Search results for ""Author Val McDermid""

The first step on the road to change is to imagine possibility.Imagine A Country offers visions of a new future from an astonishing array of Scottish voices, from comedians to economists, writers to musicians. Edited, curated and introduced by bestselling author Val McDermid and geographer Jo Sharp, it is a collection of ideas, dreams and ambitions, aiming to inspire change, hope and imagination. Featuring:Ali Smith, Phill Jupitus, A.L. Kennedy, Alan Cumming, Kerry Hudson, Greg Hemphill, Carol Ann Duffy, Chris Brookmyre, Alison Watt, Alasdair Gray, Leila Aboulela, Ian Rankin, Selina Hales, Sanjeev Kohli, Jackie Kay, Damian Barr, Elaine C. Smith, Abir Mukherjee, Anne Glover, Alan Bissett, Louise Welsh, Jo Clifford, Ricky Ross, Trishna Singh, Cameron McNeish, Alexander McCall Smith, Carla Jenkins, Don Paterson, and many more . . .

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The first step on the road to change is to imagine possibility.Imagine A Country offers visions of a new future from an astonishing array of Scottish voices, from comedians to economists, writers to musicians. Edited, curated and introduced by bestselling author Val McDermid and geographer Jo Sharp, it is a collection of ideas, dreams and ambitions, aiming to inspire change, hope and imagination. Featuring:ALI SMITH, PHILL JUPITUS, A.L. KENNEDY, ALAN CUMMING, KERRY HUDSON, GREG HEMPHILL, CAROL ANN DUFFY, CHRIS BROOKMYRE, ALISON WATT, ALASDAIR GRAY, LEILA ABOULELA, IAN RANKIN, SELINA HALES, SANJEEV KOHLI, JACKIE KAY, DAMIAN BARR, ELAINE C. SMITH, ABIR MUKHERJEE, ANNE GLOVER, ALAN BISSETT, LOUISE WELSH, JO CLIFFORD, RICKY ROSS, TRISHNA SINGH, CAMERON McNEISH, ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH, CARLA JENKINS, DON PATERSON, AND MANY MORE . . .

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A gritty, dark tale of infectious disease gone wrong - the timely graphic novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Val McDermid, stunningly illustrated by Kathryn Briggs 'A brilliant and timely story, told with McDermid's verve, style and passion. I couldn't stop turning the pages, even when I could barely take the tension. Wonderful.' Denise Mina It's the summer solstice weekend, and 150,000 people descend on a farm in the northeast of England for an open-air music festival. At first, a spot of rain seems to be the only thing dampening the fun - until a mystery bug appears. Before long, the illness is spreading at an electrifying speed and seems resistant to all antibiotics. Can journalist Zoe Meadows track the outbreak to its source, and will a cure be found before the disease becomes a pandemic? A heart-racing thriller, Resistance imagines a nightmare pandemic that seems only too credible in the wake of COVID-19. Number one bestseller and queen of crime Val McDermid has teamed up with illustrator Kathryn Briggs to create a masterful graphic novel. 'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review 'A powerful, unique look at the benign origins of catastrophe' Kirkus Reviews

