Krimi & Thriller

Kaleb is settling into his life without Alice, spending his days working at his oldest brother's coffee shop and nights taking courses at a community college. Sure, Red Queen Inc. is still up to its old tricks, this time releasing WonderLand on an entire city, but Kaleb is out no matter how many times Markus asks him to come back. That is until Linc shows up, letting him know that not only is Alice alive, but she's in trouble. Alice wakes up behind a walled-up Salt City. The WonderLand virus is running rampant, and she is being hunted. If that wasn't bad enough, she has no memory of how she got there or what's happened in the last six months. Kaleb sent her on a crazy scavenger hunt to find him, telling her to trust no one. Will Kaleb and Alice find each other before Salt City is destroyed, killing everyone inside?

J.G. Ballard has held a tremendous influence on culture since he first started writing, much of which turned out to be prophetic. In Feral Architecture Joe Koch, Donyae Coles, Sara Century, Brendan Vidito, and editor Sam Richard plume the depth of that influence through the lens of horror fiction. The results are surreal, ominous, unexpected, unnerving, and a fitting tribute to the legacy of one of the 20th century's most impactful and important writers.Featuring a foreword by Scott Dwyer of The Plutonian.

Ashleigh and her little family of misfits are on the run, searching for a new home where they can rest and finally get clean. The police hot on their heels, they flee to the abandoned asylum at the top of the mountain, thinking it's the perfect starting point for their long road to recovery. They're ready for this. They long for their new life. The asylum is in disrepair with no running water or electricity. It does provide shelter, but maybe they are not alone in seeking it. If only they'd considered that the darkness they had run to might be even more shadowed than the one they were running from."Hans treats readers to a journey as they watch Ashleigh traverse a tightrope of emotions and treacherous situations only to find herself in an unfathomable reality...Spine-tingling fun!" -L. Marie Wood author of 12 Hours¿¿"Fast-paced, gritty, and entertaining!"- Lucy A. Snyder, 5-time Stoker award winning author of Sister, Maiden, Monster

A new thriller by the author of The Desperate Wife: Sometimes the ones closest to us are the ones with the most to hide . . . Thirteen-year-old Kaleb has gone missing-and Laney Atkinson and her sister are keeping a secret: their kids were the last to see Kaleb alive. With the neighbourhood in a panic, they don't want their children traumatised by police interviews and pointing fingers. Instead, Laney devotes herself to trying to find Kaleb. But any lingering hope for a happy ending is lost when the boy's body is discovered days later. Sure enough, gossip and suspicion engulf the community. Laney, though, has her own suspicions about the tragedy, and they involve someone close to her. As tensions erupt within her family and a shocking secret is revealed, will the truth bring her relief-or shatter her world?

A bookseller finds an old diary containing a condemned man's last words-but can they be trusted? "A compelling book, superbly plotted" (Peter Lovesey, author of The Last Detective). Browsing through a collection of old volumes, a bookseller comes across a diary-contained in it, the final words of a man sentenced to die for murder, addressed to his executioner. But after reading the journal, the bookseller wonders if there was a miscarriage of justice? Did the wrong man go to the gallows? And is there any way to prove it? A Coin for the Hangman is a "mesmerising and thought-provoking" work of historical fiction, rich in detail and character, that delves into questions of duty, war, innocence, and guilt (Crime Fiction Lover). A Recommendation of the Walter Scott Prize Academy "A fiendishly clever plot set in the aftermath of World War II. I thoroughly enjoyed it." -Minette Walters, Edgar Award-winning author of The Sculptress "Capital punishment seems so alien to modern Britain that it is a shock to be reminded that just over fifty years ago there was a middle-aged man in a middle-ranking job in a London office who, two or three times a year, was paid six guineas to visit one of Britain's prisons and kill one of the prisoners. . . . A disturbing and poignant little novel." -Historical Novels Review "A very moving piece of fiction." -Crimesquad

A mysterious disappearance escalates into a murder case, in this riveting new thriller by the author of The Accident. Not long after receiving a devastating medical diagnosis, Amy Cooper is at the police station-reporting the disappearance of her husband, Callum. A few miles away, a mother and her children are outdoors enjoying a day in the snow when they discover a dead man in a ditch nearby. The mother calls the police, whose initial investigation indicates the body belongs to the missing husband, killed in a hit-and-run. But the autopsy results reveal to DI Samantha Freeman and DS Jenny Newcombe that the man didn't die in a car accident. And a murder investigation is initiated. Now they must work their way through a web of secrets and lies to learn what really happened-and to whom . .

