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<!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Geraint JonesTananarive Due|title= Blood ForestThe Reformatory|rating= 5|genre= Historical Fiction|summary= FelixGracetown, Florida. June 1950. The lucky oneAfter a scuffle with a white boy, twelve year-old Robbie Stephens Jr is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, otherwise known as the Reformatory. He doesnIt't feel especially lucky when he staggers out into s a place with a brutal and dark reputation. But the segregated reformatory is a chamber of horrors, haunted by the boys that have died there. In order to survive the grove school governor and finds twelve his Funhouse, Robert must enlist the help of his comrades butchered the school's ghosts – only they have their own motivations...|isbn=1803366532}} {{Frontpage|author=Katherine Howe|title=A True Account|rating=4.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Hannah Masury is living in Boston, having been sent to live with a family who run an inn, and mutilated being made to work there from a young age. When she hears there is to be a hanging of some pirates in the worst possible waystown, she decides to go and watch. He felt even less lucky when Enthralled and horrified in equal measure, Hannah finds herself embroiled in a young boy's death at the soldiers arrivedhands of two vicious pirates. She hides away, so that they don't find and kill her too, Roman cavalry. He might have runand then to escape them completely she runs away to sea, but he knew hedressing as a boy and joining the notorious Ned Low'd never make its pirate ship as a cabin boy. He stepped out to face whatever came next She soon finds herself in the thick of things when there is a mutiny on board, and from there we are caught up in her rip roaring tale of life on the ocean waves.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0718184815</amazonuk>0861547438

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Dominic SmithSarah Marsh|title= The Last Painting A Sign of Sara de VosHer Own|rating= 3.5|genre= Historical General Fiction|summary= If you find the techniques used by Rembrandt and Vermeer fascinating, ''The Last Painting After a bout of Sara de Vos'' provides scarlet fever as a masterclass in how to work up child, Ellen Lark loses her hearing. Suddenly plunged into a canvas in stages. Framing the novel as the story world of a seventeenth century Dutch paintingsilence, Dominic Smith vividly sketches out the main contours of his characters and the three time periods they inhabit before we are even one fifth of the way througheverything about her life changes. Sara is one of Living in a time when the few women artists use of the period and her painting sign language was seen as something only savages do, Ellen is of children skating on sent to a frozen canalschool where she is taught to lip read, her now dead daughter its central figurebut physically restrained from signing. The painting From here, she ends up in another school studying under Alexander Graham Bell who has been in Marty de Groot's family since before Isaac Newton was born teaching the deaf and he is the patent lawyer from whom it is stolen in 1950s Manhattanusing a system called Visible Speech. Ellie Shipley forged a copy of At the painting in her postgraduate student years same time, Bell is working on other inventions and ideas, and in 2000 Ellen finds herself at the centre of unwittingly caught up in a gathering storm which threatens to destroy her reputation as one complicated tangle of Sydney's foremost fine art academics. Satisfying though those first descriptions are, we then understand these are merely the author's equivalent of the delicate chalk lines used by painters of the Dutch Golden Age to mark out the composition which will followespionage. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>192526680X</amazonuk>1035401614

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Caro FraserClaire North|title= The Summer House Partyof Odysseus|rating= 4.5|genre= General Literary Fiction |summary= ''What could matter more than love?'' The follow-up to the excellent ''Ithaca'' picks up a few months after where we left off. In the gloriously hot summer palace of 1936Odysseus, a group of people meet with delicate care Queen Penelope continues to rule without her husband, who sailed to war at a country house partyTroy and then by divine intervention never returned home. Within three years, England will be at war, but As ever she remains surrounded by suitors vying for now, time stands stillthe throne of the Western Isles. Dan Ranscombe is clever Having survived – politically and good-lookingphysical – the chaotic storm that Clytemnestra brought to Ithaca's shores, but he resents Queen Penelope is on the wealth and easy savoir-faire brink of fellow guest, Paul Latimera fragile peace. Surely a shrewd girl like Meg Slater would see through One that, wouldn't she? And what about Diana, Paul's beautiful sister, Charles Asher, shatters however with the Jewish outsiderreturn of Orestes, MadeleineKing of Mycenae, restless and dissatisfied with her role as children's nanny? And artist Henry Haddon, their host, no longer young, but secure in his power as a practised seducer. As these guests gathersister Elektra, none has any inkling the choices they make will have fateful consequences, lasting through the war and beyondseeking refuge. Or that the first unforeseen event will be a shocking death… |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1786691485</amazonuk>0356516075

