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[[Category:New Reviews|Historical Fiction]]==Historical fiction==__NOTOC__{{newreview|author=Anna Lawrence Pietroni|title=Ruby's Spoon|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=“This is the tale of three women – one witch, one mermaid and one missing – and how Ruby was caught up in between”. Despite the opening, this novel is more gritty realism than fantasy – there is lots of mythical imagery but in truth, the setting for this novel is a small industrial town cut off from everywhere else by the surrounding canals. It is 1933 (the middle of the Great Depression), and a stranger arrives in town to turn Ruby’s life upside down, for better or worse.|amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- Remove -->0099540053 </amazonuk!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Richard HughesTananarive Due|title=The Fox in the AtticReformatory|rating=45

|summary=The novel opens Gracetown, Florida. June 1950. After a scuffle with a scene set white boy, twelve year-old Robbie Stephens Jr is sentenced to grab six months at the readerGracetown School for Boys, otherwise known as the Reformatory. It's attention: a young girl has been found dead somewhere on the Welsh coast. And straight away I'm aware of Hughes' particular writing style. Fluid place with proper sentencesa brutal and dark reputation. It all has But the segregated reformatory is a traditional feel which I liked. Then we cut fairly briskly to chamber of horrors, haunted by the young Augustine who's rattling around in some pileboys that have died there. Due In order to survive the fallen in school governor and his Funhouse, Robert must enlist the First World War, many heirs did not return to England to take their rightful (I'm getting into help of the language, youschool'll notice) place in the family dynastys ghosts – only they have their own motivations...|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848879784</amazonuk>1803366532}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Geraldine BrooksKatherine Howe|title=Caleb's CrossingA True Account

|genre=Historical General Fiction|summary=Let's startHannah Masury is living in Boston, as Geraldine Brooks hashaving been sent to live with a family who run an inn, with and being made to work there from a young age. When she hears there is to be a fact: hanging of some pirates in 1665 the first Native Americantown, Caleb Cheeshateaumauk, graduated from Harvard Collegeshe decides to go and watch. Around this Enthralled and horrified in equal measure, Brooks has created Hannah finds herself embroiled in a wholly fictional story (young boy's death at the known facts are hands of two vicious pirates. She hides away, so few that this is largely unavoidable). The stroke of genius here is they don't find and kill her too, and then to escape them completely she runs away to put the story into the words of the entirely fictitious Bethia Mayfieldsea, dressing as a boy and joining the daughter of an English minister on what we now call Marthanotorious Ned Low's Vinyard, where Caleb lived pirate ship as a cabin boy. She soon finds herself in the Wampanoag tribe. At various points thick of things when there is a mutiny on board, and from there we are caught up in her rip roaring tale of life, Bethia sets down events concerning her early secret friendship with Caleb on the island, to accompanying him and her brother to Harvard and the subsequent eventsocean waves.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007333536</amazonuk>0861547438

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Claire Holden RothmanSarah Marsh|title=The Heart SpecialistA Sign of Her Own|rating=43.5|genre=Historical General Fiction|summary=We first meet teenager Agnes at home - dissecting After a recently-dead squirrel in secret. She knows full well that her family would not approve bout of this unseemly behaviourscarlet fever as a child, especially from a girlEllen Lark loses her hearing. She's expected to be Suddenly plunged into a young lady and enjoying ladylike hobbiesworld of silence, like playing with dolls. Fat chance. Feisty Agnes is everything about her father's daughter and she has an interest in medicinelife changes. It must be Living in a time when the blooduse of sign language was seen as something only savages do, in the genes. If that's the case it's skipped younger sister Laure. The two sisters are very different. Laure Ellen is sent to a gentle and pretty girl school where she is taught to lip read, but her health is rather delicatephysically restrained from signing. Agnes is a bit of a tom-boy From here, she ends up in another school studying under Alexander Graham Bell who has been teaching the deaf and using a go-gettersystem called Visible Speech. Their grandmother despairs of young Agnes - what's to become of her? The norm At the same time, Bell is marriage working on other inventions and ideas, and Ellen finds herself unwittingly caught up in a family, this medical nonsense must be stamped out. It's out complicated tangle of the question. This profession is strictly for the men. Try telling that to Agnesespionage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1851687947</amazonuk>1035401614

