AustLit logo

AustLit

C. J. Archer C. J. Archer i(A152262 works by)
Also writes as: Carolyn Scott
Gender: Female
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

Works By

Preview all
1 y separately published work icon The Goldsmith's Conspiracy C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2022 23975685 2022 single work novel fantasy

'Tensions between the artless and magicians are flaring, but India and Matt discover someone is deliberately fuelling the flames. Relentlessly pursuing his own agenda, Lord Coyle employs the former master of the Watchmaker's Guild to make trouble and be a thorn in India's side. 

'But India has the ear of the government now, and her own political influence is growing, something which pushes Lord Coyle over the edge. He plots his revenge by murdering a jeweler and casting blame onto someone very important to Matt and India. As they scramble to prove Coyle was the real killer before the accused is hanged, they learn the extent of Coyle's influence and the true motive behind his actions.

'With a problem too big to solve alone, India and Matt draw on aid from their friends. But it's old enemies who cause the biggest crisis of all.'  (Publication summary)

1 y separately published work icon The Spy Master's Scheme C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2021 23975633 2021 single work novel fantasy

'With knowledge of magic becoming more widespread in London, magicians find themselves highly sought after. Consumers want to buy their wares and so seek out magicians among their acquaintance. India’s rare magic is in demand from Matt’s family, the Collector’s Club, and other magicians who want her to extend their magic.

'But it’s wise to be wary of the attention.

'When the wool magician who helped India create a flying carpet spell disappears, his wife is worried for his life. India and Matt are worried for the country. If the person who stole the spell also kidnapped the wool magician, they could use flying carpets as vehicles of war. The closer they get to finding him, the more they realize they can’t trust anyone, not even the government. When it’s revealed that England’s spy master has plans for India’s talents, she refuses to cooperate.

'But Matt knows it’s not as simple as refusing. Every decision has a repercussion.

'And repercussions can be deadly.'  (Publication summary)

1 y separately published work icon The Toymaker's Curse C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2021 20152578 2021 single work novella fantasy

'Are curses real?

'After a toymaker magician gives a lecture at a collector's club soiree, an important spell is stolen and a man is found strangled. The investigation into his murder leads India and Matt to the colorful and dangerous world of the Romany gypsy where curses are used as weapons against their enemies.

'But nobody seems to know if curses are real or not.

'As Matt and India close in on the killer, old foes bring trouble into their lives. With the threat of exposure hanging over London's magicians, disaster is never far away. Then one fateful day, catastrophe strikes the Park Street household.'

Source : publisher's blurb

1 y separately published work icon Murder at the Mayfair Hotel C. J. Archer , Keilor East : C. J. Archer , 2020 20154057 2020 single work novel mystery historical fiction

'It was the most fashionable place to stay in London, until murder made a reservation. Solve the puzzle in this new mystery from USA Today bestselling author of the Glass and Steele series.

'December 1899. After the death of her beloved grandmother, Cleopatra Fox moves into the luxury hotel owned by her estranged uncle in the hopes of putting hardship and loneliness behind her. But the poisoning of a guest throws her new life, and the hotel, into chaos.

'Cleo quickly realizes no one can be trusted, not Scotland Yard and especially not the hotel’s charming assistant manager. With the New Year’s Eve ball approaching fast and the hotel’s reputation hanging by a thread, Cleo must find the killer before the ball, and the hotel itself, are ruined. But catching a murderer proves just as difficult as navigating the hotel’s hierarchy and the peculiarities of her family.

'Can Cleo find the killer before the new century begins? Or will someone get away with murder?'

Source : publisher's blurb

1 y separately published work icon Cleopatra Fox Mysteries C. J. Archer , Keilor East : C. J. Archer , 2020- 20153975 2020 series - author novel mystery historical fiction
1 y separately published work icon The Return of Absent Souls C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2020 18766057 2020 single work novel fantasy

'In this stunning conclusion to the After The Rift series, Josie and her friends return home to find Glancia on the brink of war and their enemies in power. With political machinations and court intrigue bringing danger at every turn, they must tread carefully. But being careful won’t bring resolutions and answers. It won’t bring back lost memories or stop the nation hurtling into war.

'The only thing that can make everything right is the ultimate sacrifice. But will Josie make it?

'At the heart of it all is the magic that stole the memories of so many. The magic that some people will do anything to get their hands on. In a palace full of lies and betrayal, Josie and her friends must be careful who they can trust – or suffer the consequences.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon The Prison of Buried Hopes C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2020 18765969 2020 single work novel fantasy

'In the fifth instalment of this epic fantasy series, a journey south brings together nine eclectic friends and leads them ever closer to answers – and danger.

