The Last Stand Of A Queen
Her world wasn't one of gilded cages, but of clashing steel and silent vows. Born Manikarnika, she was trained when history often overlooked women, but she refused to be a footnote. As a girl, she mastered the sword and the horse, her spirit forged by loss and quiet injustice. When she became the Rani of Jhansi, she took on a kingdom teetering on the edge of extinction. With her son strapped to her back and a heart full of courage, she became the flame that ignited a revolution, a symbol of defiance, and a hero whose story whispers in every heart that refuses to surrender.
The Last Stand Of A Queen
Her world wasn't one of gilded cages, but of clashing steel and silent vows. Born Manikarnika, she was trained when history often overlooked women, but she refused to be a footnote. As a girl, she mastered the sword and the horse, her spirit forged by loss and quiet injustice. When she became the Rani of Jhansi, she took on a kingdom teetering on the edge of extinction. With her son strapped to her back and a heart full of courage, she became the flame that ignited a revolution, a symbol of defiance, and a hero whose story whispers in every heart that refuses to surrender.
French Inheritance
Fifty years after being rescued from the cellar of her parent's bombed boulangerie in summer 1944 by Joseph, an old soldier, Rose-Marie receives notification from a French notaire that she has inherited his house. He insists she must view the derelict property before he can deal with it. She is terrified that the nightmares she has suppressed from her traumatic childhood will return if she goes to France. She begs her daughter, Laure, to meet the Notaire, view the house and locate her old school teacher, Britt Zeigler, if she is still alive. Britt can explain the reason for the inheritance and why Broussac was targeted for obliteration by the Das Reich Division. Laure rents a house in the village of St Martial near Broussac, but the local people are suspicious of a young Australian woman asking questions about the war. Laure is confronted with malice and hatred in the nearby village of Villane-le-Foret. They say that her grandmother, Liliane, was denounced as a collaborator with the Germans and worked for the Resistance and was executed as a traitor. Can Laure uncover the true story of her grandmother's and mother's lives in wartime France? Can she trace Britt Zeigler in a country that has a different history and language from Australia? Laure travels to the foothills of the Pyrenees and meets Britt, who confirms she and Liliane secretly worked for the French Resistance and rescued orphaned Parisian children. Amidst the lush countryside, it's impossible for Laure to imagine the terrible impact of war, the lives lost and homes destroyed.
Return to Cawston Manor
Return to Cawston Manor is a captivating novel of love, romance, and manipulation set in times gone by. The story follows the Lord of the Manor as he uses his past guilty life to lift the shame of dishonour that plagues him. Through a web of scheming and intrigue, he employs cunning and provocation in a desperate attempt to bring peace to his disturbed past. Filled with a diverse cast of characters, each with their own motivations and desires, the story unfolds with a steady pace, building to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion. The novel delves into the themes of love, terror, and manipulation, with a strong emphasis on the human condition, making it a must-read for fans of historical fiction and those who enjoy a good story of redemption and self-discovery.
Prather's Folly
Step back into the 1850s and travel with Gerald and Lillian Prather and their family from London, England, to the Okanagan Valley. They leave behind a life of privilege when a reversal of finances leaves them destitute. They find themselves confronting the harsh realities of travel on the Oregon Trail and the Okanagan Trail. Along the way they experience fear, sorrow, joy, culture shock, problems and setbacks before establishing one of the largest cattle ranches in Okanagan history.
Gods of Olympus
Before men were the gods and titans, descendants of Gaia and Ouranos, respectively the Earth and the Sky, themselves children of Chaos. Zeus is the only survivor of his brothers and sisters. So to take revenge, he decides to deliver them. Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Hera and Demeter are finally free and now rule on Olympus with their brother Zeus. Loves, marriages and conflicts begin to be heard, but unfortunately, ruling the world is not an easy thing between betrayals, conflict, quests for power, forbidden passions and incestuous relationships. Sins that don't spare the gods.
Curious Bobby and the White Envelope
Bobby loves to sit and watch the world go by from his favourite viewing place, that of Mrs Mason's church bench. Gifted with an eidetic memory and an overcurious mind, there is not much that passes his eye. When, one ordinary Saturday morning, a blonde-haired lady trips over on the street cobbles and causes somewhat of a stir amongst the shoppers, Bobby takes in all the details. He sees the precise actions of the gentleman, who rushes to her assistance, the grateful response of the fallen blonde and the covert and purposeful placing of a white envelope into the stand-alone carrier bag, a bag that belongs to the helpful gentleman. Aside from Bobby, no one else notices. Intrigued by what he has witnessed, Bobby decides to follow the carrier bag owner, who, oblivious to the fact that he now has a mysterious white envelope in his possession, makes his way through the town to the local Antiques and Assortments store. After much pondering and waiting, Bobby too enters the store, where he soon finds himself immersed in a world of seemingly every conceivable knick-knack but also a secret world of strange war memorabilia, striking images and personal testimonies. He has inadvertently entered the fascinating world of the eccentric Mr Nathan Katz. Guided by his overpowering curiosity, Bobby chooses to delve further into his surroundings, and thus the adventure begins.
Letter Z
Final-year students at the Cinematography Institute are swamped with demands: choosing a topic, crafting a killer script, and shooting a graduation film to earn their degree.But these are anxious times. Russia has amassed a formidable military force along Ukraine's borders. How can anyone concentrate?Time is running out-the war has already begun. Though few believed it possible, it erupts like a ruthless steamroller, emblazoned with a crude letter Z, flattening millions of lives in its path.Letter Z is the first comprehensive attempt to capture how it all unfolded-an epic novel chronicling two years of Russian aggression in Ukraine. Blending imagination with stark reality, it weaves the journeys of fictional characters into a tapestry of verified facts, dates, and harrowing testimonies. This is no mere story; it's an investigative narrative, the author's unflinching perspective on events that, in truth, ignited not in 2022 but as early as 2014-a simmering conflict in Donbas that has now escalated into full-scale war. Will it endure forever?Above all, Letter Z probes the questions haunting us all: How could this happen? Why? And the most agonizing-how much longer must it last?
An Ozark Mountain Waltz
When the Croley family comes to the Ozark Mountains to find shelter from the realities of life during the Great Depression, they find a new home in an old wooden cabin borrowed from a friend. As time goes by, they find more than a new start. They find neighbors willing to help, discover the value of having a sense of humor, and regain hope. This story comes from actual written letters and verbal accounts from the family and their friends. These accounts tell of the music, the faith found in hymns, the sound of nature in streams, the varieties of birds and even tree frogs, and the waltzes played on a fiddle to three quarter time. As a family, they encounter drought, snakes, spiders, poverty, illness, and loss of life. Above all these tragedies and challenges, love endures, as the music does in a mountain melody that circles on through those misty, green hills and lingers in our hearts.
