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The Castle of Kings
by Oliver PötzschAn epic standalone novel of historical fiction tinged with mystery, set against the backdrop of medieval Germany's Peasant War from the best-selling author of the Hangman’s Daughter series.In 1524, in what is now Germany, hundreds of thousands of peasants revolted against the harsh treatment of their aristocratic overlords. Agnes is the daughter of one of these overlords, but she is not a typical sixteenth-century girl, refusing to wear dresses and spending more time with her pet falcon than potential suitors. There is only one suitor she is interested in: Mathis, a childhood friend whom she can never marry due to his low birth status. In the midst of war, Agnes’s falcon finds a mysterious ring, and Agnes begins having strange but seemingly meaningful dreams. Dreams that lead her and Mathis to run away from their home in Trifels Castle and into the midst of the tumultuous Peasants’ War, cast into an adventure that will lead them to shocking revelations about themselves and the future of the emerging German states. “Pötzsch paints picturesque landscapes, whether it’s damp, dark castles, the stink of a medieval tannery, or whirlpool-plagued Rhine River rapids . . . Combine Princess Bride with Germanic history circa 1500, add a dash of Lord of the Rings, and there’s a week of good fun.” — Kirkus Reviews “The war scenes are grimly realistic, and the narration gripping . . . The author makes the fantastical elements work by harnessing them to the grim reality of the Peasants’ War, setting his far-fetched romance in an utterly convincing world of economic hardship, social strife and religious and political uncertainty.” — Wall Street Journal
The Castle of Otranto: The Old English Baron
by Horace WalpoleThe Gothic masterwork that revolutionized popular fictionWhen Prince Manfred of Otranto loses his son in a strange and terrifying accident, he fears that an ancient prophecy has come to pass and his family will be stripped of its castle and lands before he can produce a new heir. Desperate to hold on to their power, he decides to divorce his wife and marry Isabella, his son&’s betrothed. But Isabella escapes into the gloomy passages beneath the castle, and with the help of a young peasant named Theodore, finds sanctuary in a nearby monastery. Manfred threatens to kill Theodore unless Friar Jerome turns the girl over to him. Only a shocking twist of fate can save Isabella and ensure that the Castle of Otranto falls to its rightful heir. An immediate sensation when it was published pseudonymously in 1764, The Castle of Otranto is widely considered to be the first Gothic novel. Rich with romance, spine-tingling suspense, and supernatural horror, the novel profoundly influenced the works of Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, and Mary Shelley. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
The Castle of the Demon
by Reginald HillA woman on the run from her husband encounters danger in a seaside town: &“An eminently likable heroine . . . a highly clever ending&” (Booklist). Emily Salter is once again using her maiden name, living with her dog in a town along northern England&’s coast that she remembers fondly from childhood holidays. Her intention was to get far away from her controlling and threatening husband. Here, she&’s found some refuge, even met a nice gentleman, though she&’s not anxious to jump into another relationship. But her new home is not as peaceful as it appears on the surface. Spies lurk in its remote corners—and a dead body lurks under the water. To Emily&’s shock, she is beginning to suspect that the intrigue has something to do with her—as well as the man she thought she left behind—in this suspenseful mystery by a Diamond Dagger–winning author who &“delivers literate, complex, and immensely satisfying thrillers&”( Orlando Sentinel). Also published under the title The Turning of the Tide.
The Castle of the Winds (The Winter of the World #4)
by Michael Scott RohanWhen an armourer has his life's work stolen and sets out to recover it, he stumbles across a plot to stage a coup, directed by the sinister Powers of Ice. The lands of the North and South are on increasingly uneasy terms following their strife-torn foundation. War seems inevitable.
The Castle on Deadman's Island
by Curtis ParkinsonA death, a curse, a ghost, nasty people . . . an excellent new mystery!Intrigue. An eccentric millionaire. A woman's disappearance. A child's skeleton. A ghost. A towering castle. A secret tunnel. All of these and more make up this compelling new mystery novel by award-winning author Curtis Parkinson.When the owner of the castle on Deadman's Island dies, his bizarre will leaves it to three of his friends who hate each other. Dark schemes follow, and the curse of the castle, entrenched forever in local lore, strikes again.Neil, Graham, and Crescent, the main characters from Death in Kingsport, become involved when Graham's Aunt Henrietta, who is bequeathed one-third ownership of the castle, mysteriously disappears.Has she gone on a trip, as some insist, or is there more to the story? Graham, with a sense of foreboding and the help of his friends, is determined to find out before it's too late.From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Castle: The heart-racing new thriller with an incredible ending from Sunday Times bestseller John Sutherland
by John SutherlandAlex and Pip are in desperate need of an escape. Their stressful roles as hostage negotiators are eased only by the fact that they get to come home to each other every night.When an old friend invites the couple up to the Scottish Highlands for an extended break, Alex and Pip jump at the chance. It's the rest they both need.But soon after they arrive at the castle, they hear the sound of gunshots, and their perfect escape turns into a perfect nightmare. The remote mountainous landscape is now the setting for a terrifying kidnap plot targeting one of the other guests.In the desperate hours that follow, Alex and Pip must call on all their years of negotiating experience to keep everyone alive. But with Pip gravely injured and the net closing in, it might be her life that needs saving most of all...
