Please read this book, it will resonate with you for a long time!' Reader Review ?????'I totally lost myself in this incredible, heart-wrenching story' Reader Review ?????'One of the most amazing books I have read' Reader Review ?????'If I could give it more than 5 stars I would' Reader Review ?????A heartbreaking letter. A girl locked away. A mystery to be solved. 1956. When Ivy Jenkins falls pregnant she is sent in disgrace to St Margaret's, a dark, brooding house for unmarried mothers. Her baby is adopted against her will. Ivy will never leave. Present day. Samantha Harper is a journalist desperate for a break. When she stumbles on a letter from the past, the contents shock and move her. The letter is from a young mother, begging to be rescued from St Margaret's. Before it is too late. Sam is pulled into the tragic story and discovers a spate of unexplained deaths surrounding the woman and her child. With St Margaret's set for demolition, Sam has only hours to piece together a sixty-year-old mystery before the truth, which lies disturbingly close to home, is lost for ever...Perfect for fans of Philomena, this gripping novel of long-buried secrets, inspired by a true story, will stay with you for ever.Over half a million readers adore The Girl in the Letter:'I was gripped...Compelling, twisty, heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. A novel that stays with you' Sophie Kinsella'Utterly gripping, taut and powerful. An emotionally charged, compulsive, moving novel' Adele Parks'A great book, truly hard to put down. Fast paced, brilliantly plotted and desperately sad at times - all hallmarks of a bestseller' Lesley Pearse'This book felt almost like I could be reading a genuine life story . . . a captivating read' Reader Review ?????'Spectacular! For those who like suspense, I totally recommend it!' Reader Review ?????'As a mother and ex midwife, I cannot imagine the horrors that were faced and the quiet complicity of all those within the local communities. An exceptional book' Reader Review ?????'Raw and real stories that were once long buried with closed down institutions and convents find ways of being exposed and retold through stories like this. I thought this story was one of the best I've read to date' Reader Review ?????'This novel is so well written with the story line woven around known facts about these homes. I find it incredibly sad that these events were happening when I was a teenager myself' Reader Review ?????'This book made me cry . . . so well written and the research is spot on' Reader Review ?????'Couldn't put it down' Reader Review ?????'A very good story with lots of twists and turns. It felt real... as if I was living through the trauma of everyone in the story. A brilliant piece of work' Reader review ?????'A moving page turner' Reader Review ????? 'A heart wrenching, compelling read. The characters had such depth that I really began to care about them and their fate' Reader Review ?????

Heedless. Stubborn. Disgraced.Small town Illinois, 1870: "My stepfather was not particularly fond of me to begin with, and now that he'd found out about the baby, he was foaming at the mouth"Desperate to avoid marriage, Nell Lillington refuses to divulge the name of her child's father and accepts her stepfather's decision that the baby be born at a Poor Farm and discreetly adopted.Until an unused padded cell is opened and two small bodies fall out.Nell is the only resident of the Poor Farm who is convinced the unwed mother and her baby were murdered, and rethinks her decision to abandon her own child to fate. But even if she manages to escape the Poor Farm with her baby she may have no safe place to run to.

Join Detective Joe Ezell in 1940s Los Angeles as he solves three murder mysteries with a woman of mysterious identity, a VA nurse, and an aspiring actress.BOOK 1: Murder Me TwiceJoe Ezell, GI turned gumshoe, pays the bills by catching philandering husbands for rich dames wanting a divorce. When Faye Marten darkens his door, she doesn't quite fit the bill, but she is willing to pay. A few hours later, Hal Marten, the man Faye hired him to dog, arrives asking for help. The cops believe Hal murdered his now missing wife, and Hal wants Joe to prove his innocence. But the deeper Joe digs, the more convinced he becomes that Faye and Hal aren't who they claim to be. Can Joe prove it and solve the murder before another victim is knocked off?BOOK 2: Stairway to MurderWorld War II G.I. turned gumshoe Joe Ezell is hunting a murderer. A Los Angeles VA hospital nurse has been found dead, and RN Mary McBride, the love of Joe's life, is next. Has the Black Dahlia killer struck again, or was it one of the VA hospital doctors trying to keep a malpractice case under wraps? If Joe doesn't succeed, he'll never get the chance to slip a ring on Mary's finger.BOOK 3: Murder on IceWhen aspiring actress Cookie Crumble is found dead in a refrigerator in a vacant apartment, the police suspect the landlord's son, whose father hires gumshoe PI Joe Ezell to find the true killer. With suspects ranging from ardent fans to jealous lovers to the mobster Cookie rebuffed, Joe goes undercover as an actor. But the closer Joe gets to the truth, the more likely he is to get iced.Note: The Detective Joe Ezell Mystery Series is a clean and wholesome read with no sex or vulgar language and will be enjoyed by readers of cozy mysteries and classic detective whodunit mysteries in the spirit of Sam Spade and Humphrey Bogart. While not a true noir or hard-boiled mystery, this series captures the charm of film noir without the drugs, sex, or beatings.Praise for The Detective Joe Ezell Mystery Series"...charming glimpse of Hollywood in the 1940's. A relaxing read even with the murder and mayhem." ~Tree House Reader, eBook Discovery Reviewer"...a gumshoe you'd like to spend time with... a sweet love story and a good mystery with a satisfying ending." ~Pete Croisant, eBook Discovery ReviewerThe Detective Joe Ezell Mystery Series:Murder Me TwiceStairway to MurderMurder on IceMurder on StilettosAbout the Author:Phoebe Conn is a New York Times bestselling author with more than seven million copies of her books in print. She has written historical, contemporary, and futuristic books under her own name and the pseudonyms Cinnamon Burke and P. J. Conn. A native Californian, she holds degrees in Art History and Education, and her books have won Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards.

