1941 Britain: Children are vanishing from the village. Is it the powers of an ancient stone circle at work, or a modern predator?In mid-1941, children evacuated to the remote Shropshire village of Noddweir to escape the Blitz begin to vanish. It was not uncommon for city children faced with rural rigors to run away. But when retired American professor Edwin Carpenter, pursuing his study of standing stones, visits the village and discovers bloody clothing in the forest, it is clear ...

"An in-depth look at what it was like in England during World War II and how women took over men's jobs, leading to a social revolution that continues today." —Kirkus ReviewsSurviving the 1941 Blitz and the predator in her small Shropshire village, policeman's daughter Grace Baxter moves to Newcastle-on-Tyne. Situated on the northern bank of the River Tyne, the ancient northeast city developed around the Roman settlement Pons Aelius—named for the Emperor H...

Yellow Livestrong wristbands were taken off across America in early 2013 when Lance Armstrong confessed to Oprah Winfrey that he had doped during the seven Tour de France races he won. But the foreign cycling world, which always viewed Armstrong with suspicion, had already moved on. The bellwether events of the year were Chris Froome’s victory in the Tour and the ousting of Pat McQuaid as director of the Union Cycliste Internationale. Even without Armstrong, the Tour will roll on— its giga...

Of all the jobs to fall asleep on...As the well-tipped tour guide at a model town within a nuclear test site in 1950s Nevada, Darren Murphy has a job to die for.His work is easy and relaxed, much like himself, drawing envy from his wide circle of friends.But one fateful day after one particularly late night in the burgeoning city of Las Vegas, Darren makes a huge mistake.The mother of all accidents

"[A] spot-on recreation of the political and bureaucratic climate of the times." — Publishers Weekly STARRED reviewThe year is 548 and Empress Theodora is dead. Emperor Justinian suspects murder and orders John, his Lord Chamberlain, to find her killer or suffer the consequences. Many aristocrats at the imperial court had reason to want Theodora dead. General Artabanes, Justinian's cousin Germanus, and Antonina and her husband General Belisarius have suffe...

In Byzantium, the capital of the 6th century Roman Empire, annual games are held to celebrate the founding of the city. Several courtiers, obliged by office to attend, idly watch the chariot races and the bear baiting from the imperial box. Suddenly they—and the crowd—are electrified as a magnificent bull surges into the arena. Those who worship Mithra make quiet reverence to the sacred animal while a trio of bull leapers enters in his wake. John, Lord Chamberlain to the Christian Emperor,...

It's 539 AD, and John the Lord Chamberlain finds his investigations hampered by squabbling courtiers, servants with social ambitions, an eccentric host, and an egotistic inventor—not to mention a herd of prophesying goats and a protective whale. The Mithran Anatolius and the excubitor captain Felix only add to John's worries when they fall under the spell of two ambitious women. Can the trio avoid Theodora's wrath as they work to protect a child and stop a heartless killer? Does the soluti...

Winner, Glyph Award for Best Book SeriesNominee, Bruce Alexander History Mystery AwardIn 542, Peter, John the Lord Chamberlain's elderly servant, claims a heavenly visitor revealed a murder to him. It transpires that Peter's old army friend has indeed been stabbed, but then John discovers that Gregory was not what he appeared to be.John's quest for the truth leads him to churchmen and whores, lawyers and bear trainers. Suspects incl...

Nominee, Bruce Alexander History Mystery AwardBest Little Known Series, BooklistIt's unnaturally cold in Constantinople this winter of 525. The Emperor Justin is dying, and Theodora, the ambitious former actress his gravely ill successor Justinian intends to marry, is making demands in the imperial court.When a wealthy philanthropist is killed in broad daylight in the Great Church, it isn't entirely surprising that Justinia...

Why are sheep in the remote Egyptian village of Mehenopolis cutting their own throats? That's the mystery Emperor Justinian inexplicably sends John, his Lord Chamberlain, to Egypt to solve. Mehenopolis is a pilgrim destination, thanks to its ancient shrine to a snake deity.Among the characters John encounters are a pretentious local landowner battling a self-styled magician for control of the lucrative shrine, an exiled heretical cleric, an itinerant beekeeper, and a disgraced char...

Winner, the Glyph Award - Best MysteryHonorable Mention, Glyph Best Book Award list IPPY Best Mystery Award finalistJohn the Eunuch, Lord Chamberlain to the Emperor Justinian, is skilled at keeping his footing on the treacherous slopes of court intrigue, but even he may slip when presented with a new and byzantine problem: why would a holy man high atop his pillar spontaneously combust during a thunder storm? Soon, other stylites burn to th...

A spellbinding new sci-fi box set from the bestselling author of Not Alone & Last Man Standing — perfect for fans of 'The Twilight Zone' and 'Black Mirror'._____________________________Grab FIFTEEN standalone stories in one great-value anthology!**15 stories, 18 hours, 900+ 5-star Amazon ratings!**Chasing Tomorrows explores classic sci-fi themes through a contemporary lens....