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

PublicationStatus

Brand

Format

AgeRange

Series

Imprint

CategoryLabel

James Holland

Readers of Robert Harris, Bernard Cornwell and Ken Follett will love this all-action, blood-pumping wartime thriller from bestselling author and historian James Holland. Full of wholly convincing battles scenes and expert characterisation, as well as a compelling, high-octane storyline, this is one you won't be able to put down! 
 
'Absorbing and thoughtful as well as tense and exciting' -- Daily Telegraph 
'Fantastic - unputdownable!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Great stuff. Highly entertaining and well written' -- ***** Reader review 
'Once you start you cannot put this down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Another cracking Jack Tanner novel' -- ***** Reader review 
 
*********************************************************** 
Crete, 1941: THE NAZI HAMMER IS ABOUT TO FALL ONCE MORE... 
 
In the face of a German invasion, Sergeant Jack Tanner is embroiled in a deadly game of survival that will test his resolve more than ever before. Not only has he fallen out with his commander but he has mortally offended Alopex, a powerful local chieftain. 
 
As if that wasn't enough, Tanner and the rest of his battalion are caught in vicious close-quarter fighting against crack German paratroopers. Before long, they find themselves in bitter retreat to the mountainous interior where only one man can help them - Alopex. 
 
Although whether he will come to their rescue or not remains to be seen... 
 
Jack Tanner's adventures continue in Hellfire.

Blood of Honour

A Jack Tanner Adventure

(Jack Tanner: Book 3): an atmospheric and fast-paced action thriller set at the height of WW2.

Giles Kristian

When raiders ransack his village, Osric is taken prisoner - and into the good graces of the raiders' chief. Immersed in the Norsemen's world, Osric provides a natural warrior and forges a deep bond with the chief, who renames him Raven. But the Norsemen's world is a savage one, where loyalty is often repaid in blood, and a young man must become a killer to survive . . . 
Raven is the thrilling Viking series that launched the career of acclaimed historical novelist Giles Kristian.

From Giles Kristian, THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF LANCELOT, comes this brutal, bloody and captivating Viking adventure, continuing the story begun in the bestselling Raven: Blood Eye. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Robert Low and Game of Thrones. 
 
"Kristian can really write...He weaves in rich historical detail with a light touch...His battle scenes are bone-crunchingly good, his descriptions of the Viking world bright and evocative...Giles Kristian is a great storyteller." -- BEN KANE 
 
"An all-action adventure...a brilliant story, beautifully told" -- SUNDAY EXPRESS 
 
"This was a brilliant read for me as a weathered historical fiction reader." -- ***** Reader review 
 
"The action oozes energy...so that for those precious hours you are happily lost within this book's own universe..." -- ***** Reader review 
 
*************************************************** 
 
IF YOU BETRAY A FELLOWSHIP YOU ARE A DEAD MAN... 
 
Raven and the Wolfpack plough the sea-road in pursuit of the Saxon traitor, Ealdred, who has left the Fellowship for dead and fled to the Frankish Emperor Charlemagne and the promise of untold riches. 
 
Sailing in search of revenge, the pagan Norsemen venture into the heart of a Christian empire that would wipe their kind from the face of the earth, a place where danger lies in wait around every bend of the great river up which they travel. 
 
A young man with no memory and a blood-tainted eye, Raven has found friendship and purpose amongst this fierce band of warriors. Having proved himself in battle, he is now certain that Viking blood flows in his veins. 
 
But to survive this adventure, his cunning must be as sharp as his blade... 
 
Raven: Sons of Thunder is the second title in the Raven trilogy. The story continues in Raven: Odin's Wolves. Have you read Raven: Blood Eye, the first in the trilogy?

Raven 2: Sons of Thunder

(Raven: Book 2): A riveting, rip-roaring Viking saga from bestselling author Giles Kristian

James Nelson

Perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian and C.S.Forester, this is a dramatic and action-packed naval adventure from bestselling author James Nelson full of vim and vigour! 
 
