Sapere Books Sign New Roman Series by Jacquie Rogers

We are delighted to announce that we have signed a new trilogy of Roman mysteries by Jacquie Rogers.

In Jacquie’s words:

“My new series is set in a wealthy but remote part of third-century Roman Britain.

“Otto Cornelius is a garlanded senior officer in Chester’s XXth legion. Forced to take early retirement, he returns to his hometown of Viroconium Cornoviorum (now Wroxeter Roman City in Shropshire).

“He soon discovers that the quiet life of a pensioned-off officer is no sinecure, and Viroconium is no longer the idyll of his childhood. The murder of an itinerant Greek merchant, coupled with the theft of the iconic Wroxeter silver mirror, are just the beginning. Otto is quickly embroiled in a dangerous conspiracy, one in which old friends and new enemies have much to hide. No-one is who they seem, including Otto himself.

“I am so delighted to be working with Sapere Books. Their passion for historical fiction matches my own, and I’ve had the warmest of welcomes into their supportive organisation. I know my pacy Roman thrillers have found a wonderful home.”

Following the success of his many historical series, including the Sandal Castle Medieval Thrillers and Inspector Torquil McKinnon Mystery Series, we are delighted to announce that we have signed a new supernatural series set in Victorian London by Keith Moray.

In Keith’s words:

“The first book in the series is set in London in 1854. Jack Moon is a foundling, brought up in an orphanage and then a workhouse, where he and his best friend Danny are subject to regular beatings. Together they escape, but when Danny dies in tragic circumstances, Jack secretly buries his friend in a cemetery at night.

“Alone and living in a deserted and rat-infested warehouse, Jack starts seeing Danny’s ghost, who warns him that someone is out to kill him and worse, the girl he loves, too. This is Victorian London, with its criminal underworld, body-snatchers, phrenologists, séances, ghosts and ghouls.

“I am delighted to be writing another historical series with Sapere Books, who have permitted me to set my stories in a variety of times and places, from ancient Egypt and medieval England to a contemporary Scottish island. My new mystery series delves into the occult and the psyche of the Victorian mind. It is murky, sinister and just a little bit scary.

“And one of the main characters is a ghost.”

Following the success of his many military thrillers, including the Vietnam Ground Zero Series and Wings Over Nam aviation thrillers, we are delighted to announce that we have signed a new historical military series by Eric Helm.

In Eric’s words:

“At the end of the 1980s and at the beginning of the 1990s, the world moved close to a world war that could easily escalate into a thermonuclear exchange that would end modern civilization. There were those who wished for nothing more because they believed it would thrust them to the top and in control of the world. And there were those who wanted to prevent that. Their purpose wasn’t always altruistic, but that goal matched their own climb to power. It is into this world that the characters in this series move, serving on every continent and sailing all the oceans, dealing with those problems.

“The characters are military and civilian, members of the media, and those with an academic frame of mind. Each brings an interesting take to the problems of trying to prevent a world war, except for one nation whose leaders believe such a conflict would benefit them. These are unique situations that require unique solutions. This is a tale told on the world stage with players at nearly every level of society.

“Sapere Books have been very good to me. The packaging of my Vietnam Ground Zero series has been perfect. The enthusiasm with which the books have been received has been wonderful. Sapere is a great publisher who have looked out for my best interests. Everyone seems to be excited by the various projects that I have suggested and there is no pressure to crank out a book quickly. They let it evolve naturally, which I believe makes the books that much better.”

Congratulations to D. R. Bailey, whose thrilling aviation novel, The Night Angels, is published today!

The Night Angels is the second novel in the Secret Sirens Aviation Thrillers Series, heart-pounding Second World War escapades with strong female leads.

1943

Sisters Anna and Jennifer Nightingale are recruits in the top-secret Siren Squadron: a group of women trained in the RAF to fight against the enemy.

The Sirens are tasked with flying a series of night stealth missions as part of Operation Scorpion. The first mission is successful, and on returning to base they are told that new members will be joining their ranks.

Hopeful that this means the all-female squadron has been deemed a success, the sisters welcome the new recruits and start training them on the Mosquitos.

They head out on another night mission. But this time not everyone returns.

With a downed plane found empty off the English coast, fears grow that one of the Sirens hasn’t survived.

But the show must go on. And Anna Nightingale has to destroy the crashed plane so the Sirens can remain classified.

As their night missions continue, increased skirmishes with enemy pilots suggest someone may be leaking information to the Germans.

Have the Sirens been compromised? Can they find the mole?

Or will these daring female agents be forced out of the war…?

Congratulations to Angela Ranson, whose gripping Tudor mystery, A Glittering Peril, is out now!

A Glittering Peril is the third book in the Catrin Surovell Tudor Mysteries Series: exciting historical thrillers set at the court of Elizabeth I.

1561

Every summer, Queen Elizabeth takes a journey around her kingdom. It is a time of revels and celebration, full of pleasure and extravagance.

But in July 1561, the trip begins badly when the corpse of an unknown man is left in her path.

The nervous queen asks Catrin Surovell, her trusted favourite lady-in-waiting, to find out who is trying to sabotage her journey.

But Catrin soon discovers that the queen’s nervousness stems from something greater than the mysterious death.

Someone has been leaving reminders of the queen’s mother, Anne Boleyn, in strange places. A woman appears in the distance who looks like her; the scent of Anne’s perfume is left in the queen’s chamber, and Anne’s favourite French ballads are sung by a disembodied voice as the queen is travelling.

Worst of all, Anne Boleyn’s famous gold-and-pearl necklace with teardrop pearls hanging from a letter ‘B’ is taken from the queen’s bedchamber. The queen is devastated by the loss, for the necklace was one of very few mementos she had of her mother.

The queen begins to suspect one of her courtiers, so Catrin visits his home to conduct a secret investigation into his actions. And that’s when she discovers this is the most difficult mystery she has ever had to solve.

Is Queen Elizabeth being haunted by her ill-fated mother? Or is someone trying to drive her insane?

And can Catrin find the connection between the missing jewels and the unknown corpse…?

Congratulations to Justin Fox, whose thrilling military adventure, Hell Run Tobruk, is out now!

Hell Run Tobruk is the third book in the Jack Pembroke Naval Thriller series: authentic British Navy war stories set during the Second World War.

December, 1941

Lieutenant Jack Pembroke is ordered to join a convoy and sail his small escort ship, HMSAS Gannet, from the Royal Navy base in Simon’s Town, South Africa, to Egypt.

With the Mediterranean all but closed to maritime traffic, and Rommel’s forces rampaging through North Africa, it seems unlikely that Gannet will survive the coming battles.

Jack arrives in Alexandria and is soon thrust into the action, escorting ships running supplies to the beleaguered town of Tobruk in Libya.

With the pressure building and ships around him being sunk by enemy bombers, Jack must deal with his own PTSD while leading his men to safety.

And with Tobruk surrounded, about to fall to Axis forces, Gannet is still trapped in the port…

Can Jack lead his men to safety? Will he make it out of Tobruk in one piece?

Or will this Hell Run be his last…?

Congratulations to Patrick Larsimont, whose thrilling military adventure, The Wire and the Lines, is published today!

The Wire and the Lines is  fifth instalment of the Jox McNabb Aviation Thrillers series: action-packed historical novels following a young RAF pilot during the Second World War.

Summer, 1943

When fighter pilot Jox McNabb crashes on the wrong side of the straits of Messina, he is captured by the Germans.

It seems that for Jox, the war might be over.

But Jox is never one to give up. Desperate to escape, he quickly familiarises himself with the camp and gets to know his fellow prisoners.

With punishment brutal for those that have attempted to flee previously, morale is low in the camp and there is little motivation to try and break the rules.

The war is still raging on the outside and Jox will do anything to get back to his No. 333 Squadron, the Black Pigs.

On the orders of a cruel Luftwaffe Colonel, Jox is embroiled in a scheme to use high profile POWs as human shields, covering shipments of precious artworks looted from Sicily and Italy.

Could this mission provide Jox with the means to escape? Can he blow the whistle on the stolen loot?

And can he get back in action and rejoin the war in the skies…?

Congratulations to Raymond Wemmlinger, whose page-turning Tudor adventure, The Queen’s Favourite, is out now!

England, 1558

Sixteen-year-old Catherine Seymour has always idolised her elder sister Jane. As a child Jane had been groomed to be queen, to marry her cousin King Edward, and since his death she has been determined to restore her family’s claim to throne.

Jane had spent time at Queen Mary’s court but she has now returned home to Hanworth Park to the delight of Catherine and their brother Ned.

To their surprise, Jane brings with her Lady Catherine Grey, sister of Jane Grey, the ill-fated nine-day queen, and heiress to the throne after Princess Elizabeth.

Jane confides in Catherine that she aims to bring about a betrothal between Lady Grey and Ned, so that their brother and his children have a chance to lay claim to the throne.

But everything changes when Mary suddenly dies, and Elizabeth succeeds as queen. Now the sisters must seek favour with a new monarch.

Luckily, Elizabeth’s succession proves advantageous for the Seymour family. Jane is chosen as a lady in waiting and immediately becomes a favourite.

Can Jane still bring her plan to fruition? Will it mean betraying the new queen?

