Book picks similar to
Stark Island by Lynna Cooper


gothic
have-but-not-read
wishlist-gothics
gardner-f-fox

Making Her Bones (Stephanie Chalice Thrillers Book 8)


Lawrence Kelter - 2021
    

Stoneblood Saga: Books 1-6


Robyn Wideman - 2018
     When tragedy strikes, a young boy must become a warrior To escape a perilous royal life, Soron and Velaina disappear to the small village of Elderwood, a magicless kingdom, to raise their son in secret. But when their child Nathan begins to show special powers, they realize they are no longer safe. Soon they’ll have to reveal their secrets to Nathan. However, before they can tell Nathan the truth, a cruel and arrogant Duke attacks and kills most of the people in their small village, including Nathan’s parents. Nathan finds himself lost and alone with his heart set on revenge. With the help of his Uncle Verin, he continues the training his father started. But the Duke isn’t finished. He’s returned to kill the survivors, especially Nathan, to hide his crimes from the world. Unable to locate Nathan, the Duke kidnaps Nathan’s best friends to lure Nathan to him. Anger and fear consume Nathan and the strong emotions ignite powerful magic within him. Using his new powers, Nathan is able to hunt down the Duke, but he’s in a race against time. if he can’t catch them soon he’ll lose his chance at revenge and more importantly, he’ll lose the people he loves. Books included:Son of SoronMissing MageSiege of PailtarDark TidingsTreachery in TarnsteadThe Mad King

Shadow on the Highway


Deborah Swift - 2014
    So why do the rich Fanshawes of Markyate Manor seem so anxious to employ her? And where exactly does her mistress, Lady Katherine, ride out to at night? SHADOW ON THE HIGHWAY is based on the life and legend of Lady Katherine Fanshawe, the highwaywoman, sometimes known as The Wicked Lady. A tale of adventure and budding romance set in the turbulent English Civil War, this is a novel to delight teens and adults alike. Includes historical notes from the author. SHADOW ON THE HIGHWAY is the stand-alone first part of The Highway Trilogy.

The Big Happy


Scott Mebus - 2007
    In fact, he has made it a personal quest to dispel all unhappiness from his life. But it's harder than it sounds: he's approaching thirty, a downmarket DJ by day (and a struggling writer by night), living in a cramped Manhattan apartment. His friends are always there for him -- or are they Annie, his closest friend, is getting married to a man David dubs "Rat Boy"; Dustin and Cameron, David's cohorts in the city, are doing the unthinkable and settling down; and Zach, David's model of cool, as aloof and evasive as a wisp of smoke, is harboring a secret that could capsize the whole crew. On top of everything, David finds himself falling in love with Jane, a younger woman whose wit and charm are matched only by her instability.The Big Happy asks the big questions: Can love and happiness coexist? Are we doomed to live out the mistakes of our youth? Do friendships ripen, or rot, as we age? For David, the prospect of happiness has never been quite so depressing.

Sevenfold Sword: Omnibus One


Jonathan Moeller - 2019
     Ridmark Arban is the Shield Knight, the defender of the realm of Andomhaim. The realm is at peace after a long and terrible war, but dark powers threaten other lands. And when a mad elven wizard comes to the High King's court, Ridmark finds himself fighting not only for his own life, but for the lives of his family. For the quest of the Seven Swords has begun. And the quest will kill anyone foolish enough to seek its secret...

The Unforgetting


Rose Black - 2020
    Her death was foretold. Her past is about to be unforgotten...1851. When Lily Bell is sold by her father to a 'Professor of Ghosts' to settle a bad debt, she dreams of finding fame on the London stage. But Erasmus Salt wants Lilly not as an actress, but as his very own ghost - the heart of his elaborate illusion for those desperate for a glimpse of the spirit world . . .Obsessed with perfection, Erasmus goes to extreme lengths to ensure his illusion is realistic. When Lily comes across her own obituary in the paper, and then her headstones in the cemetery, she realises that she is trapped, her own parents think she is dead, and that her fate is soon to become even darker . . .A spellbinding story of obsession, the lure of fame, and the power of illusion.

The Eclectic Abecedarium


Edward Gorey - 1985
    Part sweet songs of unseen birds and part cautionary tales, this abecedarium fully lives up to the epithet "eclectic."

The Secrets Between Us


Louise Douglas - 2011
    They've both recently escaped broken relationships, and need to start again. Why not do it together?A perfect life: But when Sarah gets to the tiny village of Burrington Stoke, something doesn't add up. Alex's beautiful wife Genevieve was charming, talented, and adored by all who knew her. And apparently, she and Alex had a successful marriage complete with a gorgeous son, Jamie. Why would Genevieve walk out on her perfect life? And why has no one heard from her since she did so?A web of lies: Genevieve's family and all her friends think that Alex knows more about her disappearance than he's letting on. But Sarah's fallen in love with him and just knows he couldn't have anything to hide. Or could he?

Demon's Night


Guido Henkel - 2009
    But is the paranormal investigator prepared to duel a full-fledged demon on a Hell-bent mission to create chaos and catastrophe throughout the earth, a fiend determined to wreak more death and destruction than his even more ominous Master?This is the first volume of a series of Gothic horror adventures where Jason Dark, a fearless and resourceful ghost hunter, sets out to solve a supernatural mystery. Doing so he follows in the mold of a Sherlock Holmes combined with elements of the occult and paranormal detective genre.Written by Guido Henkel, the designer who brought Germany's famed "Das Schwarze Auge" series to computer screens, this supernatural series is filled with enough mystery, drama, suspenseful action and Gothic dread to transport you to the sinister, fog-shrouded streets of Victorian England.Your encounter with the extraordinary awaits.