Within the mysterious expanse of the Scottish moorlands, young and beautiful Erica Carmichael is drawn into the enigma of her relatives' sprawling estate. As she settles into the ancestral home, an aura of discomfort and suspense thickens. Amidst the shadows, one figure stands out - Jack, the sculptor. His creations seem to mirror the secrets that lurk beneath, leaving Erica to ponder: What lies behind the stone façade of her family's past?Read this novella to find out.

AN ADDICTIVE CRIME THRILLER SERIES PACKED WITH TWISTS, TURNS, HUMOUR & KICK-ASS GEN-Z PRIVATE DETECTIVESAfter a very public meltdown on stage, pop diva Emefa disappeared from public view. The Internet was awash with conspiracy theories. But interest waned as soon as the tabloids began chasing the next celebrity story... Nothing to investigate, right? Right. That is, until Emefa drops her first track since her meltdown. It's a pared-back, e-girl acoustic ballad, returning to her original sound from before the fame, boys, and brand management took over. Charlie and her team think there's a cry for help hidden within the song-and they will not rest until they find the truth. Add a serial killer targeting cougars, a cuckold seeking proof of infidelity, and a group of young, eager private detectives to the mix, and you get E-Girl Unplugged. Murder and mystery are peppered with action and humour in this fast-paced crime thriller, set in Liverpool-a city where reputations can be won, lost or bought at the drop of a hat.

As she steps out of the shower and wraps herself in a warm towel, her breath catches. There's writing scrawled in the condensation on the mirror. I'm going to kill you. She doesn't even have time to scream...It's Halloween when a young woman is reported missing from the small town of Black Rock Falls and Sheriff Jenna Alton and her partner, Deputy David Kane, race to her remote home. But all they find are signs of a struggle and blood on the bathroom floor. Freya Richardson has vanished.With no leads on Freya's whereabouts, Jenna hits a wall in the investigation. Then the bodies of three women are discovered buried in a local forest. Each one has been wrapped in a blanket. As Jenna takes in their pretty faces and long blonde hair, her blood runs cold. Freya isn't here: but each body looks shockingly like her...Jenna soon links the victims with an unsolved case where the killer attacked blonde-haired women in their homes and buried the bodies. She's convinced it's the same murderer, and seeing that he always takes three victims, she realizes that two more women could be in serious danger...Working around the clock, Jenna's heart sinks when a beloved friend makes a terrifying call telling her there's an intruder in her house. Begging her to hide, Jenna and Dave race to the woman's house. But can they get there in time to stop another innocent life from being taken? Truly gripping and absolutely unputdownable, fans of Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot will love this novel from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author D.K. Hood. **Each Kane and Alton book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone**What readers are saying about A Song for the Dead:"A page-turner, a cannot-put-down story of intrigue, mystery and mayhem." NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars "I was kept guessing right till the end. A captivating rollercoaster ride!!... I always think I have it figured out and D.K. always manages to surprise me! 10 out of 10 stars!" Sip_andread, 5 stars "5 stars for another book that kept me guessing until the end." B for Bookreview, 5 stars "When a new Kane and Alton book comes out, I just have to stop everything and read it. This one was incredibly atmospheric and just really drew you in." Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars "The crime was shocking and intense, I felt on edge. I didn't want to put this down." Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars "This book will grab you from the first page... A must-read for me." NetGalley reviewer "Full of twists and suspense right to the end." Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars "Keeps you on the edge of your seat... Unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers guessing until the very end... Thrilling crime fiction." Goodreads reviewer "Another well-written, twisted and very creepy read." Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars "A twisty page-turner." Goodreads reviewer "Gripping... I was hooked... On the edge of my seat." NetGalley reviewer

