Search Results for: Born a Crime

John Raven and his wife Kirstie are holidaying in Lisbon at Ilona Szecheyi’s villa when Ilona’s father Stephen reveals his well-guarded secret: shortly before the communist occupation of Hungary in 1945, he was entrusted with 17 million in government gold bullion. Now, thirty-seven years later, the courts have awarded him full ownership of the money – and the current Hungarian regime is not pleased.

They will stop at nothing to get it back, and when blackmail and murder strike, Raven can’t pull out fast enough before he becomes the main suspect . . .

‘Donald MacKenzie is a born storyteller’ Guardian

When Kirstie Macfarlane’s younger brother is framed for stealing a Van Eyck portrait, she puts the case in the able hands of ex-Scotland Yard Inspector John Raven.

Seduced away from his quiet life on the Thames, Raven dives back into the seamy London underworld filled with police corruption and high-handed swindles. Kirstie and Raven soon realise they have more than one opponent and their lives are perilously on the line.

‘Donald MacKenzie is a born storyteller’ Guardian

Terminally ill Polish refugee Henryk Lamprecht, a decoder for British Security, has a score to settle with the Russian who killed his wife and daughter. As he is close to death, he has no time to lose when an opportunity he has been waiting for turns up.
But now, through a chance meeting with his old friend Zaleski, ex-cop John Raven is involved, and so is Lamprecht’s English sweetheart. And so the game of cat-and-mouse begins . . .

‘Donald MacKenzie is a born storyteller’ Guardian

Paul Henderson is a big time jewel thief on a run of bad luck. He has a seven-year-old daughter to support, so when he’s offered a partnership in the biggest heist of all time he decides to try to take the baubles and run.

He reaches Switzerland, where the crime is to take place, and wangles an invitation to a gala only to be confronted by a double threat, a double cross and a kidnapping. And all this is before the night of the burglary arrives . . .

‘Donald MacKenzie is a born storyteller’ Guardian

‘Donald MacKenzie is a born storyteller’ Guardian

Every thief dreams of committing the perfect crime. Cameron, Thorne and Gun are convinced that the jewel robbery they have planned cannot possibly go wrong, but jealousy mistrust and fear doom the enterprise from the start.

One of them dies a slow, hideous death; the other two find they have walked into hell. Soon, a beautiful woman and two desperate men find themselves trapped by their own actions. And when the thread of tension snaps they learn that death can indeed be a friend.

Ritchie Duncan, a convict, is released from prison and decides to go clean. But when he is handed some top secret film containing electronic data by a girl in a bar there ensues mayhem and murder. The film is the property of her communist agent boyfriend, and when she refuses to surrender it her connection is killed and she is kept quietly alive in a nursing home until Duncan can save her.

‘Donald MacKenzie is a born storyteller’ Guardian

Classic police procedural by a ‘born storyteller’ (Sunday Times), who combined natural flair with his experience in the police to truly authentic effect.

When a respected and successful businessman claims that he is being blackmailed by Inspector Martineau, and provides evidence to support his allegations, the policeman’s superiors have no choice but to suspend him from duty.

Martineau must go to work to clear his name, but the trail is a complex and dangerous one. The inspector has many enemies, not least Dixie Costello, whom he helped to put in jail and who is now once more at large. But is the trail a false one? And are all of Martineau’s colleagues to be trusted?

Classic police procedural by a ‘born storyteller’ (Sunday Times), who combined natural flair with his experience in the police to truly authentic effect.

There was an extra body in the morgue – a body stripped of all identification and with its face badly battered. But when Inspector Martineau was called to the scene he had a pretty good idea whose it was.

That was, however, just the beginning. A big payroll robbery, a group of out-of-town mobsters and some odd behaviour in a local night spot all attract Inspector Martineau’s attention. While, at a funeral parlour, the quick are considerably more active and dangerous a problem than the dead.

Classic police procedural by a ‘born storyteller’ (Sunday Times), who combined natural flair with his experience in the police to truly authentic effect.

Hell is a City is the first of Maurice Procter’s Inspector Martineau series and was made into taut, fast-paced film in 1959 by Hammer Studios, set against the grimy back streets and rain-streaked bright lights of Manchester.

When hardened criminal Don Starling escapes from jail, killing a prison guard in the process, Inspector Philip Martineau knows he will stop at nothing to make good his escape. The two men have known each other since childhood, and Starling blames Martineau for his incarceration a decade earlier. As the story hurtles to its conclusion, the two men meet in a final, violent confrontation.

An outlaw motorcycle club is a band of brothers like no other. Hidden away from mainstream society behind multiple layers of secrecy, mythology and a sophisticated campaign of misinformation that portrays them as nothing more than loveable rogues, the brutal truth about the biker world has long escaped public scrutiny.

