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Category: Thriller

New Release – Flowers over the Inferno

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Ilaria Tuti’s debut thriller explores a remote community in Northern Italy—a place of secrets, eerie folktales, and primal instincts.

In a quiet village surrounded by ancient woods and the imposing Italian Alps, a man is found naked with his eyes gouged out. It is the first in a string of gruesome murders.

Superintendent Teresa Battaglia, a detective with a background in criminal profiling, is called to investigate. Battaglia is in her mid-sixties, her rank and expertise hard-won from decades of battling for respect in a male-dominated Italian police force. While she’s not sure she trusts the young city inspector assigned to assist her, she sees right away that this is no ordinary case: buried deep in these mountains is a dark history that may endanger a group of eight-year-old children toward whom the killer seems to gravitate.

As Teresa inches closer to the truth, she must also confront the possibility that her body and mind, worn down by age and illness, may fail her before the chase is over.

Reader Reviews

“Ms. Tuti’s debut, translated from the Italian by Ekin Oklap, introduces a sympathetic heroine in Battaglia, whose gruffness masks a fear she may be losing her unique abilities.” —The Wall Street Journal

“One of the best parts of Flowers over the Inferno is the older, gruff superintendent Teresa Battaglia. She is out of shape, diabetic and busy fighting the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease—on top of handling a complex case. We sympathize with Battaglia quite naturally, and it’s nice to see a cop who isn’t slim and sexy chasing after serial killers.”
—NPR

“Superintendent Teresa Battaglia, a criminal profile expert, is in her sixties, overweight, lonely, diabetic, full of the ailments of aging—and delightful. It’s rare that such a character enters crime fiction for the first time, and with such gripping impact.” —The Times (UK)

“Creepy and evocative . . . But what gives this novel particular appeal is the sixty-something central character, whose abrasive manner hides a warm heart.” —The Guardian

“Ilaria Tuti’s Flowers over the Inferno is a stunning debut; a deliciously dark and action-packed thriller that is also deeply moving, even profound. With a heroine unlike any other and a beautifully crafted sense of place, Tuti’s gorgeous prose paints a compelling portrait of a small Alpine town’s secrets and the woman tasked with uncovering them. I loved this book.”
—Karen Dionne, internationally bestselling author of The Marsh King’s Daughter

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Book Information:

Flowers over the Inferno
A Teresa Battaglia Novel, Book 1
By Ilaria Tuti
Publisher: Soho Crime
Release Date: April 16, 2019
ISBN: 978-1641290685 (hc) Price: $25.95
ISBN: 978-1641290692 (ebook) Price $14.99
ISBN: 978-1980027225 (audio book) Price $19.99
Genre: Mystery, Thriller

About the Author:

Ilaria Tuti lives in Gemona del Friuli, in the province of Udine. She has a degree in economics, has always had a passion for painting, and freelances for a small independent publisher in her spare time. She won the 2014 Gran Giallo Città di Cattolica literary prize for her short story “The Pagan Child.” Flowers over the Inferno is her debut novel.

Translation: Ekin Oklap was born in Turkey, and grew up in Italy. She translates from Turkish and Italian. She currently lives in London, where she works as a literary agent. As a translator, she was shortlisted for the 2016 Man Booker International Prize.

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Top New Thrillers This Week

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Where The Dead Fall
By M J Lee
Publisher: Canelo
Crime Thriller

One chance encounter, one street side murder, will change everything. The extraordinary new Ridpath crime thriller

DI Ridpath is in the process of getting his life back together when everything goes wrong.

Driving to meet his daughter, he is caught in a gruesome motorway accident, in which a near-naked man is rundown by a lorry, while fleeing from a lone gunman. As Ridpath closes Manchester’s road network in search of the assailant, one question remains: why did nobody else see him?

Ridpath’s investigations soon unearth a number of inconsistencies, which pulls the police force itself into question, and hint at something sinister to come.

For Manchester is on the brink of a fresh surge of violence unlike anything it has seen in decades, and Ridpath must battle this unprecedented conflict along with his own demons. One thing is for sure. There will be blood on the streets…

The nail-biting sequel to Where the Truth Lies, M J Lee’s Where the Dead Fall is an absolute must read, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Faith Martin and Peter James

The Cleansing
By J.A. Baker
Publisher: Bloodhound Books
Psychological Thriller

A village shrouded in mystery. Secrets buried deep…

When Ray moves to a new house in the village of Whitchurch, he leaves behind a relationship and a luxury apartment in search of a better life in the countryside.

However, he soon realises that sleepy Whitchurch also has its own fair share of problems. Last year, a woman’s body was discovered in the woods nearby. The killer was never caught.

Soon suspicious things start to happen. Threatening letters are sent, cars are vandalised and headstones are desecrated. But who is responsible for these acts and why?