Or will rumours of a romance between Queen Elizabeth and one of her courtiers change everything for the Seymour sisters…?

Congratulations to Adele Jordan, whose page-turning Tudor mystery, The Body in the Chamber, is published today!

The Body in the Chamber is the third book in the Shadow Cutpurses Tudor Thriller Series.

1536, London

With two queens already removed from King Henry VIII’s side, the Tudor court fears for his new wife, Jane Seymour.

Thief turned espionage agent, Gwynnie Wightham is tasked by her employer Elric Tombstone to watch over the new queen.

And it soon becomes clear that her task will not be an easy one when a dead body is found in the queen’s chambers.

It seems there is a murderer hiding in the palace walls, and a clear suspect has already been named.

Convicted killer, Connal Devlin, escaped the noose at Tyburn and vowed to seek revenge on King Henry for turning his back on the ‘true’ Catholic faith.

Gwynnie is tasked with finding Devlin, but something doesn’t seem right.

Is it possible Devlin isn’t as evil as he was made out to be? Could someone else be behind the murder at the palace?

And can Gwynnie stop them before another Tudor queen’s life comes to an untimely end…?

In this behind-the-scenes blog series, Sapere Books authors offer an intriguing insight into how, where and why they write.

Today, we are delighted to spotlight Angela Ranson, author of the Catrin Surovell Tudor Mysteries.

I write in my study, which doubles as a playroom for my two cats. I love having their energy and curiosity as the backdrop for my writing. This is especially true because I write about a world long dead — Tudor England — and try with every scene to bring it back to life.

My books centre around the early years in the reign of Elizabeth I (the 1560s), which I studied when I earned my doctorate in sixteenth-century English history. I live in York, within a stone’s throw of King’s Manor. This was the building where Henry VIII stayed in 1536, and his suite of rooms is now one of the University of York’s libraries. If you stand at the back of the building, you can see a tiny window that leads to nowhere: it originally let some light into Henry’s specially-made toilet, or garderobe.

I love that York has these little historical treasures; I go looking for them whenever I have the opportunity. That isn’t as often as I would like, because I write between the hours dedicated to two jobs at the university. Writing is what I do to relax, to escape from the trials of daily life. Thus, you’ll often see me writing while I eat my supper, or early on a Saturday morning when I’m still in my pyjamas. Turns out, those are the hours when dreams come true.

Congratulations to Natalie Kleinman, whose heart-warming contemporary romance, A Walk in the Park, is out now!

Ever since she was a teenager, twenty-nine-year-old Daisy Shepherd has been thrilled to be able to walk dogs for a living. And with a supportive mother and stepfather, she thinks she has everything she needs.

But when her birth father, James, asks to meet her, her idyllic lifestyle is turned upside down.

Having been abandoned by James as a baby, Daisy has no desire to get to know him. However, she is delighted to learn that she has two half-siblings, Charlie and Kirsty, with whom she forms a warm friendship.

With a newly expanded family, Daisy’s happiness should be complete. But as she spends more and more time with Charlie and Kirsty, her feelings grow more complex.

And with her heart pulling her in one direction and her head in another, she begins to wonder how she can protect her relationship with her siblings while preserving her peace of mind…

Will Daisy be able to work through her feelings? Can she keep her newfound family in her life?

Or are they destined to be pulled apart?

A few weeks ago, I was standing outside St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, gazing at the ancient Egyptian obelisk that sits in the middle of the square. (It’s also on the front cover of Omens of Death — the first book in The Basilica Diaries series.)

The guide who was showing me round said, “There’s an interesting story about this obelisk. When Moses was a young man, he was educated in Heliopolis (modern Cairo), where this obelisk originally stood. As he hurried back and forth to school, Moses would have seen this very stone every day. Even then it was a thousand years old. He would have walked past it, used it as a meeting point for friends, maybe even sat in its shade.

“Now, cut forward across time. The Romans have stolen the obelisk and brought it to Italy, where the Emperor Caligula ordered it to be set up at the Circus of Nero just outside the city walls. And that is the same place where St Peter was executed. Which means the very last thing St Peter saw before he died would have been this obelisk. And now you are gazing at the exact same stone.”

I could feel my brain jolt. Moses, Caligula, St Peter and myself, all connected across 4,500 years by a single object. These were no longer remote characters from the pages of the Bible — if I reached out my hand, I could touch them through this granite obelisk.

What the guide did was a brilliant demonstration of the power of narrative. He could have bombarded me with facts and figures about the height and weight of the obelisk, about where the stone was quarried and when it was carved, and how it was moved from the Circus of Nero to its current site and erected in a single day.

But he didn’t, because he knew that those facts would have gone in and out of my mind in seconds. Instead, he told a story that organised the truth in such a way that it connected me to the distant past.

That’s what I’ve been attempting to do on every page of The Basilica Diaries historical thrillers. I have spent countless hours researching the novels, but rather than bombard the reader with details, I have tried to organise the truth into narratives that will resonate with the modern world whilst also transporting us back across the centuries.

I hope you enjoy the latest adventure in the series, Carnival of Chaos, which will be published in April.

Congratulations to C. F. Dunn, whose thrilling War of the Roses saga, Wheel of Fortune, is out now!

Wheel of Fortune is the first book in the Tarnished Crown series: historical novels set in medieval Europe.

1469, England

For almost ten years, attractive and charismatic Edward IV has ruled with the Earl of Warwick’s support, but now rebellion threatens England’s fragile peace.

With the Midlands in uproar, King Edward wants peace in the shires and the last thing he needs is potential trouble in the form of an unwed heiress.

But, strong-willed and single-minded, Isobel Fenton is determined that nothing will separate her from her beloved manor of Beaumancote, even if she does have to marry to stay there.

Isobel is unaware of the importance she and her land represent, nor of the agenda of the formidable Earl in whose care she finds herself.

And as unrest boils into war, she is drawn into the very heart of the conflict.

Can Isobel escape from the web in which she is trapped? Will she find a way to decide her own fate?

Or will the Wheel of Fortune fail to turn in her favour…?

Congratulations to Graham Ley, whose compelling historical saga, Moonlight at Cuckmere Haven, is published today!

England and Brittany, 1796

In London on business, aristocrat and father-to-be Justin Wentworth chases a thief only to be confronted by a face from the past — Coline — and the news that he already has a daughter.

Amelia Wentworth is in Sussex enjoying the delights of sea-bathing with her companion Caroline North. When Caroline catches sight of a dangerous adversary in the crowd at the Brighton races — the villain Tregothen — she writes to her brother, Colonel North, who swiftly rides to their aid.

At Chittesleigh Manor in Devonshire, pregnant Arabella Wentworth is disturbed by a brief note from Justin extending his absence from her. She decides to write to Justin’s friend Eugene Picaud to ask him to inquire after Justin in London. Justin’s mother, Sempronie, comes to stay at Chittesleigh, and is drawn to Justin’s writing bureau, discovering letters from Coline from their time together.

Meanwhile at Kergohan Manor in Brittany, the villagers celebrate as bread is baked for the first time in the large oven. The gathering is interrupted by the arrival of Laurent Guèvremont, owner of the manor, who explains to Héloïse Argoubet that he has an obligation to look after her, and prepare her for life in society.

Eugene, unsure of his future, enlists as a marine aboard HMS Amphion. Justin and Amelia visit as the ship prepares to leave Plymouth. After a sudden and terrifying explosion at the dock, Justin rushes back to find that the Amphion has been blown apart, with horrendous loss of life. As he searches for Eugene amongst the bodies, he eventually sees a figure in the water…

Will Eugene survive the disaster? Will Tregothen escape justice? And is the child the result of Coline’s affair with Justin?

And when love blossoms, will it finally unite the Wentworth family once and for all?

Congratulations to David Field, whose absorbing historical thriller, Death By Gunpowder, is out now!

Death By Gunpowder is the sixth instalment of the Bailiff Mountsorrel Tudor Mystery Series – private investigation crime novels set during the reign of Elizabeth I and beyond.

Nottingham, England, 1605

Frustrated in their two previous attempts to restore the Catholic faith to England, a group of heretics plan to assassinate King James in Parliament in a massive explosion timed for November 5th, 1605.

But when that plot also fails and Guy Fawkes starts revealing the names of accomplices under torture in the Tower, those who had been complicit in the plot run for cover.

Not long after, Nottinghamshire bailiff, Edward Mountsorrel is called to investigate a mysterious explosion in a row of houses that has left four people dead.

And he soon unearths evidence that suggests this crime is linked to the larger plot on the king’s life.

His suspicions are confirmed when an official from London, acting with royal authority, orders Edward and fellow bailiff Francis Barton to hunt down the gunpowder fugitives who are believed to be hiding out in the local area.

But the men won’t go down without a fight. And Edward could find himself in the firing line…

Congratulations to C. P. Giuliani, whose absorbing historical thriller, A Matter of Blood, is out now!

A Matter of Blood is a page-turning espionage adventure set in Tudor England. It is the sixth book in the Tom Walsingham Mysteries series.

London, 1588

Mary Stuart, the deposed Queen of Scots, polestar of all Catholic intriguers, and a life-long danger to England has met the executioner’s axe.

But many of her supporters still hold influential positions in Paris and her death has not endeared England to the French.

