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Audiobooks Narrated by Elaine Claxton
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‘A kind of blissography, teeming with bon mots’ Sunday Times
A celebrated modern classic that has revolutionised our understanding of the Bloomsbury group and remains the definitive biography of the group’s gloriously eccentric patron, Lady Ottoline Morrell. Met with widespread acclaim and translated into fifteen languages, this seminal book provoked a rethinking of the traditional Bloomsbury narrative and the rewriting of some major biographies.
For decades, Ottoline Morrell was grossly misunderstood. The artists and writers who benefited from her generous patronage and friendship helped to create the false and vicious image of a nymphomanical aristocrat with cultural aspirations. This landmark literary biography presents Morrell in an entirely new light, rightly setting her centre-stage as the brilliant and courageous lynchpin of the Bloomsbury group. She counted T.S. Eliot, Aldous Huxley, D.H. Lawrence, Lytton Strachey, Siegfried Sassoon, Augustus John, Katherine Mansfield and W.B. Yeats among her closest friends and houseguests. A legendary and agonisingly protracted love-affair with Bertrand Russell never undermined this unlikely couple’s deep and understanding friendship. Ottoline’s loyalty to her own promiscuous husband survived public humiliation and private crises.
Overhauling the long-held conventional view of Morrell as a victim, a creature of her class who was born to be exploited and derided by her wittier friends, Seymour repaints the world of the Bloomsberries and rescues the grand life of Ottoline Morrell from the depths of historical obscurity.
The epic conclusion to the Monstrous Heart Trilogy; a magical tale of intrigue on dark waters and a love story for the ages. The perfect gothic, gaslamp fantasy – ideal for fans of V.E. Schwab and China Mieville
Arden Beacon has nothing left to lose.
Having fought monsters, the deep waters and the establishment to fulfil a promise the man she loved – she is no closer to peace. But against the odds, she has found Jonah once more and they are together now. She means to keep it that way.
Jonah, Arden and Chalice are bound for Clay city. Warnings come that the scorned yet powerful Miah and Bellis have joined forces and turned their eyes to the capital, now following the direction of the slippery Mr Lindsay. Wanton destruction and death will surely follow if they cannot be distracted, tricked and stopped.
All the while, the coins sewn into Arden’s hands continue to poison her. Time is running out. With intrigue and beasts behind every wave, Jonah and Arden must face this final chapter together – or risk losing everything.
Astonishingly original, with world-building to rival the depths of the ocean, McKenna has drawn a world drenched in sea-salt and lit by the flickering light of gas lamps. Rich tale of longing and courage this is the perfect oceanic steampunk fantasy.
A British police detective’s latest case gets curiouser and curiouser in this hard-hitting novel by the author of The Devil’s Line.
DSI Billie Wilde’s romantic relationship is intense—but it’s nothing compared to the pressure of her latest case, especially since the new chief of police is gunning for her squad. If they don’t get a handle on a series of deaths—which seem to have a connection to Alice in Wonderland—they could wind up being demoted. And the identity of one of the victims has made things devastatingly personal for Billie.
In search of clues, she winds up working closely with PI Ellis Darque, who is working undercover. But as Billie works to sort out what’s going on behind the scenes, and confronts dark truths about her own family, she starts to feel like she’s gone through the looking-glass herself . . .
This chilling police procedural by the author of The Magpie, finalist for the Lindisfarne Prize for Crime Fiction, is a compelling tale filled with complex motives, tangled mysteries, and shocking surprises.
The sensational follow up to MONSTROUS HEART; a magical tale of intrigue on dark waters and a love story for the ages. The perfect gothic, gaslamp fantasy - ideal for fans of V.E. Schwab and China Mieville
Since losing her great love to the Queen of the Sainted Isles, Arden must fulfil an impossible promise before she can return home - she must complete the dangerous Rite that will return Jonah's spirit to the abyssal Court of the Deepwater King.
This sets her off on a journey far out at sea to find believers of the old religion on the oil-slick and mysterious islands beyond the horizon. But such a responsibility will not come without sacrifice, for the Deepwater folk who worship the King require the most desperate payments the soul, and with one man Arden may have to pay the greatest price of all...
