Author:Michael Cordy
A murder spree is tearing apart the city and only one woman's mind can put a stop to it, but first she must remember what she has done. A different kind of thriller from bestselling author Michael Cordy, for fans of Dan Brown and Michael Crichton.
'Once you've picked it up, you won't put it down.' - ***** Reader Review
'The plot is strong, the characters are very much three dimensional, and the pace never lets up.' - ***** Reader Review
'Another top drawer thriller from Michael Cordy.' - ***** Reader Review
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MURDER IS NEVER BLACK OR WHITE...
In a residential neighbourhood of Portland, Oregon, an unknown young woman uncovers a shocking crime scene by inexplicably sensing the evil within its walls.
To the police, she herself is a mystery. She appears on no government records, has no past and can't even tell the police her own name.
Christened Jane Doe and suffering terrifying hallucinations, she is assigned to Nathan Fox, a forensic psychiatrist struggling with his own demons. Together they must piece together the jigsaw that is Jane's identity.
Then a sequence of brutal killings terrorizes the city and Fox learns that Jane is the only cryptic link between the unrelated victims.
To solve the murders, discover who Jane is and diagnose her condition, Fox must discard his black and white preconceptions, look beyond the spectrum of normal human experience and confront the dark truth of her past... and his own.
Smoke and Ashes is Abir Mukherjee's best book yet; a brilliantly conceived murder mystery set amidst political and social turmoil – beautifully crafted.
—— CJ Sansom[I]t is the flamboyant evocation of Calcutta that makes this such a mesmerising read
—— Barry Forshaw , GuardianWell-researched and vivid in detail… [Smoke and Ashes] delights from the first page until the last. Simply superb
—— Daily Express[W]onderfully rich and entertaining period crime series
—— John Williams , Mail on SundayMukherjee weaves crime and history together with great skill
—— Antonio Senior , The Times[A] fine series of crime novels… tightly plotted portraits of British rule in India, exposing the prejudices shared even by decent employees of the Raj
—— Joan Smith , Sunday Times[Mukherjee’s] skills have been delightfully honed with each novel in this gripping and thoroughly entertaining series
—— Nilanjana Roy , Financial TimesMukherjee, who only gets better and better with each book, has established himself as a leading historical mystery writer
—— Publishers WeeklySubtle and evocative tale of the last days of the British Raj
—— The SunAbir Mukherjee had already proved himself a wonderful historical crime writer with his excellent first two novels. Smoke and Ashes is just as good, perhaps even better – and that’s saying something – a writer at the top of his game, as talented as the very best in the genre. The cauldron of 1920s Calcutta is described so superbly that every twist and turn wrenches your guts. Laid on top of this fabulously atmospheric background is a page-turning thriller which pits emerging South Asian nationalism against the ailing Raj. I can’t wait for the next instalment.
—— David Young, author of Stasi ChildA thrilling mystery and a captivating journey
—— Jon Coates , Daily MirrorA satisfying read that grips attention from the outset
—— Jeremy Black , CriticTruly remarkable . . . Grips your heart from the first pages and simply never lets go
—— Jeffery DeaverBeautifully written, with just the right balance of teasing the reader with clues and hitting them with revelations
—— Best Crime Fiction of 2015 , TelegraphDon't be surprised if you devour it in one sitting
—— Crime Fiction LoversFull of intrigue and incident and keeps us guessing until the very last page
—— Liz NugentIt's that most powerful thing, a beautifully written mystery driven by its exploration of the characters' innermost hearts
—— Tana FrenchGenuinely surprising
—— GuardianUnputdownable, leading to a stunning conclusion you won't see coming
—— Michelle RichmondThis tense, unpredictable novel blends a thriller with an intimate family story to produce a most compelling read
—— John BoyneCleverly written. A tense domestic thriller that is full of surprises
—— Irish Mail on SundayOne of the most richly satisfying psychological thrillers of 2016, a book that hooks the reader from the first page
—— Irish IndependentIf Alexander McCall Smith's and Maeve Binchy's novels had a love
child, the result would be the work of Swedish writer Fredrik Backman /
.../ Backman's novels have wide appeal, and for good reason. Us Against
You takes a lyrical look at how a community heals, how families recoverand how individuals grow.
