Historical crime and mysteries

Book Synopsis''Flynt is as bold and ruthless a killer-agent as James Bond, and even more resourceful'' ScotsmanA city on the brink of civil war. A madman pulling the strings.A family is found butchered in a dismal room in the Rookery, London's poorest district. Not even their small children are left alive.Most of the authorities pay scant attention, except for Thieftaker General Jonathan Wild. Intrigued by this development, Colonel Nathaniel Charters tasks his most trusted operative, Jonas Flynt, with discovering why.When another family is murdered just as brutally, Flynt uncovers evidence of a simmering conflict between rival gangs, with Wild seemingly desperate to keep a lid on the slaughter.The question for Flynt is how deep is his new friend The Admiral, a gang leader, involved, and is he capable of killing innocents? Or is there someone else in London, more dangerous and more deranged, with blood on their hands?A scintillating serial killer thriller set amidst the dirt and grime of Georgian London, the next thrilling instalment in the McIlvanney longlisted Company of Rogues series.Praise for A Thief''s Blood A Glasgow Times Book of 2024''Skelton has the storyteller''s essential gift: the ability to lead you on, ever eager to know what happens next'' Yorkshire Post''Skelton's eighteenth-century London is, as always, exquisitely rendered and thoroughly immersive .... In a solidly-plotted historical thriller with danger lurking around every corner and intrigue brewing from the lowest dungheap to the highest palace in the land, the realisation that these murders are inflaming existing rivalries to the point where an epic confrontation is almost unavoidable raises the stakes even further. There's no sign here that the dark and brooding Jonas Flynt's adventures are running out of steam yet'' Herald

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Book SynopsisSet amid the decadence of Victorian England, A Dangerous Fortune tells of the dramatic highs and lows of the wealthy Pilaster family in Victorian England, from the author of The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett.A Tragic Accident1866: at an exclusive school, a student drowns in a mysterious accident. His death and its aftermath will have repercussions for decades to come . . .A Fierce RivalryThere on that fateful day were Hugh Pilaster and his older cousin Edward, heirs of a powerful banking dynasty with connections that reach from London to far-afield colonies.A Lethal SecretThe cousins find themselves locked in a vicious competition for the top job at the bank. But the respectable veneer of the family, and even Victorian England itself, looks to shatter as the deadly event from their schooldays threatens everything the Pilasters have built.'A compulsively readable, enjoyable thriller-cum-saga' – Sunday Times'Banks, brothels, and a high body count . . . it's all there' – Financial TimesTrade ReviewBanks, brothels, and a high body count . . . it's all there * Financial Times *A compulsively readable, enjoyable thriller-cum-saga * Sunday Times *A full-blooded melodrama, complete with moustache-twirling villains, saintly heroes, wronged women, and a lot of plot * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisThe past comes back to haunt MI6 secret agent Cordelia Hemlock in this spy thriller from Sunday Times bestselling author David MarkTop-level espionage fiction - Booklist Starred Review Cordelia Hemlock is teetering on the verge of joining MI6 when she meets the enigmatic Walt, a high-ranking member of the Secret Intelligence Service, who tells her: They won''t want you to do well. They won''t ever trust you. They don''t trust me and I''m one of them. She takes this as a challenge rather than a warning. She wants to protect the nation. Serve Queen and country. Who would turn down such a glorious opportunity?Fourteen years later, Cordelia is desk-bound after finishing an undercover operation and going quietly mad with boredom. So when the call comes through on the top-secret Pandora line - so-called after the locked-box the telephone is kept in - she answers it.It''s Walt. No longer officially MI6, he sti

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Book SynopsisAmelia Peabody is Elizabeth Peters' most brilliant and best-loved creation, a thoroughly Victorian feminist who takes the stuffy world of archaeology by storm with her shocking men's pants and no-nonsense attitude!In this first adventure, our headstrong heroine decides to use her substantial inheritance to see the world. On her travels, she rescues a gentlewoman in distress - Evelyn Barton-Forbes - and the two become friends. The two companions continue to Egypt where they face mysteries, mummies and the redoubtable Radcliffe Emerson, an outspoken archaeologist, who doesn't need women to help him solve mysteries -- at least that's what he thinks!'Think Miss Marple with early feminist gloss crossed with Indiana Jones... Dastardly deeds, whirlwind romances, curious mummies and all the fun and intrigue of Egyptian excavations, with a heroine who wields a sturdy parasol rather than a magnum. Accomplished entertainment.' GuardianTrade ReviewI can't wait for the next Peabody story... I really do think [Elizabeth Peters'] books are great entertainment. -- Angela RipponA writer so popular that the public library has to keep her books under lock and key. * Washington Post Book World *Think Miss Marple with early feminist gloss crossed with Indiana Jones... accomplished entertainment. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisLaura Shepherd-Robinson worked in politics for nearly twenty years before re-entering normal life to complete an MA in Creative Writing. Her debut novel, Blood & Sugar, was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and won the Historical Writers' Association Debut Crown and the CrimeFest/Specsavers Crime Fiction Debut Award. Her second novel, Daughters of Night, was shortlisted for the Theakston's Crime Novel of the Year Award, the Goldsboro Glass Bell Award and the HWA Gold Crown. Her third novel, The Square of Sevens, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller on publication. The Art of a Lie is her fourth novel. She lives in London with her husband Adrian.

