The Colours of Death

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What to expect

The first a speculative detective series set in Lisbon.

The Murder
In the Gare do Oriente, a body sits, slumped, in a stationary train. A high-profile man appears to have died by throwing himself repeatedly against the glass. But according to witnesses, he may not have done this of his own accord.

The City
Lisbon 2021. A small percentage of the population are diagnosed as Gifted. Along with the power comes stigma and suspicion.

The Detective
In a prejudiced city, Gifted Inspector Isabel Reis is hiding her own secrets while putting her life on the line to stop an ingenious killer.

A violent and mysterious crime. Suspected Gifted involvement. A city baying for blood. And a killer who has only just begun . . .

(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

Critics Review

This is crime fiction with a twist. Detective Inspector Reis is in pursuit of a killer. Nothing new there, but the murders take place in an alternative Lisbon, Portugal where the population is split into gifted or non-gifted and Inspector Reis is registered as gifted due to her being a telepath. This was a gripping and highly invented thrill ride. I can't wait for more
Nadine Matheson, author of The Jigsaw Man
Patricia Marques crafts a riveting mystery about power, privilege, and murder. Genuinely gripping, The Colours of Death has immense heart and an intriguing, fully realized world
Lori M. Lee, author of Forest of Souls
An absolute knockout
Nicolás Obregón, author of Unknown Male
An amazing genre-bending debut
David Jackson, bestselling author of The Resident
A distinctive, intriguing, immersive debut
Mari Hannah, multi-award winning author of Without a Trace
Marques sets Lisbon alight with this beautifully drawn thriller. Gifted detective Isabel Reis is everything we want from our protagonists - original and compelling, unique and fascinating. A story that'll leave you red-eyed and sleep deprived, The Colours of Death is a bold, compelling police drama a step beyond the ordinary with writing to match
Helen Fields, bestselling author of The Shadow Man
The Colours of Death is that rarest of things, a completely original crime novel. It's also a bit brilliant, and I as much inhaled it as read it
W. C. Ryan, author of A House of Ghost
Stigma and paranoia loom large in Marques's beautifully realised alternate Lisbon. Isabel's predicament is an intriguing, and paradoxical one - it's isolating to hear the thoughts of everyone around you. A vivid, fast-moving mystery
Kate Mascarenhas, author of The Psychology of Time Travel
The Colours of Death is a wonderful, intriguing and original speculative thriller by a sensational debut author. Visit a Lisbon filled with danger, death, and delicious food. You won't regret it
Alexandra Benedict, author of Braided Hearts
Patricia Marques debut takes the classic crime novel and the evocative setting of Lisbon, and utterly transforms both with a fascinating speculative twist. Pacy, immersive and brain-shiveringly clever. A brilliantly original crime story
Philippa East, author of Safe and Sound
A brilliantly inventive and twisty tale
Claire McGowan, bestselling author of The Push
A brilliant read. The premise and characters are intriguing, the story completely compelling - I couldn't put it down - and I loved the beautifully depicted setting of Lisbon
Debbie Howells, bestselling author of The Bones of You
Breathtakingly original, and a captivating sense of place
Val McDermid
Compelling and original, this glints with freshness
Daily Mail
A good detective story . . . intriguing
Guardian
Crime fiction with a twist
SFX Magazine
A very confident, original debut novel . . . One of the best debut novels that I've read this year and Patricia Marques is a writer to watch
Shots Mag
This is a novel that will have purists tutting. Until they start reading and allow themselves to be seduced by its setting, characters and deft handling of the underlying idea. Then, like me, they'll be fascinated
Express
A tantalising spin on crime, with a dash of fantasy
Peterborough Telegraph
Pacy, gripping, and a fresh as hell blast across the bows of police procedurals
Adam Simcox, author of The Dying Squad
A great crime debut . . . a world of division and paranoia brought vividly to life, best enjoyed over a pastel de nata
The Express

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