World war 3 The false truth
This book transcends the topic of war to offer a path to peace.This book contains scenes that may be disturbing to some readers."In every war, the dead are counted, but the livings are forgotten."War has always been painted as glory, but beneath its banners lie only ashes and sorrow. War is Never a Solution strips away the illusion, exposing the brutal cost hidden behind every so-called victory: schools reduced to rubble, hospitals silenced, industries broken, and centuries of history erased.What you will not find in history books are the silent cries of the ordinary-the mothers clutching children in bomb shelters, the fathers who return to nothing, the children robbed of their innocence. It asks the question few dare to confront: if wars are not the will of the people, why must the innocent bleed for the pride and ambition of the powerful?But this book is more than a condemnation-it is a call to action. It offers a vision for breaking the endless cycle of destruction and building a future where no single leader can drag nations into chaos. In the final chapter of this book, I have share a vision-a path forward that may offer humanity a way to stop this endless cycle of destruction and ensure that future generations inherit a world built on peace, not fear.By reading these pages, you are not just holding a book-you are holding a step toward change. Every reader who carries this message forward becomes part of a growing force that pushes the world away from war and closer to peace.
My Da's Suit
Set against the backdrop of The Troubles in Derry, this is the story of the Devlin family. On that Tuesday, Kitty Devlin had her own troubles and they had nothing to do with politics. Kitty's husband Jim is a tailor. A snob, he has made a one-of-a-kind suit to impress his friends and neighbours. He only ever wears it to Mass on Sundays. What he doesn't know is that every Monday his kind hearted wife pawns the suit and loans the money to her destitute neighbour Bessie Boyle, redeeming it on Saturdays for his trip to Mass on Sunday. Kitty is thrown into a panic when Jim comes home from work on Tuesday and tells her he is going to a works do and he will be wearing his suit. She has no money to get the suit out of the pawn. After she has exhausted every possibility of finding the money, she has an idea.Her husband had secretly made a suit the same for Sergeant Black, a policeman in the RUC. In desperation Kitty asked her eighteen year old son, Sean, to try to somehow to get Sergeant Black's suit. When he hears that his father has been working for the police he goes ballistic. His mother doesn't know that her son is in The Movement. He knows only too well what would happen if the IRA found out! His father would be considered a police collaborator, and shot!Rosary beads in hand, Kitty sits at the fireside praying fervently for a miracle. And then it happened! Her old friend, Lals won five pounds on the horses. She gives the money to Kitty, but just as she is about to go to the pawn to get the suit, Jim arrives home from work to tell her that the pawn has been blown up. And so Kitty's nightmare begins...
Black Cloud Rises
Black Cloud RisesA story of resistance, reckoning, and the healing power of truth.On Thanksgiving Day-hailed by most as a celebration of gratitude and abundance, yet mourned by many Native Americans as a symbol of loss and erasure-Black Cloud watches the Macy's Parade from his Pine Ridge Reservation home with his young niece and nephew. Their innocent joy, set against the glossy backdrop of American pride, cuts him deeply, revealing just how invisible his people have become in the story of the nation.That night, a powerful vision awakens him with purpose: not to destroy, but to confront. Not to hate, but to heal. He rallies a small group of allies, each scarred by generational trauma, and together they embark on a bold mission-to disrupt the country's most beloved holiday tradition at the heart of New York City. What begins as a provocative act of protest becomes something far more transformative: a journey of truth, visibility, and spiritual reckoning.As Black Cloud and his companions navigate personal demons, tribal politics, and systemic blindness, they also rediscover connection, courage, and the hope of redemption-not only for themselves, but for a nation long divided by myth and denial.Set against the collision of commercialized Thanksgiving and The Day of Mourning, Black Cloud Rises challenges America to look beyond comforting traditions toward a more honest story of who we are and how we heal.In the end, it asks one searing question: Can we ever find unity without first acknowledging the truth behind America's oldest wound?
1972
In 1972, Jack Anderson, a syndicated news journalist, reported that President Nixon threatened to drop a nuclear bomb on North Vietnam. The plan, "Operation Mad Dog," was leaked to the press. In Vietnam, the North Vietnamese were coming across the DMZ to invade South Vietnam in what was believed to be the beginning of the end of American occupation. This book is a fictional account of real-life events. It is partially told through the experiences of the three protagonists, who observe the story. Jeremiah, whose mother's church is now led by a Christian Klan member, who will try to sabotage the flight because of the color of the Pilot. His best friend Kimoni, a young black man, whose Father is scheduled to fly on his first command flight, thinks he's shuttling an aging cruise missile to Minot for decommissioning, but is actually scheduled to launch the nuclear-tipped Cruise missile in the Sea of Japan. And Sherry, the knife-wielding love interest, falls for Jeremiah and saves Kimoni's life. The Klan helped Governor George Wallace of Alabama win every county in the State of Florida during the 1972 primary. The Klan used biblical scripture to justify their separation of the races. Senator Anthony Gavin, a war hero from Hill 69, tries to stop Nixon from starting WWIII. In the spirit of accuracy, the writer wrote much of the dialogue in the southern vernacular attributed to each race. And in between the Vietnam War, the racist teaching, and the sabotage. There's a love story.
The Champagne Letters
Mme. Clicquot builds her legacy as the maker of France's best champagne while, in the future, a modern divorc矇e looks to her letters for inspiration in this vibrant historical fiction novel that is "sheer, sparkling perfection" (Susanna Kearsley, New York Times bestselling author). Reims, France, 1805: Barbe-Nicole Clicquot has just lost her beloved husband but is determined to pursue their dream of creating the premier champagne house in France, now named for her new identity as a widow: Veuve Clicquot. With the Russians poised to invade, competitors fighting for her customers, and the Napoleonic court politics complicating matters, she must set herself apart if she, and her business, are to survive. In present day Chicago, broken from her divorce, Natalie Taylor runs away to Paris. In a book stall by the Seine, Natalie finds a collection of the Widow Clicquot's published letters and uses them as inspiration to step out of her comfort zone and create a new, empowered life for herself. But when her Parisian escape takes a shocking turn, she's forced to make a difficult choice. Should she accept her losses and return home, or fight for the future she's only dreamed about? "The Champagne Letters, which sparkles like the finest champagne, will inspire you to reach both for a glass of bubbly--and for the things you really want out of life" (Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author).
1972
In 1972, Jack Anderson, a syndicated news journalist, reported that President Nixon threatened to drop a nuclear bomb on North Vietnam. The plan, "Operation Mad Dog," was leaked to the press. In Vietnam, the North Vietnamese were coming across the DMZ to invade South Vietnam in what was believed to be the beginning of the end of American occupation. This book is a fictional account of real-life events. It is partially told through the experiences of the three protagonists, who observe the story. Jeremiah, whose mother's church is now led by a Christian Klan member, who will try to sabotage the flight because of the color of the Pilot. His best friend Kimoni, a young black man, whose Father is scheduled to fly on his first command flight, thinks he's shuttling an aging cruise missile to Minot for decommissioning, but is actually scheduled to launch the nuclear-tipped Cruise missile in the Sea of Japan. And Sherry, the knife-wielding love interest, falls for Jeremiah and saves Kimoni's life. The Klan helped Governor George Wallace of Alabama win every county in the State of Florida during the 1972 primary. The Klan used biblical scripture to justify their separation of the races. Senator Anthony Gavin, a war hero from Hill 69, tries to stop Nixon from starting WWIII. In the spirit of accuracy, the writer wrote much of the dialogue in the southern vernacular attributed to each race. And in between the Vietnam War, the racist teaching, and the sabotage. There's a love story.