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Book SynopsisLondoner Jack Blackjack finds himself a stranger in a strange land when he''s accused of murder in rural Devon in this eventful Tudor mystery. July, 1556. En route to France and escape from Queen Mary''s men, Jack Blackjack decides to spend the night at a Devon tavern, agrees to a game of dice - and ends up accused of murder. To make matters worse, the dead man turns out to have been the leader of the all-powerful miners who rule the surrounding moors - and they have no intention of waiting for the official court verdict to determine Jack''s guilt. But who would frame Jack for murder . . . and why? Alone and friendless in a lawless land of cut-throats, outlaws and thieves, Jack realizes that the only way to clear his name - and save his skin - is to unmask the real killer. But knowing nothing of the local ways and customs, how is he to even begin? As Jack''s attempts to find answers stirs up a hornet''s nest of warring factions within the town, events soon start to spiral out of control . . .

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Book SynopsisSet in Victorian England, this gothic thriller follows a journalist and clergyman as they seek out the hellish cause of a suspicious spate of suicides.

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Book SynopsisA true Christmas cracker!' Andrew TaylorWhat fun!' Lynne TrussChristmas Eve, 1943. Anthony and Elva Pratt arrive in a snowy English village to run a murder mystery game and instead discover a real murder.An ingenious plot' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐A great read for Christmas . . . nostalgic and thoroughly entertaining.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Unexpectedly emotive, engaging and sweet.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Pratts had planned for festive cheer, despite the wartime shortages: with Elva's map of the hotel and Anthony's prop weapons to use as clues, the guests in their parlour game would move through the rooms to figure out whodunnit. But when Anthony discovers the cook's sister Miss Silver beaten to death, they instead find themselves investigating a shockingly real crime. The hotel manager Mr Browning is trying to keep the peace but the guests are agitated, Colonel Colman is about to take over the hotel for the war effort and the mysterious Mrs Threadgold hasn't been seen at all. In games, there's only one victim but this is real life. Can the Pratts puzzle out this Christmas mystery before it's too late? Praise for Nicola Upson: Always a delight.' Sunday TimesUpson [. . .] gives new life to a classic murder setting.' SpectatorWonderful writing.' Ian MooreA talented author of historical crime.' Scotsman

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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 *

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Book SynopsisStuart Turton''s epic instant Sunday Times bestseller The Last Murder at the End of the World is OUT NOW Solve the murder to save what''s left of the world... The global million-copy bestseller: introducing The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle ---------------------Can you solve the mystery of Evelyn Hardcastle?WINNER OF THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD WINNER OF THE BOOKS ARE MY BAG NOVEL AWARD A WATERSTONES THRILLER OF THE MONTHSHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS DEBUT OF THE YEARLONGLISTED FOR THE THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEARGosford Park meets Groundhog Day by way of Agatha Christie and Black Mirror the most inventive story you'll read Tonight, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed... Again It is meant to be a celebration but it ends in tragedy. As fireworks explode overhead, EvelynTrade ReviewComplex, fascinating and bewildering.... An astonishingly polished debut -- Marcel Berlins * The Times *This book blew my mind. It is utterly original and unique. I couldn't get it out of my head for days afterwards * Sophie Hannah *Mind-boggling...what a pleasure it is to give oneself up to the book, to be met with discoveries and thrilling upsets at every turn in the labyrinth... it’s the story that triumphs, with a series of last-minute revelations as dazzling as the finale of a fireworks show * Guardian *The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a mind-bending mash-up of Agatha Christie, Quantum Leap and Groundhog Day. If it isn’t made into a film in the very near future, I’ll eat my deerstalker -- Jake Kerridge * Sunday Express *Dazzling … Bracingly original, fiendishly clever … Quite unlike anything I’ve ever read, and altogether triumphant. I wish I’d written it * A. J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window *Prepare to have your brain fried and your mind blown... an exhilarating, unsettling and invigoratingly original read -- Charlotte Heathcote * Daily Express *I hereby declare Stuart Turton the Mad Hatter of crime. Seven Deaths is unique, energising and clever. So original, a brilliant read … I tore through it * Ali Land, author of Sunday Times bestseller Good Me, Bad Me *Stuart Turton’s remarkable debut is something the reader will not have encountered before * Financial Times *Darkly comic, mind-blowingly twisty, and with a cast of fantastically odd characters, this is a locked room mystery like no other * Sarah Pinborough *An original and high concept murder mystery, this is welcome rescue in a sea of psychological thrillers * Stylist, ‘The 20 Must-Read Books of 2018’ *One of the most inventive, gripping and electrifying thrillers to be published this year ... This is a novel with the power to revolutionise the thinking of anyone who claims not to enjoy reading. The perfect winter thriller * Attitude *It deserves to be a stonkingly popular hit ...Outstandingly enjoyable and addictive * Sunday Express *Agatha Christie meets Groundhog Day in the tightly plotted The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle * Good Housekeeping *Audaciously inventive, gripping and original * Louise O’Neill, author of Only Ever Yours and Asking For It *A high-concept genre mash-up with soul … Turton has astonishing ambition and narrative skill to match -- Books of the Year * Daily Telegraph *Murder mystery goes into overdrive in this mind-blowingly original debut … It’s whodunnit heaven * Saga *A huge, crumbling mansion, a masquerade ball, exploding fireworks, a devastating murder, and Stuart Turton has set the scene for this intricate mystery … Ingenious * Psychologies *A beautifully written, mind-bending whirligig of a book * Adam Hamdy *Dazzling in its complexity, astonishing in its fiendishness and shocking in its sheer audacity. Every page, every character, and every deliciously dark secret is an absolute treat * Anna Stephens, author of the Godblind trilogy *Agatha Christie on time-bending substances … Mind blowing * Eva Dolan *Gloriously inventive, playful and clever, this is a must for mystery fans. I wish I'd written it myself * Robin Stevens, author of the Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries *I’m green with envy; I wish I’d written this book * Jenny Blackhurst, author of How I Lost You *Absolute envy-making bloody murderous brilliance * Natasha Pulley, author of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street *An incredibly enjoyable read. Reads like a classic golden age mystery, yet utterly original. Very, very good. -- Ragnar JonassonWow. Quite brilliant - inventive, fascinating and compulsive * Tom Lloyd, author of the Twilight Reign series *An ingenious dark twist on Groundhog Day … Stuart Turton’s ingenious, twist-filled debut is a crime novel with a difference * Radio Times *The book is outstandingly enjoyable and addictive and, by the end, you may realise that you’ve been so preoccupied with Turton pulling your brain in all directions that you haven’t noticed he’s got your heart in an iron grip as well -- Jake Kerridge * Sunday Express *Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! It’s a work of sheer genius. An amazing, unique book that blew my mind * Sarah J Harris *An Agatha Christie yarn tumbling Through The Looking Glass … This utterly original thriller is brilliantly plotted and a real page-turner, with mind-bending twists and turns * Herald *A brilliantly imaginative reworking of the classic country-house murder-mystery * Countryman *

