages like a madwoman’ * Tess Gerritsen *Entirely compelling, utterly realistic and told in a wonderfully effective spare narrative. You will not see the twists coming * Daily Mail *Provocative and shocking. One crime, an entire neighborhood of suspects, secrets and lies. How well do we ever know those around us? The Couple Next Door will keep you glued to the pages in search of the answer. Even then, you'll never guess the truth...until it's too late * Lisa Gardner *A gripping page-turner * Bella *A treat of a thriller that careers along at breakneck page * Good Housekeeping's Good Reads *The Couple Next Doors hits all those thriller sweet spots, with its characters acting in the worst ways possible and a plot that speeds through to a hell of a climax....you can’t not read it this summer. * Stylist *Meticulously crafted and razor-sharp. The Couple Next Door lingers long after you turn the final page * Harlan Coben *Lapena leads us on a cunningly plotted cat-and-mouse trail to the truth while building a horribly queasy portrait of a marriage under terrific strain * Metro *Gripped me from the very beginning to the very end! * Becky Masterman, author of RAGE AGAINST THE DYING *I read this novel at one sitting absolutely riveted by the storyline. The suspense was beautifully rendered and unrelenting! * Sue Grafton *…stark, bluntly told emotional thriller. Dizzying hairpin twists and turns. * Sainsbury's magazine *Gripping, pacy, with characters that keep you guessing and second guessing. Loved it * Tammy Cohen *A riveting thriller. * woman&home *[A] suspenseful, heart-wrenching debut * Publishers Weekly *The new The GIRL ON THE TRAIN. * I MAGAZINE *Every chapter poses another question in this gripping thriller documenting every parent’s worst fear * Essentials *

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Book SynopsisThis may not be a prison, and it may not purgatory, but it''s sure as hell not a paradise either...Imagine a place populated by criminals - people plucked from their lives, with their memories altered, who've been granted new identities and a second chance. Welcome to The Blinds, a dusty town in rural Texas populated by misfits who don't know if they've perpetrated a crime or just witnessed one. All they do know is that they opted into the programme and that if they try to leave, they will end up dead.For eight years, Sheriff Calvin Cooper has kept an uneasy peace - but after a suicide and a murder in quick succession, the town's residents revolt. Cooper has his own secrets to protect, so when his new deputy starts digging, he needs to keep one step ahead of her - and the mysterious outsiders who threaten to tear the whole place down. The more he learns, the more the hard truth is revealed: The Blinds is no sleepy hideaway, it's simmering with

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Book SynopsisDoolittle delivers a rambunctious monster story that features precise wit, messy violence, aggressive pacing, and a charmingly incongruous cast - Publishers Weekly Starred ReviewA golem created to assassinate a criminal in 1856 is reawakened in the present . intent on targeting his victim''s innocent descendants.When treasure hunters excavate the long-lost wreck of the steamship Arcadia from a Kansas cornfield, a buried creature awakens - a mindless assassin of accursed earth, shaped like a man though in no way mortal, created to kill a slave trader in 1856.With the original target long dead, the monster sets its sight on the man''s closest surviving descendant . . . a burned-out IT technician named Ben Middleton. Nothing could have prepared Ben for the horror now aimed directly at his lackadaisical life. But he isn''t only being chased by the monster, and it''s not just his own life in danger.Ben must pull himself together

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Book SynopsisErast Fandorin returns in another thrilling Russian crime caper, from the bestselling author of THE WINTER QUEEN.The Russo-Turkish war is at a critical juncture, and Erast Fandorin, broken-hearted and disillusioned, has gone to the front in an attempt to forget his sorrows. But Fandorin''s efforts to steer clear of trouble are thwarted when he comes to the aid of Varvara Suvorova - a ''progressive'' Russian woman trying to make her way to the Russian headquarters to join her fiancé.Within days, Varvara''s fiancé has been accused of treason, a Turkish victory looms on the horizon, and there are rumours of a Turkish spy hiding within their own camp. Our reluctant gentleman sleuth will need to resurrect all of his dormant powers of detection if he is to unmask the traitor, help the Russians to victory and smooth the path of young love.Trade ReviewAn intricate thriller * Red *

