Whether your passion is The Ancient Greeks, The Wars of The Roses or The Russian Revolution, you'll find stories of life during these eras and every other, often using factual accounts to build a fictional narrative.
Historical Fiction Books
HarperCollins Publishers Resurrectionist Matthew Hawkwood 2
Book SynopsisHawkwood, the Regency James Bond, returns in this gripping, action packed sequel to the bestselling ‘Ratcatcher’.Trade ReviewPraise for ‘Resurrectionist’: ‘Breakneck pace, brutal action, clever characterisation and twisty plotting … James McGee brings Regency London to life – or perhaps I should say to death!’ Reginald Hill ‘Fascinating… with quickly paced action and many a twist and turn, McGee draws the plot’s threads skilfully together… thoughtful, colourful and very readable’ Historical Novels Review Praise for ‘Ratcatcher’: ‘Irresistible… rambunctious entertainment.’Observer ‘Rumbustious…a darkly attractive hero, terrific period atmosphere and action.’ The Times ‘Atmospheric and well researched… try it.’ Daily Mirror ‘“Ratcatcher” marks the start of a series that will run and run… and run!’ Reginald Hill ‘A richly enjoyable and impressively researched novel’ Andrew Taylor, author of ‘The American Boy’
£12.34
HarperCollins Publishers Falling Angels
Book SynopsisVividly imagined' Sunday TelegraphSex and death meet again in [a] marvellous evocation of Edwardian England' Daily MailThe girl reminded me of my favourite chocolates, whipped hazelnut creams, and I knew just from looking at her that I wanted her for my best friend.Queen Victoria is dead. In January 1901, the day after her passing, two very different families visit neighbouring graves in a London cemetery. The traditional Waterhouses revere the late Queen where the Colemans have a more modern outlook, but both families are appalled by the friendship that springs up between their respective daughters.As the girls grow up, their world changes almost beyond measure: cars are replacing horses, electric lighting is taking over from gas, and emancipation is fast approaching, to the delight of some and the dismay of othersTrade Review‘Sex and death meet again in Tracy Chevalier's marvellous evocation of Edwardian England’ Daily Mail ‘Cleverly atmospheric’ Sunday Telegraph ‘The author's grip on the reader is as powerful as in her first novel. It is almost impossible to break off reading this driving narrative’ Independent ‘A master stylist in the making’ Boston Globe ‘Writing about the past — especially this much written-about period — has its pitfalls, but Chevalier has triumphantly avoided them. The result is a novel that shows both the strangeness of the world as it was and its closeness to our own time’ The Times
£8.99
HarperCollins Publishers Songbird
Book SynopsisThe mesmerizing bestseller from Josephine Cox – the nation’s favourite storyteller. Some secrets can haunt a whole lifetime.Trade Review ‘Cox’s talent as storyteller never lets you escape the spell’ Daily Mail ‘Irresistible storytelling’ Books Magazine ‘Driven and passionate’ Sunday Times
£15.19
HarperCollins Publishers A Sisters Promise
Book SynopsisA heartrending saga of a sister separated from her baby brother by tragedy and prejudice, who will brave the Blitz to bring him to safetyTrade Review‘[Anne Bennett] is blessed with a vivid imagination and a natural aptitude for writing.’ Daily Post ‘The beauty of Anne’s books is that they are about normal people and are sewn through with human emotions which affect us all.’ Birmingham Post ‘Powerfully written.’ The Woman Book Club ‘Anne Bennett draws on her own background to give emotional depth to an affecting story populated with rich, beautifully drawn characters.’ Choice
£13.29
HarperCollins Publishers The Virgin Blue Historical fiction from the
Book SynopsisA triumph. Excellent' Time OutA beautifully crafted story shot with vivid colours' The TimesAn intriguing and poignant read' Sunday ExpressSuch an achievement for a serious writer that you feel it deserves an award' IndependentShe was called Isabelle, and when she was a small girl her hair changed colour in the time it takes a bird to call to its mateMidwife Isabelle du Moulin is marked as different, by both her red hair and her love for the Virgin Mary in her rich blue robes. As religious fervour sweeps 16th-century France, Isabelle's striking likeness to the Madonna puts her in danger when her village is enraptured by new Protestant doctrine.Four centuries later, Ella Turner moves to the French village of Lisle-sur-Tarn and finds her dreams are haunted by the colour blue. Ella hopes to become both a midwife and a mother, but her plans unravel as she discovers her link to Isabelle, and her ancestor's shocking fate.Trade Review‘Tracy Chevalier’s first novel is a triumph. Excellent’ Time Out ‘An intriguing and poignant read’ Sunday Express ‘Such an achievement for a serious writer that you feel it deserves an award’ Independent ‘A beautifully crafted story shot with vivid colours’ The Times
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Across the Mersey A gripping historical family saga from the bestselling author of the District Nurses series
Book SynopsisFrom the author of The Grafton Girls comes the story of one Liverpool family preparing for the onslaught of World War Two, but feuding amongst themselves…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
£15.19
HarperCollins Publishers Daughters of Liverpool
Book SynopsisAn evocative and heartrending saga set in Liverpool during World War Two, from the bestselling author of As Time Goes ByTrade 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
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers THE INDEPENDENCE OF MISS MARY BENNET
Book SynopsisBy the author of the hugely successful ‘The Thorn Birds’Trade ReviewPraise for ‘Antony and Cleopatra’: ‘An irresistible read’Daily Mail ‘Full of passion, greed, intrigue and betrayal…a thoroughly entertaining read’Glasgow Herald Praise for Colleen McCullough: ‘Fast-moving and immensely readable…this book is a page turner from start to finish’ Maeve Binchy 'McCullough piles on the drama' Daily Mail 'Sizzling family drama stuffed with passion, tragedy, love and sex' More 'Absorbing’ Sunday Telegraph 'Compelling, passionate and gritty' She 'Probes the depths of the human heart in a haunting, multi-layered novel' Good Book Guide 'Deliciously addictive…a classic tale of wealth and power–an engrossing read' Sainsbury's magazine