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Book SynopsisLOSE YOURSELF IN THE SPELLBINDING NOVEL FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF RICHARD & JUDY PICK THE GLASS HOUSE''Beautifully written. I loved every word'' LISA JEWELL''Gorgeously written, atmospheric and twisty . . . I devoured it!'' CLAIRE DOUGLAS''Daphne du Maurier for the modern day'' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH''Immersive, tense and ultimately redemptive'' SARAH VAUGHAN''Engrossing, gripping and layered'' GILLIAN MCALLISTER__________When half-sisters Lauren, Flora, and Kat are unexpectedly summoned to the Cornish house where they spent their childhood summers, it''s the first time they''ve dared return.Because the wild cliffs and windswept beaches hide a twenty-year-old secret.The truth about what they did.Someone who remembers them lurks in the shadows, watching their every move.And there are other secrets, even darker than their own, waiting to be Trade ReviewEve Chase does it again! The Birdcage is glorious; a bittersweet, beautifully written, slow burn family drama with a killer kick in the closing chapters. I loved every word of it -- Lisa Jewell, bestselling author of The Night She DisappearedEve Chase is one of my favourite authors and I fell in love with The Birdcage. A gorgeously written, atmospheric and twisty story of sisters and secrets set on the Cornish coast. Eve Chase's books never fail to make me cry. I devoured it! -- Claire Douglas, bestselling author of The Couple at No. 9Eve Chase never disappoints. The far west of Cornwall is evoked in all its wild and mystical glory in this lyrical and propulsive family drama about three sisters whose lives have been overshadowed by a tragic secret on the eve of the 1999 eclipse. Chase conjures up a bohemian, artistic world filled with damaged daughters and their charismatic, largely absent and narcissistic father. Immersive, tense and ultimately redemptive, while I was reading, it held me completely in its grip. -- Sarah Vaughan, bestselling author of Anatomy of a ScandalAtmospheric and twisty: think Daphne Du Maurier for the modern day * Sunday Telegraph *I loved it . . . engrossing, gripping and layered -- Gillian McAllister, bestselling author of That NightAtmospheric and beautifully written. I absolutely loved it. -- Jane Fallon, bestselling author of Worst Idea EverBeautiful, page-turning, with believable characters you root for, this will sweep you away. I loved it -- Katie Fforde, bestselling author of Wedding SeasonI loved this atmospheric story about families and secrets * Prima *The Birdcage is a show-stopping novel - beautifully written and atmospheric, with a cast of fascinating, brilliantly realised characters whose story kept me absolutely gripped. Eve Chase has an extraordinary talent - she's one of the only writers I would drop anything for -- Rosie Walsh, bestselling author of The Man Who Didn't CallA beautifully written-mystery in an evocative Cornish setting at the time of the eclipse. Stunning -- Catherine Cooper, bestselling author of The ChaletVividly descriptive * Choice *The complex relationships between three half-sisters, their mothers and their artist father are painted with compelling psychological depth in this extraordinary and gripping masterpiece. The treacherous Cornish coast is the setting for a cleverly narrated unravelling of the past and the myriad ways in which it has shaped the present. It's like an Old Master portrait that gives away more secrets with each viewing. Eve Chase's best novel yet - and the bar was already sky-high -- Gill Paul, bestselling author of Women and Children FirstAtmospheric, suspenseful . . . A captivating, beguiling read * Sunday Express *A page-turning story brilliantly told in a lush narrative bursting with vivid, wonderful images. Haunting, emotional & just lovely. Loved it. -- Tracy Rees, bestselling author of The Rose GardenWildly glamorous and utterly intoxicating, The Birdcage is Eve Chase at her very best: taut, intriguing and evocative. Du Maurier with a modern twist -- Veronica Henry, bestselling author of How to Find Love in a Book ShopEve Chase is a stunning and meticulous writer and The Birdcage - like all her novels - is as spellbinding in its prose, as it is in its plot and the expertly crafted mystery at its heart. A very special novel -- Katy Regan, author of Little Big ManI read it in one sitting and absolutely sobbed at the end. Eve is such an evocative writer - she paints with words - but she has also crafted such a cleverly layered story that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! I was mentally and