In the process, her life obligingly becomes eventful enough to provide some interesting reading. But it is the tantalising allusions to her past – so at odds with her appearance as the stereotyped retired schoolmistress – that intrigue, delight, and eventually reveal a woman of surprising qualities. Praise for Marcia Willett: ‘Poignantly told’ – Evening Herald Willa Marsh was born in Somerset and lives in a Georgian parsonage in Devon with her husband and two Newfoundlands. As Marcia Willett, she also writes well-reviewed novels published by Headline.

    In her struggle to cope with her unwelcome gift, she has frozen people out of her life. Her marriage is on the rocks, her career is in chaos and she urgently needs to get a grip. So she decides to start again, by joining her effervescent cousin Sylvia and partner Michael in their mission to restore and revitalise Llys y Garn, an old mansion in the wilds of North Pembrokeshire.It is certainly a new start, as she takes on Sylvia’s grandiose schemes, but it brings Kate to a place that is thick with the shadows of past deaths. The house and grounds are full of mysteries that only she can sense, but she is determined to face them down – so determined that she fails to notice that ancient energies are not the only shadows threatening the seemingly idyllic world of Llys y Garn. The happy equilibrium is disrupted by the arrival of Sylvia’s sadistic and manipulative son, Christian - but just how dangerous is he? Then, once more, Kate senses that a violent death has occurred… Set in the majestic and magical Welsh countryside, Shadows is a haunting exploration of the dark side of people and landscape.

     Bathroom scales were not an appropriate gift for his fiancée’s birthday … apparently. Adam Maxwell isn’t a bad man—he’s just a man who doesn’t stop and think. Ever since he ate seven pickled gherkins for lunch at school, and subsequently shat himself during a maths lesson, Adam has been cursed by a lack of common sense. Now in his early thirties, that lack of common sense is about to throw Adam’s life into turmoil after one particularly ill-judged decision backfires … with disastrous consequences. After a rapid descent towards rock bottom, a strange little man by the name of Mungo Thunk then enters Adam’s life. However, not everything about Mungo Thunk is as it first seems. After insisting Adam can rediscover his common sense by agreeing to an unorthodox brand of therapy, the two set about dealing with the raft of challenges Adam has to face. Can Adam trust the mysterious stranger to fix his thinking and get his life back on track? Or will he come to rue the day he invited Mungo Thunk into his life?

    By 1878, the town is prospering. Three daily railroad stops. Groceries, feed and grain, hardware, and leather goods readily available. Bank, doctor's office, café, and barber shop. Its own church and school, preacher and teacher. A civilized community with all the marks of progress. That's what the hard-working members of the Merchants' Association believe until the day New Hope's telegraph agent – young Eddie Barts – disappears, and suddenly life in New Hope changes. Widow Ruth Churchill, barber and owner of the town's finest boarding house, has lived and loved in New Hope for over a decade. She calls it home and its citizens friends. Five years after the death of her beloved husband, Ruth has managed to find peace and a kind of happiness. But with the disappearance of Eddie Barts, Ruth will find her world and her life turned upside down. Despite all the trappings of civilization, something – someone – evil is hiding in New Hope. For years, unknown to anyone but one relentless searcher, a wicked man of violence and deception has been living behind a mask of respectability. Before his mask is ripped off, Ruth will experience suspicion, doubt, danger, and fear. Her own life will be at risk. Her own heart, too. Because along with terror and grief comes love. They live side-by-side. When it's all over, New Hope, Nebraska, will never be the same. And neither will Ruth.

    And before long, one of the village's residents, Laura Grey, is mysteriously shot dead nearby. Mark's life begins to unravel before he is able to help the police solve the mystery of Laura Grey's death, uncovering in the process a tale of intrigue, bigamy and blackmail, and bringing into the open many secrets of the residents of God's Blessing, including Mark himself.

