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The Marlowe Papers: A Novel
by Ros Barber*WINNER OF THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZE 2013*On May 30th, 1593, a celebrated young playwright was killed in a tavern brawl in London. That, at least, was the official version. Now Christopher Marlowe reveals the truth: that his 'death' was an elaborate ruse to avoid being convicted of heresy; that he was spirited across the Channel to live on in lonely exile; that he continued to write plays and poetry, hiding behind the name of a colourless man from Stratford - one William Shakespeare. With the grip of a thriller and the emotional force of a sonnet, this remarkable novel in verse gives voice to a man who was brilliant, passionate and mercurial. A cobbler's son who counted nobles among his friends, a spy in the Queen's service, a fickle lover and a declared religious sceptic, he was always courting trouble. Memoir, love letter, confession, settling of accounts and a cry for recognition as the creator of some of the most sublime works in the English language, The Marlowe Papers brings Christopher Marlowe and his era to vivid life. Written by a poet and scholar, it is a work of exceptional art, erudition and imagination.
The Dirty Streets of Heaven: Bobby Dollar 1 (Bobby Dollar #1)
by Tad WilliamsBOBBY DOLLAR ISN'T YOUR AVERAGE ANGEL.Sure, he takes the occasional trip to Heaven, but his job as an advocate - arguing the fate of the recently deceased - keeps him pretty busy on Earth, and he's more than happy to spend the rest of his time propping up the bar with his fellow immortals.Until the day a soul goes missing, presumed stolen by 'the other side'.A new chapter in the war between heaven and hell is about to open. And Bobby is right in the middle of it, with only a desirable but deadly demon to aid him.
Happy Hour in Hell: Bobby Dollar 2 (Bobby Dollar #2)
by Tad WilliamsBobby Dollar has a problem or four of epic proportions. Problem one: his best friend Sam has given him an angel's feather that also happens to be evidence of an unholy pact between Bobby's employers and those who dwell in the infernal depths. Problem two: Eligor, Grand Duke of Hell, wants to get his claws on the feather at all costs, but particularly at all cost to Bobby . Problem three: Bobby has fallen in love with Casimira, Countess of Cold Hands, who just happens to be Eligor's girlfriend. Problem four: Eligor, aware of Problem three, has whisked Casimira off to the Bottomless Pit itself, telling Bobby he will never see her again unless he hands over the feather.But Bobby, long-time veteran of the endless war between above and below, is not the type of guy who finds Hell intimidating. All he has to do is toss on a demon's body, sneak through the infernal gates, solve the mystery of the angel's feather, and rescue the girl. Saving the day should just be a matter of an eon or two of anguish, mutilation and horror.If only it were that easy.
Sleeping Late on Judgement Day: Bobby Dollar 3 (Bobby Dollar #3)
by Tad WilliamsBobby Dollar thinks he's seen it all - after all, he's been to Hell and back again. Literally.But he has another think coming. Sleeping Late on Judgement Day will find Bobby back in his adopted hometown of San Judas, California, trying to stay out of trouble... and failing. His love life is still a mess, there are one too many people who have it out for him, and drowning his sorrows in a nice glass of whisky won't keep the demons at bay forever. Bobby's going to have to pull himself together and make a few tough decisions before time runs out. The problem is, time could run out at any moment. In the final Bobby Dollar novel in Tad Williams' groundbreaking epic fantasy trilogy, fallen angel Bobby Dollar will finally be force to confront the one problem he can't talk his way out of: his own.
Crossbones Yard: Alice Quentin 1 (Alice Quentin #1)
by Kate RhodesGetting into the mind of a killer isn't for the faint of heart... Psychologist Alice Quentin is about to learn that first hand, in this thrilling novel for fans of Nicci French and Ruth Rendell. Ray and Marie Benson killed 13 women before they were caught, tried and imprisoned. Five of their victims were never found. Six years later, psychologist Alice Quentin discovers a woman's body on the waste ground at Crossbones Yard. The wounds are horrifyingly similar to the Bensons' signature style. But who would want to copy their crimes? When Alice is called in to consult, her first instinct is to say no. She wants to focus on treating her patients, not analysing the mind of a murderer. But the body at Crossbones Yard is just the start, and the killer may already be closer than Alice knows.
