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The greatest tragic love story ever told – but this time, Catherine tells it herself. In Catherine, Essie Fox breathes new life into Wuthering Heights, transforming a gothic masterpiece into a haunting confession of obsession, madness and love that even death cannot end.‘A haunting work in its own right … provides an extra dimension and new perspectives on one of literature’s best-known tales of doomed love’Sunday Times‘A fabulously gothic portrait of obsession, Catherine feels like a natural part of Brontë’s novel, bringing it fresh light and shadow … An extraordinary work of imagination, and a love letter to a great classic, it’s her best book yet’ M.L. Steadman‘Reverent and irreverent … A must-read for anyone who visits Heathcliff and Cathy’s Yorkshire Moors in their dreams’ Erin Kelly–––––With a nature as wild as the moors she loves to roam, Catherine Earnshaw grows up alongside Heathcliff, a foundling her father rescued from the streets of Liverpool. Their fierce, untamed bond deepens as they grow – until Mr Earnshaw’s death leaves Hindley, Catherine’s brutal brother, in control and Heathcliff reduced to servitude.Desperate to protect him, Catherine turns to Edgar Linton, the handsome heir to Thrushcross Grange. She believes his wealth might free Heathcliff from cruelty – but her choice is fatally misunderstood, and their lives spiral into a storm of passion, jealousy and revenge.Now, eighteen years later, Catherine rises from her grave to tell her story – and seek redemption.Essie Fox’s Catherine reimagines Wuthering Heights with beauty and intensity – a haunting, atmospheric retelling that brings new life to a timeless classic and lays bare the dark heart of an immortal love.–––––‘Beautifully written and imagined … If you love Wuthering Heights, read Catherine’ Historia magazine‘A wonderfully atmospheric retelling of one fiction’s most famous “love” stories … a tour de force’ Heat‘Every bit as gripping as the classic, yet has added immediacy and emotion. Hugely moving’ Sean Lusk‘A dazzling feminist retelling of the greatest tragic love affair in fiction … gothic, defiant and heartbreakingly human’ Louisa Treger‘Exquisite’ Liz Fenwick‘Told by Catherine 18 years after her death, revealing the depths of immortal love and bringing new life to this classic tale’ Candis‘Passionate, vivid, utterly mesmerising … satisfyingly familiar and yet sparking with wild gothic originality’ Kate Griffin‘Haunting, authentic, exquisite … a fresh and relevant story of obsession and revenge’ Anna Mazzola‘A new level of understanding is brought by the change in perspective, and the joy, anguish, passion, obsession and destruction are not only witnessed but embodied. Essie Fox doesn’t write from the heart, she writes from her soul … stunning’ Barbara Havelocke‘Wuthering Heights has been reimagined by one of our most prominent Gothic novelists … Read it by candlelight, surrounded by shadows, and let the deathly icy-cold fingers of its protagonist clasp you and send shivers down your spine’ Dr Michael Stewart‘Beautiful! I loved being back in that world’ Emma Carroll‘Expertly written, cleverly melding original text with reimagined interpretations … a feminist retelling that retains the emotional truth of Emily Brontë’s original. Essie Fox has lovingly and meticulously reconstructed the story to draw out its dark, twisted heart’ Katherine Clements

When the chief suspect in the disappearance of Áróra’s sister is found dead, and Áróra’s new financial investigation leads to the street where her sister was last seen, she is drawn into a shocking case that threatens everything … The unmissable finale to the chilling, twisty, award-winning series…'Icelandic crime-writing at its finest’ Shari Lapena‘Icelandic crime queen Lilja Sigurðardóttir goes from strength to strength’ Financial Times‘A heartbreaking story and a twisty mystery that will only be fully appreciated by those who have read the other parts of the quintet first. You won’t regret it if you do’ Sunday Times‘So chilling’ Crime Monthly_______A final reckoning…With the fate of her missing sister, Ísafold, finally uncovered, Áróra feels a fragile relief as the search that consumed her life draws to a close. But when Ísafold’s boyfriend – the prime suspect in her disappearance – is found dead at the same site where Ísafold’s body was discovered, Áróra’s grip on reality starts to unravel … and the mystery remains far from solved.To distract herself, she dives headfirst into a money-laundering case that her friend Daníel is investigating. But she soon finds that there is more than meets the eye and, once again, all leads point towards Engihjalli, the street where Ísafold lived and died, and a series of shocking secrets that could both explain and endanger everything…Atmospheric, dark and chilling, Black as Death is the breathtaking finale to the twisty, immersive An Áróra Investigation series, as Áróra and her friends search for answers that may take them to places even darker than death…Perfect for readers of Camilla Läckberg, Karin Slaughter, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir and Jo Nesbø.____________'It is a testament to any writer’s skill to sustain such a compelling narrative across five novels, yet Sigurđardóttir achieves this with remarkable ease. From the opening of Cold As Hell through to the conclusion of Black As Death, this has been an epic tale told with intimacy and unwavering command' Nordic Watchlist Praise for the An Áróra Investigation series‘A blast of Icelandic Air’ The Times‘A terrific tale with twist after twist’ Sunday Times ‘Your next literary thrill’ Vogue'So atmospheric' Crime Monthly‘Action-packed and pacy … I would like to be Áróra’s best friend’ Liz Nugent'The Icelandic scenery and weather are beautifully evoked…' Daily Mail'Chilly and chilling' Tariq Ashkanani  'Tough, uncompromising and unsettling' Val McDermid‘A dark, twisty and pitch-perfect thriller’ Michael Wood'Another bleak, unpredictable classic' Metro

Ten years on from the annexation of Crimea, two years on from RussiaÔÇÖs all-out invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian people continue to fight back. In the second volume of his war diaries, Andrey Kurkov gives a fresh perspective on a people for whom resistance and solidarity have become a matter of survival.

Set in the buried streets of Georgian London and the outrageous underworld of the molly houses, a carpenter hiding a double life, searches for a traitor who is betraying the secrets of the mollies. The devastatingly beautiful, brutal, raucous and tender historical thriller – a Top Ten Sunday Times bestseller!**WINNER of the CWA Historical DAGGER 2025***‘Heartbreaking, beautiful, lyrical. I was captivated … you won't want to put it down’ Catriona Ward ‘Utterly thrilling’ Elizabeth MacNeal ‘An immersive, illuminating and exceptionally entertaining novel’ Matt Cain ‘Stunning and powerful … You’ll never forget Thomas True’ Janice Hallett ‘A clever mystery, a powerful love story … affected me more than anything I’ve read in a long time’ Gareth Brown**WINNER OF THE HWA DEBUT CROWN****THE TOP TEN Sunday Times BESTSELLER****SHORTLISTED for Booksellers Association Author of the Year**_________________ The only sin is betrayal… It is the year 1715, and Thomas True has arrived on old London Bridge with a dangerous secret. One night, lost amongst the squalor of London's hidden back streets, he finds himself drawn into the outrageous underworld of the molly houses. Meanwhile, carpenter Gabriel Griffin struggles to hide his double life as Lotty, the molly's stoic guard. When a young man is found murdered, he realises there is a rat amongst them, betraying their secrets to a pair of murderous Justices. Can Gabriel unmask the traitor before they hang? Can he save hapless Thomas from peril, and their own forbidden love? Set amidst the buried streets of Georgian London, The Betrayal of Thomas True is a brutal and devastating thriller, where love must overcome evil, and the only true sin is betrayal…_______________________ ‘Quite simply divine … had me in all sorts of tears’ Jennie Godfrey‘A vivid exploration of a largely forgotten aspect of London’s past … as compelling as West’s debut’ The Times ‘A darkly thrilling romp that simmers with sinister menace and illicit temptation’ Susan Stokes-Chapman ‘An unforgettable combination of historical thriller, love story and heartbreaking tragedy’ Heat ‘Ingeniously plotted, vivid and memorable’ Historical Novel Society ‘Electric … an unputdownable read’ Attitude Magazine   ‘An epic adventure of love in a time of danger’ Hallie Rubenhold ‘An exuberant, moving story’ Rosie Andrews ‘Vivid, impressive and utterly immersive … I was weeping by the final pages. Masterful’ D.V. Bishop ‘A devastating story told with great power’ Christopher Stephens ‘You are instantly immersed in the perilous, hot, exciting, plot-swirling world of Mollies’ Felice Picano‘You’ll smile, you’ll gasp, you’ll cry’ Essie Fox ‘Hugely entertaining’ Anna Mazzola ‘Bursting with memorable characters and stunning imagery’ Sean Lusk‘Brilliantly researched and lavishly written’ Emma Stonex ‘Like a modern Fielding’ Kate Griffin‘Hypnotic. A hurtling tale of deception and self-discovery’ James Cahill‘Very, very good’ Stephen Fry‘There has never been a book that made me cry … until today’ Suzie Edge ‘Fierce, funny, and fabulous … an important and deeply moving story’ Jonathan Harvey ‘A beautiful, dark love story set in the fetid streets of Georgian London … unputdownable’ Gareth Russell ‘A beautifully told story that broke my heart and energised my soul’ Tracy King ‘The wit of Wilde still lives!’ Gyles Brandreth ‘A gripping epic tale … a powerful new voice in historical fiction’ Gill Paul ‘A picaresque gay romp through 18th-century London, with a dark and troubling heart’ Annie Garthwaite

