Arthur Phillips Books

In a gripping new novel, Queen Elizabeth's spymasters recruit an unlikely agent for a critical mission during a time of uncertainty in 1601. With the queen dying and no heir in sight, the kingdom is on edge, and any thought of her death is considered treasonous. As potential successors vie for position, King James VI of Scotland emerges as the leading candidate. However, the spymasters, seasoned veterans of England's long struggle against terror and religious extremism, suspect that James may not be the Protestant he claims to be. If he secretly adheres to Catholicism, it could undo decades of conflict and lead to chaos. Faced with this dilemma, Geoffrey Belloc, a seasoned operative from England's religious wars, devises a plan to uncover James's true beliefs. He recruits Mahmoud Ezzedine, a Muslim physician abandoned during the last Ottoman diplomatic mission, as his undercover agent. Ezzedine, an outsider desperate to return to his family, becomes the perfect candidate for this high-stakes mission. As the story unfolds, readers are drawn into a world of intrigue and deception, questioning the very nature of truth. Arthur Phillips crafts a unique and thrilling narrative that captivates and challenges at every turn.

Just as Howard Carter unveils the tomb of Tutankhamun, Oxford-educated Egyptologist Ralph Trilipush is digging himself into trouble. Meanwhile, a relentless Australian detective sets off on the case of his career, spanning the globe in search of a murderer. And another murderer. And possibly another murderer. The confluence of these seemingly separate stories results in an explosive ending, at once inevitable and utterly unpredictable

A group of American expats en route to adventure, inspiration, or perhaps even history in the making in Prague, somehow get sidetracked and settle instead for the enigmatic and enlightening city of Budapest. With humour, Phillips captures the character of his contemporaries and renders the Hungary of the past.

When Constance married Joseph Barton, she believed she had found the perfect husband. But after the troubled birth of their daughter Angelica, Constance begins to fear for her life and avoids her wifely duties.

Set in 1922, the story follows an Egyptologist driven by an obsession to uncover the tomb of a mythical king. This darkly comic narrative traverses diverse locations, including the deserts of Egypt, the slums of Australia, and the opulent ballrooms of Boston. It weaves through significant historical backdrops such as the First World War and a chaotic royal court, creating a richly layered and inventive tale that blends humor with a quest for discovery.

Each song on Julian’s iPod, “that greatest of all human inventions,” is a touchstone. There are songs for the girls from when he was single, there’s the one for the day he met his wife-to-be, there’s one for the day his son was born. But when Julian’s family falls apart, even music loses its hold on him. Until one snowy night in Brooklyn, when his life’s soundtrack—and life itself—start to play again. Julian stumbles into a bar and sees Cait O’Dwyer, a flame-haired Irish rock singer, performing with her band, and a strange and unlikely love affair is ignited. Over the next few months, Julian and Cait’s passion plays out, though they never meet. What follows is a heartbreaking dark comedy, the tenderest of love stories, and a perfectly observed tale of the way we live now.