Historical adventure fiction

Book SynopsisJersey fishing captain, Jean Cotterell is rescued by a French frigate - The Hortense - off the Grand Banks of Nova Scotia in May 1794. His fishing vessel has foundered and he is the sole survivor. The Hortense is part of Republican Admiral Jan Van Stabel's great fleet of over 100 ships bringing corn to France. Lord Howe's Channel Fleet is off Brest, hoping to intercept them. Life on The Hortense is like France under the Terror; chaotic, ungovernable, obsessed with savage, radical political theories. Separated from the French fleet in the Western Approaches she is intercepted by two British frigates and battle is joined... The Antigallican is the first in a series of novels set at the end of the 18th century at sea, in Britain, in the Channel Islands and in Revolutionary France. In Jean Cotterell we find a character that bears comparison with Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe, in a narrative that will delight fans of Patrick O'Brian.Trade ReviewWith its captivating, pungent, and sharply drawn characters, this first instalment in a series of sea stories is a welcome addition to the Napoleonic sea story genre -- Margaret Barr * Historical Novels Review *I believe [Tom Bowling] has a great future, and will become one of the leading authors in the historical naval fiction genre -- Robert Squarebriggs

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Book SynopsisA single death could plunge the Empire into chaos.Silus, member of Emperor Caracalla's elite assassins, the Arcani, is dispatched to Numidia. Rumours of assassination plots against Marcellus, the Emperor's closest aide, are rife. Silus must stop them. But the forces arrayed against the Arcani are now as powerful as they are clandestine.Inducted into the Emperor’s bodyguard, his Lions, Silus soon discovers secrets that should have stayed hidden. And as the Emperor becomes ever more reckless in battle, Silus unearths a conspiracy that runs deeper than his worst nightmares.It’s not clear who is a friend, and who an enemy. Yet come what may Silus must keep the Emperor alive or – yet again – watch the ones he loves die.An awe-inspiring historical thriller of Ancient Rome, perfect for fans of Ben Kane and Simon Scarrow.

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Book SynopsisThe deluxe edition of the first installment of the Hierarchy series, following a young fugitive as he uncovers layered mysteries and world-changing secrets at the elite Catenan Academy, by bestselling author James Islington. Including new cover art by Jaime Jones, gold sprayed edges, colored endpapers, a map by James Islington, foil stamped three-piece case, and newly added bonus material. AUDI. VIDE. TACE. The Catenan Republicthe Hierarchymay rule the world now, but they do not know everything. I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilized society in allowing my strength, my drive and my focuswhat they call Willto be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do. I tell them that I belong, and t

