Contraband - Saraband

The Accident on the A35 Graeme Macrae Burnet

[trim]"Gripping and intelligent." Philip Pullman[/trim]

Miss Blaine’s Prefect and the Vampire Menace Olga Wojtas

[trim]“Effortlessly blends together a number of genres … Smart, funny and all-round good company, wherever Shona goes, readers will eagerly follow.” Rhona Shennan, Scotsman[/trim]

His Bloody Project Graeme Macrae Burnet

[trim]'A real box of tricks… a truly ingenious thriller as confusingly multilayered as an Escher staircase.' – Jake Kerridge[/trim]

A Superior Spectre Angela Meyer

[trim]“This is one of those rare books that penetrates deep into the reader’s most secret self. Read it and hold it close.” The Saturday Paper[/trim]

Joan Smokes Angela Meyer

[trim]‘There is so much to admire in Joan Smokes – the winning entry of the inaugural Mslexia Novella Competition. Its pared-back brittle language is as stark as the Nevada landscape. It’s a sophisticated piece of writing, in which the author pushes at the boundaries of language and form; anguish and suffering are evoked at every turn, in thwarted rhythms and rough syntax. But the real magic is in how the author puts the reader so surely in the protagonist’s shoes. It feels like a cliché to say that good writing should ‘suck you into another psyche’ as Barbara Kingsolver puts it, but empathy is what we all need more of, especially now. As an act of empathy, as well as a beautifully rendered work of literature, Joan Smokes shines.’ Eloise Millar, Mslexia judge[/trim]

Chinese Spring Christopher New

[trim]“An affecting family drama with a cast of interesting and well-drawn characters. New creates a touching, melancholic atmosphere and the pages slip by with ease. There is a haunting quality to the novel, and it lingers in the memory.” The Herald[/trim]

Mr Todd’s Reckoning Iain Maitland

[trim]'Just great. Truly scary, a fabulous dive into the mind of a classic, self-justifying psychopath … A fantastic book.' Barbara Nadel[/trim]

Runaway Claire MacLeary

[trim]“This is a thoroughly entertaining series that could run and run.” Sunday Herald[/trim]

The Janus Run Douglas Skelton

[trim]“A defining work by our finest emerging crime fiction talent.” Quintin Jardine[/trim]

Burnout Claire MacLeary

[trim]“Absorbing. This is a thoroughly entertaining series that could run and run.” Shirley Whiteside, Sunday Herald[/trim]

In the Valley of the Sun Andy Davidson

[trim]“A beautiful nightmare. A book that haunts, teases, and compels. a must-read for any brave horror fan.” Erik Storey[/trim]

Ed’s Dead Russel D McLean

[trim]“This book is fantastic! Fast paced and at times just utter nuts… A beautiful masterpiece of modern Scottish Noir that leaves you unsure about whether you should laugh or cry.” Amanda Gillies, Eurocrime[/trim]

Sweet William Iain Maitland

[trim]"Extremely well written and very frightening." Barbara Nadel[/trim]

Miss Blaine’s Prefect and the Golden Samovar Olga Wojtas

[trim]“This is a delightful addition to the ranks of comic crime, mixing sharp observation with a lightness of touch.” Laura Wilson, Guardian[/trim]

The G-String Murders Gypsy Rose Lee

[trim]"Recommended for the readers who feel better when their eyebrows are raised.” –  The New Yorker[/trim]

Tag – You’re Dead Douglas Skelton

[trim]“A thoroughly gripping whodunit that shows just how darkly humorous Tartan Noir can become: and how genuinely chilling it can be at the same time.” Undiscovered Scotland[/trim]

The Paper Cell Louise Hutcheson

[trim]"A lovely little book… [Its] strength is in the build-up, and it is really a character study of those involved – and a study of how they unravel afterwards over time.” Blue Book Balloon[/trim]

Moscow at Midnight Sally McGrane

[trim]“A worthy successor to John le Carré... A fast-paced, well-written spy thriller, full of unexpected twists and turns.” – Buchbord[/trim]

Cross Purpose Claire MacLeary

[trim]"A dark devious delight, definitely one to watch." - Neil Broadfoot[/trim]

Down to the Sea Sue Lawrence

[trim]"A haunting, moving story." Kirsty Wark[/trim]

The Dead Don’t Boogie Douglas Skelton

[trim]“Fast-paced, funny and frightening – Dominic Queste’s first outing supplies it all.” Lin Anderson[/trim]

And When I Die Russel D McLean

[trim]“Brutal and driven … at its heart is Kat Scobie – complicated and conflicted but achingly real.” Eva Dolan[/trim]

The Confession of Stella Moon Shelley Day

[trim]"A timely and intelligent book ... passion, insight and a real understanding of both risk and mercy ... delicately explores the tangled layers of family grief and guilt." AL Kennedy[/trim]

Fade to Black Steve Mullins

[trim]'A jazz lick of a debut - fast-moving, offbeat, and shot through with a sense of cool.' - Crime Watch[/trim]