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
Hodder & Stoughton The Winthrop Woman
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Katherine, this is the 17th Century story of Elizabeth Winthrop and her struggle against hardship and adversity in the new American colonies.Trade ReviewAbundant and juicy entertainment * New York Times *The Winthrop Woman is that rare literary accomplishment living history. Really good fictionalized history [like this] often gives closer reality to a period than do factual records. * Chicago Tribune *A rich and panoramic narrative full of gusto, sentimentality and compassion. It is bound to give much enjoyment and a good many thrills. * Times Literary Supplement *
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton Song of the Earth
Book SynopsisThe third instalment in Alexander Cordell's magnificent trilogy of nineteenth century Wales that began with The Rape of the Fair Country
£9.99
Hodder & Stoughton This Proud and Savage Land
Book SynopsisThe prelude to the classic Rape of the Fair Country from bestselling historical author Alexander Cordell
£9.49
John Murray Press Peggy
Book Synopsis''Intimate and urgent'' Financial Times''A vivid portrait of a tumultuous 20th century life'' Mail on Sunday''A rich and rewarding read'' Daily Telegraph''I was a liberated woman long before there was a name for it'' PEGGY GUGGENHEIM VENICE, 1958. Peggy Guggenheim, heiress and now legendary art collector, sits in the sun at her white marble palazzo on the Grand Canal. Hers has been a thrilling, tragic, near-impossible journey. She has defied every expectation, followed her heart, and finally found contentment. She is independent. She is a true original. And she''ll never stop believing in the transformative power of art.Peggy is fourteen when her father dies on the Titanic and her cloistered life is turned upside down. The youngest daughter of two Jewish dynasties, Peggy is determined to pursue a life of passion and personal freedom. But unexpected restrictions come with her vast fortune. As society changes
£17.09
John Murray Press Peggy
Book Synopsis''Intimate and urgent'' Financial Times''A vivid portrait of a tumultuous 20th century life'' Mail on Sunday''A rich and rewarding read'' Daily Telegraph''I was a liberated woman long before there was a name for it'' PEGGY GUGGENHEIM VENICE, 1958. Peggy Guggenheim, heiress and now legendary art collector, sits in the sun at her white marble palazzo on the Grand Canal. Hers has been a thrilling, tragic, near-impossible journey. She has defied every expectation, followed her heart, and finally found contentment. She is independent. She is a true original. And she''ll never stop believing in the transformative power of art.Peggy is fourteen when her father dies on the Titanic and her cloistered life is turned upside down. The youngest daughter of two Jewish dynasties, Peggy is determined to pursue a life of passion and personal freedom. But unexpected restrictions come with her vast fortune. As society changes and war sweeps through Europe, she navigates the decadent, sexist and anti-Semitic art worlds of New York and Paris. She loves and is loved - sometimes for herself, often for her money - yet no-one ever takes her intellect, talent or vision seriously. Until she learns to believe in it herself.Rebecca Godfrey''s final book - completed by her friend, the acclaimed bestseller Leslie Jamison, following Godfrey''s death in 2022 - brings to life the singular woman who helped make the Guggenheim name synonymous with art and genius.
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton Moonstone The Boy Who Never Was
Book SynopsisThe mesmerising new novel by Iceland's internationally renowned writer Sjón - 'the trickster that makes the world, and he is achingly brilliant' Junot Díaz, 'an extraordinary and original writer' A.S. Byatt.Trade ReviewSjón's prose is never histrionic or overwrought, balancing rage and hallucination . . . with a gentleness of spirit, an affection for precision and the small scale. The result is sure to delight his fans and convert many new ones. -- Hari Kunzru * Guardian *Moonstone is Sjón's slim, simmering masterpiece. Vibrant and visceral, briskly paced but meditative, unsettling yet droll and flecked with beauty, it is a pitch-perfect study of transgression, survival and love. * David Mitchell *A work of miniaturist perfection: a brief, brilliant jewel of a book in which each paragraph is precision-cut, each sentence burnished. -- Sarah Crown * Guardian *I always enjoy Sjón's books, but Moonstone: The Boy Who Never Was is an experience like no other. The author confronts his own limits, and raises the bar for the reader too. His portrayal of Reykjavik in 1918 is magical. The scene where a movie theatre falls silent, because all the musicians have succumbed to an outbreak of Spanish flu, is marvellous and very amusing. The novel has given me my best reading experience this year. -- Eka Kurniawan * Best Books of 2016, Financial Times *Tender, elegiac and occasionally surreal -- Angel Gurria-Quintana * Financial Times, Summer Books *A magical book, the work of a great illusionist. You see the historical moment unfurl, luminous with desire and imagination and the flames of an erupting volcano, dark with repression, disease and death. You see it all through the poetic, poignant images of Máni Steinn's story. And then in a final flourish you see it all vanish in a way that makes it unforgettable. * Adam Foulds *Sjòn's Moonstone is a marvel of a novel, queer in every sense of the word - an impeccable little gem * Rabih Alameddine *When the meaning of the book's subtitle is finally explained, the effect is powerful. MOONSTONE is about human decency, courage and respect for the individual. It is a small book with a large heart. -- Chris Power * New Statesman *Moonstone takes its place among the great works of literature that have documented life during the Spanish-flu epidemic . . . Sjón is one of our era's great writers. Like Ovid, Kafka, and Bulgakov, he is fascinated by metamorphosis and, from apparently limitless resources of the imagination, can convey what it must feel like. -- Charles Baxter * The Nation *
£8.99
Hodder & Stoughton The Third Nero
Book Synopsis''Davis''s prose is a lively joy, and Flavia''s Rome is sinister and gloriously real'' The Times on SaturdayFlavia Albia''s day-old marriage is in trouble - her new husband may be permanently disabled and they have no funds. So when Palace officials ask her to expose a traitor in their midst she is ready for the task.Ever since the Emperor Nero committed suicide in AD 68, Rome has been haunted by reports that he is actually alive and ready to reclaim his throne. Two Nero pretenders have emerged from the East and met grisly fates.But now a new pretender has been smuggled into Rome by the traitor. Flavia must negotiate with spies, dodge assassins and reveal this third Nero before he can make his move. Will she act in time or will Rome once more be plunged into civil war?Trade ReviewDavis's prose is a lively joy, and Flavia's Rome is sinister and gloriously real. * The Times on Saturday *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Now is the Time
Book SynopsisIn this gripping novel, Melvyn Bragg brings an extraordinary episode in English history to fresh, urgent life.At the end of May 1381, the fourteen-year-old King of England had reason to be fearful: the plague had returned, the royal coffers were empty and a draconian poll tax was being widely evaded. Yet Richard, bolstered by his powerful, admired mother, felt secure in his God-given right to reign. But within two weeks, the unthinkable happened: a vast force of common people invaded London, led by a former soldier, Walter Tyler, and the radical preacher John Ball, demanding freedom, equality and the complete uprooting of the Church and state. And for three intense, violent days, it looked as if they would sweep all before them.Now is the Time depicts the events of the Peasants'' Revolt on both a grand and intimate scale, vividly portraying its central figures and telling an archetypal tale of an epic struggle between the powerful and the apparently powerless.Trade ReviewA gripping historical novel . . . his moving portraits of Tyler and Ball, their utopian hopes for England betrayed and destroyed just as they themselves are doomed to be, give Now Is the Time its real backbone and intensity. -- Nick Rennison * The Sunday Times *Bragg lifts the bare facts of England's largest uprising and transforms them into a high-speed adventure, told from the alternating perspectives of the key players. Readable and pacy * Zoë Apostolides, Financial Times *A beautifully written novel, combining modern insight with historical authenticity, and it is spellbinding. * Kate Atherton, Sunday Express *Bragg excels at conjuring the wealth and squalor of late 14th-century London . . . it's impossible not to be caught up. * Daily Mail *Bragg brings his historical characters vividly to life and conveys a real sense of the appalling disparity in living conditions. The novel gathers unstoppable pace as the original poll tax uprising hurtles towards its brutal and unedifying conclusion. * Simon Humphreys, Mail on Sunday *A vivid and surprisingly tender tribute to one of the wildest moments in Plantagenet history. * Dan Jones, The Times *Fast and entertaining - the excitement of a city about to blow up like a barrel of gunpowder is more than palpable - and the period brought to life with visceral minutiae. * Lucy Scholes, Observer *
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton A Death at Fountains Abbey
Book Synopsis''In a tale that more than matches its predecessors for pace and atmosphere, Hawkins is forced into confrontation with a psychopathic killer...hugely enjoyable'' The Sunday Times''You will burn.''Late spring, 1728. Fresh from his escape from the gallows, Thomas Hawkins has arrived in Yorkshire with his ward, Sam Fleet. But death still has a hand upon his shoulder, even in such idyllic surroundings.John Aislabie, Tom''s reluctant host, is being tormented by anonymous letters threatening murder. A disgraced politician, Aislabie certainly has plenty of enemies. But, trapped in a house haunted by old tragedies, Tom begins to suspect that the danger lies much closer to home. Someone is playing a subtle and deadly game of revenge, years in the planning. And now Tom is standing in their way...Trade ReviewThrough an admirable amount of research the award-winning author has used real people, events and settings to create a delightfully enjoyable standalone thriller. It crackles with wit and charm and cements Hawkins' place as the most lovable rogue in historical fiction. * Daily Express *A tale that more than matches its predecessors for pace and atmosphere. * The Sunday Times *I love Antonia Hodgson's slightly wicked sense of humour and it's put to good use here and her clear affection for Tom and Kitty and Sam, as well as her enthusiasm for the period, is infectious. This is such a strong series and I hope it goes on and on. * For Winter Nights *Antonia Hodgson weaves a fantastic tale of both fact and fiction and emerges with a thoroughly enjoyable romp of a story. * Nudge *A cracking murder mystery...The writing is clever, witty, eloquent and gripping, a real pleasure to read...you can almost feel that you are living in 18th century London. Historical fiction fans will lap this up, as did I. * Breakaway Reviewers *A glorious Georgian mystery...irresistible -- Essie Fox, Sunday Times Crime ClubHodgson's firm grip of characterisation and plot produces an occasionally outrageous, mischievous, entertaining and immensely enjoyable adventure story from its dramatic prologue to its chilling finale. * Crime Review *A delightfully enjoyable standalone thriller. It crackles with wit and charm and cements Hawkins'place as the most lovable rogue in historical fiction ***** * Daily Express *Sharp, funny and wearing its antiquity lightly, this is historical crime that contemporary readers can relate to * Sunday Times, Crime Book Club of the Month *A new book in Antonia Hodgson's Tom Hawkins series is a longed-for event and A Death at Fountains Abbey satisfies that longing from start to finish * The Bookbag *Excellent, full of historical details and narrative verve. The characters are multi-layered, and the plot skips along rapidly ... I'm already looking forward to number four * Historical Novel Society *An immensely enjoyable adventure story from its dramatic prologue to its chilling finale * Crime Review *A page-turner full of suspense and intrigue. I loved it! * Novelicious *Antonia Hodgson has a real feel for how people thought and spoke at the time - and God knows, that's a rare talent -- Andrew Taylor, author of The Fires of LondonSomething new in the world of historical crime fiction, with mesmerising detail and atmosphere * Financial Times *Hodgson has a knack for convincing dialogue that crackles with period cadence and flavour * Daily Mail *Hodgson shows the seamy underbelly of Georgian London, and does for this era what C.J. Sansom and Rory Clements have done for Tudor times * Historical Novel Society *Historical fiction just doesn't get any better than this -- Jeffrey DeaverAt times Hodgson even rivals Dickens * Daily Express *Any historical fiction enthusiast who isn't a Tom Hawkins fan, has probably just not read any yet * The Bookbag *Praise for THE DEVIL IN THE MARSHALSEA and THE LAST CONFESSION OF THOMAS HAWKINS * . *Intelligent and engrossing reading. * The Sunday Times *Hodgson has again married immaculate research to the rip-roaring pace of the modern thriller and come up with a triumphant slice of historical fiction. * The Independent on Sunday *[A] rip-roaring historical thriller . . . I look forward to seeing what scurries out of the dark and grimy streets in Hodgson's next masterpiece. * Daily Express *Dark, twisting and witty. Dripping with 18th century intrigue - from the slums to the palaces of London. -- S D Sykes author of PLAGUE LANDA rattling, rakish romp through Georgian London. More please! -- William RyanTake a rip-roaring ride through Georgian London's back streets with THE LAST CONFESSION OF THOMAS HAWKINS. This historical mystery by Antonia Hodgson is wonderfully atmospheric and entertaining. * Good Housekeeping *Historical fiction just doesn't get any better than this . . . Tom Hawkins is one of the best protagonists to come along in years. Magnificent! -- Jeffery DeaverA wonderfully convincing picture of the seamier side of eighteenth-century life . . . I very much look forward to discovering what Tom Hawkins does next. -- Andrew Taylor * Spectator *Antonia Hodgson's London of 1727 offers that rare achievement in historical fiction: a time and place suspensefully different from our own, yet real . . . A damn'd good read. -- Elizabeth Kostova, author of The HistorianFiendishly plotted and dropping with atmosphere. I cannot wait for Tom Hawkins' next adventure. -- Mark Billingham[A] fun, twisting, shock riddled masterpiece that ends way too soon. As Thomas heads towards his fate, we may or may not see him again but hopefully we'll see much more of Antonia. * The Bookbag *
