A. J. Liebling, born in Manhattan in 1904, joined the staff of the New Yorker in 1935 and contributed innumerable articles to the magazine throughout his lifetime, on subjects ranging from food to boxing and France to horse racing. As a war correspondent during the Second World War, he reported from France, England and Algeria, and participated in the Normandy landings. In later life he married the writer Jean Stafford, his third wife. He died in 1963.

A. J. Liebling

A. J. Rosen is an author of YA fantasy and is known as @agatharoza on Wattpad.

A. J. Rosen

A. K. Davidson

A. O. Scott has been a film critic at the New York Times since 2000. His writing has appeared in many other publications, including the New York Review of Books, Slate, the New Yorker and the Nation. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism in 2010, Scott is currently Distinguished Professor of Film Criticism at Wesleyan University. He lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York. 
 
@aoscott

A. O. Scott

A.S. Byatt (1936-2023) was a novelist, short-story writer and critic of international renown. Her novels include Possession (winner of the Booker Prize 1990), the Frederica Quartet and The Children’s Book, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction. She was appointed CBE in 1990 and DBE in 1999, and was awarded the Erasmus Prize 2016 for her ‘inspiring contribution to life writing’ and the Pak Kyongni Prize 2017. In 2018 she received the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award.

A. S. Byatt

A. T. Williams won the George Orwell Prize for Political Writing in 2013 for his book A Very British Killing: The Death of Baha Mousa. He lives in Warwickshire.

A. T. Williams

A. W. Chase

Dubbed ‘The new queen of spy fiction’ by the Guardian newspaper, and ‘the real thing’ by the Washington Post, A.C. 'Ava' Glass is the CWA Dagger-shortlisted author of Alias Emma (The Chase), The Traitor and The Trap. The Traitor was a 2023 Richard and Judy Bookclub pick. Alias Emma was a Barnes and Noble book of the month. A former crime reporter and communications consultant, for five years Ava worked closely with spies. Her time in that world fascinated her, and the people she met back then inspire every book she writes.

A.C. Glass

A.E. Housman

Arthur Edward Waite was the designer and co-creator of the now famous Rider Waite Tarot deck. 
 
An American-born British poet and scholarly mystic, his strong interest in all esoteric matters - divination, magic, Kabbalism, alchemy and Freemasony - led to him penning a number of books. These include the Key to the Tarot, The Book of Ceremonial Magic and A New Encyclopedia of Freemasony.

A.E. Waite

A.E. Warren is the author of the Tomorrow's Ancestors series, which consists of Subject Twenty-One, The Hidden Base, The Fourth Species and The Final Rising. 
 
After spending eight years working as a lawyer, she began to write in the evenings and early mornings as a form of escapism from life in a very small cubicle with lots of files. She self-published her first novels in her spare time, which were picked up by Del Rey UK which is the science fiction/fantasy imprint of Penguin Random House. 
 
 She is an avid reader, occasional gamer and fair-weather runner. She lives in the UK with her husband, daughter and hopefully, one day, a wise border terrier named Austen.

A.E. Warren

A.G.D. Maran

A.J. Ayer

A K Benedict writes crime and speculative fiction in a room filled with clowns, mannequins and Doctor Who figures. Her first novel, The Beauty of Murder, was nominated for an eDunnit award and is in development for a major 8-part TV series by Company Pictures. Her second, Jonathan Dark or The Evidence of Ghosts, came out in February 2016. She's written Torchwood audio dramas for Big Finish and her short stories have featured in anthologies including Great British Horror and Best British Short Stories. She lives in St Leonards-on-Sea with her dog, Dame Margaret Rutherford.

A.K.Benedict

A. L. Kennedy has twice been selected as one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists and has won a host of other awards – including the Costa Book of the Year for her novel Day. She lives in Essex.

A.L. Kennedy

A.M. Ellis is a speculative fiction author and lover of everything steeped in myth and mystery. Her stories often lean into diverse voices, not only in her identity as a Black woman, but in exploring neurodivergence and mental health. A proud introvert and nostalgic gamer, she lives in Maryland, USA, with her husband and three children. Angelica is also the author of Hunt A Killer, a PERFECT SCORE novel, under the pen name A.M. Ellis, which she wrote as an IP for Scholastic in the US.

A.M. Ellis

A.N. Wilson was born in 1950 and educated at Rugby and New College, Oxford. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, he holds a prominent position in the world of literature and journalism. He is an award-winning biographer and a celebrated novelist, winning prizes for much of his work. He lives in North London.

A.N. Wilson

A.T. Emerald

A.W. Priest

A.B.C. Merriman-Labor was a barrister, writer and munitions worker born in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1877. His published works include A Series of Lectures on the Negro Race and The Story of the African Slave in a Nutshell. He also edited two editions of the Handbook of Sierra Leone. He arrived in the UK in 1904 to study law. In 1907, he organised a centenary commemoration of the abolition of the slave trade in Westminster Abbey. He later embarked on an 'entertainment-lecture' tour called Life and Scenes in Britain, travelling across thousands of miles of West, South West and Central Africa, which he expanded on to create Britons Through Negro Spectacles.

ABC Merriman-Labor

AJ Cronin

AJ Molloy

Aabria Iyengar is an American actress and author.

Aabria Iyengar

Aaliya Jaleel is a freelance illustrator, designer, and visual development artist, currently majoring in Animation at the University of Texas at Dallas. She is also the illustrator of Under My Hijab and Muslim Girls Rise. You can visit her online at www.aaliyamj.com.