The Castle: The heart-racing new thriller with an incredible ending from Sunday Times bestseller John Sutherland
by John SutherlandAlex and Pip are in desperate need of an escape. Their stressful roles as hostage negotiators are eased only by the fact that they get to come home to each other every night.When an old friend invites the couple up to the Scottish Highlands for an extended break, Alex and Pip jump at the chance. It's the rest they both need.But soon after they arrive at the castle, they hear the sound of gunshots, and their perfect escape turns into a perfect nightmare. The remote mountainous landscape is now the setting for a terrifying kidnap plot targeting one of the other guests.In the desperate hours that follow, Alex and Pip must call on all their years of negotiating experience to keep everyone alive. But with Pip gravely injured and the net closing in, it might be her life that needs saving most of all...
The Castleford Conundrum
by J. J. ConningtonPhilip Castleford was more than worried. Were all those years he had spent attending to Winifred's whims, enduring her habits, to count for nothing? He hadn't minded it too much for he thought that his daughter Hilary would have security - but now he found her shabbily treated and his own position undermined by his wife's grasping brothers. Such were the affairs at Carron Hill one fine morning when Winifred was discovered murdered in the deserted summer house . . .
The Castleford Conundrum (Murder Room #578)
by J. J. ConningtonPhilip Castleford was more than worried. Were all those years he had spent attending to Winifred's whims, enduring her habits, to count for nothing? He hadn't minded it too much for he thought that his daughter Hilary would have security - but now he found her shabbily treated and his own position undermined by his wife's grasping brothers.Such were the affairs at Carron Hill one fine morning when Winifred was discovered murdered in the deserted summer house ...
The Castlemaine Murders (Phryne Fisher #13)
by Kerry GreenwoodPhryne Fisher is back - as smart and sassy as ever.Phryne Fisher, her sister Beth and her faithful maid, Dot, decide that Luna Park is the place for an afternoon of fun and excitement with Phryne's two daughters, Ruth and Jane. But in the dusty dark Ghost Train, amidst the squeals of horror and delight, a mummified bullet-studded corpse falls to the ground in front of them. Phryne Fisher's pleasure trip has definitely become business.Digging to the bottom of this longstanding mystery takes her to the country town of Castlemaine where it soon becomes obvious that someone is trying to muzzle her investigations. With unknown threatening assailants on her path, Phryne seems headed for more trouble than usual.Meanwhile, Phryne's lover Lin Chung has his own mystery to solve. Feuding families and lost gold fill his mind until he learns that Phryne herself has become missing treasure.
The Castlemaine Murders: A Phryne Fisher Mystery (Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries #13)
by Kerry GreenwoodMiss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, now streaming on Netflix, starring Essie Davis as the honourable Phryne Fisher"An unforgettable character, with a heart as big as her pocketbook, a fine disregard for convention and an insatiable appetite for life." —Denver PostThe fabulous Phryne Fisher, her sister Beth and her faithful maid, Dot, decide that Luna Park is the perfect place for an afternoon of fun and excitement with Phryne's two daughters, Ruth and Jane. But in the dusty dark Ghost Train, amidst the squeals of horror and delight, a mummified bullet-studded corpse falls to the ground in front of them. Phryne Fisher's pleasure trip has definitely become business.Digging into this longstanding mystery takes her to the country town of Castlemaine where it's soon obvious that someone is trying to muzzle her investigations. With unknown threatening assailants on her path, Phryne seems headed for more trouble than usual....
The Castlemaine Murders: A Phryne Fisher Mystery (Phryne Fisher #13)
by Kerry GreenwoodPhryne Fisher, her sister Beth, and her faithful maid, Dot, decide that Luna Park is the place for an afternoon of fun and excitement with Phryne's two daughters, Ruth and Jane. But in the dusty dark Ghost Train, amidst the squeals of horror and delight, a mummified bullet-studded corpse falls to the ground in front of them. Phryne Fisher's pleasure trip has definitely become business. Digging to the bottom of this longstanding mystery takes her to the country town of Castlemaine where it soon becomes obvious that someone is trying to muzzle her investigations. With unknown threatening assailants on her path, Phryne seems headed for more trouble than usual. Meanwhile, Phryne's lover Lin Chung has his own mystery to solve. Feuding families and lost gold fill his mind until he learns that Phryne herself has become missing treasure.
