Recommendations based on "The Second Stranger"

They thought they were safe. They were wrong.The murder of a young prostitute and a baby found abandoned on the same winter night signals the start of a disturbing investigation for Detective Kim Stone - one which brings her face to face with someone from her own horrific childhood.As three more sex workers in the Black Country are murdered in quick succession, each death more violent than the last, Kim and her team realise that the initial killing was no one-off frenzied attack, but a twisted serial killer preying on the vulnerable.At the same time, the search begins for the desperate woman who left her newborn baby at the station - but what at first looks like a tragic abandonment soon takes an even more sinister turn.When another young woman goes missing, the two investigations bring the team into a terrifying, hidden world, and a showdown puts Kim's life at risk as secrets from her own past come to light.As Kim battles her own demons, can she stop the killer, before another life is lost?A gripping new crime thriller from the Number One bestseller - you will be hooked until the final jaw-dropping twist.Praise for Broken Bones:'Angela Marsons has yet again nailed and delivered an outstanding five star read...Had me hook, line and sinker until the shocking end. The author certainly knows how to keep me on my toes until delivering a final punch that knocked me well and truly off my feet.' By the letter Book Reviews'Angela Marsons yet again drags you into the story and locks you in until the final word. I can honestly say this is my favourite book of the best British Crime Series I've ever read! If I could give it 6 stars I would.' Goodreads reviewer'Timely, hard-hitting and makes for some emotional reading...Once again this is another faultless book from Angela Marsons who I firmly believe is in a league of her own in this genre.' Book Addict Shaun'With an opening that will have you gripped from start to finish, I devoured it in a matter of hours - I simply couldn't put it down...I was literally on the edge of my seat with anticipation wanting to know what was going to happen next.' Chelle's Book Reviews'Marsons for me is the QUEEN of this genre. She knows how to add the human touch to each story and I just adore her. Bloody FABULOUS.' Postcard Reviews'Angela Marsons is one of the most immensely talented writers out there; she has an exceptional skill in creating a cast of characters and a spider web of plots that will keep you glued to the book until it is finished. I'd strongly advise getting yourself well comfy before you start reading this as you are not going to move until you are done!' Goodreads reviewer

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • Inspector Harry Hole tracks a Norwegian serial killer in this “fiendishly complex and terrifically entertaining” (The New York Times Book Review) installment of the New York Times bestselling series. "Maddeningly addictive.” —Vanity Fair One night, after the first snowfall of the year, a boy named Jonas wakes up and discovers that his mother has disappeared. Only one trace of her remains: a pink scarf, his Christmas gift to her, now worn by the snowman that inexplicably appeared in their yard earlier that day. Inspector Harry Hole suspects a link between the missing woman and a suspicious letter he’s received. The case deepens when a pattern emerges: over the past decade, eleven women have vanished—all on the day of the first snow. But this is a killer who makes his own rules ... and he’ll break his pattern just to keep the game interesting, as he draws Harry ever closer into his twisted web. With brilliantly realized characters and hair-raising suspense, international bestselling author Jo Nesbø presents his most chilling case yet—one that will test Harry Hole to the very limits of his sanity.

‘Totally gripping from the first page ... plenty of action and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Loved the finale that gave me a lump in my throat too ... Excellent as usual!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved this book so much I read it over one weekend. The plot was full pace from the very beginning ... I can’t wait for the next instalment!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Absolutely loved this story. It’s a real page turner from start to finish, that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow, what an absolute belter! Love the Max Craigie series and this latest was gripping and such a fantastic page-turner. Great storyline and the banter is great’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ * * * * A CASE GONE COLD Six years ago, Beata Dabrowski arranged to meet her lover in Glasgow and was never seen again. There were no leads... until now. AN UNRELIABLE WITNESS Imprisoned gang boss Davie Hardie wants to talk in exchange for his freedom. He knows exactly where Beata is buried, and he’s prepared to take the police to her grave. A KILLER DESPERATE TO ESCAPE But when the mission to locate Beata’s body is hijacked, DS Max Craigie is drafted on to the case. Someone is selling secrets. Max will stop at nothing to expose police corruption and uncover Beata’s murderer... but can you ever really trust a killer to catch a killer? Don’t miss the next book in the DS Max Craigie series! Fans of Ian Rankin and Marion Todd will love this utterly gripping Scottish thriller! * * * * Praise for The Devil You Know ‘A tense and twisty thriller that had me gnawing my fingernails one minute and laughing out loud the next.’ Marion Todd ‘Neil Lancaster is one of the most exciting, innovative crime writers in the UK right now... One of the best police procedurals I’ve read in a long time. Consider me a fan’ M. W. Craven ‘This tale is fast and furious with blue lights and screaming sirens all the way’ The Sun ‘Action-packed & lightning-paced with some of the best dialogue I’ve read. I’m a huge fan of Lancaster and he’s a true rising star in crime fiction. Explosive & compelling’ Helen Fields ‘As hard as it is to believe, these books just get better and better’ Tony Kent ‘A wickedly clever and riveting thriller’ Graham Bartlett ‘Neil Lancaster just gets better and better. This is a gripping read that feels entirely authentic, seasoned with lovely flashes of humour' Cass Green