"You're having twins!" Becca runs her hand over my huge pregnant belly. It sends shivers down my spine. There's something off about her smile. And now she's living in my home... When my husband Seth and I bought our perfect home, all I wanted was a chance to start a loving family-the one thing I never had. And all our dreams come true when I get pregnant with twins. But we had no idea financial ruin was just around the corner. Desperate to keep our heads above water, we have no choice but to take in lodgers. Becca, Jules and Zoe are dream roommates. So why do I feel so uneasy when Seth leaves me alone with them? Maybe it's because I keep catching Becca and Jules in places they shouldn't be. And Zoe says she knows my mother-the toxic woman whose influence I still feel every day. Maybe I'm just imagining things. Perhaps I'm like my mother after all-paranoid and delusional. She's too sick to look after herself without help. I need to pull it together. I can't end up like her. But when I start to see dark shadows moving behind my bedroom door at night, I can't shake the sickening feeling that someone is watching me. I start to eavesdrop on their conversations. And what I hear makes my blood run cold. They aren't who they say they are. And I think I've put my unborn babies in deadly danger by inviting these strangers into my home... An utterly gripping and twisty psychological thriller that will keep you turning the pages until the jaw-dropping end. Fans of Sue Watson, Freida McFadden and K.L Slater won't be able to put this down! Books in The Roth Family Lies series can be read in any order. Read what everyone is saying about Jenna Kernan: "OMG!!!!! Wow!!!!!... I don't know where to start with this book... I read this in just a few sittings. I couldn't swipe fast enough. I had to find out what happened and fast... so twisted and wonderful. It left me totally speechless." Blue Moon Blogger, ¿¿¿¿¿

8 chilling short stories that straddle the line between horror and erotica, full of passion and intrigue, from legendary 18th century Parisian aristocrat, the Marquis de Sade "Ghouls and fiends, hapless femmes and dastardly villains; de Sade could weave a good gothic tale" -- The Herald (Glasgow) Notorious for erotic novels that use satire and social critique to challenge the aristocracy in Pre-revolutionary France, his sexual transgressive work made his name unmentionable in civilized circles. Writing about Enlightenment philosophy as much as he does about incest and adultery, de Sade's fiction delves deep into the darkest recesses of the human psyche and remains as relevant to our society as it was to his own. Thrumming with devious fantasies and dangerous liaisons, these gothic stories lay bare the transgressive desires of his unforgettable characters. As good behaviour gives way to wicked impulse, each finely crafted tale reveals an uncomfortable truth about human nature, from a pitch-black social comedy exposing the hypocrisies of the church to a drama-laden deep dive into adultery. Infamous for spending decades in prison and condemned by Parisian society, de Sade's writing provocatively challenges the morality of day, introducing through these stories a lawless locale of vice and freedom. With a provocative introduction from translator Margaret Crossland, Gothic Tales provides a tantalizing entry point, showcasing Sade's gift as both a moralist and a humorist through classic stories including: Eugenie de Franval The Horse-Chestnut Flower The Chastised Husband Florville and Courval The Husband who Played Priest Emilie de Tourville Room for Two The Self-Made Cuckold

Fiercely independent Mabel Canning can't wait to begin working for the Useful Women's Agency. But when she discovers a body on her client's doorstep, it's time to add solving murders to her job description... London, 1921: Mabel Canning is proud to be a modern woman working for the Useful Women's Agency, carrying out tasks for gentlewomen from flower arranging to washing muddy dogs. But when she answers the door for wealthy widow Rosalind Despard, she almost chokes on her cucumber sandwich when she finds a soldier's body on the doorstep. As she offers tea to the policemen of Scotland Yard, Mabel can't resist getting drawn into the investigation. Who was the mysterious dead man? And why was he holding a letter for Rosalind, written by her husband on the day he disappeared? As Mabel hunts for clues, she joins forces with Rosalind's handsome brother, former detective Park Winstone, and his adorable terrier, Gladys. But when Mabel suspects she is being followed, the detective duo know that time is running out before the killer strikes again. As she investigates, Mabel discovers dusty old photographs that help her reveal the soldier's true identity. But as she gets closer to uncovering the young man's murderer, she knows she's also one step closer to danger... Can she outsmart the killer and save Park and Rosalind before they also turn up dead as doornails? A totally unputdownable and utterly charming Golden Age cozy mystery from USA Today bestselling author Marty Wingate. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Richard Osman, Verity Bright and T.E. Kinsey. What readers are saying about Marty Wingate: 'VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! GO! BUY! READ!' Goodreads reviewer ¿¿¿¿¿ 'I absolutely had a ball reading this... filled with charming characters and plenty of spine-tingling twists to keep readers on the edges of their seats!' Goodreads reviewer ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Loved this!... laugh-out-loud moments and lots of twists and turns... I was torn between wanting to race to the end and prolong my time with the characters... Perfect!' Goodreads reviewer ¿¿¿¿¿