Octavia The Octoroon
Octavia: The Octoroon by J. F. Lee is a powerful and tragic novel that delves into the painful realities of race, identity, and forbidden love in 19th-century America. Centered on Octavia, a woman of mixed heritage caught between two worlds, the novel explores the social and moral conflicts surrounding slavery, colorism, and the rigid racial boundaries of the antebellum South.Through vivid characterization and emotional depth, Lee exposes the cruelty of racial injustice and the human cost of systemic oppression. The novel's dramatic portrayal of love constrained by prejudice serves as both a social critique and a deeply personal story of courage, longing, and loss.Originally published during an era of intense racial division, Octavia: The Octoroon remains a significant early contribution to the literature addressing race and identity in America. It continues to resonate as a haunting exploration of humanity, inequality, and resilience.
We Are Not Yours
In 1973, the Greek people overthrew an authoritarian government by virtue of their spirit alone... with a bit of help from their artists, musicians and writers. We Are Not Yours is a novel of that time. What could be more relevant, now, when democracy is under such threat? Perdiki's songs inspired a nation to resist an oppressive government, and for it he was chained to the deck of an old freighter and sent into exile. When he managed to break free and swim to the island of Mythos, an epic struggle began that ended with the whole island protecting him and his music. As Spider Robinson wrote, "This is a novel of magnificence, a truly inspiring book and a great story. It made me laugh and cry and see the human spirit at its best."
The Tyger Striped Boy
In a world of spectacle, one boy's truth could bring the house down.London, 1789. After a fire consumes the Theatre Royal, master showman Joseph Eliot is desperate to rebuild. His answer comes in the form of a strange, silent boy - his skin marked with tiger-like stripes - and a plan to turn curiosity into spectacle.As the boy is thrust into the limelight alongside a live tiger, audiences are captivated. But behind the applause, dark questions stir. Where did the boy come from? Why does he never speak? And what secret binds him to a powerful man with influence - and a motive to see him disappear?As the city whispers and danger mounts, someone is arrested for a crime they may not have committed. Rebecca must uncover the truth before the curtain falls - for the boy, for Joseph, and for herself... A vivid historical tale of wonder, love, and the fine line between performance and exploitation, The Tyger Striped Boy blends the theatrical heart of The Greatest Showman with the soulful mystery of Life of Pi.
Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz
Love, faith, and defiance amid the ruins of a crumbling empire.In the turbulent streets of ancient Rome, where Emperor Nero's madness reigns supreme, a proud Roman nobleman, Marcus Vinicius, becomes utterly enthralled by Lygia-a beautiful young Christian raised in the household of a revered general. What starts as a fierce, all-consuming obsession evolves into a profound quest for redemption, forcing Marcus to face the brutality of his society and the void in his own heart.Against a backdrop of shadowy plots, brutal persecutions, and the infamous flames that devour Rome, Quo Vadis weaves an unforgettable tale of spiritual rebirth. The unyielding courage of the early Christians shines brightly against Nero's flamboyant tyranny, while the haunting question "Quo vadis?"-Where are you going?-echoes like a whisper of destiny, urging characters and readers alike to examine their paths.Since its debut in 1896, this worldwide sensation has captivated hearts with its grand romance, vivid historical tapestry, and deep questions about morality and purpose. This refreshed edition, complete with timeless illustrations and thoughtful updates, invites today's readers to rediscover Sienkiewicz's enduring classic.A passion that survives the inferno. A belief that topples tyrants. A story that still ignites the soul.
Pains from the Past
At the close of the last millennium, Grace Moran is living in a care home, suffering with dementia, and having time to look back on her life. Grace was born in 1917, in the Suffolk village of Hartley Halt, where her grandfather was the rector at the village church. Her father, Gerald Whittingham, had been invalided out of the army, having been blown up and gassed and was suffering from severe mental issues. The Second World War was underway and Grace, now a young woman, no longer wanted to stay in this stifled community; she moved to London, where she shared a flat with Mary. Having secured a clerical position working in Churchill's War Rooms, she returned home one morning, after a night shift, to discover the house had been blown up and so had Mary. Through the next five years, Grace experienced the horrors, the loves and losses of war, finally meeting Charles Moran on VE Day, 1945. They married two years later, having two children. Married life, for Grace, was not always an easy ride and she was afflicted with many emotional and difficult decisions. And now living in a care home, she has the time to reflect on the past, as well as worrying about her daughter, Robyn, in the present.
Bhimbetka Historical fiction Novel for children
'Bhimbetka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Madhya Prades. The cave paintings found in Bimbetka rock shelters are pre historic paintings that spans the Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods.This educational novel is the adventures of a girl along with her tribal friend in the back drop of Bhimbetka caves and Ratapani wild life Sanctury .
The Shadowed Land
This "can't-miss historical epic" (Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author) reimagines the legends of King Arthur by resurrecting the real historical figures who inspired these enduring tales. Scotland, AD 580: A queen has risen. A battle has been won. Loved ones who were lost have been reunited. But in a land of power-hungry kings, peace is precarious and cannot last for long. All too soon, circumstance pulls both Britons and Scots back to their own destinies. The warrior Art繳r receives a mysterious summons from his father in Dalriada. Queen Languoreth and her brother must return to Strathclyde with the dangerous former bishop Mungo in tow, determined to maintain the fragile balance between the Christians and the people of the Old Way. Meanwhile, the young priestess Angharad must travel deep into the shadowed land of the Picts, hoping to become the initiate of Briochan, a druid who practices the secret Celtic art of weather work. As they rise to meet their fates, they are pushed to impossible new frontiers: each must decide whether they are willing to do what it takes to become the heroes their harrowing days demand. Set in the sprawling historical landscape of early medieval Scotland, Pike's critically acclaimed retelling of the Arthurian saga thrusts readers into a world of ambition, loyalty and love, revealing truths that have for too long been buried by legend in this "gorgeous, sweeping saga" (Janet Skeslien Charles, New York Times bestselling author).
