The Colours of Death

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Patricia Marques was born in Barreiro, Portugal before moving to London when she was 8.
She studied for a BA in Creative Writing at The University of Roehampton and later gained an MA in Creative Writing from City University.
She loves reading and writing crime fiction that has a hint of ‘other’. She can usually be found most mornings crammed on an underground train carriage with her nose stuck in a book. The Colours of Death is her first novel.

‘Breathtakingly original, and a captivating sense of place’ Val McDermid, bestselling author of Still Life‘Compelling and original, this glints with freshness’ Daily Mail‘A brilliantly inventive and twisty tale’ Claire McGowan, bestselling author of The Push‘A good detective story . . . intriguing’ Guardian‘A distinctive, intriguing, immersive debut’ Mari Hannah, multi-award winning author of Without a Trace 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 . . .‘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 . . . 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 The first in a speculative detective series set in Lisbon 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 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 An absolute knockout An amazing genre-bending debut A distinctive, intriguing, immersive debut 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 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 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 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 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 A brilliantly inventive and twisty tale 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 Breathtakingly original, and a captivating sense of place Compelling and original, this glints with freshness A good detective story . . . intriguing Crime fiction with a twist 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 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 A tantalising spin on crime, with a dash of fantasy Pacy, gripping, and a fresh as hell blast across the bows of police procedurals A great crime debut . . . a world of division and paranoia brought vividly to life, best enjoyed over a pastel de nata

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