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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > Crime & mystery > Historical mysteries
The Silent House (1899) is a mystery novel by Fergus Hume. Although not as successful as The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1886), an immediate bestseller for Hume, The Silent House is a gripping novel with an atmospheric intensity and tightly wound mystery worthy of the best of Victorian fiction. From an author whose work inspired Arthur Conan Doyle, The Silent House is a story of murder with a haunting, original conclusion. At twenty-five, Lucian Denzil is at the very beginning of his career as a barrister. Settling into a serious life, he rents a modest home in Pimlico on Geneva Square. Although he endeavors to focus and live only for his work, Lucian cannot help but notice the stories told by neighbors and servants about No. 13, a home near his own on the square. Decades prior to his settling in Pimlico, No. 13, now known as "the silent house," was the site of a gruesome murder. Over the years, it had gone unoccupied and fallen into general disrepair. In 1895, a quiet, reclusive man named Mark Berwin moved into the home, where he lived alone, and to which he could not infrequently be seen returning in the dead of night in a drunken, disturbed state. One night, while walking through Geneva Square to his own home, Lucian encounters Berwin who, intoxicated and confused, requires the young man's assistance. Helping the older gentleman make his way to No. 13, Lucian feels a growing unease, a sense of something that will lead him not only to the heart of a local mystery, but into the depths of the silent house itself. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Fergus Hume's The Silent House is a classic of English mystery and detective fiction reimagined for modern readers.
Paul Ferroll (1855) is a novel by Caroline Clive. Published to widespread critical and commercial acclaim, Paul Ferroll gained comparisons to Jane Eyre and predated the rise of popular detective fiction, but has since been largely forgotten. A captivating novel of Victorian social conventions with elements of Gothic horror, Paul Ferroll is an underrecognized work of literature that remains both entertaining and ultimately open ended. Paul Ferroll, a respected English magistrate, lives with his loving wife and young daughter at their comfortable country estate. When Ferroll's wife is found murdered in her bed, the family's idyllic image is disrupted forever. Although a servant is quickly arrested for the crime, a lack of evidence leads to his subsequent acquittal, raising questions about Ferroll's increasingly reclusive behavior. Despite remarrying, Ferroll clearly harbors a dark secret. He turns away from friends and neighbors, forcing his daughter to raise herself. While an outbreak of cholera devastates the local village, Ferroll, a formerly generous public servant, turns a blind eye to their suffering. As acquaintances speculate, unsure if Ferroll remains in mourning or if his change of heart signals something much darker, his home becomes haunted with ghosts of the living. Building slowly toward its unbearable conclusion, Paul Ferroll investigates the motives that lead to murder, illuminating the condition of the male psyche with expert precision. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Caroline Clive's Paul Ferroll is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.
Why Paul Ferroll Killed his Wife (1860) is a novel by Caroline Clive. Published to widespread critical and commercial acclaim, Paul Ferroll gained comparisons to Jane Eyre and predated the rise of popular detective fiction, but has since been largely forgotten. Five years after its publication, Clive returned to the themes which made Paul Ferroll successful; through close analysis of Victorian social conventions and a skillful use of Gothic horror, she produced Why Paul Ferroll Killed his Wife, a sequel in theme as opposed to narrative. Rather than reprise the characters of her last novel, Clive sought to emphasize the universality of tension and violence in the relationships of men and women by creative a separate scenario capable of expanding upon the first. In this novel, she investigates the motives that lead to murder, illuminating the condition of the male psyche with expert precision. A gathering convenes at an English country estate for a summer of rest and relaxation. Leslie, an Oxford student, joins his sweetheart Laura for walks in the woods and dinners with friends and family. Intending to ask for Laura's hand in marriage, Leslie is entirely unprepared for the arrival of Elinor, a young woman on leave from a convent in Brittany. As his feelings for this religious, reclusive figure grow, he finds himself questioning his heart while slowly losing control of his formidable, yet vulnerable mind. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Caroline Clive's Why Paul Ferroll Killed his Wife is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.