£8.99
Hodder & Stoughton Salem Street
Book SynopsisThe first book in the five-part Gibson series by beloved saga author Anna Jacobs.Trade ReviewAnna Jacobs' books are deservedly popular. She is one of the best writers of Lancashire sagas around. * Historical Novels Reviews *Catherine Cookson fans will cheer! * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *Anna Jacobs' books have an impressive grasp of human emotions. * The Sunday Times *
£8.99
Hodder & Stoughton Gifts For Our Time
Book SynopsisGermany 1939, and Christa Sommer boards the Kindertransport, unsure that she''ll ever see her beloved mother and father again.Once in England she is taken in by elderly Mrs Pelling, who grows to love Christa as the daughter she never had. But in 1945 Mrs Pelling dies. While her will cannot be found, her money-grabbing niece appears out of the blue to claim her inheritance and turfs Christa out, with only a suitcase to her name. The prejudice against Germans still runs high in England, and Christa is unable to secure a job or a place to stay...Luck comes her way when a lady she saves from being mugged turns out to be Mayne Esher''s friend Daniel''s mother. Taking pity on Christa, they take her to Rivenshaw where they plan to start a new life as part of the Esher building firm.There Christa is welcomed with open arms and she soon develops a love for the place, the people and, Daniel... But Esherwood is not the trouble-free sanctuary she first tTrade ReviewThis is that rare thing, a pacy page-turner with a ripping plot and characters you care about . . . [Anna Jacobs is] especially big on resourceful, admirable women. Great stuff! * Daily Mail on THE TRADER'S GIFT *Anna Jacobs' books are deservedly popular. She is one of the best writers of Lancashire sagas around. * Historical Novels Review *[Anna Jacobs' books have an] impressive grasp of human emotions. * The Sunday Times *Catherine Cookson fans will cheer! * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *
£8.99
Hodder & Stoughton Skin a gripping historical pageturner perfect for
Book SynopsisSKIN is a thrilling and full-blooded historical novel perfect for fans of Game of Thrones and Sky Atlantic's Britannia.Trade Review'What a brilliant and original idea for a novel. I couldn't resist reading the first line and then the first paragraph, then the first chapter, even though I was supposed to be doing something else. I am hooked! [Ilka] is an amazing writer.' -- Karen Maitland, author of The Vanishing Witch'Skin is a mesmerising read, set in a distant past that feels both real and magical. Filled with drama and passion, it is also an intensely soulful story about courage, sacrifice and belonging. I was captivated.' -- Antonia Hodgson, author of THE DEVIL IN THE MARSHALSEAI am in awe of Ilka's ability to recreate a Britain of AD 43. Caer Cad is alive and I felt I was there, standing by its fires, from page one. A great book -- Cecilia Ekbåck, author of WOLF WINTERThis book gripped me from the first, with a haunting scene of spirit and sacrifice in the opening pages that left me horrified and intrigued; from there I could barely pull myself away from the book and Ailia's journey -- Alphareader.comI loved the depth, sincerity and beauty of Skin. It gives a name and a shape to our capacity for yearning. -- Isobelle Carmody, author of the Obernewtyn Chronicles[An] enticing and immensely satisfying debut * Good Reading Australia *Powerful and assured...Skin will appeal to lovers of historical fiction and lovers of literary fiction equally as well. It is an accomplished, absorbing and powerful debut. * The Hoopla *`Skin is a beautiful and brilliant book, a masterpiece' -- John Marsden, author of the Tomorrow series'Ilka Tampke's intriguing Skin is a cracker...A thrilling debut, it throbs with the passions of a young woman's sexual awakening and paints a brutal world teeming with enticing detail that teases out a pagan past soon to be subsumed by Christianity...Those who root for Game of Thrones' Daenerys Targaryen will find much to love in Ailia's personal quest, with Tampke more successfully navigating the realms of almost fantasy than Ishiguro, marking her out as an exciting talent to watch.' * New Daily Australia *'Conjuring up a wholly alien world with impressive imagination, Tampke has created a visceral tale of ritual, magic and violence' * The Sunday Times *'[Skin] slowly sucks you in and before you know it you've been completely hooked...At its core, Skin is a young girl's coming of age story, but its resonant prose, distinct characters, thematic depth and emotional sensitivity all combine to form a tale as evocative as it is compelling. 9/10' * Starburst Magazine *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Ridge Hill
Book SynopsisBook threein the heartwarming Lancashire-based Gibson series by beloved saga author Anna Jacobs.It''s 1848 and preparations are underway for Annie Gibson''s wedding to Bilsden''s wealthy millwoner, Frederick Hallam. But not everyone is as pleased as they are. Frederick''s daughter, Beatrice, is horrified at the prospect of a new attractive stepmother arriving at the house on Ridge Hill. Even Annie''s own family feels threatened. The only person who seems pleased is Tom, Annie''s brother. Soon, however, real troubles begin to pile up for the Gibsons. Tom''s happiness is jeopardised by the news that he is father to a child he never knew about. Annie''s son, William, is devastated to find out that his real father is not the man who brought him up. And even Annie''s joy cannot last. Because someone has uncovered the secrets she has fought so hard to keep hidden...Trade ReviewAnna Jacobs' books are deservedly popular. She is one of the best writers of Lancashire sagas around. * Historical Novels Reviews *Catherine Cookson fans will cheer! * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *Anna Jacobs' books have an impressive grasp of human emotions. * The Sunday Times *
£8.99
Hodder & Stoughton Hallam Square
Book SynopsisThe fourth novel in the Lancashire-based Gibson series by beloved saga writer Anna Jacobs.In 1858 Annie Hallam has at last found complete happiness. She has three healthy babies and adores her husband Frederick. After years of struggling to make a living in the small Lancashire town of Bilsden, Annie knows she deserves to sit back and enjoy her life - after all, she''s not yet forty, and still in her prime. But worries - at first faint clouds on the horizon - are imminent. Frederick has been looking pale and ill lately. Her brother Tom hasn''t moved on after the death of his wife. Rebecca, her half-sister, is longing for something more than her work in the salon. And William, her son, isn''t happy at university. In spite of Frederick''s gentle urging not to take the entire burden of the Gibson family on her shoulders, Annie can''t help feeling concerned. And something much more dangerous is looming - a threat not only to Annie''s peace of mind, but to Trade ReviewAnna Jacobs' books are deservedly popular. She is one of the best writers of Lancashire sagas around. * Historical Novels Reviews *Catherine Cookson fans will cheer! * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *Anna Jacobs' books have an impressive grasp of human emotions. * The Sunday Times *
£8.99
Hodder & Stoughton Spinners Lake
Book SynopsisThe final novel in the heartwarming Lancashire-based Gibson Family series by beloved saga author Anna Jacobs.It is 1860 in Bilsden, the Lancashire mill town, and Frederick Hallam is dying. But first he makes secret plans to smooth the future path for his beloved wife Annie. Her sister, Joanie, is fed up with everything until a dshing new admirer crosses her path. But a spurned suitor is determined that Joanie will be his, whatever the cost. And he is not the only one who wants to harm the Gibson family. Meanwhile the Civil War in America cuts off cotton supplies, so that times are hard in Bilsden and unemployment is rife. Annie had to rebuild her life after her husband''s death and plans to create Spinners Lake, an extraordinary project that will keep her workers from destitution and assuage her own grief. Tian Gilchrist is caught up in the American war and nearly dies there. He fights his way back to Bildsen, to Annie, whom he has never forgotten. Trade ReviewAnna Jacobs' books are deservedly popular. She is one of the best writers of Lancashire sagas around. * Historical Novels Reviews *Catherine Cookson fans will cheer! * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *Anna Jacobs' books have an impressive grasp of human emotions. * The Sunday Times *
£8.99
John Murray Press Ruby
Book Synopsis*SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILEYS' WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2016*PICKED BY OPRAH FOR HER BOOK CLUB 2.0A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING DEBUT Voodoo, faith and racism converge in an East Texas town, where a man is forced to choose between the sister who raised him and the disgraced woman he has loved since he was a boyTrade ReviewThis is my winner. A story of race and gender set against the backdrop of the spiritualism and small town politics of Liberty, Texas. The soaring, lyrical writing tells a story of cruelty and abuse and it's a heart-wrenching, difficult read at times but there is also magic and hope, and even some humour * Anna James, Elle (Bailey's Shortlist 2016) *Read Ruby by Cynthia Bond... it was exceptional. It was really incredible and very well written. It went into the belly of the beast, and I don't know if I'm fully out of it yet. * Uzo Aduba, star of ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK *Oprah recommended this book to me, and it is astounding. The writer has such a majestic command of language; she catapults everyday words into rare air with lines that sear into your memory. The characters Ruby and Ephraim shimmer with vibrancy - they show the complications of pain and joy, all messily and beautifully together. A total triumph * Ava DuVernay, Golden Globe-nominated director of SELMA *luminous... a love story about pure-hearted patience conquering insurmountable odds. Many will compare Ruby to the work of Toni Morrison or Zora Neale Hurston, as Oprah Winfrey has ... but it may be most apt to compare Bond to Gabriel García Márquez. Ruby is woven with magical realism -- Ann Friedman * The Guardian *stunning * New York Times *Bond proves to be a powerful literary force, a writer whose unflinching yet lyrical prose is reminiscent of Toni Morrison's. * O, The Oprah Magazine *The way she writes is incredible, and from the right page I was like, this is a writer I need to pay attention to * Jen Campbell *Ruby is an incredibly moving, magical and menacing read that you will feel like you have experienced long after the final page. Bond looks at sexual and domestic abuse, Satanism and the supernatural, interracial racism, legends and myths, sexuality, family secrets and love. All this based in reality, in fact some of the novel is based on Cynthia Bond's own experiences, with an infusion of magical realism... Ruby is one of those books that will leave you as haunted as its characters. That is where its power lies * Simon Savidge, Savidge Reads *It's a really powerful, really emotional story that tips slightly into the fantastical in a really brilliant way... This novel is really skilfully done and the writing in it is absolutely beautiful. I think it's one of the most beautifully written novels in the group of books in the shortlist * Eric Karl Anderson *It is one of those books that once you've found it, is difficult to let go... It's a beautiful, hard-hitting, unusual tale of a book and one that stays with you long after the last page. * Annie Miller, Standard Issue *Were I on the Baileys Prize jury, this would be my winner. Bond's prose is sumptuous and poetic at times... The central character, Ruby is a work of art... I loved this book, was sad to finish it, and happily await the next instalment * Safia Moore, Top of the Tent *Ruby is an extraordinary book, one that stops you in your tracks and makes you gasp in horror as you're drawn into her story. Cynthia Bond's debut novel is dark, harrowing and beautifully written... It is at times a very difficult read, a story of violence and sexual abuse, depravity and intense cruelty but also a story about the redemptive power of love * Sophie Raworth, Bailey’s Prize 2016 reviews *Utterly transfixing, with unforgettable characters, riveting suspense, and breathtaking, luminous prose, Ruby offers an unflinching portrait of man's dark acts and the promise of the redemptive power of love * Readings *I found the pain in it to be so raw, angry and honest... The lyricism and the beauty of the writing contrasted with against the darkness and the cruelty of the book... For me it ticks all the boxes in what a prize winner should be: it is beautifully written, it is thought-provoking, it's isn't like anything I've ever read * Elizabeth McKenzie, Frequency *Channeling the lyrical phantasmagoria of early Toni Morrison and the sexual and racial brutality of the 20th century east Texas, Cynthia Bond has created a moving and indelible portrait of a fallen woman... Bond traffics in extremely difficult subjects with a grace and bigheartedness that makes for an accomplished, enthralling read. -- Thomas Chatterton Williams * San Francisco Chronicle *Ruby is a moving and menacing journey that stays with you long after the final page. * Rob Chilver, Waterstones Blog *Ruby is Cynthia Bond's debut novel, yet it reads like the work of a master. From the first page, there's an unmistakable narrative voice which carries you forward, leading us from the eponymous, deeply-scarred heroine Ruby to her would-be saviour Ephram Jennings - a man replete with demons of his own - and finally onward to the townspeople of Liberty, a small all-Black East Texas community surrounded by pine woods. * Kate Nielan, Waterstones Blog *Bond does a fine job of weaving the narrative together, particularly as the novel doesn't assume a traditional linear format... It is wonderful to see debut writing on shortlists for prestigious prizes such as these, and Bond's contribution is outstanding - Ruby is a lyrical and unrelenting portrait of a simply unforgettable new character in fiction. * Rob Hart, Waterstones Blog *Gorgeous... Bond is a gifted writer, powerful and nimble... [I]t's tempting to call up Toni Morrison or Alice Walker or Ntozake Shange. It should be done more as compliment than comparison, though...Bond's is a robustly original voice. * Barnes and Noble Review *A beautifully wrought ghost story, a love story, a survival story...