In a sensational breach of promise suit, two wealthy social climbers are suing on behalf of their beautiful daughter, Zillah. The defendant is Zillah's alleged fiancé, brilliant young architect Killian Melville, who adamantly declares that he will not, cannot, marry her. Utterly baffled by his client's refusal, Melville's counsel, Sir Oliver Rathbone, turns to his old comrades in crime -investigator William Monk and nurse Hester Latterly. But even as they scout London for clues, the case suddenly and tragically ends. An outcome that no one -except a ruthless murderer- could have foreseen

Whatever the season, a new novel by bestselling author Anne Perry is always a wonderful gift, but her holiday novels are particularly special treats, and A Christmas Beginning is a deeply felt story of passion and redemption. Superintendent Runcorn of Scotland Yard is spending Christmas on the wild and beautiful island of Anglesey off the north coast of Wales. On one of his solitary strolls, the lonely bachelor stumbles upon a lifeless body in the village churchyard. The unfortunate victim is quickly identified as Olivia Costain, the local vicar's younger sister. In life, Olivia had been a free spirit, full of charm and grace. For Runcorn, she is a haunting reminder of Melisande Ewart, the one woman he's never been able to forget. Everyone on Anglesey is quick to insist that only a stranger to the island could have committed the heinous crime. But the evidence proves otherwise, and the unpopular work of discovering who among Olivia's friends and neighbors—and

When the season brings a chill, nothing warms the heart or elevates the spirits like a new novel by Anne Perry, whom the Chicago Sun-Times calls "the most adroit sleight-of-hand practitioner since Agatha Christe." Perry's gifts are on full display in A Christmas Grace--a hope-filled tale of forgiveness that is rich with mystery and intrigue. With Christmas just around the corner, Thomas Pitt's sister-in-law, Emily Radley, is suddenly called from London to be with her dying aunt. Leaving her husband and two children behind, Emily makes the long journey to an all-but-forgotten town in the county of Connemara, on the western coast of Ireland. She soon discovers that a tragic legacy haunts the once closeknit community. Violent storms ravage the coast and keep alive painful memories of an unsolved murder and unsettling fears that a killer may still live among the residents of the lonely Irish town. Determined to lighten her aunt's heart and help the troubled

Readers of Anne Perry's bestselling suspense novels revel in a world that is all their own, sharing the privileged existence of Britain's wealthy and powerful elite in West End mansions and great country houses. It is also a world in which danger bides in unsuspected places and the line between good and evil can be razor thin. This new novel features Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould—one of the most memorable characters from the Thomas Pitt series—who appears here as a lively young woman, the ultimate aristocrat who can trace her blood to half the royal houses of Europe. It's Christmas and the Berkshire countryside lies wrapped in winter chill. But the well-born guests who have gathered at Applecross for a delicious weekend of innocent intrigue and passionate romance are warmed by roaring fires and candlelight, holly and mistletoe, good wine and gorgeously wrapped gifts. It's scarcely the setting for misfortune, and no one—not even that clever young aristocrat and budding

No breath of scandal has ever touched the aristocratic Moidore family, but then Sir Basil Moidore's beautiful widowed daughter is stabbed to death in her own bed. Inspector Monk is ordered to find the killer, and as he gropes through the shadows, he approaches an astonishing solution

Another Perry mystery that highlights the frustrating status of women in Victorian England. The story hinges on society's low opinion of nurses and of both single and married women who seek abortions. A talented nurse is found strangled, and Inspector Monk and his friends, a nurse and a lawyer, follow the clues to see that the murderer will hang. It is difficult to decide which element is the author's true forte-the details of everyday life or the suspenseful courtroom dialogues. The plot has many twists and turns. Readers may suspect some of the answers, but surprises continue right until the last page. The opening chapters place readers in a subplot that provides background on different characters. The shift in the action is slightly confusing as these people are rarely mentioned again. However, Perry fans will not be disappointed, and newcomers will be entertained by a good mystery as they enter the world of Victorian high society