"A rollicking ride through the criminal underbelly of post-WWI London. Gritty at times and tender at others, Queens of London unmasks the most lawless—and likeable—gang of women you've never heard of." —Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost ApothecaryMaybe women can have it all, as long as they're willing to steal it.1925. London. When Alice Diamond, AKA "Diamond Annie," is elected the Queen of the Forty Elephants, she's determined to take the all-girl gang to new heights. She's ambitious, tough as nails, and a brilliant mastermind, with a plan to create a dynasty the likes of which no one has ever seen. Alice demands absolute loyalty from her "family"—it's how she's always kept the cops in line. Too bad she's now the target for one of Britain's first female policewomen.Officer Lilian Wyles isn't merely one of the first female detectives at Scotland Yard, she's one of the best detectives on the force. Even so, she'll have to win a big score to prove herself, to break free from the "women's work" she's been assigned. When she hears about the large-scale heist in the works to fund Alice's new dynasty, she realizes she has the chance she's been looking for—and the added bonus of putting Diamond Annie out of business permanently.A tale of dark glamour and sisterhood, Queens of London is a look at Britain's first female crime syndicate, the ever-shifting meaning of justice, and the way women claim their power by any means necessary, from USA Today bestselling author Heather Webb.

A dozen marvelous tales of deduction, featuring history's most famous detective, by Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Edward D. Hoch.In a heavily mortgaged country house, an heiress's sinister guardian attempts to trap her in a bedroom with a rare Indian swamp adder—a murder averted only by the timely intervention of Sherlock Holmes. Five months after the events of "The Adventure of the Speckled Band," Holmes and Watson are called back to Stoke Moran by a frightened traveler who claims that the viper has gotten loose again. Holmes is unsure which poses a greater danger: the rumored snake, or the possibility that the nomad is telling lies.In these dozen tales, short story master Edward D. Hoch resurrects the most brilliant mind in the history of detective fiction. In the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Holmes tangles with circus tigers, Druidic curses, and a pair of Christmas killings. Here is the finest detective of the Victorian age—recreated by one of the greatest mystery writers of the twentieth century.

Review “Edward D. Hoch is capable of writing a truly classic short story.” —Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine“Satan himself would be proud of [Hoch’s] ingenuity.” —John Dickson Carr About the Author Edward D. Hoch (1930–2008) was a master of the mystery short story. Born in Rochester, New York, he sold his first story, "The Village of the Dead," to Famous Detective Stories, then one of the last remaining old-time pulps. The tale introduced Simon Ark, a two-thousand-year-old Coptic priest who became one of Hoch's many series characters. Others included small-town doctor Sam Hawthorne, police detective Captain Leopold, and Revolutionary War secret agent Alexander Swift. By rotating through his stable of characters, most of whom aged with time, Hoch was able to achieve extreme productivity, selling stories to Argosy, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, and Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, which published a story of his in every issue from 1973 until his death.In all, Hoch wrote nearly one thousand short tales, making him one of the most prolific story writers of the twentieth century. He was awarded the 1968 Edgar Award for "The Oblong Room," and in 2001 became the first short story writer to be named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America.

Brand new from the bestselling author of THE HOUSE OF THE WITCH.A totally unmissable, spellbinding historical fiction novel.? Perfect for fans of Evie Woods, Philippa Gregory and Elena Collins. Now: When Paige returns to her ancestral family home, Woodham Hall, she’s nursing an unbearable heartbreak. The man she’d thought she loved has told her the most terrible lie, one she feels she’ll never recover from. The only thing that seems to be able to hold her interest is the story of a poisoning that once supposedly happened in the house – depicted in brutal detail in a painting by an unknown artist…1672: Jeanne’s life at Woodham Hall is happy. Admittedly her brother-in-law – the lord of the manor – is unfaithful to her sister, causing terrible discord in the house. But Jeanne adores her sister, and her niece, Helene, and even though her growing feelings for another member of the household are illicit, they are bringing her great joy. That is, until Sir Robert chooses to move his mistress in.Jeanne and her sister are to be banished to a French abbey to live out their days but all the sisters can think is how to get back to Helene, and the woman who Jeanne might just love. From the glittering court of the Sun King to the dark depths of French society and those who perform alchemy, they will do whatever they must. Even if it means murder…Their stories are linked across history, with an unforgettable love story, and mystery that must be solved.Readers love Clare Marchant:‘{::}Marchant’s usual magical blend of strong women, well-researched historical settings and riveting plotlines knocks another stellar novel out the park.’ Bestselling author, Jenni Keer on The Alchemist’s Secret‘I was completely hooked by this brilliant timeslip novel. Unmissable!’ Bestselling author, Louise Douglas‘A page turning historical novel that kept me guessing until the very end.’ Bestselling author, Rachel Burton‘I absolutely loved this book… Historical fiction at its best. I loved the two strong women bound by place and history. I read [it] in two sittings, it was hard to put down!’ Reader Review ?????‘Wow!!! I was totally hooked from the very first page… A real page turner!’ Reader Review ?????‘A wonderful timeslip novel, that reminds me of Barbara Erskine… Highly recommended.’ Reader Review ?????‘Captivating… [A] gripping story of courage, resilience, history, triumph, discovery and hard-fought freedom. I highly recommend it!’ Reader Review ?????‘Wonderful!… A totally absorbing tale, I read it in a day… I absolutely loved it.’ Reader Review ?????‘Amazing and fascinating… So atmospheric… So many brilliant twists, and breath-holding moments, I really struggled to put down this fantastic book!’ Reader Review ?????