[A] wonderful debut. -- Angela Flournoy * Los Angeles Review of Books *Reading Cynthia Bond's Ruby, you can't help but feel that one day this book will be considered a staple of our literature, a classic. Lush, deep, momentous, much like the people and landscape it describes, Ruby enchants not just with its powerful tale of lifelong quests and unrelenting love, but also with its exquisite language. It is a treasure of a book, one you won't soon forget. * Edwidge Danticat, author of Claire of the Sea Light *Pure magic. Every line gleams with vigor and sound and beauty. Ruby somehow manages to contain the darkness of racial conflict and cruelty, the persistence of memory, the physical darkness of the piney woods and strange elemental forces, and weld it together with bright seams of love, loyalty, friendship, laced with the petty comedies of small-town lives. Slow tragedies, sudden light. This stunning debut delivers and delivers and delivers. * Janet Fitch, author of White Oleander *Ruby is a harrowing, hallucinatory novel, a love story and a ghost story about one woman's attempt to escape the legacy of violence in a small southern town. Cynthia Bond writes with a dazzling poetry that's part William Faulkner, part Toni Morrison, yet entirely her own. Ruby is encircled by shadows, but incandescent with light * Anthony Marra, author of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena *In Ruby, Bond has created a heroine worthy of the great female protagonists of Toni Morrison...and Zora Neale Hurston... Bond's style of writing is as magical as an East Texas sunrise. * Dallas Morning News *Evocative, affective and accomplished... Bond tells the story of Ruby and Ephram's lives and their relationship with unflinching honesty and a surreal, haunting quality. * Texas Observer *If you love well-written historical fiction and multifaceted grown-up characters, put Ruby at the top of your beach bag... Bond delivers multiple goods with this one. * Essence *Cynthia Bond creates a vibrant chorus of voices united by a common struggle... [T]he prose's lyricism and Ruby's interaction with the dead call to mind Beloved... While Bond's characters may sense the inevitability of loss and loneliness, they are also driven by something else, a timid hopefulness that they may find serenity and compassion amid the ghosts who haunt them. * The Rumpus *Exquisite, juxtaposing horrific imagery with dreamy evocative lyricism. * Lambda Literary *Literary magic. * St. Louis American *Ruby explores the redeeming power of love in the face of horrific trauma... If the truth shall set us free, Ms. Bond shows us, in her story of grace, that love is truth. * Pittsburgh Post-Gazette *[A] powerful, explosive novel. Bond immerses readers in a fully realized world, one scarred by virulent racism and perverted rituals but also redeemed by love * Booklist (starred) *[A] dark and redemptive beauty... Bond's prose is evocative of Alice Walker and Toni Morrison, paying homage to the greats of Southern gothic literature. * Library Journal (starred) *An unusual, rare and beautiful novel that is meant to be experienced as much as read. * Shelf Awareness (starred) *A stunning debut. Ruby is unforgettable. * John Rechy, author of City of Night *Cloaked in authenticity, Ruby is unlike anything else out there right now. * Windy City Times *Impeccably crafted... Ruby is undoubtedly the early work of a master storyteller whose literary lyricism is nothing short of pitch perfect. * BookPage *Bracing....Undeniable....The echoes of Alice Walker and Toni Morrison are clear....A very strong first novel that blends tough realism with the appealing strangeness of a fever dream.... * Kirkus *
£9.49
John Murray Press The Butchers Hook
Book SynopsisThe debut novel by actress and presenter Janet Ellis, The Butcher's Hook is the dark and twisted tale of a young girl in 18th-century London determined to take her life in her own hands. No matter the cost.Trade ReviewJanet Ellis's appealing debut novel is like a cross between Fanny Burney's Evelina and US crime drama Dexter... Ellis excels at the poetics of flesh. She writes with a keen eye for the texture of skin and the meat beneath. She vividly describes the slaughter of a calf, the wet thwack of the knife, the cleaving of muscle from bone, the hot rush of blood. Anne, we come to realise, is something of a sociopath. This is where The Butcher's Hook gets really interesting ... There's a wit and a richness to the writing, a nice way with pastiche, and a real feel for the macabre. And, in Anne, she has created an engaging and at times daringly amoral heroine. * Observer (Paperback of the Week) *Ellis has a public personality of great charm, and a good deal of this gets into her writing... she revels in the historical details, has a grasp of pace and knows how to keep her audience hooked * The Times *The Butcher's Hook doesn't read like a first novel - it is a high-finish performance. Its heroine is an 18th-century teenage girl, who starts demurely although her sex drive turns out to be anything but demure. You need to be braced for violence to rival any Jacobean tragedy: The Butcher's Hook will hook you. * Observer (New Faces of Fiction) *This author remains one to watch. She has a sharp eye and a sharper wit. More importantly still, she possesses a subtle and compassionate understanding of the human heart * Guardian *A strange, unsettling story * The Sunday Times *This is a dark, weird, gloriously feminist story of a girl in 1763 pushing against the limits of her role and a dark love story. * Elle UK (Best New Books for 2016) *A story of dispassionate, bloody brilliance rich in believable period detail * Metro *Actress and former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis has created a surprising blend of psychological thriller and revenge tragedy in her debut novel... In Vanity Fair, Thackeray demonstrated how society determines character, and this suggestion underlies Ellis's robust and textured vision of the Georgian mindset. But from it emerges an unsettling portrait of a deeply damaged individual whose capacity for creating mayhem is timeless * Daily Mail *A gripping girl-power story * Sun *Ellis weaves her tale with deft skill, striking imagery and a boldness rare in a first novel * Mail on Sunday *The debut novel from the ex-Blue Peter presenter is a doozy * Glamour *Janet Ellis has written one of the most hotly-tipped debuts of 2016 * Daily Express (Books To Look Out For In 2016) *Former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis has burst on to the literary scene with a bodice-ripping thriller... Ellis evokes the sights, sounds and smells of Georgian London and turns a telling phrase that captures on 18th-century cadence * Daily Express *Anne Jaccob is the audacious heroine of this dark, historical debut from former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis * Sunday Express *Dark, packed with surprises and with a feisty unforgettable heroine, this is a top-class debut -- Fanny Blake * Woman & Home (Best Books To Read in February) *a spirited, dark debut set in Georgian London with a heroine who will stop at nothing to get what she wants * Woman and Home *A cracking read... An atmospheric walk through the streets of 1763 London as Anne seeks to be in charge of her own destiny. She finds herself falling for the butcher's apprentice, but her father has already chosen a husband for her..." -- Cathy Rentzenbrink * Prima magazine *The sonnets of John Donne provide a brooding counterpoint to the gruesome turns of this nervy historical novel. Ellis's calculating 19-year-old narrator, Anne Jaccob, dwells in what may be the bleakest house in 18th-century London... Trained as an actor, Ellis reveals that pedigree in wry winks to Shakespeare (the butcher's name is Titus) and dramatis personae evocative of commedia dell'arte (a foppish suitor, a predatory doctor, a dashing lover). More unsettling than its Grand Guignol shocks, the novel's third act gives us the acrid and increasingly disconnected voice of its protagonist, a sociopath-in-training who projects onto her environment the pain and distortions wrought by her own sense of victimhood: a sky "the color of an old man's snot" and a home so forlorn that "the mice here probably throw themselves on the traps for a quicker end." * New York Times *An absolute page turner * Nadia Sawalha, Sunday Express *This bawdy debut novel bodes well for a successful new career * Choice Magazine *fun, grimy and romantic, as well as being a properly rollicking adventure * The Debrief *A highly accomplished piece of work...there's no doubt that Janet Ellis is an author of genuine talent * Reader's Digest *Within one chapter I was hooked. * Woman's Weekly *Dark and sometimes bloody, it can be an unsettling read. Yet it's also a gripping work of fiction, full of twists and surprises, and Anne, who tells her own story in her own idiosyncratic voice, is a distinctively disturbing character * BBC History Magazine *Coursing with sexual awakening, this is a compelling story of a young woman... Janet Ellis has a magnetic style that draws you into surprising realms of what can be achieved if the will is strong enough * Sainsbury's Magazine *A dark debut * Pyschologies Mag *The Butcher's Hook is bewitching: Anne Jaccob is a dark and dangerous heroine and her story is gripping and full of surprises. This is an exciting and hugely impressive debut from Janet Ellis. * Antonia Hodgson, bestselling author of THE DEVIL IN THE MARSHALSEA *Punchy and fast-moving. Janet Ellis' period piece brilliantly captures the visceral sights and smells of the time and regardless of (or because of) her twisted morals, Anne's strong voice reels you right in. * Sydney Morning Herald *The rush of this novel is its macabre sense of justice... A sexually heightened gothic of the type de Sade would approve... The events in The Butcher's Hook predate the French Revolution by 26 years, but there's a similar sense here of ambition unfairly tamped by an unjust social order. That's the thrill of the bloodbath when Anne takes the law into her own hands. * The Globe and Mail *Ellis has created something marvellous in the character of Anne Jaccob - her voice is strange, dark and utterly mesmeric. This is historical fiction as I've never encountered it before: full of viscera, snarling humour and obsessive desire. I loved it. * Hannah Kent, bestselling author of BURIAL RITES *Beautifully crafted. Janet Ellis is a masterful storyteller * Clare Mackintosh, bestselling author of I LET YOU GO *Anne is a heroine unlike any we've met before in historical fiction - prickly, amoral, opportunistic, determined to eke what happiness she can from life, even if it means spilling a bit of blood. * Toronto Star *Janet Ellis has given us a tale set in Georgian London which possesses all the well-plotted intrigue and gritty reality of these great predecessors (Dickens' Bleak House and Brontë's Jane Eyre) - yet Ellis' heroine has a steely determination to break out of the constraints of her circumstances and get the man she wants at any cost.This is a distinctly original novel of a young woman's sexual awakening... She is savvy enough to see the shortcomings of those around her and play them to her own advantage. Anne's narrative is so vivid it invokes the sensory experience of the time period and the unsavoury habits of those around her... Ellis writes so well about that all-consuming infatuation we've all felt in first love. It's not romanticized, but deeply physical and tied to a strident rejection of Anne's circumstances... It's refreshing to read about a character set in this time period that is in many ways sympathetic, yet is also capable of horrifyingly monstrous acts. The drama escalates throughout the novel making it an increasingly gripping read as the story progresses... Janet Ellis has created a fierce, memorable heroine and an