A. Igoni Barrett was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in 1979 and lives in Lagos. He is a winner of the 2005 BBC World Service short story competition, the recipient of a Chinua Achebe Center Fellowship, a Norman Mailer Center Fellowship, and a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Residency. His short story collection, Love is Power, or Something Like That, was published in 2013. In 2014 he was named on the Africa39 list of sub-Saharan African writers under 40. Blackass is his first novel.

A. Igoni Barrett

The short life of A.J.A. Symons (1900-41) was described by his biographer as an intricate and largely harmless confidence trick. His many interests included the collection of musical boxes and rare books as well as the study and practice of forgery; they left him time to edit an anthology of Edwardian verse and compose studies of H.M. Stanley and other notable figures. He is remembered for The Quest for Corvo, one of the most remarkable biographies ever written, and for co-founding the Wine and Food Society.

A. J. A. Symons

A. J. Liebling, born in Manhattan in 1904, joined the staff of the New Yorker in 1935 and contributed innumerable articles to the magazine throughout his lifetime, on subjects ranging from food to boxing and France to horse racing. As a war correspondent during the Second World War, he reported from France, England and Algeria, and participated in the Normandy landings. In later life he married the writer Jean Stafford, his third wife. He died in 1963.

A. J. Liebling

A. J. Rosen is an author of YA fantasy novels and is an ambassador for Wattpad, known as @agatharoza. Entwined is her first novel.

A. J. Rosen

A. K. Davidson

A. O. Scott has been a film critic at the New York Times since 2000. His writing has appeared in many other publications, including the New York Review of Books, Slate, the New Yorker and the Nation. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism in 2010, Scott is currently Distinguished Professor of Film Criticism at Wesleyan University. He lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York. 
 
@aoscott

A. O. Scott

A.S. Byatt (1936-2023) was a novelist, short-story writer and critic of international renown. Her novels include Possession (winner of the Booker Prize 1990), the Frederica Quartet and The Children’s Book, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction. She was appointed CBE in 1990 and DBE in 1999, and was awarded the Erasmus Prize 2016 for her ‘inspiring contribution to life writing’ and the Pak Kyongni Prize 2017. In 2018 she received the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award.

A. S. Byatt

A. T. Williams won the George Orwell Prize for Political Writing in 2013 for his book A Very British Killing: The Death of Baha Mousa. He lives in Warwickshire.

A. T. Williams

A. W. Chase

Dubbed ‘The new queen of spy fiction’ by the Guardian newspaper, and ‘the real thing’ by the Washington Post, A.C. 'Ava' Glass is the CWA Dagger-shortlisted author of Alias Emma (The Chase), The Traitor and The Trap. The Traitor was a 2023 Richard and Judy Bookclub pick. Alias Emma was a Barnes and Noble book of the month. A former crime reporter and communications consultant, for five years Ava worked closely with spies. Her time in that world fascinated her, and the people she met back then inspire every book she writes.

A.C. Glass

A.E. Housman

Arthur Edward Waite was the designer and co-creator of the now famous Rider Waite Tarot deck. 
 
An American-born British poet and scholarly mystic, his strong interest in all esoteric matters - divination, magic, Kabbalism, alchemy and Freemasony - led to him penning a number of books. These include the Key to the Tarot, The Book of Ceremonial Magic and A New Encyclopedia of Freemasony.

A.E. Waite

A.E. Warren is the author of the Tomorrow's Ancestors series, which consists of Subject Twenty-One, The Hidden Base, The Fourth Species and The Final Rising. 
 
After spending eight years working as a lawyer, she began to write in the evenings and early mornings as a form of escapism from life in a very small cubicle with lots of files. She self-published her first novels in her spare time, which were picked up by Del Rey UK which is the science fiction/fantasy imprint of Penguin Random House. 
 
 She is an avid reader, occasional gamer and fair-weather runner. She lives in the UK with her husband, daughter and hopefully, one day, a wise border terrier named Austen.

A.E. Warren

A.G.D. Maran

A.J. Ayer

A.J. Cronin

A K Benedict writes crime and speculative fiction in a room filled with clowns, mannequins and Doctor Who figures. Her first novel, The Beauty of Murder, was nominated for an eDunnit award and is in development for a major 8-part TV series by Company Pictures. Her second, Jonathan Dark or The Evidence of Ghosts, came out in February 2016. She's written Torchwood audio dramas for Big Finish and her short stories have featured in anthologies including Great British Horror and Best British Short Stories. She lives in St Leonards-on-Sea with her dog, Dame Margaret Rutherford.

A.K.Benedict

A. L. Kennedy has twice been selected as one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists and has won a host of other awards – including the Costa Book of the Year for her novel Day. She lives in Essex.

A.L. Kennedy

A.M. Ellis is a speculative fiction author and lover of everything steeped in myth and mystery. Her stories often lean into diverse voices, not only in her identity as a Black woman, but in exploring neurodivergence and mental health. A proud introvert and nostalgic gamer, she lives in Maryland, USA, with her husband and three children.

A.M. Ellis

A.N. Wilson was born in 1950 and educated at Rugby and New College, Oxford. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, he holds a prominent position in the world of literature and journalism. He is an award-winning biographer and a celebrated novelist, winning prizes for much of his work. He lives in North London.

A.N. Wilson

A. T. Emerald lives with her husband and baby daughter in Nottinghamshire. She discovered her love of writing in 2020 and has not shut up about enemies to lovers ever since. She loves iced matcha, torrid love confessions with knives pressed to throats (fictional, of course) and does not accept bills for any therapy her books might incur.