'On their journey south to Freedland, Josie, Dane and their friends sense that someone is following them. Hiding in the twin cities of Merrin Fahl seems like their best course of action – until they’re recognized by strangers.

'With this tantalizing hint to their pasts within reach, Dane is suddenly arrested and thrown in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. In a desperate attempt to free him, Josie promises the king of Vytill the gem and sorcerer’s wishes, neither of which she possesses.

'Meanwhile, in Josie’s homeland of Glancia, war is brewing.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon The Kidnapper's Accomplice C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2020 18765581 2020 single work novel fantasy

'To investigate the source of gossip about Cyclops, Willie does the unthinkable – she dons a dress. However her plan goes awry when she’s kidnapped by a disgruntled magician with the power to detonate gunpowder at will. The magician forces India and Matt to race all over London in the hunt for her before the bombs go off.

'Meanwhile, powerful members of the Collectors Club are trying to find out what new spell India has created with Fabian, and with India’s attention focused elsewhere, they might just succeed.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon The Imposter's Inheritance C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2020 18765529 2020 single work novel fantasy

'A sordid scandal rocks the Glass household and threatens to ruin Matt's family unless he can suppress it. But after word gets out, and a rare magical coronet is stolen, he and India find themselves scrambling to recover the heirloom and suppress the gossip before reputations are ruined.

'To make matters worse, someone is sending threatening letters to the magicians of London, stirring up trouble between the artless and magicians. Tensions are rising, but India and Matt choose not to investigate - until the author of the letters is assaulted.

'As if they don't have enough on their plate, Willie is jailed. The reason for her arrest is…complicated.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon The Temple of Forgotten Secrets C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2019 18765907 2019 single work novel fantasy

'Glancia is plunged into perilous times, but it's the events in her village that worry Josie more. A terrible fire puts the lives of those she loves at risk and threatens to shatter the uneasy peace.

'Josie and the captain investigate the cause of the blaze, but powerful enemies try to stop them. As the dangers grow more intense, so do the feelings between Josie and the captain.

'With nobles circling and plotting, new arrivals in the village cause a stir, for they recognize one of the servants. Those who've lost their memories are suddenly more hopeful of learning about their pasts, but this new discovery only throws up more questions than answers. Answers the captain will do anything to discover.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon The Whisper of Silenced Voices C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2019 18765851 2019 single work novel fantasy

'When the husband of the king’s mistress is poisoned, Josie must pretend he died of natural causes, or risk putting her own life in danger. It’s yet another secret she must learn to keep, yet another intrigue whispered about in the gilded halls of King Leon’s mysterious palace.

'With her enemies intent on ruining her, Josie needs all the friends she can get. Friends that include the captain of the guards, a man determined to find out about his past before he gives in to desire.

'As the captain becomes more certain that magic stole the servants’ memories, some very powerful people also hear the whispers of magic and begin to wonder. With rivals from several quarters closing in on the truth, events are set in motion that could change the course of the kingdom, and see the palace servants and Josie lose everything.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon The Prisoner's Key C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2019 18765450 2019 single work novel fantasy

'India's study into the language of spells is interrupted by the arrest of her teacher for an unpaid debt. Before Matt can repay it for him, the powerful magician escapes from his prison cell. To make matters worse, the moneylender is murdered and the magician is implicated.

'Convinced of his innocence, India and Matt must discover who really killed the moneylender before the police find the magician. Their investigation leads them down a path littered with lies, betrayal, scandal, and interference from people they don't trust.

'Meanwhile, Matt's relatives accuse Cyclops of ruining their daughter, and plan to marry off their manipulative youngest to someone even more manipulative and far more powerful. Should Matt and India support the union, or try to stop it? And how will they stop Cyclops from being deported back to America?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon The Cheater's Game C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2019 18765393 2019 single work novel fantasy

'The arrival of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show in London brings trouble. When the sharpshooter who beats Willie at poker is murdered, Matt and India investigate. Willie is convinced the victim cheated, but no one knows how until India discovers his secret - he was a paper magician.

'When their list of suspects grows to include a member of the mysterious magic Collector's Club, they uncover a spy. But who is he working for? And what does his employer want?

