Historical crime and mysteries

Book SynopsisA brilliantly twisty and deliciously witty Golden Age murder mystery to transport you to 1930s Scotland. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Janice Hallett and Richard Osman.

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Book SynopsisDCI Monika Paniatowski faces an old enemy - and makes a fatal mistake with the potential to poison her whole career.Jordan Gough is an important man. He''s the town''s biggest benefactor. He is the proprietor of the Whitebridge Evening Telegraph. He owns the local football team.He is also, DCI Monika Paniatowski thinks, as bent as a corkscrew - and if she had any evidence, she''d put him away like a shot. A single encounter with him as a young detective sergeant left an impression she''s never forgotten. And neither, she is certain, has he.So when Jordan calls and demands to speak to Monika - and only Monika - she is on immediate high alert. He claims someone''s trying to kill him, but why has he destroyed the evidence? Why turn for help to an officer he hates?Certain she''s the target of a twisted practical joke, Monika makes a terrible mistake - one that could destroy everything she holds dear.The fourteenth DCI Monik

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Top Five BestsellerA BBC Two Between the Covers Book Club Pick'A wonderfully inventive novel' — The Times and Sunday Times, Best Historical Fiction of 2023Laura Shepherd-Robinson's The Square of Sevens is an epic and sweeping novel set in Georgian high society, a dazzling story offering up mystery, intrigue, heartbreak, and audacious twists.This is your story, Red. You must tell it well . . .A girl known only as Red, the daughter of a Cornish fortune-teller, travels with her father making a living predicting fortunes using the ancient method: the Square of Sevens. When her father suddenly dies, Red becomes the ward of a gentleman scholar.Now raised as a lady amidst the Georgian splendour of Bath, her fortune-telling is a delight to high society. But she cannot ignore the questions that gnaw at her soul: who was her mother? How did she die? And who are the mysterious enemies her father was always terrified would find him?The pursuit of these mysteries takes her from Cornwall and Bath to London and Devon, from the rough ribaldry of the Bartholomew Fair to the grand houses of two of the most powerful families in England. And while Red's quest brings her the possibility of great reward, it also leads her into grave danger . . .'A masterpiece' — Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal'A sweeping Dickensian tour de force of a novel' — Susan Stokes-Chapman, bestselling author of Pandora'I doubt I’ll read a better book this year' — Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of We Begin at the EndTrade Review[A] wonderfully inventive novel set in 18th-century England. As the heroine and narrator Red seeks the truth about her origins and possible connection to the wealthy De Lacy family, the reader’s expectations are constantly confounded with one twist in her tale after another -- The Times and Sunday Times, Best Historical Fiction of 2023This rich, complex and haunting Dickensian epic is a triumph of the Gothic genre . . . a masterpiece -- Janice Hallett, betselling author of The AppealA sweeping Dickensian tour de force of a novel . . . cementing the author’s place as the queen of modern Georgian literature -- Susan Stokes-Chapman, bestselling author of PandoraA sprawling, exquisite, outright triumph . . . I doubt I’ll read a better book this year -- Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin At the EndWith its twists and turns and revelations of those lies that bind and truths that rend asunder, this story is a deep pleasure to read * Sunday Times *This is an intricately plotted, epic book that delivers twist after twist in its 560 pages. A big, satisfying and clever read * The Times *A big, complex mystery: rich in memorable, scheming characters and vivid historical detail, full of daring twists. I was so immersed in its world. I didn't want it to end -- S. J. Parris, bestselling author of the Giordano Bruno seriesThis is a fabulously evocative novel, with a heroine who proves the most wonderful company, and a finely spun mystery which keeps you turning the pages. The Square of Sevens invites you into a magical world which you won't want to leave -- Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den trilogyA fabulous historical novel that races along like a galloping pony -- Andrew Taylor, bestselling author of The Ashes of LondonIn The Square of Sevens, Laura Shepherd-Robinson excels at recreating the past - in this case, Georgian England - in an authentic way. She invites us to join fortune teller Red on an epic journey to unravel the secrets of her past and we cannot rest until we have answers. Dazzling -- Fiona Cummins, author of When I Was Ten What a magnificent rollercoaster ride of a book . . . I am in awe -- James Oswald, bestselling author of the Inspector McLean seriesThis is a book to relish, not rush through. Rich in historical detail, it’s immersive, authoritative and Dickensian in scope. Fundamentally though it’s a damn good story, brilliantly told. I loved it -- Harriet Tyce, bestselling author of Blood Orange and It Ends At MidnightMeticulously researched and beautifully written, this is one of the most intriguing books I have ever read -- Liz Nugent, bestselling author of Strange Sally DiamondSuspenseful and intricately planned, The Square of Sevens is a work where every page seems to hold the promise of a new thrilling secret. More than a mystery, it is a book that radiates a deep love of storytelling and the magic of a well-told tale -- Katherine J. Chen, author of JoanLaura Shepherd-Robinson is riding high in the historical crime stakes; this is a sprawling epic novel set in Georgian high society, with its lively fortune-telling heroine Red unearthing her own lethal legacy * Financial Times *The Square of Sevens shows a novelist approaching the peak of her powers. It's ingeniously plotted, panoramic and deeply satisfying. . . filled with period colour, clever twists and turns, and the best set of characters this side of Dickens. It will keep you guessing until the final pages. * Daily Express *This has all the charm and intricate plotting that we expect from Laura’s books – it is exquisitely, meticulously plotted and you’ll want to curl up and absorb it all in as few readings as possible. For me, it’s reminiscent of Sarah Waters – praise that is richly deserved. * Belfast Telegraph *'[A] clever story...its characters flit between London's slums and palatial estates where misdirection and conspiracies abound' * Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisRenowned murder mystery playwright Bertie Carroll returns, this time in London's West End, to solve the mystery of an impossible murder and the newspaper advert that preceded it. When a victim is discovered and the police are brought in, Bertie and Inspector Hugh Chapman get thrown awkwardly back together as they both work to find the killer.

