Author:Robert Goddard
'One of the finest crime writers of any generation' Daily Mail
'He's the high priest of plot ... deftly woven, but also beautifully written ... I loved it' Mel Giedroyc
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Umiko Wada has recently had quite enough excitement in her life. With her husband recently murdered and a mother who seems to want her married again before his body is cold, she just wants to keep her head down.
As a secretary to a private detective, her life is pleasingly uncomplicated, filled with coffee runs, diary management and paperwork.
That is, until her boss takes on a new case. A case which turns out to be dangerous enough to get him killed. A case which means Wada will have to leave Japan for the first time and travel to London.
Following the only lead she has, Wada quickly realises that being a detective isn't as easy as the television makes out. And that there's a reason why secrets stay buried for a long time. Because people want them to stay secret. And they're prepared to do very bad things to keep them that way...
A pulse-pounding, breathless crime thriller, perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz's Hawthorne series, Robert Galbraith's Cormoran Strike series and LJ Ross's Alexander Gregory thrillers.
The new Umiko Wada novel from Robert Goddard, THE FINE ART OF UNCANNY PREDICTION, is available now.
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What readers are saying:
'5 stars'
'Guaranteed and satisfying escapism'
'Edge-of-the-seat stuff'
'The master of twists and suspense... sublime'
...the plot unwinds with a deceptively light touch that does not falter ... genuinely entertaining [with an] explosive finale
—— Evening StandardOne of the finest crime writers of any generation, Goddard here exercises all of his elegant, understated style and meticulous eye for detail...Goddard at his impeccable best: do not miss it.
—— Daily MailA fascinating and satisfyingly complex mystery with dark tones..Wada is a superb character... very enjoyable.
—— New BooksTop-class action packed storytelling
—— Choice MagazineA deftly plotted page turner from this much loved author'
—— Saga MagazineMixes gentle character comedy with an alarming body count and pounding suspense... Goddard manages to pull it off perfectly.
—— Daily Express'In the smartest of prose and with a stunningly fast-moving plot, Goddard brings us the heroine we've been waiting for. Umiko Wada is an unexpected joy: unassuming and tenacious, inventive and brave. If The Fine Art of Invisible Detection isn't the first in a series, then it jolly well should be!'
—— Lesley Kara, bestselling author of The Rumour'If it wasn't written by Robert Goddard, you'd say 'Alexander McCall Smith meets Robert Goddard' because few people are as brilliant at plots as he is - or the broad, sweeping, twists and turns that we never see coming - that final epilogue-ultra-twist was really clever...It's an incredibly courageous move on Robert's part and it's worked in spades. . Wada's a perfect new character: intelligent, wryly funny, unhampered by domestic concerns and completely unswerving once she's set her mind on something. I sincerely hope she turns up again - often.'
—— Manda Scott, author of A Treachery of Spies, Sunday Times Thriller of the Month and McIlvanney Prize winnerHere...McCarthy writes at the height of his powers, interweaving the new future with the recent past... The Making of Incarnation McCarthy adds to his reputation as one of our most knowledgeable and perceptive novelists.
—— BookmunchTotally intriguing story with a believable cast of original characters who I cared about from the first page to the last. I absolutely raced through it. And just when I thought it was over . . . another brilliant twist. Excellent writing. A highly recommendable read.
—— Emma Christie, author of THE SILENT DAUGHTERAddictive, tense and pacy, Safe at Home kept me constantly guessing.
—— B A Paris, bestselling author of BEHIND CLOSED DOORSTense, dark, horrifying and addictive - every parent's nightmare in book form. Unputdownable.
—— Catherine Cooper, bestselling author of THE CHALETGreat twists and an ending that gave me goosebumps.
—— Allie Reynolds, author of SHIVERLauren North is an author I can always trust to deliver a belter of a read. Safe At Home is enthrallingly dark and utterly addictive, delivering twist after twist at break-neck speed, whilst skilfully pulling at our heart strings. North is an unstoppable talent, and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.
—— Jack Jordan, author of DO NO HARMFast-paced and super-readable!
—— FabulousA chilling thriller, perfect for a long weekend.
—— OK
If you're in the mood for a dark family drama, this novel will be right up your street . . . Expect plenty of twists and turns.
This disturbing thriller is breathlessly brilliant.
—— BellaA chilling, masterful thriller.
—— Woman's OwnExcellent pacing, sprightly narrative voices, and judicious dabs of wry humor make this a highly entertaining tale. Kurian's refreshingly different slant on psychopathy marks her as a writer to watch
—— Publishers WeeklyImpossible to put down
—— Louise O'NeillA sharp debut, and ant-heroine Chloe is darkly entertaining throughout.
—— Irish IndependentKurian expertly threads revenge and cat-and-mouse story arcs with Chloe's frank, show-stealing narration...Kurian's highly anticipated thriller will undoubtedly lead fans of Gone Girl, Dexter and Patricia Highsmith's Tom Ripley novels to hope for Chloe's return.
—— Booklist, starred reviewElectrifying and entirely unpredictable.
—— Woman's OwnDelivered with panache and wit
—— New York Times Book ReviewThis book was like a refreshing can of something fizzy - the interactions between the program members are a joy, and the plot full of sharp turns and surprises. I quickly became quite fond of this disparate gang of plotting, scheming young monsters. Can't remember reading something I enjoyed so much in ages. Highly recommended.
—— Helen Callaghan, author of the Sunday Times bestseller Dear AmyReaders won't want to put down this fast and engaging debut novel, and they'll root for the characters who've been cast as villains
—— Library JournalA powerful puzzle of a murder mystery, as impossible to solve as it is to put down. What starts as a delicious thriller becomes a fascinating investigation of amorality, vengeance, and redemption. A powder keg of a debut.
—— Robin Wasserman, author of Girls on FireStick a bunch of devious psychopaths together and what could possibly go wrong? (...) a completely original, clever whodunit from a talented new arrival to the world of psychological suspense.
—— Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Mrs.Sharp, original and extremely entertaining. The portrayal of psychopathy is nuanced and sensitive - something you don't see enough of in thriller fiction.
Truly original. Vera's main characters are believable and likeable, despite their nature. A very intriguing read.
—— Joy Kluver, author of Broken GirlsShocking, moving, full of heart ... deeply layered and intricately plotted ... A Slow Fire Burning shows a writer at the height of her powers
—— The ObserverThis tense and irresistible read is best binged in one sitting
—— HeatIntricately interwoven plots and subplots, propulsive twists and a neat finale, a deliciously easy psycho drama to hungrily tear through.
—— Evening StandardA brilliant read
—— Bella magazineA psychological thriller that begins with a death on a canal boat and involves a cadre of shifty, damaged characters.
—— The i PaperA multi-layered mystery simmering with secrets, resentments and griefs.
—— WOMAN