    But who was the man filmed with Teddy as he left Heathrow? What secrets is he hiding? Ex-copper turned private investigator Billy Rucker joins the case on the exhortation of Teddy’s brother, a well-known MP. For Rucker it’s the start of a lonely trail through the city, clutching a grainy black and white photograph and a gnawing suspicion at the pit of his stomach. Until a chilling phone call in the night changes everything…

    The chief character is so well defined and so likeable. The story was intriguing and had plenty of twists and turns. ” Julia Corbett “Swift is a good character, suitable for people who like PD James, the story is believable and comes together well.” “Absolutely loved this book! Extremely well written with believable characters and lots of twists!” E. Boisvert “Excellent mystery, well drawn characters, and a great storyline.” Suki Anne Perfect for fans of Robert Galbraith, Paula Hawkins, P.D. James, or Ruth Rendell. IN THIS THREE-BOOK BOXSET: BOOK 1: THE LADY VANISHED A missing woman holds the key to a valuable inheritance Florence Davenport hires Swift to find her missing stepmother. There are no leads and no suspects, but if the body is found, Florence will inherit half of a very valuable house. BOOK 2: BLOOD SECRETS Fifteen years ago a teenage boy, Teddy Bartlett, went to a woods on the outskirts of London and was beaten to a pulp and left damaged for life. The police never found who did it or why he was targeted. Now, the boy’s father, recently returned from Australia, wants to find out what really happened to his son. He hires private detective Tyrone Swift to investigate the tragic crime. BOOK 3: TWO LOVERS, SIX DEATHS A man stabs his girlfriend to death. Then hangs himself, leaving a note confessing to the murder. Open and shut case? Not for detective Tyrone Swift Dominic Merrell’s estranged wife Georgie doesn’t believe that he could have done it. Detective Swift discovers that Dominic was a reliable, devoted husband and father for eighteen years until he met the beautiful, charismatic Lisa, who he left his wife for. No one can believe that Dominic was capable of murder. But if it wasn’t him, then who killed the seductive but chaotic Lisa? THE DETECTIVE Tyrone Swift is an ex-police detective who now works privately. He’s survived a stabbing and his fiancée running off with another man. Swift's personal life is complicated. He is still involved with his ex-wife Ruth. THE SETTING The streets of London with their vibrant mix of nationalities, cultures, and rich and poor are beautifully evoked. From the quiet suburbs with their veneer of happy family life, to the bustling centre with refugees struggling to survive, to exclusive penthouses where the rich can have anything they want delivered. THE AUTHOR Gretta is a critically acclaimed author of best-selling detective and literary fiction. 'Mulrooney has a real gift for dialogue, the words and phrases ring true and make her characters wonderfully real . . .

    197, Emperor Septimius Severus led one of the largest invasion forces in Rome's history against the Parthian Empire.Among the men of thirty-three legions is Lucius Metellus Anguis, a young man from an ancient Equestrian family. Against the wishes of his conservative father, Lucius is determined to pursue a career in the military and resurrect the glory of his family name on the battlefield rather than the marble of the Senate.However, as in all conflicts, Lucius' ideals and his faith are challenged as he witnesses the worst in humanity.As the imperial legions fight their way through Mesopotamia to the Parthian capital of Ctesiphon, Lucius discovers the inner strength that may well ensure that this young dragon rises from the ranks of Rome's eagles.Can a man survive the trials of war unscathed? Do the Gods indeed favour the bold?March to war with Rome's legions and find out!A Dragon among the Eagles is the first novel in Adam Alexander Haviaras' ground-breaking Eagles and Dragons historical fantasy series. If you like books by Douglas Jackson, Manda Scott, and David Gemmell, or movies like Gladiator and Pompeii, then you will love this historical series that combines adventure, romance, and the supernatural.Get this book now to set off on a thrilling adventure in the Roman Empire!Here is what readers have to say about Eagles and Dragons:Historic Novel Society:"...Haviaras handles it all with smooth skill. The world of third-century Rome--both the city and its African outposts--is colorfully vivid here, and Haviaras manages to invest even his secondary and tertiary characters with believable, three-dimensional humanity."Amazon Readers:"Historical fiction at its best! ... if you like your historical fiction to be an education as well as a fun read, this is the book for you!""An outstanding and compelling novel!""I would add this author to some of the great historical writers such as Conn Iggulden, Simon Scarrow and David Gemmell. The characters were described in such a way that it was easy to picture them as if they were real and have lived in the past, the book flowed with an ease that any reader, novice to advanced can enjoy and become fully immersed..."Goodreads:"... a very entertaining read; Haviaras has both a fluid writing style, and a good eye for historical detail, and explores in far more detail the faith of the average Roman than do most authors."Epinions:"Well written historical drama with an eye for detail... I can't wait for the next book... Killing the Hydra. There is so much more misery and mischief to puzzle and vex our worthy Metellus."

