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The Point of No Return
by Neil Broadfoot'Tense, fast-moving and bloody. Broadfoot's best yet' Mason Cross'A true rising star of crime fiction' Ian Rankin'Beautifully crafted . . . There's no filler, no exposition, just action, dialogue and layering of tension that'll hold you breathless until the very end' Helen Fields How far would you go to find the truth?After more than a decade of being in prison for the brutal murder two Stirling University students, Colin Sanderson has been released after his conviction was found to be unsafe. Returning home to a small village not far from Stirling, Sanderson refuses police protection, even in the face of a death threat. But the PR firm that has scooped him up to sell his story does know of a protection expert in Stirling. They want Connor Fraser.Connor reluctantly takes the assignment, partly as a favour to DCI Malcolm Ford, who is none too keen to have Sanderson on the loose, particularly as he was involved in the original investigation that saw him imprisoned. When a body is found, mutilated in the same way as Sanderson's victims were, all eyes fall on the released man. But how can he be the killer when Connor's own security detail gives him an alibi?As Connor races to uncover the truth, he is forced to confront not only Sanderson's past but his own, and a secret that could change his life forever.-----Praise for Neil Broadfoot: 'Wonderfully grisly and grim, and a cracking pace' James Oswald'A frantic, pacy read with a compelling hero' Steve Cavanagh'Broadfoot is here, and he's ready to sit at the table with some of the finest crime writers Scottish fiction has to offer' Russel D. McLean'Crisp dialogue, characters you believe and a prose style that brings you back for more . . . a fine addition to a growing roster of noir titles with a tartan tinge' Douglas Skelton'This is Broadfoot's best to date, a thriller that delivers the thrills: energetic, breathlessly paceyand keeping you guessing till the end' Craig Russell'Neil Broadfoot hits the ground running and doesn't stop. With the very beating heart of Scotland at its core, your heart too will race as you reach the jaw dropping conclusion of this brilliant thriller. First class!' Denil Meyrick'A deliciously twisty thriller that never lets up the pace. Thrills, spills, chills and kills' Donna Moore'An explosive, gripping page-turner with dark and utterly twisted murders. Simply brilliant!' Danielle Ramsay'An atmospheric, twisty and explosive start to a new series by one of the masters of Scottish fiction. Get your wee mitts on it' Angela Clarke'No Man's Land is a stunning, fast-paced, multi-layered thriller. Disturbing political unrest and psychological horror written with great confidence by Neil Broadfoot, who has one hand on Ian Rankin's crown as the king of Scottish crime' Michael Wood'[A] gritty and fast-moving tale of shifting loyalties set against the backdrop of Scottish and Irish politics' Nick Quantrill'Definitely a must read for all lovers of Tartan Noir: or anyone else who simply wants to enjoy a compelling tale' Undiscovered Scotland
The Point of Rescue: Culver Valley Crime Book 3
by Sophie HannahQueen of crime Sophie Hannah's third stunning psychological suspense novel.'Addictive' Marie Claire'Irresistible' GuardianIt began with an affair. And ended in murder.Sally is watching the news with her husband when she hears a name she ought not to recognise: Mark Bretherick. Last year, a work trip Sally had planned was cancelled at the last minute. Desperate for a break from her busy life juggling work and a young family, Sally didnt tell her husband that the trip had fallen through. Instead, she booked a week off work and treated herself to a secret holiday. All she wanted was a bit of peace - some time to herself - but it didn't work out that way. Because Sally met a man. Mark Bretherick. All the details are the same: where he lives, his job, his wife Geraldine and daughter Lucy. Except that the man on the news is a man Sally has never seen before. And Geraldine and Lucy Bretherick are both dead . . .
