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B.P.R.D. Omnibus Volume 2
by Mike Mignola John ArcudiJoin Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and a slew of talented writers and artists as they bring you the second volume in a series of omnibuses that collect the main B.P.R.D. storyline. Volume 2 includes deeper explorations of Abe Sapien&’s origins, the Black Flame, and the introduction of more key characters!In 2001, Hellboy quit the B.P.R.D., leaving its roster of special agents to defend the world from any occult threats, and the growing menace of the frog army. Now their adventures are collected in one continuous saga, following the exploits of Abe Sapien, Liz Sherman, Roger the Homunculus, Johann Krauss, Kate Corrigan, Ashley Strode, and many more from the war on frogs through the end of Ragna Rok. Collects B.P.R.D.: Born Again, B.P.R.D.: Revival, B.P.R.D.: The Dead, B.P.R.D.: War on Frogs, and B.P.R.D.: The Black Flame.
The Last Days of Jack Sparks
by Jason ArnoppJack Sparks died while writing this book.It was no secret that journalist Jack Sparks had been researching the occult for his new book. No stranger to controversy, he'd already triggered a furious Twitter storm by mocking an exorcism he witnessed. Then there was that video: forty seconds of chilling footage that Jack repeatedly claimed was not of his making, yet was posted from his own YouTube account. Nobody knew what happened to Jack in the days that followed -- until now. "Wow. Seriously hard to put down." -- M.R. Carey, author of The Girl With All the Gifts
All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology
by Circe Moskowitz Kalynn Bayron Ashia Monet Liselle Sambury Sami Ellis Joel Rochester Joelle Wellington Brent C. Lambert Donyae Coles Ryan DouglassWelcome to the Dark. We are all familiar with tropes of the horror genre: slasher and victims, demon and the possessed. Bloody screams, haunted visions, and the peddler of wares we aren't sure we can trust. In this young adult horror anthology, fans of Jordan Peele, Lovecraft Country, and Horror Noire will get a little bit of everything they love—and a lot of what they fear—through a twisted blend of horror lenses, from the thoughtful to the terrifying. From haunted, hungry Victorian mansions, temporal monster–infested asylums, and ravaging zombie apocalypses, to southern gothic hoodoo practitioners and cursed patriarchs in search of Black Excellence, All These Sunken Souls features the chilling creations of acclaimed bestsellers and hot new talents.- - - - - ContributorsKalynn Bayron @KalynnBayronAshia Monet @AshiaMonetLiselle Sambury @LiselleSamburySami Ellis @themoosefJoel Rochester @fictionalfatesJoelle Wellington @joelle_wellingBrent C. Lambert @BrentCLambertDonyae Coles @okoknoRyan Douglass @ryandouglasswCirce Moskowitz @circemoskowitz
The Ambassador's Wife: A brand new totally gripping and suspenseful novel
by Roberta GatelyAfter a whirlwind romance, she still has much to learn about her new ambassador husband—and about the fate of his predecessor&’s wife . . . At thirty-five, Nora Buckbee fears she&’s destined for a lonely, single life. Then she meets handsome State Department employee John Fielding. They marry quickly—and next thing she knows she&’s moving to Thailand with him, where he&’ll be serving as ambassador. It&’s an exciting adventure—for a while. Then she learns that the last ambassador&’s wife disappeared without a trace, and there seems to be little interest in learning what happened. John, who&’s often away on secret missions—odd, she thinks, for an emissary—seems as unfazed by the mystery as everyone else. But when Nora starts volunteering for the same group with whom the last wife worked, she begins to realize that nothing here is as it appears to be . . . including her new husband. Determined to peel away the layers of lies and secrets that surround her, Nora finds herself in a race to discover the truth. But can she figure it out before she meets the same fate as the previous wife?Acclaim for Roberta Gately&’s The Bracelet &“Hard to put down until the very last page.&” —Jennifer Haupt, author of I&’ll Stand by You and In the Shadow of 10,000 Hills
American Ghost Stories (Ghost Stories)
by Flame TreeAmerican ghosts stories have their origins in the gothic, mixed with the fears of the pioneer landscapes. A terrific new collection of classic talesSettling in for a night of spine-chilling entertainment? Here's a gripping collection of classic American ghost tales by authors such as Edgar Allan Poe ('The Masque of the Red Death'), Francis Bret Harte ('The Ghosts of Stukeley Castle'), Edith Wharton ('Afterward'), Mark Twain ('A Ghost Story'), Harriet Beecher Stowe ('The Ghost in the Mill'), O. Henry ('A Ghost of a Chance'), H.P. Lovecraft ('The Outsider') and many more.FLAME TREE 451: From myth to mystery, the supernatural to horror, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.
