Craig Russell – författare

''Amazing. I''d give someone else''s right arm to write so beautifully'' Sarah Pinborough ''Superb! The Devil''s Playground is imagination on steroids... breathtaking!'' Jeffery Deaver''A terrifying tale of the true power in Hollywood... (Russell''s) precise, gorgeous prose shines'' New York Times''A masterpiece. Captivatingly authentic, steeped in Hollywood lore'' Chris Brookmyre ''Addictive. . . the most sheerly entertaining novel I''ve raced through in at least a year. . . fresh, forceful, elegant but wild'' A.J. Finn ''The Devil''s Playground is definitely on the shortlist for best mystery of the year'' Bookpage.com ''When it comes to Gothic crime, Craig Russell is peerless. Absolutely stunning'' M W Craven FROM CWA DAGGER AND DOUBLE McILVANNEY AWARD WINNER CRAIG RUSSELL COMES ANOTHER DARK, GRIPPING MASTERPIECE . . . A dark, riveting thriller set in 1920s Hollywood about "the greatest horror movie ever made", the curse said to surround it, and a deadly search, decades later, for the single copy rumoured still to exist. 1927: Hollywood studio fixer Mary Rourke is called to the palatial home of "the most desirable woman in the world", silent movie actress Norma Carlton, star of The Devil''s Playground. When Rourke finds Carlton dead, she wonders if the dark rumours she''s heard are true: that The Devil''s Playground really is a cursed production. But nothing in Hollywood is ever what it seems, and cynical fixer Rourke, more used to covering up the truth for studio bosses, finds herself seeking it out. 1967: Paul Conway, film historian and fervid silent movie aficionado, is on the trail of a tantalizing rumour: that a single copy of The Devil''s Playground-a Holy Grail for film buffs that was supposedly cursed and lost to time-may exist. His search takes him deep into the Mojave Desert, to an isolated hotel that hasn''t changed in forty years but harbours only one occupant-and a shocking secret. Separated by decades, both Rourke and Conway begin to suspect that the real Devil''s Playground is in fact Hollywood itself. Praise for The Devil''s Playground ''Horrifying, mesmerising, beautifully imagined. The Devil''s Playground is Craig Russell at his unrivalled best'' Chris Whittaker ''The Devil''s Playground has a depth of period detail and atmosphere that lifts it above the ordinary. It''s elegant, absorbing and thrilling'' Michael Malone ''Totally engaging'' Kathy Reichs, New York Times bestselling author of the Temperance Brennan series ''Brilliantly written, with repeated surprises'' The Critic ''Seamlessly blends noir, gothic and mystery in a way that''s unique to crime fiction. Populated with a truly memorable cast, Playground is a guaranteed one-sitting read...and how can you resist a novel about the scariest movie of all time? Bravo!'' Jeffery Deaver, author of The Bone Collector

''A masterclass in suspenseful, character-driven prose fiction. Simply exceptional''Frank Darabont, writer and director of The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile''The best twist I have ever read'' (Michael Ridpath, author of Traitor''s Gate)''Breathtaking''(Daily Mail)''Wildly entertaining . . . truly frightening''(New York Times)_____________How do you find a killer when you''re surrounded by madness?1935. As Europe prepares itself for a calamitous war, six homicidal lunatics - the so-called ''Devil''s Six'' - are confined in a remote castle asylum in rural Czechoslovakia. Each patient has their own dark story to tell and Dr Viktor Kosárek, a young psychiatrist using revolutionary techniques, is tasked with unlocking their murderous secrets. At the same time, a terrifying killer known as ''Leather Apron'' is butchering victims across Prague. Successfully eluding capture, it would seem his depraved crimes are committed by the Devil himself. Maybe they are... and what links him with the insane inmates of the Castle of the Eagles?Only the Devil knows. And it is up to Viktor to find out._____________''Deep, dark, and twisty . . . a gripping masterpiece of a thriller!'' Alex Grecian, New York Times bestselling author of The Yard''Elegant, edgy, ingenious'' A. J. Finn, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window''Drags you into its dark world kicking and screaming . . . gets under your skin slowly, then goes deep, like the tip of a butcher knife'' New York Times''Sensational . . . twists are jaw-dropping . . . a mind-blowing story line that will appeal to fans of Caleb Carr and Thomas Harris'' Publishers Weekly'' A thrilling, twisting trip through the darkest corridors of the human mind'' Daniel H. Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of Robopocalypse''A tour de force: a clever and visceral thriller'' Lincoln Child, New York Times bestselling author''Dark, stylish and packed with jaw-dropping twists . . . an astonishing piece of work'' M. W. Craven, author of The Puppet Show''A superior thriller, at once stylish, absorbing and compulsive'' Laura Carlin, author of The Wicked Cometh ''Well-crafted gothic crime . . . smart, atmospheric'' Kirkus Reviews''A Gothic masterpiece in psychological horror and creeping dread '' Neil Broadfoot, author of No Man''s Land''Deliciously authentic and darkly atmospheric'' Graham Smith, author of Death in the Lakes

