Crime & Mystery

The threat has never been so close to home... DI Shona Oliver's fellow officer PC Hayley Cameron drowns during a triathlon in the Solway Firth. The post-mortem reveals drugs in Hayley\'s system, perhaps self-administered performance enhancers. But a puncture wound in the back of her wetsuit suggests foul play. Shona and her colleagues investigate, but those closest to Hayley grapple with the truth and risk letting personal feelings cloud their judgement. Could the answers to Hayley's death lie within Shona's own ranks? As the case hits the buffers, Shona clashes with her daughter and also faces difficult questions about the murder of her old boss. Will Shona keep her head above the water long enough to see justice done, and what will it cost her if she does? **The latest thrilling instalment in the unputdownable police procedural series by Lynne McEwan. Perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves and Neil Lancaster

 The hunter has become the hunted. Ten years ago, DCI Jack Logan caught the twisted child killer known as Mister Whisper. Two days ago, Mister Whisper escaped. Now, Jack must track down the most ruthless enemy he has ever faced before he can strike again. But, after ten years behind bars, it isn\'t just murder that Mister Whisper has in mind. It\'s revenge. **A dark edge-of-your-seat Scottish crime thriller perfect for fans of Marion Todd, L.J. Ross and Val McDermid.

Murder is the only paw-sible explanation…

During a routine welfare check, the police find local shop owner Mr Fitzgerald at the foot of his stairs, dead. There is broken glass over the floor of his shop, his dog has been locked in the kitchenette cupboard, and on the counter is an envelope addressed to Mrs and Mrs Margery and Clementine Butcher-Baker – The Dinner Lady Detectives.

As the town mourns Mr Fitzgerald’s death as an unfortunate accident, Margery and Clementine cannot shake the sense that there is something suspicious about the scene. They are convinced this was no accident. But why would anybody want to harm an elderly shopkeeper? And with the culprit still at large, and determined to cover their tracks, can they get to the bottom of the case before there is another victim?

 How far would you go for someone you love? Alison has an excellent relationship with her eighteen-year-old daughter. Lola is a hardworking, straight-A student, bound for university. They tell each other everything. Or so she thought. Lola has a secret: she's been sneaking off to meet her much older boyfriend, Brendan. He's everything she ever dreamed of - enigmatic, cool and absolutely irresistible. That's what Alison thought too, when she first met Brendan years ago, at university. Before he ruined her life. Alison is all too familiar with what Brendan is capable of. And she knows she has to protect Lola. She\'ll do whatever it takes to keep Brendan away from her daughter, but that's just the beginning of her nightmare... **An unputdownable psychological thriller. Perfect for fans of Gillian McAllister and Lisa Jewell.** ## Praise for *Anything For You* 'Fast-paced and clever. A perfect description of every mother\'s worst nightmare.' Jayne Cowie 'Oh, the suspense! The thrills! **I felt chills while reading**' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review 'A strong psychological thriller novel... **Sophie McKenzie has a great writing style and am excited for more**' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review 'Wow, this was an incredible read! So many surprises, twists and turns... **I was hooked from the beginning to end**' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review '**This book had me on the edge of my seat**. I loved it. The pace was fast with a great writing style which helped build up the suspense. **I devoured it in a few hours**' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

Jackson's hero is the natural heir to Bernie Gunther' Andrew Taylor, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Ashes of London

'One of the UK's finest crime writers' Ben Kane, Sunday Times bestselling author of Napoleon's Spy

'A remarkable crime debut' Maxim Jakubowksi, Crime Time

As the Nazis roll into Warsaw, a serial killer is unleashed...
September 1939. A city ruled by fear. A population brutalised by restrictions and reprisals. Amid the devastation, another hunter begins to prowl. What are a few more deaths amid scores of daily executions?

Former chief investigator Jan Kalisz lives a dangerous double life, forced to work with the occupiers as he gathers information for the fledgling Polish resistance. Even his family cannot be told his true allegiance.