As the tension in the village builds, Ray begins to feel the pressure. Someone is out to cause trouble and that someone might be closer to Ray than he ever imagined.

Metropolis
By Philip Kerr
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Historical Thriller

New York Times-bestselling author Philip Kerr treats readers to his beloved hero’s origins, exploring Bernie Gunther’s first weeks on Berlin’s Murder Squad.

Summer, 1928. Berlin, a city where nothing is verboten.

In the night streets, political gangs wander, looking for fights. Daylight reveals a beleaguered populace barely recovering from the postwar inflation, often jobless, reeling from the reparations imposed by the victors. At central police HQ, the Murder Commission has its hands full. A killer is on the loose and though he scatters many clues, each is a dead end. It’s almost as if he is taunting the cops. Meanwhile, the press is having a field day.

This is what Bernie Gunther finds on his first day with the Murder Commisson. He’s been taken on beacuse the people at the top have noticed him–they think he has the makings of a first-rate detective. But not just yet. Right now, he has to listen and learn.

Metropolis, completed just before Philip Kerr’s untimely death, is the capstone of a fourteen-book journey through the life of Kerr’s signature character, Bernhard Genther, a sardonic and wisecracking homicide detective caught up in an increasingly Nazified Berlin police department. In many ways, it is Bernie’s origin story and, as Kerr’s last novel, it is also, alas, his end.

Metropolis is also a tour of a city in chaos: of its seedy sideshows and sex clubs, of the underground gangs that run its rackets, and its bewildered citizens–the lost, the homeless, the abandoned. It is Berlin as it edges toward the new world order that Hitler will soo usher in. And Bernie? He’s a quick study and he’s learning a lot. Including, to his chagrin, that when push comes to shove, he isn’t much better than the gangsters in doing whatever her must to get what he wants.

From Million-Copy Bestseller Matthew Mather – Polar Vortex

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A flight disappears over the North Pole. No distress calls. Vanished into thin air.

Mitch Matthews is a writer struggling to make ends meet when his wife’s brother Josh offers them a first-class seat on a flight from Hong Kong to New York. When his wife needs to stay behind, it becomes an opportunity for some quality daddy-daughter time with his five-year-old Lilly.

At check-in, they run into a strange Norwegian arguing with a huge Russian. A mysterious redhead is guarding a package in the business lounge. But everything is fine, until…

Within hours of Allied Airlines 695 disappearing, a massive international search is launched. Aircraft and ships are dispatched from Russia, China, America, Canada, and Norway.

How can a modern airliner simply vanish in one of the most heavily monitored places on Earth? Right in the middle of an area overflown by dozens of satellites from as many nations, ringed by Cold War-era radar and missile installations?

Reader Reviews

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “A master class of storytelling. Twists and turns and almost non-stop action set against a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end about what happened. ” New York Times and USA Today bestseller Nicholas Sansbury Smith

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Relentlessly entertaining thriller from start to finish–the story grabs hold and doesn’t let go. Thought provoking and packed with unexpected twists.” USA Today bestseller Steven Konkoly

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Matthew Mather is much more than just a successful writer of speculative fiction…his writing in many ways feels prescient. A wildly creative imagination, smart ideas, a gift for conversational interplay, and keen sense of timing, make his worlds come alive…traits that make Matthew’s books so poignant to a very large audience.” Grady Harp, Hall of Fame Top 100 Reviewer, Amazon Vine Voice

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About the Author:

Matthew Mather is the best-selling author of CyberStorm, recently acquired for film by 20th Century Fox, and the six-part hit series Atopia Chronicles. He is also a leading member of the world’s cybersecurity community who started out his career working at the McGill Center for Intelligent Machines.

He went on to found one of the first tactile interface companies, which became the world leader in its field, as well as creating a major award-winning brain training video game. In between he’s worked in a variety of start-ups,everything from computational nanotechnology to electronic health records, weather prediction systems to genomics, and even social intelligence research.

You can reach him here > Contact Matt

He works with Janklow & Nesbit as literary agents (for domestic and foreign) and with Hotchkiss and Associates for film. Please email Matthew at the email supplied above if you are interested in foreign, domestic, film or TV rights and he will put you in touch with the appropriate people.

His writing credits include CyberStorm, and the six-part #1 best-selling Atopia Chronicles series. He spends his time between Charlotte, NC, and Montreal, QC, hanging out with his bright and beautiful girlfriend Julie and their three dogs and a cat.

Translated into sixteen languages, with 20th Century Fox now developing his second novel, CyberStorm, for a major film release, Matthew Mather’s books are sold worldwide. He began his career at the McGill Center for Intelligent Machines, then started several high-tech ventures in everything from computational nanotechnology to electronic health records, weather prediction systems to genomics, and even designed an award-winning brain-training video game. He now works as a full-time author of speculative fiction.

