Historical crime and mysteries

Book SynopsisThe next gripping volume in The Brighton Mysteries series by bestselling author Elly Griffiths.It starts with a magician and a murder in a Brighton boarding house; throw in a show on Brighton pier, a sinister radio personality and a potential serial killer, and you've got the next gripping book in the Brighton Mysteries series. Magician Max Mephisto, now divorced and living in London, is on his way to visit daughter Ruby and her new-born baby when he is hailed by a voice from the past, fellow performer Ted English, aka the Great Deceiver. Ted's assistant, Cherry, has been found dead in her Brighton boarding house and he's convinced that he'll be accused of her murder.Max agrees to talk to his friend, Superintendent Edgar Stephens, who is investigating the case. What Max doesn't know is that the girl's family have hired private detective duo Emma Holmes (aka Mrs Stephens) and Sam Collins to do some digging of their own. The inhabitants of the boarding house, most of whom are performing in an Old Time Music Hall show on Brighton pier, are a motley crew. The house is also connected to a sinister radio personality called Pal. When a second magician's assistant is killed, Edgar suspects a serial killer. He persuades Max to come out of semi-retirement and take part in a summer show. But who can pose as his assistant? Edgar shocks the team by recommending someone close. . .***************************Praise for The Brighton Mysteries'Original, lively and gripping' Independent'Full of period detail, smart plotting and likeable characters' Mail on Sunday'Full of fun and expertly plotted' Sunday ExpressThe Last Remains, the final instalment of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries, was a Sunday Times bestseller in August 2023.Trade ReviewGriffiths' affection for Brighton - with its grotty digs ruled by no-nonsense landladies - and her gentle wit ensure that the reader very much likes to be beside the seaside * The Times *Strong on period detail * Sunday Times *Once again Griffiths has created a lively crew of characters and woven a twisty plot around them * Mystery People *An engaging cosy mystery - with added bite * Crime Monthly Review *Riveting offering in Griffiths' Brighton Mysteries * Sunday Post *Intriguing, multi-layered and full of rich period detail with each character honed to perfection * Lancashire Evening Press *Elly has shot into the top ranks of British crime writers after building an impressive catalogue of bestsellers * Peterborough Telegraph *Gripping . . . magical . . . we loved it * Woman's Weekly *Full of period charm and fiendish plotting * Mail on Sunday *Griffiths' affection for Brighton - with its grotty digs rules by no-nonsense landladies - and her gentle wit ensure that the reader very much likes to be beside the seaside * The Times *Strong on period detail * Sunday Times *Once again Griffiths has created a lively crew of characters and woven a twisty plot around them * Mystery People *An engaging cosy mystery - with added bite * Crime Monthly Review *Riveting offering in Griffiths' Brighton Mysteries * Sunday Post *

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Book SynopsisA page-turning, high-concept adventure from the king of the genre.Galilee, 1025. Infiltrating an ancient citadel, a Templar knight uncovers a holy treasure long hidden within the fortress''s labyrinth: the Bachal Isu - the staff of Jesus Christ - a priceless icon that holds a mysterious and terrifying power. A power that will change humankind for ever.A millennium later, Somali pirates kidnap the President''s daughter. Commander Gray Pierce is enlisted for a covert rescue mission in the African jungle. And halfway around the world a firebombing at a fertility clinic in South Carolina exposes a conspiracy that goes back centuries and lies within our genetic code. SIGMA must race to save an innocent unborn baby whose very existence raises questions about the nature of humanity, asking: could you live for ever? Would you live for ever?

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Book SynopsisFrom celebrated New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry comes the latest Cotton Malone adventure, in which Cotton unravels a mystery from World War II involving a legendary lost treasure, Yamashita''s Gold, worth billions.1945. In the waning months of World War II, Japan hid vast quantities of gold and other stolen valuables in boobytrapped underground caches all across the Philippines. By 1947 some of that loot was recovered, not by treasure hunters, but by the United States government, which told no one about the find. Instead, those assets were stamped classified, shipped to Europe, and secretly assimilated into something called the Black Eagle Trust.Present day. Retired Justice Department operative, Cotton Malone, is in Switzerland doing a favor for a friend. But what was supposed to be a simple operation turns violent and Cotton is thrust into a war between the world''s oldest bank and the CIA, a battle that directly involves the BlackTrade ReviewA fast-paced, well-written, entertaining adventure * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisIn Paris, at the end of the nineteenth century, a man with a perfect memory murders his wife. But that is only the start of the story... A dazzling literary mystery from prizewinning author Marcus Sedgwick.Trade ReviewBrilliantly maintains tension and mystery on every page of this highly original story * Daily Mail *A cut above the usual crime novel...a beautifully written tale of the limitlessness of memory and the boundaries placed on love -- Sarah Ward, author of In Bitter ChillThis is a clever, fascinating and quite riveting story which poses as many questions as it answers. * Crime Review *Brilliantly maintains tension and mystery on every page of this highly original story * Daily Mail *A cut above the usual crime novel...a beautifully written tale of the limitless of memory and the boundaries placed on love -- Sarah Ward, author of In Bitter ChillThis macabre fantasy follows a trail of blood across Europe over 50 years...Stylish, thrilling and fast, you needn't be a horror fan to enjoy this. * Sunday Mirror on A LOVE LIKE BLOOD *Classy, elegant and gripping... A novel for a chilly night with a cup of tea and a warm blanket where you start reading and then go on and on, unable to stop. -- John Ajvide Lindqvist, author of Let the Right One In on A LOVE LIKE BLOOD