"Nelson writes with the eagerness of a young man sailing his first command" -- PATRICK O'BRIAN 
"First class historical action" - ***** Reader review 
"Authenticity runs throughout the books, carrying total conviction" - Patrick O'Brian 
"A thrilling read..." - ***** Reader review 
"Smashing Good Read!" - ***** Reader review 
 
************************************ 
 
ONE SIMPLE MISSION CAN HAVE EVERLASTING CONSQUENCES... 
 
1776: A fleet of British transport ships are looming off Staten Island, while the remnants of General George Washington's army huddle behind hastily constructed fortifications on Brooklyn Heights. There, Washington is preparing for the final destruction of the Continental army. 
 
Captain Isaac Biddlecomb receives a monumental order: to transport to France the most dangerous secret weapon in the country's arsenal: scientist and philosopher Benjamin Franklin. 
 
Biddlecomb's seemingly simple mission to deliver Franklin to the court of Louis XVI is just the first volley in a grand scheme. While he is boldly raiding the English coast and Franklin is discussing strategy at Versailles, they both conspire to blow French neutrality out of the water - and turn the colonial uprising into a full-scale war... 
 
Lords of the Ocean is the fourth novel in James Nelson's Revolution at Sea series. Biddlecomb's story continues in All The Brave Fellows. Have you read By Force of Arms, The Maddest Idea and The Continental Risque his first three adventures?

Lords Of The Ocean

A thrilling and exciting maritime adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat…

Iris Gower

Perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin and Cathy Sharp, this is the moving second instalment of The Cordwainers series by bestselling author Iris Gower. 
 
READERS ARE LOVING THE CORDWAINERS! 
"I have really enjoyed reading this whole series...I would recommend the reading of any of the books by this author." - 5 STARS 
"Loved these books [-] definitely recommend this series: once you start you will want to read them all" - 5 STARS 
"Read it in one sitting..." - 5 STARS 
"Couldn't put the book down." - 5 STARS 
"You finish one book and you just have to start the next one." - 5 STARS 
 
****************************************************************** 
 
CAN SHE CLING ON TO HER HOPES FOR THE FUTURE? 
 
When her father dies, Emmeline Powell finds herself married to fisherman Joe Harries - rough, stoic, sturdy and many years her senior. But the other fishermen's wives are unwelcoming and she soon finds herself lonely, isolated and trapped in an ill-matched marriage. 
 
But then she meets Will Davies, who teaches her things about herself and about love that she never knew. 
As tragedy and feuding erupt in the village, will the promise of a new life still be open to her? 
 
The Oyster Catchers is the second title in Iris Gower's Cordwainers series. Have you read The Shoemaker's Daughter, the first book in the series?

The Oyster Catchers (The Cordwainers: 2)

A sweeping, emotional Welsh saga of love and determination...

Douglas Jackson

From bestselling author Douglas Jackson, a gripping and visceral novel of the Roman invasion of Britain, for fans of Conn Iggulden and Simon Scarrow. 
 
"What stands out are Jackson's superb battle scenes. I lost myself in the riveting depictions of combat . . . I was gripped from start to finish." -- Ben Kane. 
"You will be reading this and saying to yourself, "Just one more page!"..." - ***** Reader review. 
"THIS is the story I was waiting on!" - ***** Reader review. 
 
******************************************************************** 
 
EMPEROR OF ROME. CONQUEROR OF BRITAIN. 
 
43 AD. Southern England. Caratacus, war chief of the Britons, watches as the scarlet cloaks of the Roman legions spread across his lands like blood. 
 
In Rome, Emperor Claudius desires total conquest and dreams of taking his place in history alongside his illustrious forebears Caesar and Augustus. 
 
Among the legions marches Rufus, keeper of the Emperor's elephant. War is coming and the united tribes of Britain will make a desperate stand against the might of Rome in their fight for freedom. 
 
The Emperor has a very special purpose for Rufus and his elephant in the midst of the battle - will the Gods favour him? 
 
