Recommendations based on "Tick Tock A Times Thriller of the Year"

‘A perfect contradiction, existing in the shades of grey that real life is so often painted in . . . A story that’s as furious as it is tender’ Emily Henry ‘A roar of rage, a pacy page-turner, I loved it with all my broken heart. Read it. You’ll love it’ Marian Keyes ‘A propulsive plot and characters that roar off the page, this is a novel that’s unafraid to take on societal misogyny while being satirical and even funny at the same time’ Guardian‘An addictive, fast-paced crime novel like nothing you’ve ever read before’ Red magazine * * * The The The PunisherWith newfound powers the time has come to take matters into their own hands…Widowed Nessa lives alone in her house near the ocean. In the quiet hours, she hears voices belonging to the dead – who will only speak to her.On the cusp of fifty Harriett’s marriage and career imploded, but her life is far from over – in fact, she’s undergone a stunning metamorphosis.Jo spent years at war with her body. The rage that arrived with menopause felt like the last straw – until she discovers she’s able to channel it.Guided by voices only Nessa can hear, the trio discover the abandoned body of a teenage girl. The police have written off the victim. But the women have not. Their own investigations lead to more bodies, and a world of wealth where the rules don’t apply – and the realisation that laws are designed to protect villains, not the vulnerable.Now three women will avenge the innocent and punish the guilty. IT’S TIME.* * *Readers and authors are GRIPPED by The ‘A proper smash-the-patriarchy read with tension and a compelling plot to boot . . . Loved it’ Harriet Tyce‘An exceptionally well-written, vivid, and powerful piece of work’ Reader review, ‘Powerful and original’ Tammy Cohen‘STUNNING! Feminist writing at its absolute best. 10 stars’ Reader review,

Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy is now available in a complete hardcover set.All across America, readers are talking about Stieg Larsson’s best-selling novels, set in Sweden and featuring Lisbeth Salander—“one of the most original and memorable heroines to surface in a recent thriller” (The New York Times). The trilogy isan international sensation that will grab you and keep you “reading with eyes wide open” (San Francisco Chronicle). “[It] is intricately plotted, lavishly detailed but written with a breakneck pace and verve” (The Independent, U.K.), but “be warned: the trilogy is seriously addictive.” (The Guardian, U.K.).“Believe the hype . . . It’s gripping stuff.”—People“Stieg Larsson clearly loved his brave misfit Lisbeth. And so will you.”—USA Today“Larsson has bottled lightning.”—Los Angeles TimesThe Girl with the Dragon TattooHarriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families disappeared without a trace more than forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle continues to try to discover what happened to her. He hires Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist recently sidelined by a libel conviction, to investigate. Blomkvist is aided by the pierced and tattooed computer prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption on their way to discovering the truth of Harriet Vanger’s fate.The Girl Who Played with FireMikael Blomkvist, now the crusading publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation. On the eve of its publication, the two reporters responsible for the article are murdered, and the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to his friend Lisbeth Salander. Blomkvist, convinced of Salander’s innocence, plunges into an investigation of the murders. Meanwhile, Salander herself is drawn into a murderous game of cat and mouse, which forces her to face her dark past.The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s NestLisbeth Salander lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She’s fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she’ll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of Mikael Blomkvist, she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. On her own, she will plot revenge—against the man who tried to kill her, and against the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life.“Unique and fascinating . . . Like a blast of cold, fresh air.”—Chicago Tribune“Wildly suspenseful . . . Intelligent, ingeniously plotted, utterly engrossing.”—The Washington Post“A gripping, stay-up-all-night read.” —Entertainment Weekly“Dynamite.” —Variety

Internationally acclaimed crime writer Jo Nesbø’s antihero police investigator, Harry Hole, is back in a bone-chilling thriller that will take Hole to the brink of insanity.Oslo in November. The first snow of the season has fallen. A boy named Jonas wakes in the night to find his mother gone. Out his window, in the cold moonlight, he sees the snowman that inexplicably appeared in the yard earlier in the day. Around its neck is his mother’s pink scarf.Hole suspects a link between a menacing letter he’s received and the disappearance of Jonas’s mother—and of perhaps a dozen other women, all of whom went missing on the day of a first snowfall. As his investigation deepens, something else emerges: he is becoming a pawn in an increasingly terrifying game whose rules are devised—and constantly revised—by the killer.Fiercely suspenseful, its characters brilliantly realized, its atmosphere permeated with evil, The Snowman is the electrifying work of one of the best crime writers of our time.