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Book Synopsis'Historical fiction at its most sumptuous' Rory Clements'S. J. Parris fans will be pleased' Publishers WeeklyFrom the bestselling, CWA Historical Dagger Award-nominated author of The Angel's Mark comes a gripping and atmospheric new mystery . . . ______________The Elizabethan world is in flux. Radical new ideas are challenging the old. But the quest for knowledge can lead down dangerous paths...London, 1594. The Queen's physician has been executed for treason, and conspiracy theories flood the streets. When Nicholas Shelby, unorthodox physician and unwilling associate of spymaster Robert Cecil, is accused of being part of the plot, he and his new wife Bianca must flee for their lives. With agents of the Crown on their tail, they make for Padua, following the ancient pilgrimage route, the Via Francigena. But the pursuing English aren't the only threat Nicholas and Bianca face. Hella, a strange and fervently religious young woman, has joined them on their journey. When the trio finally reach relative safety, they become embroiled in a radical and dangerous scheme to shatter the old world's limits of knowledge. But Hella's dire predictions of an impending apocalypse, and the brutal murder of a friend of Bianca's forces them to wonder: who is this troublingly pious woman? And what does she want?More praise for S. W. Perry's Jackdaw Mysteries: 'Engaging' Sunday Times'Beautiful writing' Giles Kristian'Brilliantly evokes the colours, sights and sounds of the Elizabethan era' Goodreads review'Gripping, packed with twists and turns!' Goodreads review'Spellbinding . . . I fell in love with every character' Goodreads reviewTrade ReviewA real page-turner. Hell, threat and madness abound in this desperate flight from the dangerous, dark streets of Elizabeth's Protestant London to the vivid heart of Galileo's menacing Catholic Italy. * Minette Walters *The Heretic's Mark really is the most thrilling, stimulating and fabulously readable tale. * Liz Robinson, LoveReading, Picks of the month *Vivid characters and spot-on period details complement the intricate whodunit plot... S.J. Parris fans will be pleased. * Publishers Weekly, starred reviews *The writing is of such a quality, the characters so engaging and the setting so persuasive that S.W. Perry's ingeniously plotted novels have become my favourite historical crime series. * S. G. MacLean on The Serpent's Mark *The third in Perry's series is as dramatic and colourful as the previous two. * Sunday Times, praise for The Saracen's Mark *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, praise for The Saracen'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 *The book is both educational, and entertaining. There is both a detailed description of times, practices and people that seem strange to our modern sensibilities, but also a very well-drawn plot that follows seamlessly from the other three books. * NB Magazine *

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Book SynopsisArmistice Day, 1940. The nation remembers the Great War while a new and harrowing conflict rumbles on. The Blitz Detective, John Jago, must set aside his own painful memories to investigate a suspicious death in Pimlico, south-west London. The body of a young man has been discovered in an Anderson shelter, with two white poppies in his pocket. As the investigation progresses, Jago and his assistant, DC Cradock, find themselves knee-deep in Pimlico''s shady underworld and connections with Mosley''s fascist party. It will take all their skills to uncover the truth behind the young man''s brutal death.

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Book SynopsisSister Fidelma must call on all her deductive powers when religious gathering spills over into murder . . . Super sleuth Sister Fidelma returns in the twenty-fifth historical mystery by Peter Tremayne, acclaimed author of ATONEMENT OF BLOOD, THE SEVENTH TRUMPET and many more.PRAISE FOR THE SISTER FIDELMA SERIES: ''Rich helpings of evil and tension with lively and varied characters'' Historical Novels Review, ''The most detailed and vivid recreations of ancient Ireland'' Irish Examiner Ireland, AD 671. When a curious deputation of religieux arrive in Cashel, death follows close behind. Sister Fidelma and her companion, Eadulf, seem unable to stem the bloodshed.Is one of the deputation responsible? What was the Venerable Verax, the scholar from Rome, hiding? Was there an evil secret behind the austere Bishop Arwald? Indeed, what was the real reason behind Eadulf''s brother Egric''s unexpected appearance at Cashel - couTrade ReviewThe background detail is brilliantly defined...wonderfully evocative - The TimesA brilliant and beguiling heroine. Immensely appealing, difficult to put down - Publishers' WeeklyDefinitely an Ellis Peter competitor...the background detail is marvellous - Evening StandardTremayne's super-sleuth is a vibrant creation, a woman of wit and courage who would stand out in any era, but brings a special sparkle to the wild beauty of medieval Ireland - Morgan Llywelyn

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Book SynopsisBefore George R. R. Martin there was Dorothy Dunnett . . . PERFECT for fans of A Game of Thrones. ''She is a brilliant story teller, The Lymond Chronicles will keep you reading late into the night, desperate to know the fate of the characters you have come to care deeply about.'' The Times Literary SupplementThe Ringed Castle is the fifth book in the series -----------------------------''Not to every young girl is it given to enter the harem of the Sultan of Turkey and return to her homeland a virgin . . .''Sixteen-year-old Philippa Somerville has left Constantinople intact. Returning to England as wife in name only to Francis Crawford of Lymond, she wastes no time in seeking the truth about her new spouse, even as she finds herself navigating the paranoid court of Queen Mary.Lymond, meanwhile, arrives in Moscow to assist its young Tsar Ivan to create a fledgling Russian army. But when he is tasked to visit London as Ivan''s envoy his path is bound to cross that of the wife he has sworn to divorce. Yet neither Lymond nor Philippa, caught up in their own scheming, can quite see the vast conspiracy enshrouding them . . . ''Lashings of excitement, colour and subtlety'' The Times ''Melodrama of the most magnificent kind'' The GuardianTrade ReviewShe is a brilliant story teller, The Lymond Chronicles will keep you reading late into the night, desperate to know the fate of the characters you have come to care deeply about. * The Times Literary Supplement *Melodrama of the most magnificent kind * The Guardian *Praise for Dorothy Dunnett * - *A storyteller who could teach Scheherazade a thing or two about pace, suspense and imaginative invention * New York Times *Marvellous, breathtaking * The Times *A masterpiece of historical fiction * Washington Post *One of the greatest tale-spinners since Dumas * Cleveland Plain Dealer *Lashings of excitement, colour and subtlety * The Times *Vivid, engaging, densely plotted - are almost certainly destined to be counted among the classics of popular fiction * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisBefore George R. R. Martin there was Dorothy Dunnett . . . THE PERFECT GIFT for fans of A Game of Thrones. ''She is a brilliant story teller, The Lymond Chronicles will keep you reading late into the night, desperate to know the fate of the characters you have come to care deeply about.'' The Times Literary SupplementCheckmate is the sixth and final book in the series -----------------------------''If they place the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left and ask me to give up my mission, I will not give it up until the truth prevails or I myself perish in the attempt . . .''It is 1557 and legendary Scottish warrior Francis Crawford of Lymond is once more in France. There he is leading an army to rout the hated English from Calais. Yet while Lymond seeks victory on the battlefield he is haunted by his troubled past - chiefly the truth about his orTrade ReviewPraise for Dorothy Dunnett * - *A storyteller who could teach Scheherazade a thing or two about pace, suspense and imaginative invention * New York Times *Marvellous, breathtaking * The Times *A masterpiece of historical fiction * Washington Post *One of the greatest tale-spinners since Dumas * Cleveland Plain Dealer *Lashings of excitement, colour and subtlety * The Times *Vivid, engaging, densely plotted - are almost certainly destined to be counted among the classics of popular fiction * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisThe hot summer heat could put anyone anyone on edge but to Daisy Dalrymple, it does seem that her brother-in-law, Lord John Frobisher, is exceptionally tense - and with good reason. Someone with an evil sense of humour is sending him a series of poisoned pen letters that threaten to reveal racy secrets which could ruin him completely. Promising to protect Lord John from public scandal, Daisy travels to his village in Kent only to discover it's teeming with enough gossip, resentment and intrigue to make everyone a suspect... or victim. But then a murder is committed, and Daisy is forced to find the killer before the ink dries on her own death warrant!Trade ReviewCunning ... appropriate historical detail and witty dialogue are the finishing touches on this engaging 1920s period piece. * Publishers Weekly *As always, Dunn evokes the life and times of 1920s England while providing a plot that is a cut above the average British cosy. This will delight readers who love country-house mysteries. * Booklist *For fans of Dorothy L. Sayers' novels.' * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisIt is 1560, and Elizabeth Tudor has been on the throne for a year. Dr John Dee, at 32 already acclaimed throughout Europe, is her astrologer and consultant in the hidden arts... a controversial appointment in these days of superstition and religious strife. Now the mild, bookish Dee has been sent to Glastonbury to find the missing bones of King Arthur, whose legacy was always so important to the Tudor line. With him - hardly the safest companion - is his friend and former student, Robert Dudley, a risk-taker, a wild card... and possibly the Queen's secret lover. The famously mystical town is still mourning the gruesome execution of its Abbot, Richard Whiting. But why was the Abbot really killed? What is the secret held by the monks since the Abbey was founded by Joseph of Arimathea, uncle of Christ and guardian of the Holy Grail? The mission takes Dee to the tangled roots of English magic, into unexpected violence, necromantic darkness, the breathless stirring of first love... and the cold heart of a complex plot against Elizabeth.THE FIRST INSTALMENT IN THE JOHN DEE PAPERSTrade ReviewChills, thrills and satisfies. A fabulous read. * Huffington Post *A historical thriller with a touch of romance and more than a hint of necromancy... Brilliantly imagined and grippingly executed. * The Times *We don't praise our home-grown thriller writers enough, it's high time we praised Phil Rickman. * Daily Mail *No-one writes better than Phil Rickman of the shadow-frontier between the supernatural and the real world. -- Bernard Cornwell

