Recommendations based on "The Cutting Season: (Quick Reads 2022)"

A Wall Street Journal "Best Mystery of 2024" "If The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair read like Gatsby by way of David Lynch, then The Alaska Sanders Affair recalls True Detective: there's something both classic and daring about it. One of the world's most original voices in crime fiction." --A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window and End of Story "The Alaska Sanders Affair ... transcends pigeonholing with its abundance of plot, subplots and melodramatic U-turns ... everything seems to be connected ... [and] Mr. Dicker casts an undeniable spell." --Wall Street Journal The thrilling new whodunit from Joël Dicker, master of the plot twist and the author of The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair and The Enigma of Room 622. April 1999. The body of Alaska Sanders is found on the shore of a lake near the quiet town of Mount Pleasant, New Hampshire. The young woman's death rocks the small community, but the murder is quickly solved. Within days, a suspect is identified and soon convicted. Case closed. Or so it seemed. . . . Eleven years later, Marcus Goldman, celebrity author and amateur sleuth, picks up a thread that will unravel not only the "open and shut" case of Alaska Sanders, but the very fabric of his best friend,-Sergeant Perry Gahalowood-'s life. Gahalowood, who led the original Alaska Sanders investigation, is hell-bent on finding the truth and setting the record straight. Teaming up with Marcus, he hopes to find redemption by solving the most intricate and trying case of his career. Set both before and after the events of his phenomenal worldwide bestseller The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair, Dicker's latest delivers the last word in slow-burn police procedurals. Clue by clue, witness by witness, question by question, his characters painstakingly piece together an unguessable puzzle that could only have been set by this acclaimed master of the plot twist. And as they uncover who Alaska Sanders truly was, other ghosts from the past emerge . . . Translated from the French by Robert Bononno

Product description From Daniel Silva, the #1 New York Times–bestselling author, comes a modern masterpiece of espionage, love, and betrayal She was his best-kept secret … In an isolated village in the mountains of Andalusia, a mysterious Frenchwoman begins work on a dangerous memoir. It is the story of a man she once loved in the Beirut of old, and a child taken from her in treason’s name. The woman is the keeper of the Kremlin’s most closely guarded secret. Long ago, the KGB inserted a mole into the heart of the West—a mole who stands on the doorstep of ultimate power. Only one man can unravel the conspiracy: Gabriel Allon, the legendary art restorer and assassin who serves as the chief of Israel’s vaunted secret intelligence service. Gabriel has battled the dark forces of the new Russia before, at great personal cost. Now he and the Russians will engage in a final epic showdown, with the fate of the postwar global order hanging in the balance. Gabriel is lured into the hunt for the traitor after his most important asset inside Russian intelligence is brutally assassinated while trying to defect in Vienna. His quest for the truth will lead him backward in time, to the twentieth century’s greatest act of treason, and, finally, to a spellbinding climax along the banks of the Potomac River outside Washington that will leave readers breathless. Fast as a bullet, hauntingly beautiful, and filled with stunning double-crosses and twists of plot, The Other Woman is a tour de force that proves once again that “of all those writing spy novels today, Daniel Silva is quite simply the best” (Kansas City Star). Review Praise for House of Spies: “A tense, thrilling adventure.... With Silva’s novels you find yourself being educated as well as being entertained.... Silva is that rarity of rarities, a writer whose stories just keep getting better.” ( Huffington Post) “Silva spins his web, lays his traps, stuns the reader with mind-curdling suspense and sudden twists.... Breathtaking.” ( Providence Journal) “An irresistible thriller…. The phrase ‘#1 New York Times best-selling author’ gets bandied about a lot (Which list? For how long?), but in Silva’s case, it means exactly what it says.” ( Booklist, starred review) “Silva’s success lies in his mix of authenticity and charm; his swings from global fears to domestic comforts.… There’s exotic scenery, insight into both history and current events, wit, romance, and a lot of heart.... It’s a recipe that keeps his readers coming back for more.” ( Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ) “Written by one of our greatest living spy novelists, House of Spies gives us protagonist Gabriel Allon in his 17th adventure. The novel features Silva’s taut and compelling dialogue and keen insight into the human psyche.” ( Dallas Morning News ) About the Author Daniel Silva is the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Unlikely Spy, The Mark of the Assassin, The Marching Season, The Kill Artist, The English Assassin, The Confessor, A Death in Vienna, Prince of Fire, The Messenger, The Secret Servant, Moscow Rules, The Defector, The Rembrandt Affair, Portrait of a Spy, The Fallen Angel, The English Girl, The Heist, The English Spy, The Black Widow, House of Spies and The Other Woman. He is best known for his long-running thriller series starring spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon. Silva’s books are critically acclaimed bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than 30 languages. He resides in Florida with his wife, television journalist Jamie Gangel, and their twins, Lily and Nicholas. For more information visit www.danielsilvabooks.com