"As a child, my hero was Jo March [...] But as an adult, it's Louisa May Alcott." -Greta Gerwig The Mysterious Key and What It Opened (1867) is a novella by American author, feminist, and abolitionist Louisa May Alcott. Although less popular than her famed "March Family Saga," the novella showcases Alcott's gift for storytelling and deep concern for children who have suffered. The Mysterious Key and What It Opened is a hidden gem, a work of mystery that explores themes of family, death, and perseverance. Lillian Trevlyn was yet to be born when her father passed away under unknown circumstances. Not much is certain about Sir Richard Trevlyn's death beyond her mother's fragmented account. Curious about her husband's unknown visitor, Alice-pregnant with Lillian at the time-listens through the keyhole to the conversation going on inside the library. Horrified by what she hears, Alice faints, only to learn later that her husband has been found dead. Raised by her mother, Lillian grows up to be a strong young woman and hopes to put her past misfortunes behind her. While walking on the grounds of her family estate one day twelve years later, she meets a teenager named Paul who asks to be given work. Although he seems an upstanding young man, rumors begin to circulate among the family's servants, digging up the family's tragic history. When Paul mysteriously disappears, it becomes increasingly apparent that the past-however distant-has come full circle. The Mysterious Key and What It Opened is a captivating tale of mystery, wealth, and danger from an author known more for her works written for children and young adults. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Louisa May Alcott's The Mysterious Key and What It Opened is a classic of American literature and mystery fiction reimagined for modern readers.
In the midst of illness and hunger, two men murder a boy and are forced to reckon with the impending wrath of a mystery avenger. Marked "Personal" is an intense drama fueled by desperate actions and haunting memories. Two men, living in two different regions, share a common bond. They both received letters marked "personal" that are linked to a horrifying crime they committed 12 years prior. Both men were part of a group of prospectors, who were slammed by bad weather, sickness and starvation. They did unspeakable things to survive, including murder an innocent person. Each letter signifies the moment of truth in which they must accept their pending fate. Anna Katharine Green is a brilliant writer who is a master of suspense. In Marked "Personal" every moment is rife with uncertainty. As the details are slowly unveiled, the reader is pulled into a series of unnerving events. Green delivers an unforgettable story that stands out among her acclaimed catalog. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Marked "Personal" is both modern and readable.
Originally published in 1917, The Black Box follows expert criminologist Sanford Quest, as he and his colleagues attempt to bring a suspected killer to justice. The book contains a series of loosely connected stories driven by the captivating hero. Sanford Quest puts his detective skills to the test to solve an intricate murder mystery. He uses science, gadgets, and his superior deduction skills to narrow the list of suspects. This takes him on a globetrotting adventure that spans the United States, Europe and Africa. The Black Box is a multilayered story with twists at every turn. Quest is an eccentric lead who takes readers on an unforgettable ride. The Black Box introduces an extraordinary hero who plays by his own rules. Sanford Quest is an intriguing character whose reputation precedes him. E. Phillips Oppenheim creates an engaging protagonist similar to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Black Box is both modern and readable.
A young apprentice is framed for the murder of her mentor, a wealthy woman who had a serious penchant for spiritualism, theatrics and staged seances. When the woman is suddenly killed all signs point to her longstanding partner. Madame Dauvray was captivated by the supernatural world. She and her companion, Celia Harland, would often engage the public as spiritual mediums. Yet, their presentations were a farce fueled by trickery and performance. One day, Madame Dauvray is found strangled to death at the illustrious Villa Rose. Her maid is indisposed, and her jewels are stolen. Due to proximity and the nature of their business, Celia is made the prime suspect. In an effort to clear her name, the young Englishman, Harry Wethermill asks Inspector Hanaud to crack the case. At the Villa Rose is a thrilling detective story full of misdirects and shocking twists. The beloved character, Inspector Hanaud, makes a memorable debut in the first of six novels. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of At the Villa Rose is both modern and readable.
Uncle Silas (1864) is a novel by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. Expanded from an earlier short story, Uncle Silas is considered an important precursor to the works of Arthur Conan Doyle, and remains the author's most popular novel. It has been adapted several times for film, television, and radio. Following the untimely death of her father, Maud Ruthyn is sent to live at Bartram-Haugh, the estate of her estranged Uncle Silas. Under the terms of her father's will, Maud must live in Silas's care for three and a half years, or until she is old enough to take control of the family fortune. Unsure, but trusting her father's judgment, she consents to the terms and makes her way to Bartram-Haugh, where she will live with a man of whom she knows very little. Rumored to have lived a troubled youth, Silas has supposedly found religion, but the recent suicide of a man to whom Silas owed money casts doubts on his intentions and unsettles young Maud. Nevertheless, she soon grows accustomed to life at his estate, befriending Silas's daughter Millicent. When Dudley, her cousin, begins to court her, Maud first denies his advances before seeking her uncle's advice. The family soon discovers that Dudley has been married all along, and he is banished from Bartram-Haugh, leaving Maud in peace for a time. Soon, however, Millicent is sent away to France to attend school, leaving Maud at the estate on her own. Only slightly comforted by Silas's promise to reunite the two cousins as soon as he can, Maud waits for the day of her journey, altogether unaware of the plot unfolding right before her eyes. Uncle Silas is a masterful novel of mystery and suspense from Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, an important pioneer of Gothic horror. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's Uncle Silas is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.