    The only foreseeable disruption looks to be the imminent arrival of their hosts' baby - which is quite disruptive enough as far as Maltravers is concerned. But greater dramas start to unfold when a skeleton is stolen from the cellars of the House. At first it seems no more than a bizarre joke but, suddenly, Maltravers and Tess find themselves caught up in a terrifying cycle of vengeance and murder. The heir to the estate, Simon, Lord Dunford, is found murdered. Though he was a likable sort, he was thoroughly hated by his next-in-succession: his caddish cousin Oliver Hawkhurst and the estate's coldly efficient secretary, Mister York. With everyone around them under suspicion, Maltravers and Tess find it increasingly difficult to get to the bottom of the mystery. Who had the strongest motive for murder? And will they strike again? ‘Skeleton Key’ is the second in this quintessentially English series of detective stories featuring playwright and amateur sleuth Augustus Maltravers. The first Maltravers mystery, "An Act of Evil", won the John Creasey Award for the best first crime novel. Praise for Robert Richardson. ''With this, his first novel, Robert Richardson makes a most impressive debut as a writer of the classical English detective story… He knows how to create suspense and an atmosphere of incipient evil; he provides us with a genuine puzzle, his characters are believable people, and the motive of his murderer is psycho-logically credible.” P D James “Skilful rerouting and the taste of real tears” The Sunday Times “Eccentrics, suspects and witty writing abound” The Times “Here is a book to be missed only at your own peril” Armchair Detective “Elegantly written, beautifully characterised, suspenseful and oddly moving” Mystery Reader’s Journal “Grand entertainment, deft handling and suave wit” Publishers Weekly Robert Richardson is a journalist and editor who lives in England.

     It's high summer, and the lakes are in the midst of an unrelenting heatwave. Uncontrollable fell fires are breaking out across the moors faster than they can be extinguished. When firefighters uncover the body of a dead child at the heart of the latest blaze, Detective Chief Inspector Jude Satterthwaite's arson investigation turns to one of murder. Jude was born and bred in the Lake District. He knows everyone... and everyone knows him. Except his intriguing new Detective Sergeant, Ashleigh O'Halloran, who is running from a dangerous past and has secrets of her own to hide... Temperatures - and tension - in the village are rising, and with the body count rising Jude and his team race against the clock to catch the killer before it's too late... The first in the gripping, Lake District-set, DCI Jude Satterthwaite series.

    Potts has been Eva’s therapist for years – and his sudden disappearance leaves plenty of questions. As the detectives uncover the old man’s secrets, Eva realises she may have never known Potts at all. When a ransom letter is printed in a local newspaper, Eva and Dan must do whatever it takes to track the kidnappers down before the villains can carry out their threat to right past wrongs.The detectives face demons old and new as they peel through the layers of history, discovering that the old man’s wealth is going missing - and many dark secrets besides.Many people have motive to wish Potts harm, but without an obvious suspect the mystery deepens... and time is running out. The case gets more dangerous by the hour…And Eva’s life is about to take a dramatic turn…

    Feeling too young for widowhood but too grief-stricken to love again, she leaves her life in England and moves to Cannes.On the train south from Paris, Susan encounters three Frenchmen who are travelling together, including the enigmatic Gustave. Not long after that, she runs into Gustave again in Cannes. He seems intrigued by Susan, and begins a tactful but determined campaign to win her over. His attentions are flattering, and unexpected, but Susan’s emotions are too raw for a new romance. As they get to know one another, however, Susan learns more about Gustave’s story—his ambitious plans for the stunning château he owns with friends, his own tragic loss.Susan can’t run from her growing feelings forever, but nor can she forget the devastating heartache that brought her to France—and Gustave. She has a choice to make: to hide in bittersweet memories of the past or to take a chance on love and life with a new man.

