No one thinks a 17-year-old girl can take on the hard men of London's gangland, but it's a mistake to underestimate Maura Ryan: she's tough, clever and beautiful - and she's determined not to be hurt again, which makes her one very dangerous lady.

Martina Cole was born and brought up in Essex. Her first novel, Dangerous Lady , was an instant bestseller and became a highly successful TV drama series. Since then Martina Cole has written six more bestselling novels set in the criminal underworld, one of which, The Jump, was also made into a successful television drama.

Maura Ryan was the queen of the criminal underworld when she pulled off an audacious bullion robbery. Since then she's retired from a life of crime to be with the only man she's ever loved. But enemies from her past are closing in and they're about to learn that they should never cross Maura Ryan.

Martina Cole was born and brought up in Essex. Her first novel, Dangerous Lady, was an instant bestseller and became a highly successful TV drama series. Since then Martina Cole has written six more bestselling novels set in the criminal underworld, one of which, The Jump, was also made into a successful television drama.

Sarah Jensen is more than capable of taking care of herself. She runs away from the one man who has touched her heart, rock star John Redford. When her son is born, she keeps the identity of the father secret. Then she is asked to return to her old investment bank to investigate a new client.

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Agrippina, wife of Claudius, mother of Nero, was a beautiful and talented woman who saw her father murdered, was banished by her brother, and was killed on the orders of her son. Her freed man, a one-eyed former gladiator named Parmenon, tells of Agrippina's battle to survive in and control the depraved and violent Imperial Roman court, and the crumbling relationship between mother and son.

Is John Francome the one to take over the reins from bestselling thriller writer Dick Francis? With no competing new title from the Francis stable this year, the field is clear for Dead Weight.

John Francome was born in Swindon in 1952. His lifelong love of horses began at the age of six when he was given his first pony, Black Beauty, although at this stage he hadn't contemplated horse racing as a career; show-jumping was more his style., By the time he was sixteen he had represented Great Britain at Hickstead. However, despite this success John did not want to pursue show-jumping and he decided instead to join the legendary Fred Winter who was one of the best trainers in England. Here he began his spectacular National Hunt career which was to last for sixteen years. John became champion jockey for the first time in 1975-76 and the 1980-81 season was the first of five consecutive years in which he rode over 100 winners. He retired from racing in 1985 at the age of 32 after becoming champion jockey for the seventh time.
Since his retirement John has established a new career in television; he commentates for Channel 4 Racing. He is an avid football supporter of Swindon Town and plays every Sunday morning for his local team. In 1991 he designed and built his own home in Lambbourn, Berkshire.

Mystery featuring Mitchell and Markby

When a rambler stumbles over human remains in Stovey Woods off the old drovers' way, an unsolved case that's been nagging Superintendent Markby for two decades is brought back to life. A new murder quickly follows. Is it connected to the older crime?

Ann Granger has worked in British embassies in various parts of the world. She m her husband, who was also working for the British Embassy, in Prague, and together they received postings to places as far apart as Munich and Lusaka. They now live in Oxfordshire.

Alex Delaware receives an envelope with no return address through the post. Inside is a three-ring binder with gold letters on it - the Murder Book. Full of macabre pictures of murders, taken at the scene of the crime, the album contains one picture marked "not solved".

When artist Dylan O'Connor pulls into a motel off the Arizona interstate highway, all he wants is to relax with his autistic brother Shepherd. But within the hour he is bound, gagged and injected with mysterious fluid by a lunatic "doctor" who claims Dylan will be the carrier for his life's work.

This thriller tells the tale of an obsessive man-hunt.

It was 25 years ago that Brad Denning told his pest of a nine-year-old brother Petey to get lost - and watched as he rode away on his bike and vanished. Brad is now a successful architect but his life has been haunted by the moment. Then Petey reappears, charged, hateful, and bent on revenge.

James Patterson Four Blind Mice Published October 2002 by Headline at £16.99 ISBN: 0747263493

Anne Perry Southhamton Row Pbk published October 2002 by Headline at £6.99 ISBN: 0747268924