Historical crime and mysteries

Book SynopsisA harmless game of Murder in the Dark? Or an invitation to die for? The brand new, festive murder mystery for 2023 from 'modern rival to Agatha Christie' Ada MoncrieffIt's Christmas 1936 and an eclectic list of guests and staff have gathered for the grand reopening of Maybridge castle, a newly renovated yet still crumbling hotel deep in the Cumbrian countryside.Amongst them are a doctor and his new wife, tarot readers, a journalist, an elderly amateur sleuth and her cat. By the time the first sherries have been drunk a person will be dead. An innocent game of murder-in-the-dark turns into a real game of life and death. Someone has changed the rules...but who?____________________________________Readers love Ada Moncrieff:'An absolute delight of a book''Compelling and engaging Christmas historical crime''Her prose remind me of the brilliant PG Wodehouse''A cosy mystery with the added charm of a Christmas setting. What more could a reader want''Beautifully written, funny and gripping. Can't wait to see what Moncrieff comes up with next.''The ending reminded me of Poirot getting all his suspects together in one room and finally revealing themurderer. Loved it !''I absolutely loved this! A fantastic, fun Christmas read full of mystery and intrigue. The writing is fantastically welldone. Highly recommend!'

Read more less

Book SynopsisCan 1920''s script girl Jessie do Mary Pickford''s bidding and uncover a real killer?When Jessie is asked by her idol, the famous actress Mary Pickford, if she can do some private investigating for her, Jessie reluctantly accepts. A girl was found stabbed in her bedroom with another woman lying unconscious on the floor next to her, a bloody knife in her hand. With no police investigation into the murder, it''s up to Jessie to hone her amateur detective skills and prove the girls innocence before she hangs for murder. But as Jessie travels through the roaring twenties world of Hollywood and movies, surreptitiously interviewing fellow travelling performers, she struggles to find the connection she needs. And with her love interest David seemingly involved in seedy dealings, can she uncover the killer''s identity before she too is endangered?

Read more less

Book SynopsisFormer Detective Inspector Daniel Wilson is often consulted when a case must be solved quickly and quietly. Such is the case when a body is found in the Egyptian Collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Wilson must contend with an unhelpful police Inspector, and more alarmingly, the archaeologist who discovered the body.Trade Review"With accurate period details, Eldridge perfectly recreates the Cambridge of the Victorian era. A highly successful start to a captivating new series." - Marni Graff

Read more less

Book SynopsisMarcus Aquila and his patron Rutlius Scaurus are tasked with rooting out a spy ring operating in the lands into which their imperial master Severus''s armies are advancing.The quest to find and subvert their foes'' informers will place the two friends at great risk, with torture and death the price of any mistake. While success will put them in the front rank against battle-hardened legions, hungry for revenge, in a bloody struggle to determine the fate of Asia''s loyalty.-----''This is fast-paced and gripping read-through-the-night fiction, with marvellous characters and occasional moments of dark humour. Some authors are better historians than they are storytellers. Anthony Riches is brilliant at both.'' Conn Iggulden on Empire''A master of the genre'' The Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisDetective Wesley Peterson and archaeologist Dr Neil Watson return to solve a mystery surrounding a grand estate in the Devon countryside. Can they catch a killer before they strike again?''A beguiling author who interweaves past and present'' THE TIMESNovember. With the tourist season over in South Devon, Detective Inspector Wesley Peterson is looking forward to a quieter month in the CID. But when a man is shot dead on Bonfire Night, he finds he has a complex murder case on his hands. The body of Patrick North was found in woodland connected to Nesbaraton Hall, a grand estate dating back to the eighteenth century. The Smithson family, who own the estate, are away on holiday. However, when an anonymous letter threatening to abduct the Smithson son is uncovered, Wesley fears North''s death might have been collateral damage in a sinister kidnap plot.Meanwhile, archaeologist Dr Neil Watson discovers a hidden grotto in a developer''s

Read more less

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

Read more less

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

Read more less

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

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of The Axeman's Jazz, Ray Celestin's The Mobster's Lament is a gripping tale of crime and jazz music, and the third entry in his City Blues Quartet. A gangster is on his last chance to escape the clutches of New York's mafia families but, as a blizzard descends on NYC, a ruthless serial killer is tracking his every move.New York, 1947.Mob fixer Gabriel Leveson’s plans to flee the city are put on hold when he is tasked with tracking down stolen mob money by ‘the boss of all bosses’, Frank Costello. But while he's busy looking, he doesn't notice who is watching him . . .Meanwhile, Private Investigator Ida Young and her old partner, Michael Talbot, must prove the innocence of Talbot’s son Tom, who has been accused of the brutal murders of four people in a Harlem flophouse. With all the evidence pointing towards him, their only chance of exoneration is to find the killer themselves.Whilst across town, Ida’s childhood friend, Louis Armstrong, is on the brink of bankruptcy, when a promoter approaches him with a strange offer to reignite his career . . .Both a gripping neo-noir crime novel and a vivid, panoramic portrait of New York, The Mobster's Lament takes you to the heart of a city where the Mob has risen to the height of its powers.Though they can be read individually, the City Blues Quartet begins with The Axeman's Jazz and Dead Man's Blues. Complete the series with Sunset Swing. Trade ReviewA vividly written crime thriller which is a contender for book of the year. -- Jon Coates * Daily Mirror *One of the most ambitious and riveting works of crime fiction in years . . . This is a compendious, gripping book that captures the fizzing energy of New York at one of the most exciting points in its history * Sunday Express *A satisfying and multi-layered mystery, and a well researched and dynamic portrait of a teeming city, rife with corruption * Guardian *An edge-of-the-seat crime epic that surpasses the remarkable standards set by its predecessors The Axeman’s Jazz and Dead Man’s Blues . . . A contender for book of the year and should not be missed * Daily Express *Celestin is hugely knowledgeable in portraying the atmosphere of New York. The series is a delight. * The Times *

