by Philip Eliot | Feb 9, 2026 | Mystery |
A spell-binding historical mystery of forbidden love and buried secrets from the bestselling author of The Storyteller’s Daughter ?? Perfect for fans of Evie Woods, Kate Storey and Lucinda Riley! On the wild Cornish coast, love and loss echo through the halls of Hallows Abbey, where the past refuses to stay buried… 1966: Standing on the rugged Cornish coast, Hallows Abbey can be a lonely place for the boys boarding there. For Theresa , however, it offers an escape from her father’s long shadow, and as the school nurse, she tries to be a comfort to those students struggling to adjust to their remote life. But, before the year is over, Theresa will make a terrible decision – and the consequences for the children in her care will change everything… 2025: With her own children having just left home, Amanda’s emotions are in turmoil when she arrives at the isolated school where her husband is to be Deputy Head. When she learns of the school’s tragic history, in which a group of boys went out on a boat trip and disappeared, she becomes obsessed with finding out what happened, even when her research risks upsetting the fragile equilibrium of the school. But when she starts to hear voices in the gardens and crying in the halls at night, she begins to wonder if she’s losing her mind. Only one thing seems certain: this corner of Cornwall could well be Amanda’s undoing. Lose yourself in a spellbinding tale of whispers through time… Perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Barbara Erskine, and The Secret of Crickley Hall. ? Praise for Victoria Scott: ‘A fabuous twisty dual timeline with a hint of spooky season ghost story. I loved it!’ – Rachel Burton The twists and turns revealed kept me turning pages way longer than I was meant to stay awake. The way Meredith’s mind gets confused as she learns more and more tugged at my heart, and reading Ellen’s experiences with her beau and how his mental health was essentially compartmentalised in an era when there wasn’t much knowledge was heartwrenching. ?????????? ‘Within the tale, there are elements of the gothic tradition, with old houses, fog, rising waters, stormy weather and more. The reader’s pulse rate rises as we are committed to following the action. I thoroughly enjoyed The House In The Water. It consumed me from the start. It was the first book by Victoria Scott but I certainly she she will write more.’ ?????????? ‘Don’t you love a dual time line novel? I do and this one is exceptional – I have read the author’s earlier work and this is straying into much darker territory, but I think it only serves to show what a great writer she is… Atmospheric, gripping, with huge heart and impossible to put down – the very best sort of book! ?????????? Beautiful captivating prose, kept me totally engaged in both timelines.’ ?????????? Wonderful. My first by this author but not the last. ?????????? ‘This is definitely a spellbinding and unsettling tale with a dash of romance set in WW2 and 2013 that might haunt your dreams and leave you with a lot to think about! A riveting read.’ ?????????? ‘I was engrossed in the story from the start. May Day House is a rehab house for soldiers during WWII. They are cared for and sent back to war. Years later a couple buys the house which soon appears to be haunted by the soldiers who had been there. It is a great story.’ ??????????
by Philip Eliot | Feb 9, 2026 | Crime Fiction |
Facing his demons in his first year of sobriety, Matthew Scudder finds himself on the trail of a killer. When Scudder’s childhood friend Jack Ellery is murdered, presumably while attempting to atone for past sins, Scudder reluctantly begins his own investigation, with just one lead: Ellery’s Alcoholics Anonymous list of people he wronged. One of them may be a killer, but that’s not necessarily Scudder’s greatest danger. Immersing himself in Ellery’s world may lead him right back to the bar stool. In a novel widely celebrated by critics and readers, Lawrence Block circle back to how it all began, reestablishing the Matthew Scudder series as one of the pinnacles of American detective fiction. “Right up there with Mr. Block’s best . . . A Drop of Hard Stuff keeps us guessing.” — Tom Nolan, Wall Street Journal
by Philip Eliot | Feb 9, 2026 | Cozy Mystery |
Reluctant family law attorney Jamie Quinn is loving life – and why wouldn’t she? Her boyfriend Kip is back from Australia, her long-lost dad finally has his visa and she’s about to start her dream job at an art foundation. It all falls apart when Jamie is accused of stealing priceless art from a rare book collection. If she can’t find out who framed her, she can kiss her dream job goodbye, and her law license too. Meanwhile, Kip has problems of his own. Now an environmental activist, he uncovers a deadly secret – one that just might get him killed. Jamie’s in trouble, Kip’s in danger, and Duke Broussard has gone AWOL. How could Jamie’s favorite P.I. abandon her at a time like this?
by Philip Eliot | Feb 9, 2026 | Teen & Young Adult |
A malevolent queen determined to destroy happiness. A master blacksmith who forges enchanted weapons. And an exiled princess with an extraordinary gift determined to reclaim her throne. Snow White possesses an extraordinary gift—the ability to communicate with the forest and mystical creatures of the enchanted realm, from the ancient oaks to the playful forest sprites. Her connection garners the love and admiration of all but one, the jealous queen, Seraphina. As Snow White’s power grows and her connection deepens to the forest and its magical creatures, so does Seraphina’s envy. Desperate to be the fairest of the land, she consults a dangerous magic mirror with the ability to manipulate reality. The mirror tells Seraphina that Snow must be destroyed for the queen to become the fairest of them all. With her heart set on malevolence, she sends the master blacksmith, Roderick, to kill Snow White with his enchanted dagger. Instead of carrying out the queen’s dark orders, Roderick gives Snow White the blade and urges her to take back her throne. They form an alliance and embark on a journey to reclaim her kingdom and free it from Seraphina’s tyrannical rule. But Seraphina’s malevolence knows no bounds, and she’ll stop at nothing to thwart Snow White’s plans. Will Snow White’s gift be enough to defeat a queen who has harnessed the darkest magic to protect her throne?
by Philip Eliot | Feb 9, 2026 | Teen & Young Adult |
Ice cream doesn’t burn like acid, witches don’t exist, and any hot, angry guy that looks like he wants to kill you is best left alone. A day ago, all of that was true. Now… let’s just say I’m a little skeptical. After what should’ve been a literal walk in the park turns into a murder scene, I’m taken by three sword-wielding lunatics and dropped off at Runic Magical Academy. It’s the most prestigious school in the Coven, led by a woman who looks so much like me it takes my breath away. If I didn’t think bitchy witches and getting my butt kicked as I train to harness my powers were terrible enough, there’s something more sinister going on. Someone’s hunting me. There are secrets about my past that no one is willing to answer. But if I’m going to survive as a witch, then I need to know exactly why I ended up hidden away in the mortal world. Preferably before my soul ends up outside of my body. A Witch in Blood is a young adult urban fantasy novel. With a kick-ass heroine, snarky dialogue, and a slow-burn enemies to lovers romance for fans of City of Bones, Buffy, and Bloodline Academy.