Unbeknownst to the Queen of England, her spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, had more than a little to do with manipulating her into finally condemning her cousin.

And now a letter has been leaked exposing Walsingham’s secret to the Queen’s ambassador in Paris, Sir Edward Stafford.

There is no love lost between Stafford and Walsingham and the ambassador will happily expose his nemesis, no matter the consequences for England.

Walsingham instructs his cousin Tom to travel to Paris to quell the rumours and discover Stafford’s intentions. But then a troublesome Catholic leader, a kinsman of Stafford’s, is suspected to have been poisoned, and Tom finds himself embroiled in another mystery.

Can Tom win the trust of Stafford? Will he save his cousin’s reputation?

Or will the Parisians seek revenge on this hapless Englishman…?

Congratulations to J. C. Briggs, whose intriguing Gothic mystery, The Inheritors of Moonlyght Tower, is out now!

England, 1916

With her mother ill and her father threatening to marry her off to a violent neighbour, Jessie Sedgwick takes up a position as a kitchen maid at Moonlyght Tower to escape her home.

But Moonlyght is far from a sanctuary. Its imposing Gothic Tower looms menacingly over the building and Jessie is surprised to find the only other staff members are a sour housekeeper and an unfriendly nurse who looks after the bedbound lady of the house.

Not long after arriving, Jessie meets a former kitchen maid, Ethel Widdop, who warns Jessie to leave as soon as possible. But before Jessie can find out more, Ethel is found dead…

And something strange is happening at Moonlyght. Jessie sees something strange in the imposing tower and she hears footsteps coming from an empty room. A room she discovers belonged to the heir to the house, Jonathan, who fell from the tower two years ago.

It’s clear there are dark secrets hiding at Moonlyght, and despite herself, Jessie finds herself drawn in.

What ails the lady of the house? Was her son’s death really an accident – or something more sinister?

And is Jessie in danger of ending up like Ethel…?

Congratulations to D. R. Bailey, whose thrilling aviation novel, Sisters For Victory, is published today!

Sisters For Victory is the first military adventure novel in the Secret Sirens Aviation Thrillers Series, heart-pounding Second World War escapades with strong female leads.

Autumn, 1942

With the reserves of male pilots ready for combat rapidly dwindling, England’s secret service decide to try something revolutionary. They are going to send female pilots into combat.

MI6 put Wing Commander James Donovan in charge of the ‘Sirens’. Outwardly, the women chosen appear to be assisting in the transporting of planes, but this is just a cover. In reality, they will be flying secret RAF combat missions into enemy territory.

Sisters Anna and Jennifer Nightingale are two of the early recruits into the Siren Squadron. They have grown up flying Tiger Moths as part of their father’s aerial display team, and now they need to get to grips with battle-ready Mosquitos.

Once trained, the Sirens are sent out on their first mission. But it soon becomes clear someone is sabotaging their aircraft.

Can the Nightingale sisters prove they deserve to fight alongside their male counterparts? Will they lead the way for women at war?

Or will the odds be too heavily stacked against them…?

Congratulations to Elizabeth Bailey, whose absorbing historical mystery, The Killing Cave, is published today!

The Killing Cave is the eleventh book in the Lady Fan Mystery series: traditional British detective novels set in eighteenth-century England.

1799, England

A family holiday to the seaside takes a dramatic turn when Lady Ottilia Fanshawe’s young son Luke accidentally stumbles on a body in a cave.

Lady Fan and her husband Francis quickly rush to the scene and find the corpse bound and blindfolded with a bullet hole in his head.

It appears the man was executed, and with smugglers well-known to operate in the area, the local sergeant suggests it was a quarrel amongst the reprobates.

But Ottilia is not so sure. The crime scene seemed staged, and the dead man too well dressed to be a common criminal.

There is nothing else for it. The Fanshawes must extend their stay on the Norfolk coast to allow Lady Fan to take the lead.

But with her health compromised, four young children to care for and a grumbling mother-in-law in tow, can Lady Fan summon up enough strength to unravel this mystery? Or will this be the case that finally forces her into retirement?

We are delighted to announce that we have signed a new series by Angelina Hill, which follows the fortunes of a female pirate across the high seas.

In Angelina’s words:

“I’m excited to introduce my new series Freedom’s Curse, about a woman who wants what men in 1605 take for granted — freedom.

“After ten years at sea on a merchant vessel, Augusta has almost perfected the art of sailing and passing as a man. But when the crew discovers her true gender, she’s abandoned at port and forced to join the deadliest profession — piracy. Aboard a new ship, posing as both a man and a pirate, she must discover who she is, what she wants most, and what she’s willing to sacrifice to get it.

“Along the way, Augusta is surprised to find a father figure in the captain, a lover in the first mate, and a friend in an Algerian courtesan — all while she strives to outwit and outfight her brother as he chases her across the world in an attempt to bring her back to where he believes she belongs: home.

“Sapere Books is the perfect home for my Freedom’s Curse series, and I look forward to working with the team. When I first met Amy Durant at the Historical Novel Society conference, she said she was looking for a historical nautical series with a strong female lead and a dash of romance. My jaw dropped, and I almost hugged her as I exclaimed, ‘You just described my series!’”

Congratulations to Raymond Wemmlinger, whose gripping Tudor saga, The Queen’s Rival, is out now!

England, 1553

As she is seventh in line to the throne, sixteen-year-old Lady Margaret Clifford knows her marriage should be an important one. Which is why she is shocked to learn her father has agreed to entertain a proposal from a mere knight.

Sir Andrew Dudley is a court favourite and joins the ranks of the Duke of Northumberland’s family who are attempting to secure politically advantageous marriages. His nephew, Guildford Dudley is recently married to Margaret’s cousin, Lady Jane Grey, and with the boy-king Edward VI failing to secure a marriage of his own and produce an heir, it is clear the Dudleys are plotting a path to the throne.

All is flung into turmoil when the king dies and the attempt to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne is foiled. Instead, Catholic Queen Mary takes the throne and Margaret is sent to court as one of her ladies-in-waiting.

With the Dudleys’ fall from grace, Margaret is relieved that Sir Andrew’s proposal is off the cards, though she is still keen to secure herself a match befitting her royal heritage.

But first she must win the favour of the new queen. And with Queen Mary fearing rivals to her throne, that is not an easy task…

Can Margaret steer clear of the political machinations at Court? Will she strengthen her ties to the English throne through marriage?

Following the success of his many historical series, including The Bailiff Mountsorrel Tudor Mysteries and The Medieval Saga Series, we are delighted to announce that we have signed a new series focusing on the Plantagenet dynasty by David Field.

In David’s words:

“It’s so good to be in a relationship with a publisher who likes what you write, and encourages you to write more of it. A marriage made in typescript, so to speak.

“Some years ago, Publishing Director Amy Durant liked my idea of viewing English history through the eyes of ordinary folk, beginning with the conquest of England by William of Normandy in 1066. This became The Medieval Saga Series, which followed the fortunes of several fictional families over two hundred years, ending with the death of Simon de Montfort in 1265.

“I had also written a Tudor series for Sapere that began with the life of Henry VII, who became king in 1485, and ended with the reign of Elizabeth I. As I looked wistfully at the remaining gap of over two hundred years, I couldn’t help wanting to write about that period. ‘Go for it’ was Amy’s response, and The Plantagenet Series was born. It will span from 1265 to 1485, and will involve later generations of the fictional family that readers first met in 1066. When completed, Sapere will have published a novel of mine featuring every English ruler from Harold Godwinson to Elizabeth I. That’s what I call an enduring marriage!”

Following the success of her Kit Scarlett Tudor Mysteries and Shadow Cutpurses Tudor Thriller Series, we are delighted to announce that we have signed a new series set in Shakespearean England by Adele Jordan.

In Adele’s words:

“It’s 1591 and the actor starring in a play by newcomer playwright, William Shakespeare, has just been murdered, shot with an arrow on stage in the middle of a performance. When suspicions fall on the woman in charge of makeup and wig-making, Blanche Winspear must fight to prove her innocence.

“In my new series, I delve into a part of Tudor England that has always fascinated me. At university, I studied the rise of Tudor theatre — both the buildings and the plays — and how they evolved into Jacobean theatre. There’s an enduring fascination for this period thanks to Shakespeare’s enigmatic success, but how much do we really know about what went on behind the stage? It struck me that there is the potential for so much to happen in these buildings that started out as inns and bear-baiting pits, before they took their first steps towards becoming the theatres we would recognise today.

“This new story will focus on Blanche and her grandmother Nell, two people running from their past who have come to hide in this dramatic world. There will be secrets, lies, and the world of Elizabethan theatre played out both on stage and behind. The royal court, known for its love of theatre, will appear too, and keep an eye out for intriguing real-life people who will become characters in this series

“I am delighted to sign this new series with Sapere Books. Having worked as a ghostwriter for some years, Sapere were kind enough to give me my first book deal in my own name and since then have supported me in pursuing historical crime fiction with women at the centre to root for. A huge thank you to the team for supporting me in my next series!”

Congratulations to Tony Rea, whose action-packed military adventure, Bouncer’s Butcherbird, is out now!

Bouncer’s Butcherbird is the third book in the Gus Beaumont Aviation Thrillers series: aviation novels set during the Second World War.