“Rare and magnificent.” — Ken BruenFive years ago, Jenny Aaron was the star member of an elite team charged with tracking Germany's most dangerous criminals — until a shot to the head left her irreversibly blind. Four weeks ago, Aaron tested the new skills that she's acquired in her world of darkness against Ludger Holm, the psychopath who fired that shot. Now she's learned that her worst enemy has left her a legacy of two billion dollars. Although she knows that it's a trap, Aaron realizes that if she is ever to find peace, she must play Holm's deadly game to the bitter end.“Compassionate moments between characters add poignancy, and a subplot involving Aaron potentially regaining her sight intrigues . . . this is a thriller worth reading." — Publishers Weekly“A first-rate thriller.” — The Sunday Times"Jenny Aaron is the blind Sherlock Holmes." — Stefan Ahnhem

A woman's suicide puts a detective on the trail of a cold-hearted con artist: "Outstanding . . . a maximum of suspense" (Publishers Weekly, starred review). When DI Tom Thorne is called to the site of a suicide, he expects to be in and out in no time. But when he arrives at the Underground station where a woman named Philippa Goodwin threw herself in front of a train, he inexplicably senses something awry and feels compelled to dig deeper. He soon discovers that she was the victim of a callous con man who preys on vulnerable women--and whose deception plunged Philippa to her end. Thorne enlists DI Nicola Tanner to help him track down the swindler and bring him to justice. But the detective duo gets more than they bargained for when a young man's bludgeoned body turns up on the shore of a nearby seaside town and the two cases come together in a way that neither of the detectives could have foreseen . . . "A fantastic thriller . . . a gripping plot and lead characters of remarkable depth. Billingham is a multiple-award winner, and his books have sold more than six million copies. Readers who grab this one but aren't familiar with its predecessors will be seeking them out. A series to savor." ―Booklist (starred review) "Billingham is a world-class writer and Tom Thorne is a wonderful creation." ―Karin Slaughter, bestselling author of the Will Trent series

To commit the perfect murder, you need the perfect cover. On an icy morning, a mother wakes to find her daughter's blood-soaked body frozen to the road. Who would carry out such a killing on the victim's doorstep? Straight off her last harrowing case, Detective Erika Foster is feeling fragile but determined to lead the investigation. As she sets to work, she finds reports of assaults in the same quiet South London suburb where the woman was killed. One chilling detail links them to the murder victim - they were all attacked by a figure in black wearing a gas mask. Erika is on the hunt for a killer with a terrifying calling card. The case gets more complicated when she uncovers a tangled web of secrets surrounding the death of the beautiful young woman. Yet just as Erika begins to piece the clues together, she is forced to confront painful memories of her past. Erika must dig deep, stay focused and find the killer. Only this time, one of her own is in terrible danger... From the global million-copy bestselling author comes a totally heart-racing, hold-your-breath read that will keep you hooked until the very last page. Read what everyone is saying about Deadly Secrets: 'It was absolutely brilliant!... the story keeps you in suspense right to the end with more red herrings than you can shake a stick at. I honestly didn't guess who it was until the reveal actually happened, and loved the twist - very cleverly done!' Stardust Book Reviews 'I love how the author doesn't give anything away and kept me guessing throughout. I truly had no idea who could be behind the killings and when all is revealed, with some shocking twists, it won't be what you are expecting! ...a thrilling and addictive read that chilled me to the bone.' By the Letter Book Reviews 'Simply Splendid!! This is another fabulous story by Robert Bryndza. He certainly has a talent when it comes to writing entertaining thrillers.' Goodreads Reviewer 'This newest installment has exactly the same high quality of writing, plot development, twists and the healthy dose of suspense and action I have become used to with this series. I found myself hooked right from the very first page as there is just something about the writing that draws you right in.' It's All About Books

