Historical crime and mysteries

Book SynopsisLiverpool, 1940. Where's George? Ruth didn't realise that she had grabbed hold of the other woman's arms. Where's my son?Journalist Ruth Holt is struggling in the terror of the Blitz when her young son is suddenly snatched away in broad daylight. Soon after, the kidnappers' demands arrive. They are working with the Nazis, and she has no choice but to co-operate, or the authorities will learn that she is harbouring secrets of her own.Ruth's job gives her access to critical information, and if she does not share it with Britain's enemies, her child will face the consequences. Desperate, she falsifies information, lying to everyone: her employers, her family and her lover. But as the demands increase, the knife edge she walks on grows increasingly thin. If she falls, she will never save her son.Trade Review'I loved this book' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Would recommend it’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I finished it in one sitting’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book SynopsisThe brand-new heart-wrenching World War 2 historical novel from the bestselling author of The German MessengerCharlotte Weber is against the Nazi regime and what it stands for, but as she attends Hamburg University, she struggles to make sense of the war she finds herself a part of. Practising her violin for the university orchestra with her friend, Greta, gets her through the days, until Greta fails to meet her one day, and Charlotte goes to her friend's apartment to find her body inside.The police declare it a suicide, but Charlotte knows it is murder.Desperate to discover who killed her friend, but not knowing where to turn, Charlotte is approached by Nazi spies, who recruit her, believing she is Greta. Caught right in the middle of the regime's web, Charlotte determines to use her position to subvert the regime from the inside, and find out the truth about Greta once and for all.As the war atrocities heighten, and she witnesses the brutality of the Gestapo, Charlotte begins to discover hidden truths of her closest circle of friends, all of whom have something to hide that would make them targets for the NazisReaders are LOVING M.J. Hollows?''I loved this book'' NetGalley reviewer ?????''Would recommend it' NetGalley reviewer ?????''I finished it in one sitting' NetGalley reviewer ?????

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Book SynopsisFigure out whodunnit in this exciting new 1930s crime series that whisks you away to the most gorgeous escapist destinations! A beautiful French estateA weddingA murderAnd a novice detective intent on solving her first case!Fresh from teaching at her prestigious Swiss boarding school, Miss Atalanta Ashford suddenly finds herself the most eligible young lady in society when she inherits her grandfather's substantial fortune. But with this fortune, and an elegant new Parisian home, comes a legacy passed down from grandfather to granddaughtersleuthing discreetly for Europe's elite.This young lady isn't one to back down from a challenge and Miss Ashford must depend on her sharp wit and charm to solve her first case, which takes her to the lush lavender fields of Provence and a wedding at the mansion of the Comte de Surmonne.Now, as murder strikes twice, Atalanta will have to race to solve the case but will she be able to stop the blushing bride from facing a fatal I do'?Look out for more MTrade ReviewReader reviews for Vivian Conroy: ‘A good old-fashioned whodunit’ ‘Vivian most definitely did not disappoint’ ‘Engaging, well written, and entertaining’ ‘Fantastic stories’ ‘If you like a really good mystery on a par with Christie then this is for you’

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Book SynopsisGripping, compelling and beautiful.' Emma Cowell, author of The House in the Olive Grove A secret big enough to destroy the Führer's reputation. . .January 1939:When Katja Heinz secures a job as a typist at Doctor Viktor's clinic, she doesn't expect to be copying top secret medical records from a notebook.At the end of the first world war, Doctor Viktor treated soldiers for psychological disorders. One of the patients was none other than Adolf Hitler. . .The notes in his possession declare Hitler unfit for office a secret that could destroy the Führer's reputation, and change the course of the war if exposed. . .With the notebook hidden in her hat box, Katja and Doctor Viktor travel to Paris. Seeking refuge in the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, they hope to find a publisher brave enough to print the controversial script.But Katja is being watched. Nazi spies in Paris have discovered her plan. They will stop at nothing to destroy the notebook and silence those who know of the secret

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Book SynopsisThe brand-new spellbinding dual-timeline historical novel from the bestselling author of The Lost Sister***A hidden jewel. A buried past. A secret waiting to break free. India, 1947: Celia Fforbes-Whyte remembers little about her beloved mother, but she will never forget how the family's prized diamond, the Chamakta Sitara, glistened at her throat. The diamond has been part of the family for as long as she can remember, but growing voices begin to ask whether it should ever have belonged to them at all?With danger closing in on the eve of Indian independence, Celia's father makes a drastic choice to protect his family, the diamond must disappear without a trace. But in doing so, will he create a curse that lasts a lifetime London, 2024: Heartbroken and desperate for an escape, Lisa Statton retreats to the comfort of the Alps. But when she stumbles across a sparkling gem and an unopened letter, embedded in a glacier, Lisa finds herself thrust into a mystery more devastating than she co

