Jack Reacher creator Lee Child reveals his top 10 books of all time
You Don't Know Me - Imran Mahmood
In Lee Child's words: "A daring concept executed to perfection"
This story follows an unexpected turn of events during the trial of a young man accused of murder. At first, all the evidence points to his guilt. However, during the trial, he suddenly dismisses his lawyer and recounts the events in his own words, challenging each piece of evidence against him. The reader is left with a pressing question: did he do it?
The President is Missing - Bill Clinton and James Patterson
In Lee Child's words: "The dream team delivers big time... Clinton's insider secrets and Patterson's storytelling genius make this the political thriller of the decade."
The book by the former US President Bill Clinton and the bestselling novelist James Patterson combines dark thrills with an authentic representation of the inner happenings in Washington. The President went missing after a massive cyberattack, codenamed "Dark Ages," threatens to bring the US to its knees. Suspicions point to Russia, but the title's President Jonathan Lincoln Duncan also fears a mole within his own ranks. Desperate, he sneaks out of the White House in disguise - using makeup with the help of a famous actress friend.
The Child - Fiona Barton
In Lee Child's words: "Tense, tantalising and ultimately very satisfying... definitely one of the year's must-reads"
This short-chapter read follows the lives of three women after an infant's skeleton is discovered on a building site. For these women - each carrying their own past - this story is impossible to ignore. For one, it offers the chance to reveal a long-hidden secret; for another, it serves as a painful reminder of the worst moments of her life. For the third, journalist Kate Waters, it is the beginning of an investigation - one that could uncover a human interest story far bigger than she ever imagined.
The Last Day - Andrew Hunter Murray
In Lee Child's words: 'Wonderful: boldly imagined and beautifully written - the best future-shock thriller for years.'
Prepare yourself for a future journey. It is 2059, and the world has stopped turning. One half is cursed with nothing but burning sun, while the other endures an endless frozen night. The only slim chance for survival lies in the twilight region between the two halves. Ellen Hopper, a scientist living in the British twilight zone, receives a letter from a dying man. She then discovers a dangerous secret that those in power would kill to conceal.
Safe - S. K. Barnett
In Lee Child's words: "Wonderful: boldly imagined and beautifully written - the best future-shock thriller for years."
After 12 years, a missing child has reappeared at her family's door. Jenny Kristal was only six years old when she was kidnapped and endured absolute ****. But now that she is back, new questions arise: How did she manage to return alive? Where has she been? And who has she become?
The Partisan - Patrick Worrall
In Lee Child's words: 'The Partisan is immersive, intriguing, and intelligent - an incredibly impressive debut, already up there with the best in the genre.'
It is the summer of 1961, and the brutal Cold War is reaching climax. When two young prodigies from opposite sides of the Iron Curtain meet at a London chess tournament, they unknowingly step into the deadliest game ever played. Shadowing them is a ruthless resistance fighter from the Lithuanian forests, now pursuing some of the world's most dangerous men - men who have also caught the eye of Vassily, the Soviet Union's cunning spymaster. As the world hurtles towards inevitable catastrophe, can these four individuals alter its course?
Star of the North - D B John
In Lee Child's words: 'Extraordinary... smart, sophisticated, suspenseful - and important. If you try one new thing this year, make it Star of the North.'
In a thriller that came out just after a 2018 summit between the US and North Korea, a young American woman vanishes without a trace from a South Korean island. The CIA hires her twin sister to uncover the mystery. As she goes undercover in one of the world's most perilous states, she infiltrates the heart of the regime in hope to save both her missing sister and herself.
Girl on Fire - Tony Parsons
In Lee Child's words: 'Spectacular! Tense and human, fast and authentic'
DC Max Wolfe is caught in a deadly crossfire after a drone attack brings down a plane above one of London's busiest shopping centres. This terrorist act sets off a cascade of events that ensnares both the innocent and the criminal. In a city growing ever more dangerous and hostile, Wolfe is forced to confront an unsettling question: is the true threat posed by the murderous criminals he is tracking, or by those he is sworn to protect?
Need to Know - Karen Cleveland
In Lee Child's words: 'Superb'
This is an astonishing psychological thriller by a former CIA counterterrorism analyst and the New York Times bestselling author. Just like the author herself, the book's main character Vivian Miller is a dedicated CIA counter-intelligence analyst hunting Russian sleeper cells in the US. She has devised a method to spot agents living in plain sight. But when she uncovers a secret dossier on deep-cover operatives, her career - and her family's safety - are jeopardised in mere clicks.
A Treachery of Spies - Manda Scott
In Lee Child's words: 'This is a rich vein for fiction, and Scott does it more than justice, with this beautifully imagined, beautifully written, smart, sophisticated - but fiercely suspenseful - thriller.'
Orleans, France. A beautiful elderly woman is found murdered. While her identity has been erased, the way she was killed resembles the manner of traitors to the Resistance in World War Two.This draws Inspector Inès Picaut back to 1940s France, where the men and women of the Resistance waged a desperate battle for survival against Nazi invaders.
Hang On St. Christopher The Sean Duffy Series, Book 8
About this listen New York Times bestselling author Adrian McKinty continues the Edgar Award-winning Sean Duffy series with Hang On St. Christopher.Rain slicked streets, riots, murder, chaos. It’s July 1992 and the Troubles in Northern Ireland are still grinding on after twenty-five apocalyptic years. Detective Inspector Sean Duffy got his family safely over the water to Scotland, to “Shortbread Land.” Duffy’s a part-timer now, only returning to Belfast six days a month to get his pension. It’s an easy gig, if he can keep his head down.But then a murder case falls into his lap while his protégé is on holiday in Spain. A carjacking gone wrong and the death of a solitary, middle-aged painter. But something’s not right, and as Duffy probes he discovers the painter was an IRA assassin. So, the question becomes: Who hit the hit man and why?This is Duffy’s most violent and dangerous case yet and the whole future of the burgeoning “peace process” may depend upon it. Based on true events, Duffy must unentangle parallel operations by the CIA, MI5, and Special Branch. Duffy attempts to bring a killer to justice while trying to keep himself and his team alive as everything unravels around them. They might not all make it out of this one.