Astonishingly original, with world-building to rival the depths of the ocean, McKenna has drawn a rich tale of longing and courage - penning the perfect oceanic steampunk fantasy.
The forgotten story of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York. A strong woman who claimed the throne for her family in a time of war…
‘One of the best writers around’ The Sun
‘A terrific storyteller’ Daily Telegraph
One family united by blood. Torn apart by war…
England, 1459: Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, is embroiled in a plot to topple the weak-minded King Henry VI from the throne. But when the Yorkists are defeated at the Battle of Ludford Bridge, Cecily’s family flee and abandon her to face a marauding Lancastrian army on her own.
Cecily can only watch as her lands are torn apart and divided up by the ruthless Queen Marguerite. From the towers of her prison in Tonbridge Castle, the Duchess begins to spin a web of deceit – one that will eventually lead to treason, to the fall of King Henry VI, and to her eldest son being crowned King Edward IV.
This is a story of heartbreak, ambition and treachery, of one woman’s quest to claim the throne during the violence and tragedy of the Wars of the Roses.
Praise for Anne O’Brien:
‘One of the best writers around … she outdoes even Philippa Gregory’ The Sun
‘O’Brien is a terrific story teller’ Daily Telegraph
‘O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in this enjoyable, gripping tale’ The Times
‘A gripping story of love, heartache and political intrigue’ Woman & Home
‘The characters are larger than life … and the author a compulsive storyteller’ Sunday Express
‘[A] fast-paced historical novel’ Good Housekeeping
‘This book has everything – royalty, scandal, fascinating historical politics’ Cosmopolitan
‘O’Brien’s page-turner vividly brings to life the restriction of women, and the compassion and strength of this real-life figure from medieval times’ Woman
‘A gripping historical drama’ Bella
‘Historical fiction at its best’ Candis
The perfect couple…or the perfect lie?
A year and a half ago, Gemma met the love of her life, Danny. Since then, their relationship has been like something out of a dream. But one Friday evening, Gemma returns home to find Danny is nowhere to be seen.
After two days with no word from her husband, Gemma turns to the police. She is horrified by what she discovers – a serial killer is on the loose in Bristol. When she sees the photos of the victims she is even more stunned … they all look just like Danny.
But the police aren’t convinced by Gemma’s story. Why has no one apart from Gemma seen or heard from Danny in weeks? Why is there barely a trace of him in their flat? Is she telling them the truth, or are there more secrets and lies in this marriage than meets the eye?
Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Shari Lapena and Lisa Jewell
What Netgalley reviewers are saying about The Perfect Couple
‘This book kept me up all night. So many twists and turns. I just could not get enough’
‘Oh my word!! This book was absolutely brilliant!! I cannot even describe how brilliant the plot was and the twists and turns were just amazing!!’
‘The perfect read!’
‘Jackie Kabler -you have written a thriller beyond words!’
‘A page turning, knee trembling read!’
‘Suspense, thrills, police procedural, and a good old-fashioned creepy scare await you’
‘Amazing, twisty, ride. I was left with a jaw dropped open and asking myself why and how’
‘Oh My Gosh what a Head Spinning book!!!!. Kept me on my toes through every chapter’
‘Absolutely loved this book! Couldn’t wait to get in bed at night and read! Felt like I was living the story!’
A sensational debut novel perfect for fans of Outlander and The Binding. This is gothic, epic, romantic fantasy at it’s very best; a tale of magic, intrigue on dangerous waters and a love story for the ages.
Arden Beacon arrives in the salt-swept port of Vigil with a job to do. Tasked with using the magic in her blood to keep the lighthouse burning, she needs to prove herself worthy of her family name and her ancestors’ profession.
But the coastline Arden must keep alight – battered by a sea teeming with colossal, ancient beasts – is far from the cultured, urban world she knows. It is a place of secrets, rumours and tight-lipped expectations of a woman’s place. More than anyone, the town folk whisper about Arden’s neighbour, Jonah Riven, the hunter of leviathans. They say he murdered his wife. They say he is as much a monster as his prey.
