Historical crime and mysteries
Penguin Random House Group The Apothecary Diaries 05 Light Novel
Book Synopsis
£14.44
HarperCollins Publishers Sharpes Regiment
Book Synopsis*SHARPE'S COMMAND, the brand new novel in the global bestselling series, is available to pre-order now*Richard Sharpe returns to England to save the regiment.Major Sharpe's men are in mortal danger not from the French, but from the bureaucrats of Whitehall. Unless reinforcements can be brought from England, the regiment will be disbanded.Determined not to see his regiment die, Sharpe returns to England and uncovers a nest of high-ranking traitors, any of whom could utterly destroy his career with a word. Sharpe is forced into the most desperate gamble of his life and not even the influence of the Prince Regent may be enough to save him.Soldier, hero, rogue Sharpe is the man you always want on your side. Born in poverty, he joined the army to escape jail and climbed the ranks by sheer brutal courage. He knows no other family than the regiment of the 95th Rifles whose green jacket he proudly wears.Trade Review‘Sharpe and his creator are national treasures.' Sunday Telegraph 'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail 'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched.' Observer ‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive.’ George R.R. Martin
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Sharpes Havoc
Book Synopsis*SHARPE'S COMMAND, the brand new novel in the global bestselling series, is available to pre-order now*A small British army is stranded when the French invade northern Portugal and Lieutenant Richard Sharpe meets the future Duke of Wellington.Sharpe is stranded behind enemy lines, but he has Patrick Harper, his riflemen and he has the assistance of a young, idealistic Portuguese officer.When he is joined by the future Duke of Wellington they immediately mount a counter-attack and Sharpe, having been the hunted, becomes the hunter once more. Amidst the wreckage of a defeated army, in the storm lashed hills of the Portuguese frontier, Sharpe takes his revenge.Soldier, hero, rogue Sharpe is the man you always want on your side. Born in poverty, he joined the army to escape jail and climbed the ranks by sheer brutal courage. He knows no other family than the regiment of the 95th Rifles whose green jacket he proudly wears.Trade Review‘Sharpe and his creator are national treasures.' Sunday Telegraph 'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail 'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched.' Observer ‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive.’ George R.R. Martin
£7.49
Penguin Random House Group The Apothecary Diaries 03 Light Novel
Book Synopsis
£15.29
Square Enix The Apothecary Diaries 04 Light Novel
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£14.39
Allison & Busby Murder in Transit
Book Synopsis1866. On a train bound for Portsmouth, an elegant woman shares a compartment with the lecherous Giles Blanchard. It is a lucky encounter for her, as she steps off the train after picking his pocket and in possession of scandalous material for a potential blackmail. It is a less fortuitous meeting for Blanchard, who will never reach his home on the Isle of Wight alive.Detective Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming are swiftly dispatched to sift through the evidence. With Queen Victoria poised to spend the summer on the island, a speedy resolution to the case is imperative for their superiors. Tracing Blanchard''s killer is an endeavour freighted with difficulties, but will the fact that their inquiries lead them to the door of a royal residence be one complication too many?
£9.49
Square Enix The Apothecary Diaries 02 Light Novel
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£14.44
Penguin Random House Group The Apothecary Diaries 01 Light Novel
Book Synopsis
£14.39
Headline Publishing Group Traitors of Rome Eagles of the Empire 18
Book SynopsisTRAITORS OF ROME: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERAn enthralling Cato and Macro adventure from bestselling author Simon Scarrow. Not to be missed by readers of Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell. AD 56. Battle-hardened veterans of the Roman army Tribune Cato and Centurion Macro are garrisoned at the eastern border, aware that their movements are constantly monitored by spies from dangerous, mysterious Parthia. But the enemy within could be the deadliest threat to the Legion ... and the Empire. There''s a traitor in the ranks. Rome shows no mercy to those who betray their comrades, and the Empire. But first the guilty man must be discovered. Cato and Macro are in a race against time to expose the truth, while the powerful enemy over the border waits to exploit any weaknesses in the Legion. The traitor must die ... Praise for Simon Scarrow''s bestselling novels: ''Blood, gore, political intrigue...A historicaTrade ReviewPraise for Simon Scarrow's novels: 'Gripping... ferocious and compelling * Daily Express *A new book in Simon Scarrow's long-running series about the Roman army is always a joy * The Times *A new book in Simon Scarrow's long-running series about the Roman army is always a joy * Independent *I really don't need this kind of competition... It's a great read -- Bernard Cornwell
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Pan Macmillan The House at Riverton
Book SynopsisDiscover Kate Morton's multi-million copy bestselling debut novel, The House at Riverton, a mesmerising story of tragedy and buried secrets, with this new edition.Winner of the Richard and Judy Book Club Best Read of the YearSummer, 1924.On the eve of a glittering society party, by the lake of a grand English country house, a young poet takes his life. The only witnesses, sisters Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, will never speak to each other again.Winter, 1999.Grace Bradley, ninety-eight, one-time housemaid at Riverton Manor, is visited by a young director making a film about the poet's suicide. Ghosts awaken, and memories, long-consigned to the dark reaches of Grace's mind, begin to sneak back through the cracks. A shocking secret threatens to emerge; something history has forgotten, but Grace never could . . .
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Hodder & Stoughton Death on the Tiber
Book SynopsisRome is in chaos. The empire of a mobster chief is falling apart following his death. Rivals, fearsome relatives and associates are taking up position to vie for the spoils. With hideous murders in the streets of Rome, a lone female traveller arrives with an agenda of her own. But when her corpse is dragged out of the river bearing signs of foul play, Flavia Alba is drawn in, concerned about her fellow Briton''s fate. Alba''s quest to find the killer becomes deeply personal when she discovers a man at the centre of the plot is an old adversary of hers. Will she be obsessed by revenge? Can she let the past go, or will it consume her?