Overall 5 out of 5 stars
Performance 4.7 out of 5.0
Story 5 out of 5 stars
What a circle round! I’m a huge fan of this author, and have been awaiting this release, but I wasn’t sure of this book half way thru then he pulls out the connection to Darky White and his other books and I was won over. very cleverly done 👏 the last half of this book is brilliant. I was on the edge of my seat and listened in one day. Highly recommend I hope this isn’t the end of Sean Duffy
Hang On St. Christopher The Sean Duffy Series, Book 8
About this listen New York Times bestselling author Adrian McKinty continues the Edgar Award-winning Sean Duffy series with Hang On St. Christopher.Rain slicked streets, riots, murder, chaos. It’s July 1992 and the Troubles in Northern Ireland are still grinding on after twenty-five apocalyptic years. Detective Inspector Sean Duffy got his family safely over the water to Scotland, to “Shortbread Land.” Duffy’s a part-timer now, only returning to Belfast six days a month to get his pension. It’s an easy gig, if he can keep his head down.But then a murder case falls into his lap while his protégé is on holiday in Spain. A carjacking gone wrong and the death of a solitary, middle-aged painter. But something’s not right, and as Duffy probes he discovers the painter was an IRA assassin. So, the question becomes: Who hit the hit man and why?This is Duffy’s most violent and dangerous case yet and the whole future of the burgeoning “peace process” may depend upon it. Based on true events, Duffy must unentangle parallel operations by the CIA, MI5, and Special Branch. Duffy attempts to bring a killer to justice while trying to keep himself and his team alive as everything unravels around them. They might not all make it out of this one.
Overall 5 out of 5 stars
Performance 4.7 out of 5.0
Story 5 out of 5 stars
What a circle round! I’m a huge fan of this author, and have been awaiting this release, but I wasn’t sure of this book half way thru then he pulls out the connection to Darky White and his other books and I was won over. very cleverly done 👏 the last half of this book is brilliant. I was on the edge of my seat and listened in one day. Highly recommend I hope this isn’t the end of Sean Duffy
This is an excellent series. The best I have listened to for ages.
Jo Nesbos new one out this month. Ian Rankin, and Michael Connelly, next month.
I thought the Rebus book was very good even though the doddery old ba stard was banged up.
The Connelly book was also very good. He has sneaked Maddie Bosch into the cold case squad to work with Renee Ballard. Harry also features. I thought it was particularly good on Audible as Harry narrates his bit, and Maddie hers. Christine Lakin who is a very good narrator does Ballard, and the rest.
I have just started on the Jo Nesbo book. It starts off with a bloke recapping on whats gone before. I immediately thought that I knew that story. I looked it up, and it seems that it is a sequel to The Kingdom. Although this wasnt clear on Audible, or Amazon.
About this listen THE NEW THRILLER FROM MILLION COPY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER MICHAEL CONNELLY
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Detective Stilwell has been "exiled" to a low-key post policing rustic Catalina Island, after department politics drove him off a homicide desk on the mainland.
But while following up the usual drunk-and-disorderlies and petty thefts that come with his new territory, Detective Stilwell gets a report of a body found wrapped in plastic and weighed down at the bottom of the harbor. Crossing all lines of protocol and jurisdiction, he starts doggedly working the case.
Soon, his investigation uncovers closely guarded secrets and a dark heart to the serene island that was meant to be his escape from the evils of the big city.
****
CRIME DOESN'T COME BETTER THAN CONNELLY:
'The pre-eminent detective novelist of his generation' IAN RANKIN
'The best mystery writer in the world' GQ
'A superb natural storyteller' LEE CHILD
'A master' STEPHEN KING
'America's greatest living crime writer' DAILY EXPRESS
'One of the great storytellers of crime fiction' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
Coming 14 Aug
About this listen Brought to you by Penguin.
'Nesbo deserves to be crowned the king of all crime thriller writers' Sunday ExpressEvery killer has a story. When a small-time crook is shot down in the street, all signs point to a lone wolf, a sniper who has seemingly vanished into thin air. To tell it he needs to get caught. Down-and-out detective, Bob Oz is sitting in a dive bar in Minneapolis when he gets the call: there’s been another murder, and they don’t think it will be the last. And this wolf wants the world to know... As the body count grows, Oz suspects that something more sinister is at play. And the closer he gets the more disturbed he becomes. Because the serial killer reminds him of someone: himself. He’s only just getting started.
Wolf Hour is a gritty, standalone thriller jam-packed with unexpected twists, dark secrets, and bubbling personal and political tension, from crime writing’s king of the cliffhanger.
Coming 21 Oct Untitled Roy Grace Book 21
About this listen Roy Grace is back with his most difficult case yet in the gripping new instalment from number one bestselling author Peter James.
Jo Nesbos new one out this month. Ian Rankin, and Michael Connelly, next month.
I thought the Rebus book was very good even though the doddery old ba stard was banged up.
The Connelly book was also very good. He has sneaked Maddie Bosch into the cold case squad to work with Renee Ballard. Harry also features. I thought it was particularly good on Audible as Harry narrates his bit, and Maddie hers. Christine Lakin who is a very good narrator does Ballard, and the rest.
I have just started on the Jo Nesbo book. It starts off with a bloke recapping on whats gone before. I immediately thought that I knew that story. I looked it up, and it seems that it is a sequel to The Kingdom. Although this wasnt clear on Audible, or Amazon.
