Short Crime Thriller

Complete with fascinating biographies by Tony Medawar of all the featured authors, this latest volume in the annual Bodies from the Library series once again brings into the daylight the forgotten, the lost and the unknown, and is an indispensable collection for any bookshelf.

'Fans of L J Ross and Elly Griffiths will love this.' A sinister and systematic crime – the hunt for a meticulous and elusive villain. Isobel McKenzie, a psychotherapist, discovers the body of a young woman along the banks of the Shannon. She has been raped and strangled. As the news spreads, other rape victims contact Isobel confidentially. Their stories are so shockingly similar that it is clear a serial rapist is at large. Garda Detective Inspector Eoin Ryan and Sergeant Alanna Finnegan are on the case. As Isobel shares the details of the unreported rapes with them, they realise that a...

When Simon Serrailler was a rookie constable with the Met, he did something reckless in the course of a night's work which caused a man's death. But his act was praised by his colleagues, and he was called a hero. Years later, now a detective chief superintendent who has been badly injured in the course of duty, he receives a medal for bravery at Buckingham Palace while recollecting that fateful night of his early career, when chance disguised itself as bravery.

A Christmas party is punctuated by a gunshot under a policeman’s watchful eye. A jewel heist is planned amidst the glitz and glamour of Oxford Street’s Christmas shopping. And lost in a snowstorm, a man finds a motive for murder.... This collection of mysteries explores the darker side of the festive season, from unexplained disturbances in the fresh snow to the darkness that lurks beneath the sparkling decorations.

New York Times best-selling author Sara Paretsky is the master of twisting suspense and propulsive plot. She has been hailed by the crime community as "a legend" (Harlan Coben) and "one of the all-time greats" (Karin Slaughter). Her acclaimed novels featuring detective V.I. Warshawski rank among the most celebrated crime series in modern fiction. Now in this spellbinding collection, Paretsky showcases her extraordinary talents with 14 short stories, eight of which feature the indomitable detective - and a new V.I. story.

CAUTION! Keep away from bodies of water while reading this novel. Or not, if you're courageous enough. Ghosts. Hidden mysteries. A world of silence awaits you. In the summer of 2001, the bodies of three children were recovered from the waters of Lake Champlain, Vermont. Among them was Anne Austen, the love of the then twelve-year-old Eric. Now twenty-seven, Eric finds a book that was supposedly written by the same Anne Austen, in which she details the crimes which occurred that summer. But who really wrote that book? A witness? The killer himself? Or has Anne's spirit gained enough ...

When he manages to sell his martial arts studio in New York, Gregory Grantham is handed the chance to start a new life. He selects the small city of Poplar Bluff, Missouri as his temporary new home in order to care for his Aunt Vera who needs help after undergoing an operation. Rather than being a sleepy part of the state, southeastern Missouri torments Greg with a series of knife attacks by bank robbers, political activists and insane stalkers. Greg will need every ounce of his fighting skills to survive each violent ordeal. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Donald W. Desaulniers is a retired Canadian ...

This collection by crime fiction master Raymond Chandler features four long stories in which private eye Philip Marlowe is hired to protect a rich old guy from a gold digger, runs afoul of crooked politicos, gets a line on some stolen jewels with a reward attached, and stumbles across a murder victim who may have been an extortionist.

The house always wins. Unless it falls down… When Bubbles acts as a witness in a high-profile murder case she’s warned to stay low. Taking on a gambling gangster and his henchmen wasn’t in the cards. But then he went and made it personal… HoloCity Hard Boys is the second stand alone mystery novella in the HoloCity Case Files series, a companion collection to the Bubbles in Space series. Blade Runner meets The Fifth Element in this eccentric cyber-noir thriller series about a bleak world ravaged by corrupt leaders, mega-corporations, and crime lords… and the washed-up detective who...

Toni West is a recent college graduate looking to make her way in the big city when she gets a call that her beloved aunt has passed away. Toni must return to a town she hates to say goodbye to the one family member she loved. When she gets there, she's surprised by an enticing new friend, Jenna Styles, and an unexpected inheritance that causes additional unwanted friction within an already broken family. Fire and romance don't always mix - Will Toni and Jenna find a way to be together? Or will their desire for one another not be enough to keep the flames burning? **This book is an intimate...