Read more less

Book Synopsis* A SUNDAY TIMES HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK OF 2023 * 'A gloriously foreboding Gothic tale' - HEAT 'A thrillingly dark page-turner' - MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Marta is Jane Eyre's black-hearted alter ego' - THE TIMES Many would find much to fear in Fyneshade's dark and crumbling corridors, its unseen master and silent servants. But not I. For they have far more to fear from me... On the day of her beloved grandmother's funeral, Marta discovers that she is to become governess to the young daughter of Sir William Pritchard. Separated from her lover and discarded by her family, Marta has no choice but to journey to Pritchard's ancient and crumbling house, Fyneshade, in the wilds of Derbyshire. All is not well at Fyneshade. Marta's pupil, little Grace, can be taught nothing, and Marta takes no comfort from the silent servants who will not meet her eye. More intriguing is that Sir William is mysteriously absent, and his son and heir Vaughan is forbidden to enter the house. Marta finds herself drawn to Vaughan, despite the warnings of the housekeeper that he is a danger to all around him. But Marta is no innocent to be preyed upon. Guided by the dark gift taught to her by her grandmother, she has made her own plans. And it will take more than a family riven by murderous secrets to stop her... Perfect for readers of Laura Purcell, Jessie Burton and Stacey Halls, Fyneshade is a dark and twisted gothic novel unlike any you've read before...Trade ReviewA highly original work of dark gothic brilliance. In a house with monstrous secrets, Marta is a heroine like no other. She will steal your heart, believe me. A story so inventive and exciting, I simply couldn't wait for the next page -- Janice Hallett, author of THE APPEALDark, heady and bold, Fyneshade is a seductive treat, with a protagonist who is both wicked and irresistible. I was entranced from the first page to the last -- Antonia Hodgson, author of THE DEVIL IN THE MARSHALSEAWhat a brilliant, chilling, thrilling gothic masterpiece... I do love a clever, evil heroine. Magnificent -- Clare BaldingJane Eyre but with an icy heart... a dark, inventive story * Sunday Times *Marta is Jane Eyre's black-hearted alter ego... ingenious * The Times *Victorian menace with echoes of both Jane Eyre and The Secret Garden * Financial Times *A thrillingly dark page-turner with deeply satisfying nods to a number of gothic classics * Mail on Sunday *A gloriously foreboding Gothic tale, with a delicious anti-heroine and a fiendish final twist in the tale * Heat *A tour de force! I thoroughly enjoyed this darkest of dark tales with its canny and complicated heroine, and a final twist that made me gasp out loud. Gloriously wicked -- Rosie Andrews, author of THE LEVIATHANWith a satisfyingly dark anti-hero at its core Fyneshade makes for compelling storytelling and proves Kate Griffin's a new standout voice in gothic fiction -- Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of PANDORAA darkly delicious joy of a historical gothic novel. Mature and accomplished storytelling that's utterly compelling. I loved it -- Essie Fox, author of THE SOMNAMBULISTPlayful and compelling, and a wonderful love letter to Gothic -- Nicola Upson, author of AN EXPERT IN MURDERWonderful and well-deserved. I loved Fyneshade's clever reworking of Jane Eyre's gothic tropes, it's wicked anti-heroine and immaculate plotting. A perfectly shivery read for a hot summer day... Stupendously good -- Amanda Craig, author of THE LIE OF THE LANDI absolutely adored this unforgettable and original take on the governess gothic. Marta is the anti-heroine you can't help rooting for: I was under her spell from the very first page. A deliciously dark and decadent novel, sure to bewitch readers everywhere -- Emilia Hart, author of WEYWARDWhat a devious and delightful tale. In Marta, Kate Griffin gives us one the most inventive and compelling characters of recent years. A gloriously gothic and often darkly funny story. I devoured it whole -- Anna Mazzola, author of THE CLOCKWORK GIRL

Read more less

Book Synopsis'One of the greatest anti-heroes ever written' LEE CHILDBerlin, March 1943. The mood in Germany is bleak after their stunning defeat at Stalingrad. Private Investigator Bernie Gunther is at work in the German War Crimes Bureau - weary, cynical but well aware of the value of truth in a world where that's now a rarity. When human remains are found deep in the Katyn Forest, Bernie is sent to investigate. Rumour has it that this mass grave is full of Polish officers murdered by the Russians. For Josef Goebbels, proof of Russian involvement is sure to destroy the Western Alliance, giving Germany a chance to reverse its devastating losses. But supposing the truth is far more damaging to the German cause? It's Bernie Gunther's job to give Goebbels what he needs. But when there's nothing left for Gunther to lose, the compulsion to speak the truth becomes ever stronger...Trade ReviewOne of the greatest anti-heroes ever written * Lee Child *Richly layered . . . reliably remarkable on every level * The Sunday Times *A compelling, elegantly constructed thriller * Financial Times *Kerr leads us through the facts of history and the vagaries of human nature * Tom Hanks *Bitterly, darkly funny * Sunday Herald *Humour seems like an affirmation of the human spirit in a world in which inhumanity holds sway, and makes Kerr's brilliant novels all the more affecting * Daily Telegraph *One of the greatest master story-tellers in English * Alan Furst *The real pleasure in these books is in Kerr's total mastery of the world he's created * Sport *[Kerr's] Raymond Chandleresque mysteries about a cynical Berlin cop reluctantly working for the Nazis are his masterpiece * Sun *Kerr's novels are modern classics * Simon Sebag Montefiore *A detailed and nuanced portrait of Nazi Germany * Spectator *Kerr is at the top of his game with his Hitler-era Berlin detective, Bernie Gunther * Tribune *The good detective trying to do his best within a corrupt regime [. . .] but it can safely be said that few writers have tackled the theme with the rigour of Philip Kerr * Independent *One of the most memorable and original characters * The Sunday Times *'Compelling ... Elegantly constructed' Financial Times. * Financial Times *'Richly layered ... Remarkable' Sunday Times. * Sunday Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisUtterly compelling' Heidi SwainEvocatively written, poignant and compulsive'' Emma CurtisBrilliant, twisty' Sara SheridanThree women. A long-buried secret. One voice will free them allLondon, 1915: Amid the wartime chaos, Katerina is hailed as a beacon of hope for her bakery, which offers divination alongside sweet treats. But the dark truth she's hiding could cost her everything.Germany, 1918: Miriam secretly vows to help a mute British soldier in the prisoner-of-war camp she's stationed at. Soon she must make an impossible choice: will she save the one she loves, or herself?Cornwall, Present Day: Edie is astonished to discover a mysterious box hidden in the wall of her newly renovated cottage. As Edie starts to investigate, she uncovers a secret that has lain hidden for over a century...Sweeping through the cobbled streets of war-time London, a German WWI camp, and the sea-swept cli

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Frances Brody has made it to the top rank of crime writers'' DAILY MAILA charming historical mystery set in 1960s Yorkshire, starring prisoner governor and amateur sleuth Nell Lewis. This is the perfect page-turner if you love Agatha Christie and Jacqueline Winspear.___________Yorkshire, 1969. Nell Lewis is four months into her new role as governor of HMP Brackerley when the prison takes on a catering contract for Brackerley village''s wedding of the year.Almost all the female inmates are delighted to be involved in the celebrations, though Linda is desperate to avoid the event in case she is spotted, photographed, and once more appears on the front pages of the gutter press.During the wedding reception, one of the inmates discovers the father of the bride, Mr Chapin, stabbed to death behind the marquee.The murder shocks the close-knit village and police enlist Nell''s help to solve the mystery. There are multiple su

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen an American war correspondent is found murdered in her London digs, the death is concealed by the British authorities. Maisie Dobbs is asked to investigate, accompanied by Mark Scott, the American who helped her to escape Hitler's Munich in 1938.Trade Review`Maisie Dobbs is a revelation' Alexander McCall Smith; `Wry and immensely readable' Daily Mail; `A series that seems to get better with every entry' Wall Street Journal; `Excellent...In Winspear's capable hands, Maisie has evolved into a deeply sympathetic character. Readers will eagerly await her next outing.' Publishers Weekly