In reality, today’s outlaw bikers are at the epicentre of a violent underworld subculture, enforced by a ruthless code of silence, and control a global criminal empire worth millions.

Spanning the UK, Europe, America, Canada and Australia, OUTLAWS is a compelling, shocking and chilling story of how bikers are born and made, and how and why they die.

‘Shiveringly good suspense!’ Lisa Gardner

THE THIRD BOOK IN A GRIPPING SERIES FROM 30 MILLION COPY SELLING AUTHOR.

At first Kacey Lambert thinks it’s a sad, strange coincidence that two women with an amazing resemblance to her have died suddenly.

But detective Selena Alvarez suspects otherwise. An autopsy confirms that one of the women had traces of poison in her blood…

And Kacey has started to notice ties between the dead women’s lives and her own. They were all close in age. They were born within a few miles of each other. And they all have ties with Trace O’Halleran, the single father Kacey is dating.

Soon more lookalikes are dying and as the body count rises, the killer gets bolder and more brutal. All Kacey knows is that it’s only a matter of time before hers is the next name on a list of those who were born to die.

‘She is one of the best’ Harlan Coben

THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES, AFRAID TO DIE, IS AVAILABLE NOW

‘Shiveringly good suspense!’ Lisa Gardner

THE SECOND BOOK IN A GRIPPING SERIES FROM 30 MILLION COPY SELLING AUTHOR.

Detectives Regan Pescoli and Selena Alvarez have been searching for the Star Crossed Killer for months, never imagining Regan will be captured by the madman she’s been hunting. Regan knows exactly what he’s capable of – and avoiding the same fate will take every drop of her courage and cunning.

As Selena joins forces with Regan’s lover Nate to dig deeper into the case and the body count rises, the truth about Regan’s disappearance becomes chillingly clear.

Something evil is lurking in the snow-covered mountains. With time running out, the only way they can save Regan will be to get inside a killer’s twisted mind and unravel a shocking message that he is revealing.

‘She is one of the best’ Harlan Coben

THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES, BORN TO DIE, IS AVAILABLE NOW

DS Benjamin Chambers and DC Adam Winter are hunting a twisted serial killer who recreates famous works of art using the bodies of his victims. But after Chambers almost loses his life, the case goes cold – the killer lying dormant, his collection unfinished.

Jordan Marshall has excelled within the Met Police, driven by a loss that defined her teenage years. She obtains new evidence, convincing both Chambers and Winter to revisit the case. However, this new investigation reawakens their killer, the team in desperate pursuit of a monster hell-bent on finishing what he started at any cost.

Praise for Daniel Cole:

‘A brilliant, breathless thriller’ M.J. Arlidge

‘Superb thriller writing’ Peter Robinson

‘A star is born. Killer plot. Killer pace’ Simon Toyne

‘Shadow Man is a harrowing and horrific game of consequences’ Val McDermid

THE BRILLIANTLY COMPELLING SECOND NOVEL IN THE DI LUKAS MAHLER SERIES

A missing child. A seventy-year-old murder. And a killer who’s still on the loose.

Ten year-old Erin is missing; taken in broad daylight during a friend’s birthday party. With no witnesses and no leads, DI Lukas Mahler races against time to find her. But is it already too late for Erin – and will her abductor stop at one stolen child?

And the discovery of human remains on a construction site near Inverness confronts Mahler’s team with a cold case from the 1940s. Was Aeneas Grant’s murder linked to a nearby POW camp, or is there an even darker story to be uncovered?

With his team stretched to the limit, Mahler’s hunt for Erin’s abductor takes him from Inverness to the Lake District. And decades-old family secrets link both casesin a shocking final twist.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MARGARET KIRK’S DEBUT NOVEL SHADOW MAN:

‘Gripping’

‘Kept me on my toes right to the end’

‘Another great detective is born’

‘Shadow Man has a taut plot, maintains suspense cleverly and is crisply written’

‘The city of Inverness is almost a character in its own right’

‘A top-notch crime thriller, full of intricate twists with a disturbing insight into the mind of a cold blooded killer’

‘Dark and atmospheric, I just couldn’t put it down’

‘Finch is a born storyteller’ PETER JAMES
‘Guaranteed to elevate your heart rate’ DAVID JACKSON

A GRIPPING AND EXPLOSIVE NEW THRILLER FROM THE MILLION COPY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

A message no one was supposed to hear.

Jodie Martindale‘s disappearance remains a mystery, unsolved to this day.

A message that will change everything.

David Kelman covered the story. But he made a huge mistake, which cost someone their life.

A message from the missing.

