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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > Crime & mystery > Historical mysteries
'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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Blood Queen
(Paperback)
Joanna Courtney
1
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R257
R123
Discovery Miles 1 230
Save R134 (52%)
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days
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Cold. Ruthless. Deadly. The myth of Lady Macbeth looms large. But
behind the villainous portrait stands a real woman. This is her
story . . . Scotland, 1020 AD. King Malcolm II lies on his
deathbed, and the most powerful families make a violent claim for
the Scottish throne . . . On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, a
flushed and nervous Cora MacDuff waits to marry her sweetheart,
Macbeth. But her dreams are stolen from her, and the night she was
hoping for turns into a brutal slaughter. In order to reclaim the
life she was promised, Cora must learn to use every weapon at her
disposal - even those she loves . . . The beginning of 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 What
readers are saying about Joanna Courtney: 'I was hooked from the
very first page and didn't want to put it down. Joanna Courtney is
a new talent in the world of historical fiction and one that I
would highly recommend. I look forward to reading more by this
fantastic author' Bookbabblers 'A strong sense of atmosphere and
place and time. I really got into the story, in fact I was so
gripped by it at one point that I missed my bus. It was a really
good, exciting, read. I cannot wait to read the next two books.'
Michelle Birkby, author of The House at Baker Street 'Amazing'
(Miranda Dickinson) 'Courtney's novel breathes new life into this
complex character,...A thrilling introduction to Courtney's new
trilogy on Shakespearean queens.' - The Lady '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) 'An absorbing and
emotional debut novel' (Candis magazine) 'A thrilling and
atmospheric read with strong female characters' (MyWeekly) 'A
beautifully written multi layered tale with a tremendously
authentic sense of place and time . . . an epic feel . . . highly
recommended' (LizLovesBooks) 'The story reaches a heart-rending
climax. A must read. I loved it' (Freda Lightfoot, author of The
Amber Keeper) 'With lovely writing and a terrific sense of
narrative drive, Joanna Courtney portrays an era of change through
a story about a long forgotten Queen. In The Chosen Queen, Edyth is
a heroine who inhabits a convincingly re-created historical world,
peopled with personalities whose lives leap from the page. Superb!
(Carol McGrath, author of The Daughters of Hastings trilogy) An
outstanding opening to this new series set to rival historical
fiction heavyweights like Philippa Gregory and Susanna Dunn
(Lisareadsbooks)
'Chris Nickson works his usual magic, populating late medieval
Chesterfield with characters that are clearly of their time and yet
jump off the page, vibrant and familiar. The icing on the cake (or
the jeweled cover on the exquisite psalter) - a fiendishly clever
puzzle. Highly recommended!' Candace Robb, author of the
bestselling Owen Archer mysteries 1361: John the Carpenter, married
and soon to become a father, has plenty of work to keep him busy in
Chesterfield. But when an elderly man in the town is found murdered
with no clue as to why, the coroner calls upon John's
mystery-solving expertise once again. However, this is a crime
where nothing is as it appears. When the suspected murderer is
found dead and a valuable Book of Psalms vanishes, John is suddenly
embroiled in a string of crimes that threaten his own life and the
safety of his new family.
The year is 1880. In West London, a dedicated doctor has set up a
waiting mortuary on the borders of Kensal Green Cemetery, where
corpses are left to decompose before burial to reassure clients
that no one can be buried alive. When he collapses and dies on the
same night that one of his most reliable employees disappears,
Frances Doughty, a young sleuth with a reputation for solving
knotty cases, is engaged to find the missing man, but nothing is as
it seems. In this, her third case, Frances Doughty must rely on her
wit, courage and determination - as well as some loyal friends - to
solve the case. Suspicions of blackmail, fraud and murder lead to a
gruesome exhumation in the catacombs, with shocking results. The
third book in the popular Frances Doughty Mystery series.
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.
From the bestselling author of The Girl In The Picture comes a
beautiful new timeslip novel. Berkshire, 1944 When Will Bates
offers to take ATA pilot Lilian Miles to the dance, he sends her
heart into a flutter. But as their relationship progresses, Lilian
can't help but get cold feet. Deep down she's always known that the
secrets locked in her past would weigh heavily on her future
happiness... London, 2018 Helena Miles loves nothing more than
digging into the back stories of celebrity families, making her
perfectly suited for her job as a researcher on the hit show Where
Did You Come From?. But when handsome superstar Jack Jones sweeps
into her life, she unexpectedly finds herself trawling through her
own family history. As she explores her family's past, she
discovers that there are far more secrets hidden there than she
ever expected... What really happened to her aunt Lilian during the
war, and why can't she open up about it now? An inspirational tale
of sisterhood and strength, perfect for fans of Tracy Rees and
Kathryn Hughes. Readers love Kerry Barrett: 'All Kerry Barrett's
books are brilliant' 'I'd highly recommend this: detective fiction,
historical fiction, powerful, moving, thrilling, sometimes comic,
always very human.' 'A beautiful story which kept me hooked' 'I
would definitely recommend this read, but be warned, you won't want
to put it down.' 'Loved the whole story, couldn't put it down'
'Will definitely read more from this author'
Frances Doughty is a young sleuth on her first professional case,
trying to discover who distributed dangerously feminist pamphlets
to the girls of the Bayswater Academy for the Education of Young
Ladies. Armed with only her wits, courage and determination, she
finds that even the most respectable denizens of Bayswater have
something to hide, and what begins as a simple task soon becomes a
case of murder. As election fever erupts and the formidable ladies
of the Bayswater Women's Suffrage Society swing into action,
Frances' enquiries expose lies, more murders and a long-concealed
scandal, and she makes a powerful new friend. The second book in
the popular Frances Doughty Mystery series.
