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A Christmas Gathering (Christmas Novella 17)
by Anne PerryA festive house party takes a sinister turn...Victor Narraway and his wife, Lady Vespasia, are invited to spend Christmas at Cavendish Hall with a gathering of old acquaintances, but it is not the quiet, rather stiff house party they had expected. While there, Victor must undertake his final mission for Special Branch, reminiscent of another one in the past, at which he had tragically failed.When disaster strikes and one of the guests is left for dead, Victor fears that history is repeating itself. But which of them is intent on murder? And can Victor accept that he is not to blame...?A Christmas Gathering is the gripping new festive mystery from the pen of Anne Perry, the master of Victorian crime.
A Christmas Gathering: A Novel
by Anne PerryA cold case adds an extra chill to the holiday season as bestselling author Anne Perry whisks readers to an elegant home in the English countryside for a Christmas of secrets, soul-searching, and forgiveness. As beautiful as it may be, their friends&’ country house is not where Lady Vespasia wishes to spend Christmas with her new husband, Victor Narraway. She&’d have preferred a relaxing holiday at home with him—especially as Victor, former head of the London Special Branch, seems to be hiding undercover dealings with the other guests who have gathered at the spacious estate. As tensions grow, the young and beautiful Iris Watson-Watt becomes the center of several men&’s focus. Unbeknownst to Vespasia, Iris carries a sensitive package that she must pass to Victor in the hope of unmasking a British traitor. While Victor plots his moves, he is reminded of a similar case from twenty years before, when a young Frenchwoman also carried a clandestine message—one that resulted in her murder, unsolved to this day. Victor has always been tormented by his failure to protect her, and now, with all eyes on Iris, Victor must act fast before history repeats itself.With the joy of Christmas at risk of being forgotten and Vespasia feeling alone with a distracted husband, Victor must ultimately learn to forgive himself in order to save both his country and the spirit of the holiday.
A Christmas Grace: A Novel
by Anne PerryIn the sixth of Anne Perry's charming Christmas novellas, a community learns to come to terms with a terrible event from its past. Emily Radley's Christmas plans are shattered when she learns that her aunt is dying. Although estranged from her, Emily decides that she must journey to Susannah's home in Ireland to assist her in her final days. When she reaches Connemara though, it is evident that Susannah has more on her mind than her health. Then Daniel, the lone survivor of a ship wrecked in a violent storm, seeks refuge in Susannah's house. Determined to understand why the village is not welcoming its new arrival, Emily discovers strange parallels with the unsolved death of another young man, Connor, many years before. Susannah, desperate to find out what happened to Connor before she dies, urges Emily to investigate. And as she does, Emily learns that some people will do anything to keep their secrets safe.
A Christmas Grace: A festive mystery set in rugged western Ireland (Christmas Novella #6)
by Anne PerrySome people will do anything to keep their secrets safe... In the sixth of Anne Perry's charming Christmas novellas, A Christmas Grace, a community learns to come to terms with a terrible event from its past. Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Sarah Perry.'[A] heart-warming, if crime-tinged, complement to the holiday season' - BooklistEmily Radley's Christmas plans are shattered when she learns that her aunt is dying. Although estranged from her, Emily decides that she must journey to Susannah's home in Ireland to assist her in her final days. When she reaches Connemara though, it is evident that Susannah has more on her mind than her health. Then Daniel, the lone survivor of a ship wrecked in a violent storm, seeks refuge in Susannah's house. Determined to understand why the village is not welcoming its new arrival, Emily discovers strange parallels with the unsolved death of another young man, Connor, many years before. Susannah, desperate to find out what happened to Connor before she dies, urges Emily to investigate. And as she does, Emily learns that some people will do anything to keep their secrets safe. What readers are saying about Anne Perry's Christmas novellas: 'A delightful, gentle read to prepare you for Christmas... What more could a reader want?''Christmas would not be Christmas without a Perry novella''A great read, good to curl up with by the fire on a snowy day'
A Christmas Guest: A Novel