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Book SynopsisGET HIGH. FALL FAR.'William Shaw is one of the great rising talents of UK crime fiction' Peter James'If you're not a fan yet, why not?' Val McDermid'Utterly nails the myth of the Swinging Sixties' Sun The Black SheepThe wayward son of a rising MP is mutilated and burnt in suspicious circumstances. The Honest DetectiveDS Cathal Breen dodges political embargo and death threats to pursue the case. The Rolling StoneNotorious art dealer Robert Fraser may provide the only clue - if only he will talk.And as Breen slips deeper into London's underground of hippies and heroin, he edges nearer to the secrets of those at the very top. Banished from a corrupt and fracturing system, he will finally be forced to fight fire with fire.Trade ReviewInsightful . . . a novel about the estrangement of fathers and sons, but Shaw has gone beyond that, creating an elegy for an entire alienated generation * New York Times *Excellent period yarn that tackles bent police, the dark side of hippiedom and utterly nails the myth of the Swinging Sixties * Sun *A distinctive British crime drama, which benefits from a clear moral sense * Daily Mail *It's a far out read, man. You'll dig it * Weekend Sport *

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Book Synopsis*****Part of the bestselling John Shakespeare series of Tudor spy thrillers from Rory Clements, winner of the Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award*****'[Clements] does for Elizabeth's reign what CJ Sansom does for Henry VIII's' Sunday Times**********Spring 1593. England is a powder keg of rumour and fear. Plague rages, famine is rife, the ageing Queen's couriers scheme: Elizabeth's Golden Age is truly tarnished. Meanwhile Spain watches and waits - and plots.Into this turmoil a small cart clatters through the streets of London, carrying a deadly load. It is the first in a wave of horrific bombing attacks on the Dutch immigrant community that will change John Shakespeare's life for ever.Driven on by cold rage, Shakespeare's investigations will take him from magnificent royal horseraces to the opulent chambers of Black Luce's brothel, from the theatrical underworld of Marlowe and Kyd to the pain-wracked torture cells of priest-hunter Richard Topcliffe, and from the elegant offices of master tactician Robert Cecil to the splintering timbers of an explosive encounter at sea.As Shakespeare delves ever deeper, he uncovers intricate layers of mystery and deception that threaten the heart not only of the realm, but of all that he holds dear.Trade ReviewBeautifully done . . . alive and tremendously engrossing. * Daily Telegraph *Beautifully done . . . alive and tremendously engrossing. * Daily Telegraph *Enjoyable, bloody and brutish. * Guardian *Enjoyable, bloody and brutish. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisFROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF REBECCA'What a magnificent thriller this is' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'She wrote exciting plots . . . a writer of fearless originality' GUARDIAN 'A good original novel, well tinged with nightmare' TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT 'He turned and stared at me and I at him, and I realised, with a strange sense of shock and fear and nausea all combined, that his face and voice were known to me too well. I was looking at myself.'By chance, two men - one English, the other French - meet in a provincial railway station. Their resemblance is uncanny, and they spend the evening talking and drinking. It is not until John wakes the next morning that he realises his French companion has stolen his identity and disappeared. So John steps into the Frenchman's shoes, and faces a variety of perplexing roles - as owner of a chateau, director of a failing business, head of a fractious family, and master of nothing.Trade ReviewShe wrote exciting plots, she was highly skilled at arousing suspense, and she was, too, a writer of fearless originality * Guardian *A good original novel, well tinged with nightmare * Times Literary Supplement *What a magnificent thriller this is * New York Times Book Review *No other popular writer has so triumphantly defied classification . . . She satisfied all the questionable criteria of popular fiction, and yet satisfied the exacting requirements of "real literature", something very few novelists ever do