Read more less

Book Synopsis 'Brilliantly entertaining and original' C.L. Taylor'A standout book' Rosie WalshFrom the Sunday Times-bestselling author Rowan Coleman, comes a special new series featuring the Brontë sisters, written under the name Bella EllisYorkshire, 1845, and dark rumours are spreading across the moors. Everything indicates that Mrs Elizabeth Chester of Chester Grange has been brutally murdered in her home - but nobody can find her body.As the dark murmurs reach Emily, Anne and Charlotte Brontë, the sisters are horrified, yet intrigued. Before they know it, the siblings become embroiled in the quest to find the vanished bride, sparking their imaginations but placing their lives at great peril . . .Loved The Vanished Bride? Pre-order The Diabolical Bones, the next book in the Brontë Mysteries series now!Praise for The Vanished Bride:'Evocative and utterly enchanting' Sarah Hilary'A gripping, twisty mystery' Angela Clarke'A splendid adventure' Guardian'A treat from start to finish' Jane Casey'Happily, more Brontë mysteries are to be expected' TLSTrade ReviewRomps along and is lashed with Gothic colour. Fun and inventive. * Daily Mail *Brontë fans will undoubtedly get the most out of this: possible inspirations for Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall are everywhere. But you don't need insider knowledge to enjoy either the splendid adventure, or the touching and often funny portrayal of the sisters' devotion to and exasperation with one another and their debauched brother. * Guardian *Brilliantly entertaining and originalElegant, witty and compulsively readable - I think the Brontë sisters would have been delighted. A standout book -- Rosie Walsha gorgeous book - perfectly paced and completely charming. As a mystery, it is compelling and satisfying; as a portrait of the Brontës it is insightful, moving and inspiring. It is an absolute treat from start to finish -- Jane CaseyIncredible . . . Bella Ellis is a very special talent: the Brontës are magically brought to life in this gripping, twisty mystery. I need more!Brontë aficionados are sure to enjoy the accurate characterization and context, the twists turns and Gothic touches of the plot, and the strong feminist streak that manifests itself throughout, but most triumphantly at the end. Happily, more Brontë mysteries are to be expected. * TLS *Evocative and utterly enchanting -- Sarah HilaryGreat, gothic fun . . . the Brontës are so skilfully and cleverly depicted that it's no stretch at all to imagine the sisters, and their wastrel brother, Branwell, as amateur sleuths * Red Magazine *Wonderful . . . A treat for everyone. I loved it so very muchMs. Ellis - writing under a pen name - hews to the biographical facts in fashioning this swift story, while her plot (Gothic touches included) seems suitably Brontë-esque. The Vanished Bride is a delight * The Wall Street Journal *Compelling, clever and hugely imaginative, it brings the three Brontë sisters magnificently to life . . . Glorious fun - I adored it!Clever and captivatingWhat a breath-taking concept that Rowan has completely pulled off - setting up our most beloved literary heroines as investigators in a compelling mystery that asks us to think about the constraints of women in that time . . . Fun, charming and intriguing.A joy from start to finish. I've gone from loving Charlotte Brontë to wanting to be her.What a treat! The Vanished Bride is an absolute delight from start to finish. Dashing across the Yorkshire moors with the Brontë sisters felt like visiting dear old friends, and Bella Ellis does the most wonderful job in imagining Emily, Charlotte and Anne as 'detectors'. Beautifully written, deliciously atmospheric, and enormous fun, this series is certain to become a firm favouriteAn absolute delight, period perfect, a racing romp of a mystery in the best tradition of the Brontës - I loved it with my whole heart.The Vanished Bride is a clever and unique historical mystery that offers fascinating insights into the lives of the Brontë siblings alongside an equally compelling atmospheric, gothic, and twisty tale. Fans of the Brontë sisters' exquisite books will find much to love as Ellis pays homage to the spirit of their rich literary oeuvre. The Vanished Bride is sure to delight historical mystery loversThe Vanished Bride hooks you from the first page with intricate characters, a wonderful plot and best of all, an amazing sense of time and place. I look forward to reading Ms. Ellis's next adventure of the Brontë SistersThe Bronte sisters as sleuths - what a delicious idea! Bella Ellis has brilliantly recreated the feel and atmosphere of the Brontë novels, as well as bringing the three sisters (and their dissolute brother) vividly to life. What's more, it's a rattling good story!Appropriately gothic touches as well as the author's solid research on the lives and works of the Brontës . . . enrich a diverting adventure. Brontë aficionados won't want to miss this one * Publishers Weekly *Move over, Jane Austen, for the latest literary ladies who snoop . . . [a] lively series debut * Kirkus *The Vanishing Bride twists the lives of Brontës, with blurred lines between fact and fiction, and as much imagination as the siblings... Clues to familiar characters, glimpses of what novels they might create are all woven into a mystery that that lures you into the Brontës world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPrivate investigators Lily Raynor and Felix Wilbraham have to hunt down an escapee from a French asylum, in this new, gripping World''s End Bureau Victorian mystery from critically-acclaimed author Alys Clare.London, April 1882. When cool-headed Phyllida visits the World''s End Investigation Bureau to offer a curious case concerning her fiancé, proprietor Lily Raynor is intrigued - and privately excited. For accepting the case means taking an unexpected trip abroad, to France.Phyllida''s fiancé, Wilberforce, is currently in an asylum in Brittany, after a tragic incident which resulted in the death of his father. Did he kill him on purpose - or was it an accident?Wilberforce''s innocence looks increasingly in doubt when another murder happens at the asylum - and the evidence points to Wilberforce being the culprit. Phyllida fears for Wilberforce''s wellbeing, but she can''t marry a murderer! With the engagement hanging in the balance, Phyl

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisSleuthing duo Lillian Frost and Edith Head investigate a behind-the-scenes scandal in this delightful Golden Age of Hollywood mystery.1939, Los Angeles. Lillian Frost is shocked when her friend, glamorous costume designer Edith Head, hands her the script to a new film that''s about to start shooting. Streetlight Story is based on a true crime: the California Republic bank robbery of 1936. Lillian''s beau, LAPD detective Gene Morrow, was one of the officers on the case; his partner, Teddy, was tragically shot dead. It seems the scriptwriter has put Gene at the centre of a scandal, twisting fact with fiction - or has he? With Gene reluctant to talk about the case, the movie quickly becoming the hottest ticket in town, a suspicious death on the Paramount studio lot and the police reopening the investigation into Teddy''s death, Lillian is determined to find answers. Can Lillian and Edith uncover the truth of what happened that fateful day and clear

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe ruthless reign of Henry IV and the clerical tyranny of Archbishop Arundel keep Brother Chandler and his friends under constant threat in this gripping medieval mystery featuring friar-sleuth Rodric Chandler.Clark''s use of period detail is unparalleled, and the plot remains taut and brisk til the end Publishers Weekly Starred ReviewChester, 1400. Riding for his life, with a copy of Chaucer''s heretical Canterbury Tales in his possession, friar-sleuth Brother Chandler is ambushed on the road and wakes up in a stranger''s house.Is his ''rescuer'', wool merchant John Willoughby, friend . . . or foe? Willoughby declares that he, like Chandler, has renounced the self-crowned King Henry IV and will help Chandler get his dangerous belongings to safety. He seems trustworthy, but Chandler knows that if he''s caught by the King''s merciless censors together with the Tales, he''ll be burned at the stake.But then Willoughby'