Have you read Caligula - where Rufus's adventures begin?

Claudius

An action-packed historical page-turner full of intrigue and suspense…

'Tanner is a chiselled protagonist straight out of the pages of the old Commando comics' Mail on Sunday 
'Sharpe for the Blitz years...a meaty, all action yarn!' Sunday Telegraph 
'Holland is a superb historian who knows his stuff, and his descriptions of the action are terrific' Daily Telegraph 
'Has the sure touch of someone who knows their subject and enjoys it' Daily Mail 
_______________________________ 
 
Dunkirk, 1940: One man must stem the Nazi tide... 
 
Sergeant Jack Tanner has been posted to a training company on the south-east coast of England where the mysterious deaths of two Polish refugees lead him to believe there has been foul play. 
 
As the Germans launch their Blitzkrieg in Europe, the entire company are sent to join the battle to stop Hitler's drive across the Low Countries. Pitted against the die-hard Nazis of the SS 'Death's Head' Division and the great panzer commander, General Rommel himself, it is left to Tanner to get his men back to Allied lines. 
 
But if they are to have any hope of surviving the mayhem of Dunkirk, Tanner must first deal with an enemy far more deadly than the Germans... 
 
Jack Tanner's adventures continue in Blood of Honour. 
 
The new, sweeping World War II book from James Holland, THE SAVAGE STORM, is available for pre-order now. 
_______________________________ 
 
Readers love Darkest Hour: 
 
'Very difficult to put down' 
'An amazing read' 
'An adventure from start to finish but with great historical facts thrown in'

Darkest Hour

(Jack Tanner: Book 2): an unmissable, all-guns-blazing action thriller set at the height of WW2.

This captivating and stirring naval page-turner from bestselling author James Nelson is the triumphant finale to the Revolution at Sea series and is perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian and C.S.Forester. 
 
"Nelson writes with the eagerness of a young man sailing his first command" -- PATRICK O'BRIAN 
"A fine adventure series...first-rate action " -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 
"Spirited adventure and great reading" -- BOSTON GLOBE 
"When you thought it couldn't get any better, Mr.Nelson pulls out all the stops for the finale." -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************** 
 
BIDDLECOMBE'S FINAL PUSH AGAINST THE BRITISH... 
 
1777: Captain Isaac Biddlecomb, together with his wife and child, is bound for Philadelphia aboard the brig Charlemagne. His orders are to take command of the newly-built frigate Falmouth and take her out to sea before she is taken by General Richard Howe's invading army. 
 
Unknown to Biddlecomb, the entire British fleet stands between him and the new nation's capital. Forced to run his beloved brig aground, Biddlecomb comes face to face with his mortal enemy, Lieutenant John Smeaton. 
 
Meanwhile, General Washington has yielded Philadelphia to Britain's might. As Biddlecomb and his crew battle to reach the prized Falmouth, only shipwright Malachi Foote and a ragtag band of deserters stand between the vessel and the seemingly unstoppable British army. 
 
All The Brave Fellows is the stunning conclusion to James Nelson's Revolution at Sea series. Have you read By Force of Arms, The Maddest Idea and The Continental Risque, the first four adventures?

All The Brave Fellows

A gripping and swashbuckling seafaring adventure guaranteed to have you gripped from page one

From bestselling author James Nelson, an enthralling, swashbuckling naval adventure set in the American War of Independence, perfect for fans of C.S.Forester and Patrick O'Brian. You'll be gripped from the first page! 
 
"Authenticity runs throughout the book, carrying total conviction" -- Patrick O'Brian. 
"This is another great author, who knows what he writes about." - ***** Reader review. 
"There is action and plot twists right up to the last page, I couldn't put it down." - ***** Reader review. 
"A fine adventure series...first-rate action writing" -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 
 
************************************ 
 
FORCED TO SACRIFICE THE SHIP HE LOVES. CAPTURED BY THE ENEMY. CAN HE CHANGE HIS FATE? 
 
