a gritty, dark and chilling crime thriller that will get right under the skin

Signature Kill

The gripping new Frank Behr novel from David Levien, author of City of the Sun. Perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and Chris Carter.

Fans of Lee Child and Harlan Coben will love this fast and furious crime thriller from Hollywood screenwriter David Levien. 
 
"American thriller writing at its rocket-fuelled, roller-coaster best" - DAILY MAIL 
"Relentless suspense" - HARLAN COBEN 
"A writer who takes dead, calculated aim at our deepest fears" - ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY 
"This is crime fiction at its best." -- ***** Reader review 
"Pacy and gripping tale and at times the suspense is heart-stoppingly good." -- ***** Reader review 
"After reading, I had to buy all his books!" -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************************************** 
HE'S GOING TO LEAVE HIS MARK ON YOU. 
 
A corpse discovered. A woman. Dismembered. Twisted. Grotesquely reassembled. 
 
 This is the work of a dangerous, psychopathic serial killer. Someone who goes about his daily business unseen, slipping under the radar. 
 
 And ex-cop Frank Behr has somehow got himself involved. 
 
 As Behr is drawn further and further in to the murky underworld, he finds that the line between good and evil is more blurry than he ever thought . . .

What sets Signature Kill apart from other crime novels is the quality of Levien's writing. The way the reader is given an opportunity to get into the killer's head is both masterful and unsettling . . . Crime thrillers don't get any better than this one.

David Levien, author of City of the Sun and Where the Dead Lay, has been nominated for the Edgar, Hammett and Shamus awards in the US, and is also a Hollywood screenwriter and director. He was co-writer of Ocean's Thirteen and Runaway Jury among other films. He lives in Connecticut.

(Frank Behr: 3): an electric crime thriller that will not let you out of its grasp

The Contract

THE CONTRACT is an electric crime novel from one of Hollywood's top screenwriters. 
 
(Please note this book is called THIRTEEN MILLION DOLLAR POP in the US)

From the pen of Hollywood screenwriter David Levien comes this fast, furious and unforgettable crime thriller. Perfect for fans of Lee Child and Harlan Coben. 
 
"Tense and tightly plotted" - GUARDIAN 
"This is American crime thriller writing at its rocket-fuelled, roller-coaster best" - DAILY MAIL 
"Crime fiction at its finest" - Christopher Reich 
"What a great read. Its hard to put the book down." -- ***** Reader review 
 
***************************************************************************** 
DOES HE REALLY WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH? 
 
THE COMPANY: 
Troubled former cop Frank Behr is working for an exclusive Indianapolis investigation company, when he finds himself on a protection detail for Bernard "Bernie Cool" Kolodnik. 
 
THE CLIENT: 
Bernard "Bernie Cool" Kolodnik is a hard driving business mogul on the verge of making a move into big-time politics. 
 
THE CORRUPT: 
An attempt on Kolodnik's life is quickly buried by the police. But Behr wants the truth, and his hunt will put him a collision course with a dangerous sociopath . . .

Levien is the new must-read thriller writer

This is American crime thriller writing at it's rocket-fuelled, roller-coaster best

Enjoyable, hard-boiled stuff, with what's probably a bad-guy first - a psychotic, foul-mouthed Welshman.

(Frank Behr: 1): An emotionally charged, fast and furious crime thriller you won’t be able to put down

City of the Sun

Introducing a dazzling new crime series from one of Hollywood's top screenwriters. Prepare yourself for 'relentless suspense that will not let you out of its grasp' (Harlan Coben)

Fans of Lee Child and Harlan Coben will love this gripping, moody and heart-stoppingly tense crime thriller from Hollywood screenwriter David Levien. 
 
"Heart-stopping suspense and a heartbreaking story" - LEE CHILD 
"Relentless suspense that will not let you out of its grasp, and a cast of characters who are so utterly real you'll forget you're reading fiction. David Levien's novel is moody, riveting, and special" - Harlan Coben 
"Gripping . . . Levien's skill is to chart the emotional plight of the parents within the twists and turns of a fast-moving and complex plot" - MIRROR 
"This story gripped me right from the start" -- ***** Reader review 
"Incredible!! Couldn't put it down..." -- ***** Reader review 
 
*************************************************************************** 
HOW FAR WILL ONE MAN GO TO FIND A MISSING CHILD? 
 
Twelve-year-old Jamie Gabriel gets on his bike before dawn to deliver newspapers in his suburban neighbourhood. Somewhere en route, he vanishes without a trace. 
 