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THE FIRST IN A THRILLING NEW SERIES FROM THE NO.1 BESTSELLERKaren Pirie returns . . . Pre-order Past Lying, the eagerly-awaited new Karen Pirie thriller, publishing October 2023____________________She's on the hunt for a killer story . . . 1979. It's the winter of discontent, and Allie Burns is chasing her first big scoop. One of few women in the newsroom, she needs something explosive for the boys' club to take her seriously.Soon Allie and fellow reporter Danny Sullivan are making powerful enemies with their investigations - and Allie won't stop there. When she discovers a terrorist threat close to home, she devises a dangerous plan to make her name.But Allie is a woman in a man's world . . . and putting a foot wrong could be fatal.____________________'A supremo of the genre at the height of her powers' PETER JAMES'The Queen of Crime has delivered another masterpiece' DAVID BALDACCI'Allie is a fabulous character, I'll go wherever she takes me' MARIAN KEYES'A thrilling snapshot of a fascinating era' JANE HARPER'McDermid at her nail-biting, heart-rending best' CHRIS WHITAKER'Her best book in years' THE TIMES, BOOK OF THE MONTH'Allie Burns is off to a flying start, and well worth following' SCOTSMAN'A perfect snapshot of the social and political issues of the time' LINWOOD BARCLAY'Full of wit, thrills and incisive social observation and features a marvellous new character' MICK HERRON'I have been reading Val McDermid for twenty-five years, so I am really saying something when I tell you I enjoyed this novel the most' CHRIS BROOKMYRE'The good news is that this excellent novel marks the start of a new series' GUARDIAN'Brilliant characters, masterful plotting' CHRIS HAMMER'An excellent opener to what promises to be an outstanding series' SPECTATOR'The fast-paced storytelling flows irresistibly' IRISH TIMES'Riveting' DAILY EXPRESS'Sensational. One of Britain's most accomplished writers' SUNDAY EXPRESS'A nail-biting new series' OBSERVER

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THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERTHE SECOND THRILLING NOVEL IN VAL MCDERMID''S NEW ALLIE BURNS SERIES___________There''s nothing like a killer story . . . 1989. The world is changing, and Allie Burns is still on the front line, covering the stories that count.Although Allie is no longer an investigative journalist, her instincts are sharper than ever. When she discovers a lead about the exploitation of society''s most vulnerable, Allie is determined to give a voice to those who have been silenced. As Allie edges closer to exposing the truth, she travels behind the Iron Curtain, to East Berlin on the brink of revolution. The dark heart of the story is more shocking than she ever imagined. And to tell it, Allie must risk her freedom and her life . . . The latest Allie Burns thriller, set a decade after the bestselling first novel in the ground-breaking, iconic new series.

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'No one can plot or tell a story like she can' Daily ExpressA collection of atmospheric short stories from the international bestseller Val McDermid. The perfect festive gift for any book lover, featuring classic tales alongside exclusive, never-before-seen material__________Val McDermid is a master of the dark and sinister story, and these powers are in full force in Christmas is Murder, a festive collection of chilling tales.From an irresponsible baron whose body is discovered beneath a silver birch tree, to a classic detective duo solving a historic case as the lights go out across Europe, and an exclusive Tony Hill and Carol Jordan story, the characters McDermid conjures are enigmatic and dangerous.These evocative, atmospheric tales will shock and delight. This is the perfect book to curl up with as the frosty winter draws in and each night gets darker than the last, written by one of our greatest living crime writers.__________Praise for the Queen of Crime Val McDermid:'Brilliant . . . Sensational . . . Unforgettable' Guardian'Compulsively readable' Irish Times'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday Express'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail

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The second riveting crime novel in the Karen Pirie series, from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Val McDermid. ‘A superb mystery’ The Times From the creators of Line of Duty and Bodyguard, KAREN PIRIE is now on ITV, starring Lauren Lyle (Outlander) Twenty-five years ago, a woman and her baby son were kidnapped and held to ransom. Catriona Grant ended up dead and little Adam's fate has remained a mystery ever since. When a new clue is discovered in a deserted Tuscan villa – along with grisly evidence of a recent murder – cold case expert DI Karen Pirie is assigned to follow the trail. She's already working a case from the same year. During the Miners' Strike of 1984, pit worker Mick Prentice vanished. Where did he really go? And is there a link to the Grant mystery? The truth is stranger – and far darker – than fiction.