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New Thriller Coming May 2019 – Tell No One By Barbara Taylor Sissel

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Their desperate secret. Her desperate search. A shattering truth exposed.

Caroline Corbett wants nothing to do with her father, Hoff, a man who abandoned her as a young girl and then vanished from her life almost thirty years ago. But when her beloved aunt expresses a dying wish to see him once more, Caroline, despite her failing marriage and other personal troubles, drops everything to look for him.

Harris Fenton found the father figure he’d dreamed of when he turned eight and his mother married Hoff—but his disappearance four years later left Harris with scars he carries even now that he is a father himself. While he has a beautiful family and a great job, he’s hiding a shameful secret and a nightmare from his childhood.

Caroline’s search for Hoff soon uncovers a host of disturbing clues and draws a threat of violence. Her mind churns with memories of her troubled history, while Harris is losing the battle against his own demons. But for both of them, dredging up the past will be dangerous, and confronting the truth could prove life shattering.

Reader Reviews

“Tell No One gripped us from the very first page. A buried secret and a daughter’s search for answers about her missing father lead us on a pulsing journey to discover the truth. A heart-thumping story and a shocking ending make Tell No One a must-read!” —Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, bestselling authors of Girls’ Night Out

“Wow. Tell No One is a mesmerizing tale of recruiting scandals, infidelity, broken relationships and family secrets. With well-crafted characters and clever plot twists, Barbara Taylor Sissel has created a fantastic must read that will keep you glued to your seat from the first page until the last.” —Bette Lee Crosby, USA Today bestselling author

“Atmospheric, suspenseful, and shocking, Tell No One is the story of grown half-siblings, one who is searching for their long-lost father and the other who is trying desperately to forget his dubious role in their lives. Barbara Taylor Sissel weaves a gripping story rich in questions about terrible choices, painful secrets, necessary lies, and the depths we’ll descend to protect the ones we love.” —Linda Keir, author of The Swing of Things

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About the Author:

Barbara Taylor Sissel writes issue oriented, upmarket women’s fiction that is threaded with elements of suspense and defined by its particular emphasis on how crime affects the family. She is the author of nine novels, WHAT LIES BELOW, THE TRUTH WE BURY, FAULTLINES, CROOKED LITTLE LIES, SAFEKEEPING, EVIDENCE OF LIFE, THE VOLUNTEER, THE NINTH STEP AND THE LAST INNOCENT HOUR.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, she was raised in various locations across the US and once lived on the grounds of a first-offender prison facility, where her experience, interacting with the inmates and staff, provided a unique insight into the inmates’ lives, the circumstances behind the crimes they committed, and the impact on the families that were affected. Her novels focus on the family at the heart of the crime.

Barbara indulges her other passions, exploring, hiking, gardening, reading and stitching on and around the farm where she lives in the Texas Hill Country.

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The Waiting Room From Bestselling Author Emily Bleeker

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From the bestselling author of When I’m Gone and Working Fire comes a gripping novel about a mother, her missing daughter, and the dark secrets that engulf them.

Ever since her husband’s death collided with the birth of her daughter, postpartum depression has taken hold of Veronica Shelton. She can’t sleep, can’t work, and can’t bear to touch her beautiful baby girl. Her emotional state is whispering lies in Veronica’s ear: You’re a bad mother. Your baby would be better off without you. But not everything can be reasoned away by Veronica’s despair. Can it?

After all, the break-in at her house happened. The disturbing sketches she found in her studio are real. So is the fear for her daughter’s safety—especially when Veronica comes home to a cold, silent nursery and a missing baby.

As she turns from victim into primary suspect, Veronica realizes that only she can find her daughter. Authorities aren’t helping. They’re only watching. Veronica’s concerned mother has suddenly vanished from her life. And a new friend seems to be keeping secrets from her too. Now, reality is waiting for Veronica in a dark place—because someone’s mind games have only just begun.

Reviews

“Engrossing…The complex denouement reveals one surprise after another.” —Publishers Weekly

“A psychological thriller in the vein of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, Bleeker’s novel (When I’m Gone; Working Fire) is swiftly paced…Readers who enjoy authors such as Mary Kubica and Kate Moretti may enjoy this title.” —Library Journal

“With a killer twist that no one will see coming, readers will be blown away by this one.” —The Parkersburg News and Sentinel

“If you loved Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, you will want to get your hands on this new psychological thriller…” —Take a Break

“[The Waiting Room is] not just thrilling, there is hope there, too. It might even make you a little more understanding toward those going through depression and/or experiencing the loss of a loved one.” —The Tulsa Book Review