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Book SynopsisGerman intelligence officer Captain Gregor Reinhardt has just been reassigned to the Feldjaegerkorps - a new branch of the military police with far-reaching powers. His position separates him from the friends and allies he has made in the last two years, including a circle of fellow dissenting Germans who formed a rough resistance cell against the Nazis. And he needs them now more than ever. While retreating through Yugoslavia with the rest of the army, Reinhardt witnesses a massacre of civilians by the dreaded Ustaše - only to discover there is more to the incident than anyone believes. When five mutilated bodies turn up, Reinhardt knows the stakes are growing more important - and more dangerous. As his investigation begins to draw the attention of those in power, Reinhardt's friends and associates are made to suffer. But as he desperately tries to uncover the truth, his own past with the Ustaše threatens his efforts. Because when it comes to death and betrayal, some people have long memories. And they remember Reinhardt all too well. And now, Reinhardt will have to fight them once more.Trade ReviewVery well written and wonderfully descriptive -- Tricia Chappell * Mystery People *a multilayered tale of war, political upheaval and fragile hope * Kirkus Reviews *In March 1945 Captain Gregor Reinhardt finds himself back in Sarajevo after a two year gap -- Maryom * Our Book Reviews *the tale creates...a complex, exceptional character in action -- Chris Roberts * Crime Review UK *A wonderfully accomplished war-time thriller * Crime Time *

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Book SynopsisLord John Grey is a man at the centre of the political upheavals that rocked Britain in the mid-18th Century. The Jacobites are still a threat, and the old enemy, France, is willing to exploit the situation to its own advantage. London, Edinburgh and Paris are hotbeds of espionage, intrigue and murder.Trade ReviewGabaldon is a born storyteller * Los Angeles Daily News *The writing is superb - lush, evocative, sensual, with a wealth of historical detail * Library Journal *History comes deliciously alive on the page * New York Daily News *Triumphant... Her use of historical detail and a truly adult love story confirm Diana Gabaldon as a superior writer * Publishers Weekly *A blockbuster hit * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisHe is fond of enigmas, of conundrums, hieroglyphics; exhibiting in his solutions of each a degree of acumen which appears to the ordinary apprehension praeternatural.

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Book SynopsisWho is killing monks in a great medieval abbey famed for its library - and why? Brother William of Baskerville is sent to find out, taking with him the assistant who later tells the tale of his investigations. Eco's celebrated story combines elements of detective fiction, metaphysical thriller, post-modernist puzzle and historical novel in one of the few twentieth-century books which can be described as genuinely unique.The Name of the Rose was made into a film in 1986, starring Sean Connery and Christian Slater and directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud.Trade Review'[It} confirms Eco as an outstanding writer of philosophy dressed as fiction' -- Stephanie Merrit * Observer *'Eco does something rare: he makes ideas moving' -- Michael Pye * Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisAn irresistible mystery set in 1890s Edinburgh, Kaite Welsh''s THE WAGES OF SIN features a female medical student-turned-detective, and will thrill fans of Sarah Waters and Antonia Hodgson.''Historical fiction doesn''t get much more delicious or original'' Damian Barr''This powerful novel combines a disturbing look at late Victorian attitudes towards women and morality with a satisfying murder mystery'' Sunday ExpressSarah Gilchrist has fled from London to Edinburgh in disgrace and is determined to become a doctor, despite the misgivings of her family and society. As part of the University of Edinburgh''s first intake of female medical students, Sarah comes up against resistance from lecturers, her male contemporaries, and - perhaps worst of all - her fellow women, who will do anything to avoid being associated with a fallen woman...When one of Sarah''s patients turns up in the university dissecting room as a battered corpsTrade ReviewThis powerful novel combines a disturbing look at late Victorian attitudes towards women and morality with a satisfying murder mystery * Sunday Express *An enthrallingly gothic murder mystery * The Herald *A gripping story, a great central character and full of riotous, beautifully drawn period detail -- Kate HamerEdinburgh is the superb gothic setting for this nail-biting debut * Fabulous Magazine *The first book in what will, one hopes, be a long-running series, featuring a new kind of historical leading lady, Welsh's debut is an inspiring feminist tale perfect for the modern age * Library Journal, Debut of the Month *Welsh makes clever use of the conventions of the genre while throwing in a twist informed by modern sensibilities. Damp, sooty, moralistic, and sinning Edinburgh is convincingly evoked. A gritty detective story as unflinching as its heroine, rich in well-researched period detail * Kirkus Reviews *Atmosphere, murder, a strong heroine, a flawed hero and a stunning twist - The Wages of Sin has it all. I hope we'll be reading more by Kaite Welsh. And I hope it will involve Sarah Gilchrist. * My Weekly Magazine *I absolutely loved The Wages of Sin, and especially the funny, feisty Sarah Gilchrist, a Victorian feminist for modern times. Transported between the horrors of medical dissection rooms, the back streets of Edinburgh, opium dens and brothels, I was captivated, right to the very end -- Catherine Hall, author of THE PROOF OF LOVE and DAYS OF GRACEA tremendous debut * Daily Record *A gripping story of murder, medicine and misogyny in Victorian Britain * Emerald Street *Historical fiction doesn't get much more delicious or original -- Damian Barr

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Book SynopsisIt''s Christmas, and Phryne has an invitation to the Last Best party of 1928, a four-day extravaganza being held at Werribee Manor house and grounds by the Golden Twins, Isabella and Gerald Templar. She knew them in Paris, where they caused a sensation. Phryne is in two minds about going when she starts receiving anonymous threats warning her against attending. She promptly decides to accept the invitation - after all, no one tells Phryne what to do. At the Manor, she is accommodated in the Iris room, and at the party meets two polo-playing women, a Goat lady (and goat), a large number of glamorous young men and a very rude child called Tarquin. The acolytes of the golden twins are smoking hashish and dreaming, and Phryne finds that the jazz is as hot as the drinks are cold and indulges in flirtations, dancing, and mint juleps. Heaven.It all seems like good clean fun until three people are kidnapped, one of them the abominable child, and Phryne must puzzle her way through thTrade ReviewGreenwood's strength lies in her ability to create characters that are wholly satisfying: the bad guys are bad, and the good guys are great * Vogue *Phryne Fisher is gutsy and adventurous, and endowed with plenty of grey matter * West Australian *Elegant, fabulously wealthy and sharp as a tack, Phryne sleuths with customary panache ... [she is] irresistibly charming * The Age *Phryne Fisher is young, wealthy, beautiful, smart, confident and independently minded, and she has a knack for solving murders when she is not sipping a strengthening cocktail or planning another seduction * The Australian's Review of Books *