The Point of Rescue: Culver Valley Crime Book 3 (Culver Valley Crime #3)
by Sophie HannahSally is watching the news with her husband when she hears a name she ought not to recognise: Mark Bretherick. Last year, a business trip Sally had planned was cancelled at the last minute. Desperate for a break from her busy life juggling work and a young family, Sally didnt tell her husband that the trip had fallen through. Instead, she booked a week off work and treated herself to a secret holiday. All she wanted was a bit of peace some time to herself but it didnt work out that way. Because Sally met a man Mark Bretherick. All the details are the same: where he lives, his job, his wife Geraldine and daughter Lucy. Except that the man on the news is a man Sally has never seen before. And Geraldine and Lucy Bretherick are both dead . . .(P)2008 ISIS Publishing Ltd
The Point of Rescue: Culver Valley Crime Book 3, from the bestselling author of Haven't They Grown (Culver Valley Crime #3)
by Sophie HannahAgatha Christie fans will love Queen of Crime Sophie Hannah's third stunning psychological suspense novel. Also perfect for fans of Clare Mackintosh and Paula Hawkins.'Addictive' Marie Claire'Irresistible' GuardianIt began with an affair. And ended in murder.Sally is watching the news with her husband when she hears a name she ought not to recognise: Mark Bretherick. Last year, a work trip Sally had planned was cancelled at the last minute. Desperate for a break from her busy life juggling work and a young family, Sally didnt tell her husband that the trip had fallen through. Instead, she booked a week off work and treated herself to a secret holiday. All she wanted was a bit of peace - some time to herself - but it didn't work out that way. Because Sally met a man. Mark Bretherick. All the details are the same: where he lives, his job, his wife Geraldine and daughter Lucy. Except that the man on the news is a man Sally has never seen before. And Geraldine and Lucy Bretherick are both dead . . .
The Poison Artist
by Jonathan Moore'I haven't read anything so terrifying since Red Dragon' Stephen KingImagine an updated Vertigo: darker, more scary but just as hypnotically seductive. A dark psychological crime thriller for fans of Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island.Selected for BBC Radio 2 Book Club with Simon Mayo.Toxicologist Caleb Maddox has two puzzles to solve. What connects the series of dead bodies found floating in San Francisco Bay? And why is Emmeline, the strange and beautiful woman he met in a secluded bar, so secretive about her past? One thing is certain: finding the the answers could be the last thing Caleb ever does.Everyone is talking about The Poison Artist - a gripping psychological thriller:'Incredibly suspenseful' Lee Child'A magnificent, thoroughly unnerving psychological thriller' Justin Cronin'I haven't read anything so terrifying since Red Dragon' Stephen King'As dark and intoxicating as the bars where the mystery begins' Sunday Mirror'As satisfying as it is deeply unsettling...highly recommended' Guardian Don't miss Jonathan Moore's latest thriller The Dark Room. Out Now
The Poison Artist
by Jonathan MooreDr Caleb Maddox is an expert on pain. A leading San Francisco toxicologist, he is mapping the chemical traces that show how much agony a human body can endure. But now a different kind of pain is distracting him from his life's work - the violent break-up of his relationship with his artist girlfriend, Bridget.Seeking solace in a secluded bar, he meets a beautiful woman who shares an absinthe with him, then disappears into the night. Instantly obsessed, he starts trawling the hidden byways of the city to try and find her. And when he does, she insists on a bizarre set of rules before he can meet her alone. But even as he tries to lose himself in Emmeline's darkly erotic world, Caleb finds himself inexorably drawn back to the study of pain and death. For weeks the police have been fishing corpses out of the bay, with no clue as to how they died, and Caleb's old friend, medical examiner Henry Newcomb, asks him to decipher the chemical puzzles left in the bloated remains. Soon Caleb discovers evidence of an unspeakable horror connecting all the victims, suggesting that the city is prey to a deranged killer.And then he discovers that one of the dead men was last seen at the same bar the night he met Emmeline. Suddenly Caleb is plunged into a nightmare where love, madness and murder are clasped in a lethal embrace - and untangling the truth could be the last thing he wants to do.(p) 2016 Orion Publishing Group
The Poison Artist: Three Thrillers: The Night Market, The Poison Artist, The Dark Room
