Author:Walter Lucius
'Ambitious, intricate, riveting' The Times
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Farah Hafez raised her head and stared into the camcorder's reflective black hole.
'Now say what I want you to say. And do it convincingly. You can save this girl's life.'
That's when the words came. Unexpected and forceful. Like vomit.
'I, Farah Hafez, support the jihad against President Potanin's criminal regime.'
He smiled coldly and pulled the trigger anyway.
After investigating what appeared to be a simple hit-and-run, journalist Farah Hafez became caught up in a web of crime and corruption that led to her kidnap. Detained in Russia, she was forced to pledge her allegiance to a terrorist group on camera.
Now sought by international security and members of the criminal class alike, Farah flees to Jakarta to continue her investigation while her friends and allies attempt to clear her name from across the globe.
If Farah is ever going to regain her freedom, she needs to discover the root of the evil that bought her here. The problem is that discovering this might cost her her life.
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'Disturbing, apocalyptic, gripping' Dutch Daily De Limburger
'Riveting until the very end' AD Weekend [Dutch Newspaper]
'The Dutch answer to the tsunami of Scandinavian thrillers' BB Boekblad
Ambitious, intricate, riveting
—— The TimesIt's been compared to Stieg Larsson's Millennium series ... Butterfly on the Storm is a compelling, engrossing read ... Walter Lucius is one to watch
—— NudgeDisturbing, apocalyptic, gripping
—— Dutch Daily De LimburgerRiveting until the very end
—— AD Weekend [Dutch Newspaper]The Dutch answer to the tsunami of Scandinavian thrillers
—— BB BoekbladA thriller that’ll have you checking your PC’s security . . . with plenty of detail on the world of cyber-security and fine pacing and characterisation, Forsyth delivers another lesson in how it should be done
—— The Sport[I]ngenious, expertly written and a serious look at international conflicts that threaten the future of the world…Forsyth is supremely well-informed about world affairs, politics, diplomacy, weaponry and the mysteries of spycraft. In “The Fox,” as in all his novels, he lays them out in brilliant detail
—— Washington Post‘Outstanding … Frederick Forsyth does it again. For a story like this to work, the details have to be on point, and it’s clear that the author has done his homework as he breaks down how hackers work, often detailing their various methods and the different virtual traps they can set … just the kind of stunning, relevant, full-throttle story that thriller fans have been waiting for, and nobody delivers quite like Frederick Forsyth, one of the very best writers the genre has ever known’
—— Literary HubA bewitching novel about love, lies, and the ghosts that never quite leave us alone, The Winters is a masterful retelling of an old favorite
—— Bustle.comThe most spellbinding book I've read this year!
—— Ingrid Alexander, author of The New GirlThe plot is superb. Even if you've read Rebecca . . . you're still going to be glued to the pages . . . a cracking good read
—— The BookbagA compelling twisty, feminist tale
—— Patricia Nicol , Sunday TimesThis evocative thriller really draws you in
—— Marie Warren , HeatIt’s as beautifully written as it is (re)plotted and the updating of characters is superb
—— Wendy Holden , Daily MailA gripping, elegantly written crime story about age and decline… with its blend of mystery and humanity it’s exactly the sort of novel [Raymond Chandler] would have been pleased to inspire
—— Tom Williams , SpectatorObviously a lover of Chandler’s work, Osborne has written a novel of excellence, with a good, slightly chaotic plot (as, often, were Chandler’s) and some wonderful atmosphere
—— Marcel Berlins , The TimesThe most enjoyable book I’ve read in a long time… I enjoyed it more than the original… it’s Lawrence Osborne being just brilliant
—— Katie Law , Monocle Culture ShowI’m lost in admiration for what Lawrence Osborne has done here… he’s created a brilliant standalone novel… it’s a wonderful book
—— John Mitchinson , Monocle Culture ShowA new Philip Marlowe story based on Raymond Chandler's creation. Marlowe is the man I want to be, both the book character and as played by Humphrey Bogart on film. Here is Marlowe at 72... which just happens to be my age
—— Terry Deary , Daily MailA valedictory investigation, complete with sinister bad guys and a memorable femme fatale
—— John Williams , Mail on SundayOsborne has mastered Chandler’s gift for metaphor…and deepens Marlowe’s psyche as he responds to “a sad summons from the depths of his own wasted past”
—— Publishers WeeklyOsborne’s continuation of Raymond Chandler feels like the real thing
—— i[Only to Sleep] is compelling and Osborne often captures Marlowe’s voice
—— Paul Connolly , MetroOsborne gets Chandler and his version of the enduring detective, Philip Marlowe, is the best I've read... This mystery is well plotted and plays out with a twist to satisfy the readers who figure things out for themselves but still like to be surprised… if Osborne were to write another Marlowe thriller… I will be there to read it
—— NudgeBreathtaking. Read it in two sittings. Yet another instant Ragnar Jonasson classic
—— Thomas Enger, bestselling author of the Henning Juul seriesThe Darkness is a bullet train of a novel, at once blazingly contemporary and Agatha-Christie old-fashioned. With prose as pure and crisp as Reykjavik snowcrust, Ragnar Jónasson navigates the treacherous narrative with a veteran's hand. I reached the end with adrenalized anticipation, the final twist hitting me in the face. I dare you not to be shocked.