About this listen THE NEW THRILLER FROM MILLION COPY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER MICHAEL CONNELLY
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Detective Stilwell has been "exiled" to a low-key post policing rustic Catalina Island, after department politics drove him off a homicide desk on the mainland.
But while following up the usual drunk-and-disorderlies and petty thefts that come with his new territory, Detective Stilwell gets a report of a body found wrapped in plastic and weighed down at the bottom of the harbor. Crossing all lines of protocol and jurisdiction, he starts doggedly working the case.
Soon, his investigation uncovers closely guarded secrets and a dark heart to the serene island that was meant to be his escape from the evils of the big city.
****
CRIME DOESN'T COME BETTER THAN CONNELLY:
'The pre-eminent detective novelist of his generation' IAN RANKIN
'The best mystery writer in the world' GQ
'A superb natural storyteller' LEE CHILD
'A master' STEPHEN KING
'America's greatest living crime writer' DAILY EXPRESS
'One of the great storytellers of crime fiction' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
Coming 14 Aug
About this listen Brought to you by Penguin.
'Nesbo deserves to be crowned the king of all crime thriller writers' Sunday ExpressEvery killer has a story. When a small-time crook is shot down in the street, all signs point to a lone wolf, a sniper who has seemingly vanished into thin air. To tell it he needs to get caught. Down-and-out detective, Bob Oz is sitting in a dive bar in Minneapolis when he gets the call: there’s been another murder, and they don’t think it will be the last. And this wolf wants the world to know... As the body count grows, Oz suspects that something more sinister is at play. And the closer he gets the more disturbed he becomes. Because the serial killer reminds him of someone: himself. He’s only just getting started.
Wolf Hour is a gritty, standalone thriller jam-packed with unexpected twists, dark secrets, and bubbling personal and political tension, from crime writing’s king of the cliffhanger.
Coming 21 Oct Untitled Roy Grace Book 21
About this listen Roy Grace is back with his most difficult case yet in the gripping new instalment from number one bestselling author Peter James.
Available for pre-order now!
To Become an Outlaw A Ben Schroeder Legal Thriller, Book 8 Release date 20-03-25
About this listen 1964, Apartheid South Africa. Danie du Plessis, the son of a conservative Afrikaner family, is poised to start a glittering legal academic career at one of South Africa's leading universities, when he falls in love with a student, Amy Coetzee. But there's a problem: he's white, she's not. Facing arrest, imprisonment and ruin, the couple flee South Africa, and settle in Cambridge, where friends find them positions at the University. They marry and have two children, and have seemingly put the past, and South Africa, behind them. But in 1968 Art Pienaar enters their lives, and, insisting that they have a duty to fight back, enlists their help in increasingly dangerous schemes to undermine the South African regime.
When Pienaar and a notorious drug dealer, Vince Cummings, are found murdered together, Danie's activities come to light, and he and his family find themselves in mortal danger. Danie is also threatened with criminal prosecution on behalf of a government desperate to maintain good relations with the apartheid regime. Danie knows he's sailed close to the wind. But has he become an outlaw? Can Ben Schroeder persuade a jury that the answer is no?
THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE FENS MYSTERIES five absolutely gripping and atmospheric crime thrillers Kindle Edition by JIM KELLY (Author) Format: Kindle Edition 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (3) Five enthralling mysteries from CWA Dagger award-winning author Jim Kelly, set beneath the endless skies of the Cambridgeshire Fens.
‘Intelligent crime fiction — leaves the reader hungry for more.’ Val McDermid, No. 1 bestselling author
These unputdownable and atmospheric crime mysteries are laced with dark secrets and a protagonist who is as flawed as he is determined. The perfect read for fans of Joy Ellis, Caro Ramsay, Ann Cleeves or Elly Griffiths.
The Cambridgeshire Fens are known for their miles of open, remote farmlands and sprawling marshes. The constant threat of flooding and the unpredictable weather make it a difficult terrain to navigate, but the locals wouldn’t wish to be anywhere else. The desolate beauty stretches as far as the eye can see.
MEET PHILIP DRYDEN Philip Dryden’s beautiful wife has been lying in a coma ever since a horrific car accident he blames himself for. Living alone on his houseboat, Dryden’s guilt has never subsided as he was pulled to safety by an unknown rescuer and failed to save her. His role as an investigative journalist is both his salvation and his curse, as Dryden’s relentless passion for uncovering the truth often drives him into the heart of mysteries that threaten his own safety.
_________________________________________
‘Kelly goes from strength to strength.’ The Mirror
‘Kelly is fast gaining a reputation for his literate, atmospheric novels.’ Daily Mail
‘Intensely atmospheric.’ Literary Review
Crime readers are hooked by Jim Kelly’s chilling mysteries:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Kelly is the best author currently writing in this genre.’ Stirlinger
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Ingenious and very riveting.’ Snowdrop1941
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Lots of twists and turns and a dramatic ending.’ T. Geere
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Excellent read as you had no idea who was the culprit.’ L J Jenkins
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved the way Jim Kelly wound the story and the environment together — a bleak tale, in a bleak setting, well written and authentic. Cleverly, Kelly has made the Fens part of the plot.’ Onlyolney
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Imaginative, gripping and suspenseful from beginning to end.’ Sally-Anne
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good puzzle to solve.’ Kindle Customer
YOU GET *FIVE* OF CWA DAGGER AWARD-WINNING JIM KELLY’S ABSOLUTELY GRIPPING CRIME MYSTERIES SET IN THE STUNNING CAMBRIDGESHIRE FENS IN THIS AMAZING-VALUE BOX SET.
