Book picks similar to
Dead Smart: A prequel novella (Inspector John Marco Mysteries) by Stephen Puleston
mystery
contemporary
audio
stephen-puleston
Chicago Blood
Stewart Matthews - 2016
What was another murder in Chicago? A dead man clutching a pint of whiskey on the Ashland Avenue sidewalk wasn’t new. It shouldn’t have been enough to keep troubled Detective Shannon Rourke and her brother from making their escape to Sweden. Shannon’s plan to put half a world between herself and her checkered past in Chicago is already rolling when she arrives at the crime scene, ready to pass the case off to another detective.But she didn’t expect the victim to be her brother’s best friend. When her ex-mobster brother hears about it, he gives her an ultimatum: stay and solve the case or he will. Now, Shannon is determined to leash her inner demons and finish the job, but if she fails, her brother will be the one to pay the price.
An Accidental Death
Peter Grainger - 2013
As a matter of routine, or so it seems, the case passes across the desk of Detective Sergeant Smith, recently returned to work after an internal investigation into another case that has led to tensions between officers at Kings Lake police headquarters. As an ex DCI, Smith could have retired by now, and it is clear that some of his superiors wish that he would do so. The latest trainee detective to work with him is the son of a member of his former team, and together they begin to unravel the truth about what happened to Wayne Fletcher. As the investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that others are involved - some seem determined to prevent it, some seem to be taking too much interest. In the end Smith operates alone, having stepped too far outside standard procedures to ask for support. He knows that his own life might be at risk but he has not calculated on the life of his young assistant also being put in danger. He might still get his man but at what cost?
The Murderer's Son
Joy Ellis - 2014
Twenty years ago: a farmer and his wife are cut to pieces by a ruthless serial killer. Now: a woman is viciously stabbed to death in the upmarket kitchen of her beautiful house on the edge of the marshes. Then a man called Daniel Kinder walks into Saltern police station and confesses to the murder. But DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans of the Fenland Constabulary soon discover that there is a lot more to Daniel than meets the eye. He has no memory of the first five years of his life and is obsessed with who his real mother is. With no evidence to hold him, Jackman and Evans are forced to let him go, and in a matter of days the lonely Lincolnshire Fens become the stage for more killings and Daniel has disappeared. In a breathtaking finale, the truth about Daniel’s mother comes to light and DI Jackman and DS Evans race against time to stop more lives being destroyed. The detectives: DS Marie Evans lost her husband in a motorbike accident and has personal connections to the case. DI Rowan Jackman leads the investigation. He is extremely smart and has a knack for bringing out the best in his diverse team, which includes the mysterious computer specialist Orac. Full of twists and turns, this is a crime thriller that will keep you turning the pages until the shocking ending. THIS BOOK IS NOT PART OF THE NIKKI GALENA SERIES BUT TAKES PLACE IN THE SAME STUNNING AREA Perfect for fans of Rachel Abbott, Robert Bryndza, Mel Sherratt, Angela Marsons, Colin Dexter, or Ruth Rendell.
The Dolocher
European P. Douglas - 2014
It struck fear into the people of the city. They never knew what he looked like for sure, rumours were abound of a giant black creature that could walk on hind legs and moved silently in the darkness It was said that the beast carried the soul of Thomas Olocher the crazed murderer who had taken his own life in the towers of ‘The Black Dog’ prison and it carried on his murderous legacy looking for the girl who had put him in prison.
Building Empires
Sherryl D. Hancock - 2017
After the devastating loss of her little brother, the gang leader decides to turn her life around and starts playing for the other team. As the head of a new anti-gang task force, FORS, she dedicates her life to bringing down those who tore her life apart. Along with former gang leader and best friend, Joe Sinclair, FORS works to break some of the toughest gangs around. But the road is a dangerous one and there are enemies at every turn. Building Empires is a tough business when you’re not the only one building them…
Dead Inside
Noelle Holten - 2019
Then a fourth domestic abuser is brutally murdered. And he is Lucy’s husband.Now the finger of suspicion points at Lucy and the police are running out of time. Can Maggie and her team solve the murders before another person dies? And is Lucy really a cold-blooded killer?
