by Philip Eliot | Feb 14, 2026 | Thriller & Suspense |
A pulse-pounding thriller with heart-stopping twists.’ SMALL TOWN. BIG SECRET. Ten years ago, Lauren McKinney—a girl-next-door turned country music star—was brutally killed in Toledo Bend. The sleepy lakeside community believed the horrific murder was long solved and her killer put behind bars. They thought it would never happen again. They thought they were safe. They thought wrong . . . It’s a sweltering weekend in Louisiana and the sleepy backwater town of Toledo Bend is fixing to memorialize the anniversary of Lauren’s death with a live televised music event. Mitch Brockette, the chief of police, is on tenterhooks. No one was closer to Lauren than Mitch, and the last thing he wants is his privacy being scrutinized under the media spotlight. Above all else, he craves a quiet life, but his desire for peace is about to be razed to the ground. As Lauren’s memorial gala gets underway, a stranger is found shot dead in the creek, and it’s down to Mitch to solve the mystery. What follows next is a pulse-pounding hunt for the killer, one that rips open the town’s old wounds and reaches all the way back to Lauren’s murder. Did they charge the wrong man? Has Lauren’s true killer been in town all along? Faced with a raft of suspects and a maze of twists and turns, Mitch must unravel the painful events of yesteryear to uncover the truth. But getting to the bottom of the mystery means unpacking his own worst fears, including finding the answer to the one question that has gnawed away at him these past ten years … What really happened the night Lauren McKinney disappeared? “Houghton is a writing magician, keeping readers on the edge of their seats in anticipation. Then, like the perfect sleight of hand, the reveal is seamless.” ????? Laurie Buchanan, Amazon “The scene setting in Louisiana is tangible. The crimes are enough for any thriller junkie. The denouement is surprising and satisfying. Give this man a read. He is worth your time.” ????? Mark McWaters, Amazon “Quite the thrill ride! Twists and turns and surprises aplenty. So exciting and surprising! I didn’t want it to end!” ????? Lauralynn Zegellen, Amazon BOOKS BY KEITH HOUGHTON Gabe Quinn Thrillers: KILLING HOPE CROSSING LINES TAKING LIBERTY CHASING FAME Maggie Novak Thrillers: DON’T EVEN BREATHE A PLACE CALLED FEAR THE OTHER CHILD HER ONLY REGRET MAGGIE NOVAK SERIES COMPANION Standalone Psychological Thrillers: NO COMING BACK BEFORE YOU LEAP TOLEDO BEND CRASH All books are included in Kindle Unlimited. thrillers, kindle thrillers, crime thrillers, psychological thriller books, crime, mystery, suspense, police, detective Audiobooks available. For more information: keithhoughton.com
by Philip Eliot | Feb 14, 2026 | Action & Adventure |
Four-tour combat veteran Ray McPadden offers a vivid portrayal of American soldiers facing an unseen enemy and death in the Mountains of Afghanistan. Sergeant Nick Burch has returned to the crags of tribal Afghanistan seeking vengeance. Burch’s platoon has one goal: to capture or kill an elusive insurgent, known as the Egyptian, a leader who is as much myth as he is man, highly revered and guarded by ferocious guerrillas. The soldiers of Burch’s platoon look to him for leadership, but as the Egyptian slips farther out of reach, so too does Burch’s battle-worn grasp on reality. Private Danny Shane, the youngest soldier in the platoon, is learning how to survive. For Shane, hunting the Egyptian is secondary. First he must adapt to the savage conditions of the battlefield: crippling heat, ravenous sand fleas, winds thick with moondust, and a vast mountain range that holds many secrets. Shane is soon chiseled by combat, shackled by loyalty, and unflinchingly marching toward a battle from which there is no return. A new enemy has emerged, one who has studied the American soldiers and adapted to their tactics. Known as Habibullah, a teenage son of the people, he stands in brazen defiance of the Ameriki who have come to destroy what his ancestors have built. The American soldiers may be tracking the Egyptian, but Habibullah is tracking them, and he knows these lands far better than they do. With guns on full-auto, Shane and Burch trek into the deepest solitudes of the Himalayas. Under soaring peaks, dark instinct is laid bare. To survive, Shane and Burch must defeat not just Habibullah’s militia but the beast inside themselves. And the Whole Mountain Burned reveals, in stunning, ruthless detail, the horrors of war, the courage of soldiers, and the fact that no matter how many enemies we vanquish, there is always another just over the next ridge.
