Don’t Mention Murder It was a vulgar word in the swank millionaire town of San Valdesto. But knocking off a few citizens here and there seemed more than a grave social error to a tough-minded detective like Joe Puma. It made him sore when he discovered the natives would rather protect a well-bred killer than put up with a low-brow private eye. So he taught them a lesson and his red-blooded tactics set the town’s blue blood to boiling. The Wayward Widow...another mad whirl on a murder-go round with that damsel-chasing knight in amour - Joe Puma.

Originally published in 1979. This highly detailed study of illicit sex amongst the peasantry of Somerset between 1601 and 1660 recreates the atmosphere of the period and questions a number of previously accepted hypotheses. Based on the depositions presented to the county and regional courts during this period, it sheds as much light on prevailing village attitudes as it does on the specific discussion matter. Outlining the precarious existence of the peasant and the supervision of sexual morality, the book looks at pre-marital sex, pregnancy, prostitution, masturbation, contraception, rape, homosexuality and incest, along with the prevailing punishments of the time. This extensively researched work combines both demographic and literary-based analyses, with analytical and anecdotal approaches to the subject. It presents a rich source of social history, examining and questioning the role of Christian morality as an important factor in influencing the sexual habits of the peasant.

There's power in stories. This is a story of power. Dead bodies aren't unusual in the alleyways of Fenest, capital of the Union of Realms. Especially not in an election year, when the streets swell with crowds from near and far. Muggings, brawls gone bad, debts collected – Detective Cora Gorderheim has seen it all. Until she finds a Wayward man with his mouth sewn shut. His body has been arranged precisely by the killer and left conspicuously, waiting to be found. Cora fears this is not only a murder, but a message. As she digs into the dead man's past, she finds herself drawn into the most dangerous event in the Union: the election. In a world where stories win votes, someone has gone to a lot of trouble to silence this man. Who has stopped his story being told? _______________________________________________________ 'An utterly absorbing tale set in a fascinating world' MICK FINLAY. 'If you love storytelling, you'll love this' S.J. MORDEN. 'It's rare to find such a richly imagined world about the art of myth and storytelling' CHRISTOPHER FOWLER. 'Irresistibly thrilling, weaving together gaslit crime, fantasy and mystery... I can't wait for more' TIM MAJOR. 'There is more than meets the eye in this gripping and inventive debut... Rife with intrigue, deceit and cultural tension' JAMES AITCHESON.

Deborah Stratton is a respectable widow--or so the inhabitants of the Midwinter villages believe. But she hides a secret that means she'll never marry again.... Lord Richard Kestrel is London's most notorious rake, a dangerous man to be around, a man who has already shockingly offered to make Deborah his mistress. Now Richard has come to realize it is Deborah's hand in marriage he wants--but not before they share one night of scandal....

Lord Robert Selborne intended to kiss the chimney sweep's daughter for luck at his cousin's wedding...not marry her! But of all the ladies assembled, she was the only one who captured his interest. And unless she became his wife in name only, he would forfeit his inheritance.... Having been raised by a brutal father on the London streets, Jemima Jewell had few illusions about life and love. Until Rob's lips met hers in a soul-stirring kiss and he impulsively made her his wife. And his penniless bride now hoped her love would provide Rob with a fortune far greater than the one he sought....

A rake escorts an orphaned young Scottish woman into a thrilling adventure in this historical romance inspired by Stevenson’s classic Kidnapped. If I accept his offer to be his mistress, I could have the finest silks, the best carriage and be transformed from ugly duckling to a pampered, pretty swan! And although I would feel a virtuous pride in turning down the wicked rake, I also have an unmaidenly interest in exactly what the role would entail. . . . Catriona is doing her best to resist the skillful seduction of the scandalous heir to the Earl of Strathconan. But kidnapped and shipwrecked with only this rake as company, her adventure has just begun. . . . Praise for Kidnapped: His Innocent Mistress “Cornick crams a lot into this story without making it feel stuffed or frantic. . . . I just adored this story from start to finish. . . . And darn if I don’t want to drop everything and reread it right this minute.” —The Good, the Bad and the Unread