Quincunx (Palliser)

An unnamed menace, an ancient document… five families torn apart. An unputdownable and bestselling historical mystery John Mellamphy's life is under threat. In the remote countryside, his mother, Mary, has been burgled in mysterious circumstances. Then her protector, Mr Fortisquince, is suddenly murdered in London. Mysterious forces are at work looking for an old document, the key to an enormous fortune. Already having experienced a life of toil and hardship, it may change John's life. But this is a document that provokes avarice, hatred, murder and madness, that determines the fates of five families and sets the pattern of John's own life. A pattern woven around, and unravelled within, that most mysterious symbol – the Quincunx! An extraordinary historical mystery and cult classic, The Quincunx is perfect for readers of M.J. Carter, C.J. Sansom and Oscar de Muriel. Praise for The Quincunx 'Grips like steel… it's a book to make you miss your stop on the bus or the train, keep you up at night and wake you early… a formidable achievement' Kaleidoscope, BBC Radio 4 'His brilliant and entertaining pastiche of the mid-nineteenth-century novel' The Times 'A brilliant and deeply eccentric attempt to reproduce an early Victorian novel…it combines massive scope with minute detail – there is a cast of thousands, but every figure is lovingly painted. The plot is so thick the spoon stands up in it, and by the end, the reader has toured the whole of late Regency society… Magnificent – gripping and beautifully written; the sort of book that sends you into a trance of pleasure' Independent 'Charles Palliser has realised a world that can almost be smelt and tasted as it pours off the page of this gripping, extraordinary novel' Daily Telegraph 'His plot is of an intricacy that Wilkie Collins himself might have envied… an astonishing achievement' ScotsmanThe Quincunx 1 The Huffams 2 The Mompessons 3 The Clothiers 4 The Palphramonds 5 The Maliphants

Thieves, mansions and murders… no one can be trusted in this classic historical mystery The tangled threads of family conspiracy and dark intentions will not let John Mellamphy rest. Seeking help from Henry Bellringer, a relation of a school friend, he instead finds himself in a nest of thieves. Reading his mother's journal, with tantalising details of his parentage, his grandfather's murder and his deadly legacy, John finally discovers a terrible truth that could mean his death. But when John finally escapes the gang and a kindly household takes him in, their intentions may not be entirely altruistic… The third part of the bestselling classic, The Quincunx, is perfect for fans of C.S. Quinn, M.J. Carter or Alex Grecian. Praise for The Quincunx 'Grips like steel… it's a book to make you miss your stop on the bus or the train, keep you up at night and wake you early… a formidable achievement' Kaleidoscope, BBC Radio 4 'His brilliant and entertaining pastiche of the mid-nineteenth-century novel' The Times 'A brilliant and deeply eccentric attempt to reproduce an early Victorian novel…it combines massive scope with minute detail – there is a cast of thousands, but every figure is lovingly painted. The plot is so thick the spoon stands up in it, and by the end, the reader has toured the whole of late Regency society… Magnificent – gripping and beautifully written; the sort of book that sends you into a trance of pleasure' Independent 'Charles Palliser has realised a world that can almost be smelt and tasted as it pours off the page of this gripping, extraordinary novel' Daily Telegraph 'His plot is of an intricacy that Wilkie Collins himself might have envied… an astonishing achievement' ScotsmanThe Quincunx • The Huffams • The Mompessons • The Clothiers • The Palphramonds • The Maliphants