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Book Synopsis'I was completely spellbound' - Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things'Setterfield is a master storyteller' - Madeline Miller, author of Circe Some say the river drowned her... Some say it brought her back to life On a dark midwinter's night in an ancient inn on the Thames, the regulars are entertaining themselves by telling stories when the door bursts open and in steps an injured stranger. In his arms is the drowned corpse of a child. Hours later, the dead girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life. Is it a miracle? Is it magic? And who does the little girl belong to? An exquisitely crafted historical mystery brimming with folklore, suspense and romance, as well as with the urgent scientific curiosity of the Victorian age.____________________ Praise for Diane Setterfield:'An absolute feast of a book, which will keep you engrossed' RED magazine'Brimming with folklore, intrigue and romance, this is a story to savour' Woman & Home'Once Upon a River continues to demonstrate [Setterfield's] mastery of the Gothic genre in a way that will appeal to modern readers' The IndependentReaders are captivated by Once Upon a River: ***** 'Pure escapism, a beautifully written story.' ***** 'It felt as comforting as the fantastical stories you read as a child yet with a darker edge.' ***** 'I was entranced from the beginning to the end.'Trade ReviewA story, no matter how cleverly it is structured, lives or dies on the vividness of its characters. Setterfield, a true storyteller, makes us care about all her players in this beguiling novel. * The Times *Exploring themes of storytelling, parenthood, science and society on the cusp of change, this is a richly evocative novel. * Observer *Diane Setterfield's debut novel, The Thirteenth Tale, came out in 2006 to wide acclaim. She made her mark by delivering her own take on the classic romantic mystery novel, infused with the spirit of Jane Eyre, Rebecca and The Woman in White. Once Upon a River continues to demonstrate her mastery of the Gothic genre in a way that will appeal to modern readers...Setterfield knows how to make the words sing. It is worth taking a journey down the Thames with her. * Independent *Once Upon a River is magical, in every which way...it's the power of her storytelling that allows readers to suspend disbelief, and draws them through each tangled, dazzling chapter...This riverine novel has the mood and feel of a ghost story told late into the night, and will win over readers who enjoy a touch of age-old enchantment. * Financial Times *I was completely spellbound by this book. Numerous strands of the same story are skilfully woven into a magical web from which I, as a reader, had no desire to escape. Setterfield’s prose is beautiful, dark and eerily atmospheric, and her rich cast of characters convincingly illustrate the best and worst of humanity. Utterly brilliant! -- Ruth Hogan,bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost ThingsOnce Upon a River is one of the most pleasurable and satisfying new books I've read in a long time. Setterfield is a master storyteller, her language flowing with a dark magic very like the river at the heart of her tale: swift and entrancing, profound and beautiful. Give yourself a treat and read it! -- Madeline Miller,Orange Prize-winning author of The Song of Achilles and CirceI so didn't want to leave the world of Once Upon a River but now I have and I'm bereft of the company of country folk and river spirits. This charming story about stories and the mystery of life & death captured my heart. A truly extraordinary book. -- Dinah JefferiesHer characters are so vivid, one feels as though one has met them, spent an evening in their company, telling stories around the hearth...Setterfield is a master storyteller herself, giving us all the depth and plot and richness of the great narrative novelists. This is dazzling, alive, all-consumer writing: one reads each page greedily, the beautiful sentences shining like jewels under the pulling current of the tale itself. * Daily Telegraph *A satisfying, thickly characterised tale that plunges you into an evocatively realised historical setting. You care for its characters. * Sunday Times *A finely drawn cast and bravura storytellling. * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisA gorgeous brand new cover edition of the Sunday Times Bestseller, Richard & Judy Book Club Pick and original break-out witchlit novel. Features an exclusive extract from Stacey Halls' unmissable new novel THE HOUSEHOLD - available to pre-order now!To save her child, she will trust a stranger. To protect a secret, she must risk her life . . .Fleetwood Shuttleworth is 17 years old, married, and pregnant for the fourth time. But as the mistress at Gawthorpe Hall, she still has no living child, and her husband Richard is anxious for an heir. When Fleetwood finds a letter she isn't supposed to read from the doctor who delivered her third stillbirth, she is dealt the crushing blow that she will not survive another pregnancy.Then she crosses paths by chance with Alice Gray, a young midwife. Alice promises to help her give birth to a healthy baby, and to prove the physician wrong.As Alice is drawn into the witchcraft accusations that are sweeping the North-West, Fleetwood risks everything by trying to help her. But is there more to Alice than meets the eye?Soon the two women's lives will become inextricably bound together as the legendary trial at Lancaster approaches, and Fleetwood's stomach continues to grow. Time is running out, and both their lives are at stake.Only they know the truth. Only they can save each other...'Assured and alluring, this beautiful tale of women and witchcraft and the fight against power was a delight from start to finish' JESSIE BURTON'Stacey Halls is a writer of great originality, great imagination and great sense of place. Atmospheric, intelligent, accessible, every novel is worth reading, then reading again and again' KATE MOSSE'The new Hilary Mantel' COSMOPOLITAN'Captivating' SUNDAY EXPRESS'Arresting' THE TIMES'A brilliant debut, pacy and inventive, from a terrifically talented new voice' DAILY TELEGRAPH'Truly spellbinding' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING'A must-read novel' HEATHER MORRIS bestselling author of THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ'Enthralling, spellbinding, full of twists and turns, written with heart and style - and the final chapters will have you racing to the end' KATE WILLIAMS'Phenomenal. Beautiful, haunting, strange and evocative' LIZ HYDER'Historical fiction at its feminist best' RED Magazine**THE HOUSEHOLD, the brand new novel from Stacey Halls, is available to pre-order now***Sunday Times bestseller February and September 2018*

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Book SynopsisJanuary, 1348. They say bad things come in threes... The day after an earthquake and tsunami have ravaged Venice, Malin Le Cordier, a successful English maritime trader, sails into the city with plans to mature a coup on behalf of Edward III and Genoa. His time? Short. His guilt? Strong. Keeping the coup a secret from those he loves most weighs heavy on his soul. But Venice is a place with secrets and revenge flows through the city like its canals. For his sake and those he is bound to, it is best he learn to navigate it. And quickly. Unbeknownst to Malin, there is someone powerful in the city who seeks revenge on Edward III on behalf of his family. Well-situated, he operates under covert circumstances, monitoring Malin’s every move - and playing his own long game, merely waiting for the perfect time to strike. Combining greed and guilt, revenge and undeclared love, this is one trip that Malin may not live to regret.

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Book SynopsisAnother intriguing whodunnit; the fourth in the Lady Jane Tremayne series. The year is 1657. Jane is living at the home of her closest friend, Olivia Courtney, whose brother, James, agrees to play host to a band of royalists who are conspiring to assassinate one of Cromwell’s Generals. What happens next involves a suspicious death and an act of treachery. After a daring escape this leads to Jane and Olivia’s exile in Bruges where they meet King Charles II. At the same time, Jane fears that an unidentified murderer is at large who poses a threat to Charles’s life.

