Quick Reads

On 3rd September 1939, Amy Browning starts to write a diary. It is Amy's 18th birthday and Great Britain goes to war with Germany. Amy's fears grow for her brother, fighting in France, and her boyfriend Ian, in the RAF. Quick Reads.

Tessa Dannall is excited and happy when her daughter, Nia, arrives at their family’s tropical beach resort to get married. But as the big day draws near, Tessa realises she must face the deadly ghosts from her past – or they may ruin her daughter’s future...

With Robert, Earl of Locksley - better known as Robin Hood - away fighting in the Holy Land, Marie-Anne, his beloved countess, is left in England attended by faithful Father Tuck. But old terrors resurface in the Locksley household when the one-time Sheriff of Nottingham, Sir Ralph Murdac, arrives unexpectedly with a terrible demand, and Tuck is forced to weigh his conscience against the call to arms.

The Mutiny on the Bounty is the most famous uprising in naval history. Led by Fletcher Christian, a desperate crew cast sadistic Captain Bligh adrift. They swap cruelty and the lash for easy living in the island heaven of Tahiti. However, paradise turns out to have a darker side.

Mr Christian dies in terrible agony. The Bounty burns. Cursed by murder and treachery, the rebels' dreams turn to nightmares, and all hope of seeing England again is lost forever.

A story of low treachery and high adventure, murder under the palm trees, trouble in paradise and a lost Eden in the South Seas.

Since they were kids, Edie, Jake and Ryan have been the closest of friends. It's been the three of them against the world. Edie thought the bonds between them were unbreakable. So when Jake is brutally murdered and Ryan accused of the crime, her world is shattered.

Edie is alone for the first time in years, living in the remote house that she and Jake shared. She is grief-stricken and afraid - with good reason. Because someone is watching. Someone has been waiting for this moment. Now that Edie is alone, the past she tried so hard to leave behind is about to catch up with her...

Saul Anguish is a clever but troubled teenager with a dark past and a love of nature.

Etta Fitzroy is a former police detective who now lives in New York, but is called back to London to help in a missing persons case.

Saul and Etta had met two years before when five-year-old Clara Foyle was kidnapped by a serial killer, whose evil deeds had left scars on them both.

When Saul discovers a 'graveyard' on an island near his home town in Essex and Etta comes to investigate, the past comes back to haunt them both, and Saul will have to decide who he can trust.

Rachel is searching for sanctuary from her abusive father, but finds herself a guest in the castle instead. Why does everyone assume she is important, and why do they insist that she sleep on an enormous mattress tower?

Can she unravel the mystery and find a happy ending, or will she be trapped in something even worse? See for yourself in this romantic retelling of The Princess and the Pea.

Marriage is complicated, especially for Kate. Her husband Jack has a temper on him, and Kate knows it's time for a divorce. The trouble is, Jack refuses. And now that he has found out Kate has met another man, his jealous rages escalate. Can Kate rid herself of her jealous husband before it's too late?... Quick Reads

There are times when ladies must use all their wisdom and good sense to face life's problems and mysteries. Here are five tales of love, heartbreak, hope and the cleverness of ladies.

Short stories from the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

Martin Watts, a bookseller, is captured by Royalists. Jane Afton's brother Nat is taken too. They suffer inhumane treatment as prisoners-of-war. In Oxford Castle jailor William Smith tortures, beats, starves and deprives his helpless victims. Can Jane rescue her sick brother before he dies of neglect? Will Martin dare to escape? Quick Reads.

Emily wants a normal life as a normal girl. (Finding a name for her cat would also be nice.) But the magic she inherited from her fae mother makes the life she wants impossible, and the gold she creates brings out the worst in every human she meets.

When Emily is captured by a greedy king, a mysterious fae offers to help… for a price. Can she escape the king, outsmart the fae, and find a happy ending?