Among the Living
by Tim LebbonFrom the New York Times bestseller and author of Netflix&’s The Silence comes a terrifying horror novel set in a melting Arctic landscape. Something deadly has lain dormant for thousands of years, but now the permafrost is giving up its secrets…Estranged friends Dean and Bethan meet after five years apart when they are drawn to a network of caves on a remote Arctic island. Bethan and her friends are environmental activists, determined to protect the land. But Dean&’s group's exploitation of rare earth minerals deep in the caves unleashes an horrific contagion that has rested frozen and undisturbed for many millennia. Fleeing the terrors emerging from the caves, Dean and Bethan and their rival teams undertake a perilous journey on foot across an unpredictable and volatile landscape. The ex-friends must learn to work together again if they&’re to survive... and more importantly, stop the horror from spreading to the wider world.A propulsive horror thriller––fast-moving, frightening, and shockingly relevant—this adventure will grip you until the final terrifying page.
Ancient Ghost Stories (Ghost Stories)
by Flame TreeGhosts and apparitions abound across the peoples of the early civilisations, from the Ancient Egyptians, the Babylonians, Greeks, Romans and the Vikings too.Phantoms of the dead, warning apparitions and necromancy – there are many stories of ghosts to be found in the retold literature of ancient peoples: &‘Khonsemhab and the Ghost&’ and &‘The Adventure of Setne Khamwas with the Mummies&’, both from Ancient Egypt; &‘Philinnion and Machates&’ from Ancient Rome; spirits featured in Homer&’s Odyssey, from Ancient Greece; tales of Babylonian demons and the netherworld; and stories of fire apparitions from Japan. The Vikings too had their fair share of ghosts, such as crop up in the 13th-century Icelandic Laxdaela Saga. These stories are all brought together in this new collection for an intriguing insight into the spirit world of early cultures.FLAME TREE 451: From myth to mystery, the supernatural to horror, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.
The Angel of Indian Lake (The Indian Lake Trilogy #3)
by Stephen Graham JonesThe final installment in the most lauded trilogy in the history of horror novels picks up four years after Don&’t Fear the Reaper as Jade returns to Proofrock, Idaho, to build a life after the years of sacrifice—only to find the Lake Witch is waiting for her in New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones&’s finale.It&’s been four years in prison since Jade Daniels last saw her hometown of Proofrock, Idaho, the day she took the fall, protecting her friend Letha and her family from incrimination. Since then, her reputation, and the town, have changed dramatically. There&’s a lot of unfinished business in Proofrock, from serial killer cultists to the rich trying to buy Western authenticity. But there&’s one aspect of Proofrock no one wants to confront…until Jade comes back to town. The curse of the Lake Witch is waiting, and now is the time for the final stand. New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones has crafted an epic horror trilogy of generational trauma from the Indigenous to the townies rooted in the mountains of Idaho. It is a story of the American west written in blood.
