In 1666, England’s saffron industry is booming, with the spice fetching a staggering £4 per pound — rivalling gold. Fabian Smith, the sensible second son of a Holborn poulterer, has sacrificed his dreams of adventure for family duty. But when the Great Fire claims his father and his reckless brother plunges them into debt with […]
What is historical fiction for?
Historical fiction offers more than just entertainment. It brings the past alive for modern readers. Writers can question what we know, speculate, explore new perspectives and redress absences in the historical record. Paul Burke explains. Historical fiction can be fun, a light entertainment, as with any genre. There is nothing wrong with that; but I […]
Shadow of Madness by DV Bishop
It’s Tuscany in the winter of 1540. Travelling north into the hills above Florence, investigator Cesare Aldo seeks answers about his past. The trail leads him to Ospedale de’ Pazzi, a secure institution for the criminally insane. Soon after arriving a blizzard engulfs the area, trapping Aldo and his companion, Doctor Saul Orvieto. Even more […]
A Fatal Choice by Alison Baxter
Julia Pennefather has spent her life longing for the security of a home and family. Ellen Fugill knows the price of loyalty in a world where servants are expected to see everything and say nothing. And talented Ada Ashley arrives concealing a secret past that makes her painfully vulnerable. When disaster strikes, the women do […]
No Saints Only Killers by Luke Deckard
In 1922, American ex-pat Logan Bishop is a war-damaged, morphine-dependent private investigator. When his estranged father, Reverend Daniel Bishop, arrives in London from Chicago, Logan refuses to see him — until his father is brutally attacked. Before slipping into a coma, Daniel leaves Logan with a desperate plea: find Greta Matas, a woman tied to […]
The Art of Occupation by Chris Lloyd
In the city of light, some deals are only made in the shadows. When a corrupt art dealer is killed, Detective Eddie Giral descends into an underground world of stolen paintings, forged identities, and whispered deals with Nazi occupiers. As Eddie discovers links to a wealthy Jewish family’s missing collection, the trail leads him to […]
The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
London in 1749, and Hannah Cole’s world shatters with her husband’s brutal murder. Her confectionery shop, the Punchbowl and Pineapple, teeters on the brink of ruin. Just as she uncovers a hidden fortune — money her husband secretly possessed — a new nightmare begins. Magistrate Henry Fielding, the renowned author, suspects illicit gains. To save […]
Festival Days by Julie Anderson
It’s May, 1951, and celebration is in the air with the Festival of Britain. For the first time in years the mood is one of hope rather than hurt. For Detective Constable Faye Smith, London is not as safe as it seems. The criminal underworld is gaining strength, enjoying a lively existence below the surface. […]