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Book SynopsisDiscover Kate Morton's multi-million copy bestselling debut novel, The House at Riverton, a mesmerising story of tragedy and buried secrets, with this new edition.Winner of the Richard and Judy Book Club Best Read of the YearSummer, 1924.On the eve of a glittering society party, by the lake of a grand English country house, a young poet takes his life. The only witnesses, sisters Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, will never speak to each other again.Winter, 1999.Grace Bradley, ninety-eight, one-time housemaid at Riverton Manor, is visited by a young director making a film about the poet's suicide. Ghosts awaken, and memories, long-consigned to the dark reaches of Grace's mind, begin to sneak back through the cracks. A shocking secret threatens to emerge; something history has forgotten, but Grace never could . . .

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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.

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Book SynopsisA moving and powerful mystery, The Forgotten Garden is the bestselling second novel from Kate Morton.1913. On the eve of the First World War, a little girl is found abandoned after a gruelling ocean voyage from England to Australia. All she can remember of the journey is that a mysterious woman she calls the Authoress had promised to look after her. But the Authoress has vanished without a trace.1975. Now an old lady, Nell travels to England to discover the truth about her parentage. Her quest leads her to Cornwall, and to a beautiful estate called Blackhurst Manor, which had been owned by the Mountrachet family. What has prompted Nell’s journey after all these years?2005. On Nell’s death, her granddaughter, Cassandra, comes into a surprise inheritance. Cliff Cottage, in the grounds of Blackhurst Manor, is notorious amongst the locals for the secrets it holds – secrets about the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is at long-abandoned Cliff Cottage, and in its forgotten garden, that Cassandra will uncover the truth about the Mountrachets – and why the young Nell was abandoned all those decades before . . .

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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 *A richly rewarding, gripping page-turner -- Val McDermid on The Inheritance of Solomon Farthing

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Book SynopsisA favorite mystery series of Hillary Clinton (as mentioned in What Happened, The New York Times Book Review, and New York Magazine)A New York Times Notable Book of the YearAgatha Award Winner for Best First NovelMacavity Award Winner for Best First NovelAlex Award WinnerFiercely independent Maisie Dobbs has recently set herself up as a private detective. Such a move may not seem especially startling. But this is 1929, and Maisie is exceptional in many ways.Having started as a maid to the London aristocracy, studied her way to Cambridge and served as a nurse in the Great War, Maisie has wisdom, experience and understanding beyond her years. Little does she realise the extent to which this strength of character is soon to be tested. For her first case forces her to uncover secrets long buried, and to confront ghosts from her own past . . .''In Maisie Dobbs, Jacqueline Winspear has given us a real gift'' Alexander McCall SmithTrade ReviewSue Baker's 'Quarterly Highlights' * Publishing News *'In Maisie Dobbs, Jacqueline Winspear has given us a real gift. Maisie Dobbs has not been created - she has been discovered. Such people are always there amongst us, waiting for somebody like Ms. Winspear to come along and reveal them. And what a revelation it is!' * Alexander McCall Smith *It's a long time since I've read a crime novel that begins as well as Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs ... well written ... [Jacqueline Winspear] is set fair for a very bright future as a crime novelist. * Simon Brett, Daily Mail *Feisty, working-class heroine Maisie is a deliberate throwback to the sleuthettes of old-fashioned crime writing and will appeal to all those fans who pine for uncomplicated characters and a strong demarcation between good and bad. The well-plotted story, its characters and the picture of London between the wars are decidedly romantic. American readers loved it; many Brits will, too. * The Guardian *Maisie Dobbs is a welcome and unusual addition to the crowded world of literary detectives ... A very readable whodunnit * Sainsbury's Magazine *Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs is a welcome addition to the sleuthing scene. Simultaneously self-reliant and vulnerable, Maisie isn't a character I'll easily forget * Elizabeth George *Much more than just another detective story... thought-provoking * Newbooksmag *Readers sensing a story-within-a-story won't be disappointed. But first, they must prepare to be astonished at the sensitivity and wisdom with which Maisie resolves her first professional assignment * New York Times *A wry and immensely readable beginning to what promises to be a vivid new addition to crime fiction * Mail on Sunday *Even if detective stories aren't your thing, you'll love Maisie Dobbs * New Woman *The book is much more than a cosy mystery - it is also about women's growing emancipation and the profound changes to society after the First World War. * Mail on Sunday's You *

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Book Synopsis'A wonderful treat.' Melvyn Bragg'A sparkling curio that will appeal to both Janeites and Jamesites.' Daily TelegraphThe world is classic Jane Austen. The mystery is vintage P.D. James.In their six years of marriage, Elizabeth and Darcy have forged a peaceful, happy life for their family at Pemberley, Darcy's impressive estate.But on the eve of their annual autumn ball, chaos descends. 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.Plunged into frightening mystery and a lurid murder trial, the lives of Pemberley's owners and servants alike may never be the same . . .

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Book SynopsisA dead man at a crossroads. A secret message. A ring with a warning about death . . . Printer''s apprentice Lucy Campion is caught up in a strange and puzzling murder case in this twisty historical mystery set in seventeenth-century London.London, 1667. On her way to a new market to peddle her True Accounts and Strange News, printer''s apprentice Lucy Campion quickly regrets her decision to take the northwestern road. Dark and desolate, the path leads her to the crossroads - and to the old hanging tree. She doesn''t believe in ghosts, but she''s not sure ghosts don''t believe in her.But before she even reaches the crossroads, she''s knocked off her feet by two men in a hurry. What were they running from? To her dismay, she soon discovers for herself: there, dangling from the tree, is the body of a man.Did he commit self-murder, or is there something darker afoot? The more Lucy learns, the more determined she is to uncover the truth. But this time, even the help and protection of magistrate''s son Adam, and steadfast Constable Duncan, may not be enough to keep her safe from harm . . .

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Book SynopsisJack Blackjack stands accused of killing a priest in the wickedly entertaining new Bloody Mary Tudor mystery.April, 1555. A priest has been stabbed to death in the village of St Botolph, to the east of the City of London, his body left to rot by the roadside - and Jack Blackjack stands accused of his murder.As well as clearing his name, Jack has his own reasons for wanting to find out who really killed the priest - but this is an investigation where nothing is as it seems. Was it a random attack by a desperate outlaw, or do the answers lie in the murdered priest''s past? As he questions those who knew the dead man, Jack is faced with a number of conflicting accounts - and it''s clear that not everyone can be telling him the whole truth. But Jack is about to be sidetracked from the investigation . with disastrous consequences.

