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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > Crime & mystery > Historical mysteries
Scotland Yard's Ian Rutledge finds himself caught in a twisted web
of vengeance, old grievances, and secrets that lead back to World
War I in the nineteenth installment of the acclaimed bestselling
series. On the eve of the bloody Battle of the Somme, a group of
English officers having a last drink before returning to the Front
make a promise to each other: if they survive the battle ahead--and
make it through the war--they will meet in Paris a year after the
fighting ends. They will celebrate their good fortune by racing
motorcars they beg, borrow, or own from Paris to Nice. In November
1919, the officers all meet as planned, and though their motorcars
are not designed for racing, they set out for Nice. But a serious
mishap mars the reunion. In the mountains just north of their
destination, two vehicles are nearly run off the road, and one man
is badly injured. No one knows--or will admit to knowing--which
driver was at the wheel of the rogue motorcar. Back in England one
year later, during a heavy rainstorm, a driver loses control on a
twisting road and is killed in the crash. Was it an accident due to
the hazardous conditions? Or premeditated murder? Is the crash
connected in some way to the unfortunate events in the mountains
above Nice the year before? The dead driver wasn't in
France--although the motorcar he drove was. If it was foul play,
was it a case of mistaken identity? Or was the dead man the
intended victim after all? Investigating this perplexing case,
Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge discovers that the truth is
elusive--and that the villages on the South Downs, where the
accident happened, are adept at keeping secrets, frustrating his
search. Determined to remain in the shadows this faceless killer is
willing to strike again to stop Rutledge from finding him. This
time, the victim he chooses is a child, and it will take all of
Rutledge's skill to stop him before an innocent young life is
sacrificed.
A DARK PAST It is 1894, and Sherlock Holmes is called to a Covent
Garden art gallery where dozens of patrons lie dead before a
painting of the Undying Man. Holmes and Watson are soon on the
trail of a mysterious figure in black, whose astounding speed and
agility make capture impossible. The same suspect is then
implicated in another murder, when the servant of a visiting
Russian grand duke is found terribly mutilated in a notorious slum.
But what links the two crimes, and do they have anything to do with
the suicide of an unpopular schoolteacher at a remote boarding
school? So begins a case that will reveal the dark shadows that
past misdeeds can cast, and test the companions to their limits...
September 1799. William Pitt is attempting to force through
anti-slavery legislation, but many have a vested interest in
preventing this change and would go to dangerous lengths to stop
it. Meanwhile, Tom Pascoe of the river police is grieving for the
woman he loved and looking for solace at the bottom of a bottle.
Tom's drinking has made him increasingly belligerent and
unpredictable, so when he is called to investigate a body found in
the Thames - that of an MP and a close associate of William Pitt -
there's doubt whether he's up to the task. But Tom must pull
himself together, or be dragged under; Pitt's life is in his hands.
A young man is found lying unconscious on the outskirts of
Bucharest. No one knows who he is and everyone has a different
theory about how he got there. The stories of the various
characters unfold, each closely interwoven with the next, and
outlining the features of what ultimately turns out to be the most
important and most powerful character of all: the city of Bucharest
itself. The novel covers the last 13 days of 1897 and culminates in
a beautiful tableau of the future as imagined by the different
characters. We might, in fact, say that it is we who inhabit their
future. And so too does Dan Cretu, alias Dan Kretzu, the
present-day journalist hurled back in time by some mysterious
process for just long enough to allow us a wonderful glimpse into a
remote, almost forgotten world, but one still very much alive in
our hearts.
When your boss is the Queen of England, you never know what the day
will bring. For Gentleman Investigator for the Crown, Sir Maurice
Newbury, it is likely to involve rooftop chases, sword fights,
races through the Underground, and the most terrifying case of
murders to ever plague London.When an Egyptian mummy is unveiled, a
string of mysterious murders follows in its wake, drawing Newbury
into a web of occult intrigue. Meanwhile, Miss Veronica Hobbes
becomes increasingly perplexed by a growing pool of young women who
have disappeared after being used as props in a magician's stage
act. But what appears to be a straightforward investigation pulls
Miss Hobbes into mortal danger.So begins another thrilling Newbury
& Hobbes investigation - a weird and wonderful adventure quite
unlike any other.
A compelling historical murder mystery set amongst the artists in
seventeenth-century Paris. For fans of C.J. Sansom and S.J. Parris.
