FICTION

The FrenchmanThe bestselling debut thriller based on the real-life experiences of a former French intelligence operative.

The chilling prose of Karin Slaughter meets the high-stakes serial killer plotting of The Butcher and the Wren. This dark debut follows three normal sisters, their own forgotten traumas, and the serial killer that lives within one.The chilling prose of Karin Slaughter meets the high-stakes plotting of The Butcher and the Wren in a dark debut following three normal sisters, their own forgotten traumas, and the serial killer that lives within one, begging the question- can you ever truly recognize the evil around you?Three sisters. One killer. Which one is SHE?The Rowling sisters have always been people you can understand - with partners and children, homes and dreams. And secrets, the sisters have those too. But when Kate, the eldest, finally returns to buy her late grandfather's home, the dark things each sister has kept buried soon rise to the surface.Is Kate having unexplained visions tied to a past she can hardly recall? Is Aurora, the married mother of two, finally acting out in the face of her sisters' indiscretions? Is Peggy, the youngest and a recovering addict, able to move on from the memories that haunt her?And then there's SHE.SHE is one of them, but SHE is not like them at all. SHE is defined only by the carnage she lets the world see, the murders that have swept through their coastal community. And as the police close in on their newest serial killer, scrutiny lands on the Rowlings, forcing them to face their demons and reveal all they have kept hidden.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of two Oprah Book Club Picks—She’s Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True—Wally Lamb comes the propulsive story of a young father who, after an unbearable tragedy, reckons with the possibility of atonement for the unforgivable. Corby Ledbetter is struggling. New fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction have thrown his marriage to his beloved Emily into a tailspin. And that’s before he causes the tragedy that tears the family apart. Sentenced to prison, Corby struggles to survive life on the inside, where he bears witness to frightful acts of brutality but also experiences small acts of kindness. As he counts down the weeks, months, and years of his incarceration, he develops elemental kinships with a tenderhearted cellmate, a troubled teen desperate for a role model, and a prison librarian who sees and nurtures his light. Buoyed by them and by his mother’s enduring faith in him, Corby begins to transcend the boundaries of his confinement, sustained by his hope that mercy and reconciliation might still be possible. Can his crimes ever be forgiven by those he loves?

The Chemist‘Without a doubt the best crime thriller I’ve read this year … A story of loyalties and desperation. A brilliant read’ Reader review ?????'A. A. Dhand is masterful within the gangland genre. He grabs the reader’s attention from the start, and we remain gripped to the end' Reader review ?????‘The Chemist is absolutely compelling, inventive and original … Simply brilliant. State of the art British Crime fiction. Read it as soon as you can!’ Reader review ?????* * *Local pharmacist and pillar of the community, Idris Khan, spends his days doling out methadone to the hundreds of addicts in his care. They trust Idris with their secrets, and so he knows more than his mild manner suggests. So when his childhood sweetheart, Rebecca, doesn't turn up for her daily methadone dose, Idris is worried. Worried enough to go looking for her in the most deprived area of Leeds, alone.The mess Idris finds catapults him into the middle of a turf war between the two most powerful drug cartels in Yorkshire. Now, he must use every bit of intelligence and cunning he has to keep those he loves safe.Because a war is on the way. And when Idris goes after his enemies, they won't see him coming.* * *Praise for A. A. Dhand:‘Dark, daring and utterly propulsive … blurs the lines between hero and villain’ Kia Abdullah, author of Those People Next Door‘Terrific … dispensing thrills and tension from start to finish’ Trevor Wood, author of The Man on the Street‘Gritty, dark, and visceral … If I read a better book in the next year, it's probably because I've read this one twice’ Neil Lancaster, author of Dead Man’s Grave

You know your neighbours are plotting a crime but no one believes you . . . Dive into the gripping new thriller from The Sunday Times No.1 bestsellerDo you trust the couple next door?When Lena overhears a conversation between her next-door-neighbours she thinks she must have misheard.After all, the Morgans are a kind, retired couple who have moved to a suburban street in Bristol where nothing ever happens. But it sounded like they were planning a crime.Her family and friends tell her that she's made a mistake. Yet Lena can't stop thinking about it.Because what if they are about to do something terrible?What if she can prevent it?And what if, in doing so, it might help ease her conscience about her own dark past . . .