WINNER OF THE 2021 McILVANNEY AWARDIAN RANKIN''S CHOICE FOR BOTH BEST MYSTERY BOOK OF 2021 (PBS), AND BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR (NEW STATESMAN)''Russell writes a pacy, ever-twisting mystery that will keep you turning the pages.'' - Ian Rankin''When it comes to Gothic crime, Craig Russell is peerless. Absolutely stunning.'' - M W CravenFrom international bestselling author Craig Russell comes a modern Gothic masterpiece.Edward Hyde has a strange gift - or a curse - he keeps secret from all but his physician. He experiences two realities, one real, the other a dreamworld state brought on by a neurological condition.When murders in Victorian Edinburgh echo the ancient Celtic threefold death ritual, Captain Edward Hyde hunts for those responsible. In the process he becomes entangled in a web of Celticist occultism and dark scheming by powerful figures. The answers are there to be found, not just in the real world but in the sinister symbolism of Edward Hyde''s otherworld.He must find the killer, or lose his mind.A dark tale. One that inspires Hyde''s friend . . . Robert Louis Stevenson.Praise for Hyde: ''Intricate...evocative prose enhances a suspenseful and sophisticated plot. This is the rare riff on an influential novel that sticks the landing'' Starred Review, Publishers Weekly ''Stephen King meets Robert Louis Stevenson... an imaginative gothic tale guaranteed to send a shiver down your spine the next time you walk a dark Edinburgh night.'' - David Hewson, author of The Garden Of Angels ''Russell delivers a brooding, stunningly atmospheric tale set in Stevenson''s Edinburgh - multi-layered and intricately plotted, this is a Gothic thriller from the hands of a master.'' - Margaret Kirk, author of Shadow Man ''A deliciously dark reimagining of a timeless character and a wonderful recreation of a gothic Edinburgh . . . Another winner for a consummate storyteller.'' - Douglas Skelton ''Gloriously diabolical. A terrifying thrill ride through the hidden chasms of the human soul.'' - Chris Brookmyre, author of Black WidowI absolutely adored it. Intense, harrowing and hugely entertaining. Craig Russell conjures the kind of spine-tingling tale that kept me reading through the night. Spectacular. - Chris Whittaker''The story is a thrilling ride through the murky depths of madness and horror, written with all Craig''s trademark skill and style. Definitely five stars from me'' James Oswald''A Gothic masterpiece which will lead you so far into the darkness that you won''t know who to trust. Another splendid offering from a writer who is top of his game. '' - Theresa Talbot''An engaging Gothic thriller full of atmosphere and surprises.'' - Irish Independent Praise for Craig Russell ''A masterclass in suspenseful, character-driven prose fiction. Simply exceptional''Frank Darabont, writer and director of The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile

''Tough, uncompromising and insightful . . . Russell has brilliantly captured post-war Glasgow and the vulnerability of those left to pick up the pieces'' Michael Robotham''A crime story that transcends the genre. . .This is storytelling at its very best!'' Michael Connelly Glasgow, 1953: the war may be over but the battle for the streets is just beginning. Three crime bosses control the murky streets, but a small-scale con is trying to invade their territory. The balance is shifting. Lennox, a hard man in a hard city at a hard time, finds himself caught in the middle - a dangerous place to be.One night, a body is discovered on the road, his head mashed to pulp, and Lennox is in the frame for murder. The only way of proving his innocence is to solve the crime - but he''ll have to dodge men more deadly than Glasgow''s crime bosses before he gets any answers.The first in a unique and memorable crime series, Lennox is gritty, fast-paced, mordantly funny and totally compelling.Praise for award-winning writer Craig Russell: ''Another brilliantly sharp, witty and tough take on a hard city at a hard time . . . a former cop, Russell is Britain''s rising crime-writing star'' Daily Mirror''Through his humorous lens, time and place become razor-sharp ... The lightness of touch is a breath of fresh air in this most crowded of genres . . . This is tartan neo-noir at its most entertaining'' Sunday Herald

''The kind of thriller writing that made me want to be a writer'' Chris Brookmyre''Storytelling at its very best!'' Michael ConnellyFast-paced, stylish, and blackly funny noir for fans of Philip Kerr and Raymond ChandlerGlasgow in the 1950s - private investigator Lennox is keeping a low profile, enjoying a fling with the daughter of shady bookie and greyhound breeder MacFarlane. When MacFarlane is found bludgeoned to death, Lennox is a suspect. Luckily, he has a solid gold alibi - he was in bed with the victim''s daughter at the time.It turns out MacFarlane was into some seriously dodgy stuff. One of Glasgow''s notorious Three Kings, crime boss Willie Sneddon, is involved and he''s not a man Lennox wants to cross. But there''s an even bigger player out there, an elusive villain who makes the Three Kings look like minnows. Lennox is going to get his fingers burnt, badly.Praise for Craig Russell:''Another brilliantly sharp, witty and tough take on a hard city at a hard time . . . a former cop, Russell is Britain''s rising crime-writing star'' Daily Mirror''Through his humorous lens, time and place become razor-sharp . . . The lightness of touch is a breath of fresh air in this most crowded of genres . . . This is tartan neo-noir at its most entertaining'' Sunday Herald