inventive atmospheric story. It has all the richness of Dickensian detail and the modern flair of Sarah Waters. I also have to mention that the cover design and colour of this book is exceptionally beautiful. * Lonesome Reader *A triumph; dark, shocking and funny. The voice is perfect and the words glitter like little black jewels. * Erin Kelly, bestselling author of THE POISON TREE *Terrific... Anne is no 18th-century milquetoast heroine in love. Her savagely witty observations of those around her reveal a sharp and cunning mind... Every word of it is really very good * Bookseller *Yes, it's that Janet Ellis, and this debut is attracting a lot of attention, particularly as it sounds darker than many people would have imagined a former Blue Peter presenter would have written... A coming-of-age novel with a strong female lead... both violent and bawdy. * Novel Heights *In Anne Jaccob, Ellis has created a fascinating, feisty character whose voice is certainly different from many heroines I have encountered in the past... it is a dark, compelling tale of one unforgettable woman and her quest for love and happiness. It is a story filled with surprises, one that stayed with me long after the final page. It is an impressive debut from Janet Ellis, and I hope to read more of her writing in the future! * The Owl on the Bookshelf *In her first novel, Ellis weaves a darkly psychological tale set in the rough-and-tumble, vulgar, colorful London of Moll Flanders and Tom Jones. Evoking pity, abhorrence, admiration, and disgust, this title is strongly recommended for readers with a love of Georgian literature and Georgian London and those intrigued by the complexity of the human psyche * Library Journal *Janet Ellis's compelling plot rests on Anne's formative sexuality and constantly returns to differing conceptions of love and the lenghts people go to in order to protect their status and reputation. The unwillingness of anyone in the story to view Anne as more emotionally complicated than a child leads her self-discovery to run amok, and Ellis to explore the stifling effects of such repressive views of sexuality. Ellis's use of vivid imagery and focus on grisly detail add a macabre beauty to a stirring story. * Publishers Weekly *I really enjoyed this debut offering from Janet Ellis... The story is dark and quite surprising, beginning like a Regency Romance, building into a bit of a bodice ripper becoming quirky and twisted then ending with a rather shocking climax! The book completely sucked me in and I was enthralled by the story and kept riffling through the pages at a fair old pace. It's a hectic and hair-raising tale, a coming of age story for adults. Read it, love it, but don't be taken in by dear Anne who is like an aniseed ball, hard and deceptive with any sweetness well tempered by the curious bitterness of flavour and the darkness of licorice. * BeadyJans Books *a tale of wildness and desire * Sydney Morning Herald *This first novel captures the dark era and holds the reader in suspense until the end * Belfast Telegraph *There is no doubt that in the hands of this talented author, Georgian London comes gloriously alive; the fractured underbelly of the lower classes teem with darkness and as this sinister edge starts to infiltrate, before you know it, you are completely under its spell. * Jaffareadstoo *The characters are excellently rendered, recognisable to the extent that you might start casting actors for the TV adaptation... There's a real feel for setting, too, not in the layering of detail but in the impression of surroundings, in the atmosphere invoked and most notably in the people that inhabit the pages, the every-day hustle and bustle of grubby London life. Where this book really shows strength is in when Janet Ellis chooses to reveal what she does. The pace and the timing are perfect and I'll wager there's more than one moment that'll cause your hand to rise to cover the 'o' of your open mouth... Janet Ellis's The Butcher's Hook is a complete package. The settings, characters, the pace and the action are tightly controlled. There's some really nice dry humour in there too, some genuinely funny moments. And the story is likely to have you, well, hooked. It's amazing to think that this is her debut. I loved it. I can't wait to see what comes next. * Van is Reading *Janet Ellis writes with a precision that is rare to find in a debut author. She slices through the sixteenth century's idiosyncrasies amid a turbulent period in British history, whilst soaking up the richness of the era into a three hundred plus page novel. As a reader, you dive into the past, willingly, without hesitation. Just as in life, her characters are memorable, admirable and flawed. And, just like in life, you never know exactly where the journey may take you. * Sukasa Reads *This is a dark, twisted tale that is bleakly humorous. Well written, it is an accomplished debut, and I look forward to seeing what Ellis does next. * Jo's Book Blog *From the get-go Anne is smart, sarcastic, and an unforgettable character. Her interactions with the world around her intrigue and disgust in equal levels. * Cantionis *A thrilling and ambitious debut novel, The Butcher's Hook is a spellbinding read... A stunning addition to the string of female-led historical fiction that's prevailed in the last couple of years, I can only only sit back and wait on tenterhooks to find out what Janet Ellis will give us next. * Food for Bookworms *An accomplished debut novel with a mighty main character in Anna Jaccob * Reflections of a Reader *The book completely sucked me in and I was enthralled by the story and kept riffling through the pages at a fair old pace. It's a hectic and hair raising tale, a coming of age story for adults. Read it, love it * BeadyJans Books *I was incredibly impressed with Ellis' prose- beautiful in places and shocking in others, she displays a real grasp of language and knows the shocking power of a well-placed, incongruous smile or a wicked thought * Thoughts About Books *Original and striking. This is a beautiful read full of sensuous detail and wayward heroes. I loved it. * Kate Hammer *The Butcher's Hook is an accomplished, polished, excellent read. The novel feels fresh, it is a terrific read and it will shock you. Banish any preconceived ideas about historical novels; get reading the story of Anne, her desires and passion in Georgian London. * soreilly.com *I was incredibly impressed with Ellis' prose- beautiful in places and shocking in others, she displays a real grasp of language and knows the shocking power of a well-placed, incongruous simile or a wicked thought. A couple of times I had to re-read a line just to check I'd seen the right thing...her intricate and complicated characters are spellbinding and she has the readers eating out of her hand-the way that the our opinions and perceptions are played with and bent into and out of shape is brilliant. I loved how the novel was able to surprise me and kept me guessing not only about the plot but about the characters. Though I'd describe the novel as sensational and slightly unlikely, it was an enjoyable, twisted journey nonetheless, a gripping whirlwind of passion, debauchery and moral vacancy which I'd thoroughly recommend. * Mythoughtsaboutbooks *This is a book of two halves. The first is a gritty portrayal of the powerlessness of a young urban British adolescent in an age without antibiotics, contraception, or healthcare. The narrative seems to build an intriguing love story between two characters of disparate social backgrounds. However, in the second part, Ellis takes The Butcher's Hook into different territory. Anne's pressured life breeds startling reactions. One overly-lurid murder follows another. Anger and arson rage out of control. The body count unrealistically soars. Anne is not who we think she is. * stuff.co.nz *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Napoleons Last Island
Book SynopsisOn the island of St Helena in the south Atlantic ocean, Napoleon spends his last years in exile. It is a hotbed of gossip and secret liaisons, where a blind eye is turned to relations between colonials and slaves.The disgraced emperor is subjected to vicious and petty treatment by his captors, but he forges an unexpected ally: a rebellious British girl, Betsy, who lives on the island with her family and becomes his unlikely friend.Based on fact, Napoleon''s Last Island is the surprising story of one of history''s most enigmatic figures and a British family who dared to associate with him. It is a tale of vengeance, duplicity and loyalty, and of a man whose charisma made him dangerous to the end.Trade ReviewThe outspoken Betsy is a terrific character . . . [There are] some glorious moments . . . lit with Keneally's trademark impish humour. He is a magpie, as preternaturally inquisitive as Napoleon himself, and the book has a cast of characters to rival Dickens. -- Clare Clark * Guardian *Immersive and charming . . . Keneally's Betsy is a vivid, attractive portrait of a young girl brinking on young womanhood and a thoroughly useful device. Through her he can view the emperor clearly - as an absurd figure, a joker, a voracious devourer of food, women, information. But there is so much more here, too. The flora and geography of the island are beautifully evoked, the inhabitants drawn in sharp, succinct strokes . . . a pure pleasure to read. -- Nick Curtis * Evening Standard *Through Betsy, Keneally beautifully resurrects a voice of the sort lost in official versions of history -- Claire Allfree * Daily Mail *A typically polished yarn by a grand master of historical fiction. -- Max Davidson * Mail on Sunday *One of the most enjoyable, high spirited and technically accomplished works of a long career. * The Australian *He succeeds, with touches of brilliance, in bringing to life characters in more detail than history ever possibly could * Philip Dwyer, Sydney Morning Herald *Writing Napoleon's Last Island from Betsy's perspective allows Keneally to entertain readers with his trademark verve and impishness. Few can match him as a storyteller * Meredith Jaffe, Guardian (Australia) *
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton Betrayal The Centurions I
Book SynopsisAD 69: The Rhine frontier has exploded into bloody rebellion, and four centurions who once fought in the same army find themselves on opposite sides of a vicious insurrection.The rebel leader Kivilaz and his Batavi rebels have humbled the Romans in a battle they should have won. The legions must now defend their northern stronghold, the Old Camp, from the enraged tribes of Germany, knowing that they cannot be relieved until the civil war raging to the south has been resolved. Can they defend the undermanned fortress against thousands of barbarian warriors intoxicated by a charismatic priestess''s vision of victory?Trade ReviewA master of the genre - The TimesThis is fast-paced and gripping "read-through-the-night" fiction, with marvellous characters and occasional moments of dark humour. Some authors are better historians than they are storytellers. Anthony Riches is brilliant at both. - Conn IgguldenA damn fine read . . . fast-paced, action-packed. - Ben KaneStands head and shoulders above a crowded field . . . . real, live characters act out their battles on the northern borders with an accuracy of detail and depth of raw emotion that is a rare combination. - Manda Scott
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Onslaught The Centurions II
Book SynopsisThe author of the bestselling Empire sequence continues his new trilogy: the epic story of the uprising of the Batavi in AD 69.''A master of the genre'' - The TimesAD 69: The Rhine frontier has exploded into bloody rebellion, and four centurions who once fought in the same army find themselves on opposite sides of a vicious insurrection. The rebel leader Kivilaz and his Batavi rebels have humbled the Romans in a battle they should have won. The legions must now defend their northern stronghold, the Old Camp, from the enraged tribes of Germany, knowing that they cannot be relieved until the civil war raging to the south has been resolved. Can they defend the undermanned fortress against thousands of barbarian warriors intoxicated by a charismatic priestess''s vision of victory?Trade ReviewA master of the genre - The TimesThis is fast-paced and gripping "read-through-the-night" fiction, with marvellous characters and occasional moments of dark humour. Some authors are better historians than they are storytellers. Anthony Riches is brilliant at both. - Conn IgguldenA damn fine read . . . fast-paced, action-packed. - Ben KaneStands head and shoulders above a crowded field . . . . real, live characters act out their battles on the northern borders with an accuracy of detail and depth of raw emotion that is a rare combination. - Manda ScottRiches highlights the chaos and fragility of an empire without an emperor . . . dense, complicated and rewarding. - The Times on BETRAYAL
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton River of Gold Empire XI
Book SynopsisAfter saving the emperor''s life in Rome, Marcus and his comrades have been sent across the sea to the wealthy, corrupt Greek metropolis of Aegyptus, Alexandria. An unknown enemy has slaughtered the garrison of the Empire''s last outpost before its border with the mysterious kingdom of Kush. Caravans can no longer reach the crucial Red Sea port of Berenike, from which the riches of the East flow towards Rome. The Emperor''s most trusted and most devious adviser has ordered Marcus''s commander Scaurus and his trusted officers to the south. With orders that are tantamount to a suicide mission, and with only one slim hope of success. Can a small force of highly trained legionaries restore the Empire''s power in this remote desert no-man''s-land, when faced by the fanatical army of Kush''s iron-fisted ruler?