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers The Road to Jerusalem
Book SynopsisThe epic story of one man’s fight for his love, his God and his countryTrade Review‘He has a remarkable grasp of the mindset of the period and always puts the emphasis where it would be for the people involved at hat time, rather than ours. Some readers may find that disorienting, but a capacity for disturbing readers’ assumptions is even more a hallmark of good historical fiction than the inclusion of the Knights Templar’Diana Gabaldon 'Thrilling and inspiring, bloody and romantic; utterly of its time and utterly modern’Tom Holland 'Destined to become a classic, a brilliant and dramatic recreation of the medieval world' Sharon Penman
£12.34
HarperCollins Publishers ENEMY WOMEN
Book Synopsis"A gritty, memorable book … it is a delight from start to finish, without a single misstep." Tracy ChevalierTrade ReviewA Sunday Times Read of the Week and Glamour's 'Must Read' ‘I loved “Enemy Women”. It is a gritty, memorable book, full of the things I like best in a novel – a sparky heroine, an unsentimental love story, a confident retelling of the past. It is a delight from start to finish, without a single misstep.’ Tracy Chevalier ‘With the eye of a poet and the rectitude of a historian, Paulette Jiles travels the backroads of the American Civil War and returns with a story that is both gripping and gorgeously rendered. Adair is destined to find a place of honour among the great heroines of modern fiction’. Geraldine Brooks, author of ‘Year of Wonders’. ‘Remarkable…entirely deserving of the plaudits it will doubtless continue to receive here. Jiles isn't content with merely telling us something we know already, but sets out to show us what this means, in images of startling beauty and horror.’ The Times ‘Although “Enemy Women” is rich in historical research, it is partly Adair's unexpected modernity that makes it so compelling, as she battles her way through war with sharp rejoinders and a waspish wit, by turns fierce, wily and pragmatic … Jiles's epically plotted novel moves to a beat as irresistibly vernacular as its heroine's 'confession'.’ Observer
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Harper Perennial Forbidden Classics FANNY HILL 01
Book Synopsis‘Fanny Hill’ scandalised thousands of Victorians with its vivid descriptions of sexual pleasure, and landed its author in court a year after publication on charges of ‘corrupting the King's subjects’. This only heightened its allure – and today it is still hugely appreciated as a work of true erotic and literary merit.
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers River of Destiny An unputdownable historical
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Time's Legacy and Lady of Hay comes a thrilling new novel, River of Destiny, an epic story that spans Anglo Saxon Britain, Victorian Suffolk and the present day.Perfect for fans of Kate Mosse's Labyrinth.On the banks of the River Deben in Suffolk are ancient barns dating back to Anglo Saxon times within these walls lie secrets that have been buried for centuries.New arrivals Zoe and Ken move into one of the converted barns, ready to start a life away from the hustle and bustle of the city. To the outside world they seem happy, but they are growing further apart by the day. Meanwhile the strange presence Zoe feels within their home and the ghostly shapes she sees through the cloying mists on the river are getting harder to ignore.Nearby, farmers are ploughing the land beside the river and human bones are found. Are they linked to the Victorian tragedy the locals whisper about? The secret of the grassy mound has remained untouched through history, but now Trade ReviewPraise for Time’s Legacy: ‘Marvellous escapist stuff’ Woman and Home Praise for Warrior’s Princess ‘A riveting timeslip novel’ Fanny Blake ‘Her forte is mood, atmosphere and the toe-curling frisson’ Elizabeth Buchan, Sunday Times ‘Stephen King meets Ruth Rendell’ Frank Delaney ‘Barbara Erskine’s storytelling talent is undeniable’ The Times
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Dawn on a Distant Shore
Book SynopsisThe second book in The Wilderness Series is set in Canada and Scotland.Now blissfully married, Nathaniel and Elizabeth Bonner, the hero and heroine of Into The Wilderness, have settled into their new life together in the North American frontier. When Elizabeth gives birth to twins their happiness seems complete. However, it proves to be short-lived. While attempting to rescue his father, Hawkeye, who has been imprisoned in Canada, Nathaniel is arrested by British colonials for spying a hanging offence.Left alone in the wilderness with only her step-daughter Hannah and her newly-born twins, Elizabeth embarks on a desperate bid to save her husband. Gathering up the children, she sets out on a dangerous journey across unremittingly hostile terrain. However, the fate of the Bonner family appears to be in the hands of other forces, who intend to kidnap them to Scotland in order to engage them in a bitter family feud and a destiny they could never have imagained.Trade Review Dawn on a Distant Shore was on the NYT Bestseller’s list for 3 weeks Second in the 5-book Wilderness series Like Into the Wilderness, sequel of sorts to James Fennimore Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans and Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, incorporating many of the characters into the tale Author also writes under the name Rosina Lippi. Her very succesful Homestead, shortlisted for Orange Prize, is published in Flamingo
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers Fire Along the Sky
Book SynopsisA strong, vivid historical novel set against the backdrop of the 1812 war between Britain and America.Trade ReviewPraise for Sara Donati and the Wilderness series: ‘One of those rare strories that lets you breathe the air of another time and leave your footsteps on the snow of a wild, strange place.’ Diana Gabaldon ‘Each time you open a book, you hope to discover a story that will make your spirit of adventure and romance sing. This book delivers on that promise.’Amanda Quick
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers Mourning Doves
Book SynopsisFrom Liverpool’s best-loved author comes a superb novel of loss and grief, love and hope, set on Merseyside in 1920.
