Books published by Bookouture

A rambling old house, surrounded by a gorgeous rose garden with an elegant fountain, looks too perfect to be true. But could this beautiful place be the link between a string of peculiar deaths? Sukey Reynolds is photographing the scene of a burglary at Burwell Farm for the police, when she finds herself drawn to the crumbling building and peaceful surroundings. Burwell Farm doesn't grow crops or raise animals, but as a retreat, the owners do make some extraordinary claims about healing the soul… But before Sukey can get too intrigued, she's called to another break-in at the house of a young widow, whose husband spent a great deal of time at… Burwell Farm. Sukey starts to wonder if there is something more sinister going on behind the perfectly manicured lawns… After her police colleagues refuse to take her suspicions seriously, Sukey decides the time has come to do some sleuthing on her own. But who is the thorn in the rose garden? Is it the beautiful receptionist, the gardener with a secret to hide, or perhaps the leader who inspires such devotion? Then someone is murdered in the garden of Burwell Farm while she is there and Sukey realises she has landed herself in deep water. Can Sukey solve the mystery that has blighted this stunning house? And can she catch the killer before they turn on her? A completely addictive murder mystery for fans of P.D. James, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis that will have you hooked from the first page! This book was previously published as Touch Me Not. What readers are saying about Betty Rowlands: 'OMG I loved this book! A proper whodunnit with great characters and a fabulous plot. This reminded me of the Agatha Christie mysteries I used to read as a child… Excited for the next in the series!' Mrs Roadley Reads, 5 stars 'BRILLIANT!... Having read and enjoyed the Melissa Craig series as well, I find the Sukey Reynolds even more engaging and I can't wait to ready more in this series!' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'Yay, a new series by Betty Rowlands and a new heroine to cheer for in Sukey Reynolds. I am a huge fan of this author's books and this one with all its twists and turns is another deliciousbook and series to follow.' NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars 'I really enjoyed this start of a new series by Betty Rowlands… The story had lots of twists and turns and it was hard to put down.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'I really enjoyed this book - it has a great plot, excellent main characters and is a real page turner. I would highly recommend this book.' NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars

The sun breaks through the clouds to shine on a little cottage where a mossy path leads to the front door, but inside something terrible has happened… Police photographer Sukey Reynolds is looking forward to a quiet weekend gardening at home, when she gets a call that there has been a shocking break-in at a local manor house. Once she begins to gather evidence, Sukey realises that this is the latest in a spate of well-crafted burglaries in the Cotswolds. Someone is targeting expensive houses with valuable art collections… Thankfully, the police soon have a suspect in custody. But, during questioning, he suddenly catches a glimpse of Sukey, turns deathly pale and calls out to her. Sukey is sure she has never met this man before… Is this a bizarre joke, or is there a stranger out there who is Sukey's perfect double in every way?Just as Sukey begins to suspect she's being followed, the police are baffled by a spate of local murders. With the body count rising, and the police unsure of where to turn, is Sukey herself a clue in this strange case? Can she unmask the killer before she becomes the next victim? An unputdownable murder mystery for fans of Agatha Christie, Joy Ellis and Faith Martin from the bestselling queen of cozy crime.

Prepare to be captivated by one of the most poignant and heart-warming books you will read this year, perfect for readers who loved One Day in December. Alison's perfect world has fallen apart. Her beloved larger than life mother-in-law, Maggie, has just passed away. Every afternoon they'd talk and laugh over a pot of tea - and Maggie was secretly the glue that held Alison's family together. Now she's trying to figure out a future without her…With a little help from her two best friends, Alison resolves to try and find her happy place and be more Maggie. Vowing to step outside of their comfort zones and make the most of every day, the three women each have their own challenges to overcome in the year ahead - a baby on the way, a romance to save and a much-needed confidence boost.But as Alison finds herself drinking more wine than she ever has in her life and signing up for an extreme sports charity event, she starts to wonder if this is really the change she needed in her life? Or will she re-discover her happiness closer to home?What readers are saying about The Happiness Project:'Magical… I was enchanted from the start… certainly one to engage the emotions… humorous, touching, emotional, and clever… as cozy as a cup of hot tea on a winter's day.' Goodreads Reviewer'A truly fabulous feel good read… a brilliant story of friendship.' Mum Reinvented, 5 stars'A warm, real, wonderful read… truly funny moments… Adelicious read.' NetGalley Reviewer'Heart-warming… moving and inspiring… I absolutely recommended this book.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars'Heart-warming tale about friends, family, and accomplishing your goals.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars'An uplifting tale about friendship, family, and kicking-ass at womanhood even in the midst of insecurities, judgement and everything that life can throw at a mum or mum-to-be in the 21st Century… hilarious… authentic and relatable… warm and enticing.' Jessica Ryn'A stellar novel of friendship, motherhood, and happiness.' Plucked from the Stacks, 5 stars'Full of fun, laughter and a heart-warming storyline right to the end. I recommend this uplifting read.' Goodreads Reviewer