1775. The American War of Independence is starting in earnest and Captain - and smuggler - Isaac Biddlecomb, pursued by HMS Rose, sacrifices his ship, the Judea, rather than surrender to the British. 
 
Forced to go on the run, and to disguise himself as a lowly ship's mate on a brig bound for Jamaica, he finds himself captured by the enemy. 
 
Can he use his wits to survive a life of servitude under the deranged captain and sadistic crew of the HMS Icarus...? 
 
By Force of Arms is the first novel in James Nelson's Revolution at Sea series. Biddlecomb's story continues in The Maddest Idea.

By Force Of Arms

A gripping naval adventure full of derring-do, guaranteed to have you hooked…

Val Wood

Emily was only five years old when she was sent away from her ma and pa and her brother Joe to go and live with old Granny Edwards. A loving and hard-working child, she goes into service when she is twelve at the house of Roger Francis, whose connections with Emily's own family prove to be closer than she could ever have guessed. Roger's daughter Deborah takes a great fancy to Emily, and when Emily has moved to another household in Hull she finds that her new employer's son Hugo is to marry Deborah. But Hugo, too, has taken a fancy to Emily, and dishonours and then betrays her to such an extent that she is imprisoned, tried and deported to Australia. But just when her fortunes seem to be at their lowest ebb, Emily is reunited with the one man who can save her from her miserable existence and bring her wealth and happiness.

Emily

gripping romantic saga from the Sunday Times bestseller

If you like Conn Iggulden, Simon Scarrow and David Gemmell, you will love this spellbinding Viking adventure, packed with battles, blood and gore, from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Lancelot, Giles Kristian. 
 
"An unabashed carnival of bloodletting and betrayal...Kristian has a knack for writing real blokes living their lives, not reciting their author's research." -- DAILY TELEGRAPH 
 
"A gripping tale of action and treachery which splendidly conjures up the sounds, sights and smells of Dark Age Britain..." - HARRY SIDEBOTTOM 
 
"A powerful, lightning-paced tale of the Norsemen in England..." - BERNARD CORNWELL 
 
"I have been thoroughly overwhelmed by the sheer brilliance of Kristian's writing style, depth and colour of story, meaningful characters and clever humour. I have been most definitely impressed and have almost finished the 3rd book in the series. Time to return to the beginning and read again." -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************* 
SOME CALLED THEM WOLVES OF THE SEA. OTHERS SIMPLY CALLED THEM VIKINGS. 
 
For two years Osric has lived a simple life, though he is feared and shunned for his mysterious past and blood-red eye. When raiders from across the sea ransack his village, Osric finds himself taken prisoner by their chief, Sigurd the Lucky. 
 
Immersed in the Norsemen's world and driven by their lust for adventure, Osric proves a natural warrior and forges a deep bond with Sigurd, who renames him Raven. 
 
But the Norsemen's world is a savage one, where loyalty is often repaid in blood, and a young man must become a killer to survive... 
 
Raven: Blood Eye is the first title in the Raven trilogy. The story continues in Raven: Sons of Thunder.

Raven: Blood Eye

(Raven: Book 1): A gripping, bloody and unputdownable Viking adventure from bestselling author Giles Kristian

Bestselling author James Nelson brings us another maritime adventure packed with battle, duty, heroism and tragedy. Perfect for readers of Julian Stockwin, CS Forester and Alexander Kent. 
 
"A triumph of imagination and good taut writing" -- BERNARD CORNWELL 
"A master both of his period and of the English language" -- PATRICK O'BRIAN 
"Nelson handles deftly the O'Brian dominated maritime genre with...tense action and battle sequences" -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 
"Another page turner by James L Nelson. Gripping action with minute attention paid to historical accuracy." -- ***** Reader review 
"A literary masterpiece" -- ***** Reader review 
"Great history, great storytelling." -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************************************************************* 
 
CAN HE FIND THE STRENGTH HE NEEDS, AGAINST ALL ODDS? 
 
