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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > Crime & mystery > Historical mysteries
A stunning debut historical thriller set in the turbulent 14th
Century for fans of CJ Sansom, The Name of the Rose and An Instance
of the Fingerpost. London, 1385. A city of shadows and fear, in a
kingdom ruled by the headstrong young King Richard II, haunted by
the spectre of revolt. A place of poetry and prophecy, where power
is bought by blood. For John Gower, part-time poet and full-time
trader in information, secrets are his currency. When close
confidant, fellow poet Geoffrey Chaucer, calls in an old debt,
Gower cannot refuse. The request is simple: track down a missing
book. It should be easy for a man of Gower's talents, who knows the
back-alleys of Southwark as intimately as the courts and palaces of
Westminster. But what Gower does not know is that this book has
already caused one murder, and that its contents could destroy his
life. Because its words are behind the highest treason - a
conspiracy to kill the king and reduce his reign to ashes...
Lover or leader? Weakling or warrior? Madwoman or Misfit? Escape
into the untold story of Shakespeare's Ophelia . . . As a young
girl, Ofelia stood frozen as her mother threw herself on her
father's funeral pyre. Such is the fate, she learned, of the
devoted wife and in that moment, she swore never to belong to any
man. Years later, she is a force to be reckoned with: right hand
woman to the newly crowned Prince Hamlet, to whom she has sworn her
sword and her undying loyalty, but refuses his true desire . . .
her hand in marriage. When Hamlet's jealous uncle plots against
him, Ofelia will have to use every wile at her disposal to keep her
prince safe from those who wish him harm. Yet in the end, it could
be her unruly heart that is the greatest betrayer of all. A brand
new Historical fiction series by the bestselling author of the
Queens of Conquest series, her new trilogy unearths the real women
behind Shakespeare's most infamous queens . . . If you love
Elizabeth Chadwick and Anne O'Brien you will adore Joanna Courtney
Praise for Joanna Courtney: 'A glorious, rich, epic story of love,
friendship and sacrifice which will sweep you up and transport you
to another time. I absolutely loved this and can't wait for the
next book in the series' Rachael Lucas, author of Sealed With A
Kiss and Coming Up Roses 'Lovely writing and a terrific sense of
narrative drive. Superb!' Carol McGrath, author of The Daughters of
Hastings trilogy
In the summer of 1932, Maisie Dobbs's career takes an exciting new
turn when she accepts an undercover assignment directed by Scotland
Yard's Special Branch and the Secret Service. Posing as a junior
lecturer, she is sent to a private college in Cambridge to monitor
any activities, "not in the interests of His Majesty's Government."
Winter, 1211. Former abbess Helewise moves back to her cell near
Hawkenlye Abbey to help the needy, putting a strain on her
relationship with Sir Josse D'Acquin, who is called to examine the
bodies of three men, one of whom bears a complicated symbol carved
into his chest: a symbol that signifies vengeance. Meanwhile, far
from home, Sir Josse's son Ninian has become involved in the cause
of the doomed Cathar people; soon to be swept up in a fight that
they cannot hope to win.
The latest adventure for the intrepid Mary Russell and her husband,
Sherlock Holmes takes readers into the frenetic world of silent
films, where the pirates are real and the shooting isn't all done
with cameras. In England's young silent-film industry, the
megalomaniacal Randolph Fflytte is king. Nevertheless, Mary Russell
is dispatched to investigate the criminal activities that surround
Fflytte's popular movie studio. So Russell is traveling undercover
to Portugal, along with the film crew that is gearing up to shoot a
cinematic extravaganza, Pirate King. But as movie make-believe
becomes true terror, Russell and Holmes themselves may experience a
final fadeout.
December 1917. An important visitor arrives at a field hospital not
far from the front, who makes sharp deductions about the way the
ward is run based on small details that he sees. Sherlock Holmes is
apparently only present for a tour, but asks searching questions
about a young officer who apparently died in the hospital, but
whose records have mysteriously vanished. As Holmes digs deeper,
details emerge pertaining to a cover-up that stretches from the
trenches to the top of the War Office, and conspiracy on both the
British and enemy fronts.
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 . . .