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Book Synopsis''Intelligent, beautifully written'' The Times''Historical fiction fans, meet your new favourite author'' Stella Magazine''Beautifully written, immaculately researched and powerfully imagined'' Lancashire Evening PostOceania, 1879. For two years the Peacocks, a determined family of settlers, have struggled to make a remote volcanic island their home. At last, a ship appears. The six Pacific Islanders on board have travelled over eight hundred miles in search of new horizons. Hopes are high, until a vulnerable boy vanishes. In their search for the lost child, settlers and newcomers together uncover far more than they were looking for. The island''s secrets force young Lizzie Peacock to question her deepest convictions, and slowly this tiny, fragile community begins to fracture . . .An intimate, intense and beautifully realised novel of possession, power and the liberating loss of innocence. The perfect Christmas gift for fans of MISTER PIP and THE POISONWOOD BIBLE.Trade ReviewSyson's novel, a modern take on the literary genre known (after Robinson Crusoe) as the robinsonade, is a haunting exploration of Lizzie's disillusion with her father's dreams and their damaging consequences * The Sunday Times *Syson's novel is richly evocative of a Pacific world in flux, as cultures clash and individuals battle to find their place amid the ensuing confusion . . . a very moving story of fathers and children, of faith and disillusion, and of the dangerous consequences of trying to take possession of people as well as land * BBC History Magazine *An intelligent, beautifully written story about a dysfunctional family in a sinister paradise * The Times *Lushly written, with immaculate historical detail, it worked for me on many levels * Woman and Home *Mr Peacock's Possessions is a wonderful book, full of drama, courage and aspirations. The language is rich and the characters so humanely drawn * Carol Drinkwater *A thrilling story of love and courage, brutality and hope all told with equal measures of deep humanity, imagination and élan. Lydia Syson has an amazing gift of bringing history alive through richness of language, dramatic pace and fabulous visual imagery. This is better than watching a film! -- Anne SebbaWith its chorus of vivid voices, Lydia Syson's novel reminds us why we consumed The Poisonwood Bible and The Underground Railway so avidly, but it has a (literally) breathtaking bravura and an intensity all of its own * Michelle Lovric *What a powerful, rich and fascinating book. Dark historical events are interwoven with the mystery of a missing child on a remote Pacific island in 1879. Highly compelling * Anna Mazzola *Swiss Family Robinson meets Lord of the Flies in Lydia Syson's superb and engrossing book. This scintillating story evokes an island paradise which descends into a nightmarish hell as Mr Peacock's Possessions builds towards a shocking revelation and a thrilling climax * Wendy Moore *This tense, evocative, richly-imagined novel conjures the voices of a strange time and place, and makes them universal * Emma Darwin *As compelling, mysterious and haunting as the troubled tropical paradise it portrays . . . Syson doesn't just write about the past, she transports us there. A tour de force * Piers Torday *Lydia Syson writes very well about the natural world . . . [and] the dark tensions in family life that overwhelm the Peacocks * Miranda Miller *Dazzling . . . A vividly realised, compelling novel * Linda Newbery *Mr Peacock's Possessions - one of those rare novels which keeps you up much later than you'd planned - is everything I love in a book. What starts out as a wonderful adventure slowly reveals itself as something altogether darker. Then you realise you can't put it down until you discover the truth. Swallows and Amazons for grown-ups * Alex Monroe *A gripping yarn with unexpected outcomes . . . Syson writes engagingly and evocatively * Morning Star *Syson's eye for character is immediate - her narrative voice reaching out from the page and grabbing the reader from the off. They're drawn into a small but compelling community, one full of interesting characters and complicated relationships that only becomes more intriguing as the book goes on . . . Syson brings things to a climax that's as rewarding as it is moving - and allows her to examine community, youth and family in a beautifully drawn setting * The Bookbag *That's perhaps the greatest achievement of this novel: it stays with you. I've been haunted by it since I finished reading it. I hope very much that it gets the attention and praise it deserves . . . This novel is pleasurable on so many levels * The History Girls *Powerful, intense and beautiful, this novel will stay with me for a long time * Historical Novel Society *A wonderfully written piece from Lydia Syson * A Book And Tea *Mr Peacock's Possessions is a gripping novel . . . I'm in love with Lydia Syson's writing * Globe Trove *I absolutely love this book. It was an amazing read * Novel Thief *Lydia Syson's skill as a storyteller, brings Monday Island, the place and its eccentric inhabitants so vividly to life * Jaffa Reads Too *Mr Peacock's Possessions was an enjoyable historical read which offered an intriguing family story within an unfamiliar landscape * The Owl on the Bookshelf *This certainly is one of the most powerful, brilliantly written books * Breakaway Reviews *A dazzling tale of colonisation and corruption, enterprise and abuse . . . Lord of the Flies as if written by Barbara Kingsolver, perhaps, with a dash of The Wicker Man. But I think readers will find various other parallels and echoes in this vividly realised, compelling novel * Reviews by Writers *Haunting * Sunday Times Culture *Historical fiction fans, meet your new favourite author . . . intense and beautiful -- Stella Magazine * Sunday Telegraph *Mr Peacock's Possessions offers an intriguing and tension-packed exploration of family dynamics, colonialism, loss of innocence, and the perilous power of both possession and obsession . . . Beautifully written, immaculately researched and powerfully imagined * Lancashire Evening Post *Syson succeeds splendidly . . . Her main narrator, 15-year-old Lizzie, is utterly authentic: idealistic, frightened and pitiless. The narrative counterpoint between her and Kalala is deftly balanced. Pa is a memorable creation, driving and driven * Weekend, NZ *Atmospheric and compelling, Syson's novel exerts a grip that doesn't relax till the very end * The Herald, Scotland *

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Book SynopsisThe second novel in a new historical fiction series by bestselling author Joanna Courtney. Discover the real women behind Shakespeare's most infamous queens . . .

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Book Synopsis145BC - CALABRIA, ANCIENT ROME. After many years of spilling blood for Rome, Gaius Furius Paullus has returned home to spend his remaining days working quietly on the family farm.But it seems death has followed Paullus from the battlefield. Just days after his arrival, bodies start appearing - murdered and mutilated. And as the killings continue, and panic spreads, the war hero becomes the prime suspect. After all, Paullus has butchered countless enemies on the battlefield - could he have brought his habit home with him?With the psychological effects of combat clouding every thought, Paullus must use all his soldier's instincts to hunt the real killer. Because if they are not brought to justice soon, he may become the next victim.