"A body is found stabbed to death in a locked room. The police find no weapon, no motive and no suspects. However, the murderer has in their possession a box of one hundred cryptic picture postcards which - if properly understood - would explain not just this murder, but nine others. These are those cards. Solvers must rearrange the pages of text to unravel the story and identify the murderer, victim and location for each of the ten murders. They must also consider the separate puzzles presented by the curious images on the other sides"--

Dr. Cresswell Simmons, a dream worker, is passionate about traumatized psychics and works in a psychiatric hospital to find those she can help. Six months ago, she barely survived a traumatic experience with a patient. Now on the cusp of returning to work and dreading every minute of it, she's been asked to step back in, and she desperately wants to say no, but a twelve-year-old boy's life is at stake.Gray Burnett had worked on the original case, watching the devastation that had hurt Cressy. When asked to help her retrieve the information they need, he agrees-but more to protect her and the little boy than following orders. When her return to work is less than joyful, he wonders at the undercurrents in the hospital, as jealousy, admin disputes, even Board of Director members dominate the investigation and not in a good way.Cressy is used to a world that doesn't understand her work, but she needs Gray to open up and to see what's going on around them. It's the only way they will survive, as the case takes a bizarre turn that shocks even her ...

Du luxe à la misère... Les c¿urs commencent à guérir... Les amitiés commencent à éclore... mais pas pour tout le monde !Doreen sait que sa relation avec le capitaine de la police s'est toujours trouvée sur un terrain glissant. Elle les a aidés à résoudre des enquêtes, mais a quadruplé leur boulot et se met constamment en travers de leur chemin. Alors, personne n'est plus surpris que Doreen quand le capitaine passe par là et lui demande une faveur personnelle, concernant une affaire non résolue de sa propre enfance.Tandis qu'il se rétablit lentement de sa blessure, le caporal Mack Moreau apprend que le capitaine s'est arrêté à la maison de Doreen pour lui demander un peu de son temps. Curieux, Mack est d'autant plus stupéfait d'apprendre les détails de cette visite. Il veut aider, mais une histoire vieille de quarante ans ne laisse pas grand-chose derrière elle permettant de commencer une enquête.Doreen a conscience qu'échouer à élucider une affaire doit arriver parfois... Mais elle va beaucoup ¿uvrer pour que ça ne soit pas le cas cette fois-ci, pas alors que le capitaine a personnellement requis son aide. Par conséquent, accompagnée de ses bestioles, Doreen file en courant... en laissant Mack l'observer - et s'inquiéter - dans son sillage.

Iceland 1940. Britain invades Iceland. Lieutenant Tom Marks is a British officer tasked with defending Whale Fjord. He meets Kristín, a young widow from a nearby farm, who has a small son. Tom is smitten.Iceland 2023. Inspector Magnus Ragnarsson is called to the shores of Whale Fjord where the skeletons of a man and a woman have been discovered, both shot with British wartime bullets. Magnus uncovers a web of anger and revenge that stretches back eighty years and forward to a shocking murder in Reykjavík.

In the heart of New York City plagued by crime, the opioid epidemic, and mental health crisis, the NYPD Chief of Police proposes an audacious experiment. A partnership born of necessity - blending the skills of two enigmatic experts.Jed Gray and Christie Jamison, handpicked for their unrivaled expertise. Jed, a therapist with a unique ability to see through the layers of the human mind, and Christie, a relentless detective whose intuition knows no bounds. Together, they make an unlikely pair.Less than 24 hours in, a murder thrusts them into action, with Jed Gray as the prime suspect. As the clock ticks and another murder shatters the fragile calm, will their untested partnership survive?For Jed, the answer lies buried in his past-a past he vowed never to return. Will he unlock the key to the case, or will the past consume him?Brace yourself for the exciting journey of Jed and Christie as they navigate through truth, deception, friendship, and betrayal.