£8.99
Hodder & Stoughton Vengeance Empire XII
Book SynopsisAfter saving the emperor''s life in Rome, Marcus and his comrades have been sent across the sea to the wealthy, corrupt Greek metropolis of Aegyptus, Alexandria.An unknown enemy has slaughtered the garrison of the Empire''s last outpost before its border with the mysterious kingdom of Kush. Caravans can no longer reach the crucial Red Sea port of Berenike, from which the riches of the East flow towards Rome.The Emperor''s most trusted and most devious adviser has ordered Marcus''s commander Scaurus and his trusted officers to the south. With orders that are tantamount to a suicide mission, and with only one slim hope of success.Can a small force of highly trained legionaries restore the Empire''s power in this remote desert no-man''s-land, when faced by the fanatical army of Kush''s iron-fisted ruler?Trade ReviewPraise for Anthony RichesRiver of Gold is the eleventh novel in Anthony Riches' best-selling Empire series and its considerable strengths are all the more impressive because of it. . . . a gripping narrative full of breath-taking action, unforgettable characters, and dazzling twists and turns -- Peter Tonkin * Aspects of History *A masterclass in military historical fiction * Sunday Express *A master of the genre * The Times *Fast-paced and gripping "read-through-the-night' fiction with marvellous characters and occasional moments of dark humour. Some authors are better historians than they are storytellers. Anthony Riches is brilliant at both * Conn Iggulden *A damn fine read . . . fast-paced, action-packed * Ben Kane *Stands head and shoulders above a crowded field . . . real, live characters act out their battles on the northern borders with an accuracy of detail and depth of raw emotion that is a rare combination * Manda Scot *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton One Quiet Woman
Book Synopsis''One of the most lovely and heartwarming books I have ever read! 5 STARS'' - Between the Pages Lancashire, 1930.Leah Turner''s father has been killed in an accident at the laundry, and since her mother died years ago it falls to her to become sole provider for her little sister. But women''s wages are half those of men and pawning the few belongings she has left will only keep their vicious rent collector at bay for a few weeks, so even if she finds a job, they''ll lose their home. Out of the blue Charlie Willcox, the local pawnbroker, offers her a deal. His brother Jonah, an invalid since being gassed in the Great War, needs a wife. Charlie thinks Leah would be perfect for the job. The idea of a marriage of convenience doesn''t please Leah, but she finds Jonah agreeable enough and moving with him to the pretty hamlet of Ellindale may be the only chance of a better life for her sister. But other people have plans Trade ReviewPraise for ONE QUIET WOMAN * :- *One of the most lovely and heartwarming books I have ever read! ***** * Between the Pages *I was gripped from the very first word on the very first page and I wasn't released until the last word on the last page . . . When I finished I felt like I had been through an emotional wringer. ***** * Ginger Book Geek *A book of family, love, friendship and loyalty. ***** * Stardust Book Reviews *Praise for Anna Jacobs * :- *[Anna Jacobs' books have an] impressive grasp of human emotions * The Sunday Times *Anna Jacobs' books are deservedly popular. She is one of the best writers of Lancashire sagas around. * Historical Novels Review *[Anna Jacobs is] especially big on resourceful, admirable women. Great stuff! * Daily Mail *
£8.99
Hodder & Stoughton The Odessans
Book SynopsisAn epic and engrossing novel set at the beginning of the twentieth century, THE ODESSANS is the story of three families from Odessa in the Ukraine: the Russian Petrovs, the Jewish Geibers, and the Teslenkos, who are of Ukrainian and Polish descent. Throughout years of war, famine, political struggle and incredible hardship, their deep friendships sustain each of the families. Their lives are rent by tragedy; some friends are hounded by anti-Semites, while others join opposite sides in the Civil War or are forced to flee to Odessa. But through it all, their characteristic good humour and faith in each other enable their close circle to survive.
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton The Fatal Tree
Book Synopsis''A work of dazzling imagination and linguistic inventiveness'' ObserverNewgate Gaol, 1726. An anonymous writer sets down the words of Edgworth Bess as she confides the adventures and misfortunes that led her all too soon to the judgement of London:Cruelly deceived, Bess is cast out onto the streets of the wicked city - and by nightfall her ruin is already certain. What matters now is her survival of it.In that dangerous underworld known in thieves'' cant as Romeville, she will learn new tricks and trades. And all begins with her fateful meeting, that very first night, with the corrupt thief-taker general Jonathan Wild.But it is the infamous gaol-breaker, Jack Sheppard, who will lay Romeville at her feet . . . Drawing on the true story that mesmerised eighteenth-century society, the acclaimed author of The Long Firm delivers a tour de force: a riveting, artful tale of crime and rough justice, love and betrayal. Rich in theTrade ReviewA work of dazzling imagination and linguistic inventiveness -- Alex Preston * Observer *A rambunctious narrative of venery, theft, death and a devil-may-care braggadocio, its doomed love story undercuts and counterpoints the swagger with a touching melancholy. -- Elizabeth Buchan * Daily Mail *Jake Arnott, who is probably best known for excellent novels such as The Long Firm about London gangsters in the 1960s, has done much more than update the work of his 18th-century predecessors. Unlike them, he shows the citizens of Romeville as people, not as folk heroes or bogeymen . . . Arnott explores what poor Bess calls 'the felony of love', a crime that is not on the statute book. The result is powerful, poignant and readable. -- Andrew Taylor * Spectator *Jack's awkward courtship of Bess is a highlight of the book - Arnott's best so far - and genuinely moving . . . an astonishingly vivid act of ventriloquy that breathes life into infamous corpses -- Mark Sanderson * Evening Standard *The narrative is woven through with vividly portrayed characters, from Bess and Jack themselves to the superbly realised, wonderfully named Punk Alice and Poll Maggot, the transvestite Princess Seraphina; and the mixed-race heavy, Blueskin. Arnott delights too in the secret language of thieves -- Wyl Menmuir * Observer *Bawdy and rich with vivid evocations of the past . . . The Fatal Tree is Arnott on beguiling form, with the libidinous Bess a wonderfully multifaceted character. Who would have thought that a cult crime writer would become the Daniel Defoe of our day? -- Barry Forshaw * i News *A seductive, cunning tale of crime, punishment and love among the thieves, prostitutes and charlatans of 1720's London. Laced with vibrant detail and deliciously evocative period language, Arnott's atmospheric novel is a Hogarth print come to life . . . With a cast of delightfully convincing characters and lines that are reminiscent of Dickens or Wilde, Arnott has triumphantly breathed life into history - and the result is glorious. * Attitude *A dazzling mix of fact and fiction . . . the Hogarthian tale of a Harlot's Progress -- Jackie McGlone * Sunday Herald *[Arnott's] flair for noir - corruption, menace and the psychosexuality of gangsters - transposes well into "Romeville" . . . He gifts his prig-nappers and pot-valiant bawds the kind of one-liners Moll Flanders would have rejoiced in. -- Hermione Eyre * Guardian *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Beyond the Wild River
Book SynopsisFrom the author of The House Between Tides, winner of the Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year, comes an atmospheric and stunningly evocative historical novel. Perfect for fans of Sarah Perry''s The Essex Serpent.''Maine writes beautifully'' THE TIMES''Riveting'' PUBLISHERS WEEKLYScotland,1893. Nineteen-year-old Evelyn Ballantyre, the daughter of a wealthy landowner, has rarely strayed from her family''s estate in the Scottish Borders. She was once close to her philanthropist father, but his silence over what really happened on the day a poacher was shot on estate land has come between them. An invitation to accompany her father to Canada is a chance for Evelyn to escape her limited existence. But once there, on the wild and turbulent Nipigon river, she is shocked to discover that their guide is James Douglas, Ballantyre''s former stable hand, and once hTrade ReviewPraise for Beyond the Wild RiverMaine writes beautifully about the wilderness * The Times *Maine's beautifully detailed descriptions of the American hinterlands provide a stunning setting for this historical tale of intrigue and suspense * Booklist *Descriptive passages of lush, beautiful landscapes frame Maine's riveting portrait of a thoughtful young woman who yearns for more than is offered by her station and her gender, and the rough-and-tumble young man who is inexorably drawn to her. * Publishers Weekly *Maine's gift of setting the mood shines in her latest novel... Fans of Kate Morton's rich-with-atmosphere novels will feel right at home. * RT Reviews *Praise for The House Between TidesThere is an echo of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca in Sarah Maine's appealing debut novel * Independent *A tremendous accomplishment. So assured, so well-judged, and with such an involving story to tell, this might be the author's fifth or sixth novel, not her first. A literary star is born!Scotland's Outer Hebrides provides the sensuous setting for [this] impressive debut...[a] beautifully crafted novel * Publishers Weekly *Praise for Beyond the Wild River * : *'Maine writes beautifully about the wilderness' * The Times *Maine's beautifully detailed descriptions of the American hinterlands provide a stunning setting for this historical tale of intrigue and suspense * Booklist *Descriptive passages of lush, beautiful landscapes frame Maine's riveting portrait of a thoughtful young woman who yearns for more than is offered by her station and her gender, and the rough-and-tumble young man who is inexorably drawn to her. * Publishers Weekly *'Maine's gift of setting the mood shines in her latest novel... Fans of Kate Morton's rich-with-atmosphere novels will feel right at home.' * RT Reviews *Praise for The House Between Tides -- :There is an echo of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca in Sarah Maine's appealing debut novel * Independent *A tremendous accomplishment. So assured, so well-judged, and with such an involving story to tell, this might be the author's fifth or sixth novel, not her first. A literary star is born! -- Ronald Frame, author of The Lantern Bearers and Havisham'...it came as a great surprise to learn that this was the author's debut novel. I predict great things for Sarah Maine.' -- The Book BagScotland's Outer Hebrides provides the sensuous setting for [this] impressive debut...[a] beautifully crafted novel. * Publishers Weekly *Maine skillfully balances a Daphne du Maurier atmosphere with a Barbara Vine-like psychological mystery...The setting emerges as the strongest personality in this compelling story, evoking passion in the characters as fierce as the storms which always lurk on the horizon. A debut historical thriller which deftly blends classic suspense with modern themes. * Kirkus Reviews *Maine contrasts Hetty's present-day consternation with the past story of Blake and his wife, delivering details at a perfectly suspenseful pace... the historic mystery will keep readers guessing right up until the end. * Booklist *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Women of the Dunes
Book SynopsisThe new novel from the acclaimed author of The House Between Tides, winner of the Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2018!''Sarah Maine is a master of Scottish historical fiction'' Sunday Post****It is the women who are keepers of tales.Atmospheric, intoxicating and filled with intrigue, this sweeping novel is an epic story spanning the centuries, that links three women together across history. Libby Snow spent her childhood hearing stories and legends from long ago. Now an archaeologist, her job is to dig deeper into the past, but her excavation at Ullaness, on Scotland''s west coast has a very personal resonance. For the headland of Ullaness holds not only the secrets of the legend of Ulla, the Norsewoman, but also begins the strange story of Ellen.Libby''s grandmother passed on these tales - of love, betrayal and loss - but the more Libby learns at Ullaness, the more twisted theTrade ReviewSarah Maine is a master of Scottish historical fiction * Sunday Post *In Women of the Dunes, her two passions - archaeology and historic fiction - merge powerfully to create the atmospheric world of Libby Snow * Sunday Post *Maine adroitly weaves together the three strands of her novel * Sunday Times *Praise for Beyond The Wild River * : *Maine writes beautifully about the wilderness * The Times *Maine's beautifully detailed descriptions of the American hinterlands provide a stunning setting for this historical tale of intrigue and suspense * Booklist *Descriptive passages of lush, beautiful landscapes frame Maine's riveting portrait of a thoughtful young woman who yearns for more than is offered by her station and her gender, and the rough-and-tumble young man who is inexorably drawn to her. * Publishers Weekly *Maine's gift of setting the mood shines in her latest novel... Fans of Kate Morton's rich-with-atmosphere novels will feel right at home. * RT Reviews *Praise for The House Between Tides * : *There is an echo of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca in Sarah Maine's appealing debut novel * Independent *A tremendous accomplishment. So assured, so well-judged, and with such an involving story to tell, this might be the author's fifth or sixth novel, not her first. A literary star is born! -- Ronald Frame, author of The Lantern Bearers and Havisham...it came as a great surprise to learn that this was the author's debut novel. I predict great things for Sarah Maine. * The Book Bag *Scotland's Outer Hebrides provides the sensuous setting for [this] impressive debut...[a] beautifully crafted novel. * Publishers Weekly *Maine skillfully balances a Daphne du Maurier atmosphere with a Barbara Vine-like psychological mystery...The setting emerges as the strongest personality in this compelling story, evoking passion in the characters as fierce as the storms which always lurk on the horizon. A debut historical thriller which deftly blends classic suspense with modern themes. * Kirkus Reviews *Maine contrasts Hetty's present-day consternation with the past story of Blake and his wife, delivering details at a perfectly suspenseful pace... the historic mystery will keep readers guessing right up until the end. * Booklist *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Persephone