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Book Synopsis**WINNER 2018 WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZE**'Even better than his first' Daily Telegraph India, 1920. Captain Sam Wyndham and Sergeant Banerjee of Calcutta Police must investigate the dramatic assassination of a Maharaja's son... Sam Wyndham is visiting the kingdom of Sambalpore, home to diamond mines and the beautiful Palace of the Sun. But when the Maharaja's eldest son is assassinated, Wyndham realises that the realm is riven with conflict. Prince Adhir was unpopular with religious groups, while his brother - now in line to the throne - appears to be a feckless playboy. As Wyndham and Sergeant 'Surrender-not' Banerjee endeavour to unravel the mystery, they become entangled in a dangerous world. They must find the murderer, before the murderer finds them.*SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2018 HISTORICAL AND GOLD DAGGERS* *LONGLISTED FOR THE 2018 CWA STEEL DAGGER* Praise for the Wyndham and Banerjee series : 'An exceptional historical crime novel' C.J. Sansom 'A thought-provoking rollercoaster' Ian Rankin 'Cracking... A journey into the dark underbelly of the British Raj' Daily ExpressIf you enjoyed A Necessary Evil, further books in the Wyndham and Banerjee series are available now: A Rising Man Smoke and Ashes Death in the East The Shadows of MenTrade ReviewEven better than his first… What is most striking about Mukherjee’s novels is his infectious enjoyment of the human oddity of the British in India… Even better is his portrayal of the mix of opulence and spirituality that characterises Sambalpore under its sybaritic but benevolent maharaja… I can’t imagine anyone failing to enjoy it -- Jake Kerridge * Daily Telegraph *A year ago I welcomed the arrival of Captain Sam Wyndham and his faithful Sergeant… and I am delight to report that his return is every bit as engaging -- Geoffrey Wansell * Daily Mail *A richly detailed period gem boasting the British Raj’s exotic setting and a gripping "whydunit" spun around an intriguing cast -- Christine Tran * Booklist *An intriguing and enjoyable crime novel -- Sarah Shaffi * Stylist *He writes beautifully, bringing the colourful kingdom of Sambalpore to vivid life and taking the reader on a highly entertaining journey to unearth the dark secrets as its core, with unexpected twists on the way to a satisfying finale -- Jon Coates * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisThe first mystery in the bestselling Kate Shackleton crime series! A Golden Age murder mystery set in 1920s Yorkshire, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and Verity Bright.Take one quiet Yorkshire Village, add a measure of mystery, a sprinkling of scandal and Kate Shackleton - amateur sleuth extraordinaire!Bridgestead is a quiet village: a babbling brook, rolling hills and a working mill at its heart. Pretty and remote, nothing exceptional happens, except for the day when Joshua Braithwaite, goes missing in dramatic circumstances, never to be heard of again.Now Joshua''s daughter is getting married and wants one last attempt at finding her father. Has he run off with his mistress, or was he murdered for his mounting coffers? Kate Shackleton has always loved solving puzzles. So who better to get to the bottom of Joshua''s mysterious disappearance? But as Kate taps into the lives of the Bridgestead dwellers, she opens cracks tha

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Book SynopsisGuy Fawkes Night, 1857. Joel Heygate was the popular stationmaster at Exeter St David s railway station. So the town is horrified when his remains are discovered in the embers of the annual Bonfire Night celebration. Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck unearths three suspects, but are they missing something?"Trade Review'Told with great colour and panache... A wonderful sense of inhabiting the period.' Sherlock Magazine

