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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > Crime & mystery > Historical mysteries
A story of second chances and secrets, this mysterious Regency romance
will transport you to 19th-century England as one young lady reunites
with her childhood love to find his missing sister.
Her friend is missing.
After five years abroad, Charity Halliwell finally returns to Loxby
Manor, the home of dear friends—and her lost love. No longer a young
girl, she is now haunted by a painful secret and the demise of her
dreams. Instead of the healing and happiness she hopes to find, she
encounters a darkness lurking in the shadows of the once-familiar
house. When her friend, Seline, disappears the very night of her
arrival, Charity is determined to uncover the truth.
Her only hope is the man who broke her heart.
Branded a coward, Piers Cavanaugh has lived the last five years as an
outcast far from his family home. When his sister presumably elopes
with a stable hand, Piers joins forces with an unlikely partner—the one
woman he thought he’d never see again. Together they launch an
investigation that leads to strange nightly meetings in the ruins of an
old abbey and disturbing whispers of a secret organization. The more
they learn, the more desperate the situation becomes.
The house seems determined to keep its secrets.
As they struggle to piece together the clues, Charity and Piers also
endeavor to rebuild their friendship. One cryptic letter changed
everything between them. To find happiness they will have to overcome
the grief and shame keeping them apart. But first they must discover
why Seline vanished and confront the growing fear that she may never
return.
Settle in, because once you start The Vanishing at Loxby Manor, you
won’t be able to put it down.
Three Debts Paid is the fifth gripping instalment in an exciting
new generation of Pitt novels from the pen of highly acclaimed
crime writer and New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry. It
is February 1912 when barrister Daniel Pitt is reunited with his
old college friend, Inspector Ian Frobisher. Following allegations
of plagiarism, one of their Cambridge University professors has
committed an assault, and Ian has recommended that Daniel defends
him. Meanwhile, Daniel's dear friend Miriam fford Croft has
returned to London as a newly qualified forensic pathologist and is
working with eccentric Dr Evelyn Hall. On Daniel's first visit to
the morgue, he is shocked to find Miriam examining the mutilated
body of a young woman and, what's worse, it is being compared to
another corpse bearing identical wounds. As rumours spread of a
serial killer, nicknamed 'the rainy-day slasher', stalking the
streets of London, Daniel hears that Ian Frobisher is in charge of
the case. So begins the harrowing pursuit of a brutal murderer
whose killing spree is far from over...
Agatha Christie's deft skill in plotting is on full display in the
first adventure of Tommy and Tuppence, with seemingly disconnected
events revealing a complex web of intrigue. Behind the plot is a
formidable foe, a mysterious figure whose identity seems impossible
to determine and whose plans include murder. Tommy Beresford and
"Tuppence" Cowley's new firm, Young Adventurers Ltd opens for
business only to have their first customer drop out of sight at the
mere mention of a name. Careful investigation reveals connections
between a missing survivor of the torpedoed Lusitania, documents
highly compromising to the British government and a potentially
catastrophic plot masterminded by a very dangerous man whose
identity is known to no one living. The novel first appeared in
1922 and was greeted by reviews marveling at the author's masterful
concealment of the villain's identity, some going as far as to say
that unless the reader peeked at the final few pages there was no
way to know it, making this a truly secret adversary. Appearing as
silent movie in 1928 this was the first of the author's novels to
be made into a film. Although overshadowed by Christie's better
known sleuths, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, Tommy and Tuppence
were her favorite creations and her enthusiasm for the couple and
their adventures is transparent on the page. With an eye-catching
new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of
The Secret Adversary is both modern and readable.
As World War II ends, a killer's game begins. In the final days of
the Nazi regime, with the historic city of Dresden on the brink of
destruction, terrifying rumors spread about the Fright Man, a
demonic killer who exploited the cover of a nighttime air raid
siren to mutilate and kill a young nurse. Just as seasoned
detective Max Heller begins investigating, the Fright Man kills
again... The investigation seems hopeless. Desperate refugees flood
the streets, all of Heller's resources are depleted, and his new
boss is a ruthless SS officer. And like so many others, Heller and
his wife, Karin, survive on meager rations while fearing for the
lives of their sons at the front. But as tensions mount and enemy
firebombs decimate the city, dangerous new clues come to light-and
the determined Heller pursues a violent and twisting path to unmask
a monster.