About this listen The new incredible legal thriller from John Grisham.
She needs a lawyer. He needs a payday.
Simon Latch is a small-town lawyer struggling with debt, gambling issues and an impending divorce. But when Eleanor Barnett, an 85-year-old widow, visits his office to secure a new will, it seems his luck has finally changed: she claims she's sitting on a $20 million fortune and no one else knows about it.
She could be the ticket to his fortune.
Once he's hooked the richest client of his career, Simon works quietly to keep her wealth under the radar, even from his own assistant. But there are complications: other lawyers are circling his client like vultures.
But when she is hospitalised after a car accident, Eleanor's story begins to crack. Simon realises that nothing is as it seems. And as events spiral out of control, he finds himself on trial for a crime he swears he didn't commit: murder.
Audible £0.99 for the first 3 months For a limited period, enjoy £0.99 and listen to bestsellers, podcasts, exclusive original tracks and more.
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Jo Nesbos new one out this month. Ian Rankin, and Michael Connelly, next month.
I thought the Rebus book was very good even though the doddery old ba stard was banged up.
The Connelly book was also very good. He has sneaked Maddie Bosch into the cold case squad to work with Renee Ballard. Harry also features. I thought it was particularly good on Audible as Harry narrates his bit, and Maddie hers. Christine Lakin who is a very good narrator does Ballard, and the rest.
I have just started on the Jo Nesbo book. It starts off with a bloke recapping on whats gone before. I immediately thought that I knew that story. I looked it up, and it seems that it is a sequel to The Kingdom. Although this wasnt clear on Audible, or Amazon.
About this listen THE NEW THRILLER FROM MILLION COPY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER MICHAEL CONNELLY
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Detective Stilwell has been "exiled" to a low-key post policing rustic Catalina Island, after department politics drove him off a homicide desk on the mainland.
But while following up the usual drunk-and-disorderlies and petty thefts that come with his new territory, Detective Stilwell gets a report of a body found wrapped in plastic and weighed down at the bottom of the harbor. Crossing all lines of protocol and jurisdiction, he starts doggedly working the case.
Soon, his investigation uncovers closely guarded secrets and a dark heart to the serene island that was meant to be his escape from the evils of the big city.
****
CRIME DOESN'T COME BETTER THAN CONNELLY:
'The pre-eminent detective novelist of his generation' IAN RANKIN
'The best mystery writer in the world' GQ
'A superb natural storyteller' LEE CHILD
'A master' STEPHEN KING
'America's greatest living crime writer' DAILY EXPRESS
'One of the great storytellers of crime fiction' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
Coming 14 Aug
About this listen Brought to you by Penguin.
'Nesbo deserves to be crowned the king of all crime thriller writers' Sunday ExpressEvery killer has a story. When a small-time crook is shot down in the street, all signs point to a lone wolf, a sniper who has seemingly vanished into thin air. To tell it he needs to get caught. Down-and-out detective, Bob Oz is sitting in a dive bar in Minneapolis when he gets the call: there’s been another murder, and they don’t think it will be the last. And this wolf wants the world to know... As the body count grows, Oz suspects that something more sinister is at play. And the closer he gets the more disturbed he becomes. Because the serial killer reminds him of someone: himself. He’s only just getting started.
Wolf Hour is a gritty, standalone thriller jam-packed with unexpected twists, dark secrets, and bubbling personal and political tension, from crime writing’s king of the cliffhanger.
Coming 21 Oct Untitled Roy Grace Book 21
About this listen Roy Grace is back with his most difficult case yet in the gripping new instalment from number one bestselling author Peter James.
Available for pre-order now!
The Killing Stones By Ann Cleeves Coming 07 Oct Series Jimmy Perez
About this listen The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves sees the return of Detective Jimmy PerezWhen a violent storm descends upon Orkney, the body of Archie Stout is left in its wake. An unusual murder weapon, a Neolithic stone bearing ancient inscriptions, is found discarded nearby. Archie was a popular, larger-than-life character, and his death is a shocking blow to the community.
Detective Jimmy Perez, no stranger to the complexity of human nature and the darkness it can harbour, is soon on the scene. He counted Archie as a childhood friend, so this case is more personal than most. Now living in Orkney with his partner, Willow, and their son, Perez is soon drawn into the lives of the islanders, many of whom hold secrets. Dark secrets, which could have led to the man’s murder.
Here, in these ancient lands where history runs deep, Perez must discern the truth from legend before a desperate killer strikes again . . .
Shadow of a Lie DS Tony Heaton, Book 1 By Steve Higgs
Series DS Tony Heaton's Cold Cases Release date 03-04-25
About this listen
It might hide in the shadows, but the truth yearns to be seen.
Plagued by the unsolvable murder that ruined his glowing career, a burnt-out detective is cruising through his final weeks until retirement.
Until he is hand-picked to be part of a taskforce investigating old, unsolved murders. Hand-picked because the very killer he failed to catch is still out there.
Did you know that there’s a book no one will ever be able to finish reading in their lifetime, and it only has 10 pages?
In 1960, the French writer Raymond Queneau introduced what is probably the world’s longest book.
It’s called *Cent mille milliards de poèmes* (A Hundred Thousand Billion Poems), and it consists of just ten pages, each containing a sonnet.
The verses all share the same rhyme pattern and are printed on strips, allowing readers to combine lines from different sonnets.
This setup results in a total of 10¹⁴ possible combinations, meaning the book contains one hundred trillion unique poems.
The implication is that no one will ever manage to read the entire book, even with the greatest effort, as it would take millions of years to match up all the possible poem combinations—without taking breaks for eating, sleeping, or reading anything else.
And all of this comes from just ten pages.
Each mix you create will result in a coherent sonnet with proper stanzas, rhythm, and rhyme.