Having survived the bloody Battle of New Orleans and the loss of his ship, Captain Sam Bowater is given new orders - to take command of an ironclad warship being built in Memphis, Tennessee. Bowater and his men are taken up river by 'Mississippi' Mike Sullivan, one of the wild, undisciplined captains of the River Defence Squadron, only to find, on their arrival, that their ship is not even half-built and the enemy is closing in fast. 
 
Against his better judgment, Bowater joins forces with Sullivan on board his river gunship. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Confederates once again fling themselves bravely at the overwhelming power of the Yankee invaders. The deadly fight along the Mississippi ends at last in the massive naval battle of Memphis, as the Confederates attempt to hold back the Northern advance. 
 
Thieves of Mercy is the conclusion of James Nelson's Civil War at Sea series. The action started in Glory In The Name.

Thieves Of Mercy

a stunning and heart-pounding novel of naval adventure set during the US Civil War

A captivating and stirring maritime adventure from bestselling author James Nelson that will have you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian and C.S. Forester. 
 
"Kept me riveted from start to finish..." - ***** Reader review. 
"Fast paced and hard to put down" -- ***** Reader review 
'A fine adventure series...first-rate action writing' -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 
 
*********************************************** 
 
THERE'S A TRAITOR IN THEIR RANKS DETERMINED TO THWART THEIR FIGHT FOR FREEDOM... 
 
1775: General George Washing has discovered his store of gunpowder has dwindled to next to nothing. Captain Isaac Biddlecomb is despatched to Bermuda to capture the British gunpowder known to be there. 
But the plan is a trap, hatched by a traitor among the Patriots. Washington's aide-de-camp Major Edward Fitzgerald is tasked with hunting the traitor down; Biddlecomb meanwhile must work to free his ship and his men and capture the gunpowder so vital in the fight for freedom. 
 
Will Biddlecomb and Fitzgerald overcome their common enemy - the greatest military power on Earth? 
 
The Maddest Idea is the second novel in James Nelson's Revolution at Sea series. Biddlecomb's story continues in The Continental Risque. Have you read By Force of Arms, his first adventure?

The Maddest Idea

An enthralling and swashbuckling naval adventure you won’t be able to put down…

From the pen of bestselling author and historian James Holland comes this action-packed page-turner of a wartime thriller. Jam-packed with sharp dialogue, dynamic and authentic scenes and unforgettable characterisation, this is perfect for fans of Robert Harris, Bernard Cornwell and Ken Follett. 
 
'Tanner is a chiselled protagonist straight out of the pages of the old Commando comics...Destined to be a series that will run and run.' -- Mail On Sunday 
Sharpe for the Blitz years...The Odin Mission is a meaty, all-action yarn' - Sunday Telegraph 
'A breezy, action packed, page turning, ripper of a yarn' -- ***** Reader review 
'I just couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'A cracking tale' -- ***** Reader review 
'Top class' -- ***** Reader review 
*********************************************************************************** 
Norway, 1940: ONE SMALL FORCE STANDS BEFORE THE NAZI BLITZKRIEG. 
 
The few remaining British troops retreat in the fact of a remorseless German advance. For Sergeant Jack Tanner and his stranded patrol, it is a desperate rearguard action. 
 
With the odds stacked against them and the temperature dropping fast, they are not only fighting for their lives, but also to protect a mysterious Norwegian professor in whose hands lies the outcome of the war. 
 
To survive, Tanner must outfox and outfight the pursuing Nazis who are desperate for the secrets the Norwegian holds. They will stop at nothing to secure them. . . 
 
Jack Tanner's adventures continue in Darkest Hour.

The Odin Mission

(Jack Tanner: Book 1)

Perfect for fans of Robert Harris, Conn Iggulden and Simon Scarrow, a riveting thriller set in Ancient Rome from bestselling author Douglas Jackson. 
 
