First Detective

Murder in the 19th century was rare. But murder as sensation and entertainment became ubiquitous, with cold-blooded killings transformed into novels, broadsides, ballads, opera, and melodrama - even into puppet shows and performing-dog acts. Detective fiction and the new police force developed in parallel, each imitating the other - the founders of Scotland Yard gave rise to Dickens's Inspector Bucket, the first fictional police detective, who in turn influenced Sherlock Holmes and, ultimately, even P. D. James and Patricia Cornwell.

“No badge, no problem. Michael Lister’s first swing at the modern private eye novel is a home run. The Night Of is an instant classic with rich characters and storytelling that grips your heart from first page to last.” - #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly Lucas Burke and Alix "Blade" Baker: A Pair of Determined Detectives In the sun-soaked expanse of Panama City Beach, Florida, Lucas Burke and Alix “Blade” Baker are the area's most tenacious private investigators. Specializing in missing persons cases, their work is more than just a job—it’s a personal ...

The FIRST BOOK in an irresistibly charming British village murder mystery series full of twists and turns… Meet Ellie Swan... an introverted bookworm with a history degree stuck at a crossroads. After putting her degree to work in a TV studio's historical continuity department for years, the studio merges with a giant streaming service and Ellie loses her dream job. She finds herself working in a coffee shop to make ends meet, and while waiting for the perfect opportunity to come along... she gets a phone call informing her that her dear Granny Maggie has broken her hip. Leaving the city ...

Detective Katie Scott stares in horror at what she and her service dog Cisco have discovered: seven shallow graves, the bodies of young women each wrapped carefully in a blanket and buried in makeshift coffins. Miles of abandoned farmland stretch out from the treeline behind her. Has Katie uncovered the horrifying graveyard of a monster who has been stealing Pine Valley’s daughters for years?

Coming Spring 2025! The third instalment in the bestselling Meadowfield Mysteries series. As Ellie and Maggie prepare to officially reopen Meadowfiled Books, the buzz of their launch event grows: Meadowfield’s least romantic man, Benjamin Brown, is launching his first romance novel. The book’s debut is raising more eyebrows than hearts, but it’s Peter Cookson’s sudden return that truly steals the spotlight. Nervous, evasive, and clutching secrets from an old drowning in the village pond, Ellie is unsettled by her father's return, especially when he clashes publicly with Benjamin at ...

What happened to Peter’s first family? His wife, his children—all of them are dead, and rumors swirl around Peter himself as the culprit. My name is Aubree Van Lullen, once whispered about for all the wrong reasons. But that was before Peter Woodley entered my life, a man accused of the unthinkable—murdering his family. The gravity of his past should have frightened me away, but instead, I found myself pulled closer. A kinship of two souls wronged by the misconception given by the world. He expounded his innocence. And now I’ve built my own family with him. We did our best to leave ...

When Detective Morgan Brookes is called to the scene of a suicide, she’s devastated to recognize the young teacher sprawled out on the grass like a broken doll. She hasn’t seen Brittany for years. Not since the tragic death of Morgan’s high school boyfriend ripped their friendship group apart. But when witnesses describe Brittany’s erratic behavior and jumbled speech that morning, Morgan is convinced the fearless, life-loving girl she once knew didn’t jump of her own accord.

In the darkness of a cold December morning, Detective Kim Stone steps through the doors of Halesowen Police Station. She’s about to meet her team for the first time. When the body of a young man is found beheaded and staked to the ground in a secluded area of the Clent Hills, Kim and her new squad rush to the crime scene. This audio edition includes exclusive bonus content.

A nose for trouble… When Lena inherits her grandmother Ingrid's Victorian house in the quaint town of New Oslo, she expects a fresh start and a slower pace of life in her hometown. Instead, she finds herself thrust into a web of secrets, lies, and unexpected danger. As Lena settles into her new home, strange occurrences and an overwhelming sense of unease plague her. Could it be mere imagination, or is there something more sinister at play? When a ghostly encounter reveals a shocking truth about her grandmother's passing, Lena's world is turned upside down. Armed with nothing but her wits...

Stacey and Laney are twins—mirror images of each other—and yet they’re as different as the sun and the moon. Stacey works hard at school, determined to get out of their small town. Laney skips school and sneaks out of the house to meet her boyfriend. But when Laney disappears one night, Stacey can’t believe she’s just run off without telling her. As the days pass and Laney doesn’t return, Stacey starts dreaming of her twin. The dreams are dark and terrifying, difficult to understand and hard to shake, but at least they tell Stacey one key thing—Laney is alive.