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KAREN PIRIE RETURNS IN 2023. A MASTERFUL THRILLER BY THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER VAL MCDERMIDPRE-ORDER THIS HEART-POUNDING NEW NOVEL IN THE KAREN PIRIE SERIES, NOW A MAJOR ITV SERIES STARRING LAUREN LYLE__________Edinburgh, haunted by the ghosts of its many writers, is also the cold case beat of DCI Karen Pirie. So she shouldn't be surprised when an author's manuscript appears to be a blueprint for an actual crime. Karen can't ignore the plot's chilling similarities to the unsolved case of an Edinburgh University student who vanished from her own doorstep. The manuscript seems to be the key to unlocking what happened to Lara Hardie, but there's a problem: the author died before he finished it. As Karen digs deeper, she uncovers a spiralling game of betrayal and revenge, where lies are indistinguishable from the truth and with more than one unexpected twist . . . The Queen of Crime Val McDermid is at the top of her game in her most gripping and fiendishly clever case yet.Praise for Val McDermid'McDermid is at her considerable best' GUARDIAN'Irresistible' PATRICIA CORNWELL'A brilliant novel by a supremo of the genre' PETER JAMES'Outstanding' SPECTATOR'Another masterpiece' DAVID BALDACCI'Sensational. One of Britain's most accomplished writers' SUNDAY EXPRESS

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Number one bestseller Val McDermid returns with her pulse-pounding, suspenseful new novel featuring two of the most distinctive and iconic characters in crime fiction: Tony Hill and Carol Jordan.

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The Number One bestselling crime series featuring Dr Tony Hill, hero of TV’s Wire in the Blood, written by the award-winning Val McDermid. The hunt for a serial killer leads from Britain through Europe in this terrifying psychological thriller. A twisted killer targeting psychologists has left a grisly trail across Europe. Dr Tony Hill, expert at mapping the minds of murderers, is reluctant to get involved. But then the next victim is much closer to home… Meanwhile, his former partner DCI Carol Jordan is working undercover in Berlin, on a dangerous operation to trap a millionaire trafficker. When the game turns nasty, Tony is the only person she can call on for help. Confronting a cruelty that has its roots in Nazi atrocities, Tony and Carol are thrown together in a world of violence and corruption, where they have no one to trust but each other.

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Don't miss Past Lying, the twisty new Karen Pirie thriller___________________'A compulsively readable tale' Irish Times'Another stellar read from McDermid, and further evidence that her "Queen of Crime" status will not be challenged' Scotsman'Somebody has been here before us. And he's still here . . .'When a body is discovered in the remote depths of the Highlands, DCI Karen Pirie finds herself in the right place at the right time. Unearthed with someone's long-buried inheritance, the victim seems to belong to the distant past - until new evidence suggests otherwise, and Karen is called in to unravel a case where nothing is as it seems.It's not long before an overheard conversation draws Karen into the heart of a different case, however - a shocking crime she thought she'd already prevented. As she inches closer to the twisted truths at the centre of these murders, it becomes clear that she's dealing with a version of justice terrifyingly different to her own . . .Number one bestseller Val McDermid returns with a breathtakingly atmospheric and exhilarating novel.___________________Praise for Val McDermid:'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday Express'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review'McDermid remains unrivalled' Observer'The queen of crime is still at the top of her game' IndependentThis is the fifth book in the bestselling Karen Pirie series.

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Buy Val McDermid's masterful new thriller, 1989, now!___________________'The Queen of Crime reigns again with a thrill from Hill' Independent 'No one can plot or tell a story like she can' Daily Express'That day, waiting had been almost unbearable. He wanted something more spectacular, something that couldn't be ignored. These deaths needed to make a mark . . .' Psychological profiler Tony Hill is trained to see patterns, to decode the mysteries of human behaviour, and when he comes across a series of suicides among women tormented by vicious online predators, he begins to wonder if there is more to these tragedies than meets the eye. Similar circumstances, different deaths. Could it be murder? But what kind of serial killer wants his crimes to stay hidden? Former DCI Carol Jordan has her own demons to confront, but with lives at stake, Tony and Carol begin the hunt for the most dangerous and terrifying kind of killer - someone who has nothing to fear and nothing to lose . . .A gripping, chilling, suspenseful novel from the number one bestseller. ___________________ Praise for Val McDermid: 'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail 'So gripping it puts your life on hold' The Times 'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday Express 'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review 'McDermid remains unrivalled' ObserverThis is the ninth book in the bestselling Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series.