Two holiday novels provide the perfect combination of mystery and murder mixed with a generous helping of Yuletide cheer. A CHRISTMAS GUEST When her daughter and son-in-law plan a Christmas vacation to Paris sans hers truly, Grandmama Mariah Ellison travels to the chilly, windswept Romney Marshes to spend the holiday with old friends. But when the body of a fellow guest is found lifeless in bed, Grandmama senses foul play and takes it upon herself to assume the role of amateur detective-uncovering startling truths about the victim… and herself as well. A CHRISTMAS SECRET Dominic Corde is thrilled to 'fill the robe' as substitute vicar in the village of Cottisham while the Reverend Wynter is away on a Christmas holiday. Upon arrival, Dominic and his wife, Clarice, wonder how they will be received by the congregation. But the Cordes soon discover that they have more dire matters to worry about. It turns out that the Reverend Wynter isn't on holiday at all-and that something very sinister has transpired

The 12th mystery in the beloved Inspector and Charlotte Pitt Victorian mystery series, now a hardcover success. When a moneylender named William Weems is murdered, there is discreet rejoicing among those whose meager earnings he devoured. But the plot thickens when Inspector Pitt finds a list of London's distinguished gentlemen in Weems' office

A century ago, Charles Darwin's revolutionary theory of evolution rocked the civilized world, and the outraged Anglican church went on the warpath against it. In a mansion in London 's affluent Brunswick Gardens, the battle is intense, as that most respected clergyman, the Reverend Ramsay Parmenter, is boldly challenged by his beautiful assistant, Unity Bellwood – a "new woman" whose feminism and aggressive Darwinism he finds appalling. When Unity, three months pregnant, tumbles down the Parmenter's staircase to her death, Thomas Pitt, commander of the Bow Street police station, is virtually certain that one of the three deeply devout men in the house committed murder. Could it have been the Reverend Parmenter, his handsome curate, or his Roman Catholic son?

DESCRIPTION: From some of the greatest literary minds of our time comes a collection of stories about dangerous women. With an unprecedented lineup of authors, Mysterious Press proudly presents an extraordinary collection of short stories. Lorenzo Carcaterra, Michael Connelly, John Connolly, Jeffery Deaver, Nelson DeMille, J.A. Jance, Andrew Klavan, Elmore Leonard, Laura Lippman, Ed McBain, Jay McInerney, Walter Mosley, Joyce Carol Oates, Anne Perry, Ian Rankin, S.J. Rozan, and Thomas H. Cook combine their talents in a collection which is certain to find a large audience eager to read stories by some of the most distinguished names in the genre

A superintendent in the Thames River Police, William Monk is on a patrol boat near Waterloo Bridge when he and his men notice a young couple standing at the railing, apparently engaged in an intense discussion. The woman places her hands on the man's shoulders. Is it a caress or a push? He grasps her. To save her or kill her? Seconds later, the pair plunges to death in the icy waters. Has Monk witnessed an accident, a suicide, or a murder? The ensuing investigation leads him toward a conspiracy that reverberates into the highest levels of Her Majesty's government

Hester Monk's voluntary work in Coldbath Square is increasingly demanding. Every night she tends to a stream of women of the streets who have been injured or become ill as a result of their trade. But the injuries are becoming more serious, and now a body has been discovered in one of the area's brothels. The dead man is none other than the wealthy and respectable Nolan Baltimore, head of Baltimore and Sons, a successful railway company. With calls for the police to clean up the streets, Hester decides she must intervene to protect these women who stand to lose everything. Meanwhile her husband, William Monk, has been approached by Katrina Harcus, who suspects that the company her fiance works for may be guilty of fraud. That company is Baltimore and Sons. As Monk endeavours to prevent a serious crime, possibly even a tragedy, taking place, he faces some staggering revelations. And with the link between the two cases becoming ever clearer, Monk finds that the time has come to confront his own demons – even if it means losing all that he now holds dear…

General Carlyon is killed in what first appears to be a freak accident. But the general's wife readily confesses that she did it. With the trial only days away the counsel for defence work feverishly to break down the wall of silence

