Secondhand Crime Fiction & Thriller Bargain Book Box DSH1002

Secondhand Crime Fiction & Thriller Bargain Book Box

Secondhand Thriller & Mystery Bargain Book Box

Dive into a world of intrigue and suspense with our hand-picked collection of secondhand thrillers and mysteries! Each box offers a fantastic opportunity to discover captivating narratives from acclaimed authors, providing hours of gripping entertainment without breaking the bank. Please note that as these are pre-loved books, they may show signs of their previous adventures, such as cracked spines, creased covers, or some discoloration to the pages, adding to their unique character.

Here's what awaits you in this box:

1. Unnatural Causes by P.D. James
   Commander Adam Dalgliesh investigates a macabre discovery on a lonely Norfolk beach. A severed hand, later identified as a prominent writer's, leads him into a complex web of literary rivalries and dark secrets. Dalgliesh must untangle the intricate motivations of the intellectual elite to uncover the chilling truth behind the crime. This classic whodunit weaves psychological depth with a compelling police procedural.

2. Talking to Strange Men by Ruth Rendell
   A chilling tale unfolds through a series of anonymous, encrypted letters exchanged by two boys playing a dangerous game. When one of the boys vanishes, Inspector Wexford is drawn into their secret world, where fiction and reality blur ominously. Rendell masterfully explores themes of control, obsession, and the dark psychological undercurrents of seemingly innocent games. The tension builds as Wexford races against time, deciphering clues to prevent further tragedy.

3. Raven and Nightingale by Joanne Dobson
   When a rare Edgar Allan Poe manuscript disappears from a historic library, Professor Karen Pelletier finds herself embroiled in a gripping literary mystery. Teaming up with the enigmatic Raven, a reclusive Poe expert, she navigates a treacherous academic world rife with jealousy and ambition. As the search intensifies, Karen uncovers a dark secret linking the missing manuscript to a long-forgotten family tragedy. This intricate puzzle combines meticulous literary detection with compelling character investigation.

4. Time Bomb by Jonathan Kellerman
   A seemingly quiet school field trip erupts in chaos when a car bomb devastates a group of children and their teacher. Dr. Alex Delaware, the brilliant child psychologist, is called in to evaluate the traumatized survivors, but soon finds himself assisting Detective Milo Sturgis on the case. As they delve into the victims' lives, a sinister plot emerges, revealing a conspiracy far more complex and terrifying than mere revenge. Kellerman masterfully combines psychological insight with a gripping criminal investigation.

5. Survival of the Fittest by Jonathan Kellerman
   A shocking quadruple murder rocks the exclusive world of Southern California's intellectual elite, leaving behind a scene of horrifying brutality. Dr. Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis are plunged into an investigation that uncovers disturbing secrets within seemingly perfect lives. As they sift through layers of deception and hidden resentments, the motives behind the brutal killings remain elusive. This chilling thriller explores the dark side of ambition and family dynamics, keeping you on edge until the final reveal.

6. The Journeying Boy by Michael Innes
   A young man, Peter Davies, accompanies his new tutor, a renowned academic, on what seems a routine journey, but soon finds himself caught in a web of elaborate ploys. A series of bizarre and increasingly dangerous incidents suggests Peter is targeted in a sinister plot, culminating in a potential murder. Inspector Appleby soon realizes that this isn't merely a case of youthful misadventure but a calculated plan involving a cunning conspiracy. Innes weaves intellectual puzzles with atmospheric suspense, culminating in a surprising revelation.

7. A Night of Errors by Michael Innes
   When an eccentric academic family gathers for a reunion, an unsettling atmosphere of rivalry and dark secrets pervades their ancestral home. A series of strange accidents and ominous events quickly escalates into a genuine attempt on a guest's life. Inspector Appleby is called to unravel the intricate layers of deception, as he discovers that behind the intellectual facade lies a tangled web of jealousies and hidden agendas. Innes delivers a witty and sophisticated mystery, filled with literary allusions and clever misdirection.