The Kindle Best seller returns with the first in a gripping new crime series. A Stranger. A promise. A deadly game. Danny and Sharon Evans are desperate for answers. Why did their seemingly happy daughter try to take her own life? When a stranger approaches Danny, saying he knows who's to blame, Danny is tempted, despite Sharon's reservations. And when his new friend offers them revenge, how can he walk away? But little does Danny know he is being invited to play a terrible game. A game that won't just change lives - it will end them. DI Joel Norris knows this is no ordinary case when two seemingly unconnected murders hit his desk within a matter of days. But how far is he willing to go to solve the puzzle? Dark, gripping and unforgettable, The Friend will keep fans of Harlan Coben and Mark Billingham on the edge of their seats.

“[Charles] Todd’s mysteries are among the most intelligent and affecting being written these days.”—The Washington Post Book World In 1912 Ian Rutledge helped gather the evidence that sent Ben Shaw to the gallows. Now, seven years later, Ben Shaw’s widow brings Rutledge evidence she’s convinced proves her husband’s innocence. Ben Shaw’s past is a tangle of unsettling secrets that may or may not be true. And it grows only more twisted when a seemingly unrelated murder brings Rutledge back to Kent. There an unexpected encounter revives his painful memories of war—and the voice of Hamish MacLeod, the soldier Rutledge was forced to execute. Two elusive killers are on the loose at the same time . . . and to catch them before they catch him, Rutledge will be forced to question everything he believes about right, wrong—and murder.Praise for A Fearsome Doubt“Brilliant . . . Who’d have thought that Charles Todd’s brilliant concept for a mystery . . . would not only continue but grow stronger from book to book.”—Chicago Tribune “Todd raises the stakes in this series to new and nearly unbearable levels.”—The New York Times Book Review “A brilliant and gripping whodunit . . . an outstanding historical mystery and literate period fiction.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

'She is the perfect heroine' Elly Griffiths The addictive new crime thriller featuring DCI Matilda Darke. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons. 'DCI Matilda Darke is going places' James Oswald Some cases won't die. A young boy walks into a police station in France. He claims to be Carl Meagan - a missing child from Sheffield whose name is still whispered as a warning to kids who stay out after dark. Some children won't be found. On her way home from the supermarket, nine-year-old Keeley Armitage vanishes without trace. Her family is overcome with shock and DCI Matilda Darke can't help but focus on memories of the Carl Meagan case that almost ruined her career. Some killers won't be stopped. As Matilda investigates, she peels back the layers of grief and sadness that surround Keeley's family. Until she is left with an unimaginable choice: betray those closest to her or let a violent killer walk free...

The brand new instalment in the addictive and gripping Bad Blood series from queen of gangland crime, Caz Finlay ‘If you like Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers you will LOVE [Caz Finlay]’ Reader Review If you challenge the Carters Connor Carter and Jake Conlon are having trouble with a rival gang, and it’s clear they’ve underestimated their power. But no son of the infamous Grace Carter is going to let someone else run the streets of Liverpool. You must be prepared to fight Then Jake’s right-hand man Danny Alexander is arrested for murder and remanded in custody. The cartel know he’s innocent but the evidence is overwhelmingly against him. The Carters alliance with DI Leigh Moss has always been fragile but it’s time to put aside their differences if they want to find the real killer. As a mole is found in the firm and tensions begin to rise, the Carters must stand together if they want to keep control. It’s time for payback, and no one is safe... Early readers are gripped by Payback Time... ‘Another 5 star read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow Caz Finlay does it again... full of twists and turns’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Yet another masterpiece’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A complex, fast-paced, action-packed story that left me speech- and breathless... excellent’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Gritty and gripping’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Utterly fantastic . . . brilliant storyline’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A cracker of a read . . . one of the best’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Not one to be missed’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Caz Finlay draws you in and then you are hooked’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