A.T. Emerald

A.W. Priest

A.B.C. Merriman-Labor was a barrister, writer and munitions worker born in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1877. His published works include A Series of Lectures on the Negro Race and The Story of the African Slave in a Nutshell. He also edited two editions of the Handbook of Sierra Leone. He arrived in the UK in 1904 to study law. In 1907, he organised a centenary commemoration of the abolition of the slave trade in Westminster Abbey. He later embarked on an 'entertainment-lecture' tour called Life and Scenes in Britain, travelling across thousands of miles of West, South West and Central Africa, which he expanded on to create Britons Through Negro Spectacles.

ABC Merriman-Labor

AJ Cronin

AJ Molloy

Aabria Iyengar is an American actress and author.

Aabria Iyengar

Aaliya Jaleel is a freelance illustrator, designer, and visual development artist, currently majoring in Animation at the University of Texas at Dallas. She is also the illustrator of Under My Hijab and Muslim Girls Rise. You can visit her online at www.aaliyamj.com.

Aaliya Jaleel

Aaron Allston

After more than fifteen years of experience as a clinical psychotherapist, Dr Aaron Balick has taken the amazing insights from psychology and psychotherapy out of the consultation room and made them accessible to the wider world. 
 
He has been an ‘agony uncle’ for many years for both CBBC and BBC Radio 1, as well as on television, including BBC Worldwide, BBC 3 and BBC Learning.

Aaron Balick

Aaron Carroll

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Tom Harper

If you love Conn Iggulden, Lindsey Davis and Steven Pressfield, you will love this breathtaking historical adventure, brimming with murder, betrayal, bloodshed and romance, from the pen of prizewinning author Tom Harper. 
 
'Harper's portrayal of Byzantium and the intrigues that threaten its destruction is vivid and convincing.' -- Sunday Times 
'Harper effortlessly draws the reader into an unfamiliar time bringing alive the characters and their motivations' -- Publisher's Weekly 
'A must read' -- ***** Reader review 
'Superb read. Thoroughly enjoyed it' -- ***** Reader review 
'A real joy to read. Keeps you wanting to read more, griping and exciting right to the end'-- ***** Reader review 
 
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BETRAYAL AND BLOODSHED. WHO WILL CONQUER? 
 
August, 1098: after countless battles and sieges, the surviving soldiers of the first crusade are at last within reach of their ultimate goal - Jerusalem. But rivalries fester and new enemies are massing against them in the Holy Land. 
 
 Demetrios Askiates, the Emperor's spy, has had enough of the crusade's violence and hypocrisy and longs to return home. But when a routine diplomatic mission leads to a deadly ambush, he realises he has been snared in the vast power struggles which underlie the crusade. The only way out now leads through the Holy City. 
 
 From the plague-bound city of Antioch to the heart of Muslim Egypt, Demetrios must accompany the army of warlords and fanatics to the very gates of Jerusalem. 
 
But what awaits him there is an apocalypse of pillage, bloodshed and slaughter...Who will be the victor? 
 
Siege of Heaven ends the Crusade trilogy. Have you read The Mosaic of Shadows and Knights of the Cross?

Siege of Heaven

(The Crusade Trilogy: III): a powerful, fast-paced and exciting adventure steeped in the atmosphere of the First Crusade

Alexander Kent

If you like Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester, you will love this gripping and swashbuckling maritime tale from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent - guaranteed to keep you hooked! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' - THE SUNDAY TIMES 
'Addictive' -- ***** Reader review 
'A rattling good tale...Alexander Kent captures the ethos of Nelson's navy as well as any writer before or since.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Riveting' -- ***** Reader review 
'Could not put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Fantastic book by an outstanding author' -- ***** Reader review 
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1813: with convoys from Canada and the Caribbean falling victim to American privateers, Sir Richard Bolitho returns to Halifax to pursue a war he knows will not be won, but which neither Britain nor the United States can afford to lose. 
 
England's youngest admiral desires only peace. 
 
But peace will not be found in the icy Canadian waters, where a young, angry nation asserts its identity and men who share a common heritage die in close and bloody action. 
 
Nor will there be a peace for those who follow the Cross of St George: for the embittered Adam, mourning his lover and his ship, nor for Rear-Admiral Valentine Keen, who must confront both grief and responsibility. 
 
Nor will there be peace from those enemies who use this struggle between nations as an instrument of personal revenge...

Cross Of St George

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 24)

December 1815 
 
Adam Bolitho's orders are unequivocal. As captain of His Majesty's frigate Unrivalled of forty-six guns, he is required to 'repair in the first instance to Freetown, Sierra Leone, and reasonably assist the senior officer of the patrolling squadron. But all efforts of the British anti-slavery patrols to curb a flourishing trade in human life are hampered by unsuitable ships, by the indifference of a government more concerned with old enemies made distrustful allies, and by the continuing belligerence of the Dey of Algiers, which threatens to ignite a full-scale war. 
 
For Adam, also, there is no peace. Lost in grief and loneliness, his uncle's death still unavenged, he is uncertain of all but his identity as a man of war. The sea is his element, the ship his only home, and a reckless, perhaps doomed attack on an impregnable stronghold his only hope of settling the bitterest of debts.