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Book SynopsisEighteen, a dangerous age, when you have to cut your way into life. Mirrors, a piano. Erotic reflections, practice, ritual. Not an ordinary career, ballet. And for Elaine, possessed by ambition, sees everything she craves in the exquisite Beverley Soames - success and more... Watching, imitating, borrowing. There's no threat in that, is there?Trade ReviewHard edged, striking and truthful, Novelist Julian Rathbone; Poignant and believable, Averil Ashfield, Transworld Books; A great gift for portraying the agonies and ecstasies of adolescence. A rare talent, Writer Frederick E Smith; Holds the tension like a perfect arabesque, Gill Kay Ingenu/e Magazine; I read it at a single sitting. Perceptive writing wonderfully spiked with bitchiness, Thriller writer Graham Hurley

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Book SynopsisAlice Feeney is the New York Times bestselling author of Good Bad Girl, Daisy Darker, Rock Paper Scissors, His & Hers, I Know Who You Are and Sometimes I Lie. Her novels have been translated into more than thirty languages, and have been optioned for major screen adaptations. Alice was a BBC journalist for fifteen years, and now lives in the Devon countryside with her family. Beautiful Ugly is her seventh novel.

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Book SynopsisTHE NAIL-BITING THRILLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE COUPLE AT NO 9 SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS SAFE. SO DID THE OTHERS . . .''Douglas''s best yet - an ingenious concept with a corker of a twist'' GILLIAN MCALLISTER, bestselling author of THAT NIGHT''An immersive page-turner with a twist I didn''t see coming'' SARAH VAUGHAN, bestselling author of LITTLE DISASTERS________ *CARER/COMPANION WANTED FOR ELDERLY LADY* *YOUNG FEMALE PREFERRED * COMPETITIVE SALARY* *ROOM AND BOARD INCLUDED* Una Richardson is devastated after the death of her mother. Hoping for a fresh start, she responds to an advertisement and steps into the rich, comforting world of elderly Mrs Elspeth McKenzie. But Elspeth''s home is not as safe as it seems. Kathryn, her cold and bitter daughter, resents Una''s presence. More disturbing is the evidence suggesting two girls lived here before.<Trade ReviewJust Like the Other Girls is a chilling novel showcasing Claire Douglas's trademark brilliantly claustrophobic settings and tightly plotted twists. Impossible to know which of the well-drawn characters to trust and very hard to put down * bestselling author of What She Knew *Douglas's best yet - an ingenious concept with a corker of a twist halfway through. Just Like The Other Girls grips and thrills -- Gillian McAllister * bestselling author of The Evidence Against You *Just Like the Other Girls is just the sort of distraction I need at the moment: an immersive page-turner with numerous red herrings and a twist I didn't see coming -- Sarah Vaughan * bestselling author of Anatomy of a Scandal *A thriller that will leave you in a spin * Sun *I absolutely couldn't put this book down. A wickedly clever page-turner of a psychothriller * bestselling author of One Little Mistake *Deliciously spooky. You simply have to discover what happens * bestselling author of I Made a Mistake *Tense and totally compelling * Sun *Praise for Claire Douglas * - *Thrillingly tense and twisty * bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors *Stunning . . . with a killer twist * Closer *Twisty, exciting yet so very real * bestselling author of Anything You Do Say *Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train * Marie Claire *If you like thrillers with plenty of killer twists and turns, then Just Like The Other Girls should definitely be high on your reading list * My Weekly *

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Book SynopsisThe million-copy bestselling author and BookTok sensation Monica Murphy is back with a swoon-worthy Lancaster Prep spin-off romance . . .-Young heiress Scarlett Lancaster is turning eighteen and her dad has promised to hire a famous musician for her party . . .Delight turns to disappointment when it's revealed that her dad hired Tate Ramsey, former lead singer of a band that hasn't been popular for years.Tate, after years of alcohol- and drug-fueled partying, is sober and ready for a comeback and blows the audience away with his performancethough Scarlett herself still isn't impressed.But when they talk after he leaves the stage, their encounter ends in a kiss that surprises them bothand immediately goes viral.The kiss propels them into the spotlight. Riding the wave of stardom, the two agree to start a fake relationship.But before long they discover their feelings might not be fake after all . . .

