A bleak Christmas turns into a murder investigation for Superintendent Runcorn...
The fifth in Anne Perry's series of charming Christmas novellas, A Christmas Beginning is a touching story of lost love, wrapped up in a thrilling murder mystery. Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Ann Granger.
'Delightful ... The perfect gift for a whodunit addict who likes to curl up with a good book after Christmas lunch' - Oxford Times
For Superintendent Runcorn, Christmas has rarely looked so bleak. Believing that a change of scenery may help him finally forget Melisande Ewart, Runcorn heads for the beautiful, desolate Isle of Anglesey. Any hopes of Christmas passing quietly are dashed, however, when he discovers Melisande is also in Anglesey and, moreover, that she is engaged to another man.
Then the local vicar's sister is found murdered and Melisande's brother is implicated in the crime. Determined to assist Melisande in her time of need, Runcorn resolves to find the killer. Is it possible in doing so, that he will also win the heart of his one true love?
What readers are saying about A Christmas Beginning:
'Christmas would not be Christmas without a Perry novella'
'A great read, good to curl up with by the fire on a snowy day'
'A real page turner
A haunted, misunderstood outcast... or a murderer?
Paul Doherty writes an epic, spine-chilling story of terror, mystery and black magic set in the Middle Ages in his spellbinding novel, The Rose Demon. Perfect for fans of Michael Jecks and Robin Hobb.
Matthias Fitzosbert is the illegitimate son of the parish priest of the village of Sutton Courteny. Despite the recent spate of murders, each day he braves the dark woods to visit his friend, a mysterious hermit who shows him many strange and beautiful things. Though enthralled, the boy is always puzzled by his lessons with the hermit - never more so than the night the villagers hunt the hermit down, and burn him, believing him to be responsible for the many deaths.
The Rose Demon explores Matthias's unique relationship with a spirit he strives to placate but ultimately flees from. His story is played out against the vivid panorama of medieval life; the fall and sack of Constantinople, the turbulent Wars of the Roses, the terror of witchcraft, the battlefields of Spain and finally the lush jungles of the Caribbean where the Rose Demon and Matthias have one final, dramatic confrontation.
What readers are saying about Paul Doherty:
'Doherty weaves his spell on his readers bringing medieval England to life'
'A captivating read - I was thrilled'
'Pure brilliance
'No one writing today is better than McDevitt at combining galaxy-spanning adventure with the genuine novel of ideas' Washington Post Book World
Two hundred years ago, humans made a stunning discovery in the far reaches of the solar system: a huge statue of an alien creature, with an inscription that defied all efforts at translation.
Now, as faster-than-light drive opens the stars to exploration, humans are finding other relics of the race they call the Monument-Makers - each different, and each heartbreakingly beautiful. But except for a set of footprints on Jupiter's moon Iapetus, there is no trace of the enigmatic race that has left them behind.
Then a team of scientists working on a dead world discover an ominous new image of the Monument-Makers. Somehow it all fits with other lost civilizations, and possibly with Earth's own future. And distant past. But Earth itself is on the brink of ecological disaster - there is no time to search for answers. Even to a question that may hold the key to survival for the entire human race.
A trip to the city brings not only rosy memories of good times, but also a whole heap of trouble...
Lilian Jackson Braun writes a delightful feline mystery in The Cat Who Lived High, the eleventh instalment in her charming series. Perfect for fans of Simon Brett and Sofie Kelly.
'An offbeat series with a good deal of charm' - Baltimore Sun
A plea for help from SOCK, a tenants' organisation determined to save the decaying art deco glory of the Casablanca apartment building from the philistine attentions of the developers, is no strain on the trio's talents. But macabre bloodstains beneath Qwill's penthouse rug prove to be a telling message from SOCK's former leading light. It appears that Dianne Bessinger was stabbed to death in a lovers' tiff, but the combined twitching of Qwill's and Koko's curious whiskers proves that all is not what it seems. Only when Qwill begins to investigate the suicide of Dianne's killer do the strands of the mystery unravel... but will Koko sniff out the truth in time to return the Casablanca to its original glory?
What readers are saying about The Cat Who... series:
'Relaxing escapism with gentle twists and turns'
'One of my favourite mysteries of all time!'
