Historical crime and mysteries

Book SynopsisSunday Times Crime Book Club PickMail on Sunday Thriller of the Week''A coldly brilliant exposé of the depths of human nature'' SUNDAY TIMES''Compelling, beautifully constructed and atmospheric'' DAILY MAIL Sixty-two days after the disappearance . . .A man is arrested in the small town of Avechot. His shirt is covered in blood. Could this have anything to do with a missing girl called Anna Lou?What really happened to the girl? Detective Vogel will do anything to solve the mystery surrounding Anna Lou''s disappearance. When a media storm hits the quiet town, Vogel is sure that the suspect will be flushed out. Yet the clues are confusing, perhaps false, and following them may be a far cry from discovering the truth at the heart of a dark town. FOR FANS OF DONNA LEON AND MICHELE GIUTTARI, GET READY FOR THE CRIME THRILLER OF THE YEAR. ''Carrisi is an expert at mTrade ReviewThis mesmerising literary crime story is already a richly deserved sensation in Europe. It is so compelling, beautifully constructed and atmospheric that you'll savour each word . . . Spellbinding - Daily MailCarrisi is an expert at misdirection . . . this is a thoroughly disconcerting, addictive thriller guaranteed to freeze your soul - MetroA coldly brilliant expose of the depths of human nature - Sunday Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisEdward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA timeless whodunnit with the fascinating Mitford sisters at its heart, The Mitford Trial is inspired by a real-life murder in a story full of intrigue, affairs and betrayal.It''s former lady''s maid Louisa Cannon''s wedding day, but the fantasy is shattered shortly after when she is approached by a secretive man asking her to spy on Diana Mitford - who is having an affair with the infamous Oswald Mosley - and her similarly fascist sister Unity.Thus as summer 1933 dawns, Louisa finds herself accompanying the Mitfords on a glitzy cruise, full of the starriest members of Society. But the waters run red when a man is found attacked, with suspects everywhere.Back in London, the case is taken by lawyer Tom Mitford, and Louisa finds herself caught between worlds: of a love lost to blood, a family divided, and a country caught in conflict.PRAISE FOR THE MITFORD MURDERS SERIES''A glittering, entertaining, perfectly formed whodunniTrade ReviewFull of surprises and secrets * Woman's Way *Inspired by the larger-than-life Mitford family and a real-life murder, Fellowes delivers a ripping-good read. Rich in detail, it moves steadily to its sad ending, leaving Louisa in possession of dark secrets that she will carry for the rest of her life * Booklist *

Read more less

Book SynopsisDon't miss Faith Martin's fiendishly clever new novel, Murder by Candlelight, set in the 1920s and described as the perfect village mystery' by J.M. HallA brilliant book! The pairing of Ryder and Loveday is a stroke of genius.' Clare Chase, author of the Eve Mallow and Tara Thorpe mysteriesOxford, 1960. There''s a murderer on the loose and two unlikely heroes are poised to solve the case.Meet Probationary WPC Trudy Loveday smart, enthusiastic and always underestimated.In the hope of getting her out of the way, Trudy's senior officer assigns her to help coroner Clement Ryder as he re-opens the case of a young woman''s death. She can''t believe her luck she is actually going to be working on a real murder case.Meanwhile, the rest of the police force are busy investigating a series of threats and murders in the local community, and Clement can''t help but feel it''s all linked.As Trudy and Clement form an unlikely partnership, are they going to be the ones to solve these crimes before tTrade Review‘A beautifully crafted crime mystery I could not put down.’ Anita Davison, author of the Flora Maguire series ‘A brilliant book! The pairing of Ryder and Loveday is a stroke of genius.’ Clare Chase, author of the Eve Mallow and Tara Thorpe mysteries ‘Absolutely loved it… The characters were some of the best I’ve read in a long time.’ Angela Marsons, no. 1 bestselling author of the Kim Stone series

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the million-copy Sunday Times bestseller comes a thrilling novel about a woman with an extraordinary life, based on a true story.   'Fantastic… Exciting, impeccably researched and full of powerful period atmosphere' Daily MailMinnie Gray is an ordinary young woman.She is also a spy for the British government.   It all began in the summer of 1928...   Minnie is supposed to find a nice man, get married and have children. The problem is it doesn’t appeal to her at all. She is working as a secretary, but longs to make a difference.   Then, one day, she gets her chance. She is recruited by the British government as a spy. Under strict instructions not to tell anyone, not even her family, she moves to London and begins her mission – to infiltrate the Communist movement.   She soon gains the trust of importTrade Review‘A superb novel. I absolutely loved it. Rachel Hore brilliantly contrasts the thrilling world of high-stakes politics with the inner life of a passionate woman leading a dangerous double existence’ -- Wendy Holden, author of The Governess'Phenomenal! Absolutely loved it. I was rooting for Minnie from page one right to the very end... What a treat of a read' -- Tracy Rees, author of The House at Silvermoor‘Based on the life of Olga Gray, this atmospheric thriller is a delight to read’ * Sun *'Based on a true story, this fantastic novel follows the adventures of a suburban girl recruited by MI5 to infiltrate the British Communist Party (BCP) in the years before World War II… Hore reveals a thrilling world of high-stakes politics alongside the inner life of a passionate young woman leading a dangerous double existence. The humdrum, lonely nature of espionage is brilliantly evoked; Minnie longs for friendships but can’t get too close, while love is out of the question, particularly love for Max. Exciting, impeccably researched and full of powerful period atmosphere' * Daily Mail *‘Stunning. A masterclass in storytelling. Flawless writing and a great plot that builds suspense… This is one of those unforgettable books whose characters stay with you and whom you miss when they’re gone… I loved every moment’ -- Dinah Jefferies, author of The Tuscan Contessa'Rachel Hore has written a masterful novel, rich in period detail, and her heroine is an unforgettable character – an ordinary young woman who achieves extraordinary things for her country' * Sunday Express *'As far as her friends and family think, Minnie is an ordinary girl but she is a government spy – recruited to infiltrate the communist government. But how long can anyone lead a double life? Based on a true story' * Best *'A compulsive and enjoyable read' -- Historical Novel Society'Historical suspense… Minnie Gray – on the outside an ordinary woman, inside a spy for the British Government who is asked to infiltrate the Russians. Inspired by the real-life story of secretary Olga Gray' * My Weekly *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Here ends one of the finest achievements of recent crime fiction' - Sunday Telegraph'Outstanding' - The Times*Winner of the 2022 CWA Historical Dagger and Gold Dagger*Los Angeles. Christmas, 1967. A devil is loose in the City of Angels . . .A young nurse, Kerry Gaudet, travels to the City of Angels desperate to find her missing brother, fearing that something terrible has happened to him: a serial killer is terrorising the city, picking victims at random, and Kerry has precious few leads.Ida Young, recently retired Private Investigator, is dragged into helping the police when a young woman is discovered murdered in her motel room. Ida has never met the victim but her name has been found at the crime scene and the LAPD wants to know why . . .Meanwhile mob fixer Dante Sanfelippo has put his life savings into purchasing a winery in Napa Valley but first he must do one final favour for the Mob before leaving town: find a bail jumper before the bond money falls due, and time is fast running out.Ida’s friend, Louis Armstrong, flies into the city just as her investigations uncover mysterious clues to the killer’s identity. And Dante must tread a dangerous path to pay his dues, a path which will throw him headlong into a terrifying conspiracy and a secret that the conspirators will do anything to protect . . .Completing his American crime quartet, Ray Celestin's Sunset Swing is a stunning novel of conspiracy, murder and madness, an unforgettable portrait of a city on the edge.Trade ReviewCelestin’s debut The Axeman’s Jazz immediately attained cult status, and successive books also impressed. But this is his most dizzying accomplishment, a truly epic crime chronicle. Set in a pulsing 1960s Los Angeles, Celestin creates a joint picture of the histories of organised crime and jazz, full of coruscating detail. -- Barry Forshaw * Financial Times *Sunset Swing concludes Ray Celestin's outstanding City Blues quartet . . . Celestin's most perfectly wrought portrait, however is of the City of Dreams itself, soaked in corruption and empty of heart. Sunset Swing may be an ode to the classics of hard-boiled noir, but it has more than enough rhythm of its own to take its place beside them * The Times *Magnificent and moving * Sunday Times Crime Club *Over four books, beginning with The Axeman’s Jazz in 2014, Ray Celestin has constructed a riveting saga of music, the mafia and murder in four American cities from 1919 to the 1960s. Sunset Swing, unfolding in Los Angeles in 1967, brings his City Blues Quartet to a triumphant conclusion . . . Brilliantly combines the page-turning tension of the best crime fiction with a panoramic portrait of a city in the midst of profound social change -- Nick Rennison * Sunday Times *Here ends one of the finest achievements of recent crime fiction, Ray Celestin’s City Blues Quartet . . . Throughout this series, the counterpoint to Celestin's stark portrayal of a fundamentally corrupt and gangster-ridden America has been his rare ability to capture in prose something of the glory of the music made by Armstrong and his fellow jazz-men. Here he rises to the final challenge of Armstrong's last comeback . . . Few artists have combined greatness and lovability to the extent Armstrong did, and these outstanding hard-boiled thrillers double as a worthy tribute to him -- Jake Kerridge * The Sunday Telegraph *Sunset Swing brings Ray Celestin’s brilliant City Blues Quartet to an end in quite some style. This outstanding series has tracked its characters across four major American cities and over half a century . . . Each of the four books is an epic in its own right, but here, as winter wildfires rage at the end of the continent, the feel is almost apocalyptic . . . The section . . . where Amstrong is first confounded by, then finds a new way to understand and interpret, Bob Thiele’s lyrics for ‘What A Wonderful World’, is as fine and nuanced a piece of writing about music as you’ll find anywhere. It’s one of several superb and moving moments in the best book in a quite remarkable series. Start here if you want, but to get the full effect, put The Axeman’s Jazz, Dead Man's Blues, and The Mobster's Lament on your Christmas list as well. It would almost be a crime not to. * The Quietus *Celestin’s crime quartet – set against the evolution of jazz in 20th-century America – comes to a superb close in this final volume, which also serves as tribute to the genius of Louis Armstrong * The Daily Telegraph *The series is a delight * The Times *This lively, jazz-based series can only be cause for celebration * Sunday Times *Not only a satisfying and multi-layered mystery, but also a well researched and dynamic portrait of a teeming city, rife with corruption * Guardian *A vividly written crime thriller which is a contender for book of the year -- Daily Mirror on The Mobster's LamentOne of the most ambitious and riveting works of crime fiction in years . . . -- Sunday Express on The Mobster's LamentCaptivating -- Spectator on Dead Man's BluesAn absolute must for true crime fanatics * Refinery 29 *Outstanding -- Daily Telegraph on The Axeman's Jazz