It's the moment we all fear: losing our phone, leaving us cut off from family and friends. But, for Louise, losing hers in a local café takes her somewhere much darker... Quick Reads

Dangling from a hook in a meat packing plant isn't how Detective Sergeant Washington Poe wants to spend his weekend. He's been punched and kicked and threatened, and when a contract killer arrives it seems things are about to go from bad to worse. He goes by the name of the Pale Man and he and his straight-edged razor have been feared all over London for twenty years.

But Poe knows two things the Pale Man doesn't. Although it might seem like a hopeless situation, Poe has planned to be here all along. More importantly, a nerdy, computer whizz-kid called Tilly Bradshaw is watching his back. And now things are about to get interesting...

A Washington Poe novella.

A trio of short stories from bestseller Mark Billingham.

Dancing Towards the Blade: They are waiting for the boy on his way home, the racist thugs. For Vincent, it is the latest in a string of violent events his family has faced since moving to England. But Vincent has in him the spirit of his father

Stroke of Luck: During a summer cricket match, Alan meets Rachel, and they start a relationship - but soon Alan discovers Rachel is married to an abusive husband. Alan vows to protect her - but her husband is not the only one who is a threat...

The Walls: When Chris spots a beautiful woman across a crowded restaurant on his business trip to Texas, he never imagines that she would be interested in him, let alone be waiting for him when he returns to his hotel later that evening…

CONTENT WARNING: contains scenes of violence and racial language

Danny Wallace heard about a manhole cover, on a small street, in a small town, tucked away in a remote part of Idaho. The manhole cover had been declared the Centre of the Universe. And the name of the town? Wallace. It was a cosmic coincidence Danny couldn't resist... Quick Reads.

Caroline Luard is shot dead in broad daylight in the grounds of a large country estate. With few clues available, her husband soon becomes the suspect ... But is he guilty? Quick Reads.

Maggie's marriage has turned sour, leaving her tied to a husband who no longer seems to love her. She continues to work, keeps in touch with her friends and tries not to think about the lack of love in her life. But all that changes when Maggie meets someone who transforms how she feels about herself and turns her entire world upside down. Quick Reads.

Colin Burrows, recently sent to prison for burglary, knows that his four year sentence means that he will miss the birth of his first child. His cell-mate Barry hatches a plan to get Colin out of jail for the birth. It's a plan so crazy that either it will fail and get both men in deeper trouble, or it might just work. Quick Reads.

Pippa Jones seems to have it all. The only thing that she is missing is love. When she spots a gorgeous man who seems to be following her everywhere, she wonders if fate is trying to throw them together. With her job on the line can she afford to make time for this handsome, mysterious stranger? Quick Reads

From wronged wives to nosy neighbours, from distant dads to new-found family, from secrets to lies, fresh starts to false endings - and everything in between...A collection of brilliant short stories from the best writers around.

Dee loves her children very much, but now they are all grown up, shouldn't they leave home? But Rosie, Helen and Anthony are happy where they are. It doesn't cost them anything, and surely their parents like having a full house? When a crisis occurs, Dee decides things have to change for the whole family... whether they like it or not. Quick Reads.

Toddington FC defender Tom Horrocks is never happier than when he's on the football pitch, but when it comes to love, he's hiding a big secret. Worried about his young daughter and sick father - and with his team finally in the Premier League - he avoids all media.

Journalist Cosmo Roberts wants to change the world, so is angry when he's sent to a quiet northern town to cover a sport he sees as anti-gay. Then something about Tom catches his eye.

Cosmo hates football. Tom hates journalists. Perhaps this time they've both met their match.

Gavin is an excellent writer; but he can never seem to come up with a credible plot. On meeting Natasha at a creative writing group he thinks he has met his soulmate. She is attractive and her plots are amazing. Combining their skills, their stories become internet sensations. But when tragedy strikes, will the stories survive?

Matilda Brown is running out of time, and her granddaughter's sharp eyes don't miss a thing. Can she get Red settled and happy before the wolves return? Can she find happiness for her own future? See for yourself in this short retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.