Godfather of Nordic Noir Kjell Ola Dahl returns with tense, sophisticated, searingly relevant international thriller that explodes the Nordic Noir genre, as Frølich and Gunnarstranda investigate the death of a woman whose scientist boyfriend has also gone missing… ‘Dahl is a quiet master of the detective thriller, delivering complex plots and a simpatico hero…’ The Times ‘If you have never sampled Dahl, now is the time to try’ Daily Mail ‘Further cements Dahl as the Godfather of Nordic Noir, reminding readers why they fell in love with the genre in the first place’ CultureFly ______________When a woman is found dead in her car in a Norwegian parking garage, everyone suspects an overdose … until a forensics report indicates that she was murdered. Oslo Detectives Frølich and Gunnarstranda discover that the victim’s Kenyan scientist boyfriend has disappeared, and their investigations soon lead them into the shady world of international pharmaceutical deals. While Gunnarstranda closes in on the killers in Norway, Frølich and Lise, his new journalist ally, travel to Africa, where they make a series of shocking discoveries about exploitation and corruption in the distribution of foreign aid and essential HIV medications. When tragedy unexpectedly strikes, all three investigators face incalculable danger, spanning two continents. And not everyone will make it out alive…Exploding the confines of the Nordic Noir genre, Little Drummer is a sophisticated, fast-paced, international thriller with a searingly relevant, shocking premise that will keep you glued to the page. _________________________________ ‘A triumph’ Denzil Meyrick ‘Kjell Ola Dahl’s novels are superb. If you haven’t read one yet, you need to – right now’ William Ryan ‘Dark, stylish and suspenseful … the perfect example of why Nordic Noir has become such a popular genre’ Reader’s Digest ‘Kjell Ola Dahl’s fine style and intricate plotting are superb. He keeps firm hold of the story, never letting go of the tension’ Crime Review WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ***** ‘A dark, emotive and twisty mystery’ ‘Extremely gripping’ ‘Engrossing and beautifully crafted’ ‘Fiercely powerful and convincing’

When the disgraced Lord Byron is associated with the deaths of women in Venice, he turns detective to unveil the killer and clear his name. A dazzling, riveting historical mystery by the author of the Sunday Times bestseller, The Fascination.  ‘Brooding and brilliant’ A.J. West  ‘What could so easily have been a risible premise for a novel becomes, in Fox’s expert hands, the starting point for an atmospheric thriller’ Sunday Times  ‘As mesmerising and charismatic as Byron himself can ever have been … a magnificent gothic tale of scandal, secrets and murder’ Janice Hallett  ‘Evokes all the grimy charisma of eighteenth-century Venice … a mystery as sinuous as the city's alleys and canals. I was enthralled’ Elizabeth Fremantle  ‘A dark treat … splendidly gothic and impressively researched’ Andrew Taylor  ‘Essie Fox breathes new life into the “mad, bad and dangerous to know” Lord Byron as the notorious poet turns detective … Rich with decadent imagery and dark, gothic atmosphere, Dangerous intricately blends historical fact and fiction’ Culturefly  –––––––  Fiction can be fatal…  Living in exile in Venice, the disgraced Lord Byron revels in the freedoms of the city.  SCANDAL  But when he is associated with the deaths of local women, found with wounds to their throats, and then a novel called The Vampyre is published under his name, rumours begin to spread that Byron may be the murderer…  MURDER  As events escalate and tensions rise – and his own life is endangered, as well as those he holds most dear – Byron is forced to play detective, to discover who is really behind these heinous crimes. Meanwhile, the scandals of his own infamous past come back to haunt him…  MYSTERY  Rich in gothic atmosphere and drawing on real events and characters from Byron's life, Dangerous is a riveting, dazzling historical thriller, as decadent, dark and seductive as the poet himself…  _________  ‘A plot as labyrinthine as the Venice backstreets, told in dazzling prose; suspenseful, seductive stuff’ Erin Kelly  ‘Brilliant, daring writing … a darkly delicious Venetian tale of murder and mystery’ Anna Mazzola  ‘Essie Fox expertly weaves fact and fiction in this gloriously gothic thriller … Venice becomes the atmospheric backdrop to Byron's daring attempt to catch a killer’ Anita Frank  ‘Sumptuous, entertaining and glorious’ C.S. Green  ‘Fox is the queen of darkly glittering gothic fiction … a tale so compelling I devoured it in one sitting’ Louisa Treger  ‘Many writers have tried and failed to capture the Byronic quintessence, but the brilliant Essie Fox has succeeded admirably. She proves that the poet and rake remains fascinating because he is, indeed, mad, bad and Dangerous’ Alex Larman  ‘A heady and intoxicating brew … scandalously scintillating’ Kate Griffin  ‘A gorgeously clever thriller’ Amanda Craig  ‘A ravishing tale of murder, lust and thwarted ambition … a sumptuous, decadent delight’ Emma Carroll  ‘A deliciously gothic and beautifully written historical thriller starring the ultimate bad boy hero, Lord Byron’ Frances Quinn  ‘An incredibly evocative and atmospheric book that captures the Byronic soul in all its beauty and madness’ Victoria Dowd  ‘Deliciously dark and everything I hoped it would be’ Paul Burston  ‘An engaging historical mystery tale in which the dissolute poet turns sleuth to clear his own name’ Julie Anderson, Time & Leisure Magazine  ‘A dark, disturbing treat, impeccably researched and compellingly told’ Bridget Walsh  ‘What a ride! Gripping and atmospheric’ Caroline Lea  ‘A delicious dish of decadence … fastidiously researched, richly imagined, full of wonderful descriptions of Venice’ Michael Stewart

The Oslo Detectives are back in another chilling slice of Nordic Noir … Frølich searches for the mysterious sister of a young female asylum seeker, but when people start to die, everything points to an old case and a series of events that someone will do anything to hide…‘An impeccably plotted gold-star, A-grade work of Scandi noir’ The Times‘Absorbing, heart-rending and perfectly plotted’ Denzil Meyrick‘Outstanding … This is a must for fans of Nordic noir’ Publishers Weekly STARRED review____________________Suspended from duty, Detective Frølich is working as a private investigator, when his girlfriend’s colleague asks for his help with a female asylum seeker, who the authorities are about to deport. She claims to have a sister in Norway, and fears that returning to her home country will mean instant death.Frølich quickly discovers the whereabouts of the young woman’s sister, but things become increasingly complex when she denies having a sibling, and Frølich is threatened off the case by the police. As the body count rises, it becomes clear that the answers lie in an old investigation, and the mysterious sister, who is now on the run…A dark, chilling and up-to-the-minute Nordic Noir thriller, Sister is also a tense and well-plotted murder mystery with a moving tragedy at its heart, cementing Kjell Ola Dahl as one of the greatest crime writers of our generation.____________________‘Kjell Ola Dahl has always been skilful at character and setting, but the particular defining characteristic of Sister is the steadily accelerating pace, handled with a sure touch. And Frølich remains a rounded and intriguing character, particularly in this latest iteration’ Barry Forshaw, Financial Times‘Kjell Ola Dahl’s novels are superb’ William Ryan‘Dark, stylish and suspenseful … the perfect example of why Nordic Noir has become such a popular genre’ Reader’s Digest‘If you have never sampled Dahl, now is the time to try’ Daily Mail‘Suspenseful, beautifully and clearly written, with a sure-footed plot, this is a book that thrills’ Live & Deadly‘Dahl is a quiet master of the detective thriller, delivering complex plots and a simpatico hero — Frank Frolich, cop turned PI — with Chandleresque elan plus a serious intelligence that roots out essential truths. Here, Frolich is pulled into the “shadowlands” of Norway’s asylum seekers and those who profit from them, in an impeccably plotted gold-star, A-grade work of Scandi noir’ The Times

Chief Investigator of Nordland Police, Jakob Weber is drawn into a complex case when a teenaged girl goes missing in Northern Norway, and a second woman disappears from a remote island in similar circumstances … FIRST in a compelling, dark new Nordic Noir series.  ‘Provides a boilerplate for anyone wishing to write a Scandi crime novel … Weber, “a dagger in a velvet sheath”, is an engaging character; discerning readers will wish to meet him again’ Mark Sanderson, The Times  ‘Atmospheric’ Crime Monthly  ‘Jakob Weber is a great protagonist, and the sense of place is phenomenal. The perfect start to a series destined for greatness’ Thomas Enger  ‘This is first-class Nordic Noir from the real North, where danger lurks around every corner’ Gunnar Staalesen  _______  In Norway’s frozen north, it’s not just secrets that are buried…  When nineteen-year-old Iselin Hanssen disappears during a run in a popular hiking area in Bodø, Northern Norway, suspicion quickly falls on her boyfriend. For investigator Jakob Weber, the case seems clear-cut, almost unexceptional, even though there is some suggestion that Iselin lived parts of her life beneath the radar of both family and friends.  But events take a dramatic turn when another woman disappears in similar circumstances – this time on the island of Røst, miles off the Norwegian coast, in the wild ocean.  Rumours that a killer is on the loose begin to spread, terrifying the local population and leading to wild conspiracies. But then Jakob discovers that this isn’t the first time that young women have vanished without a trace in the region, and it becomes clear that someone is hiding something … and another murderous spree may have just begun…  For fans of Joe Pickett, Ragnar Jonasson and Jorn Lier Horst  ___________________  ‘Dark and totally gripping … adds a new dimension to the police procedural which goes beyond the standard elements of the genre’ Ewa Sherman, European Literature Network  What readers are saying…‘Multiple theories and suspects keep us on edge until the very end’‘Impossible to put down’‘The spectacular setting is a character in its own right’‘Quirky, believable characters and some of the most breathtaking descriptions of Northern Norway that I’ve ever read’‘Simply superb … both creepy and thrilling’‘An incredible, addictive start to a new series’