Read more less

Book SynopsisJim Eldridge was born in central London towards the end of World War II, and survived attacks by V2 rockets on the Kings Cross area where he lived. In 1971 he sold his first sitcom to the BBC and had his first book commissioned. Since then he has had more than one hundred books published, with sales of over three million copies. He lives in Kent with his wife.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Could challenge CJ Sansom for dominion' Sunday TimesLondon, 1656: Captain Seeker is back in the city, on the trail of an assassin preparing to strike at the heart of Oliver Cromwell's RepublicThe Commonwealth is balanced on a knife edge. Royalists and disillusioned former Parliamentarians have united against Oliver Cromwell, now a king in all but name. Three conspirators, representing these factions, plan to assassinate the Lord Protector, paving the way back to the throne for Charles Stuart once and for all.Captain Damian Seeker, meanwhile, is preoccupied by the horrifying discovery in an illegal gambling den of the body of a man ravaged by what is unmistakably a bear. Yet the bears used for baiting were all shot when the sport was banned by Cromwell. So where did this fearsome creature come from, and why would someone use it for murder?With Royalist-turned-Commonwealth-spy Thomas Faithly tracking the bear, Seeker investigates its victim. The trail leads from Kent's coffee house on Cornhill, to a German clockmaker in Clerkenwell, to the stews of Southwark, to the desolate Lambeth Marshes where no one should venture at night.When the two threads of the investigation begin to join, Seeker realises just what - and who - he is up against. The Royalists in exile have sent to London their finest mind and greatest fighter, a man who will stop at nothing to ensure the Restoration. Has Seeker finally met his match?Trade ReviewMacLean skilfully weaves together the disparate threads of her plot to create a gripping tale of crime and sedition in an unsettled city - Sunday Times on The Black FriarExcellent at conveying the insecurities and unsettling memories that bedevil Cromwell's dying Protectorate, the author brings a fresh perspective and gold-plated research to a period which has been unfairly eclipsed by the popularity of the Tudors - Daily Mail on The Black FriarMacLean's light touch portrait of a hard man with a softer core is what makes these books so memorable - The Times on The Black FriarA thrilling plot . . . MacLean's characters are subtle and convincing . . . could challenge C.J. Sansom for dominion of historical crime - Sunday Times on The SeekerThe best historical crime novel of the year - Sunday Express on The Seeker

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe gripping wartime murder mystery

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe world is classic Jane Austen. The mystery is vintage P.D. James. The year is 1803, and Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet have been married for six years. There are now two handsome and healthy sons in the nursery, Elizabeth's beloved sister Jane and her husband Bingley live nearby and the orderly world of Pemberley seems unassailable. But all this is threatened when, on the eve of the annual autumn ball, the guests are preparing to retire for the night when a chaise appears, rocking down the path from Pemberley's wild woodland. As it pulls up, Lydia Wickham - Elizabeth Bennet's younger, unreliable sister - stumbles out screaming that her husband has been murdered. Two great literary minds - master of suspense P.D. James and literary icon Jane Austen - come together in Death Comes to Pemberley, a bestselling historical crime fiction tribute to Pride and Prejudice. Conjuring the world of Elizabeth Bennet and Mark Darcy and combining the trappings

Read more less

Book SynopsisBanville is one of my favourite writers alive.' REBECCA F. KUANG''Beautifully written and intriguing.'' GUARDIANHe had seen drowned people. A sight not to be forgotten.1950s, rural Ireland. A loner comes across a mysteriously empty car in a field. Knowing he shouldn't approach, but unable to hold back, he soon finds himself embroiled in a troubling missing person's case, as a husband claims his wife may have thrown herself into the sea.Called in from Dublin to investigate is Detective Inspector Strafford, who soon turns to his old ally - the flawed but brilliant pathologist Quirke - a man he is linked to in increasingly complicated ways.Readers were gripped by The Drowned:''Addictive and atmospheric'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Remarkable . . . it took my breath away'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Another flawless Strafford and Quirke mystery'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Outstanding, Banville is the best crime writer out there'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐On UK bestseller list w/e 13/11/2021-27/11/2021 for Paperback Fiction

