This latest outing for the offbeat Commissaire Adamsberg is [Vargas'] best

After decades in which crime fiction in French was dominated by the Belgian author Georges Simenon, it has an indisputable new star in Fred Vargas

Vargas depicts brilliantly a rural community riven with superstition, where class distinctions have existed for centuries

An early contender for outstanding crime novel of the year

A glorious mix of myth, quirky observation and gallic humour

Her novels about the kindly, quixotic Commissaire Adamsberg are unique, presenting us with a France that resembles Simenon’s in its concreteness but with a fantastical, even surreal, twist: werewolves, vampires and, in her latest novel, an army of ghosts on horseback… Her work is like a baked Camembert among the smorgasbord of chilly Scandinavian realism that dominates the foreign crime fiction market here, delicious comfort food for the sophisticated palate

There are, it seems, two types of people: those who have discovered the quirky bliss of Fred Vargas's novels and those who don't know a good thing when they see it on the shelf

A celebration of love and camaraderie among the unlikeliest allies

This assured debut is equal parts thriller, mystery and fascinating psychological study

Taut, smartly written, empathetic and at times unbearably tense . . . The Boy That Never Was hits the bullseye

A debut novel that will catch fire

A tense domestic thriller that is full of surprises

One of those unique books that grips you from the start . . . climaxing in an unexpected and explosive twist that we simply didn't see coming. This isn't a relaxed read, but it is dramatic and thrilling

The Boy That Never Was is that powerful thing, a beautifully written mystery driven by its exploration of the characters' innermost hearts - of the inexorable ripples that loss sends out, and the terrible damage people can do to those they love most. Both as a crime novel and as an emotional journey, it's gripping stuff

A brilliant introduction to a new crime series… The plot is tight, the anger righteous and the action thrilling

An absorbing debut detective series. The burnt body of a migrant worker is found and it's up to DI Zigic and DS Ferreira to find out the truth. We loved it – keep an eye out for this author!

Cool, confident and classy, Eva Dolan's LONG WAY HOME is a stand out debut that combines intelligent, issue-led crime fiction with a vivid prose style, a compelling plot and a detective duo to root for. Dolan provides a fresh and fascinating insight into a little-known aspect of Modern Britain, and I can't wait to read more of DI Zigic and DS Ferreira in future books

Long Way Home is a truly exceptional debut crime novel, a perceptive, smart and harrowing look at modern England. Written with great skill, confidence and originality, it feels like a game-changer for twenty-first century British crime fiction

Long Way Home gave me that tingle of excitement that only happens rarely, the feeling I got when I first read George Pelecanos and Dennis Lehane - the combination of brilliant writing, a thrilling plot and social heart. I genuinely think it's one of the best debuts I've ever read

Eva Dolan is the real deal. Plenty of contemporary British crime writers claim to write about the real world but in Dolan's brave, brilliant debut she nails it completely. The Daily Mail will hate it. I loved it.

A pacy, twisty, compelling and addictive crime thriller - but it's so much more besides. For me, the best experiences in literature are those that take you somewhere you don't know; to people and places you have never encountered. I was hoping for a rattling good page-turner. I wasn't expecting anything quite so profound

Eva Dolan’s stunning novel is a gritty and unflinching look into a seedy, violent world that most of us would rather pretend never existed. In DI Zigic and DS Fereira, Dolan has created two authentic and intriguing characters

Crisp and intelligent writing, strong characters, a great mystery and an engaging style. From the first page, I knew I was in safe hands

A novel set in Peterborough might not be the most tempting of premises, but this is worth your time detective duo Zigic and Ferreira, Dolan has created two engaging characters. The first of a series, this is a promising debut that pulls no punches

With such compelling characters, Dolan breathes new life into the police procedural novel and marks herself out as an exciting writer to watch

Dolan's a terrific new talent, and I can't wait to be kept awake by her next novel

A great read, a real page turner and a very satisfactory ending

An impressive series debut, and the next book will be eagerly awaited

Raw and real start to a new series

What could be standard police procedural stands out for its excellent character work and the timely way it deals with hot-button political topics dominating the headlines

The plot is tight, the anger righteous but not worthy, and the action thrilling. Happily she has a new novel out next year

Well paced and packed with some genuinely surprising twists and turns, not to mention a sneaky red herring or two…, the book will definitely keep your interest piqued to the end

Gripping…Excellent book.

An assured and compelling debut that brings multi-cultural Britain vividly to life. I feel I know Zigic and Ferreira, the protagonists of this terrific novel, and look forward to their next outing. I hope I don’t have to wait too long