SPCK Publishing

'Brilliant, witty, and full of down-to-earth humour... The perfect 'church hall' anecdotal read' JB Gill, TV Presenter

Songs of Praise presenter is back with another thrilling read and an unputdownable series centered on a Victorian church hall and Kath, its brash and inexperienced administrator.

There's never a dull moment at Hope Hall. Its rooms are filled throughout the day with gossipy grandmas, body-popping teenagers, and a nursery group where it's the grown-ups who are near to tears!

But it's all in a day's work for administrator, Kath, whose job it is to make sure Hope Hall offers something for everyone! As the team works to pull off their ambitious Hope Hall Centenary Easter Monday Fayre, Kath realizes reinforcements are needed. Brash, loud and inexperienced though she may be, Kath has a feeling that Shirley might be just the ticket! The Fayre is a triumph but when Kath's old flame comes back on the scene, she's faced with some tough choices. Will Kath make the right decision?

"Fans of medieval mysteries will revel in Starr's lively blending of intriguing suspense and telling historical detail." - Library Journal

It is the autumn of 1367. Master Hugh is enjoying the peaceful life of Bampton, when a badly beaten man is found under the porch of St. Andrew's Chapel.

The dying man is a chapman - a traveling merchant. Before he is buried in the chapel grounds, an ancient, corroded coin is found in the man's mouth.

Master Hugh's quest for the chapman's assailants, and his search for the origin of the coin, makes steady progress - but there are men of wealth and power who wish to halt his search, and an old nemesis, Sir Simon Trillowe, is in league with them.

But Master Hugh, and his assistant, the groom Arthur, are determined to uncover the thieves and murderers, and the source of the chapman's coin. They do, but not before they become involved with a kidnapped maiden, a tyrannical abbot, and a suffering monk - who needs Master Hugh's surgical skills and in return provides clues which assist Hugh in solving the mystery of the tainted coin.

The Battle of Flodden in September 1513 was one of the bloodiest battles ever fought on British soil, in which James IV, King of Scots, and virtually the whole of his nobility and gentry were annihilated in an afternoon along with 15,000 soldiers.

Five centuries on and the slaughter still occupies a core position in the Scottish nationalist debate and in the pantheon of heroic failures. This novel puts you in the heart of the action; you'll feel the sweat and the fear, the curtain of red mist.

The narrative covers the period April - September 1513, focusing around a handful of key characters:

- John Heron, Bastard of Ford, swaggering, violent and disreputable, the black sheep of a good English family
- Sir Thomas Howard, leader of the English forces, a skilled strategist
- Alexander, 3rd Lord Hume, leader of the Scots, bold but impetuous
- Isabella Hoppringle, Abbess of Coldstream, hub of a web of influential women throughout the Scottish borders, a woman of significant influence and charisma.

2015 INDIES Finalist - Fantasy

'I don't compare books to Tolkien... this is the best fantasy book I’ve read since then.' GoodReads

The epic final battle between the Master and King.

Eamon Goodman is now the Master's Right Hand. But despite being the second-in-command to the ruler of the River Realm, Eamon becomes the victim of vengeful plots engineered by the other Quarter Hands. Eamon finds himself powerless to stop them and the people he cares for are under threat.

Eamon then discovers that the Nightholt - the book he long ago delivered to the Master's Hands holds the key to the Master's power, which will become absolute upon the death of the King.

Thus the stage for the final battle is set. Eamon rides out at the head of the Master's army and must finally decide where his true allegiance lies. His choice will determine the fate of the River Realm

'Mel Starr's writing is superb. And the stories themselves are captivating. Highly recommended.' Davis Bunn, internationally bestselling author

To bring justice, Master Hugh must foil the corrupt power of great men.

Many medieval scholars discontinued their university studies before completing their degree. Some lacked funds; others became bored with a scholar's life. Occasionally these young men formed lawless bands, robbing and raping and creating chaos. They were called goliards.

In Deeds of Darkness Master Hugh learns that the Bampton coroner, an old friend, has been slain while traveling to Oxford. As he seeks the killer (or killers) he discovers a band of goliards in the area between Oxford and Bampton.

But how to apprehend these youths? They have protectors far above Hugh's station. He must deal with the claims of justice on the one hand and the power of great men to protect their henchmen on the other.

Discover the next gripping installment in the Hugh De Singleton's Chronicles series, following the life and adventures of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon in medieval Bampton, Oxfordshire.

When the beadle of the manor of Bampton disappears after going out to enforce curfew, his young wife Matilda turns to Master Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and bailiff of the manor, for help. Two days later, Alan's mutilated body is discovered in the hedge near St Andrew's Chapel. His throat has been ripped out, his head nearly severed from his body, and his arms and hands covered in deep scratches.

At the scene, Master Hugh teams up with Hubert the coroner, who suggests that a wolf could have caused the fatal wound. But why is there no blood, and why are there so many scratches? As Master Hugh delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers a web of secrets and lies that threaten to tear the community apart.

With vivid descriptions of medieval life, graphic medical procedures, and a cast of compelling characters, this story is a must-read for fans of historical mysteries.

'This skillfully woven story is a delight to read. The setting is exceptionally well crafted. Highly recommended.' Davis Bunn, best-selling author

2014 INDIES Winner - Bronze in Fantasy Fiction

'A thrilling story fraught with uncertainty and betrayal.' Publishers Weekly

In an epic and mystical tale that resonates with modern times, the young Eamon Goodman goes on a journey of discovery. A journey which sees him taking an increasingly pivotal role in the battle between the rival forces of the king and the master, and takes him from being a young soldier in his home of Edesfield to being a fast-rising hero in the dense and rotten city of Dunthruik.

Under the watchful eye of Lord Cathair, in the loving arms of Lady Alessia Turnholt, and torn between enemy forces, Eamon’s experiences lead him to question the nature and true meaning of some of the most important things in life - love and friendship, loyalty and honour, and who he really is. But will the answers he finds lead him to become true to himself and true to his name? Will they lead him to become a good man?

Master Hugh, Kate, and their children attend the Midsummer's Eve fire. Next morning early Hugh hears the passing bell ring from the Church of St. Beornwald, and moments later is summoned.

Tenants collecting the ashes to spread upon their fields have found burned bones. Master Hugh learns of several men of Bampton and nearby villages who have gone missing recently. Most are soon found, some alive, some dead. Master Hugh eventually learns that the bones are those of a bailiff from a nearby manor. Someone has slain him and placed his body in the fire to destroy evidence of murder. Bailiffs are not popular men; they dictate labour service, collect rents, and enforce other obligations.

Has this bailiff died at the hand of some angry tenant? Hugh soon discovers this is not the case. There is quite another reason for murder...

'Paul Trembling scores a winning goal with this highly enjoyable mystery, which has more exciting twists and turns than the beautiful game itself.' AMY MYERS, author of the Nell Drury and Tom Wasp crime series

It was him; Graham was sure of it. He might not have seen Adi Varney for years, but no one forgets their oldest friend's face.

As a football player and manager, Adi had taken his club from victory to victory before suddenly leaving it all behind. No one understood why.

But now he was back... or was he? If it was Adi, why was he avoiding everyone who knew him?

Convinced something is very wrong Graham is determined to work out what has happened to his friend. The game he uncovers is deadly - but if he doesn't play lives will be on the line.

In Luke Aylen's The Mirror and the Mountain, a title released in association with Essential Christian, two 11-year-olds pass through a mirror and end up in a magical kingdom called Presadia.

Trapped in a war-torn kingdom with no way home, Summer and Jonah are pulled into a strange quest to find the long-lost king, who alone has the power to restore peace to Presadia. Meeting strange and wonderful people along the way, including the dwarf high lord, the elf queen and a fire-breathing dragon, they learn important lessons about pride, greed, and the power of words as they embark on an epic journey to save the realm.

The children and their new friends must be brave as they fly across the broken kingdom and climb a misty mountain. Can they fulfil their quest to find the king and restore peace to Presadia? And will Summer and Jonah ever make it back to their own world?

'Mel Starr has done it again with another brilliant Sir Hugh de Singleton medieval mystery to keep readers guessing until the very end. [.] I was there at the Queen's College, dining on pottage, getting soaked in the rain in fourteenth-century Oxford - Mel always draws you into the experience.' Toni Mount, author of the Sebastian Foxley murder mystery series

One of Master John Wycliffe's scholars is found dead after a thunderstorm. Was he struck by lightning, or was there something more sinister to his death?

