"'Captivating…[a] sparkling gem of a story' DAISY WOOD
***
A hidden jewel. A buried past. A secret waiting to break free.
India, 1947: Celia Fforbes-Whyte remembers little about her beloved mother, but she will never forget how the family’s prized diamond, the Chamakta Sitara, glistened at her throat. The diamond has been part of the family for as long as she can remember, but growing voices begin to ask whether it should ever have belonged to them at all?
With danger closing in on the eve of Indian independence, Celia’s father makes a drastic choice – to protect his family, the diamond must disappear without a trace. But in doing so, will he create a curse that lasts a lifetime …
London, 2024: Heartbroken and desperate for an escape, Lisa Statton retreats to the comfort of the Alps. But when she stumbles across a sparkling gem and an unopened letter, embedded in a glacier, Lisa finds herself thrust into a mystery more devastating than she could ever imagine …
Readers adore Kathleen McGurl's stunning novels!
‘Captivating…Could barely put [it] down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Drew me in from the word go. I was on the edge of my seat through the entire book' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A beautiful read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A good read to get lost in' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A twin timeline that worked absolutely perfectly…Outstandingly poignant…I can't praise this book enough.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"
"A sweeping dual-timeline novel from the bestselling author of The Girl from Bletchley Park.
All she wanted was a child of her own…
1912. As the steamship Carpathia takes the survivors of the Titanic to New York, Lucy desperately searches the decks for her baby, thrust into the arms of another woman as a lifeboat left, and now nowhere to be found. Madeleine is helping her journalist husband to interview the survivors, and when she meets Lucy, she promises she will do anything she can to help her find her lost child.
2022. When archivist Jackie finds a notebook containing the stories of women saved by the Carpathia amongst an auction lot, she learns the story of the missing baby. Desperate to start a family of her own, she feels compelled to dig further. And her search will lead her to a century-old mystery…
Inspired by true events, bestselling author Kathleen McGurl weaves history and fiction together in this captivating, deeply moving story.
Readers LOVE The Lost Child!
'Such a great story… it blends the two eras so well' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A story that will haunt you, in a good way!, long after you have finished the last page' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A fantastic, heart wrenching novel' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A must read' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This compelling read was hard to put down' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Made my heart smile' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Well-researched and fast-paced… I thoroughly enjoyed it' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"
"Don’t miss this gripping historical novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Girl From Bletchley Park.
A country rebelling
It’s 1916 and, as war rages in Europe, Gráinne leaves her job in a department store to join Countess Markiewicz’s revolutionary efforts. It is a decision which will change her life forever. A rebellion is brewing, and as Dublin’s streets become a battleground, Gráinne soon discovers the personal cost of fighting for what you believe in…
A forgotten sacrifice
Decades on, student Nicky is recovering from a break-up when a research project leads her to her great-grandmother’s experiences in revolutionary Ireland. When Nicky finds a long-forgotten handkerchief amongst her great-grandmother’s things, it leads to the revelation of a heartbreaking story of tragedy and courage, and those who sacrificed everything for their country.
Inspired by a heartbreaking true story, this emotional historical novel will sweep you away to the Emerald Isle. Perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Sandy Taylor and Fiona Valpy.
Readers LOVE The Girl with the Emerald Flag!
‘Kathleen never disappoints’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The mark of an excellent book – when you don't want it to be finished and when you want to find out more about the subject…This book was an education as well as entertaining – as always well written and one not to put down until it was finished.’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘If you like getting your history from fictional stories rather than dry tomes then this is the book for you. I'd highly recommend it!’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This is a book that has been researched so well and so accurate, attention to detail is brilliant, I loved this from start to finish and can highly recommend for a very true to life book.’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I absolutely loved reading 'The Girl With The Emerald Flag' and I would certainly recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Kathleen's work in the future’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"
"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 Soraya Lane, 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 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"
"‘I was captivated… What a stunning story of sisterhood, sacrifice and forgiveness!’ Lana Kortchik, USA Today bestselling author of Sisters of War
Three sisters. Three ships. One heartbreaking story.
1911. As Emma packs her trunk to join the ocean liner Olympic as a stewardess, she dreams of earning enough to provide a better life for both her sisters. With their photograph tucked away in her luggage, she promises to be back soon – hoping that sickly Lily will keep healthy, and wild Ruby will behave. But neither life at sea nor on land is predictable, and soon the three sisters’ lives are all changed irrevocably…
Now. When Harriet finds her late grandmother’s travelling trunk in the attic, she’s shocked to discover a photo of three sisters inside – her grandmother only ever mentioned one sister, who died tragically young. Who is the other sister, and what happened to her? Harriet’s questions lead her to the story of three sister ships, Olympic, Titanic and Britannic, and a shattering revelation about three sisters torn apart…
Don’t miss the latest novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Secret of the Chateau. Perfect for fans of The Beekeeper’s Promise and The Forgotten Village!
Readers LOVE The Lost Sister!
’An emotional roller coaster. A story that will live with me for a very long time.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘McGurl has managed to create a masterpiece… a must-read for historical fiction lovers.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars
‘I just could not put it down… It was heartbreaking, touching and yet uplifting.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘This was a fascinating book… utterly ‘readable’ and hard to put down as it was so masterfully crafted.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars
‘This story had me engrossed from start to end… I highly recommend this book.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars
‘I loved this book so much.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars"
"‘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, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I loved this book.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wonderful… Was hard to put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Swept me away… I was totally engaged… Highly recommended.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fantastic!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘An excellent read… Compelling.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"
