If you only have time for one book this month, this is it:

Gladiatrix: Time Stalker Book 1
by Rhonda Roberts
ISBN 9780732288556

The Timestalker series follows the adventures of Kannon, a private investigator licensed to use the time portal operated by the National Time Administration in San Francisco. In each book Kannon will visit a different exotic time and location in order to solve a mystery set in the present. Rhonda Roberts has written us an introduction to Kannon's world, below:

In the first instalment — Gladiatrix — Kannon must travel to ancient Rome to find out the secret to her real identity. Left for dead in the Blue Mountains when she was just a baby, Kannon discovers that an American Time Marshal, Victoria Dupree, could be her real mother. But Victoria has gone missing in ancient Rome while investigating the Hierophant, the mysterious leader of the Isis cult.

I love writing the Timestalker series. I planned it so that my detective heroine could have the maximum amount of adventure possible. I wanted to be able to send Kannon anywhere from ancient Egypt to America in the 1960s and give her mysteries to that range from the true — who really killed the last Tsar of Russia? — through to the best that I could invent. The series is set in an alternate past and present so it's possible to have a great deal of fun playing the 'what if' game and then send Kannon there to check it all out.

Read what Rhonda has to say about:
Time travel
Recreating Ancient Rome
Download an excerpt from Gladiatrix

Also out this month, book two of author Darren Shan's series for adults, written as D B Shan:

Hell's Horizon
By D B Shan
ISBN 9780007261321

The Cardinal is the City and the City is The Cardinal. They are joined at the soul.
When Al Jeery is seconded by The Cardinal from guard duties at Party Central to investigate the murder of a woman at a hotel he little suspects that the dead woman will turn out to be his girlfriend.
Soon he is involved in a terrifying mystery that draws in the dead, the city's Incan forefathers, the imposing figure of The Cardinal himself, and the near-mythical assassin, Paucar Wami. Wami is a law unto himself, a shadowy, mysterious figure who can apparently kill anyone he chooses without fear of punishment or retribution. And Al is about to find out that he has a lot more in common with Wami than he could ever have imagined.

Beyond the Wall of Time
By Russell Kirkpatrick
ISBN 9780732283940

The release of the final book in the Husk trilogy is even more exciting because Beyond the Wall of Time will be launched at ConScription 2009, where Russell is to be a Guest of Honour. That's right, if you're lucky enough to be in Auckland, or even just passing through briefly (because the con is held right near Auckland airport), you could meet Russell and be at the launch of the book.

The Gods are ravaging the world and Lenares has the power to stop them - if she can get her companions to believe her.
Stella wonders if she can trust the potentially traitorous Undying Man, who offers to help, but is fixated on his own agenda. Noetos, seeking revenge for the deaths of his loved ones, is yet to realise his enemy is one of his companions.
The fisherman, cosmographer and queen need to reach Andratan ... only there will they break free of Husk's malevolent control over them.

Visit Russell Kirkpatrick's website

Magic in the Blood
By Devon Monk
ISBN 9780732289331

Here at Voyager we now almost better know Devon for her dangerous knitting tendencies than her writing – but a new book on the adventures of Allie Beckstrom will surely distract us as Allie, initially consulted by the police over a missing persons case, finds herself drawn into the underworld of criminals, ghosts, and blood magic ...

Visit Devon Monk's website

Australian Women Online is running a live online chat with author Maria Quinn on Friday, 1 May 2009 at 8pm Sydney time. Click here for more information.

The Painted Man by Peter V Brett will finally be available again in the last week of May. Do NOT miss out on your copy! Visit Peter's website and check out his amazing pictures at ComicCon in Feb, when he launched the US version of The Painted Man. You can also check out his writing for the Voyager blog here.

As mentioned above, Russell Kirkpatrick will be GoH at ConScription 09 – don't miss your chance to get your fresh-from-the-printer copy of Beyond the Wall of Time signed by the man himself!

WIN ONE OF FIVE COPIES OF GLADIATRIX!!!

Left for dead when she was two, Kannon Jarratt has no idea of her real identity. Now, twenty years on, she discovers that her mother might be US Time Marshal, Victoria Dupree. Kannon travels to ancient Rome where Victoria is investigating the Hierophant, mysterious leader of the Isis cult. To find her mother, Kannon becomes a gladiatrix in the service of Domitia Crassus, the only person who knows the Hierophant's identity.
Unfortunately, all paths are leading her to an epic battle to the death in the arena ...

For your chance to win one of five copies of this sensational debut answer the following question in 25 words or less:

In Gladiatrix, Kannon travels back to Ancient Rome in search of her mother. If you could travel to any time and place where would you go and why?

Email your answer with the subject "Gladiatrix Competition" and your contact details to feedback@harpercollins.com.au by Friday 29th May 2009.

Good luck!

Competition terms and conditions
1. Information on how to enter forms part of the terms and conditions of entry. Promoter is HarperCollins Publishers Pty Limited ABN 36 009 913 517, 25 Ryde Road, Pymble NSW 2073, Australia.
2. Competition closes at 5pm Friday 29 Mayl 2009(AEST).
3. Entry is open to Australian residents only.
4. Entry is closed to employees (and their immediate families), agencies or trade customers of HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd and its associated companies.
5. All entries are via e-mail only. The competition requires entrants to answer a question.
6. Entries close 5pm Friday 29 May 2009(AEST) and entrants may enter one (1) time only.
7. This is a game of skill in which chance plays no part.
8. The judge's decision in relation to any aspect of this competition is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
9. Prize consists of five (5) copies of Gladiatrix by Rhonda Roberts valued at $20.99 each.
10. Prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash.
11. All prizes will be awarded. The prize will be awarded the business day following the competition closing date, 5pm Friday 29 May 2009(AEST) at 25 Ryde Road, Pymble NSW 2073.
12. The cost of entering the competition is limited to the cost of individuals telephony charges and Internet access rates.
13. The promoter shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever suffered (including but not limited to direct or consequential loss) or personal injury suffered or sustained in relation to use of this prize.
14. All entries received remain the property of HarperCollins Pty Ltd and may be used for additional promotions.

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