An atmospheric literary thriller set during the devastating North Sea flood of 1953, in which a love triangle turns murderous. Her heart beat hard. There was a crazed beauty to the storm. It was almost miraculous, the way it took away the mess of life, sweeping all in its path... No-one could have foreseen the changes the summer of 1952 would bring. Cramming for her final exams on her family's farm on the Norfolk coast, Verity Frost feels trapped between past and present: the devotion of her childhood friend Arthur, just returned from National Service, and her strange new desire to escape. When Verity meets Jack, a charismatic American pilot, he seems to offer the glamour and adventure she so craves, and Arthur becomes determined to uncover the dirt beneath his rival's glossy sheen. As summer turns to winter, a devastating storm hits the coast, flooding the land and altering everything in its path. In this new, watery landscape, Verity's tangled web of secrets, lies and passion will bring about a crime that will change all their lives forever. Praise for The Night of the Flood: 'Evocative, glorious and tragic' Melanie Golding 'A taut, impressive debut' Neil Hegarty 'Atmospheric and haunting' Emma Stonex 'A compelling story about love and friendship, secrets and betrayal' Anna-Marie Crowhurst

A powerful enemy. A land of second chances.

Jim Courtney is protected by all the wealth and influence that his family's successful business, the Courtney Brothers Trading Company, can provide in the Dutch-owned colonies of South Africa. Louisa Leuven is an orphaned young woman who escaped the plague only to be unjustly imprisoned and transported to the Cape. When a storm destroys her prison ship, Jim is her only hope of escape.

But Louisa and Jim have greater adventures in the African wilds ahead of them: they must flee from Dutch forces who seek not only to recapture their prisoner, but also to hunt down and hang Jim Courtney - and punish the other member of the Courtney family, however they can...

True to its name, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is an adventure-packed story about a young boy living in a small town on the banks of the Mississippi River. Written by the ionic American author Mark Twain, this coming-of-age classic has been revered since its publication in the late 19th century. Tom Sawyer has a nose for mischief. Growing up with his Aunt Polly and half-brother Sid, Tom has a way of looking for trouble. When young Tom Sawyer and his buddy Huckleberry Finn sneak out to the graveyard at midnight for what they deem to be good fun, what they don't expect is to witness a trio of body snatchers robbing a grave...and the consequences thereafter proving to be potentially catastrophic. Corralled by the limits of his small town, Tom Sawyer seeks a life that is unencumbered by rules and curfews. Alongside his buddy, Huck Finn, the duo make their way through what becomes an adventure of a lifetime, and one laden with secret hidden treasure. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer has been hailed as a childhood rite of passage, having become to many a masterpiece of American literature. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is both modern and readable. Be sure to check out the Mint Editions sequel to this beloved American classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Blue at the Mizzen (novel #20) ended with Jack Aubrey getting the news, in Chile, of his elevation to flag rank: Rear Admiral of the Blue Squadron, with orders to sail to the South Africa station. The next novel, unfinished and untitled at the time of the author's death, would have been the chronicle of that mission, and much else besides. The three chapters left on O'Brian's desk are presented here both in printed version-including his corrections to the typescript-and a facsimile of his manuscript, which goes several pages beyond the end of the typescript to include a duel between Stephen Maturin and an impertinent officer who is courting his fiancee. Of course we would rather have had the whole story; instead we have this proof that O'Brian's powers of observation, his humor, and his understanding of his characters were undiminished to the end. Includes a Facsimile of the Manuscript.

When King Richard the Lionheart's health began to decline, the English leader organized a truce with the leader of the Islamic forces, Saladin. Agreeing to cease the battles on the condition that Jerusalem would be under Muslim control, the two leaders gave orders to their troops to return to their homes. However, Sir Kenneth, a Scottish knight, was in the search of a certain monk rather than his home when he encounters Emir, a cavalryman for Saladin's forces. At first distrustful of each other and used to warfare, the two soldiers engage in a one-on-one battle. But when both refuse to surrender, the men realize that they are equally matched, and with the truces between their leaders, there was no reason to fight. Apon this realization, Amir and Kenneth become friends. When Kenneth later mentions that he is on a quest to find a Christian monk, Emir offers to accompany him, as he knows the terrain better than Kenneth. After happily accepting the offer, the two fighters set off on their journey, facing villains, deception, romance, and duels. Admired for its rich prose and skillfully portrayed plotline, Sir Walter Scott's The Talisman is an intricate and theatrical work of literary art. With well-presented characters and an engrossing setting, The Talisman offers the rare depiction of a friendship between an Arabic and English soldier in the 11th century as well as the seldomly portrayed time of peace during the crusades. With themes of chivalry, virtue, and violence paired with compelling representation and a well-executed plot, Sir Walter Scott's The Talisman exceeds high expectations. This edition of The Talisman by Sir Walter Scott now features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of The Talisman crafts an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original mastery and drama of Sir Walter Scott's literature.

