Top list: Crime

’Tis the season for trimming the tree, caroling, baking cookies, and curling up by the Yuletide waiting for Santa to drop down the chimney. But in this festive collection of holiday whodunits, murder is also paying a visit …

“CANDY CANE MURDER” by JOANNE FLUKE

When a trail of candy canes leads to a corpse outfitted in a Santa suit on a snowy bank, Hannah Swensen sets out to discover who killed Kris Kringle …

“THE DANGERS OF CANDY CANES” by LAURA LEVINE

A wealthy suburbanite takes a lethal tumble off his roof while installing a giant candy cane. Now it’s up to Jaine Austen to sift through a long list of scheming neighbors with dirty secrets in their stockings to expose a murderer …

“CANDY CANES OF CHRISTMAS PAST” by LESLIE MEIER

Lucy Stone must learn the mystery of a glass candy cane that was found smashed to bits by a corpse’s body to unlock the doors of Christmas past—and find a killer who got away with murder.

Whether a gift for yourself or that special someone on your list, there’s no better way to spend the holidays than with these tantalizing mysteries of murder …

Includes over 10 scrumptious holiday recipes!

Vampires, ghosts and death itself - from the international bestselling author of The Atlas Six, Masters of Death by Olivie Blake is a spellbinding queer fantasy.

'Olivie Blake is a mind-blowing talent' - Chloe Gong, author of These Violent Delights

This book is about an estate agent. Only she’s a vampire, the house on sale is haunted, and its ghost was murdered.

When Viola Marek hires Fox D’Mora to deal with her ghost-infested mansion, she expects a competent medium. But unbeknownst to Viola, Fox is a fraud – despite being the godson of Death.

As the mystery unfolds, Viola and Fox are drawn into a quest that neither wants nor expects. They'll need the help of a demonic personal trainer, a sharp-voiced angel and a love-stricken reaper. And it transpires that the difference between a mysterious lost love and a dead body isn’t nearly as distinct as you’d hope.

'If you enjoyed Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens, you will adore this book'- Starburst Magazine

From New York Times Bestseller and BookTok sensation Rina Kent comes a captivating age-gap billionaire romance filled with power, desire, and betrayal.

Nothing is fair in war.

Jonathan King is every bit his last name.

Powerful. Untouchable. Corrupted.

He’s also my dead sister’s husband and way older than me.

When I first met him as a clueless child, I thought he was a god.

Now, I have to confront that god to protect my business from his ruthless grip.

Little did I know that declaring a war on the king will cost me everything.

When Jonathan covets something, he doesn’t only win, he conquers.

Now, he has his sights on me.

He wants to consume not only my body, but also my heart and my soul.

I fight, but there’s no escaping the king in his kingdom…

Reign of a King is the first part of a duet.

©2020 Rina Kent (P)2020 Rina Kent

The wife of a prominent local judge is shot and killed on Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett's turf. But as Joe investigates, all signs point to the shot having been taken from an impossibly long distance. Joe has seen a lot in his time as warden, but he's never seen a killing like this. How could the shooting have been arranged? And who else is in the cross hairs? At the same time – just as he's adjusting to the arrival of a new baby, his first child – Joe's best friend Nate Romanowski is attempting to decipher a startling grizzly attack in the area. Beset by threats both man-made and natural, the two men must go to great lengths to figure out how to keep their loved ones safe.

Praise for the author: “Box is the king of contemporary crime fiction set in the West” PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“One of his most tightly wound tales, with more thrills than a snowy road on a steep mountain and more authority than the governor of Wyoming” KIRKUS REVIEWS

“As always, Box takes familiar elements of his long running series [...] and seamlessly combines them into a read that makes your heart race ... Half mystery, half thriller, totally worthwhile” BOOKLIST

Let it be known that I, Holley Stuart, do not give a single rat's behind about pro baseball's star pitcher Sebastian Stone. I definitely don't care that he's standing in my bookstore. Nor do I care that he seems to have forgotten about the last time we saw each other: senior prom, when he both humiliated me and broke my heart, albeit unknowingly. Now, he needs a date to his sister's wedding. Don't ask me how I ended up being it—I have no idea. But that's the least of my problems. His grandfather is adamant we're dating, and Seb isn't in a hurry to convince him otherwise, so I have no choice but to go along with it. The problem? The only thing I've ever faked is... well, you know. I've definitely never faked my feelings for someone. And judging by the way I feel whenever Seb looks at me, it doesn't look like I'm starting now...