by Anne PerryAnne Perry has dazzled readers for decades with her gripping Victorian novels and has won new fans with her acclaimed World War I series. Perry’s thrilling Christmas novels, recent additions to her unique repertoire, are set in the most joyous season of the year. In A Christmas Guest, Mariah Ellison, better known as the vinegar-tongued Grandmama from the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series, makes a stunning appearance in a bracing story full of devious delight . . . and certain death. For Grandmama Ellison, Christmas is no reason to celebrate. And when her daughter and son-in-law plan a Christmas vacation to Paris sans hers truly, the cantankerous Grandmama is forced to stay elsewhere–and travels to the chilly, windswept Romney Marshes to spend the holiday with Charlotte Pitt’s parents, Caroline and Joshua Fielding. Grandmama is immediately miserable. For starters, Christmas with the Fieldings is nothing like the cultured life to which she’s accustomed, and the Romney Marshes are unbearably provincial. When Joshua’s cousin Maude Barrington arrives, Grandmama is at her wit’s end. Although Maude is well traveled and friendly, Grandmama thinks she’s improper and strange. But when Maude is found lifeless in bed, Grandmama senses foul play and takes it upon herself to assume the role of amateur detective–uncovering not only the truth about Maude Barrington but some startling truths about herself as well. Enlivened with bold characters and vivid, witty writing, A Christmas Guest is yet another holiday novella with the perfect combination of mystery and murder mixed with a generous helping of yuletide cheer. From the Hardcover edition.
A Christmas Guest: A festive tale of mystery, humour and warmth (Christmas Novella #3)
by Anne PerryPlaying detective, Grandmama has one of her more exciting Christmases... The third of Anne Perry's delightful Christmas novellas, A Christmas Guest, depicts, with humour and compassion, one woman's discovery of the true meaning of Christmas. Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Sarah Perry.'The characterisation is superb. The period feel is excellent... a real page-turner' - Historical Novels ReviewMariah Ellison isn't merely disappointed to learn that she won't spend Christmas at home with her married granddaughter: she is furious. Instead, Grandmama is being packed off to a house in the Romney Marshes to stay with her ex-daughter-in-law. Never having got on with Caroline, Mariah much disapproves of her new husband: decades younger than her, Joshua, an actor, is scarcely even respectable. There will be nothing to do, no one to visit, and no doubt the terrible weather will make even taking a walk impossible. It is going to be the worst Christmas of Grandmama's life.As if that weren't enough, another visitor is foisted on the household. Then something shocking and quite unexpected happens. Has a crime been committed? Grandmama is surprised to find herself turning detective - another profession she deplores - and proving extremely good at it. What readers are saying about A Christmas Guest: 'It was a lovely Christmas read... Perry has done a remarkable job of bringing the Victorian traditions to life''Another gripping story by Anne Perry''Five stars'
A Christmas Homecoming
by Anne PerryAmong the brilliant array of Anne Perry's New York Times bestselling novels, her Christmas stories occupy perhaps the warmest spot in the hearts of readers. Each one is a masterpiece of suspense; each is alight with the true holiday spirit.In A Christmas Homecoming, a familiar face from the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novels--Charlotte's mother, Caroline--travels with her young husband, Joshua Fielding, and his theatrical troupe to Whitby, the Yorkshire fishing village where Dracula the vampire first touched English soil in the sensational novel named after him. Joshua has arranged to produce a stage adaptation of Dracula by the daughter of Whitby millionaire Charles Netheridge during the Christmas holiday, but after the disastrous first read-through of her amateurish script, only the fact that the company is depending on Netheridge's financial backing for their spring tour keeps them at work. As tempers flare and wind and snow swirl around Netheridge's lonely hilltop mansion, a black-cloaked stranger emerges from the storm--an eerily opportune arrival, for this enigmatic figure, one Anton Ballin, turns out to be a theatrical genius. At the same time, a brooding evil makes itself felt. Instead of the theatrical triumph that Netheridge desired for his daughter, there is murder--shocking and terrifying.Anne Perry's ninth Christmas novel keeps us poised on a razor's edge of suspense, hypnotized by a story in which the heartwarming power of goodness is challenged by the seductive power of inner darkness. In the end, A Christmas Homecoming lifts the spirit and rejoices the heart.From the Hardcover edition.