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Book SynopsisFans of Evie Dunmore, Sarah MacLean, and Eloisa James will delight in this innovative, empowering, and sexy story from acclaimed author Minerva Spencer. Join the Rebels of the Ton as they subvert Regency norms and expectations…and manage to find true love along the way. “Unique characters and emotional depth...a winner. Spencer gives you all the feels!” —Sabrina Jeffries “Brilliantly crafted…an irresistible cocktail of smart characterization, sophisticated sensuality, and sharp wit.” —Booklist STARRED REVIEW   “Sparkling…impossible not to love.” —Popsugar A PopSugar Best New Romance of November A She Reads Fall Historical Romance Pick A Bookclubz Recommended ReadThe cure for a willful wife . . .Drusilla Clare is full of opinions about why a woman shouldn''t marry. But that doesn''t stop the rush of desire

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Book SynopsisThe second book in The Wilderness Series is set in Canada and Scotland.Now blissfully married, Nathaniel and Elizabeth Bonner, the hero and heroine of Into The Wilderness, have settled into their new life together in the North American frontier. When Elizabeth gives birth to twins their happiness seems complete. However, it proves to be short-lived. While attempting to rescue his father, Hawkeye, who has been imprisoned in Canada, Nathaniel is arrested by British colonials for spying a hanging offence.Left alone in the wilderness with only her step-daughter Hannah and her newly-born twins, Elizabeth embarks on a desperate bid to save her husband. Gathering up the children, she sets out on a dangerous journey across unremittingly hostile terrain. However, the fate of the Bonner family appears to be in the hands of other forces, who intend to kidnap them to Scotland in order to engage them in a bitter family feud and a destiny they could never have imagained.Trade Review Dawn on a Distant Shore was on the NYT Bestseller’s list for 3 weeks Second in the 5-book Wilderness series Like Into the Wilderness, sequel of sorts to James Fennimore Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans and Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, incorporating many of the characters into the tale Author also writes under the name Rosina Lippi. Her very succesful Homestead, shortlisted for Orange Prize, is published in Flamingo

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Book SynopsisCharles the king, our emperor great,Has been a full seven years in Spain.As far as the sea he conquered this haughty land.Not a single castle remains standing in his pathCharlemagne (768-814) was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800 and presided over a huge empire. He frequently appears in literature as a great warlord and pious crusading figure. In 778, the rearguard of Charlemagne''s retreating army was ambushed and defeated at the battle of Roncevaux. This became the inspiration for songs and poems celebrating deeds of valour in the face of overwhelming odds, through the character of Charlemagne''s nephew (the imaginary) Roland. The Song of Roland is the most stirring and moving epic poem of the European Middle Ages, offering a particularly heady mixture of history, legend, and poetry. Presented here in a lively and idiomatic new translation, the Song of Roland offers fascinating insights into medieval ideas about heroism, manhood, religion, race, and nationhood which were foundational for modern European culture. The Song of Roland is accompanied here by two other medieval French epics about Charlemagne, both of which show him to be a far more equivocal figure than that portrayed by the Roland: the Occitan Daurel and Beton, in which he is a corrupt and avaricious monarch; and the Journey of Charlemagne to Jerusalem and Constantinople, which gives the heroes of the Roland a comic makeover.

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Book SynopsisMatthias Fitzosbert is the illegitimate son of the parish priest of the village of Sutton Courteny. Despite the recent spate of murders, each day he braves the dark woods to visit his friend, a mysterious hermit who shows him many strange and beautiful things. Though enthralled, the boy is always puzzled by his lessons with the hermit - never more so than the night the villagers hunt the hermit down, and burn him, believing him to be responsible for the many deaths. THE ROSE DEMON explores Matthias''s unique relationship with a spirit he strives to placate but ultimately flees from. His story is played out against the vivid panorama of medieval life: the fall and sack of Constantinople; the turbulent Wars of the Roses; the terror of witchcraft; the battlefields of Spain and finally the lush jungles of the Caribbean where the Rose Demon and Matthias have one final, dramatic confrontation.

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Book SynopsisA hero is bornA sword will choose himA sorcerer will save himThe Roman Empire is in ruins. On a tiny boat in the Irish Sea float one man and a child, helpless after war has nearly destroyed their home, the colony called Camelot.That man is Merlyn Britannicus, cousin to the slain king Uther Pendragon. He would shed oceans of blood and sacrifice his life to defend the baby and royal heir: Arthur.With Camelot ripped apart by warring lords and assailed by violent tribes, Merlyn must use everything in his power to protect Arthur and return him to the land in which he''ll become a hero.Discover the most authentic telling of the Arthurian legend ever written

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Book SynopsisPerez-Reverte wrote the Captain Alatriste seies as a homage to the adventure books that had been his own initiation into the world of reading as a boy - books such as Dumas's The Three Musketeers.Captain Alatriste is a swordsman for hire in Spain in the 1620s - a time when Court intrigue was high and the decadent young king had dragged the country into a series of disastrous wars. As a hired 'blade', Alatriste becomes involved in many political plots and must live by his wits. He comes face to face with hired assassins, court players, political moles, smugglers, pirates and of course, the infamous Spanish Inquisition...All the stories are told by Inigo Balboa, Alatriste's young page. The cast of characters also includes Quevedo, an irrepressible subversive poet who likes to start fights in the local tavern, the kind-hearted innkeeper and ex-prostitute who shares Alatriste's bed, the elegant Count of Guadalmedina, the beautiful but deadly Angelica de Alquezar, and a whole host of underwTrade ReviewThe arrival of a new Alatriste book is always a joy... it's one to be devoured with passion... Highly recommended. * HAM & HIGH (30/6/06) *The cult of the renegade swordsman seems poised to increase... Ought to tickle the fancy of anyone who enjoys having their swashes buckled. * GUARDIAN (8/7/06) *