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Book Synopsis'Gorgeous, an utter delight' MARIAN KEYESA charming debut that sparks with fun and fizz' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING'A must read!' SOPHIE IRWIN'Storytelling at its finest' STYLISTA DAILY MAIL BOOK OF THE YEARLONGLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS'' ASSOCIATION DEBUT CROWN PRIZEMrs Wood is London's most celebrated medium. She's managed to survive decades in the competitive world of contacting the Other Side, has avoided the dreaded slips that revealed others as frauds and is still hosting packed-out séances for Victorian high society.Yet, some of her patrons have recently cancelled their appointments. There are reports of American mediums nearly materialising full spirits and audiences are no longer satisfied with the knocking on tables and candle theatrics of years gone by. And then, at one of Mrs Wood's routine gatherings, she hears something terrifying faint, but unmistakable: a yawn.Mrs Wood needs to spice up her brand. She decides to take on Emmie, a young protégé, to join her show. But is Emmie Finch the naïve ingenue she seems to be? Or does she pose more of a threat to Mrs Wood's reign and, more horrifyingly, her reputation than Mrs Wood could ever have imagined?Trade Review‘I absolutely ADORED it. Such a juicy read and written so beautifully. Charming, gorgeous, an utter delight’ Marian Keyes ‘Intriguing, witty and unique. A must read!’ Sophie Irwin, author of A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting ‘There’s much fun to be had in this vivid, delightfully original debut’ Daily Mail ‘A charming debut that sparks with fun and fizz’ Good Housekeeping 'The Other Side of Mrs Wood drew me in with its promise of ambition and rivalry on the Victorian séance scene. I found myself alternating between laughing, crying and an unsightly mixture of both as I followed Mrs Wood’s journey to stay on top in an industry that prioritises youth and novelty. This is an absolute triumph of a debut' Stacey Thomas ‘Wonderfully entertaining’ Harper’s Bazaar ‘Fans of Sarah Waters will love this clever debut’ Red Magazine ‘Engaging and wonderfully original’ Katie Fforde ‘Wildly entertaining and thoroughly gripping’ Reader’s Digest ‘Full of wit. Bubbling beneath its surface is a compelling commentary on the scant choices facing Victorian women determined to support themselves. Highly recommended’ Lianne Dillsworth, author of Theatre of Marvels ‘A joy to read, completely fresh and original with a wonderful cast of characters, featuring rival mediums, dark secrets and some truly delicious double-crossing. Witty, evocative writing, a huge treat of a novel’ Lucy Diamond ‘Think All About Eve, but set in the spellbinding world of Victorian mediums. Brilliantly witty' Frances Quinn, author of That Bonesetter Woman ‘Crackles with wit and mischief, a delicious read’ Louise Dean ‘Storytelling at its finest’ Stylist‘I absolutely ADORED it. Such a juicy read and written so beautifully. Charming, gorgeous, an utter delight’ Marian Keyes ‘Intriguing, witty and unique. A must read!’ Sophie Irwin, author of A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting ‘There’s much fun to be had in this vivid, delightfully original debut’ Daily Mail ‘A charming debut that sparks with fun and fizz’ Good Housekeeping 'The Other Side of Mrs Wood drew me in with its promise of ambition and rivalry on the Victorian séance scene. I found myself alternating between laughing, crying and an unsightly mixture of both as I followed Mrs Wood’s journey to stay on top in an industry that prioritises youth and novelty. This is an absolute triumph of a debut' Stacey Thomas ‘Wonderfully entertaining’ Harper’s Bazaar ‘Fans of Sarah Waters will love this clever debut’ Red Magazine ‘Engaging and wonderfully original’ Katie Fforde ‘Wildly entertaining and thoroughly gripping’ Reader’s Digest ‘Full of wit. Bubbling beneath its surface is a compelling commentary on the scant choices facing Victorian women determined to support themselves. Highly recommended’ Lianne Dillsworth, author of Theatre of Marvels ‘A joy to read, completely fresh and original with a wonderful cast of characters, featuring rival mediums, dark secrets and some truly delicious double-crossing. Witty, evocative writing, a huge treat of a novel’ Lucy Diamond ‘Think All About Eve, but set in the spellbinding world of Victorian mediums. Brilliantly witty' Frances Quinn, author of That Bonesetter Woman ‘Crackles with wit and mischief, a delicious read’ Louise Dean ‘Storytelling at its finest’ Stylist

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Book Synopsis'Gorgeous, an utter delight' MARIAN KEYESA charming debut that sparks with fun and fizz' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING'A must read!' SOPHIE IRWIN'Storytelling at its finest' STYLISTA DAILY MAIL BOOK OF THE YEARLONGLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS'' ASSOCIATION DEBUT CROWN PRIZEI want your reputation', the girl said to Mrs Wood. I want everything you have'Mrs Wood is the London's most celebrated medium, having survived decades in the competitive world of contacting the Other Side hosting packed-out séances for Victorian high society.But, with rival young mediums dazzling audiences across the city, the allure of London's most established star might be starting to wane. And then, at one of her routine gatherings, she hears something truly terrifying: a yawn.So, Mrs Wood takes on a young protégé to spice up her show. But does her new pupil pose more of a threat to Mrs Wood's reputation than she could imagined?

