Ask me to name the best living novelist who's fierce, brave, funny, scatalogical, beautiful, convoluted, and paranoid ... and it becomes simple: James Ellroy.

A psychological thriller, a flawed love story, a study of authenticity in emotions, a commentary on America's relations with itself and the world, humanity and ecollogy... undoubtedly magnificent

There's no other way to say it: Richard Powers is a genius

An exhilarating narrative feat... He is a formidable talent, and this is a lucid, fiercely entertaining novel

Richard Powers is the most intellectually stimulating novelist at work in the English language today...[He writes] luminous prose. Sentence after sentence has the razor-sharp quality of aphorism about the weird wired world we have made

Loved [Past Tense]! Nothing makes for a great weekend quite like quality time with Jack .

Busy, bloody and ingenious

One of the best...hits the mark perfectly.

The pace picks up...the action becomes brutal, and we're led to an extremely satisfying conclusion...I'm becoming increasingly understanding of our appetite for fiction that features proper punishment for baddies. It's deeply comforting to escape into an imaginary world where we're all safe in Jack Reacher's gammon-joint sized hands.

Child's writing seems unusually expressive in this novel...a reminder that Child is one writer who should never be taken for granted.

Child is an excellent writer...As ever, the prose is precision-tooled.

Lee Child shows no signs of slowing down. . . . Reacher is a man for whom the phrase moral compass was invented: His code determines his direction. . . . You need Jack Reacher.

The concision, procedural chops and terse, surprising action of Past Tense make it a fantastic read.

Child at the top of his game

With fast action, a smart plot and Reacher's laconic wit - as ever, it's pure pleasure

The only question is whether it's a superior instalment in the series - and the answer is yes.

Lee Child is a very good writer who happens to compose thrillers. He is a first-rate stylist...every landscape, street scene, room and person passing through the story is observed in clean, precise declarative sentences whose elegant simplicity belies the tremendous skill it took to craft them.

If you haven’t read any Jack Reacher, you have a treat in store. He excels at the art of the putdown, followed by a punch. But he is as sensitive as Sherlock Holmes to telling details in the way people present themselves, and to nuances of behaviour that lead him through mazes of lies to the truth...a hitchhiker without a phone, a one-man force for good.

a memorable experience, one that I think about long after I finish the last page.

Her character work is beautifully done, and she deftly handles multiple narrators, timelines and plot arcs. Gardner strikes what feels like a perfect tone with 10 books of background to contend with, keeping the present fresh while providing necessary history. Never Tell is an excellent addition to the D.D. Warren series and proof it's never too late to draw in new fans.

Gardner knows how to weave a deeply moving and psychological thriller that pulls no punches in its authenticity. She is one of the masters when it comes to crime fiction. Fans of her novels will consider this one of her best, and newcomers will be in awe of the compelling story and unpredictability of the proceedings.

Gardner’s writing is beautiful, and the plot weaves together masterfully with detail and precision... For anyone looking for a suspenseful, gripping read, Never Tell will not disappoint.

The tension ratchets up in the new domestic suspense thriller from the US crime queen

Never Tell is a pacey and action-packed thriller that will leave you feeling breathless

I loved it. The quality of her writing meant it was an absolute pleasure to read, as well as being genuinely terrifying. It made my hair stand on end! Genius

C. J. Tudor writes evil with aplomb - The Taking of Annie Thorne reveals how evil casts its resonance through places, people and our shared past. This book lingers with you long after the lights go out

What an absolute treat of a novel this was. Such an assured, distinct voice and an absolute belter of a plot

I rattled through The Taking of Annie Thorne by C. J. Tudor - it reads like a Stephen King novel, and I can't think of a higher compliment than that!

Deliciously creepy, and written with such skill and fluency it's hard to believe this is only her second book. Indeed I think it gives King a run for his money

C. J. Tudor is a writer of real creepiness. The Taking of Annie Thorne is no exception - a dark, chilling mystery that had me reading until the early hours

I read this novel with a sense of creeping dread. It was an achingly good, well-plotted, dark, disturbing piece of pure brilliance! C J Tudor is my new favourite author.

Loved this. Funny, frightening, goes out with a BANG. Believe the hype!

A brilliantly sharp and distinctive voice and super-creepy plot. Fab

Finished this creepy corker last night. Utterly compelling with a host of intriguing characters and brilliant writing. Fans of The Chalk Man will definitely not be disappointed

I loved The Chalk Man, but The Taking of Annie Thorne is even better, creepier and more addictive! I was so creeped out I had to stop reading until my husband came home one night! Brilliant stuff - well done, C. J. Tudor!

The Hot List

Following on from C J Tudor's successful debut, comes a novel about bullying, cruelty and deceit. . . Tudor keeps the novel moving at a fast pace

A Stephen King style thriller that will have you transfixed and submerged in the entanglement of the twisting plot. This book kept me intrigued all the way to the very end

Crime meets psychological suspense meets out-and-out horror. From the stomach-churning first chapter to the grand guignol ending that is as shocking as it is surprising, Tudor racks up the nastiness . . . Another hit.

Matches Stephen King for creepiness. A must-read for horror fans

Creepy beyond words. Just like Stephen King, the fact that Tudor's characters are so believable makes the events even creepier