The Arsenic Eater's Wife: A brand new dark historical mystery that will keep you guessing
by Tonya MitchellA woman is accused of killing her husband, but is she actually guilty? Inspired by a true historical case, this novel will delight and engross readers. Liverpool, England, 1889: In the shadowy streets, the air is thick with secrets and the line between guilt and innocence blurs. Twenty-six-year-old Constance Sullivan is brought to trial charged with poisoning her husband, William. But William was no ordinary victim… As Constance's barrister fights to prove her innocence, a sinister web of deception unravels, exposing the dark underbelly of their seemingly idyllic marriage. One by one, witnesses emerge with incriminating testimony and facts about the dark side of Constance and William&’s marriage are revealed. For many, the widow&’s guilt seems clear. But is someone holding the key to the whole truth? Inspired by a true case, The Arsenic Eater&’s Wife will hold the reader spellbound until the final, heart-stopping revelation.Praise for Tonya Mitchell&’s A Feigned Madness &“A compelling read for anyone with an interest in Victorian history.&” —Pam Lecky, author of the Lucy Lawrence mysteries &“Vivid, enthralling . . . a knockout.&” —Kim Taylor Blakemore, author of After Alice Fell
Awake
by Christopher KrovatinMaster of middle-grade horror Christopher Krovatin returns with the scorching tale of a rift between siblings with awesome, sinister powers.In this family, pyrokinesis was just the beginning. Now other powers are emerging, including telekinesis -- and it will put the siblings at odds like never before.
B.P.R.D. Omnibus Volume 10
by Mike Mignola Scott AllieLovecraftian monsters ravage an apocalyptic earth as the B.P.R.D. fights to save what little of humanity they can. But even Hellboy is not who he once was, and whether anyone survives Varvara and the long-awaited Ragna Rok remains to be seen.Written by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie and brilliantly rendered by artists Laurence Campbell, Sebastián Fiumara, Christopher Mitten, and Mignola himself, this this omnibus is a must have!Collects B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know: Messiah, Pandemonium, and Ragna Rok.
B.P.R.D. Omnibus Volume 9
by Mike Mignola John ArcudiHell on Earth comes to an end when the B.P.R.D. must defend Earth from one of the mythical Ogdru Jahad, the dragon believed to bring about the end of the world.The agents must destroy the dragon and the countless monsters it creates. Elsewhere, Russian occult director seeks help from a demon as he follows her through Hell.
The Bad Ones
by Melissa AlbertAuthor Melissa Albert returns with The Bad Ones, a supernatural horror novel about four mysterious disappearances in a town haunted by a sinister magical history <p><p> Goddess, goddess, count to five In the morning, who’s alive? In the course of a single winter’s night, four people vanish without a trace across a small town. <p><p> Nora’s estranged best friend, Becca, is one of the lost. As Nora tries to untangle the truth of Becca’s disappearance, she discovers a darkness in her town’s past, as well as a string of coded messages Becca left for her to unravel. These clues lead Nora to a piece of local lore: a legendary goddess of forgotten origins who played a role in Nora and Becca’s own childhood games. . . . <p><p> An arresting, crossover horror fantasy threaded with dark magic, The Bad Ones is a poison-pen love letter to semi-toxic best friendship, the occult power of childhood play and artistic creation, and the razor-thin line between make-believe and belief. <p> <b>New York Times Bestseller</b>
Balon-susto (¡BÚ!)
by Jaclyn JaycoxUn niño se despierta con una pequeña marca de mordedura en el brazo. Por la ventana, escucha fuertes ruidos, el traqueteo de cadenas y unos chillidos. Ve como las luces de la cancha de baloncesto brillan bajo la luna llena. Todos los jugadores son velludos, muy velludos . . . ¿Podrían ser hombres lobo? Con capítulos cortos, texto fácil de leer y contenido especial al final de cada libro, la serie Libros que asUUUstan logra dar un nivel de susto justo a los lectores más pequeños (sin quitarles el sueño).
The Beast of Skull Rock (Monsterious #4)
by Matt McMannThis series of terrifying standalone tales that combine monsters + mysteries is perfect for fans of Goosebumps.&“Spine-chilling and creepy!&” —Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth, on Escape From Grimstone Manor (Monsterious, Book 1)Twins Simon and Jade are thrilled to spend the summer with their grandfather in the beachfront resort town of Skull Rock. They're especially looking forward to helping out at his spooky cabinet of curiosities museum, full of creepy old relics, taxidermy specimens, and sinister displays. But lately there have been disturbing reports of store break-ins and sightings of a frightening creature in the area, scaring away the town's much-needed tourists. When the twins hear eerie noises coming from the museum after hours and see strange scratch marks on the door, they decide to investigate. As the creature attacks mount, Jade and Simon begin to suspect the impossible: Could one of their grandfather's museum monstrosities be coming to life each night to prowl the boardwalks of Skull Rock?
