Author:Fred Vargas,Siân Reynolds
SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA INTERNATIONAL DAGGER 2018
When two Parisian women are murdered in their homes, the police suspect young accordionist Clément Vauquer. As he was seen outside both of the apartments in question, it seems like an open-and-shut case.
Desperate for a chance to prove his innocence, Clément disappears. He seeks refuge with old Marthe, the only mother figure he has ever known, who calls in ex-special investigator Louis Kehlweiler.
Louis is soon faced with his most complex case yet and he calls on some unconventional friends to help him. He must show that Clément is not responsible and solve a fiendish riddle to find the killer...
It’s all rather delightfully bonkers, a playful and subversively unorthodox take on the private eye novel by a master of her craft
—— Declan Burke , Irish TimesA real wonder of a book, in all senses of the word
—— Waterford TodayThe book is as beguiling as previous entries in the Three Evangelists series, with the pleasure here coming from the comic interplay between the unconventional sleuths
—— Barry Forshaw , GuardianVargas is the poet of modern French crime writing, her work has a slightly ethereal feel… this is solid gold Euro-noir crime fiction. A high calibre literary thriller that entertains with aplomb… The Accordionist is cleverly plotted, the intensity builds and what starts out as intriguing becomes more involving as the reader is gripped by the fundamental question, ‘who did it?’ More than other crime novels, you have to surrender to Vargas’s vision of the world, one that you will not instantly recognise but may come to love… The Accordionist satisfies the most ardent noir strictures; slightly subversive, strong plotting, droll humour, inventive twists and elegant prose. This is a real treat for lovers of intelligent crime fiction
—— Paul Burke , NudgeShockingly original, disturbingly eccentric and massively involving, Vargas books are a step beyond ordinary crime fiction and take you on a startling journey… Their quirky interplay and unconventional way of thinking…makes for a droll, entertaining read. Translator Sián Reynolds has a knack of rendering their cadences and ticks into readable English
—— ConnexionBrilliant…Vargas is a lovely storyteller
—— Evening Standard[Vargas] has won the CWA international dagger four times, confirming her place in the top rank of contemporary crime writers... [A Climate of Fear] is easily the best thing she has ever done... The idea of history repeating itself is at the heart of this stunning novel, which confirms Vargas’ fine understanding of the unchanging nature of human passions.
—— Sunday TimesOne of the most entertainingly eccentric of all current European crime writers... Highly impressive.
—— IndependentVargas writes with strength, erudition and unique imagination... In the crowded world of crime fiction, she's a valuable one-off.
—— The TimesIt is rare for me to put down a novel and then immediately consider rereading it to see what cleverness I might have missed. This time, though, I am tempted.
—— Lucy Atkins, Sunday TimesAtmospheric. Rich, clever and very readable.
—— Amanda Craig, TelegraphA delicate and disturbing read, alive with love, lust, envy and guilt
—— S MagazineA sinister story that considers the terrifying lengths people will go to escape their pasts. In the vein of Shirley Jackson's bone-chilling The Haunting of Hill House, Fuller's disturbing novel will entrap readers in its twisty narrative, leaving them to reckon with what is real and what is unreal. An intoxicating, unsettling masterpiece.
—— KirkusBitter Orange reads like an assured, old-school, du Maurieresque classic. It's an atmospheric page-turner that speeds us towards a bloody climax of shocks and surprises
—— Irish TimesSinister and suspenseful, this gothic novel simmers with guilt, lust and envy
—— Mail on SundayBewitching, otherworldly . . . full of dark foreboding. Claire Fuller is a dazzling storyteller.