When the niece of a Wehrmacht general is found terribly mutilated, Jan links the murder to other killings that are of less interest to his new overlords. Soon, he finds himself on the trail of a psychopathic killer known as The Artist. But, shunned as a Nazi collaborator, can he solve the case before another innocent girl is taken?

A chilling serial killer investigation, perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow's Blackout and the TV series Hannibal starring Mads Mikkelson.

Praise for Blood Roses
'A compelling, evocative story of evil stalking amidst the chaos of war' Giles Kristian

'A dark, twisting thriller ... Jan Kalisz, Douglas Jackson's police officer hero, is the natural heir to the late Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther' Andrew Taylor

'A remarkable crime debut ... What raises the novel to another level is in the atmospheric evocation of a city in the process of being systematically obliterated by the Germans and brought to life again by Jackson's pen ... Gripping stuff, a series that could develop into something impressive and a goldmine for Philip Kerr Bernie Gunther fans' Maxim Jakubowski, Crime Time

One corpse, three separate identities and a city full of murderers. As the ghetto's streets run with blood, can Jan Kalisz find the truth?

January 1943. Warsaw is a city of the dead. In the ghetto, the last fifty thousand Jews await their fate but, unlike those who preceded them to the death camps, they are prepared to fight to the end. Jan Kalisz, Kripo investigator and Resistance double-agent, has promised to supply them with weapons. But how will he fulfil his vow?

The murder of a German officer appears to provide an opportunity. For the victim is a man with multiple identities, one of which is a wealthy Jew... The hunt for the murderer draws Kalisz into the chaos of the ghetto, only to find a new, perilous mission awaiting him. SS death squads are not the only enemy the Jews fear. A mysterious figure - known only as the Golem - stalks the ruined streets, spiriting away orphaned children. Can Kalisz track him down before he strikes again?

The chilling second thriller in the Warsaw Quartet by Douglas Jackson, perfect for readers of Simon Scarrow and Robert Harris.

Praise for Blood Sacrifice

'One has the impression that all the novels Jackson has previously written, especially the nine that make up his Hero of Rome series, have prepared him for what he has set himself to do in this series. This is a story of shifting loyalties, of crime and detection, but also a study in historical tragedy. Jan Kalisz has to carry a lot of weight as the hero of such a story. So far, however, he is fully up to it and the promise of what is to come is compelling. Meanwhile, one can confidently say that these first two novels display an intelligence and ambition rare in Scottish fiction today' Scotsman

Will DI Clare Mackay end up with blood on her hands? A young man is found dead near a nightclub. He has marks on his neck, the signature of the Choker, a killer who has been targeting gay men across the country. Now, it seems he\'s in DI Clare Mackay's territory. She discovers this victim has links to notorious criminals in the area. Is it possible his death was at the hands of someone else? More men, including ones linked to the victim, are attacked and left injured. It's only a matter of time before someone else is killed. But Clare's desire for justice leaves her with blindspots which put her job - and her life - at risk. **A thrilling new instalment from one of the best-loved voices in Tartan Noir and former Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year nominee Marion Todd. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Alex Gray and Neil Lancaster.** ## Praise for Marion Todd 'Fresh and exciting... A perfect blend of compelling crime and character-driven storytelling' JM Hewitt 'A brilliantly crafted police procedural, packed full of compelling characters and imbued with Todd\'s customary warmth and perfectly pitched moments of humour... An absolute must-read' Sheila Bugler 'Tartan Noir at its nail-biting, brutal, bloody best' Helen Fields 'Marion Todd masterfully weaves mystery and intrigue through every page' JD Kirk 'Enthralling and engaging' Caro Ramsay 'A smart plot, wonderful St Andrews setting, and a main character who feels real and engaging all make for a hugely enjoyable read' Lisa Gray 'Marion Todd goes from strength to strength' Alison Belsham 'Hugely enjoyable' Douglas Skelton 'Authentic, twisty and compelling... a star of Tartan Noir' Neil Lancaster 'One of my favourite crime fiction series. *Dead Man's Shoes* is taut, atmospheric and deeply absorbing. I couldn't turn its pages fast enough' B P Walter '**Difficult to put down. Marion's writing keeps you gripped**. Grab this book as soon as you can, get comfy in your chair as you settle in for a wonderful read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review 'This series has never ceased to entertain and this book is no exception... **grabbed my attention and kept it to the very end**' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review 'Marion Todd has a strong writing style and I was really invested in the characters. **It left me wanting to read more**' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

A calculated killer. A town under threat. An unfinished pattern...

