Jana Kunová Books

On a cold December morning, Detective Kim Stone arrives at Halesowen Police Station to meet her new team, unaware that a young man's killer is already at large. The victim is discovered beheaded and staked in a remote woodland area, prompting Kim and her squad to rush to the scene. A search of the victim's home reveals a little girl's bedroom and a hidden laptop, raising urgent questions about the child's whereabouts and the sister's unsettling relief over her brother's death. As Kim delves deeper, she uncovers shocking truths, including a connection to a recent murder involving a man found stabbed beneath Redland Hall. Both victims share dark secrets linked to a women's shelter, which could hold the key to solving the case. Having grown up in the care system, Kim understands vulnerability all too well. With the killer poised to strike again, she faces the challenge of leading a rookie squad. Inexperienced Stacey shows potential but struggles with pressure, while D.S. Bryant remains steady, and D.S. Dawson's personal turmoil threatens the team's cohesion. Kim must rein in Dawson's volatility and unite her crew to catch the killer before another life is lost, knowing that one of her own could be in grave danger.

When teenager Sadie Winter jumps from the roof of her school, her death is ruled as suicide - a final devastating act from a troubled girl. But then the broken body of a young boy is discovered at the same school and it's clear to Detective Kim Stone that these deaths are not tragic accidents

When the lifeless body of a man is found on an industrial estate, Detective Kim Stone arrives on the scene and discovers he's been tortured in the worst way imaginable. But as she breaks the devastating news to the victim's wife, Diane Phipps, Kim can't help feeling that something isn't quite right about the woman's reaction. Twenty-four hours later, the victims family disappears into thin air. Then a second body is found staked to the ground in a local nature reserve. Desperate to crack the case open quickly, Kim and her team unravel a vital clue -- a fiercely guarded secret that links both victims and could cost even more lives. A secret that some police officers are also protecting. Faced with deceit from those she should be able to trust, family members who won't talk, and local reporter Tracy Frost opening a can of worms on the case of a woman murdered by her husband a year ago -- Kim is in deep water like never before. Kim must find the motive if she is to find the killer who is systematically targeting and torturing his victims. But can she unlock the shocking truth and stop him before he strikes again?

"When Detective Kim Stone is called to the home of Samantha Brown, she finds the young woman lying in bed with her throat cut and a knife in her hand. With no sign of forced entry or struggle, Kim rules her death a tragic suicide. But a visit to Samantha's parents rings alarm bells for Kim - there's something they're not telling her. And, when she spots a clue in a photograph, Kim realises she's made a huge mistake. Samantha didn't take her own life, she was murdered. Then a young man's body is found in a local lake with his throat cut and Kim makes a link between the victim and Samantha. They both spent time at Unity Farm, a retreat for people seeking an alternative way of life.Beneath the retreat's cosy façade, Kim and her team uncover a sinister community preying on the emotionally vulnerable.Sending one of her own undercover into Unity Farm is high risk but it's Kim's only hope if she is to catch a killer - someone Kim is convinced the victims knew and trusted. With Bryant distracted by the emergence of a harrowing case close to his heart, and an undercover officer in way over her head, Kim's neck is on the line like never before. Can she protect those closest to her before another life is taken?"--Publisher description

Eeeny meeny, miney, moe. Who lives, who dies only I know. When the body of a doctor is discovered brutally murdered in local woodland, Detective Kim Stone is shocked to discover the victim is Gordon Cordell – a man linked to a previous case she worked on involving the death of a young school girl. Gordon has a chequered past, but who would want him dead? As the investigation gets underway, Gordon’s son is involved in a horrific car crash which leaves him fighting for his life. Kim's sure this was no accident. Then the body of a woman is found dead in suspicious circumstances and Kim makes a disturbing link between the victims and Russells Hall Hospital. The same hospital where Gordon worked. With Kim and her team still grieving the loss of one of their own, they’re at their weakest and facing one of the most dangerous serial killers they’ve ever encountered. Everything is on the line. Can Kim keep her squad together and find the killer before he claims his next victim? The killer is picking off his victims at a terrifying pace, and he’s not finished yet.

