In the heart of the Staffordshire Peak District, a sinister secret lurks beneath the tranquil surface…

When nineteen-year-old Tilley McCleave disappears without a trace, the historic market town of Leek is in shock.

Detective Jessica Ryan is assigned the case, but things take a chilling turn when she discovers a horrifying connection to five women who were abducted. Four remain lost, their fates unknown, while one survivor’s harrowing tale is etched into her traumatised soul.

Haunted by her ordeal, lone escapee Heidi Dawson has spent years confined to a psychiatric hospital. Could her shattered memories hold the key to unlocking the identity of the elusive abductor?

As past and present collide, Jess races against the clock to find Tilley and solve the disturbing case. But with deception at every turn, she finds herself questioning everything.

Can she confront her fears and protect her daughter from this devious predator?

The answer lies in the depths of the treacherous Peak District, waiting to be unveiled in a disturbing climax that will leave readers breathless.

Taken on the Peaks is the latest crime thriller from J.F. Burgess, the British author of the top-selling Detective Tom Blake murder mystery series, and is perfect for fans of Priscilla Masters, Mel Sherratt, LJ Ross, Joy Ellis, Rachel McClean, and Simon McCleave.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE GRIPPING DI JESSICA RYAN SERIES:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Compelling read! Intense and well-written narrative, with great characters! This book will stay with you for a long time, don’t miss it!’ Goodreads

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Jon Burgess writes a really great book, all elements needed are here and it’s a great start to a new series set in a beautiful yet now tainted part of the Country.’ Goodreads

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Please tell me you have finished the next one! Loved it!’ Lisa Morris Horton. Facebook Reader

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another fast-paced and gripping read. Great to see it being born.’ Christine Johnson

OUT NOW:
DETECTIVE JESSICA RYAN MURDER MYSTERY SERIES
Book 1: KILLER ON THE PEAKS
Book 2: TAKEN ON THE PEAKS
Book 3: ‘TBA’

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Discover the most gripping crime thriller this year.

EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT SUSPENSE WITH ONE TWIST AFTER ANOTHER.

Two-year-old Abigail is fast asleep in the back of the car, clutching her little red lion. Tony, her father, steps out onto the pavement. The man he’s meeting punches him in the face, knocking him to the ground. Before it all goes black, Tony sees his car speed away — with his little girl inside.

When he finally gets home after the worst day of his life, the house is empty. His wife is gone too. The place is ransacked and the kitchen is streaked with blood.

Someone out there has Tony’s little girl. And his wife may already be dead.

Detective April Fisher must race against time to find little Abi alive.

This brand-new, electrifying crime thriller packed with twist after shocking twist is perfect for fans of Charlie Gallagher, Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, D.S. Butler or Mark Billingham.

Readers are absolutely HOOKED by TAKEN WHILE SHE SLEPT:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow what a book! Pulls you in from the very first page and the twists and turns will keep you guessing to the very last page. You won’t regret picking up a copy!’ A reader in the UK

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A pulse-pounding crime thriller. So breathtakingly good . . . I loved every single page.’ Booklover B.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Oh my goodness this is a rollercoaster of a read. Just when you think you have an idea what’s going on, another twist hits you.’ Amanda

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Stayed with me for ages after I’d read it. Especially as it had me hooked right away and I couldn’t put it down.’ A reader in the UK

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Whoa! What a book! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery and some crazy twists and turns!’ Debbie

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Goodness me, what a fantastic start to a new series. This is definitely every parent’s worst nightmare. The story is dark and intense, and had so many twists.’ Dee G.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Brings you chills, a heart-racing story that C.J. is quickly becoming known for. Trust me, you won’t be able to put this book down.’ Laura S.

MEET THE DETECTIVE
Thirty-four-year-old Detective Sergeant April Fisher needs to be tough. She’s seen too much out on the streets of Manchester to be any other way. And she’s experienced more than her share of tragedy in her personal life too. But she takes this all in her stride and keeps her head high, ready to tackle whatever is thrown at her — and there’s been a lot. She’s hardworking, focused and intelligent, but she has a tendency to make rash decisions without thinking about the consequences, which often gets her in trouble.

ALSO BY C.J. GRAYSON
DETECTIVE APRIL FISHER THRILLERS
Book 1: TAKEN WHILE SHE SLEPT

TANZY & BYRD THRILLERS
Book 1: THE TEES VALLEY KILLINGS
Book 2: THE DENES PARK KILLINGS
Book 3: THE LINGFIELD POINT KILLINGS

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When Detective Lottie Parker receives news that a child’s body has been found in the frozen grounds of the cathedral, a shiver runs down her spine. She’s terrified it will be eight-year-old Willow Devine, reported missing that morning.

