British Fiction

A humorous, feel-good read! When newcomer and single mum Becca goes to a school PTA meeting, she is handed the task of looking after the village book swap – a dirty, smelly phone box full of unloved books. She’d much rather be finding a job, or some friends. Unfortunately, though, her daughter Ellie decides she loves the book swap, so Becca has no choice in the matter. Can Becca find her feet in the village and make the book swap something to be proud of? And who is the book swap’s mysterious benefactor?

China, December 1941. Having left an unhappy life in England for a teaching post at a missionary school in northern China, Elspeth Kent is now anxious to return home to help the war effort. But as she prepares to leave China, a terrible twist of fate determines a different path for Elspeth, and those in her charge. Ten-year-old Nancy Plummer has always felt safe at Chefoo School, protected by her British status.

When a body is discovered floating in a Thames river lock one dreary morning, Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Sergeant Gemma James are summoned from Scotland Yard to Chiltern Hills. The dead man is Connor Swann, son-in-law of two of London's most renowned opera personalities. And prints on the corpse's neck suggest that Swann was strangled.

When the body of a young woman is discovered in the cowshed of Cricket Farm, the tranquility of the British countryside is shattered. Inspector Jess Campbell is on the case, but with few leads, a grumbling partner, and the new superintendent Ian Carter piling on the pressure, she's beginning to wonder why she chose to be a detective in the first place.

Detective Sergeant Chris Waters got the call at 05.29 that July morning. This is it, said DCI Reeve, you'll be first there, it's all yours, you're the crime scene manager. Suddenly, after months of waiting and wondering, Waters finds himself in at the deep end, and alone at the scene of a puzzling murder. As the investigation proceeds, the detectives at Kings Lake Central find themselves visiting familiar places and talking to some familiar faces, while old enmities reappear in the incident room. Before this is over, Chris Waters will need to make a career-changing decision.

Escape to breathtaking Ireland in a story of passion, mystery, and heartfelt humor. "A joy to read with many laughs and happy tears along the way." - Amazon reviewer "Breathtaking romance, passion, humor, mystery, heartbreak, hope, and above all, love." - Amazon reviewer Follow the O'Brian family through a tale of unexpected love and buried secrets as each confronts their past, embraces their true selves, and fight for love they never expected. In this captivating saga, discover the bonds of family, the allure of Ireland, and the profound strength of friendship. This box set includes The ...

Penelope Parish has hit a streak of bad luck, including a severe case of writer's block that is threatening her sophomore book. Hoping a writer in residence position at The Open Book bookstore in Upper Chumley-on-Stoke, England, will shake the cobwebs loose, Pen, as she's affectionately known, packs her typewriter and heads across the pond. Unfortunately, life in Chumley is far from quiet, and when the chairwoman of the local Worthington Fest is found dead, fingers are pointed at Charlotte Davenport, an American romance novelist and the future duchess of Worthington.

“Mr. Darcy’s Regrets” is a Pride and Prejudice Regency variation novella of approximately 30K words, with low angst, lots of romance, and some original twists in the timeless story of Elizabeth and Darcy, told from Darcy’s point of view. Many of us wonder about the friendship between Darcy and Bingley. How did they end up together when there is a significant difference in age, character, and situation in life between the two? What if their bond has its roots in the past relationship of their families? The story starts in London after Elizabeth returns from Kent, and she and Jane are...

Writer-in-residence Penelope Parish will need to use every trick in her quaint British bookshop to unravel a murderous plot that threatens to ruin a ducal wedding. The wedding of the duke and duchess of Upper Chumley - on Stoke has all the makings of a fairy tale, complete with a glowing bride and horse-drawn carriage. But it wouldn't be much of a story without a villain, and as American Gothic novelist Penelope Parish is coming to learn, happy-ever-afters are as fraught in this charming British town as they are in her books.

The dreaded event that the Bennet ladies all feared has unluckily occurred. Mr Bennet suffers from severe heart failure, and his days appear to be numbered. Facing a bleak future, Elizabeth and Jane take on the responsibility of holding their family together with the support of the Gardiners and the Phillipses. While Jane struggles to manage life at Longbourn, with their mother overwhelmed by grief and anxiety, Elizabeth embarks on a journey to Hunsford to discuss a potential arrangement with Mr Collins in the event of her father’s passing. However, life has a tremendous surprise for her ...