Scholar Richard Sabyn, a particularly obnoxious fellow, was believed to have been struck by lightning. However, Master Wycliffe believes otherwise and calls upon Sir Hugh de Singleton for help. Sir Hugh shares Wycliffe's suspicions and launches a private investigation, learning that it might indeed be possible to make it look as though a man has died from a lightning strike. But who would go to all that effort, and why?

When fellow scholar Simon Duby dies, it raises even more questions and suspicions. What is the connection between the two men? Sir Hugh believes a bronze pot, a bucket of urine, and a small quantity of charcoal and brimstone may hold the answer. During a bleak 1375, can he survive the insidious plague and several attempts on his life as he continues his quest for truth?

'Julia Golding's Jane Austen Investigates offers a gripping detective story with an abundance of Easter eggs for Austen fans... This is a delightful riff on the wit and irony of Austen's works; of her wonderful juvenilia, especially.' David Taylor, Associate Professor, Faculty of English, University of Oxford

Jane Austen turns detective in this spooky historical adventure by award-winning author Julia Golding!

It's 1789 and a young Jane Austen turns detective as she seeks to solve the mysterious happenings at Southmoor Abbey. When a carriage accident forces a change of plans, 13-year-old Jane is sent to be a companion to Lady Cromwell for a week as the household prepares to celebrate the eldest son's coming-of-age party. While there, Jane vows to solve the mystery of the ghostly monk in the Abbey grounds - for she does not believe in such stories!

But this is not the only strange occurrence for the adventurous young Jane to investigate. There are shivery night-time investigations, an Indian girl with secret talents, a library fire, two prize horses in danger, and friends to save from false accusations.

With notebook in hand and her faithful dog Grandison by her side, will Jane overcome the continuous obstacles and find out the truth?

'Another exciting page-turner by Mel Starr. He beautifully depicts the counds, sights and smells, as well as the emotions, of the medieval world in this welcome addition to his long-running series. ' Jill Dalladay, author of The Abbess of Whitby

Lord Gilbert Talbot must provide soldiers for Prince Edward's battle in France. He wishes his surgeon - Hugh de Singleton - to travel with the war party to tend any injuries. Among those on the road is Sir Simon Trillowe, Hugh's old nemesis, who had once torched Hugh's house.

Finding himself in the same war party, Hugh resolves to watch his back in the presence of the knight, who is still holding a grudge. But it is Sir Simon who should not have turned his back...

When Trillowe's body is found, many suspect Hugh has wreaked revenge on his adversary.

To clear his name, Hugh must once again riddle a reason for murder.

'Edoardo Albert's book is brilliant: hugely enjoyable, a galloping plot with characters I care about - exactly the sort of thing I love to read... This was a joy to read from start to finish.' Conn Iggulden, author of the Conqueror and Emperor series.

Oswald's head is on a spike. Can Oswiu avoid the same fate?

The great pagan king Penda set a trap, and when the brothers Oswiu and Oswald walked in, only one came back alive.

Rumours abound that the place where Oswald's body is strung up has become sacred ground a site of healing for those who seek it. Oswald's mother believes he will protect those he loves, even beyond the grave. So she asks the impossible of Oswiu: to journey to the heart of Penda's kingdom and rescue the body that was stolen from them.

Oswiu: King of Kings is the masterful conclusion to The Northumbrian Thrones trilogy.

"Edwin, High King of Britain, brings to life the heroic age of our distant past, a splendid novel that leaves the reader wanting more." Bernard Cornwell

Debut historical fiction series vividly recreating the rise of the Christian kings of Northumbria, England

In 604 AD, Edwin, the deposed king of Northumbria, seeks refuge at the court of King Raedwald of East Anglia. But Raedwald is urged to kill his guest by Aethelfrith, Edwin's usurper. As Edwin walks by the shore, alone and at bay, he is confronted by a mysterious figure--the missionary Paulinus-- who prophesies that he will become High King of Britain. It is a turning point.

Through battles and astute political alliances Edwin rises to great power, in the process marrying the Kentish princess Aethelburh. As part of the marriage contract the princess is allowed to retain her Christian faith. But, in these times, to be a king is not a recipe for a long life.

This turbulent and tormented period in British history sees the conversion of the Anglo-Saxon settlers who have forced their way on to British shores over previous centuries, arriving first to pillage, then to farm and trade--and to come to terms with the faith of the Celtic tribes they have driven out.

The dramatic story of Northumbria's Christian kings helped give birth to England as a nation, English as a language, and the adoption of Christianity as the faith of the English.

"Mel Starr has done it again. This latest episode in the saga of Hugh de Singleton, medieval surgeon and detective, is another jewel in the author's crown. Each of these stand-alone dramas are tales of the highest order. The epoch and the region are portrayed with flawless beauty. His writing is superb. And the stories themselves are captivating. Highly recommended." - Davis Bunn, bestselling author

Another brilliant slice of medieval crime fiction.

Thomas atte Bridge, a man no one likes, is found hanging from a tree near Cow-leys Corner. All assume he has taken his own life, but Master Hugh and Kate find evidence that this may not be so.

Many of the town had been harmed by Thomas, and Hugh is not eager to send one of them to the gallows. Then he discovers that the priest John Kellet, atte Bridge's partner in crime in A CORPSE AT ST. ANDREW'S CHAPEL, was covertly in Bampton at the time atte Bridge died.

Master Hugh is convinced that Kellet has murdered atte Bridge ' one rogue slaughtering another. He sets out for Exeter, where Kellet now works. But there he discovers that the priest is an emaciated skeleton of a man, who mourns the folly of his past life. Hugh must return to Bampton and discover which of his friends has murdered his enemy...

'Mel Starr has given us another layered, compelling mystery, strong with abundant, telling details of everyday medieval life. This is a series well worth the reading.' - Margaret Frazer, author of the Dame Frevisse medieval mysteries

'Imaginative, authentic, and evocative. A powerful narrative beautifully told.' - Gerard Kelly, author of The Boy Who Loved Rain

Maryam is stuck in an abusive marriage, living with her in-laws, in a conservative, toxically religious Middle Eastern setting.

A few years back, her father was given a jar of priceless perfume by a dying leper and it seemed as if their fortunes would improve, but then Maryam's father contracted leprosy and was exiled by the village. Maryam and her brother, Eleazar, and sister, Marta, experience the shame and ostracism this brings. The precious jar that was meant to bring them freedom, but it only seems to have brought destruction.

But rumours abound concerning a new doctor; perhaps hope is on the horizon...

A beautifully crafted novel about two sisters who face the stigma of shame, the sorrow of loss, and the startling hope one can find when someone shows you a different way of seeing the world.

Maria Merryweather returns to Moonacre Manor with her granddaughter Rose to escape the horrors of the first world war bombings in London.

The magical qualities of Moonacre Valley are rediscovered as Rose meets Wrolf, who is more lion than dog, and sees the little white horse, an entrancing unicorn. Rose soon discovers that the Merryweathers' old foes, the de Noir clan, are once more spreading darkness and fear through the Valley under the influence of Hugo de Noir. With the help of her new friend, Devin, and a variety of animal companions can Rose uncover the mystery of the Silver Moth aeroplane, rescue a young woman and her baby, and help an unexpected kindred spirit, William de Noir?

Beautiful, thrilling, and magical, The Silver Moth, returns to the fantasy world of the bestselling timeless classic The Little White Horse.

'A Little Princess - with tigers! Orphan and outcast Sahira Clive is a brave and plucky heroine with a brightly burning heart. I was rooting for her all the way to the end of this thrilling - and thought-provoking - adventure.' Ally Sherrick, award-winning author of Black Powder

Sahira's family are travelling to England to deliver two majestic Indian tigers to the menagerie in the tower of London.

But tragedy strikes and sickness steals Sahira's parents from her on the journey. Left alone in London, Sarhira finds herself confined to a miserable and dangerous orphanage. Despite her heartache and the threats she faces, Sahira is determined to carry out her father's last request - to protect God's beautiful creatures: her tigers. To do so, Sahira must set out on an adventure and use all her powers of persuasion to engage the help of some new friends along the way.

Can the quest to find her tigers a safe home, lead Sahira to find her own place of hope and belonging in this strange and foreign land?

'Sir Hugh is in top form tracking down the wily killer of local clerics while eating his way through a feast of mediaeval dishes. A delightful mystery with an authentic historical touch.' Fiona Veitch Smith, author and scriptwriter

Keeping watch over the Easter Sepulchre, where the Host and crucifix are stored between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, is considered a privilege. So, it is shocking when it is discovered that Odo, the priest's clerk, has abandoned his post in the middle of the night. But as the hours pass and Odo is not found, panic rises. At first light Bampton's bailiff, Hugh de Singleton, is roused from his bed.

