LONGLISTED FOR THE THEAKSTONS CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 'The year's best debut' SUNDAY TIMES 'The best crime novel of the year' INDEPENDENT 'Sensational. Gripping, haunting, and beautifully written' RICHARD OSMAN CHOSEN AS A BEST BOOK OF 2021 BY THE TIMES, THE FT, THE GUARDIAN, THE INDEPENDENT, STYLIST AND MORE! 'The biggest mystery thriller since Gone Girl' ELLE 'The novel you'll stay up reading until 3am' SUNDAY TIMES 'An astonishing achievement.' JESSIE BURTON 'Gripping, beautifully written perfection.' SOPHIE HANNAH 'A masterpiece.' LOUISE O'NEILL 'Fantastic.' PAULA HAWKINS 'Girl A,' she said. 'The girl who escaped. If anyone was going to make it, it was going to be you.' I am Lex Gracie: but they call me Girl A. I grew up with my family on the moors. I escaped when I was fifteen years old. NOW SOMETHING IS PULLING ME BACK... RIGHTS SOLD IN 36 TERRITORIES SOON TO BE A TV SHOW DIRECTED BY JOHAN RENCK (Chernobyl) 'Incendiary, beautifully written debut' Guardian 'Psychologically astute, adroitly organised, written with flair' Sunday Times 'Terrifyingly gripping' SUSIE STEINER 'Beautiful' ADELE PARKS 'Incredibly well written, devastating in a good way, and intriguing to the last page' LIZ NUGENT 'I was obsessed by it. As close to perfect as thrillers get' JOHN MARRS 'A gripping debut' Oprah magazine One of Marie Claire, Waterstones and Grazia's best books for 2021 A Sunday Times No.2 bestseller for w/e 6/2/21 A New York Times bestseller

We all keep secrets. Even from ourselves. 'A thrilling, heart-in-throat ride' STEPHEN FRY 'An absolute jaw-dropper' LUCY FOLEY 'Elegant, sinister, stylish' CHRIS WHITAKER 'Grips from start to finish' HARRIET TYCE * * * * * YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE MAIDENS. The Maidens are Cambridge University's most exclusive society, whose members are selected by the charismatic professor of Greek tragedy, Edward Fosca. A SECRETIVE SET OF THE BRIGHTEST, MOST CAPTIVATING STUDENTS. When one of the Maidens is murdered, grieving young therapist Mariana Andros is drawn back to the idyllic campus where she was once herself a student. THE GROUP FROM WHICH EACH VICTIM WILL BE CHOSEN. Because beneath the university's ancient traditions and beauty is a web of secrets, jealousy and lies. And when the killer threatens the person she loves most, Mariana will give anything to stop them - even her own life... From the #1 global bestselling author of The Silent Patient comes a spellbinding tale of psychological suspense, weaving together Greek mythology, murder, and obsession... * * * * * 'There's definitely a flavour of The Secret History to Alex Michaelides's second novel ... The Maidens is a compelling read, and delivers its Hellenic thrills in style.' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'A book which screams 'make me into a TV series' ... his writing, especially his characterisation, possesses a unique sparkle and more promise than most other writers.' DAILY MAIL 'Nothing short of genius.' WOMAN & HOME 'How do you go about following one of the biggest thrillers of the past decade? You write something even better.' CHRIS WHITAKER, bestselling author of WE BEGIN AT THE END 'Grips from intriguing start to horrifying finish ... A brilliant achievement.' HARRIET TYCE 'A page-turner of the first order' DAVID BALDACCI 'The greatest campus novel since The Secret History by Donna Tartt ... with a climatic twist that you will NEVER see coming.' TONY PARSONS 'A stunning psychological thriller ... Michaelides is on a roll.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"In Elly Griffiths's second novel starring Ruth Galloway, the forensic anthropologist, now expecting a child, undertakes a battle of wits with a deadly nemesis . . . Her inner strength as she battles social stigma and the hormonal fluctuations of pregnancy wonderfully complement the starkly wild Norfolk coast of England where Griffiths's novels are set."--"USA Today"
It's only been a few months since forensic archeologist Ruth Galloway found herself entangled in a missing-child case, barely escaping with her life. But when constructions workers demolishing a large old mansion to make way for a new development uncover the bones of a child beneath a doorway--minus its skull--Ruth is once again called upon to investigate. Is it a Roman-era ritual sacrifice, or is the killer closer at hand?
When carbon dating proves that the child's bones predate the home and relate to a time when the house was privately owned, Ruth is drawn more deeply into the case. But as spring turns into summer, it becomes clear that someone is trying very hard to put her off the trail by frightening her, and her unborn child, half to death.
"Delightfully twisted . . . Griffiths is a talented writer and, like its predecessor "The Crossing Places," "The Janus Stone" exhibits her skill at character development and her ability to create a chilling and entirely believable story"--"Richmond Times-Dispatch"