Cuándo el general Thaddeus Carlyon, insigne veterano del Imperio de Su Majestad, muere en una elegante fiesta londinense, nadie sospecha que se trate de un asesinato. Sin embargo, la bella esposa del general, Alexandra, se confiesa autora del crimen, lo que causará una profunda conmoción en la aristocracia victoriana. El detective Wílliam Monk trabajará, incansablemente junto a Oliver Rathbone, su colaborador habitual y abogado defensor de Alexandra Carlyon, para conseguir salvar la vida de la acusada. Defensa o traición, es la tercera novela de la serie de misterio victoriano protagonizada. por el detective William Monk

DAS BUCH 1895: Politischer Aufruhr erschüttert ganz Europa. Inspektor Thomas Pitt will einen wichtigen Informanten treffen, doch dieser wird im letzten Moment ermordet. Pitt verfolgt gemeinsam mit einem Kollegen den mutmaßlichen Täter. Als dieser über den Kanal flieht, observiert Pitt ihn in Frankreich weiter. Kaum ist er aus London fort, wird sein Vorgesetzter Narraway wegen angeblicher Veruntreuung von Geldern von seinem Amt suspendiert. Um die dahintersteckende Intrige aufzudecken und sich zu rehabilitieren, bricht er nach Irland auf. Pitts Ehefrau Charlotte begleitet ihn, da sie weiß, dass die Karriere ihres Mannes von Narraway abhängt. Die Recherchen in Dublin sind mühselig und gefährlich. Und auch Pitt wird immer tiefer in seinen Fall in Frankreich verstrickt. Zu spät merken die beiden, dass es ihre wahren Gegner genau darauf angelegt haben, sie aus England fortzulocken. Denn dort planen sie einen fürchterlichen Coup, der das ganze Empire erschüttern soll. »Anne Perry konfrontiert uns mit moralischen und politischen Fragen, die unseren modernen nur allzu nahe kommen.« Los Angeles Times DIE AUTORIN Anne Perry, 1938 in London geboren und in Neuseeland aufgewachsen, lebt und schreibt in Schottland. Ihre historischen Kriminalromane zeichnen ein lebendiges Bild des spätviktorianischen London. Weltweit haben sich die Bücher von Anne Perry bereits über zehn Millionen Mal verkauft. Zuletzt bei Heyne erschienen: Die Tote von Buckingham Palace. Die Originalausgabe BETRAYAL AT LISSON GROVE erschien 2010 bei Headline Publishing Group, London

En la turbulenta Constantinopla del siglo XIII, una joven busca la verdad tras el exilio de su hermano. Anna Zarides llega a Constantinopla disfrazada de eunuco dispuesta a dedicarse a la medicina. Desde el momento en que llega a la ciudad, amenazada por las cruzadas, Anna pasa a ser Anastasio. Sin embargo, el viaje encierra un secreto: su hermano gemelo, Justiniano, ha sido acusado de asesinar al emperador Besarión, y ella desea probar su inocencia. Mientras tanto, Constantinopla está bajo el asedio de las tropas de Carlos de Anjou, y Anna aprovecha la oportunidad de salvar a su hermano

Sir Oliver Rathbone es un serio abogado de la época victoriana, que nunca se mezcla en asuntos turbios. Por ello, todo el mundo se extraña cuando acepta defender a la condesa Zorah Rostova, acusada de difamación por haber insinuado que la princesa Gisela ha matado a su esposo, el príncipe Friedrich. El detective William Monk es el encargado de investigar el caso. Tras determinar que sí hubo asesinato, debe descubrir el motivo e identificar al culpable. El equilibrio de la balanza es una nueva incursión de Anne Perry en las luces y las sombras de la Inglaterra victoriana

El respetable abogado Leighton Duff aparece muerto a golpes en un sórdido callejón. A su lado, se encuentra el cuerpo moribundo de Ryhs, su hijo. La policía no es capaz de profundizar en el caso hasta que aparece en escena el sagaz inspector William Monk, que intuye una relación entre este suceso y una serie de violaciones y palizas a prostitutas. Sorprendentemente, se cierne la sospecha de que ha sido el propio Ryhs quien ha matado a su padre. En los barrios bajos del Londres victoriano los ciudadanos llevan a cabo sus más vergonzosos y secretos negocios. Con dinero se puede conseguir cualquier cosa pero, a veces, el precio a pagar es la propia vida…