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen an exhibition featuring London''s top engineers results in sudden, violent death, Victorian writer-sleuths Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens investigate.Victorian whodunits don''t get much better than this - Publishers Weekly Starred ReviewMarch, 1859. After the ''Great Stink'' of the previous summer when Parliament was overwhelmed by the stench of sewage from the River Thames, and with cholera running rife throughout the city, Charles Dickens has a new enthusiasm. Having formed a firm friendship with Joseph Bazalgette, he is assisting the ambitious young engineer in his efforts to find a solution to London''s pollution problem. Dickens'' friend and fellow writer Wilkie Collins meanwhile is distracted by thoughts of his pretty new housekeeper and her charming daughter. But what does he really know of his new employee''s past - and just who - or what - is making her so frightened?During an exhibition to showcas

Read more less

Book SynopsisExcellent . . . The surprising revelations that populate the book, mixed with a mood of regret and wistful longing for dead loves, imbue the story with a seductive power. Readers will eagerly anticipate the final volume in this trilogy Publishers Weekly Starred Review of A Shadowed FateClaire Clairmont''s perilous quest to learn the fate of her daughter with Lord Byron enters its final stages in this last in a captivating historical trilogy based on the ''summer of 1816'' Byron/Shelley group.Italy, 1873. Claire Clairmont, one of the last surviving members of the Byron/Shelley circle, is determined to uncover the true fate of Allegra, her daughter conceived with Lord Byron. But her quest so far has been fraught with danger, and Claire knows she has enemies who will stop at nothing to keep past secrets hidden.When she learns of a stunning revelation involving the abbess and Allegra, Claire returns to the c

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first in a gripping new Victorian mystery series set in London from critically acclaimed author Jeri Westerson.Watch out, Sherlock! Introducing one-time Baker Street Irregular Timothy Badger and his partner-in-crime Benjamin Watson, two exciting and unconventional young consulting detectives, mentored by the great man himself, tackling intriguing and unusual cases in Victorian London with endearing verve and wit.Sherlock Holmes''s protégés Tim Badger and Benjamin Watson are catapulted into a tricky first case when a man is brutally murdered during a séance.London, 1895. Former Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger is determined to follow in the footsteps of his great mentor, Sherlock Holmes, by opening his own consulting detective agency with his partner, Benjamin Watson. The intrepid duo are ready to make a name for themselves . . . if only they had clients!Their luck changes when Sherlock recommends

Read more less

Book SynopsisPre-order Victory for Ambridge, the brilliant new novel in The Archers series, coming in paperback in 2025. ‘Intriguing, comforting and endearingly familiar’ Katie Fforde‘The BBC’s most downloaded radio show’ The Guardian‘Incredible legacy’ ​The BBC‘Longest running drama in the world’ The i News'Wonderfully nostalgic and comforting' Culture FlyIn celebration of the 70th anniversary of The Archers hitting the radio waves.  It’s 1940 and war has broken out. It is midnight at the turn of the year, and Walter Gabriel speaks the same line that opened the very first radio episode –  'And a Happy New Year to you all!' For Ambridge, a village in the heart of the English countryside, this year will bring change in ways no one was expecting.  <Trade Review‘Intriguing, comforting and endearingly familiar’ Katie Fforde ‘The opening words of the first radio episode of The Archers 70 years ago set the scene for a novel that takes readers back to before the much-loved “everyday story of country folk” began . . . Nostalgia for avid listeners with long memories’ Choice ‘In this new novel celebrating the 70th anniversary of the beloved radio show, we follow the lives of the families of Ambridge before it all began . . . families that listeners have known and loved for generations face an uphill battle to keep their secrets hidden’ Countryside ‘An inventive cosy crime prequel to the “everyday story of country folk”, first aired 70 years ago . . . a good novel tautly constructed and often laugh-aloud funny’ The Times ‘You don’t need to be a fan of The Archers to enjoy this . . . It’s a comfort blanket of a book with a rich vein of spicy intrigue’ Woman