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Anne O'BrienClaire North|title=Devil's ConsortHouse of Odysseus

|genre=Historical Literary Fiction|summary=In the year 1137 fifteen year old Eleanor of Aquitaine is an orphan. Just before her father's death he asked King Louis VI of France to take care of her, and the unscrupulous Louis took advantage of this request to marry her to his pious son Louis VII. When her new father in law passes away, the young woman becomes Queen of France and is determined to safeguard her precious lands from all who want to take them – even if it leads to conflict with her weak-willed husband. Then she meets the Count of Anjou, Geoffrey Plantagenet, and his son Henry…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0778304272</amazonuk>}}'What could matter more than love?''

{{newreview|author=Elizabeth Speller|title=The Strange Fate of Kitty Easton|rating=4.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=I reviewed and thoroughly enjoyed Speller's [[The Return of Captain John Emmett by Elizabeth Speller|The Return Of Captain John Emmett]] so I was really keen follow-up to get stuck into the follow-excellent ''Ithaca'' picks upa few months after where we left off. The main characterIn the palace of Odysseus, with delicate care Queen Penelope continues to rule without her husband, officer Laurence Bartram is also an important character in who sailed to war at Troy and then by divine intervention never returned home. As ever she remains surrounded by suitors vying for the throne of the previous book, but both are stand-alone novels in their own rightWestern Isles. The front cover is evocative Having survived – politically and physical – the chaotic storm that Clytemnestra brought to Ithaca's shores, Queen Penelope is also as pretty as on the brink of a picture - literallyfragile peace. With its intriguing title which had me asking all sorts One that shatters however with the return of Orestes, King of questions before I'd even opened the bookMycenae, and his sister Elektra, it was a good startseeking refuge.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1844086313</amazonuk>0356516075

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Carol BirchB0C7J9D21B|title=Jamrach's MenagerieA Captive in Algiers (Muhammed Amalfi Mysteries)|author=A J Lewis

|summary=When we first meet our hero, his name is Ettore and he lives at The novel is written in the first person by House of Beautiful Swallows. Idyllic as this might sound, it's a young boy called Jaffybordello and Ettore's mother died when he was born. He describes the poverty 's not been short of mothers, though - but for someone of his life at home which includes the delightful line 'We lived background in the crowlate-eighteenth-century Amalfi, it's nest difficult to obtain decent employment. The stint working with the preparation of Mrs Reagananchovies didn's houset work out and bastards are considered bad luck on fishing boats.' He also describes his struggling mother Ettore was nothing if not resourceful - and determined - and his absent fatherit was not long before he had a successful business as a guide for visitors. But I got the sense that here He was a bright and resilient boyeven saving some money. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847676561</amazonuk>

 {{newreview|author=Karen Maitland|title=The Gallow's Curse|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=This is the eagerly anticipated, and long awaited third novel by the immensely talented author Karen Maitland. It seems as if her ever expanding and permanently loyal fan base will not be disappointed in any way by her latest offering. It's rare (if ever), that I would be moved to give a 5 star rating to any novel - but this one richly deserves the highest of accolades.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0718156358</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Stuart ClarkEssie Fox|title=The Sky's Dark LabyrinthFascination

|summary=This book The Victorian era is heavily based on factincredibly over-romanticised as a setting for historical fiction (matched only, perhaps, by the Second World War) which has often led to more than a few writers mishandling it. All There's such a glut of media set in the characters era that the hallmarks we've come to associate with it are real people - apart from one. Some of us may be familiar with the names of Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler (due to the importance point of their respective workbeing cliched, both men are afforded healthy chunks in my Oxford English Dictionary)hackneyed even. Clark also has a rather impressive working CV including holding a Fellowship of the Royal Astronomical SocietyAll this is simply to illustrate that it would be an easy thing to do poorly. But what I personally really liked despite that, something about it still grabs me – and appreciated was the line on the something about this book's front cover which said 'Knowledge can be a dangerous thingdescription did as well.'|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846971748</amazonuk>1914585526

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=M C BeatonNicole Jarvis|title=The Travelling Matchmaker: Emily Goes to ExeterA Portrait in Shadow|rating=34.5

|summary=Emily Goes ''I want all of Florence to Exeter is by way of know my name'Being the First Volume of the Travelling Matchmaker' as the subheading has it on the frontispiece: the beginning of a new series obviously.

