The year is 1944 and Veit Kolbe, a young German soldier, injured fighting in Russia, is recovering at Mondsee, a village and a lake below Drachenwand mountain, close to Salzburg in Austria. Here he meets Margot and Margarete, two young women who share his hope that sometime, sooner or later, life will begin again. The war is lost but how long will it take before it finally comes to its end? In Hinterland, Arno Geiger tells of Veit's nightmares and the strangely normal life of the small village, of the Brazilian who dreams of returning to Rio de Janeiro, of the landlady and her rallying calls, of Margarete the teacher with whom Veit falls in love, but who doesn't return his affection. But when Veit's wounds are healed his next call-up orders arrive. The military outlook for Germany and Austria looks increasingly grim and Veit's luck has run out . . .

The No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling series set during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, perfect for fans of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy and Netflix's The Crown 'Gripping' Sunday Times 'Fast-paced and entertaining' Mail on Sunday A TREASONOUS PLOT England, 1586. Giordano Bruno, heretic turned spy, passes on vital information to spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham. A band of Catholic Englishmen are plotting to kill Queen Elizabeth and install Mary, Queen of Scots, on the English throne. A DEADLY TRAP Walsingham, already aware of the plot, is allowing it to progress. He hopes that Mary will put her support in writing - and condemn herself to a traitor's death. A QUEEN IN DANGER Bruno must go undercover, join the conspirators and stop them. A queen is destined to die; Bruno must make sure it is the right one... Praise for Execution 'A brilliantly realised fictionalisation of the Babington plot against Elizabeth 1' Observer 'Execution has an atmospheric sense of place. The plot twists and turns' The Times 'Immaculate... the depth of period detail, the all-enveloping sense of time and place, and the sheer gory drama' Metro 'Sumptuous' New York Times 'Parris's attention to the details of Elizabethan life and her ability to create characters of depth are again on display in a gripping narrative' The Sunday Times 'Fast-paced and entertaining' Mail on Sunday 'Parris is one of the stars of historical crime fiction and this, her sixth Giordano Bruno novel, is among her best'i 'Superbly plotted, shimmeringly written, it will have you on the edge of your seat' Kate Williams, author of The Storms of War 'An impressive feat' Marisa Haetzman, also writes as Ambrose Parry

A dramatic saga that sweeps from the dust of the Boer War to the carnage of the Great War, with a bitter private conflict sandwiched in between... Corporal Russ Hazelwood loves his wife Rachel, but she is far away, and the African woman seems the answer to long, passionless nights on the veldt. The war over, Russ returns to York and Rachel, to a growing family and increasing prosperity, little realizing how - years later - those moments of weakness in Africa will come back to haunt him, threatening to destroy everything he cherishes. Then, overshadowing all, comes the most dreadful war the world has ever seen. And when it is over, the greatest battle has still to be won - on the home front.

A richly atmospheric historical fantasy about shapeshifters struggling to survive in the decadent city of Rome during the Dark Ages. Rome is mired in crumbling grandeur. Into the Eternal City comes Regeane, a young woman distantly related to Charlemagne, and as such an unwilling pawn in the struggle for political power. But unknown to all, she is a shapeshifter: woman and wolf. Betrothed to a barbarian lord she has never seen, she is surrounded by enemies. The most notorious, her depraved uncle and guardian, who will betray her to the Church unless she aids him in his sinister schemes. If the Church discovers her secret she will burn at the stake. Outside the gates of Rome there is a mysterious dark wolf who seems to offer Regeane a wildly seductive new life, yet as her marriage looms plots and deadly counterplots tighten like a noose around her neck. Fast-paced, sensual and rich with historical detail, The Silver Wolf will place Alice Borchardt squarely in the front rank of contemporary women writers. Her intricate plot and hypnotic voice will cast a spell few will be able to resist.

Whether he is nurturing a single rare seedling into a blossoming tree or planning acres of exquisitely conceived royal gardens, John Tradescant's fame and skill as a gardener are unsurpassed in seventeenth-century England. But it is Tradescant's clear-sighted honesty and loyalty that make him an invaluable servant, and in his role as informal confidant during garden strolls with Sir Robert Cecil, adviser to King James I, he witnesses the making of history, from the Gunpowder Plot to the accession of King Charles I and the growing animosity between Parliament and court.

Tradescant's talents soon come to the attention of the most powerful man in the country, the irresistible Duke of Buckingham, the lover of King Charles I. Tradescant has always been faithful to his masters, but Buckingham is unlike any he has ever known: flamboyant, outrageously charming, and utterly reckless. Every certainty upon which Tradescant has based his life -- his love of his wife and children, his passion for his work, his loyalty to his country -- is shattered as he follows Buckingham to court, to war, and to the forbidden territories of human love.

From the details of garden design and innovation to the politics of a growing revolution which was to kill a king and turn a world upside down, Philippa Gregory once again makes history come alive through the people whose passions shaped that world.