"...gripping Roman thriller. It's certainly well placed to take on the Simon Scarrow/Conn Iggulden audience." -- Scotland on Sunday 
 
"Fantastic read..." - ***** Reader review. 
 
****************************************************************** 
 
CAN A SLAVE DECIDE THE FATE OF AN EMPEROR? 
 
Ancient Rome. Caligula is Emperor, his reign marked by excess, ambition, decadence, cruelty, madness, sexual scandal and death. 
 
Rufus is a young slave living a world away from the Imperial court - apprentice to an animal trainer for the gladiatorial arena and friend to Cupido, one of Rome's greatest gladiators. 
 
When Rufus's skills come to the attention of Caligula, he is summoned to court to serve as keeper for the Imperial elephant - and unwittingly finds himself at the centre of a conspiracy to assassinate the Emperor... 
 
Rufus's story continues in Claudius.

Caligula

A thrilling historical epic set in Ancient Rome that you won’t be able to put down…

Stella Gemmell

David Gemmell

Bestselling author David Gemmell combines his fantasy storytelling skills with epic history in this unputdownable tale of peace and war. Fall of Kings, the final novel in this series, was finished by Stella Gemmell following her husband's tragic death.

High adventure and epic storytelling combine in the final novel in Sunday Times bestselling author David Gemmell's bestselling Troy trilogy. Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden. 
 
'In my pantheon of literary greats, David Gemmell stands alone . . . he put me on the path I still walk today' -- CONN IGGULDEN 
" [A] vivid, inspirational re-creation of the Troy myth." -- MANDA SCOTT 
"Gripping and fast-paced, intelligent and intensely readable...should appeal to anyone who enjoys an action-packed historical epic." -- JOANNE HARRIS 
"A splendid piece of work that traverses from hero fantasy into legendary and classic writing." -- ***** Reader review 
"Truly captivating" -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************** 
 
Darkness falls on the Great Green, and the Ancient World is fiercely divided. 
 
On the killing fields outside the golden city of Troy, forces loyal to the Mykene King mass. Among them is Odysseus, fabled storyteller and reluctant ally to the Mykene, who knows that he must soon face his former friends in deadly combat. 
 
Within the city, the Trojan king waits. Ailing and bitter, his hope is pinned on two heroes: his favourite son Hektor, and the dread Helikaon who will wreak terrible vengeance for the death of his wife at Mykene hands. 
War has been declared. 
 
As enemies, who are also kinsmen, are filled with bloodlust, they know that many of them will die, and that some will become heroes: heroes who will live for ever in a story that will echo down the centuries. 
 
Have you read the previous two books in the series Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow and Troy: Shield of Thunder?

Troy: Fall Of Kings

(Troy: 3): The stunning and gripping conclusion to David Gemmell’s epic retelling of the Troy legend

The Sunday Times bestselling author David Gemmell brings the myth and legend of Troy to life in this epic story filled with triumph and tragedy. Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden. 
 
"This is how the oldest tales should be read and known. Gemmell is a master of plot, but his triumph is creating men and women so real that their trials are agony and their triumph is glorious" -- CONN IGGULDEN 
" [A] vivid, inspirational re-creation of the Troy myth." -- MANDA SCOTT 
"The best book that I have ever read" -- ***** Reader review 
"The characters are rich, engaging and easy to visualize...perfect historical fiction writing." -- ***** Reader review 
 
**************************************** 
 
The war of Troy is looming, and all the kings of the Great Green are gathering, friends and enemies, each with their own dark plans of conquest and plunder. 
 
Into this maelstrom of treachery and deceit come three travellers; Piria, a runaway priestess nursing a terrible secret, Kalliades, a warrior with a legendary sword, and Banokles who will carve his own legend in the battles to come. 
 
Troy: Shield of Thunder takes the reader back into the glories and tragedies of Bronze Age Greece, reuniting the characters from Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow; the dread Helikaon and his great love, the fiery Andromache, the mighty Hektor and the fabled storyteller, Odysseus. 
 
