Tag: Mystery

Simon R. Green’s BURIED MEMORIES Out Next Week in North America!

Posted on Tuesday, September 28th, 2021

North American fans of Simon R. Green‘s Ishmael Jones series: the tenth novel, BURIED MEMORIES is out next week in hardcover! To be published by Severn House, here’s the synopsis…

Returning to the small town where he crash-landed in 1963, Ishmael Jones is in search of answers. But his investigation is de-railed by a brutal murder.

“I think something very bad and very dangerous has come to your little town, Inspector…”

As long-buried memories from his hidden past begin to resurface, Ishmael Jones and his partner Penny feel compelled to return to the small country town where Ishmael crash-landed in 1963; the place where his memories began.

Norton Hedley is no ordinary town. Apparitions, sudden disappearances, sightings of unusual beasts: for centuries, the place has been plagued by a series of inexplicable events. Ishmael’s first task is to track down local author Vincent Smith, the one man he believes may have some answers.

Ishmael and Penny aren’t the only ones seeking the mysterious Mr Smith. When their search unearths a newly-dead body in the local mortuary — a body that’s definitely not supposed to be there — Ishmael becomes the prime suspect in the ensuing murder investigation. His only hope of discovering the truth about his origins lies in exposing a ruthless killer.

BURIED MEMORIES is already available in the UK in hardcover; and is also available as an eBook, in both the UK and North America.

Severn House has published all of the Ishmael Jones novels to date, in the UK and North America.

Earlier this year, they also published Green’s first Gideon Sable novel, THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the Ishmael Jones Mysteries have received so far…

‘[A] brisk, breezy first in a new mystery series […] With convincing supernatural twists [and] witty chapter titles […] readers will be anxious for a sequel.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD

‘Genre-blending author Green introduces another wisecracking protagonist, Ishmael Jones […] Fans of the British TV series Torchwood will enjoy the irreverent, otherworldly protagonist.’ — Booklist on THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD

‘A new book from Green is always a treat for SF and urban fantasy fans, because they know that in his fictional worlds things are never quite what they seem until it’s too late. His first foray into more traditional crime fiction (albeit with an otherworldy flavor) will delight mystery readers, especially those who relish a bit of genre blending.’ — Library Journal on THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD

‘Not to be taken too seriously, this meld of SF and traditional hard-boiled spy fiction hints at plenty of further adventures.’ — Publishers Weekly on DEAD MAN WALKING

‘This sequel to the wonderful THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD takes the basic structure of a traditional English country house mystery and mixes it with a bit of supernatural horror and suspense. Richard Kadrey and E.E. Knight fans will particularly relish Green’s genre-blending novel.’ — Library Journal on DEAD MAN WALKING

‘Ishmael is a wonderful character, an extraterrestrial living among humans, and the series (this is the third installment) is a clever mixture of thriller and SF-horror genres. Green is best known for the Deathstalker space operas, but give this one a few more installments to develop, and it could well become Green’s masterwork.’ — Booklist, Starred Review on VERY IMPORTANT CORPSES

‘Entertaining […] Green once again smoothly blends science fiction with classic detection.’ — Publishers Weekly on DEATH SHALL COME

‘Lovers of high-quality fantasy and science fiction should make it a point to seek this guy out, if they haven’t already.’ — Booklist on DEATH SHALL COME

‘This fourth series adventure (after Very Important Corpses) is fast-paced, entertaining, and genre-bending.’ — Library Journal on DEATH SHALL COME

‘Green follows up INTO THE THINNEST OF AIR with this latest blend of SF, mystery, and horror that features the author’s trademark black humor and ratchets up the suspense with a compelling story line reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.’ — Library Journal on MURDER IN THE DARK

‘When some researchers discover what appears to be a black hole that has suddenly manifested itself in Somerset, of all places, secret agent Ishmael Jones is on the case. […] Jones is a very interesting character, a man (?) of many layers, and readers who have been following his adventures will find much to enjoy in this latest escapade. Readers who have not yet made Jones’ acquaintance need to get with the program now.’ — Booklist on MURDER IN THE DARK

‘Fans of the series will be delighted to reconnect with the quick-witted detective and to learn a little bit more about his early days on the planet.’ — Booklist on TILL SUDDEN DEATH DO US PART

‘Fun, fast-paced, light fare that passes almost as quickly as that fatal train ride.’ — Kirkus on NIGHT TRAIN TO MURDER

‘Energetically written, with larger-than-life characters, stories that gleefully push the boundaries of plausibility, and plenty of neck-wrenching plot twists […] SF/fantasy fans who haven’t yet discovered the Jones novels are in for a real treat.’ — Booklist on NIGHT TRAIN TO MURDER

‘A fast, fun supernatural thriller that never takes itself too seriously.’ — Kirkus on THE HOUSE ON WIDOWS HILL

‘This thoroughly entertaining adventure works equally well with series followers and with newbies to the world of Ishmael Jones.’ — Booklist on THE HOUSE ON WIDOWS HILL

Zeno represents Simon R. Green in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Lavie Tidhar’s JUDGE DEE AND THE POISONER OF MONTMARTRE is Out Now!