On an August afternoon, eight-year-old Grace Lennard disappears from her childcare centre. Meanwhile, Steven Harte confesses at a police station, claiming he has information about Melody Jones, a girl abducted from a playground twenty-five years earlier. Detective Kim Stone finds Steven's confession suspicious and initially dismisses it. However, upon investigating Grace's disappearance, she uncovers a chilling piece of evidence: Melody's heart bracelet. To find Grace alive, Kim must engage in Steven's twisted game, but on her terms. With only twenty-four hours to interrogate him, Kim and her team connect Steven to the abduction of several vulnerable girls, two of whom were released unharmed after a year. As they dig deeper, small bones are found in a local park, raising fears for Grace's safety. While Kim is close to convicting a killer, she faces a personal threat from Dr. Alex Thorne, a dangerous woman Kim previously imprisoned. Alex is poised to reveal a shocking secret that could undermine Kim's focus and jeopardize her mission to save Grace and the other missing girls. Time is running out, and Kim must navigate this perilous situation carefully.

"In a busy shopping centre, a little girl clutches a teddy bear, clinging to it in the absence of her mother, Katrina. Hours later, Katrina's body is discovered in an abandoned building. For Detective Kim Stone, it looks like a quick, functional murder. But Kim's instincts tell her there's more to this senseless murder than meets the eye. What was the motive for killing a young mother out shopping with her child? Days later, a second victim is found in a local park, her neck broken just like Katrina's and her six-year-old son missing. But with her colleague, Detective Stacey Wood, working on another unsolved crime and a member of the team grieving the loss of a close relative, Kim is struggling to make inroads on what is fast becoming a complex case. And when a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim's desk addressed to her, and pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive. With the support of a handwriting analyst and profiler, Kim and the team begin to get inside the mind of the killer and make a shocking discovery. Some of the victims have scratch marks on their wrists. But these are no random scratches. The killer is using them to communicate with someone. The question is ... with whom?"--Provided by publisher

"On the fourth floor of Chaucer House, two teenagers are found chained to a radiator. The boy is dead but the girl is alive. For Detective Kim Stone every detail of the scene mirrors her own terrifying experience with her brother Mikey, when they lived in the same tower block thirty years ago. When the bodies of a middle-aged couple are discovered in a burnt-out car, Kim can't ignore the chilling similarity to the deaths of Erica and Keith - the only loving parents Kim had ever known. Faced with a killer who is recreating traumatic events from her past, Kim must face the brutal truth that someone wants to hurt her in the worst way possible. Desperate to stay on the case, she is forced to work with profiler Alison Lowe who has been called in to observe and monitor Kim's behaviour. Kim has spent years catching dangerous criminals and protecting the innocent. But with a killer firmly fixed on destroying Kim, can she solve this complex case and save her own life or will she become the final victim?"--Publisher's description

The murder of a young prostitute and a baby found abandoned on the same winter night signals the start of a disturbing investigation for Detective Kim Stone - one which brings her face to face with someone from her own horrific childhood.

The truth was dead and buried until now. When a collection of human bones is unearthed during a routine archaeological dig, a Black Country field suddenly becomes a complex crime scene for Detective Kim Stone. As the bones are sorted, it becomes clear that the grave contains more than one victim. The bodies hint at unimaginable horror, bearing the markings of bullet holes and animal traps. Forced to work alongside Detective Travis, with whom she shares a troubled past, Kim begins to uncover a dark secretive relationship between the families who own the land in which the bodies where found. But while Kim is immersed in one of the most complicated investigations she's ever led, her team are caught up in a spate of sickening hate crimes. Kim is close to revealing the truth behind the murders, yet soon finds one of her own is in jeopardy and the clock is ticking. Can she solve the case and save them from grave danger before its' too late?

Devatenáctiletého Jamieho Millse našli oběšeného na stromě v místním parku. Jeho smrt byla označena za sebevraždu, detektiv Kim Stoneová však tuší, že něco není v pořádku. Proč se jeho matka, když se to dozvěděla, nerozplakala? A jak mohl Jamie, který se nedávno zranil, vylézt na strom? Další zjištění přinese šok: rodiče poslali Jamieho na soukromou kliniku, aby ho „vyléčili“ z jeho sexuality. Kdokoli, kdo tam absolvoval terapii, se o tom bojí mluvit. A pak zemře další bývalá pacientka – a opět to má vypadat, že si život vzala dobrovolně sama…

"500 years ago: eight martyrs burned. 30 years ago: two teenagers vanished. Two months ago: a vicar died mysteriously. Welcome to Chapel Croft. For Rev. Jack Brooks and teenage daughter Flo, it's a fresh start. New job, new home. But in a close-knit community, old superstitions and a mistrust of outsiders mean treading carefully. Yet right away, Jack has more frightening concerns. Why did no one say that the last vicar killed himself? Why is Flo plagued by visions of burning girls? And who is sending them threatening messages? Old ghosts with scores to settle can never rest. And Jack is standing in their way..."--Back cover.

Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read It is no surprise that Little Women, the adored classic of four devoted sisters, was loosely based on Louisa May Alcott’s own life. In fact, Alcott drew from her own personality to create a heroine unlike any seen before: Jo, willful, headstrong, and undoubtedly the backbone of the March family. Follow the sisters from innocent adolescence to sage adulthood, with all the joy and sorrow of life in between, and fall in love with them and this endearing story. Praised by Madeleine Stern as “a book on the American home, and hence universal in its appeal,” Little Women has been an avidly read tale for generations.

Na zarostlém hřbitově došlo k brutální vraždě. Oběť, Sandru Deakinovou, musel někdo hluboce nenávidět. Sandra věřila, že dokáže komunikovat s mrtvými. Živou ji naposledy viděla skupina žen, které s ní měly noc před jejím zabitím seanci. Každá z nich žádala Sandru o pomoc. A všechny lžou o tom, proč. Pár dní poté je nalezeno tělo mladíka se stejnými ranami v obličeji, jaké měla i Sandra… Kim Stoneová a její tým mají opět co do činění se sériovým vrahem – a opět vražedně málo času na to, aby zamezili dalšímu jeho řádění.

Cath and Wren are identical twins, and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they're off to university and Wren's decided she doesn't want to be one half of a pair any more. Now Cath has to decide whether she's ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she's realising that there's more to learn about love than she ever thought possible ...

Simon Snow just wants to relax and savour his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he'll be safe. Simon can't even enjoy the fact that his room-mate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can't stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you're the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savour anything. Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story - but far, far more monsters.

In Carry On, Simon Snow and his friends realized that everything they thought they understood about the world might be wrong. And in Wayward Son, they wondered whether everything they understood about themselves might be wrong. In Any Way the Wind Blows, Simon and Baz and Penelope and Agatha have to decide how to move forward. For Simon, that means deciding whether he still wants to be part of the World of Mages - and if he doesn't, what does that mean for his relationship with Baz? Meanwhile Baz is bouncing between two family crises and not finding any time to talk to anyone about his newfound vampire knowledge. Penelope would love to help, but she's smuggled an American Normal into London, and now she isn't sure what to do with him. And Agatha? Well, Agatha Wellbelove has had enough. Any Way the Wind Blows takes the gang back to England, back to Watford, and back to their families for their longest and most emotionally wrenching adventure yet. This book is a finale. It tells secrets and answers questions and lays ghosts to rest. Carry On was conceived as a book about Chosen One stories; Any Way the Wind Blows is an ending about endings. About catharsis and closure, and how we choose to move on from the traumas and triumphs that try to define us.

The instant #1 New York Times bestseller, now available in a stunning new paperback look with bonus content. Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers. The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall of China. It doesn't matter that the girls die from the mental strain. When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But when she gets her vengeance, it becomes clear that she is an Iron Widow, a rare kind of female pilot who can sacrifice males to power up Chrysalises instead. To tame her frightening yet valuable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest male pilot in Huaxia, yet feared and ostracized for killing his father and brothers. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will take over instead, then leverage their combined strength to force her society to stop failing its women and girls. Or die trying. This deluxe new paperback edition features eight pages of Chrysalis concept art and a discussion guide.

In Destined, the forces of Light and Dark collide as their epic struggle focuses on Tulsa’s House of Night. Zoey is home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side – and preparing to face off against Neferet. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx’s gift of a human form, he and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together – if Rephaim can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father’s shadow.But is Zoey really safe? Does she truly know those who are closest to her? And will love win when it is tested by the very soul of Darkness?

"In the placid, progressive suburb of Shaker Heights everything is meticulously planned, from the colours of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson. Mia Warren, an enigmatic artist and single mother, arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenage daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than just tenants : all four Richardson children are drawn to the alluring mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries on with her disregard for the rules that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community. When the Richardsons' friends attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town and puts Mia and Mrs Richardson on opposing sides. Mrs Richardson becomes determined to uncover the secrets in Mia's past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs to her own family - and Mia's."--Page 4 of cover.

Zoey has returned from the Otherworld to her rightful place as High Priestess at the House of Night. Her friends are just glad to have her back, but after losing her human consort, Heath, will Zoey--or her relationship with her super-hot Warrior, Stark--ever be the same?