Relentless Pursuit

This superb and stirring naval adventure from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent is an absolute must for fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester. You'll feel like you are there on the quarterdeck! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'As a former naval officer, Alexander Kent knows what it is like to be at sea' -- The Times 
'A first-class book' -- ***** Reader review 
'Impossible to put down. Alexander Kent as his finest!' -- ***** Reader review 
'One of Alexander Kent's best.' -- ***** Reader review 
'A rip roaring, well-constructed seafaring tale.' -- ***** Reader review 
'A compelling read from start to finish...' -- ***** Reader review 
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1793: Gibraltar - the gathering might of revolutionary France prepares to engulf Europe in another bloody war. As in the past, Britain will stand or fall by the fighting power of her fleet. For Richard Bolitho, the renewal of hostilities means a fresh command and the chance of action after long months of inactivity. 
 
 However, his mission to support Lord Hood in the monarchist-inspired occupation of Toulon has gone awry. Bolitho and the crew of the Hyperion are trapped by the French near a dry Mediterranean island. 
 
They will need all their mettle and might to force their way through... 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in Enemy in Sight.

Form Line of Battle

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 11): more blockbuster naval action from the master storyteller of the sea

Douglas Reeman

From the pen of multi-million copy bestselling author Douglas Reeman, this is the fourth novel in the Blackwood saga, spanning 150 years in the history of a great seafaring family. Set in World War Two, Dust on the Sea is a rip-roaring, rollicking read and perfect for fans of Clive Cussler, Bernard Cornwell and Wilbur Smith. 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'Mr Reeman writes with great knowledge about the sea and those who sail on it' -- The Times 
'A compelling read' -- ***** Reader review 
'The only downside of this book is I couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Keeps you enthralled throughout' -- ***** Reader review 
'Fun and gripping' -- ***** Reader review 
'Magnificent' -- ***** Reader review 
 
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1943: Captain Mike Blackwood, Royal Marine Commando, is a survivor. Young, toughened and tried in the hellish crucible of Burma, he labours, sometimes faltering, beneath the weight of tradition, the glorious heritage of his family, and the burden of his own self-doubt. 
 
For Blackwood, the horizon is not the lip of the trench seen by men of the Corps in the previous war, but the ramp of a landing craft smashing down into the sea, and the fire of the enemy on a Sicilian beach. Here, tradition is not enough, and Mike Blackwood must find within himself qualities of leadership which will inspire those Royal Marines who are once again the first to land, and among the first to die.

Dust on the Sea

an all-action, edge-of-your-seat naval adventure from the master storyteller of the sea

Jean Plaidy

Blending history with romance and drama, Jean Plaidy explores the Tudor dynasty and the political intrigue throughout their reign.

A beautifully evocative and enthralling historical novel from multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy - perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory. 
 
'Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama' -- New York Times 
'Full-blooded, dramatic, exciting' - Observer 
'Splendidly written and wonderfully descriptive' -- ***** Reader review 
'I couldn't put it down once I had started reading it' -- ***** Reader review 
 
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The young Spanish widow, Katharine of Aragon, has become the pawn between two powerful monarchies. After less than a year as the wife of the frail Prince Arthur, the question of whether the marriage was ever consummated will decide both her fate and England's. 
 
But whilst England and Spain dispute her dowry, her unexpected escape from poverty waits in the wings: Henry, Arthur's younger, more handsome brother - the future King of England. 
 
He alone has the power to restore her position, but at what sacrifice? 
 
The Tudor Saga continues in The Secret of the Pomegranate.

Katharine, The Virgin Widow

(The Tudor Saga: book 2): a captivating and emotional novel bringing the Tudors to life from the Queen of English historical fiction

Perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden, Lindsey Davis, Steven Pressfield, this breathtaking and captivating novel brings the Crusades to life in all their triumphant and tragic glory. 
 
'Gripping from the first page, the reader is swept up in this colourful and convincing portrayal of an Emperor and his realm under siege.' - Ink 
'Superb read. Thoroughly enjoyed it' -- ***** Reader review 
'Highly enjoyable read' -- ***** Reader review 
'Brilliant.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Holds your interest from [the first] to the last page' -- ***** Reader review 
 
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AN ASSASSIN IS ON THE LOOSE...AND AN EMPIRE STANDS IN PERIL 
 
Byzantium, 1096: When a mysterious assassin fires his arrow at the Emperor, he has more than a man in his sights; as the keystone of a crumbling empire, if he falls, then the mightiest power in Christendom will be torn apart. Aware of the stakes, the Emperor hires Demetrios Askiates, the unveiler of mysteries, to catch the would-be-killer. 
 
But Demetrios is entering an unknown and mysterious world and must edge his way through a glittering maze of treachery and deceit before time runs out. Nor are all enemies within the city walls. With the Turks rampant across Asia, the Emperor has sent to the west for mercenaries to reinforce his position. 
 
When a great army, tens of thousands strong, appears before the gates, he gets more than he bargained for. The first crusaders have arrived, intent on making their fortunes in war, and they have no allegiance to an empire they eye with jealousy and suspicion. 
 
As the armies of east and west confront each other, and the assassin creeps ever closer to his prey, Demetrios must untangle the golden web of intrigue which surrounds the Emperor before the city - and the empire - are drowned in blood.

Knights Of The Cross

A deliciously atmospheric, moving and evocative historical novel from multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy - perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory. 
 
'Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama' -- New York Times 
'Full-blooded, dramatic, exciting' - Observer 
'Easy to read and hard to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'A compulsive, enjoyable and interesting read' -- ***** Reader review 
'If you like history, and/or historical fiction, Jean Plaidy is the one for you. She has a knack for pulling you right into the story straight away' -- ***** Reader review 
 
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The young King Henry VIII spends his time basking in the pageants and games of his glittering court - all the while, his doting queen's health and fortunes fade. Henry's affection for his older wife soon strays, and the neglected Katherine decides to use her power as Queen to dangerous foreign advantage. 
 
Overseas battles play on Henry's volatile temper, and his defeat in France has changed the good-natured boy Katherine loved into an infamously callous ruler. 
 
With no legitimate heir yet born, Katherine once again begins to fear for her future... 
 
The Tudor saga continues in The King's Secret Matter.

The Shadow of the Pomegranate

(The Tudor Saga: book 3): the unmissable story of Katherine of Aragon’s failing marriage, beautifully brought to life by the Queen of English historical fiction.

If you like Philippa Gregory, you will love this vibrant and captivating historical page-turner from multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy - the perfect blend of history with romance and drama. 
 
'Full - bloodied, dramatic, exciting' - THE OBSERVER 
'Plaidy, by the skilful blending of superb storytelling and meticulous attention to authenticity of detail and depth of characterization has become one of the country's most widely read novelists.' - THE SUNDAY TIMES 
'It is hard to better Jean Plaidy . . . both elegant and exciting' - DAILY MIRROR 
'Excellent. Jean Plaidy really knows how to bring history to life.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Great, exciting. Couldn't put down' -- ***** Reader review 
 
*********************************************** 
 
In the aftermath of the bloody Wars of the Roses, Henry Tudor has seized the English crown, finally uniting the warring Houses of York and Lancaster through his marriage to Elizabeth of York. 
 
But whilst Henry VII rules wisely and justly, he is haunted by Elizabeth's missing brothers; the infamous two Princes, their fate in the Tower forever a shrouded secret. 
Then tragedy strikes at the heart of Henry's family, and it is against his own son that the king must fight for a bride and his throne... 
 
The Tudor Saga continues in Katharine, the Virgin Widow.

Uneasy Lies the Head

(The Tudor Saga: book 1): a wonderfully evocative and beautifully atmospheric novel bringing the Tudors to life from the Queen of English historical fiction

Multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent, brings us another rip-roaring and riveting maritime page-turner. Fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester will not be disappointed! 
 
'Mr Kent is Forester's direct heir, and is rapidly showing himself an equal in the genre.' -- Sunday Times 
'C. S. Forester never wrote a more exciting novel than Alexander Kent.' -- New York Times Book Review 
'A splendid yarn' -- The Times 
'A tale of angry passion, envy and adventure' -- Bookseller 
'Boy, is this good stuff! Can hardly wait to pick up the next book' -- ***** Reader review 
'The author knows how to keep the reader enthralled' -- ***** Reader review 
'Hard to stop reading' -- ***** Reader review 
'Couldn't put it down from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review 
********************************************************************** 
1778: a seminal year for the young Richard Bolitho... The American War of Independence changes to an all-out struggle for freedom from British rule - and Bolitho takes command of the Sparrow, a small, fast and well-armed sloop of war. 
 
 As the pace of war increases, the Sparrow is called from one crisis to another - and when the great fleets of Britain and France convene on the Chesapeake, Bolitho has to throw aside the early dreams of his first command to find maturity in a sea battle that might decide the fate of a whole continent. 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in To Glory We Steer.

Sloop Of War

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 6): a swashbuckling naval tale of derring – do and all-action adventure from the master storyteller of the sea

Another gripping maritime adventure from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent, furthering the adventures of much loved Richard Bolitho. Fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester will not be disappointed! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' - THE SUNDAY TIMES 
'Shipwreck, survival...a spirited battle...a splendid yarn' - THE TIMES 
'A great read that I couldn't put down. Have to say - better than Hornblower, Lewrie etc' -- ***** Reader review 
'Once you start it's hard to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Kept me enthralled' -- ***** Reader review 
'Great read from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************************************* 
1777: the revolution in America has erupted into a full-scale war. 
 
The navy's main task is to prevent military supplies from reaching Washington's armies and to destroy the fast-growing fleet of French and American privateers. 
 
As a junior officer Bolitho is often bewildered by swiftly changing events, but in a ship of the line, under a hard and determined captain, he has little opportunity for uncertainty. At a time of shortages and sudden death even a lieutenant can find himself faced with tasks and decisions more suitably given to officers of greater experience. 
 
As the Trojan goes about her affairs the threat to Bolitho and his companions makes itself felt from New York to the Caribbean.

In Gallant Company

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 5): a captivating, rip-roaring all - action adventure on the high seas from the master storyteller of the sea

Perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester, this is an enthralling, edge-of-your-seat maritime tale from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent - a real page turner! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' - THE SUNDAY TIMES 
'This is the third time I have started reading the Bolitho novels. Never get bored and especially not with this one' -- ***** Reader review 
'The only downside of this book is when it ends'-- ***** Reader review 
'I can't get enough of Bolitho'-- ***** Reader review 
'I don't think there is a better writer in this genre.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Action and intrigue all the way.' -- ***** Reader review 
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1774: Bolitho is now a newly appointed third lieutenant joining the 28-gun frigate Destiny at Plymouth. It is a far step from midshipman's berth to wardroom - and, at a time when most of the fleet is laid up, Bolitho is considered fortunate. 
 