When a mutilated body surfaces and a woman dies mysteriously, Jakob Weber uncovers a chilling trail through Norway’s wild north. SECOND in a darkly addictive Nordic Noir series.‘Expertly written, compelling and impossible to put down. This is perfect Scandi Noir. I'm hooked’ Michael Wood‘This superb Scandi thriller is the perfect antidote to the plague of tweeness that infects so much crime fiction today’ Mark Sanderson, The Times‘A must-read series’ Nordic Watchlist____In Norway’s far north, something unspeakable is surfacing…When a mutilated body rises from the icy waters off the jetty in Kjerringøy, it shocks the quiet coastal village – and stirs something darker beneath. Not long after, a young woman is found dead in a drab Bodø apartment. Suicide, perhaps. Or something far more sinister.Detective Jakob Weber and former national investigator Noora Yun Sande are drawn into both cases. Then a hiker reports a terrifying encounter in the nearby wilderness: a solitary cabin … and a man without a face.As the investigation deepens, the clues grow more disturbing – and the wild, wintry landscape closes in. Jakob is certain of one thing: if they don’t find the killer soon, he’ll strike again.SECOND in the dark, addictive Nordic Noir series set in Norway’s unforgiving Arctic north.______Praise for the Arctic Mysteries series ‘Atmospheric’ Crime Monthly‘Jakob Weber is a great protagonist, and the sense of place is phenomenal’ Thomas Enger‘This is first-class Nordic Noir from the real North, where danger lurks around every corner’ Gunnar Staalesen‘Dark and totally gripping … adds a new dimension to the police procedural’ European Literature Network‘Nearly as many twists and turns as Norway’s Trollstigen pass … will satisfy even the pickiest crime reader’ Crime Fiction Lover

Icelandic investigator Áróra receives strange and devastating news about her missing sister, while her detective friend Daníel looks into the disappearance of a family friend. The twisty, addictive, award-winning series continues…  ‘Twisty’ Heat magazine‘A dark, twisty and pitch-perfect thriller. I will read anything Lilja writes … I loved it’ Michael Wood  ‘[A] lively left-field mystery … There is no one quite like Lilja Sigurdardottir: each of her seven novels is a blast of Icelandic air’ The Times Book of the Month_____________When Áróra receives a call telling her that a child she’s never met is claiming to be her missing sister reincarnated, she is devastated … as ridiculous as the allegations might seem. For three years she has been searching for her sister without finding a single clue, and now this strange child seems to have new information.On the same day, Icelandic detective Daníel returns home to find a note from his tenant, drag queen Lady Gúgúlú, giving notice on her flat and explaining that she has had to leave the country. Daníel is immediately suspicious, and when three threatening men appear, looking for Lady, it’s clear to him that something is very wrong…And as Iceland’s long dark nights continue into springtime, that is just the very beginning…Twisty, intricately plotted and atmospheric, Dark as Night is the highly anticipated fourth book in the addictive An Áróra Investigation series, as Áróra and her friends face unimaginable danger and extraordinary experiences that may change everything, forever…______Praise for the An Áróra Investigation series  ‘Another action-packed and pacy thriller … I would like to be Arora’s best friend’ Liz Nugent  'Icelandic crime-writing at its finest’ Shari Lapena  'Chilly and chilling … another tense and thrilling read!' Tariq Ashkanani  'The Icelandic scenery and weather are beautifully evoked…' Daily Mail  ‘A stand-out voice in Iceland Noir' James Oswald  'Sure to please Scandi-noir fans' Publishers Weekly  'Another bleak, unpredictable classic' Metro  'Tough, uncompromising and unsettling' Val McDermid  'Tense and pacey' Guardian  'Deftly plotted' Financial Times  ‘Breathtakingly original' New York Journal of Books  'Taut, gritty and thoroughly absorbing' Booklist  'A stunning addition to the icy-cold crime genre' Foreword Reviews

A young Pakistani woman is the victim of an unthinkable act of vengeance, when she defies convention for love, facing seemingly insurmountable challenges and danger as she attempts to rebuild her life.  ‘Stunning, shocking, compulsive reading … A breathtaking masterpiece’ Hazel Prior  ‘Pacy, gripping and fast-moving … I literally could not put it down!’ Edel Coffey  ‘Rarely has a writer affected me so deeply. Someone Like Her is an epic story of love, power and extraordinary courage’ A.J. West  ––––––––––––––––––––  Multan, Pakistan. A conservative city where an unmarried woman over the age of twenty-five is considered a curse by her family.  Ayesha is twenty-seven. Independent and happily single, she has evaded an arranged marriage because of her family's reduced circumstances. When she catches the eye of powerful, wealthy Raza, it seems like the answer to her parents' prayers. But Ayesha is in love with someone else, and when she refuses to give up on him, Raza resorts to unthinkable revenge…  Ayesha travels to London to rebuild her life and there she meets Kamil, an emotionally damaged man who has demons of his own. They embark on a friendship that could mean salvation for both of them, but danger stalks Ayesha in London, too. With her life thrown into turmoil, she is forced to make a decision that could change her and everyone she loves forever.  Exquisitely written, populated by unforgettable characters and rich with poignant, powerful themes, Someone Like Her is a story of love and family, of corruption and calamity, of courage and hope … and one woman's determination to thwart convention and find peace, at whatever cost…  ––––––––––––––––––––  ‘Khan brings passion and a clear eye to this compelling story of female defiance in the face of corruption and violence. If you’re a fan of Khaled Hosseini … this is for you’ Paul Waters  ‘A heart-rending and compelling story. Khan treats his characters with love and respect. I couldn’t put it down’ Alice Clark-Platts  ‘Breaks your heart but then gradually heals it’ Mira V Shah  ‘A dark and frightening story of corruption, oppression, possession and violence yet is beautifully and sensitively written by a brave, bold author’ Michael Wood  ‘Tackles deep-rooted societal issues with brutal yet touching honesty’ A.A. Chaudhuri  ‘An excellent storyteller’ Soniah Kamal  ‘An epic story of love, abuse and revenge … an emotional rollercoaster as Awais Khan confronts societal injustices with unflinching honesty’ Eve Smith  ‘Khan lays bare the trauma of women, relegated to second-class citizenship in this compelling tale of brutality and bravery. First-class writing’ Marion Todd  ‘Tender and powerful … his best yet’ Sonia Velton  ‘Compelling, painful and defiant’ Elyse John  ‘Arguably Khan's best work’ Pakistan Daily  ‘Kept me turning the pages late into the night’ Aliya Ali-Afzal  ‘A gripping and emotive story of ambition, resilience and love’ Heleen Kist  ‘Insightful storytelling’ Faiqa Mansab  ‘Both timely and timeless’ Saba Karim Khan