Posted on Thursday, September 23rd, 2021

There’s a new Judge Dee short story! Lavie Tidhar‘s JUDGE DEE AND THE POISONER OF MONTMARTRE is out now! Published on Tor.com and as an eBook, here’s the synopsis…

Judge Dee returns to solve a new case involving a Parisian party gone wrong. But this time? Everyone in attendance is a suspect, including the judge himself.

This is the third short story in the series, following JUDGE DEE AND THE LIMITS OF THE LAW and JUDGE DEE AND THE THREE DEATHS OF COUNT WERDENFELS (also published by Tor.com and as eBooks).

Check Out the Covers for MONDAY, MONDAY #4!

Posted on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021

Today, we have the three covers for Ben Aaronovitch & Andrew Cartmel‘s MONDAY, MONDAY #4! The three covers are by Abigail Jill Harding (above), Vv Glass, and David Buisian (below). Due to be published by Titan Comics on October 6th, here’s the synopsis for this issue:

A werewolf is on the loose in London and will stop at nothing to avoid capture!

Titan Comics has published all of the Rivers of London comics to date.

The Rivers of London comics are set in the same world as Ben’s internationally-bestselling, acclaimed Peter Grant / Rivers of London series of novels and novellas — published in the UK by Gollancz; in North America by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas); it is also published widely in translation.

WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER Out Now in UK Paperback!

Posted on Thursday, September 16th, 2021

The paperback edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed novella WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER is out now in the UK! Published by Gollancz, it is set in the author’s best-selling Rivers of London world, and is the first to star Abigail Kamara. Here’s the synopsis…

Ghost hunter, fox whisperer, troublemaker.

It is the summer of 2013 and Abigail Kamara has been left to her own devices. This might, by those who know her, be considered a mistake.

While her cousin, police constable and apprentice wizard Peter Grant, is off in the sticks chasing unicorns, Abigail is chasing her own mystery. Teenagers around Hampstead Heath have been going missing but before the police can get fully engaged, the teens return home – unharmed but vague about where they’ve been.

Aided only by her new friend Simon, her knowledge that magic is real, and a posse of talking foxes that think they’re spies, Abigail must venture into the wilds of Hampstead to discover who is luring the teenagers and more importantly – why?

Here are just a few of the reviews the novella has received so far…

‘Aaronovitch’s trademark humor is the highlight of his ninth Rivers of London urban fantasy (after FALSE VALUE). Here, he focuses on London teenager Abigail Kamara, a supporting character in previous books who’s occasionally assisted apprentice wizard Peter Grant, a member of a supernatural branch of the Metropolitan Police… Kamara is an endearing protagonist who is more than capable of carrying future books. Series fans are sure to enjoy this.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER focuses of Abigail Kamara, Peter’s precocious teenage cousin who has caught the scent of magic and wants to know more, despite all the dangers. Abigail is intelligent, curious and very much the trouble-maker… Aaronovitch quickly finds a voice for Abigail; she’s smart and nerdy, brave and wise enough to stay alive, but really not very cautious. One of the novella’s gags come in form of various footnotes explaining her youthful turn of phrase, which is actually quite handy for the older reader. Oh, and it has the most charming map of Hampstead Heath we’ve seen in a long while, and it’s almost worth it just for that. This is a nice change of style and pace for fans of the series and a great introduction for those looking for a fun fantasy read.’ — Starburst (5* Review!)

‘Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London uni­verse keeps sending new rivulets in unex­pected directions… Abigail is smart and curi­ous, a wonderful combination but one that also puts her in peril… Not only does Aaronovitch’s writing bring Abigail fully to life, it also builds a story that is worthy of her and delivers potent insights about being a teenage girl, which is doubly remarkable because it’s not a perspective you often see out­side YA fiction…’ — Locus

‘I doubt I really need to recommend WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER to people who have read other parts of the series, but for those that have not, it is a great place to start, with an entertaining mix of humour, suspense, and a perfectly crafted world.’ — Independent

‘Tremendous fun from start to finish’ — Grimdark Magazine

‘A total joy to read – there are moments of darkness, especially in Abigail’s backstory, but it had me laughing out loud throughout’ — Track of Words

Quick Reminder: DIE FÜCHSE VON HAMPSTEAD HEATH is Out Next Week!