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Book SynopsisGraham Hancock, an expert in ancient civilisations and author of the 9 million selling Fingerprints of the Gods, and expert too, on the use of hallucinogens to achieve higher states of consciousness, brings these two interests together in the second volume of the War God trilogy. The conquistador Hernán Cortés is dreaming of Tenochtitlan, the golden city of Aztecs. But in order to win the Aztecs'' gold, Cortés and his small force of just five hundred men will have to defeat the psychotic emperor Moctezuma and the armies of hundreds of thousands he commands. Cortés expects that the Tlascalans, hereditary enemies of the Aztecs, will join him, but instead finds himself locked in a deadly struggle. As Cortés risks all against the Tlascalans, he plays mind games with Moctezuma, aiming to defeat the Aztec emperor psychologically before ever having to face him in battle. In this he is aided by his lover Malinal, a beautiful Mayan princess. It is from MaTrade ReviewReviews for War God: Nights of the Witch * : *...part historical fact, part fantasy, the effect is as intense as the events themselves. It's a fascinating read that will have you booking a flight to Mexico long before you finish the book. * Evening Standard *The book offers up a heady mix of action, politics, spirituality and the supernatural and we learn a lot...Convincing fantasy elements and viscerally recreated details keep the narrative charging forward. * Daily Mail *Five hundred years ago the old Mexican prophecy which announced the return of Quetzalcoatl came true. In an era dominated by human sacrifices and the decadence of a great culture, bearded men, white-faced, from beyond the sea, arrived to impose their law. In this fast-moving highly recommended novel, Graham Hancock masterfully reconstructs the biggest clash of civilizations ever, revealing aspects that only a genius author could unveil. * Javier Sierra New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Supper and The Lost Angel *Interweaving historical fact and vivid fiction, Graham Hancock's War God is packed full of blood, guts, conflict, sacrifice and witchcraft in the last days of the Aztec empire. The story of the Spanish conquest of Mexico and the downfall of Moctezuma is the perfect (if very gory) distraction from modern life. * Wanderlust *

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Book SynopsisThe concluding volume in Valerio Manfredi''s epic series of Alexander the Great''s tumultuous life.Trade ReviewRemarkable . . . one of life’s unalloyed pleasures: praise for Valerio Massimo Manfredi * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisWhen Ted discovered (don''t ask!) that his toilet allows him to travel back in time to any point in history, his adventures were only just beginning. Now he''s desperate to get back to Tudor times to learn to dance, but an encounter with Henry VIII finds him needing to stay on his toes to keep his head! Fun, facts, and fast-paced adventure for all.

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Book SynopsisJoin Ted on another hilarious historical u-bend adventure, this time to meet great leaders of the past - from Tutankhamun to Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln and Emmeline Pankhust - all to help him in his quest to become the school''s Head Boy. But his grand plan to persuade everyone to vote for him finds Ted facing some hysterical historical consequences...

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Book SynopsisThe fate of Rome, and thousands of lives, rests on the shoulders of one man.After murdering his brother, and taking the position of Emperor for himself, Caracalla orders a brutal purge of the supporters of Geta.Meanwhile, Caracalla's ally Marcellus has his son suddenly kidnapped. But why? Silus is ordered to track down and rescue the boy, rumoured to be Caracalla's child. As Rome buckles beneath the weight of slaughter, Silus will travel to the city of Alexandria. There he will need to risk everything to save the boy, the Empire and his own life...An intense and blood-soaked thriller of Ancient Rome, perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Conn Iggulden and Ben Kane.

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Book SynopsisA clash of crowns pits brother against sister in the battle for ultimate powerAn ambitious kingSpring, AD 777. Sigurd Hring, new King of the Svear, is summoning all the greatest warriors of the North to his banner, promising them riches and glory. He invites Bjarki Bloodhand, the famous berserkr who can summon the fury of a wild bear in battle, to swear an oath of fealty to him. But Bjarki has already sailed away to rescue a beautiful Saxon princess.A reluctant shield maidenTor Hildarsdottir, sister of Bjarki, now oath-bound to a powerful Svealand jarl, finds herself unwillingly enrolled in Sigurd’s mighty army. When Sigurd Hring arrogantly rejects the overlordship of Siegfried, King of the Dane-Mark, red war is inevitable.The battle to end all battlesThe two sides agree to meet on the field of honour at Norrkoping on the Svealand border. But Bjarki has sworn an oath to Siegfried and joined his Danish host, while Tor must fight for her lord and homeland. So the siblings will face each other over the shield-rims in a battle to end all battles to decide who shall be… King of the North.The epic fourth volume in the Fire Born saga, perfect for fans of Giles Kristian and Matthew Harffy.

