India, December 1803. The British army are closing in on enemy troops in western India, and Ensign Richard Sharpe, freshly promoted yet unsure of his position, finds himself vulnerable. He's unwelcome among the officers, yet finds hidden enemies within the ranks. With no-one he can trust, Sharpe is in serious danger when an old adversary arrives on his trail, and a terrible act of betrayal draws him into the eye of the storm. All roads lead to Gawilghur, a legendary, impregnable fortress in the sky. In the heart of enemy territory, the British carry out a near-impossible siege, and joining the front line, risking his honour and reputation in a battle that will test him as never before, is Sharpe. 372pp, paperback.

India 1799 and the citadel of Seringapatam is under siege. Navigating this dangerous kingdom of bejewelled palaces and poverty, Private Richard Sharpe embarks on a rescue mission to save a senior officer from the clutches of the Tippoo of Mysore, and oust the Sultan from his throne. The fortress of Mysore is considered impregnable, but one of the greatest threats comes from betrayal within the British ranks, and the man to outwit enemies from both sides is Sharpe. 372pp, paperback.

India, September 1803. When a defector all but wipes out an unsuspecting British unit, Sergeant Richard Sharpe must hunt down the enemy within. In the sun-beaten terrain of ports and bazaars, the mission draws him into treacherous, unfamiliar territory, and face to face with an old adversary. As the Mahratta rulers prepare for the white heat of battle, the small village of Assaye becomes the stage. Outnumbered and outgunned, the British faced bloody defeat, but ready to step up in a battle that could make his reputation is Sharpe. 371pp, paperback.

Embroiled in revolutionary war, Alan Lewrie is in for the fight of his life in this second instalment of his Naval Adventures to enthral fans of Philip McCutchen, Julian Stockwin and Patrick O'Brian. After being shipped off to the navy in disgrace, Lewrie has finally found his sea legs. Although a stark contrast to the relentless whirl of London, his rise in status to naval officer rather 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. In rescuing a loyalist family from amidst the chaos, he knows he will face his greatest trials yet. 394pp, paperback.

The first Alan Lewrie, this action-packed naval adventure is ideal for fans of C. S. Forester, Patrick O'Brian and Julian Stockwin. His exploits echo with the bustle of crowded ports and the crash of naval warfare. It is 1780 and 17 year old Alan Lewrie is a brash young libertine with a head full of dreams. When he is found in bed with the wrong woman, he is forced to leave his profligacy behind for a new life at sea. Although sickness and hard labour await him aboard the tall-masted Ariadne, Lewrie finds himself gradually adapting to the world of a midshipman. But as he heads for the war-torn Americas and into a hail of cannonballs, will he ever catch wind of the plot brewing against him back at home? 407pp, paperback.

From the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, this is the one with Mma Ramotswe's summer holiday. She is taking a break, leaving important tasks in the capable hands of Mma Makutsi, her co-director. But Mma Ramotswe soon finds herself interfering in cases (secretly, or so she intends) and while 'on holiday' she delves into the past of a man whose reputation is brought into question. She is called upon to rescue a small boy and discovers Violet Sephotho's latest underhand business endeavour - the No.1 Ladies' Secretarial College. Meanwhile, Mma Makutsi hires a part time science teacher as an assistant and suspects that her authority is being undermined. Will Mma Ramotswe be caught out? She herself took on the challenge of identifying a lady with no name and no memory, uncovered Violet Sephotho's latest scheme as a restaurant critic, and gained a dubiously qualified assistant detective in the form of Charlie. Hugely enjoyable, 246pp, paperback.

A vivid psychological suspense novel written some 20 years ago between two of the early Vera novels. A diving instructor makes a gruesome discovery in Cranwell Lake. The body of a teenager has been found very close to the surface of a reservoir due to a drought. The police are called to investigate and realise that the body has been anchored in place for a long time. They look at all the missing young males from the time and with dental work and identify the male as Michael Grey. However this is not his real name and the police are still looking for answers when another teenager is found murdered. Detective Peter Porteous deduces that Grey was the enigmatic and secretive man who was reported missing by his foster parents in 1972. On the other side of the country, prison officer Hannah Morton is about to get the shock of her life for Michael was her boyfriend, and she was with him the night he disappeared. The news report that a body has been found brings back dreaded and long buried memories from her past. 395pp in paperback.

Never underestimate Miss Marple. A movie star, a deadly cocktail, a murder. When glamorous Marina Gregg came to live in St Mary Mead, tongues were sure to wag. But with a local gossip's sudden death, has one tongue wagged a bit too much? As the police chase false leads and two more victims meet untimely ends, Miss Marple starts to ask her own questions. What secrets might link a peaceful English village and a star of the silver screen? The pieces finally drop into place with a satisfying click as Christie's ingenious plot and fiendish twists keep us hugely entertained in this cosy mystery. First published in 1962 and therefore with the somewhat now 'dated' vocabulary of the time, it is utterly charming. 280pp in compact glamorous hardback reprint.