Broken Oaths

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

During a remote meeting, an official watches from Lisbon as his colleague, Inacio Machado, a Portuguese diplomat based in London's Portuguese embassy, dies of what looks to be a heart attack. When no one comes into the room to Inacio's aid, he tries frantically to contact the embassy to get immediate help. He tries and tries again, but no one picks up the phone and he's forced to call the British emergency services.

When local police arrive, they walk into a disturbing scene. Everyone inside the building is dead, all seemingly from the same cause.

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 Belgravia is revealed, she's called up to London to assist London Met's CID in the investigation.

The mystery takes another alarming turn when they realise that the embassy was harbouring an American-Portuguese military scientist who is unaccounted for.

One thing becomes clear very quickly: the deaths are murders, and Isabel faces capturing a killer more ruthless than she has ever seen before.

(P) 2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Praise for Broken Oaths
Beautifully told, with great verve, this is sharp, taut story-telling Daily Mail
An original clever, inventive and suspenseful thriller. I loved being back in Inspector Reis's world -- Nadine Matheson, author of The Kill List
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
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
I love this series - the finest of speculative crime. Marques has really hit her stride with this one - the third in the series and the best yet! -- Fiona Erskine
Praise for the Inspector Reis series
Breathtakingly original, and a captivating sense of place -- Val McDermid
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
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
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
An amazing genre-bending debut -- David Jackson, bestselling author of The Resident
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
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
Compelling and original, this glints with freshness Daily Mail
A good detective story . . . intriguing Guardian
Crime fiction with a twist - SFX Magazine

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.

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