It is Hugh that ingeniously finds the clue that leads all to fear for the life of the missing man... The question is, will Hugh be called to investigate another murder, or will he find the man hale and hearty? But if the latter, where has the blood come from?

'Time-travel from the safety of your armchair - with a murderous twist. Mel Starr's eagerly awaited new Hugh de Singleton medieval mystery doesn't disappoint his fans. Join everyone's favourite physician-cum-bailiff as he endeavours to solve more dire fourteenth-century crimes. ' Toni Mount, author of the Sebastian Foxley murder mystery series

Edmund Harkins has gone missing.

Few would confess to liking the man - a wife-beater and distinctly unsavoury character - so when some hungry pigs disinter his corpse in a shallow grave, there is hardly an outpouring of grief.

However, this intensifies the problem Sir Hugh faces: as bailiff of Bampton it is his duty to discover who has slain Edmund. But if he does, he will earn the enmity of villagers who are pleased the scoundrel is dead, and who knows what repercussions might follow?

To further complicate Hugh's life, the Bishop of Exeter has sent a new vicar to Bampton, his nephew, who behaves in an obnoxious manner to Lady Katherine's maid, and seems obsessed with discovering any heretical views Hugh might hold. The vicar also, it transpires, is contributing to the unhealthy atmosphere of suppression and suspicion that has come to pervade the village...

"A powerful and compassionate book looking into the heart of human dilemma, corruption, and redemption. This is a gripping story of depth and insight." - Pen Wilcock, author of The Hawk and the Dove

Berlin, 1933: as Hitler rises to power, the law - designed to protect and serve - becomes twisted to the will of those who dream of a pure Aryan race.

SS Officer Walter Gunther is intensely loyal to the Third Reich. His readiness to kill without question or remorse would seem to make him the ideal candidate to lead the T4 euthanasia programme. SS Officer Karl Muller, a trainee doctor and engineer, is also brought into the programme, and assured that his work is consistent with the Hippocratic oath he's due to take. Their mandate: to kill the "unworthies" - not just the Jews, but crippled children, the mentally ill, homosexuals. Hedda, Walter's wife and old acquaintance of Karl, has no idea of what their work entails. Until, that is, the fate of their families is at stake, and each must confront afresh the choices they have made.

This dark, tense novel is a compelling story of human tragedy, and man's potential to revel in, or fight against, the evil actions of a corrupted nation.

'Another delightful and absorbing mystery from Mel Starr, keeping the reader guessing as the corpses pile up in Prince Edward's palace. Hugh de Singleton, of the dry wit and engaging humility, is one of my favourite sleuths.' Penelope Wilcock, British author and blogger

Master Hugh won the Black Prince's favour when he helped to ease the Prince's illness.

Now, in the autumn of 1372, the prince is suffering a relapse and sends to Bampton for Master Hugh to attend him. While at dinner in Kennington Palace, Sir Giles, the knight who escorted Hugh to London, is stricken and dies. Poison!

Sir Giles is not popular, and there are many who would gladly see the fellow done away with... except for Prince Edward. The Black Prince feels a debt to the slain man because of his heroic behaviour at the Battle of Crecy, where the knight stood firm with the prince when the fight seemed of uncertain outcome.

Despite caring little for Sir Giles, Master Hugh must once again place himself in jeopardy and seek to uncover the perpetrator of the crime...

'Jill Dalladay immerses the reader in the turbulent world of seventh-century Britain, where everything is changing, and vividly tells the life story of the woman who played a key role in the creation of England: Hild of Whitby.' Edoardo Albert, author of Edwin:High King of Britain

Chosen as handmaid to Eostre, the Saxon goddess, Hild would spend a year serving the goddess before she was wed. Her future was mapped out - until her father was murdered, and King Edwin claimed her as kin.

Hild's first love was given a key command in Edwin's forces, and vanished from her life, wed to her elder sister. That same day, the court was baptised, ending the people's fertility religion and Hild's role.

Life looked bleak - even more so when the husband to whom she was given was killed, along with her child. Hild resented the compulsory baptism, but became intrigued by the Iona priests, and eventually converted.

Aidan, the charismatic figure who taught, and lived, a new kind of love, persuaded Hild to help spread the new faith. In thanks for a significant victory, King Oswy ordered her to found one of his new monasteries at Whitby. She would see the men she trained appointed by the Pope as missionary bishops, carrying the faith across Britain.

The anger runs deep; from some untraceable darkness; and it is stealing his will to live.

Colom had the perfect childhood, the much-loved son of a church pastor. Yet he wakes screaming from dreams in which his sister is drowning and he can't save her. Fiona turns to her husband, desperate to help their son. But David will not acknowledge that help is needed - and certainly not help from beyond the church. Then they find the suicide pledge. Fiona, in panic, takes Colom and flees... but when will she acknowledge that the unnamed demons Colom faces might be of her and David's own creation?

This beautifully written and searching novel by poet Gerard Kelly explores the toxicity of secrets, the nature of healing, and the ever-present power of rain.

'Beautifully written, with crisscrossing, captivating storylines, 'Only With Blood' reveals tenderness and trauma, accompanied by welcome touches of transformation. A great read!' - Catherine Campbell

Jack Flynn, strong and aggressive, but slowly dying of tuberculosis on his farm in Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland, decides to acquire - buy - a young wife who can bear him sons to inherit his family's land.

His choice, Caitlin Spillane, is less than half his age, attractive and intelligent, and resents bitterly the obedience that is forced upon her. When Donal Kelly, a young firebrand and IRA activist, arrives in the village, he is determined to liberate Caitlin from her unloved husband - by any means.

A novel set against the struggle for the heart of Ireland in the Second World War.

Discover the gripping medieval mystery series featuring Hugh of Singleton.

Hugh of Singleton, fourth son of a minor knight, has been educated as a clerk, usually a prelude to taking holy orders. However, feeling no certain calling despite a lively faith, he turns to the profession of surgeon, training in Paris and then hanging out his sign in Oxford.

In "The Unquiet Bones," Hugh is asked by a local lord to track down the killer of a young woman. She is identified as the impetuous missing daughter of a local blacksmith, and her young man, whom she had provoked very publicly, is in due course arrested and sentenced at the Oxford assizes. With graphic medical procedures, misdirection, and droll medieval wit, this tale will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Readers have praised this book as "absolutely loved," "realistic," and "the best medieval mystery I've read in a while." Don't miss out on the chance to delve into this world of ambition, romantic distractions, and underlying Christian compassion.

Don't miss out on this thrilling read and join the many others eagerly awaiting the next instalment!

'A real treat for bookworms.'- Lucy Strange, children's author of The Ghost of Gosswater

Join young, budding detective Jane Austen in her second investigation to uncover a devious diamond thief at the glitziest, most scandalous ball of the year! Inspired by Sense and Sensibility.

When the headmistress invites her past favourite pupil to attend their end of term ball, Cassandra brings her younger sister, Jane, along too. Cassandra plunges into the feverish excitement of preparing for the biggest event of the year - the dresses, the dances and the boys expected from the neighbouring school.

Feeling rather excluded, sharp-witted Jane unearths the reason for the fuss - the headteacher wants to impress a rich family returned from India as the school is at risk of going bankrupt. Jane also befriends the dancing master's assistant, a former slave, called Brandon, who is as quick to notice things as she. At the ball, a diamond necklace is stolen from a locked room and they are propelled into a race to uncover the burglar and save Brandon from gaol.

With the ever-present Austen spirit, Jane with notebook in hand, boldly overcomes the obstacles to finding the truth.

ECPA award winner 2023 - Best fiction cover

Set in the early industrial revolution and the great canal building age, a young Jane Austen takes on the role of detective as she seeks to solve the mysterious events at the Oxford canal terminus.

Nearing completion, convicts work on completing the wharf overseen by the charming secretary Mr George, who shows Jane around. A rude convict Gardiner does not make a good impression though. When Gardiner goes missing and canal funds turn up short, an exciting manhunt ensues but Jane begins to expect something suspicious about the secretary and the reasons why Gardiner was in prison. Were Jane's first impressions very wrong about the relative merits of the convict and the secretary? With the ever-present Austen spirit, Jane with notebook in hand, boldly overcomes the obstacles to finding the truth and exposes some intriguing secrets.

Inspired by Austen's third novel Pride and Prejudice.

'Instantly likeable with wonderful characters who draw you in.' Lou Fellingham, singer and songwriter

The march towards the end of the year sees Hope Hall once again buzzing with activity.The lead up to the Harvest Festival sees a stray dog causing a nuisance, and tensions rise between two old schoolmates.