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Stephanie Harker is travelling through security at O'Hare airport with five-year-old Jimmy. But in a moment, everything changes. In disbelief, Stephanie watches as a uniformed agent leads her boy away - and she's stuck the other side of the gates, hysterical with worry. The authorities, unaware of Jimmy's existence, just see a woman behaving erratically; Stephanie is wrestled to the ground and blasted with a taser gun. By the time she can tell them what has happened, Jimmy is long gone. But as Stephanie tells her story to the FBI, it becomes clear that everything is not as it seems. There are many potential suspects for this abduction. With time rapidly running out, how can Stephanie get him back? A breathtakingly rich and gripping psychological thriller, The Vanishing Point is Val McDermid's most accomplished standalone novel to date, a work of haunting brilliance.

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Buy Val McDermid's masterful new thriller, 1989, now!_______________'The queen of crime is still at the top of her game' Independent'No one can tell a story like she can' Daily Express'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review'We are all creatures of habit. Even murderers . . .'When human remains are discovered in the grounds of an old convent, it quickly becomes clear that someone has been using the site as their personal burial ground. But with the convent abandoned long ago and bodies dating back many years, could this be the work of more than one obsessive killer?The investigation throws up more questions as the evidence mounts but, after their last disastrous case, Tony Hill and Carol Jordan can only watch from afar. As they deal with the consequences, someone with a terrifying routine is biding their time - and both Tony and Carol find themselves closer to the edge than they have ever been before . . .Masterful and filled with suspense, this an electrifying, heart-racing thriller from the number one bestseller. _______________Praise for Val McDermid:'Brilliant . . . Sensational . . . Unforgettable' Guardian'Compulsively readable' Irish Times'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday Express'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary ReviewThis is the eleventh book in the bestselling Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series.

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THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERKaren Pirie returns . . . Pre-order Past Lying, the eagerly-awaited new Karen Pirie thriller, publishing October 2023___________1989. The world is on the brink of revolution and journalist Allie Burns is a woman on a mission. When she discovers a lead about the exploitation of society's most vulnerable, Allie is determined to investigate and give voice to the silenced.Elsewhere, a ticking clock begins the countdown to a murder. As Allie begins to connect the dots and edges closer to exposing the truth, it is more shocking than she ever imagined. There's nothing like a killer story, and to tell it, Allie must risk her freedom and her life . . .The brand-new unmissable, heart-stopping thriller from number one bestseller, Val McDermid___________Praise for the Allie Burns series'McDermid is at her considerable best' GUARDIAN'Irresistible' PATRICIA CORNWELL'A brilliant novel by a supremo of the genre' PETER JAMES'Outstanding' SPECTATOR'Another masterpiece' DAVID BALDACCI'Sensational. One of Britain's most accomplished writers' SUNDAY EXPRESS'A masterly setter of scene' SCOTSMAN

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The ferociously readable, #1 bestselling crime thriller that led to the much-loved ITV show… ‘Wholly satisfying’ Ian Rankin Young girls are disappearing nationwide Dr Tony Hill sets his team a task: find a link between the cases. Only one officer comes up with a theory, but it’s too wild… that is, until one of their number is murdered and mutilated. Tony has started a game – one where hunter and hunted can all too easily be reversed. He has baited an aggressor whose charming manner hides a warped and sick mind… When a killer is hiding in plain sight Who can stop them? ‘Truly frightening’ The Times ‘Sly and sophisticated, weaving the mundane with the stomach-churningly depraved’ Express

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The stunning first novel in the Kate Brannigan series, from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Val McDermid. ‘This is crime writing of the very highest order’ The Times Introducing Kate Brannigan, Manchester’s most-loved private detective – a woman who won’t take no for an answer. As a favour, Kate agrees to track down a missing songwriter, Moria Pollock. It was supposed to be a nice simple case, but the search soon leads Kate into the dark underworld of Leeds, Manchester and Bradford – and finally to a shocking confrontation with a killer…