If like me you have come to Beaton by way of Hamish Macbeth this might seem like something of Cast out from Rome, Artemisia Gentileschi arrives in Florence seeking an oasis in which her art can find a diversionhome and where her future can thrive rather than stagnate. A little research shows you that in fact Marion ChesneyBut as some as she enters Florentine society she faces great opposition from the powerful Accademia, who writes under a number the self-proclaimed guardians of pseudonyms (including Beaton) the healing magics that through paintings have the power to protect the city and its citizens from plagues and curses. The all-male Accademia has a prolific work-ratehoarded power over art and architecture for centuries and guard it above all else. Having produced upwards of 130 books since starting writing full time in the 1980sTo them, focussing on crime Artemisia – an ambitious young woman who promises trouble and historical romance, there can be few avenues down which she change – has yet to wanderno place amongst them and their society.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849014795</amazonuk>1803362340

 {{newreview|author=Margaret Dickinson|title=Forgive and Forget|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Straight away I got the sense of this book because of its language and style. Lots of adjectives such as Polly has a ' ... fiery personality' and 'Cold fear ran through the girl's slim body.' This book is very easy to read, to get into as the tone is conversational. There are lines like 'The young girl's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in a horrified gasp. She clutched her throat as she uttered hoarsely, 'no, oh, no!' ' This book will appeal to those readers who like a rather uncomplicated yarn but also with a good dash of romance. True escapism. Personally, the title is too slushy for me but I appreciate that it fits in nicely with the genre and also with Dickinson's style. But, I have to say, there's an awful lot of 'hearts thumping' and 'eyes blazing' - too many for me, I'm afraid.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>033051623X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sylvia BroadyThomas D Lee|title=The Yearning HeartPerilous Times

|genre=Women's FictionFantasy|summary=It is 1941 so when an unmarried Frances Bewholme becomes pregnant she is shunned by her family and sent to an isolated farm to live and work. To add to her shame and disgrace Fran's unborn baby is not just any man's; it Hate is her brother-in-law's. Victor Renton, home on leave from the war takes advantage path of Fran one night when she comes home, upset and heartbroken.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709092113</amazonuk>}}least resistance''

{{newreview|author=Maaza Mengiste|title=Beneath Set in the Lion's Gaze|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Ethiopia 1974. Emperor Haile Selassie is an old man barely clinging near-distant future, in a world on to power. Still thought the verge ofclimate collapse, even by those rebelling against him, as Britain is in great peril. The British Isles desperately needs a demihero (or several) to save the day and rescue what little remains. What no-god one expected was that they daren't disrespect let alone challenge he has held one of the country in thrall to his aristocratic government supported by the violence and repression Knights of the army and Round Table would answer the policecall.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099539926</amazonuk>0356518523

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Alma KatsuG K Holloway|title=The Taker|rating=5|genre=General Fiction|summary=When Dr Luke Findley begins his nightshift at Aroostook County Hospital in St Andrews, Maine, things are quiet until Lanny McIlvrae is brought in by the police. Lanny is covered in blood and claims she has killed a man and left him in the woods. Desperate to escape, Lanny quickly asks for Luke's help, but he is not sure at first, so Lanny decides to tell Luke her life story, a story that begins in the early Puritan settlement of St Andrews in 1809 and spans nearly two hundred years, taking Lanny from her home to Boston and beyond. A story that is rich, imaginative and entirely authentic, filling In the majority Shadows of the novel, and there wasn't a moment when I questioned her reliability as she tells Luke everything, chapter by chapter, as he helps her to escape, slowly drawing him and the reader into her world. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846058171</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Glenn Taylor|title=The Marrowbone Marble CompanyCastles