Now, he has evidence he shouldn’t have. It’s a message from Jodie – who has been missing for six years – but sent just two weeks ago…

‘A spine-chilling mystery from the master of suspense’ M.J. ARLIDGE

‘This might be Finch’s best yet … Grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. If you only buy one crime novel this year, make sure it’s Never Seen Again‘ P.L. KANE

‘Exceptional crime writing. Paul Finch continues to raise the bar.’ M.W. CRAVEN

‘A cracking crime thriller that builds to an action-packed finale. Guaranteed to elevate your heart rate!’ DAVID JACKSON

READERS LOVE PAUL FINCH

5 stars ‘So bloody good… Pace, twists and what a plot!!’
5 stars ‘More twists & turns than a funfair ride. The author definitely knows his police stuff’
5 stars ‘[A] gripping, breath-holding up-all-nighter’
5 stars ‘Fast paced and seems to get faster with every page’
5 stars ‘Paul Finch is an absolute must have in your collection’

‘A beautifully told stroy about the raw pain and ecstasy of motherhood. I loved it.’ Jane Corry

‘I adored this powerful, emotive and sensitively written story about love and loss/’ Louise Jensen

‘Haunting and heart-rending … a beautifully told story’ Victoria Selman


‘Who am I? Why am I here? Why did my mother give me away?’

On the surface, Luke and his girlfriend Hannah seem to have a perfect life. He’s an A&R man, she’s an arts correspondent and they are devoted to their new-born son Samuel.

But beneath the gloss Luke has always felt like an outsider. So when he finds his birth mother Alice, the instant connection with her is a little like falling in love.

When Hannah goes back to work, Luke asks Alice to look after their son. But Alice – fuelled with grief from when her baby was taken from her 27 years ago – starts to fall in love with Samuel. And Luke won’t settle for his mother pushing him aside once again…

* * * * *

Why real readers love this emotionally gripping story by the author of HIM:


‘Read it, read it, read it. One of my books of the year, without a doubt.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Beautiful, haunting, emotional, and totally addictive.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘A realistic, character driven, highly-emotional and addictive read.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Be warned: this novel will take over your life while you are reading it.’ Goodreads reviewer

FROM THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR – SOON TO BE A MAJOR TV SERIES

‘Superb thriller writing.’ Peter Robinson
‘A brilliant, breathless thriller’ M.J. Arlidge
‘A high concept solution to a mystery’ Sophie Hannah

A body is discovered with the dismembered parts of six victims stitched together, nicknamed by the press as the ‘Ragdoll’. Assigned to the shocking case are Detective William ‘Wolf’ Fawkes, recently reinstated to the London Met, and his former partner Detective Emily Baxter.

The ‘Ragdoll Killer’ taunts the police by releasing a list of names to the media, and the dates on which he intends to murder them. With six people to save, can Fawkes and Baxter catch a killer when the world is watching their every move?

Translated into over 30 languages, RAGDOLL is a quality, rocket-paced thriller with twists and turns you won’t see coming. For readers of Jo Nesbo. You will not stop talking about this book.

What everyone is saying about RAGDOLL:
‘A star is born. Killer plot. Killer pace. Twisted killer and a killer twist. Kill to get a copy.’ Simon Toyne
‘…the best debut I’ve ever read.’ Rachel Abbott
‘This book kept me captivated, my heart pumping and guessing to the very end!’ NetGalley reviewer
‘…a rollercoaster of a thriller.‘ NetGalley reviewer
‘…one of the most well written crime thrillers I have ever read’ NetGalley reviewer
‘A very well written debut novel which had all the twists and turns and intrigue that you need.’ NetGalley reviewer
‘Totally unputdownable‘ NetGalley Reviewer

The search for a missing boy gives Myron Bolitar far more than he bargained for…
From the bestselling author of SIX YEARS.

The boy was born and raised on the Main Line. But he vanished on Philadelphia’s mean streets – last seen in a down-town cheater’s hotel. For sports agent Myron Bolitar, his client, superstar Linda Coldren, comes first, and that means unravelling the mystery of her son’s kidnapping.

But when Myron goes after the missing boy, he crashes through a crowd of low-lifes, blue bloods and liars on both sides of the social divide. And when family skeletons start coming out of the closet, Myron is about to find out how deadly life can get…

No-holds-barred account of one of Britain’s most gifted and creative musical talents

In 2003, at the age of 17, Dizzee Rascal became an overnight name to drop when his debut album, Boy In Da Corner, beat Coldplay, Radiohead and The Darkness to the Mercury Music Prize.

Dizzee was born in Nigeria, but raised by his mum in Bow, east London after the death of his father when he was two years old. Dizzee was thrown out of four schools in four years, got involved with drugs and crime. But, whilst he dropped out of most formal education, music always had a guiding influence on Dizzee.