Murder At Mount Fuji A rediscovered classic - a Japanese cosy crime novel in translation set at the foot of Mount Fuji, first published in 1982, and now reissued for a 21st century readership 'The Agatha Christie of Japan' MURDER & MAYHEM 'An undisputed classic . . . a must have for any crime readers.' READER REVIEW 'Full of unexpected twists . . . A perfect mystery for a chilly night.' READER REVIEW A CLASSIC MYSTERY FROM JAPAN'S QUEEN OF CRIME When American student Jane Prescott is invited to spend the holidays with her classmate Chiyo, she jumps at the chance to see in the new year at a luxurious mansion at the foot of Mount Fuji. Chiyo belongs to one of Japan's wealthiest families, the heiress to a pharmaceutical empire headed up by Yohei 'Grandpa' Wada. With the whole Wada family gathered and snow falling outside, the festivities are in full swing. That is, until Chiyo bursts into the room - covered in blood, holding a knife, and screaming that she has stabbed her grandfather to death. Stunned, the family closes ranks to protect one of its own - but Jane alone has more questions than answers. Could her sweet, timid friend really be capable of such violence? Did any other member of the Wada clan stand to gain everything with the patriarch's death? And if so, could the real murderer still be in their midst? Packed full of atmosphere and nostalgia, and with a dark, gritty mystery at its heart, MURDER AT MOUNT FUJI is the perfect rediscovered classic novel for fans of Japanese translated fiction and cosy crime. 'An excellent book with a particularly fine plot, and much on Japanese society, family dynamics, sexual tension and academic obsession. A pleasure to read' THE CRITIC

The Orphanage By The LakeA missing girl. An orphanage filled with secrets. And one lie worth killing for. A MISSING GIRL. AN ORPHANAGE FILLED WITH SECRETS. Hazel wants a new life. She's thirty years old, single, and her private investigation business is months away from folding. Her luck takes a turn when Madeline Hemsley, a mysterious socialite, pays Hazel a visit with an offer too enticing to resist. An orphan girl has disappeared from a children's home-The Orphanage By The Lake, as the locals call it-and Madeline wants Hazel to find her. At first glance, it appears to be a standard runaway case, but as Hazel plunges into the investigation, she finds signs of something more- unexplained blood stains, cryptic symbols, sinister figures shadowing her every move. The more she digs, the more she realizes that The Orphanage By The Lake holds terrifying secrets, and even worse... ...so does Madeline. Fans of Freida McFadden's The Housemaid, Charlie Donlea's The Girl Who Was Taken, and Karin Slaughter's Pretty Girls will love this twisty, suspenseful thrill-ride.

The brand new up-all-night thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Mother and The Dream Home

It Should Have Been YouThey came for you. But they got the wrong house...A gripping, unputdownable thriller from the No. 1 bestselling author of NO ONE SAW A THING. Andrea Mara turns ordinary fears into extraordinary thrillers, and this is her best book yet. All the neighbours have secrets. But how far will they go to keep them? Get ready for your new obsession - the unputdownable new thriller from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Andrea Mara. Look what you started. You text your sister. Your message is full of gossip about your neighbour. But you accidentally send it to the entire local community WhatsApp group instead. Now everyone knows. As rumour spreads like wildfire through the picture-perfect neighbourhood, you convince yourself that people will move on, that this will quickly be forgotten. But then you receive the first death threat. And someone wants you dead. The next day, a woman has been murdered. And what's even more chilling is that she had the same address as you - 26 Oakpark - but in a different part of town. Did the killer get the wrong house? It won't be long before you find out...