Book Synopsis''PERSEPHONE is another shining milepost for Captain Thomas Kydd and his creator, Julian Stockwin'' - QuarterdeckNovember 1807. Captain Sir Thomas Kydd must sail to Lisbon to aid the Portuguese Royal Family''s evacuation in the face of Napoleon''s ruthless advance through Iberia. In the chaos of the threatened city an old passion is reawakened when he meets Persephone Lockwood, a beautiful and determined admiral''s daughter from his past. But the Royal Family''s destination is Brazil, Perspehone''s England, and it seems Kydd''s chance has gone again. Only later he discovers Persephone has another suitor - and that, if he wants to win her hand, he must enter the highest echelons of London society.Mixing with aristocracy and royalty brings other responsibilities. The Prince of Wales asks him to take temporary command of the Royal Yacht. Sailing to Yarmouth, Kydd realises they are being stalked by French privateers. The terrible threaTrade ReviewPERSEPHONE is another shining milepost for Captain Thomas Kydd and his creator, Julian Stockwin. * Quarterdeck *Fans of fast-paced adventure will get their fill with this book. * Historical Naval Society on The Admiral's Daughter *Paints a vivid picture of life aboard the mighty ship-of-the-line * Daily Express *More historically accurate than the Patrick O'Brian series * Royal Navy Sailing Association journal on the KYDD series *This heady adventure blends fact and fiction in rich, authoritative detail * Nautical Magazine on VICTORY *
£9.99
Hodder & Stoughton A Sea of Gold
Book Synopsis''Tension surges through A Sea of Gold . . . In this rousing yarn, Stockwin again raises naval fiction to a new level'' - Quarterdeck''Stockwin has surpassed himself with A Sea of Gold . . . a fine, filly favoured vintage yarn'' - Warships1809. After his heroic actions during the retreat to Corunna, Captain Sir Thomas Kydd is the toast of London society. Here he falls in with the legendary frigate captain, Lord Thomas Cochrane.So begins a relationship, professional and personal, that will be unlike any that Kydd has known: a relationship that will lead him, almost simultaneously, to first glory, then ruin.The French fleet is massing in the Basque Roads in a near impregnatable position. The Admiralty orders Cochrane to command an attack, to the chagrin of more senior officers who object to being overlooked and Cochrane''s reputation for daring. Cochrane insists that his new friend, Kydd, is in the forefTrade ReviewTension surges through A Sea of Gold . . . In this rousing yarn, Stockwin again raises naval fiction to a new level * Quarterdeck *Stockwin has surpassed himself with A Sea of Gold . . . a fine, fully favoured vintage yarn * Warships *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Tales Out of School
Book SynopsisThe second in a delightful new series from bestselling author Gervase Phinn, set in a village at the top of the Yorkshire Dales, and following on from his acclaimed Dales and Little Village School series.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR GERVASE PHINN:Good old-fashioned yarn-spinning * The Bookbag *Packed with delightful and authentic characters, juicy gossip, precarious romance and good old-fashioned village drama, this is a warm-hearted and hilarious account of a struggling school in a small community. * Good Book Guide *As Yorkshire's favourite school inspector turns to fiction, you can enjoy memorable characters and turns of phrase. * Choice *Written with all the humour and warmth one has come to expect from this master storyteller. * Countryman *A worthy successor to James Herriot, and every bit as endearing. * Alan Titchmarsh *
£16.19
Hodder & Stoughton The Irregular A Different Class of Spy
Book SynopsisAS AN URCHIN LIVING ON THE STREETS OF LONDON, WIGGINS SPIED FOR SHERLOCK HOLMES. AS A MAN, HE SPIES ON THE ENEMIES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.OUR MOST TALENTED HISTORICAL MYSTERY WRITER TODAY. --ANDREW GULLI, STRAND MAGAZINEA TWIST-FILLED ADVENTURE. --THE WALL STREET JOURNAL THE GAME IS MOST DEFINITELY AFOOT. --MICK HERRON London 1909: Vernon Kell, head of counterintelligence at the war office, wants to set up a Secret Service, but to convince his political masters he needs proof of a threat. And to find that proof, he needs an agent he can trust who is smart, ruthless, and able to blend in with the hoi polloi. As it happens, the man Kell needs is Wiggins. An ex-soldier with a talent for deduction perhaps second only to the Great Detective, Wiggins was a Baker Street IrregulTrade Review[A] twist-filled adventure that proves far from elementary * Wall Street Journal *A thrilling story of espionage, murder and the creation of the Secret Service -- Charles Cumming, author of A Colder WarA flavoursome smorgasbord that features not only Holmes but also Winston Churchill, this is irresistible stuff * Barry Forshaw, Guardian *A fine first entry in what promises to be a great new series. Wiggins is a captivating hero, and Lyle draws his Edwardian backstreets in convincing colour. The game is most definitely afoot. -- Mick Herron, author of Slow HorsesA good deal of excitement and some enjoyable riffing on both the history of espionage and the Conan Doyle canon, with cameos of everybody from Winston Churchill to Mr Holmes himself... the book is a treat * Sunday Express *Impressive period detail and sharp dialogue add charm to the strong plot * Daily Mail *H.B. Lyle has found the golden thread between Bond and Holmes in a thriller which engages on every page -- Giles Foden, author of The Last King of ScotlandAn exciting, action packed adventure ... Lyle has chosen an interesting and highly engaging way to take the Sherlock Holmes legacy in a new and thrilling direction * Shots *It is hard to generate something new in such an avalanche of well-worn tropes, but H.B. Lyle has managed to do that quite cleverly in The Irregular * Crime Time *The pacing in The Irregular is near perfect... a rip-roaring page-turner of a book and a rollicking good read * The Tattooed Book Geek *A fast-moving, hugely enjoyable story with interesting characters and authentic background...It is the first of a series, and I look forward to the sequels * The Historical Novel Society *I thoroughly enjoyed H.B. Lyle's The Irregular, which imagines Wiggins, the street urchin who helps Holmes in Conan Doyle's tales, grown up and working for the real-life spymaster Vernon Kell...Smart, sophisticated...will still appeal to those unrefined readers - like me - who devoured the Holmes stories when we were young, and secretly believe that nothing in life has been as exciting since * Daily Telegraph *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Year of the Gun
Book Synopsis The follow-up to the acclaimed The Red Ribbon and the third book in ''a great new series'' (Mick Herron, author of Spook Street) 1912. Released from the Secret Service, Wiggins sets out for New York and his lost-lover Bela. But after an altercation on board, he finds himself among the low-life of Britain''s poorest city, Dublin. Wiggins falls in with gangster Patrick O''Connell and is soon driving the boss''s girlfriend around town. Molly wants O''Connell to support her Irish nationalist cause--a cause needing guns to defeat the British--and then they go to find them in America. Finally, Wiggins can solve the mystery of Bela--and meet his old mentor, Sherlock Holmes in a story of escalating intrigue, danger, and violence. Trade ReviewLyle's series of thrillers featuring Wiggins, once one of Sherlock Holmes's Baker Street Irregulars, are coming on splendidly . . . Skilfully mixing real history with action sequences worthy of Lee Child, this is historical crime-writing at its best * John Williams, Mail on Sunday *Full throttle, highly entertaining historical hokum, delivering entertainment in spades * Myles McWeeney, Irish Independent *Lyle's unique blend of real history, inventive storytelling and characters borrowed from Conan Doyle is exhilarating... an action packed historical thriller... This is a series I hope will run and run * New Books Magazine *The third outing in H.B. Lyle's engaging series of historical thrillers... The story rattles along at pace, the characters are engaging and the fight scenes burst with action. But Lyle's great strength is in his depiction of time and place; from its stinking tenements, where babies cry from hunger, to its sinister docks and upmarket brothels, the Edwardian city - then still part of Britain - is brought to life in all its squalid, magnificent glory * Financial Times *A bruising, gritty and very entertaining adventure amid the slums and salons of 1912 Dublin, a city about to explode * Ed O'Loughlin *Impressive period detail and sharp dialogue add charm to the strong plot * Daily Mail (on The Irregular) *
£8.54
Hodder & Stoughton The Herb of Grace
Book SynopsisThe classic story of post-war English life, from the author of A City of Bells and Green Dolphin Country.Trade Reviewa charming and appealing story of the disentanglement of tangled lives. - Kirkus Reviews
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Heart of the Family
Book SynopsisThe third in the classic family saga about the Eliots of Damerosehay.Despite the success and acclaim he has found as an actor, David Eliot struggles with the demands of his career. His brittle conversation and seeming arrogance earn him the dislike of his new secretary, Sebastian Weber.But when Sebastian visits David''s family home, he discovers a different side to his employer. As Damerosehay and its inhabitants weave their magic, Sebastian slowly begins to lay his own demons to rest.Trade ReviewGenuine discernment and poignancy - Sunday TimesLively and charming - ObserverLeaves the reader with a warm glow in the emotions - Times Educational SupplementMiss Goudge has the art of presenting men and women, to say nothing of children, as genuinely convincing persons, too human to be either wholly good or wholly bad - Scotsman
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The White Witch
Book SynopsisA powerful story of friendship, loyalty and the devastation of the English Civil War from the author of Green Dolphin Country and The Dean's Watch.Trade ReviewAbout the novels of Elizabeth Goudge there is always something of a fairy-tale - The Scotsman
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Rosemary Tree
Book SynopsisA wonderfully told story about a community coming to terms with a post-World War Two world, from the bestselling author of Green Dolphin Country and the classic Eliot Chronicles trilogy.Trade ReviewSpring in Devon brings charming solutions to everyone's problems . . . the Wentworths are another of Miss Goudge's delightful families - Daily TelegraphAnother of those blends of fairytale grace, human warmth and spiritual feeling which only Elizabeth Goudge can contrive - The Scotsman
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Red Sequins
Book SynopsisA gripping saga evoking the spirit of the 1970s East End, from the author of Room for a Lodger and Banished from Bow.Sandy Brent''s life is blown apart the day her husband offers to drive her to work. On the way he tells her that their marriage is over and that he''s seeing someone else. Sandy''s refusal to believe that it''s finished sends Roy into a frenzy - and the car into a head-on collision. When she wakes in hospital, Sandy is alone, and must start her life over from scratch. She decides to head back to her roots in the colourful East End and set up her own boutique. But someone is set on bringing her down: her own sister, Ruth. Deeply angry towards Sandy because of a childhood secret, Ruth is determined to see her sister run aground. Gathering her new friends and neighbours around to combat Ruth''s warped machinations, Sandy needs to draw on strength she never knew she had. Then disaster strikes again...Trade ReviewShe brings the East End to life -- Barbara WindsorUnbridled passions run riot * Daily Mail *Sizzles with passion * Guardian on WILD HOPS *A rich, vivid, three-dimensional, gutsy and sexy narrative which has you turning the pages into the early hours * Eastern Daily Press on WILD HOPS *
£8.54
Hodder & Stoughton The Wicked Cometh
