Book cover of Black Out

Book description

John Lawton’s debut novel—first published by Viking in 1995, and now being reissued by Grove Press—is a stunning, war-time thriller that cements his place among the greatest crime writers of our era. The first of the Inspector Troy novels, Black Out singularly captures the realities of wartime London, weaving them…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Black Out as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This book is the the first in a gripping and atmospheric wartime thriller series featuring London policeman, Detective Sergeant Troy.

Troy has an unusual background for a police officer in that he is the son of an immensely rich Russian emigré businessman. In this story, set in 1944, a man’s severed arm is found on a bomb site. Troy investigates and discovers the arm belongs to a refugee German scientist working for British intelligence.

This is a marvelous thriller from a writer once selected in a Time all-time list of detective authors to savor. 

From Mark's list on British home front in World War II.

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The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

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