Secondhand Crime & International Thriller Bargain Book Box DSH1041

Secondhand Crime & International Thriller Bargain Book Box

This gripping collection of twenty-four books spans the globe, taking readers from the canals of Venice and the jungles of the Yucatan to the streets of Victorian London and the borderlands of Ireland. The box features award-winning crime fiction from masters like Michael Robotham, Henning Mankell, and Robert Wilson, alongside the satirical bite of Carl Hiaasen and the classic suspense of Desmond Bagley and Agatha Christie. With a strong selection of Sherlockian mysteries and gritty police procedurals, this set offers a diverse range of investigations for the discerning detective. Each book is secondhand and may show signs of wear.

1. Upon a Dark Night by Peter Lovesey Detective Peter Diamond investigates the death of a young woman found in a car park, only to be told it is a suicide. When a second suicide occurs with strange parallels, Diamond suspects a darker connection involving a pact between strangers. The case challenges his instincts and threatens his career as he fights to prove that murder is hiding in plain sight.

2. The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason Two Princeton students are obsessed with solving the mysteries of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, a notoriously difficult Renaissance text. As they inch closer to decoding the book's secrets, they find themselves targeted by others who are desperate to possess the knowledge it hides. It is an intellectual thriller that combines academic history with modern suspense.

3. Magic by William Goldman Corky represents a new breed of magician, but his success relies heavily on his foul-mouthed ventriloquist dummy, Fats. As Corky’s mental state deteriorates, the line between the man and the wooden doll begins to blur with terrifying consequences. This psychological horror story explores the darkness of schizophrenia and the price of fame.

4. The Golden Keel by Desmond Bagley After World War II, a group of former soldiers plans to smuggle a fortune in gold that was hidden by Mussolini in Italy. They build a boat with a keel made of the melted-down gold to transport it to South Africa, facing betrayal and danger along the way. It is a classic adventure novel focused on logistics, sailing, and the greed of men.

5. Borderlands by Brian McGilloway Inspector Benedict Devlin patrols the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, a landscape scarred by the Troubles. When the body of a teenager is found, Devlin uncovers a history of secrets that the local community is desperate to keep buried. The novel is a moody police procedural that deals with the lingering ghosts of a divided land.

6. Lost by Michael Robotham Detective Inspector Vincent Ruiz is pulled from the Thames with a gunshot wound and no memory of how he got there. He is linked to a missing child case, but his amnesia prevents him from knowing if he is a hero or a villain. Ruiz must retrace his steps through the London underworld to find the girl and clear his name.

7. The Death of Amy Parris by T.R. Bowen In a quiet Welsh valley, the body of an elderly woman is discovered in the river, disrupting the peace of the local community. The investigation peels back the layers of village life to reveal long-held grudges and hidden vices. It is an atmospheric mystery that emphasizes setting and character over fast-paced action.

8. The Marx Sisters by Barry Maitland DS Kathy Kolla and DCI David Brock investigate the death of an elderly woman who is a descendant of Karl Marx. The case leads them into a rarefied world of book collectors and political history in London’s Jerusalem Lane. It is a complex whodunit that mixes police work with historical intrigue and urban development politics.

9. Gallows Lane by Brian McGilloway Inspector Devlin returns to investigate the murder of a former convict who has just been released from prison. As he digs deeper, he finds connections to a local drug ring and a past crime that refuses to stay resolved. The story highlights the difficulties of policing a rural community where family loyalties often outweigh the law.

10. Strip Tease by Carl Hiaasen Erin Grant loses custody of her daughter and turns to stripping to pay for the legal fees to get her back. Her life intersects with a corrupt congressman who becomes infatuated with her, leading to a chaotic mix of blackmail and murder. Hiaasen skewers Florida politics and the sex industry with his trademark biting humor and eccentric characters.

11. The Night Comers by Eric Ambler An engineer working in a Southeast Asian country finds himself trapped in a radio station when a military coup erupts. Caught in the crossfire between rebel forces and the government, he must use his technical skills to survive the siege. It is a tense, claustrophobic thriller about an ordinary man caught in the machinery of revolution.

12. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot's dentist is found dead shortly after the detective’s appointment, in what appears to be a suicide. However, when other patients start dying, Poirot realizes there is a complex conspiracy at work involving high-ranking political figures. The mystery combines a nursery rhyme motif with a plot about identity and national stability.

13. Jemima Shore's First Case by Antonia Fraser This collection of short stories features the glamorous television reporter and amateur sleuth Jemima Shore. From her very first mystery at a boarding school to crimes in high society, the tales showcase her sharp wit and investigative talent. It offers bite-sized puzzles that explore the darker side of the British upper class.

14. His Last Bow by Arthur Conan Doyle This volume collects several Sherlock Holmes stories, including the titular tale set on the eve of World War I. It features the great detective coming out of retirement to outwit a German spy, demonstrating his enduring brilliance. The collection also includes classics like "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box" and "The Bruce-Partington Plans."

15. The Last Sherlock Holmes Story by Michael Dibdin Sherlock Holmes is called upon to investigate the brutal Whitechapel murders attributed to Jack the Ripper. As the body count rises, Dr. Watson begins to suspect a terrifying connection between the killer and his brilliant friend. This controversial novel reimagines the Holmes canon with a dark, psychological twist that questions the nature of the detective's genius.

16. Fat Ollie's Book by Ed McBain Detective Ollie Weeks is working on a manuscript for a mystery novel when it is stolen from his car, along with his police report on a councilman's murder. He must solve the real crime while frantically trying to recover his fictional masterpiece from a drug addict. It is a humorous and gritty entry in the 87th Precinct series.

17. The Visitor by Lee Child Jack Reacher is coerced by the FBI into helping them catch a serial killer who leaves female victims in bathtubs filled with camouflage paint, with no sign of struggle. Reacher uses his military police background to profile the killer, who seems to be invisible to the authorities. The book is a tense cat-and-mouse game that pits Reacher against a cunning psychopath.

18. The Vivero Letter by Desmond Bagley After his brother is murdered, Jeremy Wheale discovers a connection to an ancient letter and a lost city of gold in the Yucatan jungle. He teams up with two archaeologists to find the treasure, battling the Mafia and the hostile environment. It is an action-packed adventure story rooted in history and greed.

19. Scorpion Signal by Adam Hall British agent Quiller is sent to Moscow to extract a high-ranking asset who has been exposed. The mission is complicated by the presence of a rival intelligence network and the brutal efficiency of the KGB. Hall delivers a cold, professional espionage thriller that focuses on the mechanics of spycraft.

20. Sherlock Holmes in Australia by Ken Methold Holmes and Watson travel to the Australian colonies to rescue a kidnapped opera singer, finding themselves in a land of bushrangers and harsh landscapes. The change of scenery forces Holmes to adapt his deductive methods to the untamed outback. It is a spirited pastiche that places the Victorian detective in a fresh and dangerous environment.

21. The White Tiger by Robert Stuart Nathan Lu Hong is a police investigator in Communist China who begins to uncover corruption within the Party leadership. His probe into the death of a factory worker leads him to the legendary White Tiger, a secret that could topple the government. The novel is a procedural thriller set against the oppressive backdrop of Mao's regime.

22. A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson The narrative weaves together two timelines: the smuggling of wolfram in Portugal during World War II and a murder investigation in late 1990s Lisbon. Inspector Zé Coelho discovers that the death of a young girl is linked to a history of fascism and buried secrets. It is a rich, complex crime novel that won the CWA Gold Dagger award.

23. Firewall by Henning Mankell Inspector Kurt Wallander investigates the sudden death of a man at an ATM and the murder of a taxi driver, finding a link to a cyber-terrorist plot. As he struggles with his own health and disillusionment, he must stop an attack that threatens the global financial system. The book combines a traditional police procedural with modern technological fears.

24. Stormy Weather by Carl Hiaasen In the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, a cast of con artists, scammers, and tourists descend on South Florida to profit from the disaster. Hiaasen weaves their stories together in a savage satire of greed and human folly amidst the wreckage. It is a fast-paced, hilarious novel about the worst of humanity facing the force of nature.