Search results for ""Orenda Books""

Hamburg State Prosecutor Chastity Riley becomes involved in the horrifying, chilling search for a violent serial killer targeting dancers from a club … the first book in an award-winning, wildly original, addictive series… ‘Such a revelation’ Laura Lippman ‘Gruesome and assured, Buchholz’s work remains as persuasive as ever’ Barry Forshaw, Financial Times ‘Reading Buchholz is like walking on firecrackers … a truly unique voice in crime fiction’ Graeme Macrae Burnet ‘Unpredictable, shocking and funny … Simone Buchholz is my favourite German crime writer’ Mark Sanderson,The Times **WINNER of the CWA Crime in Translation Dagger** ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– A serial killer is on the loose in Hamburg, targeting dancers from The Acapulco, a club in the city’s red-light district, taking their scalps as gruesome trophies and replacing them with plastic wigs. Chastity Riley is the state prosecutor responsible for crimes in the district, and she’s working alongside the police as they investigate. Can she get inside the mind of the killer? Her strength is thinking like a criminal; her weaknesses are pubs, bars and destructive relationships, but as Chastity searches for love and a flamboyant killer – battling her demons and the dark, foggy Hamburg weather – she hits dead end after dead end. As panic sets in and the death toll rises, it becomes increasingly clear that it may already be too late. For everyone… ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ‘Caustic, incisive prose. A street-smart, gutsy heroine. A timely and staggeringly stylish thriller’ Will Carver ‘The coolest character in crime fiction … Darkly funny and written with a huge heart’ Doug Johnstone, Big Issue ‘Modern noir, with taut storytelling, a hard-bitten heroine, and underlying melancholy peppered with wry humour’ New Zealand Listener ‘Dark, atmospheric, and complex, with often surprisingly emotional … a classy piece of fiction from an author who never disappoints’ Jen Med’s Book ReviewsPraise for the Chastity Riley series: 'Combines nail-biting tension with off-beat humor ... Elmore Leonard fans will be enthralled' Publishers Weekly 'Buchholz doles out delicious black humor ... interwoven in a manner that ramps up the intrigue and tension' Foreword Reviews ’Lyrical and pithy' Sunday Times 'Fierce enough to stab the heart' Spectator 'A real blast of adrenaline' Big Issue 'Simone Buchholz writes with real authority and a pungent, noir-ish sense of time and space' Financial Times 'A stylish, whip-smart thriller' Russel McLean

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

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Godfather of Nordic Noir Kjell Ola Dahl returns with tense, sophisticated, searingly relevant international thriller that explodes the Nordic Noir genre, as Frølich and Gunnarstranda investigate the death of a woman whose scientist boyfriend has also gone missing… ‘Dahl is a quiet master of the detective thriller, delivering complex plots and a simpatico hero…’ The Times ‘If you have never sampled Dahl, now is the time to try’ Daily Mail ‘Further cements Dahl as the Godfather of Nordic Noir, reminding readers why they fell in love with the genre in the first place’ CultureFly ______________When a woman is found dead in her car in a Norwegian parking garage, everyone suspects an overdose … until a forensics report indicates that she was murdered. Oslo Detectives Frølich and Gunnarstranda discover that the victim’s Kenyan scientist boyfriend has disappeared, and their investigations soon lead them into the shady world of international pharmaceutical deals. While Gunnarstranda closes in on the killers in Norway, Frølich and Lise, his new journalist ally, travel to Africa, where they make a series of shocking discoveries about exploitation and corruption in the distribution of foreign aid and essential HIV medications. When tragedy unexpectedly strikes, all three investigators face incalculable danger, spanning two continents. And not everyone will make it out alive…Exploding the confines of the Nordic Noir genre, Little Drummer is a sophisticated, fast-paced, international thriller with a searingly relevant, shocking premise that will keep you glued to the page. _________________________________ ‘A triumph’ Denzil Meyrick ‘Kjell Ola Dahl’s novels are superb. If you haven’t read one yet, you need to – right now’ William Ryan ‘Dark, stylish and suspenseful … the perfect example of why Nordic Noir has become such a popular genre’ Reader’s Digest ‘Kjell Ola Dahl’s fine style and intricate plotting are superb. He keeps firm hold of the story, never letting go of the tension’ Crime Review WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ***** ‘A dark, emotive and twisty mystery’ ‘Extremely gripping’ ‘Engrossing and beautifully crafted’ ‘Fiercely powerful and convincing’

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Scarred by their pasts, Jenna and Luke fall in love, brimming with hope for a rosy future. But someone has been watching, with chilling plans for revenge … An emotive, twisty, disturbing new psychological thriller by the critically acclaimed author of A Suitable Lie and In the Absence of Miracles.‘Compelling, disturbing and engaging' Caro Ramsay‘Malone is the master of twists, turns and the unexpected, with the skill to keep things grounded … a master of his craft’ Herald Scotland‘Tense, pacey and lyrical … cements Malone in the firmament of Tartan Noir, marrying McIlvanney and Banks to a modern domestic noir that’ll have you reading into the wee sma’ hours’ Ed James______________________________________________The darker the memory, the deadlier the obsession… Jenna is trying to rebuild her life after a series of disastrous relationships. Luke is struggling to provide a safe, loving home for his deceased partner’s young son, following a devastating tragedy.When Jenna and Luke meet and fall in love, they are certain they can achieve the stability and happiness they both desperately need. And yet, someone is watching.Someone who has been scarred by past events.Someone who will stop at nothing to get revenge…Dark, unsettling and immensely moving, Quicksand of Memory is a chilling reminder that we are not only punished for our sins, but by them, and that memories left to blacken and sharpen over time are the perfect breeding ground for obsession, and murder…________________________________________________________‘Complex, human characters living in a page-turning world’ Douglas Skelton ‘Long-held secrets, complex relationships and an ever increasing sense of menace … fantastic’ Steph Broadribb ‘A fascinating exploration of damage, toxicity, trauma and love’ Sharon Bairden ‘Darkly compelling and provocative … from the outset, whiplike tendrils of disquiet creep their way into the story’ LoveReading‘Masterfully combines the dark, cruel elements of people’s lives and nature with a glimmer of light and hope’ Fiona Sharp ‘An almost perfect storm of circumstances that lead us to a dramatic and potentially deadly conclusion … an emotionally charged story’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews ‘I can genuinely say: Fiction doesn’t get any better than this’ Book Review Café Praise for Michael J. Malone‘A beautifully written tale, original, engrossing and scary … a dark joy’ The Times ‘A complex and multilayered story – perfect for a wintry night’ Sunday Express‘Vivid, visceral and compulsive’ Ian Rankin‘A terrific read … I read it in one sitting’ Martina Cole‘A deeply satisfying read’ Sunday Times‘A fine, page-turning thriller’ Daily Mail‘Malone’s latest is an unsettling, multi-layered and expertly paced domestic noir drama that delves into one family’s dark secrets, shame and lies’ CultureFly‘Engrossing, hard-hitting – even shocking – with a light poetic frosting. Another superb read!’ Douglas Skelton'A dark and unnerving psychological thriller that draws you deep into the lives of the characters and refuses to let go. This is a brilliantly written book; I could not put it down’ Caroline Mitchell‘A chilling tale of the unexpected that journeys right into the dark heart of domesticity’ Marnie Riches For fans of Jodie Picoult, Gillian McAllister, Cara Hunter, Shari Lapena, Liz Nugent and Mark Edward

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

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When Rachel’s baby is stillborn, she becomes obsessed with the idea that saving a stranger’s life months earlier is to blame. An unforgettable, heart-wrenching, warm and funny debut… 'Emotionally engaging, witty, clever and wonderfully satisfying' Daily Express ‘A stunning debut … a wise, moving, and thought-provoking novel’ Susan Elliot Wright, author of The Flight of Cornelia Blackwood ‘A heartbreaking, deeply moving and wonderfully witty tale, which celebrates all it means to be human’ Isabelle Broom, author of The Getaway –––––––––––––– Mum-to-be Rachel did everything right, but it all went wrong. Her son, Luke, was stillborn and she finds herself on maternity leave without a baby, trying to make sense of her loss. When a misguided well-wisher tells her that “everything happens for a reason”, she becomes obsessed with finding that reason, driven by grief and convinced that she is somehow to blame. She remembers that on the day she discovered her pregnancy, she’d stopped a man from jumping in front of a train, and she’s now certain that saving his life cost her the life of her son. Desperate to find him, she enlists an unlikely ally in Lola, an Underground worker, and Lola’s seven-year-old daughter, Josephine, and eventually tracks him down, with completely unexpected results... Both a heart-wrenchingly poignant portrait of grief and a gloriously uplifting and disarmingly funny story of a young woman’s determination, Everything Happens for a Reason is a bittersweet, life- affirming read and, quite simply, unforgettable. –––––––––––––– ‘A beautiful novel, bursting with raw emotional honesty and authenticity’ Gill Paul, author of The Secret Wife ‘So affecting. Profoundly sad. Funny. I just loved it’ Louise Beech, author of This Is How We Are Human ‘Darkly funny, yet poignant and moving ... Rachel's quest to find out if everything happens for a reason is both heartbreaking and heartwarming’ Anna Bell, author of In Case You Missed It ‘Some books teach you, others touch your soul, then there are books like this one that bury deep and create a home in your heart’ Emma-Claire Wilson, Glass House Magazine ‘A triumph … a book of hope and ambition and making sense of the world, a tale of acting spontaneously, living in the moment and throwing caution to the wind’ Isabella May, author of Oh! What a Pavlova ‘An incredibly important and beautifully written book. Bittersweet and brave, it will keep you both laughing and crying until the last page’ Kate Ford, actress, Coronation Street ‘The perfect mix of clever, funny and intensely moving’ Cari Rosen, author of Secret Diary of a New Mum Aged 43 ¼ ’A heart-wrenching, soul-lifting read about loss and redemption in unlikely places’ Eve Smith, author of The Waiting Rooms ‘Read it and weep but also, incredibly, find moments to laugh and to know there is life after death’ Julia Hobsbawm, author of The Simplicity Principle ‘Simultaneously devastating and hilarious’ Clare Allan, author of Poppy Shakespeare ’A memorable, poetic read ... The writing reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant’ Becky Fleetwood, author of the Chroma series ‘Quirky yet insightful, bright yet wistful, amusing yet emotional … full of contradictions that fuse into the most surprising, moving, and beautiful novel’ LoveReading For fans of Jonas Jonasson, Matt Haig, Graeme Simsion and Rachel Joyce.

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A reclusive musician’s hiding place is discovered, forcing her to confront her traumatic past … and someone is seeking vengeance. A dark and riveting psychological thriller from number-one bestselling author Louise Voss‘Superb, like an episode of Midsomer Murders written by Gillian Flynn’ Mark Edwards‘Such a great concept. Enthrallingly gripping – and those twists! A must read’ Angela Clarke‘I’ve been a fan of Louise Voss for years and I honestly think The Last Stage is her best yet. A superb read’ Cass Green____________________At the peak of her career as lead singer of a legendary 1980s indie band, Meredith Vincent was driven off the international stage by a horrific incident. Now living a quiet existence in a cottage on the grounds of an old stately home, she has put her past behind her and come to terms with her new life.When a body is found in the manicured gardens of her home, and a series of inexplicable and unsettling events begins to occur, it becomes clear that someone is watching, someone who knows who she is … Someone who wants vengeance.And this is only the beginning…A dark, riveting and chilling psychological thriller, The Last Stage is also a study of secrets and obsessions, where innocent acts can have the most terrifying consequences.____________________‘The slow reveals and hints at the darkness to come make it impossible to put down’ Sarah Pinborough‘Twists, turns and stabs you in the heart. It deserves to be huge’ Martyn Waites‘An expert piece of contrivance’ Publishers Weekly‘Brilliantly unsettling’ Jane Casey‘Cleverly plotted and beautifully executed’ Susi Holliday‘Ingeniously plotted and totally addictive’ Paddy Magrane‘I was guessing right to the end’ Katarina Diamond‘A compelling descent into darkness’ Ed James‘A cracking page-turner that sucks you straight into the dark heart of human behaviour. I couldn’t put it down!’ Marnie Riches‘A tense, super-twisty, well-written page-turner … Fab read’ Amanda Jennings‘Poignant, clever and terrifically tense’ William Shaw, author of The Birdwatcher‘A highly entertaining, thoroughly enjoyable and gripping read’ LoveReading‘Gripping and twisty’ Mel McGrath‘An expert piece of contrivance’ Publishers Weekly‘Ingeniously plotted and totally addictive‘ Paddy Magrane