The final gripping part of this classic historical mystery With the will finally in his grasp, John may be able to prove his inheritance, and put an end to the deadly plots and endless machinations that have plagued his life. But betrayal hides around every corner. Will justice narrowly fall through his fingers one last time? Upon uncovering a dastardly plot to trick Henrietta into a marriage that would steal the fortune, John must do everything in his power to stop it. But can John, who has struggled so hard and for so long, finally be in reach of peace? The unputdownable, final instalment of the bestselling The Quincunx is perfect for fans of Andrew taylor, AD Swanston and Carol Hedges. Praise for The Quincunx 'Grips like steel… it's a book to make you miss your stop on the bus or the train, keep you up at night and wake you early… a formidable achievement' Kaleidoscope, BBC Radio 4 'His brilliant and entertaining pastiche of the mid-nineteenth-century novel' The Times 'A brilliant and deeply eccentric attempt to reproduce an early Victorian novel…it combines massive scope with minute detail – there is a cast of thousands, but every figure is lovingly painted. The plot is so thick the spoon stands up in it, and by the end, the reader has toured the whole of late Regency society… Magnificent – gripping and beautifully written; the sort of book that sends you into a trance of pleasure' Independent 'Charles Palliser has realised a world that can almost be smelt and tasted as it pours off the page of this gripping, extraordinary novel' Daily Telegraph 'His plot is of an intricacy that Wilkie Collins himself might have envied… an astonishing achievement' ScotsmanThe Quincunx • The Huffams • The Mompessons • The Clothiers • The Palphramonds • The Maliphants

A classic Victorian mystery full of intrigue, deadly plots and devastating twists and turns Falsely imprisoned in an asylum, John escapes from their clutches with the help of the kindly Digweed family. Starting a new life in hiding with them may feel safer, but they survive by scavenging the sewers of London. Summoning his strength, and on discovering the existence of a second will that could be his salvation, John must go undercover in the guise of a servant, into the very heart of the enemy themselves… The fourth part of the classic and beloved The Quincunx is perfect for fans of Michel Faber and S.J. Parris. Praise for The Quincunx 'Grips like steel… it's a book to make you miss your stop on the bus or the train, keep you up at night and wake you early… a formidable achievement' Kaleidoscope, BBC Radio 4 'His brilliant and entertaining pastiche of the mid-nineteenth-century novel' The Times 'A brilliant and deeply eccentric attempt to reproduce an early Victorian novel…it combines massive scope with minute detail – there is a cast of thousands, but every figure is loveingly painted. The plot is so thick the spoon stands up in it, and by the end, the reader has toured the whole of late Regency society… Magnificent – gripping and beautifully written; the sort of book that sends you into a trance of pleasure' Independent 'Charles Palliser has realised a world that can almost be smelt and tasted as it pours off the page of this gripping, extraordinary novel' Daily Telegraph 'His plot is of an intricacy that Wilkie Collins himself might have envied… an astonishing achievement' ScotsmanThe Quincunx 1 The Huffams 2 The Mompessons 3 The Clothiers 4 The Palphramonds 5 The Maliphants

Desperate times and darker mysteries abound in this extraordinary historical thriller With their savings rapidly running out, and the world turning against them, John and his mother are pursued by bailiffs and forced to move. Taking refuge with the Isbister family, they flee upon discovering a shocking dark side to their hosts. But then their luck seems to change when they discover the hospitable Miss Quilliam. And a way out of debt and disaster seems to offer itself with a momentous decision, one that will shape everything: to sell the most valuable thing they own. Life is never so easy, and cruelty, danger and disease are never far away... The second Part of the unputdownable classic, The Quincunx, is the ideal read for fans of S.J. Parris or Peter Ackroyd. Praise for The Quincunx 'Grips like steel… it's a book to make you miss your stop on the bus or the train, keep you up at night and wake you early… a formidable achievement' Kaleidoscope, BBC Radio 4 'His brilliant and entertaining pastiche of the mid-nineteenth-century novel' The Times 'A brilliant and deeply eccentric attempt to reproduce an early Victorian novel…it combines massive scope with minute detail – there is a cast of thousands, but every figure is lovingly painted. The plot is so thick the spoon stands up in it, and by the end, the reader has toured the whole of late Regency society… Magnificent – gripping and beautifully written; the sort of book that sends you into a trance of pleasure' Independent 'Charles Palliser has realised a world that can almost be smelt and tasted as it pours off the page of this gripping, extraordinary novel' Daily Telegraph 'His plot is of an intricacy that Wilkie Collins himself might have envied… an astonishing achievement' ScotsmanThe Quincunx 1 The Huffams 2 The Mompessons 3 The Clothiers 4 The Palphramonds 5 The Maliphants