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The third stunning thriller in the Kate Brannigan series, from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Val McDermid. ‘This is crime writing of the very highest order’ The Times Manchester-based private eye Kate Brannigan thought it would be safe to let her boyfriend help out with her investigation. But now he’s behind bars and she’s been left caring for his eight-year-old son. Soon Kate finds herself drawn into the world of drug traffickers, child pornographers, and violent gangland enforcers – bringing her face to face with death in the most terrifying investigation of her career.

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The Number One bestselling crime series featuring Tony Hill, hero of TV’s Wire in the Blood, written by the award-winning Val McDermid. This is a psychological thriller – and serial killer – that will keep you up at night. For some, there is nothing so sweet, so thrilling, as the torment of others … A dead girl lies on a blood-soaked mattress, her limbs spread in a parody of ecstasy. The scene matches a series of murders which ended when irrefutable forensic evidence secured the conviction of one Derek Tyler. But Tyler's been locked up in a mental institution for two years, barely speaking a word – except to say that 'the Voice' told him to do it. Top criminal psychologist Dr Tony Hill is prepared to think the unthinkable – this is not a copycat murder but something much stranger. While DCI Carol Jordan and her team mount a desperate and dangerous undercover police operation to trap the murderer, Hill heads towards a terrifying face-off with one of the most perverse killers he has ever encountered…

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The Number One bestselling crime series featuring Dr Tony Hill, hero of TV’s Wire in the Blood. The award-winning Val McDermid is at the height of her powers in this tense masterclass in psychological suspense. The race is on to uncover the identity of a murderer with nothing to lose – and everything to kill for. When Robbie Bishop, star midfielder for the Bradfield Vics, is poisoned by a rare and deadly toxin, profiler Dr Tony Hill and trusted colleague DCI Carol Jordan have their work cut out for them. Robbie was adored, so the public want answers – but the answers aren't coming, and trails are running cold. Then a bomb explodes in the football stadium, causing massive casualties – and another man dies from poisoning. Is there a link between the cases? And what are the motives for these crimes? The clock is ticking for Tony and Carol – and the death toll keeps rising…

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Don't miss Past Lying, the twisty new Karen Pirie thriller'No one can tell a story like she can' Daily Express'The queen of psychological thrillers' Irish Independent____________'The bodies never stay buried forever . . .'On a freezing winter morning, fishermen pull a body from the sea. It is quickly discovered that the dead man was the prime suspect in a decade-old investigation, when a prominent civil servant disappeared without trace. DCI Karen Pirie was the last detective to review the file and is drawn into a sinister world of betrayal and dark secrets.But Karen is already grappling with another case, one with even more questions and fewer answers. A skeleton has been discovered in an abandoned campervan and all clues point to a killer who never faced justice - a killer who is still out there.In her search for the truth, Karen uncovers a network of lies that has gone unchallenged for years. But lies and secrets can turn deadly when someone is determined to keep them hidden for good . . .____________Praise for Val McDermid:'Brilliant . . . Sensational . . . Unforgettable' Guardian'Compulsively readable' Irish Times'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday Express'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review

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Don't miss Past Lying, the twisty new Karen Pirie thriller'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail'Incredibly suspenseful' Sunday Mirror__________'There are lots of things that ran in families, but murder wasn't one of them . . .'When a teenage joyrider crashes a stolen car and ends up in a coma, a routine DNA test could be the key to unlocking the mystery of a twenty-year-old murder inquiry. Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie is an expert at solving the unsolvable. With each cold case closed, justice is served. So, finding the answer should be straightforward, but it's as twisted as the DNA helix itself.Meanwhile Karen finds herself irresistibly drawn to another case, one that she has no business investigating. And as she pieces together decades-old evidence, Karen discovers the most dangerous kinds of secrets. Secrets that someone is willing to kill for . . .An atmospheric, gripping mystery from the number one bestseller.__________Praise for Val McDermid:'Brilliant . . . Sensational . . . Unforgettable' Guardian'Compulsively readable' Irish Times'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday ExpressThis is the fourth book in the bestselling Karen Pirie series.