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Book SynopsisEdinburgh, January 1732. It’s the funeral of Rachel, wife of Lord Grange. Her death is a shock. Still young, she’d shown no signs of ill health. Rachel is, however, still alive. She has been brutally kidnapped by the man who has falsified her death: her husband. Her punishment, perhaps, for railing against his infidelity – or simply for being too feisty for a lady and never submissive enough as a wife. Whether to conceal his Jacobite leanings or to replace his wife with a long-time mistress, Lord Grange banishes Rachel to a remote island exile, to an isolated life of hardship on St Kilda, where she can never be found. This is the gripping story of a woman who has until now been remembered mostly by her husband’s unflattering account. It’s a remarkable tale of how the real Lady Grange may have coped with such a dramatic fate, with courage and graceTrade Review“The wronged lady finally has her say … One of the strangest and most disturbing stories to have emerged from Scotland’s Jacobite past.” * The Times *From the Jacobite intrigues of eighteenth-century Edinburgh to Scotland's dark and sea-battered islands, Lady Grange's life is one of eye-popping incident. An amazing story. * Sally Magnusson *"Swept me along breathlessly ... The cruelty and complexity of eighteenth-century Scottish society is richly represented." * Dr Annie Gray *"A fascinating historical novel ... utterly compelling ... a book we'd highly recommend." * Undiscovered Scotland *“A superlative page-turner” * Scones and Chaise Longues blog *“A compelling narrative … fitting current trends in historical fiction, where women’s history is centralised and new light shed on their position in the past … An enjoyable read.” * Historical Novels Review *"There's kidnapping, mystery, intrigue, romance and even murder ... a very enjoyable romp through an interesting period of Jacobean history ... gave a voice to someone who has, like many women, largely been forgotten or misrepresented in history." * Portobello Book Blog *"Fleshing out the limited details available about Lady Grange's life, Sue Lawrence has created a fascinating, enjoyable and eminently readable piece of historical fiction." * Ramblingmads *"Fascinating, entertaining ... an addictive read." * Jera's Jamboree *This is a fantastic and gripping story and I highly recommend. * Geraldine Gatsby *"I absolutely loved this richly drawn novel." * Beauty Balm *"Rachel is the very embodiment of female power in a period of time when women had very little ... This is a powerful book, of a dark but in some ways uplifting story that might just take you away from our current craziness." * Bookbound *

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Book Synopsis"Simply miraculous... As her saga becomes ever more spellbinding, so does the reader's astonishment at the magic she creates. This is a story about the triumph of the human spirit over bigotry, intolerance and cruelty, and at the center of The Book of Harlan is the restorative force that is music." - Washington PostHarlan and his best friend are invited to perform at a popular cabaret in the Parisian enclave of Montmartre, but after the City of Light falls under Nazi occupation, they are thrown into Buchenwald-the notorious concentration camp in Weimar, Germany-irreparably changing the course of Harlan's life.Trade Review"Simply miraculous . . . This is a story about the triumph of the human spirit over bigotry, intolerance and cruelty, and at the center of The Book of Harlan is the restorative force that is music."“McFadden packs a powerful punch with tight prose and short chapters that bear witness to key events in early twentieth-century history . . . McFadden presents a remarkably crisp portrait of one average man’s extraordinary bravery in the face of pure evil."

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Book SynopsisJenny Barden has had a love of history and adventure ever since an encounter in infancy with a suit of armour at Tamworth Castle. Training as an artist, followed by a career as a city solicitor, did little to help displace her early dream of becoming a knight. Impelled by a fascination with the Age of Discovery, she has travelled widely in South and Central America, and much of the inspiration for Mistress of the Sea came from retracing the footsteps of Francis Drake in Panama. Jenny has four children and lives in Hertfordshire with her long suffering husband, a loving Labrador and a deadly Bengal cat. More about Jenny can be found at www.jennybarden.com

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Book Synopsis'A beautiful, lyric hymn to the power of social unrest in American history. Jess Walter is a national treasure' Anthony Doerr, author of All the Light We Cannot See_____________________________________________It is 1909 in Spokane, Washington. The Dolan brothers are living by their wits, jumping freight trains and lining up for work at crooked job agencies. While sixteen-year-old Rye yearns for a steady job and a home, his dashing older brother Gig dreams of a better world, fighting alongside other union men for fair pay and decent treatment. When Rye finds himself drawn to suffragette Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, her passion sweeps him into the world of protest and dirty business. But a storm is coming, threatening to overwhelm them all . . . The Cold Millions is an intimate story of brotherhood, love, sacrifice and betrayal set against the panoramic backdrop of an early 20th century America. Jess Walter offers a stunning, kaleidoscopic portrait of a nation grappling with the chasm betwe