by Jonathan Moore“An enigmatic woman comes between a toxicologist and a murderer in this hypnotic and disturbing thriller” set in the shadowy fog of San Francisco (Guardian, UK). Caleb Maddox is a San Francisco toxicologist studying the chemical effects of pain. He’s out drinking after a bad breakup when a hauntingly seductive woman sits down beside him. He talks to Emmeline over absinthe, but their encounter is fleeting. She brushes her lips on his ear and disappears. He must find her. As Caleb scours the city, he begins helping the city’s medical examiner with a serial-murder investigation. Soon the search for the killer entwines with Caleb’s hunt for Emmeline, and the closer he gets to each, the more dangerous his world becomes. “A wicked mix of Poe, The Silence of the Lambs, and Vertigo,”* The Poison Artist spins a thrilling tale of obsession, damage, a man unmoored by an unspeakable past, and a woman who offers the ultimate escape (New York Times–bestselling author William Landay).“An electrifying read . . . I haven’t read anything so terrifying since Red Dragon.” —Stephen King“Magnificent, thoroughly unnerving . . . I dare you to look away.” —Justin Cronin
The Poison Bed: A Novel
by Elizabeth FremantleA spellbinding thriller set in the Jacobean Court of 1615 surrounding a famed couple imprisoned on suspicion of murder—but was it Lord Robert or Lady Frances who committed the crime? A marriage. A murder. One of them did it. Which of them will die for it? In the autumn of 1615, scandal rocks the Jacobean court, when a celebrated couple, Robert and Frances Carr, are imprisoned on suspicion of murder. Frances is young, captivating, and from a notorious family. She has been rescued from an abusive marriage by Robert, and is determined to make a new life for herself. Whatever the price. Robert is one of the richest and most famous men in the kingdom. He has risen from nothing to become one of the country’s most powerful men. But to get to the top, you cannot help making enemies. Some believe she is innocent; others think her wicked or insane. He claims no knowledge of the murder. The king suspects them both, though it is his secret at stake. Now a man is dead. And someone must pay with their life. Who is telling the truth? Who has the most to lose? And who is willing to commit murder?
The Poison Flood
by Jordan FarmerA captivating, gritty, and tender story of a reclusive musician and the environmental disaster that threatens his small town and changes his life forever.Hollis Bragg lives on the fringes. The hunchbacked son of a West Virginia hill preacher, he now resides in rural isolation next to the burned-out husk of his father's church, and earns his living ghostwriting songs for a popular band that left the poverty and corruption of Appalachia and never looked back. It's the life he prefers, free from the harsh glare of the spotlight and attachments that lead only to heartbreak.Then, much to his consternation, he's discovered by Russell Watson, a local musician and fan who also happens to be the rebellious son of the local chemical company magnate. When a devastating toxic spill at the Watson chemical plant poisons the local water, it sets off an unpredictable series of events as Hollis witnesses a murder, faces a shocking betrayal, and begins to come to terms with his body and his past. Soon Hollis will find that in losing his anonymity and reclaiming his music, he can transform his future; and in opening himself up to the world, he might find redemption.
The Poison Frog Mystery (Boxcar Children #74)
by Gertrude Chandler Warner Charles TangHenry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny used to live alone in a boxcar. Now they have a home with their grandfather, and an exciting new exhibit to explore--from behind the scenes--at their local zoo. But disaster strikes when a pair of rare ferrets is stolen. The two huge California condors are the thief's next target. The Aldens quickly decide that the animals are being taken by someone that works in the zoo. But how do they stop a thief who has keys to all the cages? The Boxcar Children are determined to solve the mystery before the zoo looses any more rare animals!
The Poison Garden: A Novel
by Alex MarwoodA new novel of insidious secrets and chilling revelations surrounding a mysterious cult--the latest gripping psychological thriller from Alex MarwoodWhen nearly one hundred members of The Ark, a sinister apocalypse cult are found dead by poison at their isolated community in North Wales, those left alive are scattered to the winds with few coping skills and fewer answers. For twenty-three-year-old Romy, who has never known life outside the compound, learning how to live in a world she has been taught to fear is terrifying.Now Romy must start a new life for herself--and the child growing inside her. She is determined to find the rest of her family and keep her baby safe, no matter the cost. But as the horrors of her past start to resurface, she realizes that leaving her old life behind won't be easy. Outside the walls of The Ark, the real evil has only just begun.A brilliantly plotted, page-turning novel from "one of psychological suspense's best writers" (The Boston Globe), The Poison Garden will leave you stunned.
