Recommendations based on "The Examiner the Sunday Times bestseller from the author of The Appeal"

THREE HOURS TO SAVE THE PEOPLE YOU LOVESHORTLISTED FOR THE THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2021LONGLISTED FOR THE GOLDSBORO BOOKS GLASS BELL AWARD 2021A TOP 10 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERTHE TIMES THRILLER OF THE YEARA BEST BOOK OF 2020 IN THE SUNDAY TIMES, TIMES, GUARDIAN, MAIL, EXPRESS, MIRROR, LITERARY REVIEW, STYLIST, RED AND GOOD HOUSEKEEPINGA TIMES & SUNDAY TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTH-------------------------------------------------------------------In rural Somerset in the middle of a blizzard, the unthinkable happens: a school is under siege.Pupils and teachers barricade themselves into classrooms, the library, the theatre. The headmaster lies wounded in the library, unable to help his trapped students and staff. Outside, a police psychiatrist must identify the gunmen, while parents gather desperate for news.In three intense hours, all must find the courage to stand up to evil and save the people they love.-------------------------------------------------------------------WHAT EVERYONE'S SAYING ABOUT THREE HOURS'If you read only one thriller this year; make it this one: it is that good' DAILY MAIL'Superb' KATE MOSSE'It's beautifully, elegantly written, SO gripping, intelligent, timely, affecting and moving' MARIAN KEYES'A brilliant literary thriller... moving, masterly' SUNDAY TIMES'Kept us on the edge of our seats from start to finish' INDEPENDENT'Brilliant' LEE CHILD'Gob-smackingly, heart-stoppingly, breath-holdingly brilliant' RUTH JONES'A novel that you live rather than merely read' DAILY TELEGRAPH'Amazing' DAVINA MCCALL'An electrifying, pulse-racing novel' RED'Wow! This is a stunner of a book, staggeringly good' JANE FALLON'An emotionally devastating and beautifully observed literary thriller' OBSERVER'Astonishing, powerful, terrifying, heartbreaking' EMMA FLINT'Three Hours intersperses scenes of breath-sucking tension with stirring meditations on human nature' SARA COLLINS, GUARDIAN'A brave, timely and intricately crafted work' EMMA STONEX

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL • NEW YORK TIMES BEST CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR“Defiantly populated with living women . . . beautifully drawn, dense with detail and specificity . . . Notes on an Execution is nuanced, ambitious and compelling.” —Katie Kitamura, NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW (Editors' Choice)"A searing portrait of the complicated women caught in the orbit of a serial killer. . . . Compassionate and thought-provoking." –BRIT BENNETT, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing HalfRecommended by New York Times Book Review • Los Angeles Times • Washington Post • Entertainment Weekly • Esquire • Good Housekeeping • USA Today • Buzzfeed • Goodreads • Real Simple • Marie Claire • Rolling Stone • Business Insider • Bustle • PopSugar • The Millions • The Guardian • and many more!In the tradition of Long Bright River and The Mars Room, a gripping and atmospheric work of literary suspense that deconstructs the story of a serial killer on death row, told primarily through the eyes of the women in his life—from the bestselling author of Girl in Snow.Ansel Packer is scheduled to die in twelve hours. He knows what he’s done, and now awaits execution, the same chilling fate he forced on those girls, years ago. But Ansel doesn’t want to die; he wants to be celebrated, understood.Through a kaleidoscope of women—a mother, a sister, a homicide detective—we learn the story of Ansel’s life. We meet his mother, Lavender, a seventeen-year-old girl pushed to desperation; Hazel, twin sister to Ansel’s wife, inseparable since birth, forced to watch helplessly as her sister’s relationship threatens to devour them all; and finally, Saffy, the detective hot on his trail, who has devoted herself to bringing bad men to justice but struggles to see her own life clearly. As the clock ticks down, these three women sift through the choices that culminate in tragedy, exploring the rippling fissures that such destruction inevitably leaves in its wake.Blending breathtaking suspense with astonishing empathy, Notes on an Execution presents a chilling portrait of womanhood as it simultaneously unravels the familiar narrative of the American serial killer, interrogating our system of justice and our cultural obsession with crime stories, asking readers to consider the false promise of looking for meaning in the psyches of violent men."Poetic and mesmerizing . . . Powerful, important, intensely human, and filled with a unique examination of tragedy, one where the reader is left with a curious emotion: hope." —USA TODAY“A profound and staggering experience of empathy that challenges us to confront what it means to be human in our darkest moments. . . . I relished every page of this brilliant and gripping masterpiece."—ASHLEY AUDRAIN, New York Times bestselling author of The Push