A rare stamp and a corpse are discovered in Bath within hours of each other. As he investigates, Inspector Peter Diamond discovers that both the person who found the stamp and the victim belong to the Bloodhounds, an elite group of mystery lovers, who now urge Diamond to bring the murderer to justice. But there's a hitch: the body lies inside a padlocked houseboat and the only key is in the pocket of a man with an airtight alibi.

Sir Damian Cray is a philanthropist, peace activist, and the world's most famous pop star. But still it's not enough. He needs more if he is to save the world. Trouble is, only Alex Rider recognizes that it's the world that needs saving from Sir Damian Cray. But in the past, Alex has always had the backing of the government. This time, he's on his own. Can one teenager convince the world that the most popular man on earth is a madman bent on destruction, before time runs out?

Mr Darcy’s Legacy - A Love Tested by the Past Author’s Note: This is a newly revised edition of the novel, initially published in 2019, which returns with a striking new cover, significant stylistic refinements that enhance the narrative, and subtle changes to the unfolding of the story. If you have ever entertained the idea of Mr Darcy bearing a noble title, this novel is for you—but the truth is far more complex and intriguing than you might expect. On the verge of marrying the woman who has captured his heart, Darcy finds himself battling his family’s opposition. Lady Catherine ...

From the Amazon #1 Bestselling Author, another 1930’s vintage Golden Age Mystery . . . "...readers will fall in love with the charming cast of characters, each of whom seem above suspicion. By blending romance and thrills with a spunky, brilliant protagonist, the author serves up a golden age-style treat for any book-loving armchair sleuth".--Publisher's Weekly (Booklife) Winter of 1935 finds Oxford archaeologist, Sonny Nichols, under arrest for the theft of a priceless Roman relic from a dig in Cornwall. Catherine Tregowyn and her sleuthing partners Harry and Dot go to his aid. Almost ...

Thirty years ago, a group of five child detectives: Tommy, Luke, Tess, Jane and Daniel, along with their dog, Dexter, made the national press with their crime solving. Nicknamed the Magpies, their adventures were written up as novels by author Reginald Troughton and released to children around the world, including a ten-year-old Declan Walsh. But now, someone is targeting the Magpies, with Reginald brutally murdered while writing a last "lost" adventure.

P. D. James meets E. L. James in Under a Silent Moon, this first novel in an exciting British crime series-a blend of literary suspense and captivating thriller that introduces formidable Detective Chief Inspector Louisa Smith - from suspense talent Elizabeth Haynes, author of the best-selling Into the Darkest Corner. In the crisp, early hours of an autumn morning, the police are called to investigate two deaths. The first is a suspected murder at a farm on the outskirts of a small village. A beautiful young woman has been found dead, her cottage drenched with blood.

Sophie and Freddy are in ancient Rome, searching for the artefact that can destroy a god and save their daughter. Hugo is there too with Sophie’s dog, Charlotte—and so is a hired assassin. Hunted through gleaming temples and sleazy backstreets, they must survive until the Festival of Janus, when the artefact will be in plain sight. But killing a god comes with the ultimate price....

They call him the gourmet detective; the only thing sharper than his mind is his palate. When chefs need a rare ingredient, an ancient wine, or simply a new idea to gain that extra Michelin-star boost, they come to the detective's cozy London office and plead for his help. For top-notch cooking, he is always happy to lend his taste buds to the cause.

In Leonard Wibberley's classic political satire, a tiny backwards country decides the only way to survive a sudden economic downturn is to declare war on the United States and lose to get foreign aid - but things don't go according to plan. The Mouse That Roared was made into a successful feature film starring Peter Sellers. Books in The Grand Fenwick Series: Books 2 through 5 are best read after The Mouse That Roared, but all of the books can be read and enjoyed at any point in the series. Book 1: The Mouse That Roared Book 2: The Mouse On The Moon Book 3: The Mouse On Wall Street Book 4: ...

“M.G. Cole is a brilliant new addition to the echelon of British crimewriters.” Peter James "Dark, grim, tense. A compelling new voice." PAUL FINCH, author of the Detective Mark Heckenburg novels. Taking an absence of leave from the Kent Police, DCI David Garrick travels to the USA to finally close the chapter on his sister’s murder at the hands of a grotesque club of serial killers. Travelling with journalist Molly Meyers, Garrick soon discovers that America is a very different place to the UK and that following the steps of a case so personal to him is replete with danger... ......