Author:Edward Boyd,Gordon Jackson,Lennox Milne,Mary Riggans,Roddy McMillan,Full Cast,Bill Henderson
Gordon Jackson stars in this classic noir thriller, with the music of Miles Davis
A man named Johnny Maxen reluctantly walks through the Gare du Nord on his way back to a life he thought he'd left behind. Summoned by a letter from his sometime mother-in-law, Helen Duncan, he returns to Glasgow and the news that his estranged wife has been missing for three months.
As far as Johnny's concerned, his dealings with Julia ended five years ago. He's paid his dues and knows he should cut and run. But for Helen's sake, he agrees to find her - alive or dead.
Asking around, he gets some strange reactions to his enquiries. And when his search turns up the body of a girl, who has committed suicide in Julia's flat, he faces his own deadly threat. Then the police start to take an interest in the case. It seems that wherever Johnny goes, violence follows - and as the corpses pile up, suspicion swirls around him.
His attempts to clear his name lead him to a lochside cottage and a meeting with an old flame. Can Johnny find out the truth about Julia - and uncover the secret behind his daughter Sarah's death?
Created by Edward Boyd, whose credits include Castles in Spain and Z-Cars, this suspenseful crime drama was first broadcast on the Light Programme in 1966 before being adapted as a novel and BBC TV series under the title The Dark Number. It stars Gordon Jackson as Johnny Maxen, with Roddy McMillan as Inspector Wardlaw.
Production credits
Written by Edward Boyd
Produced by Eddie Fraser
Musical score by Miles Davis
It's no mystery why James Patterson is the world's most popular thriller writer: his uncanny skill in creating living, breathing characters we truly feel for and seamless, lightning-fast plots. I do this for a living, and he still manages to keep me guessing from the first to last page ... Simply put: Nobody does it better.
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—— NELSON DEMILLEEvery once in a while a writer comes along and fundamentally changes the way people read. He or she is so bright, so innovative, so industrious that what they envision and create becomes the measure by which all others are judged. In 1993 one such writer - James Patterson - began to do just that ... James Patterson is the gold standard by which all others are judged.
—— STEVE BERRY, bestselling author of the Colton Malone series[Alex Cross] has become one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time, a character for the ages.
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—— NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEWPatterson is in a class by himself.
—— VANITY FAIRThe Sentinel is a butt-kicking, take-no-prisoners thriller that satisfies on every page.
—— The Providence JournalIf this novel is a harbinger of what's to come, then Jack is in good hands.
—— BooklistThe family firm is in decent hands
—— The TimesWrap up warmly for this invigorating Iceland-set slice of Nordic noir
—— Financial TimesShades of Alfred Hitchcock . . . The author's deceptive plotting in this story is certain to blow readers away
—— Dayton Daily NewsSnow and ice provide the background to Ragnar Jónasson's latest exploration of trauma and hardship in Iceland. Throughout the novel, the characters' wilful refusal to face reality is both exasperating and credible
—— Literary ReviewRagnar Jónasson is a brilliant storyteller, who skilfully tells the story on multiple time levels, with different main characters and surprising twists. It is frighteningly believable, and exciting to the end
—— Dagens Nyheter, SwedenStandalone thriller from the author of the Hulda Trilogy lives up to expectations and offers psychological drama and a ghostly atmosphere at the world's end. A story that gets under your skin
—— Göteborgs Posten, SwedenPraise for Ragnar Jónasson
Jónasson is an automatic must-read for me . . . possibly the best Scandi writer working today
—— Lee ChildDark, chilling and utterly gripping, The Island is Nordic noir at its best, and is destined to become a classic of the genre. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read the rest of the Hulda series!