A young woman is murdered in her Oslo flat. One finger has been severed from her left hand, and behind her eyelid is secreted a tiny red diamond in the shape of a five-pointed star — a pentagram, the devil’s star.Detective Harry Hole is assigned to the case with his long-time adversary Tom Waaler and initially wants no part in it. But Harry is already on notice to quit the force and is left with little alternative but to drag himself out of his alcoholic stupor and get to work.A wave of similar murders is on the horizon. An emerging pattern suggests that Oslo has a serial killer on its hands, and the five-pointed devil’s star is key to solving the riddle.

‘I’ve fallen in love with the characters in this series’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Her books are like magnets: one page turns into five, turns into fifty, and suddenly it’s 2 a.m.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ He's tracking people down one by one And you're next on the list... A MAN MURDERED, LIVE ON CAMERA When a DVD is delivered in the dead of night, DCI Cara Elliott hits play on a horrifying showreel of violence... This is death, on demand. A KILLER COUNTING DOWN Avid viewers are paying for the killings, with twisted specifications. A request, an abduction, a murder. And always in a forty-eight-hour pattern. A MISSING DETECTIVE But when the killer finds out they’re being investigated, they reveal their next target. In forty-eight hours, a police officer will be the one in front of the camera. The hunters have become the hunted, and the clock is ticking... Praise for Sam Holland's thrillers ‘Smart and brooding, icepick-sharp and shadow-dark; best of all, though, it’s scary as hell. Think you’re tough? Pick up this novel and prove it’ A. J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window ‘Really disturbing and gripping but with a trademark sexy cop at the heart to offset the serial killer gore. Lots of fun in a very nightmarish way’ Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange ‘Fierce, frightening, twisted and addictive.’ Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the End ‘Fast and furious, Sam Holland doesn’t take her foot off the pedal for a second’ Victoria Selman, author of Truly Darkly Deeply ‘If you like crime that’s dark, twisted, and keeps you up all night, Holland is the author for you’ Jack Jordan, author of Do No Harm ‘I raced through this page-turner and slept with the light on after finishing it!’ Elle Croft, author of The Guilty Wife ‘Fascinating, complex characters, whose relationships are every bit as humanly messy as the crime scenes they face’ Dominic Nolan, author of Vine Street Readers love The Countdown Killer... ‘I’ve fallen in love with the characters in this series’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Her books are like magnets: one page turns into five, turns into fifty, and suddenly it’s 2 a.m.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An unputdownable read and I read most of it in 24 hours’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Captured me from the first page and didn’t let go’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Gripping, disturbing, and timely’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Honestly, my favourite so far – which says a lot as I was obsessed with The Echo Man!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘One of my most anticipated reads, and it did not disappoint!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A must-read for fans of gritty police procedurals and serial killer fiction’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A compelling crime thriller with interestingly flawed characters you hope come out the other side intact’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The pacing is electric, with tension that never lets up and twists that genuinely surprised me’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘More than just a police procedural thriller’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The writing is immersive and addictive – I completely binged the second half in one sitting’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This series is one of my all-time favourite thrillers, and The Countdown Killer totally lived up to the hype. Actually, scratch that—it might be my favourite one yet’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Words cannot explain how much I loved this book’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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.

‘DCI Matilda Darke is the perfect heroine’ Elly Griffiths ‘Matilda Darke is an excellent character’ BA Paris A MISSING TEENAGER When Sharon Mackintosh allows her teenage daughter to pick up a friend late one evening, she doesn’t expect to find the police on her doorstep the next morning. The body of a young woman has been found in the boot of a car and the police think it’s her daughter. AN ABANDONED CAR DCI Matilda Darke and her team are called in to investigate the murder. The body has been left in such a peaceful way, she could almost be sleeping, except for the trauma to the back of her head. A CRIME OF PASSION With the body of one teenager in the morgue and a second missing, Matilda’s on borrowed time. But when new information comes to light about the identity of the missing teenager, her investigation takes a dark turn back to the past... Praise for Michael Wood: ‘Dark and twisted’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book had me gripped and reading through the night’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This is one of the darkest books I've read for a very long time, but Michael in his usual way handles it brilliantly’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘My new favourite author’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Utterly fantastic’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fast-paced’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Bleak and chilling... highly recommended’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