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Titan Books Ltd The Classified Dossier - Sherlock Holmes and Mr
Book SynopsisA deftly crafted, scintillating mash-up of Victorian mystery and horror – Sherlock Holmes and Mr Hyde encounter villains with unfathomable, terrifying abilities… 1903. A darkness has descended on London. A series of grisly murders are uncovered, trophies taken, bodies arranged and soon there are whispers of Jack the Ripper’s return. A new client arrives at Baker Street seeking Sherlock Holmes’s help: Dr Jekyll claims his friend has been wrongfully accused of the hideous crimes, a friend called Mr Edward Hyde, whose very existence relies on a potion administered by the doctor himself. But the case becomes more complicated, more unsettling than simply proving Mr Hyde’s innocence – for Holmes and Watson unearth beastly transformations, a killer who moves unseen, a secret organisation and then find a traitor in their midst…Trade ReviewPraise for Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula: "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker were friends and admired each other's work. I'm happy to think that both of them would have greatly enjoyed Christian Klaver's exuberant, reverent mashup of their two best-known characters."- James Lovegrove, author of The Cthulhu Casebooks "A great start to a new series. Klaver knows his Holmes - and his Dracula - and tells a compelling tale that will delight all fans of Holmes and things horrific." - Eric Brown, author of The Martian Menace "A scintillating mash-up of the two big names in Victorian mystery and horror... Put your feet up, light your pipe, pour yourself a nice cup of warm blood, and enjoy." - Philip Purser-Hallard, author of Sherlock Holmes: The Vanishing Man "I honestly couldn't put it down... You'll hold your breath, I promise. It's quite simply the most believable Holmes/fantasy crossover I've ever read" - Age of Steam "What's most remarkable about this story is the degree of authenticity Klaver gives it-it reads just like a story by Doyle... exciting and refreshingly unpredictable" - Heath Lowrance
£13.49
Quercus Publishing The Midnight Hour: Twisty mystery from the
Book Synopsis**THE THRILLING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**'If only all history mysteries could be as good as The Midnight Hour' The TimesAn old man lies dead and it looks like poison, but his wife isn't the only one who had reason to kill him. Brighton, 1965When theatrical impresario Bert Billington is found dead in his retirement home, no one suspects foul play. But when the postmortem reveals that he was poisoned, suspicion falls on his wife, eccentric ex-Music Hall star Verity Malone. Frustrated by the police response to Bert's death and determined to prove her innocence, Verity calls in private detective duo Emma Holmes and Sam Collins. This is their first real case, but as luck would have it they have a friend on the inside: Max Mephisto is filming a remake of Dracula, starring Seth Billington, Bert's son. But when they question Max, they feel he isn't telling them the whole story.Emma and Sam must vie with the police to untangle the case and bring the killer to justice. They're sure the answers must lie in Bert's dark past and in the glamorous, occasionally deadly, days of Music Hall. But the closer they get to the truth, the more danger they find themselves in...***********PRAISE FOR THE MIDNIGHT HOUR 'An intricately plotted whodunnit' Daily Mail 'Griffiths writes with verve and wit' Irish Times'An entertaining period murder mystery' Irish Independent'Layered with a gripping plot' Belfast TelegraphA Sunday Times bestseller w/c 24/04/2022Trade ReviewBeneath the smooth, swan-like progression of Elly Griffith's sentences there is a lot going on. She is utterly in control of her material, and the machinations of the plot are never allowed to swamp character development, sense of place or the creation of atmosphere. She is a witty writer: the sturdy legs of a toddler on a swing, for example, are said to be "kicking the sky." If only all history mysteries could be as good as The Midnight Hour. * The Times *Griffiths writes with verve and wit, and has an unflaggingly keen eye . . . deliriously entertaining * Irish Times *An entertaining period murder mystery full of delightfully eccentric - and one decidedly deadly - luvvies * Irish Independent *Layered with a gripping plot ... very, very enjoyable' * Belfast Telegraph *An intricately plotted whodunnit * Daily Mail *
£7.19
HarperCollins Publishers The Resurrectionist
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£13.49
HarperCollins Publishers AND THEN THERE WERE NONE
Book SynopsisThe book that topped the international online poll held in Agatha Christie's 125th birthday year to discover which of her 80 crime books was the world's favourite. 1939. Europe teeters on the brink of war. Ten strangers are invited to Soldier Island, an isolated rock near the Devon coast. Cut off from the mainland, with their generous hosts Mr and Mrs U.N. Owen mysteriously absent, they are each accused of a terrible crime. When one of the party dies suddenly they realise they may be harbouring a murderer among their number. The 10 strangers include a reckless playboy, a troubled Harley Street doctor, a formidable judge, an uncouth detective, an unscrupulous mercenary, a God-fearing spinster, two restless servants, a highly decorated general and an anxious secretary. One by one they are picked off. Who will survive? And who is the killer? Copies of an ominous nursery rhyme hang in each room, the murders mimicking the awful fates of its 'Ten Little Soldier BoTrade Review‘One of the very best, most genuinely bewildering Christies.’Observer ‘The most astonishingly impudent, ingenious and altogether successful mystery story since The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.’Daily Herald ‘One of the most ingenious thrillers in many a day.’Time Magazine ‘There is no doubt that this is a highly ingenious jigsaw by a master of puzzling.’Books ‘There is no cheating; the reader is just bamboozled in a straightforward way from first to last… The most colossal achievement of a colossal career. The book must rank with Mrs Christie’s previous best – on the top notch of detection.’New Statesman ‘The whole thing is utterly impossible and utterly fascinating. It is the most baffling mystery Agatha Christie has ever written.’New York Times
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Wideacre Book 1 The Wideacre Trilogy
Book SynopsisPhilippa Gregory's first novel and first in the bestselling Wideacre trilogy. A compelling tale of passion and intrigue set in the eighteenth century. From the author of The Other Boleyn Girl and The Virgin's Lover.If it was the way of the world that girls left home, then the world would have to change. I would never change.'Wideacre Hall, set in the heart of the English countryside, is the ancestral home that Beatrice Lacey loves. But as a woman of the eighteenth century she has no right of inheritance. Corrupted by a world that mistreats women, she sets out to corrupt others. Sexual and wilful, she believes that the only way to achieve control over Wideacre is through a series of horrible crimes, and no-one escapes the consequences of her need to possess the land.Sweeping, passionate, unique: ''Wideacre'' is the novel which brought Philippa Gregory to bestselling fame and is the first of the trilogy which continued with ''The Favoured Child'' and concluded with Meridon'.Trade ReviewPraise for Philippa Gregory: “The eighteenth-century woman is a neglected creature but, in the figure of her heroine, Philippa Gregory has defined a certain kind of wildness…This is a novel written from instinct, not out of calculation, and it shows.’ Peter Ackroyd, The Times ‘For sheer pace and percussive drama it will take a lot of beating.’ Sunday Times ‘Gregory's research is impeccable which makes her imaginative fiction all the more convincing.’ Daily Mail ‘A story of violent love and unsettling passions. It will never let you rest for a page as you wait for the climax that must come for the people and the land.’ Maeve Binchy ‘Subtle and exciting.’ Daily Express
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HarperCollins Publishers The Alchemist’s Secret (Ben Hope, Book 1)