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Book SynopsisSo much to relish here . . . the plot is gripping, and the writing is just lovely! DIANE SETTERFIELD, author of Once Upon A RiverThe year''s most memorable narrator . . . An unusual and intriguing crime story SUNDAY TIMES BOOKS OF THE YEARNiemi succeeds in constructing a story that works as a murder mystery and as a compelling study of a dangerously inward-looking community SUNDAY TIMESA riveting, psychologically astute mystery . . . It is not to be missed BOOKLISTAn original and gripping crime story THE TIMES**NOW SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA INTERNATIONAL DAGGER**It is 1852, and in Sweden''s far north, deep in the Arctic Circle, charismatic preacher and Revivalist Lars Levi Læstadius impassions a poverty-stricken congregation with visions of salvation. But local leaders have reason to resist a shift to temperance over alcohol.Jussi, Trade ReviewSo much to relish here . . . the plot is grippling, there's a beautifully handled thread on reading and writing, and the writing is just lovely! -- Diane SetterfieldThis book is a masterpiece . . . The legendary Læstadius becomes a kind of Sherlock Holmes in this extraordinary historical crime novel . . . [Niemi] creates images, smells, sounds, atmospheres and characters that make this book a truly extraordinary reading experience. * Dagbladet (Sweden) *Superb suspense! . . . a multifaceted, mysterious and engaging novel . . . To Cook A Bear irresistibly engages the reader and provides a ruthless and almost physically palpable portrayal of a time that seems endlessly long ago . . . simply a great literary experience * V.G. (Sweden) *It's captivating as well as illuminating; several historical figures from the birth of Laestadianism appear, and the murder mysteries keep the reader entranced throughout the almost 400 pages . . . Mikael Niemi has written an intensely entertaining story * Weekendavisen (Sweden) *The pleasure of To Cook a Bear is twofold: On the one hand, one experiences an almost criminal thrill of voyeurism as Jussi and the Pastor investigate the mysterious assaults. On the other hand, one is transported into a strange time and fascinating world that is both beautiful and brutal. The descriptions of the landscape and the changing of the seasons instil an urgent desire to crank up the time machine . . . that is how it feels when you finish To Cook a Bear: as if the world just got a little bit bigger * Politiken (Denmark) *Niemi's writing - that of a narrator and a poet, a dreamer and a storyteller - brushes the highest peaks of the most delicate lyricism, rising strongly out of the abyss of the darkest mystery -- Alessandra Iadicicco * Corriere della Sera (Italy) *Niemi plots a composite story where the philosophical novel, the crime novel, the historical novel and the coming-of-age story coexist, complementing one another instead of getting in each other's way -- Alessia Gazzola * La Stampa (Italy) *A masterpiece of narrative * La Vanguardia (Spain) *Niemi's thriller has such a suggestive atmosphere -stifling in its sweating puritanism, yet somehow lyrical, with an incredibly well conceived plot" laura ricci, Il Sole 24 Ore -- Laura Ricci * Il Sole 24 Ore (Italy) *An original and gripping crime story -- Antonia Senior * The Times *An invented tale of murder, superstition and bigotry . . . Niemi succeeds in constructing a story that works as a murder mystery and as a compelling study of a dangerously inward-looking community. -- Nick Rennison * Sunday Times *"The year's most memorable narrator . . . An unusual and intriguing crime story. * Sunday Times Books of the Year *A riveting, psychologically astute mystery . . . an example of both superb genre fiction and character-driven literary fiction. It is not to be missed. -- Michael Cart * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisA Guardian Best Thriller Novel of the YearZoe Ball’s Radio 2 Book Club pick Mesmerising and haunting, Emma Flint's Other Women is a devastating story of obsession inspired by a murder that took place almost a hundred years ago.‘This is a book that will stay with you’ - Ann Cleeves, author of the Vera seriesLondon, 1923. Like so many single women after the Great War, Beatrice Cade, a thirty-seven-year-old typist, is holding tight to her small scrap of independence and trying to build a life for herself.When charismatic visiting salesman Tom Ryan directs his attention at her, Bea falls hard for him. But Ryan is married with a child. And his wife, Kate, has worked to create a seemingly happy domestic life. When Bea is found dead and Tom Ryan is in the frame for her murder, it looks like Kate will do anything to protect her family . . .‘Compelling, twisty a

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Book SynopsisFrom Sunday Times bestselling novelist Rose Tremain comes a gripping novel of murder and revenge set in Victorian England Nobody knows yet that she is a murderer... London, 1850. On a freezing winter's night, a baby is abandoned at the gates of a park only to be saved by a young policeman and taken to the Foundling Hospital.After suffering years of brutal hardship at the Hospital, Lily is released into the world of Victorian London. But she is hiding a dreadful secret...When Lily and the policeman meet again, Lily is convinced that he holds the key to her happiness. But might he also be the one to uncover her crime and so condemn her to death?'Enthralling... Tremain evokes Victorian London with visceral intensity in a gripping and deeply humane novel exploring themes of rejection, poverty, guilt and redemption' ObserverTrade ReviewLily, in addition to its pellucid prose, is shamelessly gripping -- Jake Kerridge * Daily Telegraph *Tremain's latest novel more than lives up to its atmospheric, riveting beginning... It's consummate storytelling, and finds room for redemption as well as revenge -- Hephzibah Anderson * Mail on Sunday *Another memorable and engrossing read from Tremain, which brings Victorian London, and especially courageous Lily, to life on the page -- Joanne Finney * Good Housekeeping *A heartbreaking story set in Victorian England from the pitch-perfect pen of Rose Tremain -- Antonia Senior * The Times, *Books of the Year* *Tremain's gift is to create characters whose experiences span every walk of life, but who are grounded in their author's understanding of the world * Harper's Bazaar *

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Book SynopsisA gripping story of danger, intrigue, jealousy and love set in the uncertain world of Oliver Cromwell's post-civil war Republic. When army surgeon, John Lockyer attends the pregnant victim of a street stabbing, saving the child but not the mother, Lady Derryn Barlow, ward of the Earl of Pembroke, his life unravels. Hours later, a hospital laundry maid, Sally, is killed and, pressured to keep quiet by the Earl's henchman, Lockyer and his colleague, Madame O'Brien, search for Sally's sister, Finny, at the Whitecross Street brothel. But she has already fled. What is the link between the dead women? Who has taken the child? What are the brothel's secrets? And will the murderer be found?Infiltrating the exiled Royalists in France, will Lockyer uncover the answers? Will he find favour with Cromwell? And will he meet Madame O'Brien again?In this compelling debut, Tallis Clark deploys her medical expertise and meticulous historical research to deliver a pitch-perfect story of murder, forensic investigation, political high stakes and the search for truth.