Fourteen months later, still with no sign of Jamie and having lost all faith in the police, his parents Paul and Carol are on the verge of abandoning hope. Then they meet private investigator Frank Behr, a tough, reclusive ex-cop. 
 
Abandoned by his former colleagues, separated from his wife and haunted by his own terrible past, Behr doesn't make it a practice to take on hopeless cases, but the desperate couple's plea for help awakens a personal pain he can't ignore . . .

The most impressive crime debut of the year . . . grips from the off

Relentless suspense that will not let you out of its grasp, and a cast of characters who are so utterly real you'll forget you're reading fiction. David Levien's novel is moody, riveting, and special

Heart-stopping suspense and a heartbreaking story

The best thing about this high-gloss, high-concept thriller is that it is actually a proper, well-written book, not merely a treatment in disguise, which delivers on its initial promise and packs an unexpectedly hefty emotional punch

Gripping . . . Levien's skill is to chart the emotional plight of the parents within the twists and turns of a fast-moving and complex plot

CITY OF THE SUN is hard, mean, beautiful, touching -- a dazzling novel. With this book, David Levien has placed himself among the best writers in the field. Elvis Cole and Joe Pike would be proud to call ex-cop Frank Behr their friend

One of the toughest, most gut-wrenching, and most believable suspense novels I've ever encountered. If David Levien pulled any punches, I was too dazed to notice

A writer who takes dead, calculated aim at our deepest fears

City of the Sun is all kinds of trouble. For one thing, it becomes really hard to break away to deal with the rest of the day. Then there's the recurring need to take deep, calming breaths throughout . . . a rare thriller where the outcome is genuinely in doubt

Frightfully realistic . . . a master character portrait . . . a nerve-jangling novel that places average people in extraordinary situations

David Levien is one of the top screenwriters in Hollywood. He has co-written the screenplay for Ocean's Thirteen, Runaway Jury and several others. He lives in Connecticut. His second novel featuring Frank Behr will be out in Summer 2009.

David Levien

This is American thriller writing at its rocket-fuelled, roller-coaster best

Levien's writing shines in his depiction of the bad guys. They don't come to life so much as walk in your front door, sit down on the edge of your bed, and put a gun to your head... Where the Dead Lay delivers on all counts. It is crime fiction at its finest

David Levien has placed himself among the best writers in the field

a sensational, gripping and moody crime thriller that will have you hooked

From the pen of Hollywood screenwriter David Levien comes this brutal, brooding and bloody crime thriller. Perfect for fans of Lee Child and Harlan Coben. 
 
"Crime fiction at its finest" - CHRISTOPHER REICH 
"David Levien has placed himself among the best writers in the field" - ROBERT CRAIS 
"This is American thriller writing at its rocket-fuelled, roller coaster best" - DAILY MAIL 
"Real, entertaining, and remarkably fresh" -- ***** Reader review 
"Levien writes bad guys as well as anyone out there... they are all so well drawn and conflicted and three-dimensional..." -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************** 
 
HOW FAR WILL ONE MAN GO TO AVENGE A FRIEND'S MURDER? 
 
THE VICTIM was a fighter, but strength wasn't enough to save him from this gruesome end. 
THE MISSING are two well-paid private investigators who have disappeared on a confidential job. 
THE FAMILY is formidable, deadly and crazy, and will stop at nothing to make their mark. 
THE INVESTIGATOR is Frank Behr, haunted by an unspeakable loss, avenging his friend's death, and close to becoming . . . 
THE HUNTED . . . can Behr track down the killers before they find him? And will he survive?

David Levien

Praise for Where The Dead Lay

Levien is the new must-read thriller writer

This is American thriller writing at its rocket-fuelled, roller-coaster best

Levien's writing shines in his depiction of the bad guys. They don't come to life so much as walk in your front door, sit down on the edge of your bed, and put a gun to your head... Where the Dead Lay delive ...

Levien is the new must-read thriller writer

This is American thriller writing at its rocket-fuelled, roller-coaster best

Levien's writing shines in his depiction of the bad guys. They don't come to life so much as walk in your front door, sit down on the edge of your bed, and put a gun to your head... Where the Dead Lay delive ...

Levien is the new must-read thriller writer

This is American thriller writing at its rocket-fuelled, roller-coaster best

Levien's writing shines in his depiction of the bad guys. They don't come to life so much as walk in your front door, sit down on the edge of your bed, and put a gun to your head... Where the Dead Lay delive ...

Books by David Levien

Series by David Levien

Frank Behr

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