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Book SynopsisIt is 1872, and a series of gruesome murders is the talk of London. Mycroft Holmes—now twenty-six and a force to be reckoned with at the War Office—has no interest in the killings; however his brother Sherlock has developed a distasteful fascination for the macabre to the detriment of his studies, much to Mycroft’s frustration. When a ship carrying cargo belonging to Mycroft’s best friend Cyrus Douglas runs aground, Mycroft persuades Sherlock to serve as a tutor at the orphanage that Douglas runs as a charity, so that Douglas might travel to see what can be salvaged. Sherlock finds himself at home among the street urchins, and when a boy dies of a suspected drug overdose, he decides to investigate, following a trail of strange subterranean symbols to the squalid opium dens of the London docks. Meanwhile a meeting with a beautiful Chinese woman leads Mycroft to the very same mystery, one that forces him to examine the underbelly of the opium trade that is enriching his beloved Britain’s coffers. As the stakes rise, the brothers find that they need one another’s assistance and counsel. But a lifetime of keeping secrets from each other may have catastrophic consequences…Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR MYCROFT AND SHERLOCK“Careful attention to details, lively characters, and thrilling plotting all make this entry from Team Abdul-Jabbar and Waterhouse a winner! It’s a joy to share the company of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes before they were--well, Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes!” Leslie S. Klinger, Editor, The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes"A better than worthy successor to an extraordinary debut, Mycroft and Sherlock plunges Douglas, Mycroft, and his impossibly abrasive teen brother Sherlock into a dark conspiracy in which the mutilated corpses of Chinese immigrants are somehow tied to the disappearance of a narcotics-addicted street urchin. Told with sublime historical detail, keen plotting, and a warm heart, this marvelous sequel grants us new glimpses into the life of a young, vibrant, brilliant Mycroft Holmes." Lyndsay Faye, bestselling author of The Gods of Gotham“The authors have masterfully captured the Victorian idiom. By dropping in clever references to the canon in this Mycroftian prequel, the overall chronology is linked seamlessly. Detailing the complex relationship of the Brothers Holmes and their extraordinary powers of observation--Mycroft’s low-key omnipresent talent vs. Sherlock’s pure performance art--is very satisfying, filling in blanks we never thought would be completed. Lovely reading… an excellent addition to Holmesian literature.” Michael F. Whelan, “Wiggins”, Baker Street Irregulars“As a BSI for nearly a half-century I am fussy about pastiches and cannot praise Mycroft and Sherlock too highly. The tone is spot on, and the characters--nicely tweaked from Doyle’s portrayal--come to compelling life in this rousing adventure.” Otto Penzler, The Mysterious Bookshop"Queen Victoria charges Mycroft with an impossible mission while a 19-year-old Sherlock investigates his first case; the death of a young boy; supposedly an opium addict, but Sherlock’s acumen tells him otherwise. The two stories twist around each other until cleverly tangling into one. The fractious brothers are a Victorian Odd Couple, bickering and competing their way into the darkest corners of London’s drug trade. The book is smart, fun and paced like a 100-meter sprint. Mycroft and Sherlock is a worthy addition to the Sherlock Holmes legend and lore." Joe Ide, author of the IQ novels and winner of the Shamus, Macavity and Anthony Awards, NYT Critics Best Books 2016, Washington Post’s Best Thrillers 2016"I’ve written dozens of mysteries, but I’ve consciously stayed away from creating a hero who might be described as Holmesian. Here’s the thing: I’m not smart enough to write a Holmesian character, though I am self-aware enough to accept this sad fact. Nor do I have a keen eye for observational detail. Because of these limitations, my detectives have the qualities I can manage and are armed only with a sharp tongue and some moxie. Fortunately, Kareem and Anna are braver, and oh so much smarter, than I… I love these mysteries. I love the era. I love the language. On some level I resent Kareem and Anna as they deliver all the ingeniousness that eludes me while still imbuing Mycroft with a sharp tongue and moxie all his own. It doesn’t seem fair.” Rob Thomas, writer/producer, Veronica Mars, iZombie"Fans will want to read this sturdy pastiche" - Kirkus Reviews"In a sequel that takes place two years following the events detailed in the authors’ outstanding Mycroft Holmes (2015), Abdul-Jabbar and Waterhouse again nail the historical ambience, the dialogue, and the plotting, effectively paying tribute to Arthur Conan Doyle but also adding large dollops of humor and romance. This is a wonderful mystery in what one hopes will be a long-running series." -Booklist Starred Review"Fans of Conan Doyle will appreciate the period accuracy, but a much wider audience will enjoy the intelligent treatment of race and social standing as part of a well-­plotted, intriguing mystery." -Library Journal - Starred Review "Engrossing, emotional...fun... Readers will find plenty of reasons to celebrate this latest Sherlockian adventure." -BookPage"Mycroft and Sherlock has a well laid out plot with many twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing. And for Sherlock Holmes fans, it is a perfect edition to sit next to Conan Doyle on the library shelf." -New York Journal of Books"Here is a Victorian London both as seamy as you could wish for and more diverse than you might expect, through which Sherlock Holmes’s smarter older brother strides with sleek authority, solving a tantalising mystery (with just a little help from his sibling). Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has scored another slam-dunk Holmesian hit." James Lovegrove, New York Times bestseller"The smoke of the London Underground, the funk of the Devil's Acre, the vapors of opium. The atmosphere rises off the pages in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse's sequel to their hugely entertaining Mycroft Holmes. Now, in Mycroft and Sherlock, the Holmes brothers--each brilliant in his own way--must solve a case that lays bare the dark heart of Imperial London: a fraternal duo in a story paced like a whirlwind ride through the night." - Martin Rosenstock “A clever pastiche in the world of Sherlock Holmes that expertly captures the tone of the originals while creating a world all their own"..."Updates the canon by presenting us with newfound depths, both to the characters and to the situations they find themselves in. I absolutely loved this book” - Criminal Element"This book gave me so much to think about when it comes to the Holmes brothers." - Editing Everything"An energetic and clever tale about the young Holmes brothers--sure to thrill fans!" Lois H. Gresh, New York Times bestselling author "A worthy addition to the groaning shelves of new Holmes stories, “Mycroft and Sherlock” stands tall." - Seattle Times"Well-written, strongly paced, a chewy mystery. A must for any Sherlock Holmes fan, and just downright fun for any fan of Victorian mysterious fiction." - Bookgasm"The book's a thriller as well as a mystery, with interesting major and minor characters, and it offers an intriguing look at Victorian London." -Sherlockians and Doyleans“Mycroft and Sherlock adds yet another wrinkle to the Holmes-canon that is equally refreshing and a return to classic Holmesian mystique and intrigue." - Electric Literature“another phenomenal novel...Abdul-Jabbar and Waterhouse continue to raise the bar for historical fiction that aims to make a point while it entertains” - CrimeReads“The titular characters are beginning to embody their canonical selves in this book, and it was a lot of fun to read” - Interesting Though Elementary "Mycroft and Sherlock is a worthy story bringing the two Holmes brothers together. It’s time to stop comparisons with Arthur Conan Doyle. Abdul-Jabbar and Waterhouse stand on their own, carrying on the proud Sherlock Holmes tradition. " - John Koenig, Stuff I Like“the plotting and character sketches are first rate, as is the authors’ sly interspersing of social commentary” - Forbes.com "There are a lot of Sherlocks out there but Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse have put a fresh spin on the classic. Sherlock has teamed up with his equally erudite, domineering older brother Mycroft, a relationship that gives new meaning to the words, “sibling rivalry”. The Holmes brothers are on a mission to catch a gruesome serial killer, their combined detective work a wonder to behold. Equally as compelling, is their attempt to help a boy from the back streets of Victorian London. This is a real look at that era, a far cry from Downton Abbey that adds a refreshing relevancy to the book. Sherlock and Mycroft is a worthy addition to the iconic character's legacy." — Joe Ide, NYT best-selling author, I.Q.

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

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Book Synopsis''The emperor''s mistress had been murdered, and the world had been taken hold of and turned upon its head'' Prague, 1599. Christian Stern, a young doctor, has just arrived in the city. On his first evening, he finds a young woman''s body half-buried in the snow.The dead woman is none other than the emperor''s mistress, and there''s no shortage of suspects. Stern is employed by the emperor himself to investigate the murder. In the search to find the culprit, Stern finds himself drawn into the shadowy world of the emperor''s court - unspoken affairs, letters written in code, and bitter rivalries. But there''s no turning back now...Trade ReviewBlack is a master of high-class crime fiction, literary noir in the tradition of Georges Simenon and Raymond Chandler * Guardian *An atmospheric evocation of a city frozen by winter and riddled with intrigue * Daily Mail *This is an intriguing excursion into different historical territory * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisCosy crime historical mysteries featuring Flavia de Luce - the teenage amateur sleuth you'll never forget. Perfect for fans of Midsomer Murders and Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.Trade ReviewPraise for the cosy crime Flavia de Luce Mysteries - perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders: The Flavia de Luce novels are now a cult favourite * Mail on Sunday *Certain to become a national treasure * Daily Mail *Delightfully entertaining * Guardian *Flavia is enchanting * New York Times *A breath of fresh air to the world of period-piece sleuthing * Independent *Flavia is mercilessly addictive * Daily Telegraph *A clever, witty and totally gripping read with lots of surprises * Essentials *At once precocious and endearing. Flavia is a marvellous character. Quirkily appealing, this is definitely a crime novel with a difference * Choice *It's like entering the lost world of the Mitford sisters where the girls are allowed to run completely wild * Crime Squad *Hilarious, eccentric and mischievous * Deadly Pleasures *Engaging, entertaining, bright and breezy; and above all, great fun! * Good Book Guide *The intricate plot unfolds neatly against a charming period backdrop of 1950s England, while the precocious but indomitable Flavia is so original a character that the book is a joy to read. * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *

