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The Hollows
A Midnight Gunn Novel
C.L. Monaghan
2018 Finalist
331 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
**A unique blend of MURDER, MYSTERY and MAGIC** 1860 never looked so good!
London 1860
Midnight Gunn is no ordinary detective- born during a solar eclipse as Halley's Comet blazed a trail through the sky- his supernatural birthright is both a help and a hindrance when solving crimes.
Detective Inspector Arthur Gredge, of Scotland Yard, is the only one who knows Gunn's secret.
When the body of a young aristocrat is discovered in a backstreet alley, Gredge enlists Gunn’s help in a race to discover the identity of the notorious Spring-heeled Jack- the monster that is terrorising London.
A trail of clues and victims leads them to discover the horrifying truth behind the killing.
The Hollows, encompasses the thrill of a traditional gothic mystery with an extra twist of paranormal, a splash of romance and a hint of horror! Dive into the past and experience the thrill of the hunt as Gunn- Scotland Yard's best kept secret- chases down a dangerous killer making friends and enemies that will change his life for ever
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The first novel in this new exciting Victorian gothic mystery series- recommended for age 16+ (Contains some bad language, adult themes and necromancy)
London 1860
Midnight Gunn is no ordinary detective- born during a solar eclipse as Halley's Comet blazed a trail through the sky- his supernatural birthright is both a help and a hindrance when solving crimes.
Detective Inspector Arthur Gredge, of Scotland Yard, is the only one who knows Gunn's secret.
When the body of a young aristocrat is discovered in a backstreet alley, Gredge enlists Gunn’s help in a race to discover the identity of the notorious Spring-heeled Jack- the monster that is terrorising London.
A trail of clues and victims leads them to discover the horrifying truth behind the killing.
The Hollows, encompasses the thrill of a traditional gothic mystery with an extra twist of paranormal, a splash of romance and a hint of horror! Dive into the past and experience the thrill of the hunt as Gunn- Scotland Yard's best kept secret- chases down a dangerous killer making friends and enemies that will change his life for ever
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The first novel in this new exciting Victorian gothic mystery series- recommended for age 16+ (Contains some bad language, adult themes and necromancy)
Recommend this book:
The Empress Holds The Key
A historical mystery thriller (Jack Rogan Mysteries Book 1)
Gabriel Farago
2018 Honorable Mention
493 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
Dark secrets. A holy relic. An ancient quest reignited.
Jack Rogan’s discovery of a disturbing old photograph in the ashes of a rural Australian cottage draws the journalist into a dangerous hunt with the ultimate stakes.
The tangled web of clues—including hoards of Nazi gold, hidden Swiss bank accounts, and a long-forgotten mass grave—implicate wealthy banker Sir Eric Newman and lead to a trial with shocking revelations.
A holy relic mysteriously erased from the pages of history is suddenly up for grabs to those willing to sacrifice everything to find it.
Rogan and his companions must follow historical leads through ancient Egypt to the Crusades and the Knights Templar to uncover a secret that could destroy the foundations of the Catholic Church and challenge the history of Christianity itself.
Will Rogan succeed in bringing the dark mystery into the light or will the powers desperately working against him ensure the ancient truths remain buried forever?
The Empress Holds the Key is Book 1 in Jack Rogan Mysteries Series but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.
Jack Rogan’s discovery of a disturbing old photograph in the ashes of a rural Australian cottage draws the journalist into a dangerous hunt with the ultimate stakes.
The tangled web of clues—including hoards of Nazi gold, hidden Swiss bank accounts, and a long-forgotten mass grave—implicate wealthy banker Sir Eric Newman and lead to a trial with shocking revelations.
A holy relic mysteriously erased from the pages of history is suddenly up for grabs to those willing to sacrifice everything to find it.
Rogan and his companions must follow historical leads through ancient Egypt to the Crusades and the Knights Templar to uncover a secret that could destroy the foundations of the Catholic Church and challenge the history of Christianity itself.
Will Rogan succeed in bringing the dark mystery into the light or will the powers desperately working against him ensure the ancient truths remain buried forever?
The Empress Holds the Key is Book 1 in Jack Rogan Mysteries Series but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.