The Cat Came Back: Cozy Animal Mysteries (The 9 Lives Cozy Mystery Series #1)
by Louise ClarkStormy the Cat, rescued by journalist Quinn Armstrong, is not what he seems.Young mother Christy Jamieson just learned her husband, Frank, embezzled his trust fund, sold their Vancouver mansion, and ran off with a socialite. Worse, Frank's trustees are telling Christy to let them handle it. But they aren't doing anything, and Frank's enemies are coming after her and her daughter.Desperate to find Frank and fend off his enemies, Christy asks Quinn for help. His price: the dirt on Frank. But the closer Christy and Quinn get to the dangerous truth, the more convinced they become that only the one who knows where Frank is at, is Stormy the Cat.THE 9 LIVES COZY MYSTERY SERIES, in orderThe Cat Came BackThe Cat's Paw
The Cat Next Door
by Marian BabsonA suspenseful tale of murder and mystery in a dysfunctional British family: &“Babson is as easy to read as ever&” (Kirkus Reviews). Margot has come back to England from America to show solidarity with her extended family in the midst of a scandalous murder trial. Cousin Chloe stands accused of stabbing her identical twin sister, Claudia, and Margot&’s well-to-do relatives are, understandably, a mess—that is to say, even more dysfunctional than usual. One is eating compulsively to cope with the stress; Claudia&’s teenage daughter is hiding out in her bedroom; the paparazzi are hounding everyone; and all the while Chloe won&’t speak a word to the police, lawyers, or doctors. No wonder the household&’s pet Abyssinian, Tikki, has gone to stay with the neighbors. But things are about to get worse when Margot, searching for Tikki, finds another victim—whom no one recognizes—in the pond, in this absorbing novel from an Agatha Award–winning author. &“What can a reviewer say about Marian Babson? If you haven&’t read at least one of her books, you have definitely missed the boat. She is consistently witty.&” —Mystery News
The Cat Saw Murder: A Rachel Murdock Mystery
by Dolores HitchensAn elderly woman drugged, a young woman killed, and the cat’s the sole witness… When Rachel Murdock and her sister Jennifer receive a call for help from their favorite niece, Lilly, in Breakers Beach, CA, they quickly hop a train from Los Angeles to see her — but not before collecting their prized cat Samantha in a picnic basket and bringing her along for the ride. Samatha, it turns out, is an heiress, the inheritor of a fortune left by a wealthy relative, and so the attempt at the cat’s life, made right after they arrive, comes as a shock. The cat survives, but unfortunately, Lilly, murdered soon thereafter, is not so lucky. By the time the police arrive, the clues are already falling into place. The source of Lilly’s trouble is revealed to be a gambling debt incurred during an attempt to cheat at bridge, and the suspects in her slaying quickly pile up. But then another corpse is discovered, buried in the nearby sand, and it becomes clear that the killing spree concerns more than just the young lady’s personal money trouble. With the authorities distracted by lurid details, it’s up to Rachel and her furry friend to uncover the subtleties containing the solution to the puzzle. A prototypical early “cat mystery,” written before the subgenre became a staple of cozy mystery fiction, The Cat Saw Murder is an entertaining and endlessly surprising whodunit with a focus on felines. Reissued for the first time in over half a decade, the book, written pseudonymously by the author better known for her hardboiled and suspense novels, is the first in the long-running Rachel Murdock series. Includes discussion guide questions for use in book clubs.
The Cat Saw Murder: A Rachel Murdock Mystery
by Dolores HitchensOne woman drugged, another murdered - and a cat is the only witness. If you like Miss Marple, you'll love this!Terrific classic crime - with a new introduction by Joyce Carol Oates.'You will never regret having made the acquaintance of Miss Rachel Murdock' NEW YORK TIMESWhen Rachel Murdock and her sister Jennifer receive a call for help from their favourite niece, Lilly, they quickly hop on a train to see her - but not before collecting their prized cat Samantha in a picnic basket and bringing her along for the ride. Samantha, it turns out, is an heiress, the inheritor of a fortune left by a wealthy relative, and so the attempt on the cat's life, made right after they arrive, comes as a shock. The cat survives, but Lilly, murdered soon thereafter, is not so lucky.By the time the police arrive, the clues are already falling into place, with gambling debts just being the tip of a brutal killing spree iceberg. With the authorities distracted by lurid details, it's up to Rachel and her furry friend to uncover the truth.