Aaliya Jaleel

Aaron Allston

After more than fifteen years of experience as a clinical psychotherapist, Dr Aaron Balick has taken the amazing insights from psychology and psychotherapy out of the consultation room and made them accessible to the wider world. 
 
He has been an ‘agony uncle’ for many years for both CBBC and BBC Radio 1, as well as on television, including BBC Worldwide, BBC 3 and BBC Learning.

Aaron Balick

Aaron Carroll

Aaron Dignan is the founder of The Ready--a global organizational transformation and coaching practice--that helps companies large and small adopt new forms of self-organization and dynamic teaming. Clients include Johnson &amp; Johnson, Microsoft, Lloyds Bank, Citibank, Boeing, Mailchimp, Airbnb, Dropbox, and charity: water. 
 
He is also the founder of Murmur--a SaaS startup that helps teams scale culture through the magic of working agreements. The Murmur platform will allow every team on the planet to define and share their ways of working. 
 
Dignan is the author of Brave New Work (2019) and Game Frame (2011), co-host of the Brave New Work podcast, and a friend to misfit toys.

Aaron Dignan

Aaron Edwards is a senior lecturer in defence and international affairs at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, specialising in terrorism and counter-insurgency. He is the author and editor of several books, including Defending the Realm: The Politics of Britain’s Small Wars Since 1945, and has lectured all over the world on aspects of national and international security. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Aaron Edwards

Aaron Robertson is a writer, an editor, and a translator of Italian literature. His translation of Igiaba Scego’s Beyond Babylon was short-listed for the 2020 PEN Translation Prize and the National Translation Award, and in 2021 he received a National Endowment for the Arts grant. His work has appeared in the New York Times, The Nation, Foreign Policy, n+1, The Point, and Literary Hub, among other publications. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Aaron Robertson

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Fiona Barton

WHAT IF IT WAS SOMEONE YOU KNEW? 
 
'Utterly engrossing . . . I lived inside this book for two days - and I'm still thinking about it. Superb!' Shari Lapena, bestselling author of THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR 
 
'Intelligent, insightful and compelling. A clever, twisting whodunnit that delivers an emotional punch. I loved it.' C L Taylor 
____________________ 
 
'The police belonged to another world - the world they saw on the television or in the papers. Not theirs.' 
 
When two eighteen-year-old girls go missing on their gap year in Thailand, their families are thrust into the international spotlight: desperate, bereft and frantic with worry. 
 
Journalist Kate Waters always does everything she can to be first to the story, first with the exclusive, first to discover the truth - and this time is no exception. But she can't help but think of her own son, who she hasn't seen in two years, since he left home to go travelling. This time it's personal. 
 
And as the case of the missing girls unfolds, they will all find that even this far away, danger can lie closer to home than you might think . . . 
____________________ 
 
WHAT AUTHORS ARE SAYING: 
 
'Perfectly pitched . . . will have you racing to the denouement.' Cara Hunter, bestselling author of CLOSE TO HOME and IN THE DARK 
 
'A fast-paced whodunnit with heart, characters I feel I know and a deliciously dark twist. Superb writing, often blackly funny, and a scene that made me cry into my pillow.' Gillian McAllister, Sunday Times bestselling author of EVERYTHING BUT THE TRUTH 
 
'Fiona Barton is perceptive, empathetic and a talented writer' Daily Express 
____________________ 
 
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING: 
 
'Really is unputdownable' ***** 
 
'I was gripped from the first page' ***** 
 
'Drew me in right from the start' ***** 
 
'The Suspect blew me away' ***** 
 
'I will be recommending this book to all my friends' ***** 
 
'The best book I have read in ages' ***** 
 
'Enthralling and full of suspense and twists' ***** 
____________________ 
 
Read Fiona Barton's other tantalising thrillers: THE WIDOW and THE CHILD - out now. New for 2022: tense, compelling standout thriller LOCAL GONE MISSING ***Available to pre-order***

The Suspect

The additive and clever must-read crime thriller

Paula Daly

The basis for DEEP WATER, now a major ITV TV series, starring Anna Friel. 
 
'One of the most hypnotically gripping books I've read in a long, long time.' TESS GERRITSEN 
 
Your friend's child is missing. It's your fault. 
 
No family is perfect. 
 
A husband, three children and a full-time job, so many plates to keep spinning. 
 
No wonder you forgot you were supposed to be looking after your friend's daughter. 
 
But no one has seen her since yesterday. 
 
And she's not the first to go missing from your small town. 
 
So who's hiding something? 
 
'She writes with a singular voice and a passion that roars off the page . . . With a sharp, double-twist ending it announces Daly as a potential star' Daily Mail 
 
'Fiendishly addictive' Guardian 
 
'Riveting! Daly plunges straight into the heart of every parent's worst nightmare with page-turning results' Lisa Gardner 
 
'The sort of book that causes you to lose half a day without even noticing' Elizabeth Haynes, author of Into the Darkest Corner

Just What Kind of Mother Are You?

the basis for the TV series DEEP WATER

The gripping and addictive thriller

The basis for DEEP WATER, now a major ITV TV series, starring Anna Friel. 
 
If you slept with a stranger for money, who'd really end up paying? 
 
'A page-turning thriller with heart' Renée Knight, author of Disclaimer 
 
We all think we know who we are. 
 
What we’re capable of. 
 
Roz is a single mother, a physiotherapist, a sister, a friend. She’s also desperate. 
 
