Historical Mysteries England

After four years of war, with attacks escalating day by day and public support crumbling at home, the American effort in Iraq rests on one last gambit: a tenuous alliance with the Sunni tribes of Anbar to deny al-Qaeda sanctuary and take the fight to the terrorists.

The Pale Horseman is the compelling sequel to the best-selling The Last Kingdom. Uhtred, Northumbrian born, raised a Viking and now married to a Saxon, is already a formidable figure and warrior. But at 20 he is still arrogant, pagan, and headstrong, so not a comfortable ally for the thoughtful, pious Alfred. But these two, with Alfred's family and a few of Uhtred's companions, are apparently all that remains of the Wessex leadership after a disastrous truce.

The year is 2006. For Harry Nichols, it isn't his first time dropping into a combat zone. But getting to the ground is only the beginning...for the woman they have come to save is the wife of a Hezbollah commander. Her husband has vowed to kill her. The CIA has promised to keep her alive. But as the mission descends into chaos - as the night explodes in fire - some promises will prove impossible to keep.

Emily and Colin Hargreaves make it a rule to spend as little time as possible with her parents in Kent, but are unable to refuse Lady Catherine Bromley’s invitation to join them for a pre-Christmas party that includes the family of Ala Kapur Singh, a powerful Punjabi maharaja who has come to England after receiving the Order of the Star of India.