A former magazine editor and award-winning journalist, Janice Hallett has written speeches and articles for, among others, the Cabinet Office, Home Office and Department for International Development.
In screenwriting, Janice's first feature film RETREAT was released by Sony Pictures (co-written and directed by Carl Tibbetts) which starred Cillian Murphy, Thandie Newton and Jamie Bell. Janice’s stage plays have been performed at Theatre503, The White Bear, Hen & Chickens and TheatreN16. She was also one of six female playwrights selected by All The Rage Theatre for its Seize The Stage festival at Rich Mix. Her play NETHERBARD has twice been performed by Budding Rose Productions. Janice has had television scripts in development with Slim Film & TV and with Retort (part of FreemantleMedia). Her sitcom TWO LADIES was performed at the Museum of Comedy in June 2019.Janice was selected for the Triforce Creative Network year-long mentoring scheme and featured on the BBC New Talent Hotlist. She won Best New Screenplay in the 2014 British Independent Film Festival.
Death and Boules (2025) (Follet Valley Mystery, book 5) Ian Moore "Who Knew murder could be this witty?."
The Last Session (2025) Julia Bartz "Julia Bartz delivers an outstanding thriller with THE LAST SESSION. When social worker Thea meets a mysterious catatonic patient, she is thrown back to her troubled 13-year-old self and thus begins a wild, unconventional ride that will keep you guessing and deliver on every front. Refreshingly original, this classy narrative is bursting with tension and full of vivid, believable characters you will want to spend your day with - which is lucky, because once you start this book, you won't be putting it down any time soon. Bartz excels in the dissection of personality, which gives her writing that authentic, relatable edge, but she's also a master story-teller and already a fast-emerging voice of 21st Century crime literature."
A Trial in Three Acts (2025) Guy Morpuss "A captivating murder mystery executed with pin-point precision and skill that verges on the masterful. My verdict: all rise for a future book of the year."
This Bright Life (2025) Karen Campbell "This Bright Life is a moving, haunting portrait of childhood and the jagged reflections of one tiny action in the kaleidoscope of humanity. Karen Campbell captures the voice of 12-year-old Gerard with poignant accuracy and her words paint pictures with the touch of an old master. Ultimately life-affirming, this gritty novel will take you to dark places, but it's one beautiful, uplifting journey."
Death at the White Hart (2025) Chris Chibnall "A disturbing murder, a village with a gruesome past and a new detective determined to uncover the truth. With Death at the White Hart, Chris Chibnall distills his talent for blockbusting screen drama into a deliciously gritty and well-written police procedural. A searing debut crime fans will love!"
Burn After Reading (2025) Catherine Ryan Howard "Catherine Ryan Howard will glue your eyes to the page with Burn After Reading! This is one red hot thriller that boasts a vivid, true-crime authenticity at its molten core. A psychological cat-and-mouse game between a potential wife-killer and his reluctant ghost-writer is played out with a host of brilliant twists, all delivered in Ryan Howard's lively, effortless style. Five sizzling stars."
10 Marchfield Square (2025) Nicola Whyte "A hugely impressive debut that's cosy and classy in equal measure. A super-smart and delightful mystery that teases out the secrets of an entire neighbourhood."
That'll Teach Her (2025) Maz Evans "Laugh-out-loud hilarious, moving and life affirming. How can one book be so many things? I couldn't put this fabulous, first class, five star read down."
The Grapevine (2025) Kate Kemp "The Grapevine by Kate Kemp is a lively, original murder mystery set in 1970s Australia, where twelve-year-old Tammy is determined to investigate the murder of Antonio, whose severed foot is intensifying the already choking claustrophobia of a small town community. Beautifully written and acutely observed, this is a story where women of all ages are centre stage and the intertwining relationships between families, friends and neighbours drive a story that's packed with tension and intrigue. The Grapevine is such an elegant, sophisticated read, I can't believe it's a debut. Kate Kemp is definitely one to watch."
The Frozen People (2025) (Ali Dawson Mystery, book 1) Elly Griffiths "A five-star start to a dazzling new series . . . Smart, original and utterly masterful."
The Troubled Deep (2025) (Cam Killick, book 1) Rob Parker "What a romp! I raced through this murky tale of murder, aching mystery and long-buried truth like a hot knife through butter! Rob Parker is a master of the stone cold twist."
The Blackbirds of St Giles (2025) Lila Cain "This powerful story is steeped in truth and resonates with humanity. It's a gritty thriller and a whirlwind adventure, but most of all it's a tale of love and hope. A beautiful, original and heart-stopping read."
