Collection: Historical Fiction

Meet John Bannack. Jailed for a crime he didn't commit. Busted out of a Texas State Prison. Running for freedom and gunning for justice. They call him . . .THE MAN FROM WACO.

As a young man, John Bannack worked hard on his brother's farm--until times got tough and his brother grew desperate. Desperate enough to rob a bank. Unfortunately, John's brother left a trail that led straight to the Bannack farm. When a posse showed up to make an arrest, John made a fateful decision: He confessed to his brother's crime. Sacrificed his freedom for the sake of his brother's family. And doomed himself to a hard, hellish life in a rat-hole state prison . . .

A man's got two choices in a place like that: Get tough or get killed. For John Bannack it means this will be a one-way trip to Hell.

Bannack is on a work detail outside the prison. On the way back, Judge Wick Justice, who sentenced Bannack, tags along with the prison wagon, only to find he has involved himself in a planned prison break. When a gang ambushes the wagon and frees the prisoners, they bullet-blast the guards--and the judge takes a hunk of lead himself. But Bannack finds the judge alive and takes him to safety. In return, the judge releases him from prison and employs him as his bodyguard and avenger.

Johnstone Country. A New Texas Legend.

"An atmospheric and evocative whodunnit steeped in suspense, mystery, and illusion." --Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From the author of the sensational bestseller The Lost Apothecary comes a spellbinding tale about two daring women who hunt for truth and justice in the perilous art of conjuring the dead.

1873. At an abandoned château on the outskirts of Paris, a dark séance is about to take place, led by acclaimed spiritualist Vaudeline D'Allaire. Known worldwide for her talent in conjuring the spirits of murder victims to ascertain the identities of the people who killed them, she is highly sought after by widows and investigators alike.

Lenna Wickes has come to Paris to find answers about her sister's death, but to do so, she must embrace the unknown and overcome her own logic-driven bias against the occult. When Vaudeline is beckoned to England to solve a high-profile murder, Lenna accompanies her as an understudy. With shared determination, the women find companionship that perhaps borders on something more. And as they team up with the powerful men of London's exclusive Séance Society to solve the mystery, they begin to suspect that they are not merely out to solve a crime, but perhaps entangled in one themselves...

Written with intoxicating suspense and sultry prose, The London Séance Society is an entrancing tale that blurs the lines between truth and illusion, and reveals the grave risks women will take to avenge the ones they love.

"Penner brings history to vivid life in this atmospheric and evocative whodunnit." --Nita Prose, author of The Maid

Named a Most Anticipated book by Good Housekeeping, Washington Post, Bookpage, CrimeReads, Readers Digest, Popsugar, LitHub, E! News, Goodreads, and more

Hold on to your hats: The authors who brought you the New York Times bestseller My Plain Jane, which Booklist praised as "delightfully deadpan" (starred review) and Publishers Weekly called "a clever, romantic farce" (starred review), are back with another irreverent historical adventure.

Welcome to 1876 America, a place bursting with gunslingers, outlaws, and garou--better known as werewolves.

And where there are garou, there're hunters: the one and only Calamity Jane, to be precise, along with her fellow stars of Wild Bill's Traveling Show, Annie Oakley and Frank "the Pistol Prince" Butler.

After a garou hunt goes south and Jane finds a suspicious-like bite on her arm, she turns tail for Deadwood, where there's talk of a garou cure. But rumors can be deceiving--meaning the gang better hightail it after her before they're a day late and a Jane short.

In this perfect next read for fans of A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, bestselling authors Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, and Brodi Ashton bring their signature spark to the side-splittin', whopper-filled (but actually kind of factual?) tale of Calamity Jane.

During the political upheaval of Tudor-era England, the lawyer Matthew Shardlake must decide where his loyalties lie in "one of the best ongoing mystery series" for fans of Hilary Mantel (Christian Science Monitor).