Read more less

Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2019 McILVANNEY PRIZELONGLISTED FOR THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEARA NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEARA Raven and Fisher Mystery: Book 1Edinburgh, 1847. Will Raven is a medical student, apprenticing for the brilliant and renowned Dr Simpson. Sarah Fisher is Simpson's housemaid, and has all of Raven's intelligence but none of his privileges.As bodies begin to appear across the Old Town, Raven and Sarah find themselves propelled headlong into the darkest shadows of Edinburgh's underworld. And if either of them are to make it out alive, they will have to work together to find out who's responsible for the gruesome deaths.Trade ReviewParry's Victorian Edinburgh comes vividly alive - and it's a world of pain -- VAL McDERMIDThe Way of All Flesh is a treat. The historical setting is fascinating, and all of Brookmyre's wit and storytelling verve are evident in this tale of scalpels and secrets * * The Times * *Menacing, witty and ingeniously plotted, Ambrose Parry's debut draws you into the dark heart of nineteenth-century Edinburgh and won't let you go until the final page -- S.J. PARRISA rip-roaring tale of murder amid the medical experiments of 19th-century Edinburgh. The book brings both city and period to colourful life and is a joy to read -- IAN RANKIN * * Guardian * *Utterly compelling, this tale of Old Edinburgh is so full of characters and startling incident that I never wanted it to end -- DENISE MINAA thoroughly entertaining tale of murder and misadventure in 1840s Edinburgh * * Sunday Times * *A dynamic new arrival . . . Ambrose Parry's The Way of All Flesh is set in an 1840s Edinburgh where new science and old beliefs rub shoulders. Its twisty gothic plot is based on grisly real events -- NICCI FRENCH * * Observer * *An astonishing debut. The dark and dangerous past is brought thrillingly to life. I can't wait to read more of Raven and Sarah -- MARK BILLINGHAMThe city of Burke and Hare has found a new classic murder. The Way of All Flesh is a darkly stylish mystery underpinned by hard facts and expert research. A hugely enjoyable debut -- LOUISE WELSHExceptional -- IRVINE WELSH

Read more less

Book SynopsisA set of symbols scratched on the wall of a crypt in southern France.A flag bearing a red cross on a castle fortress high on a stone ledge.And deep in the heart of the Vatican, a team of agents charged with making sure no one discovers what connects them all.Ben Hope is a magnet for trouble. Years since leaving the SAS, he can still feel when danger is stalking him. But stumbling across someone researching the Knights Templar seems like a problem for historians rather than his military skills.It's only when a terrible twist of fate puts not just Ben but the people he loves in the firing line that he realises the battles of the past will soon wreak carnage in the present.Faced with uncovering a mystery that strikes at the heart of Western civilisation, Ben might finally have unearthed the one secret that could take him down.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA chilling festive mystery from the Man Booker Prize winner.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAshes of Berlin is shortlisted for the CWA Endeavour Historical Dagger World War II is over, and former German intelligence officer Captain Gregor Reinhardt has returned to Berlin. He's about to find that the bloodshed has not ended - and that for some, death is better than defeat. A year after Germany's defeat, Reinhardt has been hired back onto Berlin's civilian police force. The city is divided among the victorious allied powers, tensions are growing, and the police are riven by internal rivalries as factions within it jockey for power and influence with Berlin's new masters. When a man is found slain in a broken-down tenement, Reinhardt embarks on a gruesome investigation. It seems a serial killer is on the loose, and matters only escalate when it's discovered that one of the victims was the brother of a Nazi scientist. Reinhardt's search for the truth takes him across the divided city and soon embroils him in a plot involving the Western Allies and the Soviets. And as he comes under the scrutiny of a group of Germans who want to continue the war - and faces an unwanted reminder from his own past - Reinhardt realizes that this investigation could cost him everything as he pursues a killer who believes that all wrongs must be avenged...Trade ReviewLet's not mince words: historical thrillers don't come any better than The Ashes of Berlin -- Barry Forshaw * The Financial Times *Reinhardt is a terrific creation -- Marcel Berlins * The Times *Sunday Times Crime Club name Ashes of Berlin their Star Pick for December reads * The Sunday Times *Luke McCallin's best Reinhardt novel yet. It's dark, brooding and raw. Also, impeccably researched -- Jon Courtenay GrimwoodA compelling, addictive narrative that had me turning the pages into the small hours. Superlative -- CJ Carver

Read more less

Book SynopsisWho really killed the princes in the tower? Was Richard III truly the ogre of legend and Shakespeare's play. - a wicked uncle who murdered his nephews to steal the crown of England? Inspector Alan Grant is not so sure. Laid up in hospital with a broken leg, he becomes obsessed with unravelling this most enduring of historical mysteries. As he investigates with the help of an enthusiastic young American scholar, he unearths long-buried intrigues and comes to a startling conclusion.Trade Review'As interesting and enjoyable a book as you will meet in a month of Sundays' - Observer'One of the best mysteries of all time' - New York Times'First-rate mystery, ably plotted and beautifully written' - Los Angeles Times'A detective story with a very considerable difference. Ingenious, stimulating and very enjoyable' - Sunday Times'One of the permanent classics in the detective field' - Anthony Boucher