A disgraced woman. A faraway land. A forbidden love... An unforgettable tale set in Victorian London and 1840s China from a shining, young historical talent. Desperate to shield her from scandal, Mary's brother-in-law, the ambitious botanist Robert Fortune, forces her to accompany him on a mission to China to steal tea plants for the East India Company. But Robert conceals his secret motives - to spy for the British forces, newly victorious in the recent Opium War. His task is both difficult and dangerous - the British are still regarded as enemies by the Chinese and exporting tea bushes carries the death sentence. In these harsh conditions Mary grieves for her London life and the baby she has been forced to leave behind, while her fury at Robert intensifies. As their quest becomes increasingly treacherous, Robert and Mary disguise themselves as a bureaucrat and man-servant. Thousands of miles from everything familiar, Mary revels in her new freedom and the Chinese way of life - and when danger strikes, finds unexpected reserves of courage. The Secret Mandarin is an unforgettable story of love, fortitude and recklessness - of a strong woman determined to make it in a man's world and a man who will stop at nothing to fulfil his desires.

Bristol - 1953 It's Coronation Year. A new beginning in the aftermath of war, but there are still battles to be fought and secrets to be kept. Charlotte Hennessey-White copes with the shortcomings of her marriage and throws herself into helping refugees unwelcome by some and exploited by others. Edna Burbage has three beautiful children and considers herself lucky until the advent of a deadly twentieth century disease makes her think otherwise. Polly Chandler still hopes for a better life, but there are too many obstacles standing in her way. These three women lived through a war, can they now cope with the demands of peace? Praise for Lizzie Lane: 'A gripping saga and a storyline that will keep you hooked' Rosie Goodwin 'The Tobacco Girls is another heartwarming tale of love and friendship and a must-read for all saga fans.' Jean Fullerton 'Lizzie Lane opens the door to a past of factory girls, redolent with life-affirming friendship, drama, and choices that are as relevant today as they were then.' Catrin Collier 'If you want an exciting, authentic historical saga then look no further than Lizzie Lane.' Fenella J Miller

A richly entertaining recreation of Regency London, as the next generation of Darcy girls have to make their way in a society that doesn't always appreciate their wit, determination and sense of fun. This is the story of Cassandra, a young cousin to the children of Mr and Mrs Darcy of 'Pride and Prejudice'. She's a worthy heir to them in every way - she speaks her mind, is shrewd and talented - but, sad to say, she makes one very major mistake as a result of her impetuousness. Cast out of her respectable place in the world, she has to make her own way. But in a London that regards any attractive, independent young lady with deep suspicion, how can she avoid coming upon the town? This is an unashamedly light and fun read which will appeal to all fans of the perennially popular Jane Austen. Its detail is accurate, its language accesible but authentic - it's the perfect read for all of us who've seen the films, bought the DVDs, reread the originals, but still want more.

The freshest and most poignant observer of human foibles and heroic hearts since Anita Brookner, Mary Wesley and Alice Thomas Ellis. When Lydia sees Simon late at night driving down Westbourne Grove her suspicions are aroused. Simon, a TV film director, lives in Hammersmith with his wife Flora and their three children, what need has he for the dubious attractions of Bayswater? The attraction is Gillian, an accountant, whom Simon met at a dinner party while Flora and the children were away in la douce France. Flora struggles with her re-found Christian faith, though Anglican now rather than Roman Catholic, as Simon falls into a hopelessly passionate and sexual affair that brings its own burden and guilt. The smart world of middle-class West London is depicted with savage wit and a needle-sharp intelligence that will remind readers of the novels of Muriel Spark.

Hart van duisternis deur Joseph Conrad (1857 tot 1924) is een van die beste verhale oor Afrika en veral die Kongo wat daar nog ooit geskryf is. Ná die eerste boekpublikasie daarvan in 1902 het dit nog nooit verouder nie en lees dit vandag soos ‘n eietydse kommentaar op ons vasteland, veral die warm, broeiende ruigtes rondom die Kongorivier naby aan die ewenaar.

Charles Marlow, ‘n seeman vertel boeiend van sy moeisame soektog per rivierboot na die geheimsinnige meneer Kurtz, wat diep in die Kongolese oerwoud verlore geraak het. Blykbaar het Kurtz, wat eens ‘n beskaafde Europeër was, ontaard in iemand wat nie meer die die reëls van die beskawing gehoorsaam nie.

Soos wat Marlow nader en nader aan Kurtz kom, dreig die gevaar toenemend en raak die spanning ondraaglik. Wat gaan hy daar vind en hoe sal hy dit ooit aan sy base in Europa kan oordra? En gaan hy hoegenaamd die ekspedisie oorleef?

Hierdie dun boekie dra ‘n wêreld in hom saam. Dit hoort in elke Afrikaanse huis, nie net vanweë die asemrowende beskrywings van die rivier en die bos nie, maar ook weens die skrywer se geniale insigte in die verhouding tussen Europa en Afrika, tussen blank en swart.

Enersyds is Conrad al geloof vir sy kritiek op kolonialisme en rassisme, andersyds is hy veroordeel omdat hy juis onbevange oor oer-Afrika, sy rituele en sy mense skryf. Die Afrikaanse, asook die wêreldletterkunde, wemel van verwysings na Hart van duisternis. Die beroemde Hollywoodfilm Apocalypse Now het insgelyks sy tema hier kom leen.