Rural England

Grace Repton, a beautiful older woman, walks into the police station to tell Detective Matt Ballard she has information that could stop a murder. Her fiance, the infamous serial killer Jeremy Reader, has told her that he has a disciple who is going to kill using Reader's horrific methods. Reader murdered five women and was finally brought to justice by Detective Ballard. Reader is safely imprisoned in a high security prison, and claiming to be a reformed man who wants to help the police.

Exploring the folk customs and magical traditions of guilds and rural fraternities such as the Shoemakers and Horsemen and the secrets guarded by the Free Gardeners, Witches, Toadmen, and Bonesmen, Nigel Pennick shows how the common working people of the Fens belonged to secret societies based on their specific trade. He details the hidden aspects of rural life most historians ignore - the magical current that flowed through the lives of working people - and describes the secret rites, ceremonies, oaths, and initiation rituals of the guilds and fraternities to which the folk belonged.

The green fields, rugged highlands, and rolling hills of England, Scotland, and Wales are commonly associated with adventure, romance, and seclusion as well as literary figures like Jane Austen and William Wordsworth. But in reality, many of these rural places—with their country houses, lakes, and shorelines—were profoundly changed by British colonial activity. Even hamlets and villages were affected by distant colonial events.

Perfect for fans of Gervase Phinn, James Herriot and Alexander McCall Smith. Father Okoli dreams of owning a flock of hens and studying for a PhD, when his bishop saddles him with yet another parish to look after. But as Father moves to Moreton-on-the-Edge, a farming village in the English Cotswolds, he’s plugged into a community of warm-hearted characters, from the motherly parish secretary to her septuagenarian neighbour who’s become a cycling champion, and from teenagers requiring driving lessons to atheist publicans who believe in miracles. Between a wacky race and a scarecrow ...

Some people's lives are entirely their own creations. James Rebanks' isn't. He's the first son of a shepherd who was the first son of a shepherd himself; his family have lived and worked in the Lake District of Northern England for generations, further back than recorded history. It's a part of the world known mainly for its romantic descriptions by Wordsworth and the much-loved illustrated children's books of Beatrix Potter. But James' world is quite different. His way of life is ordered by the seasons and the work they demand.

This celebration of the English countryside does not only focus on the rolling green landscapes and magnificent monuments that set England apart from the rest of the world. Many of the contributors bring their own special touch, presenting a refreshingly eclectic variety of personal icons, from pub signs to seaside piers, from cattle grids to canal boats, and from village cricket to nimbies.

In the picturesque coastal town of Sunrise Harbor, Maine, where salty ocean breezes mingle with the scent of freshly caught lobsters, a chilling mystery unfolds. When a supposedly idyllic lobstering cruise takes an unexpected turn, steamy romance author, baker and amateur sleuth, Tabitha Clive, finds herself accused of murdering her husband’s former sister-in-law, Ethel Brownville. As whispers of her guilt spread through the town, Tabitha's closest friends refuse to let her face the weight of false accusations alone. In The Women Sleuths Club Murder, a vibrant group of “mature” ...

Mr Edgar Finchley, unmarried clerk, aged 45, is told to take a holiday for the first time in his life. He decides to go to the seaside. But Fate has other plans in store...From his abduction by a cheerful crook, to his smuggling escapade off the south coast, the timid but plucky Mr Finchley is plunged into a series of the most astonishing and extraordinary adventures. His rural adventure takes him gradually westward through the English countryside and back, via a smuggling yacht, to London.

Life in a Medieval Village, by respected historians Joseph and Frances Gies, paints a lively, convincing portrait of rural people at work and at play in the Middle Ages. Focusing on the village of Elton, in the English East Midlands, the Gieses detail the agricultural advances that made communal living possible, explain what domestic life was like for serf and lord alike, and describe the central role of the church in maintaining social harmony.

In the quiet coastal town of Weston-super-Mare, a body is discovered at the foot of a cliff just months after a near-identical tragedy - and Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell can't believe it could be a coincidence. Next to the body, she discovers a note that echoes one found beside the first: Death is not the end. Louise is certain that behind these desperate acts someone is pulling the strings, but how many more will plunge to their demise before she can find out who - and why?