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers Thursdays Child
Book SynopsisHelen Forrester's moving story of an English girl and her love affair with an Indian man.Peggy Delaney was a Lancashire girl born and bred, beginning to live again after the heartache of the war.Ajit Singh was a charming young Indian student, shortly to return to his homeland and an arranged marriage.When Peggy and Ajit fell in love, each one knew the future would not be easy. But as they began their new life, far from their homes and their families, they found that love could bring two worlds together
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers THE BOOK OF FIRES
Book SynopsisA stunning historical novel, 'The Book of Fires' is the unforgettable story of Agnes Trussel – and love, fireworks and redemption.Trade Review'Jane Borodale displays a deft touch in this very pleasing story' MAUREEN WALLER, Daily Telegraph ‘Borodale's refreshingly original approach and engaging style makes 'The Book of Fires’ a welcome addition to the historical fiction genre' Yorkshire Evening Post 'A dark atmospheric novel from a fantastic new voice in fiction' Bury Free Press, Book of the Week 'This author's debut excels in it's portrayal of the lot of the 18th-century underclass, of the development of the dark art of pyrotechny and of the swift and usually harsh treatment of those whose sole crime was that of poverty… this 'Book of Fireworks' really works and it sparkles along at a fizzingly glorious pace. Literary pyrotechnics on a grand scale' Lady
£11.39
HarperCollins Publishers THE SONNETS
Book SynopsisShakespeare in Love for the sonnets: a fictional tale of how Shakespeare wrote his most famous poems.No one knows for sure precisely when and where Shakespeare wrote his sonnets or, more intriguingly, who he wrote them for. In this wonderfully entertaining novel acclaimed author Warwick Collins imagines the circumstances that inspired 30 of the Bard''s most popular sonnets.The young Will Shakespeare is living under the patronage of Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. The controversial earl is under pressure from his family and those close to the royal court to settle down but he is far too busy drinking, carousing and cavorting with his motley band of acquaintances to pay attention. Not then, the obvious setting for poetic genius but within the politics (both State and sexual) of this lofty household Will finds lots to inspire his pen, and a few attractive distractions too.Collins has crafted a clever, witty and enjoyable novel from fragments of history. He interweaves 30 sonnets into the text in seamless fashion. The Sonnets wears its scholarship lightly and its love of Shakespeare and poetry proudly.Trade ReviewPraise for ‘Gents’ 'A smart, raw, telling modern parable!'John Vasconcellos, California State Senator 'Gents is one of those rare little gems, like Ben Rice's Pobby & Dingan, that punches so far above its weight that it will effortlessly knock you out.'John Self, The Asylum website 'A startling, wonderful book.'Times Educational Supplement
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers A PURE CLEAR LIGHT
Book SynopsisThe freshest and most poignant observer of human foibles and heroic hearts since Anita Brookner, Mary Wesley and Alice Thomas Ellis.Trade Review‘A triumph of the minimalist, it appraises love, both sacred and profane, desire, pain and the disappointments of this earth with a laser eye.’The Times ‘Graceful and charming… If there are tears in the eyes, they will be tears of pure pleasure at the resolution and consummate workmanship of a small masterpiece.’Shena Mackay, Independent (on The Woman in Black)
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Florence and Giles
Book SynopsisA sinister Gothic tale in the tradition of The Woman in Black and The Fall of the House of Usher1891. In a remote and crumbling New England mansion, 12-year-old orphan Florence is neglected by her guardian uncle and banned from reading. Left to her own devices she devours books in secret and talks to herself - and narrates this, her story - in a unique language of her own invention. By night, she sleepwalks the corridors like one of the old house''s many ghosts and is troubled by a recurrent dream in which a mysterious woman appears to threaten her younger brother Giles. Sometimes Florence doesn''t sleepwalk at all, but simply pretends to so she can roam at will and search the house for clues to her own baffling past.After the sudden violent death of the children''s first governess, a second teacher, Miss Taylor, arrives, and immediately strange phenomena begin to occur. Florence becomes convinced that the new governess is a vengeful and malevolent spirit who means to do Giles harm. AgTrade Review‘Real atmosphere is increasingly rare in novels and here it is in spades…A darkly glamorous tour de force.’Wendy Holden, DAILY MAIL 'Harding rings enough ingenious changes on James's study of perversity to produce his own full-blown Gothic horror tale. The climax of their struggle… is genuinely exciting and shocking.' THE INDEPENDENT ‘Florence and Giles is an elegant literary exercise worked out with the strictness of a fugue: imagine Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw reworked by Edgar Allan Poe…Nothing prepares you for the chillingly ruthless but inevitable finale.’ THE TIMES 'A tight gothic thriller… The climax becomes unbearably tense. Florence feels the horror of her situation "cheese-grating" her soul, which is just how Harding leaves the reader feeling at the end of this creepily suggestive story.' FINANACIAL TIMES ‘Harding’s creepy, ingenious tale slyly wrongfoots the reader, and its deliciously sinister conclusion is the stuff of troubled nights.’ THE LADY ‘Brilliantly creepy’ DAILY MIRROR ‘An intriguing read’ GRAZIA ‘A good, clever, modern take on old-style American gothic; a creepy haunted house tale in which the living are just as eerie as any real or imagined ghouls.’ NEW ZEALAND HERALD ‘a scarily good story, in an arrestingly unusual narrative voice.’ THE OXFORD TIMES
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Blooding Matthew Hawkwood 5