emotionally wrung out by the end. It's a triumph! -- Karen Swan, bestselling author of The Christmas SecretSkillfully plotted and richly atmospheric, The Birdcage weaves together the stories of three sisters forced to confront an explosive past. Dark family secrets, old rivalries, and new dangers collide in this clever and engaging page-turner -- Lindsay Cameron, author of Just One LookAn evocative, beautifully written mystery in which the past whispers in corners and family secrets are washed back in on the tide. I loved it -- Tammy Cohen, author of The Wedding PartyThe Birdcage is an intriguing study of sisters and sibling rivalry, of memory and forgetting, of daughters who are more mature than their father. Eve Chase took me to an isolated manor in windswept Cornwall, where I turned the pages faster and faster to see if the three sisters could put the past - and past grievances - behind them. The perfect weekend read! -- Janet Skeslien Charles, author of The Paris LibraryI always look forward to a new Eve Chase novel and The Birdcage didn't disappoint. Time and place are evoked with subtle perfection. Complex sibling rivalries and secrets, the past rubbing up against the present, make this a must-read Chase classic. I couldn't recommend it more highly -- E.C Fremantle, author of The Poison BedI loved this atmospheric story about families and secrets * Prima *Praise for Eve Chase * - *An enthralling story of secrets, sisters and an unsolved mysteryEvocative and filled with intrigueEve Chase is a supremo of this genre ... an intricately woven novel of suspense and secrets * Red *One of the most enthralling novelists of the moment. This is the most beautiful book you will read this yearSublime writing, secrets, lovable characters I didn't want to leave, and a ripping plot twist that kept me guessing. An absolute jewel of a bookAn enticing, chilling plot, captivating characters and prose beautiful enough to totally lose yourself in * Heat *Eve Chase is a name to watch * Daily Mail *I adored this beautifully written, riveting mystery. Chase is peerless in her ability to stitch together dark secrets and tantalising twists with unforgettable characters and enthralling imagery. I am a die-hard fan! -- Rosie Walsh, bestselling author of The Man Who Didn't CallExquisite and evocative - and the pace and suspense are handled expertlyAddictive and delivers atmosphere in spades * Good Housekeeping *A mystery of nail-biting suspense * Woman & Home *Absorbed me completely. FabulousAn engrossing story of fractured families, secrets, lies and misunderstandings * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the book everyone is talking about - this fun and festive mystery is perfect for fans of Murder on the Christmas Express, Murder Under the Mistletoe and Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot's Christmas.''The feel-good factor is off the scale'' The TimesYour new festive fave' My WeeklyA crime Christmas stocking must!' Yorkshire LifeA village of secrets.Yorkshire, 1952. Christmas is fast approaching when a dead stranger is found lodged up the chimney of Holly House in the snow-covered village of Elderby. Is he a simple thief, or a would-be killer?A mystery that can't be solved.Inspector Frank Grasby is ordered to investigate. But as is often the way for him, things don't go according to plan.A Christmas to remember.When the local doctor's husband is murdered, Grasby begins to realize that everyone in Elderby is hiding something.And if he can't uncover the truth soon, the whole country will pay a dreadful price...Praise for Murder at Holly House''A quintessential slice of Yuletide murder mystery'' Sun''A fun book. Playful. One to make you smile'' Stuart MacBride, Sunday Times bestselling crime thriller author of The Dead of WinterIntricately plotted and laced with deliciously dark humour' The Sunday PostA complete joy of a historical Christmas crime novel' Miranda Dickinson, Sunday Times bestselling author of Fairytale of New YorkA hugely entertaining story with an authentic period feel' The Herald''Vintage crime from a true master of the genre!'' 5* Reader Review''Wonderful, imaginative and difficult to put down...a real festive treat!'' 5* Reader Review''An intriguing mystery peppered with some delightful touches of humour.'' 5* Reader Review''The plot was immersive and the pacing was superb. There are twists and turns, secrets and lies. All you really need for a romp in the snow!'' 5* Reader Review''Who doesn't love a Christmas murder mystery?'' 5* Reader ReviewWaterstones Thriller of the Month, November 2024Denzil Meyrick, Audible bestseller, November 2024