LONGLISTED FOR THE SIR WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION
Spring, 1549. Two years after the death of Henry VIII, England is sliding into chaos.
The nominal king, Edward VI, is eleven years old. His uncle, Edward Seymour, Lord Hertford, rules as Edward's regent and Protector. In the kingdom, radical Protestants are driving the old religion into extinction, while the Protector's prolonged war with Scotland has led to hyperinflation and economic collapse. Rebellion is stirring among the peasantry.
Matthew Shardlake has been working as a lawyer in the service of Henry's younger daughter, the lady Elizabeth. The gruesome murder of one of Elizabeth's distant relations, rumored to be politically murdered, draws Shardlake and his companion Nicholas to the lady's summer estate, where a second murder is committed.
As the kingdom explodes into rebellion, Nicholas is imprisoned for his loyalty, and Shardlake must decide where his loyalties lie -- with his kingdom, or with his lady?

The world is at war. And time is running out...

London, 1940. Britain is gripped by the terror of the Blitz, forcing Nell Spelman to flee the capital with her young daughter - leaving behind her husband, Arthur, the clockmaker who keeps Big Ben chiming.

When Arthur disappears, Nell is desperate to find him. But her search will lead her into far darker places than she ever imagined...

New York, Present Day. When Ellie discovers a beautiful watch that had once belonged to a grandmother she never knew, she becomes determined to find out what happened to her. But as she pieces together the fragments of her grandmother's life, she begins to wonder if the past is better left forgotten...

A powerful and unforgettable tale of fierce love, impossible choices and a moment that changes the world forever, perfect for fans of Jennifer Chiaverini and Hazel Gaynor.

Readers love Daisy Wood:

'A ticking time-bomb of intrigue, wrapped around stark but rich descriptions of the Blitz. An unforgettable wartime debut.' Mandy Robotham, internationally bestselling author of The Berlin Girl

'I couldn't put it down. My favourite kind of historical fiction.' Reviewer

'Wonderful.' Reviewer

'Brilliantly captures the essence of 1940s England. Highly recommended!' Reviewer

Set between WWII and today, and America and England, I totally loved this outstandingly amazing book. Five stars!' Reviewer

'Daisy Wood skillfully navigates between two timelines, and her descriptions of the war are really masterful.' Reviewer

'The perfect blend of historical fiction and espionage.' Reviewer

'Beautifully written... I highly recommend this treasure!' Reviewer

In this epic debut fantasy, inspired by Renaissance France, an outcast finds herself bound to a disgraced lord and entangled in his plot to overthrow the king. Perfect for fans of Grave Mercy and Red Queen!

Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron. Growing up in Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her. While some are born with a talent for one of the five passions--art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge--Brienna struggled to find hers until she chose knowledge. However, Brienna's greatest fear comes true: she is left without a patron.

Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Suspicious of his intent, she reluctantly accepts. But there is much more to his story, for there is a dangerous plot to overthrow the king of Maevana--the rival kingdom of Valenia--and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the throne.

With war brewing, Brienna must choose which side she will remain loyal to: passion or blood.

Plus don't miss the thrilling sequel, The Queen's Resistance!

"While memories of the Titanic linger among the ship's passengers, readers are treated to descriptions of sumptuous meals and snippets of Maori lore, along with a tantalizing mystery. Those who long to revel in a glamorous if imperfect past will be satisfied." --Publishers Weekly

The nice men at P&O are worried. A succession of jewelry thefts from the first-class passengers is hardly the best advertisement for their cruises. Especially when it is likely that a passenger is the thief.

Phryne Fisher, with her Lulu bob, green eyes, cupid's bow lips, and sense of the ends justifying the means, is just the person to mingle seamlessly with the upper classes and take on a case of theft on the high seas--or at least on the S.S. Hinemoa--on a luxury cruise to New Zealand. She is carrying the Great Queen of Sapphires, the Maharani, as bait.

There are shipboard romances, champagne cocktails, erotic photographers, jealous swains, mickey finns, jazz musicians, blackmail, and attempted murder, all before the thieves find out--as have countless love-smitten men before them--that where the glamorous and intelligent Phryne is concerned, resistance is futile.

The quintessential companion to the Usagi Yojimbo Saga series from Dark Horse, Usagi Yojimbo Saga: Legends collects some of the most exhilarating and engrossing self-contained stories starring the iconic rabbit ronin!

These tales see Usagi face off against a lineup of incredible foes, including dinosaurs, demons, and aliens! Even against the odds, Usagi maintains the warrior's code: truth, honor, loyalty, and sacrifice. Collects all black and white Space Usagi story arcs, Usagi Yojimbo: Senso, and the color Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai--with the color short story "Gagged," new cover art by Stan Sakai, a color cover gallery, and bonus "Creative Process" features!