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A young man discovers a family secret that turns his world upside down in this dark, emotive, shocking psychological thriller by number-one bestselling author Michael J. Malone.‘A tense, immersive thriller that kept me guessing’ Ian Rankin, author of A Song for the Dark Times‘Malone is the master of twists, turns and the unexpected, with the skill to keep things grounded. So much so, that the reader can picture themselves in the very circumstances described. Superb storytelling from a master of his craft’ Herald Scotland‘Beautiful, lyrical prose takes the reader through a perfectly constructed, often harrowing tale’ Denzil Meyrick, author of For Any Other Truth_________________John Docherty’s mother has just been taken into a nursing home following a massive stroke and she’s unlikely to be able to live independently again.With no other option than to sell the family home, John sets about packing up everything in the house. In sifting through the detritus of his family’s past he’s forced to revisit, and revise his childhood.For in a box, in the attic, he finds undeniable truth that he had a brother who disappeared when he himself was only a toddler. A brother no one ever mentioned. A brother he knew absolutely nothing about. A discovery that sets John on a journey from which he may never recover.For sometimes in that space where memory should reside there is nothing but silence, smoke and ash. And in the absence of truth, in the absence of a miracle, we turn to prayer. And to violence.Shocking, chilling and heartbreakingly emotive, In the Absence of Miracles is domestic noir at its most powerful, and a sensitively wrought portrait of a family whose shameful lies hide the very darkest of secrets._________________‘With each turn of the page, a more shocking detail is revealed and some of the people John thought might help him are not who they seem … The domestic noir tale is one that many families will be able to relate to … There is barely enough time to catch your’ Scotsman‘Challenging and emotional, In the Absence of Miracles enthrals as it corkscrews to a shocking, yet ultimately rewarding end’ LoveReading‘Malone’s latest is an unsettling, multi-layered and expertly paced domestic noir drama that delves into one family’s dark secrets, shame and lies’ CultureFly‘Malone is a poet, there are wonderful lyrical passages here and very skilful storytelling. Some issues are not spoken about enough, Malone raises a couple of those issues and sensitively but realistically addresses them…’ New Books Magazine‘Engrossing, hard-hitting – even shocking – with a light poetic frosting. Another superb read!’ Douglas Skelton, author of A Rattle of Bones‘A chilling tale of secrets, lies and the ultimate betrayal’ Theresa Talbot, author of The Quiet Ones‘Emotional. Brave. Dark. Raw. Utterly beautiful’ Louise Beech, author of This is How We Are Human’A breathtakingly good book; powerful yet tender and an emotional master class in how to write about harrowing and difficult issues. An absolute must-read’ Hair Past a Freckle‘A very emotional and devastating read … I felt richer for having read it’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews

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Hamburg State Prosecutor Chastity Riley and her new sidekick Ivo investigate the case of newspaper executives who have been caged and tortured outside their offices … on a trail that leads them to the hothouse world of boarding schools and some harrowing secrets… You loved Dark … now meet Chastity Riley ‘Caustic, incisive prose. A street-smart, gutsy heroine. A timely and staggeringly stylish thriller’ Will Carver ‘With plenty of dry humour and a good old dash of despair, Simone Buchholz is an unconventional, refreshing new voice’ Crime Fiction Lover ‘Lyrical and pithy’ Sunday Times ***WINNER of the CWA Crime in Translation Dagger 2022******WINNER of the German Crime Book of the Year Award*** _______________ On a warm September morning, an unconscious man is found in a cage at the entrance to the offices of one of Germany’s biggest magazines. He’s soon identified as a manager of the company, and he’s been tortured. Three days later, another manager appears in a similar way. Chastity Riley and her new colleague Ivo Stepanovic are tasked with uncovering the truth behind the attacks, an investigation that goes far beyond the revenge they first suspect … to the dubious past shared by both victims. Travelling to the south of Germany, they step into the hothouse world of boarding schools, where secrets are currency, and monsters are bred … monsters who will stop at nothing to protect themselves. A smart, dark, probing thriller, full of all the hard-boiled poetry and acerbic wit of the very best noir, Beton Rouge is both a classic whodunit and a scintillating expose of society, by one of the most exciting names in crime fiction. _______________ ‘Stripped back in style and deadpan in voice, this is a scintillating romp’ Doug Johnstone, Big Issue ‘With brief, pacy chapters and fizzling dialogue, this almost feels like American procedural noir and not a translation’ Maxim Jakubowski, CrimeTime ‘There is a fantastic pace to the story which keeps you hooked from the first sentence all the way to the end. Once again Simone Buchholz holds no punches, with a unique voice that delivers a stylish story’ New Books Magazine ‘The follow-up to Blue Night is a smart and witty book that shines a probing spotlight on society’ CultureFly ‘Fans of Brookmyre could do worse than checking out Simone Buchholz, a star of the German crime lit scene who has been deftly translated into English by Rachel Ward’ Goethe Institute ‘Beton Rouge is a killer read, original, unusual and yet I felt that a part of it, in fact a part of Chastity, lodged itself deeply within my soul, it’s quite simply fabulous’ LoveReading ‘Great sparkling energy, humour and stylistic verve’ Rosie Goldsmith Praise for the Chastity Riley series 'Combines nail-biting tension with off-beat humor ... Elmore Leonard fans will be enthralled' Publishers Weekly 'Buchholz doles out delicious black humor ... interwoven in a manner that ramps up the intrigue and tension' Foreword Reviews ‘Fans of Brookmyre could do worse than checking out Simone Buchholz, a star of the German crime lit scene who has been deftly translated into English by Rachel Ward’ Goethe Institute ‘By turns lyrical and pithy, this adventure set in the melting pot of contemporary Hamburg has a plot and a sensibility that both owe something to mind-altering substances. Lots of fun’ Sunday Times

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The international bestselling godfather of Nordic Noir takes on one of the most horrific periods of modern history, in a stunning standalone thriller … NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER **SHORTLISTED FOR THE PETRONA AWARD FOR BEST SCANDINAVIAN CRIME NOVEL** **LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA INTERNATIONAL DAGGER**` ____________________ ‘The Courier is a stylish stand-alone thriller from the godfather of Scandi noir … Ola Dahl ratchets up the tension from the first pages and never lets go’ The Times ‘Absorbing, heart-rending and perfectly plotted. Kjell Ola Dahl’s The Courier passes seamlessly from the present to the dark past of WWII. Fabulous!’ Denzil Meyrick ‘Cleverly braiding together past and present, the who and why of murder and betrayal are unpicked. The detail is impressive’ Daily Mail ____________________ In 1942, Jewish courier Ester is betrayed, narrowly avoiding arrest by the Gestapo. In a great haste, she escapes to Sweden, saving herself. Her family in Oslo, however, is deported to Auschwitz. In Stockholm, Ester meets the resistance hero, Gerhard Falkum, who has left his little daughter and fled both the Germans and allegations that he murdered his wife, Åse, who helped Ester get to Sweden. Their burgeoning relationship ends abruptly when Falkum dies in a fire. And yet, twenty-five years later, Falkum shows up in Oslo. He wants to reconnect with his daughter. But where has he been, and what is the real reason for his return? Ester stumbles across information that forces her to look closely at her past, and to revisit her war-time training to stay alive… Written with Dahl's trademark characterization and elegant plotting, The Courier sees the hugely respected godfather of Nordic Noir at his best, as he takes on one of the most horrific periods of modern history, in an exceptional, shocking thriller. ____________________ ‘A dark but richly described backdrop and a relentless, underlying tension drive this sad story to its bittersweet conclusion. Fans of Nordic noir will be satisfied’ Publishers Weekly ‘Skilfully juggling three Oslo timelines — in 1942, 1967 and 2015 — Dahl starts his story with Germany’s occupation of Norway and the work of those who tried to resist, then brings his characters forward to a post-war unravelling of what really happened in those dangerous days — and the traumatic rewriting of personal stories’ The Times ‘A fascinating, intricate, provocative read, set in motion by events in 1942, and brilliantly highlighting human need and emotions … ‘The Courier’ sent a shiver coursing through me, it is a truly eloquent and rewarding tale, and oh that ending!’ LoveReading ‘Written with Dahl’s trademark characterisation and clever plotting, The Courier sees one of Norway’s most critically acclaimed authors at his best … This stunning and compelling wartime thriller is reminiscent of the writing of John Le Carré and William Boyd’ New Books Magazine ‘Kjell Ola Dahl’s novels are superb. If you haven’t read one, you need to – right now’ William Ryan ‘The kind of masterful, detailed plotting that Dahl is known for … the power of The Courier is how Dahl has given a complex, human face to such an inhuman tragedy’ Crime Fiction Lover

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When vigilante justice-seeker Claymore Straker is witness to the murders of a family he has befriended, and his lover’s husband and son disappear, his investigations take him to the darkest places he could ever have imagined … The stunning fourth instalment in the critically acclaimed Claymore Straker series. ‘A stormer of a thriller – vividly written, utterly tropical, totally gripping’ Peter James ‘A fast-paced action thriller, beautifully written’ Tim Marshall, author of Prisoners of Geography ‘Hardisty is a fine writer and Straker is a great lead character’ Lee Child _____________________ It’s 1997, and eight months since vigilante justice-seeker Claymore Straker fled South Africa after his explosive testimony to Desmond Tutu’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In Paris, Rania LaTour, Claymore’s former lover, comes home to find that her son and her husband, a celebrated human rights lawyer, have disappeared. On an isolated island off the coast of East Africa, the family that Clay has befriended is murdered as he watches. So begins the fourth instalment in the Claymore Straker series, a breakneck journey through the darkest reaches of the human soul, as Clay and Rania fight to uncover the mystery behind the disappearances and murders, and find those responsible. At times brutal, often lyrical, but always gripping, Absolution is a thriller that will leave you breathless and questioning the very basis of how we live and why we love. ____________________ Praise for Paul E. Hardisty ‘A trenchant and engaging thriller that unravels this mysterious land in cool, precise sentences’ Stav Sherez, Catholic Herald ‘This is a remarkably well-written, sophisticated novel in which the people and places, as well as frequent scenes of violent action, all come alive on the page...’ Literary Review ‘Gripping and exciting … the quality of Hardisty’s writing and the underlying truth of his plots sets this above many other thrillers’ West Australian ‘Searing … at times achieves the level of genuine poetry’ Publishers Weekly ‘Beautifully written, blisteringly authentic, heart-stoppingly tense and unusually moving’ Paul Johnston ‘The plot burns through petrol, with multiple twists and turns’ Vicky Newham

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Vigilante justice-seeker Claymore Straker returns to South Africa to testify to Desmond Tutu’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, recounting the horrifying events that led to his exile, years earlier … The addictive, thought-provoking, searingly emotive next instalment in the critically acclaimed Claymore Straker series… ‘A gripping, page-turning thriller that is overflowing with substance to go along with Hardisty’s atmospheric prose and strong narrative style’ Craig Sisterson, Mystery Magazine ‘A solid, meaty thriller – Hardisty is a fine writer and Straker is a great lead character’ Lee Child ‘The author’s deep knowledge of the settings never slows down the non-stop action, with distant echoes of a more moral-minded Jack Reacher or Jason Bourne’ Maxim Jakubowski ____________________ Fresh from events in Yemen and Cyprus, vigilante justice-seeker Claymore Straker returns to South Africa, seeking absolution for the sins of his past. Over four days, he testifies to Desmond Tutu’s newly established Truth and Reconciliation Commission, recounting the shattering events that led to his dishonourable discharge and exile, fifteen years earlier. It was 1980. The height of the Cold War. Clay is a young paratrooper in the South African Army, fighting in Angola against the Communist insurgency that threatens to topple the White Apartheid regime. On a patrol deep inside Angola, Clay, and his best friend, Eben Barstow, find themselves enmeshed in a tangled conspiracy that threatens everything they have been taught to believe about war, and the sacrifices that they, and their brothers in arms, are expected to make. Witness and unwitting accomplice to an act of shocking brutality, Clay changes allegiance and finds himself labelled a deserter and accused of high treason, setting him on a journey into the dark, twisted heart of institutionalised hatred, from which no one will emerge unscathed… Exploring true events from one of the most hateful chapters in South African history, Reconciliation for the Dead is a shocking, explosive and gripping thriller from one finest writers in contemporary crime fiction. ____________________ Praise for Paul E. Hardisty 'This is a remarkably well-written, sophisticated novel in which the people and places, as well as frequent scenes of violent action, all come alive on the page...’ Jessica Mann, Literary Review ‘A trenchant and engaging thriller that unravels this mysterious land in cool, precise sentences’ Stav Sherez, Catholic Herald ‘Laces the thrills and spills with enough moral indignation to give the book heft … excellent’ Jake Kerridge, Telegraph ‘A thriller of the highest quality, with the potential to one day stand in the company of such luminaries as Bond and Bourne’ Live Many Lives ‘A big, powerful, sophisticated and page-turning thriller – thought-provoking and prescient' Eve Seymour 'The writing at times is poetic, at other times filled with tension in a narrative complete with well delineated characters and several shocks. Highly Recommended’ Shots Mag ‘Gripping and exciting … the quality of Hardisty’s writing and the underlying truth of his plots sets this above many other thrillers’ West Australian ‘A stormer of a thriller, vividly written, utterly tropical, totally gripping’ Peter James ‘Searing … at times achieves the level of genuine poetry’ Publishers Weekly STARRED review ‘A page-turning adventure that grabs you from the first page and won’t let go’ Edward Wilson