Beautiful Ugly (2025) Alice Feeney "When I started reading Beautiful Ugly I was not prepared to feel such joy in the writing, yet such terror in the story. A missing wife, a tortured couple and a lonely writer banished to a mysterious Scottish island, this exquisite novel is a relationship drama, a darkly twisting thriller and an examination of the fine line between isolation and loneliness. Alice Feeney has created a masterpiece, a riveting read, immaculately written."
Ink Ribbon Red (2024) Alex Pavesi "Ink Ribbon Red is the epitome of the artful murder mystery and Alex Pavesi the master puppeteer of literary crime, creating a unique yet relatable cast on pages that won't stop turning. I was utterly hooked."
The Commuter (2024) Emma Curtis "A modern-day brief encounter leads to a devastating crime and a race to uncover the truth. The Commuter by Emma Curtis is a strong contender for my book of the year. As steaming hot as the Central Line, as fast as the Overground and as twisty as the Circle, this is a sophisticated, classy thriller that won't let you get off before the final page turns. Perfectly paced and beautifully written, The Commuter has it all. Absolutely first class!"
The Bells of Westminster (2024) Leonora Nattrass "A deliciously spooky romp... Leonora Nattrass is a master storyteller. She brings this world to vivid life with her sharp, lively and irreverent prose. A book that is funny, delightful, unnerving, intriguing and essential."
Isolation Island (2024) Louise Minchin "I had a storm of a time on Isolation Island, the cool debut thriller from Louise Minchin. A windswept landscape, a graveyard, an old monastery and a gaggle of minor celebrities competing for a reality TV prize... except one is Hollywood A-lister Nate Stirling and everyone has secrets to keep and lies to tell. This is a beautifully accomplished debut with vivid characters, surprising twists and an insider's beady eye on the TV industry. Slick, stylish and thoroughly enjoyable."
Holmes and Moriarty (2024) Gareth Rubin "A wonderfully entertaining, high-speed, high-stakes adventure with two, no FOUR and more, characters from classic detective fiction! Holmes And Moriarty by Gareth Rubin is the real deal: an accomplished tribute, true to the spirit of Conan-Doyle, but with a thrillingly original story and enough accomplished inventiveness to captivate and satisfy. The perfect fix for Holmes fans - thoroughly recommended!"
Guilty by Definition (2024) Susie Dent "If you're like me and love both language and crime, then Guilty by Definition has it all. Susie Dent's impressive debut novel is virtuosic. So meticulously and fascinatingly steeped in the archaic glory of words, it will surely be the ultimate treat for every logophile out there. But this is so much more than a celebration of the dictionary - it's a tantalising mystery of a missing sister, a cold case that will not lie down, and a family frozen in their unresolved grief... all while their circle of friends and colleagues nurse secrets and lies beyond explication. Guilty by Definition is positively aglitter with etymological and detecting treasures for word-sleuths and crime-fans alike."
Our Holiday (2024) Louise Candlish "Brimming with deadly twists and devious turns... Louise Candlish is at the top of her game with this stylish, sun soaked thriller that keeps you guessing from the very first page. Our Holiday is destined to be THE summer read of 2024."
The Dead Friend Project (2024) Joanna Wallace "A tragic accident, a dead friend and a fresh new voice in crime fiction... This vivid, witty story is expertly told in mesmerising detail and with boundless energy, but there's a proper murder mystery at its heart. Joanna Wallace draws you into a deceptively ordinary world before she revels in the delicious horror beneath. Pure class."
The Cracked Mirror (2024) Chris Brookmyre "A truly masterful and mind-blowing murder mystery that will crash through your every expectation and blow it to smithereens. 'Cracking' dialogue, vivid characters and the sort of genre-busting twists and turns that will leave you reeling in their wake."
The Betrayal of Thomas True (2024) A J West "Stunning and powerful - an atmospheric thriller that is both heartfelt and meticulously researched. You'll never forget Thomas True."
A Talent for Murder (2024) (Henry Kimball, book 3) Peter Swanson "What a killer read! A Talent For Murder is the thrilling tale of a woman who suspects her husband is a serial killer. As the bodies stack up, so does the paranoid tension until I was feverishly turning pages in the dark, desperate to know what happens next. A fast, exciting read with twist after twist."
The Midnight Feast (2024) Lucy Foley "The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley has it all... an isolated hotel, a coven of intriguing guests, a family with secrets and a community with scores to settle... while an ancient woodland masking secrets of its own looms all around. This is crime writing at its finest. An intoxicating dose of mystical hedonism gives the story and characters a vibrant darkness and depth that keeps the thrills coming. I flew through it, this fun and fiendish, five star feast of a read."
The Chamber (2024) Will Dean "THE CHAMBER is a masterful claustrophobic thriller, crafted with the precision of a fine watch and the reveals executed with more depth than a North Sea oil rig. Just brilliant!"