Read more less

Book SynopsisDense fog masks foul play in the streets of London, as Ann Granger brings us her seventh Victorian mystery featuring Scotland Yard''s Inspector Ben Ross and his wife Lizzie.It is March 1870. London is in the grip of fog and ice. But Scotland Yard''s Inspector Ben Ross has more than the weather to worry about when the body of a young woman is found in a dustbin at the back of a Piccadilly restaurant.Ben must establish who the victim is before he can find out how and why she came to be there. His enquiries lead him first to a bootmaker in Salisbury and then to a landowner in Yorkshire. Meanwhile, Ben''s wife, Lizzie, aided by their eagle-eyed maid, Bessie, is investigating the mystery of a girl who is apparently being kept a prisoner in her own home.As Ben pursues an increasingly complex case, Lizzie reveals a vital piece of evidence that brings him one step closer to solving the crime...Praise for Ann Granger''s crime novels:''ChaTrade ReviewCharacterisation, as ever with Granger, is sharp and astringent * The Times *Her usual impeccable plotting is fully in place * Good Book Guide *A clever and lively bookLovely characterisation and a neat plot * Yorkshire Post *This engrossing story looks like the start of a highly enjoyable series * Scotsman *The plot is neat and ingenious, the characters rounded and touchingly credible * Ham and High *For once a murder novel which displays a gentle touch and a dash of wit * Northern Echo *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA dark and addictive story of betrayal and desire.Trade ReviewHere, everything is epiphanic, essential, surprising, whether it be the revelation of a secret or the painting of a detail...At once classic and phantasmagoric, Born of No Woman proves that fiction...can still amaze * Le Monde des livres *A vivid, mesmerizing tale * L’Express *Rare are those who, like Franck Bouysse, manage to write the indescribable, to touch the unspeakable, with so much subtlety and intensity. In spite of the severity and darkness of certain pages, Born of No Woman is a deeply moving and luminous book * La Libre *Born of No Woman is a dazzling, heart-wrenching tale of cruelty and mercy, secrets and horrors. The novel is deeply immersive, gothic, and taut with dread; the prose sings and the characters burn in the heart. Easily my favourite book of the year. Not to be missed * Kim Taylor Blakemore, author of After Alice Fell *One of the most disturbing yet lyrically exquisite novels I've read in a long time . . . Brave, sometimes horrific, Born of No Woman is one of the most compelling novels I have read in many years. Infused with lurid elements of the most gothic fairy tales, it explores the darkest realms of human sexuality * Essie Fox, author of The Last Days of Leda Grey *A haunting, suspenseful gothic tale set in nineteenth-century France that weaves many layers, from the plight of women in that era to class distinctions that lead to oppression of the vulnerable . . . Ultimately, this is a book of hope and the resilience of the human spirit to overcome tragedy. The narrative is elegant, and the viewpoint of every character is compelling and credible. Highly recommended! * Debbie Herbert, author of Not One of Us and Cold Waters *Born of No Woman is beautifully and quietly haunting. Rose's triumph over human weakness, cruelty, and her own powerlessness as a woman without means or status deeply resonates, and the strength of her dignity and resilience lingers long after the pages are turned * Megan Chance, bestselling author of A Splendid Ruin *Undoubtedly effective . . . There are plenty of narrative surprises as Rose's father seeks to recover her, and she falls in love with the mysterious Edmond * Guardian, Best Recent Translated Fiction *This book feels like the Marquis de Sade's Justine if Justine had written it . . . show[ing] the author's keen observational skills when it comes to class and gender * CrimeReads, Best International Crime Fiction of the Month *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'The best historical crime novel I will read this year' – The Times'This is right up there with the best of C. J. Sansom and Andrew Taylor' – Amanda Craig, author of The Golden RuleFrom the pleasure palaces and gin-shops of Covent Garden to the elegant townhouses of Mayfair, Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s Daughters of Night follows Caroline Corsham as she seeks justice for a murdered woman whom London society would rather forget . . .London, 1782. Desperate for her politician husband to return home from France, Caroline ‘Caro’ Corsham is already in a state of anxiety when she finds a well-dressed woman mortally wounded in the bowers of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. The Bow Street constables are swift to act, until they discover that the deceased woman was a highly paid prostitute, at which point they cease to care entirely. But Caro has motives of her own for wanting to see justice done, and so sets out to solve the crime herself. Enlisting the help of thieftaker Peregrine Child, their inquiry delves into the hidden corners of Georgian society, a world of artifice, deception and secret lives. But with many gentlemen refusing to speak about their dealings with the dead woman, and Caro’s own reputation under threat, finding the killer will be harder, and more treacherous, than she can know . . .'Spectacularly brilliant . . . One of the most enjoyable and enduring stories I have ever read' – James O'Brien, journalist, author and LBC PresenterTrade ReviewCome for the clever mystery, stay reading late into the night for the vivid, tender portrayal of a world where women are bought, sold and abused, yet fight to retain their vim and dignity. I would gamble what’s left of my virtue on Daughters of Night being the best historical crime novel I will read this year -- Antonia Senior * The Times *Outstanding -- Sarah Hughes * The I *Here’s one where the pages turn all by themselves and the plot doesn’t let you go -- Diane Setterfield, author of Once Upon a RiverThis is right up with the best of C. J. Sansom and Andrew Taylor . . . A real treat, for readers of literary, detective and historical fiction -- Amanda Craig, author of The Lie of the LandShepherd-Robinson’s ingenious plotting, eagle eye for detail and evocative prose picked me up and dropped me in the underbelly of Georgian London. Like all the best historical fiction it makes the reader think as much about the way we live now as then -- Erin Kelly, author of He Said/She SaidA dark, fascinating and richly imagined world – brilliantly done! -- Ruth Ware, author of One By One and In a Dark, Dark WoodRich in historical detail, impeccably plotted . . . Laura Shepherd-Robinson really is the queen of the historical crime novel -- C. J. Tudor, author of The Chalk ManDeft characterization, wonderful writing and great pace . . . Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a big talent -- Steve Cavanagh, author of Thirteen and TwistedA very satisfying whodunnit . . . The twists and turns were masterful -- James Oswald, author of the Inspector MacLean seriesTop-drawer historical fiction meets compulsive, just-one-more-chapter crime. Expertly plotted, gloriously grisly, with characters who stomp around your brain long after you turn the last page. In other words, masterful -- Caz Frear, author of Sweet Little Lies and Shed No TearsA masterfully plotted labyrinth of a novel with a dangerously dark heart, teeming with memorable characters. Eighteenth-century London seethes from the page. I loved it -- Robyn Young, author of Brethren and the Insurrection trilogyJust finished Daughters Of Night a stunning tour de force from the hugely talented Laura Shepherd Robinson breathtaking stuff -- Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the EndLaura Shepherd-Robinson has at once proved herself a star -- Antonia Hodgson, author of The Devil in the MarshalseaIt thrums with life and colour, the characters are bawdy and beautiful and sly and savage, the twists are wicked, and the denouement has a satisfying modern flavour without ever straying from the confines of the setting -- Sarah Hilary, author of FragileEvery bit as good as Blood & Sugar, better even. Rich in historical detail, a fascinating exploration of the London sex-trade, and I loved the twist . . . Another terrific novel -- Jo Spain, author of The ConfessionThis book blew me away. Pitch-perfect within the eighteenth-century world and wholly immersive, it is an exquisite mystery, an exceptional voyage through danger and an extraordinary novel -- Rachel Edwards, author of DarlingExquisitely crafted and enormous fun. Murder, mythology, deception and dark doings in Georgian London -- Anna Mazzola, author of The Story KeeperShepherd-Robinson’s second offering is without doubt even better than her award-winning debut . . . Every page is a joy to read – this deserves to sweep all before it in the end-of-year book awards -- David Young, author of Stasi ChildI absolutely loved it. Laura reimagines an eighteenth-century London with seemingly effortless clarity – I read it in a permanent state of rapture, covered in goose bumps. If you want to be lost and thrilled by another world, then this is the book for you -- Emily Elgar, author of Grace Is GoneA historical murder-mystery masterpiece, with an exquisitely crafted, page-turning narrative and flawed characters that the reader can’t help but to root for -- Marnie Riches, author of TightropeLaura Shepherd-Robinson has written a story that is not only a page-turner of a thriller but, to an extent unusual in historical novels, where you feel you really are listening to a voice from the eighteenth century -- C. J. Sansom, bestselling author of Tombland on Blood & SugarLaura Shepherd-Robinson's historical crime thriller Daughters of Night brings Georgian London to life in all its seedy glory * Express *This richly woven tale brings history vividly to life . . . A gripping read * Adam Hamdy, author of Black 13 and Red Wolves *[Daughters of Night] pitched the period perfectly, you got a real sense of what London was like. The attention to detail is exceptional and the plot races along. Loved it * Woman's Way *Spectacularly brilliant. Once in a blue moon levels of fantastic. One of the most enjoyable and enduring stories I have ever read -- James O'BrienUtterly fascinating . . . Niftily plotted, vivid and thoroughly researched * Guardian *Daughters of Night is a deeply satisfying novel, reminiscent of Iain Pears’s later work in its feel for historical detail and character, and the way it subtly asks questions about our own age * The Observer *There is no doubt that Shepherd-Robinson is a rising star in the historical fiction firmament * Sunday Express *[Shepherd-Robinson] would be advised to clear her shelves for future awards * Financial Times *Deservedly described as a strong contender for the best historical novel of the year, it is a lushly written and evocative look at Georgian society, high and low, centering on the violent death of a woman who turns out not to be quite who she claimed. It is fuelled by a quiet anger over the lack of agency available to women then, and, by implication, now -- Sarah Hughes * The i *Read Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd-Robinson, but read Blood & Sugar first: a) because it's brilliant, and b) because the characters overlap. They're both murder mysteries set in a meticulously and hyper-vividly drawn 18th-century London. The first is eye-opening about slavery, the second is about prostitution, or rather the first is about race and the second is about woman. Total page-turners -- India Knight * Sunday Times *[A] delectable whodunnit oozing with menace and lively period language * Woman & Home *I loved Daughters of Night even more than the fantastic Blood & Sugar. A gripping page turner that had me immediately invested in every rounded character, this was a perfect blend of rollicking good read and insightful commentary on both the past and present. In Caro Corsham, Laura Shepherd-Robinson has created a heroine who is hugely believable and hugely engaging. 5 shining stars from me -- Gytha Lodge, bestselling author of She Lies in Wait