A Christmas Homecoming: A Victorian murder mystery for the festive season (Christmas Novella #9)
by Anne PerryIn snowy Whitby in 1897, dangerous secrets emerge from the dark... A Christmas Homecoming is a Victorian tale of murder and intrigue during one snowy Christmas, from acclaimed author Anne Perry. Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Sarah Perry.'Perry's gift is that she can evoke a sense of place and time while still producing the thrills and chills expected of a modern-day mystery writer' - Orlando SentinelDuring a bitter snowstorm, a mysterious stranger descends on the Netheridges' country home in Whitby, where a group of renowned actors has gathered to prepare a Boxing Day production of Dracula. Amidst an atmosphere of competing theatrical egos and artistic disagreements, the unknown Mr Ballin is brutally murdered.Determined to uncover the truth, but without help from the police who cannot reach the house through the snow, Caroline Fielding begins to investigate the circumstances surrounding the puzzling affair. Who was the victim? Was his appearance at the house as innocent and as circumstantial as he professed? And which of the guests knows more than they are letting on? What readers are saying about A Christmas Homecoming: 'A good read by the fire on a cold dark night''Atmospheric''Five stars'
A Christmas Hope
by Anne PerryAnne Perry's "vastly entertaining" (The Star-Ledger) holiday novels are "as delicious as mince pie and plum pudding" (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). A Christmas Hope is just as delectable--the gripping story of an unforgettable battle between goodness and evil in Victorian London--and a lonely woman's search for meaning in her life.Although she lacks for nothing, Claudine Burroughs dreads the holiday season for forcing her to face how empty her life has become. She no longer expects closeness with her coldly ambitious husband, and she has nothing in common with their circle of wealthy, status-minded friends. The only time she is remotely happy is when she volunteers at a woman's clinic--a job her husband strongly disapproves of. Then, at a glittering yuletide gala, she meets the charming poet Dai Treggaron and finds her spirits lifted. But scarcely an hour later, the charismatic Dai is enmeshed in a nightmare--accused of killing a young streetwalker who had been smuggled into the party. Even though she suspects that an upper-class clique is quickly closing ranks to protect the real killer, Claudine vows to do her utmost for Dai. But it seems that hypocritical London society would rather send an innocent poet to the gallows than expose the shocking truth about one of their own.Nevertheless, it's the season of miracles and Claudine finally sees a glimmer of hope--not only for Dai but for a young woman she befriends who is teetering on the brink of a lifetime of unhappiness. Anne Perry's heartwarming new holiday novel is a celebration of courage, faith, and love for all seasons. PRAISE FOR THE CHRISTMAS NOVELS OF ANNE PERRY "Perry's Victorian-era holiday mysteries . . . are for many an annual treat."--The Wall Street Journal A Christmas Garland "In Anne Perry's gifted hands, the puzzle plays out brilliantly."--Greensboro News & Record A Christmas Homecoming "Could have been devised by Agatha Christie . . . [Perry is] a modern master."--Pittsburgh Post-Gazette A Christmas Odyssey "[Perry] writes with detail that invades the senses."--Lincoln Journal Star A Christmas Promise "Poignant . . . should be on the Christmas stocking list of anyone who likes a sniffle of nostalgia."--The Washington Times A Christmas Grace "[A] heartwarming, if crime-tinged, complement to the holiday season."--BooklistFrom the Hardcover edition.
