2006

When a young Asian student is strangled, Nickie Taroney suspects the killer may be a cop. On the case is Terry Dedovic. There is something about him Nickie doesn't trust. Where exactly do his loyalties lie? When Nickie gets involved in a risky relationship, her suspicions are confirmed.

Jack Buturow, employed as a bouncer in a Sydney casino, is hiding from his former life. Despite himself, he becomes involved in the investigation of the death of a friend. During his quest, he confronts Vietnamese gangsters, corrupt cops, psychotic bikers - and a woman whose life mirrors his own.

When journalist India Kane agrees to accompany a Greenpeace ship in its pursuit of a whaling fleet, she has no idea what awaits her. Buffeted by high winds and blinded by freezing fog, by the time they spot the huge tanker bearing down on them - it is simply too late. Eight crew members are lost, including one of India's closest friends.

It's been a long, hard winter in the small Alaskan town of Lake's Edge - and things are about to get even tougher. Lisa McCall, a young and brilliant research scientist, has disappeared out in the Alaskan wilderness in the middle of a snowstorm. Lisa's sister, Abby - shaken by the news - flies out from England to join the rescue team.

Murder and intrigue in the English countryside When Belinda Lawrence first sees a piece of tapestry on an antique buying expedition, she is instantly curious. Could this be a missing piece of the Bayeux Tapestry? Belinda's friend and colleague Hazel Whitby is not so intrigued. She doesn't understand Belinda's fascination. When the tapestry comes into Belinda's possession through a strange series of events, she still can't arouse Hazel's interest, nor that of her boyfriend Mark. To them it is just a rag.

While working on a top-secret research program for the US Department of Defense in the freezing waters off Japan, a leading scientist turns up dead, eaten by a monster shark.

US Air Force OSI Special Agent Vin Cooper is hurriedly dispatched to investigate. Cooper, however, has barely begun when he's pulled off the case to look into the death of an old military buddy who died while making a routine parachute jump. Both cases suddenly collide when Cooper finds himself having to parachute out of a plane and into the night-time skies of a hostile Pakistan.

A beautiful man, and all she can do is tinker with his prose.

For Cassandra, an editor, books are easy. It's real life that's the challenge: it doesn't sit quietly and let itself be fixed. Right now Cassandra's life seems far too heavy on the suspense, while the romance is distinctly unconvincing.

But that was before the murders started. And before she suspected that her own name was on the killer's hit list.

Murder, match-making and the dark arts of book editing: The Apricot Colonel is Halligan at her light-hearted best.

Todd heaved Gusty up to look over the gate. She gasped and dropped straight back down. "What?" Todd asked. Gusty shook her head, finger on her mouth, and dragged Todd up the lane. At the corner she broke into a run, taking the hill as fast as she could despite her tiredness. With Todd close behind her, they ran all the way home. "What?" Todd panted. "What did you see?" Gusty looked at him. The saving of Brutus, she now knew, was no longer just a simple rescue operation. It had become something dark and dangerous.

MURDER IS NEVER PRETTY ... EVEN WHEN THE CORPSE IS A BLONDE CHAPTER ONE I was cruising west along Great Eastern Highway, going nowhere in particular, waiting for the call. It was one of those nights. It was hot, the moon was full and the dregs of society were restless. Black storm clouds hung over the Perth hills to the east and we'd had a drizzle of rain. It was enough to bring out the smell of hot tar. It had been a long day and I knew it was going to be a long night. I needed a drink of good old Queensland rum but the wagging finger in the back of my brain told me I had to stay sane.

No details yet sorry.