The gripping new historical novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Girl from Bletchley Park and The Forgotten Secret.
A heartbreaking choice. A secret kept for centuries.
1784. When Esther Harris’s father hurts his back, she takes over his role helping smugglers hide contraband in the secret cellar in their pub. But when the free traders’ ships are trapped in the harbour, a battle between the smugglers and the revenue officers leads to murder and betrayal – and Esther is forced to choose between the love of her life and protecting her family…
Present day. Fresh from her divorce, Millie Galton moves into a former inn overlooking the harbour in Mudeford and plans to create her dream home. When a chance discovery behind an old fireplace reveals the house’s secret history as a haven for smugglers and the devastating story of its former residents, could the mystery of a disappearance from centuries ago finally be solved?
Sweeping historical fiction perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Kathryn Hughes and Tracy Rees.
Readers LOVE The Storm Girl!
‘Amazing book… Both timelines were compulsive reading.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow. Excitement by the bucketful!… Read this in record time. Recommend it.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Just the most beautiful book… I haven't read anything quite as engaging as this in recent years!’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Highly enjoyable… A gripping read.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would gladly give them… This one is up there with the best.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Brilliant.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I really enjoyed this book… Well researched and very compelling.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I really loved how this story played out with all the suspense, mystery and drama within each timeline, it kept me wanting to keep on reading to see what would happen next.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A great story.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Highly recommended.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The latest unforgettable timeslip novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Secret of the Chateau.
Will love lead her to a devastating choice?
1942. Three years into the war, Pam turns down her hard-won place at Oxford University to become a codebreaker at Bletchley Park. There, she meets two young men, both keen to impress her, and Pam finds herself falling hard for one of them. But as the country’s future becomes more uncertain by the day, a tragic turn of events casts doubt on her choice – and Pam’s loyalty is pushed to its limits…
Present day. Julia is struggling to juggle her career, two children and a husband increasingly jealous of her success. Her brother presents her with the perfect distraction: forgotten photos of their grandmother as a young woman at Bletchley Park. Why did her grandmother never speak of her time there? The search for answers leads Julia to an incredible tale of betrayal and bravery – one that inspires some huge decisions of her own…
Gripping historical fiction perfect for fans of The Girl from Berlin, The Rose Code and When We Were Brave.
Readers LOVE The Girl from Bletchley Park!
‘Captivating… Could barely put [it] down.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Drew me in from the word go. I was on the edge of my seat through the entire book.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A beautiful read.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A good read to get lost in.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A twin timeline that worked absolutely perfectly… Outstandingly poignant… I can't praise this book enough.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Be ready to be wowed and amazed and lose sleep as you stay up to reach the last pages!… You absolutely must read it!’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
What would you do to protect the ones you love?
1861. George’s life changes forever the day he meets Lucy. She’s beautiful and charming, and he sees a future with her that his position as the second son in a wealthy family has never offered him. But when Lucy dies in a suspected poisoning days after rejecting George, he finds himself swept up into a murder investigation. George loved Lucy; he would never have harmed her. So who did?
Now. On the surface Cassie is happy with her life: a secure job, good friends, and a loving family. When a mysterious gift in a long-forgotten will leads her to a dark secret in her family’s history she’s desperate to learn more. But the secrets in Cassie’s family aren’t all hidden in the past, and her research will soon lead her to a revelation much closer to home – and which will turn everything she knows on its head…
Discover a family’s darkest secrets today. Perfect for fans of The Girl in the Letter, The Beekeeper’s Promise and The Forgotten Village!
Readers love The Forgotten Gift!
‘Excellent… I read it in one fell swoop… Utterly engrossing and responsible for the fact that I went to bed well after my usual bedtime.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘Fast paced and very well written story… Impossible to put down… Loved it.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘The queen of dual timelines has done it again.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘I was completely transfixed… Didn't want to put it down once I'd started it. It was finished within a day.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘The writing is fantastic. The pace fast. The plot gripping.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘I enjoyed this book… The story of George had a perfect ending.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘I really liked this book… Well written and great character development.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘Absolutely broke my heart… I didn’t emerge for breath until I’d tearfully finished the last page. Wonderful.’ Being Anne, 5 stars
Dorset, 1935. Stationmaster Ted has never cared much for romance. Occupied with ensuring England’s most beautiful railway runs on time, love has always felt like a comparatively trivial matter. Yet when he meets Annie Galbraith on the 8.42 train to Lynford, he can’t help but instantly fall for her.
But when the railway is forced to close and a terrible accident occurs within the station grounds, Ted finds his job and any hope of a relationship with Annie hanging in the balance…
Present day. Recovering from heartbreak after a disastrous marriage, Tilly decides to escape from the bustling capital and move to Dorset to stay with her dad, Ken.