A Christmas Hope: A thrilling Victorian mystery for the festive season (Christmas Novella #11)
by Anne PerryAs the London winter draws in, will the truth be revealed and the innocent saved? As the two worlds of Victorian London collide, the death of a prostitute at a society party makes for an unforgettable Christmas in Anne Perry's A Christmas Hope. Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Ann Granger.'Perry, as always, does an admirable job of pulling back the Christmas tree skirt and showing the darker underside tucked away behind the trappings of a Victorian holiday' - Washington PostLondon, 1868. As the Christmas season begins, Claudine Burroughs feels little joy in its endless social calls and extravagant events. Working at a clinic for desperate women has opened her eyes to a different world.Then her two worlds collide. A prostitute smuggled into a grandiose Christmas party is found brutally beaten. Poet Dai Tregarron stands accused. But Dai insists he was trying to protect her from the violence of three young men. Claudine believes him, but with society closing ranks against him, how can she prove his innocence without risking everything? What readers are saying about A Christmas Hope: 'Again, Anne Perry [has] created a perfect Christmas novel. I could hardly stop reading''A very absorbing read''Five stars'
A Christmas Howl (A Melanie Travis Mystery)
by Laurien Berenson"If you like dogs, you'll love Laurien Berenson's Melanie Travis mysteries!" --Joanne Fluke, New York Times bestselling authorEver wonder what Melanie and Aunt Peg were up to before solving murders? Let's step back in time, when college-aged Melanie and her indomitable Aunt Peg were little more than strangers... It's Christmas in Connecticut, and Peg Turnbull can't wait to spend her favorite holiday cozying up to husband Max and their clan of pedigree Poodles in Greenwich. But Peg's spirits drop when the family of Max's estranged brother Michael invites the pair over for Christmas dinner. Could her in-laws want to settle the long-standing feud over Nana's will? Peg isn't expecting any miracles, but it's been ages since Peg last saw her niece and nephew. Little Melanie must be out of pigtails by now... When they arrive at the Turnbull's, Peg is not just surprised by how much Melanie has grown up. The family has spared no expense in preparing for the festivities--unusual, considering Michael blew his inheritance after years of financial troubles. Peg suspects there's an awful secret tucked beneath her brother-in-law's ostentatious good cheer, and she's determined to get to the bottom of it. Once she does, someone's ending up in the doghouse...
A Christmas Journey: A festive Victorian murder mystery (Christmas Novella #1)
by Anne PerryA shocking death provokes a quest for the truth... Attending a Christmas party, and taking a leading role in the ensuing investigation in A Christmas Journey, is one of the most beloved characters from Anne Perry's Thomas Pitt series: Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould. Perfect for fans of C. J Sansom and Harriet Smart. 'The tale is redolent with Victorian atmosphere, from the hypocritical snobbishness to the rigid social conventions of the time' - Tangled Web Lady Vespasia's friend Isobel has made a cruel remark about Gwendolen Kilmuir on the night Gwendolen was meant to have become engaged to the eligible Bertie Rosythe. Gwendolen flees the room, and the next morning her body is found in the lake in the gardens of the estate. It appears she has jumped from the bridge. The host, Omegus Jones and Vespasia decide to find who or what might have led Gwendolen to resort to such an extreme measure. They vow to make the guilty party seek forgiveness and expiation through the task of taking a sealed letter written by Gwendolen before her death to her mother up in the north of Scotland.The journey will be both physically and emotionally arduous but will bring answers to some unexpected and profound questions. What readers are saying about A Christmas Journey: 'A tale that flows from an elegant house party in a country mansion, north to frozen, snowy Scotland''I could not put it down''Five stars'
A Christmas Journey: Novella