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Book SynopsisThe North Atlantic, 14 April 1912. Amid the chaos of the sinking Titanic, a young Eleanor Annenberg meets the eyes of a stranger and is immediately captivated. As the ship buckles around them, she follows him down into the hold and finds him leaning over an open sarcophagus, surrounded by mutilated bodies. She catches but a glimpse of what lies within before she's sucked into a maelstrom of freezing brine and half-devoured corpses. Elle is pulled out of the water, but the stranger - and the secrets she stumbled upon - are lost. Unintentionally, however, he leaves her a gift; one so compelling that Elle embarks on a journey that pulls her into a world of ancient evils, vicious hunters and human prey to find the man who saved her that fateful night. From trench warfare at Cape Helles in 1915 to a shipwreck in the tropical shallows off the Honduran coast, from a lost mine beneath the towering Externsteine in a Germany on the verge of war to the gothic crypts of Highgate Cemetery in London, Elle gets closer to a truth she has sought for most of her life. But at what cost? Gifts, after all, are seldom free.Trade Review‘Soaked in ambience, paced like a wildfire, THE GIFT will have reader clamouring for the next in the trilogy. A rip-roaring old-fashioned-in-the-best way adventure, RA Williams has a knack for period dialogue and eye for the eerie supernatural.’ – GREGG HURWITZ, New York Times bestselling author of the ‘Orphan X’ series; ‘To conceive of a story almost deserving the term ‘epic’ is one thing… to artfully weave its multifarious strands together and do so with scintillating aplomb is another. Where innumerable contemporary authors have drowned in the tumultuous waters of Historical Fantasy, Williams not only remains gloriously buoyant, he seems to thrive amongst its literary eddies, swimming elegantly through his novel’s myriad complexities and myth-soaked depths. He has written an absolute cracker and dextrously laid the foundation for what I am sure will be a hugely popular trilogy.’ – PAUL SPALDING MULCOCK, Yorkshire Times; ‘A gripping and multilayered tale of blood-chilling horror and epic adventure across time and continents, of a woman’s bravery, determination and, above all, love.’ – LIZ FRASER, broadcaster and Amazon bestselling author of Coming Clean

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of The House at Riverton and The Forgotten Garden, Kate Morton brings us her trademark mix of secrets, lies, and haunting, intricately layered mysteries. Set across the Victorian era and present day, The Clockmaker's Daughter is a perfect summer read.My real name, no one remembers.The truth about that summer, no one else knows.Summer, 1862. Abandoned as a child, Birdie grew up in the hands of a mysterious stranger, becoming by turns a thief, a friend, a muse and a lover. Shortly after her eighteenth birthday, she retreats with a group of artists to Birchwood Manor – a beautiful house on a quiet bend of the Upper Thames. The scene is idyllic but, one hot afternoon, a gunshot rings out. A woman is killed, another disappears, and the truth of what happened slips through the cracks of time.2017. Over one hundred years later, Birchwood Manor has welcomed many newcomers – but guards its secrets closely. That is, until another young woman is drawn to the house. And, as the mystery begins to unravel, we discover the stories of those who have passed through Birchwood Manor since that fateful day in 1862 . . .‘The Clockmaker’s Daughter is an ambitious, complex, compelling historical mystery with a fabulous cast of characters. This is Kate Morton at her very best’ – Kristin Hannah, bestselling author of The NightingaleTrade ReviewThe Clockmaker’s Daughter is an ambitious, complex, compelling historical mystery with a fabulous cast of characters. This is Kate Morton at her very best -- Kristin Hannah, bestselling author of The NightingaleBig houses, dark secrets and ruined lives all play their part in the latest from the bestselling Morton. The perfect book to curl up with as the evenings draw in. * i newspaper *This is an immersive, beautifully told story which was made to be devoured on a drizzly Sunday afternoon with a round of crumpets and a pot of tea * Red Magazine *Moving back and forth in time, Morton weaves her disparate stories together involving murder, theft, love and loss, secrets and lies. She’s a deft and consummate storyteller * Woman & Home *When it comes to epic and captivating novels, Kate Morton is up there with the best * Heat *A centuries-spanning epic * Metro *Morton knows how to eke out tantalizing secrets and drama * Sunday Telegraph (Australia) *The Clockmaker’s Daughter is packed with rich historical detail and seductive lyricism . . . An exciting, atmospheric reading treat that moves seamlessly through time and space, and ensures that Morton retains her place in the pantheon of much-loved historical novelists * Lancashire Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisPhilippa Gregory's first novel and first in the bestselling Wideacre trilogy. A compelling tale of passion and intrigue set in the eighteenth century. From the author of The Other Boleyn Girl and The Virgin's Lover.If it was the way of the world that girls left home, then the world would have to change. I would never change.'Wideacre Hall, set in the heart of the English countryside, is the ancestral home that Beatrice Lacey loves. But as a woman of the eighteenth century she has no right of inheritance. Corrupted by a world that mistreats women, she sets out to corrupt others. Sexual and wilful, she believes that the only way to achieve control over Wideacre is through a series of horrible crimes, and no-one escapes the consequences of her need to possess the land.Sweeping, passionate, unique: ''Wideacre'' is the novel which brought Philippa Gregory to bestselling fame and is the first of the trilogy which continued with ''The Favoured Child'' and concluded with Meridon'.Trade ReviewPraise for Philippa Gregory: “The eighteenth-century woman is a neglected creature but, in the figure of her heroine, Philippa Gregory has defined a certain kind of wildness…This is a novel written from instinct, not out of calculation, and it shows.’ Peter Ackroyd, The Times ‘For sheer pace and percussive drama it will take a lot of beating.’ Sunday Times ‘Gregory's research is impeccable which makes her imaginative fiction all the more convincing.’ Daily Mail ‘A story of violent love and unsettling passions. It will never let you rest for a page as you wait for the climax that must come for the people and the land.’ Maeve Binchy ‘Subtle and exciting.’ Daily Express

