English Detective Noir

In the world of hard-boiled detective fiction, two names are preeminent: Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. The fathers of the hard-boiled drama by which all others are measured - their characters gave rise to the advent of noir film, featuring the cynicism, fatalism and moral ambiguity so prevalent to that genre. Their tales solicited themes from the darker side of life, leaving behind a new perspective on modern society. Enter now Bill Hall and Mark Zahn, two admirers of these writers as well as the film noir world. Together, they have formed a partnership to create their own ...

When wealthy industrialist Harold Thorndyke dies suddenly in his bed, it’s ruled a tragic heart attack—just another casualty of his failing health. But when private investigator Blake Lowry is hired by Harold’s sister, Margaret, to dig deeper, he discovers that the truth is anything but natural. What this the perfect murder? With the glamorous yet volatile ex-cabaret girl Lila Thorndyke, Harold’s much younger widow, at the centre of the scandal, Blake must navigate through a maze of lies and infidelity. From shadowy cabaret backrooms to high-society mansions, his search for answers ...

Cal Sounder is a detective working for the police on certain very sensitive cases. So when he's called in to investigate a homicide at a local apartment, he is surprised at first to see that the victim appears to be a rather typical techie. But on closer inspection, he finds the victim is over seven feet tall. And even though he doesn't look a day over thirty, he is actually ninety years old. Clearly, he is a Titan - one of this dystopian, near-future society's genetically altered elites.

Vivienne Lane thought she left the drama behind when she traded big-city chaos for the quiet charm of Foxwick Harbor. Now, she spends her days running Lane & Co. Antiques, sipping lattes at Bean & Bloom, and avoiding her nosy neighbor’s unsolicited opinions. But when she stumbles upon the town’s most scandalous socialite dead in a wedding dress—and in a very inconvenient place—Vivi suddenly finds herself at the center of a mystery far messier than her shop’s storage room. Gwendolyn Fairchild wasn’t just any bride-to-be; she was a journalist with a reputation for unearthing ...

ORIGINAL STORY, WRITTEN BY A HUMAN Get ready for the thrilling conclusion to P.G. Robertson's Saltwater Crimes Trilogy and the return of the captivating Detective Ange Watson. After the messy Gold Coast affair, Ange is certain that the syndicate has eyes and ears everywhere, thwarting her every move. Forced south to Sydney, Ange soon picks up the trail of her deadly nemesis. It seems that drug trafficking isn’t the only game in town… With the help of her colleagues and an unlikely ally, Ange dives into the murky world of cryptocurrency and NFTs, exploring the dangerous waters where ...

Private Investigator Dirk Slade is looking for the killer of his best friend, as well as a missing teenager--the son of Dracula. Along the way he encounters the Wolfman, Frankenstein's monster and his former bride, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Leech Woman, the Invisible Man, Wasp Woman, and a host of other old horror movie characters. That's because Monster Town is set in an early sixties ghetto of Hollywood, where the monsters of black and white horror films have taken up residence, now that they're no longer in vogue. In this existence, monsters played themselves in the movies. THEY were the ...

When the body of a man is found dead in his remote, isolated home, DI Tom Janssen and his team struggle to understand what motive there could be to murder such an inoffensive, seemingly placid local character. The man lived alone and was well known in the community, but kept his distance from others, leading a haphazard way of life almost entirely off the grid. What secrets did he hide in his private life that might be worth killing for? As the team are about to understand, even the most nondescript of people can exist in a world darker than most of us will ever see....

Los Angeles has many faces: the real LA where regular people live and work, the degenerate underbelly of any big city, and the rarified world of wealth, power, and celebrity. LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan’s latest case plunges her into this insular realm of privilege and gives her a glimpse of the darkness behind the glitter. The body of beloved actor Evan Hobbes is found in the rubble of a Malibu rockslide a day after a fake video ruins his career. It’s not clear to Nolan if it’s an accident, a suicide, or a murder, and things get murkier as the investigation expands.

Spank Me Disgraced ex-cop Gleason runs an elite fetish and sex club known as Discreet Hosts serving the richest and most powerful citizens of LA. When famous action film star Darren Cross is kidnapped, all fingers point to Gleason. Why? Because everybody hates his guts… Even his own attorney, Beauregard O. Gilpenny. Gleason’s only option is to solve the case himself, even though a renegade mercenary force, numerous crazed celebrities, and the LAPD are determined to take him out in the process. Luckily when you have the dirt on the highest icons of society, a belt fed machine gun, and...

The Paintings of Rauma takes the reader to Finland on a thrilling crime adventure. The story is based in the beautiful coastal city of Rauma and takes Jussi, a local Police Officer, on a journey to investigate connected crimes across Finland, Sweden and Singapore. This Nordic Noir mystery begins with a minor incident that sets in motion a chain of events involving theft, murder, passion and hidden treasure. Jussi Alonen is a local Police Officer whose life is turned upside down when someone from the past comes back into his life. A gang of criminals make their way around Finland, wreaking ...