An art expert joins a detective to investigate a horrific murder on a Swedish island, leading them to a mystery rooted in Viking rites and Scandinavia's deepest, darkest winter. The Queen of French Noir returns with a chilling, utterly captivating gothic thriller, based on a true story. FIRST in the The Lidingö Mysteries series.  ‘Scarier than anything … a dark, dark slice of atmospheric Scandi Noir’ HeatHeat magazine *Book of the Month*  ‘The pace steadily accelerates as Gustawsson orchestrates her plot with breathless ingenuity. A successful page-turner from a rising star’ Financial Times‘Gustawsson’s writing is so vivid, it’s electrifying’ Peter James   ** Winner of the Livre de Poche Readers Crime of the Year and Cultura Ligue de l’Imaginaire Award**________Don’t  Art expert Emma Lindahl is anxious when she’s asked to appraise the antiques and artefacts in the infamous manor house of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families, on the island of Storholmen, where a young woman was murdered nine years earlier, her killer never found.   Emma must work alone, and with the Gussman family apparently avoiding her, she sees virtually no one in the house. Do they have something to hide?  Trust  As she goes about her painstaking work and one shocking discovery yields clues that lead to another, Emma becomes determined to uncover the secrets of the house and its occupants.  When the lifeless body of another young woman is found in the icy waters surrounding the island, Detective Karl Rosén arrives to investigate, and memories of his failure to solve the first case come rushing back. Could this young woman’s tragic death somehow hold the key?  Anyone  Battling her own demons, Emma joins forces with Karl to embark upon a chilling investigation, plunging them into horrifying secrets from the past – Viking rites and tainted love – and Scandinavia’s deepest, darkest winter…  ________  PRAISE FOR JOHANA GUSTAWSSON‘Remember her name. Johana Gustawsson has become a leading figure in French crime fiction [and] Yule Island is impossible to put down’ Le Monde‘Wonderfully dark and intricately woven … will have you hooked from the very first page’ B A Paris  ‘Johana Gustawsson has become the queen of the French thriller genre’ Le Point  ‘Intriguingly dark and vivid, and so cleverly told’ Essie Fox  `A gripping story of murder and black magic …Gustawsson slowly weaves together three seemingly disparate strands of her narrative with a skill that shows why she is such an admired crime writer in her native France´ The Times   ‘A wonderfully creepy, unsettling read, with a superb twist in its tail‘ James Oswald  ‘Bewitching and wonderfully gothic’ Sunday Express  ‘Johana Gustawsson brilliantly illuminates the depths of the human heart’ Le Figaro  `A whirlpool that draws you irresistibly into levels of darkness so much deeper than you can possibly be ready for´ Ambrose Parry  ‘Ethereal, romantic and as cold as death, this nerve-shattering and powerful novel immerses us in a cruel and thrilling Nordic tale where love smashes against the rocks of madness’ La Fringale culturelle  ‘A stunning and beautifully written gothic thriller’ Alexandra Benedict  ‘Johana Gustawsson has no equal when it comes to hooking us with stunning twists and unexpected leaps in time’ Les Echos  'A bold and intelligent read' Guardian  'Utterly compelling' Woman's Own  `Brilliant … the last chapters knocked me sideways, and it’s a long time since that’s happened´ Lisa Hall  `A dark world of elegance and grotesque … mesmeric´ Matt Wesolowski  'Cleverly plotted, simply excellent' Ragnar Jónasson'A must-read' Daily Express

When Sonja’s son is kidnapped by her ruthless ex-husband, she’s thrust back into the world of cocaine smuggling, but this time she’s got a plan of her own… High-stakes jeopardy presides in book two of the dark and original, nail-bitingly fast-paced Reykjavik Noir trilogy…  ‘Tense, edgy and delivering more than a few unexpected twists and turns’ Sunday Times‘Tough, uncompromising and unsettling’ Val McDermid‘Tense and pacey, this intriguing mix of white-collar and white-powder crime could certainly be enjoyed as a standalone, but I would suggest reading its excellent predecessor, Snare, first’ Guardian––––––––––––––––––––––––Happily settled in Florida, Sonja believes she’s finally escaped the trap set by unscrupulous drug lords. But when her son Tomas is taken, she’s back to square one … and Iceland.Her lover, Agla, is awaiting sentencing for financial misconduct after the banking crash, and Sonja refuses to see her. And that’s not all … Agla owes money to some extremely powerful men, and they’ll stop at nothing to get it back.With her former nemesis, customs officer Bragi, on her side, Sonja puts her own plan into motion, to bring down the drug barons and her scheming ex-husband, and get Tomas back safely. But things aren’t as straightforward as they seem, and Sonja finds herself caught in the centre of a trap that will put all of their lives at risk…Set in Reykjavik – still covered in the dust of the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption and the aftermath of the banking crisis – Trap is an award-winning, deliciously dark and outstandingly original slice of Nordic Noir, from one of Iceland’s finest crime writers.  ––––––––––––––––––––––––  Praise for the Reykjavik Noir Trilogy  ‘A tense thriller with a highly unusual plot and interesting characters’ Marcel Berlins, The Times‘With characters you can’t help sympathising with against your better judgement, Sigurdardottir takes the reader on a breathtaking ride … Stylish, taut and compelling’ Jon Coates, Daily Express‘Pacey and tense, Trap is full of delicious carnage that could translate well to the screen’ New Zealand Listener‘This is a searing portrait of the less salubrious parts of the Icelandic psyche as well as a riveting thriller’ Sunday Express'Sharp shocks of chapters hit with increasing energy ... a towering powerhouse of read and I gobbled it up in one intense sitting’  LoveReading‘The intricate plot is breathtakingly original, with many twists and turns you never see coming. Thriller of the year’ New York Journal of Books‘Sigurdardottir provides a skilful combination of Nordic noir, hardboiled financial thriller and high-octane narco drama, filled with sympathetic characters that you can’t help identifying with even as they break the law’ Crime Fiction Lover‘The action is fast, helped by the short chapters switching us from one set of characters to another, the villains ruthless, and the undercover world of Iceland vividly evoked. A treat for fans’ Promoting Crime‘Smart, ambitious and hugely satisfying’ Eva Dolan‘Zips along with tension building and building’ James Oswald'An emotional suspense rollercoaster on a par with The Firm’ Alexandra Sokoloff‘Compelling … this is prime binge-reading’ Booklist‘The suspenseful Trap takes full advantage of its fresh setting and is a worthy addition to the icy-cold crime genre popularized by Scandinavian noir novels’ Foreword Reviews

Drugs, smuggling, big money and political intrigue in Iceland rally with love, passion, murder and betrayal until the winner takes all … in the masterful, explosive conclusion to the award-winning Reykjavík Noir trilogy…***Guardian Book of the Year******WINNER of the Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year***‘Tough, uncompromising and unsettling’ Val McDermid‘One of the darkest and most compelling series in modern crime fiction … Tackling topical issues, the book will tell you a great deal about why the world’s in the state it is, while never neglecting its duty to entertain’ Sunday Express ‘A tense thriller with a highly unusual plot and interesting characters’ The Times––––––––––––––––––––––––The prison doors slam shut behind Agla, when her sentence ends, but her lover Sonja is not there to meet her.As a group of foreign businessmen tries to draw Agla into an ingenious fraud that stretches from Iceland around the world, Agla and her former nemesis, María find the stakes being raised at a terrifying speed.Ruthless drug baron Ingimar will stop at nothing to protect his empire, but he has no idea about the powder keg he is sitting on in his own home.At the same time, a deadly threat to Sonya and her family brings her from London back to Iceland, where she needs to settle scores with longstanding adversaries if she wants to stay alive…––––––––––––––––––––––––  Praise for the Reykjavik Noir Trilogy:‘Cage is the muted and more credible conclusion to a wayward, but diverting trilogy that began with Snare (2017) and continued with Trap (2018) — ironic titles for essentially escapist fiction … Compassion beats complexity every time’ The Times‘In keeping with a lot of Icelandic fiction, Cage is written in a clean, understated style, the author letting the reader put together the emotional beats and plot developments. Smart writing with a strongly beating heart’ Big Issue‘Deftly plotted though and with a forensic attention to the technicalities of stock exchange manipulations and drug running techniques’ Crime Time‘With shocks and surprises in store, and that oh so satisfying end, Cage provoked, chilled, and thrilled me’ LoveReading‘A novel about survival, about scheming, it’s about self-preservation and about clinging to a vestige of decency in a screwed up world. Superbly translated by Quentin Bates, who knows the language, the country, the people and crime writing intimately. Cage is a pacy thriller; you will find yourself invested in the story’ New Books Magazine‘An emotional suspense rollercoaster on a par with The Firm, as desperate, resourceful, profoundly lovable characters scheme against impossible odds’ Alexandra Sokoloff‘Clear your diary. As soon as you begin reading … you won’t be able to stop until the final page’ Michael Wood‘Zips along, with tension building and building … thoroughly recommend’ James Oswald‘The intricate plot is breathtakingly original, with many twists and turns you never see coming. Thriller of the year’ New York Journal of Books

A stunning standalone thriller from the Queen of Iceland Noir.    ***Shortlisted for the Glass Key Award for Best Nordic Crime Novel***  ‘Tough, uncompromising and unsettling’ Val McDermidWhen aid worker Úrsula returns to Iceland for a new job, she’s drawn into the dangerous worlds of politics, corruption and misogyny … a powerful, relevant, fast-paced standalone thriller.    ____________________    Burned out and traumatised by her horrifying experiences around the world, aid worker Úrsula has returned to Iceland. Unable to settle, she accepts a high-profile government role in which she hopes to make a difference again.  But on her first day in the post, Úrsula promises to help a mother seeking justice for her daughter, who had been raped by a policeman, and life in high office soon becomes much more harrowing than Úrsula could ever have imagined. A homeless man is stalking her – but is he hounding her, or warning her of some danger? And why has the death of her father in police custody so many years earlier reared its head again?  As Úrsula is drawn into dirty politics, facing increasingly deadly threats, the lives of her stalker, her bodyguard and even a witch-like cleaning lady intertwine. Small betrayals become large ones, and the stakes are raised ever higher…  –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––  Praise for Lilja Sigurdardóttir‘Tense and pacey’ Guardian‘Highly unusual’ The Times‘Smart writing with a strongly beating heart’ Big Issue‘Deftly plotted’ Financial Times‘Breathtakingly original’ New York Journal of Books‘Taut, gritty and thoroughly absorbing’ Booklist‘A stunning addition to the icy-cold crime genre’ Foreword Reviews

