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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > Crime & mystery > Historical mysteries
The Red House Mystery (1922) is a detective novel by A.A. Milne.
Known more for his series of Winnie-the-Pooh stories and poems for
children, Milne also wrote novels and plays for adults, including
this successful whodunnit. The Red House Mystery, Milne's only
detective novel, was highly successful upon publication and is
noted for its use of an amateur sleuth as well as its intricate,
puzzle-like plot. Despite earning the ire of Raymond Chandler,
Milne's novel was reprinted in the U.S. and in Britain numerous
times. At his house in the English countryside, Mark Ablett hosts a
small party of diverse guests including a widow and her young
daughter, a retired military officer, an actress, and a young
socialite named Bill Beverley. During this party, Mark's brother
Robert unexpectedly returns home from Australia, where he has been
for some time. Shortly after this long-awaited homecoming, Robert
is found dead of a gunshot wound to the head, and, amidst the
chaos, Mark suddenly disappears. Having arrived late to the party,
Tony Gillingham, with the help of his friend Bill Beverley,
endeavors to investigate the mysterious events of the evening.
Aided, or at least tolerated, by an uninterested police force,
Gillingham does his best as an amateur detective to gather evidence
leading not only to the identity of Robert's murderer, but to the
discovery of Mark's whereabouts. The Red House Mystery is an
innovative whodunnit filled with humorous quips, twists and turns,
and a puzzle with which even the most seasoned reader of mysteries
will struggle. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally
typeset manuscript, this edition of A.A. Milne's The Red House
Mystery is a classic of British detective fiction reimagined for
modern readers.
Enthusiasts call Harry Gysel a psychic. To others he is a fraud, a
meddler in the occult. When he appears to predict the death of a
woman in the audience of one of his shows and that woman is
subsequently murdered, Harry becomes an instant celebrity. But
Chief Inspector Morgan isn't so easily convinced.
Albert Campion travels to Dorset as he attempts to get to the
bottom of a series of shocking events connected to a TV adaptation
of one of Evadne Childe's famous novels. "Ripley's brilliant
inventiveness demonstrates that golden age characters and tropes
can still work for contemporary fair-play fans"- Publishers Weekly
Starred Review London, 1972. The Evadne Childe Society has gathered
in honour of what would have been the author's eighty-second
birthday, and Albert Campion is there as a reluctant guest speaker
and ceremonial birthday cake cutter. But Campion's oratory skills
aren't the only thing in demand. A TV remake of a twenty-year-old
film adaptation of one of Evadne's classic novels, The Moving
Mosaic, has been derailed by someone attempting to murder the
leading man - the latest in a series of increasingly disturbing
incidents - and the society wants Campion to investigate. Who is
determined to sabotage the production at any cost, and why?
Travelling to the picturesque village of Kingswalter Manor in
Dorset where filming is due to start, Campion soon stumbles upon
dark secrets, ghosthunters, an impressive mosaic, and murder.
Every relationship comes at a cost in this tense and gripping
Turkish mystery from award-winning crime writer Barbara Nadel and
featuring Ikmen - 'one of modern crime fiction's true heroes' The
Times When jeweller Fahrettin Muftugolu is found dead in his
apartment in the Istanbul district of Vefa, it looks like suicide.
Searching the jeweller's home, Inspector Mehmet Suleyman and his
team come across a hoard of extraordinary artefacts including solid
gold religious relics and a mummified human head. But are they real
and, if so, who owns these priceless possessions? As his colleagues
begin their investigation, Suleyman is distracted by troubles of
his own. His wedding to Gonca Serekoglu is days away, but when
Gonca receives her bridal bedcover from a Roma haberdasher and
discovers that it is covered in blood, she sees this as a curse on
their marriage. Suleyman asks his old friend Cetin Ikmen to help
him uncover the truth, but the task is not that simple...