'A brilliant concept, brilliantly executed.' Bri Lee 'Took my breath away.' Sofie Laguna It starts with a lie. One small lie to get everything he wants. But one lie leads to another, and another. Caught in his own web of deception, how can he recognise the truth? And what is it going to cost him? The legendary career of reclusive cult author Brenda Shales remains one of Australia’s last unsolved literary mysteries. Her books took the world by storm before she disappeared from the public eye after a mysterious plagiarism case. But when an ambitious young writer stumbles across Brenda at a Melbourne pool, he realises the scoop of a lifetime is floating in front of him: the truth behind why she vanished without a trace. The only problem? He must pretend to be someone he’s not to trick the story out of her. One innocent lie leads to a slew that are definitively not, as Brenda reveals the strange and troubling truth of where her books came from. Yet the more the author unravels about Brenda’s past, the more he begins to question whether Brenda is a reliable narrator. Is she spilling secrets or spinning tales? Is she, like him, little more than a talented thief? To write the book that will make his name, he must balance his ethics and ambition and decide what he’s willing to sacrifice to become the next great Australian writer. This astonishing debut, full of delicious twists and wicked insights, is a dazzling novel of desire and deception, authorship and authenticity, and the costs of creative ambition. 'That rare thing, a great contemporary novel.' Lauren Oyler

Tenacious Maori investigator Hana Westerman returns in this stunning new thriller from the award-winning author of Better the Blood. In the depths of the bleak New Zealand winter comes the rising of Matariki – a sacred constellation in Maori culture, heralding a time of new beginnings. For former Detective Senior Sergeant Hana Westerman, life is good: her work in her hometown of Tata Bay is going well, the community is thriving, and her daughter Addison is getting engaged. But this Matariki brings unwelcome change. When Hana’s ex-husband Jaye walks into an Auckland liquor store and directly across the path of a gunman, their family’s hard-won peace is shattered. With the stakes at their highest, Hana finds herself picking up a path she thought she’d never return to. Desperate for answers, she rejoins the police to help scour the city for the unidentified shooter. But as the investigation progresses, she finds herself unprepared for the darkness of the world she is entering.A darkness much closer to home than she knows. PRAISE FOR MICHAEL BENNETT: ‘A tensely plotted, gritty crime novel that has the courage to force us all to rethink our relationship with the past’VASEEM KHAN ‘A significant addition to Indigenous literature’KIRKUS REVIEWS ‘A writer to watch’PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

The Retirement Plan Dark humour, dirty deeds, marriages and murder . . . The perfect new read for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, How to Kill Your Family and White Lotus'An absolute scream from the first page to the last' Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal'Incredibly funny with plot twists you won't see coming' StylistTheir husbands are driving them mad, and murder is on their minds . . . but the men have a plan of their own.Pam, Nancy and Shalisa once imagined retirement would mean setting aside their worries, picking up their margaritas, and lying back in a hot tub. Right up until their husbands lost all their savings in a reckless investment.Now, collecting their husbands' life insurance is starting to sound more appealing than growing old with them. But enlisting the help of the local barber/hitman isn't merely the most daring thing the friends have ever done - it's also where the trouble really begins.Because they don't realise their husbands have some tricks up their sleeves. And there's no turning back now . . .From the first laugh to the final twist, The Retirement Plan is full of characters who will steal your heart while plotting their dark deeds.'Clever, funny, tender. A triumph' Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things'Blending Desperate Housewives and White Lotus vibes, this is a darkly funny crime novel' My Weekly'Funny, twisty, deviously dark!' Sarah Pearse, author of The Sanatorium'A total riot' Clare Pooley, author of The Authenticity Project'Hincenbergs knocks it out of the park' Publishers Weekly, starred review'Thoroughly addictive' Ian Moore, author of Death and Croissants'Relentlessly entertaining' Chris Brookmyre, author of The Cracked Mirror'Absolutely hilarious' Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates'Packed full of humour and charm' Amy McCulloch, author of Breathless'Deliciously funny and unpredictable' Keith Stuart, author of A Boy Made of Blocks