Benny Ramírez and the Nearly Departed
by José Pablo IriarteBenny Ramírez can see dead people . . . Well, one dead person, anyway. A hilarious and heartwarming story about a boy who can suddenly see the ghost of his famous musician grandfather!After moving cross-country into his late grandfather&’s Miami mansion, Benny discovers that the ghost of his famous trumpet-playing abuelo, the great Ignacio Ramírez, is still there . . . and isn&’t too thrilled about it. He&’s been barred from the afterlife, and no one can see him except his grandson. But Benny&’s got problems of his own. He&’s enrolled in a performing arts school with his siblings, despite having no obvious talent. Luckily, Abuelo believes they can help each other. Abuelo has until New Year&’s Eve to do some good in the world and thinks that teaching Benny how to play the trumpet and become a school celebrity might be the key to earning his wings. Having no better ideas, Benny finds himself taking Abuelo's advice—to disastrous and hilarious results. Benny and Abuelo will find that there&’s more than one way to be great in this unforgettable, laugh-out-loud tale of family, music, and self-discovery.
Bite Risk: Caught Dead (Bite Risk Ser.)
by S.J. WillsWelcome back to the Town of the Turned in the smash-hit sequel to Bite Risk. The Rippocalypse turned the whole world upside down, but Rippers are now free, happy and calm once a month… Until they suddenly become uncontrollably angry after Howl Night.
The Black Girl Survives in This One: Horror Stories
by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. FennellINSTANT INDIE BESTSELLER “This anthology makes a statement: Black women belong in horror…Projects like this — brave, necessary — celebrate Black women, and will hopefully inspire the future of the genre.” —The New York Times Book ReviewA YA anthology of horror stories centering Black girls who battle monsters, both human and supernatural, and who survive to the end Be warned, dear reader: The Black girls survive in this one.Celebrating a new generation of bestselling and acclaimed Black writers, The Black Girl Survives in This One makes space for Black girls in horror. Fifteen chilling and thought-provoking stories place Black girls front and center as heroes and survivors who slay monsters, battle spirits, and face down death. Prepare to be terrified and left breathless by the pieces in this anthology.The bestselling and acclaimed authors include Erin E. Adams, Monica Brashears, Charlotte Nicole Davis, Desiree S. Evans, Saraciea J. Fennell, Zakiya Dalila Harris, Daka Hermon, Justina Ireland, L.L. McKinney, Brittney Morris, Maika & Maritza Moulite, Eden Royce, and Vincent Tirado. The foreword is by Tananarive Due.
Bless Your Heart (A Bless Your Heart Novel #1)
by Lindy RyanA crackling mystery-horror novel with big-hearted characters and Southern charm with a bite, Bless Your Heart is a gasp-worthy delight from start to finish from debut author Lindy Ryan. Rise and shine. The Evans women have some undead to kill.It’s 1999 in Southeast Texas and the Evans women, owners of the only funeral parlor in town, are keeping steady with…normal business. The dead die, you bury them. End of story. That’s how Ducey Evans has done it for the last eighty years, and her progeny—Lenore the experimenter and Grace, Lenore’s soft-hearted daughter, have run Evans Funeral Parlor for the last fifteen years without drama. Ever since That Godawful Mess that left two bodies in the ground and Grace raising her infant daughter Luna, alone.But when town gossip Mina Jean Murphy’s body is brought in for a regular burial and she rises from the dead instead, it’s clear that the Strigoi—the original vampire—are back. And the Evans women are the ones who need to fight back to protect their town.As more folks in town turn up dead and Deputy Roger Taylor begins asking way too many questions, Ducey, Lenore, Grace, and now Luna, must take up their blades and figure out who is behind the Strigoi’s return. As the saying goes, what rises up, must go back down. But as unspoken secrets and revelations spill from the past into the present, the Evans family must face that sometimes, the dead aren’t the only things you want to keep buried. "A gloriously gruesome, compulsively readable debut that is as grizzly as it is clever and heartfelt." - Rachel Harrison