Moreover, it’s highly likely that any randomly selected poem will be one that no one has ever read before.
Queneau himself claimed that if it takes about 45 seconds to read one sonnet and another 15 seconds to prepare the next, it would take around 200 million years to read through all the possible combinations.
Did you know that there’s a book no one will ever be able to finish reading in their lifetime, and it only has 10 pages?
In 1960, the French writer Raymond Queneau introduced what is probably the world’s longest book.
It’s called *Cent mille milliards de poèmes* (A Hundred Thousand Billion Poems), and it consists of just ten pages, each containing a sonnet.
The verses all share the same rhyme pattern and are printed on strips, allowing readers to combine lines from different sonnets.
This setup results in a total of 10¹⁴ possible combinations, meaning the book contains one hundred trillion unique poems.
The implication is that no one will ever manage to read the entire book, even with the greatest effort, as it would take millions of years to match up all the possible poem combinations—without taking breaks for eating, sleeping, or reading anything else.
And all of this comes from just ten pages.
Each mix you create will result in a coherent sonnet with proper stanzas, rhythm, and rhyme.
Moreover, it’s highly likely that any randomly selected poem will be one that no one has ever read before.
Queneau himself claimed that if it takes about 45 seconds to read one sonnet and another 15 seconds to prepare the next, it would take around 200 million years to read through all the possible combinations.
Not sure if I am ready for a detective with an AI partner. Bound to happen though I suppose.
Hi, welcome to my author page! IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE is my crime debut and first UK published book. The paperback has just been published on Jan 4th 2024, and incredibly, is now Waterstones Thriller of the Month! I've been blown away by the reaction from readers, bloggers and book sellers so far (and if you been kind enough to buy it or leave a review, then thank you). I was also lucky enough to be selected for Val McDermid's New Blood Panel at Harrogate Crime Festival, and my book was reviewed and recommended on BBC 2's Book Club show Between the Covers. So what next? Well for those of you who have been asking, yes, IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE is the first in a series, and book 2, LEAVE NO TRACE will be published on March 28th 2024. I honestly can't wait for you to read it and hear what you think about Kat and Lock as they take on their first live case. I know it's hard to keep up with publication dates, so the easiest thing to do is to pre-order it as a gift to your future self. (Go on, you deserve it). Or if you click the yellow ‘follow’ button on this page then Amazon will send you an email when it comes out, and also alert you to any special deals on all formats. It's the best way to make sure you never miss a book or a special offer, and as its free, it's worth doing for all your favourite writers. I hoover up books too, so I love hearing from other readers. I spend a lot of time on twitter talking about the books and TV shows that I love, how the writing is going or just chatting about random stuff like the weather, kids, and food. I’ve recently joined Instagram, but twitter is really where I hang out if you want to see what I’m up to and maybe hear a bit about book 3 in due course... Thanks again for taking a look at my author page, and even bigger thanks if you bought it. I really, really hope you enjoy it. You can find me on twitter: @JoCallaghanKat or (less often) Instagram: @JoCallaghanKat. Jo works full-time as a senior strategist, where she has carried out research into the future impact of AI and genomics on the workforce. After losing her husband to cancer in 2019, she started writing In The Blink of An Eye. She lives with her two children in the Midlands, where she is currently writing the third novel in the Kat and Lock
About this listen
THE SUNDAY TIMES bestseller, as seen on BBC 2's BETWEEN THE COVERS A WATERSTONES THRILLER BOOK OF THE MONTH
*WINNER* OF THE THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2024 *WINNER* OF THE CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION ILP JOHN CREASEY (NEW BLOOD) DAGGER 2024
AND NOMINATED FOR TWO OTHER MAJOR AWARDS Capital Crime Book of the Year 2023 Crimefest Specsavers Best Debut Crime Novel
‘I devoured this in one sitting’ Rob Rinder, as featured on BBC 2’s Between the Covers ‘Terrifyingly timely and provocative' Val McDermid 'The most original crime novel you'll read this year' Clare Mackintosh
In the UK, someone is reported missing every 90 seconds. Just gone. Vanished. In the blink of an eye.
DCS Kat Frank knows all about loss. A widowed single mother, Kat is a cop who trusts her instincts. Picked to lead a pilot programme that has her paired with AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) Lock, Kat's instincts come up against Lock's logic. But when the two missing person's cold cases they are reviewing suddenly become active, Lock is the only one who can help Kat when the case gets personal.
AI versus human experience. Logic versus instinct. With lives on the line can the pair work together before someone else becomes another statistic?
In the Blink of an Eye is a dazzling debut from an exciting new voice and asks us what we think it means to be human. 'Just brilliant!' Lisa Jewell
'Has to be a strong contender for crime debut of the year - sharp, perceptive writing and a brilliant new take on the detective duo' T. M. Logan
'Everything you could hope for in a thriller: heartbreaking, intelligent, deftly plotted and so original' Fiona Cummins
'Jo Callaghan makes her entry into the crowded police procedural genre with a fresh take on the buddy-buddy cop trope . . . Provocative and compelling' Vaseem Khan
Jo Callaghan. All rights reserved. (P) 2023 Simon & Schuster, UK. All Rights Reserved. (P)2023 Simon & Schuster, UK
Confirms Callaghan as a new force to be reckoned with in crime’ Daily Mail
‘Jo Callaghan is an outstanding talent’ Jane Casey
‘I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough’ Nikki Smith
‘A smart, agile, immaculately plotted and moving thriller that is unswervingly gripping and scary, and at the same time beautifully tender and humane’ Nicci French
‘With Leave No Trace, Jo Callaghan cements her status as a crime fiction force to be reckoned with’ Caz Frear
‘Brilliant, rapidly paced and plotted . . . Another masterpiece’ Imran Mahmood
‘Every bit as smart, compelling and insightful as her debut . . . A terrific read!’ Gytha Lodge
‘Jo Callaghan has done it again in this intricately plotted, humorous and incredibly moving thriller . . . I absolutely loved it’ Laura Marshall
‘Another exciting and thought-provoking book from Jo Callaghan that combines cutting-edge tech with a classic police procedural . . . Hugely human and big-hearted. Brava!’ Sarah Hilary
Comments
You Don't Know Me - Imran Mahmood
In Lee Child's words: "A daring concept executed to perfection"
This story follows an unexpected turn of events during the trial of a young man accused of murder. At first, all the evidence points to his guilt. However, during the trial, he suddenly dismisses his lawyer and recounts the events in his own words, challenging each piece of evidence against him. The reader is left with a pressing question: did he do it?