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Dramatic and colourful' SUNDAY TIMES'Beautiful writing' GILES KRISTIAN Treason, heresy and revolt in Queen Elizabeth's England . . . The year is 1600. With a dying queen on the throne, war raging on the high seas and famine on the rise, England is on the brink of chaos. And in London's dark alleyways, a conspiracy is brewing. In the court's desperate bid to silence it, an innocent man is found guilty - the father of Nicholas Shelby, physician and spy. As Nicholas races against time to save his father, he and his wife Bianca are drawn into the centre of a treacherous plot against the queen.When one of Shakespeare's boy actors goes missing, and Bianca discovers a disturbing painting that could be a clue, she embarks on her own investigation. Meanwhile, as Nicholas comes closer to unveiling the real conspirator, the men who wish to silence him are multiplying. When he stumbles on a plan to overthrow the state and replace it with a terrifying new order, he may be forced to make a decision between his country and his heart . . .Trade ReviewThe third in Perry's series is as dramatic and colourful as the previous two. * The Sunday Times *An absolute belter of a read and another fabulous addition to the Jackdaw Mysteries series... I just gobbled up the pages as the story fairly roars along battling spies and pirates on route... S. W. Perry ensures the sights, smells and sounds of London and Morocco entered my very being. I love this series. -- Liz Robinson * LoveReading, Picks of the month *The writing is of such a quality, the characters so engaging and the setting so persuasive that, only two books in, S.W. Perry's ingeniously plotted novels have become my favourite historical crime series. * S. G. MacLean on The Serpent's Mark *A satisfyingly convoluted plot. * Sunday Times on The Serpent's Mark *No-one is better than S. W. Perry at leading us through the squalid streets of London in the sixteenth century. * Andrew Swanston on The Serpent's Mark *The Serpent's Mark is an excellent evocation of Elizabethan England, with espionage, intricate conspiracies, strange medical practises and a gripping story. A rattling good read. * William Ryan on The Serpent's Mark *A 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 on The Angel's Mark *Wonderful! Beautiful writing, and Perry's Elizabethan London is so skilfully evoked, so real that one can almost smell it. * Giles Kristian on The Angel's Mark *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA sleuth to rival Shardlake or Cadfael - a mystery that will chill your blood. A must-read for fans of Rory Clements and SJ Parris.'A satisfying, skillfully constructed mystery with richly developed characters ... A truly memorable and exciting read' Historical Novel SocietyBanff, Scotland, the 1620s. A young man walks unsteadily through the streets. Is he just drunk or is there something more sinister happening? When he collapses in front of two sisters on that dark, wet night, the women guess that he's been poisoned. His body is discovered in the house of Alexander Seaton - a fallen minister, the discovery of whose clandestine love affair has left him disgraced. Why was the body in Seaton's house? And why would anyone want to murder this likeable young man? Seaton sets out to find answers, embarking on a journey not only through the darkest part of other men's souls, but also his own.Trade Review'Such is the quality of the recreation, not only of the reeking ebb and flow of everyday life but also of the period mindset that it's easy to believe Satan is walking abroad ... this is an accomplished and thought-provoking debut' Guardian. * Guardian *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWATERSTONES SCOTTISH BOOK OF THE YEAR 2018!*******''Scotland''s Outer Hebrides provides the sensuous setting for this impressive debut...a beautifully crafted novel'' - Publishers Weekly''Lovely atmospheric descriptions of Hebridean light and landscape'' - The ScotsmanA captivating story of a crumbling estate in the wilds of Scotland, its century-old secret and an enduring mystery...Following the death of her last living relative, Hetty Deveraux leaves London and her strained relationship behind for Muirlan, her ancestral home in Scotland - now in ruins. As Hetty dives headfirst into the repairs, she discovers a shocking secret protected by the house for a hundred years.With only whispered rumours circulating among the local villagers and a handful of leads to guide her, Hetty finds the power of the past is still affecting her present in sTrade ReviewLovely atmospheric descriptions of Hebridean light and landscape * The Scotsman *There is an echo of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca in Sarah Maine's appealing debut novel * The Independent *A tremendous accomplishment. So assured, so well-judged, and with such an involving story to tell, this might be the author's fifth or sixth novel, not her first. A literary star is born! -- Ronald Frame, author of The Lantern Bearers and Havisham ...it came as a great surprise to learn that this was the author's debut novel. I predict great things for Sarah Maine * The Book Bag *Scotland's Outer Hebrides provides the sensuous setting for [this] impressive debut...[a] beautifully crafted novel. * Publishers Weekly *Maine skillfully balances a Daphne du Maurier atmosphere with a Barbara Vine-like psychological mystery...The setting emerges as the strongest personality in this compelling story, evoking passion in the characters as fierce as the storms which always lurk on the horizon. A debut historical thriller which deftly blends classic suspense with modern themes. * Kirkus Reviews *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn bestselling author Steve Berry's stunning novel, former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone encounters information from a secret World War II dossier that, if proven true, would not only rewrite history - it could change the political landscape of Europe forever. Two candidates are vying to become Chancellor of Germany. One is a patriot who has served for many years, the other a usurper, stoking the flames of nationalistic hate. Both harbour secrets, but only one knows the truth about the other. Everything turns on the events of one fateful day - April 30, 1945 - and what happened deep beneath Berlin in the Führerbunker. Did Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun die there? Did Martin Bormann, Hitler's close confidant, manage to escape? And possibly even more important, where did billions in Nazi wealth disappear to in the waning days of the war? The answers to these questions will determine who becomes the next Chancellor. Racing from Chile to South Africa, and finally the secret vaults of Switzerland, former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone must uncover the truth about the fates of Hitler, Braun, and Bormann - revelations that could not only transform Europe, but finally expose a mystery known as the Kaiser's Web.Trade Review[Berry's] most ambitious and relevant thriller to date. A no-holds-barred, high-stakes romp with echoes of class spy novelists like John le Carré, Len Deighton, and Alistair MacLean . . . This is a dream read for the unabashed thriller aficionado, a story stitched along classic lines that never disappoints in laying out a riveting and relentless tapestry * Providence Journal *Berry skillfully lays out yet another tantalizing historical what-if * Publishers Weekly *Berry keeps finding enticing alternate-history mysteries for Malone to solve . . . Keep 'em coming * Booklist *Ominously up-to-date * Kirkus Reviews *Steve Berry does it as well as anyone in the historical thriller / alternative history genre. . . Filled with mystery, history and intrigue, twists and turns that keep your head spinning until the very end, The Kaiser's Web is a wonderfully informative, entertaining and fast-paced novel. This is a worthy new chapter in the Cotton Malone series! * Mystery and Suspense Magazine *Another thrill-ride, with lots of twists and turns that keep the reader on their toes * Red Carpet Crash *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe gripping, heartwrenching story of a girl gone missing and an innocent, accused woman who holds the key to a family secret, from the bestselling author of THE GIRL IN THE LETTER.'Spellbindingly good! Heartbreak, intrigue, mystery *****' Real reader'One of the best books I've read this year! I adored every single page *****' Real reader'I really loved it! Tense, emotionally charged' *****' Jenny Ashcroft'A gripping, heart-wrenching story of love, loyalty and family secrets. Reminded me ofKate Morton and Eve Chase *****' Fictionophile __________It all began with a midwife's secret, long buried but if uncovered could save two families from the bitter tragedy that binds them. And prove the key that will free them all...1969 On New Year's Eve, while the Hiltons of Yew Tree Manor prepare to host the party Trade ReviewPraise for Emily Gunnis's bestselling novels: 'Compelling, twisty, heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. A novel that stays with you. I was gripped -- Sophie KinsellaUtterly gripping, taut and powerful. An emotionally charged, compulsive, moving novel ***** -- Adele ParksA great book, truly hard to put down. Fast paced, brilliantly plotted and desperately sad at times - all hallmarks of a bestseller -- Lesley PearseA truly brilliant and moving read. I loved it -- Karen HamiltonCaptivating and suspenseful -- Jessica FellowesLoss, betrayal and a decades-old secret... BRILLIANT * Heat magazine *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Horowitz has captured Holmes Heaven'' THE TIMES THE HOUSE OF SILK was the first official new Sherlock Holmes mystery and a SUNDAY TIMES bestseller from the author of MAGPIE MURDERSTHE GAME''S AFOOT . . .It is November 1890 and London is gripped by a merciless winter. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are enjoying tea by the fire when an agitated gentleman arrives unannounced at 221b Baker Street. He begs Holmes for help, telling the unnerving story of a scar-faced man with piercing eyes who has stalked him in recent weeks. Intrigued, Holmes and Watson find themselves swiftly drawn into a series of puzzling and sinister events, stretching from the gas-lit streets of London to the teeming criminal underworld of Boston and the mysterious ''House of Silk'' . . .Trade ReviewEnthusiastically replicating the spirit, style, suspense and atmosphere of Conan Doyle's stories, this skilfully crafted homage is an irresistible read. -- Peter Kemp * SUNDAY TIMES *Horowitz has captured Holmes Heaven * THE TIMES *An exciting, well-crafted novel -- Andrew Lycett * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Bravo, then, Mr Horowitz. Let us hope that the famous dispatch box contains many more cases for him to unearth * FINANCIAL TIMES *A lifelong Sherlock Holmes fan, Anthony Horowitz is the perfect choice to pen the first new official mystery and what a triumph it is. While retaining faithfully the style of the originals, Horowitz's lively prose makes this exciting story just right for a new generation of fans -- Sarah Clarke * BOOKSELLER *A brilliant new Sherlock Holmes novel. The tone of voice is pitch perfect, the send of place and time spot on. I don't want to give too much away about the plot but there are clever twist and plenty of trademark Holmesian moments. I thoroughly enjoyed this -- Sue Scholes * BOOKSELLER *Horowitz plays a perfectly straight bat. This is a no-shit Sherlock * GUARDIAN *Brimming with informed enthusiasm, this skilfully crafted homage to Conan Doyle is so enjoyable that you're sorry when it fades away to the strains of Holmes playing his Stradivarius * THE SUNDAY TIMES *Anthony Horowitz's new Sherlock Holmes novel The House of Silk is superb - indeed, I would say it is better than any of Conan Doyle's own Holmes novels, which always feel padded out in comparison with the gripping short stories * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Yet another Sherlock Holmes imitation? The field is crowded but with one bound Horowitz - well known for his children's books and TV scripts - takes the lead, with his perfect mimicry of Conan Doyle's style and Dr Watson's tone of voice. There is a suitably baffling mystery and the great detective is on top form. It's very good; dare I say as good as the original? * LITERARY REVIEW *It seems improbable, if not impossible, but it's true! Holmes is back at his best * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *Perfectly paced, entirely unpredictable, edge-of-seat exciting and a total joy from start to finish. The more of it I read, the more I looked forward to basking in Holmes's deductive brilliance at the end: the solutions that are obvious once you know them but completely unguessable until you do. I am happy to report that all the required ingredients had been added; neither Holmes nor Horowitz let me down -- Sophie Hannah * DAILY EXPRESS *Horowitz infuses the novel with a superb eye for the detail of Victorian London but also a touching sense of melancholy, the book functioning as a subtle final coda to Holmes's adventures. Crucially, it also has a cracking plot and is a labyrinthine but eminently lucid page-turner * METRO *"As an exercise in literary pastiche the book is deeply impressive... He [Horowitz] also managed to produce an intricate and satisfying plot of which Conan Doyle would be proud and a book that drips with authentic period details." * HERALD *"Holmes fans - and indeed, anyone who enjoys a moody, atmospheric detective story that plumbs the darkest depths of Victorian London - will love it." * YORK PRESS *Brilliantly capturing the spirit and tone of Conan Doyle's original stories while devising a new mystery for modern readers is no mean feat, but Horowitz has risen to the challenge with absolute aplomb. * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWinner of the 2016 EDGAR, AGATHA, MACAVITY and H.R.F.KEATING crime writing awards, this real-life detective story investigates how Agatha Christie and colleagues in a mysterious literary club transformed crime fiction.Detective stories of the Twenties and Thirties have long been stereotyped as cosily conventional. Nothing could be further from the truth.The Golden Age of Murder tells for the first time the extraordinary story of British detective fiction between the two World Wars. A gripping real-life detective story, it investigates how Dorothy L. Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, Agatha Christie and their colleagues in the mysterious Detection Club transformed crime fiction. Their work cast new light on unsolved murders whilst hiding clues to their authors' darkest secrets, and their complex and sometimes bizarre private lives.Crime novelist and current Detection Club President Martin Edwards rewrites the history of crime fiction with unique authority, transforming our understanding of deteTrade Review‘Few, if any, books about crime fiction have provided so much information and insight so enthusiastically and, for the reader, so enjoyably’ THE TIMES ‘Illuminating and entertaining – provides a new way of looking at old favourites. I admire the way that Martin Edwards weaves the sometimes violent, sometimes unlawful, and always gripping true stories of these writers with the equally wild tales they tell in their books.’ LEN DEIGHTON, author of SS-GB ‘Forensically sharp and exhaustively informed… Crime fiction is driven by death. In this superbly compendious and entertaining book, Edwards ensures that dozens of authorial corpses are gloriously reborn.’ MARK LAWSON, GUARDIAN ‘Edwards knows his business. He understands how to parcel out the clues and red herrings so as to feed the reader enough information to keep a variety of possibilities open, while making sure to prepare for a satisfying solution.’ SEATTLE POST ‘You can learn far more about the social mores of the age in which a mystery is written than you can from more pretentious literature. I mean, if you want to know what it was like to live in England in the 1920s, the so-called Golden Age, you can get a much better steer from mysteries than you can from prize-winning novels.’ P. D. JAMES