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Matthew HarffyB0C7J9D21B|title= The Serpent SwordA Captive in Algiers (Muhammed Amalfi Mysteries)|author=A J Lewis|rating= 4.5|genre= Historical Fiction|summary= ItWhen we first meet our hero, his name is Ettore and he lives at The House of Beautiful Swallows. Idyllic as this might sound, it's AD 633 a bordello and Albion is a divided island made up Ettore's mother died when he was born. He's not been short of mothers, though - but for someone of petty warlords who want his background in late-eighteenth-century Amalfi, it's difficult to be treated like honourable royalty but act like gangstersobtain decent employment. Romans are a memory that have entered into myth and The stint working with the souls preparation of Albion anchovies didn't work out and bastards are torn between the old Gods considered bad luck on fishing boats. Ettore was nothing if not resourceful - and the new Christ. It is in this world that we follow the adventures of Beobrand as he undertakes the classic hero’s journey. Beobrand moves from widedetermined -eyed teenager to hardened and honourable warrior through it was not long before he had a brutal rite of passage successful business as he hunts the killer of his brother and seeks to become a true warriorguide for visitors. He was even saving some money.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1786692406</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Antonia SeniorEssie Fox|title=The Tyrant's ShadowFascination

|summary=Warning: spoilers ahead The Victorian era is incredibly over-romanticised as a setting for ''Treason's Daughter''.Patience lives with her widowed brotherhistorical fiction (matched only, Williamperhaps, helping by the Second World War) which has often led to care for his son Richard (nicknamed Blackberry)more than a few writers mishandling it. Despite There's such a glut of media set in the Civil war ending, era that the times hallmarks we've come to associate with it are still uncertain. Cromwell is increasingly annoyed with a parliament of rebels refusing to go familiar to the electorate for ratificationpoint of being cliched, hackneyed even. William sees All this problem at close quarters once he's effectively forced is simply to become Cromwell's legal advisor in illustrate that it would be an atmosphere poisoned by espionage and religious factionseasy thing to do poorly. However when Patience comes across Shadrick SimpsonBut despite that, a charismatic preacher, all becomes clearer for her at least. Meanwhile Sam Challoner, Williamsomething about it still grabs me – and something about this book's brother in law, comes home after privateering with Prince Rupert and realises that the fight at sea is better than peace at home. At least when you're privateering you know who your enemy isdescription did as well.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1782396616</amazonuk>1914585526

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= David BarbareeNicole Jarvis|title= DeposedA Portrait in Shadow|rating= 4.5|genre= Historical Fiction|summary= A.D 68. A deposed emperor lies ''I want all of Florence to know my name'' Cast out from Rome, Artemisia Gentileschi arrives in Florence seeking an oasis in which her art can find a prison cell, betrayed home and newly blinded by those who were sworn to protect himwhere her future can thrive rather than stagnate. He is now crippled and deprived of powerBut as some as she enters Florentine society she faces great opposition from the powerful Accademia, left completely on the edge self-proclaimed guardians of despair with a frightened young slave named Marcus as his only companion. Ten years later and it is Emperor Vespasian who wears the purple. Things may healing magics that through paintings have settled since the civil war but Vespasian's son Titus is plagued by worry about plots power to murder his fatherprotect the city and its citizens from plagues and curses. Gruesome atrocities The all-male Accademia has hoarded power over art and architecture for centuries and mysterious disappearances are rife throughout Rome; guard it is a city full of falsehoods and intrigues with the fear of rebellion lurking beneath the surfaceabove all else. FurthermoreTo them, a man Artemisia – an ambitious young woman who used to be emperor still lives promises trouble and change – a blind man who everyone believes to be dead. His name is Nero has no place amongst them and he seeks revenge against those who wronged himtheir society. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1785762672</amazonuk>1803362340

