Two mysteries in one volume featuring the investigating journalist, from the Diamond Dagger Award-winning author. Final Edition When Alison Maxwell, a well-known Glaswegian journalist with an irresistible sexual attraction to both sexes, is found murdered, the police look no further than the owner of the scarf used to strangle her. Reporter Lindsay Gordon, however, suspects there’s more to the story. Maxwell was a serial seductress who kept a secret record of her encounters, including one with Lindsay herself. Recalling the threats that followed the end of the relationship, Lindsay knows all too well the feelings of rage, fear, and passion that Alison Maxwell could invoke—and she will be stepping into a sordid world of lies to solve the case. “Compelling characters [and] a mystery that is profoundly twisted.”—Bay Area Reporter Union Jack When unethical union leader Tom Jack falls to his death from the window of Lindsay Gordon’s tenth-floor hotel room after a spectacularly public row between the two of them, it seems the only way to prove her innocence is to find the real culprit. But that will requireuncovering a seething cauldron of blackmail, corruption and abuse of power, all brought to the boil by her investigation. “A wonderful read?thrilling, scary and funny.”?Evening Standard (UK)

This classic book is a powerful indictment of contemporary attitudes to race. By accusing British intellectuals and politicians on both sides of the political divide of refusing to take race seriously, Paul Gilroy caused immediate uproar when this book was first published in 1987. A brilliant and explosive exploration of racial discourses, There Ain’t No Black in the Union Jack provided a powerful new direction for race relations in Britain. Still dynamite today and as relevant as ever, this Routledge Classics edition includes a new introduction by the author.

The first full-length study of its type highlighting over 400 British literary detectives, many famous through their film and TV adaptations. Using essays to highlight different types of detectives and focusing on some of the more famous such as Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Morse, popular crime fiction writer and former President of Britain's Crime Writers Association, Russell James celebrates the role of the detective in British fiction. Illustrations include original film posters and first edition covers from classic detective fiction. Future books by Russell James in this series will include Great British Fictional Villains and US Fictional Detectives and Villains.

Deciding what to read next when you've just finished an unputdownable novel can be a daunting task. The Bloomsbury Good Reading Guide features hundreds of authors and thousands of titles, with navigation features to lead you on a rich journey through some the best literature to grace our shelves. This greatly expanded edition includes the latest contemporary authors and landmark novels, an expanded non-fiction section, a timeline setting historical events against literary milestones, prize-winner and book club lists. An accessible and easy-to-read guide that no serious book lover should be without. "The essential guide to the wild uncharted world of contemporary and 20th century writing." Robert McCrum, The Observer

A woman digs up a buried treasure—and a buried body—in the Scottish Highlands: “There are few other crime writers in the same league.”—Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post Six feet under in a Highland peat bog lies Alice Somerville’s inheritance, buried by her grandfather at the end of World War II. But when Alice finally uncovers it, she finds an unwanted surprise—a body with a bullet hole between the eyes. Meanwhile, DCI Karen Pirie is dealing not only with this cold case but with a domestic violence case, and as as she gets closer to the truth, it becomes clear that not everyone shares her desire for justice. Or even the idea of what justice is. An engrossing, twisty thriller, Broken Ground is an outstanding entry in this Diamond Dagger-winning author’s “superior series” (The New York Times Book Review). “As always, McDermid’s story lines are as richly layered as her protagonist.”—Publishers Weekly “One of the best things about this series is the details of Karen's working life, the obstacles as well as the satisfactions, and the small pleasures of her off hours.”—Kirkus Reviews

A must-read collection of stories by Scottish crime writer Val McDermid, “one of the bright lights of the mystery field” (The Washington Post). Val McDermid’s novels have won the Los Angeles Times Book of the Year Award and the Crime Writers’ Association’s Gold Dagger and Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for outstanding achievement. Enjoyed by millions of fans worldwide, her intelligent, incisive crime fiction showcases the best and worst of human nature. Here it is now, distilled into a superb collection of nineteen nail-biting, perfectly plotted short stories, including two featuring private eye Kate Brannigan and a foreword by Ian Rankin. “McDermid is as smooth a practitioner of crime fiction as anyone out there . . . She’s the best we’ve got.” —The New York Times Book Review

In one volume, the first two mysteries featuring a journalist who investigates murder, from the Diamond Dagger winner known as “Britain’s Queen of Crime” (The Times). From the Edgar Award-nominated author of the DCI Karen Pirie series, this two-in-one volume includes: Report for Murder Self-proclaimed cynical socialist-lesbian-feminist and freelance journalist Lindsay Gordon is strapped for cash. Why else would she agree to cover a fund-raising gala at a girls’ public school? But when the star attraction is found garroted with her own cello string moments before she is due on stage, Lindsay finds herself investigating a vicious murder. “A timeless mystery, well-plotted with crisp dialogue and solid characterization.”―Orlando Sun-Sentinel Common Murder When her former lover is accused of murder—at a women’s peace protest, no less—Lindsay must bring all of her expertise as an investigative reporter into play—and uncovers a truth even she can scarcely believe. “McDermid’s snappy, often comic prose keeps the story humming.”―Publishers Weekly