Read more less

Book SynopsisWelcome to Hollywood of the 1920s: a world filled with glamour, fake names . . . and the occasional felony!July, 1924. After nine months of living in Hollywood and working as a companion to her beautiful silent-movie star sister-in-law, young British widow Emma Blackstone is settling into her new role: doctoring film scenarios whenever the regular scenarist is overwhelmed with work, which seems to be most of the time.Shoots for the Western movie Our Tiny Miracle are in full swing, with little seven-year-old Susy Sweetchild playing the lead and acting most professionally. Maybe too professionally, Emma thinks, shocked to the core when the child star is nearly killed in a stunt scene and her mother ? former screen siren Selina Sutton ? seems only to care that Susy gets the job done. But Emma?s concerns only worsen when news reaches her that Susy and her mother have been kidnapped. The ransom note says to keep the cops out of it, so it?s up to Emma and Kitty to find them before the unthinkable happens and Emma is forced to rewrite Our Tiny Miracle with a far more tragic ending . . .New York Times bestselling author Barbara Hambly once again brings the glamour and intrigue of Hollywood to life! An unputdownable mystery for fans of female-fronted historical mysteries set in the roaring twenties.

Read more less

Book SynopsisABloody Scotland Crime Debut Winner (2024),The Silent House of Sleepis the award-winning first novel in a new mystery series from Allan Gaw. When not one but two corpses are discovered in a London park in 1929, brilliant but damaged pathologist Dr Jack Cuthbertust use every tool at his disposal to solve the mystery of their deaths.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller.Two women, centuries apart. Linked in a place haunted by its history . . .Separated by more than six hundred years of history, two women are drawn together by Sleeper's Castle, a house steeped in memory and magic. This is an epic tale of forbidden love, cruel revenge and a war that time can't forget.Grieving and lost, Miranda has moved to Hay to escape, and slowly she feels herself coming to life in the solitude of the mountains. But her vivid dreams at Sleeper's Castle introduce her to Catrin, a young women whose gift for foretelling the future embroiled her in a bloody revolt against English rule many centuries ago.An unbreakable connection is forged across history. Catrin is reaching out . . . and only Miranda can help. But time is running outSunday Times bestselling author Barbara Erskine returns to Hay in the year that marks the 30th anniversary of her sensational debut bestseller, Lady of Hay.Readers LOVE Barbara Erskine:Atmospheric' ?????EnthTrade Review‘Sleeper's Castle is a haunting tale, confirming that Barbara Erskine remains the mistress of the time-slip novel’ Acclaimed historian and novelist, Alison Weir Captivating . . . Beguiling ghosts that whisper to us from the past and seek to stamp their will upon the present’ Richard and Judy bestseller, Rachel Hore Evocative and haunting, [I was] every bit as captivated as I was when I was swept away by Lady of Hay’ Sunday Times bestselling author, Elizabeth Chadwick

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first book in the No. 1 Times bestselling seriesThis is terrific stuff' Daily TelegraphA breathtakingly ambitious picture of an era' Financial TimesA masterclass in how to weave a well-researched history into a complex plot' The TimesOver 1 Million Andrew Taylor Novels Sold!A CITY IN FLAMESLondon, 1666. As the Great Fire consumes everything in its path, the body of a man is found in the ruins of St Paul's Cathedral stabbed in the neck, thumbs tied behind his back.A WOMAN ON THE RUNThe son of a traitor, James Marwood is forced to hunt the killer through the city's devastated streets. There he encounters a determined young woman, who will stop at nothing to secure her freedom.A KILLER SEEKING REVENGEWhen a second murder victim is discovered in the Fleet Ditch, Marwood is drawn into the political and religious intrigue of Westminster and across the path of a killer with nothing to loseTrade Review‘Ashes of London is terrific’ Sarah Hilary ‘The Ashes of London presents a breathtakingly ambitious picture of an era … the multiple narrative strands are drawn together in a brilliantly orchestrated finale’ Financial Times ‘In this elegant, engrossing novel set during an extraordinary period, Taylor skilfully presents a London in which so many must still pay the price for the Civil War and the murder of King Charles I’ Sunday Express ‘One of the most reliably enjoyable of historical novelists … Taylor demonstrates his usual command of plot and historical background’ The Sunday Times 'A complex weave of history and mystery and the first of a new series from Andrew Taylor' The i ‘The author conveys the confusion and uncertainty of the times in a pacy story of Charles II’s desire for vengeance, the struggle to rebuild a stricken city and the hunt for a murderer’ Daily Mail ‘This is terrific stuff: intelligent, engrossing and, in its evocation of a long-vanished London, wonderfully plausible.’ Toby Clements, Daily Telegraph 'The Ashes of London weaves a pacy story from the framework of true events. A new Shardlake may rise from the ashes' The Times ‘Andrew Taylor provides a masterclass in how to weave a well-researched history into a complex plot.’ The Times, Books of the Year ‘Thrilling… Gripping, fast-moving and credible… It’s a well-constructed political thriller with moments of horror, admirable and enjoyable. Taylor has done his research so thoroughly as to be unobtrusive’ Spectator ‘Finely wrought and solidly researched… The novel’s plot is fiendishly complex’ Sunday Telegraph

Read more less

Book SynopsisA gripping 1920s-set whodunnit, this debut features a queer sleuth who must solve a murder in a mansion on London's Hampstead Heath without revealing his sexuality, lest he be arrested as a criminal.The first of the Selby Bigge mysteries, it will leave readers eager for the next installment.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt's Christmas at Westbury Manor and amateur detective Hugh Gaveston must unravel a fiendish mystery...Christmas Eve, 1938. The Westbury family and assorted friends have gathered for another legendary celebration at their beautiful country house. The champagne flows, the silverware sparkles and upstairs the rooms are ready for their occupants.But one bed will lie empty that night. On Christmas morning, David Campbell-Scott is found dead in the snow. There's a pistol beside him and only one set of footprints.Yet something doesn't seem right to amateur sleuth Hugh Gaveston. Campbell-Scott had just returned from overseas with untold wealth - why would he kill himself? Hugh sets out to investigate...'If you're a fan of historical mysteries, then Murder Most Festive should be at the top of your to-read list' Cultured VulturesWonderfully atmospheric, with charming wit and brilliant plotting, Murder Most Festive is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, M.C. Beaton and James Runcie's Grantchester series.