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Book SynopsisThe second thrilling Ben Koenig book from The Sunday Times bestselling author of Fearless.

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Book SynopsisA chilling don''t-read-it-in-the-dark ghost story . . . Things get seriously scary'' Marie Claire_____''The crunching noise had resumed, now accompanied by a disgusting, indefinable smell. It could best be described as a blend of kelp and rotten meat. The voice spoke again, now slightly louder and clearer: Don''t go. Don''t go yet. I''m not finished.''In an isolated village in the Icelandic Westfjords, three friends set to work renovating a derelict house. But soon they realise they are not alone there - something wants them to leave, and it''s making its presence felt.Meanwhile, in a town across the fjord, a young doctor investigating the suicide of an elderly woman discovers that she was obsessed with his vanished son.When the two stories collide the terrifying truth is uncovered . . .____JOIN THE QUEEN OF ICELANDIC CRIME IN HER SCARIEST GHOST STORY YET Trade ReviewA chiller-thriller of immense scariness ... Not to be read alone after dark. * The Times *Yrsa Sigurdardottir's chillers get better and better. I REMEMBER YOU is a truly creepy combination of haunted house story and modern detection in Iceland. * Sunday Telegraph *Genuinely bone-chilling, and proves that as well as being the queen of Iceland crime fiction, Sigurdardottir is a supreme generator of fear. * Independent *A chilling read, perfect for a dark night. * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisJulie Chan has nothing. Her identical twin sister Chloe has everything except a pulse. Julie's story of stealing her wildly successful twin's life is a thrilling, horrifying, gloriously fun, edge-of-your-seat read. Perfect for lovers of Death of a Bookseller, Yellowface and Yellow Jackets

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Book SynopsisPre-order the next thrilling Hawthorne mystery CLOSE TO DEATH - coming soon!By global bestselling Anthony Horowitz, a brilliantly entertaining new locked-room mystery with a key that only Hawthorne can find.'EASILY THE GREATEST OF OUR CRIME WRITERS' Sunday Times'Funny, addictive and clever, and the crime fighting duo of Hawthorne and Horowitz are as entertaining as ever. Brilliant. I can't wait for more.' Adam Handy'There's a lovely Hitchcockian feel to TWIST. The clock is ticking. It's a lot of fun.' Ian Rankin'The Twist of a Knife is a beautifully turned locked-room whodunit' The Sunday Telegraph'A total joy. Anthony is a master entertainer, the genius twists and turns of his writing and plot keep me on the edge of my seat.' Rory Kinnear_____________'Our deal is over.'This is what reluctant author Anthony Horowitz tells ex-detective Daniel Hawthorne in an awkward encounter. The truth is that Anthony has other things on his mind.His new play 'Mindgame' is about to open at London's Vaudeville theatre, and on opening night, Sunday Times critic Harriet Throsby gives the play a savage review.The next morning she is found dead, stabbed in the heart with an ornamental dagger that has only one set of finger prints on it. Anthony's.Anthony is arrested, charged with Throsby's murder, and thrown into prison.Alone and increasingly desperate, he realises only one man can help him.But will Hawthorne take his call?_____________More love for The Twist of a Knife . . .'An immensely enjoyable read, funny, so clever and utterly original' Ragnar Jonasson'One of the country's most recognisable writers' ITV News'I love this self-reflexive mystery series' Vulture'A mystery so slick, clever and fun to read that it's a genuine shame when you hit the end.' The Globe and Mail'The Twist of a Knife is consistently, delightfully entertaining, with Horowitz's own theatrical experience providing just the right amount of bittersweet bite' Airmail'An adventure that will enchant mystery lovers, Anglophiles and theater buffs' The Washington Post'A delicious mystery [that] is bonkers and brilliant and a triumph' The Sun'Horowitz blurs the lines between fiction and reality to hilarious effect' The Express'A gripping tour de force' Woman's Own_____________Readers can't get enough of The Twist of a Knife . . .***** 'This is another thoroughly enjoyable and well-constructed mystery from Anthony Horowitz.'***** 'Thoroughly enjoyed it and devoured it in a little over 2 days!'***** 'This novel is hugely entertaining.'***** 'Fabulous. More please, and soon!'***** 'This is the very best in 'cosy-crime.''

