Ex-gladiators Drust and Kag are in the Alps, battered, bruised and fighting for their lives. On the hunt for a rogue Roman officer, something goes terribly wrong and they are left stranded in the mountains, their escape route cut off. Only then does the true danger of their mission reveal itself. Caught in the crossfire of the mountain tribes, and the vicious power politics of Rome, they must use all their cunning to save themselves from death's icy clutches. Set in the year AD225 during the reign of the boy Emperor Severus Alexander, the story starts off in the Province of Rhaetia where the former gladiators including Drust's wife Praeclarum find themselves ambushed and have to travel through the 'Dark' populated with thick forests and wild tribes before they are captured by the renegade General. They escape for more action-packed and intriguing adventure in what is in fact the final book of a trilogy, the most exciting and can be read as a stand-alone. With useful glossary and historical note. 359pp, paperback.

By the author of The Nursemaid's Secret and previously published as The Summer Season. Set in Wales 1883, young Ruth Owen, a talented musician with a scholarship to a prestigious music school, has a sparkling career ahead of her. But after a run-in with her mysterious tutor, she flees to London, leaving everything and everyone behind. 14 years later Ruth, now married with two children, finds herself struggling for money and a place to live. Left with no other option, they decide to return to Wales and live on a canal boat. Life on the canals may seem idyllic, but what troubles await her return, and can the past ever truly be forgotten? Enjoy a happy and comfortable atmosphere on board a narrow boat in the company of such lovely characters in a novel full of wonderful warmth and charm. 360pp with a charming recipe for lamb chops and potatoes. Paperback.

A Times Historical Fiction Book of the Month which has been highly rated by Elly Griffiths. London 1855 and in the grey mist of the early dawn, a body is dumped on the Thames shore by a boatman in a metal canoe. Talk soon spreads of the killer and his striking accomplice, a young widow in mourning dress. Birdie Quinn's sleeplessness led her to the river that morning. She has always been wilful, haughty, different, but is she a murderess? To clear her name she must retrace the dead man's footsteps to Orkney and the far north, a dangerous journey for a woman alone, but one she must make to save her life. This gripping, richly layered thriller has a mesmerising setting and fantastic characters and gives superb insight into a ruthless trade. The story is full of gaslit menace. 398pp, paperback.

Embroiled in revolutionary war, Alan Lewrie is in for the fight of his life. After being shipped off to the navy in disgrace, he has finally found his sea legs. Although a stark contrast to the relentless whirl of London, his rise in status to naval officer suits him beyond his wildest dreams. But the crew of the Desperate could never have imagined the perils lying in wait within the storms of 1781. Ensnared in the siege of Yorktown, Lewrie must fight not only for his country but for his future and in rescuing a loyalist family from amidst the chaos, he knows he will face his greatest trial yet. The second instalment and a companion to code 94307 H.M.S. Cockerel. 391pp, paperback.

It is 1793, and Alan Lewrie, swashbuckling naval hero, longs for battle. Oppressed by life as a gentleman farmer, he is only too pleased to answer the navy's call when Revolutionary France draws Britain into war. But life aboard the HMS Cockerel is marred by a malaria-stricken tyrant of a captain, and a restless crew. When the war escalates, Lewrie finds himself at the Battle of Toulon, where he meets a dashing young Napoleon Bonaparte. Outnumbered three to one, he must take on the French in a desperate bid to help the Royalists escape. With superbly drawn supporting characters and a hugely likeable hero from this popular series. Very popular on Bibliophile's Search Service, we welcome the reprint of this popular series, perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian and George MacDonald Fraser. 380pp, paperback.

1274AD and war is brewing between Wales and England. Henry III is dead and his son Edward Longshanks is on his way back from the Crusades to claim the crown and impose his iron will on a weakened country. In South Wales, two young brothers Garyn and Geraint, attempt to rebuild their lives after a terrifying ordeal in Acre. Desperate to heal old wounds and provide for their futures, the appearance of an old enemy tears them apart once more and forces them onto different paths. The nobles of North Wales, nervous and frustrated at the inaction of their leader, make a daring pact to replace him with a figurehead to unite the warring factions against the English prince. A stand-alone novel for fans of Ben Kane, 350pp in paperback with author's note on the historical research the author made about the True Cross, the discovery of America and Prince Madoc, evidence of medieval occupation in America and the capability of medieval sailors.

50AD. The Roman invasion is over and legions spread throughout Britannia, a blood red stain on the land. Caratacus, king of the Catuvellauni, has fled south to rebuild his army and warriors flock to his banner. In the north, a disgraced Legionary grasps the chance to regain his honour and joins the Exploratores, the elite Roman unit operating behind enemy lines. He nurtures a deeper desire however - to fill an oath made six years earlier. As the armies of Caratacus and Roman general Scapula prepare for their final clash, the soldier draws closer to his ultimate prize - the chance to kill the man he once called brother. Written with incredible scope and depth and a companion to code 94321 The Wrath of Boudicca. 345pp, paperback.

Britannia AD60. When her husband dies, Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni, expects Rome to enter into a new agreement with her people. However when Rome betrays them and her daughters are raped by Roman soldiers, Boudicca swears revenge. The Britannic tribes rise up and join her in a campaign against their oppressors, and soon her enormous army sweeps across the country in an unstoppable wave of brutality. A young boy races to join her cause, but when it is discovered that he is the last true blood of the Deceangli, Prydain the ex-legionary embarks on a mission to save him. For the final time his path is destined to cross with Cassus, the boyhood friend who has sworn to kill him, whatever the cost. For fans of Simon Scarrow and Conn Iggulden. 364pp, paperback.

June 1917 and while German bombers raid London from above, a man's body is fished from the Thames below. With no identifying items or labels about his person, Detective Inspector Marmion and Sergeant Keedy waste precious time struggling to name the anonymous victim before they can properly begin their investigation. One by one family and business associates are traced, which only makes the list of suspects ever longer. Between the interminable presence of war and closer to home pitched battles in the East End between rival gangs, Marmion must carefully tread a dangerous path to lead him towards the killer. 'Marsten has tapped into a rich vein of inspiration.' - Daily Mail. 378pp, paperback.

When Eloise Cribb receives the news that her husband's ship has been lost at sea, she wonders how she is ever going to manage. With two young children, the rent overdue, and with almost nothing to live on, she has no alternative but to turn to his estranged family for help. She sets off on the long and arduous journey to Yorkshire, but is met with hostility and soon realises she has little choice but to return to London. Virtually destitute and desperate, Eloise is faced with her worst nightmare - she must either go to the workhouse, or abandon her children at the Foundling Hospital, but she is determined to keep them safe and under her protective wing at all costs. 'We had a cup of tea and a chat about old times, but more important, my lady, he told me that there's a price on your head. Your in-laws up north have offered a reward for anyone turning you and the brats in to them...' 534pp, paperback with fairly large print.