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Diney CosteloeThomas D Lee|title= The Married GirlsPerilous Times|rating= 4.53|genre= Historical FictionFantasy|summary=Wynsdown''Hate is the path of least resistance'' Set in the near-distant future, 1949. In in a world on the small Somerset village verge of Wynsdownclimate collapse, Charlotte Shepherd Britain is happily married to farmer Billyin great peril. She arrived from Germany on the Kindertransport as The British Isles desperately needs a child during the war and now feels settled in her adopted home. Meanwhile, the squire's fighter pilot son, Felix, has returned hero (or several) to save the village with a fiancée in tow. Daphne is beautiful, charming... day and harbouring secretsrescue what little remains. After meeting during What no-one expected was that one of the war, Felix knows some Knights of Daphne's past, but she has worked hard to conceal that which could unravel her carefully built life. For Charlotte, too, a dangerous past is coming back in the shape of fellow refugee, bad boy Harry Black. Forever bound by their childhoods, Charlotte will always care for him, but Harry's return disrupts Round Table would answer the village quiet and it's not long before gossip spreads. The war may have ended, but for these girls, trouble is only just beginning..call.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1784976121</amazonuk>0356518523

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Philip KerrG K Holloway|title= Prussian Blue: Bernie Gunther Thriller 12In the Shadows of Castles|rating= 34.5|genre= Crime (Historical) Fiction|summary= Bernie Gunther We begin after the momentous battle in 1066 and on the day of William of Normandy's coronation as King of England. William's position is not your typical hero. In 1939, he was stationed in Berlin as a police officer handling murder cases secure and occasionally doing work for some high-ranking Nazisthe new king has many challenges. Although never Imposing authority through a Nazi party member himself (he was a known member of the Social Democratic Party), he understood that the best thing he could do for himself at that time was to make himself indispensable to men like Reinhard Heydrich and Martin Bormanncoronation is important. So when he And William is assigned right to solve a murder that has occurred at Hitler's Berghof in worry. While the Bavarian mountainsprevious king, he knows that he needs to do it quickly and discreetly – not just for justice's sakeHarold, but for his own. He is given exactly one week to apprehend dead and the suspectlikelihood of more pitched battles is over, the rebels are stirring and he hopes that with the help much of his friend Friedrich Korsch, an investigator with the Krimialpolizei (or Kripo, for short) he just might get luckycountry does not wish to recognise a new overlord. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1784296481</amazonuk>1800422466

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Stephan Collishaw3949666079|title= The Song of the StorkNoema|author=Dael Akkerman|rating= 4.5|genre= Literary General Fiction|summary= Stephan Collishaw has achieved ''This is a rare feat – a novel set amidst the horrors of Nazi tyranny story about some things that does not shy away from human suffering, but does not drown in it eitherhappened to me about twelve thousand years ago. ''|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1785079190</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Alan Kennedy|title=A Time to Tell Lies|rating=4|genre=Crime (Historical) |summary= Psychologist Alan Kennedy's fifth novel continues Maya is a young girl living in a hunter gatherer village during the story he began with [[Lucy by Alan Kennedy]]Mesolithic era. In Climate change is occurring, the autumn Sea of 1942, Captain Alex Vere Grass encroaches further and Justine Perry are among the men and women picked up and taken to a stately further into Maya's forest home in Scotland, where they are trained in spy skills. After this first encounter, Alex is smitten yet uncertain if he will ever see Justine again. The spy's life and food is dangerous becoming more and unpredictable, after allmore scarce. Six weeks later, though, they meet up again What to do? Can the law givers in southwest France, where they have been sent the federation of villages muster peaceful ways to collect Simonecope? Can the Traveller, a Special Operations Executive agent. It's Alex's first mission (Justine's fourth) and all goes horribly awry. Alex ends up in custody at spiritual figure who interprets the Gendarmeriewisdom of All Life, facing a German who knows he has a false passport.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0993202322</amazonuk>provide solutions?