The President is Missing - Bill Clinton and James Patterson
In Lee Child's words: "The dream team delivers big time... Clinton's insider secrets and Patterson's storytelling genius make this the political thriller of the decade."
The book by the former US President Bill Clinton and the bestselling novelist James Patterson combines dark thrills with an authentic representation of the inner happenings in Washington. The President went missing after a massive cyberattack, codenamed "Dark Ages," threatens to bring the US to its knees. Suspicions point to Russia, but the title's President Jonathan Lincoln Duncan also fears a mole within his own ranks. Desperate, he sneaks out of the White House in disguise - using makeup with the help of a famous actress friend.
The Child - Fiona Barton
In Lee Child's words: "Tense, tantalising and ultimately very satisfying... definitely one of the year's must-reads"
This short-chapter read follows the lives of three women after an infant's skeleton is discovered on a building site. For these women - each carrying their own past - this story is impossible to ignore. For one, it offers the chance to reveal a long-hidden secret; for another, it serves as a painful reminder of the worst moments of her life. For the third, journalist Kate Waters, it is the beginning of an investigation - one that could uncover a human interest story far bigger than she ever imagined.
The Last Day - Andrew Hunter Murray
In Lee Child's words: 'Wonderful: boldly imagined and beautifully written - the best future-shock thriller for years.'
Prepare yourself for a future journey. It is 2059, and the world has stopped turning. One half is cursed with nothing but burning sun, while the other endures an endless frozen night. The only slim chance for survival lies in the twilight region between the two halves. Ellen Hopper, a scientist living in the British twilight zone, receives a letter from a dying man. She then discovers a dangerous secret that those in power would kill to conceal.
Safe - S. K. Barnett
In Lee Child's words: "Wonderful: boldly imagined and beautifully written - the best future-shock thriller for years."
After 12 years, a missing child has reappeared at her family's door. Jenny Kristal was only six years old when she was kidnapped and endured absolute ****. But now that she is back, new questions arise: How did she manage to return alive? Where has she been? And who has she become?
The Partisan - Patrick Worrall
In Lee Child's words: 'The Partisan is immersive, intriguing, and intelligent - an incredibly impressive debut, already up there with the best in the genre.'
It is the summer of 1961, and the brutal Cold War is reaching climax. When two young prodigies from opposite sides of the Iron Curtain meet at a London chess tournament, they unknowingly step into the deadliest game ever played. Shadowing them is a ruthless resistance fighter from the Lithuanian forests, now pursuing some of the world's most dangerous men - men who have also caught the eye of Vassily, the Soviet Union's cunning spymaster. As the world hurtles towards inevitable catastrophe, can these four individuals alter its course?
Star of the North - D B John
In Lee Child's words: 'Extraordinary... smart, sophisticated, suspenseful - and important. If you try one new thing this year, make it Star of the North.'
In a thriller that came out just after a 2018 summit between the US and North Korea, a young American woman vanishes without a trace from a South Korean island. The CIA hires her twin sister to uncover the mystery. As she goes undercover in one of the world's most perilous states, she infiltrates the heart of the regime in hope to save both her missing sister and herself.
Girl on Fire - Tony Parsons
In Lee Child's words: 'Spectacular! Tense and human, fast and authentic'
DC Max Wolfe is caught in a deadly crossfire after a drone attack brings down a plane above one of London's busiest shopping centres. This terrorist act sets off a cascade of events that ensnares both the innocent and the criminal. In a city growing ever more dangerous and hostile, Wolfe is forced to confront an unsettling question: is the true threat posed by the murderous criminals he is tracking, or by those he is sworn to protect?
Need to Know - Karen Cleveland
In Lee Child's words: 'Superb'
This is an astonishing psychological thriller by a former CIA counterterrorism analyst and the New York Times bestselling author. Just like the author herself, the book's main character Vivian Miller is a dedicated CIA counter-intelligence analyst hunting Russian sleeper cells in the US. She has devised a method to spot agents living in plain sight. But when she uncovers a secret dossier on deep-cover operatives, her career - and her family's safety - are jeopardised in mere clicks.
A Treachery of Spies - Manda Scott
In Lee Child's words: 'This is a rich vein for fiction, and Scott does it more than justice, with this beautifully imagined, beautifully written, smart, sophisticated - but fiercely suspenseful - thriller.'
