A young woman starts experiencing terrifying premonitions of people dying, as it becomes clear that a family curse known only as The Murmurs has begun, and a long-forgotten crime is about to be unearthed…   On the first morning of her new job at Heartfield House, a care home for the elderly, Annie Jackson wakens from a terrifying dream. And when she arrives at the home, she knows that the first old man she meets is going to die.   How she knows this is a terrifying mystery, but it is the start of horrifying premonitions … a rekindling of the curse that has trickled through generations of women in her family – a wicked gift known only as ‘the murmurs’…   With its reappearance comes an old, forgotten fear that is about to grip Annie Jackson.   And this time, it will never let go…   A compulsive gothic thriller and a spellbinding supernatural mystery about secrets and small communities, about faith, courage and self-preservation, The Murmurs is a startling and compulsive read from one of Scotland’s finest authors.  

Recently widowed and caring for his young son, Andy Boyd thinks his life is over, until he meets the beautiful, enigmatic Anna. And that was his first mistake ... A startling, emotive and stark psychological thriller from one of Scotland's bestselling crime writers... 'A stark, gripping storyline' Scots 'Strong female characters, honest, pithy dialogue and ever-present empathy for the victims make this a deeply satisfying read' Sunday Times 'Vivid, visceral and compulsive' Ian Rankin _________________ Some secrets should never be kept... Andy Boyd thinks he is the luckiest man alive. Widowed with a young child, after his wife dies in childbirth, he is certain that he will never again experience true love. Then he meets Anna. Feisty, fun and beautiful, she's his perfect match ... and she loves his son like he is her own. When Andy ends up in the hospital on his wedding night, he receives his first clue that Anna is not all that she seems. Desperate for that happy-ever-after, he ignores it. A dangerous mistake that could cost him everything. A brave, deeply moving, page-turning psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie marks a stunning departure for one of Scotland's finest crime writers, exploring the lengths people will go to hide their deepest secrets, even if it kills them... _________________ 'Malone tackles the taboo subject of female violence against men with insight and compassion (for Anna is no one-dimensional witch), while creating all the hallmarks of a fine, page-turning psychological thriller' Daily Mail 'A mystery involving some disturbing account anomalies at Andy's bank is appropriately overshadowed by Malone's painful depiction of a man in turmoil' Publishers Weekly 'It's a tough high-wire act, balancing believability with surprise, but the author pulls it off with aplomb. Excellent stuff' Doug Johnstone, The Big Issue 'Disturbing but compulsive ... I loved it' Martina Cole 'Bristling with unease, this is domestic noir at its very darkest, twisting the marriage thriller into a new and troubling shape' Eva Dolan 'A deeply personal thriller that will keep the reader turning those pages, with twists and turns designed to keep the heart pumping' Russel D. McLean 'A tightly wound page-turner with real emotional punch' Rod Reynolds 'A dark and unnerving psychological thriller that draws you deep into the lives of the characters and refuse to let go' Caroline Mitchell 'A chilling tale of the unexpected that journeys right into the dark heart of domesticity' Marnie Riches 'Emotionally intelligent and engaging' Caro Ramsay 'A story that I won't forget in a hurry. Malone is a massive talent' Luca Veste 'A disturbing and realistic portrayal of domestic noir with a twist ... a shocking yet compelling read' Mel Sherratt 'Malone perfectly balances storytelling with a brutal commentary on a dysfunctional relationship' Sarah Ward

When a young man inherits a vast mansion from an estranged great-uncle, his apparent good fortune sours when unsettling things begin to happen ... A terrifying psychological thriller cum gothic ghost story from the bestselling author of A Suitable Lie. 'A beautifully written tale, original, engrossing and scary. It's a wonderful mixture, a psychological thriller with a touch of a ghost story (sort of), a dollop of the supernatural (but not really) and murder (perhaps), told through the vision of a druggie poet who hasn't taken his medicine and is therefore an unreliable witness (or is he?) ... a dark joy' The Times 'A deeply satisfying read' Sunday Times 'A fine, page-turning thriller' Daily Mail _________________ What you see isn't always real... Ran McGhie's world has been turned upside down. A young, lonely and frustrated writer, and suffering from mental-health problems, he discovers that his long-dead mother was related to one of Glasgow's oldest merchant families. Not only that, Ran has inherited Newton Hall, a vast mansion that belonged to his great-uncle, who had been watching from afar as his estranged great-nephew grew up. Entering his new-found home, it seems Great-uncle Alexander has turned it into a temple to the written word - the perfect place for poet Ran. But everything is not as it seems. As he explores the Hall's endless corridors, Ran's grasp on reality appears to be loosening. And then he comes across an ancient lift; and in that lift a mirror. And in the mirror ... the reflection of a woman. A terrifying psychological thriller with more than a hint of the gothic, House of Spines is a love letter to the power of books, and a reminder that lust and betrayal can be deadly... _________________ Praise for Michael J. Malone: 'House of Spines is a gothic ghost story and psychological thriller all rolled into one. Brilliantly creepy, with a dash of Glasgow humour, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. A spine-tingling treat' Lisa Gray, Daily Record 'From the stunning opening chapter, I was hooked. House of Spines is an intriguing tale with a haunting, gothic quality that compels you to keep reading till the end' Howard Linskey 'At first it seems like a poet's paradise, but something sinister lurks within the corridors ... a MUST READ' Daily Express 'The story twists and feints, pulling us along with it at every turn, the edginess of its central character making every development even more unsettling ... a chilling read, best savoured late on a dark night' Herald Scotland 'You might not want to be alone when you read this spine-chilling gothic thriller ... As he explores its endless corridors his grip on reality seems to be evaporating in this terrifying exploration of lust and betrayal' Sunday Post 'Prepare to have your marrow well and truly chilled by this deeply creepy Scottish horror ... A complex and multi-layered story - perfect for a wintry night' Sunday Mirror 'Beautifully crafted and colourfully descriptive ... keeps the reader gripped by an uneasy presence, a chill, literally, down the spine' Undiscovered Scotland 'Malone is a massive talent ... get on board now so you can brag you were reading his books long before the rest of the world' Luca Veste 'Vivid, visceral and compulsive' Ian Rankin 'A terrific read ... I read it in one sitting' Martina Cole 'A deeply personal thriller that will keep the reader turning those pages, with twists and turns designed to keep the heart pumping' Russel D. McLean

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

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

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