A young couple are entangled in a nightmare spiral of lies when they pretend to be someone else …Exquisitely dark psychological suspense by the international bestselling author of The Bird Tribunal  ‘A delightfully insightful and wicked little read … Like the cabin, it's so minimalist and stark and at the same time so compelling’ Elizabeth Haynes  ________It started with a lie…  Married couple Karin and Kai are looking for a pleasant escape from their busy lives, and reluctantly accept an offer to stay in a luxurious holiday home in the Norwegian fjords.  Instead of finding a relaxing retreat, however, their trip becomes a reminder of everything lacking in their own lives, and in a less-than-friendly meeting with their new neighbours, Karin tells a little white lie…  Against the backdrop of the glistening water and within the claustrophobic walls of the ultra-modern house, Karin’s insecurities blossom, and her lie grows ever bigger, entangling her and her husband in a nightmare spiral of deceits with absolutely no means of escape…  Simmering with suspense and dark humour, The Guests is a gripping psychological drama about envy and aspiration … and something more menacing, hiding just below that glittering surface…  _____  Praise for Agnes Ravatn  **Shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award****A BBC Book at Bedtime****Shortlisted for the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Fiction****Winner of an English PEN Translation Award**  'A clever, quirky mystery, full of twists and reminiscent of Agatha Christie at her best' The Times'Ravatn, one of Norway's premier crime writers, manages to conjure up an extra level of chilling atmosphere that will make you want to put the heating on' The Sun'An unrelenting atmosphere of doom fails to prepare readers for the surprising resolution' Publishers Weekly'Unfolds in an austere style that perfectly captures the bleakly beautiful landscape of Norway's far north' Irish Times'Reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith and I can't offer higher praise than that. Agnes Ravatn is an author to watch' Philip Ardagh'A tense and riveting read' Financial Times'Crackling, fraught and hugely compulsive slice of Nordic Noir tremendously impressive' Big Issue'Intriguing … enrapturing' Sarah Hilary  ‘A masterclass in suspense and delayed terror' Rod Reynolds

An insurance mathematician’s carefully ordered life is turned on its head when he unexpectedly loses his job and inherits an adventure park … with a whole host of problems. A quirky, tense and warmly funny thriller from award-winning Finnish author Antti Tuomainen.**Soon to be a major motion picture starring Steve Carell for Amazon Studios**'Laconic, thrilling and warmly human. In these uncertain times, what better hero than an actuary?' Chris Brookmyre  ‘The antic novels of Antti Tuomainen prove that comedy is not lost in translation …  Tuomainen, like Carl Hiaasen before him, has the knack of combining slapstick with genuine emotion’ The Times'The funniest writer in Europe, and one of the very finest. There is a beautiful rhythm and poetry to the prose … original and brilliant story-telling' Helen FitzGerald_______________Just one spreadsheet away from chaos…What makes life perfect? Insurance mathematician Henri Koskinen knows the answer because he calculates everything down to the very last decimal.And then, for the first time, Henri is faced with the incalculable. After suddenly losing his job, Henri inherits an adventure park from his brother – its peculiar employees and troubling financial problems included. The worst of the financial issues appear to originate from big loans taken from criminal quarters … and some dangerous men are very keen to get their money back.But what Henri really can’t compute is love. In the adventure park, Henri crosses paths with Laura, an artist with a chequered past, and a joie de vivre and erratic lifestyle that bewilders him. As the criminals go to extreme lengths to collect their debts and as Henri's relationship with Laura deepens, he finds himself faced with situations and emotions that simply cannot be pinned down on his spreadsheets…Warmly funny, rich with quirky characters and absurd situations, The Rabbit Factor is a triumph of a dark thriller, its tension matched only by its ability to make us rejoice in the beauty and random nature of life._______________‘British readers might think they know what to expect from Nordic noir: a tortured detective, a bleak setting, a brutal crime that shakes a small community. Finnish crime novelist Tuomainen turns all of this on its head … The ear of a giant plastic rabbit becomes a key weapon. It only gets darker and funnier’ Guardian'Antti Tuomainen turns the clichéd idea of dour, humourless Scandi noir upside down with The Rabbit Factor. Dark, gripping and hilarious … Tuomainen is the Carl Hiaasen of the fjords' Martyn Waites'The Rabbit Factor is a triumph, a joyous, feel-good antidote to troubled times' Kevin Wignall‘Finland's greatest export’ M.J. Arlidge  ‘The Rabbit Factor is an astounding read. It has the suspenseful twists of a thriller, the laugh-out-loud moments of a comedy and a tragic dimension that brings a tear to the eye’ Crime Fiction Lover'You don’t expect to laugh when you’re reading about terrible crimes, but that’s what you’ll do when you pick up one of Tuomainen’s decidedly quirky thrillers' New York Times‘Tuomainen is the funniest writer in Europe’ The Times‘Right up there with the best’ Times Literary Supplement  ‘Tuomainen continues to carve out his own niche in the chilly tundras of northern’ Daily Express

An investigative reporter sets out to uncover the truth about a mining company in Northern Finland, whose activities have caused an environmental disaster. Timely, atmospheric and chilling Nordic Noir from one of Finland’s finest writers…‘Tuomainen writes beautifully’ Publishers Weekly‘Clever, atmospheric and wonderfully imaginative’ Sunday Mirror‘A simple story told with passion and elegant sadness’ The Times–––––––––––––––––––––––––––A hitman. A journalist. A shattered family. A mine spewing toxic secrets that threaten to poison them all…In the dead of winter, investigative reporter Janne Vuori sets out to uncover the truth about a mining company, whose illegal activities have created an environmental disaster in a small town in Northern Finland.When the company’s executives begin to die in a string of mysterious accidents, and Janne’s personal life starts to unravel, past meets present in a catastrophic series of events that could cost him his life.A traumatic story of family, a study in corruption, and a shocking reminder that secrets from the past can return to haunt us, with deadly results, The Mine is a gripping, beautifully written, terrifying and explosive thriller by the King of Helsinki Noir.–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––‘Dark, captivating and troubling’ Crime Fiction Lover‘Beautifully executed … mesmerising’ Australian Crime'Antti Tuomainen again creates a powerful book, set firmly within the boundaries of strong themes and unforgettable characters, with the huge dose of beautiful sensitive style, masterfully translated from Finnish by David Hackston' Crime Review'You don’t expect to laugh when you’re reading about terrible crimes, but that’s what you’ll do when you pick up one of Tuomainen’s decidedly quirky thrillers' New York Times’Antti Tuomainen is a wonderful writer, whose characters, plots and atmosphere are masterfully drawn’ Yrsa Sigurðardóttir‘One of the most compelling, emotionally satisfying and beautifully realised crime thrillers that I have encountered this year. The clarity and deceptively simple style of Tuomainen’s prose is utterly compelling’ Raven Crime Reads