—— Shari Lapena, bestselling author of The Couple Next DoorAdds several shades of darkness to Nordic noir
—— Anthony HorowitzOne of the great tragic heroines of contemporary detective fiction
—— Sunday TimesI often get asked about tips on good crime novels which "are not like everything else". Well, here you have it. Read Ragnar Jónasson's trilogy from beginning to end, let the brain work, the body shake and be amazed at how the author also lets the language follow the development of the story . . . hats off
—— GöteborgsPostenRagnar Jónasson is a brilliant storyteller, who skillfully tells the story on multiple time levels, with different main characters and surprising twists. Frighteningly believable, and exciting to the end
—— Dagens NyheterRagnar Jonasson is old school . . . He deals in vertiginous, unputdownable stories that are nevertheless still imbued with melancholy and heartbreak. This is his best yet
—— Metro[Jonasson's] chilling whodunits currently have readers firmly in their icy grip
—— Daily TelegraphUnforgettable
—— Sunday TimesWill leave you breathless
—— Sunday PostCompelling, beautifully written and wickedly entertaining... A tremendously thought-provoking read
—— Liz Nugent, author of Little Cruelties and Lying in WaitAstonishingly good. Beautifully written, gripping, disturbing
—— Jane Fallon, author of Queen BeeA tense and unsettling thriller that's immersive, chilling, and provocative. A book that's best read in one sitting
—— Iain Reid, author of I'm Thinking of Ending ThingsAshley Audrain's The Push is not only a propulsively entertaining, read-in-one-sitting novel, it is also a deeply provocative and fearless look at motherhood written in some of the prettiest prose you'll read all year
—— Aimee Molloy, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect MotherWritten with a courage that borders on audacity, and with uncanny emotional and psychological precision, Ashley Audrain's The Push is a taut, tour-de-force literary thriller that draws you in from the very first pages and plunges you into the most harrowing of journeys: parenthood
—— Bill Clegg, New York Times bestselling author of Did You Ever Have A Family?A meteoric debut. Ashley Audrain's The Push is a force of nature, an unforgettable arrival that will linger in your heart--shimmer, darken and then haunt you. Every sentence is just so achingly alive. Audrain descends with near pointillistic precision into the gore of motherhood and love. Perhaps if Stephen King had experienced motherhood--the singular exaltation and morbid terror of that state--he might have been able to dream up this book. Wise, monstrous, and tender, The Push operates at a different frequency. It seemed to pulse in my hands. I could not put it down. I could not look away
—— Claudia Dey, author of Heartbreaker and StuntOne to watch ... The Push is told from the point of view of Blythe Connor, whose experience of motherhood is not what she hoped for
—— The BooksellerStaggering - it is an intoxicating rush of a book that grips you tight from the first few pages and will not let you go
—— Cambridge EditionMost anticipated books of 2021 'Pre-order now and thank yourself later'
—— Marie ClaireA thrilling debut
—— Harper's Bazaar, This Winter's Best New Releases from Rising NovelistsThe Push is a vivid and complex spiral of questioning your grasp on reality, of uttering unspeakable thoughts, when the world tells you it's all in your head. Book blurbs often say they'll be devoured in one sitting - it's rare it proves so true
—— The SkinnySuspenseful, dark and intriguing . . . It's going to be a big discussion point in 2021
—— Stylist, Book to Watch 2021A haunting tale about the expectations and reality of motherhood. Stunning . . . You end up staying up all night to finish The Push
—— E! OnlineVisceral, compulsive and astonishing. I could not put this down
—— Raynor Winn, bestselling author of The Salt Path'Best books to look forward to in 2021'
—— CosmopolitanThe chilling novel that caused a bidding frenzy more than lives up to the hype
—— Red OnlineA terrifying, psychological suspense tale of motherhood and nature versus nurture
—— Sunday MirrorThis chilling tale barrels along towards a dark, thought-provoking ending
—— Good HousekeepingThe tense, gripping novel - which, after a nine-way bidding war, has already been optioned for film by the producer of ugly-cry-inducing Marriage Story - will stay with you long after you finish the last page
—— Refinery29This psychological family drama will be your next one-sit read . . . you won't want to miss it
—— SilversurfersA creepy, nuanced story that, with a growing sense of dread, subverts the ideals of motherhood so often presented as inviolable
—— Publishers AssociationBuckle up for a riveting read . . . will have you alternately whizzing through the pages to see what happens next, and reading slowly with widened eyes
—— Prima, 'My Book of the Month'[An] exploration of love, obsession and the dark truths of motherhood
—— Cosmopolitan, Best Books 2021Reminiscent of We Need to Talk About Kevin, Ashley Audrain has delivered a provocative, compulsive novel about modern motherhood
—— Vogue UKCompelling . . . A disturbing and complex tale about dysfunctional mother-daughter relationships. It's not always an easy read but it's absolutely one you won't be able to put down
—— CultureflyIncluded in 'Books for 2021'
—— SunThe mother of all thrillers! Like The Girl on the Train - but better!
—— Daily MailUtterly mesmerising. Ashley Audrain's powerful debut novel explores the challenges of motherhood and the terrifying isolation of being trapped within a sinister truth that no-one else believes.
—— Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Beekeeper's PromiseOne of the most anticipated novels of this year . . . fast-paced, it has the ability to distract you from anything. Exactly what we need right now
—— GraziaWritten with an unflinching eye and a stylistically sharp, tight economy The Push is a single-sitting read, as suspenseful as any thriller, as thoughtful as any literary novel, with an almost physical force behind each of its turns and revelations. By the end, the reader will feel wrung out in the way only the best of books leaves you. Audrain's debut is a stunning, devastating novel and, frankly, one hell of a way to start a year of reading
—— Toronto StarIncluded in 'Books to Watch 2021'
—— Evening StandardHooks you from the very first page and will have you racing to get to the end
—— Book Club Selection , Good Morning AmericaIncluded in 'Best New Books'
—— New York PostThis is a sterling addition to the burgeoning canon of bad seed suspense, from an arrestingly original new voice
—— Publishers WeeklyThis taut and tense hurricane of a debut is best devoured in one sitting
—— NewsweekThis dazzling debut mixes page-turning suspense with a psychological drama
—— Working MotheerOnce you start in on this story, it becomes difficult to control yourself. A twisted, tight, and exhilarating drama
—— GoopThis psychological thriller about a mother's bond with her daughter will keep you turning pages
—— Woman's DayThis nuanced book challenges the notion of nature versus nurture, and whether a mother's love is enough. It's disturbing, painful and brilliant, holding a mirror up to society
—— Woman's WeeklyThe Push is a thriller that is also a compelling examination of motherhood and of how trauma is passed down through generations
—— HeraldA tense, chilling dip into the dark side of motherhood . . . The Push is uncomfortable and provocative, like a train wreck that demands your gaze
—— Washington PostThe most tense, thrilling read that will chill and enthral in equal measure
—— SunDisturbingly brilliant . . . will render you speechless
—— Woman & Home 'Book of the Month'A page-turning debut crafted with shrewd expertise - read it before the inevitable screen adaptation
—— MetroUnflinching, moving and very, very powerful
—— GraziaThe clever and powerful psychological thriller everyone has been talking about . . . an unsettling, breathtaking and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page
—— My WeeklyAudrain has the ability to mesmerise . . . heart-wrenching. A dark, pacy read
—— My WeeklyA compelling, visceral and bruising portrayal of motherhood that once read cannot ever be forgotten
—— Woman & HomeA chilling and beautifully written novel that will strike dread into the heart of any new parent. The ending gave me goosebumps
—— Mark Edwards, bestselling author of Here To StayA powerful debut about obsession and our deepest fears . . . will have you hooked
—— Living NorthExploring the dysfunctional lives of three generations of women, The Push deals with the way damage is handed down
—— Literary ReviewA thought-provoking novel that delves deep into the emotional crevices of motherhood
—— CourierTaut and gripping, this is a provocative look at motherhood
—— PsychologiesThe Push is an unsettling and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page
—— Eastern Daily PressA gripping and vivid thriller . . . It's easy to understand why The Push has caught the attention of Hollywood film producers
—— Business PostCompelling
—— The HeraldRemarkably told story which I couldn't put down. Deftly drawn characters...What a book! And the last line is creepy, haunting perfection
—— Christina Sweeney Baird, author of The End of MenThe danger that simmers throughout is so unbearably tense! A wonderful incisive look at maternal guilt ... the effect is staggering
—— Imran MahmoodFasten your seatbelt because this book is a face paced, page turning, psychological drama that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very last line
—— The AvondhuChallenges the idyllic picture of motherhood, and will change what you know about being a mother. It is tenacious and really makes you think about what it's like when women aren't taken seriously
—— Female FirstFor fans of mum noir, The Push is an unsettling, breathtaking and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page
—— Eastern Daily PressThis dark, psychological thriller offers such twists and turns that we start to doubt what we believe . . . And that sharp-intake-of-breath ending!
—— Manx IndependentI didn't sleep for a week after I finished it, but that's a small price to pay for a great book
—— Lauren Weisberger, author of The Devil Wears PradaAn unflinching examination of motherhood. Audrain lets no one in the Connor family off the hook, yet every character managed to elicit my sympathy. Brilliant, insightful, compassionate, and horrifying. I wish I could read it for the first time over and over. One of the best books I've read all year
—— Stephanie WrobelOne of the most talked-about books of the year. This nuanced psychological book will make you question the notion of nature vs nurture. Disturbing, painful and brilliant
—— Woman & HomeThis unsettling debut was so riveting it had me devouring pages and then reading slowly with widened eyes
—— PrimaAddictively readable . . . shines a disturbing light into the darkest recesses of motherhood
—— Daily Mail, Must Read PaperbacksCompulsively readable
—— Daily ExpressAn unsettling, breathtaking and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
—— Eastern Daily PressA raw and visceral exploration of a mother-daughter relationship; a haunting and heartbreaking novel that will leave you thinking about it for days after you finish the last page
—— Female First