Bakery owner Hannah Swensen has a dress to fit into and a date with her sister, Andrea, at Lake Eden's new health club, Heavenly Bodies. Dragging herself out of bed on a frigid Minnesota morning for exercise, of all things, is bad enough. Discovering the body of man-eating bombshell Ronni Ward floating in the gym's jacuzzi? Okay, that's worse. Nor does it help that there's a plate of The Cookie Jar's very own cream puffs garnishing the murder scene. Trying to narrow the list of Ronni's enemies down to fewer than half the town's female population, Hannah has her plate full. Trouble is, when it comes to cookies - and to murder - there's always room for one more...

'A whip-smart whodunnit, this will keep you guessing' Red

'A fast-paced thriller with clever twists' Bella

***KATY BRENT IS BACK! I BET YOU'D LOOK GOOD IN A COFFIN IS OUT NOW***

Something bad happened last night. My best friend Posey is dead. The police think it was a tragic accident. I know she was murdered.

I’ve woken up with the hangover from hell, a stranger in my bed, and I’ve gone viral for the worst reasons.

There’s only one thing stopping me from dying of shame. I need to find a killer.

But after last night, I can’t remember a thing…

From the author of How to Kill Men and Get Away With It, don’t miss this wickedly witty and utterly addictive novel, perfect for fans of Bella Mackie, Dawn O’Porter and Killing Eve.

Praise for The Murder After the Night Before:

‘What a ride! Unflinchingly realistic and raw but somehow also brilliantly funny at times, Brent's novel is a must-read’ Jesse Sutanto, author of Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

‘The horrors of going viral on social media twinned with a twisty murder mystery – contemporary fiction at its best, I loved it!' Jackie Kabler, author of The Perfect Couple

‘Brent delivers a compelling and incredibly important novel’ My Weekly

‘A fast-paced and satisfying read’ Charlotte Bigland, author of It’s Not Me It’s You

‘The Hangover meets Fleabag in this ribald, twisted mystery’ PJ Ellis, author of Love & Other Scams

‘A fast-paced thriller. With clever twists, it’s totally gripping' Closer Magazine

‘Once again, Katy Brent has shown her immense talent at writing dark humour with a thought-provoking core’ Sarah Clarke, author of A Mother Never Lies

‘A flawlessly plotted murder mystery. Devilishly brilliant. I loved it!’ Sarah Bonner, author of Her Perfect Twin

""Sharp, stylish and stunning...Foley's best yet."" -- Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All the Colors of the Dark

""It is an absolute bonkers delight (and I haven’t even mentioned the local bird cult yet …)."" -- NPR, Best Books of the Year

Secrets. Lies. Murder. Let the festivities begin…

It’s the opening night of The Manor, the newest and hottest luxury resort, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; the “Manor Mule” cocktail (grapefruit, ginger, vodka, and a dash of CBD oil) is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone is wearing linen.

But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. Just outside the Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. And it’s not too long before the local police are called. Turns out the past has crashed the party, with deadly results.

THE GIRLBOSS · THE HUSBAND · THE KITCHEN HELP · THE MYSTERY GUEST

Everyone’s got a secret. Everyone’s got an agenda. But not everyone will survive…The Midnight Feast

""Foley’s usual techniques of unraveling the central mystery through multiple timelines and narrators are paralleled by the spiraling events of the weekend, which careen from juice shots and yoga on the lawn to a chaotic climax at a hallucinogen-fueled bacchanal where hidden identities and multiple murders are brought to light. It is an absolute bonkers delight"" -- NPR

Nanny Wanted is a gripping thriller from the bestselling author of Out of Her Depth, Lizzy Barber.

'Nanny Wanted is the perfect gothic suspense novel, with complex characters and a creeping sense of dread.' - Clare Mackintosh, author of The Last Party

A remote Cornish mansion. The perfect couple. And the deadly secrets that bind them.

When Lily finally leaves her toxic relationship, a job as a nanny at Kewney Manor seems like the perfect solution. There, she can cut herself off from her old life, and never have to see him again.

The Rowes seem like a model family, and Lily falls instantly in love with her new home. But she can’t help feeling that something isn’t quite right. Why will nobody tell her about the nanny who came before her? Where does Laurie go at night? And what does Charles really want?

As Lily becomes increasingly entangled in the Rowes’s lives, she realizes that the perfect family may not be all that they seem. And as much as she fears the past she is running from, perhaps the present is where the real danger lies . . .