But when she arrives at the cathedral, holding a photo of Willow with her blonde ponytail and gap-toothed smile, she gets a terrible shock. The body is a young girl, wrapped in a white shroud, a rosary clutched in her frozen fingers. But her hair is dark, not fair. This girl isn’t Willow but another eight-year-old, Naomi.

Desperate to find a connection between the two girls and to find Willow before it is too late, Lottie speaks to the girls’ families and discovers that both girls were altar servers at the cathedral. The charismatic priest Father Maguire has a watertight alibi for the time the girls went missing, but Lottie suspects the confused old lady traumatised by the discovery of Naomi’s body is hiding something…

A day later, Willow’s little body is found wrapped in a white robe in the snowy grounds of a church across town. Lottie is devastated, convinced now that she can’t trust anyone, least of all the girls’ parents. Why did Willow’s mother claim the girls didn’t know each other? And why are there no photos of Naomi in her mother’s shabby house?

But when a little boy from the choir goes missing too, Lottie realises she must spread her net wider. Can she stop this twisted killer before another precious life is stolen?

A completely compelling page-turner from bestselling author Patricia Gibney. If you like Rachel Caine, Kendra Elliott and Robert Dugoni, The Altar Girls will have you hooked.

What everyone is saying about The Altar Girls:

‘Oh yes!!! What an absolute roller coaster of an investigation!… This novel runs a mile a minute, there is always action, and the plot and sub plots run beautifully together, keeping the reader in high suspense. I could hardly bear to put this book down, Patricia Gibney definitely knows how to keep her readers rapt… I absolutely recommend this series if you are looking for well-planned and well thought out police thrillers that have twists and turns that will leave you breathless.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Will keep you on your toes, red herrings galore, plenty of interesting characters and a fabulous storyline. ‘ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This is another fantastic Lottie Parker book. Patricia Gibney is a prolific writer who takes the reader on a fast, twisty roller coaster ride in this book. It’s a heartbreaking story with a lot of twists and turns… I was glued to the pages.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Loved this. So many twists and turns… A great read!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I absolutely LOVE Lottie Parker! Excellent police murder enquiry book full of twists and turns with who you thought “did it” actually didn’t. Had me guessing and doubting until the end. Definitely recommend this book from Patricia Gibney!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I have read and loved all the previous books but this one was by far my favourite so far… This was a read that had everything so many twists and turns I was never sure of who was guilty and so many I thought I had it only to be floored by yet another twist! So a fabulous 5 star read… it was a blast.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Matt and Liz may have retired from the police, but that doesn’t guarantee a quiet life.

An abandoned carpet bag full of mysterious handwritten notes. A body in a marshy lagoon.

Matt is intrigued when his partner Liz brings home an old carpet bag she found dumped in the local library. It contains a pile of mysterious handwritten notes. Liz is convinced the bag belongs to Old Molly, a local woman who lives on the streets.

The following day, a body is discovered in a marshy lagoon. It’s Old Molly. Suffocated with an expensive men’s handkerchief.

Molly clearly knew something that got her killed. Liz believes she was trying to tell them something important. She calls on her nephew David to help decipher the carpet bag notes.

Meanwhile Matt is hired to find teenage runaway Liam Cooper. Liam has been missing for ten days now, and Matt has a very bad feeling about him.

A few days later, a second body is discovered in an old barn out on the fens.

Matt and Liz must piece together the cryptic clues Molly has left for them before more people die. The answers lead to the remote fenland village of Marshdyke-St-Mary — and a series of shocking secrets stretching back many years.

DISCOVER A TOTALLY ENTHRALLING MYSTERY.

This utterly gripping crime thriller is perfect for fans of L.J. Ross, J.D. Kirk, Angela Marsons, J.M. Dalgliesh, Elly Griffiths or Ann Cleeves.

READERS LOVE THE BAG OF SECRETS:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I love all of Joy Ellis’s books, but I do believe this is the best yet.’ Amanda P.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I love Matt and Liz. A fantastic book.’ Joanne N.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A stunningly captivating read. Wow, just wow!’ Misfits Farm

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A fascinating and intriguing read. Not to be missed.’ Carol S.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Suspense, intrigue, fantastic characters and some crazy twists and turns. Had me glued to my Kindle!’ Debbie B.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Matt and Liz are such great characters . . . Terrific.’ Louise G.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another winner! So many twists and turns and red herrings, you won’t stop turning the pages.’ Bonita S.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I always read Joy with a cuppa and some chocolate . . . Loved it!’ Kelsey S.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An excellent read . . . Plenty of suspense.’ Martha B.