The Bone Hunters: 'An engrossing tale of a woman striving for the recognition she deserves' SUNDAY TIMES
by Joanne Burn'An engrossing tale of a woman striving for the recognition she deserves in the face of male indifference and betrayal' SUNDAY TIMES 'Best historical fiction for February 2024'THE ESSEX SERPENT MEETS AMMONITE IN THE STUNNING HISTORICAL NOVEL EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT:'Singular and astonishing . . . I've never met a character quite like Ada' ANNIE GARTHWAITE'The Bone Hunters has cemented Joanne Burn's place as one of my favourite writers' SONIA VELTON'Joanne Burn is fast becoming my go-to historical fiction writer' EMMA CARROLL'The Bone Hunters is that rare combination . . . beautifully written but also a gripping page-turner' LAURA SHEPPERSON________In 1824, Lyme Regis is as tumultuous as the sea that surrounds it. When twenty-four-year-old Ada Winters - poor, peculiar and brilliant - uncovers a set of unusual fossils on the cliffs, she believes she has found the answer to her scientific frustrations and her family's financial struggles. Meanwhile, Doctor Edwin Moyle has come to Dorset in search of the discovery that will place him amongst the greatest geologists of the age. What he finds instead is a strange young woman who seems to hold the key to everything he desires. But what is the creature that Ada and Edwin seek to unearth? And will it lead them to greatness, or destruction?________'Delicate and beautiful, I loved it' POLLY CROSBY'An extraordinary book . . . I fell in love with Ada from the first page' ELIZABETH LEE'A beautifully written tale of obsession, friendship, betrayal, ambition and love' ROZ WATKINS'So beautifully and brilliantly written. Every word dripped with atmosphere' CAROLE MATTHEWS
The Bone Hunters: 'An engrossing tale of a woman striving for the recognition she deserves' SUNDAY TIMES
by Joanne Burn'An engrossing tale of a woman striving for the recognition she deserves in the face of male indifference and betrayal' SUNDAY TIMES 'Best historical fiction for February 2024'THE ESSEX SERPENT MEETS AMMONITE IN THE STUNNING HISTORICAL NOVEL EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT:'Singular and astonishing . . . I've never met a character quite like Ada' ANNIE GARTHWAITE'The Bone Hunters has cemented Joanne Burn's place as one of my favourite writers' SONIA VELTON'Joanne Burn is fast becoming my go-to historical fiction writer' EMMA CARROLL'The Bone Hunters is that rare combination . . . beautifully written but also a gripping page-turner' LAURA SHEPPERSON________In 1824, Lyme Regis is as tumultuous as the sea that surrounds it. When twenty-four-year-old Ada Winters - poor, peculiar and brilliant - uncovers a set of unusual fossils on the cliffs, she believes she has found the answer to her scientific frustrations and her family's financial struggles. Meanwhile, Doctor Edwin Moyle has come to Dorset in search of the discovery that will place him amongst the greatest geologists of the age. What he finds instead is a strange young woman who seems to hold the key to everything he desires. But what is the creature that Ada and Edwin seek to unearth? And will it lead them to greatness, or destruction?________'Delicate and beautiful, I loved it' POLLY CROSBY'An extraordinary book . . . I fell in love with Ada from the first page' ELIZABETH LEE'A beautifully written tale of obsession, friendship, betrayal, ambition and love' ROZ WATKINS'So beautifully and brilliantly written. Every word dripped with atmosphere' CAROLE MATTHEWS
The Book of Love: A Novel