Meanwhile, as the stories swirling around Muftugolu become
increasingly sinister, the dead man's wife appears, laying claim to
his valuables, and Suleyman is drawn into a dark and dangerous
world of smuggling and savagery . . .
Duelling, derring-do, and dastardly deeds are all in a day's work
for Liberty Lane: a new heroine for fans of Matthew Hawkwood and
Sarah Waters's Victorian novels. Thomas Jacques Lane - radical,
romantic, scholar and devoted father - had led an unconventional
life but of one thing his daughter, Liberty, is certain: he would
never have taken part in a duel. So when she receives a note
informing her of his death in just such a manner, Liberty ignores
all advice and sets off in pursuit of the truth. With no resources
bar her wits, she travels to the Continent and back in search of
her father's killer. And as the nation prepares for the coronation
of a young Victoria, Liberty uncovers murder and treachery at the
very highest levels....
The past is never far behind you . . . Old sins have a nasty way of
catching up with you, as Detective Chief Inspector Henry Johnstone
discovers in this gripping historical mystery, which takes him back
to a difficult case in his early days as a police officer. Full of
unexpected twists, this is a must-read for fans of Downton Abbey
and Jacqueline Winspear. 1929. The discovery of the bodies of two
retired policemen, Walter Cole and Hayden Paul, sounds warning
bells to DCI Henry Johnstone. Both men were experiencing financial
difficulties, and their deaths were staged to look like suicides.
Hayden left a note containing two words: old sins. And when Henry
attends his sister's Halloween party, he is approached by a
flamenco dancer who leaves a note with the name of another man.
Could this be a grim warning? Henry is forced on a painful journey
back to an old case he worked on with Cole and Paul. Is someone
playing a deadly game with Henry, and is he about to pay for his
past mistakes? With Detective Sergeant Mickey Hitchens by his side
and his family at risk, Henry must catch a dangerous killer bent on
revenge - before the killer catches him . . .
Was the wrong man hanged for a young woman's murder, or is a
copycat killer on the loose? DCI Henry Johnstone and DS Mickey
Hitchens must crack a darkly complex case when the community close
ranks. 1930, Leicestershire. Everyone in the quiet market town of
East Harborough is convinced that local miscreant Brady Brewer is
responsible for the brutal murder of Sarah Downham. Despite
Brewer's protestations of innocence, and his sister's pleas for
help from DCI Henry Johnstone and DS Mickey Hitchens, he is
convicted and hanged. Two weeks after the hanging, a farmworker
finds the body of another young woman less than a mile from where
Sarah was found - and there are other disturbing similarities
between the two murders. Is a copycat killer on the loose, or was
Brewer innocent after all? Where is the missing yellow dress that
Sarah wore the night she was murdered? As the locals close ranks,
Henry and Mickey soon discover that reputations - and the truth -
are all on the line . . .
It's true: the last camel is gone, leaving Amelia, Emerson and
Ramses to bake under the desert sun in the winter of 1897. Armed
with a mysterious note and map, they have been commissioned to
locate a lost English aristocrat and his wife, who disappeared over
a decade ago. In this tribute to H. Rider Haggard ("King Solomon's
Mines"), the family marches into the desert where survival depends
on solving a mystery as old as Ancient Egypt, and where they meet a
young girl, Nefret, who will join their family and change their
lives forever.
A gripping historical thriller introducing Bow Street Runner
Matthew Hawkwood - a sexy, dangerous and fascinating hero who hunts
down thieves, spies and murderers in the crime-ridden streets of
Regency London. Hunting down highwaymen was not the usual preserve
of a Bow Street Runner. As the most resourceful of this elite band
of investigators, Matthew Hawkwood was surprised to be assigned the
case - even if it did involve the murder and mutilation of a naval
courier. From the squalor of St Giles Rookery, London's notorious
den of thieves and cutthroats, to the brightly lit salons of the
aristocracy and the heart of the British government, Hawkwood
relentlessly pursues his quarry. As the case unfolds and another
body is discovered on the banks of the Thames, the true agenda
begins to emerge. And only Hawkwood can stop a dastardly plot that
will end British mastery of the seas forever.