Posted on Thursday, September 9th, 2021

Just a quick reminder that Ben Aaronovitch‘s WHAT ABIGAIL DID LAST SUMMER is out next week in Germany (September 17th)! Published by DTV as DIE FÜCHSE VON HAMPSTEAD HEATH, here’s the synopsis…

Eine magisch begabte Cousine

Es ist Ferienzeit in London und Abigail, Peter Grants lästige Cousine, kann mehr oder weniger tun und lassen, was sie will. Was bei allen, die sie kennen, eigentlich die Alarmglocken schrillen lassen sollte. Doch Peter ist irgendwo auf dem Land auf Einhornjagd, sodass niemand Abigail davon abhält, magischen Unfug zu treiben – und einem Geheimnis auf die Spur zu kommen: In der Gegend von Hampstead Heath verschwinden immer wieder Teenager. Nach kurzer Zeit tauchen sie wieder auf, unverletzt, aber ohne eine Erinnerung, wo sie waren. Wer hat sie fortgelockt – und warum? Unterstützt von einer Bande sprechender (und ziemlich eingebildeter) Füchse stürzt sich Abigail ins magische Abenteuer.

DTV has published all of Ben’s Rivers of London novels and novellas in Germany. (The comic series is published in Germany by Panini.)

The novella, the first to star Abigail Kamara, is set in the Rivers of London world. It’s published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by Subterranean Press. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Ghost hunter, fox whisperer, troublemaker.

It is the summer of 2013 and Abigail Kamara has been left to her own devices. This might, by those who know her, be considered a mistake.

While her cousin, police constable and apprentice wizard Peter Grant, is off in the sticks chasing unicorns, Abigail is chasing her own mystery. Teenagers around Hampstead Heath have been going missing but before the police can get fully engaged, the teens return home – unharmed but vague about where they’ve been.

Aided only by her new friend Simon, her knowledge that magic is real, and a posse of talking foxes that think they’re spies, Abigail must venture into the wilds of Hampstead to discover who is luring the teenagers and more importantly – why?

‘Aaronovitch’s trademark humor is the highlight of his ninth Rivers of London urban fantasy (after FALSE VALUE). Here, he focuses on London teenager Abigail Kamara, a supporting character in previous books who’s occasionally assisted apprentice wizard Peter Grant, a member of a supernatural branch of the Metropolitan Police… Kamara is an endearing protagonist who is more than capable of carrying future books. Series fans are sure to enjoy this.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER focuses of Abigail Kamara, Peter’s precocious teenage cousin who has caught the scent of magic and wants to know more, despite all the dangers. Abigail is intelligent, curious and very much the trouble-maker… Aaronovitch quickly finds a voice for Abigail; she’s smart and nerdy, brave and wise enough to stay alive, but really not very cautious. One of the novella’s gags come in form of various footnotes explaining her youthful turn of phrase, which is actually quite handy for the older reader. Oh, and it has the most charming map of Hampstead Heath we’ve seen in a long while, and it’s almost worth it just for that. This is a nice change of style and pace for fans of the series and a great introduction for those looking for a fun fantasy read.’ — Starburst (5* Review!)

‘Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London uni­verse keeps sending new rivulets in unex­pected directions… Abigail is smart and curi­ous, a wonderful combination but one that also puts her in peril… Not only does Aaronovitch’s writing bring Abigail fully to life, it also builds a story that is worthy of her and delivers potent insights about being a teenage girl, which is doubly remarkable because it’s not a perspective you often see out­side YA fiction…’ — Locus

‘I doubt I really need to recommend WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER to people who have read other parts of the series, but for those that have not, it is a great place to start, with an entertaining mix of humour, suspense, and a perfectly crafted world.’ — Indiependent

THE CANDY MAFIA Paperback Out Now!

Posted on Wednesday, September 8th, 2021

A new paperback edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s acclaimed THE CANDY MAFIA is out now in North America! Published by Peachtree, here’s the synopsis…

Twelve-year-old private detective Nelle is swept up in a world of candy smuggling in this humorous middle grade mystery from World Fantasy Award-winner Lavie Tidhar!

Nelle Faulkner is a preteen private detective who solves cases from her mother’s garden shed. She also lives in a city where the mayor has prohibited candy and kid-led candy gangs are thriving.

So when notorious candy gangster Eddie de Menthe asks for her help finding a missing teddy bear, Nelle Faulkner is on the case. But when the teddy turns up, Eddie himself goes missing, and Nelle and her friends quickly find themselves swept up in a shady underworld of sweets smugglers, back alley deals, and storefront firebombs.

If Nelle has any hope of tracking down her missing client, she’ll first have to unmask the true faces behind the smuggling ring. Can she and her friends find a way to take the cake? Or will they come to a sticky end?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets Bugsy Malone in this entertaining, action-packed mystery from World Fantasy Award-winning author Lavie Tidhar. With moody illustrations by Daniel Duncan, readers will be instantly pulled into the fun.

The novel is also available in the UK, published by Scholastic, and in a growing number of international editions as well.

If you’re interested in more CANDY-related content, Lavie has also made a mobile game, which you can find here!