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alex Nye1529125898|title=For My SinsGodmersham Park|author=Gill Hornby

|summary=1586: Mary Stuart, Queen ''If it were not for the casual dereliction of Scotsthe odd gentleman's duty, has time there would no women to look back over her past life as she sits, incarcerated by her second cousin Queen Elizabeth Iteach well-bred daughters at all. Mary's life hasn't been  Anne Sharpe was thirty-one years old when she arrived at Godmersham Park to take up the position of totally pampered royaltygoverness to twelve-year-old Fanny Austen. Growing up in FranceShe had no experience of teaching but this was a case of necessity. Until the death of her mother, away Anne had a comfortable life and was loved by both parents although her father was frequently absent from the household. When her motherdied, widowed her father cast her off and then returning would have nothing more to Scotland to claim the throne before do with her. No explanation was offered but she was even 19, her struggle with fate started earlywould receive an annuity of £35 a year. The tensions between Mary the womanHer maid, Mary the Catholic and Mary the political force continue through three marriagesAgnes, an unsolved murder and would receive nothing but was fortunately taken in by some neighbours.}}{{Frontpage|author=Melissa Fu |title=Peach Blossom Spring |rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction |summary= I loved the thwarted desire prelude to serve her peoplePeach Blossom Spring, a short chapter entitled ''Origins''. Now Unfortunately it's come is the only truly poetic part of a book that I expected more from. Covering Chinese history from 1938 to this prison cell but while there2005 as viewed through one family's lifeperspective. When their home city is set ablaze during the war with Japan, a young mother (Meilin) and her four-year-old son (Renshu) are among those who flee. The story follows them on their journey across China, thereand in Renshu's still hope…case eventually to America. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1905916787</amazonuk>1472277538

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Grace Macallister1916072038|title= The Magician's LieHouse in the Hollow (The Talbot Saga)|author=Allie Cresswell|rating=4.5|genre= ThrillersHistorical Fiction|summary= The Amazing Arden is We meet part of the most famous female illusionist of Talbot family in Yorkshire in November 1811. Twenty-seven-year-old Jocelyn Talbot and her daymother have travelled in some discomfort from their home at Ecklington, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man to the house in half on stagethe hollow. But one night she swaps The two women are angry with each other and Jocelyn is well aware of her trademark saw for an axe. When Ardenmother's husband strengths and weaknesses: ''She is found dead later that nightpracticed at subterfuge, the answer seems clearat concealing, most beneath a facade of all to young policeman Virgil Holtrespectability, the deplorable truth''. Captured and taken into custody, all seems set for Arden Hester is furious about Jocelyn's swift confession. But refusal to do as she was asked, which has precipitated ''this violent and unexpected removal''. Then we are told of the birth of a different story to tell. Even handcuffed child and alone, Arden is far from powerlesssoon after, Hester Talbot departs, leaving Jocelyn in shame and what she reveals is as unbelievable as it is spellbindingisolation in Yorkshire.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1787199967</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Helen DunmoreAnnabel Abbs|title=Birdcage WalkThe Language of Food

|summary=Bristol 1792: Lizzie married well. John Diner Tredevant Eliza Acton is a property developer poet who has reached never had the zenith of his life's work: building a terrace of prestigious houses overlooking the Avon Gorgeslightest inclination to boil an egg. In When tasked with writing a time of turbulence as France reaches the dawn of revolutioncookery book, Britainshe recruits Ann Kirby, including Diner, fears it may spread. This puts Lizzie in a difficult position since her mother and step-father both believe in propagating pamphlets and ideas of egalitarianism for and to all, including womenlocal woman with a troubled home life. In other wordsTogether, they think nothing of spreading ideas test, craft, refine and reshape the world of domestic cookery, reinventing the sort that fanned recipe book and changing the French flames. However, that's not Lizzie's only problem… there is a darkness in her husband's past face of which she's unawarecookery writing forever.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0091959403</amazonuk>1398502227