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Book Synopsis''Who can resist a smart, resourceful and independent Regency heroine? Prepare to fall head over heels'' Good Housekeeping''Told with zip and humourmost enjoyable'' Historical Novel Society''The Regency as we''ve never seen it before!'' Emma Orchard, author of A Duke of One''s Own1812Deep below the hills of the Buckinghamshire countryside, the infamous Hellfire Caves house a pleasure palace for the idle rich a secret society steeped in satanism, opium and debauchery of the highest order.When the club's warden, Antony Pennington, is brutally murdered, his bastard sister, Dora, must follow the clues to decode who the killer is, aided by an unexpected ally ex-Army officer, former opium addict and son of a Viscount, Dr Jacob Sandys.As a shadow dogs their every footstep, Dora and Jacob find themselves in the midst of a shocking conspiracy, caught between the legendary Illuminati and the Hell Fire Club. With time running out, they must fight against both the most influential gentleman of the ton and the undeniable attraction they feel towards each otherReaders can''t get enough of The Persephone Code:I won''t lie, I picked this book up because of the cover absolutely stunningit was a perfect read' ?????This book was so good, I couldn''t put it down' ?????Simply delicious! This book is absolutely gloriousin the midst of a lot of Regency retellings, it stands out There is a wry wit throughout which balances beautifullywith the dark themes' ?????This book is absolutely fantastic!!! I was so caught up in reading it that I missed lunch, and it was past time to start dinner. Only the rumbling of my stomach made me put it down for a quick meal, after which I resumed my reading' ?????Starts with a bang, never really pauses for breath, and has two main protagonists who are instantly likeable and easy to cheer for!' ????A roller-coaster ride with plenty of twists' ????What a compelling read! I found it a captivating, dynamic and enthralling book that kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end' ????The writing of this book was exquisite I was hanging on to every last word' ????

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Book Synopsis?????''Beautifully written and a thoroughly absorbing read. I found it impossible to put down'' Deborah Carr, USA Today BestsellerTHE TOWN OF WEM, SHROPSHIRE 1643Civil war is ripping England apart.Families are divided, emotions run high.Whether on the bleakness of the moors or in snug, wood-panelled rooms, danger lurks.A body is found, its mouth pierced with thorns.The Justice of the Peace, a godly man, is certain that witchcraft is involved.Only his assistant, former cavalryman John Carne, looks for reason where others see demons and witches.But John has secrets of his own secrets that concern his cold and distant wife. And it's not long before the darkness that has engulfed Wem grows darker stillReaders are loving The Witchfinder''s Assistant:?????''Fascinating a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read''?????''The final denouement was a surprise, and was told in a thrilling and interesting manner. Wickedness can sometimes be hidden behind a fair face. I enjoyed it very much''?????''A well researched and intriguing look at England in 1643Goldstraw''s an excellent storyteller- this one pulled me in and kept me reading''????''Engaging and absorbingan historical novel for our own times''????''The historical setting is richly detailed, and Goldstraw does an excellent job of capturing the tension and paranoia of the time''

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Book SynopsisThe new and updated 10 year anniversary editionWinner of the Edgar, Agatha, Macavity and H.R.F. Keating crime-writing awards, this definitive account of the secretive Detection Club and its trail-blazing founders told for the first time the extraordinary story of British detective fiction between the two World Wars.Few, if any, books about crime fiction have provided so much information and insight' THE TIMESA gripping real-life detective story, The Golden Age of Murder investigates how Dorothy L. Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, Agatha Christie and their contemporaries both competed and collaborated to turn the genre into a literary powerhouse that still dominates popular fiction today. Written in times of social and political turmoil, their books cast new light on unsolved murders whilst hiding clues to the authors' darkest secrets and their complex and sometimes bizarre private lives.Ten years since its first publication, Martin Edwards now the Detection Club's President and author of subsequent award-winning publications including Howdunit and the monumental The Life of Crime revisits the story with major updates, new revelations and four brand new chapters that no crime connoisseur will want to miss.Illuminating and entertaining provides a new way of looking at old favourites' LEN DEIGHTON