Here are just a few of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘It won’t take a detective to spot Willie Wonka, as well as Sam Spade, hidden in the tongue-in-cheek caper’s literary DNA.’ ― Booklist, Starred Review

‘In his first book for younger readers, he creates perhaps his most chilling vision yet: a city where sweets are forbidden under a prohibition act… The tone is as hard-boiled as a cough drop. The jokes sizzle like Space Dust. CANDY is a treat, the kind of confection Roald Dahl and Raymond Chandler might have come up with after an all-night bonbon bender.’ — Financial Times

‘Noir tropes loom large in Tidhar’s fast-paced story, with a gutsy gumshoe, a hardboiled narrative voice (“I needed a job even worse than I needed a caramel fudge”), and enough action to keep young readers on their toes.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘Due to the wonderfully fluent writing style, the pleasantly short chapters and the rousing plot, I devoured the book in record time. For girls and boys from the age of 10, who like to read exciting, funny, imaginative detective stories, “Secret Agent Candy” is just perfect. I really hope that this is a start of a series and we will soon be able to solve their second, tricky case together with Nelle… Exciting, funny, bizarre and just awesome!’ — Die Bücherwelt von CorniHolmes (Germany)

RIVERS OF LONDON: MONDAY, MONDAY #3 out now!

Posted on Wednesday, September 1st, 2021

The third issue in Ben Aaronovitch and Andrew Cartmel‘s RIVERS OF LONDON: MONDAY, MONDAY is out today! Published by Titan Comics, and with artwork by José Maria Beroy, the issue is available with three different covers. Here’s the synopsis…

A werewolf is on the loose in London and will stop at nothing to avoid capture!

An unmissable new era in the life of detective wizard, Peter Grant!

MONDAY, MONDAY is the ninth Rivers of London comic story-arc, all of which are published by Titan Comics in the UK and North America.

The comics are set in the same world as Ben’s Peter Grant/Rivers of London novels and novellas. Want to know how they all fit together, to get the true, complete series story? Check out this handy guide…

Simon R. Green’s BURIED MEMORIES Out Tomorrow in eBook!

Posted on Tuesday, August 31st, 2021

The eBook edition of Simon R. Green‘s tenth Ishmael Jones novel, BURIED MEMORIES, is out tomorrow in the UK and North America! Published by Severn House, here’s the synopsis…

Returning to the small town where he crash-landed in 1963, Ishmael Jones is in search of answers. But his investigation is de-railed by a brutal murder.

“I think something very bad and very dangerous has come to your little town, Inspector…”

As long-buried memories from his hidden past begin to resurface, Ishmael Jones and his partner Penny feel compelled to return to the small country town where Ishmael crash-landed in 1963; the place where his memories began.

Norton Hedley is no ordinary town. Apparitions, sudden disappearances, sightings of unusual beasts: for centuries, the place has been plagued by a series of inexplicable events. Ishmael’s first task is to track down local author Vincent Smith, the one man he believes may have some answers.

Ishmael and Penny aren’t the only ones seeking the mysterious Mr Smith. When their search unearths a newly-dead body in the local mortuary — a body that’s definitely not supposed to be there — Ishmael becomes the prime suspect in the ensuing murder investigation. His only hope of discovering the truth about his origins lies in exposing a ruthless killer.

BURIED MEMORIES is also available now in the UK, in hardcover; the North American hardcover edition is due to be published on October 5th.

Severn House has published all of the Ishmael Jones novels to date, in the UK and North America.

Earlier this year, they also published Green’s first Gideon Sable novel, THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the Ishmael Jones Mysteries have received so far…

‘[A] brisk, breezy first in a new mystery series […] With convincing supernatural twists [and] witty chapter titles […] readers will be anxious for a sequel.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD

‘Genre-blending author Green introduces another wisecracking protagonist, Ishmael Jones […] Fans of the British TV series Torchwood will enjoy the irreverent, otherworldly protagonist.’ — Booklist on THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD

‘A new book from Green is always a treat for SF and urban fantasy fans, because they know that in his fictional worlds things are never quite what they seem until it’s too late. His first foray into more traditional crime fiction (albeit with an otherworldy flavor) will delight mystery readers, especially those who relish a bit of genre blending.’ — Library Journal on THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD

‘Not to be taken too seriously, this meld of SF and traditional hard-boiled spy fiction hints at plenty of further adventures.’ — Publishers Weekly on DEAD MAN WALKING

‘This sequel to the wonderful THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD takes the basic structure of a traditional English country house mystery and mixes it with a bit of supernatural horror and suspense. Richard Kadrey and E.E. Knight fans will particularly relish Green’s genre-blending novel.’ — Library Journal on DEAD MAN WALKING

‘Ishmael is a wonderful character, an extraterrestrial living among humans, and the series (this is the third installment) is a clever mixture of thriller and SF-horror genres. Green is best known for the Deathstalker space operas, but give this one a few more installments to develop, and it could well become Green’s masterwork.’ — Booklist, Starred Review on VERY IMPORTANT CORPSES

‘Entertaining […] Green once again smoothly blends science fiction with classic detection.’ — Publishers Weekly on DEATH SHALL COME

‘Lovers of high-quality fantasy and science fiction should make it a point to seek this guy out, if they haven’t already.’ — Booklist on DEATH SHALL COME

‘This fourth series adventure (after Very Important Corpses) is fast-paced, entertaining, and genre-bending.’ — Library Journal on DEATH SHALL COME