The Cat Walk (The Rachel Murdock Mysteries)
by Dolores HitchensA family inheritance draws an elderly sleuth into a deadly battle of wills in this delightful whodunit: &“Miss Rachel [is] a treasure.&” ―Kirkus Reviews Donwyn Shore&’s rather quirky aunt left a complex set of instructions upon her death: her five inheritors each received a letter, and were required to wait five years to present it and claim their share of the bequest. But one of the cousins is refusing to participate, and on top of that Donwyn is convinced the family&’s ancient ancestral home is haunted. For help sorting out the legalities of the will, she turns to Miss Rachel Murdock—who, as usual, gets more involved than expected and finds herself breaking and entering, not to mention investigating a murder . . . &“You will never regret having made the acquaintance of Miss Rachel Murdock.&” ―The New York Times &“The observant Rachel is an appealing Jessica Fletcher antecedent.&” ―Publishers Weekly The Cat Walk was previously published under the pseudonym D. B. Olsen.
The Cat Wears a Mask (The Rachel Murdock Mysteries #9)
by Dolores HitchensNative American lore infuses a southwestern mystery featuring the indomitable Rachel Murdock and her cat, Samantha. The notes—short and sharp—seem to strike at the heart of each recipient&’s insecurities and darkest secrets. Signed &“Kachina,&” they&’ve been sent to a group of friends who met in college, including Rachel Murdock&’s goddaughter, Gail. When Gail wants to unmask the letter writer by inviting the group to her house in Arizona, she asks Rachel for help. Unable to resist, Rachel scoops up her cat, leaving her sister behind on a tour through the Southwest. As the seven friends reconnect, familiar grievances and new resentments emerge. And when one woman—as prickly as the cacti dotting the desert landscape—is killed by a rattlesnake bite, the party takes an even darker turn. A thunderous storm soon washes out the roads, and the group is left on their own with a dead body and a murderer in their midst. Now Rachel must use her knowledge of human nature to unmask a killer before another life is snuffed out. &“You will never regret having made the acquaintance of Miss Rachel Murdock.&” —The New York Times The Cat Wears a Mask was originally published under the pseudonym D. B. Olsen. Praise for Dolores Hitchens &“High-grade suspense.&” —San Francisco Chronicle on Stairway to an Empty Room/Terror Lurks in Darkness &“For those who enjoy Little-Old-Lady detectives, this should be a pleasing mystery, particularly if active LOLs are preferred. . . . Both interesting and unusual is the motive for murder.&” —Mystery*File on Cats Don&’t Smile
The Cat Wears a Noose (The Rachel Murdock Mysteries)
by Dolores HitchensA drunken man is shot dead on his doorstep in this classic mystery starring the &“observant [and] appealing&” seventy-year-old sleuth (Publishers Weekly). Walking home wearily from an evening spent poring over the books of the Parchly Heights Methodist Ladies&’ Aid searching for a fifty-eight-cent error, Miss Jennifer Murdock becomes witness to a terrible scene: A man, stumbling drunk, arrives home—and just as he fumbles with his keys, gunfire erupts and kills him on the spot. Jennifer is determined not to tell her sister, Rachel, anything about it. After all, Rachel considers herself a sleuth, or as Jennifer views it, a busybody who pokes her nose in places it doesn&’t belong. What she doesn&’t know is Rachel has just had a visit from a member of that same household, a meek eighteen-year-old taken in after she was orphaned and treated like a servant. Young Shirley has been alarmed by a series of nasty pranks—and now she&’s heartbroken, and even more frightened, after finding her pet bird dead. There&’s something awful going on in the house on Chestnut Street, and neither her prim and proper sister nor Det. Lt. Stephen Mayhew can stop Rachel from finding out what it is . . . &“Rachel has never yet failed to solve a murder mystery. Never before have her methods been quite so devious and unorthodox as they are in this story.&” —The New York Times The Cat Wears a Noose was previously published under the pseudonymD.B. Olsen
The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern
by Lilian Jackson BraunJim Qwilleran is not exactly overwhelmed by his new assignment for the Daily Fluxion. Interior design has never been one of his specialties and now he's supposed to turn out an entire magazine on the subject every week! But the first issue of Gracious Abodes is barely off the presses when Qwilleran finds himself back on more familiar territory--the exclusive residence featured on the cover has been burglarized and the lady of the house found dead... now Qwilleran and Koko--the brilliant Siamese--have their respective moustache and whiskers twitching, and when Koko starts pawing clues in the dictionary and sniffing designer furniture, Qwilleran finds himself doing a feature on a very clever murder.