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The unforgettable finale to the international, bestselling Disco Days Trilogy … Bobby, Joey and Max Mojo return in an attempt to reclaim the elusive stardom of their youth, reuniting a legendary band that didn’t quite live up to expectations, with predictable results… ‘A real new talent on the Scottish literary scene’ Press & Journal ‘By turn hilarious and heart-breaking, more than anything Ross creates beautifully rounded characters full of humanity and perhaps most of all, hope’ Liam Rudden, Scotsman ‘David Ross carved out an enduring place for himself among contemporary Scottish novelists’ Alastair Mabb, Herald Scotland –––––––––––––––––––––––– The Disco Boys and The Band are back… In the early 80s, Bobby Cassidy and Joey Miller were inseparable; childhood friends and fledgling business associates. Now, both are depressed and lonely, and they haven't spoken to each other in more than ten years. A bizarre opportunity to honour the memory of someone close to both of them presents itself, if only they can forgive ... and forget. With the help of the deluded Max Mojo and the faithful Hamish May, can they pull off the impossible, and reunite the legendary Ayrshire band, The Miraculous Vespas, for a one-off Music Festival – The Big Bang – on a remote, uninhabited Scottish island? Absurdly funny, deeply moving and utterly human, The Man Who Loves Islands is an unforgettable finale to the Disco Days trilogy – a modern classic pumped full of music and middle-aged madness, written from the heart and pen of one of Scotland’s finest new voices. –––––––––––––––––––––––– Praise for David F. Ross ‘A warm, funny consideration of reconciliation between middle-aged friends and a celebration of music’s healing powers. Suggest to fans of Nick Hornby’ Library Journal ‘Warm, funny and evocative. If you grew up in the eighties, you’re going to love this’ Chris Brookmyre ‘Dark, hilarious, funny and heart-breaking all at the same time, a book that sums up the spirit of an era and a country in a way that will make you wince and laugh at the same time’ Muriel Gray ‘An astonishing tour de force’ John Niven ’This is a book that might just make you cry like nobody’s watching’ Iain MacLeod, Sunday Mail ‘Crucially Ross's novel succeeds in balancing light and dark, in that it can leap smoothly from brutal social realism to laugh-out-loud humour within a few sentences’ Press & Journal ‘Full of comedy, pathos and great tunes’ Hardeep Singh Kohli ‘If I saw that in a store I would buy it without even looking at what was inside’ Irvine Welsh ‘Like the vinyl that crackles off every page … as warm and authentic as Roddy Doyle at his very best’ Nick Quantrill ‘A solid-gold hit of a book! The closest you’ll ever get to being on Top of the Pops’ Colin McCredie

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Vigilante justice-seeker Claymore Straker is on the run, with a price on his head. When his lover, Rania, goes missing, he begins a terrifying search with unimaginable consequences… 'Hardisty doesn't put a foot wrong in this forceful, evocative thriller... the author's deep knowledge of the settings never slows down the non-stop action, with distant echoes of a more-moral minded Jack Reacher or Jason Bourne' Maxim Jakubowski ‘Remarkably well-written and sophisticated’ Literary Review ‘A fast-paced action thriller, beautifully written’ Tim Marshall, author of Prisoners of Geography ____________________ Claymore Straker is a fugitive with a price on his head. Wanted by the CIA for acts of terrorism he did not commit, his best friend has just been murdered and Rania, the woman he loves, has disappeared. Betrayed by those closest to him, he must flee the sanctuary of his safe house in Cornwall and track her down. As his pursuers close in, Clay follows Rania to Istanbul and then to Cyprus, where he is drawn into a violent struggle between the Russian mafia, Greek Cypriot extremists, and Turkish developers cashing in on the tourism boom. As the island of love descends into chaos, and the horrific truth is unveiled, Clay must call on every ounce of skill and endurance to save Rania and put an end to the unimaginable destruction being wrought in the name of profit. Gripping, exhilarating, and above all, frighteningly realistic, The Evolution of Fear is a startling, eye-opening read that demands the question: how much is truth, and how much is fiction? ____________________ Praise for Paul E. Hardisty ‘A stormer of a thriller – vividly written, utterly topical, totally gripping' Peter James 'Just occasionally, a book comes along to restore your faith in a genre and Paul Hardisty's The Abrupt Physics of Dying does this in spades' The Times ‘Trenchant and engaging’ Stav Sherez, Catholic Herald ‘A solid, meaty thriller – Hardisty is a fine writer and Straker is a great lead character’ Lee Child ‘Laces the thrills and spills with enough moral indignation to give the book heft … excellent’ Jake Kerridge, Telegraph ‘Fast-paced and cleverly written, this novel has bestseller written all over it’ West Australian ‘Exceptional … beautifully written, blisteringly authentic, heart-stoppingly tense and unusually moving. Definite award material' Paul Johnston 'A forceful novel by a writer not afraid of weighty issues’ Maxim Jakubowski ‘Searing … at times achieves the level of genuine poetry’ Publishers Weekly STARRED review ‘A page-turning adventure that grabs you from the first page and won’t let go’ Edward Wilson

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Detective Kubu’s world is shattered when his father is violently murdered. Defying orders, he sets off on the killers’ trail … with shocking consequences… ‘This fifth mystery featuring Detective Kubu is another fast-moving procedural notable for its warm characterizations and vivid sense of place. A natural for fans of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency' Booklist ‘A wonderful, original voice – McCall Smith with a dark edge and even darker underbelly’ Peter James 'Impossible to put down. Kubu’s painstaking detecting skills make him a sort of Hercule Poirot of the desert … This series can be recommended to a wide gamut of readers’ Library Journal _______________ 'There's no easy way to say this, Kubu. Your father's dead. I'm afraid he's been murdered.’ Faced with the violent death of his own father, even Assistant Superintendent David ‘Kubu’ Bengu, Botswana CID's keenest mind, is baffled. Who would kill such a frail old man? The picture becomes even murkier with the apparent suicide of a government official. Are Chinese mine-owners involved? And what role does the US Embassy have to play? When grief-stricken Kubu defies orders and sets out on the killers’ trail, startling and chilling links emerge, spanning the globe and setting a sequence of shocking events in motion. Will Kubu catch the killers in time … and find justice for his father? Set amidst the dark beauty of modern Botswana, A Death in the Family is a thrilling insight into a world of riots, corruption and greed, as a complex series of murders present the opera-loving, wine connoisseur detective with his most challenging – and personal – case yet. _______________ ‘The perfect combination of “I don’t want it to end” and “I can’t put it down”. Great African crime fiction’ Deon Meyer ‘My favourite writing duo since Ellery Queen’ Ragnar Jónasson ‘Bengu is a wonderful creation, complex and beguiling. The exotic smells and sounds of Botswana fill the pages as well as the changes and struggles of a country brimming with modern technology yet fiercely clinging to old traditions. Compelling and deceptively written...’ New York Journal of Books ‘Richly atmospheric … a gritty depiction of corruption and deception’ Publishers Weekly ‘Under the African sun, Michael Stanley’s Detective Kubu investigates crimes as dark as the darkest of Nordic Noir. Call it Sunshine Noir, if you will – a must read’ Yrsa Sigurðardóttir

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A mother battles to save her child’s life by recounting an extraordinary true story of a sailor’s fight for survival at sea during the Second World War … a beautiful, poignant debut celebrating the power of words, and what it really means to be brave. ***Longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize*** 'It’s a gentle book, full of emotion and it’s similar in tone to The Book Thief, a book that Rose reads with a torch under the bedclothes’ Irish Times ‘Louise Beech masterfully envelops us in two worlds separated by time yet linked by fierce family devotion, bravery and the triumph of human spirit. Wonderful’ Amanda Jennings ______________ All the stories died that morning … until we found the one we’d always known. When nine-year-old Rose is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, Natalie must use her imagination to keep her daughter alive. They begin dreaming about and seeing a man in a brown suit who feels hauntingly familiar, a man who has something for them. Through the magic of storytelling, Natalie and Rose are transported to the Atlantic Ocean in 1943, to a lifeboat, where an ancestor survived for fifty days before being rescued. Poignant, beautifully written and tenderly told, How To Be Brave weaves together the contemporary story of a mother battling to save her child’s life with an extraordinary true account of bravery and a fight for survival in the Second World War. A simply unforgettable debut that celebrates the power of words, the redemptive energy of a mother’s love … and what it really means to be brave. ______________ ‘An amazing story of hope and survival … a love letter to the power of books and stories’ Nick Quantrill ‘Two family stories of loss and redemption intertwine in a painfully beautiful narrative. This book grabbed me right around my heart and didn’t let go’ Cassandra Parkin ‘Louise Beech is a natural born storyteller and this is a wonderful story’ Russ Litten ‘Beautifully written, intelligent and moving, this book will stay with you long after you reach the end’ Ruth Dugdall

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When strangers take part in a series of group suicides, everything suggests that a cult is to blame. How do you stop a cult when nobody knows they are a member? ***Telegraph Book of the Year*** ***Longlisted for Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award*** ***Longlisted for Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award 2020*** 'Heavy gusts of bedsit nihilism usher in this strange mystery ... weirdly page-turning' Sunday Times 'Laying bare our 21st-century weaknesses and dilemmas, Carver has created a highly original state-of-the-nation novel' Literary Review 'Arguably the most original crime novel published this year' Independent _________________ Nine suicides One Cult No leader Nine people arrive one night on Chelsea Bridge. They've never met. But at the same time, they run, and leap to their deaths. Each of them received a letter in the post that morning, a pre-written suicide note, and a page containing only four words: Nothing important happened today. That is how they knew they had been chosen to become a part of the People Of Choice: A mysterious suicide cult whose members have no knowledge of one another. Thirty-two people on that train witness the event. Two of them will be next. By the morning, People Of Choice are appearing around the globe; it becomes a movement. A social media page that has lain dormant for four years suddenly has thousands of followers. The police are under pressure to find a link between the cult members, to locate a leader that does not seem to exist. How do you stop a cult when nobody knows they are a member? _________________ 'Cements Carver as one of the most exciting authors in Britain. After this, he'll have his own cult following' Daily Express 'At once fantastical and appallingly plausible ... this mesmeric novel paints a thought-provoking if depressing picture of modern life' Guardian 'This book is most memorable for its unrepentant darkness...' Telegraph 'Unlike anything else you'll read this year' Heat 'Utterly mesmerising...' Crime Monthly

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When a celebrated government official is found dead after his surprise birthday party, a young police officer uncovers a terrifying world of financial crime, sinister cults and disturbing secret lives. Icelandic politician Katrín Júlíusdóttir's award-winning debut – first in a breathtaking series… **Winner of the Blackbird Award for Best Icelandic Crime Debut** ‘A breathtaking political thriller from one of Iceland’s most exciting new voices’ Eva Björg Ægisdóttir ‘Katrín Júlíusdóttir skilfully weaves together intense family dynamics, dark pasts and criminal endeavours in this masterful narrative’ Lilja Sigurðardóttir ____________________ A murder is just the beginning… When Óttar Karlsson, a wealthy and respected government official and businessman, is found murdered, after failing to turn up at his own surprise birthday party, the police are at a loss. It isn't until young police officer Sigurdís finds a well-hidden safe in his impersonal luxury apartment that clues start emerging. As Óttar's shady business dealings become clear, a second, unexpected line of enquiry emerges, when Sigurdís finds a US phone number in the safe, along with papers showing regular money transfers to an American account. Following the trail to Minnesota, trauma rooted in Sigurdís's own childhood threatens to resurface and the investigation strikes chillingly close to home… Atmospheric, deeply unsettling and full of breakneck twists and turns, Dead Sweet is a startling debut thriller that uncovers a terrifying world of financial crime, sinister cults and disturbing secret lives, and kicks off an addictive, mind-blowing new series. ______________________ ‘Exceptional and realistic characters … Dead Sweet hooks you in from the very first page and keeps you there until the unexpected ending’ Blackbird Award judges: Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Ragnar Jónasson and Bjarni Þorsteinsson ‘An excellent debut thriller with a highly original storyline’ Sæunn Gísladóttir, The Reading Room What readers are saying… ***** ‘Dark, chilling and twisty … I couldn’t put it down’ ‘Breathtakingly unnerving’ ‘What an ending!’ ‘So atmospheric, so clever’ ‘Sigurdís is a brilliant character’ ‘The tension is almost unbearable … I loved it!’

