Books with author CLAIRE RAYNER

Martha Lackland dies in 1905. Her great-niece, Letty attends the funeral. Here she meets Luke O'Hare, an aspiring actor with plans to start a theatre for the poor of London. Letty falls under the spell of Luke and his circle of Bohemian friends. In an attempt to establish her independence from her domineering family she runs away to help Luke and his friends set up the theatre. It is also a time of great change for women as the Suffragette movement presents a radical challenge to the established order and Letty is drawn to the excitement and liberation it promises.

'That George Barnabas is a woman is just the first twist in this taut and fraught investigation.' - SUNDAY EXPRESS 'A terrific mystery thriller' - PRIMA Another in this successful series featuring Dr. George Barnabas. The gossipmongers at London's Royal Eastern Hospital are working overtime. Three suicides in as many days among the staff? Something must be very wrong. Dr George Barnabas, female forensic pathologist, could have told them that the deaths were certainly not all suicides - but accidental death is so much less interesting for the rumour mill...Yet when a fourth person nearly dies - one of George's own lab staff - it's attempted murder, and George herself, unbelievably, comes under suspicion. George has never needed much incentive to do some sleuthing; this time she has the strongest reason of all...

The latest in THE PERFORMERS family saga. PADDINGTON GREEN follows the fortunes of the children of Abel and Dorothea and Lilith's daughter Celia. Abel's first born, Jonah, his heart set on a theatrical career, married Celia. But all his hopes have been lost in his desire to provide for his family. Then there is the delightful Abby, a successful business woman, a rare thing in the nineteenth century. Her affections are bestowedon Gideon, her Jewish accountant, who will fight all the religioussanctions which his parents and even his own faith bring to bear, in order to attain his love.

In the twelfth and final volume in The Performers family saga it is October 1946 and along with London, the Lackland and Lucas families are trying to pick up the pieces of a new life. At Queen Eleanor's Hospital, known as "Nellie's," the family, along with the Board of Governors, has to find money to rebuild following theblitz. They turn to Letty, that formidable Lackland lady, to see what she can do to raise funds. As Nellie's is taken into the National Health Service in 1948, the two families are at last united.

Welcome to Alaska! A special welcome to my boyfriend, Jake, the cutest tourist I've ever met! Explore our natural beauties and untouched wilderness. Jake and I like to hike our great (romantic!) nature trails. . . . Enjoy our perfect skiing and snowboarding conditions. Be sure to catch Will Parker doing his snowboarding tricks. He makes all the girls in town melt. (Except for me. Who needs Will when you've got Jake?) Experience our world-class resorts and spas. While you're there, find out what's up with that hot girl Jake brought to the lodge this year. She's probably just his cousin or something. Right?! Get ready for a vacation you'll never forget!

Abel Lackland has risen from squalid beginnings to become one of the wealthiest surgeons in town. He wants his eldest son, Jonah, to follow in his footsteps, but Jonah decides that the future lies in the world of the arts. Jonah steals away one night to visit the forbidden Haymarket theatre and manages to meet the famous Lilith Lucas. He falls under her spell - a fatal spell that, unknown to him, has haunted Abel for many years. Lilith is aware of Jonah's identity and sees a chance to repay Abel Lackland for the indignity and heartbreak of the past...

The latest in The Performers family saga centres on Letty, great niece of Martha, and Luke, an aspiring young actor. Letty, disillusioned with her arduous medical training, runs away in a daring attempt to build her own life. She falls under the spell of Luke and his bohemian friends, and helps set up the Chelsea Reach Gaff, a theatre. At the theatre no one stands out as brilliantly as Jessica, beautiful and assured, and a strong rival for Luke's affections. With Luke suddenly cold towards her, Letty realises that total independence may not be what she truly desires.