Hunted (2024) Abir Mukherjee "Hunted is a mature, intelligent thriller written with forensic skill and observation. This irresistible spiderweb of twisting fates moves seamlessly from the personal to the global. I was swept along on an epic and fast-moving adventure, crafted with insight, empathy and devastating attention to detail. Mukherjee has put the world in a book and I dare anyone to put it down. Stunning."
A Lesson in Cruelty (2024) Harriet Tyce "A Lesson in Cruelty is a masterclass in the dark art of plotting. A propulsive read that crafts a scintillating and vivid story out of characters that gnaw and claw from the page. This is a great crime novel, and the chills last long after the final page is turned. Absolutely stunning."
The Stars Turned Inside Out (2024) Nova Jacobs "This is a classic murder mystery set in the world of particle physics, and it's a dark matter indeed! Intelligent, thoughtful and brimming with energy, The Stars Turned Inside Out explores the human drive to uncover the truth, whether that's solving the mysteries of the universe or the brutal murder of an enigmatic physicist. Science, love, greed, and betrayal collide in a tense read that never loses its deliciously eerie edge."
Finding Sophie (2024) Imran Mahmood "Beautifully written, visceral, evocative, and compelling, but with a plot that keeps you guessing to the end . . . So much more than a legal thriller, Finding Sophie is a work of pure brilliance."
What We Did In The Storm (2024) Tina Baker "Tina Baker's best yet. An atmospheric island thriller, accomplished and mature. Prepare for a maelstrom of secrets and tension to batter the rocks as you read."
Helle and Death (2024) (Helle and Death, book 1) Oskar Jensen "A glorious feat that intrigues, surprises and delights from page one. This gem is a solid gold revival of the golden age whodunnit, with a delicious Danish twist."
The Fury (2024) Alex Michaelides "The Fury by Alex Michaelides is a proper, grown-up thriller that exudes class from every page. So much more than a murder mystery, every twist and turn is simultaneously a total surprise and completely inevitable. The writing is perfectly sparse, yet cloaks a narrative of rare complexity. So many contradictions, yet all unite in a devastating whole. The Fury is a very special book and highly recommended."
Geneva (2023) Richard Armitage "This is one impressive debut! A chilling, atmospheric thriller that moves effortlessly between the personal and political, evoking the grit and glamour of its characters' world without ever losing sight of their humanity. Geneva is brimming with intrigue and as twisting and turning as any Alpine road. Richard Armitage has created a slick, pacy read with skill and conviction. Five stars."
Thicker Than Water (2023) Megan Collins "A savage murder, the main suspect in a coma and best friends whose lives are changed forever - I relished every moment of this deep, dark exploration of trust, friendship and betrayal. Collins has ramped the murder mystery up a notch to take us on a nail-biting emotional and psychological journey. Leave your expectations at the door because on this ride every twist is a winner."
Sara Ochs "The Dive by Sara Ochs is as stunning as the tropical island on which it is set. A pacy and accomplished murder mystery, its deep, sinister and intriguing plot draws you into a flawed paradise where everyone has a tale to tell... and one they keep to themselves. It really is The Beach for a new generation - a hot contender for best travel thriller of 2023."
Silent Waters (2023) L V Matthews "A police diver, a thwarted Olympic dream, a missing woman, and a body in a watery grave. [...] A thrillingly murky tale of tainted love and betrayal, an edge-of-the-jetty read. I dare you to jump in!"
The Expectant Detectives (2023) (Expectant Detectives, book 1) Kat Ailes "A wildly impressive debut. Pacy, energetic and best of all hilariously funny - without detracting from the shadowy mystery and genuine humanity at its core. Its characters and twisty plot feel absolutely real - you'll be on the edge of your seat, totally immersed in trying to work out who did it, but rest assured you're never far from a smile. Cosy crime at its finest!"
The Nigerwife (2023) Vanessa Walters "A murder-mystery set in Nigerian high society, The Nigerwife is an exceptional debut. Vanessa Walters has fashioned a fresh, edge-of-your-seat thriller that's pacy and unique. Her characters are so real I felt complicit in their glamorous, stifling world, while cheering Claudine on as she searches for her missing niece. An absolute treat--it took all my expectations and threw them to the wind. I'm still in shock from those final chapters."
The Last Dance (2023) (Detective Miller, book 1) Mark Billingham "Billingham blends caustic humour, raw emotion and rollercoaster thrills. His new series is bursting with wit, charm and intriguing, complex characters."
Grave Expectations (2023) Alice Bell "You've never read a country house whodunit quite like Grave Expectations. Nor is there a generation gap quite as wide as the one between Claire and Sophie. Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core. Alice Bell writes with real verve and crafts a preposterous premise into a sharp, well written and lively story that's at once out of this world and yet reassuringly real. As reader, you're along for the ride, and it's a runaway ghost train of a ride at that! Bell is one to watch."