With four bestselling albums to his name, Dizzee is not only famed for pioneering grime – his style has evolved and progressed and he has become one of the biggest popstars in the UK today. Recent collaborations with artists as diverse as Arctic Monkeys and Fatboy Slim demonstrate Dizzee’s vision and musical genius. Citing influences which range from old skool hip hop to jungle and heavy metal, Dizzee embodies an artist with a unique talent who’s pioneering approach guarantee his longevity.

‘This haunting supernatural thriller is full of hidden treasure that will delight you long after you’ve turned the last page’ Sarah Pinborough, bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes

Maria King knows a secret London. Born blind, she knows the city by sound and touch and smell but now that surgery has restored her sight, the world seems a scarier place and she doesn’t want to see it.

DCI Jonathan Dark also sees a different side to the city. He’s in the shadows, haunted by his failure to save a woman from the hands of stalker, and he won’t let it happen again.

Now a killer has set his sights on Maria, and Jonathan must find a way to stop him.
But when gathering evidence, you can’t choose your source.
Can you save the living by talking to the dead?

‘AK Benedict is snapping at the heels of Ben Aaronovitch as one of the new stars of the sub-genre of crime with a supernatural twist’ Sunday Express

‘What will we find in the uncut grass?
‘It depends on what we’re looking for.’

From the author of the #1 bestselling Born a Crime comes a gorgeously illustrated fable about a young child’s journey into the world beyond the shadow of home, an enchanted landscape where he discovers the secrets of solidarity, connection, and finding peace with the people we love.

Infused with the author’s signature wit and imagination, in collaboration with masterful artist Sabina Hahn, it’s a tale for readers of all ages – to be read aloud or read alone.

New edition of the Terry Nation classic

Galactic freedom fighters battle The Federation.

Accused of a brutal crime and exiled from Dome City, where a vicious regime wields dictatorial power, Roj Blake swears vengeance on the corrupt leaders who have destroyed his future.

Hijacking the Liberator, the most advanced spacecraft ever created, Blake travels to the sinister planet Cygnus Alpha and risks everything to rescue other victims of the regime. And with these allies he forms a new fighting force to combat galactic injustice and fight The Federation.

Blake’s 7 is born.

‘A searing and stunningly poignant study in what makes us and what breaks us’ S. A. Cosby, New York Times bestselling author of Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland

‘A gripping novel about rage and trauma, redemption and damnation, football and family’ Steph Cha

Friday Night Lights with a Southern Gothic twist – a powerful debut noir for fans of S. A. Cosby and Megan Abbott.

In Denton, Arkansas, the fate of the high school football team rests on the shoulders of Billy Lowe, a volatile but talented running back. Billy comes from an extremely troubled home: a trailer park where he is terrorized by his unstable mother’s abusive boyfriend. Billy takes out his anger on the field, but when his savagery crosses a line, he faces suspension.

Without Billy Lowe, the Denton Pirates can kiss their playoff bid goodbye. But the head coach, Trent Powers, who just moved from California with his wife and two children for this job, has more than just his paycheck riding on Billy’s bad behavior. As a born-again Christian, Trent feels a divine calling to save Billy-save him from his circumstances, and save his soul.

Then Billy’s abuser is found murdered in the Lowe family trailer, and all evidence points toward Billy. Now nothing can stop an explosive chain of violence that could tear the whole town apart on the eve of the playoffs.

WINNER OF THE PETER LOVESEY FIRST CRIME NOVEL CONTEST

A USA Today Best Book of the Year (So Far)
An Amazon Editor’s Pick
CrimeReads Most Anticipated Books of 2022
New York Post Top Reads for the Week

‘Southern noir at its finest, a cauldron of terrible choices and even more terrible outcomes’ The New York Times Book Review

An early gem from the creator of the Kurt Wallander series, charting the life of a principled man through tragedy, heartbreak, true love and the battle for a nation’s soul.

“A very engaging portrait . . . There is a powerful lack of sentimentality to the telling of the story [and] a lovely and genuinely moving love story at the heart of the book.” Liam Heylin, Irish Examiner

At 3 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon in 1911, Oskar Johansson is caught in a blast in an industrial accident. The local newspaper reports him dead, but they are mistaken.

Because Oskar Johansson is a born survivor.

Though crippled, Oskar finds the strength to go on living and working. The Rock Blaster charts his long professional life – his hopes and dreams, sorrows and joys. His relationship with the woman whose love saved him, with the labour movement that gave him a cause to believe in, and with his children, who do not share his ideals.

Henning Mankell’s first published novel is steeped in the burning desire for social justice that informed his bestselling crime novels. Remarkably assured for a debut, it is written with scalpel-like precision, at once poetic and insightful in its depiction of a true working-class hero.

Translated from the Swedish by George Goulding