''Tough, uncompromising and insightful . . . Russell has brilliantly captured post-war Glasgow and the vulnerability of those left to pick up the pieces'' Michael Robotham''A crime story that transcends the genre. . .This is storytelling at its very best!'' Michael Connelly Human remains are dredged up from the Clyde. They''ve been sleeping the deep, dark sleep for eighteen years. Suddenly Glasgow''s underworld is buzzing with the news that the remains are those of ''Gentleman Joe'' Strachan, Glasgow''s most ruthless armed robber.When Strachan''s daughters hire Lennox to find out who''s been sending them cash every year on the anniversary of Strachan''s biggest robbery, his instincts tell him the job spells trouble and will throw him back into world of the Three Kings - the crime bosses who run the city.But he takes the job. And soon learns that ignoring his instincts may cost him his life.Praise for award-winning writer Craig Russell: ''Another brilliantly sharp, witty and tough take on a hard city at a hard time . . . a former cop, Russell is Britain''s rising crime-writing star'' Daily Mirror''Through his humorous lens, time and place become razor-sharp ... The lightness of touch is a breath of fresh air in this most crowded of genres . . . This is tartan neo-noir at its most entertaining'' Sunday Herald

''Tough, uncompromising and insightful . . . Russell has brilliantly captured post-war Glasgow and the vulnerability of those left to pick up the pieces'' Michael Robotham''A crime story that transcends the genre. . .This is storytelling at its very best!'' Michael Connelly Investigator Lennox just can''t stay out of trouble.Lennox is looking for legitimate cases - anything''s better than working for the Three Kings, the crime bosses who run Glasgow''s underworld. So when a woman comes into his office and hires him to follow her husband, it seems the perfect case.And, unusually for Lennox, it''s legal.But this isn''t a simple case of marital infidelity. When the people he''s following start to track him, once more Lennox must draw on the violent, war-damaged part of his personality as he follows this trail of dead men and broken hearts.The fourth in a unique and memorable crime series, Dead Men and Broken Hearts is gritty, fast-paced, mordantly funny and totally compelling.Praise for award-winning writer Craig Russell: ''Another brilliantly sharp, witty and tough take on a hard city at a hard time . . . a former cop, Russell is Britain''s rising crime-writing star'' Daily Mirror''Through his humorous lens, time and place become razor-sharp ... The lightness of touch is a breath of fresh air in this most crowded of genres . . . This is tartan neo-noir at its most entertaining'' Sunday Herald

''Tough, uncompromising and insightful . . . Russell has brilliantly captured post-war Glasgow and the vulnerability of those left to pick up the pieces'' Michael Robotham''A crime story that transcends the genre. . .This is storytelling at its very best!'' Michael Connelly Glasgow, 1953: the war may be over but the battle for the streets is just beginning. Three crime bosses control the murky streets, but a small-scale con is trying to invade their territory. The balance is shifting. Lennox, a hard man in a hard city at a hard time, finds himself caught in the middle - a dangerous place to be.One night, a body is discovered on the road, his head mashed to pulp, and Lennox is in the frame for murder. The only way of proving his innocence is to solve the crime - but he''ll have to dodge men more deadly than Glasgow''s crime bosses before he gets any answers.The first in a unique and memorable crime series, Lennox is gritty, fast-paced, mordantly funny and totally compelling.Praise for award-winning writer Craig Russell: ''Another brilliantly sharp, witty and tough take on a hard city at a hard time . . . a former cop, Russell is Britain''s rising crime-writing star'' Daily Mirror''Through his humorous lens, time and place become razor-sharp ... The lightness of touch is a breath of fresh air in this most crowded of genres . . . This is tartan neo-noir at its most entertaining'' Sunday Herald

''One of the most interesting detectives around'' The TimesFabel is back: scarred by an experience that has changed him for ever and haunted by his past, he investigates the biggest case of his career.As head of the Polizei Hamburg''s Murder Commission, Jan Fabel is used to dealing with the dead. But when a routine inquiry turns violent and takes him to the brink of his own death, he emerges a changed man. Fast forward two years, and Fabel''s first case at the Murder Commission comes back to haunt him.Monika Krone''s body is found at last, fifteen years after she went missing. Monika - ethereally beautiful, intelligent, cruel - was the centre of a group of students obsessed with the gothic. Fabel re-opens the case. What happened that night, when Monika left a party and disappeared into thin air?When men involved with Monika start turning up dead, Fabel realizes he is looking for a killer with both a hunger for revenge and a taste for the gothic. What he doesn''t know is that someone has been aiding and grooming a deranged escapee as his own, personal tool for revenge.The fifth in a unique and memorable crime series, The Ghosts of Altona is gritty, fast-paced, mordantly funny and totally compelling.Praise for award-winning writer Craig Russell: ''Another brilliantly sharp, witty and tough take on a hard city at a hard time . . . a former cop, Russell is Britain''s rising crime-writing star'' Daily Mirror''Through his humorous lens, time and place become razor-sharp ... The lightness of touch is a breath of fresh air in this most crowded of genres . . . This is tartan neo-noir at its most entertaining'' Sunday Herald

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