Read more less

Book Synopsis London. A snowy December, 1888. Sherlock Holmes, 34, is languishing and back on cocaine after a disastrous Ripper investigation. Watson can neither comfort nor rouse his friend – until a strangely encoded letter arrives from Paris. Trade ReviewA Publishers Weekly Staff Pick “A pacy and twisting story – made me forget I wasn’t reading a Sir Arthur original.”—The Sun "In a world with more than its share of Sherlock Holmes pastiches, it is rare for one to soar above the rest, but Bonnie MacBird's Art in the Blood achieves this singular feat and deserves a tip of the deerstalker." –-Otto Penzler, editor, “The Big Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories" “Dark, stylish, ingeniously plotted. Gripping, enthralling read. Holmes & Watson live!” –-Hugh Fraser “A thoroughly entertaining Sherlock Holmes adventure worthy of Doyle himself. … vivid period detail, a superb, labyrinthine plot, snappy pacing and, most importantly, a deep respect for the classic characters.” –-Bryan Cogman, Producer/Writer, HBO's Game of Thrones "Bonnie MacBird's ART IN THE BLOOD has the three key ingredients for a delicious pastiche: Meticulous research, plausibility, and grand fun!" –-Leslie S. Klinger, editor, “The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes”

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling seriesThe third book in S. J. Parris's bestselling, critically acclaimed series following Giordano Bruno, set at the time of Queen Elizabeth ILondon, 1584. Giordano Bruno travels to Canterbury for love. But finds only murder Giordano Bruno is being followed by the woman he once loved Sophia Underhill, accused of murder and on the run. With the leave of the Queen's spymaster, he sets out to clear Sophia's name. But when more brutal killings occur a far deadlier plot emerges.A city rife with treachery. A relic steeped in blood.His hunt for the real killer leads to the shadows of the Cathedral England's holiest shrine and the heart of a sinister and powerful conspiracy Heretic, maverick, charmer: Giordano Bruno is always on his guard. Never more so than when working for Queen Elizabeth and her spymaster for this man of letters is now an agent of intrigue and danger Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Hilary MantelPraise for S. J. ParrisA delicious bTrade ReviewPraise for S. J. Parris: ‘Impossible to resist … Parris creates a convincing sense of the past, woven with so much intrigue that the head fairly spins’ Daily Telegraph ‘It has everything – intrigue, mystery and excellent history’ Kate Mosse ‘Parris writes with confident ease of Tudor London … The dialogue balances nicely on a tightrope of period phrases and cut-to-the-chase colloquialisms. More, please’ The Times ‘Full of surprises … an imaginatively satisfying addition to the many real intrigues surrounding the imprisoned Mary Stuart and the threats to Elizabeth’s security’ TLS ‘Fascinating … The period is incredibly vivid and the story utterly gripping’ Conn Iggulden ‘A brilliantly unusual glimpse at the intrigues surrounding Queen Elizabth I’ Andrew Taylor, bestselling author of The American Boy

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn The Chase Clive Cussler introduces a historical hero- Isaac Bell. 1950: the rusting hulk of a steam locomotive is raised from the depths of a Montana lake. Inside are three bodies, bloody clue to a fortune lost for over forty years . . . 1906: For two years banks across the western United States have been living in terror of the ''Butcher Bandit''. This cold-blooded bank robber empties safes and murders all witnesses, vanishing without trace. In desperation, the US Government calls in Isaac Bell, the best detective in the country. From Arizona to Colorado to the streets of San Francisco during the great quake, Bell uses all his guile and ingenuity to catch up with the murderous Bandit. But when Bell has him almost cornered - the Bandit turns really nasty. And suddenly the stakes have changed. Bell isn''t just battling to get his man. He''s fighting for his very survival . . .Bestseller Clive Cussler - author of the Dirk Pitt novels

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis''There was a rumour, too, that he was a devil-worshipper, or something of that sort, and also that he had the evil eye...'' Arthur Conan Doyle was the greatest genre writer Britain has ever produced. Throughout a long writing career, he drew on his own medical background, his travels, and his increasing interest in spiritualism and the occult to produce a spectacular array of Gothic Tales. Many of Doyle''s writings are recognised as the very greatest tales of terror. They range from hauntings in the polar wasteland to evil surgeons and malevolent jungle landscapes. This collection brings together over thirty of Conan Doyle''s best Gothic Tales. Darryl Jones''s introduction discusses the contradictions in Conan Doyle''s very public life - as a medical doctor who became obsessed with the spirit world, or a British imperialist drawn to support Irish Home Rule - and shows the ways in which these found articulation in that most anxious of all literary forms, the Gothic.Trade ReviewAs always in the Oxford Worlds Classic's editions, there is an informative introduction and extensive notes... An interesting and informative essay, happily written without any lit-crit jargon, making it both accessible and enjoyable for the general reader... I loved this collection. * Leah Galbraith, FictionFan Blog *Superb introduction. * Christopher Metress, English Literature in Translation *[An] informative introduction a book that fans of Conan Doyle's other work will likely find enjoyable: Sherlock Holmes it may not be, but the strongest of the tales included in the volume show how versatile Conan Doyle's talents were in the realm of popular fiction. * Oliver Tearle, Interesting Literature *Shows there was more to Conan Doyle than Moriarty, Dr Watson and The Hound of the Baskervilles. * Keith Richmond, ASLEF Journal *These Gothic Tales show Conan Doyle is the true master of the macabre and the gruesome. * Steve Craggs, Northern Echo *5*: Collected in a scholarly edition for the first time, these are 33 of Conan Doyle's finest Gothic short stories... Even if you have already read the tales in other volumes, it is worth buying this book for Jones's introduction alone: it explores the tensions and contrasts that defined the author's life, and how he articulated these themes in his work, offering the latest in literary criticism and historical research. * The Lady *This collection demonstrates still that Conan Doyle is still a master writer and... throws an interesting light on the career that wasnt Sherlock Holmes. * Nick Blackshaw, Starburst Magazine *Review from previous edition [A] beautifully designed edition * Times Literary Supplement *Table of ContentsIntroduction Note on the Text Select Bibliography Chronology The American's Tale The Captain of the 'PoleStar' The Winning Shot J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement John Barrington Cowles Uncle Jeremy's Household The Ring of Thoth The Surgeon of Gaster Fell A Pastoral Horror 'De Profundis' Lot No. 249 The Los Amigos Fiasco The Case of Lady Sannox The Lord of Château Noir The Third Generation The Striped Chest The Fiend of the Cooperage The Beetle-Hunter The Sealed Room The Brazilian Cat The New Catacomb The Retirement of Signor Lambert The Brown Hand Playing with Fire The Leather Funnel The Pot of Caviare The Silver Mirror The Terror of Blue John Gap Through the Veil How it Happened The Horror of the Heights The Bully of Brocas Court The Nightmare Room The Lift Explanatory Notes

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the Collins Crime Club archive, the first Inspector French novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, once dubbed The King of Detective Story Writers'.THE FIRST INSPECTOR FRENCH MYSTERYAt the offices of the Hatton Garden diamond merchant Duke and Peabody, the body of old Mr Gething is discovered beside a now-empty safe. With multiple suspects, the robbery and murder is clearly the work of a master criminal, and requires a master detective to solve it. Meticulous as ever, Inspector Joseph French of Scotland Yard embarks on an investigation that takes him from the streets of London to Holland, France and Spain, and finally to a ship bound for South America . . .Trade Review‘Because he is so austerely realistic, Freeman Wills Croft is deservedly a first favourite with all who want a real puzzle.’ TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT “If there is a better writer of detective stories alive, I would like to know his name.”GLASGOW CITIZEN