I'd learned pretty quickly that the only person you can depend on is yourself. But when I awake alone, in a city enveloped in mist, I find myself frantically searching for anyone who can help. Desperate to escape my new reality, I'm forced to overcome challenges I never could have imagined. As I struggle to stop a murderer from a place beyond the physical world, I slowly learn the value of letting the right people into your life. With the help of a selfless twelve-year-old and an amateur sleuth I can't seem to tear myself away from, I only hope that I can do what needs to be done before it's too late. The Pale: Diary of the dead is J.McDonald's debut novel. Leveraging a unique writing style developed over shorter works and Master's thesis piece, this author's works explore the concept of what matters most about a person while sending readers on a thrilling ride.

A Locked Room. An Improbable Murder.When Private Investigator Jacob Kincaid is approached by mystery podcaster Natalie Amato, he senses a case that matters may have finally fallen across his desk.The former journalist hires Jacob to investigate the death of a colleague, convinced what was initially written off by police as an accident, was actually murder.With an unlikely crime and a cult of Ireland's elite watching from the shadows, Jacob must navigate an increasingly deadly case to get the answers he needs and where every new truth uncovered puts his life, and Natalie's, at risk.

In the riveting follow-up to The Masada Scroll, delve into a compelling and thought-provoking narrative that remains as relevant today as ever.In Masada, the discovery of a previously unknown gospel sets in motion a powerful chain of events that rocks religious communities across the globe. This sacred scroll, penned by Dismas bar-Dismas, introduces an enigmatic symbol uniting elements of Christianity's Cross, Judaism's Star of David, and Islam's Crescent and Star. Bar-Dismas also espouses the concept of unity among Christians, Jews, and Muslims by outlining the three paths to God. The gospel's existence attracts the attention of Via Dei, a dangerous sect hell-bent on perpetuating religious conflict. Father Michael Flannery, the prophesied Keeper of the Sign, is destined to bring peace to the world through this gospel. Once a translator of the scroll, he narrowly survives an assassination attempt while en route to a historic symposium in New York, where the world's largest religious groups gather. Via Dei is determined to silence Father Flannery and prevent his message from reaching the world. Woven into the fabric of this contemporary suspense are the trials of Tobias Garlande, a scholar living during the First Crusade. Plagued by visions of future calamities, Tobias, too, is a Keeper of the Sign, and his warning to Father Flannery reverberates across centuries: Failure is not an option.Combining international intrigue and suspense with fascinating historical detail, Armor of God explores the ramifications of true faith with a compelling tale of past and present religious turmoil and touching human drama.

"Grasshands fulfills the promise of the term 'mindbending' in ways drugs never could. Prose and dialog that are effortlessly engaging, horror that builds in an almost absurdist fashion making the dread that much more effective when it drops. And oh, how it drops. More than the sum of its parts-and damn, those parts are impressive on their own-Grasshands is a vehicle for experiencing the human condition, the ultimate drive for horror. I'll be thinking about it for a long, long time." - Laurel Hightower, author of Below and CrossroadsEverything wrong with the world is wrong with books. When overworked assistant Sylvia Hix finds a strange moss smothering the library books, there's little to worry about. But when patrons start eating it, gaining direct knowledge of the books, then losing their minds-Sylvia has deep problems. Moreover, her supervisor is a glue addict, her best friend Albert is growing into a giant, and Clara Gamelin, the Library Board Director, is shaping her to be the next ball busting head librarian. It is a job she does not want. Sylvia is haunted by the moss, because it's somehow connected to a horrific creature from her childhood. A creature she once named Grasshands and since forgotten. Stopping Grasshands from decaying the town's mind, the library's books, and the slow rot of time is the only job now available to her, whether she wants it or not. A novel of biblio-horror, body horror, and melancholic friendship, Grasshands is ready for check-out. Get your library card ready. "In his novel Grasshands, Kyle Winkler once again renders the deeply familiar pervasively uncomfortable. I find no place to rest in his work, where time keeps shifting, good and evil constantly switch positions like mobile surfaces on a semantic Rubik's cube, and the nostalgia of beloved fairy tales clashes with the modern reality of bills, eviction, imperfect love, and existential uncertainty. Grasshands is both mournful and hopeful, passionate and disappointed; a gorgeous romp through the conflicted folklore of our everyday lives." - Joe Koch, author of The Wingspan of Severed Hands and Convulsive "Grasshands is an enchanting and lovely dark fantasy novel, with echoes of Bradbury, Jackson, and Gaiman-yet its own, startlingly original creation. Kyle Winkler is a distinctive and inventive young writer with an exciting future ahead of him." - Dan Chaon, author of Sleepwalk