The drama only increases as Christmas approaches, and the panto rehearsals featuring the jocular "Can't Sing Singers" get into full swing. But the hustle and bustle of the drama in the community stems from the deeper personal stories. Loneliness, loss, and hurt impact the lives of many of the local residents. But where there is community, there is friendship, companionship, love, and most of all, hope.

Christmas at Hope Hall is the final book in a delightful trilogy centred on a Victorian church hall, the like of which can be found at the heart of so many towns across England. This wonderful finale to the series (which includes the sound of wedding bells!) is full of friends and neighbours with stories that will have you giggling one minute, and dabbing your eyes the next.

Mel Starr's latest novel is a thoroughly enjoyable medieval crime mystery. It may be enjoyed as complete in itself, or as part of the Hugh de Singleton series.

When Hugh and Kate's new-born son is taken to the church to be baptized, they are astounded to find that the locked font is completely dry. The possibility of a leak is quickly ruled out, and just as Hugh is beginning to wonder if there may be a sinister explanation for the stolen holy water, Fr Robert is found lying motionless by the rood screen in a pool of blood...

Meanwhile, parliament has passed a poll tax, stipulating everyone above the age of 14 is to be taxed equally. Folk are soon scrambling to find the money to pay and, inevitably, unscrupulous elements in society see an opportunity to feed off people's desperation and make some cash... But what connection can there possibly between this and events at Bampton?

"Is there reason to suspect evil in this?" I asked.

"None... but that the man was robust one day and a corpse the next."

Master Hugh, surgeon and bailiff, has been asked to provide a sleeping potion for Sir Henry Burley, a friend and guest of Lord Gilbert at Bampton Castle, near Oxford. Three days before St John's Day, in the year of our Lord 1368, Sir Henry went to his bed hale and hearty after enjoying a long evening music, conversation, and dancing in Bampton's Castle's hall. The next morn his valet found him cole and dead.

Master Hugh is asked by Lord Gilbert to determine the cause of death - despite shrill accusations from Sir Henry's grieving widow...

'If you have ever wondered how you might have felt and reacted had you lived in Palestine and heard tales about a wonderful 'Teacher' performing miracles down in Galilee, you will definitely enjoy this book.' Farifteh V. Robb, author of In the Shadow of the Shahs

"When a pot breaks, it's useless; at best there might be a shard that you can use to scoop grain. But what about a broken life? What about me? I feel so fragmented. Can I be repaired somehow? How do I live with the hate I feel towards those I’m supposed to be closest to? My life is in pieces and I don’t know what to do…"

Will one tragic event leave friendship and family ties irrevocably broken? And how will a historical Middle Eastern mountain community deal with news of a miracle worker? Is he too good to be true?

'Spirited and enjoyable' Nicholas Higham

Oswald had found peace. But now he must fight for the throne.

Northumbria lies undefended. Cadwallon and Penda, the kings of Gwynedd and Mercia, ravage the land. Oswald has a rightful claim to the throne, but he is sick of bloodshed, and in his heart he longs to lay down his sword and join the monks of Iona. However, the abbot of Iona does not need another monk; the abbot wants a warrior king to spread the new faith. He must reignite Oswald's hunger for glory and renown, for gold and power and the homage of men.

But, if he does, will it destroy Oswald?

'Hugh de Singleton is a delight... the well-crafted plot, the excellent period detail and the flashes of humour.' Donna Fletcher Crow, author of The Monastery Murders

"My life would have been more tranquil in the days after Martinmas had I not seen the crows. Whatever it was that the crows had found lay in the dappled shadow of the bare limbs of the oak, so I was nearly upon the thing before I recognized what the crows were feasting upon. The corpse wore black."

Master Hugh is making his way towards Oxford when he discovers the young Benedictine - a fresh body, barefoot - not half a mile from the nearby abbey.

The abbey's novice master confirms the boy's identity: John, one of three novices. But he had gone missing four days previously, and his corpse is fresh. There has been plague in the area, but this was not the cause of death: the lad has been stabbed in the back. To Hugh's sinking heart, the abbot has a commission for him...

A new and disturbing puzzle for the medieval surgeon-turned-sleuth.

'I was completely charmed by The Marriage of Innis Wilkinson. What a marvelous sequel to The Death of Mungo Blackwell. Lauren is a refreshing, talented storyteller. She's an author I've added to my favorites list.' Rachel Hauck, NYTimes Bestselling Author

Roy Blackwell has proposed to Margarette Toft. A controversial decision given their families are sworn enemies!

Soon Coraloo's feuding clans are competing to organize events for the most talked about wedding of the year... and glorious chaos ensues! But as the depth of the two families' animosity becomes clear, Roy and Margarette’s relationship begins to falter.

Then Roy unearths a town secret involving the mysterious marriage of Innis Wilkinson and a murder. Parallels between the past and present rock the couple even further. But, as the whole truth comes to light, Roy and Margarette learn more than they could have imagined about love, family, and finding a place in the world.

Heart-warming and charming, The Marriage of Innis Wilkinson will inspire joy and laughter.

An engrossing read in the successful Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon series.

Lady Philippa, the wife of Sir Aymer - a knight of the realm - disappears while travelling from her husband's manor to Bampton. She and her maid are travelling in an enclosed wagon, whilst her husband and his grooms and a squire are mounted. When the party arrives at Bampton Castle neither the lady nor her maid are within the enclosed wagon: they have simply vanished.

As the disappearance may have happened while the travellers were on Lord Gilbert's lands, his surgeon and bailiff, Hugh de Singleton, is assigned to discover what has happened to the lady. Has she been taken? Her has she fled her husband?

Can Hugh help find her, or is it already too late?

'In this delightful tale of Kath Sutton and the motley bunch of characters revolving around the community hall she runs, Pam Rhodes has given us a story of warmth, humour, and hope about lives shared and burdens carried...' Sheridan Voysey, BBC Radio 2 presenter and author of Reflect with Sheridan

HOPE HALL thrums with activity under the summer sun. Sea Cadets march in the yard and happy chatter issues from English as a Foreign Language classes while the weekly Food Bank reaches out to those in need.

Kath is determined to honour the origins of Hope Hall, which was founded in memory of those lost during the two world wars. It’s all hands on deck as the centenary celebrations continue, but Kath's efforts set her on a collision course with Celia Ainsworth, a descendant of the family that donated the land.

Added to this, a mysterious homeless man proves tricky for Sheelagh to identify, and a handsome stranger looks set to lead Kath a merry dance...

SUMMER'S OUT AT HOPE HALL is a fun and deeply moving story that celebrates the power of hope.

"A compelling mystery told with an extraordinary insight into the heights and depths of human nature. Paul Trembling has a gift for making heroes out of ordinary people." Fiona Veitch Smith, author of The Death Beat

The police call came at 4:00 am.

A possible burglary that turns out to be a particularly nasty murder.

Sandra Deeson, the Librarian who finds the bloodied body, is deeply shaken. Then the nightmares begin- because what the police don't know is that this is not the first time she has found a corpse. One of Sandra's colleagues is missing. The Police investigation starts and then stalls. There may be a clue in the painting someone left for Sandra - but the picture brings back memories she's tried to keep buried.

Two unidentified bodies, thirty years apart, and the only connection is Sandra herself. Last time, it cost her dearly. This time the price may be even steeper.

"A fascinating suspense story . . . intricately plotted, I was gripped from the first page and heartily recommend this book as a 'not to be missed." MYSTERY PEOPLE

A cure for obesity, worth billions. A death in a clinical trial.

When patent lawyer Daniel Marchmont agrees to act for Calliope Biotech, he doesn't know what he's getting into. The first lawyer on the case is dead, and a vital lab book is missing. Daniel and his wife Rachel are hoping biotechnology will also provide a cure for their daughter Chloe, who suffers from a devastating genetic disorder. Then the unimaginable happens, and they face a moral dilemma that threatens everything.

Meanwhile young researcher Katie Flanagan suspects something is very wrong in the lab. But knowledge is dangerous when someone is playing a perilous game...

'She creates such a feeling of the atmosphere of this Northumbrian island.' Crediton Country Courier

Grieving the loss of wife and mother, Aidan and Melangell visit the renowned spiritual retreat center on the British island of Lindisfarne so Aidan can share with bright eight-year-old Melangell one of the places that inspired Jenny to write her books.

There they meet up with Jenny's friend Lucy, a Methodist minister, who is teaching a course on the local Northumbrian saints. Lucy has brought Rachel, a troubled teenager, to the Holy Island in hopes that the remoteness and peace of the location will help her.