Book SynopsisTHE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Introducing the explosive first Ben Hope adventure ‘Compelling from the first page until the last, Mariani and Ben Hope entertain in a gripping tale that will have you turning the pages well into the night’ MARK DAWSON Ben Hope lives on the edge. A former elite member of the SAS, Ben is tortured by a tragedy from his past and now devotes his life to finding kidnapped children. When Ben is recruited to locate an ancient manuscript which could save a dying child, he embarks on the deadliest quest of his life. The document is alleged to contain the formula for the elixir of life, discovered by the brilliant alchemist Fulcanelli decades before. But it soon becomes apparent that others are hunting this most precious of treasures – for far more evil ends. When the secrets of alchemy hidden within the pages remain impenetrable, Ben teams up with beautiful American scientist Dr Roberta Ryder to crack the code. It seems that everyone – from the Nazis during WW2 and powerful Catholic organisation Gladius Domini – wants to unearth the secrets of immortality. The trail leads Ben and Roberta from Paris to the ancient Cathar strongholds of the Languedoc, where an astonishing secret has lain hidden for centuries… The Ben Hope series is a must-read for fans of Dan Brown, Lee Child and Mark Dawson. Join the millions of readers who get breathless with anticipation when the countdown to the new Ben Hope thriller begins… Praise for Scott Mariani ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Deadly conspiracies, bone-crunching action and a tormented hero with a heart … Scott Mariani packs a real punch’ Andy McDermott ‘James Bond meets Jason Bourne meets The Da Vinci Code’ J. L. Carrell ‘Fans of Dan Brown will love this thrilling adventure’ Closer 'Non-stop action – this book delivers’ Steve Berry ‘If you’ve got a pulse, you’ll love Scott Mariani; if you haven’t, then maybe you crossed Ben Hope’ Simon Toyne ‘Full of authentic detail and heart-stopping action – a real thrill ride’ Ed Macy ‘An author to watch’ M. J. Rose ‘Packed with dark intrigue, danger around every corner, bullets flying, sexual tension, and an endless assault of nasty villains… everything a thriller should be and more’ Joe Moore Trade Review Praise for Scott Mariani ‘Deadly conspiracies, bone-crunching action and a tormented hero with a heart . . . Scott Mariani packs a real punch’ Andy McDermott ‘James Bond meets Jason Bourne meets The Da Vinci Code’ J. L. Carrell ‘Fans of Dan Brown will love this thrilling adventure’ Closer 'Non-stop action – this book delivers’ Steve Berry ‘If you’ve got a pulse, you’ll love Scott Mariani; if you haven’t, then maybe you crossed Ben Hope’ Simon Toyne ‘Full of authentic detail and heart-stopping action – a real thrill ride’ Ed Macy ‘An author to watch’ M. J. Rose ‘Packed with dark intrigue, danger around every corner, bullets flying, sexual tension, and an endless assault of nasty villains . . . everything a thriller should be and more’ Joe Moore
£8.99
Quercus Publishing Smoke and Mirrors: The Brighton Mysteries 2
Book SynopsisBrighton, 1950s, mid-winter. Two missing children are found buried under snow in this chilling new case for DI Stephens and Max Mephisto. Max's star turn in Aladdin has been overshadowed by the murder of two local children. With fairy tales in the air, it's not long before the press have found a nickname for the case: 'Hansel and Gretel'.'An excellent whodunnit, matched by the terrific down-at-heel atmosphere of postwar Brighton' - The TimesDI Edgar Stephens has plenty of leads to investigate. The missing girl, Annie, used to write plays and perform them with her friends. Does the clue lie in Annie's unfinished - and rather disturbing - last script? Or might it lie with the eccentric actor types who have assembled for the pantomime?Once again Edgar enlists Max's help in penetrating the shadowy theatrical world that seems to hold the key. But is this all just classic misdirection?Trade ReviewAn excellent whodunnit, matched by the terrific down-at-heel atmosphere of postwar Brighton * The Times *Griffiths evokes with skill the seedy allure of the provincial theatre and the drabness of a Britain that is still rationed * Sunday Times *Mixes cosiness and sharpness in a way that recalls the best of Agatha Christie and has a feel for showfolk worthy of Ngaio Marsh * Sunday Express *Original, lively and gripping * Independent (on The Zig Zag Girl) *
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Quercus Publishing The Winter List
Book SynopsisSummer, 1660. Cromwell is dead and Charles Stuart has been restored to the throne. Men who supported the Protectorate are being hunted down as traitors. ''S. G. MacLean can make any historical period sing with life'' Antonia HodgsonBy the summer of 1660 the last remnants of the Republic have been swept away and the Stuarts have been restored under their king, Charles II. A list of regicides believed to be involved in the death of Charles I is drawn up. Gruesome executions begin to take place and the hunt intensifies for those who have gone into hiding at home or abroad.Although not a regicide, staunch Republican Damian Seeker is on a list of traitors to the king. Royalist spy, Lady Anne Winter, is employed to find evidence of guilt or innocence among the names on this Winter List. Seeker has fled England but his beloved daughter Manon remains, married to Seeker''s friend, the lawyer Lawrence Ingolby, and living in York.As the conduit to
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HarperCollins Publishers The Golden Library
Book SynopsisLearn the secret or die tryingHas ex-SAS soldier Ben Hope finally got out of his depth?That's the question Ben faces when the hunt for a missing girl takes him to China. He's a stranger in a strange land but he's also the victim's only hope. To make things worse, she's almost family.As the pressure mounts, so does the gruesome death toll. With ruthless enemies in pursuit and an unlikely alliance with an enigmatic detective his only lifeline, Ben realises that this situation is far more explosive than even he'd bargained for. Suddenly it's no longer just the missing girl's fate depending on him.At the heart of the mystery lies an ancient secret dating back to China's first emperor and the legendary Terracotta Army a secret that people will still kill for, millennia later. Ben Hope has never turned his back on those in need, and he's no stranger to tough odds. But can he survive long enough to discover the truth and is he ready for the consequences?
£8.54
Bonnier Books Ltd A Disappearance in Fiji: A charming debut
Book SynopsisA charming debut historical mystery set in 1914 Fiji. Perfect for fans of Abir Mukherjee, Vaseem Khan and Sujata Massey.'AN UTTERLY CHARMING NOVEL ... NILIMA RAO IS AN AUTHOR WELL WORTH DISCOVERING' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH'AN EXCEPTIONALLY PROMISING DEBUT' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY STARRED REVIEW1914, Fiji: Sergeant Akal Singh would rather be anywhere than this tropical paradise - or, as he calls it, 'this godforsaken island'. After a promising start to his police career in Hong Kong, Akal has been sent to the far-flung colony of Fiji as punishment for a humiliating professional mistake. Lonely and embarrassed, he dreams of solving a big case, thereby redeeming himself and gaining permission to leave. Otherwise, he fears he will be stuck in Fiji for ever.When an indentured Indian woman goes missing from a sugarcane plantation and Fiji's newspapers scream 'kidnapping', the inspector-general reluctantly assigns Akal the case, giving him strict instructions to view this investigation as nothing more than cursory. But as soon as Akal arrives on the plantation, he identifies several troubling inconsistencies in the plantation owners' stories, and it seems there is more to this disappearance than meets the eye . . .Trade ReviewThis is an utterly charming novel. The setting is exotic and the characters are intriguing. Nilima Rao is an author well worth discovering * Alexander McCall Smith *Rao skillfully weaves descriptions of the treatment and living conditions of Indian workers into the propulsive plot and draws a host of vibrant characters. This is an exceptionally promising debut * Publishers Weekly, Starred Review *Meet Sergeant Akal Singh, the complex and charming hero of a thoroughly original mystery set in 1914 Fiji. Fans of Golden Age mysteries will relish this debut novel by a compelling new talent, Nilima Rao. More, please! * Sujata Massey, Agatha Award–winning author of The Widows of Malabar Hill *A poignant and entertaining read ... Sergeant Akal Singh is a charmingly imperfect and captivating protagonist. I love Akal and hope we'll be seeing a lot more of him! * Ovidia Yu, author of the Aunty Lee Singaporean Mysteries *A marvellous debut that beautifully paints life in a part of the world that few of us have a chance to visit. The highlight of Nilima Rao's well-crafted novel set in Fiji in the days of British colonial rule is the collision of cultures and class and how one man is charged with the task of unlocking the mysteries they create. A pleasure to read * Colin Cotterill, author of the Dr Siri Paiboun Mysteries *