Archaeology professor Carla James is reeling following the death of her husband. Desperate for a change of scene, she takes a job at an elite New England college. On her first day, Carla is asked to represent the department at a murder site. She initially believes there is nothing notable about the scattered debris that surrounds the body, but there is more to the case than meets the eye.

This victim is just the latest in a series of unsolved deaths. Nothing obvious links them but Carla is convinced – there is a methodical killer operating in the shadows.

Can she uncover the truth before she becomes the next victim?

A dark and tense crime thriller. Perfect for fans of Kathy Reichs and Elly Griffiths.

The signs are unmistakable. The dog halts, his nose up - nostrils quivering. Every inch of him is poised. Moss has a scent.

When a hand is found in Gallows Wood, PC Lucy Halliday and her specialist search dog Moss must find the rest of the body. What they uncover is a killer's dumping ground. Like every case since her husband's mysterious disappearance, Lucy wonders if this one will bring her closer to the truth. Nico was a journalist with a reputation for getting buried in his work; Lucy is certain that this time he delved too deep.

With new DI Jack Ellis calling the shots, Lucy struggles to keep her professionalism intact. She can't stay away from these murders - and a killer who may hold the answers she desperately wants. But with those at the very heart of the investigation withholding secrets of their own, can more brutal deaths be prevented?

The first book in the gripping new police procedural series featuring dog handler PC Lucy Halliday. Perfect for fans of Lynda La Plante, Val McDermid and Susie Steiner.

A belated honeymoon turns into a busman’s holiday when gardas Siobhán and Macdara Flannery find themselves investigating a dead body found in a fish and chips shop . . .

Siobhán’s brother Eoin’s new family restaurant, The O’Sullivan Six, is so close to opening—but waiting on the necessary permits plus the heat of July in the village of Kilbane in County Cork is driving everyone a bit mad. Macdara Flannery comes to the rescue with a plan—take a holiday by the sea and stuff themselves with fish and chips to support the struggling business of the aptly named Mrs. Chipper.

But when they arrive, a crowd is gathered in front of the closed a local fisherman with a fresh cod delivery, a food critic, Mrs. Chipper’s ex-husband who’s opening a competing fish and chips shop directly across the street, and a repairman to fix the vent for the deep fryer. With Siobhán and Macdara as witnesses, the ex uses his key to open the shop, only to find the proprietor lying dead and covered in flour at the base of a ladder, its rungs coated in slippery fat. Clearly this was not an accidental tragedy . . .

Even as the local garda take over the murder investigation, Siobhán and Macdara can’t help themselves from placing their long-delayed honeymoon on hold—at least until they can help apprehend an elusive killer.

Framed for murder. Out for revenge.

Private bodyguard Alex Drayce is on assignment in the States, tasked with protecting a wealthy businessman under threat of assassination.

He is presented with the opportunity to make some quick cash for a week's work, aiding one Carlos Garcia in finding his daughter, who has gone missing in Las Vegas. A seemingly simple task...

As events soon spiral out of control, Alex must go on the run, hunted down by the combined might of the Las Vegas police department, fronted by Detective Naomi Ocean, and a ruthless gang out for blood.

But his pursuers should be wary. Alex Drayce is not a man to be taken lightly...

A scintillating crime thriller with a gritty edge, perfect for fans of Simon Kernick and M. W. Craven.

Small town justice comes with a price.

'A richly drawn, haunting and unforgettable mystery' Chris Whitaker

'An unusually intelligent, exceptionally involving thriller' A. J. Finn

'A superb crime novel … wonderfully atmospheric and engrossing' Will Dean

Ten years ago, in the pine-shaded town of Savage Ridge, Nick, Emmy, and Pete murder their high school classmate, Sammy Saint John.