Book Synopsis''We have no need to protect ourselves from the bad sort because WE are the bad sort . . .'' ''Beguiling'' StylistThe year is 1831. Down murky alleyways, acts of unspeakable wickedness are taking place and London''s vulnerable poor are disappearing from the streets. Out of these shadows comes Hester White, a bright young woman who is desperate to escape these slums by any means possible. When a chance encounter thrusts Hester into the beguiling world of the aristocratic Brock family, she leaps at the chance to improve her station in life. But whispers from her past slowly begin to poison her new existence, and lure her into the most sinister of investigations. As she finds herself dragged into the blackest heart of the city, little does she know that something more depraved than she could ever imagine is lurking. . .''Carlin can tell a good story'' Observer''Contains lovely,Trade ReviewThis deliciously dark confection of a novel has as many twists and turns as the London backstreets of its setting and I devoured it in two sittings! -- Ruth Hogan, author of THE KEEPER OF LOST THINGSContains lovely lyrical writing . . . and a heady romance at its heart * Sunday Express *Carlin's great at conjuring up an image of darkest 1800s London, while her female characters are both of their time, while also being witty and modern * Stylist *Satisfying * The Times *Splendidly diverting . . . Spirited and highly readable * Irish Times *The darkest corners of Georgian London are gleefully drawn in this brilliant story * Emerald Street *A delightful romp. I can't wait to see what Carlin writes next -- Lauren James, author of THE NEXT TOGETHERLaura Carlin earns every single comparison to Sarah Waters she's going to get. It's a sterling, historical, dark, twisty novel -- Kaite Welsh * Radio 4 Open Book *A captivating debut that brings the squalid and sinister Georgian London to life . . . will appeal to fans of vintage gothic à la Wilkie Collins and Sarah Waters * BookRiot *Charming and a delight to read. An added bonus is that the cover of this book is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. * Yorkshire Post *Historical fiction with a lesbian slant usually begs comparison with Sarah Waters, but Carlin is more than up to the task as she carefully weaves an eerie, evocative tale where no one can be trusted and everyone - even Hester herself - has secrets * DIVA Magazine *Richly detailed with well-drawn characters and evocative language, THE WICKED COMETH is an entertaining piece of Victoriana-style literature that's sure to label Carlin as one to watch * Culture Fly *You can almost taste the gin and the soot . . . but we reckon you'll be enjoying it too much to care * Metro *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Devils Slave
Book Synopsis''So vividly evoked that you are there, living the story''Alison Weir***Frances Gorges was accused of witchcraft - and she survived. But if her torturers at the court of King James discover she is pregnant with the child of Tom Wintour, her lover executed for his part in the Gunpowder Plot, it will mean certain death.Then Frances is offered an escape: marriage. She will not be expected to sleep with her new husband, only to give up the cause for which Tom died.But even when she is surrounded by the venomous dangers of life at court, Frances finds old loyalties hard to deny... Compelling, sensual, suspenseful, The Devil''s Slave is a novel of family, power and heartbreaking dilemmas. It is also a surprising, thrilling love story.***''A lively, entertaining novel''The Sunday Times''Powerfully accomplished and vividly detailed... I swallowed this book in two greatTrade ReviewBorman's expertise as a historian of the period is much in evidence throughout a lively, entertaining novel * The Sunday Times *Tracy Borman keeps the suspense ramped up in this beautifully written novel, a Jacobean tragedy in which her delightful heroine in threatened on all sides. Never have I seen the sheer nastiness and corruption of the Jacobean court so well portrayed or an age so vividly evoked that you are there, living the story. Borman has combined her formidable knowledge of the period with her effortless skill in writing fiction and stunning creativity. A highly accomplished and chilling tale. Can't wait for the sequel! -- Alison WeirPowerfully accomplished and vividly detailed, THE DEVIL'S SLAVE returns to the world Borman so convincingly created in THE KING'S WITCH. Her heroine Frances, under suspicion for her skills as a herbalist, has to pick a precarious path through the intricacies of a Jacobean court seething with conspiracy and corruption. I swallowed this book in two great gulps - and wait impatiently for the third of the trilogy. -- Sarah GristwoodA beautifully crafted and pacey narrative that's jam packed full of intricate detail, THE DEVIL'S SLAVE is sure to get your pulse racing. Once again Tracy Borman has effortlessly blended the intrigues of the seventeenth century court with the ability to tell a gripping story that will leave the reader yearning for more. Essential reading that's spellbindingly magical. -- Nicola TallisBorman's background as a historian...is evident in the rich evocation of 17th-century life * The Times *Tracy Borman dramatises the fault lines between religious conviction and the convoluted vendettas of Jacobean England with an empathetic and knowledgeable hand * Daily Mail *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Fallen Angel
Book Synopsis''An outstanding page-turner . . . historical fiction at its absolute best'' - Alison Weir''An engaging heroine . . . and Borman''s depiction of Villiers, with all his ruthless charisma, is striking'' - The Sunday Times_____________________________________________Frances Gorges seems destined to be happy at last. King James has apparently lost his appetite for hunting witches, so the medical skills and herbal knowledge that saw Frances accused of witchcraft no longer seem to hang over her like a death sentence. The King would rather be hunting stag and boar - and Frances''s beloved husband Thomas is firmly established in the royal household as the Master of Buckhounds. Their family is growing and their estates are secure.But life at court is never without intrigue, jealousy and danger for long, and a new arrival turns the world upside down.George Villiers is a young man with the face of an angel - and as his manTrade ReviewOnce again, Tracy Borman has given us an outstanding page-turner, a stunning novel of the corrupt and dangerous Jacobean court, in which a courageous heroine pits her wits against a very nasty and determined villain. This is historical fiction at its absolute best. A fitting end to a fabulous trilogy! * Alison Weir *Brings unexpected twists and turns with every page, leaving readers in no doubt that Tracy Borman is the mistress of intrigue and suspense as she brings the schemings and power struggles of the Jacobean court vividly to life. With a masterfully crafted plot that keeps readers enthralled until the very end, Borman's meticulous art for storytelling is unbeatable. A truly stunning narrative that's pure gold for lovers of historical fiction * Nicola Tallis *George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, swaggers onto centre stage in the concluding part of Tracy Borman's Frances Gorges trilogy... lots of fascinating detail and insight into James's backstabbing court... an enjoyable read * The Times *Frances remains an engaging heroine and Borman's depiction of Villiers, with all his ruthless charisma, is striking * The Sunday Times *Tracy Borman's The Fallen Angel is the third in her trilogy of novels set in the compelling, claustrophobic, world of the Jacobean court, where her heroine, herbalist Frances Gorges, is in danger of falling foul of James I's witchcraft laws. As a serious historian and Joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, Borman might easily have been mired in the records. Instead she uses them to invent an utterly compelling alternative reality. It's lush, wholly convincing and utterly gripping. Fact and fiction have rarely been blent so seamlessly * Sarah Gristwood *
£15.29
John Murray Press The Year Without Summer
Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE WALTER SCOTT HISTORICAL FICTION PRIZE 2021SHORTLISTED FOR THE HWA GOLD CROWN AWARD 2020''A STRIKINGLY SHARP AND SUBTLE WRITER'' Guardian''SUPERB...BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN...UNFORGETTABLE'' FT Weekend''SKILFUL'' Sunday Times ''RICH, INTRICATE, IMPRESSIVELY REALISED'' Observer ''VIVIDLY REALISED'' The Times''A VISION OF THE PAST AND A VISION OF THE FUTURE'' Irish Times''A VIVID SLICE OF HISTORICAL FICTION'' Sunday Express1815, Sumbawa Island, IndonesiaMount Tambora explodes in a cataclysmic eruption, killing thousands. Sent to investigate, ship surgeon Henry Hoggcan barely believe his eyes. Once a paradise, the island is now solid ash, the surrounding sea turned to stone. But worse is yet to come: as the ash cloud rises and covers the sun, the seasons will fail.1816In Switzerland, Mary ShTrade ReviewGlasfurd is a strikingly sharp and subtle writer who finds beauty in the bleakest situations. She has the rare ability to conjure characters vividly in a few deft strokes and the gift, rarer still, of making us care deeply about them . . . an angry and tender interrogation of tangibly real lives . . . Glasfurd's hard-hitting admonition deserves to find its mark. * The Guardian *Superb . . . a stay-up-all-night page-turner . . . a beautifully written, angry, unflinching and unforgettable novel. * Financial Times *Glasfurd is a skilful writer and the book offers much to enjoy * Sunday Times *Vividly realised . . . this second novel does not disappoint * The Times *Guinevere Glasfurd's follow-up to her 2016 Costa-shortlisted debut The Words in My Hand is another superb saga, rich in both historical detail and human interest . . . [Glasfurd] combines her intricate storyline with an impressively realised sense of a world being dragged into the modern age * Observer *A rich, well-written, and entirely convincing work of historical fiction. Each story adds a dimension to the exploration of climate disaster across social class and geography ... in The Year Without Summer we are offered both a vision of the past and a vision of the future * Irish Times *A vivid slice of historical fiction * Sunday Express *Vivid, vibrant, hard to put down. Who'd have thought a book about calamitous climate change could also be such a joy to read? * Hilary Spurling *Guinevere Glasfurd's ingenious and absorbing storytelling brought both the very human and epic impact of the world's worst volcanic catastrophe to life in an indelible way that brings the past right into the present * Kirsty Wark, author of THE LEGACY OF ELIZABETH PRINGLE *Definitely scary, sometimes brutal, extremely thought-provoking and beautifully written . . . very compelling * Harriet Tyce, author of BLOOD ORANGE *A vivid and multi-faceted novel, bringing to life the social unrest and disorder that followed in this brief period where the seasons did not follow their usual pattern. It is hard to think of a more pressing concern in the current climate * Canberra Times *The Year Without Summer is an astonishing, riveting accomplishment. With a masterful grace and poetic beauty, Guinevere Glasfurd crafts a story that, although steeped in a particular historical moment, resonates profoundly for the times we live in now. A truly remarkable book about a remarkable year in history. * Emily Rapp, author of THE STILL POINT OF THE TURNING WORLD *In 1815, a volcanic eruption in Indonesia brings ash and ice, ushering in strange storms and political turmoil. The old ways disappear and there is a hunger for justice and equality. The Year Without Summer is a worldwide canvas peopled by passionate individuals who long for a better future, each one brought to life in vivid, heartbreaking detail. * Marianne Kavanagh, author of FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE *Enthralling * Daily Telegraph *Rich in voice, beautifully told, and with a chilling sting in its tail. * *Shortlisted for the HWA Gold Crown Award 2020* *
£8.99
Hodder & Stoughton A Widows Courage
Book SynopsisLancashire 1934. Three years after her husband''s sudden death, Stella comes into some money unexpectedly and decides to make a new start in the country. She settles on Ellin Valley, where she quickly begins to make friends. She falls in love with a cottage in Birch End, but an unscrupulous man wants it too. Will she be able to buy her dream home? Life has changed drastically for local handyman Wilf Pollard as well. When tragedy strikes, Wilf is left as the only support of his two young children. But his friends rally round to help so that he can pull his life together and take up an exciting new job with a well-respected builder. Some of the local council are eager to deal with the squalid conditions of the Backshaw Moss slum, but others will stop at nothing to keep their profitable rents. And Stella''s dream cottage is threatened by their plans to build yet more cheap housing. Can Stella, Wilf and the residents of Birch End pull togetTrade ReviewThis is that rare thing, a pacy page-turner with a ripping plot and characters you care about . . . [Anna Jacobs is] especially big on resourceful, admirable women. Great stuff! * Daily Mail *Anna Jacobs' books are deservedly popular. She is one of the best writers of Lancashire sagas around * Historical Novels Review *[Anna Jacobs' books have an] impressive grasp of human emotions * The Sunday Times *
£8.54
Hodder & Stoughton A Womans Promise
Book SynopsisAs the only female cabinet maker in the valley in 1935, Frankie Redfern is unusual. She faces prejudice even from her own mother. But she''s content working for her father, and is unwilling to give up her independence or the work she loves for marriage. When her husband falls gravely ill, Frankie''s mother takes over, causing serious trouble for her daughter. And her cousin, an unscrupulous local builder, starts to help her for his own reasons.Jericho Harte has never met a woman he wanted to marry until he bumps into Frankie on the moors. When she comes to him the next day with an extraordinary suggestion, it seems a marriage of convenience might suit them both. Or could their relationship become more than that?But Frankie''s problems worsen as her father goes missing from hospital. Is there more to his illness than met the eye?Can Frankie and Jericho help uncover the truth and put an end to the danger she''s in before it''s too late?ReaTrade ReviewThis is that rare thing, a pacy page-turner with a ripping plot and characters you care about . . . [Anna Jacobs is] especially big on resourceful, admirable women. Great stuff! * Daily Mail *Anna Jacobs' books are deservedly popular. She is one of the best writers of Lancashire sagas around * Historical Novels Review *[Anna Jacobs' books have an] impressive grasp of human emotions * The Sunday Times *
£8.54
Hodder & Stoughton Friends and Families
Book SynopsisA touching novel from the prize-winning author of ROSEMARY and A GIRL OF HER TIME that follows the hopes and dreams of two girls growing up during the 1950s.