Hide and Seek (1854) is a novel by Wilkie Collins. Written in the aftermath of Antonina (1850), his successful debut, Hide and Seek finds the author honing the trademark sense of mystery and psychological unease that would make him a household name around the world. Recognized as an important Victorian novelist and pioneer of detective fiction, Wilkie Collins was a writer with a gift for thoughtful entertainment, stories written for a popular audience that continue to resonate with scholars and readers today. Mary Grice, a young woman of wealth and social standing, becomes pregnant after a brief affair with a man calling himself Arthur Carr. Banished from her home, she dies during childbirth in the care of a group of circus performers, who adopt the baby as their own. Raised by Martha Peckover, the wife of a clown, young Mary is exploited by the circus owner following an accident with a horse, which leaves her deaf and mute. In order to save her, Martha brings Mary to a minister, who ensures she is adopted into a good home. Taken in by the Blyth family, Mary becomes known as Madonna for her beauty and grace, and soon catches the eye of Zack Thorpe. As the story unfolds, a mystery involving Mary's father begins to take shape, with implications for her blossoming romance with Zack. Beyond its sensational plot, Hide and Seek is a masterpiece of Gothic suspense and mystery for seasoned readers of Victorian fiction and newcomers alike. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Wilkie Collins' Hide and Seek is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.
The Dead Secret (1856) is a novel by Wilkie Collins. Written in the aftermath of Antonina (1850), his successful debut, The Dead Secret finds the author honing the trademark sense of mystery and psychological unease that would make him a household name around the world. Recognized as an important Victorian novelist and pioneer of detective fiction, Wilkie Collins was a writer with a gift for thoughtful entertainment, stories written for a popular audience that continue to resonate with scholars and readers today. Born in Porthgenna Tower, Rosamond Treverton is a child of secrecy. Her birthmother, Sarah Leeson, became pregnant after an affair with a local miner. Unable to raise her daughter, she allowed her to be adopted by Mrs. Treverton, the lady of the Tower, herself unable to bear children. Sworn to silence, Sarah leaves a hidden note in a room at Porthgenna before disappearing into the night. Years later, the Tower has been inherited by Rosamond, who continues to live there with her husband Leonard Frankland. When she becomes pregnant, a strange nurse arrives to take care of her and soon reveals the secret of her birth, threatening Rosamond's control of Porthgenna Tower and the Treverton family fortune. Beyond its sensational plot, The Dead Secret is a masterpiece of Gothic suspense and mystery for seasoned readers of Victorian fiction and newcomers alike. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Wilkie Collins' The Dead Secret is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.
"Only someone like Jeffrey Archer . . . could have written a compelling story like this. Every page bristles with suspense and the ending comes at you with the force of a tank round"-DAVID BALDACCI THE UNPUTDOWNABLE NEW THRILLER FROM THE MASTER STORYTELLER 'Only someone like Jeffrey Archer . . . could have written a compelling story like this. Every page bristles with suspense and the ending comes at you with the force of a tank round' DAVID BALDACCI London, 1988. Royal fever sweeps the nation as Britain falls in love with the 'people's princess'. Which means for Scotland Yard, the focus is on the elite Royalty Protection Command, and its commanding officer. Entrusted with protecting the most famous family on earth, they quite simply have to be the best. A weak link could spell disaster. Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick and his Scotland Yard squad are sent in to investigate the team. Maverick ex-undercover operative Ross Hogan is charged with a very sensitive - and unique - responsibility. But it soon becomes clear the problems in Royalty Protection are just the beginning. A renegade organization has the security of the country - and the Crown - in its sights. The only question is which target is next in line... Over My Dead Body hit #4 in the Sunday Times bestselling charts on 4th June 2022.
London, October 1941. Freddie Hackett, a message runner for a government office, witnesses an argument that ends in murder. Dismissed by the police when reporting the crime, Freddie turns to private investigator Maisie Dobbs for help. While Maisie believes the boy and wants to help, she must exercise caution given her work with a secret government department spearheading covert operations against the Nazis. When she stumbles upon the killer in a place she least expects, Maisie soon realises she's been pulled into the orbit of a man who has his own reasons to kill - reasons that go back to another war.
