His heart pounding, the man scribbles the words in his notebook as fast as he can: “Woman dead in Highgate. Man in caped coat. Milky way and red streaks. I’m being followed.”Hours later, the man’s cold body lies in the city mortuary, alongside the woman he couldn’t save. And his sister, unconventional nurse Gemma Tate, tracks down troubled police inspector Sebastian Bell to unravel the truth.Sebastian has enough pressure to solve the murder of an aristocratic heiress without Gemma meddling in his case. But the cryptic sentences she brings him from her brother’s notebook could be a crucial lead. If only they knew what “milky way” meant. But as the trail of clues takes them away from the gilded drawing rooms of the nobility and into the dangerous slums of London, how far will their partnership be tested on the quest for justice, and will they both emerge unscathed?Fans of Andrea Penrose, Deanna Raybourn and Miss Scarlet and the Duke will be hooked on this intricate, compelling mystery set in Victorian London.Readers love The Highgate Cemetery Murder…“I was hooked, basically. The story is so extremely gripping that it’s hard to put the book down.” Reader review, ?????“The characters are so real and likeable. I was absolutely gobsmacked at who the killer was… I really couldn’t put the book down till the end a real page-turner. I can’t wait to get the next book in this series and will add to my must-read series.” Reader review, ?????“So good I could hardly put the book down… Once you start, you may as well forget everything else.” Reader review, ?????“Grips you from the very beginning and pulls you in… If you’re a fan of Miss Scarlet and the Duke and Enola Holmes, then you will love Gemma Tate’s wits and tenacity.” Reader review, ?????“Absolutely in love with this book and halfway through I bought another book by this author. Now to read all things Irina Shapiro!” Reader review, ?????“Spellbound!… Shapiro’s writing is sublime, transporting you to the vibrant streets of Victorian London. You'll feel like you're accompanying Gemma and Sebastian as they track down clues and uncover the truth… A must-read… Five stars!” Reader review, ?????“Highly recommend this for anyone interested in historical mystery, particularly set in Victorian England, and for fans of Deanna Raybourn, Andrea Penrose, and Anna Lee Huber.” Reader review, ?????“This was a fantastic read! I absolutely LOVED it! I look forward to seeing more in this series!” Reader review, ?????“So gripping and twisted I could not put it down… Both Gemma and Sebastian are quite damaged but they can rely on each other. I can’t wait to see what the next book has in store for them!” Reader review, ?????“I immediately fell in love with the complexity of both characters… I honestly cannot wait to see where this series leads as I think this is a stunning beginning for both Bell and Tate.” Reader review, ?????“A highly engaging plot, with a richly atmospheric, almost gothic-like setting, and compelling characters… read this in one sitting. A must-read for historical mystery fans.” Reader review, ?????Readers love Irina’s historical mysteries…“I loved, loved, loved this story… I couldn’t put the book down… What better way to spend the day but wrapped in a warm blanket and being transported to an adventure.” Reader review, ?????“I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars.” Reader review, ?????“I absolutely loved this! The plot twist and storyline left me reeling in the best way possible.” Reader review, ?????

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate a haunting that’s anything but merry in this cozy Christmas mystery from a New York Times-bestselling author! London, 1890: Days before Christmas, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson are visited at Baker Street by a distressed new client, Eve Allerthorpe. The eldest daughter of a grand but somewhat eccentric Yorkshire-based dynasty, Eve believes she is being haunted by a demonic Christmas spirit. Eve’s late mother told her terrifying tales of the sinister Black Thurrick—and Eve is sure that she has seen the creature from her bedroom window. What’s more, she’s received mysterious parcels of birch twigs, the Black Thurrick’s calling card. Eve stands to inherit a fortune if she is sound in mind, but it seems that something—or someone—is threatening her sanity. Holmes and Watson travel to the Allerthorpe family seat at Fellscar Keep to investigate, but soon discover there is more to the case than at first appeared. Another spirit haunts the family, and when a member of the household is found dead, the companions realize that no one is beyond suspicion . . . Follow the trail of clues as Holmes and Watson unravel this strange Christmas mystery in this delightful, pitch-perfect ode to Arthur Conan Doyle’s Great Detective!

In this gripping historical thriller, the search for a mysterious and powerful object hidden in the heart of Barcelona leads to ambition, desire, love—and murderAn intriguing letter from his adoptive father, Artur, turns novelist Enrique Alonso's world upside down. Artur, a well-known antiquarian in Barcelona, reveals that he has discovered an ancient manuscript, but he feels uneasy, as though he's in over his head. But before Artur can piece together the final part of the puzzle, he is attacked and murdered. Enrique rushes to Barcelona to investigate his father's death and retrieve the book. His ex-wife, Bety, a philologist, comes to his aid and the two set about translating and deciphering the encrypted text. Written in Latin and Old Catalan, the manuscript holds the key to the location of a priceless object dating back to the Middle Ages, and a secret closely guarded by the Jewish community living in the city's Gothic Quarter. When Enrique and Bety realize they are not the only ones following the trail, it becomes a race against time to find the mythical object that has the power to transform lives.

An anthology of eleven original Sherlock Homes tales set during the missing years between his apparent death and later return—including the Edgar Award finalist "The Adventure of the Missing Detective" by Gary Lovisi."Kurland . . . scores again in this lively all-original anthology. . . .  Stories by Baker Street veterans Gary Lovisi, Carolyn Wheat and Richard Lupoff, plus others newer to the world of Holmes pastiche, round out this enjoyable volume." —Publishers WeeklyIn 1891, Sherlock Holmes in a struggle with his archenemy, Professor James Moriarty, disappeared over Reichenbach Falls and was presumed deceased. Until, that is, he reappeared in London in 1894, revealing himself to his friend Dr. John Watson, and resumed his activities as a consulting detective. Holmes remained very quiet and mysterious on those missing three years, never really revealing precisely where he'd been and what he'd done in the "hidden years."Now, in this anthology of original stories the truth about those thirty-five months is unveiled and Holmes's adventures described. While some stories place Holmes in such familiar locations as New York and San Francisco, others find him high in the Himalayas or above the Arctic Circle. With stories from such writers as Rhys Bowen, Peter Beagle, Carolyn Wheat, Michael Collins and many others, Sherlock Holmes: The Hidden Years is a must-have book for every fan who has ever wondered about the untold adventures of Sherlock Holmes."Brings a new sensibility and a new dimension to the Holmes legend . . . a delightful addition to the ever-growing mythology of this immortal fiction hero." —Booklist