|summary=Glenn Taylor tells a big story with a deft lightness of touch. Covering We begin after the period from the early 1940s to the late 1960s, The Marrowbone Marble Company (momentous battle in 1066 and it's marble in on the form day of the glass marble game for children rather than the stone variety) tells the story William of Loyal Ledford, a hard working man in West Virginia who marries the daughter Normandy's coronation as King of England. William's position is not secure and the glass factory where he worksnew king has many challenges. Returning from Imposing authority through a traumatic World War two, he decides coronation is important. And William is right to start his own business manufacturing marblesworry. If that sounds dullWhile the previous king, it's far from it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007359071</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ellen Bryson|title=The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno: A Love Story|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction |summary=Set in the days Harold, is dead and months following the assassination likelihood of Abraham Lincolnmore pitched battles is over, The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno is an inventive the rebels are stirring and highly entertaining story much of the life of the ''curiosities'' performing in the great PT Barnum's great American Museumcountry does not wish to recognise a new overlord.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0330533819</amazonuk>1800422466

{{newreview|author=Jean Teule|title=Monsieur Montespan|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=The Marquis de Montespan Maya is totally a young girl living in love with his new wife Athénaïs and she with him, so much so that when she becomes a lady in waiting at hunter gatherer village during the palace of VersaillesMesolithic era. Climate change is occurring, she begs her husband to remove her in case she falls for the charms Sea of the famous Sun King. The Marquis refuses because of the prestige Grass encroaches further and fortune her position brings them – but itfurther into Maya's a decision he quickly regretsforest home, as Louis XIVindeed manages to cuckold himand food is becoming more and more scarce. With all of France talking about the new woman in the king's life, Montespan is expected What to take do? Can the rewards offered to him law givers in exchange for his wife and leave the couple alone. But many years before the French Revolution, instead he takes the unprecedented step federation of standing up villages muster peaceful ways to cope? Can the kingTraveller, ignoring his offers and proclaiming his cuckoldry by adding horns to his coat of arms. Can the man who's become a spiritual figure who interprets the wisdom of fun throughout the country win back his wifeAll Life, provide solutions?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906040303</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Paul R Spiring and Hugh Cooke1529125898|title=Wheels of Anarchy by Max PembertonGodmersham Park|author=Gill Hornby|rating=45

|summary=This mystery-adventure book was written and published around 100 years ago. Will ''If it stand were not for the test casual dereliction of time? The back cover blurb says confidently that this '' adventure story ... makes James Bond look like a stay at home ...'' Before you get into the story proper thereodd gentleman's quite a lot of information in the introductory pages. Some of it I did find interesting (the page about Max Pemberton and Sherlock Holmes for instance) but some readers may feel a little bogged down before they've even started duty, there would no women to read chapter one. Both Pemberton and Holmes belonged to a small, elite criminology society in London. I got the impression that the two coteach well-compilers felt as if they had to justify themselves somehowbred daughters at all. I ploughed on ...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1907685316</amazonuk>}}''