A completely revised edition of the first Henry Rios mystery, The Little Death, Lay Your Sleeping Head introduces Michael Nava’s singular protagonist, gay Latino criminal defense lawyer Henry Rios. Rios, beset by personal and professional problems, begins a passionate affair with the black sheep heir to a great California fortune who tells Rios an improbable tale of murder and sexual predation in his wealthy family. When the young man is found dead of an apparent drug overdose, Rios begins an investigation that ultimately reveals much more than murder.

Sixteen-year-old Emily had everything to live for, a bright, beautiful teenager with a promising future ahead of her. But in one night her life is cut short. The police say it’s an accident, but her parents think she was murdered. When Detective Rachel Prince is called in to investigate the shocking death at the height of the Edinburgh Festival, her instincts tell her that things are not as they first appear. Something is very wrong. Rachel discovers a chilling link with the suspicious death of another international student, who stayed in the same house as Emily two years earlier.

A NEO-NOIR HONEYMOON IN HELL: A Suspenseful Tale of Love, Murder, and Fate John thought he had left behind his days of drinking and killing, but as he and his new bride, Cherry, embark on their honeymoon in the jungles of Malaysia and Borneo, they are haunted by ghosts from their past. The release of nihilist criminals connected to John's SAS background brings death and destruction to their luxury island resort. Just when they think they can escape the darkness, their paradise is raided by savage pirates, revealing that everything is connected and they are unable to outrun their destiny. ...

She was trouble from the start. Now he might pay with his life... Southend's streets are awash in blood. A ruthless killer is hunting—and Detective Joe Hogarth is tangled in his own secret sin. A deadly affair. A brutal murder. A killer always one step ahead. The deeper Hogarth digs, the higher the stakes. And if his own team takes a fatal hit, his secret may be to blame. ★★★★★ "Had me hooked from the start!" If you love gritty crime thrillers, jaw-dropping twists, and detectives who never back down, this book is for you. Don't Miss Out. Grab Your Copy Now!

Ever wonder how Gabe and Captain Drake met? Well, this is that story. Gabe is a low-level investigator for the mercenaries' guild and is having one hell of a rough month. He's been benched for a shooting, and his tab at the bar has grown to epic proportions. If he didn't get back to work soon, Sharky would be sending a few of his guys after him to remind him of his obligations. Life in the black wasn't easy, but if it was it wouldn't be so fun. This is a short story that ties into the overall world of the Fortune Hunters and Galactic Outlaws.

A mysterious death. A detective under pressure. When ageing soft porn star Aimee Gillen is found dead at Harry King Studios, her prolific drug use suggests an easy case—overdose or accidental death. But DI Joe Hogarth has serious doubts. Is Hogarth thinking straight, or has his private crisis clouded his judgment? ★★★★★ “Fast paced - difficult to put down!” As Hogarth and DC Simmons investigate, they uncover suspicious details: Why did Gillen abandon a line of cocaine before she died? What caused the cracked tile outside the sauna? Who were the mysterious friends she wanted ...

She's a policewoman with a past. In a future ruled by AI, one bad decision could get her killed... or worse. Former UN Marine Alice Yu is a beat-down cop running from guilt in a ruined city. Brutally ambushed and left for dead, she's powerless to prevent a ruthless crime boss from abducting her NYPD partner. Though it will cost her job in a world with 99% unemployment, she vows to bring him back from the lawless and forbidden Fourth Ward Territory. Fighting through injuries and resurfacing trauma, Yu tracks her mentor's trail. But when her war born PTSD flares in the face of a cartel death ...

A Noir Mystery Collection by the Mysterious Thomas Temple Step into a world where darkness whispers your name, and reality twists beyond recognition. In Whispered Crimes, Thomas Temple masterfully weaves together noir mystery, psychological horror, and grotesque fiction in a collection of short stories that will leave you haunted. Inspired by the eerie allure of crime fiction and urban mysteries, Temple invites you to embrace the bizarre, the twisted, and the unknown.Prepare for a Literary Experience Like No Other If you're a fan of dark psychological thrillers, urban noir, or the surreal ...

Three friends go on a foodie road trip to the Scottish Highlands and Islands to celebrate their pending retirement, expecting stunning scenery, great food, fine wines, and a chance to reminisce about the good old days. When they somehow secure a reservation at a remote and extremely exclusive restaurant set on a private island in Loch Broom, they know they’re in for a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience.

In the future, as humanity spreads throughout the galaxy, the ideals of justice for all, integrity, and honesty are nothing more than outdated concepts to many who have benefited as members of the wealthy, elitist ruling class. To the incorruptible lawman, Thomas Sullivan, these ideals are all he has left to cling to. Betrayed by those he respected and admired, the very institutions he served, Sullivan has paid a heavy price. The loss of his mentor, friend, and woman he loved are just the beginning. In a shadowy future, where the dark ideals of greed, lust for power, and a sense of ...