Books published by Allison & Busby

Sixteen-year-old Juliet has always idolised her mother, but Agnes is haunted by what could have been if she stayed in Manchester rather than settling in Lancashire with her husband. When he suddenly dies, Agnes finds them work as seamstresses for the local landowners. But it will be a bumpy road for them both as they settle in to their new lives.

A shattered peace in the tranquil West Country.The peace of a small West Country village is rudely shattered when a bomb explodes in the local supermarket. Karen Slocombe, a member of the Food Chain Group and staunch supporter of local produce, would not normally care for the loss of a supermarket, but she does take offence to such violence and that fact that she and her daughter were very nearly caught up in the explosion.When, a few days later, Karen witnesses the horrifying murder of an adjacent stallholder at the local farmer's market, she begins to wonder just who is committing these seemingly motiveless crimes and why does she keep finding herself in the middle of the crime scene?

A sinister disappearance in the beautiful Devon countryside.One glorious summer's afternoon, Karen Slocombe is visited by her cousin Penn, who unexpectedly asks for husband Drew's help in tracking down a missing relative, Justine. But why has Penn come to him, and why is she reluctant to get the police involved?Justine's mother, Roma Millan, an avid beekeeper, is not interested in the whereabouts of her daughter, but husband Laurie senses a troubled history between mother and daughter. Detective Den Cooper joins Drew as the case takes a sinister turn when it is discovered that a small child is also missing. But can the tangle of secrets and lies be unravelled before somebody gets hurt?

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLING COTSWOLD MYSTERIES SERIESWhen the body of herdsman Sean O'Farrell was discovered in one of the farm buildings, DS Den Cooper is more than happy to cast one of the local farmers, Gordon Hillcock, in the role of chief suspect. After all, it is a well-known fact that there was no love lost between Gordon and the victim. And besides, Den has a little grudge of his own - Gordon is currently dating Den's ex-fiancee Lilah and was actually the reason she dumped him only a few short months before their wedding.However, Den did not plan on Lilah's determination to protect her new lover. How far will she go to make sure that Den directs his suspicions elsewhere?

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLING COTSWOLD MYSTERIES SERIESNina Cattermole had an unusual death: head-butted by a horse as she protested against the local Devon hunt. The official verdict? It was a freak accident. But when another hunt saboteur is found dead in a ditch on the day of Nina's funeral, local DC Den Cooper is sent to investigate.It soon becomes clear that this is not another accident. Charlie Gratton has been trampled to death by a horse, the blows struck with such precision that they could only have been delivered by an animal under the control of an experienced rider. It seems that Charlie, a practising Quaker, has been murdered. As Den tries to solve the case he finds himself drawn in to an insular Quaker community and a village divided by loyalties and past misdeeds...

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLING COTSWOLD MYSTERIES SERIESFifty-five-year-old Jim Lapsford makes an unusually healthy-looking corpse. A life-long devotee of vitamin pills and herbal remedies, it seems almost ironic that he has succumbed to a heart attack. His GP is convinced that this is the case but trainee undertaker Drew Slocombe isn't so sure and he is convinced that there is enough conflicting medical evidence to merit a coroner's inquest at least. And then there's Jim's personal life: in addition to a long suffering wife, two sons and a grieving terrier, Jim appears to have left behind a series of scorned mistresses.It seems everyone else is happy enough to accept the doctor's verdict and Drew shouldn't really rock the boat, but can he really turn his back on murder? Even so, Drew may have plenty of suspects but he has no proof. And Jim's cremation is days away...

Lara Perryman has spent her whole life travelling for her busy corporate job, so it's a relief when she takes early retirement and settles in a leisure village in Wiltshire. She quickly makes friends with the other residents and finds herself entangled in the ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies of her new community.

Former Detective Inspector Daniel Wilson is often consulted when a case must be solved quickly and quietly. Such is the case when a body is found in the Egyptian Collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Wilson must contend with an unhelpful police Inspector, and more alarmingly, the archaeologist who discovered the body.