The Poison Garden: The shockingly tense thriller that will have you gripped from the first page
by Alex Marwood'I devoured The Poison Garden . . . Gripping and utterly convincing, it's Alex Marwood at the top of her (already impressive) game' JOJO MOYES_________Where Romy grew up, if someone died you never spoke of them again.Now twenty-two, she has recently escaped the toxic confines of the cult she was raised in. But Romy is young, pregnant and completely alone - and if she is to keep herself safe in this new world, she has some important lessons to learn. Like how there are some people you can trust, and some you must fear. And about who her family really is, and why her mother ran away from them all those years ago. And that you can't walk away from a dark past without expecting it to catch up with you...Shocking, tense and sharply written, The Poison Garden is the gripping new novel from the international bestseller and Edgar award-winning Alex Marwood.__________Praise for international bestseller ALEX MARWOOD:'So good I wish I'd written it myself'VAL McDERMID'Without a doubt, she is one of crime fiction's brightest stars. Not to be missed'MEGAN ABBOTT'Alex Marwood has become one of my must-read crime writers'SOPHIE HANNAH'Scary as hell'STEPHEN KING'I cancel all engagements for a new novel from Alex Marwood'ERIN KELLY'Crime writing at its best'LISA JEWELL
The Poison Garden: The shockingly tense thriller that will have you gripped from the first page
by Alex Marwood'I devoured The Poison Garden . . . Gripping and utterly convincing, it's Alex Marwood at the top of her (already impressive) game' JOJO MOYES_________Where Romy grew up, if someone died you never spoke of them again.Now twenty-two, she has recently escaped the toxic confines of the cult she was raised in. But Romy is young, pregnant and completely alone - and if she is to keep herself safe in this new world, she has some important lessons to learn. Like how there are some people you can trust, and some you must fear. And about who her family really is, and why her mother ran away from them all those years ago. And that you can't walk away from a dark past without expecting it to catch up with you...Shocking, tense and sharply written, The Poison Garden is the gripping new novel from the international bestseller and Edgar award-winning Alex Marwood.__________Readers love The Poison Garden:'Terrifying and unsettling, as if a harbinger for our times . . . Thrilling' LISA BALLANTYNE'This superbly eerie psychological thriller confirms Alex Marwood's reputation as the Queen of Unease' FRANCIS WHEEN, author of Strange Days Indeed'Absolutely chilling . . . Another brilliant, shockingly dark book from a master storyteller' SAM BLAKE 'I really loved Alex Marwood's dark, tense (and disturbingly real) The Poison Garden . . . you want this for your summer reading' STELLA DUFFY'A dark and disturbing look at life inside a cult . . . I was transfixed' NetGalley reviewer'A story that will chill you to the bone . . . This is a must-read' NetGalley reviewer'Compulsive reading, this is an addictive suspenseful psychological thriller like no other' NetGalley reviewer'I was hooked from the first page and found it very hard to put down' NetGalley reviewer'For me, this was the perfect book. Intricate and captivating' NetGalley reviewer'This is my most eagerly anticipated novel of the year and wow! It's even better than I expected' NetGalley reviewer
The Poison Machine
by Robert J. Lloyd"Lloyd once again infuses his world with the sights, sounds, and smells of the late 17th century...for what&’s bound to be one of the best historical novels of the year." — CrimeReads In a thrilling sequel to The Bloodless Boy —a New York Times Best New Historical Novel of 2021 — combining the color and adventure of Alexandre Dumas and the thrills of Frederick Forsyth — early scientists Harry Hunt and Robert Hooke of the Royal Society stumble on a plot to kill the Queen of England . . .London, 1679 — A year has passed since the sensational attempt to murder King Charles II, but London is still a viper&’s nest of rumored Catholic conspiracies, and of plots against them in turn. When Harry Hunt — estranged from his mentor Robert Hooke — is summoned to the remote and windswept marshes of Norfolk, he is at first relieved to get away from the place.But in Norfolk, he finds that some Royal workers shoring up a riverbank have made a grim discovery — the skeleton of a dwarf. Harry is able to confirm that the skeleton is that of Captain Jeffrey Hudson, a prominent member of the court once famously given to the Queen in a pie. Except no one knew Hudson was dead, because another man had been impersonating him.The hunt for the impersonator, clearly working as a spy, will take Harry to Paris, another city bedeviled by conspiracies and intrigues, and back, with encounters along the way with a flying man and a cross-dressing swordswoman — and to the uncovering of a plot to kill the Queen and all the Catholic members of her court. But where? When?The Poison Machine is a nail-biting and brilliantly imagined historical thriller that will delight readers of its critically acclaimed predecessor, The Bloodless Boy.