Two hearts. Twice as vulnerable. Manhattan, 1850. Born out of
wedlock to a wealthy socialite and a nameless immigrant, Cora Lee
can mingle with the rich just as easily as she can slip unnoticed
into the slums and graveyards of the city. As the only female
resurrectionist in New York, she's carved out a niche procuring
bodies afflicted with the strangest of anomalies. Anatomists will
pay exorbitant sums for such specimens-dissecting and displaying
them for the eager public. Cora's specialty is not only profitable,
it's a means to keep a finger on the pulse of those searching for
her. She's the girl born with two hearts-a legend among grave
robbers and anatomists-sought after as an endangered prize. Now, as
a series of murders unfolds closer and closer to Cora, she can no
longer trust those she holds dear, including the young medical
student she's fallen for. Because someone has no intention of
waiting for Cora to die a natural death.
She doesn't trust the police. She used to be one of them. Hardened
by ten years on the murder squad, DNA analyst Doctor Sian Love has
seen it all. So when she finds human remains in the basement of her
new home, she knows the drill. Except this time it's different.
This time, it's personal... A page-turning cold case investigation,
Dead Flowers is an intriguing, multi-layered story perfect for fans
of Kate Atkinson's Case Histories and British crime dramas like
Line of Duty and Unforgotten.
"I never can resist a touch of the dramatic." The Memoirs of
Sherlock Holmes is now best remembered for its concluding story in
which the great detective appears to plunge to his death into the
waters at the bottom of the Reichenbach Falls, locked in a struggle
with his nemesis, Professor Moriarty. However, the collection also
brings the reader back to the beginnings of Holmes' career,
involving a mutiny at sea and a treasure hunt in a Sussex country
house, and a first encounter with Holmes' older brother Mycroft, of
whom Holmes says, "If the art of the detective began and ended in
reasoning from any armchair, my brother would be the greatest
criminal agent that ever lived". This collection includes some of
the detective's greatest cases, such as 'Silver Blaze' and 'The
Naval Treaty', and even one case which Holmes fails to solve.
Edited with an introduction by Jarlath Killeen, this volume
examines Holmes as a safeguard against social breakdown and chaos,
as well as an agent of justice and goodness against the forces of
evil. It also situates the collection in the growth of life writing
in the period, and explores the ways in which Holmes became
increasingly 'real' to readers as more details about his
personality and biography are revealed in the stories. ABOUT THE
SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made
available the widest range of literature from around the globe.
Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship,
providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable
features, including expert introductions by leading authorities,
helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for
further study, and much more.
Heartbreaking. Gripping. Terribly captivating. 'Read it in one
sitting!' ***** Madeleine, Amazon reviewer She may not remember her
name, but her body knows. 1940. When a French family is forced to
house a German soldier in their spare room, young Noemie finds
herself drawn to the enemy living under the family roof. A
forbidden romance unfolds with life-changing consequences. 1946. In
the aftermath of the war, a little girl is found sitting on a bench
with no memory of who she is - not even her own name. Justin, a
young gendarme, takes her under his wing. He is desperate to
unravel the mystery surrounding her sudden appearance. Who is the
little girl? And what happened to her family? The truth he
discovers is spine-chilling.
'Greenwood's strength lies in her ability to create characters that
are wholly satisfying: the bad guys are bad, and the good guys are
great' Vogue When a mysterious invitation arrives for the
redoubtable Miss Phryne Fisher from an unknown retired Captain
Herbert Spencer, Phryne's curiosity is excited. Spencer runs a
retreat in Victoria's rural spa country for the many shell-shocked
soldiers of the first world war. It's a cause after Phryne's own
heart but what does Spencer want from her? Meanwhile, Cec, Bert and
Tinker find a young woman floating face down in the harbour near
the wharves. Could this be the missing friend of Ruth, Phryne's
adopted daughter? With Detective-Inspector Jack Robinson seconded
unwillingly to a special investigation, Mr and Mrs Butler with
Detective-Sergeant Hugh Collins are left to shield Phryne's
household from danger as Tinker, Jane and Ruth decide to solve what
appears to be a heinous crime. Unaware of these happenings, Phryne
and the faithful Dot view their rural sojourn as a short holiday
but are quickly thrown into disturbing Highland gatherings,
disappearing women, murder and the mystery of the Temperance Hotel.
All test Phryne's resourcefulness in her search to save lives.