But when Rachel is found dead on the beach, everyone on the island is under suspicion. As investigators and Rachel's "friends" come to the island, Aidan and Lucy learn more about Rachel, and Lucy's past as a policewoman is revealed.

And so Aidan is drawn into his second mystery. Masterfully told by award-winning author Fay Sampson, Death on Lindisfarne explores the complicated motivations of fallen people against the backdrop of ancient holiness.

'A powerfully evoked sense of place and unfolding mystery is woven into a contemporary tale of tragedy turned sinister, on the ancient island of saints.' C. F. Dunn, author of Mortal Fire.

'With a plucky, compelling heroine, a novel steampunk-styled device, and a dragon, of course, this may well be the best book of the three!' - Bob Hartman, author and performance storyteller

Street-smart Anavah lives a tough life on the crime-ridden streets of northern Presadia. But when a mysterious tinker gives her a curious set of crystal goggles, she discovers a powerful magic that will change her life forever.

Drawn into an adventure that stretches across time and space, she learns about the legendary dragon riders and is caught up in events that will transform Presadia's history.

The question is: what part will Anavah play? Her life to date has taught her to trust no one, but that instinct may have devastating consequences...

Enter Presadia one more time to experience a third dazzling adventure. Meet friends old and new, and learn of the trust, betrayal, fear, bravery, greed, and sacrifice of individuals that lead to a struggle for Presadia's very existence.

Experience the captivating world of medieval Bampton, Oxfordshire with Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and bailiff of Bampton Castle, as he faces his most dangerous case yet.

Master John Wyclif, known for his sharp tongue and wit, is at a loss when his books are stolen. Hugh must recover the books before it's too late, and he sets his sights on the clever and charming Kate to aid in the search. However, their adversaries are not to be underestimated, and a poor scholar is found dead in the river with ties to the stolen books.

Will Hugh and Kate be able to solve the mystery before more lives are lost?

Join them on their thrilling quest for the truth in the latest installment of the Hugh de Singleton series.

"Hugh de Singleton has come to Oxford seeking a wife. He finds treachery and murder. A Trail of Ink is a beautifully written medieval mystery set in 14th century Oxford. Mel Starr writes with the flowing language, startling detail and understated humor of one who has mastered his period and his craft." - Donna Fletcher Crow, author of A Very Private Grave

Grieving the loss of wife and mother, Aidan and Melangell visit the renowned spiritual retreat center on the British island of Lindisfarne so Aidan can share with bright eight-year-old Melangell one of the places that inspired Jenny to write her books.

There they meet up with Jenny's friend Lucy, a Methodist minister, who is teaching a course on the local Northumbrian saints. Lucy has brought Rachel, a troubled teenager, to the Holy Island in hopes that the remoteness and peace of the location will help her.

But when Rachel is found dead on the beach, everyone on the island is under suspicion. As investigators and Rachel's "friends" come to the island, Aidan and Lucy learn more about Rachel, and Lucy's past as a policewoman is revealed.

And so Aidan is drawn into his second mystery. Masterfully told by award-winning author Fay Sampson, Death on Lindisfarne explores the complicated motivations of fallen people against the backdrop of ancient holiness.

'A powerfully evoked sense of place and unfolding mystery is woven into a contemporary tale of tragedy turned sinister, on the ancient island of saints.' C. F. Dunn, author of Mortal Fire.

'A Little Princess – with tigers! O rphan and outcast Sahira Clive is a brave and plucky heroine with a brightly burning heart. I was rooting for her all the way to the end of this thrilling – and thought-provoking – adventure.' Ally Sherrick, award-winning author of Black Powder

Sahira’s family are travelling to England to deliver two majestic Indian tigers to the menagerie in the tower of London.

But tragedy strikes and sickness steals Sahira’s parents from her on the journey. Left alone in London, Sarhira finds herself confined to a miserable and dangerous orphanage. Despite her heartache and the threats she faces, Sahira is determined to carry out her father’s last request – to protect God’s beautiful creatures: her tigers. To do so, Sahira must set out on an adventure and use all her powers of persuasion to engage the help of some new friends along the way.

Can the quest to find her tigers a safe home, lead Sahira to find her own place of hope and belonging in this strange and foreign land?

'With a plucky, compelling heroine, a novel steampunk-styled device, and a dragon, of course, this may well be the best book of the three!' -  Bob Hartman, author and performance storyteller

Street-smart Anavah lives a tough life on the crime-ridden streets of northern Presadia. But when a mysterious tinker gives her a curious set of crystal goggles, she discovers a powerful magic that will change her life forever.

Drawn into an adventure that stretches across time and space, she learns about the legendary dragon riders and is caught up in events that will transform Presadia’s history.

The question is: what part will Anavah play? Her life to date has taught her to trust no one, but that instinct may have devastating consequences…

Enter Presadia one more time to experience a third dazzling adventure. Meet friends old and new, and learn of the trust, betrayal, fear, bravery, greed, and sacrifice of individuals that lead to a struggle for Presadia’s very existence.

'Another exciting page-turner by Mel Starr. He beautifully depicts the counds, sights and smells, as well as the emotions, of the medieval world in this welcome addition to his long-running series. ' Jill Dalladay, author of The Abbess of Whitby

Lord Gilbert Talbot must provide soldiers for Prince Edward's battle in France. He wishes his surgeon - Hugh de Singleton - to travel with the war party to tend any injuries. Among those on the road is Sir Simon Trillowe, Hugh's old nemesis, who had once torched Hugh's house.

Finding himself in the same war party, Hugh resolves to watch his back in the presence of the knight, who is still holding a grudge. But it is Sir Simon who should not have turned his back...

When Trillowe's body is found, many suspect Hugh has wreaked revenge on his adversary.

To clear his name, Hugh must once again riddle a reason for murder.

Master Hugh, Kate, and their children attend the Midsummer's Eve fire. Next morning early Hugh hears the passing bell ring from the Church of St. Beornwald, and moments later is summoned.

Tenants collecting the ashes to spread upon their fields have found burned bones. Master Hugh learns of several men of Bampton and nearby villages who have gone missing recently. Most are soon found, some alive, some dead. Master Hugh eventually learns that the bones are those of a bailiff from a nearby manor. Someone has slain him and placed his body in the fire to destroy evidence of murder. Bailiffs are not popular men; they dictate labour service, collect rents, and enforce other obligations. 

Has this bailiff died at the hand of some angry tenant? Hugh soon discovers this is not the case. There is quite another reason for murder ...

Chosen as handmaid to Eostre, the Saxon goddess, Hild would spend a year serving the goddess before she was wed. Her future was mapped out - until her father was murdered, and King Edwin claimed her as kin. 

Hild's first love was given a key command in Edwin's forces, and vanished from her life, wed to her elder sister. That same day, the court was baptised, ending the people's fertility religion and Hild's role. 

Life looked bleak - even more so when the husband to whom she was given was killed, along with her child. Hild resented the compulsory baptism, but became intrigued by the Iona priests, and eventually converted. 

Aidan, the charismatic figure who taught, and lived, a new kind of love, persuaded Hild to help spread the new faith. In thanks for a significant victory, King Oswy ordered her to found one of his new monasteries at Whitby. She would see the men she trained appointed by the Pope as missionary bishops, carrying the faith across Britain.

"Edwin, High King of Britain, brings to life the heroic age of our distant past, a splendid novel that leaves the reader wanting more." Bernard Cornwell

Debut historical fiction series vividly recreating the rise of the Christian kings of Northumbria, England

In 604 AD, Edwin, the deposed king of Northumbria, seeks refuge at the court of King Raedwald of East Anglia. But Raedwald is urged to kill his guest by Aethelfrith, Edwin's usurper. As Edwin walks by the shore, alone and at bay, he is confronted by a mysterious figure--the missionary Paulinus-- who prophesies that he will become High King of Britain. It is a turning point.

Through battles and astute political alliances Edwin rises to great power, in the process marrying the Kentish princess Aethelburh. As part of the marriage contract the princess is allowed to retain her Christian faith. But, in these times, to be a king is not a recipe for a long life.

This turbulent and tormented period in British history sees the conversion of the Anglo-Saxon settlers who have forced their way on to British shores over previous centuries, arriving first to pillage, then to farm and trade--and to come to terms with the faith of the Celtic tribes they have driven out.

The dramatic story of Northumbria's Christian kings helped give birth to England as a nation, English as a language, and the adoption of Christianity as the faith of the English.

An engrossing read in the successful Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon series.