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Daníel and Áróra hunt a brutal killer when a shipping container with the bodies of five women is found outside Reykjavik, as Áróra continues the search for her missing sister. Book three in the addictive, chilling An Áróra Investigation series. ‘Lilja Sigurðardóttir is good at describing the dark and cold of her native Iceland — and making you laugh … telling a terrific tale with twist after twist’ The Times BOOK OF THE MONTH ‘Another action-packed and pacy thriller … The writing is crisp and clear, plotting ingenious and characterisation so vivid’ Liz Nugent ‘Icelandic crime queen Lilja Sigurðardóttir goes from strength to strength, as is proved by White as Snow … protagonists tackling sub-zero temperatures and baffling crimes’ Financial Times –––– On a snowy winter morning, an abandoned shipping container is discovered near Reykjavík. Inside are the bodies of five young women – one of them barely alive. As Icelandic Police detective Daníel struggles to investigate the most brutal crime of his career, Áróra looks into the background of a suspicious man, who turns out to be engaged to Daníel's former wife, and the connections don’t stop there… Daníel and Áróra’s cases pit them both against ruthless criminals with horrifying agendas, while Áróra persists with her search for her missing sister, Ísafold, whose devastating disappearance continues to haunt her. As the temperature drops and the 24-hour darkness and freezing snow hamper their efforts, their investigations become increasingly dangerous … for everyone. Atmospheric, twisty and breathtakingly tense, White as Snow is the third instalment in the riveting, award-winning An Áróra Investigation series, as crimes committed far beyond Iceland’s shores come home… Shortlisted for The Blood Drop – Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year, 2022 –––––––– Praise for the An Áróra Investigation series: 'Icelandic crime-writing at its finest’ Shari Lapena 'Lilja Sigurdardottir is rapidly becoming my favourite Icelandic writer' The Times 'Chilly and chilling … another tense and thrilling read!' Tariq Ashkanani 'The Icelandic scenery and weather are beautifully evoked…' Daily Mail ‘A stand-out voice in Iceland Noir' James Oswald 'Sure to please Scandi-noir fans' Publishers Weekly 'So atmospheric' Crime Monthly 'Another bleak, unpredictable classic' Metro 'Tough, uncompromising and unsettling' Val McDermid 'Tense and pacey' Guardian 'Deftly plotted' Financial Times ‘Breathtakingly original' New York Journal of Books 'Taut, gritty and thoroughly absorbing' Booklist 'A stunning addition to the icy-cold crime genre' Foreword Reviews ‘A thrilling ride, super-addictive, fast-paced and atmospheric’ From Belgium with Booklove ‘Another emotional, pacy, tension-filled and highly topical investigation’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews

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The lives of five strangers collide on a London train carriage, as they become involved in an incident that will change them all forever. A shocking, intensely emotive and wildly original new thriller from Will Carver… ‘Impossibly original, stylish, sinister and heartfelt. The Daves Next Door is so wildly fresh and unmatched, and once again proves that Will Carver has talent and creativity to burn’ Chris Whitaker ‘Once again, Will bends and twists the genre with a novel that is astonishing, profound and hard-hitting’ David Jackson ‘So clever, so dark, so utterly original. Where does Will Carver get his ideas?’ Victoria Selman ‘Stirring. Ambitious. Irreverent. Compassionate. Completely devoid of giveable f*@ks’ Dominic Nolan ___________________________________________________________ A disillusioned nurse suddenly learns how to care. An injured young sportsman wakes up find that he can see only in black and white. A desperate old widower takes too many pills and believes that two angels have arrived to usher him through purgatory. Two agoraphobic men called Dave share the symptoms of a brain tumour, and frequently waken their neighbour with their ongoing rows. Separate lives, running in parallel, destined to collide and then explode. Like the suicide bomber, riding the Circle Line, day after day, waiting for the right time to detonate, waiting for answers to his questions: Am I God? Am I dead? Will I blow up this train? Shocking, intensely emotive and wildly original, Will Carver’s The Daves Next Door is an explosive existential thriller and a piercing examination of what it means to be human … or not. ___________________________________________________________ ‘Will Carver is a thought-provoking and masterful writer of gut-punching fiction ... a powerhouse of a novel. Think Ira Levin at his best’ Michael Wood ‘Will has this uncanny knack of delving into your soul and revealing all the things you really think but are too scared to voice. Absolute GENIUS’ Lisa Hall ‘Another ingenious genre-bender … provocative, twisted and mind-bendingly original’ Sarah Sultoon ‘Sharp, wild and thrilling’ Danielle Louise ‘Completely unpredictable and definitely unputdownable’ Little Miss Book Lover ‘Risk-taking, provocative fiction at its absolute finest … unmissable’ Hair Past a Freckle ‘You don't just read a Will Carver, you experience it. It draws you in and not only entertains, but challenges you’ From Belgium with Booklove Praise for Will Carver ‘One of the most exciting authors in Britain. After this, he’ll have his own cult following’ Daily Express ‘Unlike anything you’ll read this year’ Heat ‘Move the hell over Brett Easton Ellis and Chuck Palahniuk … Will Carver is the new lit prince of 21st-century disenfranchised, pop darkness’ Stephen J. Golds ‘Incredibly dark and very funny’ Harriet Tyce ‘I fell in love with Carver's murderous Maeve. This is an Eleanor Oliphant for crime fans. Carver truly at his best’ Sarah Pinborough ‘A darkly delicious page-turner’ S J Watson ‘One of the most compelling and original voices in crime fiction’ Alex North ‘Weirdly page-turning’ Sunday Times ‘Laying bare our 21st-century weaknesses and dilemmas, Carver has created a highly original state-of-the-nation novel’ Literary Review ‘Arguably the most original crime novel published this year’ Independent ‘This mesmeric novel paints a thought-provoking if depressing picture of modern life’ Guardian ‘This book is most memorable for its unrepentant darkness…’ Telegraph ‘Utterly mesmerising…’ Crime Monthly ‘Will Carver’s most exciting, original, hilarious and freaky outing yet’ Helen FitzGerald ‘Vivid and engaging and completely unexpected’ Lia Middleton

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A young man wakes from a coma to find himself targeted by the men who killed his parents, while someone is impersonating a notorious New Zealand serial killer … the latest chilling, nerve-shredding, twisty thriller from the author of The Quiet People… ‘Paul Cleave is an automatic must-read for me’ Lee Child ‘Riveting from start to finish. Smart and twisty, this book will get under your skin’ Liz Nugent ‘Shocking and chilling. A literary ice plunge. I absolutely loved it’ Helen Fields ‘Almost three books in one! Multiple murders, dedicated detectives – past and present. Complex, detailed and oh, so clever’ Sam Holland _______________How do you catch a killer…When the only evidence is a dream? James Garrett was critically injured when he was shot following his parents’ execution, and no one expected him to waken from a deep, traumatic coma. When he does, nine years later, Detective Inspector Rebecca Kent is tasked with closing the case that her now retired colleague, Theodore Tate, failed to solve all those years ago. But between that, and hunting for Copy Joe – a murderer on a spree, who’s imitating Christchurch’s most notorious serial killer – she’s going to need Tate’s help. Especially when they learn that James has lived out another life in his nine-year coma, and there are things he couldn’t possibly know, including the fact that Copy Joe isn’t the only serial killer in town… _______________ ‘An absolute thrill ride. Precise and swift and a joy to read … storytelling at its best’ James Oswald ‘Such a unique concept, with wonderful, emotional writing ... I hooked on the story from the word go. BRILLIANT’ Lisa Hall ‘The most original and intense thriller ever!’ Michael Wood ‘I’d forgotten how good Paul Cleave is!’ Sarah Pinborough ‘You can’t be a true fan of crime fiction if you’re not reading Cleave’s books’ Tom Wood ‘Uses words as lethal weapons’ New York Times ‘Cleave writes the kind of dark, intense thrillers that I never want to end’ Simon Kernick What readers are saying… [FIVE STARS] ‘A masterpiece’ Café Thinking ‘A heart-pounding, jaw-dropping thrill ride’ Emma’s Bibliotreasures ‘A brilliantly executed thrilling, twisty, nerve-shredding serial-killer chiller’ Live & Deadly ‘A red-hot, sleep-stealing, pulse-pounding read’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews ‘An addictive trip!’ The First Eleven Minutes ‘I am absolutely lost for words’ PRDG Reads ‘Number-one TOP read of the year’ Ian Dixon ‘Cleave has made my heart pound, pulse race and jaw drop’ Little Miss Book LoverPraise for Paul Cleave ‘The sense of dread builds unstoppably in this gripping page-turner … an intense, chilling read’ Gilly Macmillan ‘You may think you know where it’s going, but you couldn’t be more wrong. A true page-turner filled with dread, rage, doubt and more twists than the Remutaka Pass’ Linwood Barclay ‘A true page-turner, with an intriguing premise, a rollercoaster plot and a cast of believably flawed characters’ Guardian ‘This merits comparison with the work of Patricia Highsmith’ Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW ‘Tense, thrilling, touching. Paul Cleave is very good indeed’ John Connolly ‘An intense adrenaline rush from start to finish’ S J Watson ‘A riveting and all too realistic thriller’ Tess Gerritsen ‘A gripping thriller …I couldn’t put it down’ Meg Gardiner ‘Did my head in time and again’ Michael Robotham ‘One to remember’ New York Journal of Book

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Detective Moralès becomes immersed in a chilling case set on the icy seas of Quebec’s remote Magdalen Islands, in the midst of a brutal seal hunt. A breathtaking, atmospheric, race-against-the-clock thriller… **Number One bestseller in Canada****Shortlisted for the Crime Writers of Canada Award for Best French Crime Book** 'A shocking, exquisitely plotted mystery set in the brutal seas off Quebec. The writing is sublime … you can feel the sting of salt on your cheeks' Gill Paul ‘Detective fiction [with] a dreamily poetic cast’ Sunday Times 'Unique, stylish Canadian Noir … absolutely superb' Kjell Ola Dahl _________________________________________There’s only one thing more deadly than the storm… Fisheries officer Simone Lord is transferred to Quebec’s remote Magdalen Islands for the winter, and at the last minute ordered to go aboard a trawler braving a winter storm for the traditional grey seal hunt, while all of the other boats shelter onshore. Detective Sergeant Joaquin Moralès is on a cross-country boat trip down the St Lawrence River, accompanied by Nadine Lauzon, a forensic psychologist working on the case of a savagely beaten teenager with Moralès’ old team in Montreal. When it becomes clear that Simone is in grave danger aboard the trawler, the two cases converge, with startling, terrifying consequences for everyone involved… The award-winning author of The Coral Bride returns with an atmospheric, race-against-the-clock thriller set on the icy seas in the midst of a brutal seal hunt, where nothing is as it seems and absolutely no one can be trusted. For fans of Louise Penny, Ann Cleeves, Emma Stonex and Annie Proulx _________________________________________ ‘From the very beginning I had a feeling of tragic inevitability … the sense of isolation, both physical and emotional, pours from every page’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews ‘Beautiful prose, simple yet powerful, and a boatload of suspense … an absolute winner’ From Belgium with Booklove ‘Thrums with rhythm and tears at the heart … the best Detective Moralès yet’ Live & Deadly What Readers are saying…***** ‘Breathlessly gripping’ ‘Masterful storytelling’ ‘The suspense is palpable’ ‘If you like Louise Penny’s Armand Gamache series, you’ll LOVE this’ 'No one does atmospheric quite like Roxanne Bouchard' ‘Intricate, beautiful and compelling' ‘Gloriously shocking’ Praise for Roxanne Bouchard:**WINNER of the Crime Writers of Canada Award for Best French Crime Book** **Shortlisted for the CWA Crime in Translation Dagger** 'A haunting murder mystery about how human nature is every bit as dangerous and inscrutable as the sea draws out its suspense to the very last moment' Foreword Reviews 'A police procedural like no other – marvel at the clever plotting' Crime Fiction Lover 'An absolute joy to read, with as much tension as there is poetry' Le Journal de Montréal 'With a cast of characters you'll engage with and love and a mystery that will have you on edge, Bouchard pulls you into her world wonderful' Michael J. Malone 'Roxanne Bouchard is reinventing the crime novel' Quebec TV ‘Lyrical and elegiac, full of quirks and twists' William Ryan 'Asks questions right from page one' Quentin Bates 'A tour de force of both writing and translation' Su Bristow