Her business has gone under, she’s crippled by debt and she’s just had to explain to her son why someone’s taken all their furniture away. 
 
But now a stranger has made her an offer. For one night with her, he’ll pay enough to bring her back from the edge. 
 
Roz has a choice to make. 
 
'A big-hearted, empathetic novel about ordinary lives and the tremors that can rock them' Guardian

The Mistake I Made

a totally addictive psychological thriller with characters you’ll believe in

Manda Scott

THRILLER OF THE MONTH ‘Superb . . . a blend of historical imagination and storytelling verve reminiscent of Robert Harris.’ The Sunday Times 
 
'The most exciting, involving thriller I've read in an age, and I can't recommend it highly enough.' Mick Herron 
 
* 
 
A Treachery of Spies is an espionage thriller to rival the very best, a high stakes game of cat-and-mouse, played in the shadows, which will keep you guessing every step of the way. 
 
A body has been found. The elderly victim’s identity has been cleverly obscured but one thing is clear: she has been killed in the manner of traitors to the Resistance in World War Two. 
 
To find answers in the present, police inspector Inès Picaut must look to the past; to 1940s France, a time of sworn allegiances and broken promises, where the men and women of the Resistance fought for survival against Nazi invaders. 
 
But, as Picaut soon discovers, there are those in the present whose futures depend on the past remaining buried, and who will kill to keep their secrets safe. Old fashioned espionage might be a thing of the past but treachery is as dangerous as ever. 
 
* 
 
'This is a rich vein for fiction, and Scott does it more than justice, with this beautifully imagined, beautifully written, smart, sophisticated - but fiercely suspenseful - thriller.' Lee Child 
 
'The most exquisite story of heroism, deception, love and treachery you’ll find this year.' Simon Mayo 
 
'A fast-moving tightly-wrought thriller. The destination is in fact as unexpected as it’s satisfying - and very thought-provoking.' Robert Goddard 
 
'A Treachery of Spies is a masterclass in thriller-writing. It is a heart-racing, heart-wrenching read, conceived with passion and executed with frightening skill. An awe-inspiring achievement.' Giles Kristian

A Treachery of Spies

The Sunday Times Thriller of the Month

Lesley Kara

__________ 
 
When single mum Joanna hears a rumour at the school gates, she never intends to pass it on. But one casual comment leads to another and now there's no going back . . . 
 
Rumour has it that a notorious child killer is living under a new identity, in their sleepy little town of Flinstead-on-Sea. 
 
Sally McGowan was just ten years old when she stabbed little Robbie Harris to death forty-eight years ago - no photos of her exist since her release as a young woman. 
 
So who is the supposedly reformed killer who now lives among them? How dangerous can one rumour become? And how far will Joanna go to protect her loved ones from harm, when she realizes what it is she's unleashed? 
__________ 
 
'Everyone is going to be talking about The Rumour. An intriguing premise, a creeping sense of dread, and a twist you won't see coming!' Shari Lapena, bestselling author of The Couple Next Door. 
 
Readers can't stop talking about The Rumour: 
 
***** 'So good ... The twist is amazing and really caught me out.' 
***** 'Downloaded it last night before bed and have stayed up all night reading it! Could not put it down. 
***** 'I couldn't devour this book quickly enough ... The surprises didn't stop til the very last page.' 
 
IF YOU'VE ALREADY DEVOURED THE RUMOUR THEN LOOK OUT FOR THE DARE, THE CAPTIVATING NEW THRILLER FROM LESLEY KARA. **OUT NOW!**

The Rumour

The bestselling must-read thriller with a killer twist

The Sunday Times bestseller with a killer twist

Lauren North

'A captivating, suspenseful thriller that draws you in - with a twist that will take your breath away.' TM Logan, bestselling author of The Holiday 
 
*** 
 
After the sudden death of her husband, Tess is drowning in grief. All she has left is her son, Jamie, and she’ll do anything to protect him – but she’s struggling to cope. 
 
When grief counsellor Shelley knocks on their door, everything changes. Shelley is understanding and kind, and promises she can help Tess through the hardest time of her life. 
 
But when a string of unsettling events happens and questions arise over her husband’s death, Tess starts to suspect that Shelley may have an ulterior motive. Tess knows she must do everything she can to keep Jamie safe – but she’s at her most vulnerable, and that’s a dangerous place to be . . . 
 
*** 
 
READERS ARE OBSESSED WITH THE PERFECT BETRAYAL: 
 
‘This book floored me!’ 
‘I’m still holding my breath.’ 
‘The ending just hit me right between the eyes.’ 
‘This wasn’t just good, it was amazing . . . jaw dropping.' 
‘I was still reading it at 2.30 am!’ 
‘Wow - that’s the first word that comes to mind.’ 
‘This is my number 1 book read this year.’ 
‘Buy this for yourself, you won’t be able to put it down!’ 
 
*** 
 
'A heart-rending evocation of grief that packs a devious punch. It left me reeling.' Lesley Kara, bestselling author of The Rumour 
 
'As satisfyingly intriguing and page-turning as you could possibly want.' Emma Curtis, author of One Little Mistake 
 
'The Perfect Betrayal had my head spinning 360 degrees . . . Brilliant.' Sandie Jones, author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick The Other Woman

The Perfect Betrayal

The addictive thriller that will leave you reeling

Shari Lapena

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER from the author of the number one bestseller THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR. 
 
