The Bespoke Hitman

Sometimes robbing a bank can become a lot more dangerous than you planned. Halloween night. Belfast city centre. In the freezing, pelting rain, three men in wolf costumes decide to rob a bank. Everything goes awry for the bank robbers when the security systems do not run the way they expect! About to flee empty handed, the youngest of the trio, Brian, confronts a customer who is gripping a large briefcase. The man, tall and very muscular strikes an intimating figure, and is not about to give up the briefcase easily. He is knocked over the head with a gun by Brian and falls into unconsciousness, his briefcase removed. Back at base, the three are initially despondent at lack of success, until they open the briefcase. Over half a million pounds is inside. They can't believe their luck. But why is the media reporting an attempted robbery instead of an actual one? And why no mention of the customer being assaulted? Mystery and intrigue follow and an exciting story unfolds in this crime thriller.

Atmospheric, all-new crime fiction set in this Northern Ireland city—from Lee Child, Arlene Hunt, Steve Cavanagh, Gerard Brennan, and more. During the decades of the Troubles, Belfast was plagued with riots, bombings, and other violence, and armored vehicles patrolled the streets—a daily darkness that is reflected in the personality of the city. New York Times–bestselling author Lee Child calls it “the most noir place on earth.” This collection of short stories in the “acclaimed noir series” provides not only a compelling read for fans of mystery and suspense and an opportunity to discover some new must-read authors, but a portrait of the moody, murderous history of Belfast (Publishers Weekly). Featuring brand-new stories by Glenn Patterson, Eoin McNamee, Garbhan Downey, Lee Child, Alex Barclay, Brian McGilloway, Ian McDonald, Arlene Hunt, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Claire McGowan, Steve Cavanagh, Lucy Caldwell, Sam Millar, and Gerard Brennan “The works are short, allowing readers to savor each snippet or devour the entire compelling book in a day, depending on just how deliciously gloomy they’re feeling.” —Shelf Awareness (starred review) “All the stories are compelling and well executed . . . Great writing for fans of noir and short stories, with some tales close to perfection.” —Library Journal (starred review) “The choices made by editors McKinty and Neville celebrate lowlifes, convicts, hookers, private eyes, cops and reporters, and, above all, the gray city at the heart of each story.” —Kirkus Reviews

Ricardo Torralba and August Morrison don’t agree on much besides the fact that they hate each other. According to Ricardo, August is a spoiled brat who really needs to knock off the sass once in a while. August insists that Ricardo needs a sense of humor, a good lay, or a well-placed bullet. Maybe all three. Fortunately, the assassin’s profession is a solitary one, and they can go about their lives without getting in each other’s way. Usually. When a contracted hit turns out to be a setup for both of them, they narrowly escape with their lives. Now, even if they don’t like it (spoiler: they don’t), August and Ricardo have to work together if they want a shot at survival. In between firefights and questionable interrogation methods as they hunt down their would-be killer, the cranky assassins discover that under all that mutual loathing is a spark of chemistry they can’t ignore. They want to ignore it, they probably should ignore it, but August can’t help flirting to annoy Ricardo, and Ricardo can think of at least one way to shut him up for a while. But they need to focus, damn it, and figure out who’s gunning for them and why. Assuming they don’t kill each other first. Hitman vs Hitman is a standalone* gay romantic suspense featuring two men who’d rather chew glass than fall for each other, a whole lot of inappropriate comments, and some buttons that will need resewing. * Okay, it was supposed to be a standalone, but August and Ricardo refused to be contained, so now they have a sequel, Sniper vs Spotter. Fans of L.J. Hayward and Alice Winters will love this assassin duo featuring a grumpy special forces veteran and the irreverently sunshine billionaire who drives him up a wall. Come for the enemies to lovers, stay for the feels. And explosions.

Zahra What would you do if you found out that your fiancé cheated on you the night before your wedding with a reality tv exotic dancer? What if you found out that they'd had a threesome with your best friend, who was also your maid of honor? What if you discovered all of this on the morning of your wedding with a camera for your own reality tv show pointing at your face? Let me tell you what I do. I punch her. I punch him. And then I run away to Italy on what should have been my honeymoon alone, with my ex's stolen credit cards. I just want to drink all the wine and cry myself to sleep at night, but I can't even do that in peace. Giulio I deserve this holiday. I worked hard for it. I killed for it. Literally. But the woman next door won't stop crying and it's keeping me awake at night. When I go to confront her... Well, let's just say things don't go to plan. Not that I'm complaining. And I know my life is chaotic, but even I can't predict the armed man who shows up to kill me or the fact that I've somehow ended up on the run with the weepy goddess from the penthouse suite. It's a mistake to bring Zahra along, but I want to keep her safe. I want to keep her with me. Also, try as I might, I can't tell her no and mean it. Besides, I'm beginning to suspect that I might have the guns, but I'm not running this show; she is, and she's damn sexy while doing it. CONTENT WARNINGS Mentions of domestic abuse Mentions of child abuse Murder Shooting deaths

The Devil's estranged son, Z, has built a thriving business around hallucinations and nightmares. But the world has changed and he needs a different angle. In a conversation with a leading underworld vlogger, Z comes up with a confession and unresolved issues come the fore.

From two bestselling authors—the first in a deliciously bold new series that takes readers to the most dangerous edge of desire . . . Nikolai: I have been a contract killer since I was a boy. For years I savored the fear caused by my name, the trembling at the sight of my tattoos. The stars on my knees, the marks on my fingers, the dagger in my neck, all spoke of danger. If you saw my eyes, it was the last vision you’d have. I have ever been the hunter, never the prey. With her, I am the mark and I am ready to lie down and let her capture me. Opening my small, scarred heart to her brings out my enemies. I will carry out one last hit, but if they hurt her, I will bring the world down around their ears. Daisy: I’ve been sheltered from the outside world all my life. Home-schooled and farm-raised, I’m so naive that my best friend calls me Pollyanna. I like to believe the best about people. Nikolai is part of this new life, and he’s terrifying to me. Not because his eyes are cold or my friend warns me away from him, but because he’s the only man who has ever seen the real me beneath the awkwardness. With him, my heart is at risk . . . and also, my life.

A dying century. A killing presence. Present day: Nathan Jacob's life is coming apart. His adoptive father has passed away, leaving him grief-stricken. His only companion is his best friend, for whom he is falling more deeply every day. But Nathan is grappling with other demons: things half-formed and dark. Things that link him, somehow, to a series of horrific murders from the pages of history. 1890: Sergeant George Frohmell of the Dublin Metropolitan Police is running out of time. His city has become the hunting ground of a monster who preys on prostitutes and leaves them butchered in back alleys. As the bodies mount and the politics of Victorian Ireland come to the fore, Sergeant Frohmell must find his man – or lose everything.