A really entertaining thriller . . . like Michael Crichton (who might have written something very like this), Patterson and Barker keep ratcheting up the suspense and the sense of impending doom, until, by the end, we wish we could read faster just so we can find out what happens next.

Patterson knows where our deepest fears are buried... there's no stopping his imagination.

No one gets this big without natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades.

Patterson boils a scene down to a single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind.

James Patterson is the boss. End of.

James Patterson is the gold standard by which all others are judged.

Patterson is in a class by himself.

'Bodies in a basement are always a great attention grabber, and from then on it's twists, turns and tension all the way. Terrific stuff!'

'From The Ashes is a tense and intriguing mystery, expertly delving into the darker side of the Granite City, hooked from from the first page and kept me guessing to the very end!'

'I couldn't predict the ending of this tense thriller until nearly the last page.'

'A very readable page turner. Childhood memories feed the flames of murder.'

'Dark, smouldering, tense - great.'

Praise for Deborah Masson:

Hold Your Tongue is a tense debut in which the past and present collide with devastating consequences. I hope to read more of DI Eve Hunter.

With a twisty plot and dark, nuanced characters, Hold Your Tongue makes for compulsive reading. Not only is it a fantastic crime novel, but the start of an exciting new series.

Gritty, gruesome and NOT to be missed!! Hold Your Tongue is a shocking and brilliant debut by an author who has the rare talent to drag the reader right into the heart of the story and keep them on the edge of their seat until the very last page. I loved DI Eve Hunter's ability to be both fragile - emotionally and physically broken, and wracked with guilt - and at the same time 100% badass! She was an instantly likeable heroine and one I can't wait to read about again.

Expertly paced, intriguing and with a strong emotional kick - this is a great start to a fab new detective series.

If you like your crime novels blood-curdling, Deborah Masson's debut is terrifying, edge-of-your-seat stuff.

DI Eve Hunter is a truly believable cop. This authenticity draws the reader into a plot that not only compels, but is a stinging social comment on those who have and have not in our society. You can smell, taste and feel the dramatic backdrop of Aberdeen. Not to be missed, edge-of-the-seat stuff from a genuine rising star.

Skilful plotting, a complex detective and utterly believable characters - this is first-class crime fiction.

'An addictive revenge read set on a remote island - it's another hit for this must-read writer.'

'The Retreat is designed to keep you guessing to the very end. A great one to read on holiday.'

'Just like The Sanatorium, The Retreat tells a twisty, chilling and tense tale in a location so vividly imagined, you feel like you're there too, among the guests. Long may Sarah Pearse continue to ruin the idea of luxury-resort travel for us all...'

'Thrilling, dark and full of suspense, The Retreat is a must for crime fans - you won't be able to put it down.'

'Sarah Pearse has done it again! The Retreat is a heart-pounding, adrenaline-soaked thrill ride. Once you start reading, you won't be able to stop.'

'Be careful who you root for, as no character is safe in Sarah Pearse's new novel The Retreat. In the spirit of a true thriller, the tension is taut and the suspense is real as the pace builds to a heart stopping finale. A triumphant second novel, which is no mean feat.'

'Sarah Pearse is an expert at building tension and then holding us suspended until we're on our last nerve. The Retreat is utterly thrilling and destined to be yet another must-read from the queen of the murderous holiday read.'

Wonderfully atmospheric, frequently surprising and cleverly plotted. If you loved The Sanatorium, you'll never want to leave The Retreat.'

A story as unsettling as the island that serves as its setting. Don't trust anyone at The Retreat.

Deliciously paced with rich worldbuilding, The Retreat teems with questionable motives, unspoken frustrations, and hair-raising cliffhangers. I absolutely could not put this book down!

'Dazzling and inventive, like an Agatha Christie mystery split open by a heatwave. The Retreat is transporting, with an unforgettable setting and a complex web of secrets. I didn't want it to end.'

'The Retreat is a delightfully creepy thriller set in a fantastic gothic location. I loved it!'