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 The Silent Boy
Book SynopsisFrom the No. 1 bestselling author of THE AMERICAN BOY comes a brilliant new historical thriller set during the French Revolution. Selected as Historical Novel of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times, and picked as one of Radio 4's Crime Books of the Year.Paris, 1792. Terror reigns as the city writhes in the grip of revolution. The streets run with blood as thousands lose their heads to the guillotine. Edward Savill, working in London as agent for a wealthy American, receives word that his estranged wife Augusta has been killed in France. She leaves behind ten-year-old Charles, who is brought to England to Charnwood Court, a house in the country leased by a group of émigré refugees.Savill is sent to retrieve the boy, though it proves easier to reach Charnwood than to leave. And only when Savill arrives there does he discover that Charles is mute. The boy has witnessed horrors beyond his years, but what terrible secret haunts him so deeply that he is unable to utter a word?Trade ReviewPraise for The Silent Boy: ‘In this taut thriller, Andrew Taylor deftly weaves unobtrusive historical research with a page-turning plot’ The Times, Books of the Year ‘Great tale, great history, great Taylor’ Radio 4, Crime Books of the Year ‘Taylor has not only succeeded in constructing a labyrinthine plot that is gripping to the last page, but he also created an entirely believable child, traumatised but resolute, whose plight is the fuel for true suspense’ Guardian ‘As a writer, Taylor wears his learning lightly and shares with Hilary Mantel the capacity to take the reader directly into a vanished world’ Times Literary Supplement ‘Taylor is a wonder; once again he marries flawlessly integrated historical detail … and a knotty and involving mystery as strong as anything in the historical crime fiction field. I suspect Taylor should start clearing a space next to his current writing trophies’ Financial Times ‘Don’t keep quiet about The Silent Boy. Tell everyone: it’s a really excellent page-turning thriller set in a fascinating period in Anglo-French history’ Robert Goddard ‘Many elements of The Silent Boy bring Dickens … It is utterly gripping, extremely well executed and suspenseful to the last’ Spectator 'Taylor's mastery of plot and character show to great effect in a story that has a depth few other historical crime novels can match' Sunday Times 'I enjoyed this book very much indeed. I found the evocation of late 18th Century England, and the French exiles, effortlessly authentic, the hunt for Charles gripping, and the portrayal and first-person narrative of the helpless, traumatised, yet strong and resourceful little boy moving and believable. An excellent work.' C J Sansom, author of Revelation ‘A gripping and atmospheric thriller – the perfect blend of dark suspense, appealing characters and fascinating history. I loved it!’ Antonia Hodgson, author of The Devil in the Marshalsea
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers THE ROAD TO RECKONING
Book SynopsisA novel that hits right to the heart of fans of Cold Mountain and True Grit. Set in 1837, this is the completely compelling story of 12-year-old orphan Thomas Walker and his treacherous journey home through the wide open lands of America.Trade Review‘It’s a thrilling, violent, dangerous piece of old-fashioned storytelling that is also humane and unshowily moving’ THE TIMES ‘A compelling read: wise, touching and with just the right amount of gun fights’NATHAN FILER, author of The Shock of the Fall ‘As simply told tales go, this is one of the best. It shares with its hero a plain eloquence and a determination and a grace rare in the world and in books. Give The Road to Reckoning to every man you know and they'll thank you for it’ JOSHUA FERRIS, author of the Man Booker-shortlisted To Rise Again at a Decent Hour ‘Compelling, gripping and beautiful … a poetic page-turner with precision and heart. In Thomas Walker and Henry Stands Robert Lautner has created characters who live in the memory long after the book is closed’STEPHEN KELMAN, author of Pigeon English ‘This quiet triumph of a novel, a sad and impeccably nuanced tale set against a finely drawn landscape of early pioneer America, left me just amazed and delighted: it will surely establish Robert Lautner as a storyteller of the first order’ SIMON WINCHESTER, author of Atlantic: A Vast Ocean of a Million Stories ‘A twisty, gripping first novel from British author Lautner…a robust debut that wears its meticulous research lightly’ KIRKUS REVIEWS
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Daughter of the House
Book SynopsisA stunning novel from the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of THE KASHMIR SHAWLLondon 1919Born into a down-at-heel family, Nancy Wix is more than her past dictates more ambitious than the daughter of a faded showman, more original than a woman who will be confined by polite conventions. The end of the Great War has left a stricken London on the brink of an uncertain future, and with their hard-won freedoms now in doubt Nancy and her fellow suffragettes must strive all over again for the right to control their own destinies.At a time when shattered families are struggling to let go of their dead, Nancy discovers she has a gift that offers hope to the loved ones of the lost generation, and a chance encounter reveals a way in which she might use it for her own ends.As Nancy struggles to break free from the rigid bonds of society and find her place in the world, the only thing that could hold her back is her love for an unattainable manTrade Review‘Wonderful…a spellbinding, romantic story’ WOMAN AND HOME ‘Vintage Thomas, with all her trademark richness and depth … The thinking woman’s popular novelist’ SAGA ‘An atmospheric tale of a woman breaking boundaries in early 20th-century London’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING ‘Lush and satisfying … Brimming with magic, love and brilliantly realized characters’ SUNDAY MIRROR ‘Heartfelt, poignant and moving’ LOVEREADING ‘A gorgeous glimpse of the 1920s’ BELLA Praise for THE ILLUSIONISTS: ‘Love, seduction, magic and illusion collide as Rosie Thomas takes us on a spellbinding journey through an extremely shadowy world’ Daily Express ‘A brilliant Gothic mix of glitter and grime and so atmospheric you can almost see the pea-soupers’ Daily Mail ‘Always engaging: a beautifully written novel that will magic you away to the seedy streets of turn-of-the-century London’ Stylist Praise for The Kashmir Shawl: ‘A superbly researched and vivid evocation of wartime Kashmir and Ladakh’ Daily Mail ‘A spellbinding tale. Beautifully written, honest and compassionate…a delight from start to finish’Daily Express ‘An epic tale…A complicated entanglement of family secrets, love during wartime and dangerous liaisons. For fans of Maggie O’Farrell’Red
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Smith W Golden Lion
Book SynopsisWorldwide bestselling author Wilbur Smith will take you on an incredible journey on the thrashing seas off the coast of Africa in this glorious return to the series that made him who he is: The Courtney series.East African Coast, 1670.In a time of brave and brutal adventure, one man will journey across land and sea to pursue his greatest enemy The Golden Bough, captained by Henry Hal' Courtney, is running south from Ethiopia to Zanzibar. Below deck, both his crew and his lover, the fearless warrior Judith Nazet, sleep. As the moon glints through clouds, Hal sights a ship passing close by. Although there is an uneasy truce between the warring English and Dutch, Hal scents danger. When the Bough is boarded, the crew must go hand to hand to defend their ship and their lives.But soon Hal will face even graver danger, as he discovers his mortal enemy still lives and is hell-bent on revenge. he must pursue his nemesis across desert savannah, through the seedy underbelly of Zanzibar's slave markets and shark-infested waters, imperilling his own life at every turn. But it will take more than a slave's shackles to hold Hal CourtneyA thrilling blend of extraordinary drama and epic storytelling, Golden Lion sees Wilbur Smith return in triumphant form to the adventures of his beloved and bestselling Courtney family.Trade ReviewPraise for Golden Lion: ‘Golden Lion is vintage Smith’ DAILY MAIL ‘Smith will take you on an exciting, taut and thrilling journey you will never forget’ The Sun ‘Smith tells a fast-paced story with a certain Edwardian flair’ The Times Praise for Wilbur Smith: ‘NO ONE DOES ADVENTURE QUITE LIKE SMITH’ DAILY MIRROR ‘THE WORLD’S LEADING ADVENTURE WRITER’ DAILY EXPRESS ‘WILBUR SMITH IS ONE OF THOSE BENCHMARKS AGAINST WHOM OTHERS ARE COMPARED’ THE TIMES
