In the too-quiet town of Oakwood, only the lucky die of boredom . . . and new homeowner Zack Walker isn’t feeling lucky. Whoever said the burbs were boring will think twice after reading Linwood Barclay’s hilarious debut mystery, in which Dad learns the hard way that he doesn’t always know best. Zack wouldn’t blame you for thinking he’s safety-obsessed. True, he masterminded a plot to trade his family’s exciting city lifestyle for one of suburban tranquillity. True, even after this strategic move, Zack still has issues with family members who forget their keys in the front door, leave their cars unlocked, or park their backpacks at the top of the stairs—where you could kill yourself tripping over them. Just ask his wife, Sarah, or his teenage kids, Paul and Angie, who endure their share of lectures. Zack knows that he needs to chill out and assume the best for once—but we know what happens to those who assume. When Zack realizes their two-faced developer sent a petty thief to fix their leaky shower, he starts fighting hard to ignore the fact that Oakwood isn’t the crime-free paradise he was hoping for. But his brief state of denial comes to an abrupt end when, during a walk by the creek, he stumbles across a dead body. Even more shocking, Zack actually knows who the victim is—and who might want him dead. With a killer roaming around their neighborhood and Zack’s overactive imagination in overdrive, he’s sure things can’t get any worse. But then another local is murdered—and Zack’s paranoid tendencies get him implicated in the crime. While his wife is trying to remember why she married him in the first place, and his kids are considering whether it’s time to have him committed, Zack decides there’s only one thing he can do. To protect his family—and avoid being busted for a crime he didn’t commit—he’s going to have to override his safety-first instincts, tap into his delusions of machismo, and track down the killer himself.

In the bustling heart of Mumbai, Bad Move unfolds a crime thriller that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. It's all about betrayal, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of justice. When chess grandmaster Rajan Krishnamurthy meets his demise, Detective Jimmy Sen and his trusty sidekick, Tej Kumar, jump headfirst into a whirlwind of revenge and deception. But this isn't your average chess match; it's a deadly game played in the shadows. Suspects? Oh, they're aplenty. From family and friends to fellow chess enthusiasts and a peculiar student, everyone's got a piece of this twisted puzzle. As Jimmy and Tej peel back the layers, they unearth a conspiracy that runs deeper than they ever imagined. This debut thriller hooks you with a suspenseful narrative that's got all the classic crime elements. It's got depth, it's got character, and it's got Mumbai as its vivid backdrop. Bad Move isn't just a story; it's an enthralling journey into human ambition and the dark secrets people will do anything to protect. With a plot as intricate as a chessboard, unforgettable characters, and the vibrant setting of Mumbai, this book is a must-read for crime fiction enthusiasts and chess buffs alike. As the pieces fall into place in this deadly game, one thing's crystal clear: in life, just like in chess, every move counts.

The Stonemasons, a beat group in which Ricky Balfour plays bass guitar, has just returned from a tour in the USA. He is the oldest member of the band and is tired of what he considers to be their juvenile sense of humour. When they are eating together in a posh restaurant they start winding him up by insulting his wife and daughter, he snaps and upturns his soup bowl over their manager's head. Soon after that, things start to happen... "What follows is a mystery, involving plenty of drama, with some heartache but also some laughter..."

Recounts the events of a day when everything goes wrong for Alexander. Suggested level: junior, primary.