Fyneshade (2023) Kate Griffin "A highly original work of dark gothic brilliance. In a house with monstrous secrets, Marta is a heroine like no other. She will steal your heart, believe me. A story so inventive and exciting, I simply couldn't wait for the next page."
The Maiden (2023) Kate Foster "The Maiden is a masterpiece. A thrilling historical murder tale but so much more. Vivid, evocative and full of humanity. I took each and every character to my heart. The fact this is inspired by a true story makes it all the more chilling and relevant. I was transported to 17th Century Edinburgh so completely, I'm sure a part of me is still there."
Looking Glass Sound (2023) Catriona Ward "This gripping horror is a masterful exploration of storytelling. It will lure you to the dark side before quietly blowing your mind, time after time. A haunting tale of friendship, creativity and revenge, with prose as deep and sweeping as the cliffs of Looking Glass Sound itself."
Killing Jericho (2023) (Killing Jericho, book 1) William Hussey "I'd describe Killing Jericho as 'a rollercoaster ride', if it weren't the sort of novel that flies in the face of such jaded cliche. This is a dark mystery and a unique serial killer thriller whose sense of place and history can border on the supernatural, but is never anything less than down-to-earth. It's also much more. A rare insight into the traveller community. A detective who breaks every mould. An exploration of the power of legends and a story that's not just a carousel of meaty twists, but also a tantalising glimpse of what promises to be a must-read series."
Mother's Day (2023) Abigail Burdess "Superbly written and darkly funny, Mother's Day is an epic psychological thriller that revels in the visceral horror of family relationships. So brilliantly and horrifyingly executed I simply couldn't look away. Abigail Burdess is a refreshing and original writer - don't take your eyes off her."
End of Story (2023) Louise Swanson "As much a ride as a read, this tense, paranoid thriller expands into something absolutely show-stopping. End of Story is a rare find indeed! Louise Swanson takes every expectation and defies it - to tell a breath-taking tale of humanity and redemption."
Murder in the Falling Snow (2022) (Vintage Murders, book 6) Cecily Gayford "Perfect for a quick fix of golden-age crime.. well worth reading by candlelight before turning in on Christmas Eve..."
Truly, Darkly, Deeply (2022) Victoria Selman "Wow! Truly Darkly Deeply is a beautifully written serial killer thriller with a creeping escalation of stone cold dread. Its roots in true crime, the story is so vivid and relatable I can't be certain I wasn't there. Brilliantly executed."
That Bonesetter Woman (2022) Frances Quinn "What a heroine Endurance Proudfoot is! I loved her from the start. An unconventional woman who takes us on a fascinating - if bumpy - ride through a man's world. I laughed, cried and most of all cheered! Can't stop thinking about it... an absolute cruncher of a tale."
The Game (2022) Scott Kershaw "I was absolutely riveted to this gritty, uncompromising thriller. It will drag you into its dark and fiendish plot. Perfect for fans of Squid Game, Cluedo it ain't."
Begars Abbey (2022) V L Valentine "Takes its reader to a sinister place and locks them in, all alone. A dark, gothic delight best enjoyed by the light of a single, flickering candle."
The Trust (2022) (Astrid Swift, book 1) M H Eccleston "I romped through The Trust... A cosy debut set in a house brimming with secrets... An enchanting murder mystery."
Murder in the Family (2022) Cara Hunter "This book had me riveted to the page. It is original, inventive and totally 21st Century, but with no compromise on thrills and tension. In fact, the drama is so perfectly executed I felt as if I was actually in the moment with these characters. The twists are magnificent! It really is an equal triumph of style and content. Just brilliant!"
Her Perfect Twin (2022) Sarah Bonner "A terrifyingly vivid psychological thriller - paranoid, claustrophobic and captivating."
The Christie Affair (2022) Nina de Gramont "Nina De Gramont's beautifully written imaginative history of Agatha Christie's disappearance plays out alongside a parallel murder mystery that could have flowed straight from the pen of the great AC herself. An inspired tapestry of fact and fiction places the story perfectly in its historical context. The result is a novel that literally out-Christies Agatha. An exciting, moving and delightful read."
The Anomaly (2021) Hervé Le Tellier "Wow, what an exciting, original blend of theory and heart. It's astonishing. I can't describe it, except to say: read it, and prepare for a whole new perspective on your own existence - and plane travel."
The Rule (2021) David Jackson "A stomach-lurching descent into parental desperation, full of surprises from start to finish. A gasp-out-loud read after which I dare you to break The Rule..."