Book SynopsisHawkwood’s in America for this gripping, action-packed follow up to the bestselling Ratcatcher - for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Conn Igulden and Patrick O’BrianTrade ReviewPraise for James McGee: 'Irresistible… rambunctious entertainment' Observer 'Rumbustious…a darkly attractive hero, terrific period atmosphere and action' The Times 'Atmospheric and well researched… try it' Daily Mirror ‘Breakneck pace, brutal action, clever characterisation and twisty plotting …' Reginald Hill ‘Ratcatcher is a richly enjoyable and impressively researched novel – also very gripping. James McGee is clearly a rising star in the historical galaxy and I look forward to Hawkwood's return' Andrew Taylor, author of The American Boy
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers Rebellion Matthew Hawkwood 4
Book SynopsisRebellion is brewing in Napoleonic Paris, in the new action-packed novel from the author of the bestselling RatcatcherTrade ReviewPraise for Resurrectionist: ‘Breakneck pace, brutal action, clever characterisation and twisty plotting … James McGee brings Regency London to life – or perhaps I should say to death!' Reginald Hill Praise for Ratcatcher: 'Irresistible… rambunctious entertainment'Observer 'Rumbustious…a darkly attractive hero, terrific period atmosphere and action' The Times 'Atmospheric and well researched… try it' Daily Mirror 'Ratcatcher has everything: duels and derring-do, London highlife and lowlife, French lechery and treachery – all contained in a fast-moving, cleverly constructed plot with an immaculately detailed historical background. Add a hero who is ruthless, mysterious and sexy, and it's a safe bet that Ratcatcher marks the start of a series that will run and run … and run!' Reginald Hill ‘Ratcatcher is a richly enjoyable and impressively researched novel – also very gripping. James McGee is clearly a rising star in the historical galaxy and I look forward to Hawkwood's return' Andrew Taylor, author of 'The American Boy'
£12.34
HarperCollins Publishers Crichton M Pirate Latitudes
Book SynopsisAn irresistible tale of swashbuckling pirates in the New World from master storyteller Michael Crichton now in paperbackJamaica, in 1665 a lone outpost of British power amid Spanish waters in the sunbaked Caribbean. Its capital, Port Royal, a cuthroat town of taverns, grog shops and bawdy houses the last place imaginable from which to launch an unthinkable attack on a nearby Spanish stronghold. Yet that is exactly what renowned privateer Captain Charles Hunter plans to do, with the connivance of Charles II''s ruling governor, Sir James Almont.The target is Matanceros, guarded by the bloodthirsty Cazalla, and considered impregnable with its gun emplacements and sheer cliffs. Hunter''s crew of buccaneers must battle not only the Spanish fleet but other deadly perils raging hurricanes, cannibal tribes, even sea monsters. But if his ragtag crew succeeds, they will make not only history but a fortune in gold.Trade Review‘Fast-moving and gripping, this is a read-it-in-one-go adventure’ Daily Mail Praise for Michael Crichton: 'A gripping, impeccably researched thriller…we don't get much politically engaged fiction these days. Here is a fine example' Evening Standard 'Exciting…a master storyteller' Sunday Telegraph 'Terrific fun. The pages whip by' Independent 'Intelligent, readable and guaranteed to get the grey matter going' Mirror 'One of the most ingenious, inventive thriller writers around… another high-concept treat…written in consummate page-turning style…fascinating' Observer 'Mixing cutting-edge science with thrills and spills, this is classic Crichton' Daily Mirror
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers St. Agnes Stand
Book SynopsisSet in New Mexico, St Agnes' Stand is a classic story of the American West.Nat Swanson is on the run from a mob of Texas cowboys. He has killed a man in a fair fight, but the man's friends believe he was shot in the back and set out to string Swanson up for murder. A bullet in his leg slows him down and with the posse closing in, his chances of survival look dim. Trying desperately to get to sanctuary in California, he comes upon two freight wagons besieged by Apaches, and, against his better judgment, stops to help. He kills one of the Indians with his grandfather''s antique crossbow, buying time for whoever survives behind the wagons. Thinking he''s done his good deed, he continues his flight. One of those trapped, however, is 76-year-old Sister Agnes, who prays to God for a man to deliver her, her fellow nuns and the seven orphans they are transporting.Sister Agnes is convinced that Nat Swanson has been sent by God to rescue them. Swanson is equally convinced that the best they can Trade Review‘Spare, violent and exciting…recreates an unforgiving world in which a moment’s distraction could prove fatal.’ Times Literary Supplement ‘Compelling…a powerful feat of storytelling.’ Irish Times ‘The pace and tension are unremitting, but there’s also time for some heart-wrenching emotion.’ Daily Express ‘The writing is excellent and the atmosphere of place is first rate.’ Dee Brown ‘Eidson writes clean and lean, with a hint of sage incense, and can strike a lingering chord. Should make mellow celluloid entertainment.’ Kirkus Reviews
£9.99
HarperCollins Publishers The Stranger House
Book SynopsisA stunning psychological thriller set in Cumbria past and present, from the award-winning author of the Dalziel and Pascoe seriesThings move slowly in the tiny Cumbrian village of Illthwaite, but all that''s about to change.Post-grad Sam Flood and historian Miguel Mercado first meet at The Stranger House, Illwaithe's local inn. Sam is there to find information on her grandmother, who left four decades before, while Mig's research stretches back to the English Reformation, four centuries ago.The pair have nothing in common, yet their paths become increasingly entangled as they pursue their separate quests. Together they will discover who to trust and who to fear in this ancient village where the inhabitants are determined to keep the past buried.Trade ReviewPraise for The Stranger House: ‘Grim, gory, fascinating, enraging and entertaining…The Stranger House combines deep moral indignation with an atmospheric evocation of the past and a fascinating puzzle element’ Independent ‘A mystery novel but far more than that. It’s gripping… Hill is wonderful’ The Times ‘Exhilarating… if this is what results when Hill enjoys a holiday from the norm, he should take a break from his Yorkshire double act more often’ Sunday Times ‘It’s a complex, multi-layered plot… it takes a master like Mr Hill to turn it into such an absorbing and atmospheric mystery’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Hill has pulled off a big psychological thriller, part ghost story, part historical novel, with passion and long-buried crimes at its heart’ Daily Mail Praise for Reginald Hill ‘Few writers in the genre today have Hill’s gifts: formidable intelligence, quick humour, compassion and a prose style that blends elegance and grace’ Donna Leon, Sunday Times ‘The fertility of Hill’s imagination, the range of his power, the sheer quality of his literary style never cease to delight’ Val McDermid, Sunday Express ‘Reginald Hill’s novels are really dances to the music of time, his heroes and villains interconnecting, their stories entwining’ Ian Rankin, Scotland on Sunday