'This book is a page turner; I got so caught up in it I found it hard to put down
Koko and Yum Yum must sniff out the culprit before it's too late...
The most delightful team in detective fiction return in another purr-fectly entertaining mystery in Lilian Jackson Braun's The Cat Who Moved a Mountain. Perfect for fans of cosy crime and cunning cats.
'The ideal bedtime tales for grown-ups' - Los Angeles Times
After five years of legal formalities in gossip-ridden Pickax, Jim Qwilleran has officially inherited the Klingenschoen fortune. In search of a summer's peace, Qwill and his two Siamese cats head for the Potato Mountains. But Qwill finds controversy - one side of the valley is a haven for the descendants of Prohibition Moonshiners, the other home to developers eager to turn the Potatoes into a giant tourist trap. One of the Taters, as the locals are nicknamed, has been imprisoned for the murder of a millionaire developer, but Qwill is convinced the wrong man is in jail. Koko, Yum Yum and Qwill sniff out treachery amidst the pines...
What readers are saying about The Cat Who... series:
'These [books] make lovely, light-hearted reading with a good mix of humour and adventure'
'The entire 'Cat Who...' series are a delight for cat and mystery lovers'
'Quirky - lovely for anyone who owns or has owned an intelligent cat
Skulduggery strikes the Bonnie Scots Tour...
Lilian Jackson Braun takes her unusual detective team to Scotland in the delightful mystery The Cat Who Wasn't There. Perfect for fans of cosy crime and clever cats.
'This droll and engaging mystery... firmly grips the reader... a lively witty tale bolstered by sharply etched characters' - Publishers Weekly
Persuaded by his beloved companion to join her in a group tour of Scotland, Jim Qwilleran expects to revel in his Scottish heritage while keeping Polly Duncan safe from the Pickax Prowler. Instead, his trip is cut short when a thief swipes a suitcase, the bus driver disappears, and a fellow tourist is found dead - all in the same day. The distraught tour members return to Pickax, only to find the town in a tizz. And when the village scuttlebutt focuses on the bizarre behaviour of one of the tour's surviving members, Qwill's sensitive moustache tells him that more trouble is on the way.
What readers are saying about The Cat Who... series:
'These [books] make lovely, light-hearted reading with a good mix of humour and adventure'
'The entire 'Cat Who...' series are a delight for cat and mystery lovers'
'Quirky - lovely for anyone who owns or has owned an intelligent cat
Perhaps no football manager has ever had his personal life dissected as thoroughly as Sven-Goran Eriksson. Yet the man that monopolized the British press during five tumultuous years as England manager remains an enigma. Who, precisely, is Sven?
Here, in his no-holds-barred autobiography, the secretive Swede takes us on one of the wildest rides in world football. Populated by fake sheikhs, Italian lawyers, Nottingham outlaws and, of course, many of the biggest names in the game, his is a 40-year-long career that coincides with the evolution of football into a global multibillion-pound industry.
Most of all, this is a surprisingly tender, sometimes heartbreaking, but never bitter account of a simple man with a most complicated story. A man who has reached a crossroads in his life, who until now has never stopped to ask himself the question: was it worth it?
Koko's strange behaviour is not the only sign of trouble in Pickax...
Qwill and his feline companions must unravel a puzzling tangle of mystery in The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell, an enchanting crime novel from acclaimed author Lilian Jackson Braun. Perfect for cat lovers and fans of cosy crime.
'The tale is as cosy as an hour spent with your favourite cat' - Publishers Weekly
While the town of Pickax is swept up in its sesquicentennial celebrations, Koko has developed a strange new hobby: he drops himself from balconies, occasionally landing in the oddest of places. When a young man comes to visit his wealthy relatives, Koko plummets straight on to his head! Meanwhile, a hurricane is brewing, and the visitor's family members soon fall deathly ill. Qwill has his work cut out for him because Pickax - as foreshadowed by Koko - is about to be hit by a bombshell...
What readers are saying about The Cat Who... series:
'These [books] make lovely, light-hearted reading with a good mix of humour and adventure'
'The entire 'Cat Who...' series are a delight for cat and mystery lovers'
'A purrfect read
A new neighbour makes for new adventures...