Read more less

Book SynopsisDecember 1860. Headed for the morning shift at the Swindon Locomotive works is an army of men pouring out of terraced houses built by the GWR, a miniature town and planned community that aims to provide for its employees from cradle to grave. Unfortunately, boiler smith Frank Rodman is headed for the grave sooner than he''d expected, or he will be once his missing head is found. Colbeck, the Railway Detective, finds his investigation into Rodman''s murder mired in contradictions. Was the victim a short-tempered brawler, or a committed Christian and chorister who aimed to better himself? On the trail of Rodman''s enemy as the season starts to bite, Colbeck finds little festive cheer in the twists and turns of this peculiar case.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Want to read a great whodunnit? Anthony Horowitz has one for you: MAGPIE MURDERS. It''s as good as an Agatha Christie. Better, in some ways. Cleverer.'' Stephen King''The finest crime novel of the year'' Daily Mail***** Seven for a mystery that needs to be solved . . . Editor Susan Ryland has worked with bestselling crime writer Alan Conway for years. Readers love his detective, Atticus Pünd, a celebrated solver of crimes in the sleepy English villages of the 1950s.But Conway''s latest tale of murder at Pye Hall is not quite what it seems. Yes, there are dead bodies and a host of intriguing suspects, but hidden in the pages of the manuscript lies another story: a tale written between the very words on the page, telling of real-life jealousy, greed, ruthless ambition and murder.From the creator of Midsomer Murders comes a fiendish mystery perfect for fans of Agatha Christie''s MiTrade ReviewWant to read a great whodunnit? Anthony Horowitz has one for you: MAGPIE MURDERS. It's as good as an Agatha Christie. Better, in some ways. Cleverer. * Stephen King *An ingenious novel-within-a-novel whodunit about the death of a crime writer . . . Part crime novel, part pastiche, this magnificent piece of crime fiction plays with the genre while also taking it seriously * Sunday Times *A cunning re-invention of the thriller formula -- Thriller of the Week * Mail on Sunday *Superbly written, with great suspects, a perfect period feel and a cracking reveal at the end * Spectator *A stylish, multi-layered thriller - playful, ingenious and wonderfully entertaining * Sunday Mirror *Brilliant. Really, really brilliant. I loved it. * Sophie Hannah, author of The Monogram Murders *Putting two books in one with their plots running side by side makes Magpie Murders difficult to put down and Horowitz fans will thoroughly enjoy a cracking good read * Daily Express *Although at first glance Horowitz's latest offering appears to be a classic whodunit novel, it will almost certainly prove to be unlike anything you've ever read before, and will have you mulling over its various intrigues in between sittings. * Scotsman *Anthony Horowitz's new novel is at once a brilliant pastiche of the English village mystery and a hugely enjoyable tale of avarice and skulduggery in the world of publishing . . . a compendium of dark delights * Irish Times *We loved this Agatha Christie-esque crime novel. A fiendish mystery within a mystery that will have you hooked from page one * Good Housekeeping *A highly enjoyable twist on the classic whodunnit * Metro *Horowitz is a superb pasticheur. * Guardian *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA maritime mystery from Edward Marston, author of the bestselling Railway Detective series.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the bestselling author of Fatherland and Munich comes a WWII thriller about a German rocket engineer, a former actress turned British spy, and the Nazi rocket program.The first rocket will take five minutes to hit London. You have six minutes to stop the second.Rudi Graf is an engineer who always dreamed of sending rockets to the moon. But instead, he finds himself working alongside Wernher von Braun, launching V2 rockets at London for the Nazis from a bleak seaside town in occupied Holland. As the SS increases its scrutiny on the project, Graf, an engineer more than a soldier, has to muster all of his willpower to toe the party line. And when rumors of a defector circulate through the German ranks, Graf becomes a prime suspect.  Meanwhile, Kay Caton-Walsh, a young English intelligence officer, is living through the turmoil of war. After she and her lover, an RAF officer, are caught i

Read more less

Book SynopsisEdward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Lindsey Davis has seen off all her competitors to become the unassailable market leader in the ''crime in Ancient Rome'' genre . . . Davis''s squalid, vibrant Rome is as pleasurable as ever'' - Guardian''For fans of crime fiction set in the ancient world, this one is not to be missed'' - BooklistPrivate investigator Flavia Albia is always drawn to an intriguing puzzle - even if it is put to her by her new husband''s hostile ex-wife.On the Quirinal Hill, a young girl named Clodia has died, apparently poisoned with a love potion. Only one person could have supplied such a thing: a local witch who goes by the name of Pandora, whose trade in herbal beauty products is hiding something far more sinister.The supposedly sweet air of the Quirinal is masking the stench of loose morality, casual betrayal and even gangland conflict and, when a friend of her own is murdered, Albia deterTrade ReviewLindsey Davis has seen off all her competitors, notably US author Steven Saylor, to become the unassailable market leader in the 'crime in Ancient Rome' genre. Her books featuring the Roman sleuth Falco marry persuasive historical elements and compelling storytelling. In PANDORA'S BOY, the spotlight falls on Falco's strong-minded daughter Flavia. Davis's squalid, vibrant Rome is as pleasurable as ever. * Guardian *For fans of crime fiction set in the ancient world, this one is not to be missed * Booklist *The quite brilliant Lindsey Davis never fails with her witty mysteries set in first century Rome. From the dreadful 'Chelsea set' of rich young things, busy drinking their parents' money, to rip-off restaurants offering the gullible 'fresh oysters' from Britain; the artful street vendor selling lettuce as an aphrodisiac backed by the legend of a phallic Egyptian god; to pompous lawyers, backstreet bars and posh villas, first century Rome is there in its glorious and sinister reality. I guarantee if you are new to her work, by the time you've reached the final surprising denouement, you'll want to read more of it. * Crime Review *Praise for Lindsey Davis and the Flavia Albia series * - *Davis's prose is a lively joy, and Flavia's Rome is sinister and gloriously real. * The Times on Saturday *Davis's books crackle with wit and knowledge. She has the happy knack of making the reader feel entirely immersed in Rome. * The Times *This excellent Roman mystery, enriched by Davis's characteristic wit and thorough understanding of the period, takes a darker turn as Flavia delves into Rome's poorest streets, rife with prostitution, exploitation, thuggery and murder. * Sunday Express, S Magazine *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSecond historical thriller in the Alexander Seaton series sweeps the hero back to his roots in Ulster, and a family living under a curse and riven with long-held secretsAberdeen, 1628.Alexander Seaton's happily settled life as a university teacher is shattered by the arrival in town of a stranger who looks like his twin and who carries a plea for help from Alexander's dead mother's family in Ireland. The family has been placed under a poet's curse, threatening death to various members. Elements of the curse have already begun to play out. Reluctantly answering the call, Seaton travels to Ulster, to find himself among a family torn apart by secrets and deep resentments. As he seeks out the author of the curse, he becomes deeply entangled in a conflict that involves fugitive priests, displaced poets, rebellious plotters and agents of the king. Confronted by murder within his family, he finds the lines between superstition and faith, duty and loyalty are becoming increasingly blurred, while his Scottish homeland grows ever more remote.Trade Review'A fine, rich, beautiful historical thriller - literate, engaging and moving' Manda Scott. * Manda Scott *'MacLean has the first-rate historical novelist's gift... communicates her passion for the period without downplaying its brutishness' Daily Telegraph. * Daily Telegraph *'Combines the ironclad plotting of Sansom with the artful recreation of Mantel' Independent. * Independent *'A substantial story, well researched, never slackening pace' Scotsman. * Scotsman *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe year is 1869. A brutal triple murder in a remote community in the Scottish Highlands leads to the arrest of a young man by the name of Roderick Macrae. A memoir written by the accused makes it clear that he is guilty, but it falls to the country’s finest legal and psychiatric minds to uncover what drove him to commit such merciless acts of violence. Was he mad? Only the persuasive powers of his advocate stand between Macrae and the gallows. Graeme Macrae Burnet tells an irresistible and original story about the provisional nature of truth, even when the facts seem clear. His Bloody Project is a mesmerising literary thriller set in an unforgiving landscape where the exercise of power is arbitrary.Trade Review“Spellbinding … Riveting, dark and ingeniously constructed.” -- Edmund Gordon * Sunday Times. *“The book’s pretence at veracity, as well as being a literary jeux d’esprit, brings an extraordinary historical period into focus, while the multiple unreliable perspectives are designed to keep the audience wondering, throughout the novel and beyond. This is a fiendishly readable tale that richly deserves the wider attention the Booker has brought it.” -- Justine Jordan * The Guardian *“An astonishing piece of writing… a voice that sounds startlingly authentic.” -- Jake Kerridge * The Telegraph *“Gripping, blackly playful and intelligent, it deserves a space on the shortlist. It’s one of the few that may set the heather — and imagination — ablaze.” -- Robbie Millen * The Times. *“Graeme Macrae Burnet’s His Bloody Project is a gripping crime story, a deeply imagined historical novel, and gloriously written – all in one tour-de-force of a book. Stevensonian – that’s the highest praise I can give.” -- Chris Dolan, Book of the Year. * The Herald *“The Man Booker judges got it right: this really is one of the most convincing and engrossing novels of the year.” -- David Robinson * The Scotsman. *“A real box of tricks... a truly ingenious thriller as confusingly multilayered as an Escher staircase.” -- Jake Kerridge * Express *."A historical revenge tragedy and courtroom drama... [are] at the heart of this masterful psychological thriller." -- Ian Stephen"Masterful, clever and playful. It is every inch the riveting second novel I had hoped for." -- Louise Hutcheson * A Novel Bookblog. *