England, 1941

Recently returned from the Mediterranean theatre, fighter pilot Gus ‘Bouncer’ Beamont is promoted and offered a posting to a secret Special Operations Executive outfit that flies dangerous night missions over occupied France.

After training, Gus leads Polish SOE mission, Operation Lódź. But the operation is a disaster, as German troops were waiting for the agents to parachute in.

The Poles place the blame on London, insisting there is a traitor at large.

And when Gus’s plane is intercepted by German’s during another mission, he thinks they might be right.

To escape, Gus is forced to crash land in Occupied France where he is picked up members of the French Resistance.

But will they be able to get him to safety?

Who is tipping the Germans off? Is it someone high up in charge of special operations?

And can Gus survive long enough to find out…?

We are thrilled to announce that we have signed the first three books in Kristi Ross’ new Scottish Queens series.

In Kristi’s words:

“My new series brings to life the untold stories of Scotland’s Stuart queens. While the histories of queens in England, France, and much of Europe are well documented, these Scottish queens have been mainly forgotten — until now.

“In this series, readers will explore the compelling journey of Queen Joan Beaufort, niece of King Henry IV and cousin to King Henry V, who enters Scotland as the wife of King James Stuart I after he was held prisoner by her English family for eighteen years. Her tale is one of true love, resilience, and determination as she navigates her husband’s assassination, becoming the  first dowager queen of Scotland in over a hundred years.

“We also delve into the story of Queen Euphemia Ross, whose life begins as King Robert Bruce I’s ends. Her rise from noblewoman to queen consort is a testament to the position of pawn that high-ranking women played. As the second wife of King Robert Stuart II, Euphemia constantly defends her children’s succession rights against rivals and navigates the complex dynamics of her husband’s family. Readers will also meet her daughter-in-law, Queen Annabella, born into the powerful Drummond clan and niece to King David Bruce II’s second wife, Queen Margaret Drummond. Annabella takes the reins of the kingdom when her husband, King Robert Stuart III, is incapacitated, showcasing her leadership and strength in crisis.

“Working with Sapere Books is a perfect match, as their commitment to historical fiction and their passion for bringing forgotten stories to light resonates deeply with me. These women had little control over their destinies, yet their strength and adaptability are fascinating. It drives me to tell the world their stories so that their legacies are remembered.”

The third Sapere Books’ Writers’ Retreat took place at The Priest House Hotel, Castle Donington between the 28th and 31st of October this year.

Adele Jordan, author of the Kit Scarlett Tudor Mysteries and the Shadow Cutpurses Tudor Thriller Series, helped to organise a full programme over the four days.

In Adele’s words:

“For a lot of writers, it’s a solitary world. Whether you are struggling to complete your manuscript or are in love with your story and find it hard to step away, it can’t be denied that for many writers a lot of time is spent in a staring contest with your computer screen, and sometimes we need to step away from that screen.

“For the last three years, a group of authors from Sapere Books have come together to create their own writing retreat, and this year saw our biggest yet. Fourteen authors, who write across various historical genres, came together to talk about all things writing.

“From romance to crime, we plundered the depths — from the importance of accuracy in military fiction, to how we plan and approach clue-filled detective stories. What transpired was not only a shared enthusiasm for our craft, but the reassurance we sometimes need that we are not alone — that there are others out there with the same passion who are keen to inspire and be inspired themselves.

“This year, we had some special sessions led by writers in the group. Highlights included an insightful look into the editing process by Neil Denby, author of the Quintus Roman Thrillers Series, and a debate on the accurate use of poisons in fiction and the importance of research by Linda Stratmann, author of The Early Casebook of Sherlock Holmes Series.

“Amy Durant, Sapere Books’ Publishing Director, led a popular Q&A session with authors attending the retreat. We also covered what makes a good title, how to grab your reader’s attention from the very first line, the complications around weaving a narrative with more than one viewpoint, and a friendly critique session where people were invited to bring their own work for discussion.

“Following inspiring chats, some political debates, good food and a very comfortable bar, I was delighted to see so many of the writers come away with big smiles on their faces. Thank you to everyone who came this year and to Amy Durant too for sparing the time to talk to us. Here’s hoping next year’s Writers’ Retreat is not only just as good, but the biggest and best yet!”

Some comments from the attendees:

Ros Rendle, author of The Strong Family Historical Saga and the Moondreams House Romances: ‘Thanks to all attendees at the authors’ retreat week for making it so useful and fun. Particular thanks to Adele Jordan for all the organising, the excellent programme and for keeping us on track with such diplomacy.’

Michael Fowler, author of the DS Hunter Kerr Investigations and Dr Hamlet Mottrell Investigations: ‘[The retreat] has turned the plot of my next book completely around. And it was nice to catch up with colleagues from previous retreats, as well as meet up with new ones.’

Linda Stratmann, author of The Early Casebook of Sherlock Holmes Series: ‘The sessions really stimulated the little grey cells of the brain, and I got some insights which had me rushing off to do some writing!’

C V Chauhan, author of the Inspector Sharma Thrillers Series: ‘It was a fantastic four days! Thanks everyone and a big thank you to Adele for leading and managing the four days so well.’

Congratulations to Linda Stratmann, whose absorbing Victorian mystery, Sherlock Holmes and the Cabinet of Wonders, is out now!

Sherlock Holmes and the Cabinet of Wonders is the eighth novel in the Early Casebook of Sherlock Holmes series.

1878

Sherlock Holmes is in a slump of despair and self-doubt following his recent encounter with his brother Mycroft and his good friend Mr Stamford is determined to snap him out of it.

When Stamford hears of a new show being put on at the Egyptian Hall Theatre, he brings Holmes with him for a night of diversion.

But for Holmes, the outing leads to something much more stimulating…

A few days later, a corpse is found inside the cabinet used for one of the conjuror’s acts at the theatre, and at first it appears the death was accidental.

But Holmes soon realises it was the result of something more sinister. And lurking beneath the surface of the magician’s code of conduct is a murky world of false identities and professional jealousy.

There are secrets in the world of illusion that people would kill to keep hidden…

And if they are not careful, Holmes and Stamford could be the next targets…

Congratulations to Ava McKevitt, whose captivating mythical adventure, Nemesis of the Gods, is published today!

Nemesis of the Gods is the third book in the HERA Greek Myths Retold Series.

The Trojan War as you’ve never heard it before…

Since Homer first sang the songs of the Iliad and the Odyssey, the tale of the Trojan War has never been forgotten.

It is one of the most revered stories in the cosmos’s long and complicated history for humans and gods alike.

But there are details within Homer’s narratives are not yet known, and a new side to this age-old tale of love and glory.

That side is Queen Hera’s. Wife, mother, goddess; Hera’s role in Olympus is infamous, but her story has only been told by famous men. Never from her own mouth.

Hera’s tale is one of adventure, heroism, and glory but it doesn’t shy away from the heinous crimes committed by the heroes. And the faults and weaknesses of her brutal husband, Zeus.

She is ready to put the record straight once and for all…

We are delighted to announce that we have signed Anthony Palmiotti’s American Merchant Marine series set during World War II.

In Anthony’s words:

“Thank you, Sapere Books, for allowing my series to sail on.

“World War II was, perhaps, the most dangerous of all times for American Merchant Marines and British Merchant Navy seamen. Particularly in the early years, these civilian seamen had less chance of surviving the war than their comrades in the traditional military services. The series starts just as things are heating up when a young third mate, Patrick Welch, joins the tramp freighter Arrow. Throughout the first three books in the series, Patrick, and the crew of the Arrow, deal with Nazi U-boats, unforgiving weather and are part of a little-known rescue of Norwegian civilians from the far north.

“The goal of these novels is to highlight the contribution and sacrifice of these civilian warriors. And, of course, tell a good sea story!”

We are delighted to announce that we have signed the ‘Anne Boleyn Chronicles’ by Rozsa Gaston.

Rozsa is the author of the Anne of Brittany series — an enthralling historical series set during the French Renaissance.

In Rozsa’s words:

“My new series tells the tale of Anne Boleyn’s years abroad before joining Henry VIII’s Tudor court. Set in the years 1513–1522, the story begins in the Netherlands at Margaret of Austria’s Burgundian-Habsburg imperial court.

“We see Anne grow from girlhood to womanhood as one of Margaret’s eighteen maids of honour. Facing the challenges of cliques and envy, she navigates court life by learning to fit in even as she longs to stand out.

“We then follow Anne to France, where she serves first Mary Tudor, then French queen, Claude of France, and finally, the French king’s sister, Marguerite d’Angoulême.

“After six years in France, Anne attends the summit of the Field of the Cloth of Gold where she realises the advantages that might await her at the Tudor court as an Englishwoman with French sensibilities. The series culminates in Anne’s return to England in the first months of 1522, fully armed with Continental flair, Reformist ideals, and a drive for self-determination fuelled by the new learning of Renaissance humanism.

“I am delighted to work with Sapere Books, with their strong commitment to historical fiction and historical biography. The team comes highly recommended for their personal touch, and I look forward to working with them to bring to readers Anne Boleyn’s formative years in a series that both informs and entertains.”

Congratulations to Adele Jordan, whose captivating espionage adventure, Death At The Tower, is published today!