He took her voice She took it back Don’t miss the next nerve-shredding instalment in the DCI Matilda Darke Thriller series... A CENSURED DETECTIVE WITH NO LEADS DCI Matilda Darke and her team have been restricted under special measures after a series of calamitous scandals nearly brought down the South Yorkshire police force. A BRUTAL ATTACK WITH NO WITNESSES Now Matilda is on the trail of another murderer, an expert in avoiding detection with no obvious motive but one obvious method. A DEPRAVED KILLER WHO LEAVES NO TRACES When his latest victim survives the attack despite her vocal cords being severed, Matilda is more convinced than ever of the guilt of her key suspect. If only she had a way to prove it... Silent Victim is an unputdownable crime thriller with twists that will make your jaw drop – perfect for fans of Kathy Reichs and Ann Cleeves. Praise for the DCI Matilda Darke Series: ‘Tense, twisty, emotional and gripping. Will definitely be reading more from Matilda Darke and this gets a huge 5 stars from me!’ Angela Marsons ‘Matilda Darke is an excellent character’ BA Paris ‘This explosive novel is already making a bang – with reviewers comparing Michael’s work to that of his heroes Val McDermid and James Oswald’ Sheffield Star ‘DCI Matilda Darke is going places’ James Oswald ‘Crackling dialogue, dark wit and an exciting ending. Recommended if you liked Happy Valley’ Mark Edwards ‘Budge up Jed Mercurio ... when you are done working on Line of Duty I think it is time for you to meet Matilda’ LJ, Read and Rated Book Review Blog ‘Excellent plotting. The twists keep on coming making this an irresistible read’ Michael J. Malone ‘I really enjoyed getting to know DCI Matilda Darke’ Robert Bryndza ‘DCI Matilda Darke is the perfect heroine’ Elly Griffiths

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • In this “thoroughly gripping” (New York Times) continuation of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, Lisbeth Salander lies in critical condition in a Swedish hospital, a bullet in her head. But she's fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she'll stand trial for three murders. • Also known as the Millennium seriesIn the next installment of the Millennium series, with the help of Mikael Blomkvist, Salander will need to identify those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she'll seek revenge—against the man who tried to kill her and against the corrupt government institutions that nearly destroyed her life.Look for the latest book in the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, The Girl in the Eagle's Talons, coming soon!

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2021 WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZE The start of a gripping new crime thriller series introducing ex-SAS trooper Jack Tate! ‘Looking for breakneck pace and a relentless hero? Alex Shaw has you covered’ James Swallow Don’t miss the explosive start to the Jack Tate series. When the lights go out...British MI6 agent, and former SAS trooper, Jack Tate is trying to escape his past when he witnesses a terrorist attack of unthinkable scale. An electro-magnetic pulse knocks out the US power grid, killing anything with a computer processor, throwing the whole country into darkness. You have to escape the past.Under the cover of the blackout, a clandestine operation aims to assassinate prominent public figures on US soil. Looting and violence spreads across the country. And Jack Tate’s past comes back to haunt him. As the only intelligence operative on the ground, he is hurled into a mission that will put him – and the people he loves – in immediate danger. You have to defeat the enemy.With the fate of the United States on the line, only he can prevent the horror of a new world war. Perfect for fans of James Deegan, Tom Clancy and Mark Greaney, this is an explosive action thriller you won’t be able to put down. ‘Compelling and authentic. An explosive new series with an uncompromising hero’ Tom Wood ‘Jack Tate is a powerful character, a true Brit hero. A cracking start to a new series!’ Alan McDermott ‘Alex Shaw is a master of the action thriller. Grabbed me from the first page and never let go’ Michael Ridpath ‘Riveting thriller with an original plot and surprising twists. Tate is totally convincing as a classic Brit operative. Great drama and characterisation’ Duncan Falconer