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Oxford University Press A Study in Scarlet
Book SynopsisIn A Study in Scarlet we meet two of the most famous fictional characters, Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, for the first time. An American has been killed in an empty house, and the only clue is the word 'Rache' scrawled in red. As Holmes sets to work with his unique forensic methods, a moving story of love, religion, and revenge unfolds.Table of ContentsIntroduction A Note on the Text Select Bibliography Chronology A Study in Scarlet Explanatory Notes
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Allison & Busby Murder at the Fitzwilliam
Book SynopsisFormer Detective Inspector Daniel Wilson is often consulted when a case must be solved quickly and quietly. Such is the case when a body is found in the Egyptian Collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Wilson must contend with an unhelpful police Inspector, and more alarmingly, the archaeologist who discovered the body.Trade Review"With accurate period details, Eldridge perfectly recreates the Cambridge of the Victorian era. A highly successful start to a captivating new series." - Marni Graff
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Pan Macmillan A Gambling Man
Book SynopsisEvoking the golden age of crime, and for fans of Raymond Chandler and Agatha Christie, comes the second book in the Private Investigator Archer series, A Gambling Man from one of the world’s bestselling thriller writers, David Baldacci.A lucky roll of the diceCalifornia, 1949. Aloysius Archer is on his way to start a new job with a renowned Private Investigator in Bay Town. Feeling lucky, he stops off at a casino in Reno, where he meets an aspiring actress, Liberty Callahan. Together, they head west on a journey filled with danger and surprises – because Archer isn’t the only one with a secretive past.A risk worth takingArriving in a town rife with corruption, Archer is tasked with finding out who is doing everything they can to disrupt the appointment of a top official. Then two seemingly unconnected people are murdered at a burlesque club. In a tight-lipped community, Archer must dig deep to reveal the connection between the victims.All bets are offAs the final perilous showdown unfurls, Archer will need all of his skills to decipher the truth from the lies and finally, to prove she’s a star in the making, will Liberty have her moment in the spotlight?A Gambling Man is the second historical crime novel in David Baldacci’s Private Investigator Archer series, following the Sunday Times top five bestseller One Good Deed.Trade ReviewOne of his finest books. Great character, great story, great portrait of an era -- Bill Clinton on One Good Deed, the first novel in the Aloysius Archer series.One Good Deed represents David Baldacci’s move into historical crime with a new character, ex- jailbird Aloysius Archer . . . Unsurprisingly, the talented Baldacci proves to be as adept in this new venture as he is in his contemporary-set novels * Financial Times *
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Hodder & Stoughton Clash of Legions
Book SynopsisMarcus Aquila and his patron Rutlius Scaurus are tasked with rooting out a spy ring operating in the lands into which their imperial master Severus''s armies are advancing.The quest to find and subvert their foes'' informers will place the two friends at great risk, with torture and death the price of any mistake. While success will put them in the front rank against battle-hardened legions, hungry for revenge, in a bloody struggle to determine the fate of Asia''s loyalty.-----''This is fast-paced and gripping read-through-the-night fiction, with marvellous characters and occasional moments of dark humour. Some authors are better historians than they are storytellers. Anthony Riches is brilliant at both.'' Conn Iggulden on Empire''A master of the genre'' The Times
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Zaffre A Death in Diamonds
Book SynopsisTHE ROYALLY BRILLIANT FOURTH BOOK IN THE HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN INVESTIGATES MYSTERY SERIES - NOW AVAILABLE TO IN PAPERBACK, EBOOK AND AUDIOBOOK!________________1957 - Young Queen Elizabeth II is finding her way in a challenging world as the United Kingdom must adjust to having neither an empire nor a set place in post-war Europe. As she travels the world to try and build bridges, the Queen is advised by the 'men in moustaches', as Philip calls them - her father's old courtiers, who may or may not have her best interests at heart. One of them is trying to sabotage her: that much she is sure of. And then two bodies turn up, horribly murdered, in Chelsea, and the Queen finds herself unwillingly used as the alibi for somebody very close to her. Elizabeth knows she can't face these challenges alone. She needs support from someone clever, discreet and loyal, someone she can trust. Then she meets ex-Bletchley Park code breaker, Joan McGraw, and their investigation into the murders begin
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HarperCollins Publishers The Ngaio Marsh Collection 2 Death in Ecstasy
Book SynopsisCommemorating 75 years since the Empress of Crime’s first book, the second volume in a set of omnibus editions presenting the complete run of 32 Inspector Alleyn mysteries.
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Titan Books Ltd Murdoch Mysteries Except the Dying
Book SynopsisIn the cold Toronto winter of 1895, the naked body of a servant girl is found frozen in a deserted laneway. The victim was pregnant when she died. Detective William Murdoch soon discovers that many of those connected with the girl's life have secrets to hide. Was her death on attempt to cover up a scandal in one of the city's influential families?Trade Review"A first novel enriched by the vividness of its period settings and animated by the lifelike characters caught up in its broad social sweep." - "New York Times" "Jennings creates more than a period mystery. She brings alive 1895 Toronto." - "Publishers Weekly" "Terrific . . . the best historical mystery of the year. . . . Murdoch is a fine creation. . . . We can't wait to meet him again." - "Mystery Collector's BookLine"
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Gallows Thief
Book Synopsis1820s Britain: after the wars with France, when unemployment was high and soldiers could be paid off, when the government was desperately afraid of social unrest, any crime was drastically punished and thousands were hung. But one could petition the King and an investigation might ensueThe man in the dark cell in Newgate Prison was due to hang in a week. He had been found guilty of murdering the aristocrat whose portrait he was painting. He claimed to be innocent but then the hangman had never hung a guilty man, he said. But even in 1820, the Home Secretary could occasionally use his powers to grant mercy if his investigator found cause and Rider Sandman, once of the First Foot Guards, is given the job.Rider Sandman, a hero of Waterloo, has family debts to repay but when his first steps in the investigations produce a sizeable bribe to look the other way, this only arouses his smouldering anger over the condition of England, a country which he and others in Wellington''s army had fougTrade Review‘Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation…Cornwell at his best is utterly compelling. And this is Cornwell at his best.’ Daily Mail ‘Page for page, sentence for sentence, scene for heart-stopping scene GALLOWS THIEF is the strongest historical novel I have read this year…he tells a cracking yarn and fills it with vivid characters and writes crisp dialogue and gets the period detail right..it is hard to stop reading…it is masterly.’ Sunday Telegraph
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Allison & Busby The Lanterns Dance
Book SynopsisSeptember, 1925. Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes are looking forward to spending time with Holmes'' son, the famous artist Damian Adler, and his family in the French countryside. But on their arrival, they discover that the Adlers have fled from a mysterious threat.In the ominously empty house, Russell discovers clues including an old journal written in a nearly impenetrable code. As she delves deeper, it appears that the secrets of the past are reaching into the present. Could there be things about Holmes'' own history that even the master detective does not perceive?