by Anne PerryReaders of Anne Perry’s bestselling suspense novels revel in a world that is all their own, sharing the privileged existence of Britain’s wealthy and powerful elite in West End mansions and great country houses. It is also a world in which danger bides in unsuspected places and the line between good and evil can be razor thin. This new novel features Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould–one of the most memorable characters from the Thomas Pitt series–who appears here as a lively young woman, the ultimate aristocrat who can trace her blood to half the royal houses of Europe. It’s Christmas and the Berkshire countryside lies wrapped in winter chill. But the well-born guests who have gathered at Applecross for a delicious weekend of innocent intrigue and passionate romance are warmed by roaring fires and candlelight, holly and mistletoe, good wine and gorgeously wrapped gifts. It’s scarcely the setting for misfortune, and no one–not even that clever young aristocrat and budding sleuth Vespasia Cumming-Gould–anticipates the tragedy that is to darken this light-hearted holiday house party. But soon one young woman lies dead, a suicide, and another is ostracized, held partly responsible for the shocking turn of events. To expiate her guilt, Gwendolen Kilmuir sets out for the Scottish Highlands, hoping to explain to the dead girl’s mother the circumstances surrounding the sorrowful act–and to bring her back to England for the funeral. Gwendolen’s sole companion on this nightmarish journey is Vespasia. As Vespasia learns more about the victim and the ugly forces that shaped her desperate deed, she understands the heartbreaking truth of the tragedy.
A Christmas Killing: A Kevin Byrne Short Story (Byrne and Balzano)
by Richard MontanariMeet the young Detective Kevin Byrne, rising star of the Philadelphia police force.Christmas Eve, 1988. Partnered with streetwise veteran Frankie Sheehan, Byrne is called out on a freezing night to investigate the brutal assault of a young woman in a crime-ridden neighbourhood, The Devil's Pocket.There, with the rest of the city celebrating, relentless rookie Byrne must step out from his partner's shadow to outwit a terrifying predator on the same vicious city streets he will later revisit with his future partner, Jessica Balzano.This ebook-exclusive short story also includes the opening of Richard Montanari's terrifying new novel, The Doll Maker.
A Christmas Killing: A Story
by Richard MontanariMeet the young Detective Kevin Byrne, rising star of the Philadelphia police force. Christmas Eve, 1988. Partnered with streetwise veteran Frankie Sheehan, Byrne is called out on a freezing night to investigate the brutal assault of a young woman in a crime-ridden neighbourhood, The Devil's Pocket. There, with the rest of the city celebrating, relentless rookie Byrne must step out from his partner's shadow to outwit a terrifying predator on the same vicious city streets he will later revisit with his future partner, Jessica Balzano. This ebook-exclusive short story also includes the opening of Richard Montanari's terrifying new novel, The Doll Maker.
A Christmas Knight
by Kate HardyA doctor with a guarded heart takes a chance on love and family with a beautiful nurse and her young son in this holiday medical romance.Single mom Louisa Austin’s young son, Tyler, has Asperger’s syndrome, and ever since the day her ex-husband bailed out on the both of them, she’s vowed never to risk Tyler’s happiness again.Brooding emergency physician Dominic Hurst doesn’t do relationships—not anymore. But he’s drawn to courageous nurse Louisa, and when her son starts riding at his stables, Dom forms a heartwarming bond with the troubled little boy.If the good doctor can put his heartache behind him and get down on one knee, he’ll bring a Christmas miracle to this nurse-in-a-million and to a little boy in need of a friend—and a father.
A Christmas Legacy (Christmas Novella #19)
by Anne PerryNew York Times bestselling author Anne Perry's nineteenth heart-warming Christmas novella.Gracie Tellman is preparing for Christmas with her husband and three young children when Millie Foster calls upon her. As a maid at Harcourt House, Millie is terrified that sinister goings-on, including the disappearance of food from the kitchens, will lead to her unfair dismissal, and she begs Gracie to investigate the situation.With the promise that she will be back in time for Christmas, Gracie takes Millie's place in the Harcourt household, never imagining the discovery she then makes. For the servants have been keeping a secret and their efforts are about to be rewarded in the most extraordinary way...A Christmas Legacy is a heart-warming festive mystery set in Victorian London from the pen of the New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry.