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Book SynopsisBook 1 in the gripping Oswald de Lacy series, which can be read as a standalone, from ''the medieval CJ Sansom'' (Jeffery Deaver)England, 1350: the Black Death has changed the country forever, taking master and servant alike. Young Oswald de Lacey was never meant to be Lord of Somershill Manor, but when his father and older brothers die of the Plague, he must return home from the monastery and assume responsibility for an estate ravaged by pestilence. Almost immediately Oswald is confronted with the vicious murder of a young woman, Alison Starvecrow. The village priest claims it is the work of demonic dog-headed men, a theory Oswald rejects as nonsense. But proving this - by finding the real killer - only leads Oswald deeper into a maze of political intrigue, family secrets and violent strife. And then the body of another girl is found...''Sykes has really reset the bar for medieval mysteries'' MedievalistsTrade ReviewThe medieval CJ Sansom -- Jeffery DeaverSykes's damp, depopulated, miasmic Middle Ages is well evoked, making this an impressive debut with at least one sequel on the way. * The Herald, Scotland *A novel full of suspense and intrigue that will have you gripped. * Best magazine *There's a nice, cliché-free sharpness to Sykes' writing . . . that suggests a medieval Raymond Chandler at work, and there are no phony celebrations of the peasantry or earth-mothers thrusting herbal concoctions down grateful throats. Plenty of action and interesting characters, without intervention of the libertarian modern conscience that so often wrecks the medieval historical novel. * Independent *PLAGUE LAND is a fascinating historical crime novel about a world turned upside down, inhabited by a rich cast of characters. A terrific debut and a wonderful start to a brand-new series. -- Antonia Hodgson, author of THE DEVIL IN THE MARSHALSEASykes has really reset the bar for medieval mysteries . . . every clue brings with it unexpected twists and turns. When you think you know who the killer is, you're slapped with yet another surprise. * Medievalists *Sykes's debut provides everything a reader would want in a historical mystery: a gripping plot, vivid language, living and breathing characters, and an immersive depiction of the past. * Publisher's Weekly *

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Book SynopsisThe explosive new Cotton Malone thriller by the international bestseller Steve Berry.Trade ReviewBerry raises this genre's stakes. * New York Times *I love this guy. -- Lee ChildAs always with Steve Berry, you're educated about significant things while your knuckles are turning white and the pages are flying by. -- David BaldacciA former KGB agent heading to Washington in the run-up to a new president's inauguration ... The chunks of secret history (also featuring America's past plans to invade Canada) are fascinating. * The Sunday Times *Each of Steve Berry's hugely successful thrillers ... have really fascinating aspects of arcane American history at their heart ... The frenetic action ranges from deepest Siberia to Washington DC as Malone tries to second-guess one of his most dangerous opponents ever. Cerebral derring-do adventure at its best. * Irish Independent *

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Book SynopsisAfter the excitement of recent adventures (as related in Pride and Prescience and Suspense and Sensibility), Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy retire to the peace and quiet of Pemberley as they await the birth of their first child. Such tranquility, however, cannot last......

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Book SynopsisSister Fidelma returns in THE HOUSE OF DEATH, the thirty-second Celtic mystery by Peter Tremayne, acclaimed author of THE SHAPESHIFTER''S LAIR, BLOOD IN EDEN, and BLOODMOON. If you love Ellis Peters, you''ll be gripped by THE HOUSE OF DEATH and the Sister Fidelma series.Ireland. AD 672. The Feast of Beltaine is approaching and the seven senior princes of the kingdom of Muman are gathering at Cashel to discuss King Colgú''s policies. Just days before the council meets, Brother Conchobhar, the keeper of the sacred sword, is found murdered.Sister Fidelma and her brother Colgú fear that the killer had been trying to steal the sword that symbolises the King''s authority to rule. And as rumours begin to spread of an attempt to overthrow Colgú, news reaches Cashel that a plague ship has landed at a nearby port, bringing the deadly pestilence to its shores. Amid fear and panic, Fidelma, Eadulf and Enda must work together to catch a killer

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Book SynopsisIt is the autumn of 1910, and for fifteen long years Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson have battled R'lluhloig, the Hidden Mind that was once Professor James Moriarty. Europe is creeping inexorably towards war, and a more cosmic conflict is nearing its zenith, as in a single night all the most eminent members of the Diogenes Club die horribly, seemingly by their own hands. Holmes suspects it is the handiwork of a German spy working for R'lluhloig, but his search for vengeance costs an old friend his life. The companions retreat to Holmes's farm on the Sussex Downs, and it is not long before a client comes calling. Three young women have disappeared from the nearby town of Newford, and the locals have no doubt who is responsible. For legend has it that strange amphibious creatures dwell in a city on the seabed, coming ashore every few centuries to take fresh captives. As Holmes and Watson seek out the terrifying interlopers, the scene is set for the final battle that will bring them face to face with the Sussex Sea-Devils, and perhaps with Cthulhu himself...Trade Review“Certainly in contention for the year’s best read” - Borg.com “A truly literary work combining a smart Holmesian adventure and the dark mind of H.P. Lovecraft” - Borg.com

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author James Lovegrove's continues the story of Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles, as five years later, another monstrous creature stalks across Dartmoor... 1894. The monstrous Hound of the Baskervilles has been dead for five years, along with its no less monstrous owner, the naturalist Jack Stapleton. Sir Henry Baskerville is living contentedly at Baskerville Hall with his new wife Audrey and their three-year-old son Harry. Until, that is, Audrey's lifeless body is found on the moors, drained of blood. It would appear some fiendish creature is once more at large on Dartmoor and has, like its predecessor, targeted the unfortunate Baskerville family. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are summoned to Sir Henry's aid, and our heroes must face a marauding beast that is the very stuff of nightmares. It seems that Stapleton may not have perished in the Great Grimpen Mire after all, as Holmes believed, and is hell-bent on revenge...Trade ReviewThis artful inversion of the structure of Conan Doyle's novel will please Sherlockians -Publishers Weekly The latest pastiche by the author of Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Dust is a clever follow-up to The Hound of the Baskervilles. The language, characters, and pacing is accurate enough to satisfy even hard-core Holmes fans. -Library Journal James Lovegrove has a nice grasp of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's writing style, and it is easy for readers to fall into this tale and become consumed by it. - BookReporter "A wonderful addition to the Sherlock Holmes canon, extrapolating cleverly from the original oeuvre to present something fresh and absorbing for the modern reader" - Criminal Element "Packed with familiar faces and places but with a fresh twist, this is a novel perfectly suited to classic Holmes fans" - The Crime Review "Lovegrove has crafted a true page-turner... The novel reads as a classic Sherlock Holmes tale yet has a subtle modern flare to it" - Fangirl Nation "Lovegrove has a great voice for Sherlock Holmes" - Girl Who Reads "Entertaining and foreboding" - Reviewing the Evidence "Mystery excellence that should be on everybody's reading list" - RisingShadow