8. Death at the Chase by Michael Innes
   A seemingly tranquil English estate becomes the scene of a perplexing murder during a hunting party, with the notoriously disliked victim leaving a host of potential suspects. Inspector Appleby must navigate the labyrinthine relationships and hidden enmities within the privileged upper class. As he pieces together the elaborate puzzle, Appleby uncovers a scheme far more cunning than initial appearances suggest. This classic whodunit provides an absorbing blend of wit and intricate plotting.

9. An Awkward Lie by Michael Innes
   A bizarre hunting accident in an isolated country estate quickly escalates into something far more sinister than a mere mishap. The victim, known for his eccentricities, leaves behind a trail of perplexing clues and unreliable witnesses. Inspector Michael Innes finds himself amidst a cast of peculiar characters, each harboring their own secrets and suspicions. As the investigation deepens, Innes uncovers a tangled web of deceit and hidden agendas, making it increasingly difficult to discern truth from the awkward lies.

10. The Scold's Bridle by Minette Walters
    The discovery of Mathilda Gillespie's body, locked in her isolated country house with only a scold's bridle around her neck, shocks the local community. Dr. Sarah Blakeney, Mathilda's estranged doctor, becomes entangled in the investigation, uncovering a history of abuse, betrayal, and dark family secrets. As the narrative peels back layers of Mathilda's troubled past, a chilling portrait of a woman driven to extreme measures emerges. Walters masterfully explores themes of victimhood, justice, and the complexities of human relationships in this psychological thriller.

11. The Chinese Assassin by Anthony Grey
    During the turbulent political climate of 1960s China, an unsuspecting foreign correspondent becomes entangled in a dangerous web of international espionage. He stumbles upon a plot involving a highly-trained assassin targeting a prominent political figure, which could ignite catastrophic global conflict. As he races against time to expose the conspiracy, he finds himself a target, navigating the treacherous landscapes of ancient traditions and modern political intrigue. Grey delivers a gripping thriller, rich with historical detail and unrelenting tension.

12. Those Who Walk Away by Patricia Highsmith
    A struggling artist, Rayna, finds herself drawn into the orbit of an alluring but unsettling writer, Judson. Their burgeoning relationship takes a dark turn as Judson's possessiveness and volatile nature become apparent, hinting at a past marked by violence. Highsmith meticulously explores the psychological descent of her protagonist, showing how isolation and manipulation can warp perception. This suspenseful novel delves into the unsettling dynamics of love and control, building towards an inevitable and chilling climax.

13. The Two Faces of January by Patricia Highsmith
    A con artist, Chester MacFarland, and his beautiful young wife, Colette, flee Athens after Chester accidentally kills a detective. They encounter Rydal, a charismatic American drifter, who initially helps them but quickly becomes insidiously entangled in their desperate escape. Highsmith masterfully explores the shifting power dynamics and psychological tension between the trio as they navigate their flight across Europe. This is a chilling study of obsession, paranoia, and the dark impulses that drive human behavior.

14. The Ice House by Minette Walters
    The decomposed body of a man is found submerged in a disused ice house, years after his mysterious disappearance. Three women who live on the remote property, long suspected of his murder, now face renewed scrutiny, having been branded by the villagers for their supposed involvement. Detective Andy Stephenson must untangle a complex web of past events, local prejudices, and the complicated relationships between the women. Walters crafts a masterful psychological thriller, exploring themes of reputation, memory, and the lasting scars of trauma.

15. The Speaker of Mandarin by Ruth Rendell
    Chief Inspector Wexford and his wife Dora embark on a tour of China, a supposedly relaxing holiday. However, Wexford's keen eye for human nature leads him to suspect something deeply amiss within their group. As a series of unsettling events unfold, culminating in a mysterious death, Wexford finds himself unofficially investigating, battling cultural barriers and the opaque nature of the regime. Rendell delivers a compelling mystery that explores the clash of cultures and the pervasive influence of the past.