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Book SynopsisLies, secrets, and obsessive motherly love collide in a chilling novel of psychological suspense by a Washington Post bestselling author. Press, tap, refreshWhen Autumn Carpenter stumbles upon the social media account of the family who adopted her infant daughter years ago, she finds herself instantly drawn into their picture-perfect existence. From behind a computer screen, Autumn watches Grace's every memory, from birthdays to holidays to bedtime snuggles. But what starts as an innocent fascination soon spirals into an addictive obsession that comes to a screeching halt the day the McMullen family closes their Instaface account without so much as a warning. Frantic and desperate to reconnect with her daughter, Autumn applies for a nanny position with the McMullens, manipulating herself into Grace's life under false pretenses. It's only then that Autumn discovers that pictures lie, the perfect family doesn't existand beautiful people? They have the ugliest secrets. Revised edition: This edition of The Memory Watcher includes editorial revisions.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Edgar Award, Best Novel 2019Irish Times' Best Book of the Year, 2018 ___________________________'Dark, yes, but tender too. The Liar's Girl is tightly plotted and crackles with suspense.' Ali Land, author of Good Me Bad Me___________________________Her first love confessed to five murders. But the truth was so much worse.Will Hurley, Dublin's notorious Canal Killer is in prison, ten years into a life sentence. His ex-girlfriend Alison has built a new life abroad, putting her shattered past behind her. Then the copycat killings start. Will holds the key to unlocking these crimes, but he'll only talk to Alison. Can the killer be stopped before there's another senseless murder? And after all these years, can Alison face the past - and the man - she's worked so hard to forget?'A killer premise that totally delivers. A creepy, claustrophobic tale that never lets up on the tension while also managing to strike a truly tender note.' Caz Frear, author of Sweet Little LiesTrade ReviewThe Liar's Girl is a sharp and modern thriller; cleverly plotted and completely immersive. Catherine Ryan Howard has delivered another sinister, sly and addictive read. Magnificently murky. -- Margaret Madden * Sunday Indepedent *In this second novel, Howard's emerging talent could not be clearer... expertly plotted, with a series of stunning twists. * Daily Mail *Dark, yes, but tender too. The Liar's Girl is tightly plotted and crackles with suspense. * Ali Land, author of Good Me Bad Me *Gripping. * Elizabeth Haynes, author of Into the Darkest Corner *Incredibly pacey - what lifts Catherine's work above many others in the genre is the quality of her writing and the strength of her characterization. Dublin comes alive in this slice of Irish noir. * Sinéad Crowley *It's so hard to stand out in this space right now but The Liar's Girl offers a killer premise that totally delivers. A creepy, claustrophobic tale that never lets up on the tension while also managing to strike a truly tender note. * Caz Frear, author of Sweet Little Lies *Another thrilling page-turner from a natural born storyteller. * Mark Edwards, author of The Magpies *[A] clever and intriguing tale ... All the clues were there but so ingeniously hidden that I couldn't figure it out. * Liz Nugent, author of Unravelling Oliver *Absolutely fantastic. I was gripped the entire way through, can't recommend it enough... * Jenny Blackhurst, auhtor of How I Lost You *Catherine Ryan Howard is such a skilled storyteller - every setting was evocative, every hook well-placed, every twist expertly-timed. I flew through it! Astonishingly good. * Jo Spain, author of The Confession *A stand-out book... Real and sympathetic characters, a flawlessly-paced plot and a genuinely original premise. I finished it at 2:00am, my heart pounding! * Gillian McAllister, author of The Evidence Against You *Slick, smart and stylish... Really clever. * Holly Seddon, author of Try Not to Breathe *The Liar's Girl is BRILLIANT. [Catherine Ryan Howard has] outdone herself... It's even better than the Dagger-nominated Distress Signals and that's saying something! * Michelle Davies, author of the DC Maggie Neville series *The Liar's Girl is heartstoppingly brilliant - a completely convincing, expertly plotted tale. The pace is unrelenting. Catherine Ryan Howard... is an extraordinary talent. * Jane Casey, author of the Maeve Kerrigan series *The Liar's Girl is an incredibly compelling tale of guilt, secrecy and murder. Gripping from the start, Catherine Ryan Howard lures readers in from page one and brings every girl's worst nightmare to life. Unputdownable! * Phoebe Morgan, author of The Girl Next Door *A haunting thriller... a fast-moving, crackling good novel. * David Bell, author of The Forgotten Girl *I couldn't put it down...an excellent read. * Patricia Gibney, author of The Stolen Girls *Ryan Howard has certainly pulled off, with remarkable confidence, the notoriously difficult task of surpassing a debut novel that was met with critical acclaim and garlanded with awards. * Irish Independent *The Liar's Girl is a tightly structured, highly suspenseful follow-up to Howard's excellent CWA Dagger-nominated debut, Distress Signals. * Irish Times *Fans of crime fiction will love it... Ryan Howard is as good as the early Val McDermid. For those who are always on the lookout for a good new crime writer, look no further. * RTE *Howard hits all the right notes in this engaging second novel. -- Darina Molloy * Connaught Telegraph *The Liar's Girl is a cleverly written and intriguing tale in which the twists take the reader in different directions before the truth emerges... A creepy atmosphere, believable dialogue, and a tight plot that keeps the mystery alive right to the end. * Cork Evening Echo *