Full Beam (The Imogen and Hugh Croft Mysteries) A car is driving too fast along a twisting country road. At the end of a long, straight section, the notoriously lethal bend suddenly looms up out of nowhere. The silence is broken by a deafening screech of brakes. The passengers on board don’t stand a chance… When a nanny is killed and her two young wards badly injured in a road accident, the cause seems clear-cut. Sensing all is not quite as it appears, defence lawyer Penny Mills decides to employ the assistance of her old friend, Imogen Croft. Together, they soon discover the case ...

In our dangerous world, offenders cannot always be brought down by the justice system. When a different kind of justice is needed—swift, effective, and personal—a new type of avenger must take action. In Vengeance, best-selling author Lee Child, “a superb craftsman of suspense” ( Entertainment Weekly), presents 21 riveting stories from some of today’s top crime writers.

From acclaimed International thriller and crime writer Ido Graf comes a gripping new mystery… A prominent barrister is found brutally murdered within the hallowed grounds of the Inns of Court — the historic heart of Britain’s legal world, where the City of London meets Westminster. The motive? Unknown. The killer? Still at large. Was it a calculated act of revenge? A ruthless grab for power? A crime of passion, or the work of a deranged mind? The list of suspects is as long as the barrister’s list of enemies — and time is running out. Detective Inspector Cahill is assigned to the ...

Reflecting a city still divided, Belfast Noir serves as a record of a city transitioning to normalcy, or perhaps as a warning that underneath the fragile peace darker forces still lurk. Featuring brand-new stories by: Glenn Patterson, Eoin McNamee, Garbhan Downey, Lee Child, Alex Barclay, Brian McGilloway, Ian McDonald, Arlene Hunt, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Claire McGowan, Steve Cavanagh, Lucy Caldwell, Sam Millar, and Gerard Brennan.

A collection of seven short stories, featuring crime-fighting duo Tilly and Poe: The Killing Field, Why Don't Sheep Shrink?, Dead Man's Fingers, Strange Ink, A Permanent Solution, Mondo Bizzarro and Once in a Red Moon.

Arriving at his friend’s funeral, Bryce had in his pocket the envelope with a single key delivered to his office the day before, send by dead now James. A random act of violence; his friend was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Shot as he was driving across the Potomac. Bryce tries to understand what happened to James and his own role in this story. He finds more and more data about what his dead friend was involved in and clearly sees that his life is now in danger too. Unwillingly he pulling into this story his new girlfriend. This is the time to confront the situation. This is book...

Hercule Poirot is asked by Prince Paul of Maurania to solve the murder of Henry Reedburn, which has greatly distressed the Prince's fiancée, the famous dancer Valerie Saintclair. The only other witnesses seem to be a family of four who were playing bridge near an open window when she staggered in, crying, "Murder!"

When Miss Marple comes up from the country for a holiday in London, she finds what she's looking for at Bertram's Hotel: traditional decor, impeccable service, and an unmistakable atmosphere of danger behind the highly polished veneer.

Nothing makes Portland detective Archie Sheridan happier than knowing that Gretchen Lowell - the serial killer whose stunning beauty is belied by the gruesome murders she’s committed - is locked away in a psych ward. Archie can finally heal from the near-fatal physical and emotional wounds she’s inflicted on him and start moving on with his life. To this end, Archie throws himself into the latest case to come across his desk: A cyclist has discovered a corpse in Mount Tabor Park on the eastern side of Portland. The man was gagged, skinned, and found hanging by his wrists from a tree....

The second novel and first quick-listen title from Sunday Times and New York Times best-selling author Cathy Glass. My Dad's a Policeman is a dramatic and engaging story of a young boy with an alcoholic mother. Lonely, bullied and desperate for a life of happiness and security he tells everyone he meets his dad's a policeman. Fast paced and compelling, this short story from Cathy Glass follows the experiences of a Ryan, a small and lonely 12-year-old boy who struggles to fit in.