Death At The Tower is the second book in the Shadow Cutpurses Tudor Thriller Series: gripping adventures set during King Henry VIII’s reign in England with a strong female lead.

1536, London

Thief Gwynnie Wightham has a new master in Elric Tombstone. She may follow his word, but she has little loyalty for him, and there is even less friendship between them.

She has agreed to assist him to make sure he keeps his word to never go hunting for her mother. For if Emlyn is ever found, she will be tried not just for being a jewel thief, but for murder.

Tombstone’s task for Gwynnie is to investigate Captain Daundelyon, for there has been a tipoff that the Dandy Lyon, as he’s nicknamed, is a French spy, come to ingratiate himself with the king.

Gwynnie follows Captain Daundelyon around, noticing he’s a common thief, almost as skilled as her in her deception, but she finds no hint of his spy work.

But the Tudor court is cracking into factions – a great rift has swelled between King Henry and Queen Anne Boleyn, and what she does find is that Daundelyon’s presence is inextricably linked with Queen Anne’s downfall.

What is Daundelyon’s relationship to Anne Boleyn? Is he plotting against the king?

And can Gwynnie prove her worth and find a way to clear her mother’s name…?

Set in 1960s London, Simon Michael’s Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers follow a barrister with a tough past as he becomes embroiled in dangerous cases.

The first nine books in the series are already published, and we are delighted to announce that we have now signed up the tenth instalment.

In Simon’s words:

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be publishing my tenth Charles Holborne legal thriller with Sapere Books! When my previous publisher went bust four books into the series I feared my writing career had hit another brick wall, but Sapere were absolutely brilliant, offering to republish the first four books and continue with the series. Five years later, book 10 is taking shape. Regular readers will be aware that having worked throughout the 1960s, in Nothing But The Truth Charles’s nemeses, the Kray twins, were finally outwitted. Nonetheless, there are still plenty of evil men and topical social issues for Charles to confront. Thank you, Sapere!”

Congratulations to Isolde Martyn, whose enchanting medieval romance, The Lady of Mirascon, is out now!

1208

When cruel King John makes advances on her, young Adela de Whitchurch is forced to flee her comfortable position as hairbraider to the Queen of England.

After stowing away on a ship, Adela finds herself in France. Surviving on her wits and courage, she is soon accepted into the retinue of Lady Alys FitzPoyntz — a noblewoman who is on her way to meet her betrothed, Lord Ricart, Vicomte of Mirascon.

On the journey, disaster strikes when the party is attacked by brigands. As one of the only survivors, Adela decides to make her way to Mirascon to deliver Lady Alys’s jewels to Lord Ricart and throw herself on his mercy.

But when the vicomte mistakes Adela for his betrothed, she is swiftly pulled into a web of deception. With Mirascon threatened by the Pope’s brutal crusade against heretics, Lord Ricart is occupied with protecting his people, and Adela is unable to find an opportunity to tell him the truth.

And as she begins to fall for his charm and passion, she wonders whether she will ever summon the strength to leave his side…

Will Lord Ricart discover Adela’s true identity? Can he return her love?

Or will Adela’s deception cost her her life?

Congratulations to Patrick Larsimont, whose paranormal military thriller, The Brookwood Boys, is out now!

Surrey, England, 2019

Tennessee soldier Maurice ‘Mouse’ Forsyth has been watching over Brookwood Cemetery ever since his untimely death in 1917. For over a hundred lonely years, he has become the caretaker of lost souls, welcoming the good as well as the evil, the damaged, the mad and the bad.

But now something strange is happening. For the first time, Mouse seems to be able to communicate with the living. The head gardener’s teenage son, Luke, has seen him.

Overwhelmed, Mouse tries to find a way to communicate with him. But before he can, Luke’s friend Matilda – a sad girl who has often been seen alone in the graveyard – goes missing.

Mouse wants to help Luke, but he has never interfered with the world of the living before.

Leaning on the other spirits in the military cemetery, whose sad past lives are gradually revealed, Mouse is determined to find Matilda.

But the outcome may not be what he was hoping for…

Will Mouse find a way to speak to Luke? Can he help discover what happened to Matilda?

And will the Brookwood ghosts finally find peace?

Congratulations to Elizabeth Bailey, whose page-turning Gothic mystery, Nell, is out now!

Nell is the second book in the Governess Trilogy: heart-warming Regency romance novels with strong female leads.

1795, England

Nell Faraday has grown up at the Paddington Charitable Seminary for Indigent Young Ladies and now, like her two best friends Prudence and Kitty, she is ready to take up a position as a governess.

A star pupil, Nell prides herself on her common-sense and practicality. But when she arrives at Castle Jarrow, the imposing abode is enough to test even the steadiest of nerves, and the brooding man in charge of it is enough to test the firmest of hearts…

Lord Jarrow is a widower with a young daughter, Hetty, who Nell is to be in charge of, but it is soon clear that Nell’s job will not be an easy one.

Dark secrets lurk within the walls of the castle, secrets that could threaten the safety of its inhabitants.

Will Nell’s steadfastness keep her from fleeing? Can she earn the trust of Lord Jarrow?

And can she help free the castle from its curse…?

Bringing together more than four hundred writers — both onsite and online — the 2024 Historical Novel Society Conference took place at Dartington Hall, a medieval estate in Devon.

This year, the focus was historical fiction on film, TV and stage, but the conference also provided delegates with an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow writers and seek out advice for projects in progress.

Among those in attendance were five Sapere Books authors and our Publishing Director, Amy Durant.

Valerie Holmes, author of the Yorkshire Saga Series, reflects on the origins of the society and the conference. “Over two decades ago, I met Richard Lee at a Romantic Novelists’ Association conference. He told me about an idea he had, which led to the forming of a society to champion the historical novel. I happily signed up,” she says. “With dedication and effort, both the Historical Novel Society and the conference have gone on to achieve international success.

“This year, networking and catching up with lovers of historical fiction in the beautiful surroundings of Dartington Hall was truly amazing. I have seen Bernard Cornwell, an early supporter, give entertaining and inspiring talks over the years, and this year was no exception. With an impressive international supporting cast of speakers, attendees and volunteers, the 2024 conference was a triumph.”

C. F. Dunn, who writes medieval and Gothic fiction, enjoyed the accessibility and friendly atmosphere of the event. “The conference provided the perfect opportunity to get to know my editor, Amy, and to meet other Sapere authors in a relaxed and convivial environment,” she says. “It was also wonderful to connect with old friends and make new ones, and to talk with other historical writers from all around the world.”

Kate Robertson, who is working on a Tudor suspense series, valued the opportunity to meet like-minded history enthusiasts. “This was my third Historical Novel Society conference, but my first in the UK,” she says. “One of the things I love about every HNS conference is the time I get to spend with other historical novelists, catching each other up on our progress, roadblocks and research. It’s just such an easy entry — rather than going through the usual layers of questions you get when you’re a writer, I love meeting someone new and just starting with, ‘What time period do you write?’ and the conversation deepens from there. There are very few places where you can guarantee that others will ‘get you’ and understand your nerdiest tendencies!”

Jules Larimore, who is writing a series about the Capetian dynasty, was a panellist for the conference’s session on French historical dramas. “I delivered this session with two colleagues from France’s Splendid Centuries authors’ collaborative,” she says. “We were honoured to be among the presenters at this conference alongside keynote speakers, including Bernard Cornwell, Diana Gabaldon, Kate Quinn, and many others.

“The conference setting was quintessentially English, but our panel focused on stories set in France. While assembling all the aspects of the presentation was time-consuming, my interactions with other authors re-invigorated my enthusiasm for the craft of writing historical fiction.”

Amy Durant, Sapere Books’ Publishing Director was invited to attend to lead one-to-one pitch sessions with writers who were attending the conference and she is always impressed with the high calibre of submissions that are presented by members of the HNS. “I always come away from the HNS Conferences excited by the pitches I’ve heard and hopeful that I will be able sign at least one author to Sapere’s list. This time was no exception and hopefully we will have some exciting rights announcements to share soon.”

Christopher M. Cevasco, who is working on a series of Arthurian novels, is the programme chair for next year’s conference in Las Vegas. “I’m very excited about the theme of the 2025 conference, which will celebrate the many subgenres of historical fiction — from historical mysteries and romance to alternate history, military fiction, historical fantasy, and beyond,” he says. “As always, we’re planning a comprehensive, multi-track program with panels, talks, and networking opportunities that should appeal to new and established writers as well as to readers. There will also be a few new surprises in terms of session formats, all designed to explore the ways authors, agents, and editors craft, publish, and market historical fiction in its varied forms.”

All photos by Amy Durant.

We are thrilled to announce that we have signed three new instalments in the Tom Walsingham Mysteries Series by C.P. Giuliani.

The series follows the espionage adventures of Tom Walsingham during the Elizabethan era in Tudor England.

In C.P. Giuliani’s words:

“Tom Walsingham sleuths on! I’m thrilled to have signed up three more adventures featuring my Elizabethan detective and spy with Sapere Books. I have great plans for Tom. He will be tasked with recovering a misplaced foreign ambassador — whose mission could change the course of Anglo-Spanish relations; he’ll become involved in a personal investigation when death strikes at his family home, Scadbury Manor; and poor Tom will find himself in prison when his money troubles and Sir Francis Walsingham’s plans collide. Plenty of mysteries and dangers lie ahead for Tom!