‘Green follows up INTO THE THINNEST OF AIR with this latest blend of SF, mystery, and horror that features the author’s trademark black humor and ratchets up the suspense with a compelling story line reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.’ — Library Journal on MURDER IN THE DARK

‘When some researchers discover what appears to be a black hole that has suddenly manifested itself in Somerset, of all places, secret agent Ishmael Jones is on the case. […] Jones is a very interesting character, a man (?) of many layers, and readers who have been following his adventures will find much to enjoy in this latest escapade. Readers who have not yet made Jones’ acquaintance need to get with the program now.’ — Booklist on MURDER IN THE DARK

‘Fans of the series will be delighted to reconnect with the quick-witted detective and to learn a little bit more about his early days on the planet.’ — Booklist on TILL SUDDEN DEATH DO US PART

‘Fun, fast-paced, light fare that passes almost as quickly as that fatal train ride.’ — Kirkus on NIGHT TRAIN TO MURDER

‘Energetically written, with larger-than-life characters, stories that gleefully push the boundaries of plausibility, and plenty of neck-wrenching plot twists […] SF/fantasy fans who haven’t yet discovered the Jones novels are in for a real treat.’ — Booklist on NIGHT TRAIN TO MURDER

‘A fast, fun supernatural thriller that never takes itself too seriously.’ — Kirkus on THE HOUSE ON WIDOWS HILL

‘This thoroughly entertaining adventure works equally well with series followers and with newbies to the world of Ishmael Jones.’ — Booklist on THE HOUSE ON WIDOWS HILL

Zeno represents Simon R. Green in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

A MAN LIES DREAMING Audiobook Out Next Week!

Posted on Monday, August 23rd, 2021

Next week, W. F. Howes are due to publish the UK audiobook edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s acclaimed, award-winning A MAN LIES DREAMING! Narrated by Andrew Wincott, here’s the synopsis…

1939: Adolf Hitler, fallen from power, seeks refuge in a London engulfed in the throes of a very British Fascism. Now eking a miserable living as a down-at-heels private eye and calling himself Wolf, he has no choice but to take on the case of a glamorous Jewish heiress whose sister went missing. It’s a decision Wolf will very shortly regret. For in another time and place a man lies dreaming: Shomer, once a Yiddish pulp writer, who dreams lurid tales of revenge in the hell that is Auschwitz.

Prescient, darkly funny and wholly original, the award-winning A Man Lies Dreaming is a modern fable for our time.

The novel was recently re-issued in the UK by Head of Zeus; it is available in North America, too, published by JABberwocky.

Here are just a few of the great reviews that A MAN LIES DREAMING has received…

‘Comes crashing through the door of literature like Sam Spade with a .38 in his hand. This is a shocking book as well as a rather brilliant one, and it treats the topic of genocide with a kind of energetic unseriousness… Tidhar’s novel treats its grim theme not as a comedy, although there is plenty of caustic humour, but instead as a pulp-noir tale of seamy city streets, gumshoes and lowlifes… Tidhar gets the outre tone just right: outrageous sex and violence related in a briskly workmanlike style. And Tidhar’s Hitler is a striking reimagination of that endlessly reimagined individual: twisted with hatred, doing good almost by accident… Tidhar, who cut his teeth in the world of genre SF, understands how eloquent pulp can be… [OSAMA] won the World Fantasy award. I wouldn’t be surprised to see A MAN LIES DREAMING repeat that achievement… Like Tarantino, Tidhar may find that some people don’t take him seriously. But the joke’s on them. Seriousness is the least of it: A MAN LIES DREAMING is a twisted masterpiece.’ — Guardian

‘Wild, noir-infused alternative history from genre-bender Tidhar… A wholly original Holocaust story: as outlandish as it is poignant.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review)

‘…savagely funny… A MAN LIES DREAMING, by the Israeli-born novelist Lavie Tidhar, has not been published with the fanfare bestowed on Martin Amis’s The Zone of Interest or Howard Jacobson’s J, but it is their equal for savage humour… Those who enjoy laughter in the dark will relish Tidhar’s parade of mordant ironies… This novel is weird, upsetting, unmissable.’ 5* — Telegraph

‘No one can accuse Lavie Tidhar of being risk-averse… Tidhar reveals – as he did earlier in OSAMA and to some extent in THE VIOLENT CENTURY – that he’s really less interested in the mechanistic ‘‘what-ifs’’ of conventional alternate history than he is in the interpenetration of real and in­vented histories, or perhaps more grandiosely in the interpenetration of art and life – even the often-demeaned art of sensational fiction or (as in the case of THE VIOLENT CENTURY) comic books. This is what makes him such an interesting writer, and what makes A MAN LIES DREAMING quite a bit more complex than it at first appears… the novel is not without a fair amount of humor, and that might well be the boldest risk Tidhar is taking here…’ — Locus