Koko takes to the stage in The Cat Who Brought Down the House, the twenty-fifth instalment in Lilian Jackson Braun's enchanting feline crime series. Perfect for fans of cosy crime and cunning cats.
'Can best be compared to that cosiest of feelings - having a purring cat on your lap' - Booklist
There's a lot going on in Pickax these days - a new film club has been founded, showing old films from the early days of cinema; Koko the Siamese cat is making his stage debut in a musical revue to benefit animal rescue; and five Amazon parrots have been abducted. To say nothing of a suspicious compulsive gambler lurking in the background...
What readers are saying about The Cat Who Brought Down the House:
'[Lilian Jackson Braun's] style of storytelling is as captivating as ever'
'The pages are brimming with believable characters and the small-town atmosphere of Pickax is captured perfectly and is refreshingly unclichéd'
'Five stars
A body is discovered, on Qwill's own land no less...
Lilian Jackson Braun brings us another mystery starring journalist James Qwilleran and his lovable, clue-sensitive cats in The Cat Who Talked Turkey. Perfect for fans of cosy crime and cunning cats.
'A series which has more twists and turns than a tabby's tail. This whimsical offering will probably leave you wondering where your tom is tonight' - South Wales Evening Argus
In Qwill's opinion, 'A town without a bookstore is like a chicken with one leg,' and since the late Eddington Smith's bookstore burned down, the town of Pickax has been somewhat off balance. To the rescue comes the Klingenschoen Foundation, manager of Qwill's estate, which considers a new bookstore a worthy investment. Delighted by their good fortune, the people of Moose County prepare to celebrate the gala ground-breaking of the new store on the site of the old. But no one is prepared for the discovery of the body of a man shot execution-style in a wooded area on the very same day. Now Qwill and his clever cats have their work cut out for them...
What readers are saying about The Cat Who... series:
'These [books] make lovely, light-hearted reading with a good mix of humour and adventure'
'The entire 'Cat Who...' series are a delight for cat and mystery lovers'
'A purrfect read
The stage is set for a deadly crime...
Lilian Jackson Braun weaves another witty mystery in The Cat Who Went Bananas, the twenty-seventh outing for Qwill and his very clever cats. Perfect for fans of Rita Mae Brown and Sofie Kelly.
'Lilian Jackson Braun keeps both paws planted on the side of charming' - Los Angeles Times
The good people of Pickax are agog with anticipation. Not only is the new bookstore, The Pirate's Chest, about to open, but the Theatre Club is set to perform Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest.
The play does not continue past opening night, however, for a member of the cast is killed in a car accident... or was it an accident? Koko seems to suspect otherwise, and Qwill and his clever cats have their work cut out for them.
What readers are saying about The Cat Who Went Bananas:
'What can I say - there is not one single title in the series that does not delight'
'These [books] are keepers, just begging to be read and re-read again'
'Five stars
'I'm fascinated by Africa and now I really want to visit Botswana. Through this book, I've come to love the people there, and fall totally for the main character' Louise Penny, New York Times bestselling author of the Chief Inspector Gamache novels
A stunning crime novel set against a backdrop of poachers, witch doctors, diamond smugglers and corruption.
They find the first body near a waterhole considered magical by the local bush people. A string of clues suggests that the victim was murdered and his identity hidden.
For Assistant Superintendent David Kubu Bengu, it's obvious from the start that sinister forces are at work. A convivial figure on the surface, Kubu is a clever and resourceful lawman, well-versed in Botswana's deadliest secrets.
As he follows a blood-soaked trail he uncovers a chain of crimes linked to the most powerful figures in the country -influential enemies who will stop at nothing to remove those who stand in their way...
'A Carrion Death is that perfect combination of "I don't want it to end" and "I can't put it down". Great African crime fiction' Deon Meyer
Readers LOVE the Detective Kubu series:
'Inspector Kubu should become well established among the ranks of world class fictional sleuths *****' Amazon reviewer
'A Carrion Death is a rip-roaring read *****' Amazon reviewer
'I thoroughly enjoyed A Carrion Death and was up all night in full "just another chapter" mode until the end *****' Amazon reviewer
'Highly recommended and the others in the series are equally good *****' Amazon reviewer
There's no rest for the wicked...