 Bolitho's promotion is tinged by personal sadness, but his new captain soon points out that Bolitho's loyalty is to him, the ship and His Britannic Majesty - in that order. 
 
Despatched on a secret mission far south to Rio and then to the Caribbean, Destiny and her company face the hazards of conspiracy, treason and piracy - and, as the little ship sails on, Bolitho has to learn how to accept his new responsibilities as a King's officer. 
 
All amid broadside battles at sea and the clash of swords in hand-to-hand actions...! 
 
Richard Bolitho's adventures continue in In Gallant Company. Have you read Midshipman Bolitho and the Avenger and Band of Brothers where his adventures begin?

Stand Into Danger

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 4): a gripping, action-packed adventure on the high seas from the master storyteller of the sea

Diana Gabaldon

Set in the turbulent eighteenth century, Lord John is the lonely, tormented and courageous English officer first seen in the Outlander novels. He is a man who fights for the crown, his honour and his own secrets.

The year is 1757. On a bright June day, Lord John Grey emerges from his club, his mind in turmoil. A nobleman and a high-ranking officer in His Majesty's Army, Grey has just witnessed something shocking. But his efforts to avoid a scandal that might destroy his family are interrupted by something still more urgent: the Crown appoints him to investigate the brutal murder of a comrade-in-arms, who might well have been a traitor. 
 
Obliged to pursue two inquiries at once, Major Grey finds himself ensnared in a web of treachery and betrayal that touches every level of society - and threatens all he holds dear. From the bawdy-houses of London's night world to the drawing rooms of the nobility, from the blood of a murdered corpse to the thundering seas of the East India Company, Lord John follows the elusive trail of the woman in green who may hold the key to everything - or to nothing at all. 
 
The early days of the Seven Years War come brilliantly to life in this historical adventure mystery by the acclaimed author whose unique and compelling storytelling has engrossed millions of readers worldwide.

Lord John And The Private Matter

David Ball

Nico and Maria, Maltese brother and sister, are separated when young Nico is abducted by Moorish slavers. Taken to Algiers to be the personal slave of a wealthy merchant, he becomes a pawn in household politics and sets out to escape. Extraordinary events lead him to the court of Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottomans. Stranded alone on Malta, Maria must learn to survive helped only by a group of Jewish refugees. A sweeping historical epic set against the backdrop of the desperate conflict between Christian Europe and the Islamic Ottoman Empire, The Sword and the Scimitar vividly portrays an irresistible and fast-moving world of adventure, war, treachery and love.

Sword And The Scimitar

Takashi Matsuoka

Warrior clans nursing ancient grudges. Western missionaries brandishing pistols. Beautiful geishas who are deadly ninjas. 
 
1861 - after two centuries of isolation Japan has been forced to open its doors. Now new influences are tearing apart the old order. Japan is as unprepared for outsiders as missionaries are for samurai assassins, executions and honour killings. Genji's life is at risk. He plans his escape to the Cloud of Sparrows but the road is long and there are many places along the way for brutal samurai to attack -The demons of the past, the treachery of the present, an uncertain future are about to collide in the most terrifying ways.

Cloud Of Sparrows

Colleen McCullough

Spanning sixty years of Roman history, Masters of Rome is Colleen McCullough's brilliant reimagining of the tumultuous years that led to the rise of Julius Caeser, his time in power and his ultimate demise.

Let international bestselling author Colleen McCullough transport you back in time to Rome to 48 BC: scene of one of the greatest political battles and one of the most passionate love affairs of all time. This is an evocative and enthralling historical novel that will have you gripped. Fans of Conn Iggulden, Madeleine Miller and Simon Scarrow will not be disappointed. 
 
'An enormous rich mountain of a book, which will appeal to people who like their history in great succulent dollops' -- Sunday Times 
'Incomparable... Engrossing... Breathtakingly detailed... McCullough has triumphed again' -- Chicago Tribune 
'Intrigue, political manoeuvring, grandstanding, gossip, sex, both affectionate and calculated, and wholesale slaughter... McCullough works to charge history with the current of personality.' -- Booklist 
'A really engrossing read' -- ***** Reader review 
'A masterpiece' -- ***** Reader review 
'In a peerless class of its own' -- ***** Reader review 
'Entertaining and engrossing' -- ***** Reader review 
 
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Rome, 48 BC: Julius Caesar is in the prime of his life and at the height of his powers. 
 
But behind the myth lies a man beset with contradictions - happily married, he is also the lover of the enigmatic Egyptian queen, Cleopatra; a great general, he wishes to bring to an end Rome's endless wars; conscious of his own power and contemptuous of lesser men, he is determined not to be worshipped as a living god or crowned emperor. 
But Caesar is a man whose very greatness attracts envy and jealousy to a dangerous degree, and as the political intrigues which surround him reach their climax, his destruction becomes inevitable... 
 
The October Horse is the sixth book in the Masters of Rome series.

The October Horse

a marvellously epic sweeping historical novel full of political intrigue, romance, drama and war

The mine is an impartial killer, and a lethal challenge to any volunteer in the Special Countermeasures of the Royal Navy during the naval battles of the Second World War. They are brave, lonely men with something to prove or nothing left to lose. Lieutenant-Commander David Masters, haunted by a split second glimpse of the mine that destroyed his first and only command, H. M. Submarine Tornado, now defuses 'the beast' on land and teaches the same deadly science to others who too often die in the attempt. Lieutenant Chris Foley, minelaying off an enemy coast in ML366, rolls on an uneasy sea with a release bracket sheared and a lie mine jammed, and hears the menacing growl of approaching E-boats. And Sub-Lieutenant Michael Lincoln, hailed as a hero, dreads exposure as a coward even more than the unexpected booby-trap, or the gentle whirr of the activated fuse marking the last twelve seconds of his life. 
 