Los planes de Emily Radley para Navidad quedan en nada cuando se entera de que su tía Susannah se está muriendo. A pesar de que no tenían mucha relación, Emily decide ir hasta Irlanda para acompañarla en sus últimos días. A su vez, Daniel, el único superviviente de un naufragio a causa de una tormenta, busca cobijo en el hogar de Susannah. Emily acabará irremediablemente envuelta en la investigación de la muerte sin resolver de Connor, otra víctima de un naufragio, varios años atrás, y lo que descubrirá es que algunas personas serán capaces de hacer cualquier cosa para mantener a salvo sus secretos

Su nombre es William Monk, su profesión, detective de la policía. Eso, al menos, es lo que le dicen cuando despierta en un hospital londinense, ya que él no recuerda nada. Al parecer, el carruaje en que viajaba volcó y como consecuencia de este accidente el cochero murió y él quedó malherido. Tras pasar tres semanas inconsciente y otras tantas de convalecencia, Monk recupera la salud, pero no la memoria. Su primer caso cuando se reincorpora en el cuerpo de policía es el brutal asesinato de Joscelin Grey, un héroe de la guerra de Crimea que fue golpeado hasta morir en sus aposentos. Se trata de un asunto delicado, pues la familia de la víctima no está dispuesta a que un simple plebeyo hurgue en sus intimidades. Sin embargo, Monk no se deja amilanar y, mientras busca una clave que ilumine su propio pasado, empieza a investigar entre las amistades de Grey

1864 and, once again, Inspector William Monk, now of the Thames River Police, must face a dangerous foe. After a game of cat and mouse, Monk has finally captured Jericho Philipps, main suspect in the brutal slaying of mudlark Water 'Fig' Figgis. In doing so he believes that he has taken the first step in bringing to justice the man responsible for running an evil child prostitution ring and avenged the memory of Durban, his old commander, who was convinced of Philipps' guilt. When Philipps comes to trial however all does not run smoothly. Oliver Rathbone, Monk's friend, is hired anonymously to represent Philipps and he immediately casts doubts over the police case. The result is that Philipps is swiftly freed. Monk, determined to prove Philipps' guilt, begins the investigation again. But as he ventures deeper into London's murky underworld, he realises that Durban may have had another reason for pursuing Philipps and, even more worryingly, that Philipps' depraved tastes reach further into civilised society than anyone could have ever imagined!

El inspector William Monk, ahora miembro de la Policía Fluvial del Támesis, se enfrenta a un enemigo muy peligroso: Jericho Phillips, sospechoso de dirigir una extensa red de prostitución infantil. Sin embargo, tras el juicio, Phillips es liberado. Decidido a probar su culpabilidad, Monk reabre el caso; pero a medida que se sumerge en los bajos fondos de Londres se percata de que el misterioso apoyo que recibe Phillips proviene de altas esferas de la sociedad. Con el apoyo de su esposa Hester, William Monk se enfrenta al más peligroso y escurridizo criminal de toda su carrera

Londres, Junio de 1892. Pronto habrá elecciones. El clima está caldeado. En el Parlamento y en las calles se discute sobre la autonomía de Irlanda. La reducción de la jornada laboral a ocho horas, el coste y la preservación del Imperio, el derecho al voto de las mujeres. Los liberales creen que podrán acceder al poder; los conservadores, que deben jugar todas sus bazas para no perderlo. Y una de sus principales cartas es Charles Voisey, el acérrimo enemigo del superintendente Thomas Pitt. Voisey va a presentarse a un escaño en un distrito electoral conflictivo. Pitt, que, pese al éxito de la resolución del complot de Whitechapel, ha vuelto a ser destinado a la Brigada Especial, recibe la orden de vigilar todos sus pasos. Sin embargo, cuando la médium consultada por toda la alta sociedad victoriana aparece muerta en su casa en sospechosas circunstancias, Pitt es apartado de sus actuales obligaciones para indagar en este extraño crimen. Ignora que ambos casos pueden estar más relacionados de lo previsto