Deftly explores recovery and rebirth.
—— US Weekly, USBackman (A Man Called Ove) returns to the hockey-obsessed village of
his previous novel Beartown to chronicle the passion, violence,
resilience, and humanity of the people who live there in this engrossing
tale of small-town Swedish life /.../ Backman's excellent novel has an
atmosphere of both Scandinavian folktale and Greek tragedy. Darkness
and grit exist alongside tenderness and levity, creating a blunt realismthat brings the setting's small-town atmosphere to vivid life.
There is even more potential for book group discussion here as
Backman explores violence, political maneuvering, communities,
feminism, sexuality, criminality, the role of sports in society, and whatmakes us all tick.
Readers, take a break from the heat this summer to visit the icy streets
of Beartown. Immerse yourself in Us Against You, for once you open this
book, you won't be able to resist falling into the hockey town out in the
woods. Live among the residents for a few days. I guarantee that it will
be tough to say goodbye when you turn the last page. Fredrik Backman
has a rare talent for reaching inside his readers and coaxing out their
deepest emotions while weaving a riveting tale that stays with you for along time. Don't miss out on this phenomenal novel.
Through Backman's astute examination of humanity, Us Against You will elicit snickers and full-blown belly laughs. It will rip out hearts, then
replace them stronger than before. Most of all, it is sure to prompt
readers to examine their lives in order to be better people, if only inmicroscopic ways.
Dark and gritty, but peppered with moments of breath-catching hope.
—— Modern Mrs. Darcy, USThe sequel to Beartown is finally here, and it does not disappoint.
—— Hello Giggles, USThis is a tale of the pitfalls of group mentality as well as the loss of an
innocence we all take for granted - and it will grip you from start to finish.
Just as the cult TV hit Friday Night Lights wasn't just about high-school
football, this sequel to Beartown is about more than small-town hockey.
Us Against You is a story of hopes, dreams, loyalty, friendship, and - after
someone is left for dead - the lengths people will go to for the love of the game.
We have a rare book for you. [Us Against You] is not only about hockeyand sports. It's about everything that makes a man a man.
—— Pravo, Czech RepublicBackman uses an abundance of thrilling hints about upcoming events,
and it works. You simply have to continue reading. The story is
wonderful, deeply touching and very thought-provoking, and hats off
again to the author's ability to portray people and trends in society. The
novel plays on your entire register of emotions, and you live and breathe
alongside the many different characters, all of which are precisely and empathetically depicted.
A beautiful and brutal drama.
—— Kristeligt Dagblad, Denmark"Fredrik Backman is one of Sweden's best authors. He's mastered how
to depict a village and its citizens so that you both love and hate them.
/.../ Backman writes with emotion, and it goes straight to your heart. /.../
As always with Backman, there's still hope for humanity, because wherethere is violence and hatred, there is also forgiveness and love."
Us Against You is an excellent novel that's easy to read and skillfully
handles great themes. /.../ The world created by Backman lives andbreathes and the characters are both human and complex.
Backman keeps you hooked from the first to the last page. For allBeartown fans, Us Against You feels like coming home.
—— Hebban, NetherlandsFredrik Backman writes wonderfully about men, with a love and
understanding for the ones who would rather solve conflicts with theirfists. It's hard not to love it.
Backman knows how to construct a thrilling plot, and what he writes
engages. /.../ And when he hits his stride among the emotions, the
sentimental turns into an asset - like a hockey puck straight to the heart.
The perfect book for the beach.
—— Daily MailThe most authentic, gripping presidential thriller ever.
—— EssenceThe perfect book for the beach: a big, fast-paced, twisty engrossing thriller packed with spectacular detail of what it is really like to be President of the United States.
—— Daily Mail IrelandFast-paced is too inadequate a description for this dark, suspense-filled tale.
—— GuardianBoth a first-rate thriller and fascinating insight into the goings on within the White House.
—— Trucker magazineA page-turner from start to finish
—— The People's FriendInsightful and gripping
—— Good Living (ASDA)A top-notch thriller.
—— Sun