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When a police investigator is killed execution-style and Blix’s own daughter is targeted by the killer, he makes a dangerous decision, which could cost him everything. Blix & Ramm are back in a breathless, emotive thriller by two of Norway’s finest crime writers…‘Superb Nordic noir. Dark, intricate and extremely compelling. Contemporary Scandinavian fiction at its best’ Will Dean‘The most exciting yet’ The Times‘Blends a gripping storytelling structure with thrilling tension and heartfelt moments … if you’re a fan of writers like Lars Kepler, Stefan Ahnhem or Søren Sveistrup, you won’t want to miss this’ Crime by the Book––––––––––––––––––––When police investigator Sofia Kovic uncovers a startling connection between several Oslo murder cases, she attempts to contact her closest superior, Alexander Blix before involving anyone else in the department. But before Blix has time to return her call, Kovic is shot and killed in her own home – execution style. And in the apartment below, Blix’s daughter Iselin narrowly escapes becoming the killer’s next victim.Four days later, Blix and online crime journalist Emma Ramm are locked inside an interrogation room, facing the National Criminal Investigation Service. Blix has shot and killed a man, and Ramm saw it all happen. As Iselin’s life hangs in the balance, under-fire Blix no longer knows who he can trust … and he’s not even certain that he’s killed the right man…Two of Nordic Noir’s most brilliant writers return with the explosive, staggeringly accomplished, emotive third instalment in the international, bestselling Blix & Ramm series … and it will take your breath away.––––––––––––––––––––––––‘Short chapters, shifts in focus, and rapid changes in time frames kept me on my toes and high alert … The storytelling is just superb’ LoveReading‘Devilishly complex’ Publishers Weekly'An exercise in literary tag-teaming from two of Norway's biggest crime writers with a bold new take...’ Sunday Times ‘Hands down, the best book in the series so far and it will satisfy even the most demanding readers’ Tap the Line‘One of those jaw-dropping “what did you just do” kind of conclusions that will leave fans of the series reeling’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews‘Intense, dark, emotional and utterly outstanding!’ Karen ColePraise for the Blix & Ramm series'Grim, gory and filled with plenty of dark twists ... There's definitely a Scandinavian chill in the air with this fascinating read' Sun'Alongside Jo Nesbo's Knife, Smoke Screen is this summer's most anticipated read, and it doesn't disappoint' Tvedestrandsposten, Norway‘Masterly … surprises or shifts in subtle ways that are pleasing and avoid cliché’ New Books Magazine'A fast-moving, punchy, serial killer investigative novel with a whammy of an ending. If this is the first in the Blix and Ramm series, then here's to many more!' LoveReading'Now what happens when you put two of the most distinguished writers of Nordic noir in tandem? Death Deserved by Thomas Enger and Jørn Lier Horst suggests it was a propitious publishing move; a ruthless killer is pursued by a tenacious celebrity blogger and a damaged detective' Financial Times For fans of Will Dean, Jussi Adler-Olsen, Ragnar Jónasson, Harlan Coben, Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir and Katrine Engber

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Suspicion is cast on two successful crime writers, when their seven-year-old son goes missing. Are they trying to show that they can commit the perfect crime? A mesmerisingly twisty, dark thriller from number-one bestselling New Zealand author Paul Cleave…‘You may think you know where it’s going, but you couldn’t be more wrong. A true page-turner filled with dread, rage, doubt and more twists than the Remutaka Pass’ Linwood Barclay‘Paul Cleave is an automatic must-read for me, and The Quiet People shows why – it grabbed me by the throat, shook me around, and left me breathing hard. Fantastic, and highly recommended’ Lee Child ‘A true page-turner, with an intriguing premise, a rollercoaster plot and a cast of believably flawed characters’ Guardian ‘An absolute BELTER of a book … I’d forgotten how good Paul Cleave is!’ Sarah Pinborough ________________________Can two crime writers get away with murder?Cameron and Lisa Murdoch are successful New Zealand crime writers, happily married and topping bestseller lists worldwide. They have been on the promotional circuit for years, joking that no one knows how to get away with crime like they do. After all, they write about it for a living.So when their challenging seven-year-old son Zach disappears, the police and the public naturally wonder if they have finally decided to prove what they have been saying all this time… Are they trying to show how they can commit the perfect crime?Electrifying, taut and immaculately plotted, The Quiet People is a chilling, tantalisingly twisted thriller that will keep you gripped and guessing to the last explosive page._________________________**Best Indie Novel: Crime Fiction Lover Awards**** 2021 INDIES Book of the Year Award Finalist** ‘The psychological depth of the leads bolsters the complex plot. This merits comparison with the work of Patricia Highsmith’ Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW ‘What is really compelling about The Quiet People is neither its neat twists nor the topical examination of mob rule, but Cleave’s portrait of Cameron as he goes rogue under pressure and tries to use his writer’s skills to save his son’ The Times‘Gripping from the first page and full of deliciously dark twists and turns. You can’t be a true fan of crime fiction if you’re not reading Cleave’s books’ Tom Wood‘The sense of dread builds unstoppably in this gripping page-turner … an intense, chilling read’ Gilly Macmillan‘I don't think I breathed from about halfway through to the end. A masterpiece from a crime genius’ Susi Holliday ‘His best book yet … by the end, readers will find themselves holding their breath’ Bolo Books‘Uses words as lethal weapons’ New York Times‘What starts out as a slow burn, quickly ratchets up the tension and the twists, sending you spiralling down a hill of depravity and desperation’ Kirsten McKenzie‘A cinematic, raging, rollercoaster of a plot … wildly entertaining, and will keep you guessing right to the end’ New Zealand Herald‘Cleave has become one of my go-to authors for a chilling slice of cleverly crafted crime’ LoveReading ‘Super-clever and properly gripping’ The Sun‘A superb novel from a champion storyteller’ Crime WatchPraise for Paul Cleave‘Cleave writes the kind of dark, intense thrillers that I never want to end. Do yourself a favour and check him out’ Simon Kernick‘Tense, thrilling, touching. Paul Cleave is very good indeed’ John Connolly‘Compelling, dark, and perfectly paced’ Booklist‘Relentlessly gripping, deliciously twisted’ Mark Billingham‘An intense adrenaline rush from start to finish’ S J Watson‘A riveting and all too realistic thriller’ Tess Gerritsen‘A gripping thriller …I couldn’t put it down’ Meg Gardiner‘This very clever novel did my head in time and again’ Michael Robotham ‘Cleave’s whirligig plot mesmerises’ People ‘This thriller is one to remember’ New York Journal of Book

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The discovery of a human foot in an Edinburgh park, the inexplicable circumstances of a dying woman, and the missing daughter of Jenny’s violent ex-husband present the Skelf women with their most challenging – and deadly – cases yet… Book THREE in the addictive The Skelfs series! ‘Simply stunning. Tense, funny and deeply moving’ Mark Billingham ‘If you loved Iain Banks, you’ll devour the Skelfs series’ Erin Kelly ‘Nobody portrays modern Edinburgh better than Doug Johnstone. The Great Silence speaks volumes about the power of story’ Val McDermid ______________ Keeping on top of the family funeral directors’ and private-investigation businesses is no easy task for the Skelf women, and when matriarch Dorothy discovers a human foot while walking the dog, a perplexing case presents itself … with potentially deadly results. Daughter Jenny and grand-daughter Hannah have their hands full too: The mysterious circumstances of a dying woman lead them into an unexpected family drama, Hannah's new astrophysicist colleague claims he's receiving messages from outer space, and the Skelfs' teenaged lodger has yet another devastating experience. Nothing is clear as the women are immersed ever deeper in their most challenging cases yet. But when the daughter of Jenny’s violent and fugitive ex-husband goes missing without trace and a wild animal is spotted roaming Edinburgh's parks, real danger presents itself, and all three Skelfs are in peril. Taut, dark, warmly funny and unafraid to ask big questions – of us all – The Great Silence is the much-anticipated third instalment in the addictive, unforgettable Skelfs series, and the stakes are higher than ever. ______________ ‘This is their third outing and the stories get better each time … Told with a wry humour and affection, the novel underlines just how accomplished Johnstone has become’ Daily Mail ‘The power of this book lies in the warm personalities and dark humour of the Skelfs, and by the end readers will be just as interested in their relationships with each other as the mysteries they are trying to solve’ Scotsman ‘Remarkable’ Sunday Times Crime Club STAR PICK ‘Keeps you hungry from page to page. A crime reader can’t ask anything more’ The Sun ‘Mysteries aplenty … a poignant reflection on grief and the potential for healing that lies within us all. A proper treat’ Mary Paulson-Ellis ‘A thrilling, atmospheric book, set in the dark streets of Edinburgh. That great city really came alive for me in this gripping tale. Move over Ian Rankin, Doug Johnstone is coming through!’ Kate Rhodes ‘An unstoppable, thrilling, bullet train of a book that cleverly weaves in family and intrigue, and has real emotional impact. I totally loved it’ Helen Fields ‘This enjoyable mystery is also a touching and often funny portrayal of grief ... more, please’ Guardian ‘Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave’ Sunday Times ‘Exceptional … a must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists’ Publishers Weekly The Skelfs series has been: ***Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book of the Year*** ***Longlisted for Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year*** ***Shortlisted for Amazon Publishing Capital Crime Thriller of the Year***

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THE STUNNING FINAL INSTALMENT OF THE MULTI-MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING DARK ICELAND SERIES **Sunday Times BOOK OF THE MONTH** ‘Jónasson is an automatic must-read for me … possibly the best Scandi writer working today’ Lee Child ‘Is this the best crime writer in the world today? … Truly a master of his genre’ The Times 'The engaging Ari Thor returns in this darkly claustrophobic tale. Perfect mid-winter reading' Ann Cleeves ‘A stunningly atmospheric story. Ari Thór Arason returns in this pitch-perfect, beautifully paced crime novel … Ragnar Jónasson is at the top of his game, and a master of the genre’ Will Dean ______________ A blizzard is approaching Siglufjörður, and that can only mean one thing… When the body of a nineteen-year-old girl is found on the main street of Siglufjörður, Police Inspector Ari Thór battles a violent Icelandic storm in an increasingly dangerous hunt for her killer … The chilling, claustrophobic finale to the international bestselling Dark Iceland series. Easter weekend is approaching, and snow is gently falling in Siglufjörður, the northernmost town in Iceland, as crowds of tourists arrive to visit the majestic ski slopes. Ari Thór Arason is now a police inspector, but he’s separated from his girlfriend, who lives in Sweden with their three-year-old son. A family reunion is planned for the holiday, but a violent blizzard is threatening and there is an unsettling chill in the air. Three days before Easter, a nineteen-year-old local girl falls to her death from the balcony of a house on the main street. A perplexing entry in her diary suggests that this may not be an accident, and when an old man in a local nursing home writes ‘She was murdered’ again and again on the wall of his room, there is every suggestion that something more sinister lies at the heart of her death… As the extreme weather closes in, cutting the power and access to Siglufjörður, Ari Thór must piece together the puzzle to reveal a horrible truth … one that will leave no one unscathed. Chilling, claustrophobic and disturbing, Winterkill is a startling addition to the multi-million-copy bestselling Dark Iceland series and cements Ragnar Jónasson as one of the most exciting and acclaimed authors in crime fiction. _______________ Praise for Ragnar Jónasson ‘A sinister twisted tragedy’ The Times ‘If Iceland missed out on the Golden Age of crime writing, the country – and Jonasson – is certainly making up for it now’ Sunday Times ‘Outstanding … Series fans will be sorry to see the last of Ari Thór’ Publishers Weekly ‘Jonasson’s Dark Iceland novels are instant classics’ William Ryan ‘Jónasson’s punchy, straightforward prose is engrossing … A diverting mystery’ Foreword Reviews 'Consummate crime writing … poignant and disturbing’ New Books Magazine ‘Chilling, creepy, perceptive, almost unbearably tense' Ian Rankin 'A tense, gripping read' Anthony Horowitz 'Icelandic noir of the highest order, with Jónasson's atmospheric sense of place, and his heroine's unerring humanity shining from every page' Daily Mail ’Ragnar Jónasson writes with a chilling, poetic beauty’ Peter James ’Traditional and beautifully finessed’ Independent ‘Jónasson’s true gift is for describing the daunting beauty of the fierce setting’ New York Times ‘A chiller of a thriller’ Washington Post ‘Jónasson’s books have breathed new life into Nordic noir’ Express

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A young couple are entangled in a nightmare spiral of lies when they pretend to be someone else …Exquisitely dark psychological suspense by the international bestselling author of The Bird Tribunal ‘A delightfully insightful and wicked little read … Like the cabin, it's so minimalist and stark and at the same time so compelling’ Elizabeth Haynes ________It started with a lie… Married couple Karin and Kai are looking for a pleasant escape from their busy lives, and reluctantly accept an offer to stay in a luxurious holiday home in the Norwegian fjords. Instead of finding a relaxing retreat, however, their trip becomes a reminder of everything lacking in their own lives, and in a less-than-friendly meeting with their new neighbours, Karin tells a little white lie… Against the backdrop of the glistening water and within the claustrophobic walls of the ultra-modern house, Karin’s insecurities blossom, and her lie grows ever bigger, entangling her and her husband in a nightmare spiral of deceits with absolutely no means of escape… Simmering with suspense and dark humour, The Guests is a gripping psychological drama about envy and aspiration … and something more menacing, hiding just below that glittering surface… _____ Praise for Agnes Ravatn **Shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award****A BBC Book at Bedtime****Shortlisted for the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Fiction****Winner of an English PEN Translation Award** 'A clever, quirky mystery, full of twists and reminiscent of Agatha Christie at her best' The Times 'Ravatn, one of Norway's premier crime writers, manages to conjure up an extra level of chilling atmosphere that will make you want to put the heating on' The Sun 'An unrelenting atmosphere of doom fails to prepare readers for the surprising resolution' Publishers Weekly 'Unfolds in an austere style that perfectly captures the bleakly beautiful landscape of Norway's far north' Irish Times 'Reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith and I can't offer higher praise than that. Agnes Ravatn is an author to watch' Philip Ardagh 'A tense and riveting read' Financial Times 'Crackling, fraught and hugely compulsive slice of Nordic Noir tremendously impressive' Big Issue 'Intriguing … enrapturing' Sarah Hilary ‘A masterclass in suspense and delayed terror' Rod Reynolds