—— Gregg HurwitzThe Darkness is Ragnar Jonasson at the top of his game - deft plotting, a great central character and a story as chilling as the Icelandic winter. I couldn't put it down
—— William Ryan, author of The Holy ThiefIt had an intense, visceral sense of place and the connection between the emotional lives of the character and the landscape was evoked beautifully
—— Helen Callaghan, bestselling author of Dear AmyIt will get your pulse racing, and keep you hooked to the last page
—— Simon Kernick of The Bone Field seriesMagnificently dark and twisted and that ending - blimey!
—— C. J. Tudor, bestselling author of The Chalk ManPraise for Ragnar Jónasson
—— -Jónasson is an automatic must-read for me . . . possibly the best Scandi writer working today
—— Lee ChildAs chilling as the nip in the Icelandic air
—— Choice MagazineSuperb. . . chilling . . . This is the first volume in Jonasson's Hidden Iceland trilogy, which tells Hulda's story in reverse chronological order and establishes her as one of the great tragic heroines of contemporary detective fiction
—— Sunday Times Crime Book of the MonthExpertly plotted, with an ending that's a true shocker, The Darkness is the first book in a trilogy featuring this engaging investigator, which is good news
—— The GuardianMagnificently dark and twisted! That ending - blimey!
—— C. J. Tudor, bestselling author of The Chalk ManA sympathetic yet entirely unsentimental portrait of a flawed but decent detective seeking justice for a murdered Russian asylum seeker
—— Sunday Times Crime ClubIt will get your pulse racing and keep you hooked to the last page
Crime fiction has never seen a character quite like Hulda Hermannsdóittir; nor a series launch so entirely willing to take risks and obliterate long-standing tropes . . . There is no doubt that The Darkness will rank as one of the most popular and powerful reading experiences of the year.
—— BOLO Books ReviewThe Darkness is a bullet train of a novel, at once blazingly contemporary and Agatha-Christie old-fashioned. With prose as pure and crisp as Reykjavik snowcrust, Ragnar Jónasson navigates the treacherous narrative with a veteran's hand. I reached the end with adrenalized anticipation, the final twist hitting me in the face. I dare you not to be shocked
—— Gregg Hurwitz , Sunday Times bestselling author of Orphan XThe Darkness is Ragnar Jónasson at the top of his game - deft plotting, a great central character and a story as chilling as the Icelandic winter. I couldn't put it down
—— William Ryan , author of The Holy ThiefAnother masterpiece from the King of Icelandic Noir
—— Thomas Enger , bestselling author of the Henning Juul seriesUnbearably sinister
—— Helen Callaghan, bestselling author of Dear AmyThe Darkness is a true masterpiece of a crime novel, introducing an original protagonist, a plot full of twists and turns and an ending that leaves you gasping for air
—— Yrsa Sigurðardóttir , author of the bestselling Thora Gudmundsdottir crime seriesPraise for Ragnar Jónasson
—— -No country associated with the label Nordic noir is as bleak, cold, snowy and empty as Iceland. And no crime writer portrays those elements as evocatively and scarily as Ragnar Jonasson
—— The TimesA classic crime story seen through a uniquely Icelandic lens... first rate and highly recommended
—— Lee Child, on , SnowblindA modern take on Agatha Christie--style mystery, as twisty as any slalom . . .
—— Ian Rankin, on , SnowblindRagnar Jónasson writes with a chilling, poetic beauty - a must-read addition to the growing canon of Iceland Noir
—— Peter JamesDistinctive blend of Nordic noir and golden age detective fiction...atmospheric...economical and evocative prose
—— The Guardian on NightblindSeductive ... an old-fashioned murder mystery with a strong central character and the fascinating background of a small Icelandic town cut off by snow. Ragnar does claustrophobia beautifully
—— Ann CleevesThe ending hits the reader like a kick in the stomach
—— FRÉTTATIMINN ****Jonasson's books have breathed new life into Nordic noir ...all the skilful plotting of an old-fashioned whodunit although it feels bitingly contemporary in setting and tone
—— Sunday ExpressHulda Hermannsdottir is a welcome addition to the selection of Icelandic crime fiction protagonists . . . It is almost impossible to put the book down until the last word has been read
—— Fréttablaðið ****Out of all of Ragnar's books, this is the one I like the most . . . The book of his which reminds me most of Agatha Christie
—— Kiljan, on The IslandThe threads lie in various places, the plot is well woven and the pieces in the puzzle come together well in the end. The structure is good, the main characters are believable, the story flows well, everyone is a suspect á la Agatha Christie and the solution unveils the mystery and leads the readers to the truth. But not all the truth, as some things are better left hidden
—— Morgunbladid (Icelandic newspaper)A very good book, gripping and interesting, with all the threads carefully managed. Hopefully the author will publish as many books as possible with lead character Hulda
—— Vikan Magazine, on The Island