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Beth UnderdownFreya Marske|title=The Witchfinder's SisterA Marvellous Light|rating=4.5

|summary=England 1645: Matthew Hopkins Robin Blyth is good at his chosen career: seeking, testing and convicting those with the Devil nudged into a job in them. His sister, Alice, doesn't realise the full connotations of his actions untilCivil Service, widowed and pregnant, she returns home. Alice is grateful to be allowed much to live under Matthew's roof but then watches his sinister finger chagrin. There he meets Edwin Courcey and learns that the streets of suspicion point in unexpected placesLondon are threaded with magic. This is Desperate to remove a man changed from the boy curse that Alice used threatens to knowswallow him, Robin follows Edwin to the countryside, where the hedgegrows bristle with incantations and the people shimmer with power. She never then realised There they uncover a sinister plot that he'd be capable threatens the lives of killing hundreds of people and making her all magicians in the Witchfinder's SisterBritish Isles.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0241978033</amazonuk>1529080886

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Emma HendersonB09F4CTKJR|title= The Valentine House|rating= 4|genre= Literary Fiction|summary= In June 1914, Sir Anthony Valentine, a keen mountaineer, arrives with his family to spend the summer in their chalet, high in the French Alps. There, Flights for the first time, fourteen-year-old foundling Mathilde starts work as one of the 'uglies' - village girls employed as servants and picked, it is believed, to ensure they don't catch Sir Anthony's roving eye. For Mathilde it is the start of a life-long entanglement with les anglais - strange, exciting people, far removed from the hard grind of farming. Except she soon finds the Valentines are less carefree than they appear, with a curiously absent daughter no one talks about. It will be decades - disrupted by war, accidents and a cruel betrayal - before Mathilde discovers the key to the mystery. And in 1976, the year Sir Anthony's great-great grandson comes to visit, she must decide whether to use it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444704028</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewFreedom|author= Polly Clark|title= Larchfield|rating= 5|genre= Literary Fiction |summary=I It's early summer when a young poet, Dora Fielding, moves to Helensburgh on the west coast of Scotland and her hopes are first challenged. Newly married, pregnant, she's excited by the prospect of a life that combines family and creativity. She thinks she knows what being a person, a wife, a mother, means. She is soon shown that she is wrong. As the battle begins for her very sense of self, Dora comes to find the realities of small town life suffocating, and, eventually, terrifying; until she finds a way to escape reality altogether. Another poet, she discovers, lived in Helensburgh once. Wystan H. Auden, brilliant and awkward at 24, with his first book of poetry published, should be embarking on success and society in London. Instead, in 1930, fleeing a broken engagement, he takes a teaching post at Larchfield School for boys where he is mocked for his Englishness and suspected - rightly - of homosexuality. Yet in this repressed limbo Wystan will fall in love for the first time, even as he fights his deepest fears.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1786481928</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Dinah Jefferies|title=Before the RainsSteven Burgauer

|summary=Eliza has tragically punctuated childhood memories of India that have feed her desire to return. Therefore in 1930, following It's the death later stages of her husband, when World War I and the British government commission her to photograph scenes of Indian life, she jumps at United States has just entered the chanceconflict. What she doesn't realise Petrol Petronus is that not everyone she comes across is delighted with a young American who has signed up and joined the idea17 Aero Squadron. Living within This company was the Sultana's opulent palace complex is definitely an attraction for herfirst US Aero Squadron to be trained in Canada, as is Jay, an Indian price who shows Eliza the real Indiafirst to be attached to the RAF and the first to be sent into the skies to fight the Germans in active combat. HoweverBut before that can happen, attractions are sometimes dangerous and even deadlyPetrol has to master flying the notoriously difficult but majestic Sopwith Camel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0241287081</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Otto de Kat and Laura Watkinson (translator)Christophe Medler|title=The Longest NightMadrigal: A Closely Guarded Secret|rating=3.54|genre=Literary Historical Fiction|summary=Emma has a philosophy – ''let Set against the dead rest, and love backdrop of the living''. The problem with thatEnglish Civil War, as a 96secret plan (code-year-old, named Madrigal) is that there are too few living left, and so while discovered by Sir Robert Douse in the love remains she will go through her memories, taking summer of 1642. As a woozy, diaphanous path through all loyal servant of the major events of her life. Starting in wartime Berlin with one husband, who gets snatched from her at work, fleeing to another place to wait for peaceKing, and wait for him in vainHead of the Secret Service, moving it is Robert's duty to Holland uncover the details of the plan and finding new love, and so on – this wispy journey will show all follow the impacts of war, from rationing right up clues to exile, death and survival. The memories are coming strongly here and now, as Emma is waiting for at least uncover one of her two sons to visit, and then she will die…the most guarded secrets in history—especially since the plot could affect the King.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857056085</amazonuk>B095HY8SXQ