THE ADDICTIVE NEW SUNDAY TIMES NO.1 BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN 'Shocking, moving, full of heart . . . A Slow Fire Burning shows a writer at the height of her powers.' Observer (Thriller of the Month) 'Superbly told, its twists and turns reveal the slow fire burning inside each which might just destroy them. Utterly compelling.' Daily Mail 'What is wrong with you?' Laura has spent most of her life being judged. She's seen as hot-tempered, troubled, a loner. Some even call her dangerous. Miriam knows that just because Laura is witnessed leaving the scene of a horrific murder with blood on her clothes, that doesn't mean she's a killer. Bitter experience has taught her how easy it is to get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Carla is reeling from the brutal murder of her nephew. She trusts no one: good people are capable of terrible deeds. But how far will she go to find peace? Innocent or guilty, everyone is damaged. Some are damaged enough to kill. Look what you started. __________ 'Fast-paced, highly charged and carried off with so much confidence that it is impossible to resist.' Sunday Times 'A Slow Fire Burning is a treat: utterly readable, moving in parts and saturated with the kind of localised detail that made The Girl on the Train so compelling.' Guardian 'From the first sentence to the last, this explosive, startling novel grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go.' Kate Mosse 'Twists and turns like a great thriller should, but it's also deep, intelligent and intensely human' Lee Child 'Gripping and intriguing, I loved every moment' S J Watson 'Twists and turns galore...Paula Hawkins is a genius.' Lisa Jewell 'Dark and disturbing, this twisted story with its cast of damaged characters builds to a brilliant conclusion. This one will stay with you for a long time. ' Shari Lapena 'The queen of the psychological thriller is back with her best book yet. It's such an addictive read . . . an absolute must-read' Prima 'Paula Hawkins at her best.' Renee Knight

'An outstanding mystery thriller... Noir fans won't want to miss it' - Publishers Weekly (Starred) 'A riveting, brutal journey into the high stakes world of legacy art and inherited wealth' - Denise Mina, author of the Garnethill trilogy and The Long Drop The Goldenacre - a masterpiece by the painter and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh - has been given to the people of Scotland. The beautiful canvas, the last work by the artistic genius, enthrals the art world, but behind it lies a dark and violent mystery. Thomas Tallis, an art expert with a trouble past, is trying to uncover the truth about the painting's complex history, while dogged newspaper reporter Shona Sandison is investigating a series of shocking murders in Edinburgh. Both investigators soon become engulfed in the machinations of money, crime and identity in a literary thriller set amid the seen and unseen forces at work in modern Scotland.

The Sleeping and the Dead is a tense psychological crime thriller from CWA Gold Dagger award-winning writer, Ann Cleeves. Detective Peter Porteous is called to Cranwell Lake where the body of a teenager has been discovered. After trawling through the missing persons files, he deduces that the corpse is Michael Grey, an enigmatic and secretive young man who was reported missing by his foster parents in 1972. For country prison officer Hannah Morton it is the shock of her life. Michael had been her boyfriend, and she had been with him the night he disappeared. The news report that a body has been found brings back dreaded and long buried memories from her past . . .

