Jana Kunová Books

On a cold December morning, Detective Kim Stone arrives at Halesowen Police Station to meet her new team, unaware that a young man's killer is already at large. The victim is discovered beheaded and staked in a remote woodland area, prompting Kim and her squad to rush to the scene. A search of the victim's home reveals a little girl's bedroom and a hidden laptop, raising urgent questions about the child's whereabouts and the sister's unsettling relief over her brother's death. As Kim delves deeper, she uncovers shocking truths, including a connection to a recent murder involving a man found stabbed beneath Redland Hall. Both victims share dark secrets linked to a women's shelter, which could hold the key to solving the case. Having grown up in the care system, Kim understands vulnerability all too well. With the killer poised to strike again, she faces the challenge of leading a rookie squad. Inexperienced Stacey shows potential but struggles with pressure, while D.S. Bryant remains steady, and D.S. Dawson's personal turmoil threatens the team's cohesion. Kim must rein in Dawson's volatility and unite her crew to catch the killer before another life is lost, knowing that one of her own could be in grave danger.

When teenager Sadie Winter jumps from the roof of her school, her death is ruled as suicide - a final devastating act from a troubled girl. But then the broken body of a young boy is discovered at the same school and it's clear to Detective Kim Stone that these deaths are not tragic accidents

When the lifeless body of a man is found on an industrial estate, Detective Kim Stone arrives on the scene and discovers he's been tortured in the worst way imaginable. But as she breaks the devastating news to the victim's wife, Diane Phipps, Kim can't help feeling that something isn't quite right about the woman's reaction. Twenty-four hours later, the victims family disappears into thin air. Then a second body is found staked to the ground in a local nature reserve. Desperate to crack the case open quickly, Kim and her team unravel a vital clue -- a fiercely guarded secret that links both victims and could cost even more lives. A secret that some police officers are also protecting. Faced with deceit from those she should be able to trust, family members who won't talk, and local reporter Tracy Frost opening a can of worms on the case of a woman murdered by her husband a year ago -- Kim is in deep water like never before. Kim must find the motive if she is to find the killer who is systematically targeting and torturing his victims. But can she unlock the shocking truth and stop him before he strikes again?

"When Detective Kim Stone is called to the home of Samantha Brown, she finds the young woman lying in bed with her throat cut and a knife in her hand. With no sign of forced entry or struggle, Kim rules her death a tragic suicide. But a visit to Samantha's parents rings alarm bells for Kim - there's something they're not telling her. And, when she spots a clue in a photograph, Kim realises she's made a huge mistake. Samantha didn't take her own life, she was murdered. Then a young man's body is found in a local lake with his throat cut and Kim makes a link between the victim and Samantha. They both spent time at Unity Farm, a retreat for people seeking an alternative way of life.Beneath the retreat's cosy façade, Kim and her team uncover a sinister community preying on the emotionally vulnerable.Sending one of her own undercover into Unity Farm is high risk but it's Kim's only hope if she is to catch a killer - someone Kim is convinced the victims knew and trusted. With Bryant distracted by the emergence of a harrowing case close to his heart, and an undercover officer in way over her head, Kim's neck is on the line like never before. Can she protect those closest to her before another life is taken?"--Publisher description

Eeeny meeny, miney, moe. Who lives, who dies only I know. When the body of a doctor is discovered brutally murdered in local woodland, Detective Kim Stone is shocked to discover the victim is Gordon Cordell – a man linked to a previous case she worked on involving the death of a young school girl. Gordon has a chequered past, but who would want him dead? As the investigation gets underway, Gordon’s son is involved in a horrific car crash which leaves him fighting for his life. Kim's sure this was no accident. Then the body of a woman is found dead in suspicious circumstances and Kim makes a disturbing link between the victims and Russells Hall Hospital. The same hospital where Gordon worked. With Kim and her team still grieving the loss of one of their own, they’re at their weakest and facing one of the most dangerous serial killers they’ve ever encountered. Everything is on the line. Can Kim keep her squad together and find the killer before he claims his next victim? The killer is picking off his victims at a terrifying pace, and he’s not finished yet.