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Book SynopsisThe Hundred Years'' War comes to life in this spellbinding tale of love, betrayal and conspiracy A quest born on the battlefield will change a young boy's destiny Rafi Dubois is five years old when his mother is murdered after the Battle of Crecy in 1346. Alone and lost, Rafi is given a token by the dying Englishman who tried to save his mother's life: a half-broken family seal which he urges Rafi to return one day to Winchester.Years later, when Rafi saves a wealthy merchant's wife from a brutal robbery, he is rewarded with the chance to travel to England, taking the seal with him.But when he reaches Winchester, Rafi finds himself in a turbulent world full of long-held allegiances, secrets and treachery. His path is fraught with danger and with powerful enemies working against him, Rafi falls in love with Edith, a market apothecary. But in doing so, Rafi unleashes a deadly chain of events which threatens to overwhelm them bothThe Herb Knot is a sweeping and passionate novel set in one of the most tumultuous times in English history, from a powerful new voice.Readers give The Herb Knot five stars!''A superb debut novel, with a story that grips you from beginning to end''''The amount of research that has so obviously been undertaken is quite phenomenal. I don't believe I've ever read a book so absorbing''''Plenty of twists to the tale to keep you guessing''''A fascinating glimpse into a medieval world filled with intrigue and danger a compelling story which lingers long after the last page is turned''

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Charles Todd takes readers into Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge’s past—to his perplexing final case before the outbreak of World War I.On a fine summer’s day in June, 1914, Ian Rutledge pays little notice to the assassination of an archduke in Sarajevo.Trade Review"An excellent tale. As always when it comes to Charles Todd, this mother/son team of authors are in-depth, refined, and offer up a true thriller of a story." -- Suspense Magazine on A Fine Summer's Day "A very welcome addition to, and expansion of, a much-loved series." -- Booklist "The books are Charles Todd recounting the cases of Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge in the days following WWI are as quintessentially English as anything by Ruth Rendell, PD James or John Harvey...These are some of the finest historical mystery novels in print...Todd [is] in top form again." -- BookPage on A FINE SUMMER'S DAY "Readers familiar with the series can't imagine a Rutledge who doesn't hear the voice of MacLeod in his head, and this novel adds poignancy to the Rutledge we avidly follow. Grade: A" -- Cleveland Plain Dealer "A tight plot keeps readers on the edge until the stunning final pages." -- Library Journal "A Fine Summer's Day" is a high point in this evocative series that has never disappointed." -- South Florida Sun Sentinel "Pure fun for fans. " -- Charlotte Observer "A bittersweet gift to longtime readers of this wonderful series." -- Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review "A FINE SUMMER'S DAY is an absolute pleasure to read and a true treat for faithful readers of this series." -- Bookreporter.com

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"As always, the Todds deftly juggle clues and red herrings, leading Bess and readers on a brisk chase... Their intimate knowledge of rural England and the Great War period inject Bess' first-person account with a hefty dose of verisimilitude." -- Wilmington Star News "The seventh book in an excellent series featuring Bess Crawford." -- Contra Costa Times "Bess' seventh case... does its strong, determined heroine credit." -- Kirkus Reviews

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Book Synopsisif they can find a man who will appreciate a woman with such unusual gifts.When a friend in Cambridgeshire falls ill, Allie is sent to Ely, where her path will cross with Lord Peverill, a young aristocrat who would be a most suitable match for the young healer.Trade Review"Samantha Norman, completes Ariana Franklin's superb Mistress of the Art of Death medieval mystery series with an appropriate homage, a story featuring mother-and-daughter sleuths. The forensic procedures are appropriately grotesque (leeches, anyone?), and the period settings run to luscious details, like “a perfect pastry sculpture of the baby Jesus” at a sumptuous Christmas banquet. Don’t be distracted from Norman’s true theme; namely, the crushingly limited life choices for women — even the most highborn women — of this period." — Marilyn Stasio, New York Times “Medieval-mystery writing at its best.” — New York Daily News “An exhilarating whodunit and my favorite book of the year.” — Tess Gerritsen on A Murderous Procession “An impeccably researched tapestry of murder most foul.” — Entertainment Weekly on The Serpent’s Tale “This thoroughly captivating tale was begun by celebrated historical novelist Franklin, who died before its completion, and completed seamlessly by her journalist daughter, Norman.” — Kirkus Reviews on The Siege Winter