As she opened her eyes and took in her surroundings, a feeling of terror ran through her weakened body. She knew exactly where she was. And she knew exactly what was about to happen to her…When Ella Tate stumbles into Black Rock Falls, her exhausted and bloodied body is a terrifying sight, but not as frightening as the story she has to tell. Ambushed on their way into town when they stopped to help a man by the side of the road, Ella and her friend Sky ran when he pulled a knife on them. But only one of them got away.As Detective Jenna Alton investigates the case, she looks into the history of missing persons in the town, and uncovers more cases - all young people. All stopped on the same stretch of road into town. All vanished without a trace.When a distinctive pink sweater belonging to Sky turns up in Black Rock Falls, Jenna follows the trail to a derelict building on the outskirts of town. But she isn't prepared for what lies behind those doors. Can she stop the killer before more lives are lost?If you like Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter and Rachel Abbott you'll love this nail-biting thriller from D.K. Hood.**Each Kane and Alton book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone** What people are saying about Where Angels Fear:'Absolutely beyond brilliant!!!... A definite must read.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Fast paced and addictive!... The storyline twisted and turned, throwing red herrings out at every opportunity… I read this book so fast I'm sure there was smoke coming from the pages! It had me completely hooked.' Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars'A fast moving thrill ride of a book.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Keeps you guessing till the end. Highly recommend this author.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'This series just keeps getting better… This mystery is full of twists and surprises. Each reveal is more shocking than the last… I can't wait to see what comes next.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'It is no surprise at just how good this novel really is… The pace seemed very fast but all the boxes were checked. It had action and mystery to solve, missing persons and one of the most gruesome storylines imaginable. What a wonderful book.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'I read this in one day… Brilliant plot that keeps you guessing… I love the setting too.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'This book is brilliant! I am so glad I picked it as I hadn't tried this author before… Couldn't put it down until I'd finished.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

A quaint cottage in a pretty Victorian terrace with a neatly tended garden stands quiet and still… but inside the bedroom a woman lies dead upon the floor.Sukey Reynolds is enjoying a quiet period at work, taking time to get her garden in hand, catch up on some cooking and spend time with her son. Murder is the last thing on her mind…But when she is called to the charming Ivy House to photograph the dead body of a young woman, Sukey feels compelled to drop everything and do all she can to shed light on this baffling mystery. And whilst collecting evidence at a nearby hotel which had a break-in around the same time as the murder, she starts to wonder if the two cases might be linked.The manager just happened to let slip that one of her guests went white as a sheet after reading about the death and disappeared shortly afterwards. The very same guest whose room was broken into… Sukey has a shrewd suspicion about who this man might be, and she fears he too could be in danger.Although she voices her theories, her detective colleagues are in no mood for any more of her amateur sleuthing. Sukey realises that if she wants to pursue her lead, she'll have to do it alone. When Sukey agrees to a secret meeting by a remote river, has she made a terrible mistake? Has the killer lured her into the woods and into a trap?If you love novels by Agatha Christie, Faith Martin or Joy Ellis, then this addictive mystery from the bestselling queen of cozy crime will have you hooked from the very first page!This book was previously published as Dirty Work. What readers are saying about Betty Rowlands:'Riveting, can't put it down! I love this story… a wonderfully twisted tale of a crime that has more twists than I thought possible... fantastic.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars'It was unwise of me to begin this book in late afternoon because it held me to the pages until I finished it!... diabolical twists and red herrings… addictive!' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars'OMG I loved this book! A proper whodunnit with great characters and a fabulousplot. This reminded me of the Agatha Christie mysteries I used to read as a child… Excited for the next in the series!' Mrs Roadley Reads, 5 stars'BRILLIANT!... Having read and enjoyed the Melissa Craig series as well, I find the Sukey Reynolds even more engaging and I can't wait to ready more in this series!' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars'Yay, a new series by Betty Rowlands and a new heroine to cheer for in Sukey Reynolds. I am a huge fan of this author's books and this one with all its twists and turns is another delicious book and series to follow.' NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars

A body is found near a picture-perfect Cotswolds village… but the upstanding local residents couldn't possibly be involved, could they? Murder is the very last thing on Melissa Craig's mind when one of her neighbours pops in to complain loudly about a minor local robbery. She's far too busy thinking about her next book…But when the evening paper lands, there is a shocking headline. A young woman's body has been found in the nearby woods, and it seems the local robbery may offer a crucial clue. Suddenly the whole village is talking about the murder, but none of Melissa's neighbours have come forward to say they know who the victim is. Convinced that the police have got the wrong end of the stick, Melissa can't resist doing some more digging. When she finds a photograph of the dead girl at her former family home, she realises this is the clue she needs, if only she can find out who took the picture… Melissa finds an exciting new lead and rushes to follow it. But might she be walking into a trap? Can she work out the truth before she puts herself in harm's way? If you love novels by Joy Ellis, Faith Martin or Agatha Christie, you won't be able to put down this twisty murder mystery! This book was previously published as The Cherry Pickers. What readers are saying about Betty Rowlands:'Hooked from the first pages… wonderful… fascinating, full of twists and turns… kept me guessing till the end.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Brilliant… I read this book in one sitting and could not put it down. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.' NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars'An absolutely addictive, wonderful story. Loved it from start to finish. Great pace and a delightful setting, colourful characters and thrilling mystery. This was a brilliant story and I cannot wait for more!' Renita D'Silva, author of The Forgotten Daughter, 5 stars

An addictive and jaw-dropping dystopian story, perfect for fans of Bella Forrest, The Hunger Games and Divergent. Discover a world torn apart by storms under the grip of an evil organisation, and one girl who discovers a secret that will change everything…The existence of 15-year-old Alice Davenport is Paradigm Industries' biggest secret.Decades ago, after fierce storms ravaged the earth, Alice was one of the first to help establish Paradigm Industries' new world order: in which no one can leave the Barricades, and every trace of the past was destroyed. The whole Community believes she died an Industry hero.But Alice refused to live under Paradigm's cruel laws.Alice was punished.And Alice is alive.Sentenced to permanent cryonic sleep in the Catacombs, Alice has been frozen for years… until now. With the Industry wanting her dead, Alice is on the run - helped by Carter Warren, Industry loyalist turned secret rebel. But as they make their escape, they uncover a shocking secret.Paradigm Industries have devastating plans for the future, which threaten to tear the world apart. Those living outside the Barricades will be permanently destroyed. With Alice and Carter the only hope for humanity, can they find the strength to finally defeat the Industry?The Storm Girl's Secret is the thrilling conclusion to the Paradigm trilogy. Discover Alice's heart-pounding story today.Readers are addicted to the Paradigm trilogy:'I absolutely raced through this story, it grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go… need to know what happens next!... compelling and powerful!... The pages are filled with secrets, surprises, danger and intrigue… I was sat bolt upright reading… so many tense moments that at times I felt as if I was holding my breath!... completely pulled me in!' Rae Reads, 5 stars'SO IN LOVE with this book!!! Thumbs up for sure! A must read.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'The Rising Storm is an amazing read! Action filled to the core! It was so engaging right from the beginning. The writing was intense, and the characters were well developed! Hands down, I would recommend this book!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'The storyline had me hooked and there were twists and turns that I wasn't expecting… I was just swept away with the plot line… The Girl in the Storm is an addictive read that will have you abandon your plans.' Katie's Book Cave