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Book SynopsisCity of Vengeance is an explosive debut novel by D. V. Bishop set in Renaissance Florence, the first in a historical thriller series which continues with The Darkest Sin, winner of the CWA Historical Dagger Award 2023.'He is fast becoming a serious rival to C. J. Sansom and S. J. Parris' – Historical Novel SocietyFlorence. Winter, 1536. A prominent Jewish moneylender is murdered in his home, a death with wide implications in a city powered by immense wealth.Cesare Aldo, a former soldier and now an officer of the Renaissance city’s most feared criminal court, is given four days to solve the murder: catch the killer before the feast of Epiphany – or suffer the consequences.During his investigations Aldo uncovers a plot to overthrow the volatile ruler of Florence, Alessandro de’ Medici. If the Duke falls, it will endanger the whole city. But a rival officer of the court is determined to expose details about Aldo’s private life that could lead to his ruin. Can Aldo stop the conspiracy before anyone else dies, or will his own secrets destroy him first?'A first-class historical thriller . . . Bishop’s spirited and richly detailed story is a tour-de-force' – David Baldacci'An impressive and immersive debut set in a beautifully realized sixteenth-century Florence' – Antonia Hodgson, author of The Devil in Marshalsea'Richly atmospheric . . . transports you to another time and place' – Ambrose Parry, author of The Way of All FleshTrade ReviewAn impressive and immersive debut set in a beautifully realized sixteenth-century Florence. Investigator Cesare Aldo is a fascinating and charismatic protagonist. Highly recommended -- Antonia Hodgson, author of A Death at Fountains AbbeyA first-class historical thriller with echoes of The Name of the Rose . . . a tour-de-force and clearly demonstrates the sixteenth century was as full of thrills and mysteries as the twenty-first, perhaps even a shade more -- David Baldacci, author of the Amos Decker seriesRichly atmospheric . . . transports you to another time and place -- Ambrose Parry, author of The Way of All FleshSo fluid and fluent, the pages almost turn themselves . . . Aldo is a great creation, resourceful, driven and forced to hide who he really is, but nevertheless is compelled to find justice for those who deserve it -- James Oswald, bestselling author of the Inspector McLean seriesCross-dressing, torture, oodles of violence — this pungent example of historical noir has the lot * The Times *Brings to life the 16th century Italian city, from the rankest taverns in its darkest alleys to the corridors of power showing a city of art and literature that is also riddled with corruption, anti-Semitism and violence * Evening Standard *Written with a finesse and authenticity which augurs well for a series with all the hallmarks of historical fiction masters like CJ Sansom and Ken Follett, City of Vengeance delivers a trip to Florence that you won’t forget! * Lancashire Evening Post *A complex, intriguing plot which weaves its way through the treacherous streets of sixteenth century Florence, encountering danger at every dark corner -- Sarah Maine, author of The House Between TidesIn Cesare Aldo, Bishop has created a character with the cunning, bravery and balls of steel to take on the twisty, toxic politics of the Medicis with panache. I can't wait for his next outing -- Alison Belsham, author of The Tattoo ThiefThis atmospheric murder mystery is packed with political intrigue and questionable morality. Secrets and conspiracies abound, danger is ever present and tension rises within the complex plotting * Choice *Rich in period detail - a compelling journey into Florence’s dark past -- Philip Gwynne Jones, author of the Nathan Sutherland Venetian mysteriesCompelling and assured. Does not miss a step through the dark intrigues of sixteenth century Florence, but convinces to the last. Aldo is a man as fitting for our times as for the bloody streets he takes us to. And D. V. Bishop makes it all seem effortless -- Shirley McKayDramatic and compelling, a great example of quality historical crime fiction . . . But the crowning glory of the book has to be the character of Cesare Aldo: bold, disquieting and complex; beautifully crafted with a deep and sensitive understanding of human frailty. An exciting, engaging story, masterfully told -- Laura Carlin, author of The Wicked ComethThis dramatic and compelling book, with the larger than life, complex, charismatic and enduring and towering figure of Aldo holding it all together, is for all who enjoy well-written and enthralling historical mysteries * Crime Review *D. V. Bishop has hit the ground running by introducing us to Cesare Aldo, a “hero” we can all root for as he continues to seek justice in this beautiful, rich but corrupt medieval city . . . A terrific historical thriller that held me gripped from start to finish * Historical Novel Society *Rich in atmosphere, and chilling in its authenticity, Bishops paints a vivid image of 16th-century Italy * Scottish Field *Bishop has an impressive command of Florence’s history, its beauty, ambition, and taste for violence. Readers will eagerly await the sequel * Publishers Weekly *A thrilling historical crime novel, with more twists and turns than the river Arno, and a fantastic cast of characters both fictional and factual -- Bookliterati

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Book SynopsisThe prequel to David Downing?s bestselling Station series introduces John Russell, an Englishman with a political past who must keep his head down as the Nazis solidify their power.February 27, 1933. In this stunning prequel to the John Russell espionage novels, the Reichstag parliament building in Berlin is set ablaze. It?s just a month after Hitler?s inauguration as Chancellor of Germany, and the Nazis use the torching to justify a campaign of terror against their political opponents. John Russell?s recent separation from his wife threatens his right to reside in Germany and any meaningful relationship with his six-year-old son, Paul. He has just secured work as a crime reporter for a Berlin newspaper, and the crimes which he has to report?the gruesome murder of a rent boy, the hit-and-run death of a professional genealogist, the suspicious disappearance of a Nazi-supporting celebrity fortune-teller?are increasingly entangled in the wider nightmare engulfing Germany. Each new investigation carries the risk of Russell?s falling foul of the authorities, at a time when the rule of law has completely vanished, and the Nazis are running scores of pop-up detention centers, complete with torture chambers, in every corner of Berlin.

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Book SynopsisA portrait of evil in Victorian London.

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