'Tense. Unpredictable. Unputdownable. Shari Lapena's novels are domestic noir at its finest' Simon Kernick 
____________________ 
 
We can't choose the strangers we meet. 
 
As the guests arrive at beautiful, remote Mitchell's Inn, they're all looking forward to a relaxing weekend deep in the forest, miles from anywhere. They watch their fellow guests with interest, from a polite distance. 
 
Usually we can avoid the people who make us nervous, make us afraid. 
 
With a violent storm raging, the group finds itself completely cut off from the outside world. Nobody can get in - or out. And then the first body is found . . . and the horrifying truth comes to light. There's a killer among them - and nowhere to run. 
 
Until we find ourselves in a situation we can't escape. Trapped. 
____________________ 
 
PRAISE FOR SHARI LAPENA: 
 
'Crafted like a vintage Christie and just as tense, this will be a smash hit' Heat 
 
'Smart characterisation combined with a subtle appreciation for the darkness of the human heart . . . A perfectly choreographed danse macabre' Mail on Sunday 
 
'Shari Lapena . . . is rapidly becoming a go-to author for anyone seeking a light but lip-smacking mystery' Sunday Express 
 
'The psychological thrillers of Lapena are masterclasses in tightly plotted, economical narrative' Metro 
 
'An excellent mystery! Agatha Christie meets P D James' Ragnar Jonasson 
____________________ 
 
READERS LOVE SHARI LAPENA: 
 
'Best book I've read in ages' 
 
'5* fast paced, twisting thriller' 
 
'The pace never let up' 
 
'On the edge of my seat to the end' 
 
'I haven't picked up a book in 9 years and I'm so glad that I picked this up! I loved it.' 
 
'Incredibly readable and unputdownable' 
 
'Very clever, well written, intriguing and suspenseful' 
 
'Had me hooked from start to finish' 
 
 
ORDER the gripping new thriller from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author Shari Lapena: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

An Unwanted Guest

Belinda Bauer

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SNAP 
 
'Bauer's great gift is her ability to surprise the reader' Daily Telegraph 
 
THE QUESTION IS: WHO IS HUNTING WHO? 
 
In a small village where no stranger goes unnoticed, a local woman has been murdered in her bed. 
 
This is PC Jonas Holly's first murder investigation. But he is distracted by anonymous messages that seem to come from the killer . . . 
 
Is Jonas going to be able to solve the crime, whilst being taunted by a psychopath? 
 
___ 
 
'Impressively original and convincing' 
Sophie Hannah 
 
Readers are gripped by Darkside: 
 
'A captivating read which I couldn't put down' ***** 
'Brilliant, clever, crime fiction' ***** 
'Gripping and entertaining' *****

Darkside

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Snap

Rebecca Reid

‘A hugely entertaining debut with a shocker of an ending’ Emma Curtis, bestselling author of One Little Mistake 
 
Three women walk in to the dinner, but only two will leave. 
 
Sixteen years ago, best friends Nancy, Georgia and Lila committed a terrible crime. 
 
They have never spoken about it. But now, in their thirties, one of them wants to talk. 
 
One word and everything could be ruined: their lives, their careers, their relationships. It's up to Georgia to call a crisis dinner. 
 
But the evening does not go as planned. Only two women survive the night. 
 
Murder isn’t so difficult the second time around… 
 
*** 
 
Authors love Perfect Liars... 
 
‘Skilfully done – Rebecca Reid is a master of building tension and Perfect Liars had me gripped throughout. I’ll never approach dinner with friends in the same way again…’ Phoebe Morgan, author of The Doll House 
 
'Despicable protagonists, despicable victim, I adored every second of it.' Sarah J Naughton, author of Tattle Tale 
 
'Disturbing and brilliant. A very refreshing psychological suspense novel and an outstanding debut.' Lauren North, author of The Perfect Betrayal 
 
*** 
 
Rebecca Reid’s latest novel Truth Hurts is out now

Perfect Liars

Perfect for fans of Blood Orange

Zoje Stage

------------- 
RUNNER UP in the 2018 GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS 
 
"Beautifully written, intelligent, uncompromising - highly recommended." Sophie Hannah 
------------ 
 
Seven-year-old Hanna has never spoken a word. 
 
She is a sweet but silent angel in the eyes of her adoring father, but with Mummy, things are different. Suzette loves her daughter but difficulties with babysitters and teachers over the years have put a strain on their relationship and her sanity. 
 
Then Hanna speaks for the first time, to Suzette alone, and what she says is chilling. 
 
 Suzette wants to write it off as a scary joke, but she’s becoming increasingly frightened by Hanna's little games. Could she be in danger from her own child? And when it's her word against her daughter's, can she make her husband believe her? 
 
Bad Apple is a blazing debut novel about a perfect-looking family – where sweetness can be deceptive. 
 
Fans of BEHIND HER EYES, DAUGHTER or GOOD ME, BAD ME will love this page-turning story of dark domestic suspense. 
 
"Deliciously creepy" New York Post 
 
"Gripping" InStyle 
 
"Gone Girl meets We Need to Talk About Kevin… a twisty delirious read" Entertainment Weekly 
 
*Bad Apple is also published in America under the title Baby Teeth.*

Bad Apple

Danny Miller

Prepare to be gripped by this prequel series to R.D. Wingfield's A Touch of Frost. 
 
Back in Denton, Detective Sergeant Jack Frost returns to investigating murders, finding missing children, and discovering dead bodies in woodland areas. With Detective Inspector Williams missing, and a new policeman, DS Waters, to mentor, DS Jack Frost has to put the stresses and straings of his personal life on hold in order to keep Denton safe.