by Philip Eliot | Feb 14, 2026 | Mystery |
A fancy hotel plays host to homicide in a “jubilant” novel by “a peerless practitioner of the slightly surreal, English-village comedy-mystery” ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review). Sybil Foster lives the sort of little English village that is home mostly to the very rich and the servants who make their lives delightful. But Sybil Foster’s life is not delightful, even if she does have an extremely talented gardener. Exhausted from her various family stresses—a daughter, for instance, who wants to marry a man without a title!—Sybil takes herself off to a local hotel that specializes in soothing shattered nerves. When she’s killed, Inspector Alleyn has a real puzzler on his hands: Yes, she was silly, snobbish, and irritating. But if that were enough motive for murder, half of England would be six feet under . . . “In her ironic and witty hands the mystery novel can be civilized literature.” — The New York Times “The brilliant Ngaio Marsh ranks with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers.” — Times Literary Supplement
by Philip Eliot | Feb 14, 2026 | Crime Fiction |
GET *SEVEN* UNPUTDOWNABLE BRITISH CRIME THRILLERS SET ON THE SOUTH COAST OF ENGLAND. PRAISE FOR RODERIC JEFFRIES: ????? ‘Roderic Jeffries is my favourite crime/detective author. I intend to read every story he has written .’ A. Riley ‘Jeffries’ fresh twists and excellent characterizations make any novel by him an exciting reading experience.’ San Francisco Chronicle Perfect for fans of Roy Lewis, Brian Battison and J.M. Gregson. IN THIS SEVEN-BOOK BOX SET: BOOK 8: THE MURDER LINE A brutally battered body is found on the edge of woods. DI Fusil’s team suspects it’s the work of ruthless drug traffickers. But when the investigation gets too close to the mob, it takes a dangerously personal turn. BOOK 9: SIX DAYS TO DEATH A violent bank robbery is foiled by PC Tom Brady — unaware his fate will now hang in the balance. His dedication to his job and duty to his family is tested as the villains plot their brutal revenge. BOOK 10: MURDER IS SUSPECTED Victim of a hit and run, a cyclist is found at the side of the road. The car responsible belongs to the Chief Constable, but who was driving? Fusil knows a scandal this big would bring down the whole force. But in his quest for truth it’s not just reputations at risk. BOOK 11: RANSOM TOWN Arson attacks are holding Fortrow to ransom. DI Fusil must find out who’s responsible before tragedy hits the town. But his superiors are losing faith in him. If Fusil doesn’t work fast arson will soon become murder. BOOK 12: A MAN CONDEMNED DI Fusil must protect an Iranian millionaire from assassination. But the Iranian exile is not who he seems. As Fusil unravels a web of crime and deceit he finds deadly links to his team’s unsolved crimes. BOOK 13: BETRAYED BY DEATH Nine boys have been murdered in the last two years. The police have no leads. Fusil fears his own son could be the next victim. His dread makes him careless. But will his recklessness lead to the killer or the murder of a tenth boy? BOOK 14: ONE MAN’S JUSTICE Falsely accused of bribery, PC Wells is determined to clear his name. But what starts as a simple traffic violation soon takes a dangerous turn. With criminals who will stop at nothing to silence him, Wells has made himself the target of a ruthless killer. MEET THE DETECTIVE Detective Inspector Robert Fusil is a dedicated C.I.D. man and a gifted police officer, but he’s not averse to bending the rules if he needs to. That makes his superiors, and sometimes his juniors, wary. They appreciate Fusil’s no-nonsense attitude and ability to solve — often ingeniously — the most complex of cases, but keep an eye on him, just in case. GET THE FINAL SEVEN VOLUMES IN THIS GRIPPING BOX SET.
by Philip Eliot | Feb 14, 2026 | Crime Fiction |
When Detective Dawn Grave escaped the tragedy of her youth, she left everything behind—Including her brother’s unsolved murder. After twenty years, the case surrounding her brother’s death has been reopened. And Dawn is back in the remote Australian town where her nightmares began. But she’s no longer a victim. She’s a cop, who’s taken a position with the local police to stay close to the investigation … Until a local woman is brutally murdered. Dawn takes lead in the new investigation and quickly discovers the young woman has made more than a few enemies. But when the victim’s best friend is found dead, Dawn is left searching for a motive. With two victims, she’s desperate to find the killer. Before they strike again …