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Book SynopsisThose tiny cases distract her from her grief, and the one impossible question she knows she can't answer: How did my father die? Yet on Gilda's Westside, tiny mysteries end in bloodeven the case of a missing white leather glove.Trade Review“The Alienist meets The City & The City in this brilliant debut that mixes fantasy and mystery. Gilda Carr’s ‘tiny mysteries’ pack a giant punch.” — David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of Murder As a Fine Art “[In] W.M. Akers’s superb debut,“Westside,”…his research is excellent…his prose sharply crystalline.” — New York Times “A fascinating, delightfully twisty mystery. Westside crosses prohibition-era New York with the dark strangeness of Neverwhere. Fierce young detective Gilda Carr makes you believe that small mysteries hold the answers to everything.” — Erika Swyler, bestselling author of The Book of Speculation and Light from Other Stars “Akers’ debut novel is an addictively readable fusion of mystery, dark fantasy, alternate history, and existential horror...It’s like a literary shot of Prohibition-era rotgut moonshine—bracing, quite possibly hallucination-inducing, and unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before...The illegitimate love child of Algernon Blackwood and Raymond Chandler.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “A cast of meticulously developed and memorable characters as well as strong worldbuilding and atmospherics…Fans of genre-bending fiction will relish this inventive mix of mystery and the paranormal.” — Publishers Weekly “Full of action and colorful characters, this genre mash-up is expertly done and will be enjoyed by fans of mysteries and fantasy alike.” — Booklist (starred review) “Akers’ hugely enjoyable debut marries inventive alt-history with truly strange magic and a protagonist you won’t soon forget.” — B&N Sci Fi & Fantasy Blog

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Richly imagined.” — Publishers Weekly on Westside Saints "A masterpiece." — Library Journal “Superb . . . his research is excellent . . . his prose sharply crystalline.” — New York Times Book Review on Westside “The Alienist meets The City & The City in this brilliant debut that mixes fantasy and mystery. Gilda Carr’s ‘tiny mysteries’ pack a giant punch.” — David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of Murder as a Fine Art, on Westside “A fascinating, delightfully twisty mystery. Westside crosses prohibition-era New York with the dark strangeness of Neverwhere. Fierce young detective Gilda Carr makes you believe that small mysteries hold the answers to everything.” — Erika Swyler, bestselling author of The Book of Speculation and Light from Other Stars, on Westside “Full of action and colorful characters, this genre mash-up is expertly done and will be enjoyed by fans of mysteries and fantasy alike.” — Booklist (starred review) on Westside

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Book Synopsis“If there’s ever been a more complex and compelling hero in crime fiction than Inspector Rutledge, I can’t think of one.” —Jeffery Deaver In one of his most puzzling cases, Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge must delve deep into a dead man’s life and his past to find a killer determined to keep dark secrets buried.A peaceful Welsh village is thrown into turmoil when a terrified boy stumbles on a body in a nearby river. The man appears to have fallen from the canal aqueduct spanning the valley. But there is no identification on the body, he isn’t a local, and no one will admit to having seen him before. With little to go on, the village police turn to Scotland Yard for help. When Inspector Ian Rutledge is sent from London to find answers, he is given few clues—a faded military tattoo on the victim’s arm and an unusual label in the collar of his shirt. They eventually lead him to the victim’s identity: Sam Milford. By all accounts, he was a good man and well-respected. Then, why is his death so mysterious? Looking for the truth, Rutledge uncovers a web of lies swirling around a suicidal woman, a child’s tragic fate, and another woman bent on protecting her past. But where among all the lies is the motive for murder? To track a killer, Rutledge must retrace Milford’s last journey. Yet death seems to stalk his every move, and the truth seems to shift at every turn. Man or woman, this murderer stays in the shadows, and it will take desperate measures to lure him—or her—into the light.Trade Review“Each of Charles Todd’s engrossing novels about Scotland Yard Insp. Ian Rutledge, set post-World War I, puts a spotlight on often forgotten details about the Great War. It’s this minutia that illustrate the war’s effect on the characters and the region . . . Charles Todd are experts at subtly drawing parallels to 21st century concerns. The Great War ended more than a century ago but Ian’s personal issues and his investigations are relevant today.” — Florida Sun Sentinel “A Fatal Lie provides an excellent book with which to walk into Rutledge’s pursuit of crime and determination to make things right . . . Those who value similar portrayals of place as character—as in Louise Penny’s Three Pines, for instance—will treasure A Fatal Lie and its Welsh backdrop. As a police procedural, also, the book’s persistent untangling of motive, means, and opportunity provides an instant classic for this mystery genre, along with an intriguing exploration of the heart’s effects on the mind.” — New York Journal of Books “Fans of the series will want Todd’s latest historical mystery.” — Library Journal “[A] very captivating and page-turning mystery.” — Fresh Fiction “This is the type of classic-style mystery that we have grown to love from Charles Todd, and it never fails to deliver.” — BookReporter.com “You’re going to love Todd.” — Stephen King "The melancholy tone that distinguishes the Rutledge series is a reminder that war never ends for the families and friends of lost loved ones. It just retreats into the shadows.” — New York Times Book Review "This is a series, written by a mother-and-son team under the Charles Todd pseudonym, that shows no signs of slowing down. As always, this one combines crisp plotting with stylish prose. Ideal for historical-mystery devotees." — Booklist on A Divided Loyalty