When Ken convinces Tilly to help with the restoration of the old railway, she discovers a diary hidden in the old ticket office. Tilly is soon swept up in Ted’s story, and the fateful accident that changed his life forever.
But an encounter with an enigmatic stranger takes Tilly by surprise, and she can’t help but feel a connection with Ted’s story in the past…
Don’t miss this haunting and evocative timeslip novel.
Readers LOVE The Stationmaster’s Daughter:
‘A MUST READ in my book!!’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘Utterly perfect… A timeslip tale that leaves you wanting more… I loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘I may have shed a tear or two!… A definite emotional rollercoaster of a read that will make you both cry and smile.’ Debbie’s Book Reviews, 5 stars
‘Oh my goodness… The pages turned increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out what happened steadily grew and grew.’ Ginger Book Geek, 5 stars
‘Very special… I loved every minute of it.’ Jessica Belmont, 5 stars
‘Brilliant… Very highly recommended!!’ Donnasbookblog, 5 stars
‘Touched my heart! A real page turner… The perfect read for cosying up. I can’t recommend this gorgeous book enough.’ Dash Fan Book reviews, 5 stars
We’ll meet again…
When Ali inherits her great-aunt’s house she immediately moves her whole family in, despite the warnings that there is something strange about the place.
Unfazed, Ali begins redecorating, going through the rooms, making each one her own with the help of her daughter, Kelly. But when under the wallpaper in Kelly’s new room they discover a scrawled message from 1944, Ali begins to question the history of the house as she knows it.
Her family has always seemed so picture perfect, not a blemish or a secret to be found. Yet, this discovery throws her into confusion and Ali begins to question exactly what she knows about her family and the mysteries they have kept hidden…
Perfect for fans of The Emerald Comb, Rachel Hore and Kate Morton
Don't miss Kathleen's new book – The Girl from Ballymor out in 2017!
Praise for Kathleen McGurl
'There were twists and turns galore that had me gripping my Kindle to within an inch of its life…' – Becca's Books on The Pearl Locket
'An engrossing family saga' – cayocosta72 on The Pearl Locket
'If you want a book that is exciting, fast-paced and impossible to put down, with plenty of twists and turns, then you need to buy this book! I can't wait to read more of Kathleen's novels.' – Emma's Book Reviews on The Emerald Comb
'The Emerald Comb is fantastic.' – Books & Baby
'An edge of your seat read, that is a page turner and griped me from page one.' – Comet Babe's Books on The Emerald Comb
'If you want a book that is exciting, fast-paced and impossible to put down, with plenty of twists and turns, then you need to buy this book! I can't wait to read more of Kathleen's novels.' – Emma's Book Reviews
Some secrets are best left buried…
Researching her family tree had been little more than a hobby – until Katie stepped onto Kingsley House’s sprawling, ivy-strewn drive. The house may be crumbling today, but it was once the intimidatingly opulent residence of the St Clairs, Katie’s ancestors.
Arriving here two hundred years later, emotion stirs in Katie: a strange nostalgia for a place she’s never seen before… and when Kingsley House comes up for sale, Katie is determined that her family must buy it.
Surrounded by the mysteries of the past, Katie’s pastime becomes a darker obsession, as she searches through history to trace her heritage. But she soon discovers that these walls house terrible secrets. And when forgotten stories and hidden betrayals come to light, the past seems more alive than Katie could ever have imagined.
Moving between the 21st and 19th centuries, The Emerald Comb is a hauntingly evocative novel, perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Rachel Hore.
Praise for Kathleen McGurl
'The Emerald Comb is fantastic.' – Books & Baby
'An edge of your seat read, that is a page turner and griped me from page one.' – Comet Babe's Books
'An engrossing family saga' – cayocosta72 on The Pearl Locket
‘The Daughters of Red Hill Hall …[has] all the intrigue, mystery, relationship drama and edge of your seat secret reveals any reader could want.’ – Books and Boardies
When Gemma discovers a pair of ancient duelling pistols encrusted with rubies in the basement of the local museum, she is immediately intrigued…
On a fateful night in 1838 two sisters were found shot in the cellars of Red Hill Hall. And when Gemma begins to delve deeper into their history she begins to realise that the secrets of that night are darker than anyone had ever imagined.
As the shocking events of the past begin to unravel, Gemma’s own life starts to fall apart. Loyalties are tested and suddenly it seems as if history is repeating itself, as Gemma learns that female friendships can be deadly…
Perfect for fans of The Emerald Comb, The Pearl Locket, Rachel Hore and Kate Morton.