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe perfect dark, gothic tale to curl up with this winter ---------------------------------------- 'Spooky, atmospheric, brilliant' Bridget Collins 'Glitteringly dark and mesmerising' Jennifer Saint Be careful what you wish for... it may just come true. At The Mercury Theatre in London's West End, rumours are circulating of a curse. It is said that the lead actress Lilith has made a pact with Melpomene, the tragic muse of Greek mythology, to become the greatest actress to ever grace the stage. Suspicious of Lilith, the jealous wife of the theatre owner sends dresser Jenny to spy on her, and desperate for the money to help her family, Jenny agrees. What Jenny finds is a woman as astonishing in her performance as she is provocative in nature. On stage, it's as though Lilith is possessed by the characters she plays, yet off stage she is as tragic as the Muse who inspires her, and Jenny, sorry for her, befriends the troubled actress. But when strange events begin to take place around the theatre, Jenny wonders if the rumours are true, and fears that when the Muse comes calling for payment, the cost will be too high. 'Gloriously gothic' Erin Kelly 'Immersive' Beth Underdown 'Fantastic' Rebecca Netley 'Darkly seductive and artfully realised' Susan Stokes-ChapmanTrade ReviewSpooky, atmospheric, brilliant ... Think I love it the best out of all Laura's books. Watch out for it - but beware... -- Bridget Collins, author of number one bestseller, THE BINDINGAtmospheric, gripping, absorbing – The Whispering Muse is another Gothic triumph from Laura Purcell. It's deliciously creepy, riveting and full of heart with compelling characters and brilliant twists. The theatrical setting and use of the tragedies on stage that are woven expertly into the unfolding story is glitteringly dark and mesmerising -- Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of ARIADNE and ELEKTRALaura Purcell has done it again. An actress sells her soul for fame and success. Dripping in atmosphere, gloriously gothic' -- Erin Kelly, Sunday Times bestselling author of He Said/She SaidDarkly seductive and artfully realised, this is a novel which in true Purcell style weaves a menacing net of intrigue that makes it very hard to put down. Undoubtedly her best Gothic tale yet! -- Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of number one bestseller, PANDORAIn The Whispering Muse, Laura Purcell has crafted a totally immersive take on the Faustus myth - dark and disturbing, but with so much heart. Her best yet. -- Beth Underdown, author of THE WITCHFINDER'S SISTER and THE KEY IN THE LOCKDripping with atmosphere and mounting dread, The Whispering Muse will haunt you long past the final page. Laura Purcell is a master of her craft. I still have goosebumps! -- Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWSA gothic masterpiece. Gripping, atmospheric and with an absolutely sensational ending, I loved every single page of this wonderful book -- Elodie Harper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Wolf Den TrilogyEvery bit as sinister and macabre as we’ve come to expect from a novel by Laura Purcell -- Rosie Andrews, Sunday Times bestselling author of The LeviathanAnother fantastic outing for Laura Purcell in this gripping, theatrical drama – fabulous characters, twists and turns aplenty. Deliciously dark and very satisfying -- Rebecca Netley, author of THE WHISTLINGDeliciously creepy and vividly told, this gorgeous Gothic tale is already one of my favourite books of the year. -- JJA Harwood, author of THE SHADOW IN THE GLASSI have rarely read anything that burns so vividly, so fierce and bright – it is profoundly affecting. I felt it all - the agonising passion of creation and the sacrifice of everything for the sake of it. I read it feverishly throughout a plane journey and got my luggage with one hand while holding the book in the other, inhaling the last pages. The Whispering Muse is a sinuous, dark spell of a story that left me reeling -- Catriona Ward, author of The Last House on Needless StreetA sumptuous piece of gothic theatre set in a theatre populated by the beautiful and the damned. Something wicked very much this way comes. Fabulous -- Sarah Pinborough, author of Behind Her EyesWonderful… I stayed up into the wee small hours finishing it, and absolutely loved it. I am generally a slow reader but this was one of those rare books I kept finding myself called back to, or unable to stop reading even though it was way past lights out -- James Oswald, author of the Inspector Maclean seriesHer darkest and most delicious yet. A chilling Faustian tale of rumour, obsession and ambition set in the shadowy world of London theatre in the nineteenth century. Laura Purcell gets better and better with every book -- Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork GirlWelcome to the Mercury Theatre where jealousy and ambition tread the boards and tragedy steals the limelight. The Whispering Muse is deftly written, wonderfully atmospheric and just a touch gruesome. I devoured it -- Sonia Velton, author of Blackberry and Wild RoseThe Whispering Muse is a delightful gothic treat packed with drama, mystery and dread. I couldn't get enough of the spooky events at the Mercury Theatre; Laura Purcell really is a master of the unsettling ghost story -- Jen WilliamsAn absolutely delicious read. Both haunting and tragic, this is an unputdownable gothic fever-dream dripping in deadly drama -- Fantasy HiveLife seems to imitate art at The Mercury, a theatre specialising in tragic plays – and [Jenny] had no idea what she was signing up for. Eerie throughout and surprisingly gory at times, this book is not for the fainthearted. Bursting with vibrant, believable characters and imagery that makes you feel like you’re there, the story will stay with you long after you put the book down -- Abbie Llewelyn * The Independent *Eerie throughout and surprisingly gory at times, this book is not for the fainthearted * PA Media *Swirling storytelling in the backstage machinations of the Mercury “tragic-play” Theatre Company * The Australian Women's Weekly *It is a gothic masterpiece, as dramatic as the theatrical world where it is set, and absolutely perfect fireside reading * Historia *Filled with the spooky atmosphere and period detail that Laura Purcell is known for, this is a darkly compelling and engaging story * Essex Life *