Lion on Fire: A casino-heist thriller
Ted Galdi - 2017
Nothing goes as planned, and soon Brian is forced to team up with a charismatic co-worker to rob the mobsters who run the casino.
Lion on Fire is the third book by Ted Galdi, the Amazon #1 bestselling author of Elixir and An American Cage. He’s been featured by Kirkus magazine, ABC, FOX, iHeartRadio, and many other media outlets.
Main character Brian is shocked to learn that his younger brother not only has been dealing cocaine, but foolishly lost a whole package of it, and now owes his boss $30,000. If Brian’s brother doesn’t come up with the money in a few weeks, he’s dead.
Brian decides to help. However, he realizes scrapping together that sort of cash in such a short timeframe is nearly impossible legally. So he approaches Dusty, another driver at the limousine company where he works, and asks him about the whispers of lucrative, yet illegal, side jobs he’s heard among the staff.
After proving himself trustworthy with an initiation test, Brian is invited to participate in an underground driving network that shuttles wealthy individuals to extravagant, though illicit, gambling events set up in multi-million-dollar Manhattan penthouses.
At first things go smoothly, and Brian pockets a lot of much-needed extra income. However, they turn jarring once he finds out a high-profile Russian gangster is behind the gambling events, and becomes mixed up with him not only professionally, but personally.
With tensions rising, and the fate of Brian’s relationships with his parents and girlfriend now entangled with the underground casino, not to mention the life of his brother, he winds up in a position where pulling off a mafia robbery may be his only chance to get himself and his loved ones out of this mess alive and intact.
Lion on Fire is a fun, fast-paced, action-packed gambling thriller, and also an emotionally charged buddy story, which pairs do-gooder Brian with the charmingly wild and alluringly mysterious Dusty, who not only guides Brian through the dangerous world of the mafia casino, but ushers him toward a new and profound view of the world as a whole.
The book is perfect for fans of crime fiction that’s edgy while having a soul. A Russian mafia thriller featuring a revenge plan and heist, it’s loaded with adrenaline. However, it is just as touching as it is exciting. At the core of a plot about organized crime and pursuing police officers is the budding friendship of two young men who initially seem very different.
Set in New York City, Lion on Fire takes readers on a ride through a colorful cross section of neighborhoods and the lives that populate them. It’s written in the tradition of the Manhattan thriller, showcasing both the glamour and the grit of the city.
With this unique story, you’ll find yourself quickly turning pages as your pulse rises, while cheering for characters who make their way into your heart.
In Safe Hands
J.P. Carter - 2019
The community in the surrounding area in shock. How could this happen right under their noses? No one in the quiet suburban street saw anything – or at least that's what they're saying.But DCI Anna Tate knows that nothing is impossible, and she also knows that time is quickly running out. It’s unclear if the kidnappers are desperate for money or set on revenge, but the ransom is going up by £1million daily. And they know that one little boy in particular is fighting for his life.It’s one of the most disturbing cases DCI Anna Tate has ever worked on – not only because nine children are being held hostage, but because she’s pretty sure that someone close to them is lying…
Too Close to Home
Tressa Messenger - 2012
To make matters worse another body of slacker boy, Ronald Marks, is found hanging from the field goal post only a day later. Pamlico County native Detective Carma Jones and her partner Harold Green set out on a search for this ruthless assailant who is causing so much havoc in her peaceful home town. No one is safe and everyone is a suspect. The twists and turns along the way lead them in a direction Carma would never have guessed with deep secrets meant to stay buried. Will she be too late to stop the real murder from killing again?
The Lock
Andrew Barrett - 2019
This is the story of how I saw a dead man die.
I was finishing up at a sudden death in an old house, waiting for the body snatchers to arrive, when I heard a noise from the cellar.I had time to kill, so I went to investigate.Turns out I wasn't the only one with killing on his mind.If you like fast-paced crime thrillers with a forensic slant, raw emotions, and characters that reach out of the book and grab you by the throat, you’ll love Andrew Barrett’s CSI Eddie Collins series.To find out what's in that cellar, buy The Lock today.