£999.99
Hodder & Stoughton A Brightness Long Ago
Book Synopsis''The greatest living author of epic fantasy'' - Brandon Sanderson ''The finest in his field'' - Tor.com ''Guy Gavriel Kay''s A Brightness Long Ago is a masterpiece; perhaps the finest work of one of the world''s greatest living storytellers'' - Fantasy Book Review ***One of Goodreads'' Most Anticipated SFF Books of 2019*** Internationally bestselling author Guy Gavriel Kay''s latest work is set in a world evoking early Renaissance Italy, with an extraordinary cast of characters. In a chamber overlooking the nighttime waterways of a maritime city, a man looks back on his youth and the people who shaped his life. Danio Cerra''s intelligence won him entry to a renowned school, though he was only the son of a tailor. He took service at the court of a ruling count - and soon learned why that man was known as The Beast. Danio''s fate changed the moment he recognized Adria Ripoli as she entered theTrade ReviewBy making the familiar ever so slightly strange, GGK breathes new life into historical fantasy. Beautifully faceted, jewel-like scenes carry us beyond the doublets and daggers to create an emotionally charged, high-stakes world of love and hate, threat and reward. * Daily Mail *The greatest living author of epic fantasy * Brandon Sanderson *The finest in his field * Tor.com *Believably and with great vividness, Kay recreates the past not as it was, but as it might have, perhaps should have, been * Financial Times *A Brightness Long Ago is a masterpiece; perhaps the finest work of one of the world's greatest living storytellers * Fantasy Book Review *No matter what the era, the themes, the characters, or the plot, a Guy Gavriel Kay novel is always a marvel of narrative construction * Beauty in Ruins Blog on A BRIGHTNESS LONG AGO *The single best reason I can think of for reading a Guy Gavriel Kay book is the supreme elegance and grace of his writing. ... A Brightness Long Ago is yet another gorgeous, moving novel from a master craftsman * Fantasy Literature Reviewer *Guy Gavriel Kay has a wonderful talent. He tells stories in an invented world that is so rich in historical echoes that I found myself smiling with pleasure as I heard the echoes, while engrossed in the story. Warmly recommended * Edward Rutherfurd, author of SARUM *Another brilliant novel from a literary giant * HNS Magazine *Guy Gavriel Kay ... may now hold the best claim to being the greatest living writer of fantasy fiction... Kay's novels take real historical events and then weave a fantastical new shape out of them, creating a rich tapestry of characters, events and emotions that is never less than affecting, and, at his best, can be deeply moving. A Brightness Long Ago (*****) is another superb novel from an author who may be fantasy's most reliably excellent, thoughtful, atmospheric and humane writer, and one whose powers remain notably undimmed. It's a book about lives, how people live them and the events that shape them, and how everything is connected * The Wertzone Blog on A BRIGHTNESS LONG AGO *Guy Gavriel Kay writes magical books ... He takes a plot and cast of characters, ones that would be interesting enough even in the hands of lesser authors, and turns them into something extraordinary through his lyrical and profoundly thoughtful storytelling, his insights into human character and motivations, and his musings on life and its meaning * Fantasy Literature Reviewer *A surefire hit for historical fiction and fantasy readers, A Brightness Long Ago further cements Kay's reputation as a wise and beguiling storyteller. * Shelf Awareness *It's the Italian renaissance brilliantly shot through with fantasy. Finely faceted scenes dazzle as strong, wilful characters create a high-stakes world of love and hate, threat and reward * Daily Mail *I love all Guy's novels, but this one is something really special: gorgeous and wise and incredibly generous of spirit * James Bradley *
£10.44
John Murray Press The Ninth Child
Book Synopsis''WONDERFUL. ONE NEVER MESSES WITH THE FAERIES'' Melanie Reid, The Times''AN ABSOLUTE TRIUMPH'' Sarah Haywood, author of The Cactus''EXTRAORDINARILY VIVID'' Michelle Gallen, author of Big Girl Small TownLoch Katrine waterworks, 1856. A Highland wilderness fast becoming an industrial wasteland. No place for a lady. Isabel Aird is aghast when her husband is appointed doctor to an extraordinary waterworks being built miles from the city. But Isabel, denied the motherhood role that is expected of her by a succession of miscarriages, finds unexpected consolations in a place where she can feel the presence of her unborn children and begin to work out what her life in Victorian society is for. The hills echo with the gunpowder blasts of hundreds of navvies tunnelling day and night to bring clean water to diseased Glasgow thirty miles away - digging so deep that there are those who worry they arTrade ReviewSally Magnusson's classy new novel The Ninth Child has snared me . . . Suffice to say I'm hooked, and I'm only on page 50. It's wonderful and I daren't stop. One never messes with the faeries. * Melanie Reid, THE TIMES *An absolute triumph! Such a clever interweaving of history and fairytale. I loved the lively intelligent heroine and the brooding sense of menace throughout. It had me gripped right to the end * Sarah Haywood, author of THE CACTUS *Not only did the book transport me while I read, but when I slept my dreams were extraordinarily vivid - I dreamt I was roaming in the highlands, smelling fresh air, feeling sunlight - far from my hospital bed. Few books have this impact on me. * Michelle Gallen, author of BIG GIRL SMALL TOWN *An engaging mix of folklore and Victorian history * Sunday Times *This eerie tale blends Scottish folklore with historical fiction * i *Pacy and accomplished, with a supernatural chill * The Herald *Enthralling * Scots Magazine *Well-researched, fascinating . . . a strong sense of place . . . an accomplished piece of writing, cementing Magnusson's place, not just as one of Scotland's best-loved broadcasters, but one of Scotland's leading writers of historical fiction * Scotland on Sunday *Entertaining, educational and thought-provoking, The Ninth Child is pacy and accomplished, with particular skill in capturing the supernatural chill attached to some of Scotland's most picturesque sights * Press Assocation *A compassionate story of the clashing cultures of science and superstition, of male and female, rich and poor * Anne Goodwin Weekly *A gripping plot, vivid period detail and a terrific touch of faery too * Caroline Sanderson *A beguiling weave of fine imaginative writing and deft research into Celtic folklore and a triumph of Scottish engineering. The Ninth Child is a dramatic and magical novel told with enormous zest and wit. I am looking forward to Sally Magnusson's next fine novel. * Les Wilson Author of The Drowned and the Saved *A very impressive piece of work, drawing on a strong sense of place and a rich seam of history and folklore for its power. * Donald Murray, author of As the Women Lay Dreaming. *Sally Magnusson has written a brilliant tour-de-force that blends together unlikely ingredients such as engineering, the Celtic Otherworld and 19th century medicine into a memorable, riveting, page-turning story. I savoured it! * Alistair Moffat *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Scarlet Pimpernel
Book SynopsisBaroness Orczy's classic tale of adventure, set during the French Revolution. Also available as an unabridged audiobook, read by Julian Rhind-Tutt.Trade ReviewAnyone who feels that their outward manner is but a travesty of their inner self can hardly fail to respond to THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL - Independent
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Secrets of the Lavender Girls
Book Synopsis''A twisty plot, warm-hearted characters, laughter, secrets and heartbreak - and bursting with fascinating detail'' - Annie MurrayStratford, 1943. World War Two is still raging across Europe. But for the Lavender Girls, the workers at the Yardley cosmetics factory in East London, there are even more challenges on the home front.Esther, newly married, is learning to juggle life as a working woman with her duties as a wife and homemaker. And she must find a way to help her adopted family on the Shoot, who are battling their own hidden demons . . .Headstrong Patsy, a new recruit at the Yardley factory, has a double life that takes her from the East End lipstick belt by day to the stage in the West End at night. But will she be able to keep her secrets hidden from her controlling mother, Queenie?For bubbly Lou, a forbidden love forces her to choose between family loyalty and a chance at true happiness. Can she Trade ReviewPraise for Secrets of the Lavender Girls:As warm, welcome and inviting as a cuppa on a cold day * Melanie McGrath *Another of Kate's wonderful stories with a twisty plot, warm-hearted characters, with laughter, secrets and heartbreak - and bursting with fascinating detail. A really great read * Annie Murray *Kate Thompson has brought to life a remarkable story and in loving detail too . . . an absolute joy! * Glenda Young *A fabulous read that both entertains and educates! A wonderfully written, heart-felt novel . . . The historical research which has gone into this novel jumps off the pages. Perfect for lovers of saga or those wanting to step through a door to the past and become enmeshed in a fascinating part of our social history * Nancy Revell *A welcome return to the Yardley Factory . . . A strong story of friendship, love and family set amid WWII * My Weekly *Praise for Kate Thompson:A riveting and wonderful readThe way Kate Thompson writes . . . made me feel that I was reading about old friends. I just had to keep the pages turning. I am sure that before long her readers will be clamouring for moreMarvellous, full of gutsy characters I immediately empathized withThe remarkable story of the women who ruled the East End through the Blitz. A lively authentic social history, the book centres around five formidable working-class women . . . a hair-raising, but always warmhearted tale * My Weekly *Kate Thompson writes books that make you laugh and make you cry, sometimes at the same time. You cannot put them down. I advise you to read them all!Inspiring tales of courage in the face of hardship * Mail on Sunday *
£9.86
