Historical Fiction Books

Book SynopsisPresented for the first time on audio, the epic tale of Beren and Lúthien will reunite fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with Elves, Men and Orcs and the rich landscape unique to Tolkien's Middle-earth in this unabridged recording read by critically acclaimed father and son, Timothy and Samuel West.Beren was a mortal man, but Lúthien was an immortal Elf. Her father, a great Elvish lord, was deeply opposed to Beren, and imposed on him an impossible task that he must perform before he might wed Lúthien.Undaunted by Lord Thingol's challenge, Beren and Lúthien embark on the supremely heroic attempt to rob Morgoth, the greatest of all evil beings, of a Silmaril, one of the hallowed jewels that adorn the Black Enemy's crown.The tale of Beren and Lúthien, which was written shortly after J.R.R. Tolkien returned from the Battle of the Somme in 1916, was an essential element in the evolution of The Silmarillion. In this book Christopher Tolkien has extracted the various versions of BeTrade ReviewPraise for The Children of Húrin:‘I hope that its universality and power will grant it a place in English mythology’Independent on Sunday

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Book SynopsisGraceful, moving and powerful . . . a wonderful story that seems to have been waiting, all this time, for Kline to come along and tell it' MICHAEL CHABONTo Christina Olson, the entire world is her family's remote farm in the small coastal town of Cushing, Maine. Born in the home her family has lived in for generations, and tied to the farm by health and circumstance, Christina seems destined for a small life. Instead, by chance she becomes the inspiration for the artist Andrew Wyeth, and eventually the subject of one of the best-known paintings of the twentieth century, Christina's World.Trade Review‘A moving portrait of a woman in search of autonomy and purpose in her life’ SUNDAY TIMES CULTURE ‘A graceful, moving and powerful demonstration of what can happen when a fearless literary imagination combines with an inexhaustible curiosity about the past and the human heart: a feat of time travel, a bravura improvisation on the theme of art history, a wonderful story that seems to have been waiting, all this time, for Christina Baker Kline to come along and tell it’ MICHAEL CHABON ‘Christina Baker Kline writes about home and place with wisdom and tenderness, but most of all she writes about Christina Olson with compassion, empathy and resounding admiration. This is an inspiring, haunting, powerful novel’ HELEN SEDGWICK, author of The Comet Seekers ‘An affecting and memorable novel… unexpected and bleakly beautiful world. I thought it explored the nature of art and inspiration in a fascinating way, whilst also posing profound questions about what endures and what proves transitory; about the roles we choose and those which are forced upon us’ MATTHEW PLAMPIN, author of Will & Tom ‘With remarkable precision and compassion, A PIECE OF THE WORLD transports us to a mid-century farmhouse on the coast of Maine. But just like the painting that inspired it, this novel is about so much more. It’s about the terrors and injustices of childhood, the aches of adulthood, the regrets of middle age. It’s a story about a woman trapped by family and duty and her own ailing body . . . Christina Baker Kline has accomplished something grand’ NATHAN HILL, author of The Nix ‘Tender, tragic, A PIECE OF THE WORLD is a fascinating exploration of the life lived inside that house at the top of the hill’ LILY KING ‘Painterly, sensuous, and sympathetic’ KIRKUS REVIEWS ‘A pure, powerful story of suffering met with a fight’ O Magazine (The Oprah Magazine) ‘Insightful, evocative prose brings Christina’s singular perspective and indomitable spirit to life’ PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

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Book SynopsisFrom the No.1 bestselling author of Daughters of Cornwall comes an extraordinary tale of family secrets and epic love.Balmoral, 1932Marion Crawford, an ordinary but determined young woman, is given a chance to work at the big house as governess to two children, Lilibet and Margaret Rose.Windsor Castle, 1936As dramatic events sweep through the country and change all their lives in an extraordinary way, Marion loyally devotes herself to the family. But when love enters her life, she is faced with an unthinkable choiceEscape this summer with this sweeping love story about family secrets and the heart-breaking decision of choosing between your head and your heartReader's love The Good ServantSuch a tremendous read' ?????This latest novel absolutely blew me away' ?????This was my first read by Fern Britton but won't be my last!' ?????Well-written and researched' ?????Being an avid fan of Fern Britton and her Cornish novels I was not sure what to expect from this one BUT it is brilliant' ???Trade Review Praise for Fern Britton: ‘A charming story that is full of hope…will help put a spring in your step’ The Courier ‘This is ideal holiday reading’ Woman ‘A warm, easy read that depicts the joys of rural Cornwall’ Daily Mail ‘The warmth and empathy that have made Fern Britton such a popular TV presenter are evident in her latest novel’ Woman’s Weekly

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of A Woman of Substance, a page-turning epic Victorian historical family saga.London 1889: Victorian London is a place of wealth, privilege and poverty, a city of extremes. For James Falconer, who grew up as a barrow boy on a London market, it is a city of opportunity.Working his way up Henry Malvern's trading company in Piccadilly, James faces fraud and betrayal. A fierce rivalry develops with Henry's daughter and heir Alexis but their animosity masks a powerful attraction.Embarking on a love affair with the daughter of Russian émigrés, James's life begins to transform. But as treachery and danger threaten, a secret comes to light that will change his life forever. James must decide where his future lies with Henry Malvern or following his own dreamGripping, dramatic and bringing the England of Queen Victoria and the British Empire vividly to life, In the Lion's Den is a sweeping historical epic from one of our finest storytellers, creator of A Woman of Substance.Trade Review Acclaim for Barbara Taylor Bradford: ‘A stately home, a dangerous secret and two families whose fates have been intertwined for generations…a gripping period piece set on the brink of the Great War. Exquisite escapism of the highest order.’ The Lady ‘A classic saga of loyalty, secrets, passion and intrigue…if you’ve been suffering withdrawal symptoms from Downton, this is for you’ Daily Mail ‘A splendid historical family saga’ My Weekly ‘As romantic and thrilling as the rest’ Independent on Sunday ‘Few novelists are as consummate as Barbara Taylor Bradford at keeping the reader turning the page. She is one of the world’s best at spinning yarns’ Guardian ‘There is no one writing sagas like Bradford, and no one but the grand mistress delivers this kind of unforgettable, sweeping, dramatic read’ Romantic Times

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Book SynopsisAn astonishing novel' The IndependentI am William Lee: brute; liar, and graveside thief.But you will know me by another name.Heathcliff has left Wuthering Heights, and is travelling across the moors to Liverpool in search of his past.Along the way, he saves Emily, the foul-mouthed daughter of a Highwayman, from a whipping, and the pair journey on together.Roaming from graveyard to graveyard, making a living from Emily's apparent ability to commune with the dead, the pair lie, cheat and scheme their way across the North of England.And towards the terrible misdeeds and untold riches that will one day send Heathcliff home to Wuthering Heights.

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Book SynopsisOne summer can change everything . . .Perfect for readers who love Debbie Johnson, Cathy Bramley and Trisha Ashley.Warm and funny and feel-good. The best sort of holiday read. Katie FfordeFilled with warm and likeable characters. Great fun! Jill MansellDemi doesn't expect her summer in Cornwall to hold anything out of the ordinary. As a waitress, working all hours to make ends meet, washing dishes and serving ice creams seems to be as exciting as the holiday season is about to get.That's until she meets Cal Penwith. An outsider, like herself, Cal is persuaded to let Demi help him renovate his holiday resort, Kilhallon Park. Set above an idyllic Cornish cove, the once popular destination for tourists has now gone to rack and ruin. During the course of the Cornish summer, Demi makes new friends and foes as she helps the dashing and often infuriating Cal in his quest. Working side by side, the pair grow close, but Cal has complications in his past which make Demi wonder if he could everTrade Review“Warm and funny and feel-good. The best sort of holiday read.” Katie Fforde "Filled with warm and likeable characters. Great fun!" Jill Mansell “An utterly glorious, escapist read from a one of the freshest voices to emerge in women's fiction today. I loved every gorgeous page.” Claudia Carroll “A deliciously entertaining twist on the Poldark tale.”Liz Fenwick “A glorious, tantalising taste of Cornwall, I could almost taste the salt of the sea air as I read it.” Jules Wake “Made me want to run away to the Cornish coast immediately! Lovely, romantic summery escapism. Loved it!” Lorelei Mathias “You can't help but fall in love with the characters in this book. With its determined heroine and smouldering Poldark-alike this sweeping love story grips you and doesn't let go until the very last page.” Helen Cox “Summer at the Cornish Cafe hooked me right from the start, I ended up reading it in a day as I couldn't put it down. The first book in a very long time that has made me just curl up with a cuppa and lose myself in the pages. If you love Cornwall, you'll love this book.” A Cornish Mum “Phillipa Ashley is without doubt a very accomplished writer and the picture she paints of St Trenyan enthrals the reader and makes you want to book your own holiday to Kilhallon Park. The story expertly switches between the two lead character viewpoints giving you both sides of the story. The backgrounds of the characters are beautifully told as the story that brings them together unfolds. Add in some wonderfully eccentric locals, the perfect modern villain in Mawgan Cade and a special little dog called Mitch and you have yourself a terrific cast. Summer at the Cornish Cafe is a perfect summer read for the beach wherever you take your holiday but chances are if you read this first you’ll want to be heading to Cornwall!” Bella Osborne "Ashley's writing is deft, sexy, and full of humour." Trashionista.com