Sister Fidelma returns in THE HOUSE OF DEATH, the thirty-second
Celtic mystery by Peter Tremayne, acclaimed author of THE
SHAPESHIFTER'S LAIR, BLOOD IN EDEN, and BLOODMOON. If you love
Ellis Peters, you'll be gripped by THE HOUSE OF DEATH and the
Sister Fidelma series. Ireland. AD 672. The Feast of Beltaine is
approaching and the seven senior princes of the kingdom of Muman
are gathering at Cashel to discuss King Colgu's policies. Just days
before the council meets, Brother Conchobhar, the keeper of the
sacred sword, is found murdered. Sister Fidelma and her brother
Colgu fear that the killer had been trying to steal the sword that
symbolises the King's authority to rule. And as rumours begin to
spread of an attempt to overthrow Colgu, news reaches Cashel that a
plague ship has landed at a nearby port, bringing the deadly
pestilence to its shores. Amid fear and panic, Fidelma, Eadulf and
Enda must work together to catch a killer as the death toll starts
to mount... What readers are saying about the Sister Fidelma
series: 'Tremayne is one of those very few historical mystery
writers who can perplex and bewilder. He weaves the twisty plots
into a complex historical narrative' 'A must-read for anyone
looking for a good mystery' 'The characters are original, the
settings are imaginative and true-to-life and the intricate plots
form enough threads to keep you guessing at every turn'
![The Moonstone (Paperback): Wilkie Collins](//media.loot.co.za/images/x80/522197283153179215.jpg) |
The Moonstone
(Paperback)
Wilkie Collins; Contributions by Mint Editions
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R512
R467
Discovery Miles 4 670
Save R45 (9%)
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Ships in 9 - 15 working days
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A sharp-witted detective investigates the mystery of a gem,
plundered from India and now vanished in England, and discovers
shifting motives, unreliable testimony and growing danger in this
foundational classic of mystery fiction. The Moonstone justly
occupies an exalted position as a groundbreaking novel that opened
the way for a great deal of genre fiction, mysteries and thrillers,
but it is far more than simply an influence upon later works. This
is an epistolary novel with a number of diverse and clearly incised
viewpoints, displaying the author's skill with both character and
the unveiling of the elements of a mystery plot. One of the
characters is the detective charged with finding the thief who
stole the Moonstone, a huge diamond with a bloody history, and he
is a clear precursor to A.C. Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. Another
character, much remarked upon at the novel's original release,
suffers from opium addiction, depicted with frightening clarity by
Collins, who dealt with that issue firsthand. The plot is
sensational but relayed realistically and builds to one of the most
unusual plot twists in mystery literature, made all the more
remarkable by virtue of appearing in the genre's earliest days.
Initially serialized in Charles Dickens magazine All The Year
Round, The Moonstone was published in 1868 and has never been out
of print since. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally
typeset manuscript, this edition of The Moonstone is both modern
and readable.
Spring 1940. With Britons facing what has become known as the Bore
War - nothing much seems to have happened yet - Maisie Dobbs is
asked to investigate the disappearance of a local lad, a young
apprentice craftsman working on a "hush-hush" government contract.
As Maisie's inquiry reveals a possible link to the London
underworld, so the country is bracing for a possible enemy invasion
amid news of the British expeditionary force stranded along the
French coast. And another mother is worried about a missing son -
but this time the boy in question is one beloved by Maisie.