From celebrated New York Times bestselling author, Steve Berry,
comes the latest Cotton Malone adventure, in which the discovery of
a lost historical document challenges the global might of the
United States. King Ludwig II of Bavaria was an enigmatic figure
who was deposed in 1886, mysteriously drowning three days later.
Eccentric to the point of madness, history tells us that in the
years before he died Ludwig engaged in a worldwide search for a new
kingdom, one separate, apart, and in lieu of Bavaria. A place he
could retreat into and rule as he wished. But a question remains:
did he succeed? Enter Cotton Malone. After many months, Malone's
protege, Luke Daniels, has managed to infiltrate a renegade group
intent on winning Bavarian independence from Germany. Daniels has
also managed to gain the trust of the prince of Bavaria, a
frustrated second son intent on eliminating his brother, the duke,
and restoring the Wittelsbach monarchy, only now with him as king.
Everything hinges on a 19th century deed which proves that Ludwig's
long-rumored search bore fruit - legal title to lands that Germany,
China, and the United States all now want, only for vastly
different reasons. In a race across Bavaria for clues hidden in
Ludwig's three fairytale castles - Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and
Herrenchiemsee - Malone and Daniels battle an ever-growing list of
deadly adversaries, all intent on finding the last kingdom.
1863. Young student, Bernard Pomeroy, flies into a panic when he
receives a letter in the early hours of the morning. Leaving a note
for a friend with a porter at Corpus Christi College, he rushes for
the next train leaving Cambridge. However, shortly after
disembarking at his destination, the undergraduate lies dead on the
platform. Summoned by the master of the college, Inspector Colbeck
and Sergeant Leeming begin to investigate Pomeroy's untimely
demise. But it seems that Pomeroy had ruffled many feathers during
his short tenure at the University. With academic disputes,
sporting rivalry and a clandestine romance in play, the Railway
Detective will have to disentangle the many threads of Pomeroy's
life in order to answer the truth of his death.
It is the autumn of 1910, and for fifteen long years Sherlock
Holmes and Dr John Watson have battled R'lluhloig, the Hidden Mind
that was once Professor James Moriarty. Europe is creeping
inexorably towards war, and a more cosmic conflict is nearing its
zenith, as in a single night all the most eminent members of the
Diogenes Club die horribly, seemingly by their own hands. Holmes
suspects it is the handiwork of a German spy working for
R'lluhloig, but his search for vengeance costs an old friend his
life. The companions retreat to Holmes's farm on the Sussex Downs,
and it is not long before a client comes calling. Three young women
have disappeared from the nearby town of Newford, and the locals
have no doubt who is responsible. For legend has it that strange
amphibious creatures dwell in a city on the seabed, coming ashore
every few centuries to take fresh captives. As Holmes and Watson
seek out the terrifying interlopers, the scene is set for the final
battle that will bring them face to face with the Sussex
Sea-Devils, and perhaps with Cthulhu himself...
'Stansfield gives a haunting evocation of a place and time when
superstition and logic coexisted in uneasy alliance, and challenges the
reader to decide which was more real' Publisher’s Weekly
Cornwall, 1845. Shilly has always felt a connection to happenings that
are not of this world, a talent that has proved invaluable when
investigating dark deeds with master of disguise, Anna Drake. The women
opened a detective agency with help from their newest member and
investor, Mathilda, but six long months have passed without a single
case to solve and tensions are growing.
It is almost a relief when a man is found dead along the Morwenstow
coast and the agency is sought out to investigate. There are suspicions
that wreckers plague the coast, luring ships to their ruin with false
lights – though nothing has ever been proved. Yet with the local talk
of sirens calling victims to the sea to meet their end, could something
other-worldly be responsible for the man’s death?