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Book SynopsisA wonderful Christmas gift full of nostalgia and charm, perfect for fans of Coronation Street and readers who love Fiction set in Wartime.Elsie Grimshaw lives in one of the worst streets in Weatherfield and is desperate to escape from life at home with a brutal father and the drudgery of working at the local mill. Grabbing at the slim chances that come her way, Elsie emerges from the heartbreak of first love and her marriage to bad boy, Arnold Tanner at only sixteen years old, if not much older, then certainly wiser.Going under her married name of Elsie Tanner, she and Arnold move in to No.11 Coronation Street in 1939 as war breaks out. Her cheeky self-confidence immediately puts her at loggerheads with local busy-body Ena Sharples and Annie Walker, landlady of the Rovers Return.As Christmas approaches, the residents of Coronation Street must put their petty squabbles aside if they are to survive the worst that Hitler's Luftwaffe can throw at them. And as the Manchester Blitz grips theTrade ReviewPraise for Maggie Sullivan: ‘A wonderfully nostalgic tale’ Choice Magazine ‘A perfect festive read’ Woman Magazine ‘A must read’ Amazon ‘A real page-turner’ Amazon ‘A wonderful trip down memory lane’ Goodreads

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Book SynopsisFar from home, hope will keep them together.The plucky evacuees must come together in this heart-warming saga set in the Second World War for fans of Dilly Court and Rosie GoodwinIn September 1940, after a year away from home, eleven-year-old twins Connie and Jessie have finally settled into evacuee life in Harrogate. But when the brutal bombings in London begin, threatening their parents who live near the Bermondsey docks, their courage is put to the test.Aunt Peggy keeps a watchful eye on the spirited twins but doesn't know all their troubles as they start secondary school. She must raise baby Holly, while searching for the strength to divorce her cheating husband, who may have just ruined her only chance to love again.Full of hope and courage,The Evacuee Waris the third in the heart-warming saga series set during the Second World War from Katie King.Praise for The Evacuee Series:A heart-warming read' My Weekly ''This delightful read captures a sense of nostalgia and weaves together Trade Review Praise for The Evacuee Series: ‘A heart-warming read’ My Weekly 'This delightful read captures a sense of nostalgia and weaves together the dramas of a cast of heart-warming characters’ Woman ‘A heart-warming tale of friendship and family’ Woman

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Book SynopsisAn evocative tale' Woman MagazineThe East End of London has been devastated by the Blitz and the people are struggling to come to terms with their ravaged city. Rationing bites ever deeper and and everything that makes life better is in short supply. For the district nurses, the challenges are tougher than ever.Gladys loves her work in the Civil Nursing Reserve, but just when she needs to rely on her sister at home to help out with the chores, she turns into a handful of trouble. Edith is learning to cope with her boyfriend''s injuries after Dunkirk but will she have to choose between her love for him and her career?With no end in sight, the war reaches its darkest moment Can the nurses and the families and patients that rely on them find the strength to carry on?Trade ReviewPraise for Annie Groves: ‘An engrossing story’ My Weekly ‘A stirring and heartrending family saga…Against a backdrop of change when the suffragette movement was coming to the fore, the choices and dreams of a generation of women combine to create this passionate story’ Liverpool Daily Post ‘Heartwrenching and uplifting in equal measure – a tragic indictment of what can happen when you swap passion for duty. Roll on the sequel!’ Take a Break ‘Written from the heart’ My Weekly

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Book SynopsisThe perfect summer read for fans of Santa Montefiore, Victoria Hislop and Dinah JeffriesWill Alba find the music of her heart?Sardinia, 1968.When eleven-year-old Alba Fresu witnesses her father and brother kidnapped by bandits, her previously happy and secure family life is shaken to the core. The pair are eventually released, but the experience leaves Alba deeply disturbed, unable to give voice to her inner turmoil.While accompanying her mother to cleaning jobs, Alba visits the villa of an eccentric Signora and touches the keys of a piano for the first time. She is transported to another world, one where she can finally express emotion too powerful for words alone.She takes secret piano lessons and, against her parents' wishes, accepts a scholarship to the Rome conservatoire. There she immerses herself in the vibrant world of the city, full of heat and passion she's never experienced before and embarks on an affair that will change the course of her life forever.But Alba soon reachesTrade Review Praise for Sara Alexander: ‘Will leave readers riveted until the explosive conclusion’Publishers Weekly ‘This enchanting novel is a delightful read, perfectly suited for a warm beach with a cold beverage. Readers who enjoy Adriana Trigiani’s historical Italian family sagas will adore Alexander’s debut.’Booklist

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Book SynopsisWe can't choose who we love. We can choose who we fight for. A powerful story that proves how love itself requires courage' Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads SingStorytelling at its best' Sarah WinmanThe perfect book club read' AJ PearceEllen Parr has always been sure she never wanted children. But when she finds a young girl asleep and unclaimed at the back of a bus fleeing the Blitz in Southampton, everything she once believed is overturned.As she takes Pamela into her home, the little girl cracks open the past Ellen thought she had escaped and the future she thought she wanted, for in uncertain times it seems the only certainty is love.But with the end of the fighting comes the realization that Pamela was never hers to keepWe Must Be Brave is an epic and intensely moving novel about the ways we rescue one other, and the astonishing tenacity of the human heart.Trade Review‘This is storytelling at its best. Wise, generous and captivating’ Sarah Winman, author of Tin Man ‘Oh, I loved this book so much! It’s strikingly authentic, beautifully written, and a wonderfully touching depiction of the families people create for themselves when blood relatives let them down. It broke my heart and glued it together again. Just perfect’ Jill Mansell, author of Rumour Has It ‘Through years of plenty and poverty, war and peace, Ellen’s story is endlessly affecting, peopled by beautifully drawn, endearing characters. A very special, quietly spectacular novel.’Saga Magazine ‘The writing is often dazzling – a child’s voice is “clear, piping, like a twig peeled of its bark” – and this, too, lifts what might have been a sentimental story into different territory altogether … We Must Be Brave is a great success: richly observed, lovingly drawn and determinedly clear-eyed to the last’ Melissa Harrison, Guardian ‘A quiet masterpiece of love and loss, ‘abandoned’ children and rescue and courage … This beautifully written novel had me sobbing, yet addicted’ Bel Mooney, Daily Mail ‘A book about fundamentally decent people doing good things and a story both epic and intimate, so tenderly written it moved me to tears’ Elizabeth Day, author of The Party ‘A wonderful novel. A beautifully written story of love and loss, with thoughtfully crafted characters and so much to think about long after you’ve finished reading it. It is one of those novels you can talk about for hours – the perfect book club read.’ AJ Pearce, author of Dear Mrs Bird ‘I loved this book. We Must Be Brave pulls you in right from the start and stays with you long after you have finished it. Such confident storytelling and perfect attention to detail is really rare’ Esther Walker, onthespike.com

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Book SynopsisHeartbreaking and uplifting, the story of the workhouse orphan, Eliza, will touch your heartEliza was left as a small baby at the workhouse in Whitechapel, wrapped in her mother's shawl, which is all she has of the mother she never knew. At eleven years-old, she has survived sickness, near starvation and harsh beatings.Master Simpkins and his cruel daughter rule the workhouse with a rod of iron, but when Romany boy, Joe, arrives at the workhouse, his spirit and courage give Eliza hope that another life is waiting for her outside.When she is sold into service, Eliza is relieved to be out of the workhouse and hopes her fortunes are changing for the better, but cruelty and unkindness are everywhere and her salvation could become her ruinTrade ReviewPraise for Cathy Sharp: ‘A totally absorbing book…Real time disappeared for me.’ ‘Brilliant story, couldn't put it down once I started to read.’ ‘Having been brought up in the East End I could remember the various places and things talked about in this really well written book which kept you on the edge of your seat.’ ‘Wonderful writer, believable characters, you got to know each one personally. I hope Cathy will continue this story.’ ‘Really, really loved this book…Can’t wait to start the next one, have it already downloaded.’ ‘Wonderful book, love the author…do not start it if you have something to do, hard to put down!’