WATCH WILL TRENT ON ABC!“Expect from a Karin Slaughter crime thriller . . . just the right amount of twists, turns, shocks, surprises and domestic thrill and shrill.” — ParadeThe next thrilling suspense featuring Will Trent and Sara Linton from Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Girls and After That Night!One toxic family.Eight suspicious guests.Everyone is guilty.But who is a killer?For GBI investigator Will Trent and medical examiner Sara Linton, McAlpine Lodge seems like the ideal getaway to celebrate their honeymoon. Set on a gorgeous, off-the-grid mountaintop property, it’s the perfect place to unplug and reconnect. Until a bone-chilling scream cuts through the night.A murderer in their midstMercy McAlpine, the manager of the Lodge, is dead. With a vicious storm raging and the one access road to the property washed out, the murderer must be someone on the mountain. But as Will and Sara investigate the McAlpine family and the other guests, they realize that everyone here is lying….Lying about their past. Lying to their family. Lying to themselves.Who killed Mercy McAlpine?It soon becomes clear that normal rules don’t apply at McAlpine Lodge, and Will and Sara are going to have to watch their step at every turn. Trapped on the resort, they must untangle a decades-old web of secrets to discover what happened to Mercy. And with the killer poised to strike again, the trip of a lifetime becomes a race against the clock…

The stunning new standalone, with a chilling edge of psychological suspense, from the No.1 bestselling author of the Will Trent and Grant County series.Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind…Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn's happy smalltown family life was destroyed by a terrifying attack on their home. It left their mother dead. It left their father – a notorious defence attorney – devastated. And it left the family fractured beyond repair, consumed by secrets from that shocking night.Twenty-eight years later, Charlie has followed in her father's footsteps to become a lawyer. But when violence comes to their home town again, she is plunged into a nightmare. Because the case triggers memories she's tried so hard to suppress, and the shocking truth about the crime which destroyed her family won't stay buried for ever…

ON AN ORDINARY WORKING DAY…Leila Syed receives a call that cleaves her life in two. Her brother-in-law’s voice is filled with panic. He’s at his son’s nursery to pick up Max. But he isn’t there.YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE…Leila was supposed to drop Max off that morning. But she forgot.Racing to the carpark, she grasps the horror of what she has done. Max has been locked in her car for six hours on the hottest day of the year.IS ABOUT TO COME TRUE…But she’s too late.What follows is an explosive, high-profile trial, that will tear the family apart. But as the case progresses it becomes clear there’s more to this incident than meets the eye…A gripping, brave and tense courtroom drama, Next of Kin will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final, heart-stopping page.

The start of a brand new series from the global bestselling author of the DI Hillary Greene series.Oxford, 1960. There's a murderer on the loose and two unlikely heroes are poised to solve the case.Meet Probationary WPC Trudy Loveday – smart, enthusiastic and always underestimated.In the hope of getting her out of the way, Trudy’s senior officer assigns her to help coroner Clement Ryder as he re-opens the case of a young woman's death. She can't believe her luck – she is actually going to be working on a real murder case.Meanwhile, the rest of the police force are busy investigating a series of threats and murders in the local community, and Clement can't help but feel it's all linked.As Trudy and Clement form an unlikely partnership, are they going to be the ones to solve these crimes before the murderer strikes again?A gripping, twisty crime novel that you won't be able to put down. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and M.C. Beaton.The Ryder and Loveday SeriesBook 1: A FATAL OBSESSIONBook 2: A FATAL MISTAKEBook 3: A FATAL FLAW‘A beautifully crafted crime mystery I could not put down.’ Anita Davison, author of the Flora Maguire seriesReaders love Faith Martin:'A must read for all crime fiction fans''Have become an addict of Faith Martin – love her novels.''Cracking good read''Plenty of action and drama to keep the reader gripped through to the end''I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys crime fiction''Compelling murder mystery''Fabulous police procedural'