“I’m really happy to be working with Sapere, whose welcoming and stimulating atmosphere and competent, friendly and helpful team have made (and are making) my publishing journey a truly lovely adventure.”

Congratulations to David Field, whose gripping historical mystery, To Kill A King, is out now!

To Kill A King is the fifth novel in the Bailiff Mountsorrel Tudor Mystery Series – private investigation crime novels set during the reign of Elizabeth I and beyond.

Nottingham, England, 1603

Queen Elizabeth’s long reign has finally come to an end and the Tudor era is over. Scottish King James has been handed the crown of England, but not everyone is happy about that, and there are several plots being hatched to replace him with an alternative.

Bailiff Edward Mountsorrel already has his hands full with an increase in destitute vagrants flooding the county, who seem to be victims of a human trafficker. But before he can find the man responsible, he is tasked by an official with royal authority to infiltrate a local group, who it is rumoured are plotting to assassinate the new king.

Edward enlists the help of fellow bailiff, Francis Barton to find the group, who are hiding out in Sherwood Forest.

But the only way to discover the plot is to place themselves right in the heart of the danger. And there’s a good chance they will be killed before they can save the king…

Who is leading the band of rebels? Can he be stopped?

And is there a connection between the treasonous plot and the desperate vagrants Edward is trying to assist…?

Following the success of his DS Hunter Kerr Investigations and Dr Hamlet Mottrell Investigations, we are delighted to announce that we have signed a new historical police procedural series by Michael Fowler.

In Michael’s words:

“My new series features Detective Winter Cooper of Scotland Yard and is set in the 1950s.

“Detective Cooper’s first case is based upon a real event, the Eastcastle Street robbery — Britain’s biggest cash-in-transit hold-up at the time. In May 1952, robbers used two cars to sandwich a Post Office van in London and escaped with mailbags containing £287,000 (estimated to be worth approximately £8,500,000 today). It was a case that shocked the nation and embarrassed the Government, with Prime Minister Winston Churchill demanding daily updates from the Police Commissioner. Despite the involvement of over a thousand police officers, and the offer of a £25,000 reward, no one was ever caught.

“This is my take on that case, and while it is a deviation from my contemporary novels, I hope readers will embrace Winter Cooper with the same enthusiasm that I have put into creating him and this new series.

“Working with Sapere Books again was an easy decision to make. Over the past five years, they have given me so much support as a writer and I cannot thank them enough. When I ran the idea of this new series past them, their backing was unflinching.”

Congratulations to Neil Denby, whose action-packed Roman adventure, Centurion, is published today!

Centurion is the fourth book in the Quintus Roman Thrillers series.

After wintering in Germania, Julius Quintus Quirinius is commanded to gather up the remains of his cohort and meet with General Drusus, who is marching with many legions west down the Rhine from the Alps.

But treacherous enemies and the fickle gods of the weather combine to slow them down. And a new force, led by a mysterious freedom fighter, is organising the local tribes against them.

Desertion plagues them and when the cohort commander is captured, Quintus and the other centurions have decisions to make.

They need to rescue their commander and destroy the fortress where he is being held, but they also need to lead the men to the Alpen passes that point to Rome and home.

Quintus has faith in his companions and knows they respect him in return. But he doesn’t want to test their loyalty by making an unpopular decision.

Can Quintus lead his cohort to victory – and their homeland?

Or will Rome once more remain beyond their reach…?

Congratulations to D. R. Bailey, whose exciting aviation adventure, Tip and Run, is out now!

Tip and Run is the sixth book in the Spitfire Mavericks Thrillers series: action-packed novels set during the second world war and featuring a team of vigilante pilots.

Winter, 1942

Flight Lieutenant Angus Mackennelly and his team of Mavericks are informed that a new kind of raid is being perpetrated by the Luftwaffe nicknamed a ‘Tip and Run’.

The planes arrive over the Channel, flying extremely low to avoid radar detection, drop bombs and make a quick getaway. These nuisance raids are designed to disrupt the allies and keep their defences on high alert.
Angus takes a trip to the site of the most recent bombing to see if he can discover more about it. And he makes an extraordinary find – a flat piece of stone with an Ace of Spades playing card attached. This was undoubtedly the calling card dropped by the pilot.
Angus is convinced that the same pilot will try again, and he makes it his personal mission to catch the ‘Ace Raider’.
So begins a deadly game of cat and mouse between the Mavericks and the Luftwaffe invaders.

Who will emerge victorious? Can Angus track down and defeat the raider?

Or will the German Ace lure the Mavericks to destruction…?

In this behind-the-scenes blog series, Sapere Books authors offer an intriguing insight into how, where and why they write.

Today, we are delighted to spotlight Valerie Holmes, author of the Yorkshire Saga Series.

Staring out of my study window I see a brick wall. Not a theoretical one that means I have writer’s block, which I do not actually believe in as a professional writer, but a literal brick wall.

This may not appear to be the most inspirational of vistas, but I am fine with it.

Inside my study I am surrounded by my writing workspace; my research books, my trusty printer and personal items that make me smile.

Centre stage is my lovely laptop with its two screens. One is usually displaying research sites and email tabs, the other Word documents — my current WIP.

The brick wall rarely gets a glance because, once my laptop is on, I dive into my inner vistas. The beautiful scenery of North Yorkshire’s open moorland and coastline with its sweeping bays and rugged headlands. These are the settings against which my romantic adventures play out. Hence the Yorkshire Saga Series and my many novellas.

It is a world I am familiar with because I grew up in a bay town on the northeast coast and have happy memories of running with my dog along the open expanses of fine sandy beach, climbing the dunes which were covered with needle-sharp marram grass.

The area is steeped in history, from the old abbeys and market towns to the beautiful city of York. I still return regularly to explore the area: the monk’s trods that cross the moorland, the fishermen’s cottages that line the harbours and the old inns of the bay towns such as Whitby, Staithes and Robin Hood’s Bay. Then there are the manor houses and halls, each with a story to tell — inspiration for my next adventure is found in all. The darker era of smuggling provides further scope to add drama and menace.

The beauty of having a laptop is that it is mobile. I have written in cafés, on trains, on picnic tables by the sea, and in hotels — but the real work, the editing, polishing and research, happens at my desk, ignoring the blank brick wall.

I have a flexible routine, writing every day. Life happens, events happen, but the one thing that is constant is the desire to write, which never goes away — or not yet — and I hope never will so long as readers enjoy my adventures.

What better motivation is there for an author to continue to write?

Congratulations to Laura Martin, whose gripping Regency murder mystery, The Dead Curate, is published today!

The Dead Curate is the fifth book in the Jane Austen Investigation series.

1798, Steventon, England

Mr Austen’s role as rector of Steventon church has meant that Jane and her sister Cassandra are well connected in the local community.

With Mr Austen indisposed, Jane and Cassandra walk to church to greet the curate, Mr Williamson, who will be leading the sermon in his place.

But when they arrive the church is locked and the parishioners are already milling around outside.

Already fearing something is amiss, Jane rushes home to find her father’s key and when she returns she makes a horrifying discovery.

At first the church appears to be empty, but a series of blood drops lead Jane up into the belfry.

And there she finds Mr Williamson, propped up with iron nails through his hands and feet.

The Austen sisters are used to investigating murders by now, but this one is too close to home…

Who would have a grudge against the unassuming curate? Why his body displayed in such a manner?

And are any other lives at risk in the sleepy village of Steventon?

Congratulations to Graham Brack, whose absorbing historical adventure, The Moers Murders, is out now!

The Moers Murders is the eighth historical murder investigation in the Master Mercurius Mystery series: atmospheric crime thrillers set in seventeenth-century Europe.

1688, The Netherlands

Master Mercurius has just settled back into his life as a lecturer at the University of Leiden when he is once again summoned by the Stadhouder, William of Orange.

A message from William is never good news, but he is not a man you can say no to.

So Mercurius finds himself once again uprooted and at the centre of dangerous political plot.

William has decided it is time to expand his empire and launch an attack on his nemesis, the French King Louis XIV. And to keep the element of surprise on his side he has decided to march through Germany.

To keep the Germans from blocking him, William has decided to make use of Moers, the German stronghold he inherited which he is allowed to occupy and arm. But he needs someone in control there.

And that is how Mercurius finds himself as the newly appointed Governor of Moers.

William has promised that Mercurius will be executed if the secret plan is discovered, so can the Master keep it under wraps? Or will he be facing the hangman’s noose…?

 Linda Stratmann is the author of the Mina Scarletti Mysteries and the Early Casebook of Sherlock Holmes series.

One of the great joys of historical research is discovering untold and fascinating true stories. This is one I found during my reading for Sherlock Holmes and the Cabinet of Wonders, which inspired part of the plot.

On 8 January 1878 an unusual statement was printed on the front page of The Scotsman newspaper. The title was ‘YORICK — WHAT IS IT?’ and the author, announcing ‘challenge accepted’, was one of the most accomplished and famous magicians of his day. John Nevil Maskelyne was a mechanical genius, the constructor of a whist-playing automaton called Psycho. He was the lessee of the Egyptian Hall theatre in Piccadilly, known as ‘England’s Home of Mystery’, where he performed illusions and debunked spirit mediums. He was also, judging by the tone of the piece in The Scotsman, extremely annoyed. His ire was aimed at two men: William Alexander, under whose management a rival of Psycho called Yorick was being exhibited, and the conjuror Boz who took the stage.