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Severn House The Skeleton in the Rose Bed
Book Synopsis
£19.79
Headline Publishing Group Dead of Night
Book Synopsis''A compelling, atmospheric page-turner'' Steve Cavanagh''Gripping and compelling . . . balances immersive historical scene-setting with masterful plotting'' Dan Jones''A seriously gripping story - an outsider hero in jeopardy, a world of brooding danger, and an entirely, terrifyingly believable denouement'' Owen MatthewsBERLIN, JANUARY 1940Germany has conquered Poland. The world is praying for peace. At home, the Nazi Party''s hold on power is absolute. One freezing night, an SS doctor and his wife return home from an evening out. By sunrise, the doctor will be lifeless in a pool of blood. There is pressure to record the incident as a suicide, but the first evidence uncovered by Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke points to a chillingly staged murder. The investigation is swiftly blocked by Schenke''s superiors, but he can''t let it go. When he uncovers links to the mysterious death of a child, a terriTrade ReviewA compelling, atmospheric page-turner * Steve Cavanagh *Gripping and compelling . . . balances immersive historical scene-setting with masterful plotting * Dan Jones *A superb thriller with all the elements that make for a seriously gripping story - an outsider hero in jeopardy, a world of brooding danger, and an entirely, terrifyingly believable denouement * Owen Matthews *A chilling and accomplished historical thriller * Vaseem Khan *An absolute stone-cold page-turner * S. G. MacLean *'Scarrow's second World War Two thriller is a tense and fast-paced tale rich in period atmosphere' -- Bill Todd * The Sun *The moral ambiguity gives it a very especial edge. It is a tense, fast-moving story with plenty of action, culminating in a vividly described shoot-out -- Edward James * Historical Novel Review *Scarrow has alighted on an aspect of Nazi policy that certainly deserves to be better known -- James Owen * The Times *
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Little, Brown Book Group Roman Blood
Book SynopsisA thrilling puzzle from the ancient world with real historical characters and based on a case in Cicero''s Orations - Roman Blood is a perfect blend of mystery and history by a brilliant storyteller.On an unseasonably warm spring morning in 80BC, Gordianus the Finder is summoned to the house of Cicero, a young advocate and orator preparing his first important case. His client is Umbrian landowner, Sextus Roscius, accused of the unforgivable: the murder of his own father.Gordianus agrees to investigate the crime - in a society fire with deceit, betrayl and conspiracy, where neither citizen nor slave can be trusted to speak the truth. But even Gordianus is not prepared for the spectacularly dangerous fireworks that attend the resolution of this ugly, delicate case...
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Granta Publications Ltd The Luminaries
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE 'A breathtakingly ambitious mystery ... as beautiful as it is triumphant.' Daily Mail An astonishing, epic story of promise, deceit and desperation in New Zealand's gold rush. 'What brings a fellow down here, you know, to the ends of the earth - what sparks a man?' It is 1866, and Walter Moody has come to make his fortune upon the New Zealand goldfields. On arrival, he stumbles across a tense gathering of twelve local men, who have met in secret to discuss a series of unsolved crimes. A wealthy man has vanished, a prostitute has tried to end her life, and an enormous fortune has been discovered in the home of a luckless drunk. Moody is soon drawn into the mystery: a network of fates and fortunes that is as complex and exquisitely patterned as the night sky. The Luminaries is an extraordinary piece of fiction, both a ghost story and a gripping mystery. Set amidst the promise, deceit and desperation of the mid-19th century goldrush, the lives of its rich, complex cast unspool through a labyrinthine, celestial pattern. Fiendishly clever, vividly rendered and made into a major BBC TV series, The Luminaries established Catton as one of the brightest stars in the firmament. 'A book to curl up with and devour, intricately plotted and extravagantly described, a pastiche of the Victorian sensation novel in the same smart yet playful vein as Sarah Waters.' GuardianTrade ReviewIrresistible, masterful, compelling. It has a gripping plot that is cleverly unravelled to its satisfying conclusion, a narrative that from the first page asserts that it is firmly in control of where it is taking us... The things that most impress are the cunning withholding of information, the elegant foreshadowing, the skilful looping back on the narrative -- Lucy Daniel, five star review * Telegraph *An immense feat of structuring and plotting which means that this novel starts as a gentle stroll and ends with the exhilarating sense of running downhill... Ambitious, intricate, spectacular -- Natalie Haynes * Independent *A breathtakingly ambitious mystery... Catton's playful and increasingly virtuosic denouement arrives at a conclusion that is as beautiful as it is triumphant -- Stephanie Cross * Daily Mail *Remarkable... A true achievement. Catton has built a lively parody of a 19th-century novel, and in doing so created a novel for the 21st, something utterly new. The pages fly, a world opening and closing in front of us, a human soul revealed in all its conflicted desperation [and] glory... Dazzling * New York Times *Every sentence of this intriguing tale is expertly written, every cliffhanger chapter-ending making us beg for the next to begin. [It] has been perfectly constructed as the consummate literary page-turner... Extraordinary -- Kirsty Gunn * Guardian *The Luminaries blew me away. Such a wild, strange world, such unforgettable characters, all brought together with such devilish charm and ingenuity. A novel like this from a writer so young gives me hope for the future of the artform. Stellar in every sense of the word -- Paul Murray, author * Skippy Dies *Sometimes - rarely - a novel arrives that is so good all you can do is shake your head in wonder. Brilliant in design, masterful in execution, and intensely pleasurable to inhabit, The Luminaries is a masterpiece, the work of a writer of apparently limitless range and talent -- Peter Hobbs, author * The Short Day Dying *A bold mixture of Victorian sensation novel and avant-garde constraint... Even on a fourth reading it still delivers -- Stuart Kelly, Books of the Year * Scotland on Sunday *Carefully executed, relentlessly clever, easy to read... Catton sustains a human comedy that sweeps through the hope, the mud, the lies and the secrecy underlying gold fever. It is not so much a morality play as an astute celebration of the power of the story -- Eileen Battersby * Irish Times *[A] sweeping, sprawling tale... a triumph from a phenomenally talented young writer -- Best Books of 2013 * Stylist *A dense, intricate historical saga, criss-crossed with literary eccentricities... Wonderfully inventive -- Kate Saunders, Books of the Year * The Times *[A] cunningly design[ed] mosaic of tales -- Boyd Tonkin, Books of the Year * Independent *Slowly reveals a complex structure raising questions about fate, free will and the human search for meaning -- Justine Jordan, Books of the Year * Guardian *Intricately constructed... An accomplished work of traditional storytelling -- Isabel Berwick, Books of the Year * Financial Times *Incredible... virtuoso... You will devour [this book], only to discover that you can't find anything of equal scope and excitement to read once you have finished. Sheer rip-roaring readability -- Simmy Richman * Independent on Sunday *A virtuoso performance... [It] is resplendent: a twenty first century Victorian novel that couldn't be more original... Steeped in history, The Luminaries feels completely fresh... The literary firmament has birthed a new star * The Millions *Quite unlike anything I've ever come across, so graceful is its plotting and structure... A dazzling feat of a novel -- Lucy Scholes * Observer *A dream