Praise for Nanny Wanted:

'A masterful read-in-one-sitting thriller. Every bit as gripping as last year’s Out of Her Depth (one of my favourite novels of 2022).' - B P Walter bestselling author of The Dinner Guest

'A tense, slow-burn du Maurier style domestic noir. Loved it.' - Catherine Cooper, bestselling author of The Chalet and The Cruise

'A gorgeous setting that hides a multitude of dark secrets.' - Nikki Smith, bestselling author of Look What You Made Me Do

First released on cassette tape in 1987, these archive recordings feature Joan Hickson as Miss Marple reading Agatha Christie’s .The Thirteen Problems

When the Tuesday Night Club meets in St Mary Mead, the weekly conversation turns to unsolved crimes. The stories of murder and intrigue are often so wicked that they have confounded even Scotland Yard. But there is one person present who has observed enough about human nature to be more than a match for the most perspicacious investigator…

Recorded more than 35 years ago while the BBC was filming the series , these thirteen short stories were read by Joan Hickson when she was 80 years old and capture the warmth and nostalgia of a bygone age.Miss Marple

Due to the archival nature of these recordings, the quality may vary. Newer recordings of , read by Juliet Stevenson, are also available.The Thirteen Problems

A RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK

'I couldn’t bear it to end' LOUISE CANDLISH

'A gripping page-turner' LAURA MARSHALL

'Chilling . . . Fast-paced and twisting' SARAH VAUGHAN

'Deliciously twisted' JP DELANEY

You think she wants to help.

You're wrong.

Lily Appleby will do anything to protect the people she loves. She’s made ruthless choices to make sure their secrets stay buried, and she’s not going to stop now.

When her party-animal daughter, Rachel, spins out of control, Lily hires a renowned therapist and healer to help her. Amber is the skilled and intuitive confidante that Rachel desperately needs. But as Rachel falls increasingly under Amber’s spell, she begins to turn against her parents, and Lily grows suspicious.

Does Amber really have Rachel’s best interests at heart or is there something darker going on? Only one thing is clear: Rachel is being lied to. Never quite knowing who to believe, her search for the truth will reveal her picture-perfect family as anything but flawless.

Loosely based on a true story, this is perfect for fans of Sabine Durrant, Teresa Driscoll and Kate Riordan - a gripping read to be devoured in one sitting, bursting with tension, layered characters and relationships which are never as simple as they first seem . . .

'A parable for our times: accomplished, eloquent and quite terrifying' DAILY MAIL

'Dark and addictive' HEAT

'Chilling in its depiction of manipulation and the impact of childhood trauma; fast-paced and twisting' SARAH VAUGHAN

'A brilliantly constructed tale of rivalry, manipulation and revenge' LOUISE CANDLISH

'Subtle, sly and suspenseful' JP DELANEY

‘What a deliciously dark domestic horror this is, as it picks away at the damage family members do to each other in the name of love . . . Such a clever, nuanced story of revenge, self-destruction, and everyday cruelty’ RUSS THOMAS

‘Superbly dark and glittering with menace, Tell Me Your Lies is not only an absolute gift of a thriller, but a sharp, unflinching take on the long-term consequences of buried trauma and shame’ CAZ FREAR

‘I absolutely loved it. Raced through to the end, totally invested in all the characters, and fascinated by Amber' AMANDA REYNOLDS

‘Expertly paced and beautifully written - but above all a damn juicy read’ CELIA WALDEN

“Enormously fun, witty, and warm, Pomona Afton is the heiress-turned-underdog that you’ll definitely be rooting for.”—Kristin Perrin, nationally bestselling author of How to Solve Your own Murder

A spoiled heiress must investigate her grandmother’s death in order to gain back her trust fund, all while discovering how to be her own person and maybe even in falling in love in this rom-com meets murder mystery.

When Pomona Afton, Upper East Side hotel heiress, stumbles out of a gala and upon the scene of her grandmother’s murder, her first thought is that the society queen won’t be missed for her kind, cookie-baking ways. In fact, she was mean, greedy, and paranoid—so paranoid that she secretly slipped a clause into her will mandating that, should she die an unnatural death, all the family assets get frozen. And if the “unnatural death” isn’t explained? Those accounts stay frozen.

Practically overnight, Pomona is locked out of her penthouse with no other option than to move in with a roommate: Gabe, the irritable (yet handsome) son of her former nanny. Not only is his apartment cramped, but it doesn’t even have a doorman. Or a chef! Pom needs someone to solve this murder, like, yesterday, so she can get her trust fund back.

