The Madam

"The simmering menace and mystery kept me absolutely gripped...a smoldering novel that I could not put down." ––Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne "Rebecca meets The Secret History: gloriously dark, gloriously Gothic." ––Sara Collins, bestselling author of The Confessions of Fannie Langton Named a Best Book of 2021 by Goodreads • Entertainment Weekly • Parade • PopSugar • Brit+Co • Romper • Frolic • Crime Reads • SheKnows.com • Women.com Discover the secrets of Caldonbrae Hall in this riveting, modern gothic debut set at an all girls' boarding school perched on a craggy Scottish peninsula. For 150 years, high above rocky Scottish cliffs, Caldonbrae Hall has sat untouched, a beacon of excellence in an old ancestral castle. A boarding school for girls, it promises that the young women lucky enough to be admitted will emerge "resilient and ready to serve society." Into its illustrious midst steps Rose Christie: a 26-year-old Classics teacher, Caldonbrae’s new head of the department, and the first hire for the school in over a decade. At first, Rose is overwhelmed to be invited into this institution, whose prestige is unrivaled. But she quickly discovers that behind the school’s elitist veneer lies an impenetrable, starkly traditional culture that she struggles to reconcile with her modernist beliefs--not to mention her commitment to educating "girls for the future." It also doesn’t take long for Rose to suspect that there’s more to the secret circumstances surrounding the abrupt departure of her predecessor--a woman whose ghost lingers everywhere--than anyone is willing to let on. In her search for this mysterious former teacher, Rose instead uncovers the darkness that beats at the heart of Caldonbrae, forcing her to confront the true extent of the school’s nefarious purpose, and her own role in perpetuating it. A darkly feminist tale pitched against a haunting backdrop, and populated by an electrifying cast of heroines, Madam will keep readers engrossed until the breathtaking conclusion. They want our silence... They want our obedience... Let them see our fire burn

The Madam is a drama series about a gorgeous and ambitious 16 year old girl who has been forced by her family to run a risky business left behind by her grandmother. Victoria soon finds out that picking the next year’s fashion trends isn’t all she’s responsible for while running her grandmothers fashion empire. Her grandmother leaves behind a multibillion dollar Corporation and a unscratched reputation that only Victoria can handle along with the staff that can help her run the business. As Victoria tries to adjust to her grandmother’s lifestyle, she finds out a lot more about her grandmother than she wanted and now it’s too late for her to back out. Little does Victoria know, her new job as the most feared woman in the Country has its wonderful perks and its horrible downfalls.

West Virginia, 1924: Alma works in a hosiery mill where the percussive roar of machinery has far too long muffled the engine that is her heart. When Alma's husband decides that they should set out to find their fortune in Florida, Alma has little choice but to leave her three children and ailing mother behind. But when Alma is then abandoned at a Miami dock, she is suddenly forced to make her own way in the world. With the help of a gentle giantess and an opium-addicted prostitute, Alma reclaims her children from the orphanage and forges ahead with an altogether new sort of family. As an act of survival, she chooses to run a house of prostitution, a harvest that relies on lust and weakness in men, of which "the world has a generous, unending supply." The Madam is the story of a house of sin. It is here where Alma's children will learn everything there is to know about "love and loss, sex and betrayal." Based on the real life of the author's grandmother, The Madam is a tale of epic proportions, one that will haunt readers long after its stunning conclusion.

In 1897 London, Detective Sergeant Rory Kerrigan never expected to find love among the crime-ridden streets he’s vowed to protect. His tragic past has hardened his heart, keeping emotion from his life. This ensured no interference with his police work. Yet, an unlikely woman finds a way around his defenses. Rea owns the brothel, The Blind Cupid, and harbors a desolate past of her own. As a result, she trusts no man. However, it is hard to deny that the ruggedly handsome Rory is everything honorable and appealing. He awakens feelings she’s never experienced before. A dreadful murder has them determined to bring the killer to justice. As danger lurks, secrets are revealed, and passion ignites. Despite the many obstacles, love blooms between them. Will the copper and the madam acknowledge their mutual yearning even at the peril of their lives?

Retired teacher and London guide, Terence Jenkins gives us glimpses of a London you thought you knew. In bite-size chunks we are introduced to nymphs, nereids and Oceanides, we visit the glorious cathedral of the suburbs, meet 'Brandy Nan' who had 8 children, none of whom survived and thereby led to the present House of Windsor being our reigning dynasty. We discover J. M. W. Turners' secret dockside 'snuggery' and find out what 'squabs' are and why they once formed part of our diet. Our capital city's hidden history is revealed to us (with illustrations) in an entertaining way.

The compulsively readable and sometimes jaw-dropping story of the life of a notorious madam who played hostess to every gangster, politician, writer, sports star and Cafe Society swell worth knowing, and who as much as any single figure helped make the twenties roar—from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Most Famous Man in America. "A fast-paced tale of … Polly’s many court battles, newspaper headlines, mobster dealings and society gossip…. A breathless tale told through extraordinary research.” —The New York Times Book Review Simply put: Everybody came to Polly's. Pearl "Polly" Adler (1900-1962) was a diminutive dynamo whose Manhattan brothels in the Roaring Twenties became places not just for men to have the company of women but were key gathering places where the culturati and celebrity elite mingled with high society and with violent figures of the underworld—and had a good time doing it. As a Jewish immigrant from eastern Europe, Polly Adler's life is a classic American story of success and assimilation that starts like a novel by Henry Roth and then turns into a glittering real-life tale straight out of F. Scott Fitzgerald. She declared her ambition to be "the best goddam madam in all America" and succeeded wildly. Debby Applegate uses Polly's story as the key to unpacking just what made the 1920s the appallingly corrupt yet glamorous and transformational era that it was and how the collision between high and low is the unique ingredient that fuels American culture.

Murder, loyalty, and vengeance collide in a gritty read perfect for fans of Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers. ‘Orange is the New Black meets a twisted Southampton’ Molly, Amazon reviewer ‘If you like a crime novel with a strong female lead then you’ll love this’ Katie, Amazon reviewer

Here is the fascinating true story of how a poor girl from the Prairies rose above poverty and hardship to become the best known, and seemingly untouchable, madam in this country.