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Book SynopsisShe is their youngest, sweetest sister, yet she is fated to become their strongest leader . . . The Coritani are a matriarchal line of great power, blessed with three princesses to carry the royal bloodline forward. Confident, fiery Goneril; fierce, earthy Regan; and gentle, water-blessed Cordelia. The future, the druids are certain, is secure.But when Goneril decides she wants power on her own terms, even at the expense of her fragile father, the princesses'' triple bond is threatened and then tragically broken. Quiet Cordelia finds herself cast adrift, forced to flee for her life across dark, stormy seas.Can Cordelia find the strength to challenge her sisters and their pet druids, and bring truth, right and justice back to the Coritani before it''s too late for them all?This is Shakespeare''s Cordelia as you''ve never seen her before. Joanna Courtney''s sweeping Historical trilogy is perfect for fans of Elizabeth

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Book SynopsisEvery night Hester Monk tends to women of the streets who have been injured as a result of their trade. But the injuries are becoming more serious, and now a body has been discovered in one of the area''s brothels. The dead man is the respected head of a successful railway company, Nolan Baltimore. With calls for the police to clean up the streets, Hester decides she must intervene to protect these women who stand to lose everything. Meanwhile her husband, William Monk, is investigating a possible fraud at Baltimore and Sons. As Monk endeavours to prevent a serious crime from taking place, he faces some staggering revelations, and finds that the time has come to confront his own demons - even if it means losing all he holds dear...Trade ReviewAnne Perry's novels are New York Times bestsellers and have earned much critical acclaim: 'Give her a good murder and a shameful social evil, and Anne Perry can write a Victorian mystery that would make Dickens' eyes pop out * New York Times Book Review *A totally contemporary feel ... admirably well-written * Guardian *Her Victorian England pulsates with life and is peopled with wonderfully memorable characters * Faye Kellerman *A complex plot supported by superb storytelling ... and William Monk, a contender for the post of Most Original Investigator in recent fiction * Scotland on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisBorn in Edinburgh in 1944, David Donachie has had a variety of jobs, including selling everything from business machines to soap. He has always had an abiding interest in the naval history of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The author of a number of bestselling books, he now lives in Deal, Kent with his wife, the novelist Sarah Grazebrook and their two children.

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Book SynopsisEach novel in this thrilling series of historical mysteries is based on a real unsolved Tudor crime. This second instalment reunites readers with its star, London goldsmith Thomas Treviot.The Real CrimeHans Holbein, King Henry VIII''s portrait painter, died in the autumn of 1543. A century later a chronicler reported that the artist had succumbed to plague, yet there is no contemporary evidence to support this. Suspicions have been raised over the centuries, but the mystery of what actually happened remains unsolved to this day.Our StoryYoung London goldsmith Thomas Treviot is awaiting a design for a very important jewellery commission from Hans Holbein. When the design fails to turn up, Thomas sends a servant to track Holbein down, only to discover that the painter has disappeared. In his hunt for Holbein and the lost design, Thomas is led into a morass of dangerous political intrigue, Spanish spies and courtiers that is more treacherous thaTrade ReviewIf you liked Shardlake, you will love this exciting new series of novels set in the turbulent age of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell, and effortlessly underpinned by the brilliant scholarship for which Derek Wilson is renowned. We feel we are really there, in an authentically evoked Tudor London, hot on the trail of a real-life murder mystery. Highly recommended! * Alison Weir, bestselling author and historian *[Full of] Murder, kidnapping and intrigue...the fictitious characters blend well with the real protagonists...and the red herrings abounded as they should in any good mystery tale. Recommended. * Historical Novels Review on THE TRAITOR'S MARK *The sense of period is impeccable, and the reader really gets a sense of how shocking this murder must have been... The story has more twists than a dancing serpent and the pace is relentless, yet it is the characterisation and the little details that make it such a good read. * Historical Novels Review on THE FIRST HORSEMAN *The First Horseman is a resounding success that blends fact and fiction to create a gripping, fast moving Tudor crime story that educates as well as fascinates...Wilson has created a compelling character, and the fact that this series will continue to revolve around real life Tudor mysteries is fantastic...unputdownable would be an understatement. * The Bookbag on THE FIRST HORSEMAN *Wilson wonderfully [evokes] the street-level reality of Tudor-era England in its weathers and sights and smells and even in its unexpected beauties. The plot is charged with genuine suspense * Christian Science Monitor *

