May Ballingall

When she retires PR boss, Agatha Raisin, follows her dreams and buys a Cotswold cottage. Desperate to fit in she enters a quiche baking competition, but is soon branded as a poisoner when a judge dies after eating her shop bought entry. Unless she can expose the poisoner, Agatha's dream of rural bliss will be at an end.  Book 1 of series.

The Battle of Agincourt in October 1415, was a turning-point not only in the Hundred Years War between England and France but also in the history of weaponry. This landmark study looks behind the action on the field to paint a portrait of the age, moving from the ambition of kings to the dynamics of daily life in peace and war.

The remarkable story of a young Jewish girl and her family forced into hiding from Nazi persecution in Holland during the 2nd World War.

These delightful short stories were written in the 1940's and 50's to keep the family solvent, hence the title of the collection!

All societies, going back to ancient times, and all religions have festivals. Festivals are times to celebrate, have fun and often show off!

After rescuing an English aristocrat from rioters in Boston, Makepeace Burke is branded a traitor and forced to flee. She travels to London with the man she rescued only to discover that English society is not prepared to admit her into its midst. Having been chased out of one town, Makepeace is damned if she will let this happen again!

An abridged version of the author's biographical portrait of Charles II - popular with his people and in control of his country when he died.

In 1911 Amelia Peabody and her family arrive in Egypt for their annual archaeological dig. Trouble follows them when a body is found and Amelia must solve the mystery quickly before there are more deaths.

The story of the shy, intelligent girl who loved reading and the countryside. With descriptions of family life and wartime struggles, the book gives a fascinating portrait of the author who was a pioneer of the conservationist movement.

The pioneer and founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, became a legendary figure in her own lifetime.

Briony Marsden led a hard life working in the family mill, but things took a turn for the worse after one of her father's drunken rages. She was rescued by wealthy Chad Cameron, who fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. But could such a marriage survive?

An account of the life of Florence Bramford who became a ladies' maid to the ladies-in-waiting of the Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II. It describes her work in the Royal Palaces and on several Royal Tours.

Salena's joyous reunion with her father turns to despair when she discovers she must marry a sadistic prince.

Set in the reign of the last emperor of China, The Good Earth is a riveting family saga and a story of female sacrifice. This is a classic novel of the twentieth century set in a country on the brink of change.

In 1936 in rural Sussex, Kitty Allen answers an advertisment for 'A good plain cook'. Her employer is Mrs Steinberg, a champagne socialist, who lives with her young daughter and George Crane, her lover. As the summer advances the temperature rises and so do emotions in the house. X rated, explicit sexual content.

In 1939 Christian Lamb wanted to do her bit for the war effort - but what? Because of family connections she chose to join the Women's Royal Naval Service, after all they had the nicest uniform, and the best hat!

A cross between an autobiography, a history lesson in the houses of the English countryside and the romantic story of a man obsessed with Thrumpton Hall.

In the early 1950s, Beryl Miles was in Australia when she had the unexpected opportunity to travel around the two islands of New Zealand by truck. Knowing that New Zealand offers such a variety of physical features she snatched the chance and shares her experiences in this book.

In postwar Britain, with social work in its infancy, the District Health Visitor was relied upon to provide a range of services to the local community. Molly Corbally trained as a Health Visitor and looked after her community with tact, diplomacy and humour for over thirty years.

Marie-Ange had an idyllic childhood in France until tragedy struck and she was sent to live in America with an elderly aunt. Her dream was to return to France, but even when she achieved this her life was still troubled!

When the death of 10-year-old Louis XVII, Marie-Antoinette’s son, was announced by the revolutionary authorities there were rumours that he had escaped from prison. Since then a number of ‘Princes’ have emerged to claim his name but only now, thanks to DNA testing, can the 200-year mystery be solved.

Fleeing from an arranged marriage, Anita Lavenham runs straight into the arms of the Duke of Ollerton.

The children thought that Mary Poppins was just an ordinary housemaid but she knew about magic.

The intrigue and turbulance of Mary Queen of Scots' reign.

The life-size family of rag dolls face their most awesome challenge yet. 

Mrs Palfrey spends her days at the Claremont Hotel where her fellow residents, flawed and eccentric, fight off boredom and the grim reaper. One day Mrs Palfrey encounters a handsome young writer and learns that even the old can fall in love.

Like many of her generation Virginia Woolf's relationship with her servants was central to her life. They freed her from the burden of domesticity and allowed her to be a writer. Unlike her contemporaries, she was tormented by her reliance on servants. But what of the servants themselves - how did they relate to an employer who hated giving orders?

Sally Carpenter is filled with trepidation when her husband suggests a boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads. At first they suffer mishaps but gradually they make friends with the boating fraternity and encounter a remarkable young girl, Rosie.

As he plans his 100th birthday 'celebration', Silas Mudd reviews his life and the family and friends around him, and the two wives he has outlived!

A distinguished portrait of the Archbishop of Canterbury

Holly and Mark Jepson were determined to spend Christmas alone, and not at Uncle Reg's Holiday Village. When Reg was admitted to hospital their plans had to be pushed aside!

This novel tells the story of five generations of the Ucria family seen through the eyes of deaf-mute Duchess Mariana. Set apat by her disability and married at 13 to her uncle, she tries to find fulfilment in a society where a woman’s lot is either marriage and childbirth or life behind the walls of a convent.

A collection of short stories, set in the North East, London and on the South Coast. The events take place anywhere from the 1920's to the present day, but all deal with changes in people's lives.

A fully-documented history of the role of women in the French Resistance during the Nazi occupation. Based on interviews with 70 surviving participants, the author weaves a vivid portrait of these women; their defiance, endurance and quiet courage.

A dramatic and enthralling story of rivalry and jealousy.

Phoebe Redmond's life is a mess. Her job in Bar Barato is like working in a war zone. All her friends are getting married whilst she is always the taffeta clad bridesmaid. To make matters worse her sister is marrying the one man Phoebe loves. Will she have to don the hated taffeta again?