Lennox, Vonnie and Ava head to Greenland to meet up with Heather, Sandy and the Enceladons, commencing an epic showdown that will change everything … The emotive, devastating yet ultimately life-affirming conclusion to the bestselling Enceladons Trilogy, as seen on BBC2’s Between the Covers…‘An affecting and thought-provoking read. Johnstone's worldbuilding is top notch in this pacy eco-alien tale of peril and hope’ Tendai Huchu‘Doug Johnstone has emerged as the unholy, octopoid lovechild of David Attenborough and Michael Crichton … a thrilling, action-packed adventure’ Callum McSorley‘Forget what you think you know about science fiction … pick up this book if you want to explore what it means to be human, with all the hopes and fears, loves and losses that brings – something Johnstone has done in so many of his novels, but rarely as beautifully as he does in this trilogy’Scotsman‘Surprising, compelling and out of this world’ Ann Morgan'Johnstone brilliantly plays out the tensions between competing groups and their response to the peaceful aliens off the coast of Greenland. But will they survive? Johnstone is a born storyteller whatever the subject' Mirror'A delight! We need more novels that take on human exceptionalism with such gusto' Ever Dundas______ It’s been eighteen months since the Enceladons escaped the clutches of an American military determined to exterminate the peaceful alien creatures.Lennox and Vonnie have been lying low in the Scottish Highlands, Ava has been caring for her young daughter Chloe, and Heather is adjusting to her new life with Sandy and the other Enceladons in the Arctic Ocean, off the coast of Greenland. But fate is about to bring them together again for one last battle.When Lennox and Vonnie are visited by Karl Jensen, a Norwegian billionaire intent on making contact with the Encedalons again, they are wary of subjecting the aliens to further dangers. But when word arrives that Ava’s daughter has suffered an attack and might die without urgent help, they reluctantly make the trip to Greenland, where they enlist the vital help of local woman Niviaq. It's not long before they’re drawn into a complex web of lies, deceit and death. What is Karl’s company really up to? Why are sea creatures attacking boats? Why is Sandy acting so strangely, and why are polar bears getting involved? Profound, ambitious and immensely moving, The Transcendent Tide is the epic conclusion to the Encedalons Trilogy – a final showdown between the best and worst of humanity, the animal kingdom and the Encedalons. The future of life on earth will be changed forever, but not everyone will survive to see it…______ ‘A powerful, poignant, and devastating finale to the Enceladons Trilogy, a series that has consistently blurred the lines between sci-fi, eco-thriller and character-driven drama … a gut-punch of a read, serving up a tense, high-stakes plot that’s as emotionally resonant as it is action-packed. It culminates as a bold and heartrending conclusion that resonates with profound themes and leaves an indelible impression'SciFi Now ‘The gripping conclusion to his Enceladons trilogy – exploring first contact, humanity’s relationship with our planet, and the possibility of alien civilisations’ Daily Express‘A brilliant novel, handling complex themes … a timely meditation on man's destructive nature’ Ambrose Parry‘Wonderfully drawn … a serious critique of the state of the world today in a tense thriller anchored in the lives of ordinary people’ James Oswald‘One of the best writers of his generation,’ Paul Burke, CrimeTime ‘The perfect end to the perfect trilogy’ Michael Wood‘Powerful, profound, prescient and pacy … A brilliant near future tale, told beautifully, and sure to appeal to sci fi and thriller fans alike’ Lyndsey CroalPraise for The Enceladons Trilogy **Selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers 2023****Longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year** ‘A gateway book to sci-fi … I loved it’ Sara Cox‘A barnstorming thriller … and a wonderful and radical sense of a greater, wider way of seeing life on our planet’ Martin MacInnes‘Science fiction gains a new author’ Derek B. Miller ‘So readable and accessible’ Alan Davies ‘If you read one life-affirming book this year, make sure it's this one’ Nina Pottell, Prima ‘Prioritising pace, tension and high stakes … a plea for empathy, compassion and perspective’ Herald Scotland ‘An emotionally engaging read’ Guardian ‘A delicious, demanding departure’ Val McDermid ‘As moving as it is magical and mysterious’ Mark Billingham ‘A first-contact tale full of heart and high-octane action’ D.V. Bishop ‘An adrenaline-filled ride of a novel, laced with empathy and understanding’ Rachelle Atalla ‘Clever and unusual … I was on a journey with these characters, and completely transfixed’ Susi Holliday ‘A mesmerising tale of wonder and hope’ Marion Todd ‘Johnstone doesn't shy away from complex themes and smartly leverages the lens of science fiction to cut deep into the human experience’ SciFi Now Book of the Month

When three people suffer strokes after seeing dazzling lights over Edinburgh, then awake completely recovered, they’re convinced their ordeal is connected to the alien creature discovered on a nearby beach … an adrenaline-soaked, deeply humane, life-affirming first-contact novel from one of Scotland’s most revered authors…  **Selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers 2023**  ‘All the drive, curiosity and wonder of his crime and mystery novels … science fiction gains a new author’ Derek B Miller  ‘If you read one life-affirming book this year, make sure it’s this one’ Nina Pottell, Prima   ‘The main characters, their lives and their struggles, are portrayed very vividly. I was straight into this, just like a thriller’ Ivo Graham on Between the Covers   ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––  Connecting will change everything…  Lennox is a troubled teenager with no family. Ava is eight months pregnant and fleeing her abusive husband. Heather is a grieving mother and cancer sufferer. They don’t know each other, but when a meteor streaks over Edinburgh, all three suffer instant, catastrophic strokes...   ...only to wake up the following day in hospital, miraculously recovered.   When news reaches them of an octopus-like creature washed up on the shore near where the meteor came to earth, Lennox senses that some extra-terrestrial force is at play. With the help of Ava, Heather and a journalist, Ewan, he rescues the creature they call 'Sandy' and goes on the run.   But they aren’t the only ones with an interest in the alien … close behind are Ava’s husband, the police and a government unit who wants to capture the creature, at all costs. And Sandy’s arrival may have implications beyond anything anyone could imagine…  ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––  ‘This had all the makings of a film … such relatable characters. Writing a story about a mixed-race boy in the care system and two women so brilliantly is so impressive’ Sunetra Sarker on Between the Covers  ‘So readable and accessible … I was really rooting for the characters’ Alan Davies on Between the Covers  ‘A gateway book to SciFi … I loved it’ Sara Cox on Between the Covers  ‘A sci-fi novel that is as moving as it is magical and mysterious. Doug Johnstone has hit it out of the park again’ Mark Billingham  ‘A delicious, demanding departure from Doug Johnstone’ Val McDermid  ‘Science fiction may be a departure for Johnstone, but he’s approached it like the crime thrillers that made his name, prioritising pace, tension and high stakes … a plea for empathy, compassion and perspective, and a celebration of our capacity to connect with one another, shot through with vivid characters and a sense of wonder’ Herald Scotland  ‘An entertaining, fast-paced story of first contact … well told, with relatable characters and important themes making for an emotionally engaging read’ Guardian  ‘A gloriously hopeful story and a perfect road trip movie just waiting to be made … I can’t recommend this highly enough’ James Oswald  ‘An adrenaline-filled ride of a novel, laced with empathy and understanding for our instinctual need to connect' Rachelle Atalla  'Johnstone's mesmeric story artfully puts Scotland centre stage in a sci-fi drama that is as much about the smallness of mankind and the importance of kinship … Pay attention, Steven Spielberg! This could be your next film’ Marnie Riches  ‘A clever and unusual read … I was on a journey with these characters, and completely transfixed’ Susi Holliday  ‘Doug Johnstone held me spellbound with this mesmerising tale of wonder and hope’ Marion Todd  ‘A heart-warming, fast-paced, often tense look at friendships that surpass all boundaries, and an exploration of the very basic need for connection and a place to belong … divine’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews  What readers are saying  *****  ‘I wish I could adequately convey how much I loved this book’  ‘A beautiful story … it brought me to tears’  ‘A masterpiece … compassionate, full of love and hope’  ‘An out-of-this-world, mesmerising first-contact story about the striking importance and impact of true connection’  ‘Riveting’  ‘High stakes, high adrenaline and somehow so gentle and moving. This is one of the most beautiful, extraordinary books I’ve ever read’  ‘I don’t think I’ll ever forget these characters’

Ava, Lennox and Heather make contact with alien Sandy and head for a profound confrontation … The awe-inspiring, exquisitely moving sequel to The Space Between Us, as seen on BBC Two's Between the Covers.  ‘A barnstorming thriller … and a wonderful and radical sense of a greater, wider way of seeing life on our planet’ Martin MacInnes  ‘Terrifyingly plausible and an excellent allegory for our times … I’ll be recommending this to everyone’ James Oswald  ‘A powerful and epic multi-layered story. Doug Johnstone is a true literary master’ Michael Wood**Longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book**_________________  Six months since the earth-shattering events of The Space Between Us, the revelatory hope of the aliens’ visit has turned to dust and the creatures have disappeared into the water off Scotland’s west coast.  Teenager Lennox and grieving mother Heather are being held in New Broom, a makeshift US military base, the subject of experiments, alongside the Enceladons who have been captured by the authorities.  Ava, who has given birth, is awaiting the jury verdict at her trial for the murder of her husband. And MI7 agent Oscar Fellowes, who has been sidelined by the US military, is beginning to think he might be on the wrong side of history.  When alien Sandy makes contact, Lennox and Heather make a plan to escape with Ava. All three of them are heading for a profound confrontation between the worst of humanity and a possible brighter future, as the stakes get higher for the alien Enceladons and the entire human race…  Sequel to the bestselling The Space Between Us, The Collapsing Wave is an exquisite, epic first-contact novel, laced with peril and populated by unforgettable characters, and the awe-inspiring book we all need right now…  _________________  PRAISE FOR The Space Between Us  **Selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers 2023**  ‘A gateway book to sci-fi … I loved it’ Sara Cox  ‘So readable and accessible’ Alan Davies  ‘If you read one life-affirming book this year, make sure it’s this one’ Nina Pottell, Prima  ‘Prioritising pace, tension and high stakes … a plea for empathy, compassion and perspective’ Herald Scotland  ‘An emotionally engaging read’Guardian  ‘Science fiction gains a new author’ Derek B. Miller  ‘A delicious, demanding departure’ Val McDermid  ‘As moving as it is magical and mysterious’ Mark Billingham  ‘A first-contact tale full of heart and high-octane action’ D.V. Bishop  ‘An adrenaline-filled ride of a novel, laced with empathy and understanding’ Rachelle Atalla  ‘Pay attention, Steven Spielberg! This could be your next film’ Marnie Riches  ‘Clever and unusual … I was on a journey with these characters, and completely transfixed’ Susi Holliday  ‘A mesmerising tale of wonder and hope’ Marion Todd  ‘Johnstone doesn’t shy away from complex themes and smartly leverages the lens of science fiction to cut deep into the human experience … the well-paced and carefully breadcrumbed plot is fed to the reader with tender finesse’ SciFi Now Book of the Month