When the teenage son of a vicar escapes after brutally attacking his father, a frantic police search is launched. As rumours arise that the boy was involved in devil worship, Professor Matt Hunter, an atheist ex-minister and expert on religion, is brought in to advise, yet he quickly suspects the church attack may have a far more complex cause.

After the wars in Restoration Europe and the death of his wife, Christopher Morgan tries to start afresh, buying a pub in the West Country. His new life is torn apart when his young son Abel is kidnapped and sold. From the shores of Constantinople to the western American isles, Christopher will sail far and wide to search for his missing son.

Southampton, 1912. At just 19, Jessie opts not to follow her mother back to Ireland, preferring to take charge of her own destiny. When she takes over the running of the cafe she works in, it seems everything is coming together. But destiny and a pushy businessman have other ideas. Will she find the strength to keep fighting for the life she wants?

Thea and Drew are settled in the village of Broad Campden, but Thea is bored of domestic routines, missing the adventures of house-sitting. When a burial exposes family secrets, Drew finds himself caught in a feud. As he struggles with a profound dilemma and Thea fights the charms of a new man, can their marriage survive this latest Cotswold drama?

Cass Lynch has achieved the post of third officer aboard her beloved ship. On their latest voyage it seems there's a stowaway aboard, yet a search finds nobody. Then a trainee goes missing. Cass and DI Gavin Macrae find themselves up against a ruthless killer. Cass also has a dilemma: could she bear to give up the sea for a settled life with Gavin?

June, 1917. While German bombers raid London from above, a man's body is fished from the Thames. As the killer has taken care to remove identifying items and even labels, Detective Inspector Marmion and Sergeant Keedy struggle to name the victim before they can begin properly with their investigation.

After being driven from home by their brutal father, the Willitt sisters, Mattie, Nell and Renie, find themselves facing greater heartache in the wider world. Nell has left home to be with her lover, Cliff, fearing what reprisals might come from marrying against her father's wishes.After parting ways with Mattie the couple take youngest sister Renie and head for Lancashire. However, Nell's happiness is short-lived; her marriage suffering as Cliff resents his job and the fact that though Nell has given him a daughter, she seems unable to conceive another child. When Renie leaves for London, Nell feels desperately alone. Then tragedy strikes, and Nell, mad with grief, runs away in the hope of being reunited with her two sisters. While wandering the English countryside, a gypsy palm-reader tells Nell she will still find her destiny, under 'three big trees on a hill'.Her luck seems to change when she meets Gil, a farmer and a gentleman who she can't help but feel drawn to. Could the trees on his land be a sign, or is Nell too damaged by her past to let herself love again?In this emotional sequel to Cherry Tree Lane, Anna Jacobs delivers a stunning romance novel that is both tragic and uplifting.

December 1860. An army of men heads for the morning shift at the Swindon Locomotive works. Unfortunately, boiler smith Frank Rodman is headed for the grave sooner than he'd expected, or he will be once his missing head is found. Colbeck, the Railway Detective, finds his investigation into Rodman's murder mired in contradictions.

A collection of 17 stand-alone short stories, where an ordinary person takes on an extraordinary journey to a new life, discovering facets and strengths they never knew they possessed. Across a variety of time periods and settings, they capture Anna Jacobs' unique style and showcase her mastery of emotional tales.

Edward Brazier is enlisted by Prime Minister William Pitt to assist his investigation into smuggling activity in Deal. However, with his love Betsy now locked into a loveless marriage with Tom Spafford, Brazier is distracted from his mission.

The houses in Saffron Lane are being filled. Ginger doesn't win a place but gets a job running the small cafe, taking refuge from her abusive son. When she meets Iain, sparks fly between them, but will her son spoil it? New opportunities and problems are thrown into Emil's path while he is in town. Will the newcomers manage to build new lives?