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Book SynopsisScotland, 1940In a house on the east coast, Jane faces motherhood alone. With her husband away at war, there is no one to protect her from small town suspicions and she must learn to keep her secrets to herself.Three decades later her daughter Felicity leaves their life behind for Montreal, glad to flee the unknowns that have plagued her so far. But her personal battles are nothing compared to the unrest here, where a commune in rural Quebec and a child of her own might be her saviours.The child grows up to be Pidge, a woman surprised to find that she will inherit her grandmother''s Scottish house, yet curious about the ingredients that make up a family''s history.Amidst the flying feathers of the wild goose that stalks the kitchen, Pidge will find unexpected answers to the questions that have beset these women through the years.The Heart Beats in Secret is a powerful story of three women and the secrets and bonds that have defined them. It explores the wilderness of the heart, the secTrade Review‘Textured and beautiful. Katie Munnik has a voice full of quiet passion and poetry’ Kate Hamer ‘Munnik unfurls her story in quiet, reflective prose, but there is much to enjoy along the way’ Town and Country ‘[A] powerful, multi-generational novel … full of secrets, stories and discoveries’ Prima ‘Beautifully written and moving’ Woman’s Own ‘The Heart Beats in Secret is a spacious and yet densely woven work … beautifully written’ The Cardiff Review

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Book SynopsisA forgotten house and a secret hidden for a century''Wonderfully evocative' Judy Finnigan''An absolute delight!'' Hazel GaynorWonderful escapism'Tracy Rees'A lovely story'' Erica JamesGloriously rich' Rachel HoreSublime storytelling' Cathy BramleyEmotional'Kate RyderFollowing the breakdown of her marriage, Theo has bought a tumbledown cottage on the banks of the river Tamar which divides Cornwall and Devon. The peace and tranquillity of Boatman's Cottage, nestled by the water, is just what she needs to heal.Yet soon after her arrival, Theo discovers a stash of hidden letters tied with a ribbon, untouched for more than a century. The letters sent from the battlefields of France during WW1 tell of a young servant from the nearby manor house, Abbotswood, and his love for a woman he was destined to lose.As she begins to bring Boatman's Cottage and its gardens back to life, Theo pieces together a story of star-crossed lovers played out against the river, while finding her own new path to happiness.The River Between Us beautifully explores the mystery and secrets of a long-forgotten love affair, and will be loved by fans of Kate Morton.Praise for The River Between Us:''Wonderfully evocative'Judy Finnigan''Full of delicious atmosphere and intrigue, and with a compelling mystery flowing through its pages an absolute delight!'' Hazel GaynorWonderful escapism a relaxing, evocative read'Tracy Rees''A lovely story that blends the past and the present beautifully'' Erica JamesI enjoyed sinking into this gloriously rich novel, so laced with secrets. What a vivid cast of characters!' Rachel HoreSublime storytelling' Cathy BramleyA compellingly atmospheric and emotional rollercoaster of a read'Kate RyderBeautifully descriptive, unashamedly romantic and evocative' Veronica HenryA captivating and romantic Cornish story that explores the tangle of relationships connecting us through time' Susanna KearsleyCaptures the magical atmosphereof Devon and Cornwall' Rosanna LeyI had THAT feeling when you''ve been away to a lovely place for a while and don''t want to come back' Nicola CornickTrade Review Praise for The River Between Us: 'Wonderfully evocative’ Judy Finnigan, bestselling author of Eloise 'Full of delicious atmosphere and intrigue, and with a compelling mystery flowing through its pages, The River Between Us is an absolute delight… I loved it!' Hazel Gaynor, bestselling author of The Bird in the Bamboo Cage ‘Wonderful escapism … a relaxing, evocative read’ Tracy Rees, bestselling author of The House at Silvermoor ‘I enjoyed sinking into this gloriously rich novel, so laced with secrets… I loved the gorgeous setting of the river Tamar, the magical border between Devon and Cornwall’ Rachel Hore, bestselling author of A Beautiful Spy 'Liz has conjured up a lovely story that blends the past and the present beautifully' Erica James, bestselling author of Letters From the Past ‘Sublime storytelling’ Cathy Bramley, bestselling author of My Kind of Happy ‘The story and relationships take some intriguing twists and turns that will have you gripped’ Woman & Home ‘A compellingly atmospheric and emotional rollercoaster of a read, which leaves one ultimately replete’ Kate Ryder, bestselling author of Beneath Cornish Skies ‘Beautifully descriptive, unashamedly romantic and evocative, Liz Fenwick has nailed the sweeping escapist read’ Veronica Henry, bestselling author of The Beach Hut Series ‘A captivating and romantic Cornish story that explores the tangle of relationships connecting us through time’ Susanna Kearsley, bestselling author of Bellewether ‘Captures the magical atmosphere of Devon and Cornwall. And what a wonderful journey of discovery’ Rosanna Ley, author of The Orange Grove ‘When I finished I had THAT feeling when you've been away to a lovely place for a while and don't want to come back’ Nicola Cornick, author of The Last Daughter ‘The past blends seamlessly with the present in this story of love, loss and newfound happiness’ Candis

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Book SynopsisA Stylist Best Book of 2020You're free to decide your future. But how do you escape the ghosts of the past?A stunning debut novel with echoes of Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing and Sara Collins' The Confessions of Frannie LangtonThe pale-skinned, black-eyed baby is a bad omen. That's one thing the people on the old plantation are sure of. The other is that Miss Rue midwife, healer, crafter of curses will know what to do.But for once Rue doesn't know. Times have changed since her mother Miss May Belle held the power to influence the life and death of her fellow slaves. Freedom has come. The master's Big House lies in ruins. But this new world brings new dangers, and Rue's old magic may be no match for them.When sickness sweeps across her tight-knit community, Rue finds herself the focus of suspicion. What secrets does she keep amidst the charred remains of the Big House? Which spells has she conjured to threaten their children? And why is she so wary of the charismatic preacher man who promisesTrade Review‘This novel, written in lush, irresistible, and poetic prose, took me into the lives of people in another time and place – into their loves, nightmares, dreams, their unexpected ties – and into the hearts of women I could otherwise never know. I was transported’ Amy Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of White Houses ‘With comparisons to Beloved and Homegoing, this debut is an era-spanning tale that originates in the American Civil War and beyond’ Stylist ‘If you are grieving for Toni Morrison, Afia Atakora is the young writer to read now: the kind of historical novelist who makes you believe she must have somehow seen the places she describes and known these characters herself. Her astonishing debut takes the reader to a Reconstruction-era Southern plantation, where two little girls—the enslaved child of the local healer and the planter’s cloistered daughter—become unlikely friends. Conjure Women illuminates an unfamiliar corner of Civil War history and brings to life an indelible character whose talents, from midwifery to voodoo, will yield her own unconventional path to power and freedom’ Nell Freudenberger, author of Lost and Wanted ‘In Conjure Women Afia Atakora masterfully centers two generations of women, folk healers who carry the secrets of their community while bearing the brunt of its antebellum past and its reconstructed present. Telling a gripping story at once grand and intimate, Atakora renders humanity in all its beautiful fits and flaws. Page after page, her voice announces itself like a thunderclap. The women in this novel will blessedly stick with you long after the last word has been read’ Caleb Johnson, author of Treeborne

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.''I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth.''Shipwrecked on the high seas, Lemuel Gulliver finds himself washed up on the strange island of Lilliput, a land inhabited by quarrelsome miniature people. On his travels he continues to meet others who force him to reflect on human behaviour the giants of Brobdingnag, the Houyhnhnms and the Yahoos. In this scathing satire on the politics and morals of the 18th Century, Swift''s condemnation of society and its institutions still resonates today.

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.Ah, but let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart.'A tale of sin, punishment and atonement, The Scarlet Letter exposes the moral rigidity of a 17th-Century Puritan New England community when faced with the illegitimate child of a young mother. Regarded as the first real heroine of American fiction, it is Hester Prynne''s strength of character that resonates with the reader when her harsh sentence is cast. It is in her refusal to reveal the identity of the father in the face of her accusers that Hawthorne champions his heroine and berates the weakness of Society for attacking the innocent.

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Book SynopsisWar brings changes three friends could never foreseeHighly recommended' Anna JacobsA warm domestic drama' People's FriendIt's 1942 and as shortages of staff and goods begin to bite, young Lily Collins is nervously stepping up to sales junior at Marlow's department store.Bombs are still falling and Lily and fellow shop girls Gladys and Beryl need a stiff upper lip to wave boyfriends, husbands and brothers goodbye, especially with a baby on the way and grim news on the wireless. Jim, who works with Lily at the store, seems restless, and nothing can prepare Lily for the secrets that come tumbling out when her favourite brother comes home on leaveSomehow, she must keep smiling through. Community, family and friends rally round as her home town and the whole country is tested once again.Trade ReviewAcclaim for Joanna Toye: ‘Captivating…a triumphant debut novel’ Women’s Weekly ‘A warm domestic drama’ People’s Friend ‘Highly recommended – an engrossing story with a charmingly forthright heroine’ Anna Jacobs 'Jo writes with a sure hand and a light touch…a real page-turner with a spirited heroine.' Veronica Henry ‘Cheerful and uplifting…I thoroughly enjoyed it’ Katie Fforde

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Book SynopsisThe new book in the heart-warming WW2 family saga series! Just the balm our souls need right now' Women's WeeklySummer 1942. Despite grim reports on the wireless and rationing hitting hard, Lily Collins and her fellow shop girls from Marlow's department store are determined to put out the bunting for a family party.But Beryl's husband Les returns from North Africa a changed man, and Gladys worries for her own fiancé's safety. The store is losing staff to the war effort and Lily's young man, Jim, is torn over where his duty lies.Then comes the knock on the door that everyone dreads. Lily's family, always the heart of her world, is rocked to the core. The small Midlands town and Lily's beloved Marlow's must face their greatest challenge yet.Trade ReviewAcclaim for Joanna Toye:‘The sense of wartime community is strong…this evocative novel may be just the balm our souls need’ Women’s Weekly 'Jo writes with a sure hand and a light touch…a real page-turner with a spirited heroine who will worm her way into readers' hearts. A sparkling new voice in fiction.' Veronica Henry ‘Cheerful and uplifting…I thoroughly enjoyed it’ Katie Fforde ‘Highly recommended – an engrossing story with a charmingly forthright heroine’ Anna Jacobs ‘Captivating…a triumphant debut novel’ Women’s Weekly