The story concludes in Troy: The Fall of Kings. Have you read the previous title Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow?

Troy: Shield Of Thunder

(Troy: 2): Epic storytelling at its very best, interlacing myth, history, and high adventure

A compelling, unputdownable novel of love and hatred, ambition and rivalry, peace and war by Sunday Times bestselling author David Gemmell. Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden. 
 
"History and legend combine in an epic recreation of the Troy myth" - CONN IGGULDEN 
"David Gemmell carries us away to a four-cornered, wholly convincing cosmos..." - STEVEN PRESSFIELD 
"What a masterly imagining of Bronze Age Greece" - ***** Reader review 
"The story is thrilling and once you start, you can not stop." -- ***** Reader review 
"Another epic novel that was impossible to put down." -- ***** Reader review 
 
****************************************** 
 
Three lives will change the destiny of nations. 
 
Helikaon, the young prince of Dardania, haunted by a scarred and traumatic childhood. The priestess Andromache, whose fiery spirit and fierce independence threatens the might of kings. And the legendary warrior Argurios, cloaked in loneliness and driven only by thoughts of revenge. 
 
In Troy they find a city torn apart by destructive rivalries - a maelstrom of jealousy, deceit and murderous treachery. And beyond its fabled walls blood-hungry enemies eye its riches and plot its downfall. 
 
It is a time of bravery and betrayal; a time of bloodshed and fear. A time for heroes. 
 
The story continues in Troy: Shield of Thunder.

Troy: Lord Of The Silver Bow

(Troy: 1): A riveting, action-packed page-turner bringing an ancient myth and legend expertly to life

Bestselling author James Nelson brings us another gripping and absorbing maritime adventure. Perfect for readers of Julian Stockwin, CS Forester and Alexander Kent. 
 
"It is, by far, the best Civil War novel I've ever read; reeking of battle, duty, heroism and tragedy...a triumph of imagination and good taut writing" -- BERNARD CORNWELL 
 
"Authenticity runs throughout the books, carrying total conviction" -- PATRICK O'BRIAN 
 
"Nelson handles deftly the O'Brian dominated maritime genre with...tense action and battle sequences" -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 
 
"A real page turner where the reader feels part of the action.. you can almost feel the tension and atmosphere..." -- ***** Reader review 
 
"By far one of the best books I've ever read in my life" -- ***** Reader review 
 
****************************************************************************** 
 
THROWN IN AT THE DEEP END, CAN HE STEER HIS COMMAND TO VICTORY? 
 
At the outbreak of the Civil War, the Confederate Navy must defend nearly 3,000 miles of coastline with only a meagre collection of ships and a handful of men. One of these men is Sam Bowater, a former lieutenant in the United States Navy, who obtains his cherished first command in a tugboat turned gunboat, the Cape Fear, with a ragtag crew. 
 
Struggling with the pressures of his first command, in a naval service which is still learning the ropes, Bowater finds himself and his men the only defence between the Confederate shores and the massive Union Navy. 
 
From Hampton Roads to Roanoke Island, to an exciting, bloody night time river fight for New Orleans, Glory In The Name vividly brings to life the dramatic naval battles of the Civil War. 
 
Glory In The Name is the first story in James Nelson's Civil War at Sea series. The action continues in Thieves of Mercy.

Glory In The Name

an exciting, bloody and dramatic naval adventure set during the US Civil War

An enthralling and swashbuckling naval adventure from bestselling author James Nelson you won't be able to put down. Perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian and C.S. Forester. 
 
"First-rate action writing" - Publishers Weekly 
"Authenticity runs throughout the books, carrying total conviction" - Patrick O'Brian 
"Fast paced and the plot has lots of twists..." - ***** Reader review 
"Going to buy all his nautical books in time!! Love these!" - ***** Reader review 
 
**************************************** 
 
IN THE FACE OF BETRAYAL, HE MUST UNITE HIS MEN TO FIGHT AGAINST TYRANNY... 
 