‘The best book I read last year is A MAN LIES DREAMING by Lavie Tidhar, a form of fictional historiography based on a’ what if ‘principle. I love that, if it is done well and intelligently… It sounds ridiculous and it has certainly been written down with a great sense of irony, but at the same time it is so cleverly constructed and such a spectacular conclusion unfolds that you are going to take it all very seriously.’ — Sting (yes, that one) to Volksrant

‘A Chandler-esque mystery… a jarring tale of a grim, gray alternative world… Seldom will readers come across fantasy as well conceived and well written as this exceptional novel.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review)

‘Set during the election of a demagogue who battens on the fears of an underemployed populace threatened by thousands of foreign-born refugees, A MAN LIES DREAMING feels disturbingly prescient. Tidhar holds up a mirror not just to Wolf, but to ourselves. In doing so, he reminds us that even — especially — under the most terrible of circumstances, stories are all we have. And in the right hands, they can be a formidable weapon.’ — Washington Post

Head of Zeus has also published Lavie’s OSAMA and BY FORCE ALONE, and are due to publish THE HOOD in October. Head of Zeus also publishes the Tidhar-edited THE BEST OF WORLD SF, VOLUME 1 anthology.

10th Anniversary Edition of Lavie Tidhar’s OSAMA out in Two Weeks!

Posted on Tuesday, August 17th, 2021

In just two weeks, Head of Zeus are due to publish the 10th Anniversary edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s World Fantasy Award-winning novel, OSAMA! In addition to the striking new cover, this edition includes a new introduction and three short stories! Here’s the synopsis…

It’s a rainy day when the woman approaches Joe. He is a private detective and she is looking for someone, as these things often go. Her quarry is the obscure author of a series of pulp novels featuring one Osama bin Laden: Vigilante.

Joe’s quest will take him across the world in search of the writer. And every step of the way – from the backwaters of Laos to Paris and London – he is plagued, by assailants he cannot name, by questions he cannot hope to answer and by ghostly entities he cannot seem to shake.

Joe knows how the story should end, but even he is not ready for the truths he will find in New York and atop a quiet hill above Kabul, nor for the choice he will have to make there…

Here are just a few of the great reviews OSAMA has received since it was first published…

‘He is a political writer, an iconoclast and sometimes a provocateur … OSAMA is a remarkable and ambitious work.’ — China Mieville

‘… deserves to be widely read.’ — Adam Roberts

‘A provocative and fast moving tale that raises good questions not only about the heritage of Al Qaeda, but about the slippage between reality and sensational fiction that sometimes seems to define our own confused and contorted experience of the last couple of decades.’ — Gary K. Wolfe, Locus

‘A roller-coaster ride… [a] fabulous opium-soaked political thriller… pulls out all the stops.’ — Rolling Stone (Germany)

‘Moving seamlessly between intense realism and equally intense surrealism, OSAMA is a powerful and disturbing political fantasy by a talent who deserves the attention of all serious readers.’ — Strange Horizons

‘I would make this required reading.’ — SF Signal

‘OSAMA is written with both an obvious affection for genre fiction and a sense of wild-eyed disbelief at the insanity of a world where people fly planes into skyscrapers. 4.5/5 stars.’ — SFX

‘Offers perhaps the weirdest fictional take yet on Osama Bin Laden in this offbeat and enigmatic thriller.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘OSAMA is exceptional. Compelling, confrontational, and surprisingly moving, it is one of the best novels yet on terror in our times.’ — World Literature Today

Head of Zeus also publishes Tidhar’s acclaimed BY FORCE ALONE, the first novel in his Anti-Matter of Britain Quartet. The second novel in that series, THE HOOD, is due to be published October.

BY FORCE ALONE is also available in North America, published by Tor Books.

Check out the Covers for MONDAY, MONDAY #3!

Posted on Monday, August 16th, 2021

Next month, Titan Comics are due to publish the third issue in Ben Aaronovitch and Andrew Cartmel‘s RIVERS OF LONDON: MONDAY, MONDAY! With artwork by José Maria Beroy, the issue is available with three different covers, here’s the synopsis…

A werewolf is on the loose in London and will stop at nothing to avoid capture!

An unmissable new era in the life of detective wizard, Peter Grant!

MONDAY, MONDAY is the ninth Rivers of London comic story-arc, all of which are published by Titan Comics in the UK and North America.

The comics are set in the same world as Ben’s Peter Grant/Rivers of London novels and novellas. Here’s a handy timeline, to help you read everything in order…

Simon R. Green’s BURIED MEMORIES Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, July 29th, 2021

We’re happy to report that the UK hardcover edition of Simon R. Green‘s tenth Ishmael Jones novel, BURIED MEMORIES, is out now! Published by Severn House, here’s the synopsis…

Returning to the small town where he crash-landed in 1963, Ishmael Jones is in search of answers. But his investigation is de-railed by a brutal murder.

“I think something very bad and very dangerous has come to your little town, Inspector…”

As long-buried memories from his hidden past begin to resurface, Ishmael Jones and his partner Penny feel compelled to return to the small country town where Ishmael crash-landed in 1963; the place where his memories began.

