The queen of historical crime brings chariot racing to life in all its gruesome and glamorous glory. Murder in Purple and Gold features Davis' trademark sharp wit, memorable characters and a clever mystery.When Flavia Albia stumbles upon the murdered corpse of a young man near Rome's famous Circus Maximus, she is about to embark on one of her most dangerous and complicated cases yet.Rome and the Romans are obsessed with chariot racing. Lepo was the rising star of the Purples, a new team created by the psychotic Emperor Domitian with big money backing. Suspicion immediately falls on Lepo'sgreatest rival, Agathon, a young man emerging from a rival team, the Golds. Convinced of his guilt, a lynch mob is hunting them.The Gold faction hire Flavia to clear Agathon's name, especially as he has an alibi for the night of the murder. But as Flavia soon finds out, nothing is at it seems in the dangerous and glamorous world of the charioteers, in which fortunes can be won or lost in seconds and violent death is always just one race away.Perfect for fans of Steven Saylor and Simon Scarrow.

A London detective investigates when a troubled Scottish laird takes a fall in this classic British mystery by the author of Hamlet, Revenge!.Strange things are happening around the remote Castle Erchany, located in the Scottish Highlands. The miserly and reclusive laird, Ranald Guthrie, roams the castle's freezing halls, reciting an old poem over and over: Timor mortis conturbat me. Fear of death disturbs me . . .Then on a wild winter night, Guthrie plummets to his death from his castle's tower. Was it an accident? Was it suicide? Or was it murder?Suspicion falls on a local man, but when Insp. John Appleby arrives from the Met in London, he doubts this solution. To discover the truth, Appleby immerses himself in the dead man's final days in a gloomy, gothic castle. Of course, he must be on his guard, because there's no telling whether someone else might fall victim to another "accident.""The simple-seeming and single-seeming plot of Lament for a Maker holds about as many layers of complication as a first-class mystery story could well hold without bursting, and . . . Michael Innes manages this complication with the lucidity of a master." —The Observer"Magnificently written." —The Times Literary Supplement"A grand and ghastly tale with a surprising double climax." —The New Yorker

The page-turning, historical cozy mystery series from Kelly Oliver If you love Golden-Age detective stories like Agatha Christie, you'll love this! Mesopotamia, 1930: When Agatha Christie invites fellow members of the Detection Club to witness the famous excavations at the ruins of Ur, Dorothy L. Sayers, her quick-witted assistant Eliza Baker, and Theo Sharp expect ancient wonders – not fresh corpses.But when an archaeologist is found dead in the sand, whispers of a deadly curse sweep through the camp. Eliza suspects something far more dangerous than superstition. Amid glittering artifacts and fragile alliances, every guest harbors secrets: the Woolleys, whose marriage is shadowed by tragedy; a journalist hungry for scandal; even academic Max Mallowan, whose loyalties are not what they seem.As theft, forgery, and coded messages surface, the line between archaeology and espionage blurs. And when Eliza and Theo find themselves in danger, they must face not only the truth about the murder – but also the truths they’ve long denied about each other. Can they uncover the killer before the desert claims another victim? Or will this dig unearth secrets too dangerous to survive?Readers love The Case of the Christie Curse:'Witty, atmospheric, and full of intrigue. It’s perfect if you enjoy Christie and cozy historical mysteries. I’ll definitely be picking up more books in this series.' Reader review'An engaging historical mystery that provides romantic quandaries amidst an intriguing puzzle.' Reader review'If you love a solid mystery with plenty of intrigue, humor, and action, The Case of the Christie Curse has all this and more!' Reader reviewPraise for Kelly Oliver:'Sharp, witty and full of surprises!' Clara McKenna'A fast and fun-filled mystery that checks every box. If you're new to the series, it stands on its own as an action-packed novel that's leavened with the dry wit of its indomitable heroine.' Lori Robbins'A fun, mix of whodunnit and thriller!' T. A. Williams'Fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek spy romp. Enjoy the ride!' Frances Evesham'Will keep you turning the pages and laughing all the way!' Dianne Freeman'Perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and Maisie Dobbs.' BookTrib'A perfect blend of wit, fun, and intrigue.' Debra Goldstein ?'Smart, sneaky, and full of surprises... A fun whodunit that will keep you turning the pages!' Cathi Stoler'Rich with historical details, and perfectly laced with humor and high jinks. Brilliant!' Margaret Mizushima'A delightful English countryside mystery with two handsome suitors and twists and turns worthy of Agatha Christie herself!' Amanda Flower

????? ‘Pure detection mixed with a bit of history. Very well done.’ Jill S.DISCOVER A SERIES OF CAPTIVATING HISTORICAL MYSTERIES FILLED WITH TWISTS FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR PAULINE ROWSON.Meet Inspector Alun Ryga of Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad. Having survived WW2 in a prisoner of war camp, he’s vowed to get justice for those who need it.1950, Newhaven, East Sussex.A baffling case of a husband and wife who both go missing.One foggy November evening, Police Constable George Swinley disappears while working his usual beat.Four days later, his lifeless body is found floating in Newhaven Harbour.His death is ruled as an unfortunate accident — it’s assumed he lost his footing in the dark. But his devoted wife Myra thinks otherwise. George knew the harbour like the back of his hand.Determined to uncover the truth, Myra visits an old friend at Scotland Yard to plead for help. But he doesn’t think there’s much he can do.Then Myra herself goes missing. She never makes it home from London.Inspector Alun Ryga is sent to the Sussex coast to investigate. But nothing can prepare him for what he’s about to find . . .Fans of Elly Griffiths, Laura Wilson, Anthony Horowitz, Robert Harris, Philip Kerr, Frederick Forsyth and Keith Finney will devour this series of enthralling historical crime mysteries set in 1950s England — a time of rationing and recovery from the struggles of the Second World War.READERS LOVE INSPECTOR RYGA:‘The story is well plotted . . . Pauline Rowson captures the period perfectly.’ Mystery People????? ‘Love these new characters and the setting is great.’ Jill????? ‘Very engaging story with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Kept me enthralled to the final chapter.’ Julia R.????? ‘Attention to detail and location is top rate. If you are interested in this period before CCTV, instant communication and computers took over our lives, completely changing police work, then you will enjoy this book.’ Paul S.????? ‘Well written. Brings the atmosphere and era alive.’ Margaret L.????? ‘Another brilliant story. You can almost feel you're there with the characters.’ MelMEET INSPECTOR ALUN RYGAAlun Ryga is ex-Merchant Navy and a former prisoner of war. His experience has made him observant, analytical and reflective. It has also given him insights into his fellow man. He’s witnessed compassion, cruelty, cowardice, heroism, mental breakdown and despair. He’s made a promise to himself that whatever happens after the war he’ll keep an open mind and never judge. His experiences have made him unique in his approach to solving coastal-based crimes — of which there are many!THE SETTINGThe south coast of England has over 400 miles of stunning coastline. From chalky white cliffs and sandy beaches to shingle bays and national parks, the beauty is endless. But there’s a darker side to post-war Britain. Housing shortages and rationed goods mean many people are still living rough, and some turn to crime to survive . . .ALSO BY PAULINE ROWSONINSPECTOR RYGA HISTORICAL MYSTERIESTHE ART MARVIK MYSTERIESTHE SOLENT MURDER MYSTERIES

GET *ALL FIVE* GRIPPING WARTIME MURDER MYSTERIES IN THIS SUPERB-VALUE BOX SET.‘Gardner is a master storyteller at the height of his powers.’ Len Deighton‘Fast-paced, suspenseful, atmospheric whodunnit.’ Booklist‘Hugely entertaining . . . Excellent by any standard.’ Literary Review‘Poignant and spellbinding.’ Publishers Weekly‘A promising work from a practised hand.’ Library Journal‘One of Britain’s most talented thriller writers.’ Evening News (London)Perfect for fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Edward Marston, Jim Eldridge, Martin Edwards and Gretta Mulrooney.London, 1940. The Luftwaffe assault is relentless. London is in ruins. Normal life has been suspended, but murders still need to be solved . . .MEET DETECTIVE SUZIE MOUNTFORD.At just 22, Detective Suzie Mountford knows she has a lot to prove. She’s only been promoted to CID because all the experienced male officers have been called up to fight. Her parents don’t think it’s suitable for a woman to be ‘mixed up in all that business’ and, when her picture appears on the front page of all the dailies, her superiors think she’s got above her station too.But no-one has factored in Suzie’s grit and determination. As bombs fall nightly over London, she has no idea if she’ll make it to the next morning — which only makes her even more keen to catch the killers who stalk the city streets under cover of the blackout.THE SETTINGCamford Hill Police Station is situated deep in West London, far from the well-heeled streets of Knightsbridge and Kensington. Its CID is run by DCI Tony Harvey, known as Big Toe, who runs a tidy department and doesn’t appreciate being lumbered with another girl — “Far as I’m concerned, women police officers are good for two things: making the tea and typing.” The Balvak Twins rule the streets of Camford where they run loans, protection, gambling, girls, and every bit of villainy that goes on. They know all the tricks of the trade to escape justice and often run rings the police.Don’t miss this unforgettable series featuring your new favourite detective!READERS LOVE THIS BRILLIANT WORLD WAR TWO SERIES:????? ‘Atmospheric page turner. Wow.’ Mr KDJ????? ‘An intelligent detective novel which will keep you reading all night.’ PuffaP????? ‘A wonderful set of police procedurals, well-paced, exciting, and scary.’ Henry B.