Search results for ""macmillan""

Two intertwining adventures – one of English drama and one of Indian conflict – meet at the Paget family home in the second of Joan Aiken’s regency romances, The Weeping Ash. Perfect for fans of Netflix's Bridgerton and Julia Quinn. Juliana Paget kindly lends the Hermitage Estate to her widowed cousin Thomas and his new wife Fanny – on one condition. If their missing cousins arrive, they must be welcomed in. Little does Juliana know that cousin Thomas is an abusive tyrant who torments his stoic wife, entrapping her in the beautiful Paget house. Thousands of miles away in India, twin Paget cousins Scylla, governess to the old Maharaja's family, and her poet brother Cal are fleeing for their lives with the orphaned royal heir. They must survive a perilous journey - assisted by the dashing Colonel Cameron – across Kafiristan, Afghanistan, Persia, and Turkey before finally arriving at the Hermitage Estate.

Read more less

Diane Allen's The Yorkshire Farm Girl is a heartfelt novel of a family dreaming of a better life when WW2 looms on the horizon.September 1939.Friends Maggie Shaunessy and Lizzie Taylor are heartbroken to be evacuated from their Liverpool homes to rural Yorkshire.Lizzie is sent to live with a vicar in the village of Gargrave, while Maggie finds herself delivered by chauffeur to Hawith Hall and Lady and Lord Bradley.Both girls at the hall and the vicarage are far different to what they are used to – and both are very homesick. Though Maggie finds friendship too in the form of Alice, a young servant at the hall who takes Maggie under her wing.But change is coming to the Dales too, leaving the girls feeling harboring desperate plans of run away, back to Liverpool . . .

Read more less

Jane Austen gave life to the fictional Watson family in 1803, but sadly abandoned them five chapters in. Acclaimed author Joan Aiken completes their story in her ingenious novel, Emma Watson.Emma Watson has been brought up by her aunt in a wealthy and refined household, an educated lifestyle far removed from her widowed father and five siblings. So when her aunt enters into an imprudent second marriage, nineteen-year-old Emma is sent back home – and must join her sisters in their pursuit of a husband . . .Aiken, author of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, takes on the fate of Austen’s characters with confidence and skill, flawlessly entwining themes of loss and love together in this stunning regency pastiche.‘Joan Aiken’s invention seemed inexhaustible, her high spirits a blessing, her sheer storytelling zest a phenomenon. She was a literary treasure, and her books will continue to delight for many years to come’ – Philip Pullman

Read more less

With imagination and authenticity Joan Aiken captures the customs and language of Austen’s England in this one of a kind sequel to Jane Austen's classic novel, Mansfield Park, revealing a subversive and unique heroine.Harriet Ward, know as Hatty to her sisters, is treated with utter contempt by most of her family. Lacking the beauty that her older sisters inherited she is left without a dowry to care for their ill mother once her sisters are married off.Sent to Portsmouth to live with her rumbustious uncle and cousins, Hatty turns her creative flair to poetry and believes she must become a governess. That is until handsome Lord Camber passes through town . . .Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park famously narrates the story of poor little Fanny Price sent to live with her mother's grander sisters - the Ward family. Written almost two centuries later, Joan Aiken’s powerful sequel reverses the story and introduces us to The Youngest Miss Ward, Hatty, sent to fend for herself with the poor relations.'Joan Aiken's invention seemed inexhaustible, her high spirits a blessing, her sheer storytelling zest a phenomenon. She was a literary treasure, and her books will continue to delight for many years to come.' Philip Pullman

Read more less

A major film from the makers of Normal People and Room, starring Florence Pugh and streaming on Netflix.'An old-school page turner with crackling intensity' Stephen King'Powerful, compulsively readable' Irish TimesEleven-year-old Anna O'Donnell stops eating, but remains miraculously alive and well. A nurse, sent to investigate whether she is a fraud, meets a journalist hungry for a story . . .Set in the Irish Midlands in the 1850s, Emma Donoghue's The Wonder – inspired by numerous European and North American cases of 'fasting girls' between the sixteenth century and the twentieth – is a psychological thriller about a child's murder threatening to happen in slow motion before our eyes.