His body is never found, and no arrests are made. The three friends make a pact to leave Savage Ridge and never return…

Now, each is drawn home, seemingly by chance or fate. But it’s neither: Private Investigator Sloane Yo has brought them back to finally answer for their crime.

The noose begins to tighten. But with each stone turned over in pursuit of justice, the long-buried secrets of Savage Ridge, and Sloane’s employers – the ruthless Saint John family – start to come to light.

What aren’t they telling Sloane? Is Sammy Saint John the only victim? And when the truth is finally revealed, whose side will she choose?

For fans of Chris Whitaker’s We Begin at the End, Savage Ridge is a shattering, propulsive why-dunnit crime thriller set deep in the pines of the American Pacific Northwest.

DI Kelly Porter knows his death was no accident.

The body of a man is found at the bottom of a quarry. His appearance, and physical evidence, rule out the chance he travelled there unaided: he was put there.

DI Kelly Porter is tasked to investigate and soon digs up a bitter history between the two brothers who own the Cumbrian farmland that the quarry sits on. Arthur and Samuel inherited half each and have been locked in a feud that's dragged on for decades. Their reluctance to cooperate makes getting answers even harder.

Privately, Kelly has other concerns about the family. Her elderly friend recently moved to a care home on the old farm that is managed by Arthur's inscrutable wife. Kelly senses there is more than meets the eye with this case, but will searching for the truth put others at risk?

The thrilling next instalment in the DI Kelly Porter series. A must-read from million copy bestseller Rachel Lynch, for fans of Patricia Gibney, Angela Marsons and J.R. Ellis.

The higher you climb, the further you fall.

On her way home after an overnight shift, DI Jan Talantire hears the control room relaying an emergency. Someone has fallen to their death from one of the highest cliffs in Devon. Jan is nearby so she agrees to hold the fort until uniformed cops arrive.

At the scene, a small knot of people have gathered, all of whom have some connection to the victim, Joanne Dexter. Could one of them have been involved in her death?

When the Commissioner personally asks Jan to take charge of the case, she is taken aback - such a small incident would usually be beneath a DI. But she soon realises there's far more to this case than first meets the eye. This fall was no accident.

Joanne's work forced her into close contact with some dangerous people. Could she have gotten on their bad side? Or was her killer someone closer to home?

An unputdownable British crime thriller from the million-copy bestseller. Perfect for fans of Elly Griffiths, Kate Ellis and Sally Rigby.

There are no easy choices when the dark clouds gather

DI Shona Oliver's past and present collide when James McGowan, her ex-classmate - now a famous actor - comes to the area to make a Robert Burns biopic. Shona is tasked with keeping him safe during filming on an isolated island in the Solway Firth, and her job is made much harder when a dead man wearing James's coat is found on the beach in suspicious circumstances. It seems someone wanted James out of the picture.

Meanwhile, Shona has her hands full at home too; her husband is on trial for a crime he claims he did not commit, but if he speaks out he risks his wife and their teenage daughter coming to harm. Can Shona keep her head above the waves and protect those around her?

A compulsive, atmospheric crime thriller set in Scotland, perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves and Neil Lancaster.

DCI Lesley Clarke thinks she's close to solving her predecessor’s murder. But when the body of a police officer connected to the crime turns up in the abandoned village of Tyneham, the case steps up a gear.

And when someone she's close to is threatened by the killer, Lesley’s quest for the truth becomes even more urgent.

Can Lesley convince her senior officers of the truth, keep her team on track and protect her family?

The Ghost Village Murders is the gripping final instalment to the Dorset Crime series, essential reading for fans of LJ Ross, Joy Ellis and JM Dalgleish.

A crazed killer. A town in terror. A mystery ten years in the making...

Lady Violet Thorn's awful Aunt Igitha arrives uninvited to stay, wreaking havoc in the household. When Violet plucks up courage to ask her to leave, Igitha's chilling threats are soon realised with deadly effect.

In a devastating series of events, a woman is impaled, another is hanged outside Violet's window, and a wild beast is delivered to her house.