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

As DCI Matilda Darke unravels a chilling cold case, she discovers some truths are deadly – and someone will stop at nothing to keep the past buried... ‘Matilda Darke is the perfect heroine’ Elly Griffiths RUNNING FROM HER PAST Leaving behind Sheffield, her friends and her job, a grieving DCI Matilda Darke finds solace in the wild, untamed beauty of the Lake District. But she can’t outrun her reputation. A COLD CASE PC Alison Pemberton is living in the shadow of her twin sisters, who were abducted thirty years ago. As the only witness, Alison has spent her life trying to remember the details of that fateful summer day and discover the truth about what happened to her sisters and why, a few months later, her father also disappeared. A TRUTH THAT SHOULD HAVE STAYED BURIED Matilda finds herself agreeing to try and unearth the truth about the Pemberton twins. With nothing left to lose, Matilda throws herself into the cold case, but someone doesn’t want her digging up the past and will do anything to keep the truth hidden... Praise for Michael Wood ‘A master of horror and suspense’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'One of the best books ever, in one of the best series ever! It is THAT good!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow what a book... I adore this series and every book is better and better’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book sets off at a hundred miles an hour and never lets off... this is my favourite detective series’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Exciting, tense and compelling... shocking and brilliant’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow! Wow! Wow! The twists keep on coming to the last page’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I don’t have words! Wow just wow! This blew me away. DCI Matilda Darke and her team are my favourite detectives’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book had a bit of everything... some crazy twists and turns’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another cracking, nail-biting read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The Times __________________ Serpent's Point in South Devon is the focus of local legends. The large house on the headland is shrouded in an ancient tale of evil, and when a woman is found strangled on the coastal path, DI Wesley Peterson is called to investigate. The woman had been house-sitting at Serpent's Point and Wesley is surprised to discover that she was conducting an investigation into unsolved missing person cases. Could these enquires have led to her murder? While the case takes Wesley to Yorkshire and the Cotswolds, archaeologist Neil Watson is making a dramatic discovery of his own in the fields near the house. When a skeleton is uncovered, the pressure rises to find a killer, and Wesley and Neil realise that Serpent's Point holds more secrets than anyone could have imagined. Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering Kate Ellis's DI Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this is the perfect page-turner if you love reading Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths. Praise for Kate Ellis . . . 'Clever plotting hides a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves 'Haunting' Independent 'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer 'Unputdownable' Bookseller 'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph *Don't miss the new mystery in the DI Wesley Peterson series, The Killing Place*

Million-copy bestselling author Kate Ellis returns with the brand new book in the DI Wesley Peterson crime series. 'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' THE TIMES November. With the tourist season over in South Devon, Detective Inspector Wesley Peterson is looking forward to a quieter month in the CID. But when a man is shot dead on Bonfire Night, he finds he has a complex murder case on his hands. The body of Patrick North was found in woodland connected to Nesbaraton Hall, a grand estate dating back to the eighteenth century. The Smithson family, who own the estate, are away on holiday. However, when an anonymous letter threatening to abduct the Smithson son is uncovered, Wesley fears North's death might have been collateral damage in a sinister kidnap plot. Meanwhile, archaeologist Dr Neil Watson discovers a hidden grotto in a developer's field - land that was once part of the Nesbaraton estate. Evidence of past rituals and the discovery of a skeleton buried next to the grotto raise questions about strange occurrences, past and present, on the estate. Then, just when Wesley's team seem to be making progress in their investigation, a resident of the nearby village is killed in a near identical shooting. A race is on to find a ruthless killer, before they strike again . . . Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering Kate Ellis's DI Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this is the perfect page-turner if you love reading Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths. Praise for Kate Ellis . . . 'Clever plotting hides a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves 'Haunting' Independent 'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer 'Unputdownable' Bookseller 'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