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Book SynopsisJeffrey Archer, whose novels and short stories include the Clifton Chronicles, the William Warwick series, Kane and Abel and Cat O' Nine Tales, is one of the world's favourite storytellers and has topped the bestseller lists around the world in a career spanning four decades. His work has been sold in ninety-seven countries and in more than thirty-seven languages. He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction, short stories and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).Jeffrey is also an art collector and amateur auctioneer, and has raised more than 50m for different charities over the years. A member of the House of Lords for over a quarter of a century, the author is married to Dame Mary Archer; they have two sons, two granddaughters and two grandsons.

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Book SynopsisThe murder of a loyal king''s man threatens the self-crowned King Henry''s new regime in this second gripping medieval mystery featuring friar, sleuth and reluctant spy Brother Chandler.January, 1400. The bowman strikes at night, slaying one of King Henry''s loyal garrison men before melting back into the darkness. Was the murder the result of a personal quarrel? Or is it, as Henry''s stepbrother, Swynford, fears, the start of an uprising against England''s self-crowned king? Swynford orders Brother Chandler to investigate, before the spark of rebellion can set the whole country alight. Friar, reluctant sleuth, and even more reluctant spy, Brother Chandler is a man with dark secrets and divided loyalties. To the murdered King Richard. To his paymaster, the usurper King Henry. And to beautiful, naïve Mattie, a maid in the household of heretical poet Geoffrey Chaucer, who holds dangerous secrets of her own.Trusted by no one, Chandler must walk a tightrope of secrets and lies if he is to uncover the truth about the murder, while ensuring he - and the few people he cares about - stay alive.Combining rich historical detail with deep characterisations and enthralling mystery, this medieval puzzler is a perfect choice for fans of sleuthing monks and nuns like Ellis Peters'' Brother Cadfael and Peter Tremayne''s Sister Fidelma.

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Book SynopsisThe Great Darkness and The Mathematical Bridge were extremely well received. Spring 1941. It is the third year of war, and when the siren sounds the people of Cambridge trudge to the city''s public bomb shelters. Crowded, smoky, often raucous, the shelters have become a way of life for the poor. At dawn, the body of a young man is found in a shadowy corner of the Trinity Shelter, one of three on the city''s great open space - Parker''s Piece. Detective Inspector Eden Brooke searches the body and finds no wallet or papers, save for a cinema ticket dated six months earlier. PC Vanessa Hill - a recruit to The Borough police from Girton College - uses her skills in fine art to sketch the dead man''s face for a poster. An autopsy reveals the only clue to his death is the wound left by a hypodermic needle in the back of his neck. Brooke has a very puzzling case on his hands . A Cambridge-based series from a Dagger-in-the-Library-winning author with a rapidly growing following. For fans of Anne Cleeves books and James Runcie''s Grantchester series Inspired in great part by the author''s father who was a Chief Superintendent in the Met. and a Commando in WW2.

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Anne Perry''s twenty-first heart-warming Christmas novella.When Mariah Ellison arrives in the picturesque village of St Helen''s to spend the festive season with her old friend Sadie Alsop, she is shocked to discover that Sadie has vanished. Her husband has no idea where she has gone or when she will return but, thankfully, Mariah has other friends in the village who are willing to offer their hospitality.Once settled, she begins a rigorous search for Sadie that is fuelled by malicious gossip as harsh as the winter snow. Has Sadie run away? Has she been kidnapped? Has someone harmed her? And how long can she survive if she has no shelter from the bitterly cold weather? As Christmas Day approaches, Mariah is increasingly determined to solve the mystery of Sadie''s disappearance and bring her home in time to celebrate Yuletide together . . .Trade ReviewPraise for Anne Perry's Christmas novellas: 'A bite-sized mystery that could be fitted in after your Christmas lunch * Daily Telegraph *If Christmas puts you in the mood for a good Agatha Christie, try Perry * Glasgow Evening Times *Delightful...The perfect gift for a whodunit addict * Oxford Times *With its powerful message of responsibility and redemption - 'We need both to forgive and to be forgiven' - it conveys a moral force in keeping with the season * Wall Street Journal *A Christmas cracker full of rich storytelling, classic conundrums, timeless life lessons and the gift of forgiveness * Lancashire Evening Post *The tale is redolent with Victorian atmosphere, from the hypocritical snobbishness to the rigid social conventions of the time * Tangled Web *[An] engaging historical mystery . . . a winner * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisA gripping and claustrophobic Icelandic historical thriller by debut author Samuel M. Sargeant.