When a woman’s body is discovered at a lighthouse in the Icelandic town of Akranes, investigators discover shocking secrets in her past. First in the disturbing, chillingly atmospheric, addictive new Forbidden Iceland series.**WINNER of the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger****SHORTLISTED for the Amazon Publishing Readers Award for Best Independent Voice****SHORTLISTED for the Amazon Publishing Readers Award for Best Debut Novel****WINNER of the Storytel Award for Best Crime Novel 2020****WINNER of the Blackbird Award for Best Icelandic Crime Novel**‘Eva Björg Ægisdóttir’s accomplished first novel is not only a full-fat mystery, but also a chilling demonstration of how monsters are made’ The Times'Fans of Nordic Noir will love this moving debut from Icelander Eva Björg Ægisdóttir’s. It's subtle, nuanced, with a sympathetic central character and the possibilities of great stories to come' Ann Cleeves‘An exciting and harrowing tale from one of Iceland’s rising stars’ Ragnar Jónasson_________________When a body of a woman is discovered at a lighthouse in the Icelandic town of Akranes, it soon becomes clear that she’s no stranger to the area.Chief Investigating Officer Elma, who has returned to Akranes following a failed relationship, and her collegues Sævar and Hörður, commence an uneasy investigation, which uncovers a shocking secret in the dead woman’s past that continues to reverberate in the present day …But as Elma and her team make a series of discoveries, they bring to light a host of long-hidden crimes that shake the entire community. Sifting through the rubble of the townspeople’s shattered memories, they have to dodge increasingly serious threats, and find justice … before it’s too late.For fans of Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Ruth Rendell, P D James, Sarah Hilary and Camilla Lackberg_________________‘Elma leaves Reykjavik CID for a job with the police in her hometown of Akranes, deeming it “every bit as quiet as it appeared to be” — until the discovery of a murdered woman starts to unravel a thread of long-buried crimes hidden deep in the community. Elma is a fantastic heroine’ Sunday Times  ‘We’re used to Icelandic writers lowering the temperature — in more ways than one — and Ægisdóttir proves to be adept at this chilly art as any of her confrères (and consoeurs). Elma is a memorably complex character, and Victoria Cribb’s translation is (as usual) non-pareil’ Financial Times‘A deserted lighthouse and a murdered woman set the scene for this haunting and compelling mystery where the dark secrets of a small town are shockingly exposed. As chilling and atmospheric as an Icelandic winter’ Lisa Gray, author of Thin Air‘The setting in Iceland is fascinating, the descriptions creating a vivid picture of the reality of living in a small town. The Creak on the Stairs is a captivating tale with plenty of tension and a plot to really get your teeth into’ LoveReading‘At each stage, Ægisdóttir is not giving us information but asking things of us. She’s getting us to think through the implications: what if it’s him, what if it’s her, what would it mean? We’re involved, we’ve got skin in the game and we can’t ask for more as readers’ Café Thinking

When a depressed, alcoholic single mother disappears, everything suggests suicide, until her body is found on the lava fields. Icelandic Detective Elma and her team are thrust into a perplexing, chilling investigation in book two in the award-winning, international bestselling Forbidden Iceland series…‘Chilling and addictive, with a twist you won't see coming. I loved it!' Shari Lapena‘An exciting and harrowing tale’ Ragnar Jónasson‘Complex, gripping and moving’ The Times‘Eerie and chilling. I loved every word!’ Lesley Kara_____________When single mother Maríanna disappears from her home, leaving an apologetic note on the kitchen table, everyone assumes that she’s taken her own life … until her body is found on the Grábrók lava fields seven months later, clearly the victim of murder. Her neglected fifteen-year-old daughter Hekla has been placed in foster care, but is her perfect new life hiding something sinister?Fifteen years earlier, a desperate new mother lies in a maternity ward, unable to look at her own child, the start of an odd and broken relationship that leads to a shocking tragedy.Police officer Elma and her colleagues take on the case, which becomes increasingly complex, as the number of suspects grows and new light is shed on Maríanna’s past – and the childhood of a girl who never was like the others…Breathtakingly chilling and tantalisingly twisty, Girls Who Lie is at once a startling, tense psychological thriller and a sophisticated police procedural, marking Eva Björg Ægisdottir as one of the most exciting new names in crime fiction._______________Praise for Eva Björg Ægisdottir***WINNER of the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger***‘Fans of Nordic Noir will love this … subtle, nuanced, with a sympathetic central character and the possibilities of great stories to come’ Ann Cleeves‘Not only a full-fat mystery, but also a chilling demonstration of how monsters are made’ The Times‘Beautifully written, spine-tingling and disturbing … a thrilling new voice in Icelandic crime fiction’ Yrsa Sigurðardóttir‘As chilling and atmospheric as an Icelandic winter’ Lisa Gray‘Elma is a fantastic heroine’ Sunday Times‘Eva Björg Aegisdóttir is definitely a born storyteller and she skilfully surprised me with some amazing plot twists’ Hilary Mortz‘An unsettling and exciting read with a couple of neat red herrings to throw the reader off the scent’ NB Magazine‘Chilling and troubling … reminiscent of Jorn Lier Horst‘s Norwegian procedurals. This is a book that makes an impact’ Crime Fiction Lover‘Elma is a memorably complex character’ Financial Times‘The twist comes out of the blue … enthralling’ Tap The Line Magazine  For fans of Ragnar Jonasson, Camilla Lackberg, Ruth Rendell, Gillian McAllister and Shari Lapena

A wealthy Icelandic family gathers for a reunion in a remote hotel on the isolated lava fields, but when someone goes missing, dark secrets are exposed and everyone is a suspect … the chilling, gripping prequel to the addictive, award-winning Forbidden Iceland series…  ‘A country house mystery worthy of Agatha Christie’ The Times Crime Book of the Month  ‘As storms rage, people fall prey to a sinister figure. A canny synthesis of modern Nordic Noir and Golden Age mystery’ Financial Times  'In a Forbidden Iceland novel, there's no terrain more treacherous than the mind … a deep-dark thriller to read with the lights on' A J Finn  'Riveting, exciting, entertaining and packed with intrigue … like Succession on ice' Liz Nugent  **WINNER of the STORYTEL AWARD for Crime Book of the Year***  ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––  The wealthy, powerful Snæberg clan has gathered for a family reunion at a futuristic hotel set amongst the dark lava flows of Iceland's remote Snæfellsnes peninsula.  Petra Snæberg, a successful interior designer, is anxious about the event, and her troubled teenage daughter, Lea, whose social-media presence has attracted the wrong kind of followers. Ageing carpenter Tryggvi is an outsider, only tolerated because he's the boyfriend of Petra's aunt, but he's struggling to avoid alcohol because he knows what happens when he drinks … Humble hotel employee, Irma, is excited to meet this rich and famous family and observe them at close quarters … perhaps too close…  As the weather deteriorates and the alcohol flows, one of the guests disappears, and it becomes clear that there is a prowler lurking in the dark.  But is the real danger inside … within the family itself?  Masterfully cranking up the suspense, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir draws us into an isolated, frozen setting, where nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted, as the dark secrets and painful pasts of the Snæberg family are uncovered … and the shocking truth revealed.  Succession meets And Then There Were None … A Golden Age mystery for the 21st Century, with a shocking twist.  ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––  'A tense, twisty page-turner that you'll have serious trouble putting down' Catherine Ryan Howard  'Your new Nordic Noir obsession' Vogue  'Confirms Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir as a leading light of Icelandic noir … a master of misdirection' The Times  Praise for the Forbidden Iceland series  **Winner of the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger****Shortlisted for the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime****Shortlisted for the CWA Crime in Translation Dagger****Shortlisted for the Capital Crime Award for Best Thriller**  'Chilling and addictive, with a completely unexpected twist … I loved it' Shari Lapena  'Beautifully written … one of the rising stars of Nordic Noir'Victoria Selman  'Fans of Nordic Noir will love this' Ann Cleeves  'Eerie and chilling. I loved every word!' Lesley Kara  'Creepily compelling' Heidi Amsinck  'Elma is a memorably complex character' Financial Times  'Exciting and harrowing' Ragnar Jónasson  'Fantastic' Sunday Times  'So atmospheric' Heat

When a courier for Sweden’s Press and Military Office is killed on his final mission, the Norwegian government-in-exile appoints a writer to find the missing documents … breathtaking WW2 thriller.  **International NUMBER ONE bestseller**  ‘A stylish stand-alone thriller from the godfather of Scandi noir … Ola Dahl ratchets up the tension from the first pages and never lets go' Sunday Times'Absorbing, heart-rending and perfectly plotted' Denzil Meyrick  ‘Expertly crafted’ John Harvey  _________Summer, 1943. Daniel Berkåk, who works as a courier for the Press and Military Office in Sweden, is killed on his last cross-border mission to Norway.  Demobbed sailor Kai Fredly escapes from occupied Norway into Sweden, but finds that the murder of his Nazi-sympathiser brother is drawing the attention of the authorities on both sides of the border.  The Norwegian government, currently exiled in London, wants to know what happened to their courier, and the job goes to writer Jomar Kraby, whose first suspect is a Norwegian refugee living in Sweden … a refugee with a past as horrifying as the events still to come … a refugee named Kai Fredly…  Both classic crime and a stunning exposé of Norwegian agents in Stockholm during the Second World War, The Lazarus Solution is a compulsive, complex and dazzling historical thriller from one of the genre’s finest writers.  For fans of Sebastian Faulks, Lars Mytting, Mick Herron and Robert Harris.  _______  ‘The detail is impressive' Daily Mail  'Kjell Ola Dahl's novels are superb. If you haven't read one, you need to right now' William Ryan  'A dark but richly described backdrop and a relentless, underlying tension … Fans of Nordic noir will be satisfied' Publishers Weekly