A Christmas Legacy: A Novel
by Anne PerryThomas and Charlotte Pitt&’s former maid takes a new job as Christmas approaches—but not everyone in the household may survive the holidays in this tension-filled novel from bestselling author Anne Perry.&“Perry&’s Victorian-era holiday mysteries [are] an annual treat.&”—The Wall Street JournalAfter leaving her position with Charlotte and Thomas Pitt to get married, Gracie thought her days as a maid were behind her. But when her good friend&’s daughter, Millie, turns up on her doorstep just before the holidays, frantic because things are going missing from the kitchen in the household she serves, Gracie knows she has to find out what is happening. Millie, whose mother died years before, can&’t risk being accused of theft and getting thrown out on the street, with no character references for a new position.So Gracie takes on Millie&’s job herself, claiming Millie is sick and needs a few days to recuperate. At first, it seems that all is normal in the household, even if the couple&’s elderly granny keeps entirely to her bedroom upstairs. But Gracie begins to realize that Granny is suffering from neglect—and rather than helping her, the husband and wife have decided she isn&’t dying fast enough.
A Christmas Message: A Novel
by Anne PerryIn the spirit of the season, New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry presents readers with the gift of another holiday mystery, taking them to the Holy Land for an intriguing and miraculous journey of discovery. The year is 1900, and Victor Narraway is giving his wife, Vespasia, an unforgettable Christmas present--a trip to Jerusalem. Vespasia is enchanted by the exotic landscape of Palestine, and charmed by a fellow traveler the Narraways meet at their hotel in Jaffa. But when the man is murdered over a torn piece of ancient parchment he was taking to Jerusalem, Victor and Vespasia risk their lives to finish his mission and deliver the puzzling document to its home. Pursued by a shadowy figure with evil intent, they embark on a dangerous yet ultimately enlightening pilgrimage to the holy city, where the mysterious message on the parchment may finally be revealed. Rich in suspense and wonder, A Christmas Message is at once a breathtaking adventure story and a poignant meditation on faith and spirituality. Praise for the Christmas novels of Anne Perry "Perry's Victorian-era holiday mysteries [are] an annual treat."--The Wall Street Journal A Christmas Escape "Rivals the classic murder mysteries of Dame Agatha Christie . . . The suspense is built up so well."--Bookreporter A New York Christmas "A thoroughly enjoyable mystery set against the wonderful historical backdrop of 1904 New York City at Christmastime."--Library Journal (starred review) A Christmas Hope "Very much recommended . . . a wonderful story."--Historical Novel Review A Christmas Garland "In Anne Perry's gifted hands, the puzzle plays out brilliantly."--Greensboro News & Record A Christmas Homecoming "Could have been devised by Agatha Christie . . . [Perry is] a modern master."--Pittsburgh Post-GazetteFrom the Hardcover edition.