THE SETTING
England’s rural fenland is a strange place, with its never-ending fields, winding tracks, and long straight droves (the old livestock routes) that lead to nowhere. The lonely lanes are flanked either side by deep drainage ditches and are, for a good part of the year, filled with tall, whispering reeds. Closer to the Wash, high seabanks form a barrier between river and marsh, and the richly fertile soil of the drained land. But when the mists come down, as they so often do, perspective is destroyed and all sense of direction lost, and then the fens become a rather frightening place of mystery and danger. Somewhere that you do not want to be at night.

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Lewis Brading loves only one thing – his collection of jewels. Not only are the gems extremely valuable but also every piece has a fascinating and bloody history attached to it.

However Lewis is a frightened and difficult man who sees thieves around every corner. When he asks Miss Silver for help, she gives him some sound advice and turns him away. A few days later, she receives a letter from him, again asking for help. But it is too late. In the morning paper is the news of his murder.
Lewis Brading loves only one thing – his collection of jewels. Not only are the gems extremely valuable but also every piece has a fascinating and bloody history attached to it. However Lewis is a frightened and difficult man who sees thieves around every corner. When he asks Miss Silver for help, she gives him some sound advice and turns him away. A few days later, she receives a letter from him, again asking for help. But it is too late. In the morning paper is the news of his murder.

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Love Sherlock Holmes and Great Expectations? Then meet Edwin James, a stellar lawyer with a shady past and a talent for solving mysteries.

He’ll do whatever it takes to survive within the seamy underworld of Victorian London. Even if that means bending the rules he fought so hard to uphold . . .

PRAISE FOR ROY LEWIS:

‘Lewis skilfully ties up everything . . . smoothly written. Compassionate yet with plenty of force.’ New York Times

‘Legal shenanigans explicable, whodunit finely spun . . . A nice piece of work, in fact.’ Oxford Mail

‘Tough, salty and realistic.’ Times Literary Supplement

‘Roy Lewis is a writer who believes in keeping his readers on their toes with plenty of twists and surprises.’ Daily Telegraph

_______________________

IN THIS THREE-BOOK BOX SET:

BOOK 1: DEAD RINGER
A missing racehorse. A drowned woman. A case that could make Edwin James’s career — or cost him everything. In 1844, Running Rein took London by storm. First, he won the Derby. Then, he disappeared without a trace. Now, it’s up to upstart young counsel Edwin James to hunt him down, with help from shady ex-con Ben Gully. Together, they must follow a twisty trail through the very darkest corners of London’s underworld, with James’s creditors hot on their heels. Can they uncover the truth before anyone else dies?

BOOK 2: BREATHS OF SUSPICION
Two dead swindlers. One suspect in the frame — and it’s Edwin James himself. James’s star is rising and a seat in Parliament beckons. To get it, James must go head to head with his arch nemesis Lord George Bentinck, a crooked aristo who is backing a candidate of his own. When Lord Bentinck’s lifeless body is found out on a lonely country path, James finds the finger of suspicion pointing at him. Can he clear his name before it’s too late?

BOOK 3: A FUGITIVE ENGLISHMAN
Edwin James flees London, only to get himself into deeper, more dangerous waters in New York. Before long, he finds himself on the trail of the most infamous killer of them all: John Wilkes Booth, the callous actor who shot President Lincoln. But in a city where no one and nothing is what it seems, the truth can be hard to find. Can James solve the case before his past catches up to him?

Don’t miss out on this acclaimed series of unputdownable mysteries! YOU GET ALL THREE OF THE ABOVE BOOKS IN THIS EDITION.

Fans of Arthur Conan Doyle, Kerry Tombs, Elly Griffiths, P.D. James, Oscar de Muriel, Alex Grecian and Carole Lawrence will devour this series of intriguing mysteries.

_______________________

THE DETECTIVE
Edwin James has lived a chequered life. A sensation in the courts and in Parliament, everyone in London has heard a thing or two about his rise to the top. Murderer. Queen’s Counsel. Knight. Scoundrel. Ladies’ man. James has been called all these things and more. But the truth behind the hearsay is more complex. James’s incisive powers of deduction won him a place the very top of his profession. Will they also be his undoing?

THE SETTING
Victorian London may be a city full of thrilling possibilities, with the promise of progress hanging in the air like smog. But its twisty streets are also fraught with danger: from the dingy Docklands to the spires of Westminster and the alleys of Soho.

ALSO BY ROY LEWIS
ARNOLD LANDON SERIES
ERIC WARD BOOKS
INSPECTOR CROW BOOKS

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