One of the most critically acclaimed, longest running, and beloved adventure comics!

Collects Space Usagi ("Death and Honor," "White Star Rising," and "Warrior" B&W story arcs), Usagi Yojimbo: Senso, the color one-shot Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai - and the short stories "Under the Same Sky," "Hare Today, Hare Tomorrow," and the color "Gagged."

Based on the True Story of the Only American to Break the Bank at Monte Carlo.

★★★★★ " . . . a riveting exploration of a remarkable life." - Readers Favorite

"Darnborough brings his grandfather's extraordinary story to life." - Frances Osborne, author of The Bolter (A San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year

In the twilight of the 19th century, as the Old West collides with the opulence of the Gilded Age, one man embarks on a journey that will redefine his life. The Gambler's Game is a captivating historical fiction saga that follows the extraordinary life of a mid-western baseball player turned high-stakes gambler. His audacious spirit leads him from the dust chocked plains to the refined ambiance of English garden parties and the allure of Belle Epoque Monte Carlo.

This romantic and fast-paced tale will transport you to a time when anything was possible, where dreams were chased, and risks were taken.

This is a story of self-discovery in a rapidly changing world. The Gambler's Game lures readers into a realm where the echoes of gunshots meet the clinking of champagne glasses, and the magnificent network of railways and steamships takes the reader on grand adventures.

Bill ultimately finds himself torn between his love of gambling and a woman who might make him give it all up.

Bill and Frances' characters are featured in the movie Downton Abbey: A New Era (Carnival Films, 2022).

The author of Little Women and other beloved classics, Louisa May Alcott grew up in a community of New England transcendentalists that included Thoreau and Emerson. Because her learned but impractical father was a poor provider, she supported her family by writing magazine stories that were often published anonymously.
This collection reveals the "other" Alcott, featuring "Behind a Mask" and "Pauline's Passion and Punishment," thrilling tales of seduction, betrayal, and murder that strike a markedly different tone and characterization from Alcott's best-known work. Other selections include two pieces from Hospital Sketches, the author's fictionalized accounts of her Civil War nursing experiences; "My Contraband," a tale of vengeance involving a Civil War nurse, her Confederate patient, and his former slave; "Happy Women," concerning four "spinsters" with a positive attitude toward their marital status; and "How I Went Out to Service," an autobiographical sketch of a young woman's pursuit of financial independence.

Fleeing war-torn Cambodia in 1980, Dara, her mother, and her older brother find sanctuary in a refugee settlement on the Thailand border, but when fighting erupts, Dara finds herself separated from everyone and everything she loves.

'Extraordinary... Brought history alive on the page... Tense and emotional... Sensitive yet brutal...With the most unexpected end that left me breathless. Wow, just wow... Incredible' NetGalley Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

1941, Nazi-occupied Paris: In the glamorous Ritz hotel there is a woman with a dangerous secret...

As Coco Chanel's assistant, Adèle lives side by side with German officers in the splendour of The Ritz hotel. But Adèle has a secret. She is working for the resistance, right under the Germans' noses.

As occupied Paris becomes more and more dangerous, Adèle will have to decide if she can risk everything to save innocent lives and protect the man she loves...

Present day: Chloé's grandmother has never spoken about the war and avoids questions about the legendary designer she once worked for.

Now Chloé has come to Paris, to uncover the truth about Adèle's life. But is she prepared for what she will find? And for the power of her grandmother's secrets to change her family forever...

An absolutely gripping and heartbreaking wartime story of the enduring power of love, for fans of The Lost Girls of Paris and The Nightingale.

Readers love The Dressmaker's Secret:

'WOW... Outstandingly brilliant and extremely poignant from beginning to end' NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Just absolute perfection... My emotions ran the full course in this book... THE ENDING. I cried my eyes out, I was a blubbering mess trying to quickly explain the entire book to my husband while crying' NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Your heart will be in your mouth reading this book... I cried... I loved the ending' NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'It made me cry tears of happiness at the end... Fantastic' NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I absolutely loved this story!... A MUST read. Grab some tissues before you dive in' NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A tale of deception, love and endurance... It kept me reading into the small hours' Glynis Peters, author of The Secret Orphan

'Had me up way later than I planned... I couldn't put it down' NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Thrilling... I couldn't put it down' Adrienne Chinn, author of The English Wife

Lust, religious zeal, and heartache come together in this provocative novel about two infatuations, one between a man and his young lover in the late 20th century and another between a 15th-century woman and Jesus Christ.