After briefly holding the licence of the York Hotel in Weston-super-Mare, Alexander had decided on a new career, promoting conjurors and illusionists. It is not known what previous experience he might have had, but he brought to his profession the ability to manufacture glowing endorsements, shameless theft of other men’s material, and a complete ignorance of the laws of libel.

‘Boz’ was born William Arthur Weston, in Brighton, in 1847. His father was a gunsmith and his mother a dyer. In common with many youthful enthusiasts of the art of conjuring, he had become fascinated with the American Davenport Brothers who toured England in 1864-5, bringing with them a miraculous cabinet. When the brothers were securely tied in the cabinet, all kinds of manifestations were produced, both musical and visual, which many onlookers believed to be the work of spirits. Weston, convinced that their act was trickery, determined to work out how it was done. He chanced to meet George William Buck, a skilled and successful professional conjurer born in 1836, who worked under the name Herr Dobler. The two discovered a mutual interest and pooled their information. After collaborating to perform an exposé of the Davenports’ methods, Dobler hired Weston as his assistant, and they went on tour. In 1866, however, Weston’s father died, and he was obliged to return to Brighton and the trade of dyeing. The flame of ambition still burned, and Weston hoped for an opportunity to take to the stage again.

This eventually came about when he met William Alexander, who by 1875 was managing the career of Herr Dobler. Coincidentally, Alexander had just spotted a new money-spinner, and all he needed was a man with some stage experience who could play a part and was happy to comply with his unusual promotional methods. He terminated his arrangement with Dobler and engaged Weston, who was now advertised as ‘Boz’.

Before long, posters were appearing under the heading ‘Alexander’s Sensations’, advertising Boz and the astonishing Yorick, a whist-playing automaton. The glowing reviews of this extraordinary device were probably written either by Alexander or Weston. Herr Dobler was especially shocked to see that the advertisements were using his playbills and lithographs and were posted in towns where he was appearing. Worse still, Weston was now claiming that he alone had devised the method of exposing the Davenports, and taught it to Dobler, who had been profiting ever since from his work. When Dobler objected, he was accused of being an impostor, taking the name and reputation of another man, a conjuror named Ludwig Dobler who had died in 1864.

Dobler sued both Alexander and Weston for libel and they made a counterclaim against him. The case came before the Bristol assizes in July 1877, where Dobler’s counsel pointed out that English conjurors often performed under foreign names to enhance their attractiveness, ‘for foreigners were supposed to be more clever than English people.’ The case was stopped with the agreement that the imputations would be withdrawn on both sides, and the offensive advertisements not repeated.

Boz and Alexander had suffered little from this spat. They continued their career as before, the advertisements and reviews becoming even more exuberant, the claims more fantastical, and the audiences larger. Their confidence was misplaced, since they had reckoned without John Nevil Maskelyne.

Maskelyne, born in 1839, had been apprenticed to a watchmaker. He became fascinated by stage illusions and seances when he was asked to repair a mysterious mechanical device. The owner was unusually coy about describing its function, and Maskelyne realised that it was used by mediums to fake spirit rapping. After he and his friend George Cooke successfully replicated the Davenport Brothers’ act without the aid of spirits, they commenced a career as conjurers and illusionists and first appeared at the Egyptian Hall in 1873.

Maskelyne had spent more than two years devising and assembling his whist-playing automaton Psycho, the workings of which were a closely guarded secret. He was therefore highly displeased to see Alexander’s advertisements claiming that the young pretender Yorick, which as illustrated on a handbill appeared identical to Psycho, was superior in both construction and operation. However, he had strong suspicions that Yorick, whatever wonders it might perform, was not an automaton.

Yorick and Boz had commenced their glittering career early in 1877 at Weston-super-Mare. Yorick, billed as ‘the most perfect automatic clairvoyant in the world’ was said not only to play whist but also perform mental arithmetic, read, write and spell. It could even, so it was claimed, submit to the test of a naked sword being passed through its body in four distinct places, and being taken to pieces in full view of the audience. There is no evidence that these tests were ever applied.

Yorick moved on to Bristol, the advertisements now boldly claiming that Psycho had been superseded. The tour was in full flow, with bookings pouring in: Liverpool, Manchester and Leicester were to follow.

It was during the Edinburgh appearances in December 1877 that Maskelyne’s patience expired. He and Cooke published newspaper announcements cautioning the public against a ‘gross imposition’ by conjurors exhibiting ‘a trick consisting of a child concealed in an Octagon Box about 24 inches wide and 12 inches deep upon which the bust of a figure is placed’. It was the child, not machinery, that caused the figure to move. Maskelyne did not mind sincere imitations but objected to crude copies said to be superior to Psycho, in an attempt to injure his hard-earned reputation.  At the Egyptian Hall, members of the audience were invited to come up onto the stage and examine the interior of Psycho and the box on which it sat, but, he said, the exhibitors of ‘spurious imitations’ could allow no-one to examine theirs.

On 4 January, The Scotsman published Alexander’s response. He claimed that audience members were permitted to examine Yorick, which he insisted was a genuine automaton on the same principle as Psycho. He challenged Maskelyne and Cooke, who he now alleged were simply the exhibitors of a figure made by another man named Clark [sic], to disprove his claims. The wager was worth £100, the loser to hand this sum to the Edinburgh Infirmary.

Maskelyne eagerly accepted the challenge in his statement of 8 January. He had always acknowledged that a friend of his called Clarke had assisted with the theory and early development of Psycho, but he alone had built the mechanism. Crucially, he now revealed the whole of Yorick’s secret. For the last two years, copies of Psycho had been made and sold in London. Although claimed to be genuine automata, they were designed so that their movements could be controlled by a child concealed in the apparatus. Mr Alexander had purchased one and engaged a little boy to work it, and Mr Weston, as Boz, to present it to the public. It was then advertised as the most wonderful automaton in the world, costing £1,000 to construct. During the performance, Boz told his audience that Yorick operated on the same principle as Psycho but was superior. He even claimed that he was the inventor and Mr Maskelyne the imitator.

Maskelyne now issued a devastating counterchallenge. He proposed to send a representative to Edinburgh who would spare no labour or expense to prove that he had just cause for his caution to the public. He offered to place £200 with a committee of Edinburgh gentlemen, to be paid to the infirmary if his statement was shown to be untrue. If it was true, then Mr Alexander was to pay £100 to the infirmary. The loser of the wager was to pay all the expenses of obtaining the evidence and advertising the result in The Scotsman.

William Alexander now knew that the man he had taunted was willing to do everything in his considerable power to defend his reputation. Maskelyne repeated his challenge, which was never accepted.

Alexander continued to expand his operation. He obtained a second figure worked by a child, which he presented as the original Yorick. In February 1878 he had a new sensation to announce. Extraordinarily, he had partnered again with Herr Dobler — the same man who had previously sued him for libel — who would be appearing with a marvellous automaton, similar to Psycho, dressed as a king and called Rex. This association did not last long. Dobler returned to his former act and sued Alexander for unpaid wages.

The performances of Boz and Yorick continued, the advertisements now carefully avoiding libel, but the secret was out, and bookings dried up before the end of 1878.

The magical career of Arthur Weston was in decline. On 1 April 1880, in Dunfermline where he had an engagement as ‘Signor Boz’, he was found dead in his lodgings. He had tied a piece of wetted silk (variously described as a handkerchief or a cravat) about his neck, and twisted it tightly with a poker, thus garrotting himself, a highly unusual form of suicide. He was thirty-three years of age and left a widow and two children.

Herr Dobler continued to perform as a popular and respected conjuror. He died in 1904. William Alexander remains an obscure figure. It is to be hoped that he decided to abandon his dubious career as a promoter of talent.

 

Sources

Family records on Ancestry.co.uk

White Magic: The Story of Maskelynes by Jasper Maskelyne

Newspaper reports and advertisements, principally The Scotsman and the Era*.

Also the Western Daily Press and Glasgow Evening Citizen.

*Regarding the Era’s report of the libel trial, on Sunday, 5 August 1877 p. 4, titled ‘Rival Conjurers’. Some statements are untrue, when checked against other records. Weston’s father was not a dyer but a journeyman gunsmith and William Alexander was licensee of the York Hotel under that name.

Published thirty years after his death, distinguished Royal Navy escort commander Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Gretton provides an authoritative history of the Battle of the Atlantic. Combining Sir Peter’s expert analysis of the records with his own experience of the war, The Battle of the Atlantic takes the reader to the heart of the action. Subjects range from merchant shipping and the role of Operational Research to the contribution of the Royal Canadian Navy and the strategies employed by the convoys to defeat the ‘wolf pack’ system of attack by the U-boats.

Sir Peter’s son, Vice-Admiral Mike Gretton, explains how the book came to be published:

“My father, the late Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Gretton, drafted a book about the Battle of the Atlantic in the early 1980s, when he was in his seventies and in declining health. The draft book was complete but unedited and with no publisher, and only a few of the planned appendices were completed. In the 1990s — after my father’s death — all his papers were donated to the National Maritime Museum (NMM) for archiving.