When a young artist suddenly disappears, Qwill, Koko and Yum Yum know they have some serious sleuthing to do in Lilian Jackson Braun's cosy feline mystery The Cat Who Sang for the Birds. Perfect for fans of Sofie Kelly and Shirley Rousseau Murphy.
'Lilian Jackson Braun purveys delight from beginning to end' - Los Angeles Times
On the surface, things appear tranquil in Moose County. Jim Qwilleran, newspaper columnist and the county's richest resident, has moved back in to the remodelled apple barn with his two remarkable felines, Koko and Yum Yum. And the newly built gazebo is providing an idyllic opportunity for all three to commune with nature.
But then an elderly woman dies in a suspicious fire. Next, the newly opened art centre falls victim to a mysterious break-in. Throw in a scandal involving an unscrupulous local politician and an anti-computer uprising at the town library and life in Pickax is anything but peaceful...
What readers are saying about The Cat Who... series:
'These [books] make lovely, light-hearted reading with a good mix of humour and adventure'
'The entire 'Cat Who...' series are a delight for cat and mystery lovers'
'Quirky - lovely for anyone who owns or has owned an intelligent cat
When her brother arrives on her doorstep, Hester Monk is shocked - as much by the unexpectedness of the visit as by the reason for it. For since her marriage to Monk, Charles and his elegant wife, Imogen, have kept their distance. But now Charles needs Hester's help. He believes Imogen is having an affair - there can be no other explanation for her recent strange behaviour. However, before Hester is able to investigate, a tragedy occurs. In a nearby artist's studio two women have been brutally killed. Having left the police force with extreme ill feeling between himself and his superior, the last thing Monk wants to do is face the demons of his past. But, in the course of his work, Monk is left with no choice but to visit his old adversary, Runcorn, and involve himself with the sensational murder case.
A young woman will stop at nothing to achieve her dreams...
The White Empress, by bestselling author Lyn Andrews, is a moving saga of a young woman who is determined to make her own way in life - and see the world whilst doing so. Perfect for fans of Anne Baker, Dilly Court and Maureen Lee.
Cat Cleary is a sixteen-year-old Irish 'slummy' arriving in Liverpool to seek her fortune. Joe Calligan, a young steam-packet deckhand, think she's the loveliest girl he's ever seen, and hasn't the heart to tell her that Liverpool is full of people tramping the streets looking for work.
And then Cat sees the White Empress, a huge luxury liner. In that moment her ambition is born - to be chief stewardess. In spite of her poverty, her lack of education, her family background, Cat Cleary sets about realising her incredible dream. And while doing so she discovers that having a good man by her side will bring her more happiness than she could ever have imagined.
What readers are saying about The White Empress:
'Five stars is not enough for this Lyn Andrews epic tale, I was glued from start to finish. The accuracy and story itself is phenomenally detailed, it was like I was in Liverpool - I could almost hear the wartime sirens and bombs'
'Lyn Andrews is a fantastic author. Her descriptions of everything in this book were breath-taking to read. The story was heartrending in places and warm and happy in others'
'The story tells of struggles, loves, traumas, hopes and ambitions. As always Lyn Andrews draws you into her stories
A young girl is searching for the truth behind her uncle's death. Can she solve the mystery before the Christmas bells toll?
Set in the Victorian world where Anne Perry reigns supreme, A Christmas Promise culminates in a radiant finale that will remain with you long after the final page is turned. Perfect for fans of C. J Sansom and Harriet Smart.
'[Perry] writes with detail that invades the senses' - Lincoln Journal Star
Three days before Christmas, in the freezing slums of London's East End, thirteen-year-old Gracie Phipps encounters Minnie Maude Mudway, who is only eight, alone, and determined to find her friend Charlie. However Charlie is no ordinary companion: He is a donkey who belonged to Minnie Maude's Uncle Alf. Gracie is shocked to learn that only the day before, someone brutally murdered Uncle Alf and made off with his rag-and-bones cart and the beloved beast who pulled it. Now, come hell or high water, Minnie Maude means to rescue Charlie-and Gracie decides to help. But the path that Uncle Alf had taken to his death was not his regular route, and in his cart were not just the usual bits of worn silver and china but also, the children are told, a dazzling golden box. What its contents may have been no one can say, for, like Charlie and the cart, it too has vanished.