“A twisty, turny, wild ride.” —BookBub

“Clever and unpredictable, The Waiting Room is psychological suspense at its finest. Bleeker ingeniously pulls aside the curtain to expose the dark underbelly of grief after a tragic loss. The story moved at breakneck speed and kept me on my toes, delivering an ending I didn’t see coming. Mind-blowing!” —Kerry Lonsdale, Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author

“Emily Bleeker’s books are always compelling reads, and The Waiting Room is no exception. I flew through the pages, desperate to discover the truth about Veronica. A wonderful tale of emotional suspense and heartbreak.” —Victoria Helen Stone, author of #1 Amazon bestseller Evelyn, After

“Fast-paced and suspenseful from page one, a story where nothing is as it seems. The answer to the mystery of what happened hovers just off the page, and just when you think you have it, a jaw-dropping twist will take your breath away. Fans of Emily Bleeker will not be disappointed.” —Barbara Taylor Sissel, bestselling author of The Truth We Bury and Faultines

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About the Author:

Emily Bleeker is a former educator who discovered her passion for writing after introducing a writer’s workshop to her students. She soon found a whole world of characters and stories living inside of her mind. It took a battle with a rare form of cancer to give her the courage to share that amazing world with others. Emily lives in suburban Chicago with her family. Between writing and being a mom, she attempts to learn guitar, sings along to the radio (loudly), and embraces her newfound addiction to running.

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The Disappeared By Sibel Hodge – The Widow. The Secret. The Liar.

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The Disappeared…

On a routine flight from Africa to England, Dr Mason Palmer is tragically killed when the light aircraft he’s travelling on crashes and disappears in dense bushland.

The Widow…

Ten months later, Nicole Palmer is still trying to block out the grief of her husband’s sudden death. Until one morning she receives a photo of Mason through the post, along with a cryptic message. A message only he could’ve written.

The Secret…

But when Nicole tries to find out if Mason is really alive and what actually happened to him in Africa, everyone she turns to for answers ends up dead.

Determined to find the truth, Nicole uncovers a conspiracy that spans the globe, and discovers there are powerful people who are prepared to kill to keep her silent.

Who’s lying? Who’s watching Nicole? And can she expose their murky secrets before they catch up with her?

Reader Reviews

“A revealing mystery of international thieves, who will stop at nothing to make sure they control the market.
A husband declared dead ten months ago, a recent photo leads, Nicole into the plantations of South Africa, to find the truth, is her dead or alive, and what did he know that is worth killing for. You will not be able to put this boomtown until the final page. Not all international crime is drug related. “ – Kindle Customer

“If love of money is the root of all evil, then nowhere is this more evident than between the pages of this gripping, heart-pounding thriller. Sibel Hodge is up there as one of my favourite authors in the genre, and once again she pulls out all the stops.

Grieving Nicole believes that her beloved husband Mason was killed in a plane crash. Until … ten months later, she receives evidence that suggests all is not as it seems.

The author creates a wholly credible world with the fictional West African country of Narumbe where good people do good things, and very bad people will do absolutely anything to gain power and financial reward. Even at the expense of the most innocent of all.

Knowing how much of this book is based on real-life events in far from fictionalised countries sends a shudder of revulsion down the spine. And realising the true price of something we take for granted in our shopping baskets is a chilling lesson indeed. An absolute must-read.” – Audrey Davis – Reviewer

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About the Author:

Sibel Hodge is the author of the #1 Bestsellers Look Behind You, Untouchable, Duplicity, and Into the Darkness. Her books have sold over one million copies and are international bestsellers in the UK, USA, Australia, France, Canada and Germany. She writes in an eclectic mix of genres, and is a passionate human and animal rights advocate.

Her work has been nominated and shortlisted for numerous prizes, including the Harry Bowling Prize, the Yeovil Literary Prize, the Chapter One Promotions Novel Competition, The Romance Reviews’ prize for Best Novel with Romantic Elements and Indie Book Bargains’ Best Indie Book of 2012 in two categories. She was the winner of Best Children’s Book in the 2013 eFestival of Words; nominated for the 2015 BigAl’s Books and Pals Young Adult Readers’ Choice Award; winner of the Crime, Thrillers & Mystery Book from a Series Award in the SpaSpa Book Awards 2013; winner of the Readers’ Favorite Young Adult (Coming of Age) Honorable award in 2015; a New Adult finalist in the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America’s International Digital Awards 2015, 2017 International Thriller Writers Award finalist for Best E-book Original Novel, Honorable Mention Award Winner in the USA 2018 Reader’s Choice Awards, and winner of the No 1 Best Thriller in the Top Shelf Magazine Indie Book Awards 2018! Her novella Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave has been listed as one of the top forty books about human rights by Accredited Online Colleges.

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