The final book in The Song of the Shattered Sands series closes the epic fantasy saga in a desert setting, filled with rich worldbuilding and pulse-pounding action. The plans of the desert gods are coming to fruition. Meryam, the deposed queen of Qaimir, hopes to raise the buried elder god, Ashael, an event that would bring ruin to the desert. Ceda and Emre sail for their ancestral home to bring the traitor, Hamid, to justice. To their horror, they discover that the desert tribes have united under Hamid's banner. Their plan? A holy crusade to annihilate Sharakhai, a thing long sought by many in the tribes. In Sharakhai, meanwhile, the blood mage, Davud, examines the strange gateway between worlds, hoping to find a way to close it. And King Ihsan hunts for Meryam, but always finds himself two steps behind. When Meryam raises Ashael, all know the end is near. Ashael means to journey to the land that was denied to him an age ago, no matter the cost to the desert. It now falls to Ceda and her unlikely assortment of allies to find a way to unite not only the desert tribes and the people of Sharakhai, but the city's invaders as well. Even if they do, stopping Ashael will cost them dearly, perhaps more than all are willing to pay.

Bundook. Gun. A common word, but one which turns Deen Datta’s world upside down.

A dealer of rare books, Deen is used to a quiet life spent indoors, but as his once-solid beliefs begin to shift, he is forced to set out on an extraordinary journey; one that takes him from India to Los Angeles and Venice via a tangled route through the memories and experiences of those he meets along the way. There is Piya, a fellow Bengali-American who sets his journey in motion; Tipu, an entrepreneurial young man who opens Deen’s eyes to the realities of growing up in today’s world; Rafi, with his desperate attempt to help someone in need; and Cinta, an old friend who provides the missing link in the story they are all a part of. It is a journey which will upend everything he thought he knew about himself, about the Bengali legends of his childhood and about the world around him.

Gun Island is a beautifully realised novel which effortlessly spans space and time. It is the story of a world on the brink, of increasing displacement and unstoppable transition. But it is also a story of hope, of a man whose faith in the world and the future is restored by two remarkable women.

Characters real and imaginary come vividly to life in this whimsical triple play of intertwined plots, in which a skeptical H. G. Wells is called upon to investigate purported incidents of time travel and to save lives and literary classics, including "Dracula "and "The Time Machine, "from being wiped from existence.
"What happens if we change history?"
Felix J. Palma explores this provocative question, weaving a historical fantasy as imaginative as it is exciting--a story full of love and adventure that transports readers from a haunting setting in Victorian London to a magical reality where centuries collide and a writer's mind seems to pull at all the strings.

Richard Sharpe, abandoned in enemy territory, has to trust in assistance from a hostile American privateer.

The invasion of France is under way, and the British Navy has called upon the services of Major Richard Sharpe. He and a small force of Riflemen are to capture a fortress and secure a landing on the French coast. It is to be one of the most dangerous missions of his career.

Through the reckless incompetence of a naval commander, Sharpe finds himself abandoned in the heart of enemy territory, facing overwhelming forces and the very real prospect of defeat. He has no alternative but to trust his fortunes to an American privateer – a man who has no love for the British invaders.

Soldier, hero, rogue – Sharpe is the man you always want on your side. Born in poverty, he joined the army to escape jail and climbed the ranks by sheer brutal courage. He knows no other family than the regiment of the 95th Rifles whose green jacket he proudly wears.

It is still the War of 1812. Patrick O'Brian takes his hero Jack Aubrey and his tetchy, sardonic friend Stephen Maturin on a voyage across the South Atlantic to intercept a powerful American frigate outward bound to play havoc with the British whaling trade.

If they do not come up with her before she rounds the Horn they must follow her into the Great South Sea and as far across the Pacific as she may lead them. It is a commission after Jack's own heart. Maturin has fish of his own to fry in the world of secret intelligence. That the enemy is in fact faithfully dealt with no one who has the honour of Captain Aubrey's acquaintance can take leave to doubt.

"If O'Brian's novels have become a cult, this is because they are truly addictive…They are, quite magnificently, adventure yarns, whose superb authenticity never distracts from the sheer thrill of the action."
CAROLINE MOORE, 'Sunday Telegraph'

"The truth is that we aficionados scarcely feel them to be novels at all. They are a world of their own, a world full of excitement, mystery, charm and good-manners."
JAN MORRIS, 'Observer'

Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, veterans of many battles, return in this novel to the seas where they first sailed as shipmates. But Jack is now a senior Captain commanding a line-of-battle ship sent out to reinforce the squadron blockading Toulon, and this is a longer, harder, colder war than the dashing frigate action of his early days.