Desperate for reward money – and to rescue his marriage – an embattled sheriff takes incalculable risks to find a missing boy. An edge-of-your-seat, twisted and twisty thriller from New Zealand's King of Crime.  `Moves at a furious pace, even as the walls close in … everything you want from a thriller and it leaves you gasping´ Helen Fields  `Paul Cleave is an automatic must-read for me´ Lee Child  ‘Electrifying’ Crime Monthly magazine  ‘Our sympathies to swing one way and then the other, and the final twist is clever’ Literary Review  _____________  To catch a killer…Maybe you've got to be one…  Acacia Pines, USA. Sheriff Cohen's life is falling apart – his father accidentally burned down the retirement home, his wife has moved out, and his son is bullying other kids at school.When high-school student, Lucas Connor, is abducted, Cohen sees a chance to get his life back on track – to win back his wife and scoop the reward money offered for Lucas's safe return.  But as the body count rises, it becomes clear that Cohen's going to have to make the kind of decision from which there's no coming back … a decision with deadly consequences…  A furiously paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller exposing the dark underbelly of small-town life, His Favourite Graves is also a twisted and twisty story of father-and-son relationships, and the one last gamble of a desperate man to save everything…  _____________  `Uses words as lethal weapons´ New York Times  Praise for Paul Cleave  `Cleave writes the kind of dark, intense thrillers that I never want to end´ Simon Kernick  `A true page-turner filled with dread, rage, doubt and more twists than the Remutaka Pass´ Linwood Barclay  `Smart and twisty, this book will get under your skin´ Liz Nugent  `Merits comparison with the work of Patricia Highsmith´ Publishers Weekly  `The sense of dread builds unstoppably´ Gilly Macmillan  `Genuinely haunting and lingers in the memory´ Daily Mail  `Full of ideas and intelligence´ Literary Review  `A true page-turner´ Guardian  `Nerve-shredding' Crime Monthly  `Tense, thrilling, touching´ John Connolly  `This very clever novel did my head in time and again´ Michael Robotham  `This thriller is one to remember´ New York Journal of Books

When the tenant of a house that university professor Nina owns with her doctor husband goes missing after an uncomfortable visit, Nina starts her own investigation … with deeply disturbing results. The long-awaited new psychological thriller from the bestselling author of The Bird Tribunal.**The Times Book of the Month****NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER IN NORWAY****WINNER of the Norwegian Booksellers’ Award****Longlisted for the CWA International Dagger**‘A clever, quirky mystery, full of twists and reminiscent of Agatha Christie at her best’ The Times‘Ravatn, one of Norway’s premier crime writers, manages to conjure up an extra level of chilling atmosphere that will make you want to put the heating on … The Seven Doors packs a brutal punch’ The Sun  ‘Elegantly plotted and economically executed … Ravatn smoothly mixes Jungian and Freudian psychology with folklore and an affair’s lethal consequences. Inexorable fate drives this searing modern take on ancient Greek tragedy’ Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW_________________University professor Nina is at a turning point. Her work seems increasingly irrelevant, her doctor husband is never home, relations with her difficult daughter are strained, and their beautiful house is scheduled for demolition.When her daughter decides to move into another house they own, things take a very dark turn. The young woman living there disappears, leaving her son behind, the day after Nina and her daughter pay her a visit.With few clues, the police enquiry soon grinds to a halt, but Nina has an inexplicable sense of guilt. Unable to rest, she begins her own investigation, but as she pulls on the threads of the case, it seems her discoveries may have very grave consequences for her and her family.Exquisitely dark and immensely powerful, The Seven Doors is a sophisticated and deeply disturbing psychological thriller from one of Norway’s most distinguished voices._________________‘Wrenching and tense, a psychological chiller with multiple layers unpeeling graciously to reveal further strata of emotional bleakness and enigmas’ Maxim Jakubowski, CrimeTime  Praise for Agnes Ravatn‘Unfolds in an austere style that perfectly captures the bleakly beautiful landscape of Norway’s far north’ Irish Times‘Reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith – and I can’t offer higher praise than that – Agnes Ravatn is an author to watch’ Philip Ardagh‘A tense and riveting read’ Financial Times  ‘A masterclass in suspense and delayed terror’ Rod Reynolds, author of Blood Red City‘A beautifully written story set in a captivating landscape … it keeps you turning the pages’ Sarah Ward, author of The Quickening‘Crackling, fraught and hugely compulsive slice of Nordic Noir … tremendously impressive’ Doug Johnstone, Big Issue  Chilling, atmospheric and hauntingly beautiful … I was transfixed’ Amanda Jennings, author of The Storm‘Beautifully done … dark, psychologically tense and packed full of emotion both overt or deliberately disguised’ Raven Crime Reads‘Intriguing … enrapturing’ Sarah Hilary, author of Fragile  ‘So chilling and bleak that it feels like the dead of winter. I read the book in one sitting with ever-growing dread’ Stephanie Wrobel, author of The Recovery of Rose Gold

When the disgraced Lord Byron is associated with the deaths of women in Venice, he turns detective to unveil the killer and clear his name. A dazzling, riveting historical mystery by the author of the Sunday Times bestseller, The Fascination.  ‘Brooding and brilliant’ A.J. West  ‘What could so easily have been a risible premise for a novel becomes, in Fox’s expert hands, the starting point for an atmospheric thriller’ Sunday Times  ‘As mesmerising and charismatic as Byron himself can ever have been … a magnificent gothic tale of scandal, secrets and murder’ Janice Hallett  ‘Evokes all the grimy charisma of eighteenth-century Venice … a mystery as sinuous as the city's alleys and canals. I was enthralled’ Elizabeth Fremantle  ‘A dark treat … splendidly gothic and impressively researched’ Andrew Taylor  ‘Essie Fox breathes new life into the “mad, bad and dangerous to know” Lord Byron as the notorious poet turns detective … Rich with decadent imagery and dark, gothic atmosphere, Dangerous intricately blends historical fact and fiction’ Culturefly  –––––––  Fiction can be fatal…  Living in exile in Venice, the disgraced Lord Byron revels in the freedoms of the city.  SCANDAL  But when he is associated with the deaths of local women, found with wounds to their throats, and then a novel called The Vampyre is published under his name, rumours begin to spread that Byron may be the murderer…  MURDER  As events escalate and tensions rise – and his own life is endangered, as well as those he holds most dear – Byron is forced to play detective, to discover who is really behind these heinous crimes. Meanwhile, the scandals of his own infamous past come back to haunt him…  MYSTERY  Rich in gothic atmosphere and drawing on real events and characters from Byron's life, Dangerous is a riveting, dazzling historical thriller, as decadent, dark and seductive as the poet himself…  _________  ‘A plot as labyrinthine as the Venice backstreets, told in dazzling prose; suspenseful, seductive stuff’ Erin Kelly  ‘Brilliant, daring writing … a darkly delicious Venetian tale of murder and mystery’ Anna Mazzola  ‘Essie Fox expertly weaves fact and fiction in this gloriously gothic thriller … Venice becomes the atmospheric backdrop to Byron's daring attempt to catch a killer’ Anita Frank  ‘Sumptuous, entertaining and glorious’ C.S. Green  ‘Fox is the queen of darkly glittering gothic fiction … a tale so compelling I devoured it in one sitting’ Louisa Treger  ‘Many writers have tried and failed to capture the Byronic quintessence, but the brilliant Essie Fox has succeeded admirably. She proves that the poet and rake remains fascinating because he is, indeed, mad, bad and Dangerous’ Alex Larman  ‘A heady and intoxicating brew … scandalously scintillating’ Kate Griffin  ‘A gorgeously clever thriller’ Amanda Craig  ‘A ravishing tale of murder, lust and thwarted ambition … a sumptuous, decadent delight’ Emma Carroll  ‘A deliciously gothic and beautifully written historical thriller starring the ultimate bad boy hero, Lord Byron’ Frances Quinn  ‘An incredibly evocative and atmospheric book that captures the Byronic soul in all its beauty and madness’ Victoria Dowd  ‘Deliciously dark and everything I hoped it would be’ Paul Burston  ‘An engaging historical mystery tale in which the dissolute poet turns sleuth to clear his own name’ Julie Anderson, Time & Leisure Magazine  ‘A dark, disturbing treat, impeccably researched and compellingly told’ Bridget Walsh  ‘What a ride! Gripping and atmospheric’ Caroline Lea  ‘A delicious dish of decadence … fastidiously researched, richly imagined, full of wonderful descriptions of Venice’ Michael Stewart