£13.49
HarperCollins Publishers THE COLLABORATORS
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of the Dalziel and Pascoe series, a superb novel of wartime passion, loyalty – and betrayalTrade ReviewPraise for ‘The Collaborators’: ‘A gripping and atmospheric period thriller.’ Daily Mail ‘Hill probes the human heart and the way it shifts with the changing demands and temptations of the Occupation in this subtle, complex and powerful novel whose issues are all too present today.” Oxford Times ‘One of the most consistently excellent crime novelists’ Times ‘Few writers in the genre today have Hill’s gifts: formidable intelligence, quick humour, compassion and a prose style that blends elegance and grace’ Donna Leon, Sunday Times ‘The fertility of Hill’s imagination, the range of his power, the sheer quality of his literary style never cease to delight’ Val McDermid, Sunday Express ‘Probably the best living male crime writer in the English-speaking world’ Andrew Taylor, Independent ‘Reginald Hill’s novels are really dances to the music of time, his heroes and villains interconnecting, their stories entwining’ Ian Rankin, Scotland on Sunday ‘Reginald Hill is on of the finest crime writers ever’ Sunday Telegraph
£8.99
HarperCollins Publishers The True Darcy Spirit
Book SynopsisA richly entertaining recreation of Regency London, as the next generation of Darcy girls have to make their way in a society that doesn’t always appreciate their wit, determination and sense of fun.Trade Review‘Those who enjoy Austen will certainly enjoy Aston’s work, as will historical readers who want an engaging plot and characters.’ Library Journal ‘The invented daughters are fun…and their ups and downs in London society make a lively story.’ Joan Aiken ‘Delightful.’ Publishers Weekly ‘In the mode of Heyer and Austen, Elizabeth Aston…comments on the period with affection, respect and a ready wit.’ Good Book Guide ‘This novel is written with grace, charm and wit…It is an entertaining, engaging and engrossing romp through Regency London that sparkles like the champagne which is opened at the end of the novel’ Historical Novels Review
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers THE STOLLENBERG LEGACY
From the acclaimed author of A Flock of Ships, Ferry Down and the Trapp series comes a spellbinding new tale of maritime adventure and a fifty-year-old mystery.
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers FOR MY BROTHERS SINS
Book SynopsisThe second title in Sheelagh Kelly’s bestselling ‘Feeney’ saga tells how one treacherous act can turn a brother’s love into a murderous rage…Trade Review‘Sheelagh Kelly surely can write’Sunderland Echo ‘Genuinely perceptive portrayals of human relationships’Irish Independent
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers DICKIE
Book SynopsisThe fourth and final title in Sheelagh Kelly’s bestselling ‘Feeney’ saga follows the story of Richard William Feeney – ‘Dickie’.Trade Review‘Sheelagh Kelly can surely write’Sunderland Echo
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers The Marrowbone Marble Company
Book SynopsisA powerful novel of love and war, righteousness and redemption, and the triumph of the human spirit.From the author of the critically-acclaimed The Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart comes this sweeping novel of love and war, power and oppression, faith and deception, over the course of three defining American decades.At the end of the Pacific War, where he has witnessed terrible things, Loyal Ledford is a lost man, disconnected from the present yet divorced from his dissolute, violent past. His life is set on a new course when he meets his cousins, Dimple and Wimpy, the Bonecutter brothers. Their land, mysterious, elemental Marrowbone Cut, calls to him and it is there, with help from an unlikely bunch, that the Marrowbone Marble Company is slowly forged. Over the next two decades, the factory grounds become a vanguard of the civil rights movement and the war on poverty, a home for those intent on change. Inevitably, such a home invites trouble, and Ledford must fight for his family.Told in clear and powerful prose in the tradition of Cormac McCarthy and John Irving, The Marrowbone Marble Company recounts the transformative journey of a man and his community, taking a harrowing look at the issues of race and class throughout the tumultuous 1950s and ''60s.Trade Review““Taylor really is in that long American tradition that starts with Mark Twain and finds its character, meaning and moral force in the extraordinariness of ordinary people.” TIME OUT “a mesmerizing storyteller…Taylor has created a remarkably complex, soulful, and provocative historical novel righteous in its perspective on America’s struggle to live up to its core beliefs.” BOOKLIST “He writes with the elemental force of a latterday John Steinbeck." CANBERRA TIMES “This novel confirms the view that he is a major and original talent.” SYDNEY MORNING HERALD “Splendidly Norman Rockwell-ish…It’s like watching an idealistic old movie made in pre-McCarthy Hollywood.” THE TIMES “Marrowbone throbs with muscular Hemingway sentences, consciously biblical cadences, a plethora of imagery where almost every mundane event holds a major and marvellous message.” WEEKEND HERALD
£8.99
HarperCollins Publishers Far From Home