On an August afternoon, eight-year-old Grace Lennard disappears from her childcare centre. Meanwhile, Steven Harte confesses at a police station, claiming he has information about Melody Jones, a girl abducted from a playground twenty-five years earlier. Detective Kim Stone finds Steven's confession suspicious and initially dismisses it. However, upon investigating Grace's disappearance, she uncovers a chilling piece of evidence: Melody's heart bracelet. To find Grace alive, Kim must engage in Steven's twisted game, but on her terms. With only twenty-four hours to interrogate him, Kim and her team connect Steven to the abduction of several vulnerable girls, two of whom were released unharmed after a year. As they dig deeper, small bones are found in a local park, raising fears for Grace's safety. While Kim is close to convicting a killer, she faces a personal threat from Dr. Alex Thorne, a dangerous woman Kim previously imprisoned. Alex is poised to reveal a shocking secret that could undermine Kim's focus and jeopardize her mission to save Grace and the other missing girls. Time is running out, and Kim must navigate this perilous situation carefully.

"In a busy shopping centre, a little girl clutches a teddy bear, clinging to it in the absence of her mother, Katrina. Hours later, Katrina's body is discovered in an abandoned building. For Detective Kim Stone, it looks like a quick, functional murder. But Kim's instincts tell her there's more to this senseless murder than meets the eye. What was the motive for killing a young mother out shopping with her child? Days later, a second victim is found in a local park, her neck broken just like Katrina's and her six-year-old son missing. But with her colleague, Detective Stacey Wood, working on another unsolved crime and a member of the team grieving the loss of a close relative, Kim is struggling to make inroads on what is fast becoming a complex case. And when a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim's desk addressed to her, and pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive. With the support of a handwriting analyst and profiler, Kim and the team begin to get inside the mind of the killer and make a shocking discovery. Some of the victims have scratch marks on their wrists. But these are no random scratches. The killer is using them to communicate with someone. The question is ... with whom?"--Provided by publisher

"On the fourth floor of Chaucer House, two teenagers are found chained to a radiator. The boy is dead but the girl is alive. For Detective Kim Stone every detail of the scene mirrors her own terrifying experience with her brother Mikey, when they lived in the same tower block thirty years ago. When the bodies of a middle-aged couple are discovered in a burnt-out car, Kim can't ignore the chilling similarity to the deaths of Erica and Keith - the only loving parents Kim had ever known. Faced with a killer who is recreating traumatic events from her past, Kim must face the brutal truth that someone wants to hurt her in the worst way possible. Desperate to stay on the case, she is forced to work with profiler Alison Lowe who has been called in to observe and monitor Kim's behaviour. Kim has spent years catching dangerous criminals and protecting the innocent. But with a killer firmly fixed on destroying Kim, can she solve this complex case and save her own life or will she become the final victim?"--Publisher's description

The murder of a young prostitute and a baby found abandoned on the same winter night signals the start of a disturbing investigation for Detective Kim Stone - one which brings her face to face with someone from her own horrific childhood.

The truth was dead and buried until now. When a collection of human bones is unearthed during a routine archaeological dig, a Black Country field suddenly becomes a complex crime scene for Detective Kim Stone. As the bones are sorted, it becomes clear that the grave contains more than one victim. The bodies hint at unimaginable horror, bearing the markings of bullet holes and animal traps. Forced to work alongside Detective Travis, with whom she shares a troubled past, Kim begins to uncover a dark secretive relationship between the families who own the land in which the bodies where found. But while Kim is immersed in one of the most complicated investigations she's ever led, her team are caught up in a spate of sickening hate crimes. Kim is close to revealing the truth behind the murders, yet soon finds one of her own is in jeopardy and the clock is ticking. Can she solve the case and save them from grave danger before its' too late?

Devatenáctiletého Jamieho Millse našli oběšeného na stromě v místním parku. Jeho smrt byla označena za sebevraždu, detektiv Kim Stoneová však tuší, že něco není v pořádku. Proč se jeho matka, když se to dozvěděla, nerozplakala? A jak mohl Jamie, který se nedávno zranil, vylézt na strom? Další zjištění přinese šok: rodiče poslali Jamieho na soukromou kliniku, aby ho „vyléčili“ z jeho sexuality. Kdokoli, kdo tam absolvoval terapii, se o tom bojí mluvit. A pak zemře další bývalá pacientka – a opět to má vypadat, že si život vzala dobrovolně sama…

"500 years ago: eight martyrs burned. 30 years ago: two teenagers vanished. Two months ago: a vicar died mysteriously. Welcome to Chapel Croft. For Rev. Jack Brooks and teenage daughter Flo, it's a fresh start. New job, new home. But in a close-knit community, old superstitions and a mistrust of outsiders mean treading carefully. Yet right away, Jack has more frightening concerns. Why did no one say that the last vicar killed himself? Why is Flo plagued by visions of burning girls? And who is sending them threatening messages? Old ghosts with scores to settle can never rest. And Jack is standing in their way..."--Back cover.