"Outstanding . Historical mysteries don't get much better than
this" - Publishers Weekly Starred Review "This historical tour de
force reminds readers who come for the mystery that life hasn't
changed for the disenfranchised" - Kirkus Reviews Starred Review
Thief-taker Simon Westow must save one of his closest friends from
a grim fate at the hands of the government in this compelling
historical mystery. Leeds, May 1822. Thief-taker Simon Westow owes
Davey and Emily Ashton everything - the siblings gave him sanctuary
when he needed it most. So when Davey is arrested for sedition and
Emily begs Simon for help, he starts asking questions, determined
to clear his friend. Are the answers linked to rumours of a
mysterious government spy in town? Davey's not the only one who
needs Simon's help. Timber merchant George Ericsson has been
'hocussed' by a young woman who spiked his drink and stole his
valuable ring and watch. Who is she, and how does she know one of
Simon's assistant Jane's deepest secrets? The path to the truth is
twisted and dangerous. Simon and Jane encounter murder, lies,
betrayal and a government terrified of its own people as they
attempt to save Davey and find the hocus girl.
"As always, Todd's intense feelings for the traumatized survivors
of war make one mother's son the broken hero of an entire
generation of lost souls." - The New York Times Book Review In the
aftermath of World War I, English nurse Bess Crawford attempts to
save a troubled officer from a mysterious killer in this eleventh
book in the acclaimed Bess Crawford mystery series. The Armistice
of November 1918 ended the fighting, but the Great War will not be
over until a Peace Treaty is drawn up and signed by all parties
involved. Representatives from the Allies are gathering in Paris,
and already ominous signs of disagreement have appeared. Sister
Bess Crawford, who has been working with the severely wounded in
England in the war's wake, is asked to carry out a personal mission
in Paris for a Matron at the London headquarters of The Queen
Alexandra's. Bess is facing decisions about her own future, even as
she searches for Lawrence Minton. When she finally locates him,
instead of the intelligent, ambitious officer she expects, she
finds a bitter and disturbed man who has abdicated his duties at
the Peace Conference and is well on his way toward an addiction to
opiates. Indeed, he tells her that he doesn't care if he lives or
dies, he only wants oblivion. But what has changed him? What is it
that haunts him? It seems the truth is buried so deep in his mind
that he can only relive it in wild nightmares. When Minton goes
missing, bent on suicide, Bess must race to unlock his past before
he succeeds. Reluctant to trust an officer in Minton's regiment, a
man with secrets of his own, and uncertain of the loyalties of
Matron's friends in Paris, Bess must rely on her own instincts and
experience-and sometimes in desperation on a stranger who claims he
never met Minton. Could whatever happened to Minton in Paris
somehow be connected to his war? And why did he not kill Bess when
he had the chance-then later, viciously attack her without warning?
What is destroying Lieutenant Minton? Or is it who? And what horror
will she have to confront, if she is to save him? In this, the
eleventh novel in the award-winning Bess Crawford series, New York
Times bestselling author Charles Todd delivers a rich and
atmospheric portrait that illuminates the cost of war on human
lives-the lingering pain and horror that no peace, no matter how
earned, can assuage.
*Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month* **A 'Book of the Year' pick
in The Times** 'An engaging, evocative thriller that captures the
heat of Indian nights and heady days of a bygone era, without being
sentimental or simplistic' Janice Hallett, bestselling author of
The Appeal 'Abir Mukherjee is doing something uniquely different in
the crime genre...breathtaking' PETER MAY, Sunday Times bestseller
Calcutta, 1923. When a Hindu theologian is found murdered in his
home, the city is on the brink of all-out religious war. Can
officers of the Imperial Police Force, Captain Sam Wyndham and
Sergeant Surendranath Banerjee track down those responsible in time
to stop a bloodbath? Set at a time of heightened political tension,
beginning in atmospheric Calcutta and taking the detectives all the
way to bustling Bombay, the latest instalment in this 'unmissable'
(The Times) series presents Wyndham and Banerjee with an
unprecedented challenge. Will this be the case that finally drives
them apart? 'The Shadows of Men finds the always reliable Crime
Writers' Association Dagger Award-winner Abir Mukherjee on fine
form' Financial Times ______________ PRAISE FOR THE WYNDHAM AND
BANERJEE SERIES 'An exceptional historical crime novel' C.J. Sansom
'A thought-provoking rollercoaster' Ian Rankin 'Cracking... A
journey into the dark underbelly of the British Raj' Daily Express
Anne Beddingfeld observes a deadly accident and believes she has
witnessed a murder. Impulsively following a chain of clues, Anne
uncovers a sinister collection of plotters with a potentially
lethal intolerance for the amateur sleuth. When a man dies in an
apparent accident in a London tube station, Anne Beddingfeld
notices the suspicious actions of a mysterious man in a brown suit.