The Poison Maiden (Mathilde of Westminster Trilogy, Book 2): Deceit, deception and death in the court of Edward II
by Paul DohertyWho can uncover the elusive identity of the Poison Maiden?The Poison Maiden is Paul Doherty's second compulsive novel set during the turbulent reign of Edward II, featuring Mathilde of Westminster.Perfect for fans of Ellis Peters and Robin Hobb.It's 1308 and England hovers on the brink of civil war. Edward II, his wife Isabella and the royal favourite Peter Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall, have been forced to retreat to the King's folly. Just an arrowshot away lay the Great Lords and Philip IV of France, who are demanding that the Earl of Cornwall be charged with high treason.Edward is trapped, and worse, he has learnt that Philip has the 'Poison Maiden' on his side, a formidable spy who did untold damage during his father's reign. As Edward tries in vain to unmask the identity of the spy, Mathilde, handmaiden to the Queen, also attempts to identify the source of this threat.Soon the crisis spills over into violence. The Lords attempt to take Gaveston by force and the King and his Court, including Mathilde, are forced to flee. As the enemy closes in, Mathilde finds herself embroiled in a life and death struggle for the English crown.What readers are saying about The Poison Maiden:'This is medieval mystery at its very best''A fascinating and illuminating page-turner of a book''This is a really good adventure; an atmospheric read, a great story, and lots to think on as you close the last page'
The Poison Oracle
by Peter DickinsonTake a medieval Arab kingdom, add a ruler who wants to update the kingdom's educational facilities, include an English research psycholinguist (an Oxford classmate of the ruler) invited to pursue his work on animal communication, and then add a touch of chaos in Dinah, a chimpanzee who has begun to learn to form coherent sentences with plastic symbols. When a murder is committed in the oil-rich marshes, Dinah is the only witness, and Morris has to go into the marshes to dis-cover the truth. The Poison Oracle is a novel of its time that exposes in the everyday language people use humanity's thinking and unthinking cruelties to one another and to the animals with whom we share this earth.Peter Dickinson has twice received the Crime Writers' Association's Gold Dagger. His novels include Death of a Unicorn, A Summer in the Twenties, and many more. He lives in England and is married to the novelist Robin McKinley.
The Poison Pen (Riverdale #5)
by Caleb RoehrigArchie, Betty, Jughead, Veronica, and the rest of the gang are all getting ready for the next stage of their lives after high school graduationor, at least, they're trying to. But then, one by one, they all receive a mysterious letter from someone calling themselves the Poison Pen.Somehow, the letter writer knows some of Riverdale's deepest, darkest secrets. And the Poison Pen is threatening to reveal all unless Archie and his friends do exactly what they're toldfrom posting embarrassing videos of themselves to blowing up someone else's marriage.The letters aren't stopping and the stakes are getting higher with each one. If they can't find the Poison Pen soon, Betty, Jughead, Veronica, Archie, Kevin, Cheryl, and Toni might not have a future left to protect.This original Riverdale novel features a story not seen on the show!