This thrilling book from the master storyteller of the sea transports readers back to the terrifying life of the British seamen of the Royal Navy during World War Two.

Twelve Seconds To Live

Candace Robb

Much-loved author Candace Robb has penned another compelling and captivating medieval mystery that magically brings 14th Century York to life and pushes the reader relentlessly onwards to uncover the truth. Fans of Ellis Peters, S J Parris, Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell will not be disappointed. 
 
'Hugely, but subtly, detailed... complex, ambiguous and gripping. The solution had me guessing almost to the very end' -- Historical Novels Review 
'A gripping whodunnit full of colour and atmosphere' -- Time Out 
'Meticulously researched, authentic and gripping' -- Yorkshire Evening Post 
'Story-telling of a top-notch quality' -- ***** Reader review 
'Thoroughly enjoyable' -- ***** Reader review 
'Spellbinding' -- ***** Reader review 
'I stayed up most of the night to finish the book and could not put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
 
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ANOTHER QUEST TO FIND THE TRUTH AMIDST SECRETS AND SUSPICION - AND THIS TIME IT'S PERSONAL... 
 
1371: a solemn convoy wends its way into York. William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, is bringing home the remains of local magnate Sir Ranulf Pagnell, who has died in France. The family hold the bishop responsible for Sir Ranulf's death, and ill feeling surrounds his arrival - mysteriously, an accident in the grounds of York Minster nearly kills him. 
 
Then, only a few days after, his townhouse is found ablaze. When the body of a young woman is discovered in the undercroft of the house, scandal threatens to destroy Wykeham. The Archbishop of York, John Thoresby, asks Owen Archer for his help. 
 
The spy is troubled. Was the fire an accident or arson? Was the woman trapped or the fire started to conceal a corpse? Stationing guards in front of the smouldering remains, he starts to ask questions... 
 
When it appears the dead woman was a midwife known to many of the city's women, including Lucie, Owen's wife, his quest for answers becomes even more pressing...

The Cross Legged Knight

(The Owen Archer Mysteries: book VIII): a mesmerising Medieval mystery full of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages…

Fans of Victoria Hislop, Lucinda Riley and Fiona Valpy will absolutely love this captivating and beautifully atmospheric historical saga rich in romance, adventure and unforgettable characters from international bestselling author Colleen McCullough. 
 
'Fast-moving and immensely readable... Back to the open spaces, merciless climate and sheer pioneering stance of the magical THE THORN BIRDS, this book is a page turner from start to finish' -- Maeve Binchy 
'A rich, compelling epic' -- Daily Mail 
'Graphically created... [McCullough is] at her best when at the heart of a relationship' -- Daily Express 
'A good yarn... based on rigorous, historical research' -- Belfast Telegraph 
'Colleen McCullough is a great storyteller' -- Sunday Mail 
'Spellbinding' -- ***** Reader review 
'Beautifully written' -- ***** Reader review 
'Absolutely loved this book could not put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
 
***************************************************************************** 
It was one of the greatest human experiments ever undertaken: to populate an unknown land with the criminal, the unloved and the unwanted of English society. 
 
Amid conditions of brutality that paralleled those of slavery, 'The First Fleet' was sent to a land no European but the legendary Captain Cook had ever seen. 
 
These convicts - and their equally isolated guards - were left to live or die on the hostile Australian continent. 
Richard Morgan - a convicted felon and educated, intelligent, resourceful man - finds the will to survive, experience the joys of love, and finally make an indelible mark upon the new frontier. 
 
His story is both inspirational and heartwarming and will stay with you long after you finish the last page...

Morgan's Run

a breathtaking and absorbing family saga from the international bestselling author of The Thorn Birds

Let Candace Robb take you back in time to Medieval York in this enthralling, authentic and gripping mystery, full of incident and intrigue. Fans of Ellis Peters, S J Parris, Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell will love this! 
 
'Gripping and believable... you can almost smell the streets of fourteenth-century York as you delve into an engrossing plot' -- Prima 
'Robb is uncommonly good at period atmosphere, immersing the reader in the everyday horrors of the plague... she distinguishes herself by putting together an engrossing puzzle' -- Publishers Weekly 
'Hugely, but subtly, detailed... complex, ambiguous and gripping' - Historical Novels Review 
'An excellent and enjoyable read' -- ***** Reader review 
'A ripping good yarn!' -- ***** Reader review 
'A most addictive read' -- ***** Reader review 
'A fascinating, realistic and vivid read' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************************* 
AN UNEXPLAINED SPATE OF DEATHS CAUSES SUSPICION...ARE THEY ACCIDENTAL OR METICULOUSLY PLANNED? 
 
1369: The much loved Queen Philippa lies dying at Windsor, and the plague has returned to the city of York. In an atmosphere of fear and superstition, rumours spread that a spate of deaths at St Leonard's Hospital in York is no accident. The hospital is in debt and has suffered thefts: Sir Richard de Ravenser, Master of the Hospital, returns from Winchester painfully aware that scandal could ruin his own career. Anxious to avert a crisis, he requests the services of Owen Archer, spy for the Archbishop. 
 
