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.

A book about growing up which has delighted generations of young readers. The illustrations by Ella Bailey are perfect for the modern audience. This edition includes extra material for young readers. The four March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy – live in financial hardship in New England with their mother, while their father has been drafted to fight in the Civil War. The girls embark on a series of adventures and endure a number of unexpected misfortunes – experiences that allow their personalities to emerge: Meg sensible and outgoing, Jo literary and boyish, Beth musical and shy, and Amy artistic and selfish – but the bonds holding together the March family remain unbroken. Initially written as a novel for girls, Little Women is now regarded as an all-time American classic for all readers, inspiring generations of women writers and giving rise to many adaptations.

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.

A coming-of-age tale of family, first love, and fan fiction from the talented author of Eleanor & Park

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. Based on the characters Simon and Baz who featured in Rainbow Rowell's bestselling novel Fangirl, 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.

Simon, Baz, Penelope, and Agatha return to England, back to the Watford School of Magicks, and back to their families for a final adventure.

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?

"Traces the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and the enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives"-- Provided by publisher

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?

"I can never leave you in peace. You and I are bound. We will be each other's salvation, or each other's doom." He took a step closer, and I mirrored his movement by taking a step back. "Which shall it be? Salvation or doom?"Zoey Redbird, now High Priestess of the shattered House of Night, is doing her best to hold everything together while dealing with her beloved, injured grandmother, her moody boyfriend, her secretive best friend, and the aftermath of the victory over her former mentor and a terrible, beautiful dark angel.But Neferet and Kalona have only been banished, not defeated, and everyone knows they're heading straight for the Vampyre High Council, where Zoey must follow.Zoey might be a High Priestess, but she's still just a teenager. And she's the only hope the world has.

Eleanor is a new girl in town, and she feels very alone. Wearing mis-matched clothes, having red hair and a mad home life, she certainly stands out in a crowd. Then she takes a seat on the bus next to Park. Park is a quiet, cautious and, in Eleanor's eyes, fantastically cool. Park has figured out that flying under the radar is the best way to get by. Gradually with late-night conversations and songs, Eleanor and Park fall in love...

The third compulsive instalment of Atom's hot new series set in a high school for vampires.

Wayward Son is the stunning YA novel by the bestselling author of Fangirl and Carry On, Rainbow Rowell. With all of her signature wit and heart, this is Rainbow at her absolute best. This edition includes two beautiful illustrations. The story is supposed to be over. Simon Snow did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the villain. He won the war. He even fell in love. Now comes the good part, right? Now comes the happily ever after . . . So why can't Simon Snow get off the couch? What he needs, according to his best friend, is a change of scenery. He just needs to see himself in a new light . . . That's how Simon and Penny and Baz end up in a vintage convertible, tearing across the American West. They find trouble, of course. (Dragons, vampires, skunk-headed things with shotguns.) And they get lost. They get so lost, they start to wonder whether they ever knew where they were headed in the first place . . . With Wayward Son, the sequel to Carry On, Rainbow Rowell has written a book for everyone who ever wondered what happened to the Chosen One after he saved the day. And a book for everyone who was ever more curious about the second kiss than the first. Come on, Simon Snow. Your hero's journey might be over - but your life has just begun.

An overturned coach full of students. All of them are trapped. A stranded cable car full of strangers. One of them is dead. An isolated chalet full of friends. Soon they'll be enemies. Outside, a snowstorm rages. Inside each group, a killer lurks. But that's not their only problem. Why is no rescue coming? What are they trying to escape from? And who are the terrifying Whistlers

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.

The gripping and extraordinarily moving new novel from the internationally bestselling Celeste Ng.

"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 new page-turner from the author of the phenomenal bestseller, THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR, and A STRANGER IN THE HOUSE. ********** We can't choose the strangers we meet. As the guests arrive at beautiful, remote Mitchell's Inn, they're all looking forward to a relaxing weekend deep in the forest, miles from anywhere. They watch their fellow guests with interest, from a polite distance. Usually we can avoid the people who make us nervous, make us afraid. With a violent storm raging, the group finds itself completely cut off from the outside world. Nobody can get in - or out. And then the first body is found . . . and the horrifying truth comes to light. There's a killer among them - and nowhere to run. Until we find ourselves in a situation we can't escape. Trapped. ********** Readers love Shari Lapena: 'Best book I've read in ages' '5* fast paced, twisting thriller' 'The pace never let up' 'On the edge of my seat to the end' 'I haven't picked up a book in 9 years and I'm so glad that I picked this up! I loved it.' 'Incredibly readable and unputdownable' 'Very clever, well written, intriguing and suspenseful' 'Had me 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.

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