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Book SynopsisIn the aftermath of World War I, nurse Bess Crawford is caught in a deadly feud between two families in this thirteenth book in the beloved mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd.Restless and uncertain of her future in the wake of World War I, former battlefield nurse Bess Crawford agrees to travel to Yorkshire to help a friend of her cousin Melinda through surgery. But circumstances change suddenly when news of a terrible accident reaches them. Bess agrees to go to isolated Scarfdale and the Neville family, where one man has been killed and another gravely injured. The police are asking questions, and Bess is quickly drawn into the fray as two once close families take sides, even as they are forced to remain in the same house until the inquest is completed. When another tragedy strikes, the police are ready to make an arrest. Bess struggles to keep order as tensions rise and shots are fired. What dark truth is behind these deaths? And what about the tale of an older murder—one that doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the Nevilles? Bess is unaware that when she passes the story on to Cousin Melinda, she will set in motion a revelation with the potential to change the lives of those she loves most—her parents, and her dearest friend, Simon Brandon…

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Book SynopsisBut the deceptively demure Ellen has her own checkered past, and she’s hiding in plain sight at Sprague Hall.1958: Lucia “Lucky” Sprague has always felt like an outsider at Sprague Hall.Trade Review"An engrossing and sumptuous tale, this novel is a fantastic spring read." — Good Morning America “Three stories elegantly intertwine in this clever and stylish tale of murder and family lies from Williams, Willig, and White…This crackerjack novel offers three mysteries for the price of one.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) "This triple POV novel comes form the minds of three historical fiction powerhouses, so you know it's going to be a delight." — Buzzfeed “The Lost Summers of Newport—by a trio of historical fiction icons, Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White—is an elegant approach to the old ‘trouble in paradise’ scenario, spanning generations of deceit in a New England mansion.” — Chicago Tribune “If, like me, you’re mourning the season end of the HBO series, The Gilded Age, I have good news: Atlanta author Karen White along with Beatriz William and Lauren Willig have penned The Lost Summers of Newport, a historic mystery spanning more than a century of the once-wealthy Sprague family residing in an extravagant Gilded Age home in Newport, Rhode Island.” — The Augusta Chronicle “Three historical fiction powerhouses combine efforts to create an enthralling adventure spanning from the onset of World War I to the 1960s, telling the story of three women and their stay at the famous Ritz Hotel in Paris.” — Book Riot on All the Ways We Said Goodbye “All three of these ‘team W’ writers create engaging characters and complex relationships while setting a tone that matches the story’s time period…The twist at the center of the story is worth the price of admission on its own. A great choice for anyone looking for clever historical fiction with plenty of drama, action, and surprises in every chapter.” — Library Journal on All the Ways We Said Goodbye “A sweeping historical novel about the strength of women who find themselves in impossible situations.” — Popsugar on All the Ways We Said Goodbye “Full of heart and intrigue, the authors' latest collaboration captures women's perseverance and how history connects us all.” — Booklist on All the Ways We Said Goodbye “For most people, staying at a grand hotel is a rare treat. It’s a time to indulge in luxury, to be catered to with impeccable service and to forget about the outside world until check-out. It’s not unlike the experience a reader gets when reading All the Ways We Said Goodbye.” — Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Book SynopsisA galloping adventure.? ?The Wall Street JournalFrom the bestselling author of Fatherland, The Ghostwriter, Munich, and Conclave comes this spellbinding historical novel that brilliantly imagines one of the greatest manhunts in history: the search for two Englishmen involved in the killing of King Charles I and the implacable foe on their trail?an epic journey into the wilds of seventeeth-century New England, and a chase like no other.''From what is it they flee?''He took a while to reply. By the time he spoke the men had gone inside. He said quietly, ?They killed the King.?1660 England. General Edward Whalley and his son-in law Colonel William Goffe board a ship bound for the New World. They are on the run, wanted for the murder of King Charles I?a brazen execution that marked the culmination of the English Civil War, in which parliamentarians successfully battled royalists for control.But now, ten years after Charles? beheading, the royalists have returned to power. Under the provisions of the Act of Oblivion, the fifty-nine men who signed the king?s death warrant and participated in his execution have been found guilty in absentia of high treason. Some of the Roundheads, including Oliver Cromwell, are already dead. Others have been captured, hung, drawn, and quartered. A few are imprisoned for life. But two have escaped to America by boat.In London, Richard Nayler, secretary of the regicide committee of the Privy Council, is charged with bringing the traitors to justice and he will stop at nothing to find them. A substantial bounty hangs over their heads for their capture?dead or alive. . . .Robert Harris?s first historical novel set predominantly in America, Act of Oblivion is a novel with an urgent narrative, remarkable characters, and an epic true story to tell of religion, vengeance, and power?and the costs to those who wield it.