Lady Philippa, the wife of Sir Aymer - a knight of the realm - disappears while travelling from her husband's manor to Bampton. She and her maid are travelling in an enclosed wagon, whilst her husband and his grooms and a squire are mounted. When the party arrives at Bampton Castle neither the lady nor her maid are within the enclosed wagon: they have simply vanished.

As the disappearance may have happened while the travellers were on Lord Gilbert's lands, his surgeon and bailiff, Hugh de Singleton, is assigned to discover what has happened to the lady. Has she been taken? Her has she fled her husband?

Can Hugh help find her, or is it already too late?

Discover the next gripping installment in the Hugh De Singleton's Chronicles series, following the life and adventures of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon in medieval Bampton, Oxfordshire.

When the beadle of the manor of Bampton disappears after going out to enforce curfew, his young wife Matilda turns to Master Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and bailiff of the manor, for help. Two days later, Alan's mutilated body is discovered in the hedge near St Andrew's Chapel. His throat has been ripped out, his head nearly severed from his body, and his arms and hands covered in deep scratches.

At the scene, Master Hugh teams up with Hubert the coroner, who suggests that a wolf could have caused the fatal wound. But why is there no blood, and why are there so many scratches? As Master Hugh delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers a web of secrets and lies that threaten to tear the community apart.

With vivid descriptions of medieval life, graphic medical procedures, and a cast of compelling characters, this story is a must-read for fans of historical mysteries.

"This skillfully woven story is a delight to read. The setting is exceptionally well crafted. Highly recommended." Davis Bunn, best-selling author

‘A real treat for bookworms.’ – Lucy Strange, children’s author of The Ghost of Gosswater

Join young, budding detective Jane Austen in her second investigation to uncover a devious diamond thief at the glitziest, most scandalous ball of the year! Inspired by Sense and Sensibility.

When the headmistress invites her past favourite pupil to attend their end of term ball, Cassandra brings her younger sister, Jane, along too. Cassandra plunges into the feverish excitement of preparing for the biggest event of the year – the dresses, the dances and the boys expected from the neighbouring school.

Feeling rather excluded, sharp-witted Jane unearths the reason for the fuss – the headteacher wants to impress a rich family returned from India as the school is at risk of going bankrupt. Jane also befriends the dancing master’s assistant, a former slave, called Brandon, who is as quick to notice things as she. At the ball, a diamond necklace is stolen from a locked room and they are propelled into a race to uncover the burglar and save Brandon from gaol.

With the ever-present Austen spirit, Jane with notebook in hand, boldly overcomes the obstacles to finding the truth.

Camping out in Dyrys Woods, she starts to make a new life for herself and she finds space for her active imagination to run wild. Weaving together the stories she loves and memories of her past, including the mother she lost thirteen years ago. 

Back in the village, Rhiannon's disappearance triggers a series of events that uncovers the cracks in Llandymna's quiet surface. Quick-tempered Callum finds himself reluctantly drawn into search parties, while a young police officer is forced to investigate his neighbours, and the village's elderly story-teller hints at a secret that the older generation have kept for decades. But as painful as the village's past may be, it may hold the key for hope in the present...

Claire Wong's strong debut explores how human relationships develop, how we change as we interact with one another, and the role of folktales and mythology in small communities.

'Mel Starr has done it again with another brilliant Sir Hugh de Singleton medieval mystery to keep readers guessing until the very end. [.] I was there at the Queen's College, dining on pottage, getting soaked in the rain in fourteenth-century Oxford - Mel always draws you into the experience.' Toni Mount, author of the Sebastian Foxley murder mystery series

One of Master John Wycliffe’s scholars is found dead after a thunderstorm. Was he struck by lightning, or was there something more sinister to his death?

Scholar Richard Sabyn, a particularly obnoxious fellow, was believed to have been struck by lightning. However, Master Wycliffe believes otherwise and calls upon Sir Hugh de Singleton for help. Sir Hugh shares Wycliffe’s suspicions and launches a private investigation, learning that it might indeed be possible to make it look as though a man has died from a lightning strike. But who would go to all that effort, and why?

When fellow scholar Simon Duby dies, it raises even more questions and suspicions. What is the connection between the two men? Sir Hugh believes a bronze pot, a bucket of urine, and a small quantity of charcoal and brimstone may hold the answer. During a bleak 1375, can he survive the insidious plague and several attempts on his life as he continues his quest for truth?

'If you have ever wondered how you might have felt and reacted had you lived in Palestine and heard tales about a wonderful 'Teacher' performing miracles down in Galilee, you will definitely enjoy this book.' Farifteh V. Robb, author of In the Shadow of the Shahs

“When a pot breaks, it’s useless; at best there might be a shard that you can use to scoop grain. But what about a broken life? What about me? I feel so fragmented. Can I be repaired somehow? How do I live with the hate I feel towards those I’m supposed to be closest to? My life is in pieces and I don’t know what to do…”

Will one tragic event leave friendship and family ties irrevocably broken? And how will a historical Middle Eastern mountain community deal with news of a miracle worker? Is he too good to be true?

"A powerful and compassionate book looking into the heart of human dilemma, corruption, and redemption. This is a gripping story of depth and insight." - Pen Wilcock, author of The Hawk and the Dove

Berlin, 1933: as Hitler rises to power, the law - designed to protect and serve - becomes twisted to the will of those who dream of a pure Aryan race.

SS Officer Walter Gunther is intensely loyal to the Third Reich. His readiness to kill without question or remorse would seem to make him the ideal candidate to lead the T4 euthanasia programme. SS Officer Karl Muller, a trainee doctor and engineer, is also brought into the programme, and assured that his work is consistent with the Hippocratic oath he's due to take. Their mandate: to kill the "unworthies" - not just the Jews, but crippled children, the mentally ill, homosexuals. Hedda, Walter's wife and old acquaintance of Karl, has no idea of what their work entails. Until, that is, the fate of their families is at stake, and each must confront afresh the choices they have made.

This dark, tense novel is a compelling story of human tragedy, and man's potential to revel in, or fight against, the evil actions of a corrupted nation.

'The Little White Horse was my favourite childhood book. I absolutely adored it. It had a cracking plot. It was scary and romantic in parts and had a feisty heroine.' - JK Rowling - The Bookseller

In 1842, thirteen-year-old orphan Maria Merryweather travels to her family's ancestral home, Moonacre Manor, to live with her uncle Sir Benjamin. She immediately feels right at home with her kind and funny uncle and meets a wonderful set of new friends — but she quickly learns that beneath all this beauty and comfort, a past feud haunts Moonacre Manor and it’s her destiny to right the wrongs of her ancestors and restore the peace to Moonacre Valley.

'Brilliant, witty, and full of down-to-earth humour... The perfect 'church hall' anecdotal read' JB Gill, TV Presenter

Songs of Praise presenter is back with another thrilling read and an unputdownable series centered on a Victorian church hall and Kath, its brash and inexperienced administrator.

There's never a dull moment at Hope Hall. Its rooms are filled throughout the day with gossipy grandmas, body-popping teenagers, and a nursery group where it's the grown-ups who are near to tears!

But it's all in a day's work for administrator, Kath, whose job it is to make sure Hope Hall offers something for everyone! As the team works to pull off their ambitious Hope Hall Centenary Easter Monday Fayre, Kath realizes reinforcements are needed. Brash, loud and inexperienced though she may be, Kath has a feeling that Shirley might be just the ticket! The Fayre is a triumph but when Kath's old flame comes back on the scene, she's faced with some tough choices. Will Kath make the right decision?

The Battle of Flodden in September 1513 was one of the bloodiest battles ever fought on British soil, in which James IV, King of Scots, and virtually the whole of his nobility and gentry were annihilated in an afternoon along with 15,000 soldiers.

Five centuries on and the slaughter still occupies a core position in the Scottish nationalist debate and in the pantheon of heroic failures. This novel puts you in the heart of the action; you'll feel the sweat and the fear, the curtain of red mist.

The narrative covers the period April - September 1513, focusing around a handful of key characters:

- John Heron, Bastard of Ford, swaggering, violent and disreputable, the black sheep of a good English family
- Sir Thomas Howard, leader of the English forces, a skilled strategist
- Alexander, 3rd Lord Hume, leader of the Scots, bold but impetuous
- Isabella Hoppringle, Abbess of Coldstream, hub of a web of influential women throughout the Scottish borders, a woman of significant influence and charisma.

The great king, Meldryn Mawr, is dead, and his kingdom lies in ruins. Treachery and brutality rule the land, and Albion is the scene of an epic struggle for the throne. The words of a prophetess foretell a coming king, but Lewis, as Albion's renowned champion, Llew, has a more immediate concern: retrieving the treacherous Siawn-Hy, who has eluded him in the doorway between worlds.