by Kelly LinkIn the long-awaited first novel from short story virtuoso and Pulitzer Prize finalist Kelly Link, three teenagers become pawns in a supernatural power struggle.&“A heart-wrenching exploration of love and loss.&”—Time &“[Link&’s] pages sing with her trademark fantastical and emotional tropes.&”—Los Angeles Times The Book of Love showcases Kelly Link at the height of her powers, channeling potent magic and attuned to all varieties of love—from friendship to romance to abiding family ties—with her trademark compassion, wit, and literary derring-do. Readers will find joy (and a little terror) and an affirmation that love goes on, even when we cannot.Late one night, Laura, Daniel, and Mo find themselves beneath the fluorescent lights of a high school classroom, almost a year after disappearing from their hometown, the small seaside community of Lovesend, Massachusetts, having long been presumed dead. Which, in fact, they are.With them in the room is their previously unremarkable high school music teacher, who seems to know something about their disappearance—and what has brought them back again. Desperate to reclaim their lives, the three agree to the terms of the bargain their music teacher proposes. They will be given a series of magical tasks; while they undertake them, they may return to their families and friends, but they can tell no one where they&’ve been. In the end, there will be winners and there will be losers.But their resurrection has attracted the notice of other supernatural figures, all with their own agendas. As Laura, Daniel, and Mo grapple with the pieces of the lives they left behind, and Laura&’s sister, Susannah, attempts to reconcile what she remembers with what she fears, these mysterious others begin to arrive, engulfing their community in danger and chaos, and it becomes imperative that the teens solve the mystery of their deaths to avert a looming disaster.Welcome to Kelly Link&’s incomparable Lovesend, where you&’ll encounter love and loss, laughter and dread, magic and karaoke, and some really good pizza.
The Book of Secrets: The dark and dazzling new book from the bestselling author of The Clockwork Girl!
by Anna MazzolaThe thrilling and unputdownable new novel from bestselling author of The Clockwork Girl, Anna Mazzola!'Vividly alive with menace, magic, and mystery' ESSIE FOX'A vivid and atmospheric historical adventure' DAILY MAIL'A writer of great variety and inventiveness. A haunting, complex work' THE TIMES Rome, 1659.Months after the plague has ravaged Rome, men are still dying in unnatural numbers, and rumour has it that their corpses do not decay as they should. The Papal authorities commission prosecutor Stefano Bracchi to investigate, telling him he will need considerable mettle to reach the truth.To the west of the Tiber, Girolama and her female friends are at work, helping other women with childbirths and foretelling their futures. Elsewhere in the city, a young wife, Anna, must find a way to escape her abusive husband. But in a city made by men for men, there are no easy paths out. Stefano's investigation at the Tor di Nona prison will introduce him to horror, magic and an astonishing cast of characters. He will be left wondering if certain deeds should remain forever unpunished...The Book of Secrets is inspired by real events that took place in 17th century Italy.Praise for The Book of Secrets:'Exceptional. Anna Mazzola's finest work yet' ELODIE HARPER'Dark, viscerally-atmospheric and richly-imagined' TAMMY COHEN'Utterly compelling, brilliant and rage-inducing' CAROLINE LEA'Deeply unsettling in all the best ways. Absolutely loved it!' JAMES OSWALD'Compelling and brilliantly atmospheric' ANDREW TAYLOR'Rich and satisfying... another superb historical thriller from Anna Mazzola' CAROLINE GREEN'A hugely entertaining read but also an important one in an era when women's rights are being called into question. Magnificent' LIZ NUGENT'A fascinating, evocative, darkly beautiful story. A compelling tale of female strength & ancient knowledge'HELEN FIELDS'A powerful, perceptive page turner. Feminist historical fiction that is chillingly timely. Bravo!'D V BISHOP'I couldn't put it down. A spectacular insight into life for women in 17th century Rome. I adored it' JULIE OWEN-MOYLAN'A tense and pacy historical thriller that fans of Robert Harris will love. I inhaled this book' TARIQ ASHKANANI'Elegant and compelling writing from an author at the peak of her powers' AJ WEST'A compulsive deep-thinking read, with a message for modern times' CATE QUINN'Passages so lyrical I read them twice. Compelling and poignant. Stunning' RACHEL WOLF'Captivating, haunting and so beautifully wrought' FREYA BERRY'Meticulously researched, beautifully constructed and jam-packed with tension!' REBECCA NETLEY
The Book of Secrets: The dark and dazzling new book from the bestselling author of The Clockwork Girl!