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Book Synopsis‘There was a history in this house, secrets he hadn’t even got close to scratching the surface of…’Something peculiar is going on at The Lloyd Estate.The enormous house and its vast grounds are rarely seen by outsiders. Only Audrey Lloyd – the cantankerous elderly owner and only daughter to the famed movie mogul who built the mansion – knows of the suffocating darkness that has settled on the place.Property developers have come to Audrey over the decades. Countless times they have been rebuffed. Now, she agrees to sell to ambitious broker Terri Nicholls. But Terri has to trade something of her own in return.Detective Don Vernon is on the brink of retirement. Instead, he is about to be caught in a web of lies; one which Audrey has been spinning for decades.Can those who cross the threshold make it out again intact?A scintillating tale of revenge, cruelty and the many forms of wickedness, Directions for Dark Things is perfect for fans of Catriona Ward and Simone St. James.

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Book Synopsis'Great characterisation and plenty of genuine suspense in a psychological thriller par excellence' Guardian 'Absorbing and original ... The writing is pitch perfect. A very smart tale packed with jeopardy' Daily Mail 'Terrifying and amusing ... keeps you guessing till the very end' The Times A nephew. An uncle. A psychopath - but which of them is it? Gil knows his nephew Matthew is dangerous. The signs were there early - on a family holiday Gil's daughter was discovered nearly drowning at the bottom of a swimming pool, while Matthew looked on from the deck. Now seventeen, Matthew is orphaned when his parents die in a car crash. He must leave his life on the Upper East Side of Manhattan behind, to live with Gil, his wife and daughters in rural Vermont. He is insolent, bored, disconnected. At least that's Gil's take. To the women in the family he is charming, intelligent, wry. But when he disdainfully joins Gil's writing classes at the local university, Matthew's fiction shows a vivid and macabre imagination spilling onto the page. Matthew is clearly announcing his intentions to Gil, taunting him before he does something awful to his family. But why is Gil the only one who can see this? As Gil begins to follow Matthew around, his own behaviour becomes increasingly unstable. Is he losing his mind? Could it be that he is really the one his family need to fear?Trade ReviewAn absorbing and original plot. The writing is pitch-perfect and the observations of family dynamics are quietly excruciating. Oates has produced a very smart tale packed with jeopardy * Daily Mail *Great characterisation and plenty of genuine suspense in a psychological thriller par excellence * Guardian *Terrifying and amusing ... keeps you guessing till the very end * Times *

