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Thou Shell of Death
Thou Shell of Death
May 10, 2025 6:15 PM

Author:Nicholas Blake

Thou Shell of Death

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BEAST MUST DIE - NOW A BRITBOX SERIES

Fergus O'Brien, a legendary World War One flying ace with several skeletons hidden in his closet, receives a series of mocking letters predicting that he will be murdered on Boxing Day.

Undaunted, O'Brien throws a Christmas party, inviting everyone who could be suspected of making the threats, along with private detective Nigel Strangeways. But despite Nigel's presence, the former pilot is found dead, just as predicted, and Nigel is left to aid the local police in their investigation while trying to ignore his growing attraction to one of the other guests - and suspects - explorer Georgina Cavendish.

A Nigel Strangeways murder mystery - the perfect introduction to the most charming and erudite detective in Golden Age crime fiction.

Reviews

One of the glories of the modern crime fiction field? The deliriously eccentric books by Christopher Fowler . . . this exuberantly written entry is as entertaining as any of its predecessors

—— Barry Forshaw , FINANCIAL TIMES

Clever, funny

—— THE SUN

As always, Fowler does a masterly job of balancing humour with an ingeniously crafted plot. Devoted fans will be more than satisfied.

—— PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred review

Christopher Fowler's writing is exquisite. His deep reverence for - and knowledge of - the dark and lonely pathways trodden by centuries of Londoners is compelling . . . the dialogue sparkles and the jokes are laugh-out-loud.'

—— FULLY BOOKED 2017

There is always room for comic crime capers on the bookshelves of discerning readers, with Christopher Fowler's books having long been on the forefront of the subgenre. Here's to many more tales of our intrepid heroes as they solve seemingly impossible crimes in the most entertaining fashion.

—— CRIMINAL ELEMENT

A heady mixture combining a fast-paced plot with an agglomeration of oddballs that could have been taken from a Monty Python sketch . . . quirky, witty, wonderfully atmospheric and entertaining . . . absolutely brilliant.'

—— REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE

With wholly unlikeable characters and a fast-paced plot, this book will keep you guessing until the last page!

—— Candis

A deliciously dark family drama...Buckle up for a fast-paced drive into the damning and dysfunctional secrets of one family.

—— Magic Radio Book Club

An eerie exploration of desperation and the complexities of maternal love... Sure to be a page-turner

—— Lit Hub (Most Anticipated Books of 2019)

A stunningly evocative debut novel

—— Boston Globe

More than any other Black writer, Richard Wright recognized that understanding Black folks' relationship to the police is central to understanding racism

—— New York Times

An eerie psychological thriller ... with alluring locales, Hitchcokcian tension, and possibly the best pair of female leads since Thelma and Louise

—— BookPage

Bartz takes the idea of a 'frenemy' to new heights in her third thriller, yet another expert vivisection of female modes of communication and competition

—— Los Angeles Times

A chilling, whirlwind thriller

—— Woman's Own

This thriller has a premise that will pique any mystery-loving traveler's interest: two best friends embark on their annual reunion trip, only to have it go murderously awry. Bartz's evocative descriptions of destinations as varied as Chile and Cambodia pulled me in immediately, but it was the way she ratcheted up the tension by dropping clues about the duo's murky past that kept me rapt until the end

—— Travel + Leisure

This smartly written psychological thriller will leave you all tingly

—— Reader's Digest

Bartz, once again, creates a thrilling tale about a friend group in flux

—— OprahDaily.com

The ultimate story of toxic female friendships, a theme Andi Bartz pulls off exquisitely her previous novels. This one is pulse-pounding with secrets, lies, and friends who trust too much

—— CrimeReads.com

Sustains its thriller atmosphere with a well-drawn dynamic between co-dependent friends who alternate from deep trust to vicious suspicion

—— Milwaukee Magazine

We Were Never Here is an observant, suspenseful, and deeply scary novel, a psychological thriller that looks at the tight bonds of friendship and asks where they strangle, where they break

—— Steph Cha, author of Your House Will Pay

We Were Never Here is somehow both cinematic in scope and also claustrophobic and unnerving. It's a novel that explores the dangers that lurk in beautiful places, the manipulation of memories, and the friendship ties that don't just bind us, but can strangle us

—— Tara Laskowski, award-winning author of One Night Gone and The Mother Next Door

I absolutely loved We Were Never Here ... chock-full of twists and turns that surprise and titillate. I was so enthralled, I carried the book around the house, reading as I walked to the kitchen to make some tea and even while folding the laundry. It's been years since I last read-walked!

—— Daniela Petrova, author of Her Daughter’s Mother

[Bartz] has an incredible talent for writing complicated characters, complex relationships, unnerving situations, and palpable tension-and making them all work together

—— HelloGiggles.com

This tense psychological thriller simmers with suspense throughout - you'll be totally hooked!

—— My Weekly

An intriguing domestic noir...Curtis will keep you guessing with this one.

—— NB Magazine

Invite Me In is a riveting, character-driven thriller that hooked me from the first page and kept me captivated.

—— Take a Break

Curtis keeps us hooked with twists and a cast of characters who are convincing, if hardly likeable.

—— Herald

Kept me glued to every page

—— Good Housekeeping

Gripping, cleverly-constructed, and heart-wrenching. Truly original

—— Paula Daly

Intelligent. Compulsive. Heart-wrenching. Unforgettable

—— Jane Corry

Brilliantly written

—— Fiona Barton

A thrilling mystery with a strong emotional heart

—— Woman & Home

Ingeniously constructed, with real flesh-and-blood characters and cliff-hanging suspense

—— Louise Candlish
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