by Anna MazzolaThe thrilling and unputdownable new novel from bestselling author of The Clockwork Girl, Anna Mazzola!'Vividly alive with menace, magic, and mystery' ESSIE FOX'A vivid and atmospheric historical adventure' DAILY MAIL'A writer of great variety and inventiveness. A haunting, complex work' THE TIMES Rome, 1659.Months after the plague has ravaged Rome, men are still dying in unnatural numbers, and rumour has it that their corpses do not decay as they should. The Papal authorities commission prosecutor Stefano Bracchi to investigate, telling him he will need considerable mettle to reach the truth.To the west of the Tiber, Girolama and her female friends are at work, helping other women with childbirths and foretelling their futures. Elsewhere in the city, a young wife, Anna, must find a way to escape her abusive husband. But in a city made by men for men, there are no easy paths out. Stefano's investigation at the Tor di Nona prison will introduce him to horror, magic and an astonishing cast of characters. He will be left wondering if certain deeds should remain forever unpunished...The Book of Secrets is inspired by real events that took place in 17th century Italy.Praise for The Book of Secrets:'Exceptional. Anna Mazzola's finest work yet' ELODIE HARPER'Dark, viscerally-atmospheric and richly-imagined' TAMMY COHEN'Utterly compelling, brilliant and rage-inducing' CAROLINE LEA'Deeply unsettling in all the best ways. Absolutely loved it!' JAMES OSWALD'Compelling and brilliantly atmospheric' ANDREW TAYLOR'Rich and satisfying... another superb historical thriller from Anna Mazzola' CAROLINE GREEN'A hugely entertaining read but also an important one in an era when women's rights are being called into question. Magnificent' LIZ NUGENT'A fascinating, evocative, darkly beautiful story. A compelling tale of female strength & ancient knowledge'HELEN FIELDS'A powerful, perceptive page turner. Feminist historical fiction that is chillingly timely. Bravo!'D V BISHOP'I couldn't put it down. A spectacular insight into life for women in 17th century Rome. I adored it' JULIE OWEN-MOYLAN'A tense and pacy historical thriller that fans of Robert Harris will love. I inhaled this book' TARIQ ASHKANANI'Elegant and compelling writing from an author at the peak of her powers' AJ WEST'A compulsive deep-thinking read, with a message for modern times' CATE QUINN'Passages so lyrical I read them twice. Compelling and poignant. Stunning' RACHEL WOLF'Captivating, haunting and so beautifully wrought' FREYA BERRY'Meticulously researched, beautifully constructed and jam-packed with tension!' REBECCA NETLEY
The Book of Thorns
by Hester Fox&“Combining history, the occult, human greed, and a touch of feminism, this is a fine addition to the gothic genre.&” —ALA's Booklist on The Last Heir to Blackwood LibraryHester Fox delivers an enchanting tale of secrets, betrayal, and magic!Penniless and stranded in France after a bid to escape her cruel uncle goes awry, Cornelia Shaw is far from the Parisian life of leisure she imagined. Desperate and lacking options, she allows herself to be recruited to Napoleon&’s Grande Armée. As a naturalist, her near-magical ability to heal any wound with herbal mixtures invites awe amongst the soldiers…and suspicion. For behind Cornelia&’s vast knowledge of the natural world is a secret she keeps hidden—the flowers speak to her through a mysterious connection she has felt since childhood. One that her mother taught her to heed, before she disappeared.Then, as Napoleon&’s army descends on Waterloo, the flowers sing to her of a startling revelation: a girl who bears a striking resemblance to Cornelia. A girl she almost remembers—her sister, lost long ago, who seems to share the same gifts. Determined to reunite with Lijsbeth despite being on opposite sides of the war, Cornelia is drawn into a whirlwind of betrayal, secrets, and lies. Brought together by fate and magic at the peak of the war, the sisters try to uncover the key to the source of the power that connects them as accusations of witchcraft swirl and threaten to destroy the very lives they&’ve fought for.Look for these other gothic mysteries from Hester Fox: The Last Heir to Blackwood Library The Witch of Willow Hall The Orphan of Cemetery Hill The Widow of Pale Harbor A Lullaby for Witches