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Book Synopsis''Mr Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound!''The mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville brings Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson to Dartmoor in the most famous of all of Arthur Conan Doyle''s books. Is Sir Charles the latest victim of the ancestral Curse of the Baskervilles, which summons a demonic hound to stalk the moor and exact vengeance for a past misdeed, or is there a more modern, more prosaic explanation for the sudden death? In The Hound of the Baskervilles, the modern, rational world, and the ancient, supernatural world collide in the novel which brought Sherlock Holmes back from the dead.This new edition of Conan Doyle''s classic mystery is part of a series of new editions of the Sherlock Holmes stories published in Oxford World''s Classics. Darryl Jones''s Introduction explores the competing worlds of the supernatural and the scientific in the novel and in Arthur Conan Doyle''s life, the novel''s colonial background and origins, and the role of landscape, foTable of ContentsIntroduction Note on the Text Select Bibliography Chronology of Arthur Conan Doyle The Hound of the Baskervilles Explanatory Notes

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Book SynopsisSeptember, 1925. Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes are looking forward to spending time with Holmes'' son, the famous artist Damian Adler, and his family in the French countryside. But on their arrival, they discover that the Adlers have fled from a mysterious threat.In the ominously empty house, Russell discovers clues including an old journal written in a nearly impenetrable code. As she delves deeper, it appears that the secrets of the past are reaching into the present. Could there be things about Holmes'' own history that even the master detective does not perceive?

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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

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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

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Book SynopsisFrom the CWA Historical Dagger Award-nominated author of The Angel's Mark in 2019 and The Serpent's Mark in 2020England, 1593: Five years on from the Armada and Elizabeth's kingdom seems secure. But there is always a plot afoot...Robert Cecil, the Queen's spymaster, needs Nicholas Shelby - reluctant spy and maverick physician - to embark on an undercover mission once again. One that he can't refuse, if he wants to keep Bianca Merton safe.Crossing the seas to Marrakesh in search of a missing informer, Nicholas hunts the dingy back alleys and dazzling palaces for the truth. But his search reveals a deadly conspiracy, one far more difficult to survive than he'd ever imagined.And back in London the plague has returned, ravaging the streets and threatening everything he holds most dear...________________________Praise for The Jackdaw Mysteries, a CWA Dagger finalist series'S. W. Perry is one of the best' The Times'No-one is better than S. W. Perry at leading us through the squalid streets of London in the sixteenth century' Andrew Swanston'S. W. Perry's ingeniously plotted novels have become my favourite historical crime series' S. G. MacLeanTrade 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 *[With] intrigue and suspense, Perry's diligent research makes the period detail convincing. Fans of S.J. Parris and C.J. Sansom will be pleased. * Publishers Weekly, starred review *

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Book Synopsis'A detective story with a very considerable difference. Ingenious, stimulating and very enjoyable' SUNDAY TIMES'As interesting and enjoyable a book as they will meet in a month of Sundays' OBSERVERScotland Yard inspector Alan Grant, recovering from a broken leg, becomes fascinated with a contemporary portrait of Richard III, believed to have brutally killed his brother's children - the Princes in the Tower - to make his crown secure. But is the hunchback with such a sensitive, noble face really one of the world's most heinous villains? Or was he the victim of one of the most insidious plots in history?'One of the best mysteries of all time' NEW YORK TIMES'Suspense is achieved by unexpected twists and extremely competent storytelling . . . credible and convincing' SPECTATORTrade ReviewA detective story with a very considerable difference. Ingenious, stimulating and very enjoyable * Sunday Times *As interesting and enjoyable a book as they 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 *Suspense is achieved by unexpected twists and extremely competent storytelling . . . credible and convincing * Spectator *Really first class . . . a continual delight * Times Literary Supplement *Josephine Tey enjoys a category to herself, as a virtuoso in the spurious . . . the nature of the deception on this occasion is too good to give away * New Statesman *Tey's style and her knack for creating bizarre characters are among the best in the field * New Yorker *Most people will find The Daughter Of Time as interesting and enjoyable a book as they will meet in a month of Sundays * Observer *A detective story with a very considerable difference. Ingenious, stimulating and very enjoyable * Sunday Times *Josephine Tey has always been absolutely reliable in producing original and mysterious plots with interesting characters and unguessable endings * Spectator *

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

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Book SynopsisMusician, sleuth and free man of color Benjamin January gets mixed in politics, with murderous results.The historical backdrop is vivid, and the writing is exquisite. One of the best in a not-to-be-missed series -BooklistStarred ReviewSeptember, 1840. A giant rally is being planned in New Orleans to stir up support for presidential candidate William Henry Harrison: the Indian-killing, hard-cider-drinking, wannabe people''s president. Trained surgeon turned piano-player Benjamin January has little use for politicians. But the run-up to the rally is packed with balls and dinner parties, and the meagre pay is sorely needed.Soon, however, January has more to worry about than keeping his beloved family fed and safe. During an elegant reception thrown by New Orleans'' local Whig notables, the son of a prominent politician gets into a fist-fight with a rival over beautiful young flirt Marie-Joyeuse Maginot - and, the day after the rally is over, Marie-Joyeuse turns up dead. The only black person amongst the initialsuspects is arrested immediately: January''s dear friend, Catherine Clisson.With Catherine''s life on the line, January is determined to uncover the truth and prove her innocence. But his adversaries are powerful politicians, and the clock is ticking . . .

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Book SynopsisGovernment girl Louise Pearlie is thrilled to be posted to London, but her journey across the Atlantic proves to be anything but plain sailing.February, 1944. Washington D.C. With the war entering its most dangerous phase, Louise Pearlie is thrilled to be reassigned to the London office of the OSS. But in order to take up her new post, she must make a perilous crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in the SS Amelia Earhart.Accompanying her on the voyage to Liverpool are an eclectic group of passengers, including the aloof Blanche Bryant, whose husband, Eddie, died in mysterious circumstances on the ship''s voyage out to New York three months before. Most of the same crew and passengers are on the return voyage, and one question remains: was it really suicide? When the body of one of the passengers is found on deck, it''s clear that German bombs and raging storms aren''t the only threats to Louise''s safety. Can she expose a brutal killer before the shi

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Book SynopsisAnd then there was one . . . can Donald Langham and Maria Dupré stop a killer who''s picking off victims one by one?December, 1956. Donald Langham''s wife Maria Dupré receives a chilling invitation to attend a death at the home of Maxwell Falwell Fenton in Essex. The once-prominent artist has a number of enemies, and has faded into obscurity since the war ended. Is the invitation to his own death or someone else''s?Arriving at Winterfield on a cold winter evening, Donald and Maria meet five strangers who have also received numbered invitations. They all had a reason to hate or fear Maxwell - including Maria, who reveals a secret from her own past. But is she telling the whole truth?The soiree produces a gruesome and dramatic twist, but it''s about to get much worse when someone starts picking off the six, one by one. Can Donald untangle lies, betrayal, and incredible revelations to identify the ki