'A rich and achingly beautiful novel' - Carol McGrath (author of
the Daughters of Hastings trilogy) on An Artist in Her Own Right.
Paris, 1676. When a body washes up on the banks of the Bievre
river, a young woman finds herself embroiled in an intricate murder
case. At first it seems mere coincidence that the dead man was
discovered outside the Royal Manufactory of the Gobelins, home to a
community of artists and craftsmen. He was not one of them, after
all. But Anne-Marie, a sculptor's wife, soon realises that the
victim may well be known within the walls of the Gobelins - and
that the killer might be amongst them. With the police apparently
disinterested, it is a mystery that is hers alone to solve.
Anne-Marie's investigations will take her from the unsavoury slums
of the Ile Notre-Dame to the grand ducal residences of the Place
Royale. But who can she truly trust on the streets of Paris?
Readers LOVED An Artist in Her Own Right: 'A wonderful blend of
fact and fiction that I literally read in two sittings' 'Alive with
action and colour' 'The ebb and flow of relationships, between
family members and artists, are beautifully conceived and nuanced'
'Wonderful imaginative detail'
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
'Deliciously creepy' Herald. A hair-raising fictionalized account
of the Borley Rectory haunting, based on contemporary first-hand
testimonies. Welcome to Borley Rectory, the most haunted house in
England. The year is 1926 and Sarah Grey has landed herself an
unlikely new job - personal assistant to Harry Price, London's most
infamous ghost hunter. Equal parts brilliant and charming, neurotic
and manipulative, Harry has devoted his life to exposing the truth
behind England's many 'false hauntings', and never has he left a
case unsolved, nor a fraud unexposed. So when Harry and Sarah are
invited to Borley Rectory - a house so haunted that objects
frequently fly through the air unbidden, and locals avoid the
grounds for fear of facing the spectral nun that walks there -
they're sure that this case will be just like any other. But when
night falls and still no artifice can be found, the ghost hunters
are forced to confront an uncomfortable possibility: the ghost of
Borley Rectory may be real. And, if so, they're about to make its
most intimate acquaintance.
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We Were Kings
(Hardcover)
Thomas O'Malley, Douglas Graham Purdy
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R900
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Discovery Miles 8 230
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In 1950's Boston, the Irish Republican Army is running guns and
killing witnesses. Cal and Dante are committed to stopping them.
When a body is discovered at the Charlestown locks -- tarred,
feathered and shot to death -- it appears to be a gangland killing,
and is almost immediately dismissed. However, Cal O'Brien's cousin,
Boston PD detective Owen Lackey, recognizes the murder style as the
typical retribution for IRA informers. Combined with a tip-off
about a boat coming into Boston weighed down with stolen guns and
ammunition, the body in the locks hints that much more may be at
stake than a one-off hit. Serpents in the Cold introduced us to Cal
and Dante, whose previous investigation brought them to the highest
ranks of Boston's political elite. This time, Cal and Dante descend
into the city's shadowy underbelly -- a world of packed dance
halls, Irish wakes, and funeral parlors. There they discover a
terrorist plot that will shake the city to its core and bring them
head-to-head not only with Cal's past, but with the IRA Army
Council itself.
'Perfect if you loved THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB' - reader review 'An
entertaining romp and a fascinating insight into the weird and
wonderful ways of the British aristocracy' S.J. Bennett, author of
The Windsor Knot It's the 1930s and a mysterious illness is
spreading over Scotland. But the noble and ancient family of
Inverkillen, residents of Loch Down Abbey, are much more concerned
with dwindling toilet roll supplies and who will look after the
children now that Nanny has regretfully (and most inconveniently)
departed this life. Then Lord Inverkillen, Earl and head of the
family, is found dead in mysterious circumstances. The inspector
declares it an accident but Mrs MacBain, the head housekeeper,
isn't so convinced. As no one is allowed in or out because of the
illness, the residents of the house - both upstairs and downstairs
- are the only suspects. With the Earl's own family too busy doing
what can only be described as nothing, she decides to do some
digging - in between chores, of course - and in doing so uncovers a
whole host of long-hidden secrets, lies and betrayals that will
alter the dynamics of the household for ever. Perfect for fans of
Downton Abbey, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman's The Thursday
Murder Club, LOCH DOWN ABBEY is a playful, humorous mystery that
will keep you glued to the page! READERS LOVE LOCH DOWN ABBEY!