1776: A decade of simmering tensions is finally coming to the boil. Determined to cast off the chains of British tyranny, the rebel government of Philadelphia has authorised the creation of the United States Navy - a brazen act of American aggression against the greatest maritime power in the world. 
 
Captain Isaac Biddlecomb sets sail in the Charlemagne on a daring mission to raid the British store of arms on New Providence Island in the Bahamas. Yet his greatest enemy is an undisciplined crew on the brink of mutiny. 
 
Beset by betrayal and treachery, Biddlecomb must find a way of uniting his men against a cruel and common foe... as the British Navy prepares to sink the Charlemagne under the merciless blasts of its guns. 
 
The Continental Risque is the third novel in James Nelson's Revolution at Sea series. Biddlecomb's story continues in Lords of the Ocean. Have you read By Force of Arms and The Maddest Idea, his first two adventures?

The Continental Risque

A captivating and stirring maritime adventure that will have you gripped

Bestselling author James Nelson brings us another gripping and absorbing maritime adventure. Perfect for readers of Julian Stockwin, CS Forester and Alexander Kent. 
 
"Brilliant...Readers will gladly be swept along by a wonderful plot" -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 
"A master both of his period and of the English language" -- PATRICK O'BRIAN 
"Many threads, at sea and at home, combine to make this a thrilling, un-put-downable period story." -- ***** Reader review 
"It is difficult to put this book down right from the start" -- ***** Reader review 
"A terrifically exciting adventure!" -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************* 
ONE MISSION THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING... 
 
Thomas Marlowe, former pirate and captain of the Guardship, lives prosperously on his tobacco plantation near Williamsburg with his lovely wife Elizabeth. 
But when King James, the huge ex-slave who is in command of Marlowe's sloop, kills the crew of a slaveship - a blackbirder - and makes himself the most wanted man in Virginia, Marlowe is forced to go and hunt him down. 
 
Setting off in pursuit of the blackbirder, struggling to maintain control over his crew - rough privateers, set only on plunder - Marlowe follows James's trail of destruction all the way to the shores of Africa. 
 
There, in the slave port of Whydah, James and Marlowe face a common threat - and their final showdown. 
 
The Blackbirder is the second book of the Brethren of the Coast trilogy. Marlowe's story continues in The Pirate Round. Have you read The Guardship, the first adventure of the trilogy?

The Blackbirder

A captivating and thrilling adventure set on the high seas

If you like Patrick O'Brian and Bernard Cornwell, you will love this exciting, action-packed maritime adventure from bestselling author James Nelson. 
 
"A master both of his period and of the English language" -- PATRICK O'BRIAN 
"Brilliant...Readers will gladly be swept along by a wonderful plot" -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 
"Don't just buy this one to see if you like it, get the three at once and cancel any engagements for the next several days." -- ***** Reader review 
"Read it far too quickly" -- ***** Reader review 
"Superb" -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************** 
 
WHEN THE PAST THREATENS TO CATCH UP WITH HIM, CAN HE MUSTER THE STRENGTH HE NEEDS? 
 
When Thomas Marlowe decides to renounce his life as a pirate - and keep it a secret, he uses the bounty he has amassed to purchase a fine Virginia plantation from a beautiful young widow, Elizabeth Tinling. 
 
While defending her honour, he kills the favourite son of one of the colony's most powerful families. But in a clever piece of manoeuvring, he manages to win command of the Plymouth Prize, the colony's decrepit guardship, and is charged with leading the King's sailors in battle against the cutthroats who infest the waters off Virginia's shores. 
 
A threat from his illicit past appears, however, as an old pirate enemy plots to seize the colony's wealth, forcing Marlowe to choose between losing all - or facing the one man he fears. 
 
The Guardship is the first book of the Brethren of the Coast trilogy. Marlowe's story continues in The Blackbirder.

The Guardship

A thrilling, rip-roaring naval adventure guaranteed to keep you gripped

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.

Filters

Category

Publication Date

Format

Series

Imprint

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter