In "a delightful hot toddy of a winter's read," authors Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins hunt for murderer in Victorian London (Los Angeles Times).It was the best of times, it was the worst of crimes in this delightful Dickensian romp, with the canonical author teaming up with a famous upstart to solve a devilish murder.In Victorian London, Charles Dickens and his protege, the renowned author Wilkie Collins, make the acquaintance of the shrewdest mind either would ever encounter: Inspector William Field of the newly formed Metropolitan Protectives. A gentleman's brutal murder brings the three men together in an extraordinary investigation that leads Dickens to the beautiful young actress Ellen Ternan. Almost immediately, she becomes the love of his life. But first, Dickens must protect her from the noose, as she is the main suspect.

A SUNDAY TIMES HISTORICAL FICTION PICK 2026'An enjoyable historical thriller' Sunday Times'Out of the ashes of the Great Fire of London comes an unforgettable tale … T. L. Mogford has excelled himself' Michael Morpurgo‘I swallowed up The Saffron Thief in 36 hours. It’s a tremendous piece of work … Truly superb’ William BoydIn 1666, England's saffron industry is booming, with the spice fetching a staggering £4 per pound—rivalling gold. Fabian Smith, the sensible second son of a Holborn poulterer, has sacrificed his dreams of adventure for family duty. But when the Great Fire claims his father and his reckless brother plunges them into debt with a ruthless conman, their home—and freedom—hang in the balance.Desperate to save his family, Fabian hatches a daring plan: steal the fortune they need. His target? The wealthiest saffron grower in Saffron Walden. Disguised and determined, he arrives just in time for the harvest, only to discover that the townsfolk are far more cunning than he expected.As danger closes in, Fabian must navigate treachery and his own heart, racing against time to save everything he holds dear.'The pace never lets up in this gripping novel' Daily Express'A 17th century treat … that stays with one long after finishing' Aspects of History‘A riveting historical novel' Heat'Historical fiction at its best' Closer'A dangerous race against time. We were gripped’ BellaReaders love The Saffron Thief:‘An absolute cracker of a story and can’t wait for more’‘If you like Robert Harris and S.J. Parris then this is absolutely for you’‘With a wealth of historic detail, plus great characters and plot, this book is difficult to put down’‘A detective story full of twists and turns that was unpredictable and unputdownable’‘A very impressive start to a new series. Informative and enjoyable’

A young female grifter in 1880s New York cons her way into America’s first nursing school, but a spate of unexplained murders follows in her wake…“A spellbinding story, a vividly drawn setting, and characters that leap off the pages. This is historical fiction at its finest!”—Sara Ackerman, USA Today bestselling author of The Codebreaker’s Secret Based on Florence Nightingale’s nursing principles, Bellevue is the first school of its kind in the country. Where once nurses were assumed to be ignorant and unskilled, Bellevue prizes discipline, intellect, and moral character, and only young women of good breeding need apply. At first, Una balks at her prim classmates and the doctors’ endless commands. Yet life on the streets has prepared her for the horrors of injury and disease found on the wards, and she slowly gains friendship and self-respect. Just as she finds her footing, Una’s suspicions about a patient’s death put her at risk of exposure, and will force her to choose between her instinct for self-preservation, and exposing her identity in order to save others. Amanda Skenandore brings her medical expertise to a page-turning story that explores the evolution of modern nursing—including the grisly realities of nineteenth-century medicine—as seen through the eyes of an intriguing and dynamic heroine.

A BRAND NEW instalment in a gripping Tudor mystery from bestselling author John Pilkington. Perfect for fans of Andrew Taylor and S. J. Parris.This Ward, Cutler… it seethes, does it not?1595, Bishopsgate Ward, London. Matthew Cutler, constable for the parish of Spitalfields, prides himself on always being on the side of justice. So when a young man on the run, whose only ‘crime’ was protesting about high prices and corruption, hides out in Bishopsgate, not for the first time Cutler finds his duties as constable at odds with his gut feeling. He feels compelled to help him, and not just because his daughter Jane is smitten with the plucky lad…Meanwhile there is trouble in Bishopsgate as fake coins keep turning up, convincing enough to fool many. Tensions rise and people are in fear of a brutal yet shadowy figure: the ‘coiner’ Thomas Gunnell, who seems to have eyes everywhere. Cutler must once again fall back on his skills of disguise, and risk his own life to root out Gunnell’s gang before they bring chaos to Bishopsgate Ward – and danger to everything he holds dear.Praise for John Pilkington:'The quality of the writing and evocation of the Elizabethan Age is right up there with C J Sansom - and that could be no higher recommendation. I devoured it with relish and a buzz of contentment.' ????? Reader Review'Brilliant! I just love the way in which he brings his characters to life and makes them so believable. He is a master of descriptive prose.' ????? Reader Review'Gripping, enjoyable and too difficult to put down' ????? Reader Review'John Pilkington continues to delight and inform. His writing style flows with ease and wit and I look forward to more of his tales' ????? Reader Review'I was gripped from start to finish.' ????? Reader Review

In the tradition of Arianna Franklin and C. J. Sansom comes Samuel Thomas’s remarkable debut, The Midwife’s TaleIt is 1644, and Parliament’s armies have risen against the King and laid siege to the city of York. Even as the city suffers at the rebels’ hands, midwife Bridget Hodgson becomes embroiled in a different sort of rebellion. One of Bridget’s friends, Esther Cooper, has been convicted of murdering her husband and sentenced to be burnt alive. Convinced that her friend is innocent, Bridget sets out to find the real killer.Bridget joins forces with Martha Hawkins, a servant who’s far more skilled with a knife than any respectable woman ought to be. To save Esther from the stake, they must dodge rebel artillery, confront a murderous figure from Martha’s past, and capture a brutal killer who will stop at nothing to cover his tracks. The investigation takes Bridget and Martha from the homes of the city’s most powerful families to the alleyways of its poorest neighborhoods. As they delve into the life of Esther’s murdered husband, they discover that his ostentatious Puritanism hid a deeply sinister secret life, and that far too often tyranny and treason go hand in hand.