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Book SynopsisA dangerous American is in town, but is he really responsible for a deadly crime spree in Leeds?Leeds, June 1913. Deputy Chief Constable Tom Harper is a busy man. He''s overseeing a national suffragist pilgrimage due in Leeds that his wife Annabelle intends to join, and his daughter Mary has exciting plans of her own. Then a letter arrives from police in New York: Davey Mullen, an American gangster born in Leeds, is on his way back to the city, fleeing a bloody gang war.Despite Tom''s best efforts to keep an eye on him, Davey''s arrival triggers a series of chilling events in the city. Is he responsible for the sudden surge in crime, violence and murder on Leeds''s streets? Facing a mounting workload, Tom must hunt down a cold-blooded killer while also confronting danger and tragedy close to home.

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Book SynopsisDeath and danger await intrepid nun Hildegard of Meaux when she undertakes a secret mission for the good of her Order, in this eleventh action-packed installment of the medieval mystery series.February, 1390. Hildegard is given a special assignment by the Prioress of Swyne to escort a young heiress from Beaulieu Abbey to the northern stronghold of Sir William atte Wood. What could be more pleasant than to join a betrothal party, especially as she will be accompanied on the long journey to the New Forest by the two monks militant, Gregory and Egbert.But there is a more urgent and secret purpose for her mission.The Western Church is in Schism, with two popes battling for power. The Cistercians are split between the pope in Rome - supported by King Richard - and the pope in Avignon, an ally of the king''s French enemies. Which pope will Beaulieu decide to follow? England''s future depends on it, and who better than Hildegard to discover Bea

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Book SynopsisThe queen''s half-sister, Ursula Stannard, returns to solve another Tudor mystery in this page-turning tale of suspicious riches, murder and hidden treasures - can she find the golden cargoes?May 1589. Being the queen''s half-sister and occasional secret agent can take its toll, which is why Ursula Stannard is looking forward to the simple pleasure of attending the wedding of her tenant''s daughter. But on arrival, Arabella the bride-to-be is refusing to marry her intended.Ursula tries to reason with Arabella on behalf of her mother, Joan Mercer, but she senses all is not well with her betrothed, or within the Mercer household. The family have gold and jewels beyond their means, and Ursula suspects they may not have gained such riches legally.When the strangled corpse of local herbalist and suspected witch is found, and Ursula learns through her connections at Court that English vessels are being plundered by a trio of myst

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Book SynopsisThe peaceful atmosphere of the Reverend Mother''s annual retreat is shattered by sudden, violent death in this gripping historical mystery. 1920s. Cork, Ireland. The Reverend Mother regrets the bishop''s decision to invite the five candidates for the position of Alderman of the City Council to join them for their annual retreat. Constantly accosted by ambitious, would-be politicians hoping to secure the bishop''s backing, she''s finding the week-long sojourn at the convent of the Sisters of Charity anything but peaceful. What she doesn''t expect to encounter however is sudden, violent death.When a body is discovered in the convent''s apple orchard cemetery, blown to pieces by a makeshift bomb, it is assumed the IRA are responsible. But does the killer lie closer to home? Was one of the candidates so desperate to win the election they turned to murder? Does someone have a hidden agenda? Once again, the Reverend Mother must call on her renowned i

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Book SynopsisA cursed statue . . . A haunted house . . . A seemingly supernatural death . . . The unexpected arrival of a friend from his past plunges musician, sleuth and free man of color Benjamin January into an old, unsolved case in this historical mystery set in New Orleans Outstanding . . . fastidious period detail, and a consistently surprising investigation Publishers Weekly Starred ReviewDecember 1840. Surgeon turned piano-player Benjamin January is looking forward to a peaceful holiday with his family. But the arrival of an old friend brings unexpected news - and unexpected danger.Persephone Jondrette has found Arithmus: a Sudanese man with extraordinary mental abilities who January last saw in France, nearly fifteen years ago, during a ghost-hunting expedition to a haunted chateau. January and his friends survived the experience . . . but Arithmus'' benefactor, the British explorer Deverel Wishart, did not. He was discovered d

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Book Synopsis''I was seduced from John Grey''s first scene'' Ann CleevesDuke''s Company actress Kitty Burgess has a stunning future before her - until she vanishes after the opening performance of Aminta Grey''s new play, The Summer Birdcage. One of her fellow actors swears he saw her being bundled into a black coach driven by six black horses outside the theatre. Then no more is heard of her - until the body of a young woman is found dead beside the road in Hertfordshire. It appears to be Kitty, so Aminta and her husband Sir John Grey, travel to Bishop''s Stortford to identify her. The girl has been so badly beaten it is impossible to tell who she is, but there are three clues - the dress she is wearing, a ring and a copy of the script of Aminta''s play, left (perhaps a little too conveniently) in the victim''s hands.Back in London Aminta catches sight of a young woman who looks exactly like Kitty but before she can do anything, the woman runs off and is lo

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Book SynopsisA sweeping historical novel focusing on women brought together at a Victorian photography studio.

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Book SynopsisWilliam Catesby - the suave, cynical spy with a conscience - returns in a mission that will take him from the docks of Marseille to the highlands of Laos