Read more less

Book Synopsis**WINNER OF THE CWA ENDEAVOUR HISTORICAL DAGGER **'An exceptional historical crime novel' C.J. Sansom India, 1919. Desperate for a fresh start, Captain Sam Wyndham arrives to take up an important post in Calcutta's police force. He is soon called to the scene of a horrifying murder. The victim was a senior official, and a note left in his mouth warns the British to leave India - or else. With the stability of the Empire under threat, Wyndham and Sergeant 'Surrender-not' Banerjee must solve the case quickly. But there are some who will do anything to stop them...**A THE TIMES/SUNDAY TIMES CRIME CLUB TOP 40 BOOK OF LAST FIVE YEARS**Praise for the Wyndham and Banerjee series : 'A thought-provoking rollercoaster' Ian Rankin 'Does for the Raj what Philip Kerr did for the Reich' The Times/Sunday Times Crime Club 'Highly entertaining' Daily Telegraph If you enjoyed A Rising Man, further books in the Wyndham and Banerjee series are available now: A Necessary Evil Smoke and Ashes Death in the East The Shadows of MenTrade ReviewA joy to read -- Susan HillA journey into the dark underbelly of the British Raj... a cracking debut -- Jon Coates * Daily Express *Splendid...Captain Sam Wyndham is a winning creation * The Times, Crime Book of the Month *[A] terrific first novel...Mukherjee’s descriptions of Calcutta under the Raj are vivid, while Wyndham’s position as a newcomer with fresh eyes works brilliantly * Sunday Times, Crime Book of the Month *Enthralling... The investigation sends Wyndham and his Bengali assistant on a whirlwind circuit of the city -- Marilyn Stasio * New York Times Book Review *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe past can''t be locked away forever_________________________________________________________________?*Perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Eve Chase & Lucinda Riley*Sweeping from the French Riviera to the wind-blown Cornish cliffs, lose yourself in this spellbinding novel about one golden family and a devastating secret that binds them, foreverYear after idyllic year, the Challant family retreat to their summer house on the glittering French Riviera.Until one stormy night in 1928 when a local boy suffers a fatal accident in the grounds. Overnight, it becomes a place of ghosts.As time unspools, those dark memories loosen their grip on the four Challant children. And yet the local whispers about that night never quieten, calling them back to the house on the Riviera.A family secret lies waiting in the past.But dare they unlock the truth?_______________________________________________READERS LOVE ESCAPING WITH TILLY BAGSHAWE''S EPIC, SWEEPING NOVELS:''A great novel to get totally immersed

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe new historical crime thriller, a Sunday Times bestseller, perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Hilary MantelPrague, 1588.A COURT IN TURMOILThe court of the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II, is a haven for scientists, astrologers and alchemists. The dream to discover the philosopher's stone and attain immortality. But now there are rumours of heresy.A MURDERED ALCHEMISTGiordano Bruno is sent to Prague as a spy for Elizabeth I. He arrives to find the palace in uproar an alchemist has been murdered.AN UNFORGIVING ENEMYOrdered by the emperor to uncover the killer, Bruno must negotiate the jostling factions at court, as well as the religious tensions brewing in the city. And his hunt to track down a murderer soon proves as elusive as the elixir of life itselfPraise for AlchemyThe clever twists and turns of Alchemy are assuredly plotted and Prague, a city in religious and political turmoil, makes for a powerful setting' The TimesOver the past dozen years, S. J. Parris's novels have been a

Read more less

Book SynopsisOver 1 Million Andrew Taylor Novels Sold!A Times Historical Crime Novel of the yearAn absolute delight in a series that goes from strength to strength' S. G. McLean, prize-winning author of the Seeker series?This is Taylor at his unassailable best' Financial TimesLondon 1671The damage caused by the Great Fire still overshadows the capital.The disfigured body of a man is unearthed in the ruins of the old almshouse, forcing architect Cat Hakesby to stop restoration work. It is clear he has been murdered, and Whitehall secretary James Marwood is ordered to investigate.When the man's identity is revealed, it's clear that there are larger forces at play, and Marwood comes under serious pressure to solve the case. But an old adversary is attempting to stop him.As Cat and Marwood follow the threads of corruption into the heart of government, the king himself is being distracted from affairs of state. A young, impoverished Frenchwoman has caught his eye a quiet affair that will have monumentaTrade Review'Another brilliantly realised historical mystery' A Waterstones Best Books of 2023: Crime and Thriller ‘Andrew Taylor has brought the sights, smells and sounds of the Great Fire and its aftermath brilliantly to life’ Daily Express ‘With a mixture of real and fictional characters, this tale of intrigue and power imbalance is well up to standard in a series that has set a benchmark for historical mystery fiction.’ Guardian ‘With their complex characters, clever plots, political intrigue and vivid depictions of London just after the Great Fire of 1666, Andrew Taylor’s books about troubled civil servant James Marwood and prickly architect Cat Lovett are historical crime fiction at its finest.’ Irish Times’ 25 Great Holiday Books ‘Some of the most enjoyable historical thrillers of recent years have been Andrew Taylor’s novels set in Restoration England … Taylor weaves together all the varying threads of his plot with his customary skill, but fans of the series will be sorry to learn that this is the last hurrah for Cat and Marwood’ Sunday Times ‘Another sophisticated 17th-century mystery abounding in page-turning twists and period detail’ Waterstones ‘Taylor’s storytelling brio is on full display.’ The Sunday Times Historical Fiction Book of the Month ‘Sheer brilliance … Truly, this is breathtaking. The combination of emotional literacy, with beautiful language and an utterly immersive sense of time and place is perfect.’ Manda Scott ‘Andrew Taylor offers us a completely convincing portrait of life in the city and at court in Restoration London … An absolute delight in a series that goes from strength to strength’ S. G. McLean, prize-winning author of the Seeker series ‘This is Taylor at his unassailable best.’ Financial Times

Read more less