Forced to flee for their lives, Llew and the bard Tegid find refuge deep in Albion's heartland. There Llew seeks the true meaning behind the mysterious prophecy, the making of a true king and the revealing of a long-awaited champion: Silver Hand. Under Llew and Tegid's leadership, a wilderness citadel arises, and the miraculous reign of Silver Hand begins.

Jack Flynn, strong and aggressive, but slowly dying of tuberculosis on his farm in Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland, decides to acquire - buy - a young wife who can bear him sons to inherit his family's land. 

His choice, Caitlin Spillane, is less than half his age, attractive and intelligent, and resents bitterly the obedience that is forced upon her. When Donal Kelly, a young firebrand and IRA activist, arrives in the village, he is determined to liberate Caitlin from her unloved husband - by any means. 

A novel set against the struggle for the heart of Ireland in the Second World War.

'Julia Golding’s Jane Austen Investigates offers a gripping detective story with an abundance of Easter eggs for Austen fans... This is a delightful riff on the wit and irony of Austen’s works; of her wonderful juvenilia, especially.' David Taylor, Associate Professor, Faculty of English, University of Oxford

Jane Austen turns detective in this spooky historical adventure by award-winning author Julia Golding!

It’s 1789 and a young Jane Austen turns detective as she seeks to solve the mysterious happenings at Southmoor Abbey. When a carriage accident forces a change of plans, 13-year-old Jane is sent to be a companion to Lady Cromwell for a week as the household prepares to celebrate the eldest son’s coming-of-age party. While there, Jane vows to solve the mystery of the ghostly monk in the Abbey grounds – for she does not believe in such stories!

But this is not the only strange occurrence for the adventurous young Jane to investigate. There are shivery night-time investigations, an Indian girl with secret talents, a library fire, two prize horses in danger, and friends to save from false accusations.

With notebook in hand and her faithful dog Grandison by her side, will Jane overcome the continuous obstacles and find out the truth?

Edmund Harkins has gone missing.

Few would confess to liking the man – a wife-beater and distinctly unsavoury character – so when some hungry pigs disinter his corpse in a shallow grave, there is hardly an outpouring of grief.

However, this intensifies the problem Sir Hugh faces: as bailiff of Bampton it is his duty to discover who has slain Edmund. But if he does, he will earn the enmity of villagers who are pleased the scoundrel is dead, and who knows what repercussions might follow?

To further complicate Hugh's life, the Bishop of Exeter has sent a new vicar to Bampton, his nephew, who behaves in an obnoxious manner to Lady Katherine’s maid, and seems obsessed with discovering any heretical views Hugh might hold. The vicar also, it transpires, is contributing to the unhealthy atmosphere of suppression and suspicion that has come to pervade the village . . .

In Luke Aylen's The Mirror and the Mountain, a title released in association with Essential Christian, two 11-year-olds pass through a mirror and end up in a magical kingdom called Presadia.

Trapped in a war-torn kingdom with no way home, Summer and Jonah are pulled into a strange quest to find the long-lost king, who alone has the power to restore peace to Presadia. Meeting strange and wonderful people along the way, including the dwarf high lord, the elf queen and a fire-breathing dragon, they learn important lessons about pride, greed, and the power of words as they embark on an epic journey to save the realm.

The children and their new friends must be brave as they fly across the broken kingdom and climb a misty mountain. Can they fulfil their quest to find the king and restore peace to Presadia? And will Summer and Jonah ever make it back to their own world?

In a forgotten age of darkness, a magnificent king arose to light the land.

They called him unfit to rule, a lowborn, callow boy, Uther’s bastard. But his coming had been foretold in the songs of the bard Taliesin. And he had learned powerful secrets at the knee of the mystical sage Merlin.

He was ARTHUR—Pendragon of the Island of the Mighty—who would rise to legendary greatness in a Britain torn by violence, greed, and war; who would usher in a glorious reign of peace and prosperity; and who would fall in a desperate attempt to save the one he loved more than life.

‘I don’t compare books to Tolkien… this is the best fantasy book I’ve read since then.’ GoodReads

The epic final battle between the Master and King

Eamon Goodman is now the Master’s Right Hand. But despite being the second-in-command to the ruler of the River Realm, Eamon becomes the victim of vengeful plots engineered by the other Quarter Hands. Eamon finds himself powerless to stop them and the people he cares for are under threat.

Eamon then discovers that the Nightholt?the book he long ago delivered to the Master’s Hands?holds the key to the Master’s power, which will become absolute upon the death of the King.

Thus the stage for the final battle is set. Eamon rides out at the head of the Master’s army and must finally decide where his true allegiance lies. His choice will determine the fate of the River Realm

The Search for the Map-and the secret behind its cryptic code-intensifies in a quest across time, space, and multiple realities.

But what if the true treasure isn’t the map at all . . . what if the map marks something far greater? Something one world cannot contain? Those who desire to unlock that mystery are in a race to possess the secret-for good or evil.

Kit Livingstone is mastering the ability to travel across realities using ley lines and has forged a link from the Bone House, a sacred lodge made of animal bones, to the fabled Spirit Well, a place of profound power.

His friend Mina is undercover in a Spanish monastery high in the Pyrenees, learning all she can from a monk named Brother Lazarus. Still determined to find Kit, she is beginning to experience a greater destiny than she can fathom.

Cassandra Clarke is overseeing an archaeological dig in Arizona when a chance encounter transports her to 1950s Damascus. There, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to the Seekers-the last living remnants of the Zetetic Society who need her help to track down the missing Cosimo Livingstone and his grandson Kit.

But there are darker forces at work in the universe whose agents always seem to be one step ahead of the rest-and they’re all desperate to gain the ultimate prize in this treasure hunt where the stakes increase at every turn. At the heart of the mystery lies the Spirit Well.

'Luke Aylen is a brilliant storyteller.' - Patrick Regan OBE, CEO and founder of Kintsugi Hope

Deep in the heart of Presadia's Great Forest lie many secrets, including the ancient ruins of a once-magnificent palace. A chance encounter with a bedraggled stranger and the discovery of broken shards of a magical mirror lead Antimony, an unusually tall dwarf, on a journey of discovery. Amazingly, he soon finds himself in charge of a growing community, which is determined to bring restoration to the palace. Can Antimony juggle the responsibilities and disagreements that have suddenly been thrust upon him, while also confronting shocking truths about his own complicated past?

 This unexpected adventure brings the oversized dwarf face to face with a mysterious elf known as the Usurper, a violent opponent of the exiled king. Antimony and his unlikely group must overcome tremendous odds if they are to restore what was broken and bring peace back to Presadia. Will they succeed, and will the king ever return to his rightful place?

 Revisit the magical world of Presidia, which is full of elves, dwarves and dragons in this exciting sequel to The Mirror and the Mountain.

'Mel Starr's writing is superb. And the stories themselves are captivating. Highly recommended.' Davis Bunn, internationally bestselling author

To bring justice, Master Hugh must foil the corrupt power of great men.

Many medieval scholars discontinued their university studies before completing their degree. Some lacked funds; others became bored with a scholar's life. Occasionally these young men formed lawless bands, robbing and raping and creating chaos. They were called goliards.

In Deeds of Darkness Master Hugh learns that the Bampton coroner, an old friend, has been slain while traveling to Oxford. As he seeks the killer (or killers) he discovers a band of goliards in the area between Oxford and Bampton.

But how to apprehend these youths? They have protectors far above Hugh's station. He must deal with the claims of justice on the one hand and the power of great men to protect their henchmen on the other.

Midwinter in Antarctica.

Six months of darkness are about to begin.

Scientist Katie Flanagan has an undeserved reputation as a trouble-maker and her career has foundered. When an accident creates an opening on a remote Antarctic research base she seizes it, flying in on the last plane before the subzero temperatures make it impossible to leave.

Meanwhile patent lawyer Daniel Marchmont has been asked to undertake due diligence on a breakthrough cancer cure. But the key scientist is strangely elusive and Daniel uncovers a dark secret that leads to Antarctica.

Out on the ice a storm is gathering. As the crew lock down the station they discover a body and realise that they are trapped with a killer...

Born to a druid bard and a princess of lost Atlantis, Merlin was destined for greatness. As he navigates a world ruled by greedy chieftains and barbaric invaders, Merlin must prepare for a higher destiny and pave the way for the legendary King Arthur Pendragon.

Full of action, adventure, and prophecy, this is a must-read for fans of Arthurian fantasy.