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A masterpiece by the woman who may be Britain's finest living crime novelist' Daily Telegraph'Absorbing... this is a bravura performance, a true original' Ian RankinGlasgow, 1957. It is a December night and William Watt is desperate. His family has been murdered and he needs to find out who killed them.He arrives at a bar to meet Peter Manuel, who claims he can get hold of the gun that was used. But Watt soon realises that this infamous criminal will not give up information easily.Inspired by true events, The Long Drop follows Watt and Manuel along back streets and into smoky pubs, and on to the courtroom where the murder trial takes place. Can Manuel really be trusted to tell the truth? And how far will Watt go to get what he wants?**A TIMES TOP 10 CRIME NOVEL OF THE DECADE**__________________Praise for THE LONG DROP:'Extraordinary' Guardian'This book is so, so good. Forensic, beautiful and gripping' Graham Norton'Revisits a dark episode in Glasgow's past... Mina navigates the uneasy territory between fact and fiction with consummate grace' Val McDermidTrade ReviewAngry, vital and unputdownable, The Long Drop’s themes of self-deception resonate long after the final page. This is crime fiction at its very best -- Joseph Knox, author of SirensNot a single word is wasted in this beautifully written novel. Unsettling, evocative and staggeringly good, it is possibly Mina’s finest achievement * Daily Express *A wonderfully atmospheric, unsettling read. -- Louise Rhind-Tutt * i *Deeply unsettling and thought provoking in all the best ways -- Doug Johnstone * Big Issue *The Long Drop is an exceptional book. The pages reek of fifties Glasgow, forming an oppressive backdrop to a true crime story that fascinates and appals from start to finish. Mina’s prose cuts to the bone, laying bare the prideful wickedness of men in a tale that is as often touching as it is frightening. A feast of a crime novel. * Stuart Neville *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor whatever we lose, it is our self we find in the sea.‘The best swashbuckler of the year ... There are echoes of Horatio Hornblower in Nightingale’s introspection and doubts. The gay love story is beautifully written and the evocation of life on board the Scylla is equally good’ The Times ‘An extraordinary work, absolutely breathtaking ... it beggars belief’ Conn Iggulden, New York Times & Sunday Times bestselling author‘Achingly beautiful. A delightful, romantic, queer historical adventure’ Mackenzi Lee, New York Times bestselling authorCaptain Hiram Nightingale is a veteran of the wars which have raged throughout Europe and the Americas. But a grand victory at the Battle of the Nile in 1798 comes at a devastating cost. Plagued by wounds both physical and mental, he attempts to recover by accepting command of HMS Scylla. His task is to hunt down a mutinous ship and bring the crew to justice.However, it soon becomes clear that the mission is just one danger in an immense web. Nightingale finds himself in the middle of a network of secrets that will affect everyone onboard the Scylla. He has to battle against the perils of the war-torn seas, a crew who he fears does not accept him, and meddling, powerful figures from his past.And in the centre of all this, his new lieutenant, the popular Arthur Courtney, stirs up long repressed feelings. On his journey, Nightingale must confront his own demons. For it seems, during his dangerous adventure, his greatest enemy might just be himself.A deeply poignant tale of naval warfare, political intrigue and a love between two men that stands tall in an unaccepting world. Perfect for fans of Hornblower, Sharpe and Outlander.Praise for Leeward ‘There is a weight of human insight here that is quite dazzling. A story told with such panache deserves a bestseller mass audience’ Conn Iggulden‘One of the best debut novels I have read in many years. A magnificent, compelling read’ Ben Kane, Sunday Times bestselling author‘Profound, intricate, artful. A truly original story of forbidden love and adventure. I urge you to sail into the storm!’ A. J. West, Sunday Times bestselling author‘A stunning book. In an utterly authentic voice, Katie Daysh brings to life the terrifying power of the sea, and the bonds of both love and duty that tie a captain to his ship’ Damion Hunter, author of Shadow of the Eagle

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhy should the devil have all the best tunes?''Themes of inequality, forbidden love and personal responsibility weave through a fast-paced narrative in which the location plays a key part. Nation CymruThe Salvation Army has come prancing and singing from the slums of London to the poorest quarters of Oxford, but along with its red hot gospel preaching and music hall songs it brings a prohibition message which sparks immediate opposition and violence.An Army soldier an ex-drunk is brutally killed and a note suggests that the Salvation Army's shadowy enemy, the Skeleton Army, is responsible.With the police unwilling to come between the two forces, Non Vaughan, aspiring journalist and great hope of the Oxford women's college movement, and Basil Rice, Jesus College fellow and union-sanctioned guardian of the dead man's family, are compelled to investigate.But as the threats from both sides

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe White Girl is a black and white story about Australian colonialism's malevolent legacies, and the courage, strength, and dignity of Indigenous resistance. It's a story about strong women, with whom Birch's life has been blessed. It is also a profound allegory of good and evil, and a deep exploration of human interaction, black and white, alternately beautiful and tender, cruel and unsettling. — The Guardian "Birch is a writer with a profound gift for language and human insight. He writers with razor's edge emotional clarity and empathy about people and place--especially on those Australian margins, rural and urban. The White Girl showcases his gift." — The Guardian "The way Birch describes the day-to-day existence of his characters, so sweetly rendered, gives them a universal quality. The story is a truth even while the specifics of this novel are fiction, and this tale is a revelation of small details." — Sydney Morning Herald "[Tony Birch brings] a lifetime of knowledge about Australian history, social policy, and cultural identity to this book, a deceptively simple story about family love that is rich in humanity and purpose, and hope. The White Girl is worth your time and will reward you over and over again." — Australian Book Review "[The White Girl] explores the legacy and ongoing fallout of the Stolen Generation, and also touches on matters that are still pertinent and ongoing: the vulnerability of Indigenous women to sexual predation specifically, but on a larger scale, generational violence and toxic masculinity." — The Big Issue (Australia) "Birch's stories have always exuded a warm, lived-in feel, even in their bleakest moments, and in The White Girl his style reaches an apotheosis: there is a profound and rare clarity in the prose, and the pacing is excellent." — The Saturday Paper "The White Girl is approachable and fiercely readable, its linguistic and cultural power cloaked in deceptively simple language." — Sydney Review of Books Tony Birch is a local treasure. — Jacinta Parsons The White Girl is a tense and gripping read...an important window into a shameful period of Australia's very recent history, and a wonderful celebration of strong Indigenous women. It's a book that I hugged to my chest after reading the final page. — Claire Nichols, The Book Show Tony Birch is one of those writers who has mastered the art of storytelling... His latest novel The White Girl is no different--in fact the characters he creates and the plotlines he weaves are almost hyperreal--you know people like Odette Brown and her grandbaby Sissy. — Daniel Browning The White Girl is not given to sentimentality; instead it is a celebration of Aboriginal resilience and kinship in response to trauma. — Arts Review “With a brisk pace and lush prose, Birch breathes life into Odette’s wrenching and courageous search for her daughter and the hope of a better life for Sissy. Readers will feel the pull of this harrowing story.” — Publishers Weekly “An uplifting novel that celebrates love, family, and the women who put those qualities first in their lives.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Award-winning Indigenous writer and activist Birch has created a poignant novel that keenly demonstrates how the strength of family bonds can shatter societal biases." — Booklist “Set in the 1960’s in the midst of the government’s racist Stolen Generation policy, The White Girl remixes the typical genre expectations of historical fiction and noir to spin a unique and profound tale all its own.” — The Chicago Review of Books “Birch draws from his Indigenous background to craft a story that's both heartbreaking and hopeful, and focuses on the strength that comes from a family's love.” — Buzzfeed “a carefully crafted work of fiction that makes good writing seem easy.” — New York Journal of Books "Birch illustrates how Australia’s policies dehumanized not only the Indigenous people they sought to control—often by taking children from their families and placing them in white mission schools—but also the white people who were complicit in enforcing them." — The New Yorker

Read more less

Book SynopsisLearn the secret or die tryingHas ex-SAS soldier Ben Hope finally got out of his depth?That's the question Ben faces when the hunt for a missing girl takes him to China. He's a stranger in a strange land but he's also the victim's only hope. To make things worse, she's almost family.As the pressure mounts, so does the gruesome death toll. With ruthless enemies in pursuit and an unlikely alliance with an enigmatic detective his only lifeline, Ben realises that this situation is far more explosive than even he'd bargained for. Suddenly it's no longer just the missing girl's fate depending on him.At the heart of the mystery lies an ancient secret dating back to China's first emperor and the legendary Terracotta Army a secret that people will still kill for, millennia later. Ben Hope has never turned his back on those in need, and he's no stranger to tough odds. But can he survive long enough to discover the truth and is he ready for the consequences?