High Priestess-in-training Zoey Redbird juggles three prospective love interests while investigating a dark force lurking beneath the Tulsa Depot that is forcing her into a confrontation with the evil Kalona.

'Reminded me not just what it's like to be young and in love, but what it's like to be young and in love with a book' John Green, author of The Fault in our Stars Eleanor is the new girl in town, and she's never felt more alone. All mismatched clothes, mad red hair and chaotic home life, she couldn't stick out more if she tried. Then she takes the seat on the bus next to Park. Quiet, careful and - in Eleanor's eyes - impossibly cool, Park's worked out that flying under the radar is the best way to get by. Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall in love. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're 16, and you have nothing and everything to lose. Set over the course of one school year in 1986, Eleanor & Park is funny, sad, shocking and true - an exquisite nostalgia trip for anyone who has never forgotten their first love.

Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare situation of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster. Just when it seems things couldn’t get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends so often find out, how things appear rarely affects the truth…

Wayward Son is the forthcoming book from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell and the sequel to Carry On. The book will be published on September 24, 2019 from Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press. This title will be available in hardcover, ebook, and audio editions. The cover and copy for Wayward Son will be revealed soon.

PRE-ORDER THE HEART-POUNDING NEW NOVEL FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE CHALK MAN AND RICHARD & JUDY PICK THE BURNING GIRLS'The wildest thriller of the year is three thrillers in one. Buckle up' LINWOOD BARCLAY'An exceptional thriller that blew me away with its original, high-octane plot, jaw-dropping twists and charac[Bokinfo].

You never know what's happening on the other side of the wall. Your neighbour told you that she didn't want your six-month-old daughter at the dinner party. Nothing personal, she just couldn't stand her crying. Your husband said it would he fine. After all, you only live next door. You'll have the baby monitor and you'll take it in turns to go back every half-hour. Your daughter was sleeping when you checked on her last. But now, as you race up the stairs in your deathly quiet house, your worst fears are realized. She's gone. You've never had to call the police before. But now they're in your home, and who knows what they'll find there... What would you be capable of, when pushed past your limit ?

Amazon.com's #1 Book of the Year 2014 Lydia is the favourite child of Marilyn and James Lee; a girl who inherited her mother's bright blue eyes and her father's jet-black hair. Her parents are determined that Lydia will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue - in Marilyn's case that her daughter become a doctor rather than a homemaker, in James's case that Lydia be popular at school, a girl with a busy social life and the centre of every party. But Lydia is under pressures that have nothing to do with growing up in 1970s small town Ohio. Her father is an American born of first-generation Chinese immigrants, and his ethnicity, and hers, make them conspicuous in any setting. When Lydia's body is found in the local lake, James is consumed by guilt and sets out on a reckless path that may destroy his marriage. Marilyn, devastated and vengeful, is determined to make someone accountable, no matter what the cost. Lydia's older brother, Nathan, is convinced that local bad boy Jack is somehow involved. But it's the youngest in the family - Hannah - who observes far more than anyone realises and who may be the only one who knows what really happened. Everything I Never Told You is a gripping page-turner, about secrets, love, longing, lies and race.

From the bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere comes a suspenseful and heartrending novel about the unbreakable bond between a mother and child in a fearful society. Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet life with his loving but troubled father, a former linguist now working at Harvard’s library. Their existence is dictated by laws aimed at preserving “American culture” following years of economic turmoil and violence. These laws allow authorities to relocate children of dissidents, particularly those of Asian descent, while libraries must remove books deemed unpatriotic, including the works of Bird’s mother, Margaret, a Chinese American poet who left when he was nine. Bird has grown up disavowing her and her poetry, unaware of her fate. However, a mysterious letter with a cryptic drawing ignites his quest to find her. This journey reconnects him with the folktales she once shared, leads him through an underground network of librarians, and reveals the lives of taken children. Ultimately, it brings him to New York City, where an act of defiance sparks hope for change. This narrative explores how seemingly civilized communities can overlook profound injustices, the power and limitations of art in effecting change, and the enduring lessons we pass to our children amidst a broken world.