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Book SynopsisINTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERFrom Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, a sweeping, romantic compulsively readable historical saga about a Duke’s daughter—the perfect Victorian lady—who secretly moonlights as an amateur sleuth for high society’s inner circle. Victorian London was notorious for its pickpockets. But in the country houses of the elite, gentleman burglars, art thieves and con men preyed on the rich and titled. Wealthy victims—with their pride and reputation at stake—would never go to the police. What they needed was a society insider, one of their own, a person of discretion and finely tuned powers of observation, adept at navigating intrigue.That person was Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott, the youngest child of Queen Victoria’s close friends the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch. Bookish, fiercely intelligent, and a keen observer, Mary has deliberately cultivated a mousey person

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Book SynopsisFrom bestselling authors Janie Chang and Kate Quinn, a thrilling and unforgettable narrative about the intertwined lives of two wronged women, spanning from the chaos of the San Francisco earthquake to the glittering palaces of Versailles.San Francisco, 1906. In a city bustling with newly minted millionaires and scheming upstarts, two very different women hope to change their fortunes: Gemma, a golden-haired, silver-voiced soprano whose career desperately needs rekindling, and Suling, a petite and resolute Chinatown embroideress who is determined to escape an arranged marriage. Their paths cross when they are drawn into the orbit of Henry Thornton, a charming railroad magnate whose extraordinary collection of Chinese antiques includes the fabled Phoenix Crown, a legendary relic of Beijing?s fallen Summer Palace.His patronage offers Gemma and Suling the chance of a lifetime, but their lives are thrown into turmoil when a devastating earthquake rips San Francisco apart and Thornton disappears, leaving behind a mystery reaching further than anyone could have imagined... until the Phoenix Crown reappears five years later at a sumptuous Paris costume ball, drawing Gemma and Suling together in one last desperate quest for justice.

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Book SynopsisIn 1593, the brilliant and controversial young playwright Christopher Marlowe was stabbed to death in a Deptford lodging house. The circumstances were shady, the official account - a violent quarrel over the bill, or ''recknynge'' - long regarded as dubious.For the first time tracing Marlowe''s shadowy political and intelligence dealings, Charles Nicholl uncovers critical new evidence about that fatal day. Also providing an enthralling revelation of the extraordinary underworld of Elizabethan crime and espionage, the ''secret theatre'', Nicholl penetrates four centuries of obscurity to expose a complex and chilling story of entrapment and betrayal.Trade ReviewAn absorbing detective story with many twists and dark secrets. It is a passionate tale that haunts the imagination -- Michael Sheldon * Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year *Remarkable...for the first time reveals the true mystery of his death... Extraordinary * The Times *A book full of wit, scholarship and ingenuity... Extraordinary -- Colm Toibin * Irish Times *A remarkable academic thriller, a brilliant recontruction -- Michael Coveney * Observer *This book blows open the world of Elizabethan espionage, and presents the most comprehensive case yet for disbelieving the official inquest * Independent *

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Book SynopsisSOON TO BE AN ORIGINAL AMAZON PRIME SERIES____________________________''No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades. The Alex Cross series proves it.'' LEE CHILD, international bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series____________________________The fifteenth novel in the bestselling Alex Cross seriesDetective Alex Cross delves deep into the past - to a story passed down through his family, of a courageous fight for freedom...Alex Cross is one of the nation''s foremost detectives. But fighting for justice runs in the family, and it''s time for Cross to tell the story that was passed down to him from his grandmother - the story of his great-uncle Abraham.Ben Corbett is lawyer to the underprivileged and downtrodden in 1900s Washington, DC. Out of the blue, President Theodore Roosevelt invites Ben to the White House, asking Trade ReviewIt's no mystery why James Patterson is the world's most popular thriller writer: his uncanny skill in creating living, breathing characters we truly feel for and seamless, lightning-fast plots. I do this for a living, and he still manages to keep me guessing from the first to last page ... Simply put: Nobody does it better. -- JEFFREY DEAVERBehind all the noise and the numbers, we shouldn't forget that no one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades. The Alex Cross series proves it. -- LEE CHILD, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher seriesJames Patterson is The Boss. End of. -- IAN RANKIN, bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus serieswrote, "Along Came a Spider is the best thriller I've come across in many a year. It deserves to be this season's no. 1 bestseller and should instantly make James Patterson a household name." A household name, indeed. -- NELSON DEMILLEEvery once in a while a writer comes along and fundamentally changes the way people read. He or she is so bright, so innovative, so industrious that what they envision and create becomes the measure by which all others are judged. In 1993 one such writer - James Patterson - began to do just that ... James Patterson is the gold standard by which all others are judged. -- STEVE BERRY, bestselling author of the Colton Malone series

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Book SynopsisThe Quincunx is an epic Dickensian-like mystery novel set in 19th century England, and concerns the varying fortunes of young John Huffam and his mother. A thrilling complex plot is made more intriguing by the unreliable narrator of the book - how much can we believe of what he says? First published in 1989, The Quincunx was a surprise bestseller and began a trend for pastiche Victorian novels. It remains one of the best.