    But when he wakes up the next morning and goes to work, his world has changed. Where have his wife and two children gone? How is it possible that the building where he works every day…has vanished? What has happened to the rest of Canary Wharf, the financial centre of London – where has it gone? And how can it be that his father, long dead and buried, is now very much alive? Has James gone mad? Or is there something far more sinister happening? This book may scare you, will make you laugh and cry, and everyone that reads it will ask the simple question: ‘What if this happened to me?’ What people have been saying about this book:- 'I have never read a book so quickly in my life! What a brilliant book! This is a real page turner!' 'This was one of the fastest paced books that I have ever read. It pulled me into it and dragged me along at breakneck speed. I felt such sympathy for the main character that I was quite exhausted by the time I finished it. Excellent read.' '…It was one of those books that I found myself talking about to friends all the time.' 'This book was chosen for my book club and we were not disappointed. It's well written and the story makes you think "What If". I could not put it down and it brought a good hour or so of discussion to the table when we reviewed it. The story is simple yet brilliant, and I enjoyed reading it through to the end. I would recommend this book to anyone; all can enjoy and you should.' 'This is such a great piece of work. I am dyslexic and often find it a struggle to read and get into a story. I bought this a couple of days ago.... I literally could not stop reading.. The first day I read until 2:30am! Then started the next morning and finished it by lunchtime. The story is fascinating and brings up many questions, it really gets you to think about your own life. The science is well researched and stands up well. I really can't wait to read the next in the series. ' '5 stars are not enough! Brilliant!' Please note: Book One of Two Parts: Please note that Book One continues seamlessly into and is concluded in Book Two. Alternatively, readers are recommended to purchase the full omnibus edition containing both Book One and Book Two. Readers may now borrow Book Two free with Kindle Unlimited.

    Surprised at how many times your path crosses with that stranger you spotted on the other side of the street. Surprised at how lonely living in a busy city can feel. Surprised that falling in love – against all the odds – is just about possible. One day in London… Daisy is rushing to work when a stranger on a bicycle almost knocks her over – and then asks for her number. JoJo, a wife in her sixties, is trying desperately to win her beloved husband back from his mistress. Adam has recently lost his job and lies to his housemate about where he goes every day. Dylan, a teenage boy, lives with an illness which means he can’t leave his bedroom – but which hasn’t stopped him falling in love. These four total strangers – whose paths cross in the charming and crazy city of London – have one thing in common. They’re all looking for love and they’re totally hopeless at it. But that’s about to change. A hilarious, uplifting and heartfelt novel about love, life and finding happiness. If you’ve ever made a mistake, suffered a break-up, waited by your phone for it to ring or loved someone from afar, then The Shape of Us is for you.

     Returning home from his travels across the globe, Walter Balanchine is noted for the charms, potions and locket hanging from his neck. Living in a cemetery with his pet panther, Sinbad, word soon spreads of his healing and magical abilities and Walter becomes a sought after party performer. But a powerful force lies behind the parlour tricks, one strong enough to reveal secrets, heal the sick, and destroy the wicked... Filled with mystery, magic and larger than life characters, Illusion will keep you guessing until the very last page. Praise for Stephanie Elmas ‘Magical, masterful and mesmerising’ - Lucy Walton Lange, Female First ‘Conjures the kind of atmosphere that laudanum dreams are made of.’ - After Nyne Magazine ‘Captivating and delectable.’ - Liz Wilkins '...a modern day ghost story and a Victorian chiller.' - The Huffington Post 'Elmas is a first-rate storyteller.' - The Surrey Post 'This book hasn't been written, it's been crafted.' - The Bookbag Stephanie Elmas was born in Hong Kong to an English father and Czech mother but spent most of her childhood in Bristol. She studied English at university in London. Having worked as a head hunter, she taught English in Japan before returning to university to complete an MA in Victorian fiction. It was here that she developed her interest in the dark dangerous world of Victorian sensation writing. After the success of her first novel, The Room Beyond, Elmas has returned to write the tale of the early life of East End mystic and illusionist Walter Balanchine. When she is not writing, Elmas teaches secondary school English and juggles a chaotic household in Surrey.