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Book SynopsisTHE ROYALLY BRILLIANT FOURTH BOOK IN THE HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN INVESTIGATES MYSTERY SERIES - NOW AVAILABLE TO IN PAPERBACK, EBOOK AND AUDIOBOOK!________________1957 - Young Queen Elizabeth II is finding her way in a challenging world as the United Kingdom must adjust to having neither an empire nor a set place in post-war Europe. As she travels the world to try and build bridges, the Queen is advised by the 'men in moustaches', as Philip calls them - her father's old courtiers, who may or may not have her best interests at heart. One of them is trying to sabotage her: that much she is sure of. And then two bodies turn up, horribly murdered, in Chelsea, and the Queen finds herself unwillingly used as the alibi for somebody very close to her. Elizabeth knows she can't face these challenges alone. She needs support from someone clever, discreet and loyal, someone she can trust. Then she meets ex-Bletchley Park code breaker, Joan McGraw, and their investigation into the murders begin

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Book Synopsis'The best historical thriller I've read in twenty years' A.J. FinnTrade ReviewA remarkable debut novel * Sunday Times *A gripping, shocking read * The Times *This gripping historical thriller surely announces the arrival of a fine new European talent. Vivid and absorbing * Observer *The latest Scandi sensation * Sunday Times *Niklas Natt och Dag takes the contemporary Scandinavian crime story and gives it a startlingly gruesome historical twist . . . Natt och Dag spares us nothing, detailing horror after horror in his unflinchingly muscular prose * Guardian *Natt och Dag's description of the rattling, lung-shredding tubercular cough is truly hideous - a haunting portrait of physical disintegration that's not easy to forget * Dan Jones, Evening Standard *Swedish noir doesn't get much darker * Herald *A superbly detailed historical mystery * Irish Times *A well-depicted historical murder mystery filled with cruelty as well as warmth and humanity * Best Debut, Swedish Academy of Crime Writers' Award 2017 *A historical thriller that is unparalleled in suspense and literary quality. It's raw, beautiful, heartbreaking and extremely captivating until the very last page. The Wolf and the Watchman deserves a place among the classics of the genre * Erik Axl Sund, author of The Crow Girl *An unexpected masterpiece, a wild and unusual mix of genres that in one fell swoop succeeds in renewing the entire crime fiction genre * Arne Dahl, prize-winning and Swedish #1 bestselling author of the Sam Berger series *Brawny, bloody, intricate, enthralling - and the best historical thriller I've read in twenty years * A J Finn, #1 bestselling author of The Woman in the Window *This is a thrilling, unnerving, clever and beautiful story. Reading it is like giving a little gift to oneself * Fredrik Backman *An impressive thriller - well paced, well structured and deeply unsettling . . . political scheming and psychological angst, grand theories on the state of man, a fiendish masterplan and a love story all in one * TLS *

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Book SynopsisIt is the summer of 1669 and England is in dire straits. The treasury's coffers are bare and tensions with the powerful Dutch Republic are boiling over. And now, an investigator sent by the King to look into corruption at the Royal Navy has been brutally murdered. Loathe to leave the pleasures of London, Samuel Pepys is sent dragging his feet to Portsmouth to find the truth about what happened. Aided by his faithful assistant, Will Hewer, he soon exposes the killer. But has he got the right man? The truth may be much more sinister. And if the real plot isn't uncovered in time, England could be thrown into a war that would have devastating consequences...Trade Review"Debuts don't come much better than this" - The Sunday Independent. "Pirates of the Caribbean meets Charlie's Angels." - Woman & Home. "An impressive debut" - The Times. "A rip-roaring yarn... Something for everyone" - The Irish Examiner. "A zestful imagining... Book of the month" - The Independent. "This has everything a good crime thriller should have: murder, intrigue, adventures and sinister truths. It should be at the top of your summer reading list." - Culturefly. "A gorgeously-written, intriguing mystery, packed with meticulous period detail and many wonderful turns of phrase - a brilliant jewel of a book." - Emma Haughton, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Dark. "Every bit as lively, witty, and entertaining as the inspiration but with added intrigue and swashbuckling. A proper treat that would no doubt delight Mr Pepys himself." - Cass Green, Sunday Times bestselling author of In a Cottage, In a Wood.

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Book SynopsisA genre-bending Gothic mystery with a strong LGBTQIA+ romance from beloved, award-winning author KJ Charles. As the mists descend, the gaslight flickers, and terror takes its hold, two warring lovers must reconcile in time to uncover the murderous mysteries of Lackaday Houseand live to tell the tale.

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Book SynopsisAlfred Hitchcock meets Indiana Jones in this acclaimed, globe-trotting historical mystery about a wayward Jewish kid drawn into a sinister plot“Impressive. . . Enthralling. . . Goldin brings a long-lost era to life in vivid, evocative detail”  — Financial Times“A rip-roaring adventure. . . A zip-along plot, packed full of political machinations, strange deaths and ruinous romance”  — Daily MailThis entertaining historical mystery is the exciting debut novel from London-based musician and screenwriter A.E. Goldin. Thrillingly paced and with an enchanting historical setting, it launches a thrilling new series with an unforgettable hero, and provides all the nostalgic reading pleasure of classic Sherlock Holmes.-London, 1854. 21-year-old Ben Canaan attracts trouble wherever he goes. His father wants him to be a good Jewish son, working for the family business on Whitechapel Road, but Ben and his friends, the 'Good-for-Nothings', just want adventure.Then the chance discovery of an enigmatic letter and a photograph of a beautiful woman bring Ben an adventure more dangerous than anything he’d imagined. Suddenly he is thrown into the heart of a mystery that takes him away from everything he has known and all the way to Constantinople, the jewel of an empire and the centre of a world on the brink of war.Ben’s only clue is 3 words: ‘The White Death’. Now he must find what links a string of grisly murders, following a trail through kingmaking and conspiracy, poison and high politics, bloodshed and betrayal. In a city of deadly secrets, no one is safe – and one wrong step could cost Ben his life.