A Killing of Angels: Alice Quentin 2 (Alice Quentin #2)
by Kate RhodesGetting into the mind of a killer isn't for the faint of heart... Psychologist Alice Quentin must track down a murderer in the City, in this thrilling novel for fans of Nicci French and Ruth Rendell. At the height of a summer heatwave, a killer stalks the City of London.The avenging angel leaves behind a scattering of feathers with each body - but why these victims? What were their sins? Psychologist Alice Quentin only agrees to help out on the case because she owes Detective Don Burns a favour. But soon she finds herself deep in the toxic heart of the Square Mile - a place where money means more than life, and no one can be counted innocent. With fascinating characters and a page-turning plot, Kate Rhodes's novels are perfect for fans of Nicci French and Val McDermid.
The Winter Foundlings: Alice Quentin 3 (Alice Quentin #3)
by Kate RhodesGetting into the mind of a killer isn't for the faint of heart... Psychologist Alice Quentin is running out of time to save a kidnapped child, in this thrilling novel for fans of Nicci French and Ruth Rendell. Ella Williams is ten years old. She loves her granddad and her sister and her shiny new red shoes. She's just been abducted by a killer - someone who kidnaps young girls, holds them for a few weeks then returns their bodies clothed in white foundling dresses. The crimes are clearly linked to notorious child murderer Louis Kinsella, locked away in a high-security hospital. Is it a copycat? Or is he giving someone direct orders from behind bars? To save Ella's life, psychologist Alice Quentin must form a relationship with Kinsella. But he is slow to give up his secrets, and all the while, time is running out...
Lethal: Booktrack Edition
by Sandra BrownNumber One New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown returns with another suspenseful thrillerWhen her four-year-old daughter informs her a sick man is in their yard, Honor Gillette rushes out to help him. But that 'sick' man turns out to be Lee Coburn, the man accused of murdering seven people the night before. Dangerous, desperate, and armed, he promises Honor that she and her daughter won't be hurt as long as she does everything he asks. She has no choice but to accept him at his word. But Honor soon discovers that even those close to her can't be trusted. Coburn claims that her beloved late husband possessed something extremely valuable that places Honor and her daughter in grave danger. And Coburn is there to retrieve it - at any cost. Praise for Sandra Brown 'Suspense that has teeth' Stephen King 'Lust, jealousy, and murder suffuse Brown's crisp thriller' Publishers Weekly 'An edge-of-the-seat thriller that's full of twists . . . Top stuff!' Star
Low Pressure
by Sandra BrownNumber One New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown returns with another suspenseful thrillerBellamy Lyston Price was only 12 years old when her older sister Susan was killed on a stormy Memorial Day. Bellamy's fear of storms is a legacy of the tornado that destroyed the crime scene as well as her memory of one vital fact that still eludes her . . . Now, 18 years later, Bellamy has written a novel based on Susan's murder. It's her first book, and it's an instant sensation. But because the novel is based on the most traumatic event of her life, she's published it under a pseudonym to protect herself and her family. But when a sleazy reporter for a tabloid newspaper discovers that the book is based on a real crime, Bellamy's identity -- and dark family secrets -- are exposed. Suddenly, she finds herself embroiled in a personal conflict and at the mercy of her sister's killer, who for almost two decades has gotten away with murder . . . and will stop at nothing to keep it that way. Praise for Sandra Brown 'Suspense that has teeth' Stephen King 'Lust, jealousy, and murder suffuse Brown's crisp thriller' Publishers Weekly 'An edge-of-the-seat thriller that's full of twists . . . Top stuff!' Star
Deadline