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Book SynopsisWho is stalking Florence Nightingale and her nurses? Is it the legendary Beast of the Crimean, or someone closer to home? In 1855, Britain and France are fighting to keep the Russians from snatching the Crimean Peninsula from the Ottoman Empire, and Nightingale, a wealthy young society woman, has made it her mission to improve the wretched conditions in the British military hospitals in Turkey-despite fierce objections from the male doctors around her. When young women start turning up dead, their mouths sewn shut with embroidered fabric roses, Inspector Charles Field (the real-life inspiration for Charles Dickens's Inspector Bucket in Bleak House) is sent from England to find the killer among the doctors, military men, journalists, and others swarming Turkey's famous Barrack Hospital. Here Field meets both the famous Nightingale as well as Nurse Jane Rolly, the woman who will become his wife, and as he races to protect them, the prime suspect takes his own life.Case closed. Or is it?Twelve years later, back in London, amid the turmoil surrounding the expansion of voting rights, women again start turning up dead, their mouths covered by that telltale embroidered rose. Did Field suspect the wrong man before, or is he dealing with a deviant copycat? Either way, he must race against time to stop the killer before more bodies are discovered, and before his own family gets pulled into danger. Populated by real figures of the day, from Benjamin Disraeli to novelist Wilkie Collins to, of course, Florence Nightingale herself, and steeped in historical details of 1860s London, The Nightingale Affair plays out against a backdrop of a rapidly changing society. Most of all, it is a pure reading delight, offering shocks, unforgettably vivid scenes, and surprising twists.Trade Review"Time-travel through the gilded halls and sinister streets of Victorian London and onward to the horrors of the Crimean War as a determined detective tracks a ruthless killer. Political intrigue, a backdrop of social upheaval, and a cast of nineteenth-century luminaries make this stylish, cleverly plotted thriller a must-read for fans of historical fiction."—Dean Jobb, author of The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream"Richness of incident, absorbing details and a breathtaking finale elevate “The Nightingale Affair” to the top rank of historical shockers."—The Wall Street Journal"Richness of incident, absorbing details and a breathtaking finale elevate The Nightingale Affair to the top rank of historical shockers."—The Wall Street Journal"The Nightingale Affair is the best kind of historical thriller — beautifully written, expertly plotted, and brimming with vivid characters and detail. Tim Mason made a brilliant debut with The Darwin Affair, and this one is even better."—Daniel Stashower, author of American Demon: Eliot Ness and the Hunt for America’s Jack the Ripper."In Field (introduced in The Darwin Affair, 2019), readers will find a detective whose humility, unflinching observations, and pragmatic take on rules are bound to charm. Mason’s second Field thriller is a deep, gritty dive into Victorian London that’s perfect for fans of Alex Grecian’s Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad series and Caleb Carr’s The Alienist."—Booklist“Because Mason places the killer and his excuses openly among his protagonists, and the threats to Field and his family are menacing and time-linked, The Nightingale Affair is at least as much of a thriller (think: ticking clock) as it is a historical novel. Yet the portrait of Nightingale both in her prime and as an aging yet still effective advocate is strong and memorable, giving the book its lively flavor that hints at all the shifts in women’s rights and health care about to unfold. Don’t expect an extraordinary police investigation here; read the book instead for the colorful storytelling around this classic “change agent” and her insistence on respect, honor, and care.”—The New York Journal of Books"The Nightingale Affair is the best kind of historical thriller — beautifully written, expertly plotted, and brimming with vivid characters and detail. Tim Mason made a brilliant debut with The Darwin Affair, and this one is even better."—Daniel Stashower, author of American Demon: Eliot Ness and the Hunt for America’s Jack the Ripper."The book's first part, set mainly in Crimea, is compelling, in part because Nightingale herself is a fascinating character... It does boast a blockbuster ending in subterranean London, rich historical detail, and a cast of real characters, from Benjamin Disraeli to Dickens himself. A killer who once stalked Florence Nightingale’s nurses seems to be resurrected in this satisfying thriller."—Kirkus Reviews"The book's language and tone are firmly grounded in the time and place... While it all too accurately portrays the misogyny of the era, this mystery will keep readers captivated and will be popular with admirers of Victorian detective novels."—Library Journal"Inspector Charles Field makes a welcome return in Mason’s stellar second historical whodunit... The action alternates between past and present, each switch masterfully heightening the tension. Mason’s superb plotting and well-drawn lead bode well for future installments."—Publishers Weekly"In Field (introduced in The Darwin Affair, 2019), readers will find a detective whose humility, unflinching observations, and pragmatic take on rules are bound to charm. Mason’s second Field thriller is a deep, gritty dive into Victorian London that’s perfect for fans of Alex Grecian’s Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad series and Caleb Carr’s The Alienist."—Booklist“This is a fast-paced, compelling novel with historical fact and fiction expertly interwoven. The historical characters never overpower the story, nor does the fiction detract from fact.”—Historical Novels Review

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Book SynopsisSet in the 1950s, this thriller by Edgar Award-winning author Lori Roy reimagines the life of Marilyn Monroe, tying her fate to a dreamy teenager whose boyfriend runs afoul of the mob.Desperate to break free of small-town Florida, Addie Anne Buckley dreams of following in the path of her glamorous aunt Jean—known to the world as Marilyn Monroe. When Aunt Jean plans a trip to Hollywood for Addie’s eighteenth birthday, Addie sees her chance to escape.One thing stands in her way: her boyfriend. Truitt Holt is Addie’s first and only love and will be joining her in California. But days before Addie’s due to leave, Truitt does an about-face and gives her a painful ultimatum: stay and marry him, or they’re through. Addie chooses her dream.Hurt and angry, Truitt unwittingly exposes the illegal bolita game he’s been running in mob territory. Now the Tampa Mafia is after him, and he has until midnight to cut a deal that will save

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Book SynopsisThe twelfth book in the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling series, perfect for fans of John le Carre and Robert Harris. 'One of the greatest anti-heroes ever written' Lee ChildFrance, 1956. Bernie Gunther is on the run. If there's one thing he's learned, it's never to refuse a job from a high-ranking secret policeman. But this is exactly what he's just done. Now he's a marked man, with the East German Stasi on his tail.Fleeing across Europe, he remembers the last time he worked with his pursuer: in 1939, to solve a murder at the Berghof, Hitler's summer hideaway in the Bavarian Alps. Hitler is long dead, the Berghof now a ruined shell, and the bizarre time Bernie spent there should be no more than a distant memory.But as he pushes on to Berlin and safety, Bernie will find that no matter how far he thinks he has put Nazi Germany behind him, for him it will always be unfinished business. The Berghof is not done with Bernie yet.Trade ReviewOnce again Kerr leads us through the fact of history and the vagaries of human nature -- Tom HanksBernie Gunther is as insubordinate, combative, interesting and entertaining as ever . . . yet another Kerr triumph * Sunday Times *Bernie Gunther - sly, subversive, sardonic, and occasionally hilarious - is one of the greatest anti-heroes ever written, and as always he lights up this tough and unflinching novel. We're in good hands here * Lee Child *In Prussian Blue, Philip Kerr once more shows himself one of the greatest master story-tellers in English. The narrative is swift and adept, and so well-grounded in the history and custom of the period that the reader is totally immersed * Alan Furst *The twelfth Bernie Gunther mystery is as brisk and agile as its German police detective protagonist * Washington Post *Gunther offers a wry view of several real figures, notably Heydrich and Bormann, and a pithy up-close analysis of the whole Nazi machine. Thrilling * Sunday Times Crime Club *

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