Disappearances, murder, bombs, booby-traps and strange goings-on
keep Miss Phryne Fisher right in the middle of her most exciting
adventure. Praise for Kerry Greenwood: 'Elegant, fabulously wealthy
and sharp as a tack, Phryne sleuths with customary panache... [she
is] irresistibly charming' The Age 'Phryne Fisher is gutsy and
adventurous, and endowed with plenty of grey matter' West
Australian 'In a word: delightful' Herald Sun 'Miss Fisher has
beauty, brains and oodles of style ... a well-constructed novel
that enchants, excites, enthrals and entertains' Good Reading
Magazine
The fifth John Grey historical mystery 1668. John Grey is now a
Justice of the Peace and lives in the manor house he has inherited
on his mother's death with his new wife, Aminta. As the village is
cut off from the rest of the world by a heavy snowfall, George
Barwell is discovered dead in the woods. Grey is called to examine
the horribly disfigured body amidst the rumours that the attack has
been the work of the Devil as the victim had been cursed by reputed
witch Alice Mardike just days before his violent death. As
Barwell's father-in-law leads the villagers into kidnapping Alice
and throwing her into the millpond to see if she floats as a witch
or drowns as an innocent woman, Grey agrees to investigate the
murder: his main suspect is the very man leading the witch hunt.
But if Grey can't solve the mystery of George Barwell's death
within a week, Mardike will be tried for witchcraft - and the
sentence has already been decided . . . Praise for L.C. Tyler
'Tyler juggles his characters, story wit and clever one liners with
perfect balance' The Times 'A cracking pace, lively dialogue,
wickedly witty one-liners salted with sophistication . . . Why
would we not want more of John Grey?' The Bookbag 'A dizzying whirl
of plot and counterplot' Guardian 'I was seduced from John Grey's
first scene' Ann Cleeves 'Unusually accomplished' Helen Dunmore
Ursula travels deep into the New Forest to investigate rumours of a
plot to overthrow Queen Elizabeth in this gripping Tudor mystery.
May, 1586. Ursula and her retinue return home from a lengthy trip
to discover she has an unexpected visitor. Etheldreda Hope is a
simple countrywoman who has come to Ursula with disturbing tales of
strange goings-on in her rural village. Fearing that Etheldreda's
reports of mysterious forest rites indicate a possible conspiracy
to overthrow Queen Elizabeth in favour of her cousin, Mary Stuart,
the queen's spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, orders Ursula to
travel to Etheldreda's home to find out what's really going on. On
reaching Chenston village, deep in the New Forest, Ursula discovers
an isolated, suspicious community; the locals deeply in thrall to
the old pagan traditions and beliefs. But are these ancient customs
harmless - or are they part of a genuine conspiracy against the
queen? And, if so, who is behind it? It's not until the night of
Halloween that Ursula will discover the shocking truth.
Lord Burford had some serious misgivings about hosting yet another
house party at Alderley. After all, the previous two could, at
best, be described as disastrous. But with family members
travelling down for the funeral of an elderly relative, the Earl
really had no choice but to offer accommodation. It did not take
long for things to go wrong even before a body was found. For
readers who want the twist in the tale to be as elegant as a
well-tied cravat, it would be criminal to miss The Affair of the
Thirty-Nine Cufflinks.
Agatha Christie meets The Mitford Murders in this deliciously dark
golden age mystery of wartime family secrets and lies in small town
England. **DON'T MISS THE LASTEST JOSEPHINE FOX MYSTERY, A CONFLICT
OF INTERESTS. OUT NOW!** April 1941, Romsey, England. Josephine
'Jo' Fox hasn't set foot in Romsey in over twenty years. As an
illegitimate child, her family - headed by her controlling
grandfather - found her an embarrassment. Now, she wants to return
to what was once her home and uncover the secret of her parentage.
Who was her father and why would her mother never talk about him?
Jo arrives the day after the Luftwaffe have bombed the town. The
local pub has been completely destroyed and rescue teams are
searching for the remains of the seven people known to have been in
the pub at the time the bomb hit. They are shocked, however, to
uncover eight bodies instead. The eighth, unidentified, body is
that of a teenage girl, who no one in the town claims to know. Who
is she, how did she get there, but most importantly - who killed
her? Teaming up with local coroner and old friend, Bram Nash, Jo
sets out to establish the identity of the girl and solve the riddle
of her death. In doing so, she also uncovers her own personal
mystery. Everyone has secrets - some are just more deadly than
others . . .
When a magistrate rules Harlan Westover's death a suicide,
something smells fishy. Amidst a sea of unanswered questions, the
clever Mrs. Jeffries wants to get to the bottom of it - and make
sure someone doesn't stage another "suicide" . . . Praise for the
Mrs Jeffries Mysteries: 'It's murder most English all the way!' The
Literary Times 'Fascinating murder mystery . . . wit and style . .