Denton, 1984. After a morning’s betting at the races, bookmaker George Price is found in his car, barely alive with a bullet in his head. As he’s rushed to hospital, Detective Inspector Jack Frost and the Denton police force start their hunt for the would-be murderer. 
 
But with a long list of enemies who might want the bookie dead, the team have got their work cut out for them. And with a slew of other crimes hitting the area, from counterfeit goods to a violent drugs gangs swamping Denton with cheap heroin, the stakes have never been higher. 
 
Will Frost find the answers he’s looking for before things go from bad to worse? 
 
DETECTIVE JACK FROST IS... 
 
'A splendid creation, a cross between Rumpole and Columbo' The Times 
 
'Deplorable yet funny, a comic monster on the side of the angels' Guardian

A Lethal Frost

DI Jack Frost series 5

Robert Goddard

‘Is this his best yet?...Full of sinister menace and propulsive pace with twisty plotting’ Lee Child 
 
WHAT REALLY LIES WITHIN? 
 
High on a Cornish cliff sits a vast uninhabited mansion. Uninhabited except for Blake, a young woman of mysterious background, currently acting as housesitter. 
 
The house has a panic room. Cunningly concealed, steel lined, impregnable – and apparently closed from within. Even Blake doesn’t know it’s there. She’s too busy being on the run from life, from a story she thinks she’s escaped. 
 
But her remote existence is going to be threatened when people come looking for the house’s owner, rogue pharma entrepreneur, Jack Harkness. Soon people with questionable motives will be asking Blake the sort of questions she can’t – or won’t - want to answer. 
 
WILL THE PANIC ROOM EVER GIVE UP ITS SECRETS?

Panic Room

Liza Marklund

A mother found. A father lost. 
 
In the midst of a Swedish winter, a young mother is found murdered behind her son’s nursery. Halfway across the world, in the sweltering Kenyan heat, a government official is kidnapped. 
 
As a journalist, Annika Bengtzon is often on the frontline, witness to the darkness humans are capable of. But this time it’s different. It’s personal. 
 
The official held to ransom is her husband and she must meet the extreme demands of his kidnappers if she is to bring him home. And what of the Swedish mother slain in the snow? Until her killer is found, no one is safe…

Borderline

The most famous police officer in Sweden is found murdered in his bed. His four-year-old son is missing. His wife is suspected of killing both of them. No one believes her when she says she is innocent. 
 
No one except for news reporter Annika Bengtzon. Her personal life in turmoil, she turns all her energies to her work, investigating the life of the murdered man. 
 
But if his wife is innocent, where is their son? And will the truth be uncovered in time to find him…before it’s too late?

Lifetime

Ruth Hamilton

This heart-wrenching, moving and emotional saga full of twists and turns and highlighting the importance of love and understanding by the Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton is a must - read for fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox. 
 
"I believe that Ruth Hamilton is very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" -- SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR 
 
"This book kept me enthralled to the very last page" -- ***** Reader review 
"A riveting read. Couldn't put it down." -- ***** Reader review 
"As always an impeccable story by Ruth, sadness, happiness and in between hilarious wit. A must read book which you will be loathe to put down." -- ***** Reader review 
"A truly superb book" -- ***** Reader review 
**************************************************************************** 
WILL ONE FRIENDSHIP CHANGE THINGS FOREVER? 
 
Despite her strict 1950s Catholic upbringing, Madeleine Horrocks, doesn't understand why religion seems to force people apart. But her friend Amy has been brought up to believe that mixing with other religions results in eternal damnation, and when Maddy becomes friendly with George, a local, good-looking Jewish boy, Amy fears the worst. But as they grow up she, too, becomes friends with George, as well as with other young teenagers who meet secretly at the Bell House, an ancient place of burial. 
 
When a body is found in the nearby reservoir they all become threatened by tragedy and danger. 
 
Meanwhile, Father Sheahan, the whisky-soaked priest from the local church, has discovered that his secret past is catching up with him. 
 
Bigotry, lust and hatred have been so much a part of this community that it takes the combined forces of young and old - and particularly George's formidable grandmother Yuspeh - to bring everyone together and move forward positively.

The Bell House

a sweeping novel of power and compassion from bestselling author Ruth Hamilton

'An electrifying plot that keeps you guessing to the last' Fiona Barton 
 
'Yet another gripping, heartbreaking read from a brilliant writer' Jill Mansell 
 
'Thrilling, compelling, clever and hugely entertaining. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough' C L Taylor 
 
********* 
 
Haven’t we all wanted to pretend everything is fine? 
 
Jane doesn’t like confrontation. Given the choice, she'd prefer to focus on what’s going well, the good things in life. 
 
But when her husband, Leon, is brutally attacked in the driveway of their home, in front of their two young children, Jane has to face reality. As he lies in a coma, Jane must open her eyes to the problems in her life, and the secrets that have been kept from her, if she’s to find out who hurt her husband – and why. 
 
Maybe it’s time to face up to it all. Who knows what you might find . . . 
 