{{newreview|author=Christina Courtenay|title=The Scarlet Kimono|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=It's 1611 and young Hannah's life in Plymouth is anything but excitingAnne Sharpe was thirty-one years old when she arrived at Godmersham Park to take up the position of governess to twelve-year-old Fanny Austen. She has had no experience of teaching but this was a horrid elder sister to deal with, and is jealous case of her brother Jacob's career aboard a merchant shipnecessity. Realising Until the death of her mother, Anne had a comfortable life her and was loved by both parents have mapped out for although her as wife to a man she loathes is not for father was frequently absent from the household. When hermother died, Hannah decides her father cast her off and would have nothing more to take action and control of do with her own destiny. Soon No explanation was offered but she runs away from homewould receive an annuity of £35 a year. Her maid, Agnes, disguising herself as a boy and stowing away on one of the ships under her brother's commandwould receive nothing but was fortunately taken in by some neighbours. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906931291</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sara SheridanMelissa Fu |title=Secret of the SandsPeach Blossom Spring |rating=43.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=It's I loved the summer of the year 1883. William Wilberforceprelude to Peach Blossom Spring, hero of the anti-slavery movement is enjoying a gentlemanshort chapter entitled ''Origins''s life in London. But, far away in Abyssinia, things are far from rosy for the local people. The situation facing them Unfortunately it is ugly and very dangerous - slavers (what a horrible word) are in the area and with the stark sentence 'It takes only seven minutes to capture almost everyone' we get the picture, loud and clear. Sheridan wastes no time in giving her readers the heart-wrenching details: the elderly are separated and treated with very little dignity (they're almost worthless, not worth the bother truly poetic part of transportation), the fit and healthy are singled out and lastly, the young are segregated. They are 'prized' most of all. And into this latter category falls a pretty 17 year old girl called Zenabook that I expected more from. She is spirited. She will not show any fear. She thinks for a split second of running but is intelligent enough Covering Chinese history from 1938 to know that she2005 as viewed through one family'd be beaten severely for her sheer insubordination and probably even killed on the spots perspective. But behind her expressive eyes she When their home city is thinking and plotting ...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847561993</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Tim Murgatroyd|title=Breaking Bamboo|rating=3|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Summer 1266, Nancheng in Central China and Doctor Shih is struggling to cope set ablaze during the war with the monsoon seasonJapan, when he gets a midnight summons to Peacock Hill: ancient palace complex young mother (Meilin) and now home to the Pacification Commissioner, his wife, concubines and various officials and hangers on. Wang Tingher four-year-bo's only old son and heir is apparently dying and all the great and good of the medical guild are unable to save him. They recommend the employment of magicians in the hope of driving out the evil spirits. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905802382</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Kieran McMullen|title=Watson's Afghan Adventure|rating=2.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=In truth, I could write this review in two words = (oh dearRenshu) and be done with itare among those who flee. But I'd better be fair and put some meat The story follows them on those bones. Where to start... With its darktheir journey across China, almost apocalyptic front cover this book looks very much like a 'man's' book. Thatand in Renshu's fine but is this what McMullen wants? Is he happy case eventually to discard some or even perhaps most of the female reading population in one fell swoop? It appears soAmerica. Now I know that this is a historical yarn but even so, given the current situation in Afghanistan with British and American Troops, the word 'adventure' in the title doesn't sit easily with me. If I saw this book on a bookstore shelf, I would feel a little uncomfortable. Not a good start ... and it's generally downhill from here, I'm afraid.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1907685936</amazonuk>1472277538

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Bernhard Schlink and Carol Brown Janeway1916072038|title=The ReaderHouse in the Hollow (The Talbot Saga)|author=Allie Cresswell

|summary=It's West Germany, 1958We meet part of the Talbot family in Yorkshire in November 1811. A 15 Twenty-seven-year-old schoolboyJocelyn Talbot and her mother have travelled in some discomfort from their home at Ecklington, Michael Berg, is suffering a long bout of hepatitis. When he recovers he returns to the flat of a tram conductor, 36-year-old Hanna Schmitz, to thank her for taking care of him house in the day he fell sickhollow. The two women are angry with each other and Jocelyn is well aware of them begin a secret affair that becomes a routine for months: after school and work, Michael would read to her, mother's strengths and then they would make love and bathe each other. Both of them fall in love.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0753804700</amazonuk>}}weaknesses:

{{newreview|author=Berlie Doherty|title=Treason|rating=4.5|genre=Teens|summary=Forced by his power-hungry aunt and uncle to leave the comfort of his modest family home''She is practiced at subterfuge, Will Montague finds himself utterly overwhelmedat concealing, as he works as beneath a page to Prince Edward under the keen eye of the temperamental King Henry, just as prone to unexpected bursts facade of compassion as he is to brutal cruelty. Just as he begins to find his feet in this new positionrespectability, Will finds himself suddenly on the run, desperately trying to clear the name of his father, convicted of treason for failing to revert to the Protestantism led by the King, and simultaneously gaining more awareness of the world he lives in and the plights of the working classdeplorable truth''. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849391211</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Jan Jones|title=The Kydd Inheritance|rating=3.5|genre=WomenHester is furious about Jocelyn's Fiction|summary=Nell's Kydd's father died in a hunting accident and her brother, Kit refusal to do as she was uncontactableasked, seemingly lost, on his way back from India. This left her uncle, Jasper Kydd in charge of the family estate and he appeared to be doing all in his power to wreck Kydd Court and make Nellwhich has precipitated 's life a misery. Her mother coped with it all by retreating into her own world, where she couldn't be reached either. When an unwelcome offer of marriage is forced upon her, Nell knows that she has to take action this violent and thatunexpected removal''s when the very unsettling Captain Hugo Derringer arrives. He's an old friend of Kitt's, but what exactly is he doing in the area and can Nell trust him?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709091710</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Elizabeth Ashworth|title=The de Lacy Inheritance|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Set in England in 1192, Then we are told of the novel is full birth of details of life in this period, a child and resists the temptation to get overtly bogged down in excessive political detail, which makes this a very accessible read to those (like myself) who are not too knowledgeable about this particular historical period. Returning from the Crusadessoon after, Richard is forced to leave his family and atone for the sins which he believes has lead to him being afflicted with leprosy. Undertaking a quest to his grandmother's nearby cousin (who is childless, so grandmother wants Richard to present her case for inheriting his lands)Hester Talbot departs, Richard finds refuge here. This point struck me as odd - almost jarring leaving Jocelyn in it's unlikelihood. Not only does Richard find help/support/refuge here (whilst remaining unknown to all except the cousin shame and his wife), but he's virtually welcomed with open arms. Would an itinerant leper be treated isolation in this way? It did add a note of discord to the narrative - as if the quest for inheritance was more important that his trials as a leperYorkshire.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905802366</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Winifred HoltbyAnnabel Abbs|title=South RidingThe Language of Food|rating=4.5

|summary=The central character Eliza Acton is a single woman in her middle years poet who relishes has never had the chance to return slightest inclination to her roots in the tight-knit South Riding community. She's ambitious and well-travelled and has tasted life and work in bustling, cosmopolitan London. So it would appear that her pull back home is very strong indeedboil an egg. But, you have to ask yourself the question, who would choose to give up this stimulating life down south and return up north? One Sarah Burton, schoolteacher When tasked with promotion in her mindwriting a cookery book, that's who. Everything depends on Sarah actually getting this job. And straight awayshe recruits Ann Kirby, Holtby gives us the low-down on the collective mentality of a local governmentwoman with a troubled home life. YesTogether, narrow-mindedthey test, parochialcraft, dull - it's all of those things and more. But not everyone is a political 'sheep'. There's one or two who can see the bigger picture refine and can look beyond personal gain.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849902038</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=C J Sansom|title=Dark Fire|rating=5|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=1540 was reshape the hottest summer world of the sixteenth century but Matthew Shardlake was doing his best to hold his legal practice togetherdomestic cookery, which was made more difficult by reinventing the fact that he believed himself to be out of favour with Thomas Cromwell. He tried to keep a low profile but when he defended recipe book and changing the accused in a most unpopular case – that face of a girl accused of brutally murdering her cousin – he found that the king's chief minister had a new assignment for him. Unless he could solve Cromwell's problem his client was likely to die a slow and nasty deathcookery writing forever.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0330450786</amazonuk>1398502227

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Michael David LukasFreya Marske|title=The Oracle of StamboulA Marvellous Light

|summary=The book Robin Blyth is set nudged into a job in the Ottoman Empire and the reader is given a potted history of those timesCivil Service,much to his chagrin. Wars, troops, Rome There he meets Edwin Courcey and learns that the Byzantines all get a passing mention streets of London are threaded with magic... and Desperate to remove a baby called Eleonora is born. Sadlycurse that threatens to swallow him, her mother does not make it and it's left Robin follows Edwin to her father to bring her up. He struggles the countryside, where the hedgegrows bristle with incantations and decides the best thing for himself, but more importantly, for his young daughter, is to enter into a marriage of convenience people shimmer with power. There they uncover a member sinister plot that threatens the lives of his extended family. Domestic life rumbles along, but underneath all magicians in the surface, things are brewing ..British Isles.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755377702</amazonuk>1529080886