by Sandra BrownNumber One New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown returns with another suspenseful thrillerA journalist is hot on the trail of a pair of domestic terrorists who for decades have eluded capture.Dawson Scott is a well-respected journalist recently returned from Afghanistan. Haunted by everything he experienced, he's privately suffering from battle fatigue which is a threat to every aspect of his life. But then he gets a call from a source within the FBI. A new development has come to light in a story that began 40 years ago. It could be the BIG story of Dawson's career one in which he has a vested interest.Soon, Dawson is covering the disappearance and presumed murder of former Marine Jeremy Wesson, the biological son of the pair of terrorists who remain on the FBI's Most Wanted list. As Dawson delves into the story, he finds himself developing feelings for Wesson's ex-wife, Amelia, and her two young sons. But when Amelia's nanny turns up dead, the case takes a stunning new turn, with Dawson himself becoming a suspect. Haunted by his own demons, Dawson takes up the chase for the notorious outlaws. . .and the secret, startling truth about himself. Praise for Sandra Brown 'Suspense that has teeth' Stephen King 'Lust, jealousy, and murder suffuse Brown's crisp thriller' Publishers Weekly 'An edge-of-the-seat thriller that's full of twists . . . Top stuff!' Star
Eye Contact: The book that’ll make you never want to look a stranger in the eye (DI Harland #1)
by Fergus McNeillThe perfect book for fans of serial killer thrillers and crime writers such as Peter James, Mark Billingham and Peter RobinsonIf you look him in the eye, you're deadFrom the outside, Robert Naysmith is a successful businessman, handsome and charming. But for years he's been playing a deadly game. He doesn't choose his victims. Each is selected at random - the first person to make eye contact after he begins 'the game' will not have long to live. Their fate is sealed.When the body of a young woman is found on Severn Beach, Detective Inspector Harland is assigned the case. It's only when he links it to an unsolved murder in Oxford that the police begin to guess at the awful scale of the crimes. But how do you find a killer who strikes without motive?Praise for Fergus McNeil 'A chilling game of cat and mouse that should keep you awake long after bedtime. DI Harland is a welcome addition to the growing ranks of British detectives' Peter Robinson, bestselling author of the DCI Banks series 'Let's welcome Fergus McNeill to the ranks of British Crime fiction innovators; he has found a darker shade of noir' Quintin Jardine, bestselling author of the Constable Bob Skinner series 'Creepy, compelling and completely convincing' Erin Kelly, bestselling author of He Said/ She Said 'A gripping first novel' Irish Independent
Knife Edge: Detective Inspector Harland is about to be face to face with a killer . . . (DI Harland #2)
by Fergus McNeillThe perfect book for fans of serial killer thrillers and crime writers such as Peter James, Mark Billingham and Peter RobinsonHe didn't intend to let her get so closeBut Robert Naysmith's girlfriend Kim has become important to him. So he decides to tell her his deadly secret. He wants her to recognise the power he holds.He hopes he won't have to kill herDetective Inspector Harland hasn't forgotten the serial killer who got away from him. But with nothing to go on, he fears he will never bring him to justice.Until he is seconded to investigate the brutal murder of a woman in her Bristol home. A random attack, a murderer who has carefully covered his tracks . . . alarm bells start ringing.Then Harland meets Kim. One last game of life and death is about to begin.Praise for Fergus McNeil 'A chilling game of cat and mouse that should keep you awake long after bedtime. DI Harland is a welcome addition to the growing ranks of British detectives' Peter Robinson, bestselling author of the DCI Banks series 'Let's welcome Fergus McNeill to the ranks of British Crime fiction innovators; he has found a darker shade of noir' Quintin Jardine, bestselling author of the Constable Bob Skinner series 'Creepy, compelling and completely convincing' Erin Kelly, bestselling author of He Said/ She Said 'A gripping first novel' Irish Independent
Cut Out: A gripping thriller about a neighbour who goes too far ... (DI Harland #3)