The new historical crime thriller from #1 bestseller S. J. Parris, perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Hilary Mantel Venice, 1576. Giordano Bruno, heretic, philosopher and spy, is on the run from the Inquisition. He flees to Venice, but the beautiful city proves no safe haven. The killing of an aristocrat and the arrest of his wife and secretary for murder are causing unrest. When an anonymous letter, written in code, proclaims the woman’s innocence, the city’s chief of intelligence employs Bruno to find the writer. But the death is mired in a tangle of dangerous secrets, and Bruno soon learns there are some very powerful people who will stop at nothing to suppress the truth... READERS LOVE S. J. PARRIS... ‘Top class historical crime’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Another fantastic historical thriller from master of the Elizabethan mystery’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘A straight 5* for me! A very compelling novel I highly recommend’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I loved the characters. The only bad thing I have to say about this book is that it kept me reading way past midnight’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘The richly detailed Elizabethan setting and clever twists kept me hooked from start to finish’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘The murder mystery is layered with political intrigue, keeping you second-guessing every revelation’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Excellently researched, great plot, beautiful execution. I love the combination of historical menace and a thriller’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘SJ Parris does it again’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I didn't know who to trust or who to believe the whole way along’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Another glorious dive into the murky world of Elizabethan spies and lies’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ S. J. Parris's book Alchemy was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 03-07-2023 S. J. Parris's book 'Traitor’s Legacy' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2025-05-12.

‘HELP! I am addicted to this series! Unputdownable’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chilling truths are buried in this snow... When a body dressed in a Santa Claus suit appears in the snow just outside a small village in Cumbria, DCI James Walker is the first to appear on the scene. Almost a year has passed since something so tragic has happened in the close-knit community, and James is hopeful that it’s just an accidental death. But when he uncovers the body, he discovers something that chills him to the bone. The man, a former police officer, was murdered. And it’s not long before another body appears. Time is ticking as James races to uncover the killer’s next victim, before they strike again. But can James find them before the snow washes away the evidence? From the master of wintery crime, comes a thriller that will chill you to the bone... Readers can't put down The Killer in the Cold: 'You know winter is coming when the latest Alex Pine novel drops' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This is my favourite book in the series' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'What a fantastic book...the killer is a surprise!' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • “Meaty, gripping, full of tantalizing twists” (Associated Press), this installment of the international bestselling series brings Inspector Harry Hole back from Hong Kong hot on the trail of a serial killer. Inspector Harry Hole has retreated to Hong Kong, escaping the trauma of his last case in squalid opium dens, when two young women are found dead in Oslo, both drowned in their own blood. Media coverage quickly reaches a fever pitch. There are no clues, the police investigation is stalled, and Harry—the one man who might be able to help—can’t be found. After he returns to Oslo, the killer strikes again, Harry’s instincts take over, and nothing can keep him from the investigation, though there is little to go on. Worse, he will soon come to understand that he is dealing with a psychopath who will put him to the test, both professionally and personally, as never before.

An organisation that doesn't exist. A spy that can't be caught. Years ago, a spy was born... 1989: The Cold War will soon be over, but for BOX 88, a top secret spying agency, the espionage game is heating up. Lachlan Kite is sent to France to gather intelligence on the Lockerbie bombing. What he uncovers is terrifying... Now he faces the deadliest decision of his life... 2020: Kite has been taken captive and brutally tortured. He now has a choice: reveal the truth about what happened in France thirty years earlier - or watch his family die. In a battle unlike anything he has faced before, Kite must use all his skills to stay alive. What people are saying about BOX 88 'A spy for the 21st century' Daily Mail, Books of the Year 'Wonderfully taut, exciting and up-to-date' Spectator, Books of the Year 'An ambitious fusion of coming-of-age novel and gripping espionage thriller' Financial Times, Books of the Year 'BOX 88 is so good. Charles Cumming is up there with the very best espionage writers' Ian Rankin 'A wonderful spy novel; Charles Cumming's most ambitious - and his best - yet' Mick Herron 'Charles Cumming has breathed new life into the spy novel' Ben Macintyre 'Atmospheric and full of sharply realised characters' Sunday Times 'A clever thriller' Sun 'Intelligence, grace, and stunning verisimilitude' Gregg Hurwitz 'An engaging hero' James Swallow 'All the hallmarks of the finest spy thriller' Charlotte Philby 'Sharp-eyed and satisfying' Henry Porter 'A great new spy hero is born' Amanda Craig 'Ideal for anyone nostalgic for their first love and the whiff of Marlboro Lights' The Times