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers All the Light We Cannot See
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2015 PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTIONNATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALISTNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERWINNER OF THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR FICTIONA beautiful, stunningly ambitious novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War IIOpen your eyes and see what you can with them before they close forever.'For Marie-Laure, blind since the age of six, the world is full of mazes. The miniature of a Paris neighbourhood, made by her father to teach her the way home. The microscopic layers within the invaluable diamond that her father guards in the Museum of Natural History. The walled city by the sea, where father and daughter take refuge when the Nazis invade Paris. And a future which draws her ever closer to Werner, a German orphan, destined to labour in the mines until a broken radio fills his life with possibility and brings him to the notice of the Hitler Youth.In this magnificent, deeply moving novel, the stories ofMarie-Laure and Werner illuminate the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another.Trade Review'Far more than a conventional war story, It's a tightly focused epic … Doerr paints with a rich palette, using prose that resonates deeply and conveys the ephemera of daily existence along with high drama, sadness and hope … A bittersweet and moving novel that lingers in the mind' Daily Mail ‘An epic work about bravery and the power of attachment’ Rose Tremain, Observer, Books of the Year ‘An epic and a masterpiece’ Justin Cartwright, Observer ‘This novel will be a piece of luck for anyone with a long plane journey or beach holiday ahead. It is such a page-turner, entirely absorbing… magnificent’ Guardian ‘Doerr can bring a scene to life in a single paragraph … Delicate and moving … the novel takes hold and will not easily let go’ The Times ‘Boy meets girl in Anthony Doerr’s hauntingly beautiful new book, but the circumstances are as elegantly circuitous as they can be’ The New York Times ‘I’m not sure I will read a better novel this year … Enthrallingly told, beautifully written and so emotionally plangent that some passages bring tears’ Washington Post ‘This jewel of a story is put together like a vintage timepiece … Doerr’s writing and imagery are stunning. It’s been a while since a novel had me under its spell in this fashion.’ Abraham Verghese ‘A dazzling, epic work of fiction. Anthony Doerr writes beautifully about the mythic and the intimate, about snails on beaches and armies on the move, about fate and love and history and those breathless, unbearable moments when they all come crashing together.’ Jess Walter
£8.99
HarperCollins Publishers Christmas on the Mersey
Book SynopsisAn emotional and compelling wartime drama from the author of Only a Mother Knows and A Christmas Promise. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn.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
£12.34
HarperCollins Publishers Stonehenge A Novel of 2000 BC
Book SynopsisBernard Cornwell's brilliant novel, reissued for fans to find out the story behind the stones. This is the tale of three brothers and of their rivalry that created this great temple.One summer's day, a dying stranger carrying great wealth in gold comes to the settlement of Ratharryn.The three sons of Ratharryn's chief each perceive the great gift in a different way. The eldest, Lengar, the warrior, harnesses his murderous ambition to be a ruler and take great power for his tribe. Camaban becomes a great visionary and feared wise man, and it is his vision that will force the youngest brother, Saban, to create the great temple on the green hill where the gods will appear on earth. Saban' s love for Aurenna, the sun bride whose destiny is to die for the gods, finally brings the rivalries of the brothers to a head. But it is also his skills that will build the vast temple, a place for the gods, certainly, but also a place that will confirm for ever the supreme power of the tribe that builtTrade Review‘An epic story told with a master’s skill. Bernard Cornwell now burrows into prehistory to suggest an answer to the puzzle of why and by whom Stonehenge was built. The result is an epic story told with a master’s skill, presenting powerful personalities, high dramas and terrific climaxes with colour and pace.’TLS ‘A fantastic story of intertribal rivalries, Machiavellian scheming by rival sect leaders and fierce battles over talismans’ NEW YORK TIMES
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The White Dove
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of The Kashmir ShawlBorn into an aristocratic family, beautiful Amy Lovell leads a whirlwind life of extravagant parties and debutante balls.But Amy, curious about the world beyond the narrow confines of her class, is ill-suited to a life of indulgence. Eagerly embracing a nursing career, she is drawn into the radical politics of the day.As the spectre of war looms, Amy''s bittersweet love for the proud miner Nick Penry a love which defies the differences between them leads them to the conflict in Spain, where love and pain become inseparable agonies.Trade Review‘Beautifully constructed and written . . . A treat’ Marie Claire ‘Love, seduction, magic and illusion collide as Rosie Thomas takes us on a spellbinding journey through an extremely shadowy world’ Daily Express Praise for The Kashmir Shawl: ‘A superbly researched and vivid evocation of wartime Kashmir and Ladakh’ Daily Mail ‘A spellbinding tale. Beautifully written, honest and compassionate…a delight from start to finish’Daily Express ‘An epic tale…A complicated entanglement of family secrets, love during wartime and dangerous liaisons. For fans of Maggie O’Farrell’Red ‘A superbly written novel, marvellously descriptive and especially evocative of the war years . . . a gorgeous treat’ Choice ‘Thomas’ portrayal of a young wife struggling to cope with life in wartime Kashmir, her husband’s indifference to her and her attraction to a charismatic mountaineer is beautifully written, touching and believable’ The Daily Express
£11.69
HarperCollins Publishers A Daughters Disgrace An absolutely heartbreaking
Book SynopsisFrom Amazon bestselling author Kitty Neale comes a heartbreaking historical novel about a young woman trying to make the best despite the worst circumstances. Is a happy ever after impossible?Previously published in 2015FracturedAlison is the ugly duckling of her family and has always been treated with disdain by her mother. After years of being bullied, she is drawn to the one man who shows her affection. But when he brutally rapes her, leaving her pregnant, she is cast out.ForgottenShunned by her family, Alison must start to make her own way and plan a life for herself and her unborn child and for the first time she is master of her own destiny.Forgiven?But when the baby arrives, Alison feels no love for her new son. Terrified that history will repeat itself, can she find a way to love her child? And will she ever find the forgiveness she craves from her family?An utterly unputdownable, heart-wrenching historical novel that will have you completely hooked from the first page. PerfecTrade ReviewPraise for Kitty Neale: 'Heartbreakingly poignant and joltingly realistic.' Annie Groves 'A moving tale of love, hope and family...full of drama and heartache.' Closer
£7.59
HarperCollins Publishers The Roman