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Buy Val McDermid's masterful new thriller, 1989, now!___________________'Brilliant . . . sensational . . . unforgettable' Guardian'The queen of crime is still at the top of her game' IndependentThere is one serial killer who has shaped and defined police profiler Tony Hill's life. One serial killer whose evil surpasses all others. One serial killer who has the power to chill him to the bone: Jacko Vance.And now Jacko is back in Tony's life. Even more twisted and cunning than ever before, he is focused on wreaking revenge on Tony - and DCI Carol Jordan - for the years he has spent in prison.Tony doesn't know when Jacko will strike, or where. All he knows is that Jacko will cause him to feel fear like he has never known before - and devastate his life in ways he cannot imagine...A gripping new thriller in the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, from the number one bestseller.___________________Praise for Val McDermid: 'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail 'So gripping it puts your life on hold' The Times 'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday Express 'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review 'McDermid remains unrivalled' ObserverThis is the seventh book in the bestselling Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series.

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A riveting psychological thriller from the Number One bestselling Queen of crime fiction – Val McDermid. In the Peak District village of Scardale, thirteen-year-old girls didn’t just run away. So when Alison Carter vanished in the winter of ’63, everyone knew it was a murder. Catherine Heathcote remembers the case well. A child herself when Alison vanished, decades on she still recalls the sense of fear as parents kept their children close, terrified of strangers. Now a journalist, she persuades DI George Bennett to speak of the hunt for Alison, the tantalizing leads and harrowing dead ends. But when a fresh lead emerges, Bennett tries to stop the story – plunging Catherine into a world of buried secrets and revelations. ‘One of the all-time greats – special in every way’ Lee Child ‘This book changed everything I thought I knew about crime fiction’ Belinda Bauer, bestselling author of Snap ‘Every now and then, a writer transforms the landscape of the literary canon: Val McDermid is one such writer’ Fiona Cummins, bestselling author of Rattle ‘Just mesmerizing’ Joseph Knox, bestselling author of Sirens ‘A brilliant book’ Holly Watt, award winning author of To the Lions 'From the first pages, we know we're in the hands of a master ' Jeffrey Deaver ‘Beautifully written’ Daily Telegraph 'One of the best detective stories I've read' Ruth Rendell ‘Possibly the best McDermid has written’ Sunday Telegraph Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, Elly Griffiths and Lynda La Plante.

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A gripping Kate Brannigan thriller, from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Val McDermid. ‘Val McDermid remains unrivalled’ Observer Manchester PI Kate Brannigan finds herself with no choice but to take the only case on offer: bodyguarding a paranoid soap star. But the glitzy world of showbusiness has a darker side. And as Kate scratches the surface, she uncovers dramas, threats and bitter rivalries. And when a self-styled ‘Seer to the Stars’ is murdered, Kate is left with more questions than answers.

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Buy Val McDermid's masterful new thriller, 1989, now!__________________'The queen of crime is still at the top of her game' Independent'No one can plot or tell a story like she can' Daily ExpressSomeone is brutally killing women. Women who bear a striking resemblance to former DCI Carol Jordan. The connection is too strong to ignore and soon psychological profiler Tony Hill finds himself dangerously close to the investigation, just as the killer is closing in on his next target.This is a killer like no other, hell-bent on inflicting the most severe and grotesque punishment on his prey. As the case becomes ever-more complex and boundaries begin to blur, Tony and Carol must work together once more to try and save the victims, and themselves.A breathless, thrilling mystery from the number one bestseller.__________________ Praise for Val McDermid: 'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail 'So gripping it puts your life on hold' The Times 'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday Express 'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review 'McDermid remains unrivalled' ObserverThis is the eighth book in the bestselling Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series.

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