. a winning series. Mrs. Jeffries is the Miss Marple of Victorian
Mystery' The Paperback Forum
WINNER OF THE 2021 McILVANNEY AWARD IAN RANKIN'S CHOICE FOR BOTH
BEST MYSTERY BOOK OF 2021 (PBS), AND BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR (NEW
STATESMAN) 'Russell writes a pacy, ever-twisting mystery that will
keep you turning the pages.' - Ian Rankin 'When it comes to Gothic
crime, Craig Russell is peerless. Absolutely stunning.' - M W
Craven From international bestselling author Craig Russell comes a
modern Gothic masterpiece. Edward Hyde has a strange gift - or a
curse - he keeps secret from all but his physician. He experiences
two realities, one real, the other a dreamworld state brought on by
a neurological condition. When murders in Victorian Edinburgh echo
the ancient Celtic threefold death ritual, Captain Edward Hyde
hunts for those responsible. In the process he becomes entangled in
a web of Celticist occultism and dark scheming by powerful figures.
The answers are there to be found, not just in the real world but
in the sinister symbolism of Edward Hyde's otherworld. He must find
the killer, or lose his mind. A dark tale. One that inspires Hyde's
friend . . . Robert Louis Stevenson. Praise for Hyde:
'Intricate...evocative prose enhances a suspenseful and
sophisticated plot. This is the rare riff on an influential novel
that sticks the landing' Starred Review, Publishers Weekly 'Stephen
King meets Robert Louis Stevenson... an imaginative gothic tale
guaranteed to send a shiver down your spine the next time you walk
a dark Edinburgh night.' - David Hewson, author of The Garden Of
Angels 'Russell delivers a brooding, stunningly atmospheric tale
set in Stevenson's Edinburgh - multi-layered and intricately
plotted, this is a Gothic thriller from the hands of a master.' -
Margaret Kirk, author of Shadow Man 'A deliciously dark reimagining
of a timeless character and a wonderful recreation of a gothic
Edinburgh . . . Another winner for a consummate storyteller.' -
Douglas Skelton 'Gloriously diabolical. A terrifying thrill ride
through the hidden chasms of the human soul.' - Chris Brookmyre,
author of Black Widow I absolutely adored it. Intense, harrowing
and hugely entertaining. Craig Russell conjures the kind of
spine-tingling tale that kept me reading through the night.
Spectacular. - Chris Whittaker 'The story is a thrilling ride
through the murky depths of madness and horror, written with all
Craig's trademark skill and style. Definitely five stars from me'
James Oswald 'A Gothic masterpiece which will lead you so far into
the darkness that you won't know who to trust. Another splendid
offering from a writer who is top of his game. ' - Theresa Talbot
'An engaging Gothic thriller full of atmosphere and surprises.' -
Irish Independent Praise for Craig Russell 'A masterclass in
suspenseful, character-driven prose fiction. Simply exceptional'
Frank Darabont, writer and director of The Shawshank Redemption and
The Green Mile
It is 1946, and war-weary young ex-intelligence officer Lane
Winslow leaves London to look for a fresh start. When she finds
herself happily settled in King's Cove, a sleepy hamlet nestled in
the idyllic interior of British Columbia surrounded by a suitably
eclectic cast of small-town characters she feels like she may
finally be able to put her past to rest. But then a body is
discovered, the victim of murder, and although she works alongside
the town's inspectors Darling and Ames to discover who might
possibly have motivation to kill, she casts doubt on herself. As
the investigation reveals facts that she has desperately tried to
keep a secret, it threatens to pull her into a vortex of even
greater losses than the ones she has already endured. A clever
postwar mystery that will appeal to fan of historical mysteries
with women sleuths like the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline
Winspear or the Bess Crawford series by Charles Todd.
The arrival of a band of Spanish mercenaries brings new danger for
Margaret Beaufort and the House of Lancaster in this
richly-imagined medieval mystery. November, 1471. With Edward of
York on the English throne and her son, Henry Tudor, in exile in
Brittany, the newly-widowed Margaret Beaufort, Countess of
Richmond, is alone, without protectors. All she can do is wait and
watch, planning for a time when she's in a position to make her
move. But new dangers are emerging. En route to England is a band
of Spanish mercenaries known as the Garduna. With no allegiance to
prince, prelate or people, they are a lethal fighting force,
utterly ruthless and implacable killers. But who has hired them . .
. and why? The discovery of the body of an unexpected visitor,
found murdered in a locked room in her London townhouse, heralds
the start of a series of increasingly menacing incidents which
threaten Margaret and her household. Is there an enemy within? It's
up to Margaret's wily clerk Christopher Urswicke to uncover the
truth and ensure Margaret survives to fulfil her destiny.
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