Book SynopsisFull of sexual tension' Jane Hunt ReviewsROME AD 79The one woman he ever loved was the one woman who betrayed him.And now, the Roman will have his revengeMarsallas and Justina were young, beautiful and desperately in love once, until a tragic betrayal tore them apart.Six years have passed since that day and Marsallas has since thrown himself into the deadly world of chariot racing, gaining fortune, fame, and a salacious reputation throughout Rome. His bed is kept warm by a different woman each night, but his heart remains iced over as the memory of Justina's betrayal continues to haunts him.The last thing he expects is to see her again, but when she steps back into his life he sees a chance to avenge his broken heart.But beneath the hurt, an attraction so intense still burns between the two, and as their fates begin to intertwine once more, their determination to resist one another starts to falterTrade Review‘Full of sexual tension reaching a delightfully steamy peak. Full of angst this story makes you walk an emotional tightrope right until the last page. Thankfully it is worth the effort. – Jane Hunt Reviews ‘A great read for those who love historical romance … an ideal Sunday read that will have you booking a holiday to Rome or throwing a toga party.’ – Airam Booksie ‘Hot on MANY levels..!’ – bestselling author & History blogger Erin Lawless
£6.74
HarperCollins Publishers Beowulf
Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.Written by an anonymous poet between the 8th and 11th centuries, this Old English epic poem follows the story of Beowulf, courageous hero of the Geats in Scandinavia. The King of the Danes has found his hall and his people under attack by a monster known as Grendel, and Beowulf fearlessly offers to defend them. The fearsome warrior defeats Grendel with his bare hands, only to find that Grendel's mother is hot on his heels. Beowulf defeats this second ferocious monster with the skill of his sword, and returns to Geatland, victorious.Fifty years pass, during which Beowulf has become King of the Geats, and his bravery is once more called to task. This time, Beowulf must defeat a clever and vicious dragon, but now in the hopes of defending his own people and land, or risk losing everything.One of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature, Beowulf is the thrilling tale of the eponymous hero in
£5.68
HarperCollins Publishers The Secret Wife A Captivating Story of Romance
Book SynopsisThe USA Today bestseller A cleverly crafted novel and an enthralling story A triumph.' DINAH JEFFERIESA Russian grand duchess and an English journalist. Linked by one of the world's greatest mysteriesLove. Guilt. Heartbreak.1914Russia is on the brink of collapse, and the Romanov family faces a terrifyingly uncertain future. Grand Duchess Tatiana has fallen in love with cavalry officer Dmitri, but events take a catastrophic turn, placing their romance and their lives in danger . . .2016Kitty Fisher escapes to her great-grandfather's remote cabin in America, after a devastating revelation makes her flee London. There, on the shores of Lake Akanabee, she discovers the spectacular jewelled pendant that will lead her to a long-buried family secret . . .Haunting, moving and beautifully written, The Secret Wife effortlessly crosses centuries, as past merges with present in an unforgettable story of love, loss and resilience.Perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Dinah Jefferies.Trade Review‘Meticulously researched and evocatively written, this sweeping story will keep a tight hold on your heartstrings until the final page’ Iona Grey ‘A cleverly crafted novel and an enthralling story: the heartbreak genuine, the research brilliant. I love the way the present narrative throws light on the past story so that the transitions are smooth. A triumph.’ Dinah Jefferies ‘A marvellous story: gripping, romantic and evocative of a turbulent and fascinating time’ Lulu Taylor ‘This was just magical. At the last line, tears rolled down my cheeks. Highly recommended.’ Louise Beech 'A heart-warming affirmation of the tenacity of human love' Liz Trenow 'Gill Paul has crafted a beautiful book. The passages set in Russia in 1914 are so richly described and researched that I felt as if I was living in the pages myself. I adored it.' Amanda Jennings ‘This is an intriguing and involving book that explores a really fascinating period in time in a clever and highly enjoyable way. I was hooked into both timelines from the start.’Joanna Courtney, author of The Chosen Queen and The Constant Queen ‘A beautiful and moving story, beautifully and movingly told. I read it in just two sittings . . . I enjoyed every page’ John Julius Norwich ‘Gill Paul has clearly done her research in this absorbing story that cleverly blends imagination with historical fact. The closeted and ultimately doomed Romanov family have always fascinated, especially the four grand duchesses, and the older strand of this dual narrative story is told by one of the girls' secret loves. Tragic, touching and authentic-feeling.’ Kate Riordan ‘A marvellous moving adventure, full of vivid colour and atmospheric detail. If you loved POLDARK you’ll love this!’ Lulu Taylor ‘Like VANITY FAIR crossed with POLDARK… Stunning epic’ Claudia Carroll ‘A terrific adventure story, full of romance and atmospheric detail – a great escapist read’ Liz Trenow
£12.18
HarperCollins Publishers The Price of Blood Book 2 The Emma of Normandy Series
Book SynopsisThe second book in Bracewell’s outstanding Emma of Normandy series, set in 11-century England, when Vikings are on the brink of invasion.Trade ReviewPraise for Shadow on the Crown: ‘A magnificent work of historical fiction, evoking time and place in a remarkable way’ DAILY MAIL ‘This is one of the most enthralling and captivating novels I've ever read. It truly is an epic novel. I can't wait to read the next book by this author’ KAREN MAITLAND ‘A meticulously researched, lyrically written tale which shines a sensuous light into the murkier depths of the Dark Ages’ ROBERT LOW ‘A highly entertaining addition to the historical fiction genre’ PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ‘Readers of historical sagas and romances will embrace this rich narrative’ LIBRARY JOURNAL ‘What a great book! Fascinating… a tense, exciting story’ DIANA GABALDON, author of the bestselling Outlander series ‘A well-wrought journey back to those little known times, this novel entertains while it educates’ Margaret George, bestselling author of ELIZABETH I and HELEN OF TROY
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers The Road to Samarcand Includes Noughts and
Book SynopsisA classic Patrick O'Brian novel, back in print after many years with three bonus tales of nautical adventure.Newly orphaned Derrick is entrusted to the care of his gruff uncle Sullivan, Captain of The Wanderer. After surviving a killer typhoon on the South China Sea, and accompanied by their eccentric elderly cousin, they set off across land to discover the treasures of Central Asia.Derrick befriends a fierce Mongol warrior and must help him battle a ruthless Chinese warlord. Given a gift of priceless jade, the group is pursued into the inhospitable mountains of Tibet where they are caught between fierce mountain monks and a terrifying unnamed creature that stalks them through the snow.This special edition includes three bonus tales Noughts and Crosses, Two's Company & No Pirates Nowadays that are prequels to the adventure of The Road to Samarcand, and are published together for the very first time.Trade Review'You are in for the treat of your lives. Thank God for Patrick O’Brian: his genius illuminates the literature of the English language, and lightens the lives of those who read him' Irish Times 'Any contemporary novelist should recognize in Patrick O’Brian a Master of the Art’ Sunday Telegraph ‘The best historical novels ever written’New York Times
£9.89
HarperCollins Publishers The Orphans of Halfpenny Street Book 1 Halfpenny
Book SynopsisCall the Midwife meets Dr Barnardo's in this gritty drama that will appeal to fans of Nadine Dorries and Kitty Neale.When there is nowhere else to turn, St Saviour's will give them hopeIt's 1947 and London's East End is still a bombed-out landscape. Sister Beatrice, who runs the St Saviour's Children's Home, knows that life is still a precarious existence for many children and it seems that there is no end to the constant stream of waifs and strays who appear at their door looking for a safe haven.One such arrival is Mary Ellen whose mother is gravely ill. The one silver lining is her best friend, the tearaway Billy Baggins, also a resident of the home, but Billy seems intent on falling foul of Sister Beatrice's strict regime.New arrival on the staff, Angela, admires Sister Beatrice, but can see that the children need love and kindness as well as a strong hand. When an unwelcome face from Billy's past arrives on the scene, things are brought to a head. Can the two women work together tTrade Review.