A second death that is seen as connected to the first by no one
other than herself, puts Anne on the trail of the buried truth.
Clues will drive her, alone, on a quest for justice that will
result in her passage on a cruise ship bound for South Africa, and
a chain of confrontations with a merciless band of professional
thieves. This stand-alone novel, first published in 1924, shows
Agatha Christie experimenting a little by both stepping away from
her already established detective hero, Hercule Poirot, and
blending stronger elements of the international thriller into her
story. Replete with stolen diamonds, undercover agents, an exotic
island hideaway and a steadfast heroine desperately trying to
survive and make sense of it all, The Man in the Brown Suit remains
one of the author's most spellbinding tales. With an eye-catching
new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of
The Man in the Brown Suit is both modern and readable.
It's 1892, and Amelia and Emerson, who is now her husband, are back
in England raising their young son Ramses, when they are approached
by a damsel in distress. Lady Baskerville's husband, Sir Henry, has
died after uncovering what may have been royal tomb in Luxor. Amid
rumors of a curse haunting all those involved with the dig, Amelia
and Emerson proceed to Egypt and begin to suspect that Sir Henry
did not die a natural death. The accidents plaguing the dig appear
to be caused by a sinister human element, not a pharaoh's curse.
The new novel by NBA All-Star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, starring brothers
Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes.
It is 1872, and a series of gruesome murders is the talk of London.
Mycroft Holmes - now twenty-six and a force to be reckoned with at the
War Office - has no interest in the killings; however his brother
Sherlock has developed a distasteful fascination for the macabre to the
detriment of his studies, much to Mycroft's frustration.
When a ship carrying cargo belonging to Mycroft's best friend Cyrus
Douglas runs aground, Mycroft persuades Sherlock to serve as a tutor at
the orphanage that Douglas runs as a charity, so that Douglas might
travel to see what can be salvaged. Sherlock finds himself at home
among the street urchins, and when a boy dies of a suspected drug
overdose, he decides to investigate, following a trail of strange
subterranean symbols to the squalid opium dens of the London docks.
Meanwhile a meeting with a beautiful Chinese woman leads Mycroft to the
very same mystery, one that forces him to examine the underbelly of the
opium trade that is enriching his beloved Britain's coffers.
As the stakes rise, the brothers find that they need one another's
assistance and counsel. But a lifetime of keeping secrets from each
other may have catastrophic consequences…
'Outstanding' Washington Post. ALEXANDRIA, 47 BC. For three
centuries, the House of Ptolemy has governed the Kingdom of Egypt.
Cleopatra - seventh of her name - rules from Alexandria, that
beacon of commerce and learning that stands between the burning
sands of the desert and the dark waters of the Middle Sea. But her
realm is beset by ethnic rivalries, aristocratic feuds and courtly
intrigues. Not only that, she must contend with the insatiable
appetite of Julius Caesar who needs Egyptian grain and Egyptian
gold to further his ambitions. The world is watching the young
Queen, waiting for a misstep... And now her most trusted servant -
her Eye - has been murdered and a vast shipment of newly minted
coin stolen. Cleopatra cannot afford for the coins to go
unrecovered or the murderers unpunished, so she asks childhood
friend, Tetisheri Nebenteru, to retrace the dead Eye's footsteps.
Tetisheri will find herself plunged into the shadowy heart of
Alexandria. As she sifts her way through a tangle of lies and
deceit, she will discover that nothing can be taken at face value,
that she can't trust anyone - not even the Queen herself.
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