Bøger af Nancy Bilyeau

From the author of The Blue, Dreamland, and the Joanna Stafford trilogy-a compelling mystery set at Christmastime in the faded glory of New York's Gilded Age.In this unforgettable story, bestselling author Nancy Bilyeau takes readers to J. P. Morgan's private library in December 1912, when two very different people haunted by lost love come together in an unexpected way.Helen O'Neill, part of a tight-knit Irish-American family in the Bronx, is only too happy to report to work at the spectacular private library built on Madison Avenue by millionaire financier J. P. Morgan. The head librarian, the brilliant and beautiful Belle da Costa Greene, had hired Helen away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art after she witnessed Helen's unusual talent with handling artifacts.Helen soon discovers the Morgan Library is a place like no other, with its secret staircases, magical manuscripts, and mysterious murals. But that's nothing compared to a person Helen alone sees: a young woman standing on Madison Avenue, looking as if she were keeping watch. In learning the woman's true link to the Morgan, Helen must face the pain of her own past. She finds herself with a second chance at happiness-if she has the courage.From the author of The Blue, the Joanna Stafford trilogy, and Dreamland, set in 1911 Coney Island, comes The Ghost of Madison Avenue, a story both thrilling and moving.Praise for Nancy Bilyeau's Fiction"Nancy Bilyeau's passion for history infuses her books"-Alison Weir, bestselling historian and novelistOn The Ghost of Madison Avenue: "The Gilded Age splendors of the Morgan Library come to life in this wonderful, warm-hearted tale of Christmases past, present, and future. Bilyeau weaves a wealth of gorgeous period detail into her ghost story of old New York, delivering genuine chills, family drama, and poignant romance with equal skill. A gorgeous holiday treat!" -Mariah Fredericks, author of Death of a New AmericanOn Dreamland: "This fast-paced, engrossing novel from Bilyeau ... gives readers an up-close and personal view of New York's Gilded Age" -Library Journal, starred review"Beautifully written and impeccably researched, Dreamland is a rollicking ride." -Fiona Davis, author of The Chelsea Girls"A marvelous book!"-Ellen Marie Wiseman, author of What She Left Behind On The Blue: "Definitely a winner!"-Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network"Fascinating"-Ian Rankin, international bestsellerOn the Joanna Stafford Trilogy: "All the ingredients of the best historical fiction ... will satisfy even the most ardent mystery fans."-Deborah Harkness, author of A Discovery of Witches"Bilyeau deftly weaves extensive historical detail throughout, but the real draw of this suspenseful novel is its juicy blend of lust, murder, conspiracy and betrayal."-Oprah Magazine

An astonishing debut in historical fiction, hailed as “part The Da Vinci Code, part The Other Boleyn Girl,” (Woman’s Day), The Crown follows one nun’s dangerous quest to find an ancient relic during Cromwell’s reign of terror.Joanna Stafford, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousin’s side. Arrested for interfering with the king’s justice, Joanna, along with her father, is sent to the Tower of London. While Joanna is in the Tower, the ruthless Bishop of Winchester forces her to spy for him: to save her father’s life she must find an ancient relic—a crown so powerful, it may possess the ability to end the Reformation. With Cromwell’s troops threatening to shutter her priory, bright and bold Joanna must decide who she can trust so that she may save herself, her family, and her sacred way of life. This provocative story melds heart-stopping suspense with historical detail and brings to life the poignant dramas of women and men at a fascinating and critical moment in England’s past.

Joanna Stafford havner igen i fare. Næppe er hun ankommet til Henrik d. VIIIs hof, før nogen vil hende til livs. Mens hun forsøger at navigere i intriger og komplot, befinder hun sig ved en skillevej både professionelt og følelsesmæssigt.Den forbudte pagt er den sidste bog i trilogien om Joanna Stafford, som er en af de mest uforglemmelige heltinder i historisk fiktion.

En nonnes kamp for overlevelse i den blodigste og mest skælsættende periode i Englands historie … splittelsen mellem kirke og stat. Da den dominikanske nonne, Joanna Stafford, hører at hendes yndlingskusine er blevet dømt af Henrik d. 8. til at brænde på bålet, trodser hun sit klosters strikse regler og forlader prioratet for at stå ved sin kusines side. Men skæbnen vil, at hun bliver arresteret for at forsøge at hindre kongens retfærdighed, og sammen med sin far sendt til Tower of London. For at redde sin fars liv, bliver Joanna nu tvunget til at spionere for den ubarmhjertige biskop af Winchester. Hun får til opgave at finde en magtfuld krone, båret af den saksiske kong Adalstein i 937, som siges at kunne sætte en stopper for Reformationen. Ledsaget af munken Edmund drager Joanna ud for at søge efter kronen. Hendes søgen bringer hende til Malmesbury Abbey—Kong Adalsteins hvilested—hvor hun blandt andet kommer på sporet af hemmeligheder om Richard Løvehjerte og Katherine af Aragons første mand, Arthur. Mens Cromwells tropper truer med at lukke hendes priorat, må Joanna beslutte sig for hvem hun kan stole på, for at redde sig selv, sin familie og sit hellige liv.

Mellem kirken og staten står én kvinde.I 1538 er England midt i en blodig magtkamp mellem kronen og korset, der truer med at rive landet fra hinanden. Den tidligere aristokrat, nu dominikanske nonne, Joanna Stafford, har set hvad der gemmer sig bag murene i Henrik d. 8’s torturkamre, og risikerer fængsling igen, da hun vikles ind i et skyggefuldt, internationalt komplot mod kongen. Da magtkampen tager en ondskabsfuld drejning, går det op for Joanna at hun er nødt til at påtage sig sin rolle i en profeti, forudsagt af tre forskellige seere.Joanna indser at kongens liv, lige så vel som kristendommens fremtid, ligger i hendes hænder – hænder, der en dag vil holde den hellige gral, der er omdrejningspunktet i disse dødelige profetier …

The next in the award-winning series takes place in the Tudor court, as a gutsy former novice risks everything to defy the most powerful men.