Ann Maxwell Book order

A mesmerizing World War II mystery about a Londoner who flees the city to write a novel and finds a truth stranger than fiction. England, 1940. Literature student Ruth Gladstone evacuates Cambridge University for Martynsborough, a tiny English village with a shadowy history. For Ruth, retreating to a forgotten corner of the country is more than a safety maneuver; it's an opportunity to end an undesirable engagement and begin writing her first novel. But upon her arrival, Ruth learns of a ghostly wraith haunting the villagers after decades of silence. Although Ruth is enthralled by the legend, the locals are less charmed by the wraith's return. They blame the evacuees--and among them, Ruth--for stirring up restless spirits. Undeterred, Ruth joins forces with Malcolm, an injured soldier, to unravel the mystery of the wraith. As Ruth and Malcolm draw closer to the truth, they'll unearth long-buried secrets that could threaten them both...even as they craft a forbidden love story of their own.

Set against a backdrop of murder and mystery, this captivating tale intertwines suspense with unexpected romance. The story unfolds through engaging characters who navigate danger and intrigue, revealing emotional depths and connections. Renowned New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Lowell crafts a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats while exploring the complexities of love amidst peril.

Sara Medina, an art consultant, navigates the glamorous world of international art procurement, far removed from her family's dairy farm. Despite her success and determination to never return to her rural roots, the allure of her new client, Jay Vermilion, challenges her resolve. As she grapples with her past and present, Sara must confront her feelings and the possibility of reconnecting with her origins.

On 17 December 2007, 13-year-old Alby Dobinson left his home to make his daily journey to school. Later that day, during his return journey, something happened that would change his life forever. This story charts the remarkable journey undertaken by Alby and those closest to him. Life is always a mixture of good times and bad, laughter and sadness, and Alby’s story reflects this rainbow of human emotion, from suffering to euphoria. As a biography, written in the style of a novel, this book details years of rehabilitation as family members recount their own experiences with humour, regret and acceptance, plumbing the depths of despair and soaring to the heights of joy. The Daily Mail headline “The boy who wouldn’t die” was detested by Alby’s family. However, a small change to it illustrated Alby’s determination. He did not travel his road alone but was accompanied by his mother and stepfather, Lisa and Mark; his younger brother, Jimmy; and his grandparents. What happened to Alby had a profound effect on them all and each has their own special story, including the amusing tale of how Lisa and Mark met and the response to Mark’s declaration that he would run the London Marathon: “You’ve never done more than run for a bus!” This is a story that will amaze and inspire. It is tinged with sadness but the overwhelming message is one of courage and the triumph of one very determined young man and his family.

Every writer has a story. Some are deadlier than others. Aspiring author Graye Templeton will do anything to escape the horrific childhood crime that haunts her. After a life lived in shadows, she's accepted a new job as protégé to Laura West, influential book blogger and wife of an acclaimed novelist. Laura's connections could make Graye's publishing dreams a reality. But there's more to Laura than meets the eye. Behind the veneer of a charmed life, Laura's marriage is collapsing. Her once-lauded husband is descending into alcoholism and ruin and bringing Laura nearer to the edge. As the two women form a bond that seems meant to be, long-buried secrets claw their way into the present, and the line between friendship and obsession begins to blur, forcing each to decide where her loyalties lie. Running from the past is a dangerous game, and the loser could end up dead.

From Eliza Maxwell, the bestselling author of The Unremembered Girl, comes a gripping novel about the mysteries that haunt us and the twists of fate that can unravel them... Living in the shadow of a decades-old crime that stole his children from him, reclusive Lars Jorgensen is an unlikely savior. But when a stranger walks onto the ice of a frozen Minnesota lake, her intentions are brutally clear, and the old man isn't about to let her follow through. Jenna Shaw didn't ask for Lars's help, nor does she want it. After he pulls her from the brink, however, Jenna finds her desire to give up challenged by their unlikely friendship. In Jenna, Lars recognizes his last chance for redemption. And in her quest to solve the mysteries of Lars's past and bring him closure, Jenna may find the way out of her own darkness. But the truth that waits threatens to shatter it all. When secrets are surrendered and lies are laid bare, Jenna and Lars may find that accepting the past isn't their greatest challenge. Can they afford the heartbreaking price of forgiveness?

"In the deep woods of East Texas, Henry supports his family by selling bootleg liquor. It's all he can do to keep his compassionate but ailing mother and his stepfather--a fanatical grassroots minister with a bruising rhetoric--from ruin. But they have no idea they've become the obsession of the girl in the woods. Abandoned and nearly feral, Eve has been watching them, seduced by the notion of family--something she's known only in the most brutal sense. Soon she can't resist the temptation to get close"--Back cover.

"Endless questions from a shadow-filled East Texas childhood haunt Hadley Dixon. People said her mother Winnie was never quite right, but with one single, irreparable act, life as Hadley knew it was shattered. The aftershocks of that moonlit night left her reeling, but the secrets and lies had started long before. When a widowed and pregnant Hadley returns years later, it's not the safe harbor she expects"--Back cover.

Originally published: Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1962.