I’ve been a fan of MacBride’s writing for many years and love his characterization, scene-setting, and the clever plots he hangs the story around. I’ve always enjoyed his wonderful descriptions and the way he slides clever witticisms into the narrative.
With The Dead of Winter I found myself tearing through a fantastic novel while wishing the story would go on and on. By turn it made me sad, disgusted at humanity, and thanks to MacBride’s deft turn of phrase, laugh out loud. I cannot recommend it highly enough, and considering the competition it’s beaten off to make it my read of the year, that’s high praise indeed.
THE UNPUTDOWNABLE, UNMISSABLE NEW THRILLER FROM THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR.
It was supposed to be an easy job.
All Detective Constable Edward Reekie had to do was pick up a dying prisoner from HMP Grampian and deliver him somewhere to live out his last few months in peace.
From the outside, Glenfarach looks like a quaint, sleepy, snow-dusted village, nestled deep in the heart of Cairngorms National Park, but things aren't what they seem. The place is thick with security cameras and there's a strict nine o'clock curfew, because Glenfarach is the final sanctuary for people who've served their…
Craven is an author whose career I have been following for several years as he’s a friend, but that’s not the reason he’s made this list.
With Fearless he’s embarked on a new series and not just hit the ground running, but left a crater while setting an Olympic record. Ben Koenig is a fascinating character and while he’s firmly in the Jack Reacher mold, he’s different enough for the drawing of comparisons to be little more than an academic exercise.
Strong plotting, excellent characterization, and a dry wit peppering the narrative make Fearless a wonderful introduction to a fascinating character.
'Koenig's insouciant style and sharp thinking pack a very hefty punch' The Times
'A superb thriller that will have everyone gasping' David Baldacci
'Badass and brilliant' Chris Whitaker
' "Thrill-ride" gets tossed around a little too generously these days, but Craven has written one. A highly entertaining, brilliantly violent tale, full of unforgettable set-pieces' Peter Swanson
'A superbly executed thriller with intelligence, wit, humour and rib cracking action' Amer Anwar
Five million reasons why Ben Koenig had to disappear. Only one to bring him back . . .
Like the other two authors on this list, Russell’s novels have been a priority for me since I first discovered them.
While The Devil’s Playground is more of a cozy read than I’m used to, I’ve read enough of Russell’s novels to trust him and he always delivers. Intricately researched, The Devil’s Playground is set in Golden Age Hollywood and thanks to Russell’s skill as a wordsmith is rich in detail as the narrative hurtles the reader.
The Flood is the first book in the Fiona MacLeish series. With an unforgettable setting, a strong female lead, and packed with twists, this is the perfect read for fans of J.M. Dalgliesh, J.D. Kirk, and Simon McCleave.