En el verano de 1893 una explosión hace arder varios edificios. Thomas Pitt participa en la persecución de varios hombres que se refugian en una casa de Long Spoon Lane. Tras un intercambio de disparos la policía entra en el lugar y se encuentra con que uno de los anarquistas tiene un tiro en la cabeza, sus compañeros culpan a la policía y se trata de un miembro de la aristocracia. Para resolver el caso, Pitt se verá obligado a aliarse con un viejo enemigo y ex miembro del Círculo Interior, Sir Charles Voisey

Nunca se había visto envuelto en el escándalo el aristocrático clan de los Moidore, una de las mejores familias de Londres, a cuya mansión de Queen Anne Street acuden los más encumbrados personajes. Ahora, sin embargo, la bella hija de sir Basil ha aparecido apuñalada en su propia cama y la noticia corre de boca en boca por la ciudad. El inspector William Monk recibe la orden de encontrar al asesino sin demora, aunque evitando causarle mayores trastornos a una familia ya abrumada por la tragedia. Monk se halla aún bajo los efectos de la amnesia que le dejó como secuela un grave accidente, pero sus facultades continúan intactas y, con la ayuda de Hester Latterly, se aproxima paso a paso a un asombroso descubrimiento

Las mujeres más peligrosas son aquellas que resultan irresistibles. ¿Qué hace peligrosa a una mujer? Su gran belleza, su encanto, su inteligencia, la manera en que se aparta el cabello de los ojos, o el modo de reírse. Puede tener conciencia absoluta de su poder, o desconocerlo por completo. Utilizarlo comoa rma o protegerse detrás de él. La intención y el propósito no aumentan ni disminuyen el poder, y ése es mayor peligro de todos los que son seducidos y sometidos por él

From Publishers Weekly An all-star lineup of 13 women mystery authors has produced one madcap, murderous tale in the same serial fashion as Naked Came the Manatee (1996). To some extent, position determines each contributor's role, but each author has ample opportunity to display her unique talents. Nevada Barr, who leads off, deserves credit for introducing heroine Caroline Blessing; her surprising mother, Hilda Finch; and several more of the zany inhabitants of Phoenix Spa, snuggled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. J.D. Robb, in the number two spot, wastes no time shifting the plot into gear with the murder of the spa's flamboyant owner, Claudia de Vries. Those who follow (Nancy Pickard, Lisa Scottoline, Perri O'Shaughnessy, J.A. Jance, Faye Kellerman, Mary Jane Clark, Marcia Talley, Anne Perry, Diana Gabaldon and Val McDermid) each get a crack at muddying the waters or putting a new spin on an already dizzy character or in some cases, adding a new victim to the growing pile. Lucky 13 Laurie King dazzles by weaving a prettily finished quilt from the motley patches created by her comrades. Readers will relish the resulting comic soap-opera murder mystery, taking especial pleasure in watching these pros deftly recast a scene, a clue or a character to keep the story rollicking along. (Aug. 13)Forecast: Together these women command a huge fan base, and if enough of them are willing to promote, this collaborative effort could rack up strong sales. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. The promise of discretion and pampering-and a long-overdue reconciliation with her mother-draws Caroline Blessing, the young wife of a newly-elected Congressman, to the fancy Phoenix Spa. But after her first night in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Caroline wakes to find the rich and famous guests in turmoil and under suspicion: the spa's flamboyant and ambitious owner has been murdered. As the secrets come out-and the body count rises, can Caroline keep herself from becoming the next victim?

An anthology of stories This one-of-a-kind collection features stories from some of the biggest names in mystery and fantasy-blending the genres into a unique hybrid where PIs may wear wizard's robes and criminals may really be monsters. Sit in on a modern-day witch's trial, visit the halls of a magical boarding school with murder on the curriculum, spend some time with Sookie Stackhouse, visit London 's hidden world of the Nightside, and become spellbound with eight more tales of magical mystery