Showing results by author "M.J. Arlidge" in All Categories

On a sullen, cloudy July day ten years since 7/7, the happy, confident and optimistic British Prime Minister is visiting a charity in East London. It's just two months after the general election which saw John Campbell's government returned to power with a clear majority, the economy is on the mend and the coalition is fast becoming a bad memory. Suddenly, a man appears out of the crowd and shoots him three times in the chest.

Helen Grace is sure she made the right decision quitting her job as a detective. Until the day she looks out of her window to see a desperate young woman being pursued by two vicious thugs. Still a force to be reckoned with, Helen races into the night, swiftly downing the young woman's attackers. For a moment, it feels like Helen doesn't need her badge to do good, but as she leads her charge to safety, she's struck from behind, regaining consciousness just in time to see the terrified woman being driven off in a white van.

A woman's body lies in the road. At first it looks like a tragic accident. But when Helen Grace arrives on the scene it's clear she's looking at a coldblooded killing. But why would anyone target a much-loved wife and mother?

When 3-month-old Max is abducted, his parents are plunged into their worst nightmare. Devastated mum Sarah only took her eyes off him for a second, but that doesn't stop her guilt. Even husband Jake can't hide his anger that their little boy went missing on her watch. By contrast there are smiles and celebration at a caravan park in Lincolnshire, as baby Blaze is introduced to the Star family. Jenna and Gary are delighted with the new addition to their family. But trouble is brewing for the Star family.

Those are the only words on the phone call. Then they hang up. Surely, a prank? A mistake? A wrong number? Anything but the chilling truth... That someone is watching, waiting, ready to take your life in one hour. But why The job of finding out falls to DI Helen Grace: a woman with a track record in hunting killers. However, this is one case where the killer seems to always be one step ahead of the police and the victims. With no motive, no leads, no clues - nothing but pure fear - an hour can last a lifetime....

Pete never wanted another child. Before baby Erin was born, they were happy. If Natalie hadn't got pregnant, he would never have done what he did. Natalie knows things have been difficult since the surprise arrival of Erin. Life with Pete and their two other children—Emily and Zadie—has been balancing on a knife-edge. Now their home is full of guests at a party Natalie didn't want to throw—and she's about to reach breaking point. But so is her family. Because everyone has a secret that they've been hiding and when Erin suddenly disappears everyone becomes a suspect.

Things have been difficult for Annie since her husband left; her teenage daughter, Isla, has become a ghost of her former self. Annie's terrified that Isla might hurt herself, and she'll lose her, too. So when Annie receives a video of herself crying at Isla's funeral, she's immediately sick to her stomach. Confused and horrified, Annie races upstairs to check on Isla, who is perfectly alive and well. The video has been faked. But who sent it and what do they want?

When Jennie Whitmore arrives at her school reunion, she immediately regrets her decision. Why would she choose to surround herself with people who were never nice to her? Who still aren't, even now she's a police officer? The only person who truly looked out for her all those years ago was charming, beautiful Hannah. Until the day she disappeared. Jennie is ready to finally put White Cross Academy behind her, the old school building demolished the morning after the party. But with the demolition comes a call: a teenage girl's remains have been found on the grounds.

A gang war grips the city, and the police force is under fire from all sides. But Detective Inspector Helen Grace defies direct orders as she becomes drawn to the case of a missing teenager. Naomi's mother is desperate for help - and Helen is her only hope. Keeping the investigation secret, she finds a disturbing trail of questions - and more who have vanished off the streets... Sometimes, the truth hides in plain sight. But proving it is another matter entirely. The clock is ticking - and the only person looking for Naomi is about to meet her match.

Only nine criminals in the UK have been granted lifelong anonymity. Their crimes so heinous that their identities are permanently changed for their own safety. Upon release, they're given a second chance: new identities and new homes with new neighbours who have no idea. Because, by law, they cannot be named as who they are - or were... But what if someone started systematically exposing their true identities? Not to the press, or the public, but to the families of their victims. Who deserves justice? And who gets to decide?

A silent killer stalks the city, targeting those home alone at night—killing without pity or remorse. As panic spreads, Detective Inspector Helen Grace leads the investigation, but is herself a hunted woman, her every step dogged by a ruthless killer bent on revenge. As she tracks the murderer, Grace begins to suspect there is a truly shocking home truth that connects these brutal crimes.