And Gabe? He needs this murder solved because that’s the only way his mother, who toiled for the Afton family for years, will ever get the retirement money she deserves. As Pom’s family clams up, blocking the police at every turn, Pom quickly realizes that if she wants her glamorous life back, she’s going to have to put on her big-girl Manolos and do it herself…with the help of Gabe, who she’s falling for more and more by the day.

Can Pomona Afton (who previously couldn’t solve a crossword in the bath on a hungover Sunday) actually solve this murder? And if she does return to her former life of luxury, will it be worth the possibility of losing Gabe?

*SOON TO BE A MAJOR NETFLIX TV SERIES STARRING TESSA THOMPSON AND PRODUCED BY JESSICA CHASTAIN*

‘Stunning, addictive … this book should not be missed!’ Samantha Downing, Sunday Times bestselling author of My Lovely Wife

‘This is great … Keeps you guessing all the way through’ Jane Fallon

‘Alice writes the twisty sort of novel that leaves you breathless and unsure about everything and everyone… Warning – could cause sleepless nights!’ Adele Parks, Platinum

‘The ultimate rollercoaster reading experience’ Woman & Home

‘Dark, twisted, and oh-so-good’ Prima

‘We gulped down this intense thriller in one heart-in-our-mouth afternoon – it's that good!’ Sun on Sunday Fabulous

'Cleverly plotted and tightly written, this deliciously dark thriller will leave readers breathless… Feeney’s best book yet’ Daily Express

‘A pacy thriller full of lies’ My Weekly

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If there are two sides to every story, someone is always lying…

Jack: Three words to describe my wife: Beautiful. Ambitious. Unforgiving.

Anna: I only need one word to describe my husband: Liar.

When a woman is murdered in Blackdown village, newsreader Anna Andrews is reluctant to cover the case. Anna’s ex-husband, DCI Jack Harper, is suspicious of her involvement, until he becomes a suspect in his own murder investigation.

Someone is lying, and some secrets are worth killing to keep.

**************************************************

Readers LOVE Alice Feeney:

‘An absolute must for thriller fans!’

‘I loved every page of this book’

‘Absolutely enthralling’

‘Best psychological thriller I have read’

‘This book completely sucked me in. I couldn’t put it down’

‘It's dark, disturbing, beautifully written and finished it in almost one sitting’

International bestselling author Mandy Robotham returns with a brand new tale set in 1950s London.

‘A gripping story of revenge, guilt and redemption, sweetened by love.’ Daisy Wood, author of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris

‘A truly brilliant read—I couldn’t put it down!’ Suzanne Kelman, author of The Bookseller of Paris

London, 1952. Seven years after the chaotic aftermath of World War II, London has is coming alive again, with jazz clubs and flickering cinema awnings lighting up the night sky.

But for widowed Helen ‘Dexie’ Dexter, she’s still a woman in a man’s world. She longs to prove herself as an officer in the London Metropolitan Police, yet she’s stuck intervening in domestics and making tea for her male colleagues.

Then Harri Schroder arrives, seconded from Hamburg to the Met. Haunted by the loss of his wife and child, Harri is unlike any man Dexie has ever known. Compassionate and sharp-witted, he sees her not as a threat, but as an intelligent, canny officer full of potential.

And when Harri is tasked with hunting down a Nazi war criminal-turned-respected-businessman, with connections to the upper echelons of British society, it’s Dexie he turns to for help.

But as their bond deepens, a deadly fog engulfs London. Dexie and Harri must expose the fugitive before he vanishes, risking everything for justice – and each other…

The new gripping and heart-wrenching historical fiction novel from international bestseller Mandy Robotham. Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Kristin Hannah.

READERS LOVE A DANGEROUS GAME:

‘This is a book with characters so well-drawn you feel you know them. Add thrills and a dash of romance, and you have a book you can't put down. Loved it!’ Deborah Swift, author of The Shadow Network

‘Unique and spellbinding. I couldn't put it down.’ Melanie Hudson, author of The Paris Affair