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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 *

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Book SynopsisAn atmospheric and captivating old-house mystery, layered with romance and secrets ?🗝? Perfect for fans of Eve Chase!'Lauren Westwood is a wonderful writer' Sophie Hannah ??????????Secrets lurk in the shadows at Rookswood House... When Kate goes to look after her estranged sister's children in their creepy old house, she takes a photo of what seems to be a ghost. Frightened yet intrigued, Kate undertakes to uncover the secrets of the house and the two mysterious sisters who lived there over a hundred years before. But like the illusions of light and shadow in the sisters' strange and disturbing Victorian post-mortem photography, Kate discovers that all is not what it seems. Someone or something has their own plans for Rookswood House and for Kate. With a potential developer circling around, her teenage niece in danger from an unseen force, and new love on the horizon, Kate must unravel the secrets and lies of her own and Rookswood's past before she loses everything she holds dear. If you like historical mysteries by Eve Chase, Rachel Burton and Harriet Evans, you'll love Lauren Westwood. Praise for The House of Light and Shadows and Lauren Westwood:An atmospheric and ghostly timeslip with brilliant twists and turns. I was completely gripped!' Clare Marchant'Stunning! A multi-layered, atmospheric mystery that I couldn't put down.' Nicola Cornick'Beautifully written, the author creates a deeply unsettling atmosphere and ramps up the tension with a twisty, turny plot.' Alexandra Weston'A compelling historical mystery. If you buy it for the beach bring a lot of sun cream because you won't want to put it down.' 5-star Reader Review'Good combination of secrets, history, story & characters, hard to put down' 5-star Reader Review'An enchanting and engrossing read that I highly recommend and, if you have not yet read Lauren Westwood's books, then what on earth are you waiting for?' 5-star Reader Review'Full of twists and turns, captivating and absorbing. I loved it' 5-star Reader Review

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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

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Book Synopsis'One of the best historical crime series out there' Crime Review'Could challenge CJ Sansom for dominion' Sunday TimesSummer, 1658, and the Republic may finally be safe: the combined Stuart and Spanish forces have been heavily defeated by the English and French armies on the coast of Flanders, and the King's cause appears finished. Yet one final, desperate throw of the dice is planned. And who can stop them if not Captain Damian Seeker?The fifth gripping outing for Seeker in this acclaimed and award-winning series of historical thrillers. Will his legacy endure?Trade ReviewYou won't find many period crime novels that match The Seeker series for insight and evocation of time and place * NB magazine *Complex and gripping ... this high-quality, deliciously moody series continues to deliver. I long for more * For Winter Nights *Excellent at conveying the insecurities and unsettling memories that bedevil Cromwell's dying Protectorate * Daily Mail *MacLean's light touch portrait of a hard man with a softer core is what makes these books so memorable * The Times *

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Book SynopsisAn heir hunter in modern-day Edinburgh searches out the rightful inheritor to a dead man's fortune an investigation that will lead him to the battlefields of WWI France, and the mystery of a six-man firing squad . . .Trade ReviewA profound and moving book * Woman's Weekly *The characterisation is great and the atmosphere powerful. The bored and fractious platoon is wonderfully evoked. * Daily Mail *Skilful juggling of the twin timelines in this engaging mystery reveals a darkness at its core * Sunday Times Crime Club *Riveting . . . A deftly woven, moving plot * Woman & Home *Richly enjoyable. Paulson-Ellis writes with verve and vividness, also with sympathy. * The Scotsman *

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Book Synopsis'A brilliant, original read' - Daily Mail'Totally absorbing, this is a story that will keep you gripped' - Janice Hadlow, author of The Other Bennet SisterThe case is unexceptional, that is what I know. A house full of stuff left behind by a dead woman, abandoned at the last . . .When trauma cleaner Essie Pound makes a gruesome discovery in the derelict Edinburgh boarding house she is sent to clean, it brings her into contact with a young policewoman, Emily Noble, who has her own reasons to solve the case. As the two women embark on a journey into the heart of a forgotten family, the investigation prompts fragmented memories of their own traumatic histories – something Emily has spent a lifetime attempting to bury, and Essie a lifetime trying to lay bare.Emily Noble’s Disgrace is the third novel from Mary Paulson-Ellis, the bestselling author of The Other Mrs Walker, a Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year.Trade ReviewPaulson-Elis writes with poetry and compassion about the forgotten and overlooked . . . A brilliant, original read * Daily Mail *Totally absorbing, this is a story that will keep you gripped through all its unexpected twists and turns -- Janice Hadlow, author of The Other Bennet SisterThis book is a swoon and slither of silk with the grit of salt underneath. Mary Paulson-Ellis is a genius at peeling away the layers and slowly, skilfully putting flesh on the bones of an extraordinary, sinuous story -- Sarah Hilary, author of FragileSuperb -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail *The territory of the dead — and the objects they leave behind — is the subject of this beautifully written, compelling contemporary gothic novel. Mary Paulson-Ellis strips back the secrets and lies hiding within one house with a deft touch -- Andrew Wilson, author of I Saw Him DieThe author writes with such compassion about people and there is poetry in her prose * Prima *

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Book Synopsis1866. On a train bound for Portsmouth, an elegant woman shares a compartment with the lecherous Giles Blanchard. It is a lucky encounter for her, as she steps off the train after picking his pocket and in possession of scandalous material for a potential blackmail. It is a less fortuitous meeting for Blanchard, who will never reach his home on the Isle of Wight alive.Detective Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming are swiftly dispatched to sift through the evidence. With Queen Victoria poised to spend the summer on the island, a speedy resolution to the case is imperative for their superiors. Tracing Blanchard''s killer is an endeavour freighted with difficulties, but will the fact that their inquiries lead them to the door of a royal residence be one complication too many?