********* 
 
PRAISE FOR PAULA DALY: 
 
‘The UK’s answer to Liane Moriarty. Amazing.’ Claire McGowan 
 
‘Thoroughly enjoyable – a big-hearted, empathetic novel about ordinary lives and the tremors that can rock them.’ Guardian 
 
‘Kept me guessing right until the end. I devoured it.’ Claire Douglas 
 
‘Deliciously dark and addictive. I defy anyone starts it not to race through the pages until they reach the final, brilliant twist.’ Colette McBeth 
 
‘She writes with a singular voice and a fierce passion that roars off the page.’ Daily Mail

Open Your Eyes

an utterly gripping psychological suspense

The latest unputdownable bestseller from Shari Lapena, author of THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR and EVERYONE HERE IS LYING 
 
'The queen of the one-sit read' Linwood Barclay 
 
'Shari Lapena is one of the best thriller writers in the business' Steve Cavanagh 
 
***** 
 
Why would you run scared from a happy home? 
 
You're waiting for your beloved husband to get home from work. 
 
You're making dinner, looking forward to hearing about his day. 
 
That's the last thing you remember. 
 
You wake up in hospital, with no idea how you got there. They tell you that you were in an accident; you lost control of your car whilst driving in a dangerous part of town. 
 
The police suspect you were up to no good. But your husband refuses to believe it. Your best friend isn't so sure. And even you don't know what to believe . . . 
 
***** 
 
Praise for Shari Lapena: 
 
'I thought the read-it-in-one-sitting thing was a cliché. Not any more.' LINWOOD BARCLAY 
 
'Entirely compelling, utterly realistic. You will not see the twists coming.' Daily Mail 
 
'Meticulously crafted and razor sharp.' HARLAN COBEN 
 
'A twisty, utterly riveting tale.' TESS GERRITSEN 
 
'Shari Lapena furnishes a clever array of motives and suspects. The tension is high and remains to the last, stunning page.' The Times 
 
'Tense. Unpredictable. Unputdownable. Shari's novels are domestic noir at its finest' SIMON KERNICK 
 
'Smart, twisty thriller . . . It's taut, intelligent and compelling' Heat

A Stranger in the House

Sean Black

His mission should have been straightforward: to keep one man alive for one week. 
 
ONE PRISONER 
Super-intelligent and brutally violent, Frank 'Reaper' Hays is a leading member of America's most powerful white supremacists prison gang. 
 
ONE BODYGUARD 
Ex-military bodyguard Ryan Lock has been hired to protect him. His mission is to keep Reaper alive for a week until he can be brought to trial. 
 
ONE WEEK TO STAY ALIVE 
But Lock soon realises that he faces the toughest assignment of his career - just to survive ...

Deadlock

Barry Lyga

Jasper Dent has a special talent. He knows how killers think. 
Because his father is America’s most notorious serial killer. And he taught Jasper every trick he knows. 
A series of gruesome murders in New York gives Jasper the chance to prove that he’s not his father’s son. It’s time to hunt a killer. 
But the game has just begun...

Game

David Levien

From the pen of Hollywood screenwriter David Levien comes this brutal, brooding and bloody crime thriller. Perfect for fans of Lee Child and Harlan Coben. 
 
"Crime fiction at its finest" - CHRISTOPHER REICH 
"David Levien has placed himself among the best writers in the field" - ROBERT CRAIS 
"This is American thriller writing at its rocket-fuelled, roller coaster best" - DAILY MAIL 
"Real, entertaining, and remarkably fresh" -- ***** Reader review 
"Levien writes bad guys as well as anyone out there... they are all so well drawn and conflicted and three-dimensional..." -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************** 
 
HOW FAR WILL ONE MAN GO TO AVENGE A FRIEND'S MURDER? 
 
THE VICTIM was a fighter, but strength wasn't enough to save him from this gruesome end. 
THE MISSING are two well-paid private investigators who have disappeared on a confidential job. 
THE FAMILY is formidable, deadly and crazy, and will stop at nothing to make their mark. 
THE INVESTIGATOR is Frank Behr, haunted by an unspeakable loss, avenging his friend's death, and close to becoming . . . 
THE HUNTED . . . can Behr track down the killers before they find him? And will he survive?

Where The Dead Lay

a sensational, gripping and moody crime thriller that will have you hooked

Henry James

The fourth prequel to R. D. Wingfield's A TOUCH OF FROST, for anyone who loved watching David Jason as Jack Frost, and readers of sharply plotted detective crime novels. 
 
August, 1983. Denton is preparing for a wedding, with less than a week to go until Detective Sergeant Waters marries Kim Myles. But the Sunday before the big day, the body of a young woman is found in the churchyard. Their idyllic wedding venue has become a crime scene. 
 
As best man to Waters, Detective Inspector Jack Frost has a responsibility to solve the mystery before the wedding. But with nowhere to live since his wife's family sold his matrimonial home, Frost's got other things on his mind. 
 
Can he put his own troubles aside and step up to be the detective they need him to be? 
 
'One of the most successful ventriloquial acts in crime writing.' Financial Times

Frost at Midnight

DI Jack Frost series 4

Sharon Bolton

Fans of Lisa Jewell, Cara Hunter and Karin Slaughter will devour this menacingly dark and disturbing thriller with an unnatural twist from bestselling author Sharon Bolton. Guaranteed to entrance and get right under the skin... 
 
'Spine-tingling suspense!' -- LISA GARDNER 
'A killer twist' -- Financial Times 
'Bolton knows precisely how to ratchet up the tension and tell a cracking story' -- 
Guardian 
'Frisson-generating... dark, psychological crime' -- Independent 
'Brilliant and captivating' -- ***** Reader review 
'Addictive...you can't put it down!' -- ***** Reader review 
'A galloping tale of mystery and tension' -- ***** Reader review 
'Amazing book, had me on the edge of my seat' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************************* 
SHE'S BEEN WATCHING US FOR SOME TIME NOW... 
 