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Book SynopsisTHE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER AND AWARD-WINNING RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICKMurder, lies and betrayal in Regency EnglandEngland 1819. Thomas Shield, a master at a school just outside London, is tutor to a young American boy and the child's sensitive best friend, Charles Frant. Helplessly drawn to Frant's beautiful, unhappy mother, Shield becomes entwined in their family's affairs.When a brutal murder takes place in London's seedy backstreets, all clues lead to the Frant family, and Shield is tangled in a web of lies, money, sex and death that threatens to tear his new life apart.Soon, it emerges that at the heart of these macabre events lies the strange American boy. What secrets is the young Edgar Allan Poe hiding?Trade Review‘One of the Top Ten Crime Novels of the Decade’ Sunday Times ‘An enthralling read from start to finish’ The Times ‘Deeply absorbing and beautifully written’ Independent ‘Hugely entertaining, beguiling and atmospheric’ Observer ‘Delightful…it will have you desperate to search out a quiet corner to continue your acquaintance with it’ Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe USA Today bestsellerThis is a stunning and memorable page-turner of love, loss and resilience for fans of The Tattooist of AuschwitzDon't miss The Red Cross Orphans, the brand new historical novel from Glynis Peters coming in November 2021Keep her secret Keep her safeOn the 14th November 1940, Hitler's bombs rain down on Coventry. From the rubble of a bombed-out family home, a young girl is savedAs the Nazis' relentless bombs fall during the Blitz of Coventry, six-year-old Rose Sherbourne finds herself orphaned and under the guardianship of a Cornish farmer''s daughter, Elenor Cardew.Elenor knows that the only way to protect spirited Rose is to leave the city and make a new life for themselves away from harm. But soon Elenor discovers that Hitler's firestorm is not the only thing she must fear when she learns a devastating secret about RoseWith Rose's life in imminent danger, Elenor turns to the only person she can trust to keep the deadly secret, heroic Canadian pilot, Jackson St Trade Review‘A real page turner … You will find yourself in England during the war with a story that will stay with you’ Lou, Goodreads ‘A stunning novel and one that should be recommended’ Postcard Reviews ‘A must read for WWII historical fiction fans’ Lizbeth, Goodreads ‘One of my new favourite novels … I love everything about this story’ Ashley Murphy Reads ‘The depiction of wartime life in the Coventry bombings and on a Cornish farm were realistic and compelling’ Vivien Brown ‘A story that I will remember for a long time to come’ Shirley, Goodreads Reviewer ‘Loved every minute of this hard to put down book … highly recommend putting this on your reading list – especially if you love historical fiction and WWII’ Roxane, Goodreads ‘A must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction (especially World War II fiction) or romance’ Kindred Connection Reviews

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Book SynopsisA beautiful, heartbreaking novel of war and loss and the resilience of the human spirit' Rosemary, Netgalley ReaderThe USA Today bestseller!Young nurse, Gemma, is struggling with the traumas she has witnessed through her job. Needing to escape from it all, Gemma agrees to help renovate a rundown farmhouse in Doullens, France, a town near the Somme. There, in a boarded-up cupboard, wrapped in old newspapers, is a tin that reveals the secret letters and heartache of Alice Le Breton, a young volunteer nurse who worked in a casualty clearing station near the front line.Set in the present day and during the horrifying years of the war, both women discover deep down the strength and courage to carry on in even the most difficult of times. Through Alice's words and her unfailing love for her sweetheart at the front, Gemma learns to truly live again.This epic historical novel will take your breath away.Readers are falling in love with The Poppy Field:Both heartbreaking and full of hope and hap

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Book SynopsisExquisite' Veronica HenryBefore A Christmas Carol there was Miss MarleyA seasonal tale of kindness and goodwillOrphans Clara and Jacob Marley live by their wits, scavenging for scraps in the poorest alleyways of London, in the shadow of the workhouse. Every night, Jake promises his little sister tomorrow will be better' and when the chance to escape poverty comes their way, he seizes it despite the terrible price.And so Jacob Marley is set on a path that leads to his infamous partnership with Ebenezer Scrooge. As Jacob builds a fortress of wealth to keep the world out, only Clara can warn him of the hideous fate that awaits him if he refuses to let love and kindness into his heartIn Miss Marley, Vanessa Lafaye weaves a spellbinding Dickensian tale of ghosts, goodwill and hope a perfect prequel to A Christmas Carol.Praise for Miss Marley:A spellbinding Dickensian tale of ghosts, goodwill and hope' Mail on SundayRedemptive a fitting legacy for a writer who is so sadly missed' RedEvocatiTrade ReviewPraise for Miss Marley: ‘A spellbinding Dickensian tale of ghosts, goodwill and hope’ Mail on Sunday ‘Redemptive… a fitting legacy for a writer who is so sadly missed’ Red ‘Evocative’ Heat ‘Delightful’ Sunday Mirror ‘A reminder of the power of kindness and love’ Stylist A ‘gem of a tale’ Sunday Express ‘A beautifully written Dickensian tale’ Candis ‘Captivating … A beautiful and tender fable’ Daily Express ‘Fantastic’ Good Housekeeping ‘Ghosts, goodwill and hope on every page’ My Weekly ‘Lafaye masterfully brings the setting of 19th-Century London to life’ Woman ‘Love, disappointment, kindness and greed all play their parts in this delightful companion piece to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol’ Woman & Home ‘A seasonal tale of kindness and goodwill that captures the atmosphere of Dickens’ Yours ‘Exquisite’ Veronica Henry ‘A beautiful, warm, rich hug of a story and bittersweet reminder to embrace life and enrich others as you go’ Liz Fenwick ‘A charming, finely detailed and beautifully written jaunt through Dickens’ London – a tale of heartbreak, love, kindness, and avarice. With Lafaye at her finest it’s seamlessly finished by Mascull; this book is a total, total joy’ Fionnuala Kearney ‘A moving companion piece to the classic A Christmas Carol, with all the traditional echoes of the Dickensian festive season woven through, and with tragedy and joy in equal measure. A delight’ Essie Fox ‘Miss Marley has a fable-like quality that beautifully echoes the original with a directness that is both poignant and powerful’ Rachel Malik ‘An absolute gem of a story… vivid and emotional on so many levels. It deserves to be in everyone’s Christmas stocking’ Juliet West

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Book SynopsisBeautiful and brutal a breathtaking debut' JOANNA CANNONDark, lyrical impressive' DAILY MAILAn atmospheric slow burn with a sense of forboding that grows with each page' GOOD HOUSEKEEPINGAtmospheric and compelling' KATE SAWYERA beautifully written atmospheric story of trauma, grief and redemption, Still Water is a debut from a bright new voice in literary fiction.When Jane Douglas returns to the Shetland Islands, she thinks she has escaped the dark shadows of her childhood. She carves out a simple life on the bleak, windswept island, working at the salmon fishery and spending quiet evenings at home. And for the first time in her life, she's happy.Then the body of Jane's long-missing mother is found in a flooded quarry. Her mother disappeared when Jane was a teenager, following the death of Jane's baby brother. Jane has spent her life running from her past, living in fear that she has inherited her mother's demons. Now, Jane must face what actually happened on that fateful, tragic day twenty years agoA haunting story told with compassion and even tenderness' KATIE MUNNIKIntense, unflinching, honest beautifully told' LUCIE MCKNIGHT HARDYTrade Review‘Beautiful and brutal… a breathtaking debut’ JOANNA CANNON ‘Dark, lyrical… impressive’ DAILY MAIL ‘An atmospheric slow burn… with a sense of forboding that grows with each page’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING ‘Atmospheric and compelling’ KATE SAWYER ‘A haunting story… told with compassion and even tenderness’ KATIE MUNNIK ‘Intense, unflinching, honest… beautifully told’ LUCIE MCKNIGHT HARDY

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Book SynopsisThe USA TODAY bestseller!Inspired by the brave women of WWII, this is a moving and powerful novel of friendship, love and resilience for fans of My Name is Eva, The Alice Network and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.A story of love not a story of a warA daring WWII pilot who grew up among the clouds, Juliet Caron's life was one of courage, adventure and a love torn apart by war. Every nook of her Cornish cottage is alive with memories just waiting to be discovered.Katherine Henderson has escaped to Cornwall for Christmas, but she soon finds there is more to her holiday cottage than meets the eye. And on the eve of Juliet's 100th birthday, Katherine is enlisted to make an old lady's final Christmas wish come trueMe Before You meets The English Patient in this stunning romantic historical novelI loved it' Jill MansellReaders love The Last Letter from JulietOK. I've finished the book. Holy ******I had to keep taking breaks in the last 15% just so I didn't break down in a flood of tears' Zoe HaTrade Review Readers ADORE Dear Rosie Hughes… ‘This book is going to be spoken about everywhere…I really really loved it’ Karen Whittard, Reviewer ‘I loved this story of friendship…emotional and memorable’ Jessica Bryson, Reviewer ‘Definitely a book I would read over and over again…Highly recommend’ 5 stars, Ginger Book Geek Blog