The Ramage Hawk
Get ready for the third thrilling title in John Pilkington's gripping Thomas the Falconer Tudor mystery series! Perfect for fans for S J Parris and Andrew Taylor This tale gives an authentic sense of Elizabethan life s visceral side with all its lawlessness and brutality - Publishers Weekly A LURE TO MURDER Thomas Finbow, falconer to Sir Robert Vicary, is sent to the remote Salisbury Plain by his master to assist on the estate of the impoverished Sir Giles Buckeridge. Thomas is to train a ramage hawk an immature, half-wild bird and to teach the arts of falconry to Sir Giles s young ward, Gervase. It soon becomes clear, however, that Sir Giles has much bigger problems than falconry as he is struggling to secure respectable futures and provide sufficient dowries - for his three spirited daughters. Within days of Thomas's arrival, Sir Giles's eldest daughter Jane vanishes - assumed to have run away from her unhappy betrothal to a wealthy older man, Stephen Ridley. But the search for a missing girl soon turns into a hunt for a murderer, and as the body count rises, Thomas has no choice but to do what he does best hunt his prey Perfect for fans of C J Sansom, Andrew Taylor and S J Parris. Praise for the Thomas the Falconer series: Larger-than-life characters and authentic 16th-century ambience Pilkington successfully draws readers into his world and keeps them turning the pages. - Booklist 'The story moves at a great pace ... it made a welcome change to discover Elizabethan England through the eyes of a lesser mortal.' - The Historical Novels Review A sturdy and entertaining historical for fans of Elizabethan mysteries - Library Journal This latest entry in Pilkington s Thomas the Falconer series is a vigorous adventure featuring a likeable hero, an intriguing plot and a fine sense of period ambience. - Booklist Praise for The Ramage Hawk: Hard to put this down. Reader Review Thomas Falconer tales get better and better Book 3, the best so far! Reader Review A wonderful blend of action murder and mystery. Reader Review Excellent story telling. I'm now completely hooked on this series. Reader Review Excellent! Heroics battles bravery and treachery this story has it all. Falconers unite! Loved it. Reader Review A great historical thriller like Parris and Sansom. Reader Review
The Ramage Hawk
Get ready for the third thrilling title in John Pilkington's gripping Thomas the Falconer Tudor mystery series! Perfect for fans for S J Parris and Andrew Taylor This tale gives an authentic sense of Elizabethan life s visceral side with all its lawlessness and brutality - Publishers Weekly A LURE TO MURDER Thomas Finbow, falconer to Sir Robert Vicary, is sent to the remote Salisbury Plain by his master to assist on the estate of the impoverished Sir Giles Buckeridge. Thomas is to train a ramage hawk an immature, half-wild bird and to teach the arts of falconry to Sir Giles s young ward, Gervase. It soon becomes clear, however, that Sir Giles has much bigger problems than falconry as he is struggling to secure respectable futures and provide sufficient dowries - for his three spirited daughters. Within days of Thomas's arrival, Sir Giles's eldest daughter Jane vanishes - assumed to have run away from her unhappy betrothal to a wealthy older man, Stephen Ridley. But the search for a missing girl soon turns into a hunt for a murderer, and as the body count rises, Thomas has no choice but to do what he does best hunt his prey Perfect for fans of C J Sansom, Andrew Taylor and S J Parris. Praise for the Thomas the Falconer series: Larger-than-life characters and authentic 16th-century ambience Pilkington successfully draws readers into his world and keeps them turning the pages. - Booklist 'The story moves at a great pace ... it made a welcome change to discover Elizabethan England through the eyes of a lesser mortal.' - The Historical Novels Review A sturdy and entertaining historical for fans of Elizabethan mysteries - Library Journal This latest entry in Pilkington s Thomas the Falconer series is a vigorous adventure featuring a likeable hero, an intriguing plot and a fine sense of period ambience. - Booklist Praise for The Ramage Hawk: Hard to put this down. Reader Review Thomas Falconer tales get better and better Book 3, the best so far! Reader Review A wonderful blend of action murder and mystery. Reader Review Excellent story telling. I'm now completely hooked on this series. Reader Review Excellent! Heroics battles bravery and treachery this story has it all. Falconers unite! Loved it. Reader Review A great historical thriller like Parris and Sansom. Reader Review
Of Blood, Breath, and Memory
Of Blood, Breath, and Memory introduces "postry"-a revolutionary literary form fusing poetry with historical documentation to explore the marrow of human experience across time. Volume I: Echoes of Being traces thirteen foundational emotions through meticulously researched historical moments, from Byzantine stone-carvers to monastery archivists. Author Karan Jain weaves fictional voices with primary sources, creating an emotional atlas where readers inhabit distant lives while standing on documented ground. Each chapter reconstructs actual historical instants, layering verse fragments and sensory detail upon archaeological scaffolding. This experimental narrative asks both "What did it feel like?" and "What truly happened?"-inviting readers to sense that the breath in their lungs once stirred an ancestor's chest. The first volume of a planned four-part exploration of human consciousness through time
The Ramage Hawk
Get ready for the third thrilling title in John Pilkington's gripping Thomas the Falconer Tudor mystery series! Perfect for fans for S J Parris and Andrew Taylor This tale gives an authentic sense of Elizabethan life s visceral side with all its lawlessness and brutality - Publishers Weekly A LURE TO MURDER Thomas Finbow, falconer to Sir Robert Vicary, is sent to the remote Salisbury Plain by his master to assist on the estate of the impoverished Sir Giles Buckeridge. Thomas is to train a ramage hawk an immature, half-wild bird and to teach the arts of falconry to Sir Giles s young ward, Gervase. It soon becomes clear, however, that Sir Giles has much bigger problems than falconry as he is struggling to secure respectable futures and provide sufficient dowries - for his three spirited daughters. Within days of Thomas's arrival, Sir Giles's eldest daughter Jane vanishes - assumed to have run away from her unhappy betrothal to a wealthy older man, Stephen Ridley. But the search for a missing girl soon turns into a hunt for a murderer, and as the body count rises, Thomas has no choice but to do what he does best hunt his prey Perfect for fans of C J Sansom, Andrew Taylor and S J Parris. Praise for the Thomas the Falconer series: Larger-than-life characters and authentic 16th-century ambience Pilkington successfully draws readers into his world and keeps them turning the pages. - Booklist 'The story moves at a great pace ... it made a welcome change to discover Elizabethan England through the eyes of a lesser mortal.' - The Historical Novels Review A sturdy and entertaining historical for fans of Elizabethan mysteries - Library Journal This latest entry in Pilkington s Thomas the Falconer series is a vigorous adventure featuring a likeable hero, an intriguing plot and a fine sense of period ambience. - Booklist Praise for The Ramage Hawk: Hard to put this down. Reader Review Thomas Falconer tales get better and better Book 3, the best so far! Reader Review A wonderful blend of action murder and mystery. Reader Review Excellent story telling. I'm now completely hooked on this series. Reader Review Excellent! Heroics battles bravery and treachery this story has it all. Falconers unite! Loved it. Reader Review A great historical thriller like Parris and Sansom. Reader Review
The Ramage Hawk
Get ready for the third thrilling title in John Pilkington's gripping Thomas the Falconer Tudor mystery series! Perfect for fans for S J Parris and Andrew Taylor This tale gives an authentic sense of Elizabethan life s visceral side with all its lawlessness and brutality - Publishers Weekly A LURE TO MURDER Thomas Finbow, falconer to Sir Robert Vicary, is sent to the remote Salisbury Plain by his master to assist on the estate of the impoverished Sir Giles Buckeridge. Thomas is to train a ramage hawk an immature, half-wild bird and to teach the arts of falconry to Sir Giles s young ward, Gervase. It soon becomes clear, however, that Sir Giles has much bigger problems than falconry as he is struggling to secure respectable futures and provide sufficient dowries - for his three spirited daughters. Within days of Thomas's arrival, Sir Giles's eldest daughter Jane vanishes - assumed to have run away from her unhappy betrothal to a wealthy older man, Stephen Ridley. But the search for a missing girl soon turns into a hunt for a murderer, and as the body count rises, Thomas has no choice but to do what he does best hunt his prey Perfect for fans of C J Sansom, Andrew Taylor and S J Parris. Praise for the Thomas the Falconer series: Larger-than-life characters and authentic 16th-century ambience Pilkington successfully draws readers into his world and keeps them turning the pages. - Booklist 'The story moves at a great pace ... it made a welcome change to discover Elizabethan England through the eyes of a lesser mortal.' - The Historical Novels Review A sturdy and entertaining historical for fans of Elizabethan mysteries - Library Journal This latest entry in Pilkington s Thomas the Falconer series is a vigorous adventure featuring a likeable hero, an intriguing plot and a fine sense of period ambience. - Booklist Praise for The Ramage Hawk: Hard to put this down. Reader Review Thomas Falconer tales get better and better Book 3, the best so far! Reader Review A wonderful blend of action murder and mystery. Reader Review Excellent story telling. I'm now completely hooked on this series. Reader Review Excellent! Heroics battles bravery and treachery this story has it all. Falconers unite! Loved it. Reader Review A great historical thriller like Parris and Sansom. Reader Review
The Choir
In a world that wants to silence them, one group of women dares to sing.In the dreary streets of 1890s Briarstown, a fictional Yorkshire mill town, Eliza Kingwell fights to survive in a home filled with hardship. When a devastating loss crushes her plan to escape with her five daughters, she turns to an unlikely lifeline: a local singing competition. With nothing left to lose, she gathers a feisty group of working-class women to form a choir-and sets her sights on a cash prize that could change her life forever.Meanwhile, Ruth Henton-once Eliza's best friend and now a star on the London stage-is disgraced by scandal and must find new purpose and redemption. As fate would have it, Ruth becomes a judge in the very competition Eliza needs to win.While Eliza's choir trains for its chance at glory, secrets simmer, friendships deepen, and long-buried wounds surface. In a time and place where women's voices are too often ignored, The Choir is a triumphant story of music, sisterhood, and reclaiming power.Perfect for fans of Jennifer Chiaverini, Tracy Chevalier and Pip Williams, The Choir is a stirring, beautifully written novel that celebrates the strength of women who dare to rise-and sing.