'Kathy Reichs has written her masterpiece' MICHAEL CONNELLY 'This page-turning series never lets the reader down' HARLAN COBEN In a profession like this, you're bound to make enemies . . . It all starts when Dr Temperance Brennan finds a box on her porch. Inside is a fresh human eyeball with GPS coordinates etched into it. They lead her to a macabre discovery in a Benedictine Monastery, and soon after she discovers a mummified corpse in a state park. There seems to be no pattern to these killings, except that each mimics a killing connected to something a younger Tempe experienced, or barely escaped. Someone is targeting her, and she needs to figure out why before they strike again. And then her daughter Katy disappears. Someone is playing a dangerous game with Tempe. And they won't stop until they have taken everything from her . . . Electrifying, heart-stopping and compulsive, this is Tempe's most personal and dangerous case yet . . . PRAISE FOR KATHY REICHS 'A thing of clever beauty - smart, scary, complicated, and engrossing from the first sentence' MICHAEL CONNELLY 'Reanimates all the ghosts from Temperance Brennan's forensic past until they thoroughly haunt her present . . . This page-turning series never lets the reader down' HARLAN COBEN 'Masterfully constructed' J.A. JANCE 'A mystery within a mystery that invites you to get into the action, complete with twisting turns and heart-stopping dives into the unknown . . . The crowning achievement of a master storyteller' NELSON DeMILLE 'I await the next Kathy Reichs' thriller with the same anticipation I have for the new Lee Child or Patricia Cornwell' JAMES PATTERSON 'Over the course of twenty books, Kathy Reichs and Tempe Brennan have thrilled readers with pacey, mazey tales . . . We readers are truly grateful' IAN RANKIN 'Reichs, skilfully using the conventions of the mystery novel, forces the reader to face up to the obscene realities of death time and time again. At work and a play she gets under your skin' THE TIMES 'A thrilling read from one of my favorite writers' KARIN SLAUGHTER 'One of the absolute best thrillers of the year! I can't recall when this many twists have been so masterfully woven into a novel.' JEFFERY DEAVER 'The Queen of forensic crime' EVENING STANDARD

Sitting in a Lloyd Loom chair on a Narrow Boat, moored on the Kennet and Avon Canal, a dead man stares into oblivion. Who is he and what is his name? Chief Inspector Michael Lambert from Thames Valley Police Authority unravels a murder case which stretches from Reading to Bulgaria, South Africa to Belorussia, and finally Taiwan to Peru. What at first appears to be a straightforward murder is revealed to be part of an international manhunt, the result of a major arms deal which has gone horribly wrong. The story begins with the discovery of a small mobile phone on the narrow boat and ends with the murder of a Chinese shipping magnate in the streets of London. Will anyone's life be the same again and how will our provincial policeman cope with these different layers of intrigue?

Christmas is a mysterious, as well as magical, time of year. Strange things can happen, and this helps to explain the hallowed tradition of telling ghost stories around the fireside as the year draws to a close. Christmas tales of crime and detection have a similar appeal. When television becomes tiresome, and party games pall, the prospect of curling up in the warm with a good mystery is enticing - and much better for the digestion than yet another helping of plum pudding. Crime writers are just as susceptible as readers to the countless attractions of Christmas. Over the years, many distinguished practitioners of the genre have given one or more of their stories a Yuletide setting. The most memorable Christmas mysteries blend a lively storyline with an atmospheric evocation of the season. Getting the mixture right is much harder than it looks.This book introduces readers to some of the finest Christmas detective stories of the past. Martin Edwards' selection blends festive pieces from much-loved authors with one or two stories which are likely to be unfamiliar even to diehard mystery fans. The result is a collection of crime fiction to savour, whatever the season.