'As danger circles, secrets are revealed, and India struggles to keep her own secret hidden from Matt. But when her grandfather introduces her to a man who can change her life, India must decide if she wants her life to change at all.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon The Echo of Broken Dreams C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2018 18765798 2018 single work novel fantasy

'When a palace maid is attacked, Josie and the captain of the guards investigate together. Since one of the suspects is a foreign diplomat and magic expert, they use the opportunity to learn more about sorcery. But it soon becomes clear that he is using them to get to the truth about the palace and the servants' origins.

'With unrest in the village, and servants growing impatient for answers, an undercurrent of danger pervades the air. But the most dangerous man of all may prove to be the king himself, because every clue points to him knowing more than he lets on.

'As tensions both in and out of the glittering Glancian court rise, the heat between the captain and Josie is a distraction. But is it a welcome one?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon The Palace of Lost Memories C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2018 18765718 2018 single work novel fantasy

'The king's magnificent palace was built in a matter of weeks. No one saw the builders, no villagers are allowed beyond the gilded gate, and only one servant has ever left. The haunted look in her eyes as she was recaptured by the palace guards is something Josie, daughter of the village doctor, has never forgotten.

'For Josie, the palace is a mystery that grows more intriguing after she meets the captain of the guards, a man known only as Hammer, as mysterious and captivating as the palace itself. Whispers of magic fuel Josie's desire to uncover the truth, but an ordinary girl like her can only dream of ever being invited inside.

'When the king decides to take a wife from among the eligible daughters of the noble families, the palace gates are finally thrown open and the kingdom's elite pour in. In a court where old rivalries and new jealousies collide, the king's favorite is poisoned and the doctor is summoned. As her father's assistant, Josie finally sees inside the lavish walls, but she soon learns the palace won't surrender its secrets easily, for not a single resident, from the lowest servant to the king himself, has a memory from before the palace existed.

'In the search for the truth, Josie is drawn deeper into danger, and the answers she seeks might shake the very foundations of the kingdom.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon After the Rift C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2018-2020 18765686 2018 series - author novel fantasy
1 y separately published work icon The Ink Master's Silence C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2018 18765321 2018 single work novel fantasy

'It should be a happy time for India and Matt, but forces beyond their control conspire to ruin their future. A distraction from their troubles comes in the form of murder.

'When the editor of The Weekly Gazette is killed, controversial journalist and ink magician Oscar Barratt asks India and Matt to investigate. As the recipient of threatening letters written on magic paper, he believes he was the intended target. With suspects ranging from Oscar's brother to guild masters and London's elite, India and Matt have a lot of investigating to do.

'But the more they dig, the more dark secrets they uncover. Secrets that involve blackmail and an exclusive club of magic collectors who want to preserve the value of their collections. When one of the secrets can give India and Matt the future they desire, will they give in to blackmail or sacrifice their happiness?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon The Convent's Secret C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2018 18765268 2018 single work novel fantasy

'To find the one man who can fix the magic in Matt's watch, he and India are led to a convent where the nuns will do anything to keep their secrets private. Including murder? Matt and India must uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the mother superior and two babies given to her care many years ago. But sometimes, the truth is painful and its exposure can have deadly consequences.

'With his magic watch slowing down, Matt needs all the help India and his friends can offer before time runs out. But his nemesis will do anything to bring about his downfall, including rock Matt's family with a scandal that can ruin them, and Matt and India's chance of happiness.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon The Wisdom of Madness C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2018 18765075 2018 single work novel fantasy historical fiction

'With Alice determined to discover the truth about her past, and Seth determined to help her, the couple find themselves sucked into a world where nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted. On the run to escape a mad queen's wrath, and with an entire realm looking for them, tensions fray and friendships are tested.

'Even worse for Seth, shocking secrets he'd rather leave buried are brought to the surface.

'Joined on their adventure by an irritable Gus and a mysterious Eva, the four friends must learn the truth of Alice's past so she can forge her future.

'But a future with whom? And where?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon The Magician's Diary C. J. Archer , Australia : C. J. Archer , 2017 18765220 2017 single work novel fantasy

'India and Matt thought all their problems would come to an end once they found Chronos. But the watch magician brings with him as many questions as answers, and a load of trouble. To fix Matt's magic watch, they must find an old diary that once belonged to a doctor magician murdered decades ago. The hunt drags them into a sordid mystery involving two of London's craft guilds. With old and new enemies determined to stop them, and long-held secrets unearthed, Matt and India must work together better than ever.

'But as the reason for India's strangely strong magic is revealed, she wants to draw other magicians into the open, while Matt wants to hide magic to keep her safe.

'Her plan backfires. His plan shatters. And danger comes to their door.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

X