London1882: In this, her most demanding case, Frances Doughty goes
undercover for Her Majesty's Government to investigate some
disturbing information regarding the apparently innocuous Bayswater
Bicycle Club. Before long, she is plunged into a murky world of
deadly secrets, a suspicious disappearance and a brutal murder, and
the Lady Detective is forced to do the unthinkable to avoid
becoming the next victim. With a new and exciting future before
her, is there anything the dauntless Miss Doughty cannot do?
"Don't go to Cold Bayou, brother . Nuthin' good waiting for you
there." New Orleans, 1839. Despite his misgivings, Benjamin January
has agreed to play the piano at the wedding of wealthy French
Creole landowner Veryl St-Chinian. All is not well, for the
marriage of 67-year-old, profoundly infatuated Uncle Veryl to an
18-year-old Irish tavern-slut spells potential disaster for
everyone in the inter-married Viellard and St-Chinian clans. But
the old man is determined to marry Miss Ellie Trask, and nothing
will stand in his way. On the isolated plantation of Cold Bayou
where the ceremony is to take place, tension is rife even before
the body is discovered in the woods behind the dower house, its
throat cut. A yet more disturbing turn of events sees January
himself accused of the crime.
Discover Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson through the eyes of those
who knew them best. From familiar faces like Mrs Hudson to minor
characters like Lomax the sub-librarian, Observations by Gaslight -
told through diaries, telegrams, and even grocery lists - paints a
masterful portrait of Holmes and Watson as you have never seen them
before. See Irene Adler team up with her former adversary in an
eerie and near-deadly enquiry. Learn of the case that cemented the
friendship between Holmes and Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard.
And witness Stanley Hopkins' first meeting with the remote logician
he idolizes. Lyndsay Faye, two-time Edgar Award nominee, debuted
with Dust and Shadow, her much-admired novel pitting Sherlock
Holmes against Jack the Ripper. Now Faye is back with a thrilling
volume of new and previously published short stories and novellas
narrated by those who knew the Great Detective best. Reviewers on
Observations by Gaslight: 'Faye is an expert on all things
Sherlockian, she has unparalleled flair.' CrimeReads 'Meat and
drink for fans of the Canon of the Sacred Writings.' Kirkus
In 1924, San Francisco is booming. The great fire and earthquake of
1906 cleared the ground for a modern city, but the closer she comes
to the place she used to call home, the more troubling Mary
Russell's dreams become... As Russell and her husband, the eminent
Sherlock Holmes, attempt to settle their affairs in the City by the
Bay, Mary's past isn't the only thing that catches up with them - a
mysterious stranger is waiting for the pair, and may be the only
one who holds the key to the locked rooms that have been haunting
Mary's dreams... In Locked Rooms, internationally bestselling
author Laurie R King portrays the 1920s in exuberant detail and,
with near-lyrical prose, presents a compelling murder mystery that
will keep your imagination and attention locked in its pages until
the very end.
*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
When the wise woman Magda Digby is suspected of murder, Owen Archer
sets out to prove her innocence in this intricately plotted
medieval mystery. May, 1375. Owen Archer returns from London to
find York in chaos. While the citizens are living in terror of the
pestilence which is spreading throughout the land, a new physician
has arrived, whipping up fear and suspicion against traditional
healers and midwives. With the backing of the new archbishop, he is
especially hostile towards Magda Digby, the wise woman who has
helped and healed the people of York for many years. At the same
time, Magda is uneasy about the arrival of two long-lost kinsfolk.
Though they say they are seeking her help, she senses a hidden
agenda. Magda's troubles deepen when she discovers a body in the
river near her home - and finds herself under suspicion of murder.
Days later, fire rips through a warehouse in the city. Amongst the
charred debris lies the body of a man - not burned, but stabbed in
the back. Could there be a connection to the corpse in the river?
Determined to prove Magda's innocence, Owen sets out to find
answers - but the more he uncovers, the deeper the mystery becomes
. . .