A Christmas Message: A gripping murder mystery for the festive season (Christmas Novella #14)
by Anne PerryA mysterious stranger sends the Narraways on a dangerous pilgrimage... A Christmas Message is a tantalising festive tale from Anne Perry, the master of Victorian crime. Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Ann Granger.Christmas 1900. Victor Narraway, Thomas Pitt's former boss, and his new wife Vespasia are travelling by train from Jaffa to Jerusalem. Although enjoying their time together and the interesting people they meet, Vespasia soon becomes concerned that someone is watching their every move.When one of their new acquaintances is found murdered, the only clue is a mysterious piece of parchment written in a foreign tongue, and a message imploring Narraway to continue the stranger's quest. Sensing its importance, Narraway and Vespasia decide to fulfil their dead friend's wish.Continuing to Jerusalem with the parchment in hand, they quickly find themselves embroiled in danger. With Vespasia's fears suddenly realised and a watcher on their trail, will Narraway and Vespasia's fates follow that of their friend or can they make it to Jerusalem unscathed? What readers are saying about A Christmas Message: 'As always I was lost in the extraordinary events''It is an extraordinary story and so gripping''Five stars'
A Christmas Odyssey
by Anne PerryIn her beloved Christmas novels, Anne Perry brings readers both the authentic Victorian charm and the nail-biting suspense that have made her Thomas Pitt and William Monk tales bestsellers for a generation. Though rife with intrigue, these special seasonal stories beam with the blessed light of the holiday. Ten days before Christmas, as an icy wind cuts through London, wealthy James Wentworth feels not joy but grief. His reckless son, Lucien, has been lured into a deadly world of drugs and wild passion. Wentworth's only hope, he believes, is his old friend Henry Rathbone, who volunteers to search for the prodigal son. Rathbone knows nothing of the sensation-obsessed underworld where Lucien now dwells, but he acquires two unexpected new companions who do: Squeaky Robinson, a reformed brothel-keeper who now works in Hester Monk's medical clinic, and Crow, a mysterious slum doctor who turns no one away, however undeserving. Slowly this odd trio gathers clues--about Lucien's mad infatuation with a beautiful woman named Sadie, and about Shadwell, the ruthless man who owns her and, like the Devil, never lets go of one of his own. Rathbone, Squeaky, and Crow even welcome into their little band a most valuable recruit: young Bessie, a teenager whose courage holds fast even in the depths of the slum. And so they set forth on their odyssey into London's dark streets, on a mission whose outcome they cannot begin to guess.Anne Perry's novels are supreme masterpieces of suspense, and A Christmas Odyssey ranks with the very best. The days leading up to Christmas may prove to be fraught with challenges, but 'tis the season for comfort and joy and miracles.From the Hardcover edition.
A Christmas Odyssey: A festive mystery from the dark underbelly of Victorian London (Christmas Novella #8)
by Anne PerryAs Rathbone sets forth on an odyssey into London's dark streets, the outcome of his mission he cannot begin to guess... Anne Perry writes a festive story of hope and redemption emerging from the depths of Victorian society in the seasonal novella A Christmas Odyssey. Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Ann Granger.'A bite-sized mystery that could be fitted in after your Christmas lunch' - Daily Telegraph1864, and on a bitter December night in Victorian London, one man longs for a Christmas miracle. The city is preparing for the holidays yet James Wentworth is unable to focus on anything other than the disappearance of his wayward son, Lucien. In desperation, he turns to his old friend Sir Henry Rathbone for help.Rathbone finds assistance in the shape of reformed criminal Squeaky Robinson and the enigmatic Doctor Crow, and as the group's investigations take them deeper into the seedy underbelly of the capital, they uncover a squalid world of illicit pleasures and a trail that leads them closer to the man they seek. But as they get nearer to their quarry, tales also begin to emerge of Lucien's violent tendencies, his consuming obsession with a dangerous young woman and the disturbing Shadow Man. Can they bring Lucien home alive and, if so, will it be a grave mistake for all concerned? What readers are saying about A Christmas Odyssey: 'The book is pacey and full of atmosphere and tension''An enjoyable romp through the underworld''Five stars'
A Christmas Party: A Seasonal Murder Mystery/Envious Casca