—— ScotsmanA compulsive page-turner. Fuller creates an atmosphere of simmering menace with all the assurance of a latter-day Daphne du Maurier
—— The TimesA rich, dark pressure cooker of a novel that simmers with slow heat and suppressed tension
—— Ruth WareDark, beautifully written. It reminds me very much of Ian McEwan's Atonement, with similar slow-build tension and claustrophobic atmosphere
—— The PoolAn exquisite and skilfully written novel, which worms its way under your skin while Frances's loneliness seeps off every page
—— RedFuller is a master at summoning the atmosphere of a heady, hot summer that thrums with tension
—— StylistMulti-layered, lush, twisty and brilliantly clever
—— The Sunday MirrorA smart creation from a skilled writer: a heady psychological novel that builds its layers carefully to allow gradual revelations and stomach-churning surprises
—— Financial TimesFull of complex characters and narrative richness
—— The Sunday Times CultureLoneliness, guilt and atonement are at the heart of the atmospheric Bitter Orange
—— Good HousekeepingNaturally engaging and elegantly written. Fuller is an amply gifted storyteller
—— SpectatorWith shades of Brideshead and Manderley, Claire Fuller's atmospheric third novel plays a satisfyingly unpredictable game with reader expectations. Prepare to be meticulously unsettled and horribly enthralled
—— Country LifeFull of dark foreboding. Claire Fuller is a dazzling storyteller
—— Belfast TelegraphCannily releasing clues on the way to an explosive finale . . . The lush setting and remarkable characters make for an immersive mystery
—— Publishers WeeklyElegant, atmospheric, vivid
—— The Big IssueBeautifully written, with echoes of Barbara Vine and Daphne du Maurier
—— Andrew Taylor, Spectator Books of the Year 2018Sumptuous and sinister with gothic hints, this is a compelling tale of blurred friendships
—— PrimaOne of the best suspense thrillers i've read. A very easy 5 big fat stars and 100% recommended
—— Compulsivereaders.comIs The Chalk Man one of THE books of 2018? YES, YES YES IT REALLY IS . . . an absolute corker, a spine tingling read
—— PageturnersnookA fantastic debut novel to keep you up late at night
—— BookLiteratiA nail biting thriller
—— Inside SoapIt's a corker that'll give you the willies. Chalk one up to C J Tudor.
—— Sunday SportGenuinely creepy books don't come along very often, but this one can hold its missing head up high
—— HeatThere are shades of Stephen King in this very creepy timeslip, as well as an evocative portrait of small-town life in 1980s Britain
—— Guardian, Books of the YearMy favourite crime book of 2018 would have to be The Chalk Man. It initially brought to mind twisted tales of suburban Americana such as Stand by Me and Carrie. However, by weaving in authentic and evocative period detail C. J. Tudor manages to create a story that tells of the darkness at the heart of small-town life that is, like the rotten pastoral in a M. R. James ghost story, uniquely English. Unsettling, taut and skillfully plotted, The Chalk Man grabbed me by the throat from the very first sentence and didn't let go until the final, heart-stopping page
—— Nuala Ellwood, author of The Day of the Accident[I] haven't had a sleepless night due to a book for a long time. The Chalk Man changed that. Many congrats C. J. Tudor
—— Fiona Barton , bestselling author of The WidowWhat a great book. A twisty thriller and downright creepy ending. 5 stars.
—— Sarah Pinborough, the number 1 bestselling author of , Behind Her EyesTense, skillful storytelling
—— Ali Land, bestselling author of , Good Me Bad MeAbsolutely brilliant. I was expecting a creepy horror story that I'd have to read with all the lights on but this book is so much more than that - it's witty, insightful, clever, thoughtful, mysterious, gripping, nostalgic and utterly compelling. Publishers often talk about "an exciting new voice in fiction" and I genuinely think C. J. Tudor is going to be huge. This book has bestseller written all over it and if it doesn't go to number one I will eat my crime writing hat
—— C. L. Taylor , author of The MissingWhat an amazing debut! Such an ingenious, original idea. I was engrossed from the very first page. I loved how the 1986 and present day storylines weaved so skilfully together to create that unforgettable and unexpected ending. Compelling, taut and so very, very chilling. This book will haunt you!