A sudden turn of events takes him and Stephen off on a hazardous mission to the Greek islands. All his old skills of seamanship, and his proverbial luck when fighting against odds, come triumphantly into their own. The book ends with as fierce and thrilling an action as any in this magnificent series of novels.

A new omnibus in the highly acclaimed Sir Robert Carey Mysteries. Perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom and S.J. Parris.

1592. Sir Robert Carey abandoned the ambition and treachery of Queen Elizabeth I's court to take up the post of Deputy Warden of the West March, aided by his surly, larcenous, and loyal henchman Henry Dodd, Land Sergeant of Gilsland.

As Carey struggles to solve the murder of a local minister, he battles with his deep adoration of Lady Elizabeth Widdrington, while despising her elderly, abusive husband – will the man never die? During his investigation, Carey encounters King James IV, his amoral favourite Lord Spynie, the fey Lady Hume, Mr Anricks – a surprisingly skilled tooth drawer – and, finally, a plot to topple the Scottish Court.

Plunging readers straight into the raucous world of late-sixteenth century border reivers and unfettered Elizabethan intrigue, Swords in the East, the third chronicle of Sir Robert Carey's adventures, collects the novels A Chorus of Innocents and A Clash of Spheres under one volume.

Captain Jack Aubrey is ashore on half-pay without a command — until his friend, and occasional intelligence agent, Stephen Maturin, arrives with secret orders for Aubrey to take a frigate to the Cape of Good Hope, under a Commodore’s pennant. But the difficulties of carrying out his orders are compounded by two of his own captains — Lord Clonfert, a pleasure-seeking dilettante, and Captain Corbett, whose severity can push his crews to the verge of mutiny.

Based on the actual campaign of 1810 in the Indian Ocean, O’Brian’s attention to detail of eighteenth-century life ashore and at sea is meticulous. This tale is as beautifully written and as gripping as any in the series; it also stands on its own as a superlative work of fiction.

This New York Times bestseller from “one of the great storytellers of our time” (San Francisco Book Review) turns from the glamour of the royal courts to tell the story of an ordinary woman, Alinor, living in a dangerous time for a woman to be different.

On Midsummer’s Eve, Alinor waits in the church graveyard, hoping to encounter the ghost of her missing husband and thus confirm his death. Until she can, she is neither maiden nor wife nor widow, living in a perilous limbo. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run. She shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marshy landscape of the Tidelands, not knowing she is leading a spy and an enemy into her life.

England is in the grip of a bloody civil war that reaches into the most remote parts of the kingdom. Alinor’s suspicious neighbors are watching each other for any sign that someone might be disloyal to the new parliament, and Alinor’s ambition and determination mark her as a woman who doesn’t follow the rules. They have always whispered about the sinister power of Alinor’s beauty, but the secrets they don’t know about her and James are far more damning. This is the time of witch-mania, and if the villagers discover the truth, they could take matters into their own hands.

“This is Gregory par excellence” (Kirkus Reviews). “Fans of Gregory’s works and of historicals in general will delight in this page-turning tale” (Library Journal, starred review) that is “superb… A searing portrait of a woman that resonates across the ages” (People).

Sunday Times 'Best Paperbacks of 2022' 'Feisty female characters, a plot of heart-stopping jeopardy and evocative settings' Daily Mail 'Mosse is a master storyteller' Madeline Miller, author of Circe 'Magnificent, epic' Marian Keyes Sweeping from Paris and Chartres to the City of Tears itself - the great refugee city of Amsterdam - this is a story of one family's fight to stay together and survive against the devastating tides of history . . . May 1572: for ten violent years the Wars of Religion have raged across France. Neighbours have become enemies, countless lives have been lost, and the country has been torn apart over matters of religion, citizenship and sovereignty. But now a precarious peace is in the balance and a royal wedding has been negotiated. It is a marriage that could see France reunited at last. An invitation has arrived for Minou Joubert and her family to attend this historic wedding in Paris in August. But what Minou does not know is that the Joubert family's oldest enemy, Vidal, will also be there. Nor that, within days of the marriage, on the eve of the Feast Day of St Bartholomew, her family will be scattered to the four winds and one of her beloved children will have disappeared without trace . . .

Spain, January 1812

Lieutenant Richard Sharpe faces threats from all sides when an old adversary joins the ranks. Yet, despite the risks, he must embark on a deadly mission – to capture the impenetrable fortress of Badajoz.

It’s a long, cold winter for war as the French force onwards – but Sharpe’s battle-rage burns. Only a Forlorn Hope, a near-suicidal move into the breach, will give the army hope of capturing the fortress. And boldly leading the attack is Sharpe . . .