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Adrian Goldsworthy1471187179|title= VindolandaA Beautiful Spy|author=Rachel Hore|rating= 3.54|genre= Historical Fiction|summary= AD 98: Minnie is an 'ordinary' girl living an unexciting life in the northern fields of Britannia lies Vindolanda, a Roman auxiliary base situated on the edge of the Roman worldleafy provincial suburb. Far from The book is set in the prosperity 1930s and decadence of RomeMinnie is expected to live up to her mother's expectations and find a nice young man to marry, the wild and untamed lands around Vindolanda are ripe with rebel tribes produce children and druids set against spend the destruction rest of Rome her days looking after her husband and its armiestheir home. In the midst Unfortunately, this isn't what she wants to do at all and neither does she want to continue working as a secretary. As a result of this destruction is Flavius Ferox; a Briton chance meeting, she finds herself drawn into espionage, working for the secret service and Roman Centurion who has been given effectively living a double life - attempting to infiltrate the task Communist Party of keeping the peace in this desolate edge of the worldGreat Britain. But life in Roman Britain is full of danger Minnie finds herself torn between what she perceives as her duty and betrayal at every turn, the friends she has made - and Ferox knows it will take more than courage to overcome what lies aheadlikes - whilst working for the Communist Party.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1784974684</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jeroen Blokhuis Afonso Cruz and Asja Novak Rahul Bery (translator)|title=The Yellow HouseKokoschka's Doll|rating=32.5

|summary=If you were the needy kindWell, would you really join in this looked very much like a book I could love from the drummingget-out go, which is why I picked my review copy up and flipped pages over several times before actually reading any of town of two people accused of murder purely because of their nationality? it. Would you get I found things to potentially delight me each time – a feeling of belonging just because you were there when someone carried weird section in the middle on darker stock paper, a dead dog down off a mountain? The main character chapter whose number was in this novel doesthe 20,000s, letters used as narrative form, and so on. But he has something It intrigued with the subterranean voice a man hears in wartorn Dresden that will really get him noted, well-thought-what little I knew ofit mentioned, includedtoo. He has come to But you've seen the south of France to set up an artists' collectivestar rating that comes with this review, where he can live and work alongside his counterparts, who can inspire each other and best each other to create wonderful art. In fact a much-respected guest is tell that if love was on his way now, so surely he can find kinship? The guest's name is, after allthese pages, Gauguinit was not actually caused by them. The main character is, of course, Vincent van Gogh…So what happened?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1907320563</amazonuk>1529402697

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Antonin Varenne and Sam Taylor (translator)Christina Hammonds Reed|title=Retribution RoadThe Black Kids