 With plague rife and the city's inhabitants besieging his wife, the Apothecary, for new cures, Owen Archer is unwilling to become involved. There is too little to link the victims to each other: the riddle seems unsolvable. 
 
But careful enquiries reveal a further riddle, connected to one of the victims. Is this where the truth lies?

The Riddle Of St Leonard's

(The Owen Archer Mysteries: book V): a compelling and evocative Medieval murder mystery…

Fans of Ellis Peters, S J Parris, Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell will love this compelling historical mystery by much loved author Candace Robb with its vivid portrayal of 14th Century Britain and its captivating plot, which is full of tension, twists and turns... 
 
'A vivid portrait of 14th-century England which gives us a hero who is cunning and capable' -- Time Out 
'As full of intrigue as a Deighton or a Le Carré' -- Guardian; 
'Enthralling and evocative ... Candace Robb recreates medieval York with ease' -- Yorkshire Evening Press; 
'Meticulously researched, authentic and gripping' -- Yorkshire Evening Post 
'Robb paints a vivid canvas of a time when courage and chivalry combined' -- Choice 
'Top-notch' -- ***** Reader review 
'Keeps the reader fascinated from start to finish' -- ***** Reader 
'Entertainment at its best' -- ***** Reader review 
'I could not put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Absorbing' -- ***** Reader review 
*********************************************************************************** 
 
IN UNSETTLED TIMES, WHO CAN YOU TRUST? 
 
1370: Owen Archer, ex-soldier and spy, is preparing to leave Wales, his work for John of Gaunt completed. Angered by Owen's prolonged absence, John Thoresby, Archbishop of York, orders his return. 
 
Meanwhile in York, Lucie Wilton is disheartened by her husband's long absence and concerned by allegations against her apothecary. Then Brother Michaelo brings upsetting news, forcing her to journey to her father's manor outside the city. Increasingly desperate, she accepts the company of a stranger... 
 
 But Owen's stay in the land of his birth has created divided loyalties in him. And those who serve the Welsh rebel leader would have Owen sign up to fight and never go home... 
 
Where will his loyalties lie?

A Spy For The Redeemer

(The Owen Archer Mysteries: book VII): a captivating Medieval mystery you won’t be able to put down…

Medieval York is brought to life by Candace Robb in this suspense laden and spellbinding murder mystery. If you like Ellis Peters, S J Parris, Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell, you will love this! 
 
'A superb medieval mystery, thoroughly grounded in historical fact' -- Booklist 
'A vivid portrait of 14th-century England which gives us a hero who is cunning and capable, whether navigating the Court of the open moors' -- Time Out 
'A complex and ambiguous tale... Robb continues to adeptly blend politics with period detail and three-dimensional characterisation' -- Publishers Weekly 
'An exceptional historical medieval murder mystery' -- ***** Reader review 
'A good yarn, well crafted and suitably complex' -- ***** Reader review 
'Candace Robb thorough research shows in this really gripping tale. I think Owen Archer is the best thing since sliced bread. Gorgeous!!!' -- ***** Reader review 
'The complexity of the characters in this book has me hooked. I am so invested in Owen's process. I love the setting, the historic aspect, the religious aspect...it's great. I'm definitely invested.' -- ***** Reader review 
 
**************************************************************************** 
WHO CAN YOU REALLY TRUST? 
 
March 1367: King Edward is impatient. He wants William of Wykeham confirmed as Bishop of Winchester, but Pope Urban V is stalling, deterred by the man's wealth and political ambition. 
 
 Thus Owen Archer finds himself heading a deputation from York to Fountains Abbey, to win support for Wykeham from the powerful Cistercian abbots. Ignoring advice, he places his old comrade Ned Townley in charge of the fellow company to Rievaulx, hoping to dispel rumours of Ned's involvement in a mysterious death. 
 
 But just days out of York trouble erupts: a friar and Ned both vanish, following news of murder at Windsor. Owen asks John Thoresby, at Court in his role as Lord Chancellor, for help, little knowing it will involve him with the King's mistress, Alice Perrers, ever a dangerous enemy... 
 
Can Archer extricate himself from a web of deceit and mystery in order to reveal the truth?

King's Bishop

(The Owen Archer Mysteries: book IV): get transported to medieval times in this mesmerising murder mystery that will keep you hooked

Full of intrigue and twists and turns, this is a compelling and captivating murder mystery written by Candace Robb - expertly skilled at weaving suspense with a real sense of history. Fans of Ellis Peters, S J Parris, Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell will not be disappointed! 
 
'Meticulously researched, authentic and gripping' -- Yorkshire Evening Post 
'As full of intrigue as a Deighton or a le Carré' -- Guardian 
'Keeps you turning the pages in anticipation!' -- ***** Reader review 
'I love The Owen Archer Series and I intend to read everyone of them. I am hooked!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Great story with lots of twists and turns' -- ***** Reader review 
'An excellent story, well written and keep you in suspense' -- ***** Reader review 
'My lack of sleep over the past few days has had more to do with wanting to stay glued to the story than insomnia' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************ 
ONE FAKED DEATH; ONE MURDER; ONE MYSTERIOUS YEAR... 
 
When a young nun, Joanna Calverley, dies of fever in the town of Beverley, they waste no time in burying her, fearing the plague. 
 
But nine months later a woman turns up claiming to be Joanna, saying she faked her own death. 
 