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Book SynopsisThe 11th book in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series--a spinoff of William W. Johnstone's Mountain Man and Preacher series--featuring the legendary Matt Jensen, a man with survival and justice in his blood.On the lawless frontiers of the American West, there is one rule every outlaw should remember: Never cross a mountain man like Matt Jensen. Not if you want to keep breathing. No gun. No horse. No water or food. And worse yet: No idea how he ended up in the middle of a desert with a bullet in his leg and a bump on his head. That's the sorry situation Matt Jensen wakes up to--dazed and confused--until he slowly pieces together what happened. The last thing he remembers: He agreed to help out a friend of Duff MacCallister's. A pretty lady and her husband at a horse ranch. He also recalls their cross-country trip through hell to deliver the horses safely to market. That's when the outlaws showed up. That's when the shooting began. That's when everyt

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Book SynopsisJohnstone Country. A Home Worth Fighting For. Scotsman-turned-cowboy Duff MacCallister traveled far and worked hard to start a new life in America. And anyone who tries to mess with his dream is in for some serious Highland justice . . .   KILLER TAKE ALL   The cattle town of Chugwater may not look like much to outsiders. But for Duff MacCallister and the determined settlers who’ve staked their futures here, it’s a land of opportunity. That’s why the whole town is fired up by the latest news. Young railroad developer Jacob Freemantle wants to run a rail line through Chugwater, making it easier to transport cattle. Everyone is on board with the plan—at first. Duff begins to suspect that Freemantle is only after the most valuable land, and he’s using strongarm tactics to force reluctant ranchers to sell. Things only get worse when Freemantle’s hired guns show up—and the  viol

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Book SynopsisJohnstone Country. Where it’s never quiet on the Western front.   Life on the straight and narrow is easier said than done for a pair of crooks like Jimmy “Slash” Braddock and Melvin “Pecos Kid” Baker. But these reprobates are doing their damnedest to make an honest go of it. They’ve managed to safely deliver a church organ to a mountain parish when their sometime employer—Chief U.S. Marshal Luther T. “Bleed-’m-So” Bledsoe—recruits them for a job only fools would take. Marshal Bledsoe wants them to pick up a shipment of gold in the mining town in the Sawatch Mountains. Here’s the catch: Slash and Pecos’s wagon is just a decoy. When a ruthless gang ambushes the real gold shipment, it’s up to Slash and Pecos to go after the trigger-happy bandits. And they won’t be alone. A lady Pinkerton, Hattie Friendly—who is anything but—survived the ambush and is hellbe

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Book SynopsisJohnstone Country. Stay awhile.   With their acclaimed novels of the Jensen family, bestselling authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone have captured the pioneering spirit of America itself. Now a new generation of Jensens prepares to take the reins—and live the dream their ancestors fought for . . .   A JENSEN CELEBRATION. A JENSEN RECKONING.   There’s nothing like a wedding to bring families together. And there’s no place like the Sugarloaf Ranch to throw a foot-stomping hoedown—even if it turns into a gun-blazing showdown. Smoke and Sally Jensen are delighted that their son Louis is marrying the lovely widow he met during a perilous stagecoach journey through the Donner Pass. The whole family welcomes the bride and her young son with open arms. In fact, everyone is invited to the party—even the handsome stranger who rescued Louis’s twin sister Denise from a runaway mustang. Who is this m

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Book SynopsisJohnstone Country. Come and Get It. Mac is back. Framed for a murder he didn’t commit, Dewey “Mac” Mckenzie is a wanted man who ends up on a cattle drive heading west—as a chuckwagon cook. Though he’s never even boiled an egg, Mckenzie has a natural gift for cobbling together good trail drive grub. Now, with two trail drives under his belt, Mckenzie has proven to be more than a good chuckwagon cook. He’s good at serving up justice, too—with a side of hot lead . . . A HILL OF BEANS Mac Mckenzie has enough problems on his plate. He’s got bounty hunters on his tail, no one on his side, and no place to hide. Just when he thinks it can’t get any worse, he hears the rumbling of a cattle stampede—heading straight for his camp.  Mac’s got two choices: Get trampled like a weed or saddle up and help get the herd under control. At first, the traildrivers ain’t too p

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Book SynopsisMany men fought—and many men died—in the Texas Revolution of 1836. This is the story of John Apple. A man who not only fought in the battle of the Alamo, he lived to avenge it . . .   THE ROAD TO THE ALAMO   John Apple is a simple man. A gardener and preacher who lives a quiet life in Ohio. Then a broken heart sends him south. A chance encounter with a very drunk Jim Bowie leads him to join the Texian Army. And the struggle for independence from the brutalities of Mexican President Santa Ana teaches Apple a valuable new skill: Killing.   Working with Bowie, Sam Houston, Stephen Austin and their ragtag army, Apple becomes a secret courier and bloody advocate for the cause. As a calling card, he plants apple seeds in the chests of every soldier he slays—and sparks fear in the hearts of Santa Ana’s men. But nothing could prepare him for the fate that awaited them at the Alamo Mission. Nothing could save his brothers in