A stranger arrives at the seaside village of Trevay in need of a safe haven. The fact that he is a Hollywood heartthrob makes villagers Penny and Dorrie even more keen to help. But it’s not long before he’s helping some of the villagers find the answers to their own problems. In return, they find a place for him in their hearts. Quick Reads

A chilling short story from the author of Gone Girl (9885). A fake clairvoyant gets tangled up with a mysterious family, and her attempted trick is thwarted by a malevolent teenage boy.

Mark Joesbury, of Scotland Yard’s Covert Operations Unit, is undercover. Embroiled in a terrorist gang’s plans for a deadly attack at the heart of the capital, he’s risking everything to stop them. But as they prepare to target London’s most iconic landmarks, it’s no longer just countless strangers he’s fighting to save. Because they’ve also got the woman he loves, DC Lacey Flint…

A novella in the Lacey Flint series.

On the surface, Claire Saunders has it all: a rewarding career and a talented daughter, and a loving husband who is one of the country’s most trusted diplomats. But Clare has a secret hidden even from her best friends, but they know her too well. Can they protect her from a man who is as ruthless as he is charming and powerful? Quick Reads.

Alan Dale, a loyal soldier in the service of The Earl of Locksley, also known as Robin Hood, is part of a vast Christian army seeking to recapture the Holy Land from the Saracen hordes. Wounded and vulnerable, Alan encounters another injured fighter, a shaven-headed Bavarian named Hanno. But will this thuggish killer prove to be Alan's friend - or his foe?

Madison has always known she had a different father to her siblings. But it wasn't until she turned eighteen that she learned his name. And now she wants to meet the man who shares her fair hair and blue eyes.

Robert is a very lucky man. A big house, beautiful wife, three handsome sons. Eighteen years ago, he made a mistake. A brief fling that resulted in a daughter nobody else knows about.

Robert must finally tell his family the truth. Will they ever be able to forgive him and accept Madison as one of their own?

Whether we love it or hate it, work has a huge affect on our lives and in recent times working life has totally changed. So what is life really like at work today? Some of these stories will make you laugh and some might make you cry. The one thing they all share is that you can never be sure what your working day will bring. Quick Reads.

Lara Cliffe and her three friends are off on a mini break for her hen party. It’s three weeks before her wedding to ’Steady Freddie’, one of the kindest men on the planet. But something is worrying Lara. Her friends say it’s wedding jitters, but she isn’t so sure. As the wonderful city of Amsterdam works its magic on Lara, she tries to sort out her thoughts. Quick Reads

Lisa has sworn off love after a bad experience, but now she’s tempted to take a chance on a more exciting life. She plans a special road trip to Cornwall, in search of where her favourite TV show is being filmed. But can she find friendship, as well as a certain sexy hunk on her trip south? Quick Reads.

No matter how you handle your cash, or how little money you have, Alvin Hall's Money Magic is the first step to making money work for you. As he takes you through his seven steps to success, Alvin gives you advice that really works. Quick Reads.

Business has been slow for Hounslow’s small-time dope-dealer, Jay Qasim. A student house party means quick easy cash, but it also means breaking his own rules. But desperate times lead him there – and Jay finds himself in the middle of a crime scene. Idris Zaidi, a Police Constable and Jay’s best friend, is having a quiet night when he gets a call out following a noise complaint at a house party. Fed up with the lack of excitement in his job, he visits the scene and quickly realises that people are in danger after a stabbing.

Sapphire is the hot-headed leader of the Red Roses in an area where gang loyalty is all that matters. But after a tragic event, Sapphire vows to leave her old life, friends and her gang behind. Life without the Red Roses and the violence that always followed them is certainly quieter.

When she meets a boy called Apollo on her way to Notting Hill Carnival, she forms an instant bond with him. She thinks he could be the one. Until she discovers he's a member of rival gang, the Gold Teeth. Will she ever escape her past with the Red Roses, and how many lives will be ruined until she does?