A set of horrific killings hints at the answer behind a legendary
crime...Autumn, 1380. Brother Athelstan is very busy. He and his
parish council are preparing for the annual Christmas mystery play
when a series of brutal murders occur at a Southwark tavern. Two
young whores are found slain but their deaths are only the
beginning of a series of gruesome killings which occur around the
parish of St Erconwald's. He resolves to solve not only these
grisly deaths, but also their source - the Great Robbery of the
Lombard treasure, which occurred in Southwark some 20 years
earlier. Plots and deceptions abound in this thrilling mystery
novel by Paul Doherty, ideal for fans of Susanna Gregory, C. J.
Sansom and S. J. Parris. Praise for Paul Doherty'His fascination
for history comes off the page' Daily Express 'Paul Doherty has a
lively sense of history ... evocative and lyrical descriptions' New
Statesmen 'An opulent banquet to satisfy the most murderous
appetite' Northern Echo
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.
New York, 1908. Private detectives George Dillman and Genevieve
Masefield plan to take a break from work upon the Cunard Line's
fleet with the offer of employment upon the Minnesota, a freighter
and passenger vessel, which is bound for the Far East. Although the
pair are investigating the possibility of a smuggling operation on
the route, at first all appears to be smooth sailing, but the
voyage takes a dire turn when a fiery Catholic missionary is
murdered and it proves to be the first in a series of crimes that
plague the crossing. Previously published under the name Conrad
Allen, the Ocean Liner series sets sail for a new generation of
readers.
World War I Battlefield nurse Bess Crawford's career is in
jeopardy when a murder is committed on her watch, in this absorbing
and atmospheric historical mystery from New York Times bestselling
author Charles Todd.
Home on leave, Bess Crawford is asked to accompany a wounded
soldier confined to a wheelchair to Buckingham Palace, where he's
to be decorated by the King. The next morning when Bess goes to
collect Wilkins, he has vanished. Both the Army and the nursing
service hold Bess negligent for losing the war hero, and there will
be an inquiry.
Then comes disturbing word from the Shropshire police,
complicating the already difficult situation: Wilkins has been
spotted, and he's killed a man. If Bess is to save her own
reputation, she must find Wilkins and uncover the truth. But the
elusive soldier has disappeared again and even the Shropshire
police have lost him. Suddenly, the moral implications of what has
happened--that a patient in her charge has committed murder--become
more important to Bess than her own future. She's going to solve
this mysterious puzzle, but righting an injustice and saving her
honor may just cost Bess her life.
Colonel Aubrey Tarleton is a man respected by his neighbors in the
small Yorkshire village of South Otterington as much for his heroic
feats in the army as for his social position. So the community is
left stunned when Tarleton, deliberately, walks into the path of a
speeding train. He is crushed to death on the track, but it is not
his broken limbs that attract the attention of the train driver;
rather, it is the note pinned to his chest, fluttering in the
breeze: Whoever finds me, notify Superintendent Tallis of the
Detective Department at Scotland Yard .The famous Railway
Detective, Inspector Robert Colbeck, finds his superior officer in
great distress when he arrives at the Yard the following morning.
Tallis is clutching a letter from his now-deceased friend. In it,
Tarleton makes it clear that he no longer wishes to live if he has
to do so without his beloved wife, who has disappeared. When the
news arrives that a man s body has been found on the track near
Thirsk, the coincidence is too great. Was Tarleton responsible for
his wife s disappearance, and was his suicide the act of a guilty
man? Tallis cannot believe that to be the case and sets out for
Yorkshire, accompanied by Colbeck and his trusty Sergeant Victor
Leeming, determined to uncover the truth."
Move over Shelock Holmes... the latest from detective and former
courtesan Heloise Chancey... Stoke Newington, 1863: Little Margaret
Lovejoy is found brutally murdered in the outhouse at her family's
estate. A few days later, a man is cut down in a similar manner on
the doorstep of courtesan and professional detective Heloise
Chancey's prestigious address. At the same time, Heloise's maid,
Amah Li Leen, must confront events from her past that appear to
have erupted into the present day. Once again Heloise is caught up
in a maelstrom of murder and deceit that threatens to reach into
the very heart of her existence. In this second instalment of the
Heloise Chancey Mysteries, M.J Tjia brings us another enthralling
historical crime where the twists and turns are as numerous and
dark as the London streets which serve as their setting. What
Reviewers and Readers are saying: `Full of lush historical detail
and brimming with breathless suspense, A Necessary Murder is a
perfectly splendid read. Heloise Chancey is a sleuth for the ages,'
Tasha Alexander `A Necessary Murder is dark and terrifying with a
compelling heroine. I couldn't wait to return to the world of
Heloise Chancey,' Sarah Ward `Another clever and compelling read by
M.J. Tjia. This expertly written historical crime novelweaved an
evocative story that put my life on hold until I finished the very
last page,' Caroline Mitchell `As with the first in this series,
Tjia captures the contrasting atmosphere of mid-Victorian London to
great effect - the opulence of Mayfair as before, but this time
exploring Limehouse and the East India Dock Road. As a reader we
are there with all our senses stimulated by the writing,' David
Evans
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