Fascinating, funny, tragic, immensely readable and witty, these stories provide an invaluable insight into life in India during the British Raj.

From a secretive soldier on the eve of the Normandy landings to a golf-playing gun fanatic in a suburb of modern Britain, everybody has something to hide in this collection of original spy fiction that brings together the distinctive voices of the genre for the very first time.

New York Times bestselling author Lee Child has teamed up with the International Thriller Writers for 'First Thrills', a showcase of many of the organization's bestselling authors as well as rising stars in the genre.

When a thin, pale boy called Lambert claims he's the rightful heir to the throne, King Henry VII is furious in 'The Prince, The Cook and the Cunning King'. In 'The Thief, The Fool and the Big Fat King', James and his parents aim to challenge King Henry VIII - and win. 'The Maid, the Witch and the Cruel Queen' tells of 'Bloody' Queen Mary who burns her enemies at the stake and Old Nan the 'witch' who is far too clever to be burned, while 'The Actor,...

As Mexico's government wages war on the drug cartels, it takes brains to survive, and Cuchillo has not just survived - he has prospered. But when Cuchillo begins to cut too deeply, the federal police of both the United States and Mexico step in to dull his blade. P. Z. Evans and Alejo D�az know the Hermosillo cartel is planning an attack on a tourist bus in Sonora, and they know they will have to capture or kill Cuchillo to stop it. The cartel leader...

Star Sullivan: Star Sullivan just wanted everyone to be happy - her father to stop gambling, her mother not to work so hard, her brother to stay out of trouble, her sister to stop worrying about every little thing she ate. Then the Hale family moved in next door, and from the moment Star saw 23-year-old Laddy Hale, everything began to change - until Star was no longer the sweet, thoughtful girl everyone loved and no one worried about ... The Garden...