What reviewers are saying about Kathleen McGurl’s The Daughters of Red Hill Hall
‘Mystery, danger, intrigue and heart-pounding drama are deliciously interwoven’ – Julie (Goodreads)
‘I devoured The Daughters of Red Hill Hall in two sittings…it showed off the many talents of Kathleen McGurl to perfection.’ – Emma Crowley on Shaz’s Book Blog
‘This book grabbed me from its opening pages’ – Being Anne…
‘a great summer read!’ – A Home in the Country
‘if you like historical mysteries, murder and romance, this is a must read for you.’ – Violet Fields (NetGalley)
‘This is the first of Kathleen McGurl's books that I have read but it certainly won't be the last’ – Karen O’Hare (Goodreads)
‘For fans of Katherine Webb or Kate Riordan’ – Sheila’s Review (Goodreads)
‘McGurl focuses on the relationships and emotional turmoil… As always a spirited read.’ – Cheryl M-M
What would you sacrifice for your children?
Ballymor, Ireland, 1847
As famine grips the country Kitty McCarthy is left widowed and alone. Fighting to keep her two remaining children alive against all odds, Kitty must decide how far she will go to save her family.
Present day
Arriving in Ballymor, Maria is researching her ancestor, Victorian artist Michael McCarthy – and his beloved mother, the mysterious Kitty who disappeared without a trace.
Running from her future, it’s not only answers about the past that Maria hopes to find in Ireland. As her search brings her closer to the truth about Kitty’s fate, Maria must make the biggest decision of her life.
What readers are saying about The Girl from Ballymor:
‘Spellbinding!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘I loved this book.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Wonderful… Was hard to put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Swept me away… I was totally engaged… Highly recommended.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Fantastic!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘An excellent read… Compelling.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
Everything is about to change…
1789. Pierre and Catherine Aubert, the Comte and Comtesse de Verais, have fled the palace of Versailles for their château, deep in the French Alps. But as revolution spreads through the country, even hidden away the Auberts will not be safe forever. Soon they must make a terrible decision in order to protect themselves, and their children, from harm.
Present day. When Lu’s mother dies leaving her heartbroken, the chance to move to a château in the south of France with her husband and best friends seems an opportunity for a new beginning. But Lu can’t resist digging into their new home’s history, and when she stumbles across the unexplained disappearance of Catherine Aubert, the château begins to reveal its secrets – and a mystery unsolved for centuries is uncovered…
Unlock the secret of the château today. Perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Fiona Valpy and The Forgotten Village!
Readers love The Secret of the Château!
‘I absolutely loved this book… Enthralling… I really struggled to put this book down.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘Brilliant… I was gripped right until the end. Great characters, a riveting plot and the fantastic writing style I've come to expect.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘Had me gripped… Fast enough to keep you intrigued and turning the pages… Would highly recommend.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘I was drawn in from the first chapter… It is rare that a book brings tears to my eyes but this one succeeded!… Held me captivated right to the last words. A must read for everyone.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘Kathleen McGurl’s books knock it out of the park every single time!!!!!!!… Wonderful… You should read it. Right now.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘Both storylines were equally as gripping… A very enjoyable read!… One I shall remember! Would definitely recommend!’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
Can she unlock the mysteries of the past?
A country at war
It's the summer of 1919 and Ellen O'Brien has her whole life ahead of her. Young, in love and leaving home for her first job, the future seems full of shining possibility. But war is brewing and before long, Ellen and everyone around her are swept up by it. As Ireland is torn apart by the turmoil, Ellen finds herself facing the ultimate test of love and loyalty.
A long-buried secret
A hundred years later and Clare Farrell has inherited a dilapidated old farmhouse in County Meath. Seizing the chance to escape her unhappy marriage she strikes out on her own for the first time, hoping the old building might also provide clues to her family's shadowy history. As she sets out to put the place - and herself - back to rights, she stumbles across a long-forgotten hiding place, with a clue to a secret that has lain buried for decades.
For fans of Kate Morton and Gill Paul comes an unforgettable novel about two women fighting for independence.
Readers love Kathleen McGurl
'Another fabulous dual timeline story'
'Haunting'
'Had me gripped from the start'
'I literally could not turn the pages fast enough'
'Captivating'
'Drew me straight in and kept me hooked.' Linda Finlay
'Really touching, a gently gripping mystery.' Kerry Barrett
Beneath the surface lie forgotten secrets...
A village destroyed
It's the summer of 1935 and eleven-year-old Stella Walker is preparing to leave her home forever. Forced to evacuate to make way for a new reservoir, the village of Brackendale Green will soon be lost. But before the water has even reached them, a dreadful event threatens to tear Stella's family apart.
An uncovered secret
Present day, and a fierce summer has dried up the lake and revealed the remnants of the deserted village. Now an old woman, Stella begs her granddaughter Laura to make the journey she can't. She's sure the village still holds answers for her but, with only days until the floodwaters start to rise again, Laura is in a race against time to solve the mysteries of Stella's almost forgotten past.
Haunting and evocative, The Drowned Village reaches across the decades in an unforgettable tale of love, loss and family.