Sometimes I wish that she'd just leave me in peace . . . 
 
 Psychologist Evi has taken on a new patient: a grieving mother who lost her daughter in a fire two years ago - but who is convinced her little girl is still alive. 
 
 Meanwhile, the new vicar in town is not feeling welcome. Disturbing events seem designed to scare him away. 
 
 And all the while, a young boy keeps seeing a solitary girl playing among the graves in the churchyard. 
 
 But who is she, and what is she trying to tell him?

Blood Harvest

a bone-chilling, twisty thriller from Richard & Judy bestseller Sharon Bolton

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SNAP 
 
'Extraordinarily powerful and evocative . . . will leave you breathless.' Daily Mirror 
 
VOTED CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR when it was first released, and still the most gripping, powerful thriller debut you will read this year. 
 
___ 
 
Steven Lamb is 12 when he writes his first letter . . . to a serial killer 
 
Every day after school, whilst his classmates swap football stickers, twelve-year-old Steven digs holes on Exmoor, hoping to find a body. His uncle disappeared aged eleven and is assumed to have fallen victim to the notorious serial killer Arnold Avery - but his body has never been found. 
 
Steven's Nan does not believe her son is dead. She still waits for him to come home, standing bitter guard at the front window while her family fragments around her. Steven is determined to heal the widening cracks between them before it's too late - even if that means presenting his grandmother with the bones of her murdered son. 
 
But when Steven realises this is an impossible task, he crafts a careful letter to Arnold Avery in prison. And there begins a dangerous cat-and-mouse game between a desperate child and a bored psychopath . . . 
 
Readers love Blacklands: 
 
'A dark, gripping story . . . full of tension' ***** 
'A truly chilling and disturbing read' ***** 
'An intelligent crime thriller that seeps with atmosphere' ***** 
 
*Belinda Bauer's pulse-pounding new thriller, EXIT, is out now*

Blacklands

The addictive debut novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author

A D Swanston

'A fantastic tale of spies, deceit and murder in the Elizabethan age' S. D. Sykes 
 
England in 1572 is a powder keg of rumour, fanaticism, treachery and dissent. All it would take is a single spark . . . 
 
In the England of Elizabeth I, the fear of plague and invasion, and the threat of insurrection are constant. As the Earl of Leicester's chief intelligencer, lawyer Dr Christopher Radcliff is tasked with investigating rumours of treachery at home and the papist threat from abroad. And with heresy and religious unrest simmering beneath the surface of a country on the brink, Radcliff is under pressure to get results. 
 
Then two brutal and seemingly motiveless killings point alert Radcliff to the whisper of a new plot against the queen. There are few clues, and all he and his network of agents have to go on is a single word: incendium. But what does it mean - and who lies behind it? Christopher Radcliff must find out before it's too late . . . 
 
(Please note: The Incendium Plot was first published in hardback as Incendium)

The Incendium Plot

A. A. Dhand

Detective Harry Virdee should be at home with his wife, but he's been suspended from work just as the biggest case of the year lands on what would have been his desk. He can't keep himself away . . . 
 
Luther meets The Wire in this gritty crime series set in Bradford.

'A story as fresh as today’s newspaper headlines — and all the more potent for being so' Mail on Sunday 
 
Answering a routine call on the outskirts of the city, Detective Inspector Harry Virdee finds something he never thought he’d have to face – the cold body of his beloved niece. 
 
He’s immediately banned from working the case, but there’s no way Harry can walk away while the monster who killed his flesh and blood is still walking the streets. But before he can find the killer, he must tell his brother, Ron, the terrible news. 
 
Impulsive, dangerous and frighteningly well connected, Ron will act first and think later. Harry may have a murderer to find but if he isn't careful, he may also have a murder to prevent.

Girl Zero

Samuel Bjork

From the bestselling novel I'm Travelling Alone, two dynamic characters are born. 
Police investigators Holger Munch and Mia Krüger work together to solve the most complex crimes in Oslo, catching serial killers before they strike again but their personal lives are not simple either. As people, they could not be more different but as they battle their own demons their unlikely pairing make Munch and Krüger the best kind of classic detective duo.

From the author of the bestselling Richard and Judy bookclub pick I'm Travelling Alone 
 
'Gives Jo Nesbo a run for his money' Sunday Express 
'The latest Norwegian crime-writing sensation' Sunday Times 
___________ 
 
When a young woman is found dead, the police are quick to respond. But what they find at the murder site is unexpected. The body is posed, the scene meticulously set. And there is almost no forensic evidence to be found. 
 
Detective Mia Krüger is a woman on the edge - she has been signed off work pending psychological assessment. But her boss has less regard for the rules than he should. Desperate to get Mia back in the office, Holger Munch offers her an unofficial deal. 
 
But the usually brilliant Mia is struggling and the team are unable to close the case. Until a young hacker uncovers something that forces the team to confront the scope of the murderer's plans and face the possibility that he may already be on the hunt for a second victim. 
 
The new novel from Samuel Bjork, THE WOLF, is available now.

The Owl Always Hunts at Night

(Munch and Krüger Book 2)

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, AND RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK 
 
'Clever and compelling. You'll love THE CHILD' Clare Mackintosh, author of LET ME LIE 
 
******** 
 
When a paragraph in an evening newspaper reveals a decades-old tragedy, most readers barely give it a glance. But for three strangers it's impossible to ignore. 
 