The Saint Of Baghdad


Michael Woodman - 2018
     A special forces veteran turned VIP bodyguard, CJ has seen it all. But nothing could have prepared him for the ambush in Iraq that left everyone else dead and CJ in a coma. Eight years later he resurfaces, damaged but determined, and he wants answers. Someone set them up, but who? The only person who may know is Enya, the sister of the man he was hired to protect. She’s stuck by him throughout his recovery, but like every other player in this dangerous game, she has her own agenda. And the more questions he asks, the bigger the target on his back. One thing is clear. Someone is afraid of what he knows, and they want him dead. The answers are buried somewhere in his own hazy memory. But can he uncover them before he’s the one buried?

Kaya Bani Chandan


Rajendra Kher - 1999
    Gujarati translation of 'Deaha Zala Chandanacha', original Marathi biographical novel on the life of Revered Pandurang Shastri Athavale; who is recipient of 100s National & International awards including Magsaysay Award, Templeton Award etc.This Gujarati translation is the recipient of Baroda Marathi Vangmay Parishad Puraskar.

North Murder Beach: A Jake Stellar Novel


Rodney Riesel - 2014
     The spring bike rallies have ended, the spring breakers have all gone back to school, and the summer tourist season is a few weeks away. What better time for a police officer to take a nice quiet relaxing week off from work? That’s what Jake Stellar had in mind. That is until someone from his past resurfaces to remind him of a terrible secret he has spent years trying to forget. In North Murder Beach, a story of revenge, Jake is unwillingly and violently forced to confront this secret from his past.

Her Father's Daughter


William J. Coughlin - 1986
     And the support of the Vault became increasingly important as Van Horn realised that his company was in dire straits and in danger of sinking fast… When Van Horn is killed in a plane crash, everyone assumes that control of his mighty but ailing empire and his seat on the Vault will pass to his feckless son, Junior. But even in death Van Horn still has a few tricks up his sleeve — it is not his son, but his daughter Victoria, from whom he had been estranged for years, who is his true heir. Victoria Van Horn, beautiful and rich in her own right, has reservations about taking on her father’s role in the business. Especially as she has just gambled everything she possesses on a new and risky venture of her own... As for the all-male bastion of the Vault, she holds no illusions. Yet she cannot shirk her duties as her father’s heir and soon discovers her father’s enemies are now set on destroying her… Her brother, Junior, is furious at having been slighted and with his scheming wife Cecelia, he launches a suit to discredit Victoria and throw her out of Van Horn Enterprises for good. In this endeavour he is seemingly helped by Chilton Vance, Hunter Van Horn’s trusted right-hand man whose treachery hides beneath an easy smile and a determination to ruthlessly bring down the entire Van Horn family… Her Father’s Daughter explores the deception and corruption that can tear a family apart. Praise for William J. Coughlin ‘Good storytelling … jackhammer drive … the climax is gripping.’ — Detroit News ‘Satisfying and right on target … Among Coughlin’s best.’— Detroit News ‘Coughlin keeps you burning the midnight oil to the very end.’ — Kirkus Reviews ‘First-rate entertainment.’ — Booklist William J. Coughlin has combined a career as a United States administrative judge with that of a bestselling novelist. A former defence attorney and judge in Detroit for twenty years, he authored sixteen novels, and his experience living and working provided some of the inspiration for his law- and courtroom-themed thrillers.

Carfax House - A Christmas Ghost Story


Shani Struthers - 2020
    In the countryside. Just over an hour's train ride from London.An ideal family home. Sold unseen. At auction.Married couple, Al and Liz Greenaway, love London, but when they discover an impressive country property for sale, in need of some TLC, for the same price as their London flat, they decide to go for it. For them, life is all about reinventing themselves, keeping things fresh, and this house marks an exciting new chapter.In the week running up to Christmas, it is Liz who finds herself at Carfax House, alone. Al's held up with work. No matter, there's plenty to occupy her before he arrives, getting it ready for the festive season. A fine house. Once. Solitary, romantic, isolated, and quiet. So quiet that, for the first time in years, Liz can hear her own thoughts as long buried memories emerge. And there's an echo in them, a whisper...For someone else in the house, memories are emerging too. ~~~

In the Pulps - 26 Short Stories


Rex Stout - 2013
    Although these stories are not all mysteries, they all are suspenseful and very enjoyable. They already show the creative mind that devised later so many complex plots as well as Stout’s gift for creating characters with a few quick strokes. The stories, which are presented here in order of publication, are: “Excess Baggage,” “The Infernal Feminine,” “A Professional Recall,” “Pamfret and Peace,” “A Companion of Fortune,” “A White Precipitate,” “The Mother of Invention,” “Méthode Américaine,” “A Tyrant Abdicates,” “The Pay-Yeoman,” “Secrets,” “Rose Orchid,” “An Agacella Or,” “The Inevitable Third,” “The Lie,” “Target Practice,” “If He Be Married,” “Baba,” “Jonathan Stannard's Secret Vice,” “Sanétomo,” “The Strong Man,” “It's Science That Counts,” “The Rope Dance,” “An Officer and a Lady,” “Heels of Fate,” and “Annuncio's Violin.”