Uncertain where their four-legged friend may be, the children are drawn into an adult world far beyond their innocent imaginings. And in a shop gleaming with beautiful objects, they recruit an unexpected ally: Mr. Balthasar, who warns them that the shining prize may be just a Pandora's box of evil...
What readers are saying about A Christmas Promise:
'You feel you are there in Victorian England with all the smells, sights and sounds that accompany the story-telling'
'Very atmospheric, entertaining, well written and just that bit different'
'Five stars
A gripping, remarkable thriller in the vein of Harlan Coben and Linwood Barclay.
Elias Hawks' world changed for ever when, as a teenager, he crashed his car and woke, six weeks later, to find he had lost the girl of his dreams and very nearly his life.
Seventeen years later, all Elias has left is his career as an accident investigator and a ticking time bomb in his head from the traumatic brain injury he suffered.
But then the girl reappears out of the blue to tell him that her daughter is missing and Elias finds himself caught up in an increasingly deadly search for answers.
With his health already hanging in the balance, Elias will have one last chance to make amends for the past and one last chance to find the truth, even if this time it means paying for it with his life...
A young orphan's desperate search for somewhere she can call home.
The heart-breaking tale of a foundling's search for belonging, from ebook No.1 bestselling author of No One's Girl, Mothering Sunday and The Little Angel, Rosie Goodwin. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Cathy Sharp.
'Rosie shines a light on those who can find the determination to face down fate itself' - Northern Echo
Abandoned outside a hospital, baby Rebecca didn't have a good start. She's adopted, but her new father can't warm to her, and her mother can't succeed in turning the plain, unresponsive child into the little princess she longs for. When her adoptive mother dies, her greedy aunt takes her in, but hers is not a happy home, and soon Rebecca's life is worse than ever. She longs to escape to the circus that visits her town, with its carefree life and freedom from her past - but will she ever find happiness?
What readers are saying about The Misfit:
'This book is the best ever and would certainly recommend it if you like to keep turning the pages. I was quite choked towards the end'
'One of the best books I have ever read. Moving and terribly sad in places... Could not stop reading this; had to find out what happened. Buy this, you will not be disappointed
An evil opponent threatens all Rebecca holds dear...
Paul Doherty writes a mesmerising tale of mystery, history and love in his masterful novel, The Soul Slayer. Perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom and Susanna Gregory.
Eighteen-year-old Rebecca Lennox, the daughter of a former priest, is neglected and feared by the villagers of Dunmow in Essex. They regard her as cursed, by both her hare lip and her gift of second sight. Rebecca finds solace in the statue of St Michael the Archangel, to whom she prays devotedly within the sanctity of her old parish church. But when a young Catholic priest arrives in the village it seems that she has finally found a mortal confidant. Michael is not repelled by her infirmity and his charm and gentleness remind her of her beloved statue. Then in the late summer changes come to Dunmow. A new parson is appointed - more interested in the black arts than the teachings of religion. For Henry Frogmore, holy orders are merely a convenient cover for his nefarious activities, but in Rebecca and Michael he finds powerful opponents. And in the ensuing struggle, the price for each of them is all too heavy...
What readers are saying about The Soul Slayer:
'One of the best books I have ever read'
'I became so engrossed in this book that I didn't want it to end'
'This is superior writing, an excellent story with vivid, interesting characters
A legendary explorer. A series of shocking murders. A secret society.
Paul Doherty writes a dramatic historical novel about Marco Polo's life in 13th century China in The Plague Lord. Perfect for fans of Ellis Peters and C.J. Sansom.
'An enthralling historical detective novel which immerses the reader in an unknown and distant society far removed from medieval western civilisation, and brings to life some of the period's greatest characters. The mysterious East has never seemed either so deadly or so alien' - Brentwood Gazette
Thirteenth-century China. In the streets of Cambaluc, seat of the great Mongol Lord, Kublai Khan, sinister events are unfolding. Members of the Guild of Pourers, the city cleaners, are being picked off one by one in a series of gut-wrenching murders. What is the link between these deaths and the reappearance of the Water Lily sect, a secret society dedicated to service of the Plague Lord, Wen Yi Kwei? With rumours of demonic forces at work, Kublai Khan summons his trusted advisor and friend, the Venetian Marco Polo, to discover the truth. But will he be able to stem the tide of evil before it's too late? And will the Water Lily sect succeed in unleashing the full fury of Wen Yi Kwei, the great baron of Hell...?
