{"title":"Gripping Crime and Thriller Books","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom the fast paced and stressful to the laborious and creepy, this is a selection of some of my favourite crime and thriller picks. From feeling personally called out by Five to gasping at the intricate plot twists in the Beautiful Ugly, these books had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"butter","title":"Butter","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCompelling, delightfully weird, often uncomfortable\u003c\/em\u003e PANDORA SYKES\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eUnputdownable, breathtakingly original\u003c\/em\u003e ERIN KELLY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI have been glued to Asako Yuzuki's new novel \u003cem\u003eButter\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e NIGEL SLATER\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA full-fat, Michelin-starred treat\u003c\/em\u003e THE TIMES\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation's imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can't resist writing back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body, might she and Kajii have more in common than she once thought?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eInspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, \"The Konkatsu Killer\", Asako Yuzuki’s \u003cem\u003eButter\u003c\/em\u003e is a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLuscious … I devoured this\u003c\/em\u003e IMOGEN CRIMP\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA salty morsel with one hell of a bite\u003c\/em\u003e ALICE SLATER\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNothing short of ingenious\u003c\/em\u003e INEWS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAmbitious and unsettling\u003c\/em\u003e GUARDIAN\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIt isn’t entirely clear whether to read the novel or devour it\u003c\/em\u003e OBSERVER\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45685824651500,"sku":"9780008679231","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780008679231.jpg?v=1725456820"},{"product_id":"see-how-they-fall-by-rachel-paris-9781869718367","title":"See How They Fall","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSee How They Fall\u003c\/em\u003e by Rachel Paris is a gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The novel masterfully weaves together suspense, intrigue, and unexpected twists, creating a story that is impossible to put down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the quiet town of Ashford, secrets begin to unravel when a mysterious stranger arrives. With each turn of the page, loyalties are tested, alliances are formed, and the past refuses to stay hidden. Rachel Paris paints a vivid picture of complex characters and their intertwined lives, making you question who can truly be trusted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect for fans of psychological thrillers, \u003cem\u003eSee How They Fall\u003c\/em\u003e challenges the reader to solve the puzzle before the final pieces fall into place. With its thrilling plot and richly developed characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46117957042412,"sku":"9781869718367","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781869718367.jpg?v=1737315233"},{"product_id":"beautiful-ugly-by-alice-feeney-9781035053810","title":"Beautiful Ugly","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Her best book yet'\u003c\/em\u003e - Harlan Coben, author of \u003cem\u003eFool Me Once\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe million-copy bestselling Queen of Twists, Alice Feeney, returns with a gripping and deliciously dark thriller about marriage . . . and revenge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAuthor Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGrady calls his wife as she's driving home to share some exciting news. He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by a cliff edge, the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there . . . but his wife has disappeared.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA year later, Grady is still overcome with grief and desperate to know what happened to Abby. He can't sleep, and he can't write, so he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible: a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWives think their husbands will change, but they don't. Husbands think their wives won't change, but they do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Magnetic and jaw-dropping'\u003c\/em\u003e - Mary Kubica, bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eLocal Woman Missing\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Unforgettable'\u003c\/em\u003e - Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eWe Begin at the End\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"The Distribution and Logistics Company (TDLC)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46172061696236,"sku":"9781035053810","price":33.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781035053810.jpg?v=1739240744"},{"product_id":"the-book-of-guilt-by-catherine-chidgey-9781776922246","title":"The Book of Guilt","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn a sinisterly skewed version of England in 1979, thirteen-year-old triplets Vincent, Lawrence and William are the last remaining residents of a New Forest home, part of the government’s Sycamore Scheme. Each day the boys must take medicine to protect themselves from a mysterious illness to which many of their friends have succumbed. Children who survive are allowed to move to the Big House in Margate, a destination of mythical proportions, desired by every Sycamore child. Meanwhile, in Exeter, Nancy lives a secluded life with her parents, who never let her leave the house. As the government looks to shut down the Sycamore homes and place their residents into the community, the triplets’ lives begin to intersect with Nancy’s, culminating in revelations that will rock the children to the core. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGradually surrendering its dark secrets, \u003cem\u003eThe Book of Guilt\u003c\/em\u003e is a spellbinding novel from one of our greatest storytellers: a profoundly unnerving exploration of belonging in a world where some lives are valued less than others. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePraise for Catherine Chidgey\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e‘Chidgey again displays her prodigious talent for psychological suspense and minutely evoking past eras . . . Faultless.’ —\u003cem\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘Chidgey is a find.’\u003cem\u003e —Times Literary Supplement\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e‘A lingering, haunting book, which belongs on the shelf with \u003cem\u003eWe Have Always Lived in the Castle \u003c\/em\u003eor \u003cem\u003eMy Brilliant Friend –\u003c\/em\u003e a landmark in the small but potent canon of contemporary novels about unusual girls reckoning with themselves and the world around them.’ —\u003cem\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatherine Chidgey \u003c\/strong\u003eis the author of \u003cem\u003eIn a Fishbone Church\u003c\/em\u003e (1998), \u003cem\u003eGolden Deeds \u003c\/em\u003e(2000), \u003cem\u003eThe Transformation \u003c\/em\u003e(2003), \u003cem\u003eThe Wish Child\u003c\/em\u003e (2016), the 'found novel' \u003cem\u003eThe Beat of the Pendulum\u003c\/em\u003e (2017), \u003cem\u003eRemote Sympathy\u003c\/em\u003e (2020), \u003cem\u003eThe Axeman’s Carnival\u003c\/em\u003e (2022) and \u003cem\u003ePet\u003c\/em\u003e (2023). Her novels have been published to international acclaim and have been shortlisted and won numerous prizes including, the Women’s Prize and, twice, the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction. She lives in Ngāruawāhia and lectures in Creative Writing at the University of Waikato. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Upstart Distribution","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46392788910316,"sku":"9781776922246","price":31.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781776922246.jpg?v=1745383265"},{"product_id":"dear-debbie-by-sourcebooks-9781464266492","title":"Dear Debbie","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom #1\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand global bestselling author Freida McFadden comes a twisted, subversive thriller about a columnist who finally decides to start following her own advice to make men pay for their sins...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA brand new twisted thriller that will have you cheering \"good for her!\" from the #1\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003ebestselling and global sensation Freida McFadden, author of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Housemaid\u003c\/i\u003e!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes, enough is enough…\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDebbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eDear Debbie\u003c\/i\u003e, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eOr at least, she did.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese days, Debbie's life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie's done being the bigger person. She's done being reasonable and practical. It's time to take her own advice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd now it's time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom #1\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand international bestselling author Freida McFadden comes a biting, subversive thriller about what happens when women finally choose to take justice into their own hands – with killer results.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46697903161580,"sku":"9781464266492","price":31.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781464266492.jpg?v=1753844444"},{"product_id":"five-9780008770570","title":"Five","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘Ridiculously good. Razor-sharp, wickedly funny, and darkly thrilling … Unforgettable’ – Chris Whitaker, \u003cem\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eAll the Colours of the Dark\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFive passengers. Five minutes until the next train … five minutes until someone dies.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIt’s 7:01. Someone will die here this morning, at this suburban train station. It will happen in the next five minutes when the 7:06 to London Victoria arrives.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOn a train platform, five strangers unknowingly face a chilling countdown: one of them will die in five minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this gripping tale narrated with a sharp tongue, the five main characters – a child, a mother, a businessman, an old woman, and a gambler – will draw you in with their stories as the clock ticks down. As the train gets closer and closer, we fall in love with the beautiful Sonny who is on the verge of gambling his life away. We pity the furious old Mrs Worth who grew up in a macabre household and so failed at being a mother. We look away from the demonic child Gideon. We judge his mother Emma who must surely be to blame? And we are curiously compelled by the successful and damaged businessman Liam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFive stories. Five minutes until a life ends. In this tense, intriguing drama that explores fate, sacrifice, and the real meaning of life, you will frantically turn the page to see who will survive, and who will be lost …\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for Ilona Bannister:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e‘A furious and tender exploration of family and motherhood’\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePandora Sykes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e‘Richly textured, populated by wonderfully observed, deftly drawn characters … Smart, brave and often very funny’\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarah Haywood, bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eThe Cactus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46934980722924,"sku":"9780008770570","price":28.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/d207879c465975ef8f9ac19a3a77e7f8.jpg?v=1762314536"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/crime-and-thriller-books-that-will-have-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}