A crimewave sweeps through the city and no one is safe. An arson at the docks. A carjacking gone wrong. A murder in a country park. What connects all these crimes without causes, which leave no clues? Detective Inspector Helen Grace faces the rising tide of cases which threatens to drown the city. But each crime is just a piece of a puzzle which is falling into place. And when it becomes clear just how twisted and ingenious this web of crime is, DI Grace will realise that it may be impossible to stop it.

The body of a middle-aged man is discovered in Southampton's red light district - horrifically mutilated, with his heart removed. Hours later - and barely cold - the heart arrives with his wife and children by courier. A pattern emerges when another male victim is found dead and eviscerated, his heart delivered soon afterwards. The media call it Jack the Ripper in reverse; revenge against the men who lead sordid double lives visiting prostitutes.

Jodie's arriving at her third children's home. She's only 15. Maybe this time will be different. She'll be safe. Looked after. But the truth is Jodie has no one left to protect her. She must defend herself. She must change.

Laat op de avond komt een jonge vader thuis. Zijn dochtertje ligt rustig in haar bedje te slapen, maar die aanblik is een schrijnend contrast met de ravage die hij aantreft in zijn slaapkamer, waar zijn vrouw dood in bed ligt. Op brute wijze is ze om het leven gebracht. Een paar dagen later komt een moeder thuis van een late dienst en treft haar tienerzoon aan in de woonkamer. Vermoord.

Doi ostatici. Un singur glonţ. Doar unul va supravieţui. Sunt suflete-pereche. Vor să-şi petreacă restul vieţii împreună. Însă când se trezesc singuri şi dezorientaţi într-un subsol părăsit, groaza îi copleşeşte. Nu au la dispoziţie decât o armă încărcată cu un singur glonţ şi însoţită de următorul mesaj: „Când unul dintre voi îl va ucide pe celălalt, supravieţuitorul va fi liber". Cine a putut concepe un astfel de scenariu sinistru, în care victimele înseşi comit crima?

Deel 10 van de Helen Grace-serie, verschijnt tegelijk met de Engelstalige editie. Na covid-19 bevindt het land zich in een van de zwaarste -recessies ooit. Nog nooit heeft inspecteur Helen Grace met zo veel geweld en onrust te maken gehad. Voor het eerst in haar leven is ze bang om de controle te verliezen: haar trouwe partner Charlie is met zwangerschapsverlof en tegelijkertijd doet haar collega Joseph Hudson er álles aan om haar het leven zuur te maken.

Er waart iets dodelijks rond in het bos. Eerst moesten de wilde paarden eraan geloven. Nu zijn het onschuldige mannen en vrouwen die worden vermoord door een gedaante zonder gezicht. Verdwaald in het donker proberen ze te vluchten, zich te verstoppen. Wanhopig roepen ze om hulp. Maar er is niemand die ze kan horen... Helen Grace ziet zich geconfronteerd met een nieuwe nachtmerrie. De slachtoffers hangen met pijlen doorboord aan de statige oude eiken in het bos. Waarom worden hulpeloze -vakantiegangers opgejaagd tijdens het campingseizoen? Wat hebben de moorden te betekenen?

Deux jeunes gens sont enlevés et séquestrés au fond d'une piscine vide dont il est impossible de s'échapper. À côté d'eux, un pistolet chargé d'une unique balle et un téléphone portable avec suffisamment de batterie pour délivrer un terrible message : "Vous devez tuer pour vivre." Les jours passent, la faim et la soif s'intensifient, l'angoisse monte. Jusqu'à l'issue fatale. Les enlèvements se répètent. Ce sont les crimes les plus pervers auxquels le commandant Helen Grace ait été confrontée.

Ein perfider Killer kidnappt Paare. Die Opfer wachen orientierungslos auf, gefangen in einem Raum, in dem niemand ihre Schreie hört. Es gibt keine Fluchtmöglichkeit, nur eine Waffe und die Botschaft des Entführers: Entweder sterben beide einen langsamen, qualvollen Tod - oder einer bringt den anderen um und ist frei. Detective Inspector Helen Grace und ihr Team ermitteln fieberhaft, denn die Abstände zwischen den Taten werden kürzer.