*Pre-order Alice Hunter's new novel BAD APPLE now! Coming in May 2024*She thought she’d left her past behind.She was wrong…Despite a childhood in the care system, Anna Price has beaten the odds and built for herself the perfect life, complete with beautiful seaside home, devoted husband and a job she loves.Then a policeman appears at Anna’s door: her estranged brother Henry is a wanted serial killer, and the police need Anna’s help to catch him before he strikes again.When an envelope turns up on her doorstep, Anna suddenly finds herself caught in a sick game. One that she remembers all too well from childhood – one that, this time, she must win at all costs…Readers are obsessing over The Serial Killer’s Sister!‘Loved every second of this. Finished it in 36 hours. And the twist…Didn’t see that coming!’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘An excellent read with a fantastic jaw-dropping ending.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Loved every bit of this book. I thought I knew exactly what was going on but oh how wrong I was…The story right until the very end is full of surprises.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Alice Hunter is the queen of thrillers!’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘The twist at the end is so clever that I was left thinking about it for days after.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Twists, turns, revenge, evil, family...so freaking good!!’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘WOW. This was such a page-turner, and I truly didn't expect that ending.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I devoured this book in just one sitting. This is an unputdownable, addictive and gripping read. Hunter has pulled me in and kept me captive until the very last page.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A true masterpiece, that ending just keeps on giving, with twist upon twist.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘WOW WOW WOW. I could've read it in one sitting, but I had to restrain myself!’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended for summer reading by TIME magazineLOUISE PENNY says Nicci French's books are "fabulous."JOSEPH FINDER says they're "in the rich vein of Kate Atkinson."And TAMI HOAG calls them "truly unique."Enter the world of NICCI FRENCH with Dark Saturday, an electrifying, sophisticated psychological thriller about past crimes and present dangers, featuring an unforgettable protagonist...A decade ago, 18-year-old Hannah Docherty was arrested for the shocking murder of her family. It was an open-and-shut case, and Hannah has been incarcerated in a secure psychiatric hospital ever since.When psychotherapist Frieda Klein is asked to meet Hannah and give her assessment, she reluctantly agrees. But what she finds horrifies her. Hannah has become a tragic figure, old before her time. And Frieda is haunted by the idea that Hannah might be as much of a victim as her family — that she might, in fact, be innocent.As Hannah's case takes hold of her, Frieda begins to realize that she's up against someone who will go to any lengths to keep the truth from surfacing — even kill again.Utterly compelling and enthralling, Dark Saturday speeds readers down a twisting trail of secrets, suspense, and murder.

*The USA Today bestseller*‘An edge-of-your-seat, page-flipping, stay-up-all-night, heart-racing suspense thriller!’ Real Reviewer‘Holy mother of…! This book was SO good. I devoured it…You NEED to read this!’ Real Reviewer‘Holy cr*p! This is good! Riveting, exciting…kept me guessing. Loved it!’ Real ReviewerIn a cabin in a wood,A woman by the window stood.Glancing out, she thought she heardFootsteps, whistling, something stirred.Hiding here, she fears the night,For what’s done in the dark will come to light.She must run fast to escape her lieOr she’ll be the next to die…The unmissable new thriller from the USA Today bestselling master of edge-of-your-seat reading and screenwriter of Netflix Original movie, The Weekend Away.Readers are gripped by The Cabin in the Woods:‘Buckle up because you are in for a ride! Every time I thought the ending was close, there was another twist that I didn’t see coming… I felt like my heart was going to stop or burst out of my chest!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This book had me flipping pages as fast as I could! If you love thrillers, buy this book NOW!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Phenomenal! A very twisty journey… kept me guessing… no slow burn here! Perfectly paced and I loved it!’ NetGalley reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Wow. This one packs more than a punch, it’s a wallop… Had me biting my nails, stomach clenched. An absolute must read.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Omg! I couldn’t put this down. It had me hooked and wouldn’t let go. Unforgettable!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Once again Sarah Alderson proves that she is truly one of the greats! Easily my favourite book so far this year… Twisty, atmospheric, unputdownable.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A masterclass from Sarah Alderson. Impossible to put down!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Wow! I absolutely loved this book. What a page turner… I was gripped from start to finish. If you love fast-paced, suspenseful thrillers then this is for you!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘The perfect thriller! …One of the most suspenseful stories I have ever read… and the ending will leave you reeling.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Now that’s how a thriller is done! Taut in pace and brimming with suspense… I was absolutely hooked and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘WOW! Boy, did Sarah Alderson deliver… Five stars.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Omg this book had me gripped from start to finish!” Reader reviewer Someone is watching them... When a missing teenage girl reappears unharmed but pregnant, the case falls to DI Edina Ogborne, the newest recruit of Canterbury Police. But Ed’s already got her hands full with a team who don’t want her, an ex who won’t quit, and terrible guilt over a secret from her past. As Ed investigates the case, she discovers Canterbury has seen this crime not once, but several times before. And when Ed and her detectives encounter missing historic police files, falsified school records, and Ed’s new lover as a prime suspect, it becomes clear that the system has been corrupted. Can Ed find the kidnapper behind these depraved crimes before he strikes again? Or has time already run out? The first instalment in the DI Ogborne Mystery series is a nerve-shredding crime thriller perfect for fans of Louise Candlish and S. E. Lynes. What others are saying about THE TAKEN GIRLS: “So captivating, addictive and full of suspense” Reader review “Had me hooked from the start. I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book.” Reader review “Omg this book had me gripped from start to finish! A proper page turner full of suspense and twists. Haven't read a book like this for ages” Reader review “A gripping thriller with a twist. I didn’t want the book to end!” Reader review “An absolutely cracking debut thriller from G.D.Sanders” Reader review “A gritty book with lots of twists and turns. I loved it!” Reader review “A fast-paced police procedural, with an ambitious female detective” Reader review “Fantastic. A real head-spinning thriller “ Reader review