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Book SynopsisBefore George R. R. Martin there was Dorothy Dunnett . . . PERFECT for fans of A Game of Thrones.''She is a brilliant story teller, The Lymond Chronicles will keep you reading late into the night, desperate to know the fate of the characters you have come to care deeply about.'' The Times Literary SupplementQueen''s Play is the second book in the series-----------------------------''The crossroads may not be of your own seeking, but at least the road you choose will be your own''It is 1548 and seven-year-old Mary Queen of Scots, betrothed to her cousin the Dauphin, heir to the French throne, has been dispatched to France. But far from home and vulnerable, surrounded by the double-dealing and debauchery of a dangerous and unpredictable court, she suffers a series of ''accidents''. Her mother, Scotland''s Queen Dowager, orders Francis Crawford of Lymond Trade ReviewPraise for Dorothy Dunnett * - *A storyteller who could teach Scheherazade a thing or two about pace, suspense and imaginative invention * New York Times *Marvellous, breathtaking * The Times *A masterpiece of historical fiction * Washington Post *One of the greatest tale-spinners since Dumas * Cleveland Plain Dealer *Lashings of excitement, colour and subtlety * The Times *Vivid, engaging, densely plotted - are almost certainly destined to be counted among the classics of popular fiction * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisAndrew Taylor is the author of a number of crime novels, including the ground-breaking Roth Trilogy, which was adapted into the acclaimed drama Fallen Angel, and the historical crime novels The Ashes of London, The Silent Boy, and The American Boy, a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller and a 2005 Richard & Judy Book Club Choice.He has won many awards, including the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Award (the only author to win it three times) and the CWA's prestigious Diamond Dagger.Trade ReviewThere are echoes of Agatha Christie in the complex plot set in 1934, but Taylor's portrait of desperate lives is infused with a sharp sense of class and politics as British society fractures under the threat of a world war * The Times, Top 100 Crime & Thrillers since 1945 *Taylor is the modern master of a very Dickensian underworld... A sense of brooding evil pervades the complex plot, handled with great assurance * Independent *The period atmosphere, as in all Taylor's work, is flawless. He simply gets better and better * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThe thirteenth-century is just begun and King John has fallen out with the Pope, leaving babies to lie unbaptized in their cradles and corpses in unconsecrated ground. Across a fear-ravaged England, the people are dying in sin.In the village of Gastmere, this has shocking consequences for servant girl Elena. Unwittingly drawn into a macabre scheme to absolve dying Lord Gerard of his crimes, death and betrayal haunt her dreams like a curse.And when Elena is threatened with hanging for a murder she did not commit, it is certain that unnatural conspiracy lies behind these dark deeds. But where can she turn? For in every face lies wickedness and in every shadow lurks treachery . . .Trade ReviewA ripping tale set in the year of 1210. Full of colour and detail * Daily Telegraph *Maitland's richest yet: a breathless romp through an England rendered spiritually desolate. Bubbles over with the exploits of desperate priests, scheming herbalists, torturous conspirators, a dwarf-sized madam and a plot of treason against the King * Metro *Bawdy and brutal * Simon Mayo *A gem of a story. Meticulously researched and told with blood-curdling relish, this is a tale that will keep you awake at night * News of the World *A richly evocative page-turner which brings to life a lost and terrible period of British history, with a disturbing final twist worthy of a master of the spine-tingler, such as Henry James * Daily Express *Karen Maitland neatly catches the spirit of primitive superstition * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisThe first novel in the Matthew Shardlake Tudor Mystery series—the inspiration for the Hulu original series Shardlake!Dissolution is an utterly riveting portrayal of Tudor England. The year is 1537, and the country is divided between those faithful to the Catholic Church and those loyal to the king and the newly established Church of England. When a royal commissioner is brutally murdered in a monastery on the south coast of England, Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s feared vicar general, summons fellow reformer Matthew Shardlake to lead the inquiry. Shardlake and his young protégé uncover evidence of sexual misconduct, embezzlement, and treason, and when two other murders are revealed, they must move quickly to prevent the killer from striking again.A “remarkable debut” (P. D. James), Dissolution introduces a thrilling historical series that is not to be missed by fans of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies.Awarded the CWA Diamond Dagger – the highest honor in British crime writing

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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