FROM THE #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF HOLY ISLAND Beware what lies beneath... One fateful, starry night, three friends embark on a secret camping trip but only two return home. Thirty years later, the body of a teenage boy rises from the depths of England's biggest reservoir and threatens to expose a killer who has lain dormant...until now. Detective Chief Inspector Ryan returns from honeymoon to face danger from all sides. In the depths of Kielder Forest, a murderer has escaped justice before and will do anything to protect the secrets of the past. Meanwhile, back at Northumbria CID, an old foe has taken the helm as Superintendent and is determined to destroy Ryan at any cost. Who will prevail in Ryan's most dangerous case yet? Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunit set amidst the spectacular Northumbrian landscape. "LJ Ross keeps company with the best mystery writers" - The Times "A literary phenomenon" - Evening Chronicle

Autopsies can reveal the secrets of the dead. And this victim is sending Scarpetta a message...

Summoned to an abandoned theme park to retrieve a body, Dr. Kay Scarpetta is devastated to learn that the victim is a man she once had an intense love affair with.

The murder scene is bizarre, with a crop circle of petals around the body, and Giordano’s skin is strangely red. Scarpetta’s niece Lucy believes he was dropped from an unidentified flying craft. Scarpetta knows an autopsy can reveal the dead’s secrets, but she is shocked to find her friend seems to have deliberately left her a clue.

As the investigators are torn between suspicions of otherworldly forces, and of Giordano himself, Scarpetta detects an explanation closer to home that, in her mind, is far more evil...

Forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta has returned to Virginia as the chief medical examiner. She and her husband Benton are headquartered five miles from the Pentagon, in a post-pandemic world that’s been torn apart by civil and political unrest.

Just weeks into the job, Scarpetta is called to investigate a woman’s body which has been shockingly displayed on railroad tracks. As Scarpetta follows the trail, it leads unnervingly close to her own neighbourhood…

At the same time, two scientists are found dead in a top-secret laboratory in outer space. Scarpetta is summoned to the White House Situation Room and tasked with finding out what happened. But even as she’s working the first crime scene in space from the ground, an apparent serial killer strikes again. And this time, Scarpetta could be in greater danger than ever before…

The Innocent is another action-packed thriller from David Baldacci, one of the world's most popular writers.

HE COULD NO LONGER REMEMBER THE NAMES OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES HE HAD ENDED.

Master assassin Will Robie is the man the US government call to eliminate their most ruthless enemies at home or abroad. He never questions his orders, and he never misses his mark.

He’s just returned from a covert assignment in Edinburgh to neutralize a growing threat, having drawn upon all his expertise to complete his mission and disappear without a trace. The odds were stacked against him, but that’s never made a difference before.

But now he’s facing the most difficult operation of his career. Dispatched to kill a US government employee, he does the unthinkable when things don’t add up – he refuses to pull the trigger. In doing so, Robie finds himself becoming the target. On the run from his own government and with everything on the line, does he need to change sides to save lives – including his own?

The Innocent is the first novel in David Baldacci's blockbuster Will Robie series.

How does an ordinary criminal, renowned in 80's London Underworld for his expertise in electronic safe and cracking and breaking down the most sophisticated security systems, go from planning the country's largest diamond heist worth millions? To helping the Intelligence Departments of influential countries such as Britain and America to undermine Russia and Iran? And for what? To break in a strong room situated in a Chateau in Switzerland, to steal devices that could start or stop a nuclear War? During his race through Europe, he is being hunted down by an international criminal organisation who are brokering the deal and by a ruthless group of London mobsters who want their diamond's back and their revenge on Boyd for double crossing them! Boyd has to use all his mastery in martial arts and street wise cunning to keep ahead of the game to come out on top, with the devices, diamonds but most of all if he's lucky, his life.

How does an ordinary criminal, renowned in 80's London Underworld for his expertise in electronic safe and cracking and breaking down the most sophisticated security systems, go from planning the country's largest diamond heist worth millions? To helping the Intelligence Departments of influential countries such as Britain and America to undermine Russia and Iran? And for what? To break in a strong room situated in a Chateau in Switzerland, to steal devices that could start or stop a nuclear War? During his race through Europe, he is being hunted down by an international criminal organisation who are brokering the deal and by a ruthless group of London mobsters who want their diamond's back and their revenge on Boyd for double crossing them! Boyd has to use all his mastery in martial arts and street wise cunning to keep ahead of the game to come out on top, with the devices, diamonds but most of all if he's lucky, his life.