Zebedee's Calling
Zebedee's Calling brings 11th Century England to life, with key battles and royal successions, as well as the efforts among a group of zealous Christians to have access to Scripture written in English. Along with revelations about rulers, military tactics and the Church, there also are descriptions of Anglo-Saxon society and daily life. Although this story is historical fiction, it parallels our time. The accounts of Christian leaders and martyrs who strove to make the Bible accessible to the people draw attention to the immeasurable value of Scripture, and how blessed we are to possess it today.Endorsement: A rare, historically accurate fictional epic that is an inspiration for today's youth, Zebedee's Calling represents Joel's unique approach to story-telling and stimulates both introspection and action: What is the place of the Bible in today's society? What is our obligation to ensure people have access to the Holy Scriptures? And most importantly, what can the coming generation do to re-ignite our passion for God, for country, and for the salvation of the world?─Andrew Friedel, President, Christian Fellowship Church of Kitchener-WaterlooAbout the Author: Author Joel Francis was born into a God-loving, Bible-believing Christian family in India, and emigrated with his family to Canada when he was a young boy. Learning about the history of the Church and attending a Catholic high school inspired him to write his first book, Zebedee's Calling. Joel conveys the eternal truths he continues learning about God through his writing, and he wishes to serve and glorify Him in every sphere of life. Joel lives with his parents and brother. He graduated from the University of Toronto with majors in applied statistics and economics, and a minor in mathematics.
Song of Destiny
Ellie started working at the aristocratic Grandfield Estate, as a scullery maid, when the daughter of Tibby, the house steward, tragically dies. Ellie has always been the carer in her family so when WWI breaks out it is only natural that she sets aside her dreams of singing to begin nursing. Ellie is refused overseas service, and after Grandfield is seconded as a war hospital for recuperating soldiers, she begins nursing the residents there. How does Ellie navigate the pain of her world to find the music in her heart that she is destined to sing?
The Lindisfarne Series Books 4-5
"Do you remember the house?" Eva asks. "From when we were children?" "Of course.""What happened here? Why did we leave?"This digital box set contains books four and five of The Lindisfarne Series.Book #4 of 5 - The Rising Tide (Prequel)It's 1695, and with her husband newly in his grave, Abigail Blake is haunting Highfield House like a ghost, estranged from the village and struggling to make a good life for her children. Nathan is keeping secrets for his older brother, Eva is too young to see the threats all around her, and Oliver is becoming everything Abigail has always feared he would be.A chance meeting brings Abigail and her children into the path of Henry Ward, a privateer with connections to the rumbling Jacobite movement. Their encounter sets into motion events that will change Abigail's life forever-and leave an indelible mark on generations to come.Book #5 of 5 - North Star RisingTen years have passed since the Blakes first returned to Lindisfarne, and found themselves entangled in the Jacobite Rising. In the vast expanse of Highfield House, Nathan and Theodora spend their nights watching the stars, while Finn and Eva are raising their family in the glow of the Longstone light. With the Jacobites lying dormant and their darkest deeds buried, the Blakes have found a shallow peace in their ancestral home that once seemed unobtainable.But when disaster strikes Longstone, it only takes a single night for that hard-fought peace to shatter. Suddenly the past is anything but buried, and old mistakes can no longer be outrun.As familiar faces return to the islands, Eva, Nathan and their families must grapple with the consequences of choices made a decade ago-consequences that will push their love for one another to the limit, and force them to face the reality of where their loyalties truly lie.Praise for The Lindisfarne Series: ★★★★★ - Everything I love about historical fiction.★★★★★ - The perfect blend of mystery, danger and romance.★★★★★ - Action-packed, non-stop surprises, suspenseful drama, innocent romance. ... And to top it all off, pirates!★★★★★ - I could not put it down.★★★★★ - Amazing book, great story, very addictive★★★★★ - There is not a moment you can put this book down.
The Lindisfarne Series Books 1-3
A house full of secrets. The loneliest of islands. And a man with plenty to hide...This compilation contains the first three books of The Lindisfarne Series."An addictive read" - Historical Novel SocietyIt's 1715, and twenty years after fleeing the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, Eva Blake and her siblings return to their dilapidated family home in an attempt to piece together their tattered lives. But a new Jacobite Rising is gaining momentum, and as outsiders from London, the Blakes find themselves under suspicion from the villagers.When conflict with the locals comes to a head, Eva escapes to the nearby island of Longstone, where the reclusive Finn Murray keeps a makeshift shipping beacon burning on the shore.Alone on Longstone, Eva and Finn find themselves drawn to each other, despite his attempts to keep her at a distance. But long-buried secrets are beginning to resurface, and Eva can't help but fear she has made a grave error in opening her heart to Finn.All she knows is her life is in danger, and she must confront the past if she is to survive.Box set contains: Book #1 of 5: Firelight RisingBook #2 of 5: Moonlight RisingBook #3 of 5: Midnight RisingWhat readers are saying: ★★★★★ - Everything I love about historical fiction.★★★★★ - The perfect blend of mystery, danger and romance.★★★★★ - Action-packed, non-stop surprises, suspenseful drama, innocent romance. ... And to top it all off, pirates!★★★★★ - I could not put it down.★★★★★ - Amazing book, great story, very addictive★★★★★ - There is not a moment you can put this book down.