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When the mother of a missing two-year-old girl is seriously injured in a suspected terrorist attack in Oslo, crime-fighting duo Blix and Ramm join forces to investigate the case, and things aren’t adding up … The second instalment in an addictive, atmospheric, award-winning series. ‘An exercise in literary tag-teaming from two of Norway’s biggest crime writers with a bold new take … a series with potential’ Sunday Times ‘Grim, gory and filled with plenty of dark twists … There’s definitely a Scandinavian chill in the air with this fascinating read’ Sun ‘Alongside Jo Nesbo’s Knife, Smoke Screen is this summer’s most anticipated read, and it doesn’t disappoint’ Tvedestrandsposten, Norway __________________ Oslo, New Year’s Eve. The annual firework celebration is rocked by an explosion, and the city is put on terrorist alert. Police officer Alexander Blix and blogger Emma Ramm are on the scene, and when a severely injured survivor is pulled from the icy harbour, she is identified as the mother of two-year-old Patricia Smeplass, who was kidnapped on her way home from kindergarten ten years earlier … and never found. Blix and Ramm join forces to investigate the unsolved case, as public interest heightens, the terror threat is raised, and it becomes clear that Patricia’s disappearance is not all that it seems… _____________________ Praise for the Blix & Ramm series: ‘Everything about this crime novel sings, the relationship between Blix and Emma, which is complex, but also the relationship between Blix and Fosse and Kovic. The past bleeds into the present and the clever melding of the strands of the story and the slow reveal of details that propel the story is masterly. This tale often surprises or shifts in subtle ways that are pleasing and avoid cliché. As the opener for a new series this is a cracker, long live the marriage of Horst and Enger’ New Books Magazine ‘A fast-moving, punchy, serial killer investigative novel with a whammy of an ending. If this is the first in the Blix and Ramm series, then here’s to many more!’ LoveReading ‘A clever, gripping crime novel with personality, flair, and heart’ Crime by the Book ‘A stunningly excellent collaboration from Thomas Enger and Jorn Lier Horst …. It’s a brutal tale of fame, murder, and reality TV that gets the pulse racing’ Russel McLean ‘Now — what happens when you put two of the most distinguished writers of Nordic noir in tandem? Death Deserved by Thomas Enger and Jørn Lier Horst suggests it was a propitious publishing move; a ruthless killer is pursued by a tenacious celebrity blogger and a damaged detective’ Financial Times

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Online investigative journalist Scott King investigates the death of a pop megastar, the subject of multiple accusations of sexual abuse and murder before his untimely demise in a fire … another episode of the startlingly original, award-winning Six Stories series. ‘A captivating, genre-defying book with hypnotic storytelling’ Rosamund Lupton ‘A chilling, wholly original and quite brilliant story. Deity is utterly compelling, and Matt Wesolowski is a wonderful writer’ Chris Whitaker ‘Matt Wesolowski taking the crime novel to places it’s never been before. Filled with dread, in the best possible way’ Joseph Knox _______________ A shamed pop star A devastating fire Six witnesses Six stories Which one is true? When pop megastar Zach Crystal dies in a fire at his remote mansion, his mysterious demise rips open the bitter divide between those who adored his music and his endless charity work, and those who viewed him as a despicable predator, who manipulated and abused young and vulnerable girls. Online journalist, Scott King, whose Six Stories podcasts have become an internet sensation, investigates the accusations of sexual abuse and murder that were levelled at Crystal before he died. But as Scott begins to ask questions and rake over old graves, some startling inconsistencies emerge: Was the fire at Crystal’s remote home really an accident? Are reports of a haunting really true? Why was he never officially charged? Dark, chillingly topical and deeply thought-provoking, Deity is both an explosive thriller and a startling look at how heroes can fall from grace and why we turn a blind eye to even the most heinous of crimes… _______________ Praise for the Six Stories series ‘A gripping exposure of the underbelly of celebrity and obsessive fandom with lashings of supernatural horror – Daisy Jones and the Six gone to the dark side. I couldn’t put it down’ Harriet Tyce ‘Matt Wesolowski is boldly carving his own uniquely dark niche in fiction’ Benjamin Myers ‘Dark, twisty and incredibly clever ... an author to watch!’ C L Taylor ‘A dark, twisting rabbit hole of a novel. You won't be able to put it down' Francine Toon ‘First-class plotting’ S Magazine ‘A dazzling fictional mystery’ Foreword Reviews ‘Readers of Kathleen Barber’s Are You Sleeping and fans of Ruth Ware will enjoy this slim but compelling novel’ Booklist ‘An exceptional storyteller' Andrew Michael Hurley ‘Beautifully written, smart, compassionate – and scary as hell. Matt Wesolowski is one of the most exciting and original voices in crime fiction’ Alex North ‘Insidiously terrifying, with possibly the creepiest woods since The Blair Witch Project … a genuine chiller with a whammy of an ending’ C J Tudor ‘Frighteningly wonderful … one of the best books I’ve read in years’ Khurrum Rahman ‘Disturbing, compelling and atmospheric, it will terrify and enthral you in equal measure’ M W Craven ‘Bold, clever and genuinely chilling with a terrific’ Sunday Mirror ‘A genuine genre-bending debut’ Daily Mail 'Impeccably crafted and gripping from start to finish’ Big Issue ‘The very epitome of a must-read’ Heat ‘Wonderfully horrifying … the suspense crackles’ James Oswald ‘Original, inventive and dazzlingly clever’ Fiona Cummins ‘Haunting, horrifying, and heartrending. Fans of Arthur Machen will want to check this one out’ Publishers Weekly

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Police officer Alexander Blix and celebrity blogger Emma Ramm join forces to track down a serial killer with a thirst for attention and high-profile murders, in the first episode of a gripping new Nordic Noir series… ‘Grim, gory and filled with plenty of dark twists … There’s definitely a Scandinavian chill in the air with this fascinating read that loses none of its terror and fun in translation’ Sun ‘An exercise in literary tag-teaming from two of Norway’s biggest crime writers with a bold new take on the serial-killer-as-twisted-artist … the start of a series with potential’ Sunday Times –––––––––––––––––––––––– Oslo, 2018. Former long-distance runner Sonja Nordstrøm never shows at the launch of her controversial autobiography, Always Number One. When celebrity blogger Emma Ramm visits Nordstrøm’s home later that day, she finds the door unlocked and signs of a struggle inside. A bib with the number ‘one’ has been pinned to the TV. Police officer Alexander Blix is appointed to head up the missing-persons investigation, but he still bears the emotional scars of a hostage situation nineteen years earlier, when he killed the father of a five-year-old girl. Traces of Nordstrøm soon show up at different locations, but the appearance of the clues appear to be carefully calculated … evidence of a bigger picture that he’s just not seeing… Blix and Ramm soon join forces, determined to find and stop a merciless killer with a flare for the dramatic, and thirst for attention. Trouble is, he’s just got his first taste of it… –––––––––––––––––––––––– ‘This tale often surprises or shifts in subtle ways that are pleasing and avoid cliché. As the opener for a new series this is a cracker, long live the marriage of Horst and Enger’ New Books Magazine ‘Death Deserved is a fast-moving, punchy, serial killer investigative novel with a whammy of an ending. If this is the first in the Blix and Ramm series, then here’s to many more!’ LoveReading ‘A stunningly excellent collaboration from Thomas Enger and Jorn Lier Horst …. It’s a brutal tale of fame, murder, and reality TV that gets the pulse racing’ Russel McLean ‘Now — what happens when you put two of the most distinguished writers of Nordic noir in tandem? Death Deserved by Thomas Enger and Jørn Lier Horst suggests it was a propitious publishing move; a ruthless killer is pursued by a tenacious celebrity blogger and a damaged detective’ Financial Times ‘A clever, gripping crime novel with personality, flair, and heart’ Crime by the Book

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Elusive online journalist Scott King examines the chilling case of a young vlogger found frozen to death in the legendary local ‘vampire tower’, in another explosive episode of Six Stories…***Winner of the Capital Crime Award for Best Independent Voice***‘Matt Wesolowski brilliantly depicts a desperate and disturbed corner of north-east England in which paranoia reigns and goodness is thwarted … an exceptional storyteller' Andrew Michael Hurley‘Endlessly inventive and with literary thrills a-plenty, Matt Wesolowski is boldly carving his own uniquely dark niche in fiction’ Benjamin Myers‘Beautifully written, smart, compassionate – and scary as hell. Matt Wesolowski is one of the most exciting and original voices in crime fiction’ Alex North____________________A frozen girlA haunted townA deadly challengeSix StoriesWhich one is true?In the wake of the 'Beast from the East' cold snap that ravaged the UK in 2018, a grisly discovery was made in a ruin on the Northumbrian coast. Twenty-four-year-old Vlogger, Elizabeth Barton, had been barricaded inside what locals refer to as 'The Vampire Tower', where she was later found frozen to death.Three young men, part of an alleged 'cult', were convicted of this terrible crime, which they described as a 'prank gone wrong'. However, in the small town of Ergarth, questions have been raised about the nature of Elizabeth Barton's death and whether the three convicted youths were even responsible.Elusive online journalist Scott King speaks to six witnesses – people who knew both the victim and the three killers – to peer beneath the surface of the case. He uncovers whispers of a shocking online craze that held the young of Ergarth in its thrall and drove them to escalate a series of pranks in the name of internet fame. He hears of an abattoir on the edge of town, which held more than simple slaughter behind its walls, the tragic and chilling legend of the ‘Ergarth Vampire… Both a compulsive, taut and terrifying thriller, and a bleak and distressing look at modern society's desperation for attention, Beast will unveil a darkness from which you may never return…____________________Praise for the Six Stories series‘Frighteningly wonderful … one of the best books I’ve read in years’ Khurrum Rahman‘Disturbing, compelling and atmospheric, it will terrify and enthral you in equal measure’ M W Craven‘First-class plotting’ S Magazine‘A dazzling fictional mystery’ Foreword Reviews‘Readers of Kathleen Barber’s Are You Sleeping and fans of Ruth Ware will enjoy this slim but compelling novel’ Booklist‘Insidiously terrifying, with possibly the creepiest woods since The Blair Witch Project … a genuine chiller with a whammy of an ending’ C J Tudor‘Bold, clever and genuinely chilling’ Deidre O’Brien, Sunday Mirror‘A genuine genre-bending debut’ Carla McKay, Daily Mail'Impeccably crafted and gripping from start to finish’ Doug Johnstone, The Big Issue‘The very epitome of a must-read’ Heat‘Wonderfully horrifying … the suspense crackles’ James Oswald‘Original, inventive and dazzlingly clever’ Fiona Cummins‘A complex and subtle mystery, unfolding like dark origami to reveal the black heart inside’ Michael Marshall Smith‘Haunting, horrifying, and heartrending. Fans of Arthur Machen, whose unsettling tale The White People provides an epigraph, will want to check this one out’ Publishers Weekly

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When a strange woman slips a note into grieving widow Paula’s pocket at her husband’s funeral, everything suggests that he was not all that he seemed … A devastatingly moving, explosive psychological thriller from the international bestselling author of A Suitable Lie. ‘Disturbing but compulsive … I loved it’ Martina Cole 'Bristling with unease, this is domestic noir at its very darkest, twisting the marriage thriller into a new and troubling shape' Eva Dolan ‘Vivid, visceral and compulsive’ Ian Rankin ––––––––––––––––––––––––You need to know who your husband really was… When Paula Gadd’s husband of almost thirty years dies, just days away from the seventh anniversary of their son, Christopher’s death, her world falls apart. Grieving and bereft, she is stunned when a young woman approaches her at the funeral service, and slips something into her pocket. A note suggesting that Paula’s husband was not all that he seemed… When the two women eventually meet, a series of revelations challenges everything Paula thought she knew, and it becomes immediately clear that both women’s lives are in very real danger. Both a dark, twisty slice of domestic noir and taut, explosive psychological thriller, After He Died is also a chilling reminder that the people we trust the most can harbour the deadliest secrets… ––––––––––––––––––––––––Praise for Michael J. Malone ‘Gripping and suspenseful fare that reinforces Malone’s renown for producing psychological thrillers’ Herald Scotland 'It’s a tough high-wire act, balancing believability with surprise, but the author pulls it off with aplomb. Excellent stuff’ Doug Johnstone, The Big Issue ‘Michael J Malone has portrayed this beautifully and managed to get the balance just right … A well-paced, excellent read’ Promoting Crime ‘After he Died is a fantastic read packed with engaging characters and a compelling narrative’ CrimeSquad ‘An explosive tale, one that takes hold, bites, and doesn’t let go’ LoveReading ‘A stark, gripping storyline’ Scots ‘A fine, page-turning thriller’ Daily Mail ‘Original, engrossing and scary’ The Times ‘Brilliantly creepy’ Daily Record ‘Genuinely shocking’ Crime by the Book ‘Delightfully disturbing’ Chapter in My Life ‘Michael Malone has a way of telling a story that just leaves you more than a little disturbed yet breathless with admiration’ Live & Deadly ‘Enthralling, wonderful, intense, full of suspense and twists that had my head in a spin! Crime Book Junkie ‘Michael J. Malone is quickly making his way up my list of favourite authors’ Always Trust in Books