Violet is soon struck by the similarities between these events, and the unsolved murders committed ten years earlier by the sadistic serial killer known as the Montford Maniac.

Could he have returned? Is Igitha behind the crimes? Or could there be someone even more terrifying on the prowl? The horrors have only just begun.

A rollicking, unputdownable Victorian mystery perfect for fans of Janice Hallett and Anthony Horowitz.

From the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger shortlisted author

'A dark, haunting tale with an emotional gut punch that stays with you long after the final page. Amanda Cassidy is an unflinching storyteller.' Lisa Jewell, author of The Family Upstairs

When she re-lives this night, over and over, Nancy will wonder if she'd just gone upstairs a few minutes earlier, what might have been...

A devastating fire.

A grieving mother.

A picture-perfect village full of dark secrets.

And now, a son who has seemingly come back from the dead.

A detective called back to her hometown, back to the memories she thought she'd left behind...

An electrifying novel from a compelling new voice in Irish crime fiction, perfect for fans of Liz Nugent and Claire Mackintosh.

They are waiting for death. He is waiting to kill them.

In August 2020, fourteen-year-old Andrew Golding went out for a walk following a row with his mum. He was never seen again.

Four years later, when the press discovers police errors in Andrew Golding's case, DI Ridpath is called in to investigate.

As Ridpath delves into the case, he slowly discovers something much bigger and far more brutal than he ever expected – a murderer from the past who threatens his career and the lives of those close to him. Can he unravel the secrets before the killer strikes again?

The latest tense and gripping DI Ridpath thriller set in Manchester. Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Damien Boyd.

‘Douglas brings a light touch to an intriguing mystery centred on two opposites… Together they give a flying start to a new crime series’ The Daily Mail

Two ageing actors attempt to solve a murder after a body is found on the set in this witty, fun whodunnit, perfect for fans of Thursday Murder Club and Death & Croissants.

In 1970, while on a location shoot in Shropshire for the downmarket BBC sitcom Floggit and Leggit, ageing actor Edward Lowe – a ‘short, stocky northerner with a receding hairline and bad eyesight’, who plays the pompous and officious lead, a role based on himself – stumbles across the body of a young woman, apparently the victim of a tragic drowning accident. But there's something about her death that rings the faintest of bells in his head and, convinced the woman has been murdered, he enlists the help of his laid-back, upper-class co-star John Le Breton, a man for whom raising a wry eyebrow is a bit too much of an effort, to investigate further.

Crossing the country and back again during gaps in filming, the two elderly thespians make use of their wildly contrasting personalities and skillsets to uncover both a series of murders in the modern day and links to another unfortunate death during World War II. But, as the body count mounts and a pattern to the killings begins to emerge, can Edward and John put their differences aside to save the innocent victims of a serial killer and still be ready for when the cameras start rolling?

Death at the Dress Rehearsal is the first in The Lowe and Le Breton Mysteries series.

Chicago. 1992. A hospital patient wakes to find two strangers by his bed.

They show him a list of names and ask a simple but impossible question. Minutes later he falls to his death from his twelfth-floor window - a fall which generates some unexpected attention.

That attention comes from the Secretary of Defense, who calls for an inter-agency task force to investigate. Jack Reacher, recently demoted from Major, is assigned as the Army's representative. If he gets a result, great. If not, he's a convenient fall guy.

Reacher may be an exceptional military investigator, but office politics aren't what gets him up in the morning. As he races to identify a cold-blooded killer and uncover a secret that stretches back 23 years, he must navigate around his new partners.

Will Reacher bring the bad guys to justice the official way . . . or his way?


PRAISE FOR THE JACK REACHER SERIES

'There's only one Jack Reacher. Accept no substitutes.' MICK HERRON
'Jack Reacher is today's James Bond, a thriller hero we can't get enough of.' KEN FOLLETT
'Everyone needs to kick some butt sometimes, even if it's just imaginary.' JOJO MOYES

Although the Jack Reacher novels can be read in any order, The Secret is the 28th book in the internationally bestselling series.

And be sure not to miss Reacher's newest adventure, no.29, In Too Deep! ***OUT NOW***