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Molly CarrB09F4CTKJR|title=A Study in CrimsonFlights for Freedom|author= Steven Burgauer|rating=34.5

|summary=As soon as It's the later stages of World War I read and the blurb on United States has just entered the back cover I thought there's no doubting that this book conflict. Petrol Petronus is going a young American who has signed up and joined the 17 Aero Squadron. This company was the first US Aero Squadron to be one of those delightful rompstrained in Canada, shall we say. Carr takes the famous first to be attached to the RAF and much-loved and much-read detective Holmes along with his trustythe first to be sent into the skies to fight the Germans in active combat. But before that can happen, if rather dull and plodding side-kick Watson and decides Petrol has to have a bit of funmaster flying the notoriously difficult but majestic Sopwith Camel. But will it work?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1907685405</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Amanda TaylorChristophe Medler|title=The Chinaman's BastardMadrigal: A Closely Guarded Secret|rating=34

|summary=I found Set against the title backdrop of the book excellent and I was keen to find out more. The blurb on the back cover does its job English Civil War, a secret plan (code- until named Madrigal) is discovered by Sir Robert Douse in the last bit, which becomes summer of 1642. As a bit irritating. It claims loyal servant of the book 'is very captivating'. WellKing, to be brutally honestand Head of the Secret Service, itis Robert's either captivating or it's not. The word 'very' is not needed. And sadly, no, I didn't find duty to uncover the details of the plan and follow the clues to uncover one of the most guarded secrets in history—especially since the plot could affect the book captivating at allKing.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1843865440</amazonuk>B095HY8SXQ

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Christina Courtenay1471187179|title=Trade Winds|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=It is 1731 and Killian Kinross, disgraced heir to the estate is making his way as best he can through the gambling dens of Edinburgh, trading on his skill, ability to hold his drink and the smiling fickle fortunes of lady luck. The Lady is smiling at the moment, although she hasn't always done so.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906931232</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewA Beautiful Spy|author=Margaret James|title=The Silver LocketRachel Hore

|summary=It Minnie is an 'ordinary' girl living an unexciting life in a leafy provincial suburb. The book is set in the eve of the First World War 1930s and Rose CourtenayMinnie is expected to live up to her mother's parents are keen expectations and find a nice young man to marry , produce children and spend the rest of her off to well-bred Michael Eastondays looking after her husband and their home. But Rose is certain a life of domesticity in Dorset is not for her Unfortunately, this isn't what she wants to do at all and so instead neither does she takes the bold step of running away want to London where she volunteers continue working as a nurse for the war effortsecretary. Posted to FranceAs a result of a chance meeting, Rose meets injured soldier Alex Denham who she has known since childhoodfinds herself drawn into espionage, working for the secret service and is effectively living a double life - attempting to infiltrate the only man who has ever made her blushCommunist Party of Great Britain. Romance soon blossoms Minnie finds herself torn between Rose what she perceives as her duty and Alex, despite Rose fighting against her feelings as Alex is already married, the friends she has made - and also disapproved of by her parents due to his dubious backgroundlikes - whilst working for the Communist Party. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906931283</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Simon Scarrow|title=The Legion Afonso Cruz and Rahul Bery (Roman Legion 9translator)|ratingtitle=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Ajax and his crew of fellow renegade gladiators have been stirring things up in Egypt. Attacking small naval bases, merchant ships and villages along the coast, they're successfully stirring some unrest. Because Ajax isn't silly. Not only is he a skilled fighter and capable commander, heKokoschka's also full of guile. The band pose as Roman soldiers when raiding, so their victims are left with anti-Roman sentiment in addition to their losses. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755353749</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Pamela Evans|title=Harvest NightsDoll|rating=32.5|genre=Historical Literary Fiction|summary=It is 1920 and London is struggling to deal with the consequences of the Great War. Unemployment is high and money is scarce. Clara TrippWell, this looked very much like a former Land Girl has been forced to return to book I could love from the city to work as a waitressget-go, leaving behind the countryside which she loves so much. When Charlie Fenner, an acquaintance from Clara's Land Army days, comes in to the teashop where she works, Clara can't help but feel overjoyed. He offers her temporary work on his parents' orchard in Kent and she gladly accepts. Yet a serious accident forces Clara to stay longer than expected and it is then that she makes a shocking discovery which threatens to destroy the Fenner family. Back in London Clara struggles with her confused emotions why I picked my review copy up and the looming prospect flipped pages over several times before actually reading any of her marriage to local boy Arnoldit. When devastating news comes from Kent, Clara realises she can no longer keep her discovery a secret. But coming face- I found things to-face with Charlie again means Clara must acknowledge her buried feelings and make potentially delight me each time – a decision between doing weird section in the right thing and following her heart.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755345452</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ross Laidlaw|title=Justinian: The Sleepless One|rating=3|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Born Uprauda Ystockmiddle on darker stock paper, the son of a peasant, Justinian (as he chapter whose number was to become known) managed to change his life around when his mother's brother, Roderic, an important general in the Roman Army20,000s, paid for his education. After a series of successesletters used as narrative form, Roderic became Emperor Justin and then passed the mantel so on to his nephew, who became known as Justinian. When he came into power It intrigued with the subterranean voice a man hears in wartorn Dresden that what little I knew of it mentioned, the Roman Empire was under attack from all directions and Justinian was forced to battle for his right to remain Emperortoo. Fortunately, he married Theodora, an ex-courtesan, who helped to mould him into But you've seen the leader star rating that he needed to be. Was comes with this enough to remain in powerreview, and can tell that if love was on these pages, or would it all be snatched away from himwas not actually caused by them. So what happened?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846971586</amazonuk>1529402697