Orleans, France. A beautiful elderly woman is found murdered. While her identity has been erased, the way she was killed resembles the manner of traitors to the Resistance in World War Two.This draws Inspector Inès Picaut back to 1940s France, where the men and women of the Resistance waged a desperate battle for survival against Nazi invaders.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/movies/jack-reacher-creator-lee-child-reveals-his-top-10-books-of-all-time/ar-AA1zCJAy?ocid=msedgntp&pc=W230&cvid=87803d9e1a904dd98d8c32527ff43d28&ei=90#
Hang On St. Christopher
The Sean Duffy Series, Book 8
About this listen
New York Times bestselling author Adrian McKinty continues the Edgar Award-winning Sean Duffy series with Hang On St. Christopher.Rain slicked streets, riots, murder, chaos. It’s July 1992 and the Troubles in Northern Ireland are still grinding on after twenty-five apocalyptic years. Detective Inspector Sean Duffy got his family safely over the water to Scotland, to “Shortbread Land.” Duffy’s a part-timer now, only returning to Belfast six days a month to get his pension. It’s an easy gig, if he can keep his head down.But then a murder case falls into his lap while his protégé is on holiday in Spain. A carjacking gone wrong and the death of a solitary, middle-aged painter. But something’s not right, and as Duffy probes he discovers the painter was an IRA assassin. So, the question becomes: Who hit the hit man and why?This is Duffy’s most violent and dangerous case yet and the whole future of the burgeoning “peace process” may depend upon it. Based on true events, Duffy must unentangle parallel operations by the CIA, MI5, and Special Branch. Duffy attempts to bring a killer to justice while trying to keep himself and his team alive as everything unravels around them. They might not all make it out of this one.
Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4.7 out of 5.0
Story
5 out of 5 stars
What a circle round!
I’m a huge fan of this author, and have been awaiting this release, but I wasn’t sure of this book half way thru then he pulls out the connection to Darky White and his other books and I was won over. very cleverly done 👏 the last half of this book is brilliant. I was on the edge of my seat and listened in one day. Highly recommend I hope this isn’t the end of Sean Duffy
The best I have listened to for ages.
THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE FENS MYSTERIES five absolutely gripping and atmospheric crime thrillers Kindle Edition
by JIM KELLY (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (3)
Five enthralling mysteries from CWA Dagger award-winning author Jim Kelly, set beneath the endless skies of the Cambridgeshire Fens.
‘Intelligent crime fiction — leaves the reader hungry for more.’ Val McDermid, No. 1 bestselling author
These unputdownable and atmospheric crime mysteries are laced with dark secrets and a protagonist who is as flawed as he is determined. The perfect read for fans of Joy Ellis, Caro Ramsay, Ann Cleeves or Elly Griffiths.
The Cambridgeshire Fens are known for their miles of open, remote farmlands and sprawling marshes. The constant threat of flooding and the unpredictable weather make it a difficult terrain to navigate, but the locals wouldn’t wish to be anywhere else. The desolate beauty stretches as far as the eye can see.
MEET PHILIP DRYDEN
Philip Dryden’s beautiful wife has been lying in a coma ever since a horrific car accident he blames himself for. Living alone on his houseboat, Dryden’s guilt has never subsided as he was pulled to safety by an unknown rescuer and failed to save her. His role as an investigative journalist is both his salvation and his curse, as Dryden’s relentless passion for uncovering the truth often drives him into the heart of mysteries that threaten his own safety.
_________________________________________
‘Kelly goes from strength to strength.’ The Mirror
‘Kelly is fast gaining a reputation for his literate, atmospheric novels.’ Daily Mail
‘Intensely atmospheric.’ Literary Review
Crime readers are hooked by Jim Kelly’s chilling mysteries:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Kelly is the best author currently writing in this genre.’ Stirlinger
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Ingenious and very riveting.’ Snowdrop1941
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Lots of twists and turns and a dramatic ending.’ T. Geere
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Excellent read as you had no idea who was the culprit.’ L J Jenkins
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved the way Jim Kelly wound the story and the environment together — a bleak tale, in a bleak setting, well written and authentic. Cleverly, Kelly has made the Fens part of the plot.’ Onlyolney
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Imaginative, gripping and suspenseful from beginning to end.’ Sally-Anne
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good puzzle to solve.’ Kindle Customer
YOU GET *FIVE* OF CWA DAGGER AWARD-WINNING JIM KELLY’S ABSOLUTELY GRIPPING CRIME MYSTERIES SET IN THE STUNNING CAMBRIDGESHIRE FENS IN THIS AMAZING-VALUE BOX SET.
The Widow
By
John Grisham
Coming 14 Oct
About this listen
The new incredible legal thriller from John Grisham.
She needs a lawyer. He needs a payday.
Simon Latch is a small-town lawyer struggling with debt, gambling issues and an impending divorce. But when Eleanor Barnett, an 85-year-old widow, visits his office to secure a new will, it seems his luck has finally changed: she claims she's sitting on a $20 million fortune and no one else knows about it.
She could be the ticket to his fortune.
Once he's hooked the richest client of his career, Simon works quietly to keep her wealth under the radar, even from his own assistant. But there are complications: other lawyers are circling his client like vultures.
But when she is hospitalised after a car accident, Eleanor's story begins to crack. Simon realises that nothing is as it seems. And as events spiral out of control, he finds himself on trial for a crime he swears he didn't commit: murder.
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Shadow of a Lie
DS Tony Heaton, Book 1
By Steve Higgs
Series DS Tony Heaton's Cold Cases
Release date 03-04-25
About this listen
It might hide in the shadows, but the truth yearns to be seen.
Plagued by the unsolvable murder that ruined his glowing career, a burnt-out detective is cruising through his final weeks until retirement.
Until he is hand-picked to be part of a taskforce investigating old, unsolved murders. Hand-picked because the very killer he failed to catch is still out there.
Can he finally get the closure he deserves?
In 1960, the French writer Raymond Queneau introduced what is probably the world’s longest book.
It’s called *Cent mille milliards de poèmes* (A Hundred Thousand Billion Poems), and it consists of just ten pages, each containing a sonnet.
The verses all share the same rhyme pattern and are printed on strips, allowing readers to combine lines from different sonnets.
This setup results in a total of 10¹⁴ possible combinations, meaning the book contains one hundred trillion unique poems.