When murder follows close on her heels, John Thoresby, Archbishop of York, knows he must enlist the help of his favourite detective, Owen Archer. While Owen sets off for Leeds and Scarborough to speak with the Percy family and Geoffrey Chaucer, who is spying for the King, his wife Lucie tries to discover from Joanna the events of her missing year. 
 
Soldiers fleeing to France, relic-trading and incest are just a few of the secrets which emerge. 
 
Can Archer unravel the mystery surrounding this nun?

The Nun's Tale

(The Owen Archer Mysteries: book III): an evocative and enthralling historical mystery set in Medieval York that will have you gripped from page one…

Fans of Ellis Peters, S J Parris, Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell will not be disappointed by Candace Robb's enthralling and evocative murder mystery - full of intrigue and bolstered by a wealth of authentic historical detail. You won't want to put it down! 
 
'Candace Robb recreates medieval York with ease'-Yorkshire Evening Press 
'As full of intrigue as a Deighton or a le Carré' -- Guardian 
'This book was so good I couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'A well researched and gripping novel' -- ***** Reader review 
'Plenty of twists and turns to keep one turning the pages' -- ***** Reader review 
'Great story with engaging characters' -- ***** Reader review 
********************************************************** 
 
COMPLEX WEBS OF RIVALRIES; MISSING SUSPECTS; A MURDERER ON THE LOOSE... 
 
York 1365: While the city celebrates the feast of Corpus Christi, a man is murdered in the shadow of the Minster, his right hand severed. All the evidence points to a wool merchant last seen quarrelling with the dead man. 
 
Owen Archer finds himself once again called upon by Archbishop Thoresby to exercise his skills as detective. 
 
Yet, he is unsure where to turn first. His only witness is a young boy, his only suspect a mysterious hooded woman - and neither can be found. 
 
Owen is under intense pressure to solve the case, but he soon finds himself ensnared in a plot devised by very powerful masters...

The Lady Chapel

(The Owen Archer Mysteries: book II)

Fans of Ellis Peters, S J Parris, Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell will love Candace Robb's gripping and compelling murder mystery - full of suspense and tension and with a real sense of medieval York. Perfect to settle down with! 
 
'Enthralling and evocative...Candace Robb recreates medieval York with ease'-Yorkshire Evening Press 
'This book was so good I couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'A well researched and gripping novel' -- ***** Reader review 
'Plenty of twists and turns to keep one turning the pages' -- ***** Reader review 
'Great story with engaging characters' -- ***** Reader review 
 
*************************************************************************** 
A REMEDY DESIGNED TO HEAL BECOMES A LETHAL MURDER WEAPON... 
 
York: 1363: people are dying in mysterious circumstances...however, there seems to be a common thread - the herbal remedies dispensed by Nicholas Wilton, Master Apothecary. The first victim is an anonymous pilgrim, but when a highborn nobleman dies after taking the same potion the authorities finally decide to act. 
 
Dispatched to York, in disguise, to unravel the mystery, Owen Archer, former Captain of Archers, apprentices himself to the Apothecary. Yet it is from Wilton's beautiful wife Lucie that he must learn the arcane secrets of the trade. 
 
Slowly but surely Owen begins to uncover the truth. And when the deaths continue he realises to his horror he must count Lucie among the suspects...

The Apothecary Rose

(The Owen Archer Mysteries: book I): a captivating and enthralling medieval murder mystery set in York – a real page-turner!

From the pen of multi-million copy bestselling author Douglas Reeman comes a brilliant all-action adventure novel set at the height of World War Two. Masterfully atmospheric, tense and taut, it will have you gripped from page one. Perfect for fans of Clive Cussler, Bernard Cornwell and Wilbur Smith. 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'Mr Reeman writes with great knowledge about the sea and those who sail on it' --The Times 
'A superb tale of death and daring' -- ***** Reader review 
'Packed with action, suspense and emotion' -- ***** Reader review 
'An incredible book' -- ***** Reader review 
'A real wartime gripper' -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************************************** 
Other sailors volunteered to fight. They volunteered to die. 
 
 They were the men and women of the Royal Navy's legendary Special Operations units, spoken of in hushed tones by even the most battle-hardened seamen. Volunteering to carrying out lightning raids on hostile coasts, they became a navy within a navy - each hand-picked for their individual skills, and all of them courageous beyond words in the face of immense danger. 
 
 Against the mighty backdrop of World War II they performed their small but deadly operations - living often beyond hope, sometimes beyond mercy.

The Volunteers

a dramatic WW2 adventure from Douglas Reeman, the all-time bestselling master of storyteller of the sea

A Private Thriller

A series of children's modern classic novels by renowned 20th century children's writers. All the titles in this series have the A Puffin Book logo, contemporary-style covers, and child-friendly endnotes.

A Puffin Book

A Ripley Novel

A Slice of the Moon

A Victorian Mystery

A Walk in...

A Women’s Murder Club Thriller

A chef Paul Delamare Mystery

Aberrations

Across the Universe

Actiphons

Adelia Aguilar

Adrian Mole

Adventures in Time

Aftermath

Against War

Age of X

Agent 21

Agent Z

Detective Aidan Waits is a troubled junior detective haunted by his past. Facing an uncertain future, and disconnected from his history, DC Waits and his partner, Detective Inspector Peter 'Sutty' Sutcliffe work on Manchester's streets to uncover the city's worst criminals among the grime of the underworld.

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