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Book Synopsis*A stunning new unabridged recording*From the bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory, comes a wonderfully atmospheric evocation of the court of Henry VIII and his final queens.1539. Anne of Cleves wins the dangerous prize of becoming Henry VIII's fourth wife. From the start, Anne's royal blood, education and fierce intelligence count for nothing as the king pursues young Katherine Howard.Katherine is a pawn in the political manoeuvres of her ambitious family; unprepared for the dangers that await, she steps into their trap. At her side is kinswoman Jane Boleyn, who has served and betrayed one queen already: her sister-in-law Anne, who died on Henry's scaffold. Will Jane betray a second queen to the headsman?As the three women's fates entwine in the most volatile court in Europe, each must survive an increasingly tyrannical, murderous king.With an exclusive afterword written and read by Philippa Gregory, exploring the inspiration behind The Boleyn Inheritance.Trade ReviewPraise for ‘The Constant Princess’: 'One of Gregory's great strengths as a novelist is her ability to take familiar historical figures and flesh them into living breathing human beings. “The Constant Princess” is a worthy successor to her previous novels about the Tudors and deserves to be a bestseller.' Daily Express 'Gregory's research is impeccable which makes her imaginative fiction all the more convincing.' Daily Mail 'Gregory is great at conjuring a Tudor film-set of gorgeous gowns and golden-plattered dining.' Telegraph

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Book SynopsisA Small Revolution in Germany is about growing up, or refusing to accept what growing up means; it's about the small dishonest pacts that people make with their own futures; and it's about the rare and joyous refusal to be disillusioned.Everyone remembers what it's like to be seventeen. The conversations you have; the ideas that burst on you; the kiss that transforms you. And then you grow up, and make a deal with adulthood. A Small Revolution in Germany is about that rapturous moment when ideas, and ideals, and passion crash over one boy's head. And what happens in the decades afterwards? When you see the overwhelming truth when you are seventeen, why should you ever abandon that truth?Spike is brought into a small, clever group of friends, bursting with a passion for ideas, and the wish to change the world. They smash up political meetings; they paint slogans on walls; they long for armed revolution; they argue, exuberantly, until dawn. In the years to follow, they all change their mTrade ReviewPraise for A Small Revolution in Germany: ‘In A Small Revolution in Germany – a meditation on youth and constancy and reinvention – Philip Hensher has coalesced all the craft, skill, wit and intelligence of his previous work into something which is dazzling but also deeply thought and deeply felt. I just loved it’ Linda Grant ‘He brilliantly animates the lives of neglected people during big historical events.’ The Times, Thomas Adès ‘Hensher’s quietly brilliant novel opens in the Eighties and spans some 30 years, illuminating an entire social world with skill, humour and tenderness.’ Daily Mail, Max Davidson ‘Moments of sharp observation’ The Times, Alexander Nurnberg ‘On the one hand, he is writing the type of novel whose atmosphere relies for its attack on a certain amount of self-conscious cultural signalling. On the other, he is embarked on the kind of fictional high-wire act that both emphasizes and undermines the seriousness with which the people he writes about need to be taken…Rather like Mary Gaitskill, he specializes in extending sympathy to his creations and then suddenly withdrawing it, giving them enough rope to hang themselves with … some wonderful moments of off-kilter comedy’ TLS, D.J. Taylor ‘A beautiful, regret-soaked story about the marks left on our adult lives by the idealism of our youth’ Alex Preston, Observer ‘The novel moves easily between Thatcherite Britain and the present…. This book is bound to be seen as a satire on the left. But in fact its keynote is a deep anger and disillusionment with politics, a lack of faith in all systems…Positioning his story within the frame of current events is a clever move on Hensher’s part’ Elizabeth Lowry, Guardian ‘Hensher’s novel reads easily and has a controlled, rueful atmosphere - a cautionary tale’ John Maier, The Times

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Book SynopsisFor readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Kate Furnivall comes a gritty tale of courage, betrayal and love in the most unlikely of places.Also published as The German Midwife.A powerful, haunting debut' Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice NetworkIncredibly powerful, harrowing but ultimately uplifting. I couldn't put this down.' Katie Fforde, author of A Rose Petal SummerA fascinating story which had me forgetting it's fiction! So well written, I was left pondering if the events could actually be true. Enthralling!' Kitty Neale, author of A Sister's SorrowAbsorbing and totally believable a wonderful WW2 novel.' Molly Green, author of An Orphan's WarI cannot give enough praise for A Woman of War. This is definitely #1 on my list of [historical fiction] books I've read in 2018.' NetGalley ReviewerIf you are looking for a page turner, this is it. I read the book cover to cover in 48 hours. If I could give this book a 6/5 stars I would!' NetGalley ReviewerThe wriTrade Review‘Incredibly powerful, harrowing but ultimately uplifting. I couldn’t put this down.’ Katie Fforde ‘A fascinating story which had me forgetting it’s fiction! So well written, I was left pondering if the events could actually be true. Enthralling!’ Kitty Neale ‘Absorbing and totally believable – a wonderful WW2 novel.’ Molly Green ‘I cannot give enough praise for A Woman of War. This is definitely #1 on my list of historical fiction books I’ve read in 2018.’ NetGalley Reviewer ‘If you are looking for a page turner, this is it. I read the book cover to cover in 48 hours. If I could give this book a 6/5 Stars I would!’ NetGalley Reviewer ‘The writing was excellent and the characters realistic […] an interesting and thoughtful page turner.’ NetGalley Reviewer ‘Very compelling.’ NetGalley Reviewer ‘This book absolutely DESTROYED me. I went into it with high expectations, and I certainly wasn't let down.’ NetGalley Reviewer

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Book SynopsisLondon Society takes their problems to Sherlock Holmes. Everyone else goes to Arrowood.Finlay depicts a seedy, desperate London and vivid characters with considerable skill' The TimesNowhere to hide.London, 1896. As winter grips the city, a group of African travellers seek sanctuary inside the walls of the Quaker Meeting House. They are being hunted by a ruthless showman, who is forcing them to perform in his ethnic exhibition in the London Aquarium.Nowhere to turn.Private investigator William Arrowood and his assistant Barnett agree to help the travellers avoid capture. But when they arrive at the Meeting House, they find a scene of devastation. Two people have been murdered and the others have fled into the night.Nowhere to run.The hunt for the real killer leads Arrowood into the dark heart of Victorian London. A shadowy world of freak shows, violence and betrayal, where there are no good choices and only the slimmest chance of survivalTrade Review‘This is Victorian London in all its grit and grime and Finlay clearly knows his history but applies it with a light touch. He revels in the muck and mayhem of the city … the story is full of life and flashes of black humour’ Evening Standard ‘There are many insights on the iniquities of empire, and Arrowood’s wife’s struggle to become a doctor is an illuminating subplot. The narrator Malk Williams bullishly renders the frank and foul-mouthed Barnett, from whose point of view the story unfolds … enjoy an excellent final gallop to giving everyone their just deserts’ The Times, Audiobook of the Week ‘Gripping … the series has gone from strength to strength’ Sunday Post ‘A rollicking case … I love the sardonic wit and the down-at-the-heel sleuth … oozes with grim colour’ Peterborough Telegraph ‘A riveting tale of intrigue, exploitation and danger. I felt as though I was right there in the foggy, soot-stained alleyways of Victorian London, looking anxiously over my shoulder’ S. W. Perry ‘A bracing joy, plunging us into a Victorian London which is vibrant and alive. I loved being with his extraordinary characters once again’ Alex Reeve ‘It really evokes the era, and Arrowood is a very interesting, flawed, sleuth’ Faith Martin ‘A compelling mystery which brilliantly evokes the grime and gaudiness of late Victorian London. The crimes of a far-flung Empire come home to roost in this story of exploitation, loyalty, hidden identities and revenge. A fantastic addition to the series’ Katherine Stansfield Praise for Mick Finlay: ‘A crime novel of thrilling intricacy … Arrowood is a terrific creation, and this book wins five rosettes’ The Tablet ‘Think Sherlock Holmes is the only detective working in Victorian London? Meet William Arrowood, the hero of Mick Finlay’s series of absorbing novels … Finlay depicts a seedy, desperate London and vivid characters with considerable skill’ The Times