novel: stellar in every way -- Books of the Year * Economist *Expansive and quite superb... Catton writes with real sophistication and intelligence -- Lesley McDowell * Scotsman *This epic novel of light and shadow affirms the radiant talent of its author -- Brian Morton * Independent *With astonishing intricacy and patient finesse, Catton brings to life the anomalous nature of 19th-century New Zealand -- David Grylls * Sunday Times *An impressive novel, captivating, intense and full of surprises -- Kate Webb * TLS *A gorgeously elaborate fabrication -- Catherine Taylor, Books of the Year * Sunday Telegraph *Brilliant... wonderfully intricate -- Philip Hensher * Spectator *All really good books shatter their generic origins, becoming a thing unto themselves. But rarely has this axiom held more firmly than in [this] thrilling novel... [Catton] is among the finest of storytellers... Time falls away in her writing, and the mystery of creation shimmers through the cracks in the story. I didn't want this novel to end, and - in a sense - it doesn't. Catton's illuminations last -- Jay Parini, author * The Last Station *Every now and then you get to read a novel that elevates you far beyond the bric-a-brac of everyday routine, takes you apart, reassembles you, and leaves you feeling as though you have been on holiday with a genius. Eleanor Catton's astonishing new novel does just that... Essential reading * New Zealand Herald *Irresistible... The kind of book that really doesn't come around often. Everyone should read it -- four star review * Stylist *The reviewer says it's so good he's been unable to read another book since * Independent on Sunday *A great addition to my impressive pile of great novels -- Julian Baggini, Books of the Year * Observer *A rollicking mystery... rivals almost any Victorian triple-decker... Fascinating * We Love This Book blog *It is a pacey and beautifully written tale of love, lust, greed and murder... It could well be regarded as the first great New Zealand novel * Bookseller *A remarkable tour de force... Breathtaking * Brisbane Times *Wonderfully vivid... The characters are so lush and the mystery is so complex... Exceptional * Booker Marks blog *Highly original, meticulously constructed, thematically convincing, this is a richly evocative mystery * Good Book Guide *It might be the Great New Zealand Novel -- Kira Cochrane * Guardian *Addictive [and] very clever -- Paul Dunn * The Times *Irresistible and gripping... the things that most impress are the cunning withholding of information, the elegant foreshadowing, the skilful looping back on the narrative -- Lucy Daniel * Irish Independent *Remarkable... I found myself frequently slowing down to savour Catton's characterisations and gentle wit. The Man Booker judges have really struck gold -- Jack Kerridge * Sunday Express *For the scale of her ambition and the beauty of its execution, somebody should give that girl a medal -- Lucy Daniel * Daily Telegraph *A book to curl up with and devour, intricately plotted and extravagantly described, a pastiche of the Victorian sensation novel in the same smart yet playful vein as Sarah Waters -- Justine Jordan * Guardian *One of the most purely enjoyable novels to have appeared in recent years... [It] offers large rewards for the reader's diligent attention. It dividends are both narrative and linguistic... Remarkable -- Jonathan Barnes * Literary Review *Richly evoking a mid-19th century world of shipping and banking and goldrush boom and bust, it is also a ghost story and a gripping mystery * Hindu *A tremendously technically accomplished piece of work * Evening Standard *A highly innovative, structurally experimental project that tells a captivating story * Bustle *Experimental [and] bold... A gripping read... Catton's star is definitely on the ascendant * The Lady *Utterly immersive reading -- Jenny Colgan * Metro *Fine storytelling, plenty of plot twists and a colourful cast of characters -- Books of the Year * Mail on Sunday *Perfect -- Books of the Year * New Zealand Herald *Mesmerising -- Nick Rennison, Books of the Year * BBC History *A beautifully-wrought minuet -- Katy Guest, Books of the Year * Independent on Sunday *A fantastic achievement and a gripping read * Vice *Ingeniously arranged * Recorder *Spin for a while in this novel's orbit, then return to terra firma with a tighter grip on your own resolve * Independent *Here is a book to lose yourself in... If you haven't yet succumbed to the hype of this huge saga, don't resist. A delight from start to finish * Oxford Times **** *Every sentence of this intriguing tale is expertly written, every cliffhanger chapter-ending making us beg for the next to begin. Great -- Kirsty Gunn * Guardian *With patient finesse, Catton brings 19th-century New Zealand to life -- David Grylls * Sunday Times *Intricate... On every page you are aware of minute design -- John Mullan * Guardian *Exceptional and phenomenal... As gorgeous and complex as an orrery -- Robert Macfarlane * Intelligent Life *A page-turner * Observer *Truly dazzling * Sunday Herald *Catton's irresistibly intricate plot makes the pages fly by. Snappy dialogue, crisp humour and grand vision sets this far above its rivals * Daily Telegraph ***** *Big, bold and beautiful... A literary thriller that keeps you hooked * Daily Gazette Colchester *A carefully crafted door-stopper of a novel * Observer *[It] has got me gripped -- Neil Morrissey * Independent *Daring and colourful -- Eileen Battersby * Irish Times *A modern masterpiece... Catton deserves her praise * Stylist *I enjoyed The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton's game of literary Cluedo, so much I had to ration myself to 50 pages a day -- Lucy Hughes-Hallett * ‘Books of the Year’ Observer *The Luminaries portrays the lush landscapes of New Zealand in exquisite detail * Good Housekeeping *
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HarperCollins Publishers The Darlings of the Asylum
Book SynopsisTo marry is madness.To escape is impossible.The Darlings of the Asylum by Noel O'Reilly grips like a vice' Nicola CornickIn 1886, a respectable young woman must acquire a husband. But Violet Pring longs to be a professional artist and live on her own terms.When she turns down a desirable marriage proposal from an eligible Brighton gentleman, her family have had enough of her independent streak. Against her wishes, they lock her away in Hillwood Grange Lunatic Asylum.Now at the mercy of the sinister Dr Rastrick, she must keep her wits about her if she has any hope of escaping.This tantalizing Gothic novel from Noel O'Reilly tells a thrilling story of duty and desire, madness and sanity, truth and delusion from within a Victorian asylum.Praise for The Darlings of the Asylum:Always engaging and readable' Sunday TimesThe narrative rattles along irresistibly all the way to its suitably gothic climax' Readers' DigestThis darkly atmospheric psychological thriller oozes menace' Women's OwnWow!Trade Review Praise for The Darlings of the Asylum: ‘Always engaging and readable’ Sunday Times ‘The narrative rattles along irresistibly all the way to its suitably gothic climax’ Readers’ Digest ‘This darkly atmospheric psychological thriller oozes menace’ Women’s Own ‘Wow! I have been on the edge of my seat with this one! The Darlings of the Asylum… grips like a vice. I was totally invested in Violet's struggle in this chilling Gothic novel’ Nicola Cornick, author of The Winter Garden ‘Gripping’ Alison Stockham, author of The Cuckoo Sister Praise for Noel O’Reilly: ‘Written with a blazing energy and a Gothic edge’ Daily Mail ‘Full of secrets, suspicions and rumour’ Woman & Home ‘Perfect prose, a fast-paced, intricate plot’ My Weekly ‘A gripping historical tale … I loved it’ Liz Fenwick, author of The River Between Us ‘Noel O’Reilly’s lyrical writing brilliantly evokes the struggles of life in such a dramatic setting, as well as the hypocrisy and jealousy of society’ Sunday Express ‘With echoes of Du Maurier… a tangled web of fallen faiths, of sins, seductions and deceits’ Essie Fox, author of The Last Days of Leda Grey
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Quercus Publishing The Bookseller of Inverness: The Waterstones