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When Lynn’s husband is diagnosed with early-onset dementia, strange things start to happen – things that can’t be explained – and her perfect world starts to crumble… Unputdownable, Hitchcockian domestic noir from number-one bestselling author Louise Voss. ‘The slow reveals and hints at the darkness to come make it impossible to put down’ Sarah Pinborough ‘A brilliant tale of deception with a twist that took my breath away’ Mark Edwards ‘Brilliantly unsettling’ Jane Casey ____________________ Lynn Naismith gave up the job she loved when she married Ed, the love of her life, but it was worth it for the happy years they enjoyed together. Now, ten years on, Ed has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, and things start to happen; things more sinister than missing keys and lost words. As some memories are forgotten, others, long buried, begin to surface … and Lynn’s perfect world begins to crumble. But is it Ed’s mind playing tricks, or hers…? ____________________ ‘A disturbing, brilliant tale of lies and psychological manipulation’ Kate Rhodes ’Tense, super-twisty and well-written’ Amanda Jennings ‘A cracking page-turner that sucks you straight into the dark heart of human behaviour’ Marnie Riches ‘Completely gripping’ Cass Green ‘An addictive thriller with a damaged and relatable heroine at its center, The Old You is an original novel that is both shocking and touching’ Foreword Reviews ‘Twists, turns and stabs you in the heart. It deserves to be huge’ Martyn Waites ‘I was guessing right to the end’ Katerina Diamond ‘Cleverly plotted and beautifully executed’ Susi Holliday ‘Poignant, clever and terrifically tense’ William Shaw ‘A must-read for all psychological thriller fans’ Steph Broadribb ‘A twisty, thrilling read with engaging and complex characters!’ Sarah Ward ‘Kept me up way past my bedtime … really original and compelling’ Howard Linskey ‘Exceptionally clever, intriguing and mysterious … this is how a psychological crime thriller should be written’ Random Things through My Letterbox ‘Gripping and twisty’ Mel McGrath ‘An expert piece of contrivance’ Publishers Weekly ‘Ingeniously plotted and totally addictive‘ Paddy Magrane ’A masterclass in how to write an accomplished, clever and slick domestic noir – characters that are believable, secrets that are merely hinted at and twists that are genuinely jaw-dropping without being absurd’ Beverley Has Read

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Drugs, smuggling, big money and political intrigue in Iceland rally with love, passion, murder and betrayal until the winner takes all … in the masterful, explosive conclusion to the award-winning Reykjavík Noir trilogy… ***Guardian Book of the Year******WINNER of the Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year*** ‘Tough, uncompromising and unsettling’ Val McDermid ‘One of the darkest and most compelling series in modern crime fiction … Tackling topical issues, the book will tell you a great deal about why the world’s in the state it is, while never neglecting its duty to entertain’ Sunday Express ‘A tense thriller with a highly unusual plot and interesting characters’ The Times –––––––––––––––––––––––– The prison doors slam shut behind Agla, when her sentence ends, but her lover Sonja is not there to meet her. As a group of foreign businessmen tries to draw Agla into an ingenious fraud that stretches from Iceland around the world, Agla and her former nemesis, María find the stakes being raised at a terrifying speed. Ruthless drug baron Ingimar will stop at nothing to protect his empire, but he has no idea about the powder keg he is sitting on in his own home. At the same time, a deadly threat to Sonya and her family brings her from London back to Iceland, where she needs to settle scores with longstanding adversaries if she wants to stay alive… –––––––––––––––––––––––– Praise for the Reykjavik Noir Trilogy: ‘Cage is the muted and more credible conclusion to a wayward, but diverting trilogy that began with Snare (2017) and continued with Trap (2018) — ironic titles for essentially escapist fiction … Compassion beats complexity every time’ The Times ‘In keeping with a lot of Icelandic fiction, Cage is written in a clean, understated style, the author letting the reader put together the emotional beats and plot developments. Smart writing with a strongly beating heart’ Big Issue ‘Deftly plotted though and with a forensic attention to the technicalities of stock exchange manipulations and drug running techniques’ Crime Time ‘With shocks and surprises in store, and that oh so satisfying end, Cage provoked, chilled, and thrilled me’ LoveReading ‘A novel about survival, about scheming, it’s about self-preservation and about clinging to a vestige of decency in a screwed up world. Superbly translated by Quentin Bates, who knows the language, the country, the people and crime writing intimately. Cage is a pacy thriller; you will find yourself invested in the story’ New Books Magazine ‘An emotional suspense rollercoaster on a par with The Firm, as desperate, resourceful, profoundly lovable characters scheme against impossible odds’ Alexandra Sokoloff ‘Clear your diary. As soon as you begin reading … you won’t be able to stop until the final page’ Michael Wood ‘Zips along, with tension building and building … thoroughly recommend’ James Oswald ‘The intricate plot is breathtakingly original, with many twists and turns you never see coming. Thriller of the year’ New York Journal of Books

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When the author of a book about secret government operations goes missing – along with his agent, and the manuscript itself – Police Inspector Robert Finlay is thrust into a complex and terrifying investigation. The final instalment in a searingly authentic series. ‘A taut, knife-edge thriller you won’t put down till the last full stop’ M R Hall ‘Matt Johnson’s real-life experiences shine through in the vivid plotting and authentic action’ Rob Sinclair ‘Another fast-moving and beautifully detailed page-turner from a master thriller writer’ Robert Daws ____________________ Robert Finlay has finally left his SAS past behind him and is settled into his new career as a detective, but when the author of a book about secret operations goes missing, along with his agent and an explosive new manuscript, it’s clear that Finlay’s troubles are far from over. With his friend and former colleague, Kevin Jones, in trouble, and police complaints branch gunning for them both, Robert teams up with MI5 agent Toni Fellowes to find out who’s behind the growing conspiracy. Their quest soon reveals a plot that goes to the very heart of the UK’s security services. End Game, the final part in the critically acclaimed Robert Finlay trilogy, sees our hero in an intricate and terrifyingly fast-paced race to uncover the truth and escape those who’d sooner have him dead than be exposed. ____________________ ‘A compelling mix of highly credible detail, tactics, procedures, and all striated into the political games that the intelligence services play. Highly Recommended’ Shots Mag ‘Gripping stuff’ New Welsh Review ‘Matt Johnson is a brilliant new name in the world of thrillers’ Peter James ‘This tense, edge-of-the-seat writing will keep fans frantically turning the pages as they race towards the conclusion’ Amanda Jennings ‘Utterly compelling and dripping with authenticity’ J S Law ‘Five shining gold stars of brilliant’ The Quiet Knitter ‘Nothing is clear-cut in a gripping labyrinthine plot, which – despite thrills and spills aplenty – never falls short of believable’ David Young

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Investigative journalist Henning Juul follows a dangerous trail to find his young son’s murderer, in the explosive, heart-breaking finale to the international, bestselling Henning Juul series. ‘Outstanding’ Ragnar Jónasson ‘A gripping narrative that begs comparison to Stieg Larsson’ Bookpage ‘Satisfyingly tense and dark … a deep and complex book’ Sunday Times –––––––––––––––––––––––– Crime reporter Henning Juul thought his life was over when his young son was murdered. But that was only the beginning… Determined to find his son’s killer, Henning doggedly follows an increasingly dangerous trail, where dark hands from the past emerge to threaten everything. His ex-wife Nora is pregnant with another man’s child, his sister Trine is implicated in the fire that killed his son and, with everyone he thought he could trust seemingly hiding something, Henning has nothing to lose … except his own life. Packed with tension and unexpected twists, Killed is the long-awaited finale of one of the darkest, most chilling and emotive series you may ever read. Someone will be killed. But who? –––––––––––––––––––––––– Praise for Thomas Enger ‘One of the most unusual and intense writers in the field’ Barry Forshaw, Independent ‘MUST HAVE’ Sunday Express S Magazine ‘Intriguing’ Guardian ‘Sophisticated and suspenseful’ Literary Review ‘Full of suspense and heart’ Crime Monthly ‘Thomas Enger writes with verve, colour and a pace that builds to a thrilling climax’ European Literature Network ‘Superbly compelling … the characters leap right off the page’ Shotsmag ‘Destined to become Nordic Noir classic’ Yrsa Sigurðardóttir ‘Slick, compelling and taut’ Chris Ewan

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A young mother resorts to smuggling cocaine into Iceland, as she struggles to keep custody of her son, with devastating results … First in the addictive, award-winning Reykjavik Noir Trilogy by the Queen of Iceland Noir. ***Longlisted for the CWA International Dagger*** ‘ Stylist, taut and compelling’ Daily Express ‘Snare will ensnare you’ Marie Claire ‘A taut, gritty, thoroughly absorbing journey into Reykjavik’s underworld’ Booklist –––––––––––––––––––––––– After a messy divorce, young mother Sonia is struggling to provide for herself and keep custody of her son. With her back to the wall, she resorts to smuggling cocaine into Iceland, and finds herself caught up in a ruthless criminal world. As she desperately looks for a way out of trouble, she must pit her wits against her nemesis, Bragi, a customs officer, whose years of experience frustrate her new and evermore daring strategies. Things become even more complicated when Sonia embarks on a relationship with a woman, Agla. Once a high-level bank executive, Agla is currently being prosecuted in the aftermath of the Icelandic financial crash. Set in a Reykjavík still covered in the dust of the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption, and with a dark, fast-paced and chilling plot and intriguing characters, Snare is an outstandingly original and sexy Nordic crime thriller, from one of the most exciting new names in crime fiction. –––––––––––––––––––––––– 'A tense thriller with a highly unusual plot and interesting characters' The Times ‘Tense, edgy and delivering more than a few unexpected twists and turns’ Sunday Times 'Sharp shocks of chapters hit with increasing energy ... a towering powerhouse of read and I gobbled it up in one intense sitting’ LoveReading ‘The intricate plot is breathtakingly original, with many twists and turns you never see coming. Thriller of the year’ New York Journal of Books 'This first novel of a planned trilogy is stylish, taut and compelling and a film adaptation is in the pipeline. With characters you can’t help sympathising with against your better judgement, Sigurdardottir takes the reader on a breathtaking ride’ Daily Express ‘Lilja Sigurdardottir delivers a diabolically efficient thriller with an ultrarealistic plot … We cannot wait for Sonja’s next adventure’ L’Express ‘A smart, ambitious, and hugely satisfying thriller. Striking in its originality and written with all the style and poise of an old hand. Lilja is destined for Scandi super stardom’ Eva Dolan ‘For a small island, Iceland produces some extraordinary writers, and Lilja is one of the best. Snare is an enthralling tale of love and crime that stays with you long after you have turned the last page’ Michael Ridpath ‘Zips along, with tension building and building … thoroughly recommended’ James Oswald ‘Crisp, assured and nail-bitingly tense, Snare is an exceptional read, cementing Lilja’s place as one of Iceland’s most outstanding crime writers’ Yrsa Sigurdardottir ‘Clear your diary. As soon as you begin reading Snare, you won’t be able to stop until the final page’ Michael Wood ‘Snare is a great read and the finale is both shocking and unexpected … a Wizard-of-Oz ending, without the laughs. Terrific and original stuff' European Literature Network

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Police Inspector Robert Finlay takes on a ruthless criminal gang, as he and his new partner Nina investigate a sex-trafficking ring … the second instalment in the addictive, searingly authentic Robert Finlay series. **NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER** ‘Nothing is clear-cut in a gripping labyrinthine plot, which – despite thrills and spills aplenty – never falls short of believable’ David Young ‘Terse, tense and vivid writing’ Peter James ‘The magic mix of jeopardy, emotion and action. I could not put it down’ Louise Voss ____________________ Reeling from the attempts on his life and that of his family, Police Inspector Robert Finlay returns to work to discover that any hope of a peaceful existence has been dashed. Assigned to investigate the Eastern European sex-slave industry just as a key witness is murdered. Finlay, along with his new partner Nina Brasov, finds himself facing a ruthless criminal gang, determined to keep control of the traffic of people into the UK. On the home front, Finlay’s efforts to protect his wife and child may have been in vain, as an MI5 protection officer uncovers a covert secret service operation that threatens them all… Aided by new allies, he must not only protect his family but save a colleague from an unseen enemy … and a shocking fate. Deadly Game is a stunning, terrifying and eye-opening thriller from one of the most exciting new names in crime fiction. ____________________ ‘Utterly compelling and dripping with authenticity. This summer’s must-read thriller’ J S Law ‘From the first page to the last, an authentic, magnetic and completely absorbing read’ Sir Ranulph Fiennes ‘A genuine page-turner, very well written, and just flows from one scenario to the next. It is clear the author lived through these times and this is evident in knowledge and description. Excellent’ Ian Patrick ‘It’s this normality about Finlay that appealed to me and kept me reading. The believability of the story. The authenticity’ Rebecca Bradley ‘Gripping stuff’ New Welsh Review 'Finlay’s first-person narrative voice is punchy and to the point, and the switching between him and the third person points of view carries the story along smoothly. Mention should be made of the interesting supporting cast that add layers of intrigue into the narrative and compels the reader to look out for these thrillers from Matt Johnson. Highly Recommended’ Shots Magazine ‘This tense, edge-of-the-seat writing will keep fans frantically turning the pages as they race towards the conclusion’ Amanda Jennings ‘A top-notch thriller with a dark heart and an emotional soul’ Liz Loves Books 'Deadly Game combines spy thriller and police procedural extremely well and should certainly be destined for the shelves of anyone into their conspiracy thrillers' Crime Fiction Lover

