Broken Oaths - (Inspector Reis) by Patricia Marques (Hardcover)

About the Book

"During a remote meeting, a Portuguese official watches from Lisbon as his colleague, Emanuel Francisco, a diplomat based in London's Portuguese embassy, dies of what looks to be a heart attack. When no one comes into the room to Francisco's aid, he tries frantically to contact the consulate to get immediate help. No one picks up. When local police finally arrive hours later, they walk into a disturbingly silent and horrific scene. Everyone inside the building is dead. Inspector Isabel Reis, a gifted Inspector with Portugal's PolIcia Judiciaria, has developed a reputation for closing sensitive cases involving powerful people. When the gravity of what has happened in London is revealed, she's called up to assist the Met's CID in the investigation. Two things quickly become very clear: this was a mass killing, and only one person escaped. The person the embassy was secretly protecting within its walls. Now Isabel must quiet her turbulent mind and come face to face with a killer more ruthless than she has ever seen before... the answers lie with the sole survivor"--

Book Synopsis

'Beautifully told, with great verve, this is sharp, taut story-telling' Daily Mail

The brilliant third novel from the acclaimed author of THE COLOURS OF DEATH.

During a remote meeting, a Portuguese official watches from Lisbon as his colleague, Emanuel Francisco, a diplomat based in London's Portuguese embassy, dies of what looks to be a heart attack. When no one comes into the room to Francisco's aid, he tries frantically to contact the consulate to get immediate help.

No one picks up.

When local police finally arrive hours later, they walk into a disturbingly silent and horrific scene. Everyone inside the building is dead.

Inspector Isabel Reis, a Gifted Inspector with Portugal's PolÍcia Judiciária, has developed a reputation for closing sensitive cases involving powerful people. When the gravity of what has happened in London is revealed, she's called up to assist the Met's CID in the investigation.

Two things quickly become very clear: this was a mass killing, and only one person escaped. The person the embassy was secretly protecting within its walls.

Now Isabel must quiet her turbulent mind and come face to face with a killer more ruthless than she has ever seen before . . . The answers lie with the sole survivor.

Review Quotes

Breathtakingly original, and a captivating sense of place

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

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

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

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

Beautifully told, with great verve, this is sharp, taut story-telling--Daily Mail

A brilliantly inventive and twisty tale

A distinctive, intriguing, immersive debut

An amazing genre-bending debut

Praise for the Inspector Reis series

Broken Oaths is a mesmerising and propulsive speculative crime thriller, which had me gripped from the start and all the way to its heart-pounding conclusion. Assured writing, engaging characters and a brilliant speculative concept, the Inspector Isabel Reis series continues to be a fantastic contribution to the contemporary crime genre--Philippa East, author of Little White Lies

Praise for the Inspector Reis series

Praise for Broken Oaths

A brilliantly inventive and twisty tale--Claire McGowan, bestselling author of The Push

A distinctive, intriguing, immersive debut--Mari Hannah, multi-award winning author of Without a Trace

A brilliant read and a stunning addition to the Isabel Reis series . . . Patricia Marques is an author with a gift--Steven Powell, author of Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy

An amazing genre-bending debut--David Jackson, bestselling author of The Resident

An original clever, inventive and suspenseful thriller. I loved being back in Inspector Reis's world--Nadine Matheson, author of The Kill List

Compelling and original, this glints with freshness--Daily Mail

A good detective story . . . intriguing--Guardian

Crime fiction with a twist ---SFX Magazine

About the Author

Half-Angolan and half-Portuguese, Patricia was born in Portugal but moved to England when she was eight. As well as the MA in Creative Writing from City she holds a BA in Creative Writing from Roehampton. She lives in London and The Colours of Death was her first novel. House of Silence is her second.