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Kings Evil From the Sunday Times bestselling
Book SynopsisWinner of The HWA Gold Crown 2020From the No.1 bestselling author of The Ashes of London and The Fire Court comes the next book in the phenomenally successful series following James Marwood at the time of King Charles II.Over 1 Million Andrew Taylor Novels Sold!A royal scandal In the Court of Charles II, it's a dangerous time to be alive a wrong move may lead to disgrace, exile or death. The discovery of a body at the home of one of the highest courtiers in the land could therefore have catastrophic consequences.A shocking murder James Marwood, a traitor's son, is ordered to cover up the killing. But the dead man is known to Marwood as is the most likely culprit, Cat Lovett.The stakes have never been higherMarwood is sure Cat is innocent so determines to discover the true murderer. But time is running out. If he makes a mistake, it could threaten the King himselfPraise for Andrew TaylorOne of the best historical crime writers today' The TimesIf you like C. J. Sansom, or Hilary MantelTrade Review‘I loved this! It's a treat to read a book that is so immersive, that pulls the reader into an entirely different world…This is a complex story told with clarity – a masterclass in writing for the genre’ Ann Cleeves, bestselling author of the Shetland and Vera Stanhope series 'The King’s Evil is an absolute treat from start to finish – a hugely engaging, atmospheric historical thriller with not one but two smart and lovable protagonists. Andrew Taylor is one of our finest storytellers' Antonia Hodgson ‘Taylor, one of the best historical crime writers today, is on great form with this novel. The plot weaves in and out of Restoration politics with seamless grace’ The Times ‘Few historical novelists write with more authority and a greater sense of authenticity than Andrew Taylor’ Sunday Times ‘This is historical crime fiction at its dazzling best’ Guardian ‘Another fine outing from one of the best historical novelists around’ Sunday Times ‘Taylor has a rare knack for conjuring up an authentic historical atmosphere, and his description of a teeming, uncertain London in a state of flux is vivid and compelling’ Observer ‘A novel filled with intrigue, duplicity, scandal and betrayal, whose author now vies with another master of the genre, C. J. Sansom’ Spectator ‘Another rich, sumptuous glory of a novel: perfectly plotted, perfectly peopled, perfectly thrilling and with enough twists to keep a maze-maker happy…I love all of Andrew Taylor’s writing and this is a novelist of consummate skill at the absolute peak of his power’ Manda Scott ‘Glorious’ Sunday Express ‘Taylor’s mantelpiece already groans under awards for his nonpareil historical crime novels, and this latest is as striking as anything he has written’ Financial Times ‘An involving detective tale’ The Sunday Times Praise for Andrew Taylor: ‘If you like C. J. Sansom, or Hilary Mantel, you’ll love Andrew Taylor’ Peter James
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Draughtsman We all have choices.
Book SynopsisSpeak out for the fate of millions or turn a blind eye? We all have choices.Absolutely exceptional. So beautifully written, with precision and wisdom and real emotional acuity A remarkable achievement' STEPHEN KELMAN, author of Pigeon EnglishErfurt, Germany, 1944.Ernst Beck has a new job at prestigious engineering firm, Topf & Sons: finally, he can make a contribution to the war effort, provide for his beautiful wife, Etta, and make his parents proud. But there is a price.He is assigned to the firm's smallest team, the Special Ovens Department. Reporting directly to Berlin his role is to annotate plans for new crematoria that are deliberately designed to burn day and night. Their destination: the concentration camps. Topf's new client: the SS. Ernst must choose between turning a blind eye, or speaking out for the fate of thousands.Bold and powerful, The Draughtsman shines a light on the complex contradictions of human nature and examines how deeply complicit we can become in the face Trade ReviewPraise for THE DRAUGHTSMAN: ‘Absolutely exceptional. So beautifully written, with precision and wisdom and real emotional acuity. The horrors are illuminated and rendered on a human scale by Lautner’s wonderfully gripping narrative, drawing me in to the intimate story of Ernst and Etta, and their very affecting portrayal as individuals caught up in larger events. With outrage and tenderness he describes a moment in time most of us would say we knew too much about already – and sheds new light on it. A remarkable achievement.’ Stephen Kelman, author of PIGEON ENGLISH ‘Gripping from beginning to end, The Draughtsman is a highly accomplished second novel … one of [its] greatest strengths is in offering a human side to the instigators of oppression and suffering, making each character even more complex and fascinating to pore over … Lautner skilfully links history with the present, and offers a beautifully written, painful reminder that history is often bound to repeat itself’ IRISH INDEPENDENT Praise for THE ROAD TO RECKONING: ‘It’s a thrilling, violent, dangerous piece of old-fashioned storytelling that is also humane and unshowily moving’ THE TIMES ‘A compelling read: wise, touching and with just the right amount of gun fights’NATHAN FILER, author of The Shock of the Fall ‘As simply told tales go, this is one of the best. It shares with its hero a plain eloquence and a determination and a grace rare in the world and in books. Give The Road to Reckoning to every man you know and they'll thank you for it’ JOSHUA FERRIS, author of the Man Booker-shortlisted To Rise Again at a Decent Hour ‘This quiet triumph of a novel, a sad and impeccably nuanced tale set against a finely drawn landscape of early pioneer America, left me just amazed and delighted: it will surely establish Robert Lautner as a storyteller of the first order’ SIMON WINCHESTER, author of Atlantic: A Vast Ocean of a Million Stories
£12.60
HarperCollins Publishers A Daughters Return a gripping story from the
Book Synopsis
£11.99
HarperCollins Publishers A Time to Remember the new heartwarming and
Book SynopsisThe gripping new bestseller from the nation's favourite storyteller.Are some memories best forgotten?Maureen Bancroft has never learned the art of putting herself first. As a widow with a gentle temperament and humble ways, she's been easy to take advantage of.All that changes when an unexpected windfall comes her way. Determined to make up for lost time, she decides to take a holiday and, needing a companion, looks up her friend, Barbara Hayle.Glamorous, and with a successful career on the stage, Barbara seems to be everything that Maureen is not. But things aren't as they seem, and what starts out as a nostalgic trip between friends, becomes something different altogether. Much has changed in the years since they first met ? now Maureen has something that her friend desperately needs, and Barbara is used to getting exactly what she wants.As their journey takes them down some dark byways, will this be the one friendship that Maureen should have left firmly in the past?Praise for JosepTrade Review Praise for Josephine Cox’s previous novels: 'Thanks to her near faultless writing, sympathies will lurch from one character to another, and as events reach their dramatic conclusion readers will find it impossible to tear themselves away.' News of the World 'Another hit for Josephine Cox' Sunday Express 'Another masterpiece' Best ‘Another beautifully spun family epic' Scottish Daily Echo 'A born storyteller' Bedfordshire Times
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers A Daughters Secret
Book Synopsis
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Button Box A gripping historical romance saga
Book SynopsisA heartwarming and gripping novel from No. 1Sunday Times bestselling author, Dilly Court.Clara held onto the precious button, glimmering like a jewel in the dark alleyways of London's notorious Seven Dials. She needed to save her family but who was going to save her?There was a time when the Carter sisters' father was their hero. Now he's a drunk who's gambled away everything they had and put them all in peril. It''s on Clara''s shoulders to save the four sisters from destitution. Clutching her precious button box, the only thing of value they have left, Clara dreams of starting a shop that could put a roof over their heads and keep them safeBut in debt to the terrifying Patches Braggs, leader of one of the East End''s roughest gangs, Clara is in fear for her life. When a mysterious benefactor seems to offer an escape, Clara realizes too late that it comes at a terrible priceCheated, abandoned and alone can Clara save her family and hold onto her dreams?Trade ReviewPraise for Dilly Court: ‘Feisty female characters to fall in love with in a spirited, adventurous novel’ Sunday Express ‘Dilly Court’s latest novel is another page-turner that will keep you gripped to the end – 5 stars’ The People’s Friend ‘As always Dilly keeps you absorbed right to the end’ Choice ‘A rollicking, fast-paced adventure with a hint of romance!’ My Weekly ‘Spellbinding . . . you just keep turning the pages’ Daily Mail ‘A fast-paced, riveting read’ Sunday Express ‘A heart-warming, fast-paced story that will keep you gripped till the end’ The People’s Friend ‘Feisty female characters to fall in love with in a spirited, adventurous novel’ Sunday Express ‘Atmospheric, vivid and compelling’ My Weekly ‘An excellent, well-researched read’ People’s Friend ‘Perfect for Downton Abbey fans … heart-tugging’ Peterborough Telegraph
£8.99
HarperCollins Publishers First of the Tudors
Book Synopsis ‘A great tale… the golden thread that led to the crown of England’ Conn Iggulden Trade ReviewPraise for First of the Tudors:‘A great tale… the golden thread that led to the crown of England’ Conn Iggulden' ‘An intriguing tale, told with confidence’ The Times ‘Rich and Warm’ Sunday Express 'Colourful and vivid' Elizabeth Chadwick ‘A big-hearted and engrossing novel.’ Elizabeth Freemantle Praise 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 The Dressmakers Daughter
Book SynopsisRomantic dreams, snatched by warLizzie Bishop's humble beginnings as a dressmaker's daughter see her hope for nothing more than a simple offer of marriage. Love, passion and romance are reserved for daydreams.But then into Lizzie's quiet world comes two men one reliable and kind-hearted, the other heartbreakingly handsome. Just as Lizzie's made her choice, the ominous call of war sounds, and her life changes again.Will Lizzie get her chance at happiness, or has it gone forever?Trade Review.