A housewarming party to die for... Lena's fresh start in her grandmother's old Victorian house takes a sinister turn when her housewarming celebration becomes a crime scene. As guests fall ill and accusations fly, Lena finds herself at the center of a poisonous plot. With the help of her grandmother's ghost, she must unravel a web of secrets, rivalries, and hidden agendas before the killer strikes again. In the quaint town of New Oslo, where everyone has a stake in Lena's inherited property, friend and foe blur into one. As she digs deeper, Lena uncovers long-buried tensions and realizes ...

Captain Arthur Hastings, invalided in the Great War, is recuperating as a guest of John Cavendish at Styles Court, the "country-place" of John's autocratic old aunt, Emily Inglethorpe - she of a sizeable fortune, and so recently remarried to a man 20 years her junior. When Emily's sudden heart attack is found to be attributable to strychnine, Hastings recruits an old friend, now retired, to aid in the local investigation. With impeccable timing, Hercule Poirot, the famous Belgian detective, makes his dramatic entrance into the pages of crime literature.

Officer Lucy is panty-melting hot, but I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. Can I really trust her? When Sarah follows her best friend to live in the big city away from the small outback down they had both called home their entire lives, Sarah quickly learns about the perils of city living. Her first night she witnesses a police drug operation that will change the course of her life forever. Officer Lucy attends her colleague Officer Daisy’s (of Protecting Her fame) house party to find herself face-to-face with the gorgeous femme witness of a crime she has been ...

College Girl Murder Shocks Beach Town 5 stars - 'A Great New Series.' A heartwarming cozy mystery series about family, friendship and a crusade for justice. After suffering back to back personal tragedies, Anna Butler has resolved to pull herself up by the bootstraps and take a second chance at life. Her dream of expanding her bookstore into a cafe is shattered when the local mayor starts a vendetta against her. Anna is accused of murdering her husband! People she has known all her life refuse to give her the time of day. When an estranged friend calls for help, Anna sets her own troubles ...

A terrorist doesn't let strangers in her flat because they might be undercover police or intelligence agents, but her children bring their mates home, and they run all over the place. The terrorist doesn't know that one of these kids has bugged every room in her house, made copies of all her computer files and stolen her address book. The kid works for Cherub. Cherub agents are aged between 10 and 17. They live in the real world, slipping under adult radar and getting information that sends criminals and terrorists to jail.

If you devote your life to seeking revenge … Whether Confucius had it right or not is of little consequence to Patricia Fisher right now because she’s on the run from multiple criminals plus the cruise ship’s security team who have orders to arrest her on sight. Her arch nemesis, Angelica Howard-Box, has finally figured out how to win and she is going all out to make Patricia’s life a living hell. Dressed in a pink anime kitten outfit, cut off from her friends, and forced to perform ridiculous tasks because Angelica is suddenly holding all the cards.

Freedom’s Detective reveals the untold story of the Reconstruction-era US Secret Service and their battle against the Ku Klux Klan, through the career of its controversial chief, Hiram C. Whitle.

The irresistible Stone Barrington returns for another racy adventure from number-one New York Times best-selling author Stuart Woods. Stone Barrington has faced intrigue before and come out clean on the other side, but this latest turn of events might be too scandalous even for him.

In New Oslo, the sweetest treats hide the darkest secrets... Lena Larsen's first date with Sheriff Mark was supposed to be simple: enjoy the local Bake-Off festival and indulge in some delicious pastries. But when the head judge drops dead in front of the whole town, Lena's plans for romance are put on hold. Armed with her grandmother's ghostly advice and her own keen eye for detail, Lena can't help but stick her nose where it doesn't belong. As she uncovers a web of rivalries, resentments, and hidden affairs, she realizes that in New Oslo, even the most respected citizens have something to...

Seventeen-year-old Noelle Layne knows horror. Every trope, every warning sign, every survival tactic. She even leads a successful movie club dedicated to the genre. Who better to throw the ultimate, most exclusive Halloween party on all of Long Island? With some of the top influencers in her school on the guest list, including gorgeous singer-songwriter Archer Mitchell, her popularity is bound to spike. She could really use the social boost for an upcoming brand expansion. Nothing is going to ruin this party.