by Fergus McNeillThe perfect book for fans of serial killer thrillers and crime writers such as Peter James, Mark Billingham and Peter RobinsonWhat if your upstairs neighbour wished their life was more like yours? Exactly like yours? Nigel never meant for it to happen. At first, he just wanted to be Matt's friend. But when he discovers he can hear what is going on in the flat below him, his fascination with his new neighbour drifts into obsession.Rearranging his furniture to recreate the layout of the rooms downstairs. Buying the same clothes, going through Matt's post, his things. And it would have been all right. Innocent enough. If Matt hadn't brought the girl home. That's when things started to spiral out of control ... Detective Inspector Harland has to unravel the disturbing truth, but this is a case that stretches far beyond an unfortunate friendship. Praise for Fergus McNeil 'A chilling game of cat and mouse that should keep you awake long after bedtime. DI Harland is a welcome addition to the growing ranks of British detectives' Peter Robinson, bestselling author of the DCI Banks series 'Let's welcome Fergus McNeill to the ranks of British Crime fiction innovators; he has found a darker shade of noir' Quintin Jardine, bestselling author of the Constable Bob Skinner series 'Creepy, compelling and completely convincing' Erin Kelly, bestselling author of He Said/ She Said 'A gripping first novel' Irish Independent
God is an Englishman (The Swann family saga #1)
by R. F. DelderfieldAdam Swann is hungry for success. He is one of the new breed of entrepreneurs thrown up by the Industrial Revolution, determined to take advantage of current economic conditions to build an unrivalled business empire. And he is determined to win the beautiful, strong-minded Henrietta, and persuade her to share in his struggles and triumphs.
Hana: A Delirium Short Story (A <i>Delirium</i> Short Story #2)
by Lauren OliverIn the world of Delirium, love is a disease. And like all eighteen-year-olds, Lena and Hana must take the cure.At the start of their last summer of freedom, they were the closest of friends. Until Hana made a decision that tore them apart . . . In Delirium, we heard from Lena. Now, Hana gets to tell her side of the story. And nothing is what we first thought. Hana is a powerful, moving and beautifully told original eBook short story, with a shocking twist that will leave you with your heart in your mouth.
The Spring Madness of Mr Sermon
by R. F. DelderfieldIt happened on the second day of the summer term. Was it caused by the smell of lilac, the droning of the bees, or the French incense which Lane-Perkins had set alight? Nobody knew, but that spring afternoon following a heated exchange with a pupil, Sebastian Sermon, a forty-nine-year-old schoolmaster, experiences a brainstorm. Dissatisfied with his life, he leaves his job, wife and children, and takes to the road. In the months that follow, Sebastian discovers that excitement and romance are not only for the young. He does things he has never done before and finds that he has talents which no one, least of all himself, had ever suspected . . .
The Admiral
by Nigel TranterA humble laird from Largoshire, Andrew Wood's determination to avenge his father's murder by English pirates, led to his national renown as a pirate-slayer. This brought him to the attention of King James III, who asked Wood to build up a number of captured vessels to form the nucleus of a national fleet. Such was his success, that the King eventually promoted him to become Baron of Largo and Lord High Admiral of Scotland. Admiral Wood's bold defence of Scottish waters against the marauding English privateers was to incur the wrath of King Henry VII of England. Wood was now in great danger - but he survived to become Scotland's most famous sailor, and a skilled negotiator who greatly aided his nation's cause at a time of international unrest.
The Islesman
by Nigel TranterThis is the thrilling story of Angus Og MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, during the turbulent days of Robert the Bruce.The grandson of the great Angus Mor, direct descendant and successor of Somerled himself, the semi-independent prince of the Hebrides and much of the West Highland mainland, Angus was a worthy representative of a notable line, living in dramatic and exciting times for Scotland and England, for Ulster, Man and Ireland. He took his part in it all, an active supporter of Robert the Bruce, chief of chiefs. He was a man who sought peace and prosperity for his so scattered people, encouraging trade, seeking to heal the feuding propensities of the clans, allying the Isles with Orkney and Shetland and Norway; travelling as far as the Baltic. He was also a man of humble mind, and a proud husband and father.