Don’t miss out on the stunning saga that will leave you breathless.

"Mel Starr has done it again. This latest episode in the saga of Hugh de Singleton, medieval surgeon and detective, is another jewel in the author's crown. Each of these stand-alone dramas are tales of the highest order. The epoch and the region are portrayed with flawless beauty. His writing is superb. And the stories themselves are captivating. Highly recommended." - Davis Bunn, bestselling author

Another brilliant slice of medieval crime fiction.

Thomas atte Bridge, a man no one likes, is found hanging from a tree near Cow-leys Corner. All assume he has taken his own life, but Master Hugh and Kate find evidence that this may not be so.

Many of the town had been harmed by Thomas, and Hugh is not eager to send one of them to the gallows. Then he discovers that the priest John Kellet, atte Bridge's partner in crime in A CORPSE AT ST. ANDREW'S CHAPEL, was covertly in Bampton at the time atte Bridge died.

Master Hugh is convinced that Kellet has murdered atte Bridge ' one rogue slaughtering another. He sets out for Exeter, where Kellet now works. But there he discovers that the priest is an emaciated skeleton of a man, who mourns the folly of his past life. Hugh must return to Bampton and discover which of his friends has murdered his enemy...

'Mel Starr has given us another layered, compelling mystery, strong with abundant, telling details of everyday medieval life. This is a series well worth the reading.' - Margaret Frazer, author of the Dame Frevisse medieval mysteries

Kit stared at his fellow questors. "Is this it?"

It started with small, seemingly insignificant wrinkles in time: A busy bridge suddenly disappears, spilling cars into the sea. A beast from another realm roams modern streets. Napoleon's army appears in 1930s Damascus ready for battle. But that's only the beginning as entire realities collide and collapse.

The questors are spread throughout the universe. Mina is stuck on a plain of solid ice, her only companion an angry cave lion named Baby. Tony and Gianni are monitoring the cataclysmic reversal of the cosmic expansion-but coming up short on answers. And Burleigh is languishing in a dreary underground dungeon-his only hope of survival the very man he tried to kill.

Kit and Cass are back in the Stone Age trying to reach the Spirit Well. But an enormous yew tree has grown over the portal, effectively cutting off any chance of return. Unless someone can find a solution-and fast-all Creation will be destroyed in the universal apocalypse known as The End of Everything.

In the final volume of the fantastic Bright Empires series, Stephen R. Lawhead brings the multi-stranded tale to a stunning and immensely satisfying conclusion.

'Another delightful and absorbing mystery from Mel Starr, keeping the reader guessing as the corpses pile up in Prince Edward's palace. Hugh de Singleton, of the dry wit and engaging humility, is one of my favourite sleuths.' Penelope Wilcock, British author and blogger

Master Hugh won the Black Prince's favour when he helped to ease the Prince's illness.

Now, in the autumn of 1372, the prince is suffering a relapse and sends to Bampton for Master Hugh to attend him. While at dinner in Kennington Palace, Sir Giles, the knight who escorted Hugh to London, is stricken and dies. Poison!

Sir Giles is not popular, and there are many who would gladly see the fellow done away with... except for Prince Edward. The Black Prince feels a debt to the slain man because of his heroic behaviour at the Battle of Crecy, where the knight stood firm with the prince when the fight seemed of uncertain outcome.

Despite caring little for Sir Giles, Master Hugh must once again place himself in jeopardy and seek to uncover the perpetrator of the crime...

'Perfect blend of gritty life and romance. Engrossing!' Carol A. Brown, author of Highly Sensitive

To Rachel Keyte death is the enemy. The early loss of her beloved father from heart failure ignited a single-minded determination in her: to save as many patients as she can, and to become a consultant before the age of forty. Everything else – friendship, love, empathy – is sacrificed to her obsession.

Now Rachel’s surgical skills are twelve-year-old Craig’s only hope for a normal life. His mother Eve holds a deep distrust of doctors, and her son is all she has. Reluctantly, she agrees for the operation to go ahead. But surgery is never predictable, nor is a devastated mother’s terrifying reaction. Eve, it seems, wants a life for a life...

A vividly-realized and beautifully crafted novel focused around the fabled meeting between Sheba and Solomon

Against all odds Makeda, daughter of an obscure African chieftain, is chosen as Queen of all Sheba. Recognizing her own inexperience, yet desperately wanting to address Sheba's appalling social injustice, she is persuaded by her cousin Tamrin, wealthy merchant and narrator of the novel, to visit Solomon, King of Israel, to find out about how he governs his kingdom. She is hugely impressed by Israel's prosperity, by the wisdom and integrity with which Solomon rules, by the Hebrew religion, which she decides to adopt as her own, and by the justice for all that she determines to copy.

However Solomon, who is trapped in a childless and loveless dynastic marriage with Pharaoh's daughter, allows himself to fall in love with the beautiful and intelligent African. He eventually tricks her into sleeping with him, and on the return journey to Sheba she discovers that she is pregnant.

The son to whom she gives birth grows up in the court of Sheba, and eventually travels to Israel with Tamrin, to meet his father. But Solomon is a broken man, having put his doomed love for Makeda and need for an heir before his relationship with God. He has taken hundreds of wives and concubines in a fruitless attempt to recapture the love which he and Makeda shared. And Israel is no longer the nation of his youth . . .

When the leader of the nation of God is apostate, where will the blessing fall?

"Is there reason to suspect evil in this?" I asked. 

"None... but that the man was robust one day and a corpse the next." 

Master Hugh, surgeon and bailiff, has been asked to provide a sleeping potion for Sir Henry Burley, a friend and guest of Lord Gilbert at Bampton Castle, near Oxford. Three days before St John's Day, in the year of our Lord 1368, Sir Henry went to his bed hale and hearty after enjoying a long evening music, conversation, and dancing in Bampton's Castle's hall. The next morn his valet found him cole and dead. 

Master Hugh is asked by Lord Gilbert to determine the cause of death - despite shrill accusations from Sir Henry's grieving widow...

'Fans of medieval mysteries will revel in Starr's lively blending of intriguing suspense and telling historical detail.' - Library Journal

It is the autumn of 1367. Master Hugh is enjoying the peaceful life of Bampton, when a badly beaten man is found under the porch of St. Andrew's Chapel.

The dying man is a chapman - a traveling merchant. Before he is buried in the chapel grounds, an ancient, corroded coin is found in the man's mouth.

Master Hugh's quest for the chapman's assailants, and his search for the origin of the coin, makes steady progress - but there are men of wealth and power who wish to halt his search, and an old nemesis, Sir Simon Trillowe, is in league with them.

But Master Hugh, and his assistant, the groom Arthur, are determined to uncover the thieves and murderers, and the source of the chapman's coin. They do, but not before they become involved with a kidnapped maiden, a tyrannical abbot, and a suffering monk - who needs Master Hugh's surgical skills and in return provides clues which assist Hugh in solving the mystery of the tainted coin.

Discover the gripping medieval mystery series featuring Hugh of Singleton.

Hugh of Singleton, fourth son of a minor knight, has been educated as a clerk, usually a prelude to taking holy orders. However, feeling no certain calling despite a lively faith, he turns to the profession of surgeon, training in Paris and then hanging out his sign in Oxford.

In 'The Unquiet Bones', Hugh is asked by a local lord to track down the killer of a young woman. She is identified as the impetuous missing daughter of a local blacksmith, and her young man, whom she had provoked very publicly, is in due course arrested and sentenced at the Oxford assizes. With graphic medical procedures, misdirection, and droll medieval wit, this tale will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Readers have praised this book as "absolutely loved," "realistic," and "the best medieval mystery I've read in a while." Don't miss out on the chance to delve into this world of ambition, romantic distractions, and underlying Christian compassion.

Don't miss out on this thrilling read and join the many others eagerly awaiting the next instalment!

'Light, amusing, but at heart dealing with serious issues of faith and friendship and family.' The Irish Catholic

Neil returns from his ordination inspired by his vocation, and determined not to let his love life get in the way. Some might think a man lucky to have two women declaring their love for him, but it's not that straightforward when you're a priest!

Neil's second year as curate of St Stephen's, in the small town of Dunbridge, promises to be no quieter than the first.There are joys to be shared, such as the birth of Ellen, a long prayed for baby, and bereavements that shake the community to its core. Neil must continue to step up and shoulder his share of caring for his parish. And of course, there are the women who would take care of him - from his domineering mother, who appears to have moved in, and Wendy, who is sure she should be a vicar's wife, to Claire, who doesn't believe in God, but does believe in Neil. 

There is much going on below the surface in this seemingly sleepy town.