The Constituent


Book Description

I am not your punch bag! I am a Member of Parliament! An MP with an instinct for compassion. An ex-serviceman with a life in free fall. And a parliamentary protection officer who's having none of it.? This volatile new play by Olivier Award-winner Joe Penhall deconstructs politics, panic alarms and the conflict between public service and personal safety.? Published to coincide with the world premiere at London's Old Vic starring Anna Maxwell Martin and James Corden in June 2024.




The Criminal Alphabet


Book Description

'I have spent almost 33 of the last 53 years in and out of prison, but mainly in. I was a juvenile offender back in the mid 1970s and went on to become an adult prisoner in the 1980s and beyond. My shortest prison sentence was 7 days (for criminal damage) and my longest sentence was life (for bank robbery and possession of firearms). I have 58 criminal convictions for everything from attempted theft to armed robbery and prison escape, and I was a career criminal for most of my life. What I do not know about criminal and prison slang could be written on the back of a postage stamp and still leave room for The Lord's Prayer ...' From ex-professional bank robber and bestselling author Noel Smith, this is the most authoritative dictionary of criminal slang out there - and an unmissable journey, through words, into the heart of the criminal world.










The Job


Book Description

Charlie Bezzina was one of Victoria's top homicide detectives. In his 17 years in the Homicide Squad, he investigated more than 300 suspicious deaths, including 150 murders - among them the crimes of serial killer Paul Denyer, the killing of Melbourne gangland figure Alphonse Gangitano, the baffling disappearances of Sarah McDiarmid and former gameshow model Jacquie Ramchen, and the death of former Test cricketer David Hookes. This is the never-before-told story of Bezzina's rise from a sheltered childhood in a Maltese family in Melbourne's western suburbs, to a widely respected senior detective who served Victoria Police with distinction and unquestioned integrity for 37 years, culminating in his acrimonious and highly controversial departure from the force. The Job is an explosive and intriguing account of what it takes to be a criminal investigator at the highest level.




The Memo Book


Book Description




A Long Way Down


Book Description

Detective Inspector Sep Black returns to take on two connected cold cases in this hard-hitting police procedural from the author of Dead or Alive. When a wealthy businessman suffers a fatal fall from his office window, the forensic evidence points to murder. But with no suspects, no clues, and no apparent motive, the police investigation stalls. It’s passed over to the Cold Case Unit where it remains on file, inactive until further evidence emerges. Some months later, an attractive widow approaches DI Sep Black with a request that he look into the murder of her husband. Freelance journalist James Boswell had been working on a major story—and his widow Sandra believes it had something to do with his death. What did Boswell discover that got him killed? As he starts to ask questions, Black uncovers a possible connection between the two murders. But before he can find out more, an almost-successful attempt on his life reveals that someone is determined to stop him from finding out the truth—whatever it takes. “Sep is a really strong character . . . a definite keeper.” —Booklist “Plenty of action and an enjoyable read.” —Euro Crime




The Gangbuster - To Catch a Gangster, You Have to Live Like One


Book Description

‘Four million quid. There it was, inches away from me on a hotel table. Not in conventional currency, but in the world’s deadliest commodity. Heroin.’ As part of Scotland Yard’s undercover team, it was Peter Bleksley’s job to infiltrate some of the capital’s most dangerous gangs and bring them down. For ten years, he went deeper into the criminal underworld than any cop had before him. Meeting with dealers, gangland leaders and members of the IRA and the Mafia, he lived the life of the Great Pretender, constantly changing his identity to ensure his cover was never blown. Whilst undeniably thrilling work at times, it came at a heavy price. The more successful he was at bringing criminals to justice, the longer the list of those who wanted revenge became. Even now, Peter looks over his shoulder in case someone should wish to act on an old threat. In The Gangbuster, Bleksley draws us into the world of drugs, violence and covert operations he inhabited for so long in the pursuit of justice. Now a renowned policing and crime expert seen on the BBC and as the Chief on Channel 4’s Hunted, Peter Bleksley reputation still precedes him the world over.




Ed's Dead


Book Description

"A high-octane read." - Maxim Jakubowski Meet Jen. She works in a bookshop and likes the odd glass of Prosecco... oh, and she's about to be branded The Most Dangerous Woman in Scotland. Jen Carter is a failed writer with a rubbish boyfriend, Ed. That is, until she accidentally kills him one night. Now that Ed's dead, she has to decide what to do with his body, his drugs and a big pile of cash. And, more pressingly, how to escape the hitman who's been sent to recover Ed's stash. Soon Jen's on the run from criminals, corrupt police officers and the prying eyes of the media. Who can she trust? And how can she convince them that the trail of corpses left in her wake are just accidental deaths? A modern noir that proves, once and for all, the female of the species really is more deadly than the male. "a quick, gritty read, from an author with a confident voice..." Crime Review "A really authentic and remarkable read! I loved it!" Martina Cole "Pitch black humour... fascinating...gripping." Herald "A thoroughly contemporary crime thriller which has its tongue in its cheek while maintaining the suspense and tension that readers would expect... Terrific fun to read." Alistair Braidwood, Scots Whay Hae "Funny and fierce, and a heroine worth rooting for..." Brooke Magnanti "McLean has created an appealing protagonist, with a strong and consistent voice... It seems strange to say that a novel with so many bloody fatalities can be fun, but this one is!" Crime Fiction Lover "One of Scotland's most skilled noiristas... a book which will appeal to booksellers everywhere, especially homicidal ones." Mike Ripley, Shots magazine "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 "We're not sure when we last enjoyed a book quite this much... The sheer pace of the story carries you along breathlessly ... Hugely entertaining." Undiscovered Scotland




The Last 10 Seconds


Book Description

Tina Boyd discovers that the work of the Night Creeper, a serial killer arrested two years prior, is part of a much larger criminal conspiracy.