Books of Destiny
The only thing Mim enjoyed while working at Grandfield Estate, was their beautifully stocked library. She was the governess of young Anna, the precocious daughter of the Whitakers who clung to an outdated sense of aristocracy, and a full complement of servants. Mim struggles to balance the expectations of Grandfield, while supporting her widowed father who is left on the sidelines after a warehouse injury. When WWI breaks out and Grandfield is seconded as a war hospital for recuperating soldiers, Mim saw it as her opportunity to escape Grandfield. Will Mim be able to reconnect with her love of books, and fulfil her destiny even when she ends up back at Grandfield nursing returned solders?
Hats of Destiny
Growing up, Anna was always required to wear fashionable hats to match her dresses and her mother's exacting expectations. Her home is Grandfield Estate, an elegant house in the suburbs of Sydney, where the Whitaker family clung to an outdated sense of aristocracy and a full complement of servants. Anna struggles to find the shape of her own identity, particularly when WWI breaks out and Grandfield is seconded as a war hospital for recuperating soldiers. Will Anna be able to navigate the challenges of crossing the Grandfield driveway to the outside world of nursing? Will her connections to the servant's quarters of Grandfield help her find her place and a hat that fits well?
Nothing Remains Hidden
Nothing Remains Hidden is a literary mystery of history, memory, and long-buried secrets.When Dutch academic Emma van der Linde takes a quiet weekend away, she stumbles across a key that opens more than just a locked box. Inside lies a cache of letters from 1848 - voices from another century, waiting to be heard.Together with historian Lena van Dijk, Emma begins to trace the forgotten lives behind the words. What starts as curiosity soon becomes a journey through archives, fire-damaged papers, and silences that stretch across generations.For readers of historical fiction with a modern twist, Nothing Remains Hidden explores how the past intrudes upon the present - and how nothing, once written, is ever truly lost.
The Winter Bell
When the Winter Bell of Brookwood falls silent for the first time in nearly a century, the entire town feels its absence. Shops open late, voices drop to whispers, and an ancestral hush settles like frost over every doorstep. For generations, the bell has tolled on the Winter Solstice-a sound of promise, peace, and continuity. But when it fails to ring, it awakens long-buried secrets and rekindles stories the town vowed never to tell.Marley Taylor, still discovering her role as the keeper of her aunt's beloved bookshop, is drawn deeper into Brookwood's mysteries when she stumbles upon a half-burned note: "If the bell does not ring, the vow was broken." From that moment, Marley senses that something sacred has been paused-not only in the town's traditions but in its very soul. Each clue she uncovers pulls her further into a haunting ancestral riddle: the legend of Amelia Colvin, the "veil bride" who never wed, and whose unfinished vow has bound Brookwood in silence for nearly a century.Damien Hawthorne, the archivist and historian whose sharp intellect is matched only by his guarded heart, joins Marley in unraveling the truth. At first, he searches for rational explanations: mechanical faults, forgotten maintenance, natural decay. Together, Marley and Damien follow a trail of spectral fragments: a sealed ribbon box in the bakery attic, Elijah Callahan's lost journal, music boxes that whisper hidden words, and lace gloves left like offerings at Marley's door. Each artifact weaves them closer to Amelia's forgotten story-and closer to each other.As Brookwood prepares for its Winter Ball, Marley wrestles with how much of Amelia's truth the town is ready to hear. Is Brookwood strong enough to face the reality that its beloved traditions are rooted not in joy, but in sacrifice and silence? And as Damien receives an offer that could be a great opportunity-but away from Marley-he must decide where his true calling lies: in preserving history abroad, or in living its unspoken vows here in Brookwood.What begins as a hushed anomaly becomes a test of faith, love, and courage. The bell's silence reveals itself not as absence, but as a crucible. Marley and Damien stand at the threshold of choice: to let Brookwood retreat into silence, or to risk everything by speaking Amelia's truth aloud. When the bell rings again-unbidden, clear, and resonant-its sound restores more than tradition. It restores memory, unity, and the hope of new vows written in the present.The Winter Bell is a story of ancestral promises and contemporary reckonings, where love becomes a vow as sacred as history itself. Steeped in romance, mystery, and the shimmering magic of winter, this fourth installment of the Brookwood Mysteries is both a revelation and a renewal. Readers will find themselves swept into a world where forgotten brides leave whispers in the snow, music boxes carry the songs of the departed, and the courage to speak truth becomes the greatest vow of all.Perfect for fans of heartwarming small-town romance, generational mysteries, and stories that blend history with the supernatural, The Winter Bell delivers on every page: an emotional love story, a pulse-quickening mystery, and a community's journey toward healing. It is a novel of vows broken and vows restored, of presence over promise, and of love that rings true-even when the bell does not.Step into Brookwood this winter. Listen closely. The silence has a story to tell.
The Bridge of Echoes
Some bridges carry more than footsteps-they hold secrets, vows, and echoes that refuse to die.In The Bridge of Echoes, the highly anticipated second installment of the Brookwood Mysteries, bestselling intrigue and romance collide once more as Marley Taylor and Damien Hawthorne step deeper into the shadows of Brookwood's haunted past.When an unusual fog clings to the town's covered bridge, Marley begins hearing voices in the mist. A child whispers warnings, a woman's voice pleads for someone who never came, and dreams pull Marley into visions of a nineteenth-century bride who vanished without a trace. Each haunting leaves her more determined to uncover Annie Wren's forgotten story.But Brookwood has long memories-and its people prefer silence. Whispers turn into gossip. A child sketches "the lady on the bridge at night." A caf矇 owner deflects questions about a bride who never reached the altar. And when Marley discovers an unfinished poem pressed into an old letterpress plate, initials etched faintly at its edge, she begins connecting Annabelle to Callum Marwick, heir to one of Brookwood's founding families.Damien, ever the rational protector, fights to dismiss the evidence even as it chips away at his disbelief. His own family's tragedies-and the sleepwalking of his young daughter-stir doubts he can no longer ignore. As Marley records every dream, vision, and trace of ink in her journal, Damien is torn between his fear of repeating history and the undeniable pull he feels toward Marley herself.From candlelit trances and eerie jazz melodies that echo through rehearsal halls, to s矇ance reenactments that spiral out of control, to a ledger that reveals Annabelle's very name scratched out of Brookwood's burial records, each clue pushes them closer to a revelation the town has buried for more than a century. What begins as Marley's search for a silenced woman turns into a reckoning with the town's identity, its hidden healer lineage, and the power of ancestral vows unfulfilled.As Marley and Damien gather the ring, ribbon, music box, and letters that belonged to Annabelle and Callum, the bridge itself begins to respond-mist parting, voices rising, and one final apparition that forces Brookwood to confront its own truth. And when the chapel bell rings for the first time in over a hundred years, Marley knows she has brought Annabelle home. But some doors, once opened, cannot be closed.The Bridge of Echoes is a sweeping tale of mystery, romance, and generational healing-a story of how love lost can echo through centuries, and how courage in the present can quiet the past. Readers who devoured The Bookshop Secret will find themselves pulled even deeper into the mist, where every revelation comes at a cost, every silence hides a wound, and every choice Marley and Damien make will shape not only their fragile bond, but the fate of Brookwood itself.The Bridge of Echoes is not just a mystery to be solved-it's an invitation to step onto the bridge, listen closely, and decide what you believe before the echoes fade. The Brookwood Mysteries is a continuing saga blending gothic suspense, slow-burn romance, and community legacy storytelling. Each book resolves one haunting while weaving threads toward the next, inviting readers to not only unravel the mystery but to belong to the town itself.