“In 2021, I visited the NMM Caird Library and Archive for a separate but related search: my memory — and that of my brother-in-law, General Sir Sam Cowan — is that my father told me of spending some fascinating days at the home of Admiral Karl Dönitz after the latter had been released from prison for war crimes. He had been Head of the German submarine arm, Commander-in-Chief of the Kriegsmarine and — for a short time — Führer after the death of Hitler. Knowing my father’s practices he would surely have kept a note of the visit, and I hoped it might be in the papers. My search of the NMM archives was fruitless, but there was reference to a meeting with Dönitz’s Chief of Staff, Admiral Godt.

“During that visit Librarian Penny Allen pointed out to me that the archives contained the typescript of a draft book by my father about the Battle of the Atlantic, accompanied by a large collection of correspondence and documents relating to the book. A brief skim, and a detailed read of my father’s conclusions, indicated to me that a draft should be available to a wider readership as well as naval history researchers who might visit the NMM archives. This feeling was reinforced strongly by the encouragement of Professor Andrew Lambert, Laughton Professor of Naval History in the Department of War Studies at King’s College. With the NMM, I set about obtaining a version that could be edited, so that it is accessible to a contemporary readership without in any way changing the facts or judgements expressed by my father.

“This version of my father’s draft book is hereby published for everyone to enjoy and learn from. I am indebted to Professor Marc Milner for his advice and comments in his Afterword covering contributions to the history of the war against Allied shipping (1939–45) since the early 1980s when my father wrote his book.”

Also by Sir Peter Gretton:

Former Naval Person

Crisis Convoy

Convoy Escort Commander

Alistair Forrest is the author of the action-packed Roman adventures Sea of Flames, Libertas and Vipers of Rome. He is currently working on a new series, The Britannia Conspiracy, set in the period during Caesar’s invasion of Gaul.

Every year I climb into old jeans, don an Indiana Jones-style hat, and dash a hundred yards down the road to assist in an archaeological dig.

I live on the island of Alderney, which just happens to have an ancient Iron Age settlement, on top of which is a Roman village. Next to this is one of Europe’s best-preserved Roman forts, which was built to protect trade routes between Europe and Britain.

I’ve got to know both of the lead archaeologists — Dr Phil de Jersey and Dr Jason Monaghan — and confess that I’d like to know what they know, as long as it fits my ideas for a new historical fiction series.

So far I’ve struck lucky.

We know for sure that Iron Age folk lived and loved on this tiny island a few miles off the Normandy coast. We’ve found the skeletons, complete with bronze torcs and jewellery.

Our team, Dig Alderney, is bent (both literally and figuratively) on scraping away aeons of history to find the story behind these settlements. And at every layer we have been able to confirm that the Romans first came to this Channel Island in around 56 or 55BC when Julius Caesar was conquering Gaul and had set his sights on Britain, just across the English Channel.

Later, the Romans built a fort which has stood intact since the 4th century. Sadly, the huge central tower has long gone, its stonework no doubt used  to build medieval houses in the vicinity, and part of the south wall tumbled onto my local beach who knows when, where its parts can still be seen to this day.

The area is crowded with archaeological features. Some relate to German activity (Alderney was occupied during the Second World War) or Victorian fortifications inside and around the fort. Modern roads partly conceal what we know is an Iron Age cemetery discovered in 2019.

Two skeletons were discovered back then. That’s when I got involved after arriving on the island to write, and I was given backroom jobs like pot-washing, shovelling and making sandwiches. Just to be there was a privilege!

This is now a long-term project to learn more about the Roman and Iron Age settlement on Longis Common, a few yards from my home. How extensive is the Iron Age cemetery, and where was the village in which these people lived?

We hope to discover how far the Roman buildings extend, and if this was the site of an earlier Roman fort that predated the 4th century one, or the vicus municipal administration settlement that grew up close to a fort, or a purely civilian village?

Of course, I already know the answers because they’re in my head, as you would expect from an adventurous historical fiction author.

I know I’m on to a winner. Take this exuberant comment by Dr Monaghan: “Finds include pottery, metalwork, glass, building materials, human bones and food remains including animal bones. The finds need to uncover more about the people who lived and were buried there. We want to learn about their lifestyle and how ancient Alderney was connected to the wider world.”

I’d call it making the facts fit a good story, and I’m already well into book two of The Britannia Conspiracy series. This series begins with coded messages from Julius Caesar to attend a secret conference on this island to plan his expeditions to Britain.

Should it be a full-on invasion, or a trade expedition? Either way, he’s in for some surprises, especially as far as the local Celts are concerned!

 

Congratulations to David Field, whose twisty Elizabethan mystery, The Clamorous Dead, is published today!

The Clamorous Dead is the fourth historical thriller in the Bailiff Mountsorrel Tudor Mystery Series – private investigation crime novels set during the reign of Elizabeth I and beyond.

Nottingham, England, 1596

A routine hanging at Gallows Hill is disrupted when a wild woman begins screaming a curse on the execution site, calling down nightly visitations from the undead to claim the souls of the living.

County Bailiff Edward Mountsorrel attempts to pursue her, but she vanishes into thin air.

Nightly thereafter, Gallows Hill is the scene of ghastly happenings that Edward is ordered to investigate. Rumours of witchcraft infiltrate the county and the bailiff is sent to arrest a local woman, suspected of devilry.

Edward finds her and realises she is merely a wise woman with ancient knowledge of herbs and medicine and with no ill intent. He decides to hide her to keep her safe from those calling for blood.

But his efforts are complicated by the arrival of a professional witch-hunter from Scotland, who is scouring the length and breadth of England in a blood-thirsty mission to destroy any woman, man or child found guilty of sorcery.

As mass hysteria and prejudice threaten to engulf the country, can Edward bring justice to his county, while still keeping his morals intact? Or will innocent women be thrown to the wolves…?

Congratulations to Ava McKevitt, whose absorbing historical adventure, A Goddess Scorned, is out now!

A Goddess Scorned is the second book in the HERA Greek Myths Retold Series.

The Queen is back … and she’s out for revenge…

The Goddess Hera, Queen of Olympos, has endured thousands of years of lies being spread about her. And now she is ready to set the record straight.

The Muses were employed by Hera’s brother-husband Zeus to craft a narrative that makes him a hero – and makes Hera a deceiver and a harlot.

But Queen Hera is sick of history favouring controlling men and demeaning the women suffering beside them.

As the patron goddess of women, marriage, and motherhood, it is Hera alone who can set the record straight and redeem her reputation – and the reputation of many women like her – from the slander that has so far been spread.

What really happened under Zeus’s rule? What part did Hera play?

And how did she really feel about the great King of the Gods…?

In this behind-the-scenes blog series, Sapere Books authors offer an intriguing insight into how, where and why they write.

Today, we are delighted to spotlight Patrick Larsimont, author of the Jox McNabb Aviation Thrillers.

My writing has two modes, much like the clock, British Summer Time and Greenwich Mean Time. Living by the sea in Dorset, the weather rather sets the mood and often my productivity.

In the winter, when it’s darker, I get up early and write directly onto my computer.  Earlier this year, I acquired two largish monitors, which I have side by side on a stand, below which I have my MacBook Pro. My desk is invariably covered in paper, notebooks and little bibelots that keep me interested, amused and inspired.

When I glance at the nearby window ledge, I see a toy metal Spitfire in desert camo with a spinning propellor, and a pair of painted tin soldiers (not by me), one a bagpiper in full regalia, the other a 1940s RAF pilot, inscribed on the bottom as ‘Hurricane Ace, Battle of Britain.’ Finally, there’s my grandfather’s little silver boar, a memento of his own service during the war. It bears the motto, ‘Résiste et Mords,’ which got him through many battles and the camps. He’s gone now, but just seeing that pig always rids me of any writer’s block, knowing full well that I’ve had it much easier than him.

In winter mode, I stare at a radiator and the world comes to me through my monitors, making me feel like some sort of chaotic air traffic controller. Heaven help the pilots in my care, although old Jox McNabb is holding his own. I generally aim for twelve hundred words a day and have a weekly target of at least five thousand. It’s a cadence I can manage and feeds my nature as an impatient man.

In the summertime, the process becomes two-staged. I write first in my notebook, in terrible doctor-style handwriting, sometimes so awful I can’t even decipher my own hieroglyphics. I can write anywhere — on the beach, at a coffeeshop (rarely) or in our garden (most often), and train journeys are good too. I don’t get too comfortable and like to just write, setting myself the target of twelve notebook pages per session. I then type up, embellish and edit whenever I fancy. Generally, I do about four drafts, plotting out a rough chapter breakdown at first, with two or three sentences for each. Invariably, that synopsis changes, with chapters budding off like yeast.

For inspiration, I depend on the internet and my constantly growing pile of to-be-read books, but often I just make stuff up. A lifetime of blagging it helps. When working on the laptop and monitors, the lure of ‘rabbit holes’ is great, and I can disappear for hours, but when grinding through with the notebook, I try to avoid that, although I do usually have my smartphone in my pocket.

If I did have a writing approach, it would probably be something like Nike’s ‘Just Do It’ (that’s the old adman in me), but ‘Résiste et Mords’ would probably do too.