The implication is that no one will ever manage to read the entire book, even with the greatest effort, as it would take millions of years to match up all the possible poem combinations—without taking breaks for eating, sleeping, or reading anything else.
And all of this comes from just ten pages.
Each mix you create will result in a coherent sonnet with proper stanzas, rhythm, and rhyme.
Moreover, it’s highly likely that any randomly selected poem will be one that no one has ever read before.
Queneau himself claimed that if it takes about 45 seconds to read one sonnet and another 15 seconds to prepare the next, it would take around 200 million years to read through all the possible combinations.
Not sure if I am ready for a detective with an AI partner.
Bound to happen though I suppose.
Hi, welcome to my author page! IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE is my crime debut and first UK published book. The paperback has just been published on Jan 4th 2024, and incredibly, is now Waterstones Thriller of the Month! I've been blown away by the reaction from readers, bloggers and book sellers so far (and if you been kind enough to buy it or leave a review, then thank you). I was also lucky enough to be selected for Val McDermid's New Blood Panel at Harrogate Crime Festival, and my book was reviewed and recommended on BBC 2's Book Club show Between the Covers. So what next? Well for those of you who have been asking, yes, IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE is the first in a series, and book 2, LEAVE NO TRACE will be published on March 28th 2024. I honestly can't wait for you to read it and hear what you think about Kat and Lock as they take on their first live case. I know it's hard to keep up with publication dates, so the easiest thing to do is to pre-order it as a gift to your future self. (Go on, you deserve it). Or if you click the yellow ‘follow’ button on this page then Amazon will send you an email when it comes out, and also alert you to any special deals on all formats. It's the best way to make sure you never miss a book or a special offer, and as its free, it's worth doing for all your favourite writers. I hoover up books too, so I love hearing from other readers. I spend a lot of time on twitter talking about the books and TV shows that I love, how the writing is going or just chatting about random stuff like the weather, kids, and food. I’ve recently joined Instagram, but twitter is really where I hang out if you want to see what I’m up to and maybe hear a bit about book 3 in due course... Thanks again for taking a look at my author page, and even bigger thanks if you bought it. I really, really hope you enjoy it. You can find me on twitter: @JoCallaghanKat or (less often) Instagram: @JoCallaghanKat. Jo works full-time as a senior strategist, where she has carried out research into the future impact of AI and genomics on the workforce. After losing her husband to cancer in 2019, she started writing In The Blink of An Eye. She lives with her two children in the Midlands, where she is currently writing the third novel in the Kat and Lock
About this listen
THE SUNDAY TIMES bestseller, as seen on BBC 2's BETWEEN THE COVERS
A WATERSTONES THRILLER BOOK OF THE MONTH
*WINNER* OF THE THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2024
*WINNER* OF THE CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION ILP JOHN CREASEY (NEW BLOOD) DAGGER 2024
AND NOMINATED FOR TWO OTHER MAJOR AWARDS
Capital Crime Book of the Year 2023
Crimefest Specsavers Best Debut Crime Novel
‘I devoured this in one sitting’ Rob Rinder, as featured on BBC 2’s Between the Covers
‘Terrifyingly timely and provocative' Val McDermid
'The most original crime novel you'll read this year' Clare Mackintosh
In the UK, someone is reported missing every 90 seconds.
Just gone. Vanished. In the blink of an eye.
DCS Kat Frank knows all about loss. A widowed single mother, Kat is a cop who trusts her instincts. Picked to lead a pilot programme that has her paired with AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) Lock, Kat's instincts come up against Lock's logic. But when the two missing person's cold cases they are reviewing suddenly become active, Lock is the only one who can help Kat when the case gets personal.
AI versus human experience.
Logic versus instinct.
With lives on the line can the pair work together before someone else becomes another statistic?
In the Blink of an Eye is a dazzling debut from an exciting new voice and asks us what we think it means to be human.
'Just brilliant!' Lisa Jewell
'Has to be a strong contender for crime debut of the year - sharp, perceptive writing and a brilliant new take on the detective duo' T. M. Logan
'Everything you could hope for in a thriller: heartbreaking, intelligent, deftly plotted and so original' Fiona Cummins
'Jo Callaghan makes her entry into the crowded police procedural genre with a fresh take on the buddy-buddy cop trope . . . Provocative and compelling' Vaseem Khan
'The kind of fresh and fearless debut I just adore. Wildly original, heartfelt, funny, and properly thrilling. Take a bow, Jo Callaghan' Chris Whitaker©2023
Jo Callaghan. All rights reserved. (P) 2023 Simon & Schuster, UK. All Rights Reserved. (P)2023 Simon & Schuster, UK
Confirms Callaghan as a new force to be reckoned with in crime’ Daily Mail
‘Jo Callaghan is an outstanding talent’ Jane Casey
‘I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough’ Nikki Smith
‘A smart, agile, immaculately plotted and moving thriller that is unswervingly gripping and scary, and at the same time beautifully tender and humane’ Nicci French
‘With Leave No Trace, Jo Callaghan cements her status as a crime fiction force to be reckoned with’ Caz Frear
‘Brilliant, rapidly paced and plotted . . . Another masterpiece’ Imran Mahmood
‘Every bit as smart, compelling and insightful as her debut . . . A terrific read!’ Gytha Lodge
‘Jo Callaghan has done it again in this intricately plotted, humorous and incredibly moving thriller . . . I absolutely loved it’ Laura Marshall
‘Balanced, nuanced, intelligent, provocative’ Amanda Reynolds
‘Another exciting and thought-provoking book from Jo Callaghan that combines cutting-edge tech with a classic police procedural . . . Hugely human and big-hearted. Brava!’ Sarah Hilary