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Book SynopsisFrom the No.1 bestselling author ofThe Last ProtectorandThe Ashes of Londoncomes the next book in the phenomenally successful series following James Marwood and Cat Lovett during the time of King Charles II.Over 1 Million Andrew Taylor Novels Sold!A Times Best Paperback of 2022Two young girls plot a murder by witchcraft. Soon afterwards a government clerk dies painfully in mysterious circumstances. His colleague James Marwood is asked to investigate but the task brings unexpected dangers.Meanwhile, architect Cat Hakesby is working for a merchant who lives on Slaughter Street, where the air smells of blood and a captive Barbary lion prowls the stables. Then a prestigious new commission arrives. Cat must design a Poultry House for the woman that the King loves most in all the world.Unbeknownst to all, at the heart of this lies a royal secret so explosive that it could not only rip apart England but change the entire face of EuropeTrade Review‘With all his customary deftness and skill, Taylor weaves a colourful, complicated plot involving royal secrets, foreign spies in London and a mangy lion, caged in a merchant’s stables, that is used to frighten a man to death’ The Times Best Paperbacks of 2022 ‘A pleasure from start to finish’ The Spectator ‘Beautifully crafted story’ Mystery and Suspense Praise for The Last Protector: ‘Confirms his status as one of our finest writers of historical thrillers’ The Sunday Times ‘There is colour, violence, devotion, courage and fun here. What more could anyone ask of a crime novel?’ Literary Review ‘Taylor is on reliably good form in this fourth instalment of a series that effortlessly blends history and mystery.’ The Times ‘A teeming London (in the process of reconstruction after the Great Fire), political chicanery, duels, brothels, court manoeuvrings — all are grist to Taylor’s imaginative mill’ The Financial Times ‘A brilliant historical novel about Cromwell… Riveting’ Evening Standard ‘Superb… Cat, especially, remains one of the most compelling, multifaceted characters in contemporary historical fiction’. Observer ‘Taylor’s fourth Marwood tale is gripping and rich in detail – 4.5 stars’ The Sun ‘Boasting political intrigue and evocative period atmosphere, The Last Protector is crime writing at its most elegant and assured’ Waterstones blog “[G]reat fun and perfect summer getaway reading”! Globe and Mail

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Book SynopsisAn extraordinary story against all the oddsHe vowed in his letter to one day meet her again, once the war was over. But it was a letter Maria couldn't bring herself to readGrowing up in the humble Spanish town of Fuentes, Maria dreamed of seeing the world and marrying one day. But before her life can truly start, civil war breaks out and Fuentes is torn apart by violence, secrecy and corruption.Maria vows to take a stand, yet as an unspeakable tragedy rocks her trust in human decency, her heart hardens and the love she once believed in seems far out of reach. But when she falls for an occupying soldier, she questions whether she can truly love someone who is her enemy?

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Book SynopsisIncredible I was enraptured through every single part of it Made me feel quite emotional Fabulous read.' NetGalley reviewer, 5 starsLondon, 1910. Twenty-one-year-old Esther Watkins would do anything for the Suffragette cause. Imprisoned, force-fed and beaten, she is determined to fight for what she believes is right no matter what it costs her. With new love Joseph by her side, will she get the better future she dreams of?Kent, 2019. With her marriage in tatters, school teacher Lizzie Armstrong moves to sleepy Elm Heath for a fresh start, and her pupils and the community soon steal her heart. So when the school is threatened with closure Lizzie knows she has to fight, and she looks to the school's founder for inspiration.What makes Esther, born and bred in London, a proud Suffragette, suddenly leave the city and escape to Elm Heath? And when Lizzie uncovers Esther's heartbreaking secret, could it give her the strength she needs to save not just the school, but her new beginning too?A Trade ReviewReaders love Kerry Barrett: ‘All Kerry Barrett's books are brilliant’ ‘I'd highly recommend this: detective fiction, historical fiction, powerful, moving, thrilling, sometimes comic, always very human.’ ‘A beautiful story which kept me hooked’ ‘I would definitely recommend this read, but be warned, you won't want to put it down.’ ‘Loved the whole story, couldn't put it down’ ‘Will definitely read more from this author’

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Book Synopsis*As seen on the new BBC TWO TV book club, Between the Covers*Longlisted for the HWA Debut Crown AwardIndie Book of the Month for March, selected by the Booksellers AssociationOne of OBSERVER'S 10 best debut novelists of 2020 / WOMAN & HOME Best of 2020 / EVENING STANDARD Best books of 2020 / MAIL ON SUNDAY 2020 Highlights / I Best of 2020* * * *Full of life and love . . . it made my heart soar, and should be on every Londoner's shelf' Stacey Halls, Sunday Times bestselling author of The FamiliarsThe writing is wonderful; London's energy runs right through it; the characters leap off the page. I was truly sad to leave them behind' Adam Kay, ObserverConvincing and involving' Sunday TimesFans of Zadie Smith and Andrea Levy won't want to miss Louise Hare's enthralling debut novel' Elle* * *The drinks are flowing.The music is playing.But the party can't last.With the Blitz over and London reeling from war, jazz musician Lawrie Matthews has answered England's call for help. Fresh off the EmpTrade Review‘Superb . . . compelling storytelling, beautifully drawn characters and atmosphere that’s deeply immersive’ Harriet Tyce, bestselling author of Blood Orange ‘This Lovely City is a beguiling, atmospheric and important novel, with wonderful, memorable characters and a vital message about love, loyalty and hope’ Caroline Lea, author of The Glass Woman ‘This debut is a joy to devour. The characters are beautifully drawn. The tender, compelling storytelling is immersive and atmospheric. I believe Hare is a major new talent who delivers a vital message about love, loyalty and hope’ Adele Parks, Platinum ‘A story about solidarity and love but above all hope’ Zoella ‘A thought-provoking and imaginative debut that conjures up the experiences of the Windrush generation in post-war London. Heartbreaking but full of hope’ Woman & Home ‘Tense . . . this thoughtful novel captures what life was like for the Windrush generation’ Good Housekeeping ‘Poignant and authentic . . . it’s [Hare’s] steady, calm prose and the animating authenticity of her material that make it so hard to resist . . . there’s] music, solidarity and courage to be found in pages laced with rum punch’ Observer ‘Hopeful and inspiring; the story of a man, his community and the country they strive to make home’ Abi Dare, Observer ‘Hare’s enthralling novel pulls off the rare trick of being a clever murder mystery, an evocative portrayal of Windrush London and a genuinely touching love story’i ‘Paints a vivid picture of what life was really like for the Windrush generation. Fans of Andrea Levy’s Small Island will love it’ Red ‘Mistress of suspense, Hare keeps us guessing to the last page. I loved the post-war atmosphere: bombed, broken London as a visual metaphor for the story’s violence and racism’ Daily Mail ‘A poignant story of love, isolation and prejudice in a post-Second World War London’ Radio Times

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Book SynopsisA brilliant murder mystery with shades of Agatha Christie and The Great Gatsby . . . a glamorous and fun read' Reader review ?????Louise Hare does it again fabulous! Absolutely loved it and it kept me guessing until the very end! Very highly recommended' Reader review?????* * *London, 1936Lena Aldridge is wondering if life has passed her by. The dazzling theatre career she hoped for hasn't worked out. Instead, she's stuck singing in a sticky-floored basement club in Soho and her married lover has just left her. She has nothing to look forward to until a stranger offers her the chance of a lifetime: a starring role on Broadway and a first-class ticket on the Queen Mary bound for New York.After a murder at the club, the timing couldn't be better and Lena jumps at the chance to escape England. Until death follows her onto the ship and she realises that her greatest performance has already begun.Because someone is making manoeuvres behind the scenes, and there's only one thing on their miTrade Review Praise for Miss Aldridge Regrets ‘Charming characters, a cross-Atlantic setting, jazz, cocktails, sex and a brilliant murder mystery. You couldn’t ask for more! I loved it’ Harriet Tyce ‘This is a cracker. A thoroughly absorbing and thought-provoking historical crime novel that oozes glamour’ Cathy Rentzenbrink, The Last Act of Love ‘A sublimely told murder mystery which oozes class in every sense. Fully deserves the Christie comparisons’ Trevor Wood, The Man on the Street ‘A fabulous Christie-esque mystery. Brilliantly written, so evocative, and keeps you guessing all the way through’ Charlotte Levin, If I Can’t Have You 'Glamour and grit combine in this smartly plotted, wonderfully atmospheric historical murder mystery, with a heroine I won't forget. I loved it' Frances Quinn, The Smallest Man ‘Giving off the best Agatha Christie vibes but also compelling issues of race and identity . . . Keeps you guessing until the end’ Julie Owen Moylan, The Green Eyed Girl ‘Perfectly evokes the glamour of the Queen Mary as well as the gritty underbelly of 1930s Soho. Beautiful writing, striking characters and a twisting plot make this a compelling read’ Anita Frank, The Return ‘All the intrigue of a juicy Agatha Christie with a shot of something extra strong and dry. It’s a sumptuous voyage with the most unexpected conclusion’ Beth Morrey, Saving Missy ‘An engrossing read’ Guardian ‘Hare’s well-crafted second novel oozes glamour . . . Did someone mention Agatha Christie? Yes, but with the bonus of subtle reflections on race and class’ Observer ‘Completely thrilling . . . enormously entertaining . . . Miss Aldridge Regrets deserves recognition every bit as much as the books from Golden Age crime writers like Agatha Christie because it’s so well written’ My Weekly Online

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Book SynopsisA gripping and stunning historical romance set in the British Raj for fans of Janet MacLeod Trotter, Dinah Jefferies and global bestseller Lucinda RileyAt midnight where the jasmine blooms, a woman waits for her loverSara Archer's future as the dutiful wife of a British official in India seems assured, until a chance meeting with the gorgeous and powerful Ravi Sabran changes everything.Under the heat of the Indian sun, the veneer of polite society wears off quickly and soon Sara realises that nothing is as it appears to be, especially her husband CharlesBut in the beautiful jasmine gardens of the Maharajah's palace, Sara follows a forbidden path away from her bullying husband, towards Ravi and the long-buried secrets of her own birth.