For one woman, it's a reminder of the worst thing that ever happened to her. 
 
For another, it reveals the dangerous possibility that her darkest secret is about to be discovered. 
 
And for the third, a journalist, it's the first clue in a hunt to uncover the truth. 
 
The Child's story will be told. 
 
 
******** 
 
'An engrossing, irresistible story about the coming to light of a long-buried secret. An absolutely fabulous read - I loved it!' Shari Lapena, author of THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR 
 
'Tense, tantalising and ultimately very satisfying . . . definitely one of the year's must-reads' Lee Child 
 
Read Fiona Barton's other tantalising thrillers: THE WIDOW, THE SUSPECT and LOCAL GONE MISSING. COMING SOON: the brand new compelling standout thriller TALKING TO STRANGERS is available to pre-order now.

The Child

the clever, addictive, must-read Richard and Judy Book Club bestselling crime thriller

John Macken

Bestselling author John Macken takes the forensic thriller into unchartered genetic territory in this gripping thriller. Fans of Kathy Reichs, Karin Slaughter and Patricia Cornwell won't be disappointed. 
 
'Macken speaks with authority about the science and knows how to put a tense and absorbing story together' - OBSERVER 
 
'You always get something different from John... he takes it to a new extreme' -- ***** Reader review 
 
'A cracking story... it is eminently readable' -- ***** Reader review 
 
'A very intelligent book' -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************** 
 
PUSHED TOO FAR, EVERYONE BREAKS... 
 
There is a killer loose on the London Underground. He kills without leaving any forensic trace, and seemingly without motive. Genecrime, the UK's elite forensic unit, are stretched to the limits trying to find one usable clue. 
 
And there is another problem facing Genecrime. Before he was sacked as head of the unit, Reuben Maitland developed a system to predict latent homicidal behaviour from people's DNA. Now rogue elements in the police, believing that prevention is better than cure, are using Reuben's research to hunt down and incite latent psychopaths beyond their breaking point. 
 
Reuben must track down whoever is misusing his technology and stop them before more lives are destroyed. But what he cannot know is that his investigation will lead him directly into the path of the Underground killer...

Breaking Point

(Reuben Maitland: book 3): an engrossing and distinctive thriller that you won’t be able to forget

Marcus Sakey

They thought it would be easy. They were dead wrong... 
 
Alex is failing as a father. 
Ian keeps dangerous secrets. 
Jenn wants adventure. 
Mitch wants Jenn. 
 
Four friends just scraping by, finding comfort in each other and the hope that things will get better. But as their twenties fade in the rear-view mirror, none of them are turning out to be who - or where - they hoped. 
 
At a time when CEOs steal millions while their employees watch savings dwindle, these four are tired of the honest approach. They're going to stop waiting and start taking. 
 
They have a failsafe, victimless plan that will change their lives for ever. 
 
What could possibly go wrong... 
 
Marcus Sakey is an award-winning thriller writer. He has also contributed to a number of short story anthologies in the thriller genre. He lives in Chicago with his wife. www.marcussakey.com

No Turning Back

In this compelling and utterly addictive thriller, bestselling author Sharon Bolton gives us a fascinating look at the extreme lengths people will go to in desperation, whatever their situation. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Cara Hunter and Karin Slaughter, it's a dark and decidedly spine-tingling thriller that will get right under the skin... 
 
'Bolton is a gripping storyteller with fine, haunted characters' -- Peter James 
'For once, the description "impossible to put down" is full merited, for this is an absolute page-turner' -- Daily Mail 
'It grips from the start . . . The plot merges skilfully, with many splendid twists along the way' -- The Times 
'Bolton establishes a forbidding atmosphere . . . A slippery, devious narrative in which things are not always what they seem' -- Crime Scene 
'Just wow! The best psychological thriller I have read in a long time!' -- ***** Reader review 
'I couldn't put it down!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Entertaining and a real page turner' -- ***** Reader review 
'THIS BOOK IS THE BEST BOOK I have EVER read...a MASTERPIECE' -- ***** Reader review 
'Essential reading right here' -- ***** Reader review 
***************************************************************** 
SHE'S SEEN THE KILLER'S FACE. BUT HE'S ALSO SEEN HERS... 
 
Just before dawn in the hills near the Scottish border, thirteen passengers on a hot-air balloon flight witness a brutal murder. Within the next hour, all but one of them will be dead. 
 
Alone, scared and trusting no-one, she flees for her life, running to the one place she feels safe. 
 
But the killer won't rest until he's eliminated the last witness to his crime . . .

Dead Woman Walking

a pacy, gritty and gripping thriller from bestselling author Sharon Bolton

A Private Thriller

A series of children's modern classic novels by renowned 20th century children's writers. All the titles in this series have the A Puffin Book logo, contemporary-style covers, and child-friendly endnotes.

A Puffin Book

A Ripley Novel

A Slice of the Moon

A Victorian Mystery

A Walk in...

A Women’s Murder Club Thriller

A chef Paul Delamare Mystery

Aberrations

Across the Universe

Actiphons

Adelia Aguilar

Adrian Mole

Adventures in Time

Aftermath

Against War

Age of X

Agent 21

Agent Z

Detective Aidan Waits is a troubled junior detective haunted by his past. Facing an uncertain future, and disconnected from his history, DC Waits and his partner, Detective Inspector Peter 'Sutty' Sutcliffe work on Manchester's streets to uncover the city's worst criminals among the grime of the underworld.

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