Spotlight on Sparkling Books, indie UK publisher

Today, LitNuts is pleased to shine a spotlight on Sparkling Books, an independent press based in the United Kingdom that publishes crime, detective, mystery, suspense, thriller, horror, romance, women's fiction, children's, young adult/middle grade, and drama.

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Petronella and the Janjilons by Cheryl Bentley 

The Janjilons are not what they seem. They look like a type of monkey, but they are really children. How did they turn into Janjilons? And could it happen to anyone?

Behind this mystery is someone evil: Judge Ormerod who wants to be the next Duke of Westshire. With the help of three weird sisters, he has to rid the land of clever children from being an obstacle to him. The Janjilons work for him as the three sisters mete out punishment and keep them locked up.

Petronella starts to look into these strange happenings. But time is running out because when the Judge no longer needs the Janjilons, they will be destroyed.

"A fun and exciting tale of mischief and the resulting troubles, of problem solving and the outcome of working toward a goal." ~”Linda Barrett, Bookseller, USA

Peregrine Harker & the Black Death by Luke Hollands 

Murder. Spies. Explosions. Revenge. This book for teens has it all!

London 1908. Peregrine Harker is about to learn you’re never too young to die. A secret society stalks the murky streets, a deadly assassin lurks in the shadows, and a series of unexplained deaths are linked by a mystery symbol. When boy-detective Peregrine Harker stumbles across a gruesome murder, he sparks a chain of events that drag him on a rip-roaring journey through a world of spluttering gas lamps, thick fog, deadly secrets, and dastardly villains. Every step of Peregrine’s white-knuckle adventure brings him closer to the vile heart of a terrifying mystery – the true story behind the Brotherhood of the Black Death.

“Highly imaginative and original.” ~The Hopeful Heroine Blog

Three British Mystery Novels 

Three authors, three great mysteries:

• Lynnwood by Thomas Brown: Who wouldn’t want to live in an idyllic village in the English countryside like Lynnwood? With its charming pub, old dairy, friendly vicar, gurgling brooks, and old paths with memories of simpler times. But the unthinkable is happening in Lynnwood ‒ a village with centuries of guilt on its conscience. Finalist in the People’s Book Prize.
• A Taste for Blood by David Stuart Davies: Two laser-sharp detectives, two thought-provoking cases, and two plots running parallel...you won’t see what’s coming! Featuring private investigator Johnny (One Eye) Hawke, and his one-time colleague in the police force Detective David Llewellyn. Hawke is on the case of a mysterious suicide. Llewellyn is investigating the chilling crimes of a top psychiatrist and his scheming patient. 
• Ellipsis by Nikki Dudley: ”Right on time,” Daniel Mansen mouths to Alice as she pushes him to his death. Haunted by these words, Alice becomes obsessed with discovering how a man she didn’t know could predict her actions. Ellipsis is a thriller stemming from what is left unsaid, what bounces around in the mind, and what evaporates when trying to remember. Can there be a conclusion when no one seems to know the truth?

Further Exploits of Sherlock Holmes

This exciting anthology brings together the work of two much admired Sherlock Holmes writers: David Stuart Davies and Matthew Booth. In these stories, Holmes and Watson are engaged in daring exploits applying their razor-sharp intelligence in new cases.

"Captures the feel of the originals...well-rounded tales" ~Jonathan Johnson, Librarian, USA

"These stories bring Holmes and Watson back to life in the true spirit of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle." ~Jeannette Beech, UK reviewer

The Sicilian Woman's Daughter by Linda Lo Scuro 

Most victims of the mafia are the Sicilians themselves. The role of women both as perpetrators and victims has been grossly overlooked. Until now.

As the teen daughter of Sicilian immigrants, Maria turns her back on her origins and fully embraces the English way of life. Notwithstanding her troubled and humble childhood in London, and backed up by her intelligence, beauty, and sheer determination, she triumphantly works her way up to join the upper middle class of British society. There she becomes a bastion of civility. But an incident causes Maria to delve into her mother's murky family history, drawing Maria more and more into a mire of vendetta.

"An enthralling read on many levels.” ~Book Trail

The Financial System Limit by David Kauders 

Can the world really continue to stimulate its way out of every downturn? What happens to debt as central banks and governments buy prosperity?

In The Financial System Limit: The world's read debt burden, the author puts forward three radical theories, which show that Keynesian economics can no longer benefit society. He explains why debt cannot expand to infinity; then how debt interest is a cost to us all. The global economic cycle is now determined by central bank policies. Read The Financial System Limit to understand why banks keep failing and learn why financial and economic policies have to change. You will discover why debt reduction programs do not work and what will follow the recent inflation.

David Kauders FRSA is a British investment manager who has been concerned about the hidden social costs of easy money. This is his third book.