Book Synopsis A GRIPPING HISTORICAL THRILLER SET IN INVERNESS IN THE WAKE OF THE 1746 BATTLE OF CULLODEN.'This slice of historical fiction takes you on a wild ride' THE TIMESAfter Culloden, Iain MacGillivray was left for dead on Drummossie Moor. Wounded, his face brutally slashed, he survived only by pretending to be dead as the Redcoats patrolled the corpses of his Jacobite comrades.Six years later, with the clan chiefs routed and the Highlands subsumed into the British state, Iain lives a quiet life, working as a bookseller in Inverness. One day, after helping several of his regular customers, he notices a stranger lurking in the upper gallery of his shop, poring over his collection. But the man refuses to say what he's searching for and only leaves when Iain closes for the night.The next morning Iain opens up shop and finds the stranger dead, his throat cut, and the murder weapon laid out in front of him - a sword with a white cockade on its hilt, the emblem of the Jacobites. With no sign of the killer, Iain wonders whether the stranger discovered what he was looking for - and whether he paid for it with his life. He soon finds himself embroiled in a web of deceit and a series of old scores to be settled in the ashes of war.******************PRAISE FOR THE BOOKSELLER OF INVERNESS'Fresh and intriguing . . . Her best yet' ANDREW TAYLOR'Everything you could ask for from a historical thriller' ANTONIA HODGSON'An intricately wrought, compulsively page-turning tale' CRAIG RUSSELL'A first rate historical thriller' 5* READER REVIEW'From the moment I began reading I was hooked' 5* READER REVIEW'Hugely entertaining . . . fast paced, twisting and turning' 5* READER REVIEWTrade ReviewDelivers everything you could possibly want from a historical crime novel, and then gives you a bit more on top. The Jacobites are a perennially fascinating subject, the ultimate forlorn hope of history, and MacLean provides a fresh and intriguing slant on it, clearly based on rock-solid research. She paints a memorable and densely textured picture of post-Culloden Inverness and its surroundings. She's on home ground here, and it shows. Her best yet * Andrew Taylor *The Bookseller of Inverness is everything you could ask for from a historical thriller - gripping, immersive and filled with intriguing characters. S.G. MacLean can make any period sing with life. If you've not read her before, this is the perfect place to start * Antonia Hodgson *S. G. MacLean just goes from strength to strength. The Bookseller of Inverness is an intricately wrought, compulsively page-turning tale of intrigue set in a post-Rebellion Scotland so perfectly conjured and so convincing that you can smell the heather and taste the blood * Craig Russell *Well-written and well-plotted, MacLean is gifted with a writing style that blends literary storytelling with a fast-paced mystery * Scottish Field *This is an expertly plotted crime thriller built around the complexities of Jacobite histories: Walter Scott meets tartan noir * The Times *With its superbly realised scenes and spirited narration, this slice of historical fiction takes you on a wild ride * The Times Audio Book of the Week *An excellent work of historical fiction: rooted in fact ... with the imagined characters and situations seamlessly stitched into recorded reality * Literary Review *A gripping and thought-provoking novel. Highly recommended * Historical Novel Review *A twisting, absorbing plot * Sunday Times *A triumphant return to Scotland for S. G. MacLean * Historia *
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Little, Brown Book Group The Killing Place
Book SynopsisDetective Wesley Peterson and archaeologist Dr Neil Watson return to solve a mystery surrounding a grand estate in the Devon countryside. Can they catch a killer before they strike again?''A beguiling author who interweaves past and present'' THE TIMESNovember. With the tourist season over in South Devon, Detective Inspector Wesley Peterson is looking forward to a quieter month in the CID. But when a man is shot dead on Bonfire Night, he finds he has a complex murder case on his hands. The body of Patrick North was found in woodland connected to Nesbaraton Hall, a grand estate dating back to the eighteenth century. The Smithson family, who own the estate, are away on holiday. However, when an anonymous letter threatening to abduct the Smithson son is uncovered, Wesley fears North''s death might have been collateral damage in a sinister kidnap plot.Meanwhile, archaeologist Dr Neil Watson discovers a hidden grotto in a developer''s
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Atlantic Books The Angel's Mark: A gripping tale of espionage
Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Crime Writers' Association Historical Fiction Dagger, 2019A Walter Scott Prize Academy Recommended Read 2019'Rich, intelligent and dark in equal measure, leaving you wrung out with terror. Historical fiction at its most sumptuous.' Rory Clements________________________Heresy. Conspiracy. Murder...London, 1590: Amidst a tumultuous backdrop of Spanish plotters, Catholic heretics and foreign wars, Queen Elizabeth I's control over her kingdom is wavering.And a killer is at work, preying on the weak and destitute of London... Idealistic physician Nicholas Shelby becomes determined to end these terrible murders. Joined in his investigations by Bianca, a beautiful but mysterious tavern keeper, the pair find themselves caught in the middle of a sinister plot. With the killer still at large, Bianca finds herself in terrible danger. Nicholas's choice seems impossible - to save Bianca, or save himself...'Wonderful! Perry's Elizabethan London is so skilfully evoked, so real that one can almost smell it.' Giles KristianTrade ReviewA gorgeous book - rich, intelligent and dark in equal measure. It immerses you in the late 16th century and leaves you wrung out with terror. This is historical fiction at its most sumptuous. * Rory Clements *A strong and convincing debut. -- Antonia Senior * The Times *Wonderful! Beautiful writing, and Perry's Elizabethan London is so skilfully evoked, so real that one can almost smell it. * Giles Kristian *An engaging Elizabethan thriller. * Sunday Times *I knew before I got to the bottom of the first page that The Angel's Mark was the real thing. In an increasingly crowded field, this one is going to stand out. * S. G. MacLean *A remarkably assured and classy debut. Perry grabs your attention from the first paragraph and holds it throughout a fascinating journey into high and low life of Tudor London. This could, hopefully, be the start of an addictive series. * L. C. Tyler, author of the John Gray Historical Mystery series *An impressively dramatic and gripping debut novel. Elegantly written, thoroughly researched, The Angel's Mark draws us into the murky world of Elizabethan London where life is a game of chance, and savage death a close neighbour, quick to pounce on the unsuspecting. I predict that we will be seeing much more of Nicholas Shelby, physician and reluctant spy. * Anne O'Brien, author of The Scandalous Duchess *The Angel's Mark has the pace of a thriller... S.W. Perry is a welcome addition to the ranks of historical crime novelists. * Simon Brett, author of the Fethering Mystery series *A tense whodunit and a fine debut. * Weekend Sport *[A] sad, compassionate story beautifully told. * Daily Express *Excellent. Historical fans will want to dive into this series. * Publishers Weekly, starred review *
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Allison & Busby Mystery at the Station Hotel
Book Synopsis
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Pan Macmillan The Axeman's Jazz