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers THE RAILWAY GIRL
Book SynopsisOnly tragedy can save her…Trade ReviewAmazon Reader Reviews: ‘A charming and evocative saga’‘Nancy Carson is a new author to me and I look forward to reading more of her books’‘Every page is a page turner, so you may find it difficult to put down!’‘A fascinating story and a delightful heroine’‘A heart-warming tale’‘Couldn't put it down’‘I would recommend anyone to read this book’
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers ForgetMeNot Child
Book SynopsisA story of struggle and hardship and one girl's battle for survival from the best-selling author of If You Were the Only Girl and Another Man's Child.Angela McCluskey comes to Birmingham from Ireland with her family as a young girl to escape the terrible poverty in her homeland. But the dream of a better life is dashed as bad fortune dogs the family.When Angela marries her childhood sweetheart, she has hopes of a brighter future, which are dashed when her husband is called up to fight in the Great War. Tragedy strikes and Angela is left to rear her frail daughter on her own, though the worst is yet to come when Angela suffers another terrible misfortune.Pregnant and destitute and already with one mouth to feed that she can ill afford, there is nowhere left to turn. What destiny awaits Angela and her unborn child? Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, will Angela forever be punished for the choices that she makes?Trade ReviewPraise for Anne Bennett: ‘A powerful read that will have you gripped’ Yours ‘Another Man's Child is a fantastic book’librarianlavender.com ‘[Anne Bennett is] blessed with a vivid imagination and a natural aptitude for writing’ Daily Post ‘An affecting story, populated with rich, beautifully drawn characters.’ Choice ‘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
£13.49
HarperCollins Publishers Child on the Doorstep
Book SynopsisThe heartbreaking new novel from the bestselling author of The Forget-me-not Child and If You Were the Only Girl.Angela McClusky is haunted by the young baby that she left on the steps of the workhouse. Born out of wedlock and the result of a traumatic assault, the child has grown up away from the loving arms of her mother and only has a locket to remind her of the family she never knew.Angela, meanwhile, has carried the guilt of her actions with her for almost a decade, now widowed and alone, she is courted by a new suitor, Eddie, who seems to offer her the happiness she craves.When Angela's teenage daughter, Constance, discovers that Eddie is not all he seems to be, it drives a wedge between mother and daughter. But her secrets won't stay hidden and now Angela must face up to her pastTrade ReviewPraise for Anne Bennett: ‘A powerful read that will have you gripped.’ Yours ‘[Anne Bennett is] blessed with a vivid imagination and a natural aptitude for writing’ Daily Post ‘An affecting story, populated with rich, beautifully drawn characters.’ Choice ‘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
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Night Brother
Book Synopsis ‘Echoes of Angela Carter’s more fantastical fiction reverberate through this exuberant tale of a hermaphrodite Jekyll and Hyde figure…enjoyably energetic’ SUNDAY TIMES Trade ReviewPraise for The Night Brother: ‘Rosie Garland writes in a tumble of poetry, desire and passion, as intriguing and delicious as the story she tells’ Stella Duffy ‘A rich and ambitious tale … Garland's prose is a delight: playful and exuberant’ THE TIMES ‘Echoes of Angela Carter’s more fantastical fiction reverberate through this exuberant tale of a hermaphrodite Jekyll and Hyde figure …enjoyably energetic’ SUNDAY TIMES Praise for The Palace of Curiosities: ‘Garland’s lush prose is always a pleasure’ GUARDIAN ‘A jewel-box of a novel … Garland is a real literary talent: definitely an author to watch’ Sarah Waters ‘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 ‘Reminds me of Angela Carter’ Jenni Murray
£8.99
HarperCollins Publishers A Daughters Dream Book 3 East End Daughters 1
Book SynopsisHeartache and hardship in London's East End, from the bestselling author of The Orphans of Halfpenny StreetAmy Robinson and her fiance Matthew are struggling to resist the temptations faced by a soon-to-be-wed couple. To avoid these, Matthew throws himself into a new job and she goes to work in an exclusive new dress shop, where she meets Mary Maitland. As her relationship with Matthew deteriorates, Amy becomes increasingly attracted to Mary''s cousin, Paul, and a bitter rivalry ensuesTrade Review.