Norton Hedley is no ordinary town. Apparitions, sudden disappearances, sightings of unusual beasts: for centuries, the place has been plagued by a series of inexplicable events. Ishmael’s first task is to track down local author Vincent Smith, the one man he believes may have some answers.

Ishmael and Penny aren’t the only ones seeking the mysterious Mr Smith. When their search unearths a newly-dead body in the local mortuary — a body that’s definitely not supposed to be there — Ishmael becomes the prime suspect in the ensuing murder investigation. His only hope of discovering the truth about his origins lies in exposing a ruthless killer.

BURIED MEMORIES is due to be published in eBook on September 1st (UK and North America); and in hardcover in North America on October 5th.

Severn House has published all of the Ishmael Jones novels to date, in the UK and North America.

Earlier this year, they also published Green’s first Gideon Sable novel, THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the Ishmael Jones Mysteries have received so far…

‘[A] brisk, breezy first in a new mystery series […] With convincing supernatural twists [and] witty chapter titles […] readers will be anxious for a sequel.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD

‘Genre-blending author Green introduces another wisecracking protagonist, Ishmael Jones […] Fans of the British TV series Torchwood will enjoy the irreverent, otherworldly protagonist.’ — Booklist on THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD

‘Not to be taken too seriously, this meld of SF and traditional hard-boiled spy fiction hints at plenty of further adventures.’ — Publishers Weekly on DEAD MAN WALKING

‘This sequel to the wonderful THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD takes the basic structure of a traditional English country house mystery and mixes it with a bit of supernatural horror and suspense. Richard Kadrey and E.E. Knight fans will particularly relish Green’s genre-blending novel.’ — Library Journal on DEAD MAN WALKING

‘Ishmael is a wonderful character, an extraterrestrial living among humans, and the series (this is the third installment) is a clever mixture of thriller and SF-horror genres. Green is best known for the Deathstalker space operas, but give this one a few more installments to develop, and it could well become Green’s masterwork.’ — Booklist, Starred Review on VERY IMPORTANT CORPSES

‘Entertaining […] Green once again smoothly blends science fiction with classic detection.’ — Publishers Weekly on DEATH SHALL COME

‘Lovers of high-quality fantasy and science fiction should make it a point to seek this guy out, if they haven’t already.’ — Booklist on DEATH SHALL COME

‘This fourth series adventure (after Very Important Corpses) is fast-paced, entertaining, and genre-bending.’ — Library Journal on DEATH SHALL COME

‘Green follows up INTO THE THINNEST OF AIR with this latest blend of SF, mystery, and horror that features the author’s trademark black humor and ratchets up the suspense with a compelling story line reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.’ — Library Journal on MURDER IN THE DARK

‘When some researchers discover what appears to be a black hole that has suddenly manifested itself in Somerset, of all places, secret agent Ishmael Jones is on the case. […] Jones is a very interesting character, a man (?) of many layers, and readers who have been following his adventures will find much to enjoy in this latest escapade. Readers who have not yet made Jones’ acquaintance need to get with the program now.’ — Booklist on MURDER IN THE DARK

‘Fans of the series will be delighted to reconnect with the quick-witted detective and to learn a little bit more about his early days on the planet.’ — Booklist on TILL SUDDEN DEATH DO US PART

‘Fun, fast-paced, light fare that passes almost as quickly as that fatal train ride.’ — Kirkus on NIGHT TRAIN TO MURDER

‘Energetically written, with larger-than-life characters, stories that gleefully push the boundaries of plausibility, and plenty of neck-wrenching plot twists […] SF/fantasy fans who haven’t yet discovered the Jones novels are in for a real treat.’ — Booklist on NIGHT TRAIN TO MURDER

‘A fast, fun supernatural thriller that never takes itself too seriously.’ — Kirkus on THE HOUSE ON WIDOWS HILL

‘This thoroughly entertaining adventure works equally well with series followers and with newbies to the world of Ishmael Jones.’ — Booklist on THE HOUSE ON WIDOWS HILL

Zeno represents Simon R. Green in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Digital Audio Edition of SPOOK COUNTRY Out Tomorrow in the UK!

Posted on Wednesday, July 21st, 2021

Tomorrow, W. F. Howes are due to publish William Gibson‘s latest new UK audiobook: SPOOK COUNTRY! The second novel in Gibson’s Blue Ant series, it follows PATTERN RECOGNITION (out now) — both novels in the series are narrated by Bronwen Price. Here’s the synopsis…

Spook Country — a gripping spy thriller by William Gibson, best-selling author of Neuromancer.

In New York, a young Cuban called Tito is passing iPods to a mysterious old man. Such activities do not go unnoticed, however, in these early days of the War on Terror, and across the city, an ex-military man named Brown is tracking Tito’s movements. Meanwhile in LA, journalist Hollis Henry is on the trail of Bobby Chombo, who appears to know too much about military systems for his own good. With Bobby missing and the trail cold, Hollis digs deeper and is drawn into the final moves of a chilling game played out by men with old scores to settle…

Those looking to buy a physical version of the audiobook (CD or MP3 CD, for example), will have to wait a little bit longer — that edition will be available on November 1st.