Book SynopsisA moving family drama of one young woman's fight to survive and to find a place to call home1938: Sixteen-year-old Kate Monroe is living in Birmingham, far away from her family in Ireland. Her parents have always doted on her siblings, Sally and James, leaving no time for her. Kate harbours a dark secret, a deep longing for her cousin. Feelings she must suppress in this deeply staunch Irish-Catholic community even if they are reciprocated.Crazed by her infatuation, Kate is left with no option, other than to up-roots once more and seek out a new life, far away from the temptation of Tim Monroe.Will Kate find true love, or will distance make the heart grow fonder?Trade ReviewPraise for Anne Bennett: ‘A powerful, heart-wrenching saga … of love, loss and family ties’ Woman’s Weekly ‘[Anne Bennett] is blessed with a vivid imagination and a natural aptitude for writing’ Daily Post ‘The beauty of Anne’s books is that they are about normal people and are sewn through with human emotions which affect us all’ Birmingham Post ‘Powerfully written’ Woman Book Club ‘A brilliant story and very gripping … Anne Bennett really brings the characters to life. It’s a great read. You won’t be able to put the book down’ Yours
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers The Norfolk Mystery The County Guides
Book SynopsisLove Miss Marple? Adore Holmes and Watson? Professor Morley's guide to Norfolk is a story of bygone England; quaint villages, eccentric locals and murder!It is 1937 and disillusioned Spanish Civil War veteran Stephen Sefton is stony broke. So when he sees a mysterious advertisement for a job where intelligence is essential', he applies.Thus begins Sefton's association with Professor Swanton Morley, an omnivorous intellect. Morley's latest project is a history of traditional England, with a guide to every county.They start in Norfolk, but when the vicar of Blakeney is found hanging from his church's bellrope, Morley and Sefton find themselves drawn into a rather more fiendish plot. Did the Reverend really take his own life, or was it murder?Beginning a thrilling new detective series, The Norfolk Mystery' is the first of The County Guides. A must-read for fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, every county is a crime scene and no-one is above suspicion!Trade ReviewPraise for ‘The Norfolk Mystery’: ‘A delightful, idiosyncratic mystery set in the Thirties … There is a touch of Sherlock Holmes and a dash of Lord Peter Wimsey, but the total is put together with a charm that is teasingly precious … Beautifully crafted by Sansom, Professor Morely promises to become a little gem of English crime writing; sample him now’ Daily Mail ‘Sansom is both celebrating and sending up the golden age of detective novels when, in the 1930s, Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie were the queens of crime … A brilliant first outing that leaves you looking forward to the next maniacal mystery tour’ Mark Sanderson, Evening Standard
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers My Sweet Valentine
Book SynopsisAn emotional portrayal of the lives of four women as Valentine's day approaches, in 1941 wartime LondonLife brought enough problems and upsets for young hearts, especially young female hearts, without them having to carry the added burden of the war'Tilly is passionately in love with the dashing American journalist, Drew. But he is harbouring a secret that threatens their burgeoning love. At the same time, Dulcie's brother Rick walks back into her life, the man who she longed for all those years agoAgnes is comforted by the loving arms of her caring train driver fiancé Ted. And Sally could not be happier with her talented surgeon boyfriend at her side, especially since he's risked his life to visit her at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve.For Tilly's mother, Olive, the cold heart that had been frozen since her partner died, is beginning to thaw. But the man she pines for is betrothed to another. The net curtains on the well-to-do Article Row have been twitching, and prying eyes 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
£11.69
HarperCollins Publishers A Christmas Promise
Book SynopsisAn emotional and heart-warming portrayal of the lives of four women living in wartime London.For the girls living at No.13 Article Row, the war years have never been tougherTilly is heartbroken when Drew, the love of her life, returns to America and doesn't come back. Tilly can't believe that he would break their solemn promise to love each other for ever. Olive. Tilly's mother, knows the real reason that he has never been in touch but fears the truth will hurt her daughter even more.For Tilly's friends, Agnes and Sally, the war has also dealt them a cruel hand and, along with the rest of the country, they have had their share of pain. But they say that it is always darkest just before the dawn, so could it be that this war, and the girl's fortunes, are finally beginning to turn?Trade ReviewPraise for Annie Groves: ‘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 ‘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 ‘Written from the heart’ My Weekly ‘An engrossing story’ My Weekly
£11.69
HarperCollins Publishers Only a Mother Knows
Book SynopsisA compelling novel about four young women in wartime London, from the best-selling author of London Belles and My Sweet Valentine.In Article Row, in London's Holborn four young women, Tilly, Sally, Dulcie and Agnes have already been witnesses to the heartache and pain that Hitler's bombs have inflicted on ordinary Londoners.Tilly is desperate to wed her beau, Drew. Terrified that something will happen to prevent them from being together, her fears seem to be coming true when he is called back home to America.For her mother, Olive, this only adds to her worries for Tilly. But she has her own hands full when her friend and neighbour, Sergeant Dawson, gets some terrible news. When Olive lends a hand, she finds herself at the sharp end of some unwelcome gossip.For Dulcie, the war has brought an old flame, David, back into her life. But his terrible injuries have changed his life forever. Can something more develop out of their friendship? And for Agnes, she is about to find out somethingTrade 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
£11.69
HarperCollins Publishers Master of Rome 3 Masters of the Sea
Book SynopsisA stirring adventure novel set amid the tumultuous clashes between the Roman and Carthaginian empires, battling for control of the Mediterranean, North Africa and Rome itself.Trade ReviewPraise for Ship of Rome ‘Strong characters, excellent action, SHIP OF ROME builds to a superb climax’CONN IGGULDEN ‘Peopled with characters both fictional and historical, this debut novel - the first in the Masters Of The Sea series - gives a fascinating and evocative insight into the high politics and military life of the times’Daily Mail ‘This is a seriously entertaining book for anyone who enjoys stirring descriptions of ancient warfare. You can almost taste the salt, see the blood and hear the shouts and screams…John Stack is to be welcomed into the ranks of first-rate historical writers’Tuam Herald ‘Crank up the testosterone, this one’s a fighter!’U Magazine Ireland