Andrew Barrett is the best-selling author of the Eddie Collins Series. It will appeal to fans of authors like Ian Rankin, Robert Bryndza and Kathy Reichs.
What people are saying about The Lock.
Andy Barrett, you know how to snatch the breath from a reader’s chest.This book is dark and ugly but has just enough humour dotted around to make you giggle when you know you really shouldn't.The writing, as strong as always, is crisp, immediate and loaded with sarcasm.This novella sucks you right in from the first page.Barrett is the master of tension with laugh out loud moments interspersed throughout.I had to remind myself to breathe. The Lock is graphic, imaginative, and brilliantly written. Truly breath-taking.I love how the tension escalates.Try to stop reading....you can’t!Andrew Barrett is a master of his game!“The Lock” by Andrew Barrett is a macabre little thriller of a novella.With the class of Alfred Hitchcock, a seriously disturbing black and white story that will keep you awake after you hit the sack.This is my favourite Eddie Collins CSI novella yet!I love the way Andrew Barrett adds the wit and humour into the story.Brilliant story, great humour and very scary! Loved It!Had me scared out of my wits one minute laughing myself silly the next!Oh how I love Andy's writing!This book is dark and twisted; it will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.Although this book is a novella it packs a mighty punch and will keep you hooked.
Hanging Hill
Mo Hayder - 2010
Married to a successful business man, she’s always been a bit of a dreamer. Until now.Her sister Zoe is her polar opposite. A detective inspector working out of Bath Central, she loves her job, and oozes self-confidence. No one would guess that she hides a crippling secret that dates back twenty years, and which – if exposed – may destroy her.Then Sally’s daughter gets into difficulties, and Sally finds she needs cash – lots of it – fast. With no one to help her, she is forced into a criminal world of extreme pornography and illegal drugs; a world in which teenage girls can go missing.Two sisters intent on survival. Until one does something so terrifying that there’s no way back …
The Woman Next Door
Cass Green - 2016
Two dark secrets. The almost perfect murder.Everybody needs good neighbours…Melissa and Hester have lived next door to each other for years. When Melissa’s daughter was younger, Hester was almost like a grandmother to her. But recently they haven’t been so close.Hester has plans to change all that. It’s obvious to her that despite Melissa’s outwardly glamorous and successful life, she needs Hester’s help. But taking help from Hester might not be such a good idea for a woman with as many secrets as Melissa…
Cold Comfort
Scott Mackay - 1998
The bizarre nature of the crime itself -- apparently the woman was shot after she froze to death -- and the divergent clues do not bode well for a quick and tidy solution. Who trashed the victim's apartment and what was this person looking for? Why did the intruder kill her parrot? Odder still, Cheryl was never seen leaving her building on the lobby security videotape -- so how did she end up on the dock? Add a large sum of stolen money and a dead sister into the equation and Gilbert is tackling a crime filled with dark secrets, dangerous relations and a killer convinced he can get away with murder.
Silent Scream
Angela Marsons - 2015
They had all taken turns to dig. An adult sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood …Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country.But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades.As the body count rises, Kim needs to stop the murderer before they strike again. But to catch the killer, can Kim confront the demons of her own past before it’s too late?
Fans of Rachel Abbott, Val McDermid and Mark Billingham will be gripped by this exceptional new voice in British crime fiction.
Punishment
Scott J. Holliday - 2018
Thanks to a technologically advanced machine, detectives have access to the memories of the living, the dying, and the recently dead. But extracting victims’ experiences firsthand and personally reliving everything up to the final, brutal moments of their lives—the sights, the sounds, the scents, the pain—is also the punishment reserved for the criminals themselves.Barnes has had enough. Enough of the memories that aren’t his. Enough of the horror. Enough of the voices inside his head that were never meant to take root…until a masked serial killer known as Calavera strikes a little too close to home.Now, with Calavera on the loose, Barnes is ready to reconnect, risking his life—and his sanity. Because in the mind of this serial killer, there is one secret even Barnes has yet to see…