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Book SynopsisWith their acclaimed novels of the Jensen family, bestselling authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone have captured the pioneering spirit of America itself. Now in the fifth chapter of The Jensen Brand, the long-awaited return of Smoke Jensen’s son ignites a powderkeg of problems for the town of Big Rock, Colorado. This time, it’s personal—and definitely fatal… DARK NIGHT IN BIG ROCK Smoke Jensen is mighty proud of his son Louis for finishing law school. But he can’t help being a little disappointed that Louis isn’t returning to the Sugarloaf Ranch. Instead, he’s setting up his own law practice in nearby Big Rock—a career choice that turns out to be every bit as dangerous as fending off cattle rustlers. The boy’s first case lands him smack in the middle of a heated dispute between two riled-up ranchers over water rights. If Louis can’t settle them down, the whole th

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Book SynopsisA SECRETARY LIKE NO OTHER...IN AN EPIC SPANNING 40 YEARSAll Hanna Fischer ever wanted to do was to study physics under the great Albert Einstein.But when, as a teenager in 1919, her life is suddenly turned upside-down, she is catapulted into a new and extraordinary life - as a secretary, a scientist, a sister and a spy.From racist gangs in Berlin to gangsters in New York City, Nazis in the 1930s and Hitler''s inner circle during the Second World War, Hanna will encounter some of history''s greatest minds and most terrible moments, all while desperately trying to stay alive.She is a most unique secretary and she will work for many bosses - from shrewd businessmen to vile Nazis, to the greatest boss of them all, Mr Albert Einstein...Spanning forty years, this is the thrilling tale of a young woman propelled through history''s most dangerous times. ***** PRAISE FOR #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER M

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Book SynopsisFollowing his recovery after a savage wounding in America, Kydd returns to England to re-assume command of his ship-of-the-line, Thunderer, which is sent to the remote station of Bermuda.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE KYDD SERIES:A very readable and enjoyable story . . . I can only recommend that you got out, beg, borrow or buy, and enjoy * Bernard Cornwell *In Stockwin's hands the sea story will continue to entrance readers across the world * Guardian *This heady adventure blends fact and fiction in rich, authoritative detail * Nautical Magazine *The characterization is first-class, and the reader quickly becomes involved with all that happens * Historical Novels Review *There is no disputing Stockwin's ability to tell a good yarn backed by meticulous research. Stockwin's eye for authentic detail is faultless * Pennant *Paints a vivid picture of life aboard the mighty ship-of-the-line * Daily Express *Over two decades, Julian Stockwin, a master in naval fiction, has set new high water marks as Thomas Kydd rises from landsman to post captain. Sea of Treason, ambitious in scope, with colorful, captivating characters, is yet another tour de force in the canon. -- George Jepson * Quarterdeck *

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Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE KYDD SERIES:A very readable and enjoyable story . . . I can only recommend that you got out, beg, borrow or buy, and enjoy * Bernard Cornwell *In Stockwin's hands the sea story will continue to entrance readers across the world * Guardian *This heady adventure blends fact and fiction in rich, authoritative detail * Nautical Magazine *The characterization is first-class, and the reader quickly becomes involved with all that happens * Historical Novels Review *There is no disputing Stockwin's ability to tell a good yarn backed by meticulous research. Stockwin's eye for authentic detail is faultless * Pennant *Paints a vivid picture of life aboard the mighty ship-of-the-line * Daily Express *

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Book Synopsis ''A complex, gorgeous and compelling tapestry of love, death, trust and betrayal'' - Daily Mail A sweeping historical fantasy saga based on the hit podcast Tumanbay ******''Immersive, rich, compelling and populated with characters who come alive on the page, it will transport you to a different world. I loved it and didn''t want it to end.'' - Sarah Lotz, author of The Three''Written with the finesse of a master-assassin''s dagger... I could not put it down!'' Christian Cameron******Tumanbay: the most magnificent city on earth. The beating heart of a vast empire. A city of dreams - where those who arrived as slaves now reside in the seat of power.But the wheel of fate is never still: from the gilded rooftops to the dark catacombs, there are secrets waiting to be uncovered.For Gregor, Master of the Palace Guard, the work of rooting out spies and traitors is never done. His brother, Trade ReviewImmersive, rich, compelling and populated with characters who come alive on the page, it will transport you to a different world. I loved it and didn't want it to end. * Sarah Lotz *Written with the finesse of a master-assassin's dagger... I could not put it down! -- Christian CameronA complex, gorgeous and compelling tapestry of love, death, trust and betrayal * Daily Mail *Immersive and engaging * SFX *Compellingly written...its urgent storytelling still allows for subtle characterisation and comprehensive world-building. Tumanbay is distinctive and irresistible. * Morning Star *Extraordinary. A triumph of the imagination, rooted in the ruthless games of political power that still echo today . . . Read this and be astonished. * Misha Glenny *

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