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers A Country Girl
Book SynopsisA must-read sweeping saga, full of intrigue, romance and page-turning drama . . .Trade ReviewAmazon Reader Reviews: ‘A charming and evocative saga’‘Nancy Carson is a new author to me and I look forward to reading more of her books’‘Every page is a page turner, so you may find it difficult to put down!’‘A fascinating story and a delightful heroine’‘A heart-warming tale’‘Couldn't put it down’‘I would recommend anyone to read this book’
£12.74
HarperCollins Publishers An Almond for a Parrot
Book Synopsisshades of Sarah Watersirresistible' The GuardianI would like to make myself the heroine of this story an innocent victim led astray. But alas sir, I would be lying'London, 1756: In Newgate prison, Tully Truegood awaits trial. Her fate hanging in the balance, she tells her life-story. It's a tale that takes her from skivvy in the back streets of London, to conjuror's assistant, to celebrated courtesan at her stepmother's Fairy House, the notorious house of ill-repute where decadent excess is a mustTully was once the talk of the town. Now, with the best seats at Newgate already sold in anticipation of her execution, her only chance of survival is to get her story to the one person who can help her avoid the gallows.She is Tully Truegood.Orphan, whore, magician's apprentice. Murderer?A compelling mix of bawdy romp and magical realism.'-Sarra Manning, Red magazineTrade Review‘A bawdy, romping affair … Delaney mixes up genres — historical fiction, erotica, magic realism — to create something original’- Book of the Month in The Times, November 2016 ‘An irresistible erotic fairytale for adults’– The Guardian ‘With elements of magical realism, plenty of sexy scenes, and a good dollop of drama, this is one hell of a read’- The Sun ‘A saucy bodice-ripper that combines magical realist flights of fancy with a smattering of punchy feminist politics’– The Metro ‘A compelling mix of bawdy romp and magical realism.’- Red ‘A fun, explicit romp with real stakes that will have you trying to finish this book in one sitting’- Stylist ‘An Almond for a Parrot romps and twists like the Fairy House girls in their bed chambers. It’s full of lust and magic, but not without heart. It’s an irresistible world to drop into.’- Emerald Street Selected as a Buzzfeed Brilliant Book You Must Read This Autumn
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Sharpes Assassin Sharpe is back in the gripping
Book Synopsis SHARPE IS BACK. The global bestseller Bernard Cornwell returns with his iconic hero, Richard Sharpe. Trade ReviewPraise for Bernard Cornwell: ‘Sharpe and his creator are national treasures' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'Strong narrative, vigourous action and striking characterisation, Cornwell remains king of the territory he has staked out as his own' SUNDAY TIMES ‘Like Game of Thrones, but real’ OBSERVER 'Blood, divided loyalties and thundering battles' THE TIMES ‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive’ George R.R. Martin ‘He’s called a master storyteller. Really he’s cleverer than that’ TELEGRAPH ‘A reminder of just how good a writer he is’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘Nobody in the world does this better than Cornwell’ Lee Child ‘Cornwell’s skill [is] in ageing his warrior-hero, who now creaks as he fights and is haunted by those he has loved and lost’ THE TIMES ‘The master still adding to his wonderful Saxon Chronicles’ SUNDAY TIMES MAGAZINE ‘Legendary … excellent storytelling, as ever’ SUNDAY SPORT 'A violent, absorbing historical saga, deeply researched and thoroughly imagined' WASHINGTON POST
£13.49
HarperCollins Publishers A Mothers Sacrifice A totally heartbreaking and
Book SynopsisThe most heartbreaking decision a mother could makeThe Sunday Times bestseller is back with an emotional story that will tug on your heartstrings.Previously published in 2017BEATENGlenda Jenkins has been beaten by her husband Harry one too many times and this time he's put her in a hospital bed. Battered and bruised, Glenda slowly makes her recovery. But she fears what awaits her back at homeBROKENWhen Glenda meets kind hospital porter Frank, he offers her a lifeline she can't refuse. The pair decide to run away together, escaping the terror of Harry. But, fearing for her life, Glenda has to make the biggest sacrifice of all and leave her baby, Johnnie, behind.BEREFTSafe on the Kent coast, Glenda finally has the life she dreamed of. But without Johnnie, she's a broken woman. Will she ever see her baby again? And will she ever be able to escape the fearsome shadow of Harry after all?Readers absolutely love A Mother's Sacrifice:Just finished reading this brilliant book. From start to fiTrade ReviewPraise for Kitty Neale: 'Heartbreakingly poignant and joltingly realistic.’ Annie Groves ‘A moving tale of love, hope and family…full of drama and heartache.’ Closer Praise for A Mother’s Sacrifice: ‘Wow, I highly recommend this book. All Kitty’s books are brilliant stories that leave you wanting more.’ Amazon reviewer ‘I just loved this book. Kitty Neale has done it again. I've enjoyed everyone of her books but this is by far the best one so far .I didn't want it to end.’ Amazon reviewer ‘This was the first time I’d read one of Kitty’s books – fantastic! Addicted, already ordered more books by this author.’ Amazon reviewer ‘A Mother’s Sacrifice was just brilliant, I went through so many emotions whilst reading it.’ Amazon reviewer
£8.99
HarperCollins Publishers A Daughters Courage
Book SynopsisHer strength is all she has leftWhen Dorothy meets Robbie, she falls for him quickly and it's not long before the pair are engaged. But then an unexpected pregnancy puts everything at risk, and Dorothy is left alone with Robbie nowhere to be seen.Heartbroken, Dorothy picks up the pieces of her life as a working girl in Battersea helping to support her mother and father. But before long, things start to become difficult. Her father's health is worsening, money is tight and worst of all, Robbie hasn't come back for her.Can Dorothy find a way back to happiness in the face of real adversity? Will she have the courage to make it on her own or is someone else waiting in the wings to save her?Gritty and moving, this is the perfect read for fans of Dilly Court and Maggie Hope.Trade ReviewPraise for Kitty Neale: 'Heartbreakingly poignant and joltingly realistic.’ Annie Groves ‘A moving tale of love, hope and family…full of drama and heartache.’ Closer ‘Another fantastic read! I have read a few Kitty Neale books and each story draws you in. You really get to know the characters.’ Amazon reviewer
£11.19
HarperCollins Publishers The Dream Weavers
Book SynopsisThe brand-new, gripping historical novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Lady of Hay!Warmth, depth, mystery, magic and the supernatural such a beautiful book!' bestselling author Santa Montefiore A dazzling roller-coaster of a book that will thrill, enchant and intrigue those who love history and the supernatural' bestselling author Alison WeirA love story that will echo through the centuriesA couple torn apartThe year is 775AD, and the Saxon King Offa rules with cold ambition. His daughter, Eadburh, destined for an arranged marriage, is devastated when her true love is torn from her. Angry and passionate, she rebels and her defiance may lead to war.A past that will not stay buriedCenturies later, unsettling visions disturb a cottage hidden amongst the Welsh hills, and Bea begins to have haunting nightmares. The past is calling and Eadburh is trying to exact her revenge. As dreams and reality weave closer together, will Bea have the strength to resist the secrets of the Trade Review“Barbara Erskine is an astonishingly good writer. I have always been a massive fan and admirer of her talent. I feel that she has written this book especially for me. It has everything I love, and is so compelling I drop everything to get back to it. Warmth, depth, mystery, magic and the supernatural, I’m just so excited to be engrossed in such a beautiful book!’ bestselling author Santa Montefiore ‘A dazzling roller-coaster of a book that will thrill, enchant and intrigue those who love history and the supernatural’ bestselling author Alison Weir ‘The story of Eadburh is brilliantly imagined and the novel is so atmospheric and suspenseful, full of myth and magic and hauntings … such vivid and well-rounded characters. Wild Wales and the contrasting ordered life of the Cathedral are beautifully evoked, too’ bestselling author Rachel Hore
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers The Mistletoe Seller A heartwarming romantic