First published in 1994, Robert Glück's Margery Kempe is one of the most provocative, poignant, and inventive American novels of the last quarter century. The book tells two stories of romantic obsession. One, based on the first autobiography in English, the medieval Book of Margery Kempe, is about a fifteenth-century woman from East Anglia, a visionary, a troublemaker, a pilgrim to the Holy Land, and an aspiring saint, and her love affair with Jesus. It is complicated. The other is about the author's own love for an alluring and elusive young American, L. It is complicated. Between these two Margery Kempe, the novel, emerges as an unprecedented exploration of desire, devotion, abjection, and sexual obsession in the form of a novel like no other novel. Robert Glück's masterpiece bears comparison with the finest work of such writers as Kathy Acker and Chris Kraus. This edition includes an essay by Glück about the creation of the book titled "My Margery, Margery's Bob."

Brilliant botanist Saffron Everleigh is ready for her next thrilling adventure in the newest installment of Kate Khavari's mesmerizing historical mystery series.

"A cleverly plotted puzzle" (Ashley Weaver) in the vein of Opium and Absinthe, this is perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Sujata Massey.

London, 1923. Returning from Paris, botanical researcher Saffron Everleigh finds that her former love interest Alexander Ashton's brother, Adrian, is being investigated for murder. A Russian scientist working for the English government has been poisoned, and expired in Adrian's train compartment. Alexander asks Saffron to put in a good word for Adrian with Inspector Green. Despite her unresolved feelings for Alexander, Saffron begins to unravel mysteries surrounding the dead scientist.

As if a murder case weren't enough, her best friend Elizabeth's war-hero brother, Nick, arrives in town and takes an immediate interest in Saffron. Saffron learns Alexander has been keeping secrets from her, including a connection to Nick, who Saffron and Elizabeth begin to suspect is more than he seems.

When another scientist is found dead, Saffron agrees to go undercover at the government laboratory. Risking her career and her safety, she learns there are many more interested parties and dangerous secrets to uncover than she'd realized. But some secrets, Saffron will find, are better left undiscovered.

Strange new talents... Jake is a scrappy orphaned pickpocket living by his wits on the streets of Victorian London. Lately he's started seeing ghosts and discovers he can move solid objects with his mind! He has no idea why. Next thing he knows, a Sinister Gentleman and his minions come hunting him. On the run for his life, Jake is plunged headlong into a mysterious world full of magic and deadly peril. A world that holds the secret to who he really is: the long-lost heir of an aristocratic family - with magical powers! But with treacherous enemies closing in, it will take all of his wily street instincts and the help of his friends - both human and magical - to solve the mystery of what happened to his parents, and defeat the foes who never wanted the Lost Heir of Griffon to be found... (292 pages / 100,409 words)

Amsterdam, 1941

Their whole world is about to shatter.

German forces have invaded the Netherlands, but the Dutch are trying desperately to believe it won't be that bad. Meanwhile, Nazis openly terrorize Jewish people on the streets. Rumors of bone-chilling violence are getting harder to ignore.

Christiaan, a man of passion and principle, joins the resistance. He risks everything to shield the oppressed and fight for the freedom of his beloved nation.

Floris is a man with a plan. Promoted to the Bureau of Jewish Affairs, he becomes instrumental in organizing transports to Nazi death camps.

Floris's wife, Nora, discovers his unspeakable atrocities as Nazi aggression grows more brutal. Defying him, she joins the fight to rescue orphans from the terror of the transport trains and to save them from the same fate.

The Reich's grip on Amsterdam tightens. These three will find themselves in the middle of a maelstrom that will change the course of history. As ambition, fear, and desperation collide, no one is safe.

Not the Jewish.

Not the Dutch.

Not even the powers-that-be.

"Orphans of War" is the breathless first installment in the heart-wrenching "Dutch Resistance" trilogy. Enter the terrifying world of 1940s Europe, where the only thing eclipsing the violence of the regime is the bravery of the heroes and heroines of the resistance.