Jorgen, a store clerk crippled in the Franco-Prussian War, becomes obsessed with a painting he finds hidden in a shipment of ceramic bowls from Japan by a desperately unhappy wife who tries to ease her sorrow by painting memories of her lost love.

Declared dead by the new leader of the ancient clan that has raised her, Ayla sets out to search for other humans like herself in prehistoric Europe.

Irish immigrant Molly Murphy, determined to start a career in New York City helping families in Europe find lost relatives in America, gets her foot in the door when she secures a job with tough old private detective Paddy Riley, but her focus changes when she arrives for work one morning to find her boss has been the victim of foul play.

The murder of an English governess for the royal harem causes controversy at the palace and the British embassy as the search for the killer consumes the Ottoman Empire.

The Bonner family is reunited in the spring of 1824 when Nathaniel and Elizabeth Bonner's children come home to Paradise, New York, but the return of Martha Kirby--the Bonner's ward--comes with ties to trouble, which is exacerbated with the unexpected arrival of Martha's mother, who is known for her deftness to destroy families.

Amelia and Emerson Peabody, having agreed to accompany Major George Morley on an expedition to Palestine in search of the Ark of the Covenant, hope to be reunited with their son, Ramses, while on their trip, but information uncovered by Ramses while working on a dig in Samaria puts his life in danger and the Peabodys must ban together in order to save him and prevent a holy war.

In the Middle Ages, young squire Tristan of the Knights Templar, King's Archer Robard, and Muslim assassin Maryam work together to protect the Holy Grail as they travel across France toward England, a journey that takes them to the Cathar fortress of Montségur.

During a rainy Minneapolis Millers baseball game in 1903, Little Andy Oyler has the chance to become a hero by hitting the shortest and muddiest home run in history.