The Hidden Grove
The Brookwood Mysteries have always been more than tales of secrets and shadows-they are stories of legacy, love, and the ways the past whispers into the present. Now, in the breathtaking conclusion to this bestselling series, readers are invited back to Brookwood for its most haunting and luminous chapter yet.After seasons of unraveling hidden vows and unspoken histories, Marley Taylor and Damien Hawthorne stand at the threshold of a new beginning. Their engagement promises joy, yet the town's most mysterious inheritance demands their attention: the grove above Brookwood, a place of moss-covered stones, forgotten rituals, and a spiral path that seems to breathe with memory itself.It begins with discovery-a ring of stones revealed after a late frost, a bloom that no botanist can identify, a wax-sealed box with maps drawn in cipher and initials tied to healers long erased. Each clue leads Marley and Damien deeper into the story of a secret society-the Order of the Grove-whose rituals once bound the community in balance. Yet the ledger of its members reveals not only devotion, but betrayal.Visions overtake Marley: dreams of women robed in green, flames rising in the clearing, a sacred seed stolen under a blood moon. Her waking hours carry their marks-soot on her palms, soil beneath her nails-as if the veil between past and present has thinned beyond repair. Damien, torn between honoring his late wife's unfinished notes and building a new legacy with Marley, must decide whether love can carry more than one inheritance. Together, they confront the possibility that Brookwood's grove is not merely history to be studied, but a living archive demanding restoration.The circle begins to reform. Seven women step forward, each bearing a gift-herb, stone, silence, light-each risking not only tradition but themselves. Candles flicker in the night, compasses spin wildly, and the grove itself begins to respond. Yet with Claire, a young botanist with a contested legacy, pressing ever closer to claim what her grandmother once betrayed, Marley must determine whether healing is possible without trust-and whether redemption can root itself in tainted soil.At the heart of this sweeping final volume lies a question that resonates far beyond Brookwood: what does it mean to inherit mystery not as secrecy, but as promise? As unseasonal blooms flood the grove, as a spring opens where none has flowed for generations, as children press seeds into soil with whispered vows, Marley learns the answer. Legacy is not possession. Legacy is circle.Rich with lyrical atmosphere, gothic tension, and profound romantic depth, The Hidden Grove brings together every thread of the Brookwood Mysteries-The Bookshop Secret, The Bridge of Echoes, The Lighthouse Prophecy, and The Winter Bell-into a finale that will leave readers breathless, weeping, and inspired. It is a story of broken vows and restored circles, of flame and seed, of love rooted so deeply that it can carry both the living and the dead.Step into the spiral. Listen to the trees. The grove is waiting. And once you hear its call, you will never leave Brookwood the same.
Seven Dials
Seven Dials - an enigmatic London district where time, place, and hidden secrets intersect. When a dramatic incident brings chaos to the area, ambitious reporter Alison Hill witnesses Brad Sayers's sensational discovery but becomes a target of dark forces determined to bury the past. Forming an uneasy alliance with Brad - a mercurial "Questor" with secrets of his own - Alison is thrust into a desperate race to solve an unbreakable puzzle that spans 300 years, from the glittering court of Charles II to the gritty backstreets of modern London.At the heart of this enigma is Thomas "Golden" Neale, a visionary entrepreneur who transformed a notorious slum into Seven Dials, defying powerful enemies and hiding an invaluable secret that could topple empires. Alison's savvy intelligence and daring are tested to the limit as she unearths a world where science and magic coexist. Her quest will forever change how you see London's hidden history and the secrets still concealed beneath its streets.Seven Dials is a mesmerising blend of historical intrigue and contemporary thriller that will captivate fans of Dan Brown, Kate Mosse, and Ben Aaronovitch.
Dance of the Earth
From backstage to centre stage and theatres of war, Dance of the Earth is a sweeping family saga.Set against the backdrops of London's gilded Alhambra music hall, Diaghilev's dazzling Ballets Russes, and the upheavals of the First World War, Rose and her children, Nina and Walter, pursue their ambitions, loves, and dreams. Dance and music become both sanctuary and self-expression, shaping their identities and helping each of them find their place in the world.Spanning the years 1875 to 1921 - an era of profound artistic and social change - fact and fiction interweave in this tapestry of birth, sacrifice, and renewal. Art - both serious and comic - is at the story's beating heart.
A Ruinous Wind
Get hold of the second adventure in this gripping Elizabethan mystery series from John Pilkington! 'Thomas proves a dogged, creative and insightful sleuth. - Publishers Weekly MURDER MOST SAVAGE When invited to attend the Barrowhill Pleasures at the seat of the extravagant and pompous Earl of Reigate, Sir Robert Vicary of Petbury brings Thomas, his trusted falconer along with him to enjoy the festivities. But things take a very deadly turn when three of the Earl s guests are murdered, and the Earl seems eager to cover the deaths up at all costs. With the promise of Queen Elizabeth attending the spectacle, the Earl remains adamant that his dramatic re-enactment of the Spanish Armada should still go ahead - despite the tide of unpleasantness. As the festivities continue, a killer is on the loose, and Thomas must keep a keen eye on the guests. One of them is not what they seem, and he must discern who before the Earl himself becomes the next target. Perfect for fans of C J Sansom, Andrew Taylor and S J Parris. Praise for the Thomas the Falconer series: Larger-than-life characters and authentic 16th-century ambience Pilkington successfully draws readers into his world and keeps them turning the pages. - Booklist 'The story moves at a great pace ... it made a welcome change to discover Elizabethan England through the eyes of a lesser mortal.' - The Historical Novels Review A sturdy and entertaining historical for fans of Elizabethan mysteries Library Journal This latest entry in Pilkington s Thomas the Falconer series is a vigorous adventure featuring a likeable hero, an intriguing plot and a fine sense of period ambience. Booklist Praise for A Ruinous Wind: 'Excellent! This is an extremely readable tale, with interesting well realised characters and history so well drawn it is as if you are there' Reader Review 'Book 2 in this excellent series. The author writes very cleverly with humour and the descriptive prose transports the reader to the Elizabethan period.' Reader Review 'Great plot, characters, historical fact. Enjoyed every one of these books!' Reader Review 'Pilkington has a way of making you think you know what's about to happen only for the story to take a turn in a direction I wasn't expecting.' Reader Review 'Simply brilliant!' Reader Review
The Experiment
Starting in 1811 Bath, Somerset, where the fortunes of two young people become intertwined, when Kaspian Blake takes on a social experiment as a bet, to transform the life of a poorhouse young woman. His experiment turns out to be far more than he bargained for. Alas it all falls apart when Kaspian is forced to face previously unimagined consequences, causing both their lives to take different paths through the horror of the Napoleonic wars, though never far apart but never crossing. The question for Kaspian is whether he will ever find her again. For the experiment herself, was she ever really a suitable candidate?