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When a woman fails to return from a retreat in Italy, investigative journalist Henning Juul discovers that she never left Oslo … and her disappearance leads to a chilling case that has unexpected and devastating links to the past. ‘One of the most unusual and intense talents in the field’ Barry Forshaw, Independent ‘A sophisticated and suspenseful tale’ Jessica Mann, Literary Review ‘Suspenseful, dark and gritty … this is a must-read’ Booklist –––––––––––––––––––––––– What secret would you kill to protect? When Hedda Hellberg fails to return from a retreat in Italy, her husband discovers that his wife’s life is tangled in mystery. Hedda never left Oslo, the retreat has no record of her and, what’s more, she appears to be connected to the death of an old man, gunned down on the first day of the hunting season in the depths of the Swedish forests. Henning Juul becomes involved in the case when his ex-wife joins in the search for the missing woman, and the estranged pair find themselves enmeshed both in the murky secrets of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families, and in the painful truths surrounding the death of their own son. When their lives are threatened, Juul is prepared to risk everything to uncover a sinister maze of secrets that ultimately leads to the dark heart of European history. Chilling, gritty and unputdownable, Cursed marks the return of one of Norway’s finest crime writers. –––––––––––––––––––––––– Praise for Thomas Enger ‘Satisfyingly tense and dark … a deep and complex book’ Sunday Times ‘MUST HAVE’ Sunday Express S Magazine ‘Intriguing’ Guardian ‘Full of suspense and heart’ Crime Monthly ‘Thomas Enger writes with verve, colour and a pace that builds to a thrilling climax’ European Literature Network ‘A crime series worth watching’ Library Journal ‘Superbly compelling … the characters leap right off the page, and the relationship between them is as twisted and complex as the story itself’ Shotsmag ‘Outstanding’ Ragnar Jónasson ‘A masterpiece of intrigue, fast-paced action and suspense that is destined to become a Nordic Noir classic’ Yrsa Sigurdardóttir ‘An intriguing new voice in crime’ NJ Cooper ‘Slick, compelling and taut’ Chris Ewan

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The 25-year-old case of a missing girl sees Varg Veum dig deep into the past to find her kidnapper, as the secrets and lies of a tiny community threaten everything … Gunnar Staalesen’s award-winning, international bestselling Varg Veum series continues in this chilling Nordic Noir thriller. ***WINNER of the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year*** 'Mature and captivating’ Herald Scotland ‘One of the finest Nordic novelists – in the tradition of Henning Mankell’ Barry Forshaw, Independent ‘Masterful pacing’ Publishers Weekly _________________ September 1977. Mette Misvær, a three-year-old girl disappears without trace from the sandpit outside her home. Her tiny, close middle-class community in the tranquil suburb of Nordas is devastated, but their enquiries and the police produce nothing. Curtains twitch, suspicions are raised, but Mette is never found. Almost 25 years later, as the expiry date for the statute of limitations draws near, Mette’s mother approaches PI Varg Veum, in a last, desperate attempt to find out what happened to her daughter. As Veum starts to dig, he uncovers an intricate web of secrets, lies and shocking events that have been methodically concealed. When another brutal incident takes place, a pattern begins to emerge… Shocking, unsettling and full of extraordinary twists and turns, Where Roses Never Die reaffirms Gunnar Staalesen as one of the world’s foremost thriller writers. _________________ Praise for Gunnar Staalesen 'There is a world-weary existential sadness that hangs over his central detective. The prose is stripped back and simple … deep emotion bubbling under the surface – the real turmoil of the characters’ lives just under the surface for the reader to intuit, rather than have it spelled out for them’ Doug Johnstone, The Big Issue ‘Gunnar Staalesen is one of my very favourite Scandinavian authors. Operating out of Bergen in Norway, his private eye, Varg Veum, is a complex but engaging anti-hero. Varg means “wolf ” in Norwegian, and this is a series with very sharp teeth’ Ian Rankin ‘Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times ‘Staalesen does a masterful job of exposing the worst of Norwegian society in this highly disturbing entry’ Publishers Weekly 'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland 'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbo' Independent ‘With an expositional style that is all but invisible, Staalesen masterfully compels us from the first pages … If you’re a fan of Varg Veum, this is not to be missed, and if you’re new to the series, this is one of the best ones. You’re encouraged to jump right in, even if the Norwegian names can be a bit confusing to follow’ Crime Fiction Lover ‘With short, smart, darkly punchy chapters Wolves at the Door is a provocative and gripping read’ LoveReading ‘Haunting, dark and totally noir, a great read’ New Books Magazine ‘An upmarket Philip Marlowe’ Maxim Jakubowski, The Bookseller ‘Razor-edged Scandinavian crime fiction at its finest’ Quentin Bates

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Hamburg State Prosecutor Chastity Riley travels to Scotland to face the demons of her past, as Hamburg is hit by a major arson attack. Queen of Krimi, Simone Buchholz, returns with the emotive fifth instalment in the electrifying Chastity Riley series … ‘A modern classic’ Paul Burke, CrimeTime ‘Written in crackling prose and with searing insight, this is a deeply heartfelt slice of existential noir – utterly unique’ Doug Johnstone ‘Deftly captures the beating heart of Glasgow’ Herald Scotland ‘A beautifully crafted exploration of grief and redemption, wrapped in a love letter to Glasgow … Glorious writing’ Will Carver ‘Reading Buchholz is like walking on firecrackers … a truly unique voice in crime fiction’ Graeme Macrae Burnet –––––––––––– Mired in grief after tragic recent events, state prosecutor Chastity Riley escapes to Scotland, lured to the birthplace of her great-great-grandfather by a mysterious letter suggesting she has inherited a house. In Glasgow, she meets Tom, the ex-lover of Chastity’s great aunt, who holds the keys to her own family secrets – painful stories of unexpected cruelty and loss that she’s never dared to confront. In Hamburg, Stepanovic and Calabretta investigate a major arson attack, while a group of property investors kicks off an explosion of violence that threatens everyone. As events in these two countries collide, Chastity prepares to face the inevitable, battling the ghosts of her past and the lost souls that could be her future and, perhaps, finally finding redemption for them all. Breathtakingly emotive, River Clyde is an electrifying, poignant and powerful story of damage and hope, and one woman’s fight for survival. ––––––––––––— ‘Every word is a heartbeat, loaded with pain and anguish and self-discovery. This is Harbour Noir. This is a bravura literary performance, and a fitting swan song’ Paul Burke, CrimeTime FM ‘In just a few words – a light brushstroke – Simone paints such a vivid picture. Unlike any crime novel I’ve read. I loved it’ Michael J. Malone ‘Simone Buchholz writes with real authority and a pungent, noir-ish sense of time and space’ Independent Praise for the Chastity Riley series ‘[A] nerve-racking narrative … [with] a cunning climax that is shocking and deeply romantic’ The Times 'Combines nail-biting tension with off-beat humor ... Elmore Leonard fans will be enthralled' Publishers Weekly 'Buchholz doles out delicious black humor ... interwoven in a manner that ramps up the intrigue and tension' Foreword Reviews ‘Modern noir, with taut storytelling, a hard-bitten heroine, and underlying melancholy peppered with wry humour’ New Zealand Listener ‘The coolest character in crime fiction … darkly funny and written with a huge heart’ Big Issue ‘Fierce enough to stab the heart’ Spectator ‘A stylish, whip-smart thriller’ Herald Scotland ‘Combines slick storytelling with substance … like a straight shot of top-shelf liquor: smooth yet fiery, packing a punch with no extraneous ingredients watering things down’ Mystery Scene ‘With brief, pacy chapters and fizzling dialogue, this almost feels like American procedural noir and not a translation’ Maxim Jakubowski ‘A smart and witty book that shines a probing spotlight on society’ CultureFly ‘Fans of Brookmyre could do worse than checking out Simone Buchholz, a star of the German crime lit scene who has been deftly translated into English by Rachel Ward’ Goethe Institute ‘Lyrical and pithy’ Sunday Times

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Incarcerated in a high-security prison, a broken Alexander Blix joins forces with Emma Ramm to find a ruthless killer who has escaped from a German jail and is making his way to Norway. Pulse-pounding Nordic Noir. ‘Blix suffers a series of vicious assaults in Stigma, the new novel by the stellar Norwegian crime-writing duo Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger … tense, brutal and fast-moving’ Sunday Times BOOK OF THE MONTH ‘Darkly twisty’ Crime Monthly 'Superb Nordic noir. Dark, intricate and extremely compelling. Contemporary Scandinavian fiction at its best' Will Dean _______ Alexander Blix is a broken man. Convicted for avenging his daughter’s death, he is now being held in one of Norway’s high-security prisons. Inside, the other prisoners take every opportunity to challenge and humiliate the former police investigator. On the outside, Blix’s former colleagues have begun the hunt for a terrifying killer. Walter Kroos has escaped from prison in Germany and is making his way north. The only lead established by the police is that Kroos has a friend in Blix’s prison ward. And now they need Blix’s help. Journalist Emma Ramm is one of Blix’s few visitors, and she becomes his ally as he struggles to connect the link between past and present, between the world inside and outside the prison walls. And as he begins to piece things together, he identifies a woodland community in Norway where deeply scarred inhabitants foster deadly secrets... secrets that maybe the unravelling of everyone involved… Two of Nordic Noir's finest writers return with the emotive, breath-holdingly intense and searingly tense fourth book in the number-one bestselling Blix & Ramm series. _______ Praise for the Blix & Ramm series: ‘If you're a fan of writers like Lars Kepler, Stefan Ahnhem or Søren Sveistrup, you won't want to miss this' Crime by the Book ‘Two of the most distinguished writers of Nordic Noir’ Financial Times ‘An international sensation’ Vogue 'The most exciting yet' The Times 'Devilishly complex' Publishers Weekly ‘Fascinating’ Sun ‘Completely nerve-wracking’ Tvedestrandsposten ‘Everything I want in a book – mystery, tension and action’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews ‘Masterly’ NB Magazine ‘An absolute MUST for thriller fans … in a class of its own’ Krimi Couch

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Can everyone’s favourite insurance mathematician, Henri, combine the increasingly dangerous world of adventure parks with the unpredictability of blended-family life? He’s about to find out in the final instalment of the hilarious, nail-biting Rabbit Factor Trilogy. 'A joyous, triumphant conclusion to Tuomainen’s trilogy … the comic thriller of the year' Sunday Times THRILLER OF THE YEAR ‘Quirky crime capers don’t come more left field than the Rabbit trilogy … extremely funny, with a wicked line in social satire’ Daily Mail ‘One of those rare writers who manages to deftly balance intrigue, noir and a deliciously ironic sense of humour’ Vaseem Khan _______ Henri Koskinen, intrepid insurance mathematician and adventure-park entrepreneur, firmly believes in the power of common sense and order. That is until he moves in with painter Laura Helanto and her daughter… As Henri realises he has inadvertently become part of a group of local dads, a competing adventure park is seeking to expand their operations, not always sticking to the law in the process… Is it possible to combine the increasingly dangerous world of the adventure-park business with the unpredictability of life in a blended family? At first glance, the two appear to have only one thing in common: neither deals particularly well with a mounting body count. In order to solve this seemingly impossible conundrum, Henri is forced to step far beyond the mathematical precision of his comfort zone … and the stakes have never been higher… Warmly funny, quirky, touching, and a nail-biting triumph of a thriller, The Beaver Theory is the final instalment in the award-winning Rabbit Factor Trilogy, as Henri encounters the biggest challenge of his career, with hair-raising results… Soon to be a major motion picture starring Steve Carell ––––––––– Praise for the Rabbit Factor Trilogy: ‘Finland's greatest export’ M.J. Arlidge ‘The funniest writer in Europe’ The Times ‘Thrilling and warmly human. In these uncertain times, what better hero than an actuary?' Chris Brookmyre ‘Delightfully funny’ Guardian ‘Unlike anything else out there' The Times ‘A thrilling and hilarious read’ Liz Nugent ‘Charming, funny and clever, this is a novel to cheer up anyone who is finding life a little tough’ Literary Review ‘A delight from start to finish’ Big Issue 'Original and brilliant story-telling' Helen FitzGerald ‘A coruscating comedy’ Sunday Times 'You don’t expect to laugh when you’re reading about terrible crimes, but that’s what you’ll do when you pick up one of Tuomainen’s decidedly quirky thrillers' New York Times ‘A refreshing change from the decidedly gloomier crime fiction for which Scandinavia is known’ Publishers Weekly Right up there with the best’ Times Literary Supplement ‘A thriller with black comedy worth of Nabokov’ Telegraph

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