The Poison Pen: A Scottish Bookshop Mystery (A Scottish Bookshop Mystery #9)
by Paige SheltonThe Poison Pen, the ninth installment in the Scottish Bookshop series by Paige Shelton, set in a specialty bookstore in Edinburgh called The Cracked Spine.Edinburgh is mourning recent the death of Queen Elizabeth II when Bookseller Delaney Nichols's boss comes to her with a most unusual assignment. An old friend of his, living in an estate in the village of Roslin, has found what could be a priceless relic on her property, and Delaney is tasked with investigating. Could Jolie possibly have an item of breathtaking Scottish historical significance in her possession? But when Delaney arrives at Jolie's estate, she is greeted by a legal team with a vested interest in the property. Jolie manages to remove the interlopers, but as they're examining the priceless item, they hear a scream, and meet a much less welcome discovery: a body. As Delaney digs deeper, she discovers Jolie's own fascinating history. Jolie's mother had long claimed that her daughter was the rightful heir to the throne, not Elizabeth II, because of an affair she claimed to have with King Edward VIII. The only evidence, however, is in the form of a purported journal that one of Edward’s secretaries kept. The puzzles become more confusing when a connection is uncovered between this far-fetched story and the murdered man. Delaney will have to read between the lines to put together the pieces...or become history herself.
The Poison Tide
by Andrew Williams1915. German guns are on their way to Ireland. The British government faces its worst nightmare; insurrection at home while it struggles with bloody stalemate on the Western Front. A British spy, Sebastian Wolff of the new Secret Service Bureau, is given the task of hunting down its enemies: one a traitor reviled by the society that honoured him as a national hero; the other a German-American doctor who, instead of healing the sick, is developing a terrifying new weapon that he will use in the country of his birth. Wolff's mission will take him undercover into the corridors of power in Berlin, then across the Atlantic in a race against time to prevent the destruction of the ships and supplies Britain so desperately needs to stave off defeat.
The Poison Tide
by Andrew Williams1915. German guns are on their way to Ireland. The British government faces its worst nightmare; insurrection at home while it struggles with bloody stalemate on the Western Front. A British spy, Sebastian Wolff of the new Secret Service Bureau, is given the task of hunting down its enemies: one a traitor reviled by the society that honoured him as a national hero; the other a German-American doctor who, instead of healing the sick, is developing a terrifying new weapon that he will use in the country of his birth. Wolff's mission will take him undercover into the corridors of power in Berlin, then across the Atlantic in a race against time to prevent the destruction of the ships and supplies Britain so desperately needs to stave off defeat.
The Poison Tree
by Erin KellyBy the end of that summer, two people would be dead... Fans of In A Dark Dark Wood and The Couple Next Door will love this twisty thriller. I have given up so much and done so many terrible things already for the sake of my family that I can only keep going. I do not know what is going to happen to us. I am frightened, but I feel strong. I have the strength of a woman who has everything to lose.In the sweltering summer of 1997, strait-laced, straight-A student Karen met Biba - a bohemian and impossibly glamorous aspiring actress.She was quickly drawn into Biba's world, and for a while life was one long summer of love.But every summer must end. By the end of theirs, two people were dead - and now Karen's past has come back to haunt her . . .STONE MOTHERS, the new novel by Erin Kelly, is available to buy now!
The Poison Tree: A Novel
by Erin Kelly"A terrific suspense debut, reminiscent of Du Maurier's Rebecca. I wish I had written it. "--Stephen King With its hip London backdrop and expert pacing, Erin Kelly's masterful debut, The Poison Tree, delivers all the way through to its shocker of an ending. London, 1997. Karen meets exotic, flamboyant Biba and, spellbound, she moves into the crumbling mansion Biba shares with her enigmatic brother, Rex. Drugs and wine flow as Rex and Karen begin an affair, but their summer of freedom is about to end in blood. Ten years later, Karen and nine-year-old Alice pick up Rex from his stint in prison for murder. When old ghosts come calling, Karen will do whatever it takes to protect her family. She is a woman with everything to lose.