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Book SynopsisSome houses are NEVER at peaceSHORTLISTED FOR THE GOLDSBORO BOOKS GLASS BELL AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS' ASSOCIATION DEBUT CROWNA gothic gem of intrigue and atmosphere' HWA Debut Crown JudgesEngland, 1917Reeling from the death of her fiancé, Stella Marcham welcomes the opportunity to stay with her pregnant sister, Madeleine, at her imposing country mansion, Greyswick but she arrives to discover a house of unease and her sister gripped by fear and suspicion.Before long, strange incidents begin to trouble Stella sobbing in the night, little footsteps on the stairs and as events escalate, she finds herself drawn to the tragic history of the house.Aided by a wounded war veteran, Stella sets about uncovering Greyswick's dark and terrible secrets secrets the dead whisper from the other sideIn the classic tradition of The Woman in Black, Anita Frank weaves a spellbinding debut of family tragedy, loss and redemption.Praise for The Lost Ones:Supernatural and historical inteTrade Review Praise for The Lost Ones: ‘A gothic gem of intrigue and atmosphere’ Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown Judges ‘Supernatural and historical intertwine in Anita Frank’s unsettling first novel … reminiscent of other tales of the supernatural, but conveys its own frissons and shocks’Sunday Times ‘With wonderful character … This is a brilliantly gothic adventure – and the perfect winter page-turner’ Sunday Mirror ‘A spine-tingling debut from Anita Frank is part ghost story, part murder mystery, and the perfect chilling read as the nights turn colder and longer’ OK! ‘I loved it SO MUCH – so creepy and compelling, full of atmosphere and gave me goosebumps…’ Lisa Hall ‘If you liked A Woman in Black, you’ll love this utterly gripping and atmospheric book’ Woman & Home ‘Haunting, emotional and exquisitely written’ Amanda Jennings ‘For fans of Henry James and Susan Hill, this chilling supernatural mystery is written in the classic mould. Intriguing, moving and assured’ Essie Fox ‘My coffee is stone cold. My palms are sweaty. I’ve raced to the shocking final twist of this lush, beautifully written historical novel. A gripping ghost story with an achingly poignant family mystery at its heart’ Samantha King ‘The perfect read for dark, chilly winter evenings … This beautifully written gothic tale interlaces history, intrigue and atmosphere, and offers a fresh take on the classic ghost story tradition’ Jane Bettany, Big Issue North ‘Will send shivers down your spine … An eerie, emotionally supernatural tale’ Sunday Express ‘Dark and devilish’ Sunday Post ‘A spine-tingling gothic tale of family tragedy, loss and redemption’ My Weekly ‘Anita Frank’s fiendishly devised plot springs a succession of shocks and revelations that keep you gripped until the final page’ Noel O’Reilly

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Book SynopsisAn intimate portrait of Patrick O'Brian, written by his stepson Nikolai Tolstoy.Patrick O'Brian was one of the greatest British novelists of the twentieth century, securing his place in literary history with the bestselling AubreyMaturin series, books that have sold millions of copies worldwide and been hailed as the best historical fiction of all time.An exquisite novelist, translator and biographer, O'Brian moved in 1949 to Collioure in the south of France, where he led a secluded life with his wife Mary and wrote all his major works. The twenty books that make up the beloved AubreyMaturin series earned O'Brian the epithet Jane Austen at sea' for their authentic depiction of Nelson's navy, and the relationship between Captain Jack Aubrey and his friend and ship's surgeon Stephen Maturin. Outside his triumphant popularity in fiction, O'Brian also wrote erudite biographies of both Pablo Picasso and Joseph Banks, as well as publishing translations of Simone de Beauvoir and Henri CharrièTrade Review Praise for Nikolai Tolstoy: 'One of the most gripping literary biographies of recent years' Sunday Times Culture 'Admirers of O'Brian's work will regard it as required reading' Guardian ‘Tolstoy writes with that passion to understand that characterises the best biographies’ Spectator ‘Reading Tolstoy is like reading a fine, detailed detective story … To be treasured because it exposes and rebuts much falseness that has been written about O'Brian.’ The Times

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Book SynopsisTwo women.A wild Island.A truth buried deep in the past. ‘Like a surreal cabinet of curiosities – haunting, eerie, evocative’ Bridget Collins, Sunday Times bestselling author of The BindingTrade Review‘Like a surreal cabinet of curiosities – haunting, eerie, evocative.’ Bridget Collins, author of The Binding ‘Polly Crosby whips up a lush, mythical world . . . realised beautifully in vivid writing. A book worm’s treat!’ Eve Chase, author of The Glass House ‘This moving tale is set in a mesmerising world. Like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis, the story emerges slowly, allowing you to immerse yourself in its wonders.’ Heat ‘A luminous and beautiful novel that gently lures the reader into a captivating story with a mystery at its heart.’ Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne ‘Rich and evocative storytelling is at the heart of this beautifully atmospheric book.’ My Weekly ‘A beautifully written tale of butterflies, secrets and silk’ Sonia Velton, author of Blackberry and Wild Rose ‘Immersive, atmospheric and so very imaginative.’ Kate Sawyer, author of The Stranding ‘Polly Crosby is a skilled storyteller, drawing the reader in . . . Will keep you enthralled’ Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women ‘Dreamy image after image, The Unravelling is like a series of beautiful paintings’ Sara Sheridan, author of The Fair Botanists ‘Fluid and poetic … the story is of butterflies and silkworms, of flying free and being pinned, of characters and landscapes concealing layer upon layer of tightly wound secrets which eventually unspool in a series of dramatic metamorphosis.’Norfolk Magazine ‘Utterly transporting. Polly Crosby plunges us into a hauntingly beautiful landscape with complex and compelling characters.’ Annabel Abbs, author of The Language of Food ‘Imaginative and intriguing, this is packed with tender moments.’ Woman’s Weekly ‘Mysterious and suspenseful, The Unravelling is a story of visceral beauty and the transformations life undergoes to survive.’ A. J. Gnuse, author of The Girl in the Walls

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Book SynopsisWhat if everything your family ever told you was a lie?Frankfurt, 1963At the war's end, Frankfurt was a smoldering ruin, severely damaged by the Allied bombings. But that was two decades ago. Now it is 1963, and the city's streets, once cratered are smooth and paved. Shiny new stores replace scorched rubble. For twenty-four-year-old Eva Bruhn, World War II is a foggy childhood memory. Eager for her wealthy suitor, Jürgen Schoorman, to propose, Eva dreams of starting a new life away from her parents and sister. But Eva's plans are turned upside down when an American investigator, David Miller, hires her as a translator for a war crimes trial.As she becomes more and more involved in the Frankfurt Trials, Eva begins to question her family's silence on the war and her future. Why do her parents refuse to talk about what happened? What are they hiding? Does she really love Jürgen and will she be happy as a housewife? Though it means going against the wishes of her family and her lover, Eva,Trade Review‘From the first pages The German House creates a movie in the reader’s mind and it doesn’t tear off until the last chapter’ Der Spiegel

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Book SynopsisFrom the internationally bestselling author of The Secret OrphanA world at warA secret from her pastA chance to be togetherA book full of emotion, secrets, hope and loveExcellent writing and I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction' LisaA moving and compelling historical novel about love, second chances and resilience in the darkest of times.Southampton 1940Abandoned when she was tiny, Maisie Reynolds was separated from her twin brother and forced to grow up in Holly Bush orphanage a place where she has never known love or kindness.But with the world at war and Hitler's devastating bombs coming ever closer, fate has other plans for Maisie and a secret from her past changes everything.When she meets handsome Canadian paratrooper, Cam, Maisie learns that love might not be lost to her after all but not before her past life and D Day bring a tragic twist to her happiness.Readers are loving The Forgotten Orphan:Absolutely fantasticBoy I wasn''t disappointed' BriTrade ReviewReaders LOVE The Secret Orphan: ‘Keeps you wanting to read into the small hours’ Lisa, Goodreads ‘The best and most beautiful book I've read in a long time’ Brid, Netgalley ‘Simply amazing’ Rikki-Doodlebug's Book Reviews ‘Captivated from beginning to end’ Jessyca, Goodreads ‘A gripping, page turner set in WWI … Loved it’ Amanda, Netgalley ‘A real page turner … You will find yourself in England during the war with a story that will stay with you’ Lou, Goodreads ‘A stunning novel and one that should be recommended’ Postcard Reviews ‘A must read for WWII historical fiction fans’ Lizbeth, Goodreads ‘One of my new favourite novels … I love everything about this story’ Ashley Murphy Reads ‘The depiction of wartime life in the Coventry bombings and on a Cornish farm were realistic and compelling’ Vivien Brown ‘A story that I will remember for a long time to come’ Shirley, Goodreads Reviewer ‘Loved every minute of this hard to put down book … highly recommend putting this on your reading list – especially if you love historical fiction and WWII’ Roxane, Goodreads ‘A must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction (especially World War II fiction) or romance’ Kindred Connection Reviews