March, 1581. Queen Elizabeth is once again being urged to consider marriage to the Duke of Alencon, a French Catholic twenty years her junior. The prospect of the match is causing unrest throughout the kingdom. Ursula Blanchard, however, has more immediate matters to worry about when her nine-year-old son is snatched away while out riding. If she is ever to see him again, Ursula must undertake an impossibly difficult and dangerous mission - and commit an act of high treason. Can she rely on her half-sister, Queen Elizabeth, for help?
The recently married Valeria Brinton uncovers an unsettling truth about her new husband, including a false identity and the potential murder of his first wife. Valeria is determined to solve the mystery of her husband's previous marriage and presumed guilt. Shortly after her wedding, Valeria Brinton learns her husband, Eustace Woodville, has been living a lie. His real name is Eustace Macallan and he was previously accused of murdering his first wife. Although he wasn't convicted, the Scottish verdict "not proven" left plenty of room for speculation. Yet, Valeria is committed to her husband and believes he's innocent. Despite the naysayers, she embarks on a journey to find the truth, clearing Eustace's name once and for all. The Law and the Lady is one of Wilkie Collins classic detective novels. It's a timeless tale of perseverance despite the looming judgement of nineteenth century society. The protagonist's unwavering faith and inquisitive nature makes for a compelling read that captivates one's spirit and imagination. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Law and the Lady is both modern and readable.
Here is a sparkling collection of mystery gems, polished puzzlers from the pen of Agatha Christie starring the vain, eccentric and utterly brilliant Hercule Poirot. Hercule Poirot grapples with a chain of mysteries that challenge his ingenuity and display the author's wide-ranging imagination to fine effect. Herein the detective deals with the theft of a gem said to have been the eye of a mysterious idol, a million dollars in bonds that disappear from a locked case, jewel thieves who have conceived of a seemingly impossible theft, and even the kidnapping of the Prime Minister of England. Poirot uses deduction, deception and isn't above creating illusions to reveal a killer, but his foes are often both more unusual and more dangerous than simple murderers. He finds himself battling spies, masters of disguise and even trying to thwart a supposed Egyptian curse. Upon the initial appearance of Poirot Investigates in 1924 reviewers were impressed by the author's ability to create a complete, thoroughly conceived mystery with a surprising but logical solution inside a tight package of perhaps four thousand words. For the next fifty years, writing at any length that took her fancy, Christie would continue to produce some of the finest mysteries ever written. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Poirot Investigates is both modern and readable.
'Has a charm, and mystery, all of its own' THE TIMES 'Frances Brody has made it to the top rank of crime writers' DAILY MAIL The first historical mystery in a new classic crime series from bestselling author Frances Brody. This is the perfect locked room page-turner for fans of Agatha Christie and Jacqueline Winspear. ___________ 1969. A job in the Prison Service is not for everyone. The training is hard, the cells are bleak and a thick skin is needed. But for Nell Lewis, helping prisoners is something she cares about deeply, and when she's promoted into a new post as governor of HMP Brackerley in Yorkshire, she's tasked with transforming the renowned run-down facility into a modern, open prison for women. Just as Nell is settling into her new role, events take a dark turn when a man's body is discovered in the prison grounds. The mystery deepens still when one of their female inmates goes missing, ensuing a search across the country. Can Nell resolve the sinister happenings at HMP Brackerley, before anyone else is put in danger? ___________ What readers are saying about Frances Brody: 'Witty, acerbic and very, very perceptive' Ann Cleeves 'A splendid heroine' Ann Granger 'An engagingly forthright and indefatigable investigator' Irish Times 'Frances Brody matches a heroine of free and independent spirit with a vivid evocation of time and place . . . a novel to cherish' Barry Turner, Daily Mail 'The series is right up there with Miss Marple' Sunday Sport 'Delightful' People's Friend 'Kate Shackleton joins Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs in a subgroup of young, female amateur detectives who survived and were matured by their wartime experiences' Literary Review 'Brody's excellent mystery splendidly captures the conflicts and attitudes of the time with well-developed characters' RT Book Reviews 'In Yorkshire we are proud to have such a first-rate crime novelist in our county' Yorkshire Gazette & Herald