The Poisoned Chalice (Tudor Mysteries, Book 2): Secrets, espionage and double agents in this gripping Tudor mystery
by Paul DohertyRodger and Benjamin are sent to Paris on a secret errand of state importance...Violent death, danger and treachery abound in The Poisoned Chalice, the second journal of the incorrigible Roger Shallot from acclaimed historical author, Paul Doherty. Perfect for fans of Ellis Peters and Susannah Gregory. In 1521, England is at peace under the magnificent Cardinal Wolsey, who rules the country while Henry VIII spends his time in masques, banquets and hunting, whether it be the fleet-footed deer or the even more delicious quarry of the silken-garbed ladies of the court.But Richard Falconer, chief secretary of the English embassy in Paris, has been found mysteriously murdered. Wolsey believes that Falconer's death is connected with the disturbing news that there is a spy in the English court, or in its embassy in Paris, passing information to King Francis I of France. He summons his nephew, Benjamin Daunbey, and the wayward Roger Shallot to investigate. The only clue is the spy's code name, 'Raphael'.King Henry has secret instructions of his own before the pair journey to Paris: to retrieve a precious ring, the subject of a wager, and a certain book that the King does not want to fall into enemy hands. They are not to return to England without them.What readers are saying about The Poisoned Chalice:'Shallot is a superb character, and his voice is once again portrayed convincingly''The story moves along briskly, sprinkled liberally with foul murder, to an unexpectedly sensitive and touching ending''Paul Doherty seems to be able to turn his hand to virtually any century in history'
The Poisoned Chalice: Being the Second Journal of Sir Roger Shallot Concerning Wicked Conspiracies and Horrible Murders Perpetrated in the Reign of King Henry VIII
by Michael ClynesIn 1521, England is at peace under the magnificent Cardinal Wolsey, who rules the country while Henry VIII indulges himself in masques, banquets, and hunting, whether the quarry be fleet-footed deer or, even more deliciously, the silken-garbed ladies of the court. Suddenly, Richard Falconer, chief secretary of the English embassy in Paris, is found viciously murdered. Wolsey believes Falconer's death is connected to the unsettling rumor that a spy either in the English court or its embassy in Paris has been passing information to King Francis I of France. Wolsey quickly summons his nephew, Benjamin Daunbey, along with his young steward Roger Shallot, to investigate. Their only clue is the spy's code name: "Raphael." However, the king has secret instructions of his own to entrust to the pair before they journey to Paris. To satisfy the monarch they must retrieve a precious ring, the subject of a wager, and protect a mysterious book from falling into enemy hands. Their choices are simple: Success . . . or exile. A connoisseur of intrigue, the wily Roger Shallot recounts this thrilling adventure with appreciation of the corruption, deceit, and scandal of Tudor England. Born a commoner, he uses his quick wits - and nimble legs - to serve him well in a colorful, decidedly dangerous age. "--BOOK JACKET.
The Poisoned Island: A Novel
by Lloyd ShepherdLONDON 1812: For forty years Britain has dreamed of the Pacific island of Tahiti, a dark paradise of bloody cults and beautiful natives. Now, decades after the first voyage of Captain Cook, a new ship returns to London from the Pacific, crammed with botanical specimens and laden also, it seems, with the mysteries of Tahiti. John Harriott, magistrate of the Thames river police, is asked to take a personal interest in the security of the ship and its cargo. So when, days after the Solander's arrival, some of its crew are found dead and their sea-chests ransacked - their throats slashed, faces frozen into terrible smiles - Harriot puts constable Charles Horton in charge of the investigation. But what connects the crewmen's dying dreams with the ambitions of the ship's principal backer, Sir Joseph Banks of the Royal Society? And how can Britain's new science possibly explain the strangeness of Tahiti's floral riches now growing at Kew? Horton must employ his singular methods to uncover a chain of conspiracy stretching all the way back to the foot of the great dead volcano Tahiti Nui, beneath the hungry eyes of ancient gods. From the author of the critically acclaimed THE ENGLISH MONSTER. ack flap: Author photo as per TEM paperback. Bio as follows: Lloyd Shepherd is a former journalist and digital producer who has worked for the Guardian, Channel 4, the BBC and Yahoo. He lives in South London with his family. He is the author of THE ENGLISH MONSTER, inspired by the real-life Ratcliffe Highway murders.