W. F. Howes has also published the UK audiobook editions of NEUROMANCER, PATTERN RECOGNITION, DISTRUST THAT PARTICULAR FLAVOR, and THE DIFFERENCE ENGINE (co-authored by Bruce Sterling).

Grady Hendrix’s THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP is Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Tuesday, July 13th, 2021

Grady Hendrix‘s highly-anticipated new novel, THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP is out today in the UK! Published by Titan Books, here’s the synopsis…

In horror movies, the final girl is the one who’s left standing when the credits roll. The one who fought back, defeated the killer, and avenged her friends. The one who emerges bloodied but victorious. But after the sirens fade and the audience moves on, what happens to her?

Lynnette Tarkington survived a massacre twenty-two years ago, and it has defined every day of her life since. And she’s not alone. For more than a decade she’s been meeting with five other final girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, putting their lives back together, piece by piece. That is until one of the women misses a meeting and Lynnette’s worst fears are realized — someone knows about the group and is determined to take their lives apart again, piece by piece.

But the thing about these final girls is that they have each other now, and no matter how bad the odds, how dark the night, how sharp the knife, they will never, ever give up.

While stocks last, the novel is also available as a signed edition with special sprayed edges from Waterstones (red) and Forbidden Planet (black)!

The novel has already picked up a number of great reviews and blurbs pre-publication. Here are just a few of them…

‘A wildly entertaining romp through the conventions of horror’s slasher film subgenre… Hendrix masterfully evokes the paranoid existences of his diverse cast in the aftermath of their traumatic ordeals, and he so explicitly details the massacres and fictional film sagas that grew out of them that readers may believe them to be real. The result is a wonderfully suspenseful and darkly comic novel that cleverly subverts popular culture.Horror fans will be wowed.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘Hendrix presents yet another thought-provoking, fun, and chilling winner.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review)

‘A bloody and grotesque but ultimately entertaining and inspiring take on horror movies, trauma, and self-determination.’ — Kirkus

‘[An] entertaining, fast-paced, and darkly humorous novel that reads like a sequel to a spooky ’80s horror flick.’ — Booklist

‘THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP sizzles with action, originality, and a gleaming concept sharp as a scalpel.’ — Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author

‘Pray for morning, wish for speed, and be as quiet as you can, it doesn’t matter — Grady Hendrix’s THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP already knows where you live and breathe.’ — Stephen Graham Jones, author of The Only Good Indians

‘Take slasher movie adoration, critique, and satire, mix with compelling, flawed characters and neck-breaking plot twists, and drop it all into an industrial blender with large blades. Voilà, you now have Grady’s maniacally clever and compulsively readable The Final Girl Support Group.’ — Paul Tremblay, National bestselling author of Survivor Song

‘A (bloody) valentine to the slasher franchises of the VHS era, but also a smart novel about survivor guilt and the concept of the enduring heroine.’ — Kim Newman, author of Anno Dracula

Zeno represents Grady Hendrix in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Deluxe Writers’ Edition of RIVERS OF LONDON: BODY WORK out now!

Posted on Tuesday, July 6th, 2021

The (slightly delayed) Deluxe Writers’ Edition of the first RIVERS OF LONDON: BODY WORK is out today! Published by Titan Comics, it is the first story-arc of Ben Aaronovitch and Andrew Cartmel‘s comic series (set in the same world as Ben’s novels and novellas). With stunning artwork from Lee Sullivan and colours by Luis Guerrero, here’s the synopsis…

CSI meets Harry Potter in this fantastic SPECIAL EDITION graphic novel from Ben Aaronovitch, writer of the bestselling Rivers of London supernatural police procedural crime novel series! This Deluxe Writers’ Edition presents the full script of the graphic novel along with the unlettered, full-color artwork, allowing the reader to read the original script and see the artwork side-by-side.

Grant is part of a very special London police unit. Full-time cop and part time wizard he works on rather unusual crimes – those that involve magic and the general weirdness that permeates London’s dark underbelly.

His latest case begins with a perfectly innocent car on a homicidal killing spree – without a driver. But, before you know it, there’s a Bosnian refugee, the Most Haunted Car in England, a bunch of teenagers loaded on Ketamine and seemingly-harmless wooden bench with the darkest of pasts…

The comic series is still on-going: the eighth story-arc, THE FEY AND THE FURIOUS was recently completed.

The next story-arc in the series — MONDAY, MONDAY — starts tomorrow!

As mentioned at the top, the Rivers of London comic series is based on the characters and world of Ben’s critically-acclaimed, internationally bestselling Peter Grant series of novels and novellas — at the time of writing, there are eight novels and three novellas available.

If you’d like to learn a bit more about the new Deluxe Writers’ Edition of BODY WORK, check out this interview with the authors…