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Book Synopsis A gripping mystery with a classic feel, for fans of Agatha Christie 'Haunting and exquisitely written. Part intricate mystery and part ghost story. This book will stay with me for a long time' Anna MazzolaThe drive leads past the gate house and through the trees towards the big house, visible through the winter-bared branches. Its windows stare down at Harkin and the sea beyond . . .January 1921. Though the Great War is over, in Ireland a new, civil war is raging. The once-grand Kilcolgan House, a crumbling bastion shrouded in sea-mist, lies half empty and filled with ghosts - both real and imagined - the Prendevilles, the noble family within, co-existing only as the balance of their secrets is kept.Then, when an IRA ambush goes terribly wrong, Maud Prendeville, eldest daughter of Lord Kilcolgan, is killed, leaving the family reeling. Yet the IRA column insist they left her alive, that someone else must have been responsible for her terrible fate. Captain Tom Harkin, an IRA intelligence officer and Maud's former fiancé, is sent to investigate, becoming an unwelcome guest in this strange, gloomy household.Working undercover, Harkin must delve into the house's secrets - and discover where, in this fractured, embattled town, each family member's allegiances truly lie. But Harkin too is haunted by the ghosts of the past and by his terrible experiences on the battlefields. Can he find out the truth about Maud's death before the past - and his strange, unnerving surroundings - overwhelm him?A haunting, atmospheric mystery set against the raw Irish landscape in a country divided, The Winter Guest is the perfect chilling read.Praise for THE WINTER GUEST and W.C. Ryan'A snowflake of a novel: intricate, exquisite, and unlike any other. If Sebastian Faulks and Laura Purcell were to join forces, they might produce a novel like this... yet I can't imagine anyone but WC Ryan shaping it with such imagination, or charging it with such intelligence, or gracing it with such heart' A.J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window 'Haunting, gripping . . . hugely evocative' Elodie Harper'Works superbly on several levels. This is a most welcome winter guest indeed, to be greeted by the fire with drink in hand' Irish Times'Ryan evokes this moody, gothic atmosphere with convincing skill. Harkin is a sensitive, complex character and his quest to solve the mystery is deftly plotted. A treat' The Times'A perfectly crafted mystery. Vivid, compelling and deeply moving, it is a triumph both as a crime novel and a work of historical fiction' Jane Casey'A beautifully taut and evocative thriller' Sarah Hilary'Superb . . . I could not put it down' Elizabeth Buchan'Atmospheric and genuinely eerie, this is an ideal winter read' Sinead Crowley'A terrifically atmospheric, gripping novel' Amanda Craig, The Golden Rule'Haunting, beautifully crafted, and full of heart. Perfect reading for dark days' A.K. Benedict, author of The Christmas Murder Game'Beautifully written, haunting and unmissable' Cass Green'Excellent murder mystery/ghost story set during the Irish war of independence and as usual with W.C. Ryan, beautifully written' Liz Nugent'Intriguing, haunting, romantic and beautifully written, I cared as much about the fate of the characters as about the gripping mystery' Laura Marshall*longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger award 2023: 22/04/23 (https://thecwa.co.uk/awards-and-competitions/the-daggers/gold-dagger)Trade ReviewRyan evokes this moody, gothic atmosphere with convincing skill. Harkin is a sensitive, complex character and his quest to solve the mystery is deftly plotted. A treat. * The Times *A haunting, gripping novel . . . hugely evocative, with some absolutely beautiful writing which captures the profound unease of the times and the bleak nature of the landscape. I really loved this book. * Elodie Harper, The Wolf Den *A terrifically atmospheric, gripping novel. * Amanda Craig, author of The Golden Rule *Ryan writes with precision and elegance... This is the best historical crime novel set in Ireland I have read. * Literary Review *In 2018, WC Ryan published A House Of Ghosts, a superb period mystery with spooky overtones, and now he returns with an equally engrossing read. A clever whodunnit with a bracing whiff of the supernatural. * Daily Express *A snowflake of a novel: intricate, exquisite, and unlike any other. Here, as in his every book, Ryan once again recalls Graham Greene - the command of plot, the precision of language - but The Winter Guest also finds him summoning the dark-rose spectres of haunted-house classics like The Woman in Black. If Sebastian Faulks and Laura Purcell were to join forces, they might produce a novel like this... yet I can't imagine anyone but WC Ryan shaping it with such imagination, or charging it with such intelligence, or gracing it with such heart. * AJ Finn, international bestselling author of The Woman in the Window *The Winter Guest works superbly on several levels. As a mystery it unfolds in well-constructed, satisfyingly dramatised scenes, with sharp dialogue and an especially nice line in flirtatious banter. Ryan deftly sketches the contours of a society where friends and mortal enemies live at close quarters, and explores those shifting, volatile allegiances with subtlety and nuance. This is a most welcome winter guest indeed, to be greeted by the fire with drink in hand. * Irish Times *A serendipitously timed, impeccably researched and utterly intriguing historical mystery that lays bare the societal fractures caused in Ireland's fight for freedom. * Irish Independent *Excellent murder mystery/ghost story set during the Irish war of independence and as usual with W.C. Ryan, beautifully written. * Liz Nugent *A beautifully taut and evocative thriller. * Sarah Hilary *Ryan adroitly marshals a dense plot in a thriller that bears comparison with both le Carré and Buchan. William Ryan - writing here as WC Ryan - has a le Carré-like facility with genre. Like le Carré, Ryan's novels converge at the point where crime fiction, the historical novel and the spy thriller intersect. His Russian crime series, featuring Captain Alexei Korolev of the Moscow Militia, established his reputation as a compelling storyteller. Ryan's story commands your undivided attention . . . his marshalling of his extremely dense plot is deft and assured . . . and the tension builds to a crescendo that keeps the reader guessing until the final pages. His prose is richly evocative of the historical period. Seriously impressive . . . a ripping yarn. * Sunday Times (Ireland) *Apart from the immaculately paced plot, there's an aura in this novel that's quite bewitching, with the dead coming and going like the west wind, wordless but somehow profound. Harkin's loneliness is so palpable it's like a solid thing, bringing John Banville's Quirke and PD James's Dalgliesh to mind. He is a man mired in darkness but vaguely attempting to reach for some elusive shaft of light. Here's hoping we encounter him again. * Sunday Irish Independent *Haunting and exquisitely written. Part intricate mystery and part ghost story. This book will stay with me for a long time. * Anna Mazzola *Atmospheric and genuinely eerie, this is an ideal winter read. * Sinead Crowley *Beautifully written, haunting and unmissable. * Cass Green *A master of the dark arts penning spine-tingling ghost stories. Ryan conjures up the perfect winter's tale... Perfectly pitched for the dark nights, The Winter Guest is a multi-layered, twisting turning masterpiece that moves deftly through a claustrophobic miasma of bitter recriminations, divided loyalties, ghostly shadows, deadly deeds, dangerous double-crossing, and thrills that chill to the bone. Entertaining, unsettling and utterly captivating, this is Ryan at his intelligent, storytelling best. Don't miss it! -- Pam Norfolk * Lancashire Evening Post *Superb . . . an old war and new sectarianism, family division and decay, a love story, murder, layered in with such finesse and skill. I could not put it down. * Elizabeth Buchan *Intriguing, haunting, romantic and beautifully written, I cared as much about the fate of the characters as about the gripping mystery. * Laura Marshall *The horrors of the First World War spill into an Irish countryside aflame with revolution in this superb tale of treachery, murder and divided loyalties. Excellent. * Michael Ridpath, author of The Diplomat’s wife. *A stunning book, beautifully written. I'm haunted by it. * Ann Cleeves *A beautifully written, atmospheric novel about Ireland in 1921, betrayal and spies, an ambush and a brutal murder. Agatha Christie meets Elizabeth Bowen with an edge of Graham Greene. I loved it * Jane Casey *

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