"A Family Torn" by H. Wilhelm Starkweather is psychological fiction, an historical fiction novel set in early 19th-century England, capturing the essence of rural life and the intricate dynamics within a family. Are you captivated by classic English literature that delves into the heart of rural life? If so, then this book is for you. You see, immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of 19th-century England doesn’t have to be daunting. Even if you’ve struggled with dense historical novels before. The truth is, it’s much more engaging and evocative than you think. Renowned author ...

When two teenage girls vanish without a trace from an educational retreat at Chidlow House in Lincolnshire, the students and teachers are put on high alert. Called in to investigate, Detective Karen Hart questions everyone who came into contact with the two girls, Cressida and Natasha, in the days leading up to their disappearance. Stories of Chidlow House being haunted abound, but Hart - still coming to terms with the suspicious circumstances surrounding the tragic loss of her own family - knows that while the house might be otherworldly, the crime is grimly real.

A classic English murder fiction novel set in the rural village of Peakshire during the early 1920s. Step into the mysterious world of Bellingham, a seemingly serene country village where quiet lanes and picturesque countryside hide dark secrets and twisted plots. Follow Dennis Skubal, a keen criminologist and writer, as he unravels the chilling web of deceit surrounding the sudden and brutal murder of Sir Marcus Alexander. *Dark Waters* unfolds in the hauntingly beautiful yet eerie landscape of Peakshire, where every character harbors a secret, and nothing is quite as it seems. Trouble ...

When a pair of young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become the home of an extraordinary succession of human and inhuman characters alike. In his transcendent fourth novel, Pulitzer Prize finalist Daniel Mason delivers a magisterial and highly inventive tale brimming with love and madness, humor and hope. Following the cycles of history, nature and even language, North Woods shows the myriad, magical ways in which we're connected to our environment, to history and to each other.

In the quiet seaside town of Weston-super-Mare, a man is found unconscious on the beach with a strange symbol carved into his skin. The victim - a local drug addict - has no recollection of who attacked him or how he got there. The sleepy coastal community is sent into shock. And when another victim branded with the same vicious mark dies from his wounds, DI Louise Blackwell realizes she is dealing with a sadistic serial killer. But why is the twisted attacker targeting Weston’s most vulnerable people? And what is the meaning behind the mysterious symbol?

A Mystery Book set in rural England during the late 19th century. "The Sin of Silence" weaves a captivating tale of village life centered around Parker Hall Farm in rural England. The narrative ignites with the leasing of Parker Hall Farm to the enigmatic Mr. Williams, leaving local farmer John Servideo's aspirations thwarted. The plot thickens with the arrival of Olivia Williams and her maid, Lucy, as they find themselves braving a cold reception and the village's dormant secrets. The Williams family’s arrival is marked by an overturned cab, a dilapidated farmhouse, and an unwelcome ...

Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Award A captivating historical novel with spell-binding mysteries, inspired by actual people, places and events. B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree A compelling novel with several sub-stories in different settings and time periods that bring life to each one. Helen Ainsley is a best-selling mystery writer struggling with cancer. She returns to her childhood home in rural Brattleboro Vermont for the serenity she hopes will rekindle her imagination. Ainsley Hill Farm was originally an Inn dating back to the American Revolution. With a new-found friend, an old golden ...

Since he was a young boy, Jack MacFadden's imaginary friend, Puck, has always been around, but now Jack is thirteen and Puck has still shown no sign of leaving. And, if that wasn't enough, Jack's also been targeted for assassination by a faerie death squad... Audience/Genre: Middle-grade-through-early-young-adult contemporary fantasy Word count: 25,000 words (novella)

After the death of her mother, Rebecca is sorting through her empty flat. Starting with the letters piling up on the doormat, she finds an envelope postmarked from Cornwall. In it is a letter that will change her life forever. A desperate plea from her mother’s elderly cousin, Olivia, to help save her beloved home. Rebecca arrives at Chynalls to find the house crumbling into the ground and Olivia stuck in hospital with no hope of being discharged until her home is made habitable.

When Detective Karen Hart hears a scream echoing out of beautiful Lincoln Cathedral one snowy evening, she is the first officer on the scene. In the chapel a man lies murdered, a bloody cross carved into his forehead. A note to the police from the murderer, signed by "The Cleanser", confirms their worst fears: this sadistic slaying is the first of many. When early leads become dead ends, Karen starts to wonder if there’s a link to a rumoured conspiracy within police ranks - particularly when an abrasive new officer is assigned to the case.