by Georgette Heyer'Tis the Season-for murder... A colorful assortment of guests at a festive holiday house party discover there is a killer in their midst when their universally reviled host is found dead-in a room locked from the inside. For Inspector Hemingway of Scotland Yard, the investigation is complicated by the fact that every guest is hiding something-throwing all their testimony into question and casting suspicion far and wide. The clever and daring crime will mystify readers, yet the answer is in plain sight all along...PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS ENVIOUS CASCAGeorgette Heyer wrote over fifty books, including Regency romances, mysteries, and historical fiction. Her barrister husband, Ronald Rougier, provided many of the plots for her detective novels, which are classic English country house mysteries reminiscent of Agatha Christie. Heyer was legendary for her research, historical accuracy, inventive plots, and sparkling characterization."Georgette Heyer has given me such great pleasure over the years in my reading, and rereading, of her stories. --#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts "Sit back, slip away to a happier time and enjoy." --New York Times bestselling author Kasey Michaels"One never forgets one's first Heyer." --New York Times bestselling author Mary Jo Putney"The wittiest of detective writers." -Daily Mail"Miss Heyer's characters and dialogue are an abiding delight to me." -Dorothy L. Sayers
A Christmas Promise: A Novel
by Anne PerryAnne Perry's Victorian Christmas novels have attracted as many faithful readers as her two New York Times bestselling series featuring investigators Thomas Pitt and William Monk. A Christmas Promise is the seventh in Perry's holiday series, and it will surely bring joy to this special season.Three days before Christmas, in the freezing slums of London's East End, thirteen-year-old Gracie Phipps encounters Minnie Maude Mudway, who is only eight, alone, and determined to find her friend Charlie.However Charlie is no ordinary companion: He is a donkey who belonged to Minnie Maude's Uncle Alf. Gracie is shocked to learn that only the day before, someone brutally murdered Uncle Alf and made off with his rag-and-bones cart and the beloved beast who pulled it. Now, come hell or high water, Minnie Maude means to rescue Charlie-and Gracie decides to help. But the path that Uncle Alf had taken to his death was not his regular route, and in his cart were not just the usual bits of worn silver and china but also, the children are told, a dazzling golden box. What its contents may have been no one can say, for, like Charlie and the cart, it too has vanished.Uncertain where their four-legged friend may be, the children are drawn into an adult world far beyond their innocent imaginings. And in a shop gleaming with beautiful objects, they recruit an unexpected ally: Mr. Balthasar, who warns them that the shining prize may be a Pandora's box of evil.Set in the Victorian world where Anne Perry reigns supreme, A Christmas Promise culminates in a radiant finale that will remain with you long after the final page is turned.From the Hardcover edition.
A Christmas Promise: A unforgettable yuletide mystery in the snowy streets of Victorian London (Christmas Novella #7)
by Anne PerryA young girl is searching for the truth behind her uncle's death. Can she solve the mystery before the Christmas bells toll? Set in the Victorian world where Anne Perry reigns supreme, A Christmas Promise culminates in a radiant finale that will remain with you long after the final page is turned. Perfect for fans of C. J Sansom and Harriet Smart.'[Perry] writes with detail that invades the senses' - Lincoln Journal StarThree days before Christmas, in the freezing slums of London's East End, thirteen-year-old Gracie Phipps encounters Minnie Maude Mudway, who is only eight, alone, and determined to find her friend Charlie. However Charlie is no ordinary companion: He is a donkey who belonged to Minnie Maude's Uncle Alf. Gracie is shocked to learn that only the day before, someone brutally murdered Uncle Alf and made off with his rag-and-bones cart and the beloved beast who pulled it. Now, come hell or high water, Minnie Maude means to rescue Charlie-and Gracie decides to help. But the path that Uncle Alf had taken to his death was not his regular route, and in his cart were not just the usual bits of worn silver and china but also, the children are told, a dazzling golden box. What its contents may have been no one can say, for, like Charlie and the cart, it too has vanished.Uncertain where their four-legged friend may be, the children are drawn into an adult world far beyond their innocent imaginings. And in a shop gleaming with beautiful objects, they recruit an unexpected ally: Mr. Balthasar, who warns them that the shining prize may be just a Pandora's box of evil... What readers are saying about A Christmas Promise: 'You feel you are there in Victorian England with all the smells, sights and sounds that accompany the story-telling''Very atmospheric, entertaining, well written and just that bit different''Five stars'