Triple Alliance
by Nigel TranterHaving won the Battle of Dunbar in 1650, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, sought to bring Scotland also under his protectorate. When he eventually returned to England, leaving General George Monk in command, one of the Roundhead officers left behind was Colonel James Stansfield, who was made 'governor' of Haddingtonshire. Stansfield befriended two Haddingtonshire lairds whom he had captured at Dunbar, Patrick, Lord Elibank and George Hepburn of Monkrigg; and the three of them worked together to establishing cloth-mills at Haddington, making use of the great quantities of wool from the sheep-strewn Lammermuir Hills. This enterprise grew and acheived nationwide importance. But it also produced dramatic consequences and unforeseen developments for the trio.
High Kings And Vikings
by Nigel TranterAs Christendom approached the first Millennium, conflict and war prevailed throughout a troubled Scotland. The population remained under constant threat from bloodthirsty Viking raids, and the High Kings of Scots came and went, their brief reigns usually coming to a violent end. In 995, young Cormac mac Farquhar, newly succeeding his father as Thane of Glamis, was to find himself reluctantly caught up in the misfortunes of the ruling monarch, Kenneth the Second, and the ensuing national chaos. But little did Cormac know that out of his legacy of hatred, he would find unexpected happiness.
Flame for the Fire
by Nigel TranterIt was the outstanding beauty of his sister Janet with her flame-red hair which was to bring David Kennedy of Carrick to the attention of Scotland's romantic and personable monarch, James IV. But whatever its cause, the association between the King and David Kennedy was to prove highly beneficial to Scotland in the troubled years ahead, when Henry VIII and the English Tudors sought to style themselves suzerains, or Lords Paramount, of the Northern Kingdom.
Envoy Extraordinary
by Nigel TranterPatrick of Dunbar was more interested in encouraging the trade generated by the great wool production of his sheep-strewn Lammermuir Hills than in warfare and matters of state. But these were troubled times. The Scottish king, Alexander III, was but a child and the heir to the English throne, Edward Plantagenet, already proving aggressive. But it was the Norsemen and Vikings, with their domination of the Hebrides, as well as Orkney, Shetland and the Isle of Man, and the immediate threat they presented to his trading links with Norway and the Baltic States, who finally drove the Cospatrick to action.
The End of the Line
by Nigel TranterAs the 15th century dawned, Scotland was plunged into chaos. With the new king ailing and weak, his unscrupulous younger brother, the Earl of Fife, seized his chance to become Regent and Governer of the realm. Sent to London to appease the English king, George the Cospatrick, 10th Earl of Dunbar and March, struck up a lasting friendship with Richard II's cousin, Henry of Bolingbroke, who was to become King Henry IV of England. On Henry's succession to the thone, Robert III's wife, Queen Annabella, asked Earl Cospatrick to use his influence with the English king in order to avert civil war. And so it was that Cospatrick found himself seeking help from the Auld Enemy to right affairs in Scotland. In due course, Cospatrick's son George was destined to pay the price of his father's links with the Plantagenets and perceived treachery.
Marie And Mary
by Nigel TranterMarie de Guise ruled Scotland alone after the death of her husband James V. She foiled Henry Tudor of England's plans to marry her baby daughter to his son Edward and unite the two thrones under English rule by sending young Mary to France. She kept the peace between Protestants and Catholics while John Knox was becoming a fiery power in the land.Beautiful, lively and clever, Mary, Queen of Scots was welcomed back to the country of her birth after her mother died. But her troubles mounted with her disastrous marriages to Lord Darnley and to Lord Bothwell after Darnley's murder. In spite of numerous plots against her, and even after her little son James was crowned king, she always believed that Elizabeth I of England would help her. Trustingly, she set off for England - and her tragic fate.
Right Royal Friend
by Nigel TranterWhen James the Sixth, His Grace of Scotland, also becomes His Majesty of England, far-reaching changes take place in the two realms.David Murray, the young son of Sir Andrew, a Perthshire laird, has no aspirationsto greatness. Then a chance encounter with King James the Sixth leads to him becoming Cup Bearer and Master of the Horse to his young liege. Together with James's foster brother John Erskine, Master of Mar, the three men enter a new era of political intrigue and dynastic manoeuvring.