These Barely Silent Dead
April 1794: The Reign of Terror has been striking France like a plague for half a year. Daily, hundreds have followed King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to the guillotine-some guilty of real crimes, some completely innocent. George-Jacques Danton has just met his own end in a poignant tableau captured for posterity on the cover of this book. His friend Joseph Fouch矇 returns to Paris on the very next day, determined to avoid his own execution. How he does so-and manages to thereby end the Terror by overthrowing the government of the maniacal Maximilian Robespierre-is the subject of this first-person period mystery. It is a tale of terror and trickery, political struggle and sexual intrigue, involving Fouch矇's tenacious search for the murderer of Charles-Maurice Talleyrand's alluring, seventeen-year-old niece and his mistress's efforts to inherit a fabulous chateau-against the backdrop of our hero's audacious three-month effort to save his own neck.
The Ruffler's Child
Get ready for the first adventure in the fabulous Thomas the Falconer Tudor mystery series from John Pilkington. A must-read for fans of C J Sansom and Andrew Taylor. A truly fine historical series - Library Journal BE YE HUNTER OR PREY? Introducing Thomas Finbow falconer to Sir Robert Vicary and Lady Margaret of Petbury, Berkshire. He keeps his mind sharp and his body primed as he goes about his duties with the diligent confidence of one who once served Queen and country. When Nathaniel Pickering, Lady Margaret s older brother is found murdered, Thomas takes her away to London, in search of gryfalcons. Lady Margaret being a keen lover of the sport of falconry herself, Thomas hopes it will help distract his mistress from her grief, however once they reach the city it becomes apparent that much bigger things are at play and the murder of Master Pickering was just the beginning Thomas's astute mind is unable to ignore the clues, and in uncovering some dark secrets, he places himself - and his mistress - in grave danger. Now a target himself, Thomas must face some of London's most notorious criminals, in a battle of both brain and brawn. Perfect for fans of C J Sansom, Andrew Taylor and S J Parris. Praise for the Thomas the Falconer series: Larger-than-life characters and authentic 16th-century ambience Pilkington successfully draws readers into his world and keeps them turning the pages. - Booklist 'The story moves at a great pace ... it made a welcome change to discover Elizabethan England through the eyes of a lesser mortal.' - The Historical Novels Review A sturdy and entertaining historical for fans of Elizabethan mysteries Library Journal Praise for The Ruffler's Child: 'The quality of the writing and evocation of the Elizabethan Age is right up there with C J Sansom - and that could be no higher recommendation. I devoured it with relish and a buzz of contentment! Reader Review Brilliant! A master of descriptive prose! Reader Review Interesting tale of intrigue, murder and mystery. Reader Review I was gripped from start to finish. A very well crafted read which was unputdownable. Reader Review Well-drawn characters in a colourful and dangerous world, drawn into a plot that will keep you guessing (and keep the pages flying by). Thoroughly recommended. Reader Review
A Ruinous Wind
Get hold of the second adventure in this gripping Elizabethan mystery series from John Pilkington! 'Thomas proves a dogged, creative and insightful sleuth. - Publishers Weekly MURDER MOST SAVAGE When invited to attend the Barrowhill Pleasures at the seat of the extravagant and pompous Earl of Reigate, Sir Robert Vicary of Petbury brings Thomas, his trusted falconer along with him to enjoy the festivities. But things take a very deadly turn when three of the Earl s guests are murdered, and the Earl seems eager to cover the deaths up at all costs. With the promise of Queen Elizabeth attending the spectacle, the Earl remains adamant that his dramatic re-enactment of the Spanish Armada should still go ahead - despite the tide of unpleasantness. As the festivities continue, a killer is on the loose, and Thomas must keep a keen eye on the guests. One of them is not what they seem, and he must discern who before the Earl himself becomes the next target. Perfect for fans of C J Sansom, Andrew Taylor and S J Parris. Praise for the Thomas the Falconer series: Larger-than-life characters and authentic 16th-century ambience Pilkington successfully draws readers into his world and keeps them turning the pages. - Booklist 'The story moves at a great pace ... it made a welcome change to discover Elizabethan England through the eyes of a lesser mortal.' - The Historical Novels Review A sturdy and entertaining historical for fans of Elizabethan mysteries Library Journal This latest entry in Pilkington s Thomas the Falconer series is a vigorous adventure featuring a likeable hero, an intriguing plot and a fine sense of period ambience. Booklist Praise for A Ruinous Wind: 'Excellent! This is an extremely readable tale, with interesting well realised characters and history so well drawn it is as if you are there' Reader Review 'Book 2 in this excellent series. The author writes very cleverly with humour and the descriptive prose transports the reader to the Elizabethan period.' Reader Review 'Great plot, characters, historical fact. Enjoyed every one of these books!' Reader Review 'Pilkington has a way of making you think you know what's about to happen only for the story to take a turn in a direction I wasn't expecting.' Reader Review 'Simply brilliant!' Reader Review
A Ruinous Wind
Get hold of the second adventure in this gripping Elizabethan mystery series from John Pilkington! 'Thomas proves a dogged, creative and insightful sleuth. - Publishers Weekly MURDER MOST SAVAGE When invited to attend the Barrowhill Pleasures at the seat of the extravagant and pompous Earl of Reigate, Sir Robert Vicary of Petbury brings Thomas, his trusted falconer along with him to enjoy the festivities. But things take a very deadly turn when three of the Earl s guests are murdered, and the Earl seems eager to cover the deaths up at all costs. With the promise of Queen Elizabeth attending the spectacle, the Earl remains adamant that his dramatic re-enactment of the Spanish Armada should still go ahead - despite the tide of unpleasantness. As the festivities continue, a killer is on the loose, and Thomas must keep a keen eye on the guests. One of them is not what they seem, and he must discern who before the Earl himself becomes the next target. Perfect for fans of C J Sansom, Andrew Taylor and S J Parris. Praise for the Thomas the Falconer series: Larger-than-life characters and authentic 16th-century ambience Pilkington successfully draws readers into his world and keeps them turning the pages. - Booklist 'The story moves at a great pace ... it made a welcome change to discover Elizabethan England through the eyes of a lesser mortal.' - The Historical Novels Review A sturdy and entertaining historical for fans of Elizabethan mysteries Library Journal This latest entry in Pilkington s Thomas the Falconer series is a vigorous adventure featuring a likeable hero, an intriguing plot and a fine sense of period ambience. Booklist Praise for A Ruinous Wind: 'Excellent! This is an extremely readable tale, with interesting well realised characters and history so well drawn it is as if you are there' Reader Review 'Book 2 in this excellent series. The author writes very cleverly with humour and the descriptive prose transports the reader to the Elizabethan period.' Reader Review 'Great plot, characters, historical fact. Enjoyed every one of these books!' Reader Review 'Pilkington has a way of making you think you know what's about to happen only for the story to take a turn in a direction I wasn't expecting.' Reader Review 'Simply brilliant!' Reader Review