A book about growing up which has delighted generations of young readers. The illustrations by Ella Bailey are perfect for the modern audience. This edition includes extra material for young readers. The four March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy – live in financial hardship in New England with their mother, while their father has been drafted to fight in the Civil War. The girls embark on a series of adventures and endure a number of unexpected misfortunes – experiences that allow their personalities to emerge: Meg sensible and outgoing, Jo literary and boyish, Beth musical and shy, and Amy artistic and selfish – but the bonds holding together the March family remain unbroken. Initially written as a novel for girls, Little Women is now regarded as an all-time American classic for all readers, inspiring generations of women writers and giving rise to many adaptations.

Na zarostlém hřbitově došlo k brutální vraždě. Oběť, Sandru Deakinovou, musel někdo hluboce nenávidět. Sandra věřila, že dokáže komunikovat s mrtvými. Živou ji naposledy viděla skupina žen, které s ní měly noc před jejím zabitím seanci. Každá z nich žádala Sandru o pomoc. A všechny lžou o tom, proč. Pár dní poté je nalezeno tělo mladíka se stejnými ranami v obličeji, jaké měla i Sandra… Kim Stoneová a její tým mají opět co do činění se sériovým vrahem – a opět vražedně málo času na to, aby zamezili dalšímu jeho řádění.

Cath and Wren are identical twins, and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they're off to university and Wren's decided she doesn't want to be one half of a pair any more. Now Cath has to decide whether she's ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she's realising that there's more to learn about love than she ever thought possible ...

Simon Snow just wants to relax and savour his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he'll be safe. Simon can't even enjoy the fact that his room-mate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can't stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you're the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savour anything. Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story - but far, far more monsters.

In Carry On, Simon Snow and his friends realized that everything they thought they understood about the world might be wrong. And in Wayward Son, they wondered whether everything they understood about themselves might be wrong. In Any Way the Wind Blows, Simon and Baz and Penelope and Agatha have to decide how to move forward. For Simon, that means deciding whether he still wants to be part of the World of Mages -- and if he doesn't, what does that mean for his relationship with Baz? Meanwhile Baz is bouncing between two family crises and not finding any time to talk to anyone about his newfound vampire knowledge. Penelope would love to help, but she's smuggled a cursed American Normal into London, and now she isn't sure what to do with him. And Agatha? Well, Agatha Wellbelove has had enough.

The instant #1 New York Times bestseller, now available in a stunning new paperback look with bonus content. Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers. The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall of China. It doesn't matter that the girls die from the mental strain. When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But when she gets her vengeance, it becomes clear that she is an Iron Widow, a rare kind of female pilot who can sacrifice males to power up Chrysalises instead. To tame her frightening yet valuable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest male pilot in Huaxia, yet feared and ostracized for killing his father and brothers. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will take over instead, then leverage their combined strength to force her society to stop failing its women and girls. Or die trying. This deluxe new paperback edition features eight pages of Chrysalis concept art and a discussion guide.

"Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet--which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together - if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow... But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia's handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there's the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more--or possibly less--than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there's something strangely familiar about him... Will Neferet's true nature be revealed before she succeeds in silencing them all? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox's humanity in time to protect him--and everyone--from his own fate? --(Publisher)

"In the placid, progressive suburb of Shaker Heights everything is meticulously planned, from the colours of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson. Mia Warren, an enigmatic artist and single mother, arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenage daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than just tenants : all four Richardson children are drawn to the alluring mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries on with her disregard for the rules that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community. When the Richardsons' friends attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town and puts Mia and Mrs Richardson on opposing sides. Mrs Richardson becomes determined to uncover the secrets in Mia's past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs to her own family - and Mia's."--Page 4 of cover.

Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa's House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey. But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there. Being Queen would be cool, wouldn't it? And what about Stevie Rae and Rephraim? The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be ok with their relationship? Does he betray his father or his heart?