June, 1510: the Burren, west coast of Ireland - Upon going
unexpectedly into an early labour, Mara is alerted to the
disappearance of Malachy, the local physician. Mystery follows
birth, as shortly after the entrance of her son into the world the
body of Malachy is discovered. But who stands to profit from this
death and who therefore are Mara’s lead suspects? For starters
there is Malachy’s new wife and her two sons, not to mention the
very daughter who helped to deliver Mara’s child. But soon we
discover that the list of people bearing Malachy a grudge is even
longer that Mara could have anticipated.
A USA Today Bestseller 'This is a book in which storylines twist,
spiral and come together again in an ending as explosive as a poof
of smoke from your chimney... or a top hat.' -- Oprah.com 'Smart,
intricately plotted... a richly imagined thriller.' -- PEOPLE
magazine The Amazing Arden is the most famous female illusionist of
her day, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man in half
on stage. But one night she swaps her trademark saw for an axe.
When Arden's husband is found dead later that night, the answer
seems clear, most of all to young policeman Virgil Holt. Captured
and taken into custody, all seems set for Arden's swift confession.
But she has a different story to tell. Even handcuffed and alone,
Arden is far from powerless, and what she reveals is as
unbelievable as it is spellbinding. A magical and mysterious
historical thriller, perfect for fans of The Night Circus and Water
for Elephants. What Reviewers and Readers Say: '[A] well-paced,
evocative, and adventurous historical novel...' Publishers Weekly,
STARRED Review 'A wonderfully dark and intriguing historical
thriller. The Amazing Arden is a fabulous heroine who keeps us
guessing until the curtain falls. I loved it!' Hazel Gaynor, author
of 'The Girl Who Came Home' 'This debut novel is historical fiction
that blends magic, mystery, and romance.' Boston Globe 'It's a
captivating yarn... Macallister, like the Amazing Arden, mesmerizes
her audience. No sleight of hand is necessary. An ambitious heroine
and a captivating tale are all the magic she needs.' Washington
Post 'In The Magician's Lie, Greer Macallister has created a rich
tapestry of mystery, magic, and lost love. The novel drew me in
with its lush details and edge-of-your-seat plot. The tale of the
tragic Amazing Arden, a female magician, will have you questioning
how the truth of a tale can be different than the material facts,
and how what you feel can be stronger than the soundest logic.'
Margaret Dilloway, author of 'How to be an American Housewife' and
'The Care of Handling Roses with Thorns' 'Twisted together with
magic, a drenching touch of evil, betrayal, love, and wonderful
storytelling will make this a tale you won't soon forget. Is her
story real, or a magician's lie?' Becky Milner, Vintage Books
(Vancouver, WA) 'Greer Macallister handles the reader with the
command and brilliance of a world class ringmaster. The Magician's
Lie is a mesmerizing novel of illusion, secrets, and suspense.
Bravo!' Erika Robuck, author of 'Call me Zelda' and 'Fallen Beauty'
'The Magician's Lie is riveting, compelling, beautiful,
frightening, evocative and above all magical. Don't miss this
immersive novel of suspense and wonder from an exciting new voice
in historical fiction!' M.J. Rose 'A suspenseful and
well-researched tale of magic, secrets and betrayal that will keep
you guessing until the end.' J. Courtney Sullivan, author of 'The
Engagements and Maine' 'Like her heroine the Amazing Arden, Greer
Macallister has created a blend of magic that is sure to delight
her audience. The Magician's Lie is a rich tale of heart-stopping
plot turns, glittering prose, and a cast of complex, compelling
characters. Readers beware: those who enter Macallister's delicious
world of magic and mystery won't wish to leave!' Allison Pataki,
author of 'The Traitor's Wife'
Reverend Mother Aquinas must discover who murdered a much-loved
priest in the third of this compelling new Irish historical mystery
series. Ireland. 1925. Pierced through to the brain, the dead body
of the priest was found wedged into the small, dark confessional
cubicle. Loved by all, Father Dominic had lent a listening ear to
sinners of all kinds: gunmen and policemen; prostitutes and nuns;
prosperous businessmen and petty swindlers; tradesmen and thieves.
But who knelt behind the metal grid and inserted a deadly weapon
into that listening ear? The Reverend Mother Aquinas can do nothing
for Father Dominic, but for the sake of his brother, her old friend
Father Lawrence, she is determined to find out who killed him, and
why.
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