Book SynopsisInspired by a true story, set against the heady backdrop of jazz-filled, mob-ruled New Orleans, The Axeman’s Jazz by Ray Celestin is a gripping thriller announcing a major talent in historical crime fiction.Winner of the CWA New Blood Dagger for Best Debut Crime Novel of the YearRecommended on the Radio 2 Arts Show with Claudia WinklemanShortlisted for Theakston's Crime Novel of the Year AwardNew Orleans, 1919. As a dark serial killer – the Axeman – stalks the city, three individuals set out to unmask him:Detective Lieutenant Michael Talbot – heading up the official investigation, but struggling to find leads, and harbouring a grave secret of his own.Former detective Luca d’Andrea – now working for the mafia, his need to solve the mystery of the Axeman is every bit as urgent as that of the authorities.And Ida – a secretary at the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Obsessed with Sherlock Holmes and dreaming of a better life, she stumbles across a clue which lures her and her musician friend, Louis Armstrong, into the case – and into terrible danger . . .As Michael, Luca and Ida each draw closer to discovering the killer’s identity, the Axeman himself will issue a challenge to the people of New Orleans: play jazz, or risk becoming the next victim.'A fascinating portrait of a vibrant and volatile city and a riveting read' – GuardianThe Axeman's Jazz is the first book in Ray Celestin's prize-winning City Blues quartet. It is followed by the second installment, Dead Man's Blues.Trade ReviewA rewarding crime novel, swinging its way to a terrifying denouement with all the panache of a New Orleans marching band * The Times *A fascinating portrait of a vibrant and volatile city and a riveting read * Guardian *Gripping . . . Celestin smartly evokes the atmosphere of 1919 New Orleans, and a city dominated by music and the mob * Sunday Times *Based on a true story . . . this thriller blends voodoo, gangsters and jazz into an intoxicating mix * Sunday Mirror *The evocative prose brings the jazz-filled, mob-ruled ‘Big Easy’ of pre-prohibition America to life in glorious effect with a story full of suspense and intrigue. Stunning * Sunday Express *Outstanding * Daily Telegraph *A clever and utterly believable procedural with a suitably grisly killer, set in a brilliant and vibrant historical background * Crime Review *The best debut I’ve read this year * Scotsman, Crime Books of the Year *Celestin has skilfully woven around the facts a clever story of three detectives who, in different ways and for different motives, set out to find the murderer. He brilliantly portrays the mood of a city under a siege of fear. Fictional musicians mix with the real jazz artists of the period, not least Louis Armstrong. * The Times, Crime Books of the Year *An absolute must for true crime fanatics * Refinery29 *
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Bonnier Books Ltd Munich Wolf
Book Synopsis'An atmospheric and gripping standalone thriller' - THE TIMESThe gripping new 2024 thriller from the Sunday Times and one million copy bestselling author of The English Führer. In this brilliant standalone crime novel set in 1930s Munich, Detective Sebastian Wolff must walk a tight line between doing his job and falling foul of the Nazi party he despises.MUNICH, 1935 - The Bavarian capital is a magnet for young, aristocratic Britons who come to learn German, swim in the lakes and drink beer in the cellars.What they don't see - or choose to ignore - is the brutal underbelly of the Nazi movement which considers Munich its spiritual home.When a high-born English girl is murdered, Detective Sebastian Wolff is ordered to solve the crime. Wolff is already walking a tight line between doing his job and falling foul of the political party he abhors. Now Hitler is taking a personal interest in the case
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Hodder & Stoughton Storm of War Empire XIII
Book SynopsisMarcus Aquila and his allies spearhead a daring attack into enemy territory, as three generals claim to be the true Roman Emperor.A new civil war has begun: with the emperor Pertinax''s murder Marcus and his protector Scaurus have escaped Rome, seeking sanctuary for their familia in the East.But they are soon pressed back into service by Septimus Severus, the ruthless commander who has seized the imperial capital and who holds the military balance of power over his two rivals.Niger, the would-be emperor in the East, is on the march with six legions, and Scaurus''s legion is ordered to Thrace as a sacrificial advance guard, tasked with delaying them. Whatever the cost . . .
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Allison & Busby Murder at Lords Station
Book Synopsis
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Allison & Busby Murder on the Lusitania
Book SynopsisStaring on the maiden voyage of the Lusitania, American private detective George Dillman and intelligent young Englishwoman Genevieve Masefield, make a winning duo for these compelling whodunnits aboard the iconic luxury liners of the time.
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Pan Macmillan The Daughter of Time
Book SynopsisVoted the top crime novel of all time by the UK Crime Writers’ Association, The Daughter of Time is Josephine Tey’s last and most successful book.Complete and unabridged. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is introduced by writer David Stuart Davies.Inspector Alan Grant is laid up in hospital with a spinal injury and he’s bored. Renowned for his ability to read a face, he passes the time looking at old portraits and one which particularly grabs his attention is of Richard III, the supposed arch villain who killed his own nephews, ‘the princes in the tower’. But Grant doesn’t accept the face in the portrait is the face of a villain so he sets out to investigate what really happened. An unusual premise for a crime novel perhaps, but nevertheless an extremely clever and engrossing one, brilliantly plotted and written with enormous charm and erudition.Trade ReviewA detective story with a very considerable difference. Ingenious, stimulating and very enjoyable * The Sunday Times *
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Quercus Publishing The Devil's Recruit: Alexander Seaton 4, from the
Book Synopsis1635, Aberdeen. A girl lies dead in a frozen garden. A young man goes missing after a drunken brawl. A sinister cloaked figure watches from the shadows. The missing student, son of a Highland chief, is in Alexander Seaton's class. When the young man's companion turns up bruised and bloodied, suspicion mounts that he has murdered his friend. But Alexander is convinced that there's another explanation. Drawn ever deeper into the mystery, Alexander realises that the man in the shadows is known to him and that the strange events in the town are linked to his own past.
£7.99
Titan Books Ltd Murdoch Mysteries Under the Dragons Tail
Book SynopsisDolly Merishaw is a midwife and an abortionist in Victorian Toronto, and although she keeps quiet about her clients, her contempt and greed leaves them resentful and angry. It comes as no surprise to Detective William Murdoch when she is murdered, but Murdoch isn't sure if he's hunting one murderer - or two.Trade Review"Vivid . . . heartwrenching. Late-19th-century Toronto comes startlingly alive in Jennings's second gripping tale." - "Publishers Weekly" "[Murdoch's] warm heart makes him the right sleuth for this cold city." - "New York Times" "A very powerful novel." -" Poison Pen" "There are touches of Anne Perry and Peter Lovesey in her clear-eyed look at the social ills of the period." - "Denver Post"
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Little, Brown Book Group Mrs Jeffries Sweeps the Chimney
Book SynopsisA dead man dressed like a vicar is propped against a church wall, clutching the address of a dilapidated cottage that''s abandoned - except for a human skeleton inside. Inspector Witherspoon''s only prayer is to seek the counsel of his housekeeper and secret weapon, Mrs. Jeffries - who proves that a great crimesolver''s work is never done.Praise for the Mrs Jeffries Mysteries:''It''s murder most English all the way!'' The Literary Times''Fascinating murder mystery . . . wit and style . . . a winning series. Mrs. Jeffries is the Miss Marple of Victorian Mystery'' The Paperback ForumTrade ReviewMrs Jeffries is the Miss Marple of Victorian mystery * The Paperback Forum *Humour, suspense, adventure and touches of romance . . . delightful * Rendezvous *It's murder most English all the way! * The Literary Times *
£6.39