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Book SynopsisSherlock Holmes is led into a thrilling, seasonal-themed chase by Irene Adler in this stunningly packaged mystery. Sherlock Holmes’s discovery of a mysterious musical score initiates a devious Christmas challenge set by Irene Adler, with clues that are all variations on the theme of ‘theft without theft', such as a statue missing from a museum found hidden in the room it was taken from. In the snowy London lead-up to Christmas, Holmes’s preoccupation with the "Adler Variations" risks him neglecting the case of his new client, Norwegian arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen, who has received a series of threats in the form of animal carcasses left on his doorstep. Could they really be gifts from a strange spirit that has pursued Nansen since the completion of his expedition to cross Greenland? And might this case somehow be related to Irene Adler’s great game?Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE AUTHORHolmes fans will be more than satisfied with this well-constructed homage to the great detective. - Criminal ElementA fine addition to Holmes stories and should make a great brain teaser of a read! - RunAlongTheShelvesFans of traditional Holmes stories should welcome a sequel. -Publishers Weekly"The only novel I have read that made my ears tingle." The Times"Major has a special skill of weaving his characters' inner turmoils into the perils they face in the plot." Morning Star"Refreshingly out of the ordinary." Sunday Sport“Tim Major is an exceptional writer” Adam Roberts"Hope Island is a masterfully tense tale, building a looming sense of dread and growing uncertainty. Disturbing and original, surprising and shocking, it's an excellent novel from a unique voice in the genre." Tim Lebbon, author of Eden and The Silence"Hope Island is a deliciously creepy mystery. Tim Major knows how to wield the weird and the effect is an original novel that's unsettling and compelling at every turn. The silent children who stalk the island are a disturbing threat outside, and the threat within the family offers a richly-realised emotional disquiet. Prepare to be unnerved." D. K. Fields, author of Widow's Welcome and The Stitcher and the Mute"Tense and compelling, the taut and tangled mysteries of eerie Hope Island conspire to create a roiling fever dream of a novel in which nothing is certain, and in which even one's own senses cannot truly be trusted. Beneath an authentic and empathetic portrait of a family falling apart lies a deeply intuitive, atmospheric enquiry into those truths which underpin all human relationships: the way we speak and listen, the things we say and the things we hide. Hope Island is a strange and brilliantly original novel which cements Tim Major's rightful reputation as a top class writer of fantastical fiction." Laura Mauro, author of Sing Your Sadness Deep"Artfully written and brilliantly controlled from the first page, Hope Island explores unsettling territory through well-drawn characters, landscape and a powerful use of sound. But it's the central mother-daughter relationship that gives the book real heart – there's honesty, pain and beauty in here." M. T. Hill, author of Zero Bomb and The Breach“I tore through Hope Island, unnerved by its escalating tension and its keen sense of isolation — I genuinely didn’t know what to expect whenever I turned the page.” Award-winning author, G. V. Anderson“Clever, intriguing and suspenseful … a must-read book from a terrific new voice” Alison Littlewood on You Don’t Belong Here“You Don’t Belong Here is a novel that dares to do something different” Ginger Nuts of Horror“You Don’t Belong Here is that perfect blend of cautionary tale, psychological horror and introspective character study.” The Eloquent Page“It has freshness and it’s fluently written entertainment.” Rising Shadow“Strongly recommended for fans of original and uniquely weird fiction.” Ginger Nuts of Horror on Blighters“Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down until I reached the end” Lynda Rucker on Carus and Mitch

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Book SynopsisAs a favour to an old friend, Hercule Poirot finds himself at a summer fete in Devon, taking part not in a Treasure Hunt, but a Murder Hunt, in this never-before-published novella version of Dead Man's Folly. Now released for the first time in print in this illustrated collector's edition.Sir George and Lady Stubbs, the hosts of a village fête, hit upon the novel idea of staging a mock murder mystery. In good faith, Ariadne Oliver, the well known crime writer, agrees to organise their murder hunt. But at the last minute Ariadne calls her friend Hercule Poirot for his expert assistance. Instinctively, she senses that something sinister is about to happenIn 1954, Agatha Christie wrote this novella with the intention of donating the proceeds to a fund set up to buy stained glass windows for her local church at Churston Ferrers, and she filled the story with references to local places, including her own home of Greenway. But having completed it, she decided instead to expand the story intoTrade Review‘There are [authors] like Agatha Christie: I read those books and I’m in awe that somebody constructed those plots where they all make sense at the end. Those are like magic tricks to me.’ STEPHEN KING

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