Amidst all her determination and homesickness Arden cannot get this shadowy stranger out of her head. A plot swirls around the lighthouse keeper, the hunter and the authorities. Arden must make sense of these dark waters – before they wash her away.
A sensational fantasy debut – a gothic tale of intrigue on high seas and a love story for the ages.
A sensational debut novel perfect for fans of Outlander and The Binding. This is gothic, epic, romantic fantasy at it’s very best; a tale of magic, intrigue on dangerous waters
Maria Weston wants to be friends. But Maria Weston's dead. Isn't she?FRIEND REQUEST1989. When Louise first notices the new girl who has mysteriously transferred late into their senior year, Maria seems to be everything Louise's other friends aren't. Authentic. Funny. Brash. Within just a few days, Maria and Louise are on their way to becoming fast friends.2016. Louise receives a heart-stopping email: Maria Weston wants to be friends on Facebook. Long-buried memories quickly rise to the surface: Those first days of their budding friendship; cruel decisions made and dark secrets kept; the night that would change all their lives forever.
Louise has always known that if the truth ever came out, she could stand to lose everything. Her job. Her son. Her freedom. Maria's sudden reappearance threatens it all, and forces Louise to reconnect with everyone with whom she'd severed ties in order to escape the past. But as she tries to piece together exactly what happened that night, Louise discovers there's more to the story than she ever knew. To keep her secret, Louise must first uncover the whole truth, before what's known to Maria-or whoever is pretending to be her-is known to all.With her mesmerizing debut, Laura Marshall offers a timely and essential story of how who we were shapes who we become, the hidden cost of our increasingly connected world, and the dangerous shape that revenge can take in our modern era.
Plagued with guilt, Freda Simonson, the only witness to the murder of the landlord of Langcliffe's tavern, believes that her testimony may have convicted the wrong man, but when she passes, the case seems closed. It just so happens, though, that Freda's nephew is courting the renowned amateur sleuth Kate Shackleton, who has decided to holiday in Langcliffe with her teenage niece, Harriet. When Harriet strikes up a friendship with a local girl whose young brother is missing, the search leads Kate to uncover a suspicious death and an illicit affair. As the present mysteries merge with the past's mistakes, Kate is thrust into the secrets that Freda left behind and realizes that Freda has entrusted her with solving the murder from beyond the grave.
Janet Marsh's move into her house has been delayed due to vandalism. Then, when the women go to look for clues that might tell them to who is guilty, they find a corpse (murder!) in Janet's garden shed. Constable Hobbs answers their emergency call. He's calm and quietly pleased, as he's never had a murder case. Then the contents of a dozen or so garbage bags are discovered behind the bookshop. The letters inside are nasty. The more the women find out about Una, the more people they discover who detested her and aren't sad she's gone. If Janet and her bookshop crew are reading the clues right, they're about to expose the most sensational story the town of Inversgail has ever heard.
The conquering Normans have taken everything from Tedric of Woodrose; murdered his father, kidnapped his sister, and stolen his keep and land. But Tedric's perfect plan for vengeance is to take his own captive: Amberlie de Fontaine, a Norman beauty and the new lady of his former property. Once he abducts her, Tedric has no qualms about stealing a fiery kiss or two from this dark and enchanting hostage. Amberlie knows she should despise Tedric. It was almost certainly Tedric who killed her husband in one of his many attempts to regain his land. But the Saxon warrior is not the savage she expected. And shockingly, it's not hate but passion that she feels in his presence, emotions that stir her as never before.
Guests are arriving to celebrate Christmas at Lady Holly's ball, and at the top of each guest's wish list is a last chance to find true love before the New Year. Amid the sumptuous delicacies, glittering decorations, and swell of the orchestra, every duchess and debutante, lord and lackey has a hopeful heart. There's the headstrong heiress who must win back her beloved by midnight-or be wed to another, and a spinster whose fateful choice to relinquish love may hold one more surprise for her. Even the charming rake finds far more than he bargained for among the pretty guests. These and many other dazzling, romantic tales fill this star-studded collection that will fill your heart and spice up your holidays!