Midnight And BlueThe brand new John Rebus thriller from the iconic Number One bestseller Ian Rankin: one of the must-read books of the year. 'Rebus in jail and better than ever ... Surprising, gripping and witty. Rankin has taken the police procedural and transformed into an epic character study of a man and his city ... Nobody does it better.'THE TIMES* * * * * JOHN REBUS SPENT HIS LIFE AS A DETECTIVE PUTTING EDINBURGH'S MOST DEADLY CRIMINALS BEHIND BARS.NOW, HE'S JOINED THEM.As new allies and old enemies circle, and the days and nights bleed into each other, even the legendary detective struggles to keep his head.That is, until a murder at midnight in a locked cell presents a new mystery. They say old habits die hard...However, this is a case where the prisoners and the guards are all suspects, and everyone has something to hide. With no badge, no authority and no safety net, Rebus walks a tightrope - with his life on the line.But how do you find a killer in a place full of them?* * * * *PRAISE FOR MIDNIGHT AND BLUE:'Unforgettable ... Proves that Rebus is one of the most remarkable characters in crime fiction.'DAILY MAIL'With every novel, Rankin leaves us wanting more. Midnight and Blue is no exception. As Rebus ages, he becomes ever more human, ever more relatable, and the books become even better... This is unmissable.'MICK HERRON, the Sunday Times Number One Bestseller'Midnight & Blue is a triumph. Rebus as you've never seen him before and Rankin at his best.'ELLY GRIFFITHS, the Sunday Times Number One Bestseller'I was absolutely knocked sideways by it - it is utterly marvellous and so touching.' JILLY COOPER, the Sunday Times Bestseller'A taut, claustrophobic thriller, that puts a Golden Age twist on a modern-day tale. The perfect book to keep Rebus fans clanging their tin cups against the prison bars, until the riot kicks off...'STUART MACBRIDE, the Sunday Times Number One Bestseller'Kept me up reading until long after midnight. Blew me away. Absolutely brilliant, as always.'JILL MANSELL, the Sunday Times Bestseller'Loved this tense, pacy thriller, jam-packed with action but also a surprising vulnerability.'B. A. PARIS, the Sunday Times Bestseller****PRAISE FOR THE ICONIC NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER IAN RANKIN:'Ian Rankin is a genius'LEE CHILD'Rebus is one of British crime writing

The gripping and brilliant debut crime novel from the universally acclaimed creator of TV series BROADCHURCH  When Detective Nicola Bridge moves back to Dorset from the big city, the last thing she expects is for the picturesque village of Fleetcombe to become a grisly crime scene.  Jim Tiernan, pub landlord, is dead, the body staged with macabre relish on an isolated country road. Nicola soon realises everyone in the village has something to hide. The hairdresser. The delivery driver. The farmer. And even the little girl, hidden at the top of the playground slide.  Whispers. Rumours. Lies. And somewhere among them, a killer hiding in plain sight. Because sometimes the smallest villages hide the darkest secrets...

Solving crimes, one cuppa at a time. The highly anticipated new book in the award-winning Australian series The Tea Ladies.  Murder and Mayhem on the waterfront. It's time for the Tea Ladies! 1967- Hazel's new job at the docks quickly turns perilous when she stumbles into the criminal underworld that lurks beneath the surface. A million in gold coins has vanished from a cargo ship and a dead body washed up. Suddenly, she's in over her head.  Disillusioned with her life, Betty is led astray by a charismatic new friend and finds herself exposed in more ways than one - until a crisis drags her back to reality.  Living in a high-class brothel, Irene gets wind of a threat that could destroy her livelihood. She takes on the Maltese mafia and becomes involved in a dangerously sticky situation.   When one of the tea ladies disappears, they face their greatest challenge yet, pushing their detective skills to the limit. It will take more than a glass of Hazel's homemade wine to solve this one.  The delightfully entertaining new novel in The Tea Ladies cosy crime series, with murder and mystery, nostalgia and history, and plenty of tea and biscuits. Available for pre-order now!