THE GRIPPING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER What happens when the person closest to you has led a life of deception? 'Full of suspense and intriguing characters' MY WEEKLY 'A gritty, gripping drama' WOMAN'S WEEKLY _______ After the funeral of her mother, Sally, Alice Kent is approached by a man named Angus Tweedy. He claims to be her father and tells her that he served time in prison for marrying Sally bigamously. What does he hope to gain by telling her this now, thirty years on? How can her adored dad Ralph not be her true father? And why did her mother betray her so badly? She had accepted Sally's many faults, and her reluctance to ever speak of the past. But faced with this staggering deception, Alice knows she must uncover the whole truth about her mother. Whatever the cost. As Alice journeys into the past she discovers her mother may never have been the woman she claimed to be . . . _______ 'Brilliantly builds intrigue' WOMAN & HOME 'A raw, truthful and moving account, building intrigue as Alice gradually uncovers her mother's life of deception, lies - and love' WOMAN'S WEEKLY 'Written with Pearse's typically engaging and effortless style of storytelling, Deception is an intriguing book of highs, lows, struggles and perseverance' CULTUREFLY Praise for Lesley Pearse 'Storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail 'Gripping and suspenseful' Daily Express 'A twisting and intense read' Woman's Own
Every gift has a price . . . every piece of lace has a secret. Towner Whitney, the self-confessed unreliable narrator, hails from a family of Salem women who can read the future in the patterns in lace, and who have guarded a history of secrets going back generations. Now the disappearance of two women is bringing Towner back home to Salem--and is bringing to light the shocking truth about the death of her twin sister.
The first in a brand-new WWII historical mystery series introduces WPC Billie Harkness - a female police officer who risks her life to protect the home front in the British coastal city of Hull. 1940. Britain is at war. Rector's daughter Wilhelmina Harkness longs to do her duty for her country, but when her strict mother forbids her to enlist, their bitter argument has devastating consequences. Unable to stay in the village she loves, Wilhelmina - reinventing herself as Billie - spends everything she has on a one-way ticket up north. Hull is a distant, dangerous city, but Billie is determined to leave her painful memories behind and start afresh, whatever the cost. The last thing Billie expects on her first evening in Hull, however, is to be caught in the city's first air raid - or to stumble across the body of a young woman, suspiciously untouched by debris. If the air raid didn't kill the glamorous stranger, what did? Billie is determined to get justice, and her persistence earns her an invitation to the newly formed Women's Police Constabulary. But as the case unfolds, putting her at odds with both high-ranking members of the force as well as the victim's powerful family, Billie begins to wonder if she can trust her new friends and colleagues . . . or if someone amongst them is working for the enemy. DEATH IN A BLACKOUT is a perfect pick for fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Rhys Bowen and Susan Elia MacNeal.
A tale of greed, ambition and thwarted love in eighteenth-century Leeds On a hot summer morning, Richard Nottingham, Constable of Leeds, is called out when a young woman is found stabbed to death among the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey, just outside the city. In her pocket is a carefully-folded love note: "Soon we'll be together and our hearts can sing loud, my love, W." Her pale skin and smooth hands speak of money, but no one comes to claim her body. When the victim's husband eventually appears, his evidence throws up more questions than answers. What happened to the maid who accompanied her mistress on her final, fatal journey? Who is the mysterious 'W' who signed the note? And why does the victim's father seem so indifferent to her death? Nottingham has to delve into the dark secrets of the rich and influential to uncover the truth.
It is the summer of 1950-and at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw,
young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for
poison, is intrigued by a series of inexplicable events: A dead
bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to
its beak. Then, hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the
cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath.
In the 1930s, Port St. Joe, on the Gulf in Florida's panhandle, had more than its share of secrets. Morphine-addicted old Doc Berber, the town's only general practitioner, thought he knew most of them. But a murder out at the Cape San Blas lighthouse pulls him into series of intrigues that even he does not know how to cure.
The first in a new Victorian murder mystery series set in London, featuring a clever and determined young female sleuth When a customer of William Doughty's chemist shop dies of strychnine poisoning after drinking medicine he dispensed, William is blamed, and the family faces ruin. William's daughter, 19-year-old Frances, determines to redeem her ailing father's reputation and save the business. She soon becomes convinced that the death was murder, but unable to convince the police, she turns detective. Armed only with her wits, courage, and determination, and aided by some unconventional new friends, Frances uncovers a startling deception and solves a 10-year-old murder. There will be more deaths and a secret in her own family will be revealed, before the killer is unmasked and Frances finds that her life has changed forever. |
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