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Peter CareyChristina Hammonds Reed|title=Parrot and Olivier in AmericaThe Black Kids

|genre=Literary FictionTeens |summary=Olivier de Garmont is a young, French aristocrat who is drugged by the enigmatic Marquis de Tilbot, a close friend of OlivierChristina Hammonds Reed's monarchist mother, and dispatched to debut novel is set against the safety backdrop of the emerging United States to avoid the 1830 July Revolution1992 Los Angeles riots, and the threat of the dreaded guillotine, in his native France. At least nominally his task while there is a reaction to prepare a report on the American penal system on behalf absolution of the French government, four police officers for beating a task for which he has little interest or indeed talent. Tilbot also dispatches his servant, an older British black man, John Larrit, known to everyone as ParrotRodney King, nearly to act as Oliver's secretary, servant, translator and to spy on Olivier for both his mother and Tilbotdeath. They are an ill-matched pair, Told from opposite sides the perspective of Ashley Bennett, the social spectrum but in democratic America, this relationship develops in ways that neither of them would expect. The story is told in alternating voices of these two main characters.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571253296</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ross Laidlaw|title=Theoderic|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=This is novel follows her evolution from a historical tale silent bystander when confronted with a capital 'H'. A Glossarymatters of race, Historical Note, Prologue plus to a map entitled 'The Barbarian Kingdoms woman finding her voice and the Roman Empire' are all for the reader's maximum interest and (hopefully) maximum enjoyment and all before settling down to the first chapter. This very much sets the tone of the bookembracing her heritage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>184697111X</amazonuk>1471188191

{{newreview|author=Shona Maclean|title=A Game of Sorrows|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Two years have passed since Move on to [[The Redemption of Alexander Seaton by Shona Maclean|Alexander SeatonNewest History Reviews]] found his redemption. He is comfortably settled in his life at the University, about to be sent on the academic expedition of a lifetime, and wondering how best to ask the woman he loves to be his wife. Then a case of mistaken identity, which almost costs him his love and the respect of his friends leads Alexander to discover he has a cousin in town – the son of his late mother's brother, come from Ireland to seek his help.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849162441</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Julian Lees|title=The Fan Tan Players|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=The story opens with a vividly described cyclone in 1920s Macao. I found Lees' writing was such in the opening chapter that it felt almost apocalyptic. The loss of life, the damage to property and ... 'sounds of the surf regurgitating gurgling carcasses of belly-bulging cows.' I couldn't help but think of the real-life tragedy unfolding in Pakistan. I felt a bit queasy when I was reading this, to tell you the truth.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905207492</amazonuk>}}