Recommend this book:
Awaken, Shadows of a Forgotten Past
Marcia Maidana
2018 Bronze Medal
374 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
Hard times during the Great Depression force nineteen-year-old Florence to leave her service at the monastery and seek employment. Fate brings her to work for a wealthy recluse, General Alexander Sterling. Despite many daunting events and a meddling housekeeper with dark secrets of her own, Florence and the General find themselves falling deeply in love. What she doesn't know is that General Sterling has left his native country escaping a painful past, one he yearns to forget. But destiny won't allow it as he meets Florence, whose resemblance to his deceased wife is unbearable. Could Florence actually be the same woman who still owns his heart and haunts his dreams? When their blossoming romance is shattered by an explosive truth, a mysterious stranger gives her an opportunity to go back in time to unlock the secret to her existence. Florence must strive to return to the present time to save their relationship from the imminent danger that awaits them.
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The Lost Spy
Slim Moran Mysteries
Kate Moira Ryan
2018 Silver Medal
296 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
Love Rhys Bowen and Jacqueline Winspear? It's time to discover heiress Slim Moran, a detective for the lost. Winner of the 2017 Kindle Scout Award
Set in 1949 Paris, Slim Moran runs the Pitchipoi Agency with her Nazi Hunter boyfriend, Daniel. Their specialty - to find those lost in the last war. After a couple of easy cases, business has ground to halt and Daniel has just gone on another manhunt this time to find the Nazi Butcher of Lyon, Klaus Barbie. Slim is bored until a British spymistress asks her to find a missing woman spy long presumed dead. Set against the ruins of post-war Germany and France, Slim quickly learns that the scores from the last war have not been settled and she must find this spy soon before they both wind up dead.
Readers are comparing THE LOST SPY to a Sue Grafton Novel with Agatha Christie twist.
Here's what they're saying about this 'Page-Turning new mystery' --
"You'll be right there, hearing the clop of wooden high heels on Paris cobblestones and feeling the strain of a 30 lb. wireless suitcase, marinated by the terror of being snatched at any moment. With a bittersweet twist, you won't see coming."
"Mystery with a glamorous & driven heroine, intrigue, and interesting historical perspective of Post-WWII Europe."
"Fast-paced WWII intrigue"
"A cast of compelling characters, intrigue, suspense, hot sex, comic moments, and one ultra-heartbreaking scene that made me cry and has me looking forward to the next Slim Moran mystery."
"Finally, a story with complex, multi-faceted female characters - but one that doesn't desert the male of the species either! This was a page turner and I can't wait for book 2!!"
"Kate Ryan takes you behind the scenes of the world of intelligence during and right after WWII. It is a world of daring, fear, code-breaking and betrayal. What makes the novel work is the blend of historical fact and detail, primarily dealing with Paris during the occupation and the story of a feisty young woman committed to solving a mystery left over from the war. This is an engaging story for fans of the genre."
Don't miss this terrific new addition to the mystery genre, download it today or buy the paperback and get lost in a world of post-war Nazi intrigue and betrayal.
Readers are comparing THE LOST SPY to a Sue Grafton Novel with Agatha Christie twist.
Here's what they're saying about this 'Page-Turning new mystery' --
"You'll be right there, hearing the clop of wooden high heels on Paris cobblestones and feeling the strain of a 30 lb. wireless suitcase, marinated by the terror of being snatched at any moment. With a bittersweet twist, you won't see coming."
"Mystery with a glamorous & driven heroine, intrigue, and interesting historical perspective of Post-WWII Europe."
"Fast-paced WWII intrigue"
"A cast of compelling characters, intrigue, suspense, hot sex, comic moments, and one ultra-heartbreaking scene that made me cry and has me looking forward to the next Slim Moran mystery."
"Finally, a story with complex, multi-faceted female characters - but one that doesn't desert the male of the species either! This was a page turner and I can't wait for book 2!!"
"Kate Ryan takes you behind the scenes of the world of intelligence during and right after WWII. It is a world of daring, fear, code-breaking and betrayal. What makes the novel work is the blend of historical fact and detail, primarily dealing with Paris during the occupation and the story of a feisty young woman committed to solving a mystery left over from the war. This is an engaging story for fans of the genre."
Don't miss this terrific new addition to the mystery genre, download it today or buy the paperback and get lost in a world of post-war Nazi intrigue and betrayal.