The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern: A captivating feline mystery for cat lovers everywhere (The Cat Who... Mysteries #2)
by Lilian Jackson BraunCrime's most unlikely detective team find themselves back on familiar turf... In the second book in Lilian Jackson Braun's acclaimed 'The Cat Who...' series, Jim Qwilleran, Koko and Yum Yum must find out who has murdered the owner of an exclusive residence. Perfect for cat lovers and crime fans.'This droll and engaging mystery... firmly grips the reader... a lively witty tale bolstered by sharply etched characters' - Publishers WeeklyJim Qwilleran is not exactly overwhelmed by his new assignment for the Daily Fluxion. Interior design has never been one of his specialities and now he's supposed to turn out an entire magazine on the same subject. But the first issue of Gracious Abodes is barely off the presses when Qwilleran finds himself back on more familiar territory - the exclusive residence featured on the cover has been burglarised and the lady of the house found dead...Now Qwilleran, with the help of Koko and Yum Yum, the brilliant Siamese cats, have their respective moustache and whiskers twitching, and when Koko starts pawing clues in the dictionary and sniffing designer furniture, Qwilleran finds himself doing a feature on a very clever murderer.What readers are saying about The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern: 'A traditional whodunit, well written with an intriguing plot - this book is a thoroughly enjoyable read''Quirky - lovely for anyone who owns or has owned an intelligent cat''Has all the required components of a good murder mystery: Interesting characters, unusual setting, mystery, tension (and more than one cat)'
The Cat Who Blew the Whistle
by Lilian Jackson BraunJim Qwilleran and his Siamese sleuths, Koko and Yum Yum, investigate the disappearance of a wealthy railroad buff--and alleged multimillion-dollar embezzler--a case that becomes complicated by red herrings, a tragic train wreck, and murder at a railroad tavern.
The Cat Who Blew the Whistle: A delightfully cosy feline mystery for cat lovers everywhere (The Cat Who... Mysteries #17)
by Lilian Jackson BraunA train ride to mystery... Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese sleuths embark on another sparkling and mysterious investigation in The Cat Who Blew the Whistle from Lilian Jackson Braun. Perfect for fans of Simon Brett and Sofie Kelly.'Like dropping in on old and very dear friends' - Tampa Tribune-TimesWhen the residents of Moose County, including the reclusive millionaire, Jim Qwilleran, board the old steam locomotive - the celebrated Engine No. 9 - on its inaugural journey, little do they know that this first trip will also be the last. By next morning, Qwill discovers that the affluent owner of Engine No. 9, Floyd Trevelyn, has disappeared, along with his glamorous secretary and millions of dollars belonging to Moose County investors.While the search is on for the fugitive, Qwill stays in Pickax and probes another mystery - why has Koko developed a sudden interest in certain works of literature and started to steal black pens? What readers are saying about The Cat Who... series: 'These [books] make lovely, light-hearted reading with a good mix of humour and adventure''The entire 'Cat Who...' series are a delight for cat and mystery lovers''Quirky - lovely for anyone who owns or has owned an intelligent cat'
The Cat Who Brought Down The House
by Lilian Jackson BraunRetiring in Pickax, actress Thelma Thackeray has decided to start a film club and organize a fundraiser revue, starring Koko the cat. But Thelma's celebrated arrival takes an unpleasant turn when the strange circumstances of her twin brother's recent death seem suspicious to Jim Qwilleran. Qwill needs a helping paw in this case. But will Koko deign to take time from his stage debut?
The Cat Who Brought Down The House: A charming feline whodunit for cat lovers everywhere (The Cat Who... Mysteries #25)
by Lilian Jackson BraunA new neighbour makes for new adventures... Koko takes to the stage in The Cat Who Brought Down the House, the twenty-fifth instalment in Lilian Jackson Braun's enchanting feline crime series. Perfect for fans of cosy crime and cunning cats.'Can best be compared to that cosiest of feelings - having a purring cat on your lap' - Booklist There's a lot going on in Pickax these days - a new film club has been founded, showing old films from the early days of cinema; Koko the Siamese cat is making his stage debut in a musical revue to benefit animal rescue; and five Amazon parrots have been abducted. To say nothing of a suspicious compulsive gambler lurking in the background... What readers are saying about The Cat Who Brought Down the House: '[Lilian Jackson Braun's] style of storytelling is as captivating as ever''The pages are brimming with believable characters and the small-town atmosphere of Pickax is captured perfectly and is refreshingly unclichéd''Five stars'