Book SynopsisThe heartwarming historical novel from Sunday Times bestseller, Dilly CourtIt's Christmas Eve. Flurries of snow fall on the cobbled streets of Whitechapel and an abandoned baby, swaddled in a blanket, is found on a doorstep in Angel Lane . . .Named after the street on which she was found, Angel Winter was blessed to be taken from the harsh streets into a loving home. But fate deals a cruel blow and she's torn from the only family she has ever known, and thrown onto the cobbles of Covent Garden to fend for herself.With winter closing in, Angel scratches a living selling mistletoe to the City gentlemen who pass through the market, hoping they will take pity on her as she shivers in the snow. The only way she can survive is to make her own luck. She will never sell the one treasure that could feed her for a month, the gold and ruby ring that was hidden in her swaddling it could hold the key to the secrets of her past . . .Trade ReviewPraise for The Mistletoe Seller: ‘Wonderfully festive’ The Sun Praise for Dilly Court: ‘Feisty female characters to fall in love with in a spirited, adventurous novel’ Sunday Express ‘Dilly Court’s latest novel is another page-turner that will keep you gripped to the end – 5 stars’ The People’s Friend ‘As always Dilly keeps you absorbed right to the end’ Choice ‘A rollicking, fast-paced adventure with a hint of romance!’ My Weekly ‘Spellbinding . . . you just keep turning the pages’ Daily Mail ‘A fast-paced, riveting read’ Sunday Express ‘A heart-warming, fast-paced story that will keep you gripped till the end’ The People’s Friend ‘Feisty female characters to fall in love with in a spirited, adventurous novel’ Sunday Express ‘Atmospheric, vivid and compelling’ My Weekly ‘An excellent, well-researched read’ People’s Friend ‘Perfect for Downton Abbey fans … heart-tugging’ Peterborough Telegraph
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers The Summer Maiden
Book SynopsisThe second book in a stunning new series from Sunday Times bestseller, Dilly Court1873. When Carrie Manning's father dies her mother, Esther, is heartbroken. Essie leaves London to convalesce with her good friend Lady Alice, and it is down to Carrie to look after her family and take charge of the shipping company that her father has left behind.But the company is in dire straits, forcing Carrie seek work as a companion to Maria Colville. When Carrie and Maria try to track down Maria's mother, they have no idea of the secrets that they will discover. Secrets that link the Colvilles, the Mannings and figures from the past who return to England.Carrie's journey is as unpredictable as the waters that link the rival shipping companies, but will her determination be enough to preserve the legacy of her family's name?Trade ReviewPraise for Dilly Court: ‘Feisty female characters to fall in love with in a spirited, adventurous novel’ Sunday Express ‘Dilly Court’s latest novel is another page-turner that will keep you gripped to the end – 5 stars’ The People’s Friend ‘As always Dilly keeps you absorbed right to the end’ Choice ‘A rollicking, fast-paced adventure with a hint of romance!’ My Weekly ‘Spellbinding . . . you just keep turning the pages’ Daily Mail ‘A fast-paced, riveting read’ Sunday Express ‘A heart-warming, fast-paced story that will keep you gripped till the end’ The People’s Friend ‘Feisty female characters to fall in love with in a spirited, adventurous novel’ Sunday Express ‘Atmospheric, vivid and compelling’ My Weekly ‘An excellent, well-researched read’ People’s Friend ‘Perfect for Downton Abbey fans … heart-tugging’ Peterborough Telegraph
£7.59
HarperCollins Publishers The Christmas Rose The most heartwarming
Book SynopsisStanding on London's Victoria docks with the wind biting through her shawl, Rose Munday realises she's been abandoned by her sweetheart. She had risked everything to get to London but, stumbling through the peasoup fog, she has nowhere to go, and no one to turn to.Scared and alone, Rose steps straight into danger, only to be rescued by two women with even less to their names a woman of the night and her young sidekick, Sparrow. With only a cluster of love letters to her name and all hope of her sweetheart's return fading, Rose finds herself forging a new life with her unlikely companions.But when a good deed turns sour, a dangerous enemy threatens to ruin them all. Will Rose be able to save her new friends and her future? If she can, a Christmas gift awaits that will change her life foreverThe third book in the stunning River Maid' series from Sunday Times bestseller, Dilly Court!Trade ReviewPraise for Dilly Court: ‘Feisty female characters to fall in love with in a spirited, adventurous novel’ Sunday Express ‘Dilly Court’s latest novel is another page-turner that will keep you gripped to the end – 5 stars’ The People’s Friend ‘As always Dilly keeps you absorbed right to the end’ Choice ‘A rollicking, fast-paced adventure with a hint of romance!’ My Weekly ‘Spellbinding . . . you just keep turning the pages’ Daily Mail ‘A fast-paced, riveting read’ Sunday Express ‘A heart-warming, fast-paced story that will keep you gripped till the end’ The People’s Friend ‘This rollicking romp of a story moves at breakneck pace and involves street urchins, dangerous criminals and even Egyptian rebels. A suitably gripping end to Dilly Court’s The River Maid trilogy.’ Sunday Express ‘Atmospheric, vivid and compelling’ My Weekly ‘An excellent, well-researched read’ People’s Friend ‘Perfect for Downton Abbey fans … heart-tugging’ Peterborough Telegraph
£8.99
HarperCollins Publishers Land Girls The Homecoming
Book SynopsisA heartwarming historical novel set on the Homefront during World War Two. For fans of Kathryn Hughes.Land Girl Connie Carter thought she'd finally left her past behind once and for all when she married Henry Jameson, Helmstead's vicar and the love of her life. Headstrong Connie and mild-mannered Henry might be different as chalk and cheese, but she's determined to be the best wife she can be and prove the village gossips wrong! But Connie doesn't really believe that she belongs in Henry's genteel world of tea-drinking and jam-making, and the cracks are already starting to show.When Connie's heroism makes her front page news, her past comes back to haunt her in a terrifying way. A different kind of war has come to Helmstead, and soon it's a fight for both their marriage and their livesFollow the lives and loves of the Land Girls in this moving saga from the creator and writer of the popular, award-winning BBC dramaTrade ReviewPraise for BBC TV series Land Girls: ‘An evocative recreation of the past’ BBC History Magazine ‘Girl Power!’ TV Choice ‘Charming’ TV Easy ‘A sparkling jewel’ TV Times ‘A real daytime drama treat’ Inside Soap Magazine ‘Classy drama’ TV and Satellite Week ‘Fabulous new drama’ Hot TV
£11.33
HarperCollins Publishers Land Girls The Promise
Book SynopsisA cosy historical mystery set during the Second World WarI'll come for you, Iris. Mark my words!'When a murder rocks the quiet village of Helmstead, seventeen-year-old Land Girl, Iris Dawson, is determined to prove her friend and local gamekeeper Frank Tucker's innocence. But when she exposes Vernon Storey, the real murderer, her once happy life at Pasture Farm soon becomes a nightmare. Already running from the ghosts of her past back home in Northampton, Iris is now haunted by Vernon, who is out there somewhere and has promised to have his revenge.Iris has never forgiven herself for the tragedy that destroyed her family and how, as a child, she failed her mother, and now the new surrogate family she has at Pasture Farm is fracturing around her. No one believes she is in danger, or that those she loves could also be Vernon's targets in his bid to escape the law, so she must face this battle on her own. A battle that this time, Iris cannot afford to lose, culminating in a desperate raceTrade ReviewPraise for BBC TV series Land Girls: ‘An evocative recreation of the past’ BBC History Magazine ‘Girl Power!’ TV Choice ‘Charming’ TV Easy ‘A sparkling jewel’ TV Times ‘A real daytime drama treat’ Inside Soap Magazine ‘Classy drama’ TV and Satellite Week ‘Fabulous new drama’ Hot TV
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Dark Earth the new literary historical fiction
Book Synopsis‘Superb … radically new and beautiful’ Observer ‘Magical and evocative’ Imogen Hermes Gowar, author of The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock ‘Heartachingly poignant’ Lucy Holland, author of SistersongTrade Review ‘Superb … This is a book that seeks to do for British myth what Natalie Haynes and Madeline Miller have done so brilliantly for classical literature: uncovering stories of feminine power that have been occluded by the male hand of history’ Observer ‘Gripping … puts a female perspective right at the centre of a time period usually dominated by men’s stories’ Independent ‘Female defiance blazes through as Stott’s women reclaim this brutal period…this novel will make you appreciative of the revelatory historical treasures beneath our feet’ Telegraph ‘An eloquent and heartachingly poignant story of sisterhood … Evocative and richly mythic, Dark Earth pays homage to the quiet triumph of women working together to build a better world. A truly beautiful book’ Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong ‘A thrilling exploration of human kindness, ingenuity and cruelty, told through a tale of ancient London at one of its iconic points of destruction and rebirth’ Alice Albinia, author of Cwen ‘Magical and evocative … Dark Earth delights, transports, chills and charms’ Imogen Hermes Gowar, author of The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock ‘An ancient tapestry of legend brilliantly rewoven: hope, courage, men’s violence and women’s magic in an age of ruins and new beginnings’ Francis Spufford, author of Light Perpetual ‘Skilfully imagines a past world in which women must use everything they have – kinship, secrets, spells and above all the power of stories – to survive the blood feuds and land grabs of national-building tyrants’ Elizabeth Macneal, author of The Doll Factory ‘This novel pulses with the energy of a brave new world, a world as beautiful as it is dangerous, where a belief in myth and magic can save your life’ Katherine J. Chen, author of Joan: A Novel of Joan of Arc