Recommend this book:
![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/fanny-newcomb-and-the-irish-channel-ripper&media=https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51LbWhLSNkL._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description=BEN FRANKLIN GOLD WINNER<br />"...a promising start from a new author" — Historical Novel Review. <br /><br /> Gilded Age New Orleans is overrun with prostitutes, pornographers, and a malicious Jack the Ripper copycat. As threatening letters to newspaper editors proclaim, no woman is safe from his blade.<br /> <br />Desperate to know ...){kind=link}
Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper
Ana Brazil
2018 Silver Medal
374 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
BEN FRANKLIN GOLD WINNER
"...a promising start from a new author" — Historical Novel Review.
Gilded Age New Orleans is overrun with prostitutes, pornographers, and a malicious Jack the Ripper copycat. As threatening letters to newspaper editors proclaim, no woman is safe from his blade.
Desperate to know who murdered her favorite student, ambitious typewriting teacher Fanny Newcomb launches into a hunt for the self-proclaimed Irish Channel Ripper.
Fanny quickly enlists the help of her well-connected employers—Principal Sylvia Giddings and her sister Dr. Olive—and together the women forge through saloons, cemeteries, slums, and houses of prostitution.
Fanny’s good intentions quickly infuriate her longtime beau Lawrence Decatur, while her reckless persistence confounds the talented police detective Daniel Crenshaw. Reluctantly, Lawrence and Daniel also lend their talents to Fanny’s investigation.
As the murderer sets a date for his next heinous crime, can Fanny Newcomb and her crew stop the Irish Channel Ripper before he kills again?
Recommended for readers who enjoy the American mysteries of Lauren Willig, M. Louisa Locke, P. B. Ryan, and David Fulmer.
"...a promising start from a new author" — Historical Novel Review.
Gilded Age New Orleans is overrun with prostitutes, pornographers, and a malicious Jack the Ripper copycat. As threatening letters to newspaper editors proclaim, no woman is safe from his blade.
Desperate to know who murdered her favorite student, ambitious typewriting teacher Fanny Newcomb launches into a hunt for the self-proclaimed Irish Channel Ripper.
Fanny quickly enlists the help of her well-connected employers—Principal Sylvia Giddings and her sister Dr. Olive—and together the women forge through saloons, cemeteries, slums, and houses of prostitution.
Fanny’s good intentions quickly infuriate her longtime beau Lawrence Decatur, while her reckless persistence confounds the talented police detective Daniel Crenshaw. Reluctantly, Lawrence and Daniel also lend their talents to Fanny’s investigation.
As the murderer sets a date for his next heinous crime, can Fanny Newcomb and her crew stop the Irish Channel Ripper before he kills again?
Recommended for readers who enjoy the American mysteries of Lauren Willig, M. Louisa Locke, P. B. Ryan, and David Fulmer.
Recommend this book:
A Slave of the Shadows
Naomi Finley
2018 Gold Medal
327 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
In 1850 Charleston, South Carolina, brutality and cruelty simmer just under the genteel surface of Southern society. Beautiful and headstrong Willow Hendricks lives in an era where ladies are considered nothing more than property.
Her father rules her life, filling it with turmoil, secrets, and lies. She finds a kindred spirit in spunky, outspoken Whitney Barry, a northerner from Boston. Together these Charleston belles are driven to take control of their own lives as they are plunged into fear and chaos on their quest to fight for the rights of slaves. Against all odds, these feisty women fight to secure freedom and equality for those made powerless and persecuted by a supposedly superior race.
Only when they've lost it all do they find a new beginning.
Book 1 presents Willow and Whitney--and the reader--with the hardships the slaves endure at the hands of their white masters.