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisJacqueline Winspear is the author of the New York Times bestsellers A Sunlit Weapon, The Consequences of Fear, The American Agent, To Die but Once and In This Grave Hour, as well as twelve other bestselling novels in the award-winning Maisie Dobbs' series. Her WW1 novel, The Care and Management of Lies, was a Dayton Literary Peace Prize finalist. Jacqueline has also published two non-fiction books, What Would Maisie Do? and an Edgar-nominated memoir, This Time Next Year We'll Be Laughing. Originally from the United Kingdom, Winspear now divides her time between California and the Pacific Northwest.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this series Eldridge explores crimes in derelict London Underground stations in World War Two.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

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 *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA haunting tale about one woman''s fight to tell her story, The Confessions of Frannie Langton leads you through laudanum-laced dressing rooms and dark-as-night alleys, into the heart of Georgian London.''Deep-diving and elegant'' Margaret Atwood''Takes the gothic genre by the scruff of the neck'' Bernadine Evaristo-----''They say I must be put to death for what happened to Madame, and they want me to confess. But how can I confess what I don''t believe I''ve done?''1826, and all of London is in a frenzy. Crowds gather at the gates of the Old Bailey to watch as Frannie Langton, maid to Mr and Mrs Benham, goes on trial for their murder. The testimonies against her are damning - slave, whore, seductress. And they may be the truth. But they are not the whole truth.For the first time Frannie must tell her story. It begins with a girl learning to read on a plantation in Jamaica, and it ends in a grand Trade ReviewAn impressive debut, dazzlingly original * The Times *Bold and powerful * The Sunday Times *A fantastically assured piece of historical gothic * The Guardian Best Fiction of 2019 *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA CRITIC CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 RUNNER UP''Martin Edwards is a true master of British crime writing'' RICHARD OSMAN''Combines all the things I love most about crime fiction: atmospheric settings, twisty plots, intriguing characters and an unforgettable protagonist'' ELLY GRIFFITHSTEST YOUR WITS AGAINST RACHEL SAVERNAKE!A CLUEFINDER AT THE BACK OF THE BOOK HIGHLIGHTS 47 HINTS IN THE TEXT TO THE SOLUTION OF THE INGENIOUS PUZZLES.Basil Palmer plans to murder a man called Louis Carson. The problem is Palmer doesn''t know anything about his victim, including where to find him.After learning that Carson resides in a place called Hemlock Bay, Palmer travels there, posing as Dr Seamus Doyle and plotting murder along the way.Meanwhile, after hearing a psychic has predicted a murder will take place in Hemlock Bay, amateur sleuth Rachel Savernake sets off, determined to discover the serpent that has slithered into this idyllic Eden.When murder does occur at the resort, and after meeting a mysterious doctor called Seamus, Rachel finds herself entering a maze of intricate mysteries just where she likes to beThe fifth ingenious Rachel Savernake Golden Age Mystery, which can be read in any order, for fans of Ann Cleeves, Sophie Hannah and AK Benedict.''Superbly satisfying... Golden age murder, subtly subverted period, clues galore and a hint of Gothic'' KATE GRIFFIN''Rachel Savernake is a hero to cherish'' NICOLA UPSON

Read more less

Book SynopsisFriar-sleuth Brother Athelstan is caught in a politically charged race against time! He must uncover the truth behind numerous gruesome murders in this tense historical mystery set in medieval London.Normandy, 1358: The Free Company of the ''Via Crucis - the Way of the Cross'' sweeps into the peaceful village of Avranches, like the riders from the Apocalypse, leaving nothing but death and hellish destruction in their wake.London, 1382: Brother Athelstan is summoned to unpick the ugly truth behind a number of killings afflicting the great city. Some carried out like clean, efficient assassinations, all bearing the message ''Justitia Fiat - let there be justice'', others inflicting torture and humiliation upon the bodies. But the victims all have one thing in common - they were all once members of Via Crucis.With every new gruesome discovery, Brother Athelstan, with the help of Coroner Cranston, uncovers more clues which make up a mo

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE ACCLAIMED TRILOGY FROM THE MASTER THRILLER WRITER''[Philip Kerr''s] Bernie Gunther novels are extraordinary'' Ian RankinThe first three in the Bernie Gunther series, March Violets, The Pale Criminal and A German Requiem are true crime classics that transport readers to the rotten heart of Nazi Berlin, and introduce the cynical, wise-cracking private eye who sought justice within it.MARCH VIOLETSBernhard Gunther is a private eye, specializing in missing persons. And in Hitler''s Berlin, he''s never short of work...Winter 1936. A man and his wife shot dead in their bed. The woman''s father, a millionaire industrialist, wants justice - and the priceless diamonds that disappeared along with his daughter''s life.As Bernie follows the trail into the very heart of Nazi Germany, he''s forced to confront a horrifying conspiracy. A trail that ends in the hell that is Dachau...THE PALE CRIMINALIt is 1938 and Bernie Gunther is back on the mean streets of Berlin with his new partner, Bruno Stahlecker, another ex-police officer. But on a seemingly straightforward stakeout, Bruno is killed, and Bernie suddenly finds himself tapped for a much bigger job.A serial sex murderer is killing Aryan teenage girls in Berlin - and what''s worse, he''s making utter fools of the police. Gunther is forced to accept a temporary post in Obergruppenfuehrer Reinhard Heydrich''s state Security Service, with a team of men underneath him tasked purely with hunting the killer.But can he trust his team any more than he can trust his superiors?A GERMAN REQUIEMIn the bitter winter of 1947 the Russian Zone is closing ever more tightly around Berlin.When an enigmatic Russian colonel asks Bernie Gunther to go to Vienna, where his ex-Kripo colleague Emil Becker faces a murder charge, Bernie doesn''t hesitate for long. Gunther is convinced that shooting an American Nazi-hunter is one crime he didn''t commit.But Vienna is not the peaceful haven Bernie expects it to be. Communism is the new enemy, and with the Nuremberg trials over, some strange alliances are being forged against the Red Menace - alignments that make many wartime atrocities look lily-white by comparison.

Read more less

Book SynopsisChristine de Pizan is in danger when she is sent to the Priory of Poissy to catch the killer of a young nun in this vividly imagined historical mystery set in fourteenth-century France.Paris, 1399. Scribe Christine de Pizan is sent to the Priory of Poissy by the palace to copy a manuscript for the prioress. But the prioress already has many copyists, and Christine senses that something is amiss.Her suspicions are confirmed when the prioress reveals that one of the sisters has been found murdered in the cloister. Fearing for the welfare of the king''s young daughter who resides at the abbey, she is eager for Christine to find out who killed the young nun - and why.As Christine investigates, she uncovers dark mischief and closely guarded secrets, but can she unmask a killer?

Read more less