£14.99
HarperCollins Publishers Dark Earth the new literary historical fiction
Book SynopsisSuperb radically new and beautiful' ObserverMagical and evocative' Imogen Hermes Gowar, author of The Mermaid and Mrs. HancockHeartachingly poignant' Lucy Holland, author of SistersongAn ancient tapestry of legend brilliantly rewoven' Francis Spufford, author of Light PerpetualThe new novel from the Costa-Award winning author of In The Days of Rain.AD 500. An island in the Thames.Isla has a secret: she has learned her father's sophisticated sword-making skills at a time when even entering a forge is forbidden to women. Her sister, Blue, has a secret, too: at low tide on the night of each new moon, she visits the bones of the mud woman, drowned by the elders of her tribe who wanted to make a lesson of someone who wouldn't hold her tongue.When the local Seax overlord discovers Isla''s secret there is nowhere for the sisters to hide, except across the water to the walled ghost city, Londinium. Here Blue and Isla find sanctuary in an underworld community of squatters, emigrants, travellerTrade Review ‘Superb … This is a book that seeks to do for British myth what Natalie Haynes and Madeline Miller have done so brilliantly for classical literature: uncovering stories of feminine power that have been occluded by the male hand of history’ Observer ‘Gripping … puts a female perspective right at the centre of a time period usually dominated by men’s stories’ Independent ‘Female defiance blazes through as Stott’s women reclaim this brutal period…this novel will make you appreciative of the revelatory historical treasures beneath our feet’ Telegraph ‘An eloquent and heartachingly poignant story of sisterhood that echoes across the centuries. Evocative and richly mythic, Dark Earth pays homage to the quiet triumph of women working together to build a better world. A truly beautiful book’ Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong ‘A thrilling exploration of human kindness, ingenuity and cruelty, told through a tale of ancient London at one of its iconic points of destruction and rebirth’ Alice Albinia, author of Cwen ‘A magical and evocative book … Dark Earth delights, transports, chills and charms’ Imogen Hermes Gowar, author of The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock ‘An ancient tapestry of legend brilliantly rewoven: hope, courage, men’s violence and women’s magic in an age of ruins and new beginnings’ Francis Spufford, author of Light Perpetual ‘Skilfully imagines a past world in which women must use everything they have – kinship, secrets, spells and above all the power of stories – to survive the blood feuds and land grabs of national-building tyrants’ Elizabeth Macneal, author of The Doll Factory ‘This novel pulses with the energy of a brave new world, a world as beautiful as it is dangerous, where a belief in myth and magic can save your life’ Katherine J. Chen, author of Joan: A Novel of Joan of Arc
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Beren and Lúthien
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
£27.00
HarperCollins Publishers A Piece of the World
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
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Daughters of Cornwall
Book SynopsisThe No.1 Sunday Times bestselling novel! Three women. A chance to rewrite history 1918.The Great War is over, and Clara Carter has boarded a train bound for Cornwall to meet a family that would once have been hers. But they must never discover her secret1939. Hannah has always been curious about her mother's mysterious past, but the outbreak of the Second World War casts everything in a new light. As the bombs begin to fall, Hannah and her brothers are determined to do their bit for the war effort whatever the cost.2020. Caroline has long been the keeper of her family's secrets. But now, with her own daughter needing her more than ever, it's time to tell the truth to show Natalie that she comes from a long line of women who have weathered the storms of life, as hardy and proud as the rugged Cornish coastlineFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author comes a sweeping, epic novel of mothers and daughters, secrets and lies, and a love that lasts a lifetimeTrade ReviewPraise 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 Cornwall is only a page away in this gorgeous, heart-warming novel – a wonderful read for the summer holidays! ‘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
£12.34
HarperCollins Publishers The Good Servant From the No.1 Sunday Times
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
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers The Queens Rival The Sunday Times Bestselling
Book SynopsisThe forgotten story of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York. A strong woman who claimed the throne for her family in a time of warA compelling story of divided loyalties and family betrayals. Dramatic and highly evocative' Woman & HomeOne family united by blood. Torn apart by warEngland, 1459: Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, is embroiled in a plot to topple the weak-minded King Henry VI from the throne. But when the Yorkists are defeated at the Battle of Ludford Bridge, Cecily's family flee and abandon her to face a marauding Lancastrian army on her own.Cecily can only watch as her lands are torn apart and divided up by the ruthless Queen Marguerite. From the towers of her prison in Tonbridge Castle, the Duchess begins to spin a web of deceit one that will eventually lead to treason, to the fall of King Henry VI, and to her eldest son being crowned King Edward IV.This is a story of heartbreak, ambition and treachery, of one woman's quest to claim the throne during the violence and tragedy
£15.00
HarperCollins Publishers An Orphans Wish
Book SynopsisBestselling historical fiction author Molly Green is back with her most engrossing, heartfelt World War Two saga yet, The Wartime Librarian''s Secret! Preorder now!All she wants is a place to call homeLIVERPOOL, 1943Yorkshire is the place Lana has always called home, but it's now filled with painful memories of her fiancé, Dickie, who was killed at sea. When she accepts the challenging position of headmistress at a school in Liverpool, she hopes a new beginning will help to mend her broken heart.A BATTLE TO FIGHTNot everyone at Bingham School is happy about her arrival but Lana throws herself into the role, teaching children from the local village and the nearby Dr Barnardo's orphanage. She thrives in her work, but soon finds herself falling for a man who she would once have considered the enemy and is torn between what she knows is right, and taking a risk that might see her lose everything.THE STRENGTH TO HOPEThere are children that desperately need her help, and Lana must fight for everyone's happiness, as well as her own. But one young girl in particular shows her that there is a way through the darkness because even when all seems lost, there is always a glimmer of hope to be foundPRAISE FOR AN ORPHAN''S WISH''What a wonderful story Hope there are more soon.'' Reader Review ?????''With relatable characters and interesting storyline, this made the perfect holiday read.'' Reader Review ?????''Loved this story Thank you Molly for another great book.'' Reader Review ?????''An entertaining, emotionally charged read.'' Reader Review ?????''I couldn't put the book down. Love all of Molly Green's books.'' Reader Review ?????Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR MOLLY GREEN ‘Molly Green creates realistic characters and situations that keep you turning the pages.’ Katie Fforde 'A moving, gripping story set during WW2, of a woman's dedication to the orphans in her care and her heart wrenching love.’ Kitty Neale ‘Redolent of wartime Britain and brimming with heartfelt stories from several characters, Molly Green's sure-footed novel shows just how challenging it was to find love and a place to call home in the dark days of the war.’ Terri Fleming ‘A lovely, heartfelt, warming slice of saga fiction … There is a gentleness to the writing as it walks some difficult paths, ensuring [it] is an engaging, generous read.’ Liz Robinson, LoveReading ‘A gripping read’ My Weekly
£12.59
HarperCollins Publishers In the Lions Den
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
£9.49