‘Well written, atmospheric, suspenseful, with fully developed characters, this was a five star read for me….another one I couldn’t put down.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This story kept me up late at night. I wanted to read just one more chapter until I couldn’t.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Mandy Robotham takes the reader down this chilling path with twists and turns that keep you guessing and holding your breath.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A cleverly crafted mystery thriller set in the great smog of London in the 1950s.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Really enjoyed it from start to finish and captured the era brilliantly. Recommended.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Don't miss this one! I'd give it 10 stars if I could!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘If you like historical fiction mixed with thriller espionage this book will be for you!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The first book in a seductive new series from #1 Amazon bestselling author Scott Hildreth Tripp Once, I took down terrorists on the front lines as a marine. Now I'm in the business of bad. I've sold guns to people others might not approve of. I've eliminated the criminals, the lowlifes and the thugs who've tread on my turf. And I looked the Sicilian Mafia boss in the eye and told him to f*** off. No one tells me no, unless it's their last word. I didn't just act the part of bad—I lived it. Then she stumbled into my life. I tried to stay away from her. Tried focusing on moving my merchandise. But one smile from Terra was like a shot to the heart. She's mine now. And no one threatens what's mine. Terra I've seen a lot of terrible things in my life. I grew up around lies and deception, and I ran away from all of them. Until I met him. I knew he was corrupt. I knew he was dangerous. I should have stayed away, but my attraction to him, my need for him, overrode my logic. Now I love him. If he finds out who I am, we're done and I'll be nothing. I never wanted to be the Mafia princess they tried to make me, but mia familia had other plans. And what mia familia wants…it gets. Only Michael Tripp can save me. Book one of the Mafia Made series

Fans of MTV's Teen Mom have watched Kailyn Lowry grow from a vulnerable, pregnant teen into a fiercely independent young mother. Through it all Kailyn has faced challenges with her head held high and her spirit intact. In a moving effort to finally put the past behind her, Kailyn shares her troubled, often painful story and reveals the dark secrets she has so closely guarded. Guided by the single principle of helping other young girls like her, she takes the reader behind the scenes, writing candidly about her struggle to provide a safe home for her son, breaking her silence on the question of her sexuality, and sharing the traumatic sexual experiences that have left her deeply scarred.

Emmeline Duncan presents Book 1 in the Ground Rules Mystery series.

Nancy Warren presents Book 13 in the Vampire Knitting Club series.

'Bad Apple is a must-read for lovers of thrillers!’ Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I tore through this edge-of-your-seat, up-all-night thriller…Timely and gripping, don't miss this one.' – bestselling author Katy Brent

Trusted officer. Family man. Monster?

Becky Lawson’s life has been shattered.

When she discovered her husband, John – a trusted policeman – was a monster, she reported him. But her faith in the system was crushed when it didn't lead to any charges or consequences.

Now, John lives freely with a new girlfriend and her young daughter, while Becky battles guilt over missing the obvious signs.

Determined for justice, Becky hunts him down. But John wants her silenced – at any cost. Becky knows only one of them can survive, and she’ll do anything to make sure it’s her.

Becky must tread carefully though, because John isn’t the only bad apple lurking in the shadows…

A gripping heart-in-mouth psychological thriller that asks: What would you do if you found out the man you loved was rotten to the core? Perfect for fans of K.L. Slater, B.A. Paris and the Netflix hit TV series You.

___________

READERS ARE GRIPPED BY BAD APPLE!

‘I buzzed through this book in one sitting!’ Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An addictive read, filled with suspense and clever twists right to the unexpected ending.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I flew through this…a five-star read.’ Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book was extremely captivating…so many twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat!’ Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The book explores themes such as trust and deception with everything else in between…I found myself eagerly flicking the page to see what would happen next!’ Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This was one of my favourite thriller books I have read…absolutely fantastic!’ Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A brilliant, twisty police procedural story.’ Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Between baking up a storm for The Cookie Jar and unraveling the mystery of her cat Moishe’s recent strange behavior, Hannah Swensen has a lot on her plate. But she’ll always make time for her business partner, Lisa, who’s in the midst of preparing for a big family reunion. Everyone is delighted when Lisa’s long-lost uncle makes a surprise appearance. No one has heard from Gus in twenty-five years.

Uncle Gus is immediately the hit of the reunion. He’s almost as popular as Hannah’s scrumptious carrot cake, which is also Gus’s favorite dessert. But the next morning, as the whole family gathers for the group photo, one person is missing. Hannah offers to track down Uncle Gus, but her search leads to a shocking find. Over by the bar at the pavilion, she spots two slices of her infamous carrot cake, frosting-side down on the floor—and Gus’s corpse with an ice pick jutting out of his chest!

Now Hannah’s got to sift through a long list of suspects to find a killer—even if it could mean a recipe for her own demise …

“Filled with juicy scandal, delightfully eccentric characters and tempting recipes.”—Publishers Weekly