"Karen Krupp was home making dinner for her husband. She was expecting him any second. The phone rang--it was the call she hoped she'd never get. She jumped in her car and raced to a neighborhood she thought she'd never visit. She peered into the dark, deserted building and braced herself for the worst. After thar, she remembered nothing. They told her husband, Tom, she'd been in an accident. She must have lost control of her car as she sped through the roughest part of town. The police suspect that Karen was up to no good. But her husband refuses to believe it. Her best friend is not so sure. And even Karen herself doesn't know what to believe. Then she realizes something in her house has been moved. Someone's been there. And now, everyone is a stranger. Everyone has a secret--one they might even kill for."--Back cover

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER. A pulse-pounding thriller from the author of the number one bestseller THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR. As guests arrive at the remote Mitchell's Inn, they anticipate a relaxing weekend in the forest. However, a violent storm cuts them off from the outside world, and tension rises as they observe one another from a distance. When the first body is discovered, panic ensues—there's a killer among them, and escape is impossible. This gripping narrative showcases Lapena's talent for smart characterization and her understanding of the darker aspects of human nature. The story is crafted with the tension reminiscent of vintage Christie novels, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. Critics praise Lapena for combining the cozy feel of classic whodunnits with contemporary themes, solidifying her status as a go-to author for engaging mysteries. Readers rave about the fast-paced, twisting plot that keeps them on the edge of their seats. Many express their delight in being captivated by a book after years of not reading, highlighting the novel's readability and suspense. With an intricate narrative and compelling characters, this thriller promises to keep you hooked from start to finish.

The Chalk Man is coming ... It was 1986 when a teenage Eddie Munster helped save Waltzer girl's life. That summer was the one that changed everything. It was the one they came up with the chalk men - drawing them on the pavement in a secret code. But then the chalk men started to appear on their own volition, prophesying grisly scenes on the dusty pavement. They knew about the body in the river. And knew about Waltzer girl's corpse lying still in the wood without a head. It's 2016 and Eddie is still living in Anderbury, teaching at his old school and living with a lodger, Chloe. Life is quiet. Life is rather empty. Until the day the chalk men reappear.

LONGLISTED FOR THE GUARDIAN FIRST BOOK AWARD A stunning, heartbreaking debut - 'We Are Not Ourselves' is both the intimate story of a family and an epic of the American Century.

Mrazivý, vzrušujúci psychothriller o lžiach, stratách a túžbach skrytých v hlbinách spánku. Krásna Annalee Ahlbergová zmizla. V noci odišla z domu a zostal po nej len útržok nočnej košele na vetvičke uschlého stromu pri rieke. Mestečkom sa šíri strach a fámy. Stala sa obete zločinu, alebo opustila manžela a dve dcéry, aby mohla začať iný život? Jej rodina však vie, k čomu došlo. Nie je to prvýkrát, čo sa Annalee vydala na bizarnú nočnú výpravu – je totiž náměsíčná. A nie je to prvýkrát, čo sa kvôli tomu ocitla v ohrození. Jej staršia dcéra Lianna má v živej pamäti, ako matke zabránila vrhnúť sa z mosta do rieky. O náměsíčnosti vie svoje aj detektív Gavin Rikert, ktorý zmiznutie vyšetruje. Snáď práve to na ňom Liannu priťahuje – ale čo všetko ho vlastne spája s Annalee? A kto ešte pred Liannou skrýva ťaživé tajomstvá?

Betrayed, the second installment in the bestselling House of Night series from P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast, is dark and sexy, and as thrilling as it is utterly shocking. Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She's come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend...or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey's old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.

A lively, well-written, entertaining whodunit The Times on The Mitford Murders

Lose yourself in the first novel of a new series of Golden Age mysteries featuring the glamorous Mitford sisters. Set in 1919, Louisa Cannon dreams of escaping her impoverished life in London and her dangerous uncle. Her salvation comes when she secures a position in the Mitford household at Asthall Manor, where she becomes nurserymaid, chaperone, and confidante to the sisters, especially the witty and story-loving sixteen-year-old Nancy. When Florence Nightingale Shore, a nurse and goddaughter of the famous Florence Nightingale, is murdered on a train in broad daylight, Nancy and Louisa embark on an investigation, uncovering the secrets that everyone seems to hide in postwar England. Written by Jessica Fellowes, known for the bestselling Downton Abbey books, this captivating tale is perfect for fans of Daisy Goodwin, Anthony Horowitz, and Agatha Christie, drawing inspiration from a real unsolved crime. With its blend of intrigue and charm, this novel offers a delightful escape, reminiscent of a Sunday-night period drama, making it a must-read for those seeking indulgent storytelling.

For once both comparisons (with Harry Potter and Philip Pullman's Northern Lights ) are apt . . . this is a novel that stays in the imagination long after it is read THE GUARDIAN 20160716