£12.34
HarperCollins Publishers The Tiger Catcher
Book SynopsisThe first novel in a beautiful, heartbreaking new saga from Paullina Simons, the international bestselling author ofTullyandThe Bronze Horseman.Can true love ever die?Julian lives a charmed life in Los Angeles. Surrounded by friends, he is young, handsome, and runs a successful business. Everything changes after he has a fateful encounter with a mysterious young woman named Josephine. Julian''s world is turned upside down by a love affair that takes himand everyone else in his lifeby storm. For the two new lovers, the City of Angels is transformed into a magical playground.But Josephine is not what she seems and carries secrets that threaten to tear them apartseemingly forever.A broken man, his faith in tatters, Julian meets a mysterious stranger who tells him how to find Josephine again if he is willing to give up everything and take a death-defying trip from which no one has ever returned.So begins Julian and Josephine''s extraordinary adventure of love, loss, and the mystical forcesTrade ReviewPraise for Tully: ‘Pick up this book and prepare to have your emotions wrung so completely you’ll be sobbing your heart out one minute and laughing through your tears the next… Read it and weep – literally’ Company Praise for Tatiana and Alexander: 'This has everything a romance glutton could wish for: a bold, talented and dashing hero, a heart-stopping love affair … It also has – thank goodness – a welcome sense of humour and discernible characters rather than ciphers' Daily Mail
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers A Beggars Kingdom
Book SynopsisHow much would you sacrifice for true love? The second novel in Paullina Simons'' stunning End of Forever saga continues the heartbreaking story of Julian and Josephine, and a love that spans lifetimes.Julian has travelled from the heights of joy to the depths of despair and back again. Having found his love twice and lost her twice, he is resolved to continue his search and find her in the past again. Perhaps this time he can save her.But the journey is never so simple and Julian will have to decide just how much one man can sacrifice. He is willing to give up everything but he must learn what that truly means, and how much more can be taken from you than you ever believed possible.Trade ReviewPraise for Paullina Simons ‘Pick up this book and prepare to have your emotions wrung so completely you’ll be sobbing your heart out one minute and laughing through your tears the next… Read it and weep – literally’ Company ‘This has everything a romance glutton could wish for: a bold, talented and dashing hero, a heart-stopping love affair! It also has… .a welcome sense of humor…..’ Daily Mail ‘This gorgeous book is much more than a conventional thriller … After finishing the novel, readers will only want one thing: more Paullina Simons.’ (Booklist)
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Red Rose White Rose
Book SynopsisThe powerful story of Cecily Neville, torn between both sides in the War of the Roses, from the best-selling author of The Agincourt Bride.Trade ReviewPraise for Joanna Hickson: ‘Thoroughly engrossing’ The Lady A gripping and emotional story’ Woman ‘A bewitching first novel…alive with historical detail’ Good Housekeeping 'An enthralling blend of fact and fiction, drama and danger, passion and politics’ Lancashire Evening Post
£9.89
HarperCollins Publishers Ghostwritten
Book Synopsis ‘A deeply moving read – I loved it’ Dinah Jefferies, bestselling author of THE TEA PLANTER’S WIFE Trade Review‘A deeply moving read – I loved it’ Dinah Jeffries, author of The Tea Planter’s Wife ‘A brilliant, tender and thought-provoking read’ The Lady ‘An emotional read and well worth burning the midnight oil over.’ Western Morning News ‘A poignant story that portrays the suffering of women and children with vivid horror’ Sunday Mirror ‘Wonderful, tender and compelling’ Rachel Hore, author of The Silent Tide ‘Haunting reading’ My Weekly ‘'Breathtakingly beautiful and sensitive … a gripping and extraordinarily poignant story which captures both heart and mind.' Lancashire Evening Post ‘Beautifully written, extraordinarily moving – a story that grips from start to finish’ Lesley Downer, author of Across a Bridge of Dreams
£12.34
HarperCollins Publishers The Emperor Waltz
Book SynopsisThe most ambitious and daring novel novel yet from Booker Prize-shortlisted Philip Hensher.A novel that''s almost fizzy to the touch A performance of extraordinary flair and majesty from a writer who seems capable of anything' GuardianThe Emperor Waltz' is a single novel with three narrative strands: fourth-century Rome, 1920s Germany, and 1980s London. In each place, a small coterie is closely connected and separated from the larger world. In each story, the larger world regards the small coterie and its passionately-held beliefs and secrets with suspicion and hostility.It is the story of eccentricity, its struggle, its triumph, its influence but also its defeat.Trade Review‘A novel that is always a joy to read … Read it and allow yourself to become a better person’ Independent ‘Important … Glorious … He might have the iconoclastic temperament of a Kandinsky, but he is an old master when he glimpses the cat asleep under the table or the curve of a woman’s neck’ The Times ‘A glittering performance … “The Emperor Waltz” has the depth and pleasurable density of a 19th-century fiction; I loved it’ Ian Thomson, Evening Standard ‘Splendidly thought out and extraordinarily readable’ A S Byatt, Guardian 'A generous, courageous firework of a novel – a Roman candle, alive and fizzing in the hand' New Statesman ‘A book as joyful as its musical source … “The Emperor Waltz” is a beautiful book, both profound and funny. It is a powerful invocation to live a life of joy, surrounded by true friends’ Telegraph
£13.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Roman Tales
Book SynopsisA contemporary collection of stories by one of France’s finest writers.