"I can never leave you in peace. You and I are bound. We will be each other's salvation, or each other's doom." He took a step closer, and I mirrored his movement by taking a step back. "Which shall it be? Salvation or doom?"Zoey Redbird, now High Priestess of the shattered House of Night, is doing her best to hold everything together while dealing with her beloved, injured grandmother, her moody boyfriend, her secretive best friend, and the aftermath of the victory over her former mentor and a terrible, beautiful dark angel.But Neferet and Kalona have only been banished, not defeated, and everyone knows they're heading straight for the Vampyre High Council, where Zoey must follow.Zoey might be a High Priestess, but she's still just a teenager. And she's the only hope the world has.

'Reminded me not just what it's like to be young and in love, but what it's like to be young and in love with a book' John Green, author of The Fault in our Stars Eleanor is the new girl in town, and she's never felt more alone. All mismatched clothes, mad red hair and chaotic home life, she couldn't stick out more if she tried. Then she takes the seat on the bus next to Park. Quiet, careful and - in Eleanor's eyes - impossibly cool, Park's worked out that flying under the radar is the best way to get by. Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall in love. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're 16, and you have nothing and everything to lose. Set over the course of one school year in 1986, Eleanor & Park is funny, sad, shocking and true - an exquisite nostalgia trip for anyone who has never forgotten their first love.

Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare situation of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster. Just when it seems things couldn’t get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends so often find out, how things appear rarely affects the truth…

Wayward Son is the forthcoming book from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell and the sequel to Carry On. The book will be published on September 24, 2019 from Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press. This title will be available in hardcover, ebook, and audio editions. The cover and copy for Wayward Son will be revealed soon.

PRE-ORDER THE HEART-POUNDING NEW NOVEL FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE CHALK MAN AND RICHARD & JUDY PICK THE BURNING GIRLS'The wildest thriller of the year is three thrillers in one. Buckle up' LINWOOD BARCLAY'An exceptional thriller that blew me away with its original, high-octane plot, jaw-dropping twists and charac[Bokinfo].

How well do you know the couple next door? Or your husband? Or even yourself? Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all, a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately focuses on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story. Inside the curtained house, an unsettling account of what actually happened unfolds. Detective Rasbach knows that the panicked couple is hiding something. Both Anne and Marco soon discover that the other is keeping secrets, secrets they've kept for years.

Amazon.com's #1 Book of the Year 2014 Lydia is the favourite child of Marilyn and James Lee; a girl who inherited her mother's bright blue eyes and her father's jet-black hair. Her parents are determined that Lydia will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue - in Marilyn's case that her daughter become a doctor rather than a homemaker, in James's case that Lydia be popular at school, a girl with a busy social life and the centre of every party. But Lydia is under pressures that have nothing to do with growing up in 1970s small town Ohio. Her father is an American born of first-generation Chinese immigrants, and his ethnicity, and hers, make them conspicuous in any setting. When Lydia's body is found in the local lake, James is consumed by guilt and sets out on a reckless path that may destroy his marriage. Marilyn, devastated and vengeful, is determined to make someone accountable, no matter what the cost. Lydia's older brother, Nathan, is convinced that local bad boy Jack is somehow involved. But it's the youngest in the family - Hannah - who observes far more than anyone realises and who may be the only one who knows what really happened. Everything I Never Told You is a gripping page-turner, about secrets, love, longing, lies and race.

Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving father, a former linguist who now shelves books in a university library. His mother Margaret, a Chinese American poet, left without a trace when he was nine years old. He doesn't know what happened to her-only that her books have been banned-and he resents that she cared more about her work than about him. Then one day, Bird receives a mysterious letter containing only a cryptic drawing, and soon he is pulled into a quest to find her. His journey will take him back to the many folktales she poured into his head as a child, through the ranks of an underground network of heroic librarians, and finally to New York City, where he will finally learn the truth about what happened to his mother, and what the future holds for them both.

"Karen Krupp was home making dinner for her husband. She was expecting him any second. The phone rang--it was the call she hoped she'd never get. She jumped in her car and raced to a neighborhood she thought she'd never visit. She peered into the dark, deserted building and braced herself for the worst. After thar, she remembered nothing. They told her husband, Tom, she'd been in an accident. She must have lost control of her car as she sped through the roughest part of town. The police suspect that Karen was up to no good. But her husband refuses to believe it. Her best friend is not so sure. And even Karen herself doesn't know what to believe. Then she realizes something in her house has been moved. Someone's been there. And now, everyone is a stranger. Everyone has a secret--one they might even kill for."--Back cover

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER. A pulse-pounding thriller from the author of the number one bestseller THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR. As guests arrive at the remote Mitchell's Inn, they anticipate a relaxing weekend in the forest. However, a violent storm cuts them off from the outside world, and tension rises as they observe one another from a distance. When the first body is discovered, panic ensues—there's a killer among them, and escape is impossible. This gripping narrative showcases Lapena's talent for smart characterization and her understanding of the darker aspects of human nature. The story is crafted with the tension reminiscent of vintage Christie novels, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. Critics praise Lapena for combining the cozy feel of classic whodunnits with contemporary themes, solidifying her status as a go-to author for engaging mysteries. Readers rave about the fast-paced, twisting plot that keeps them on the edge of their seats. Many express their delight in being captivated by a book after years of not reading, highlighting the novel's readability and suspense. With an intricate narrative and compelling characters, this thriller promises to keep you hooked from start to finish.

Looking back, it all started on the day of the fair and the terrible accident. When twelve-year-old Eddie first met the Chalk Man. It was the Chalk Man who gave Eddie the idea for the drawings- a way to leave secret messages between his group of friends. And it was fun, to start with, until the figures led them to the body of a young girl. That was thirty years ago and Ed thought the past was behind him. Then he receives a letter containing just two things- a piece of chalk, and a drawing of a stick figure. As history begins to repeat itself, Ed realises the game was never over... Everyone has secrets. Everyone is guilty of something. And children are not always so innocent.

LONGLISTED FOR THE GUARDIAN FIRST BOOK AWARD A stunning, heartbreaking debut - 'We Are Not Ourselves' is both the intimate story of a family and an epic of the American Century.

Mrazivý, vzrušujúci psychothriller o lžiach, stratách a túžbach skrytých v hlbinách spánku. Krásna Annalee Ahlbergová zmizla. V noci odišla z domu a zostal po nej len útržok nočnej košele na vetvičke uschlého stromu pri rieke. Mestečkom sa šíri strach a fámy. Stala sa obete zločinu, alebo opustila manžela a dve dcéry, aby mohla začať iný život? Jej rodina však vie, k čomu došlo. Nie je to prvýkrát, čo sa Annalee vydala na bizarnú nočnú výpravu – je totiž náměsíčná. A nie je to prvýkrát, čo sa kvôli tomu ocitla v ohrození. Jej staršia dcéra Lianna má v živej pamäti, ako matke zabránila vrhnúť sa z mosta do rieky. O náměsíčnosti vie svoje aj detektív Gavin Rikert, ktorý zmiznutie vyšetruje. Snáď práve to na ňom Liannu priťahuje – ale čo všetko ho vlastne spája s Annalee? A kto ešte pred Liannou skrýva ťaživé tajomstvá?

Betrayed, the second installment in the bestselling House of Night series from P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast, is dark and sexy, and as thrilling as it is utterly shocking. Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She's come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend...or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey's old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.

A lively, well-written, entertaining whodunit The Times on The Mitford Murders

Lose yourself in the first novel of a new series of Golden Age mysteries featuring the glamorous Mitford sisters. Set in 1919, Louisa Cannon dreams of escaping her impoverished life in London and her dangerous uncle. Her salvation comes when she secures a position in the Mitford household at Asthall Manor, where she becomes nurserymaid, chaperone, and confidante to the sisters, especially the witty and story-loving sixteen-year-old Nancy. When Florence Nightingale Shore, a nurse and goddaughter of the famous Florence Nightingale, is murdered on a train in broad daylight, Nancy and Louisa embark on an investigation, uncovering the secrets that everyone seems to hide in postwar England. Written by Jessica Fellowes, known for the bestselling Downton Abbey books, this captivating tale is perfect for fans of Daisy Goodwin, Anthony Horowitz, and Agatha Christie, drawing inspiration from a real unsolved crime. With its blend of intrigue and charm, this novel offers a delightful escape, reminiscent of a Sunday-night period drama, making it a must-read for those seeking indulgent storytelling.

For once both comparisons (with Harry Potter and Philip Pullman's Northern Lights ) are apt . . . this is a novel that stays in the imagination long after it is read THE GUARDIAN 20160716