Reading Order for Series:
Novels:
A Slave of the Shadows: Book One
A Guardian of Slaves: Book Two
Novella:
The Black Knight's Tune: Novella One
The Master of Ships: Novella Two
The Promise Between Us: Novella Three
The Fair Magnolia: Novella Four (Coming September 2019)
A Whisper of War: Book Three (Coming Late 2020)
Novels can be read alone or with the novella series. Novellas should be read following suggested reading order of the novels.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
"Oh my stars, this book. I've hit the jackpot in HistFics! A Slave of the Shadows is absolutely breathtaking."--Pursuing Stacie
"Naomi Finley has skillfully crafted an epic story of oppression and obsession set in the Deep South...This is absolutely a book that has to be read if possible in one sitting because it is impossible to put down. Each chapter leaves the reader hanging, and consistent reading is compelling. An amazing book...can't wait for the sequel. "--Readers' Favorite
"Finley writes in a finely wrought prose style that vividly conjures even the most mundane details of the period...She shows herself to be an adept storyteller, and paints Willow as an admirable, compelling protagonist. The book has all the secrecy, romance, and plot twists that one could hope for in a historical melodrama, but the author also adds a pleasing dash of progressive politics and feminism that gives the work a higher purpose. Those looking for a less-problematic alternative to Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind could do worse than this novel, which feels surprisingly relevant to the current historical moment.
A pleasant costume drama with a focus on liberation."--Kirkus Reviews
You guys! This book. It's. Wow. There's adventure, history, twists, turns and everything you could possibly want. This is a truly amazing novel. I absolutely love how well researched this is. As a history buff, it is truly a joy to me to read something that is accurate. - The Quirky Lady
Her father rules her life, filling it with turmoil, secrets, and lies. She finds a kindred spirit in spunky, outspoken Whitney Barry, a northerner from Boston. Together these Charleston belles are driven to take control of their own lives as they are plunged into fear and chaos on their quest to fight for the rights of slaves. Against all odds, these feisty women fight to secure freedom and equality for those made powerless and persecuted by a supposedly superior race.
Only when they've lost it all do they find a new beginning.
Book 1 presents Willow and Whitney--and the reader--with the hardships the slaves endure at the hands of their white masters.
Reading Order for Series:
Novels:
A Slave of the Shadows: Book One
A Guardian of Slaves: Book Two
Novella:
The Black Knight's Tune: Novella One
The Master of Ships: Novella Two
The Promise Between Us: Novella Three
The Fair Magnolia: Novella Four (Coming September 2019)
A Whisper of War: Book Three (Coming Late 2020)
Novels can be read alone or with the novella series. Novellas should be read following suggested reading order of the novels.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
"Oh my stars, this book. I've hit the jackpot in HistFics! A Slave of the Shadows is absolutely breathtaking."--Pursuing Stacie
"Naomi Finley has skillfully crafted an epic story of oppression and obsession set in the Deep South...This is absolutely a book that has to be read if possible in one sitting because it is impossible to put down. Each chapter leaves the reader hanging, and consistent reading is compelling. An amazing book...can't wait for the sequel. "--Readers' Favorite
"Finley writes in a finely wrought prose style that vividly conjures even the most mundane details of the period...She shows herself to be an adept storyteller, and paints Willow as an admirable, compelling protagonist. The book has all the secrecy, romance, and plot twists that one could hope for in a historical melodrama, but the author also adds a pleasing dash of progressive politics and feminism that gives the work a higher purpose. Those looking for a less-problematic alternative to Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind could do worse than this novel, which feels surprisingly relevant to the current historical moment.
A pleasant costume drama with a focus on liberation."--Kirkus Reviews
You guys! This book. It's. Wow. There's adventure, history, twists, turns and everything you could possibly want. This is a truly amazing novel. I absolutely love how well researched this is. As a history buff, it is truly a joy to me to read something that is accurate. - The Quirky Lady
Recommend this book:
Corrigans' Pool
Dot Ryan
2017 Finalist
430 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
ELLA CORRIGAN'S despair at being jilted pales in light of what follows after she makes the hasty decision to marry a man she has long avoided. Unaware that a friend's secret act of jealousy is responsible for her bitter heartache, she enters an existence never imagined during sweeter days as Mistress of her father's Savannah River plantation - where a mystery is building around the family's phenomenal natural spring, Corrigans' Pool. . . . The South is embroiled in a bloody Civil War by the time Ella discovers that Corrigans' Pool, on her family's property, is much more than the exquisite pond she had thought it to be all her life, but by the time she learns its dangerous secret, she is trapped by a secret of her own, blackmailed, and powerless against one man's unspeakable evil. Haunted by the threat of scandal, she struggles against the horrors of her new existence, an existence she must keep private even from the very people who could help her. Her life comes full circle when the past she has long blamed for her wretchedness steps unexpectedly out of the darkness to face her . . . FIVE STAR FOREWORD CLARION REVIEW (EXCERPT): Ryan's storytelling ability and masterful use of setting, dialogue, and characterization, adds up to an exquisite piece of historical fiction. Corrigans' Pool manages to blend romance, mystery, humor, and tragedy with flawless precision. The romance is moving but subtle, the mystery is suspenseful, and the story flows smoothly to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion. Readers are sure to be enthralled with this exceptional novel. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Recommend this book:
A Girl Like You
A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel
Michelle Cox
2017 Gold Medal
288 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
Henrietta Von Harmon works as a 26 girl at a corner bar on Chicago’s northwest side. It’s 1935, but things still aren’t looking up since the big crash and her father’s subsequent suicide, leaving Henrietta to care for her antagonistic mother and younger siblings. Henrietta is eventually persuaded to take a job as a taxi dancer at a local dance hall―and just when she’s beginning to enjoy herself, the floor matron turns up dead.
