Welcome to Brash Books
We publish the best crime novels in existence. A brash claim? You bet it is. But our award-winning, critically acclaimed authors prove it with each and every one of their amazing books.
We’ve got it all: psychological thrillers, murder mysteries, international espionage, and police procedurals from established masters of the craft – as well as premiere books from new voices who are sure to become crime fiction stars.
Life is short – don’t waste your time on bad books. Browse through our fantastic library of unmissable mysteries, terrific thrillers and compelling crime novels – then pick up one of the best books you’ll ever read.
Featured Author
David Wagoner
David Wagoner (1926- 2021) was a two-time National Book Award finalist, an acclaimed poet, respected novelist and a beloved University of Washington professor. He won many prestigious awards, including two Pushcart Prizes, and was the author of ten novels, all of which we are re-issuing here and under our Cutting Edge imprint, and many poetry collections. He was also the editor of Poetry Northwest until 2002 served as chancellor of the Academy of American Poets in 1978.
Latest Additions
The Butterfly Tattoo By Barry Norman
The second wild and witty "Bobby Lennox" adventure by legendary UK TV host and critic Barry Norman.
Bobby Lennox is an ex-boxer, reluctant "fixer," and a struggling London entrepreneur who does favors for Donovan, a crime boss angling for respectability. One way Donovan hopes to get it is by helping Archie Beckway, a womanizing, corrupt politician who is being blackmailed by three people dressed as Disney characters... one of whom has a butterfly tattoo on her shapely leg. But the assignment isn't as clear-cut as it seems, and twists right back to Donovan's doorstep.
The Birddog Tape By Barry Norman
Cockney ex-boxer Bobby Lennox agrees to do a favor for an aging hitman, who is going into the hospital for an emergency hernia operation, so he can't meet his mysterious new client. So Bobby goes in his place, just to get the details for his friend, and soon finds himself on his way to Hollywood to kill a movie producer and his wife... an ex-hooker who happens to be Bobby's former girlfriend. And things only get worse from there.
To Nick a Good Body By Barry Norman
An authentic and outrageously funny police procedural in the tradition of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct novels... from legendary BBC host and critic Barry Norman.
Detective Inspector Nicholas Redford works in the "I" Division, a notoriously understaffed and and overworked part of the Metropolitan Police that handles all types of crime in their 100 miles square mile patch of London, but are lucky, given their lack of resources, if they can solve less than half of their cases.
The Hounds of Sparta By Barry Norman
Reluctant spy Paul Baker travels to Crete, Scotland, London, and places in-between, searching for a missing germ-warfare scientist while being pursued by an assassin, seduced by a deadly brunette, and shot at by just about everyone... and he's not entirely sure why. But that's what happens when amateurs are drafted as secret agents. The trick is to survive.
The Matter of Mandrake By Barry Norman
The witty, outrageously entertaining spy novel by Barry Norman, the beloved, hugely popular BBC movie critic, TV host and journalist, back in print for the first time in nearly 60 years.
It's the 1960s, deep into the chill of the Cold War. Paul Baker is abducted off the streets of London by a mysterious espionage agency and drafted into being a amateur spy for her Majesty. His mission: travel undercover to Madrid to see if an ex-Cabinet Minister is selling military secrets to the Russians. Baker doesn't have a license to kill, or any idea what he's doing.
Featured Video
Tom Simon Uncovers THE DC MAN
Private Investigator Tom Simon uncovered the secret identity behind a series of 1970s adventure novels by “James Cody” -- all now the books from Brash Books with a new introduction by Tom.
From The Blog
Tom Simon Uncovers THE DC MAN
Former FBI agent turned private eye Tom Simon, a reviewer on the beloved Paperback Warrior […]
Writing THE LEMON MAN
They say write what you know and I know Dublin: the wet streets, the mad people, the pubs (751 of them, currently I’ve done 160) the bad weather, the parks, the tourist spots. How can ye not love this dirty city?
WRITING OLD ANGER: The Heart of the Matter in a Southern Crime Story
Phillip Thompson’s crime novel Outside the Law scored wide acclaim from critics and major league authors like David Morrell, Linwood Barclay and Reed Farrel Coleman. Now the long-awaited sequel, Old Anger, is now available and is already scoring raves from Publishers Weekly, and authors like Joe R. Lansdale and S.A. Cosby. Phillip stopped by to share with us the story behind the story….
Brash News: All Kinds of Praise
Our discovery and publication this month of Ralph Dennis’ lost manuscript ALL KINDS OF UGLY is big news in the publishing industry, making headlines in this week’s issue of Publishers Weekly…and CHAMPAGNE COWBOYS, the long awaited sequel to the double Spur Award winner DOUBLE WIDE, is coming out in just a few days!
Uncovering the “DUST IN THE HEART”
I struggled over whether to publish Dust in the Heart or to keep it in a drawer. The original manuscript was nearly 100,000 words and it was a mess … and yet, there was still something haunting, melancholy, and powerful about the book that wouldn’t let me go…
Barbara Neely Named Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster
Brash author Barbara Neely has been named this year’s Grandmaster by the Mystery Writers of America.
FIREBALL – Long Lost, Unpublished Jimmy Sangster Novel Found
BIG NEWS! We’ve found a long-lost, never-before-published Jimmy Sangster novel! It’s called Fireball…and here is the incredible story behind the major, literary discovery.
The Wit and Wisdom of Shell Scott
“He lay there with his face on the cement, in his own blood and wastes. Lesson for would be killers: Either don’t miss with your first shot, or else eat light, go to the john, take an enema, and be ready to die neat.” Kill Him Twice