|genre=Historical Fiction Teens |summary=''Sergeant Bowman wasn't just a hard man, he was something else: a dangerous man.'' If, indeed, there was someone who was ideal for a suicide mission, it was him. Working as a soldier for the East India Company in the rural, remote, outlaw hotbeds of Asia in the 1850s, heChristina Hammonds Reed's tasked with taking a boat of unknown prospects up the Irrawaddy to try and combat local warlord Pagan Min. It doesn't go well – to start with, he's supposed to run the rule over ruffians saved from the gallows, but can't command them until he's forced his way to having debut novel is set against the knowledge backdrop of the mission he needs first1992 Los Angeles riots, only for all hell to break loose. But get back he does, only to find that while his nightmares about what really happened are met with equally dark goings-on, the official record suggests the mission never actually existed…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857053744</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Theodore Brun|title=A Mighty Dawn (The Wanderer Chronicles)|rating=3.5|genre= Historical Fiction|summary= A story like this needs a strong central character; it needs a warrior who has conviction, heart and honour. Hakan has all these in abundance, but he didn't get them easily. In this coming of age tale, he goes on a quest reaction to find himself after experiencing the most tremendous of betrayals. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782399941</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=S J Hardman Lea|title=The Sins absolution of Soldiers|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Anson Scott wants to join the British army and World War I four police officers for beating a different reason than most of his fellow Americans. He's a journalist wanting the uncensored inside story to send back home; a deadly enterprise as, if the Germans don't get him, the Brits may deem him a spy. Unperturbed he carries his plan through and finds himself on the French front in 1916. He has an ally in British officer David Alexander, which is just as well since not all his enemies are across no black man's land. The two men have a lot in common, more than they know and perhaps more than is good for them as the Somme approaches.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1785890182</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=David Gilman|title=Viper's Blood (Master of War)|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Bowman and commander Thomas Blackstone is one of Edward III's greatest weaponsRodney King, bringing him potentially head nearly to head against the Dauphin once againdeath. However, faced with an elongated stale mate, Thomas' role becomes that of scavenger leader as the chances of victory make way for a greater chance of starvation amongst the armies. There is a light at Told from the end perspective of the tunnel though. Blackstone is to go on a trip: an escort mission to ItalyAshley Bennett, delivering the French King's daughter Isabelle to Milan and novel follows her wedding. Having said that, the light at the end of the tunnel may be an oncoming lance. Isabelle's prospective groom is one of the brothers who killed Thomas' wife and daughter. Death is definitely on the cards… but whose?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1784974463</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Rory Clements|title=Corpus|rating=5|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=A suicidal overdose and the murder of upper class Cecil Langley and his wife are two events that may be unconnected. However this is England in 1936, evolution from a magnet for opposing forces and their first moves in preparation for the coming conflict, assisted or prevented by a royal crisis (depending on which side you're on). Cambridge history professor Tom Wilde may fall into the middle of this accidentally to begin silent bystander when confronted with but his curiosity has been piqued enough to ensure he's not walking away.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1785762613</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Beatrice Colin|title= To Capture What We Cannot Keep|rating= 4|genre= Historical Fiction|summary=Paris, February 1887, and work on the foundations matters of Eiffel's daring tower is about to begin. Engineer Emile Nouguierrace, taking photographs of the site from a tethered hot air balloon for tourists nearby, chances to meet a young widow from Glasgow named Caitriona Wallace, and his own foundations start to shift. Over the next two years as the tower slowly rises in the Champ de Mars, what began as an impossible dream becomes solid reality – Cait and Emile's love for each other. In a world where more than bustles and corsets hem woman finding her in, will Cait be able to break free of her oppressive future, voice and given their different social strata, can Emile re-shape his?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1760291722</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Deanna Raybourn|title= A Perilous Undertaking (Veronica Speedwell Mystery)|rating= 4|genre= Historical Fiction|summary=Veronica Speedwell did not choose to be an investigator by profession. She was, first and foremost, a scientist; a lepidopterist and adventuress who travelled the world looking for exciting butterfly specimens. However, when her latest expedition was cancelled due to an unfortunate incident with a giant tortoise, Veronica and her taxidermist friend Stoker took up the challenge of a murder investigation as an interesting diversion. The case seemed to an open-and-shut one; Miles Ramsforth, an art patron, had been accused of murdering his pregnant mistress, Artemisia. He was discovered at the scene, covered in embracing her blood and had both the motive and circumstances to commit the crime. He would hang by the end of the week if Veronica and Stoker could not find the 'real' killerheritage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0451476158</amazonuk>1471188191