—— Claire Douglas , Sunday Times bestselling author of Last Seen AliveIt's been a while since I've read such an impressive debut. The pace was perfectly judged, the characters superbly drawn and there's a creeping sense of unease that starts with the prologue and grows throughout the book. And then that ending! It feels so fresh and deserves to be a huge success
—— James Oswald , Sunday Times bestselling author of the Inspector McLean seriesUtterly Hypnotic. The Chalk Man is a dream novel, a book of nightmares: haunted and haunting, shot through with shadow and light - a story to quicken the pulse and freeze the blood. A dark star is born
—— Mr A. J. FinnImpossible to put down, cleverly constructed and executed
—— Ragnar Jonasson , author of the bestselling Dark Iceland seriesKept me up until five in the morning. Wonderfully written. I loved it!
—— Kimberley Chambers , bestselling author of BackstabberI absolutely loved The Chalk Man . . . It's a dark, mesmerising thriller with an ending that left me with goosebumps!
—— Nuala Elwood , author of My Sister’s BonesOne of the best books I've read since I first read Stephen King's IT when I was 14. Go get it!
—— Rachel Burton , author of The Many Colours of UsI've just finished The Chalk Man by C. J. Tudor. WOW! I could not put it down. If you like Stephen King, you'll LOVE this!
—— Hayley Barker , author of ShowstopperAt the heart of this accomplished debut lies a shocking crime stumbled upon by a group of teenage friends. It is a discovery that shatters their innocence and haunts the whole community. Now, twenty years later, someone is sending anonymous letters - chalk drawings of a stick figure with a noose around its neck - someone who hasn't forgotten what happened in the woods all those years ago. The past is very much alive in this book where memory is unreliable and old secrets fester, threatening to turn as odorous as a rotting corpse. Tudor's sharp eye for detail and ear for dialogue lend the childhood scenes an immediacy and authenticity that completely convince. With its driving plot and sensitive evocation of friendship and loneliness, The Chalk Man is an utterly gripping read, with an ending that will make the hairs on the back of your neck bristle
—— Karen Perry , bestselling author of Can You Keep a Secret?Just finished The Chalk Man. Dark and addictive. This page-turner is more twisty than a rollercoaster. And one hell of a ride.
—— Will Dean , Dark PinesThe Chalk Man is a stunning debut, a riveting thriller about the powerful grip of the past and the unbreakable bonds of childhood friendship. The ending of this smasher will completely throw you for a loop
—— David Bell, bestselling author , Bring Her HomeThe Chalk Man is an intricate and surprising book that will reward the reader who approaches it with the attention it deserves
—— Thomas Perry, New York Times bestselling author of , The Old ManAbsolutely loved it! Creepy, brilliant and tense, I could not put it down!
—— Karen Hamilton , The Perfect GirlfriendBlasted through this beauty in one intense and thrilling sitting
—— S R Masters , The Killer You KnowThe Chalk Man stole my weekend! Wow. Just wow. The tension just builds and builds. And what a final page . . .
—— Simon Lelic , The HouseFinished reading The Chalk Man by C.J Tudor last night. What a book! Enjoyed every minute of it. A total banger!
—— Amy Lloyd , author of The Innocent WifeC.J. Tudor brilliantly weaves past and present into a haunting, vividly imagined tale. Much more than a murder mystery, it is a sharp, terrifying exploration of the bonds and limitations of childhood friendships and of secrets that refuse to remain buried. I fell in love with the guiding voice of this novel, the thoughtful and solitary Eddie. Prepare to be surprised again and again, even until the final page
—— Michelle Richmond, author of , The Marriage PactThe Chalk Man is an unpredictable and engaging thriller: sinister, tragic, and with a beautifully rendered sense of time and place. That final page still haunts me
—— Helen Callaghan, bestselling author of , Dear AmyThe grip the past has on the present reveals itself in ever more sinister and macabre ways in this utterly original and relentlessly compelling psychological thriller. The Chalk Man kept me guessing all the way to the end
—— Fiona Neil , bestselling author of The BetrayalsAs well as being unputdownable, it was emotionally intelligent, touching and credible
—— Emma Curtis , author of One Little MistakeEasy, gripping and enjoyable
—— Cecelia Ahern , bestselling author of P.S. I Love You