'Beautifully written . . . this is a joyous read that will stay
with me for a long time' - 5 STARS 'The ending took me completely
by surprise but in the best way' - 5 STARS 'If you want to escape
for a while, this is definitely a good book for that' - 5 STARS
Tthis very funny and unputdownable novel is a sure winner from
start to finish! To be enjoyed without moderation.' - 5 STARS 'It's
amazing what secrets are hidden . . . Excellent :)' - 5 STARS
Thaddeus Lewis, an itinerant "saddlebag" preacher still mourns the
mysterious death of his daughter Sarah as he rides to his new
posting in Prince Edward County. When a girl in Demorestville dies
in a similar way, he realizes that the circumstances point to
murder. But in the turmoil following the 1837 Mackenzie Rebellion
he can get no one to listen. Convinced there is a serial killer
loose in Upper Canada, Lewis alone must track the culprit across a
colony convulsed by dissension, invasion, and fear. His only clues
are a Book of Proverbs and a small painted pin left with the
victims. And the list of suspects is growing ...
'Beautifully written and superbly executed' Times 'This clever and
moving Faustian tale is packed with fascinating historical detail'
Express From the author of the bestselling The Time Traveller's
Guide to Restoration Britain, this is a stunningly high-concept
historical novel that is both as daring as it is gripping, and
perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden, SJ Parris and Kate Mosse.
December 1348. With the country in the grip of the Black Death,
brothers John and William fear that they will shortly die and go to
Hell. But as the end draws near, they are given an unexpected
choice: either to go home and spend their last six days in their
familiar world, or to search for salvation across the forthcoming
centuries - living each one of their remaining days ninety-nine
years after the last. John and William choose the future and find
themselves in 1447, ignorant of almost everything going on around
them. The year 1546 brings no more comfort, and 1645 challenges
them still further. It is not just that technology is changing:
things they have taken for granted all their lives prove to be
short-lived. As they find themselves in stranger and stranger
times, the reader travels with them, seeing the world through their
eyes as it shifts through disease, progress, enlightenment and war.
But their time is running out - can they do something to redeem
themselves before the six days are up? What readers are saying:
'Wow, what a book! I absolutely adored this. This was ambitious but
done to perfection' Sara Marsden 'The Outcasts of Time is a tour de
force, rich in spellbinding detail. Haunting and atmospheric, there
is warmth and humour alongside fear and torment; all human life is
here. As perfect a novel as any I've ever read' Ophelia's Reads 'A
fascinating trip through seven centuries of history ... The author
has done well to traverse such a sweep of time ... it's a great
read and I'd recommend it' Netgalley reviewer, 4 stars
Eliza Altairsky-Lointaine is the toast of Moscow society, a
beautiful actress in an infamous theatre troupe. The estranged wife
of a descendant of Genghis Khan, her love life is as colourful as
the parts she plays: her ex-husband has threatened to kill anyone
who courts her. He appears to be making good on his promise.
Fandorin is contacted by concerned friend - the widowed wife of
Chekhov - who asks him to investigate an alarming incident
involving Eliza. But when he watches Eliza on stage for the first
time, he falls desperately in love . . . Can he solve the case -
and win over Eliza - without attracting the attentions of the
murderer he is trying to find?
The frontier province of Bithynia is a cesspit of sedition, rotten
with corruption and seething with hatred of Rome. When a rich Roman
official is found dead on a desolate hillside; two riderless horses
tethered in a nearby wood, it is assumed he was killed as a protest
against Emperor Trajan's unlimited power. But Pliny the Younger,
newly appointed Governor of Bithynia, is not so sure. Who was the
other rider? What were the two of them doing in the middle of
nowhere? And what links this murder to a secret cult of the Persian
sun god, Mithras - the Bull Slayer?