16. Death of An Expert Witness by P.D. James
    The brutal murder of a forensic biologist, whose body is found in the DNA laboratory of a regional crime unit, sends shockwaves through the scientific community. Commander Adam Dalgliesh is called in to investigate the tight-knit world of forensic experts, where professional rivalries and personal animosities run deep. He must navigate the intricate procedures of the lab and the complex psyche of its inhabitants to uncover a killer hiding in plain sight. James masterfully combines procedural detail with profound psychological insight.

17. Poison in the Pen by Patricia Wentworth
    Miss Maud Silver, the unassuming but shrewd private investigator, receives a series of malicious anonymous letters disturbing a quiet English village. When one of the recipients is found dead, it becomes clear that the poison pen has turned deadly. Miss Silver must meticulously unravel the tangled web of village gossip, hidden resentments, and dark secrets. Wentworth delivers a classic British cozy mystery, rich with atmospheric detail and a satisfying unraveling of clues.

18. The Gazebo by Patricia Wentworth
    Margaret, a young woman suffering from amnesia, is found wandering near a gazebo after a traumatic event. She knows nothing of her past, not even her own name, and finds herself entangled in a sinister plot involving a missing fortune and a dangerous family. Miss Silver is called upon to uncover the truth behind Margaret's amnesia and the sinister forces at play. This gripping mystery combines suspense with emotional depth, as Margaret races to reclaim her memory before the past catches up to her.

19. Sheiks and Adders by Michael Innes
    Inspector Appleby finds himself in the bewildering world of an English university, specifically among its quirky fellows and their peculiar habits. A series of baffling events, including a missing medieval manuscript and strange anonymous notes, ultimately leads to a murder. Appleby must contend with eccentric academics, cryptic clues, and unexpected revelations within this insular world. Innes serves up a delightful intellectual mystery, blending academic satire with a cunningly constructed whodunit.

20. By the Rivers of Babylon by Nelson DeMille
    After a disastrous mission during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, a group of American archaeologists, their plane shot down over the ancient ruins of Babylon, finds themselves caught in a desperate struggle for survival. Hunted by both Iraqi forces and a vengeful terrorist who believes they possess a secret weapon, they must use every ounce of their ingenuity to escape their dire predicament. DeMille delivers an intense, action-packed thriller, blending historical context with high-stakes adventure and relentless pursuit.

21. The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason
    Two Princeton seniors embark on a perilous intellectual journey to decode a mysterious Renaissance manuscript, the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. As their research delves deeper into the text's hidden layers, they uncover a centuries-old secret that could reshape history, but also find themselves targeted by shadowy forces determined to protect it. This intricate thriller blends historical puzzles, literary suspense, and a compelling narrative of dark academic ambition.

22. Private Eyes by Jonathan Kellerman
    A renowned blind psychologist is found brutally murdered, and Dr. Alex Delaware is reluctantly drawn into the case when his former patient, a troubled young woman, becomes the prime suspect. As Alex and Detective Milo Sturgis investigate, they peel back layers of deception, uncovering a complex world of hidden identities, dark desires, and the echoes of past trauma. Kellerman delivers a psychologically intense thriller, expertly weaving together themes of perception, identity, and the elusive nature of truth.

23. The Brethren by John Grisham
    Four federal judges, known as "The Brethren," serving time in a minimum-security prison, concoct a scheme to extort money by listening to fellow inmates' phone calls and using the information for blackmail. Their elaborate plan goes awry when they stumble upon a secret that puts them in the crosshairs of powerful, dangerous forces within the intelligence community. Grisham delivers a quintessential legal thriller, filled with suspense, political intrigue, and his signature pacing, as the stakes escalate for the imprisoned judges.

24. Hare Sitting Up by Michael Innes
    Sir John Appleby is drawn into a baffling case when a renowned falconer disappears and a rare, valuable white gyrfalcon is stolen. The investigation leads him into the insular, often eccentric world of raptor enthusiasts and country estates. As Appleby pieces together clues, he uncovers a conspiracy far more intricate than mere theft. Innes masterfully blends intellectual deduction with a charmingly peculiar setting, revealing a cunning plot beneath the bucolic surface.