When aloof Inspector Clive Howard appears on the scene, Henrietta agrees to go undercover for him―and is plunged into Chicago’s grittier underworld. Meanwhile, she’s still busy playing mother hen to her younger siblings, as well as to pesky neighborhood boy Stanley, who believes himself in love with her and keeps popping up in the most unlikely places, determined to keep Henrietta safe―even from the Inspector, if need be. Despite his efforts, however, and his penchant for messing up the Inspector’s investigation, the lovely Henrietta and the impenetrable Inspector find themselves drawn to each other in most unsuitable ways.
When aloof Inspector Clive Howard appears on the scene, Henrietta agrees to go undercover for him―and is plunged into Chicago’s grittier underworld. Meanwhile, she’s still busy playing mother hen to her younger siblings, as well as to pesky neighborhood boy Stanley, who believes himself in love with her and keeps popping up in the most unlikely places, determined to keep Henrietta safe―even from the Inspector, if need be. Despite his efforts, however, and his penchant for messing up the Inspector’s investigation, the lovely Henrietta and the impenetrable Inspector find themselves drawn to each other in most unsuitable ways.
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The Vatican Cameos
A Sherlock Holmes Adventure
Richard T Ryan
2017 Silver Medal
312 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
When the papal apartments are burgled in 1901, Sherlock Holmes is summoned to Rome by Pope Leo XII. After learning from the pontiff that several priceless cameos that could prove compromising to the church, and perhaps determine the future of the newly unified Italy, have been stolen, Holmes is asked to recover them. In a parallel story, Michelangelo, the toast of Rome in 1501 after the unveiling of his Pieta, is commissioned by Pope Alexander VI, the last of the Borgia pontiffs, with creating the cameos that will bedevil Holmes and the papacy four centuries later. For fans of Conan Doyle's immortal detective, the game is always afoot. However, the great detective has never encountered an adversary quite like the one with whom he crosses swords in "The Vatican Cameos.".
Recommend this book:
Constant Guests
Patricia Nedelea
2017 Bronze Medal
517 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
How would you feel if you found out one day that your mother wasn't your mother and nobody had a clue who your father might be? This is what happens to Isa, a cynical party girl from Paris whose life is abruptly changed. When Mara, her real mother dies in front of her eyes without saying a word, Isa wants to find out what Mara was searching for in 1991, before she went into a coma. But Isa soon discovers that she is not the only one searching for answers, and that her life is in danger. What is the secret that people are prepared to kill for? As Isa is drawn into a dark labyrinth of mysteries, she uncovers four lost-and-found stories related to a tarot deck from 1389. Four stories have to be told, twenty-four tarot cards have to be united and one great secret has to be revealed. She was looking for her mother's secret. Instead, she found the world's greatest secret.
This book is a hybrid adventure novel, swinging across Europe between history, mystery and fantasy. Not only that, you will gain historical knowledge about tarot and see the first tarot deck ever: the book includes images of the twenty-four cards. It will leave you amazed at the possibilities it unfurls, intrigued by the history of the tarot and staggered at revelations you might develop a taste for.
This book is a hybrid adventure novel, swinging across Europe between history, mystery and fantasy. Not only that, you will gain historical knowledge about tarot and see the first tarot deck ever: the book includes images of the twenty-four cards. It will leave you amazed at the possibilities it unfurls, intrigued by the history of the tarot and staggered at revelations you might develop a taste for.
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