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Vixen
Book SynopsisRosie Garland’s extraordinary tale is a story of superstition and devotion in the time of the Black Death and will bewitch both new readers and fans of her much-loved debut, The Palace of Curiosities.Trade ReviewPraise for Vixen: ‘Poetic, surprising, sexy and ultimately deeply moving, Vixen will have you hooked… it will stay with you long after you’ve reached the final page’ DIVA Praise for The Palace of Curiosities: ‘Garland’s lush prose is always a pleasure’ Guardian ‘An alternately brutal and beautiful story about love and belonging in a vividly conveyed underworld, rich in carny phantasmagoria and lyrical romance’ Metro ‘Bewitching’ Good Housekeeping ‘A jewel-box of a novel … Garland is a real literary talent: definitely an author to watch’ Sarah Waters ‘Reminds me of Angela Carter’ Jenni Murray
£12.34
HarperCollins Publishers Iron and Rust
Book SynopsisA monumental new roman series is here.3rd century Rome, like you've never seen it before: murder, coup, terror on the streets, counter-rebellions and civil war.In a single year six Emperors will lay claim to the Throne of the CaesarsSPRING AD235.When Emperor Alexander is cut down in a dawn attack, his murder marks the end of the Severan dynasty and the rise of a hero born from the barracks. Maximinus Thrax is a man of steel and violence, and his reign will come to nothing without the seal of approval from the Senate.As Rome is rocked with uncertainty, the merciless war against the barbarians rages in the north, and personal tragedy, as well as the whispers of conspirators, will drive Maximinus to the borders of sanity.In a world of intrigue, murder, passion and war, men will sacrifice everything to sit on the Throne of the Caesars.Trade ReviewPraise for Iron & Rust: ‘An amazing story of bloodlust, ruthless ambition and revenge’ The Times Praise for Harry Sidebottom: ‘Sidebottom’s prose blazes with searing scholarship’ THE TIMES ‘Superior fiction, with depth, authenticity and a sense of place’ TLS ‘A storming triumph…wonderful fight scenes, deft literary touches and salty dialogue’ DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘Explosive action and knuckle-whitening drama’ GUARDIAN ‘Sidebottom knows how to keep readers hooked from first to last’ DAILY EXPRESS Praise for the Warrior of Rome series: 'The point of the novel, however, is action, heroic deeds, and gore. The qualities a writer of such stories needs – imagination stimulated through the soles of his feet as he walks the scenes of his tale, and a sound knowledge of the period – are abundantly possessed by Sidebottom … a gripping book' TLS 'The latest in this series of novels on Rome’s Persian Wars, Lion of the Sun, is, like the first two, a book to keep you up well past your bedtime. It’s all about war and killing; I loved it’EVENING STANDARD 'The lionisation of war makes my blood run cold, but Dr Harry Sidebottom’s prose blazes with such searing scholarship that there is enormous enjoyment in this rumbustuous tale of the late Roman Empire … Sidebottom treads in the footsteps of the greatest mimetic historian-storytellers of the 18th and 19th centuries. He makes you feel as though you are there' Bettany Hughes, THE TIMES 'Harry Sidebottom works on Rome’s 3rd-century army the magic that Patrick O’Brian applied to Nelson’s navy. He has the touch of an exceptionally gifted story-teller drawing on prodigious learning'Tim Severin, author of the Viking Trilogy
£11.96
HarperCollins Publishers Fire and Sword Book 3 Throne of the Caesars
Book SynopsisAbsorbing and brilliant Game of Thrones without the dragons' THE TIMESThe third book in Sidebottom's epic series set in third century Rome; a dramatic era of murder, coup, counter-rebellions and civil war.Rome AD238. The Year of the Six Emperors.The empire is in turmoil. With the Gordiani, father and son, dead in Africa, the tyrant Maximinus Thrax vies to reclaim the throne.The Senate, who supported the revolt of the Gordiani, must act quickly to avoid the vengeance of Maximinus. They elect two Senators to share the imperial purple. But fighting erupts in the streets as ambitious men call for violent revolution.Can the new Augusti hold the city together as the empire's farthest territories fight off bloody attacks from the Goths and the Persians in the east?In the north of Italy, Maximinus descends on Aquileia. Against the odds, Menophilus, an old friend of the younger Gordian, prepares to defend the town. In one of the greatest sieges of the empire, its fate will be decided in a fighTrade ReviewPraise for BLOOD & STEEL: ‘Absorbing, rich in detail and brilliant’ THE TIMES Praise for IRON & RUST: ‘An amazing story of bloodlust, ruthless ambition and revenge’THE TIMES Praise for Harry Sidebottom: ‘Sidebottom’s prose blazes with searing scholarship’ THE TIMES ‘Superior fiction, with depth, authenticity and a sense of place’ TLS ‘A storming triumph…wonderful fight scenes, deft literary touches and salty dialogue’ DAILY TELEGRAPH
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Wave Me Goodbye Churchills Angels 2
Book SynopsisA compelling story of tragedy and triumph in WWII -the second in a series of books featuring four young women whose lives will be forever changed by the war. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Annie Groves.Trade ReviewAmazing five star reviews from Amazon: Petra "book addict!!!"Churchill's Angels by Ruby Jackson for me was a wonderful read and therefore would recommend this marvellous book to anyone who loves a not only a good read but one which will keep your attention until you reach the last page.M. E. NewellChurchill's Angels by Ruby Jackson is a great book! Ms. Jackson gives the reader great characters and an excellent story line. Any fan of wartime books will truly enjoy this book!S Knight "Bookworm"I loved this book – cannot wait for the next one in the series. I really felt that I was there living with the characters. The historical detail is brilliant.J. Harper "Jenny Harper"Love, new challenges, death and humour battle on every page, ensuring that our attention is held from beginning to end. Can't wait for the next in the series!
£12.34
HarperCollins Publishers A Christmas Gift
Book SynopsisThe third in a series of books featuring four young women whose lives will be forever changed by WWII. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn.Trade Review‘An outstanding tale.’ Bookishjottings.com Amazing five star reviews from Amazon: Petra "book addict!!!"Churchill's Angels by Ruby Jackson for me was a wonderful read and therefore would recommend this marvellous book to anyone who loves a not only a good read but one which will keep your attention until you reach the last page.M. E. NewellChurchill's Angels by Ruby Jackson is a great book! Ms. Jackson gives the reader great characters and an excellent story line. Any fan of wartime books will truly enjoy this book!S Knight "Bookworm"I loved this book – cannot wait for the next one in the series. I really felt that I was there living with the characters. The historical detail is brilliant.J. Harper "Jenny Harper"Love, new challenges, death and humour battle on every page, ensuring that our attention is held from beginning to end. Can't wait for the next in the series!
£7.59