What readers are saying about Paul Doherty:
'I picked it up and couldn't put it down'
'The sounds and smells of the period seem to waft from the pages of [Paul Doherty's] books'
'Five stars
Roger: A code word for a gas cylinder and a nickname for rum. Sausage: An observation balloon. Whippet: A small, light type of tank with a top sped of eight m.p.h. The First World War raged for four years, taking with it hundreds of thousands of young soldiers who lived and died together, bonded by the horror of the war. Now, all the way from the trenches and through the letters of Christopher Moore's Captain Cartwright, comes an extraordinary lexicon of the phrases and lingo of life at the front. Whether born from the desperation of gallows humour ('If it keeps on like this, someone's going to get hurt'), borrowed from Cockney rhyming slang, Latin, French and other languages ('Cushy: Comfortable, safe, pleasant. From the Hindustani: khush, pleasure') or even taken from the name of the Huntley and Palmer biscuit company, Tommy had a new word for almost everything. From Ammo to Zig-Zag, this is a fascinating glimpse into the world of our First World War heroes. So fetch the dooly and the other makings, brew up some char, and read on safe in the knowledge that you won't be going over the top today...
'Fenton... FENTON! Oh, Jesus Christ!' Meet Fenton, the world's most famous dog. Not content with the deer-chasing rampage that propelled him into the limelight, the world's naughtiest Labrador is off on a whirlwind tour of destruction across London. Starting where it all began in Richmond Park, this hilarious book challenges you to find Fenton in a variety of famous locations, from the Royal Albert Hall to the House of Commons, from the Tate Modern to St Pancras Station. Wherever he goes, Fenton leaves a trail of chaos; wrecking a garden party at Buckingham Palace, pestering the players at Wimbledon and upstaging the celebrities at a Leicester Square film premiere. With clues to help you on your way, follow the leads and collar Fenton before he escapes for good...
A series of poisoned pilgrims requires the services of Canterbury's most intrepid sleuth..
.
Paul Doherty introduces his medieval sleuth Kathryn Swinbrooke for the first time in A Shrine of Murders, the first in a gripping mystery series from the acclaimed historical novelist. Perfect for fans of Ellis Peters and Susanna Gregory.
A serial killer haunts 15th-century Canterbury. Kathryn Swinbrooke is an independent practitioner of medicine, discovering the benefits of an apple-rich diet for teeth, and prescribing herbs and vinegar for almost every known malady. Canterbury's tourist trade, already jeopardized by the War of the Roses, is further imperilled by a spate of poisoned pilgrims, each corpse accompanied by the appearance of a line or two of rough verse, in style remarkably similar to Geoffrey Chaucer's soon-to-be famous work. Suspecting the murderer is a doctor, the Archbishop asks for Kathryn's help. In a fascinating hunt that pits her against the august town physicians, Kathryn is aided only by her wits, her foul-mouthed, warm-hearted servant Thomasina, and Colum Murtagh, a powerful Irish mercenary.
What readers are saying about A Shrine of Murders:
'This is well researched, well written and a good story to curl up with on a dark winter's evening'
'Paul Doherty is a superb writer'
'Superb plot and characters. Kathryn is so interesting and insight into the history of the time is so well documented. You feel as if you were there and can even smell it!
An insightful and gripping account of the largest airborne operation in history.
In September 1944, the river Rhine was a serious barrier to the advancing Allied armies in the West who were intent on charging Berlin and ending the war. Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery decided to utilise the First Allied Airborne Army consisting of British, American and Polish troops. Codenamed Operation Market Garden, 40,000 paratroopers were dropped behind enemy lines while ground forces linked to relieve them. But, due to bad weather and German resistance, the operation failed. In March 1945, asecond attempt was planned: Operation Varsity Plunder. This time the plan worked. Despite extremely heavy fighting, they cracked the German line.