The SUNDAY TIMES top 20 bestseller! Shortlisted for the CWA
Endeavour Historical Dagger Award New York, 1939: A city of hope. A
city of opportunity. A city hiding dark secrets ... A brutal murder
in an affluent suburb of Dublin and the unexplained death of an
Irish diplomat in Manhattan... Garda Sergeant Stefan Gillespie is
sent to America to bring a killer to justice, but his mission soon
becomes part of an increasingly personal struggle. A chance
encounter with an old friend draws him deep into a chilling network
of conspiracy, espionage and terror with disturbing connections to
home. He becomes more involved than he should in an Irish woman's
bid for freedom from the clutches of the Manhattan underworld, and
discovers that the war that is looming in Europe is already being
played out here on the streets, with deadly consequences. In this
time when people must make a stand for what they believe in, the
stakes for Stefan Gillespie, and everything he holds dear, couldn't
be higher. This thrilling, elegant and hugely atmospheric novel
will keep you reading late into the night.
'My kind of thriller' Dan Brown The Knights of the Golden Circle
was the largest and most dangerous clandestine organization in
American history. It amassed billions in stolen gold and silver,
all buried in hidden caches across the United States. Since 1865
treasure hunters have searched, but little of it has ever been
found. Now, two factions of the Knights want that treasure - one to
spend it for their own ends, the other to preserve it. Thrust into
the battle is former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone, who
has a personal connection to the knights. His ancestor, Angus
"Cotton" Adams, holds the key to everything. Complicating matters
are a reckless Speaker of the House and the bitter widow of a
Senator, who together are planning radical changes to the country.
From the Smithsonian Institution to the rugged mountains of
northern New Mexico, The Lost Order is a perilous adventure into a
dark period of history - and a potentially even darker future.
TWENTY-ONE DAYS is the first in an exciting new generation of Pitt
novels, featuring Daniel Pitt, by New York Times bestseller and
queen of Victorian crime, Anne Perry. 1910. Sir Thomas Pitt's son,
Daniel, is in the middle of his first case as a barrister when he
is summoned to the Old Bailey for an important trial. Renowned
biographer Russell Graves is charged with the brutal murder of his
wife and Daniel must assist in his defence. When the jury finds the
accused guilty, Graves insists he has been framed. He is writing a
shocking expose of a powerful figure, revealing state secrets so
damning that someone might well have wanted to silence him. With
the reputations of those closest to him at stake, Daniel has
twenty-one days to uncover the truth and ensure that an innocent
man isn't sent to the gallows . . . 'Anne Perry's Victorian
mysteries are marvels of plot construction' New York Times
In the summer of 1932, the career of psychologist and
investigator Maisie Dobbs takes an exciting new turn when she
accepts an undercover assignment from the British Secret Service.
Sent to pose as a junior lecturer at a private college in
Cambridge, she will monitor any activities "not in the interests of
His Majesty's government."
When the college's controversial pacifist founder, Greville
Liddicote, is murdered, however, Maisie is directed to stand back
as her colleagues in Scotland Yard spearhead the investigation. But
she soon discovers that the circumstances of Liddicote's death
appear inextricably linked to the suspicious comings and goings of
faculty members and students under her surveillance. To unravel
this web, the investigator must overcome a reluctant Secret
Service, discover shameful hidden truths about Britain's conduct
during the Great War, and face off against the rising power of the
Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei--the Nazi Party--as
the storm clouds of World War II gather on the horizon.
Starring Thomas Treviot, each novel in this thrilling new series of
historical mysteries is based on a real unsolved Tudor crime. 1536.
In the corrupt heart of Tudor London a killer waits in the
shadows... The Real Crime Before dawn on a misty November morning
in 1536, prominent mercer Robert Packington was gunned down as he
crossed Cheapside on his way to early morning mass. It was the
first assassination by handgun in the history of the capital and
subsequently shook the city to its core. The identity of his
assassin has remained a mystery. Our Story Thomas Treviot is a
young London goldsmith and a close family friend of Robert
Packington. Through his own upstanding social connections - and
some less upstanding acquaintances he has made along the way -
Thomas launches a dramatic investigation into Packington's death.
As Thomas searches for revenge, he must travel from the golden
heart of merchant London, to the straw-covered backstreets of
London's poorest districts before reaching the country's seat of
power: the court of King Henry VIII. Before long he is drawn into a
dark conspiracy beyond his wildest imaginings and claiming justice
for his friend starts to look impossible. Especially when Thomas
realises that Robert wasn't the man he thought he knew... In the
first of a new series investigating real unsolved Tudor crimes,
D.K. Wilson brings the streets of Tudor London to spectacular life
as Thomas Treviot faces a fight to bring the truth to light in the
corrupt world of Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII.
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