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Book SynopsisAn incredible historical novel inspired by the true story behind the Boots empire.Jersey 1885On the beautiful island of Jersey, Florence Rowe lives a quiet life working in her father's bookshop. Life for the Rowe family is good, but Florence can't help yearning for moreWhen Jesse Boot, the successful owner of Boots the chemist, arrives on the island, Florence is immediately captivated by his tales of life in a busy, bustling city on the mainland. For the first time ever, Florence imagines a life away from the constraints of Jersey society, of being someone more than just a shopgirl.Until her parents reveal the shocking news they will refuse any marriage proposal from Mr Boot. Can Florence find a way to be with the man she loves and make a new life for herself?Readers are loving Mrs Boots:A book that drew me inI cuddle up on my reading chair and entered the world of Boots' AbbyVibrant, believable, characters and an absorbing plot' TabbyThis will definitely pull at your heartstringsLoved it' BeverleyI'm so glad this is the beginning of a series and I can''t wait to read the rest! Wonderfully written' GraceIf you like historical novels this is a book for you' Bookoholic CafeA gorgeous start to a new historical series that captivated, charmed and inspired me' AdeleA great and powerful read about love, relationships, and the trials and tribulations in betweena true thrill' DonnaWatch this authorthis is a series you''ll want to stick with' Micah

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Book SynopsisAn absolute *blinder* so so funny and sexy. So excited now to read everything by Crystal Jeans' Caroline O'Donoghue, author of Scenes of a Graphic NatureA glorious celebration of queer friendship and all kinds of love. Funny, outrageous, heartbreaking and so much fun' Kate Davies, winner of the Polari PrizeHilarious, fresh and sexy, with a tale that takes the reader from Egypt to Hollywood' Irish IndependentFunny, filthy and phenomenally good' Matt CainFilthy and hilarious, this is a gloriously naughty romp of a read that also has something serious to say about queer love. I didn't want it to end' S.J. WatsonPerfect for fans of Tipping the Velvet and Gentleman Jack a delicious and diligent piece of fiction that will provide you with enough great comebacks to last a lifetime This is a delightful book I wish to fling at my friends with affectionate abandon'' DIVABy turns raucous and poignant, hilarious and shattering this is a wonder of a story' Jess KiddThis delicious romp is the sort Trade Review‘A glorious celebration of queer friendship and all kinds of love. Funny, outrageous, heartbreaking and so much fun’ Kate Davies, winner of the Polari Prize 2020 ‘Hilarious, fresh and sexy, with a tale that takes the reader from Egypt to Hollywood’ Irish Independent ‘Very funny and touching and quite filthy’ Louisa Young, author of My Dear I Wanted To Tell You ‘I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book so much. The Inverts is funny, filthy and phenomenally good – an exhilarating, extraordinary book, packed with dazzling dialogue, stiletto-sharp wit and a glorious serving of filth. It's like Sarah Waters and Alan Hollinghurst go to a party in Downton Abbey – and things get gloriously, hilariously, out of hand’ Matt Cain ‘Filthy and hilarious, this is a gloriously naughty romp of a read that also has something serious to say about queer love. I didn’t want it to end’ S.J. Watson ‘Perfect for fans of Tipping the Velvet and Gentleman Jack… a delicious and diligent piece of fiction that will provide you with enough great comebacks to last a lifetime… This is a delightful book I wish to fling at my friends with affectionate abandon' DIVA ‘Bettina and Bart are not just larger-than-life – they are alive. By turns raucous and poignant, hilarious and shattering this is a wonder of a story. A lifelong friendship, warts-and-all, where the sparkling moments and the sad are told in a voice as irresistible as the pair themselves. I LOVED it’ Jess Kidd ‘This delicious romp is the sort of thing Nancy Mitford might have written if she’d been gay… wonderfully blithe, witty and moving’ Rowan Pelling, DAILY MAIL ‘An absolute *blinder* … so so funny and sexy. So excited now to read everything by Crystal Jeans’ Caroline O’Donoghue, author of Scenes of a Graphic Nature

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Book Synopsis?Spellbinding. Once you start reading you don?t want to put it down. It is emotional and your heart will go out to these children? I loved it. I couldn?t put it down?USA TodayTwo sisters. One secret. A daring wartime journey?Trade Review PRAISE FOR PAM WEAVER: ‘A heartrending story about mothers and daughters’ Kitty Neale ‘What a terrific read – saga fans everywhere will love it and be asking for more from this talented author.’ Annie Groves ‘The characters are so richly drawn and authentic that they pull the reader along through the story effortlessly. This book is a real page turner, which I enjoyed very much.’ Anne Bennett

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestsellerShortlisted for the Women's Prize for FictionLonglisted for the Booker PrizeIt is a book not read, but lived' TelegraphMantel has taken us to the dark heart of history and what a show' The TimesThe Sunday Times bestselling sequel to Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, the stunning conclusion to Hilary Mantel's Man Booker Prize-winning Wolf Hall trilogy.If you cannot speak truth at a beheading, when can you speak it?'England, May 1536. Anne Boleyn is dead, decapitated in the space of a heartbeat by a hired French executioner. As her remains are bundled into oblivion, Thomas Cromwell breakfasts with the victors. The blacksmith's son from Putney emerges from the spring's bloodbath to continue his climb to power and wealth, while his formidable master, Henry VIII, settles to short-lived happiness with his third queen, Jane Seymour.Cromwell is a man with only his wits to rely on; he has no great family to back him, no private army. Despite rebellion at home, traitTrade Review‘Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall novels make 99 per cent of contemporary literary fiction feel utterly pale and bloodless by comparison’ The Times ‘Hilary Mantel has written an epic of English history that does what the Aeneid did for the Romans and War and Peace for the Russians. We are lucky to have it.’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Very few writers manage not just to excavate the sedimented remains of the past, but bring them up again into the light and air so that they shine brightly once more before us. Hilary Mantel has done just that.’ Simon Schama, Financial Times ‘A masterpiece that will keep yielding its riches, changing as its readers change, going forward with us into the future’ Guardian ‘The most masterful story telling imaginable’ Graham Norton ‘The final book in the trilogy charts [Cromwell’s] inexorable downfall with the dark brilliance and profound humanity that makes it, like its forerunners, a masterpiece’ Daily Mail ‘Ambitious, compassionate, clear-eyed yet emotional, passionate and pragmatic, The Mirror & the Light lays down a marker for historical fiction that will set the standard for generations to come’ Independent ‘It’s the crowning glory of a towering achievement’ Mail on Sunday ‘This is a must-read’ Good Housekeeping ‘On closing the book I wept as I’ve not wept over a novel since I was a child . . . Mantel struck her spear against the flint of Thomas Cromwell, and lit such a candle in England as will never go out’Telegraph, Sarah Perry, ‘A masterpiece . . . Mantel has redefined what the historical novel is capable of . . . Taken together, her Cromwell novels are, for my money, the greatest English novels of this century’ Observer, Stephanie Merritt

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Book SynopsisPART TWO OF THE TROY QUARTETBringing ancient myth to life with passion, humour, and humanity, Lindsay Clarke vividly retells the story of Troy and of the heroes who fought there.Enraged by the betrayal of Helen and Paris, Menelaus and his brother, the High King Agamemnon, gather their allies and set out to conquer the city of Troy.Aboard their ships and behind the city's walls are figures whose names and deeds echo through history the wily strategist Odysseus, the Trojan champion Hector, and the fiercely proud, impetuous warrior Achilles.An engaging retelling of the whole story, neatly blending mythic archaism with modern psychodrama and satire'Mary Beard1 A PRINCE OF TROY2 THE WAR AT TROY3 THE SPOILS OF TROY4 THE RETURN FROM TROYTrade Review‘An engaging retelling of the whole story, neatly blending mythic archaism with modern psychodrama and satire’Mary Beard, GUARDIAN ‘I’m awed by the web you’ve spun. Not only the beautiful complexities of it but the fine texture of the threads’Ted Hughes ‘A triumph of retelling the ancient story…a readable and freshened version that keeps one turning the pages’Alan Sillitoe ‘Wonderfully clear and dramatic’OBSERVER ‘Expertly handled, drawing on the best of this classic tale and shaping it into a riveting page-turner well-suited to our times’DAILY MAIL

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Book SynopsisPART THREE OF THE TROY QUARTETBringing ancient myth to life with passion, humour, and humanity, Lindsay Clarke vividly retells the story of Troy and of the heroes who fought there.Troy has fallen. After ten years of fighting and a savage final massacre, the victors quarrel over what remains and turn their minds to home.Menelaus must decide the fate of Helen, whose incomparable beauty ignited the war. And Agamemnon must return to the fury of Clytaemnestra, who has neither forgotten nor forgiven his choice to sacrifice their daughter.An engaging retelling of the whole story, neatly blending mythic archaism with modern psychodrama and satire'Mary Beard1 A PRINCE OF TROY2 THE WAR AT TROY3 THE SPOILS OF TROY4 THE RETURN FROM TROYTrade Review‘An engaging retelling of the whole story, neatly blending mythic archaism with modern psychodrama and satire’Mary Beard, GUARDIAN ‘I’m awed by the web you’ve spun. Not only the beautiful complexities of it but the fine texture of the threads’Ted Hughes ‘A triumph of retelling the ancient story…a readable and freshened version that keeps one turning the pages’Alan Sillitoe ‘Wonderfully clear and dramatic’OBSERVER ‘Expertly handled, drawing on the best of this classic tale and shaping it into a riveting page-turner well-suited to our times’DAILY MAIL

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