Read more less

From the bestselling author of The House at Riverton and The Forgotten Garden, Kate Morton brings us her trademark mix of secrets, lies, and haunting, intricately layered mysteries. Set across the Victorian era and present day, The Clockmaker's Daughter is a perfect summer read.My real name, no one remembers.The truth about that summer, no one else knows.Summer, 1862. Abandoned as a child, Birdie grew up in the hands of a mysterious stranger, becoming by turns a thief, a friend, a muse and a lover. Shortly after her eighteenth birthday, she retreats with a group of artists to Birchwood Manor – a beautiful house on a quiet bend of the Upper Thames. The scene is idyllic but, one hot afternoon, a gunshot rings out. A woman is killed, another disappears, and the truth of what happened slips through the cracks of time.2017. Over one hundred years later, Birchwood Manor has welcomed many newcomers – but guards its secrets closely. That is, until another young woman is drawn to the house. And, as the mystery begins to unravel, we discover the stories of those who have passed through Birchwood Manor since that fateful day in 1862 . . .‘The Clockmaker’s Daughter is an ambitious, complex, compelling historical mystery with a fabulous cast of characters. This is Kate Morton at her very best’ – Kristin Hannah, bestselling author of The Nightingale

Read more less

Underworld opens – famously – at the Dodgers-Giants 1951 National League final, where Bobby Thomson hits The Shot Heard Round the World and wins the pennant race for the Giants. But on the other side of the planet, another highly significant shot was fired: the USSR's first atomic detonation. And so begins a masterpiece of gloriously symphonic storytelling.Don DeLillo loosely follows the fate of the winning baseball as the book swells and rolls through time. He offers a panoramic vision of America, defined by the overarching conflict of the cold war.This is an awe-inspiring story, seen in deep, clear detail, of men and women, together and apart, as they search for meaning, survival and connection in the toughest of times.Part of the Picador Collection, a series showcasing the best of modern literature.

Read more less

Dr Agnes Arnold-Forster is a historian at the University of Edinburgh. She has also worked at McGill University, King's College London, UCL, and at the Centre for the History of Emotions at Queen Mary University of London. She is the author of two academic books, one about cancer and the other about surgery, and has written widely for academic, medical and mainstream outlets. She has also appeared on BBC Radio and TV, consulted for television dramas and documentaries, and worked closely with the Science Museum, the Wellcome Collection, and the Royal College of Nursing. She lives in London.

Read more less

From the bestselling author of The Jam Factory Girls, comes the second heartfelt installment in Mary Wood's The Guernsey Girls trilogy.War separates them, but it cannot dampen their spirits . . .Spring, 1940. Annie’s new husband Ricky leaves to fight, but she soon discovers battles brewing closer to home. As her sister Janey begins to unravel, only Annie can pick up the pieces – and, with London’s police officers on the front line, she must also step up at work and do her bit for the country.In Guernsey, Olivia finds herself without her husband and son just as Hitler's forces invade the island. Trapped and heartbroken, she faces untold horrors as the Germans tighten their hold on the islanders.How will Annie manage her responsibilities to her family and her country in the thick of the Blitz, while suffering the heartache of not knowing what is happening to her beloved Ricky? And can Olivia survive in Guernsey at

Read more less

IN A DYING WORLD, HOW FAR WILL A MOTHER GO TO SAVE HER CHILD?'Not Alone kept me breathless with tension.' - Emma Donoghue, bestselling author of Room'Intensely moving, genuinely gripping, plausible and absorbing' - Charlotte Mendelson, author of The ExhibitionistFive years ago, a toxic microplastics storm killed most of the population. Now Katie, a young mother, must forage and hunt the few surviving animals for meat as she attempts to feed her little boy, Harry.At a time when stepping outside could kill you, Harry is kept indoors at all costs, never venturing beyond the door to their one-bedroom flat. The bodies begin to build up around them and layers of poisonous dust hang heavily in the air, seeping into the soil and slowly killing anything attempting to cling onto the natural world.Then, after years without human contact, Katie and Harry are terrified by the unwelcome arrival of another survivor. Katie realises she must undertake a previously unthinkable journey in search of the man she was supposed to marry and a new life for her son.But outside their safe haven, Katie and Harry encounter a dangerous world that is forever changed . . .

Read more less

The Orphanage Girls come back together in The Orphanage Girls Reunited, the second installment of a moving wartime saga set in London’s East End, from the bestselling author of The Jam Factory Girls, Mary Wood.EllenAbandoned by her father for the second time, left scarred from the orphanage, Ellen finally finds happiness and hope – reunited with her long-lost gran. But it cannot compensate for being torn apart from her beloved friends Ruth and Amy. When a devastating encounter leaves Ellen broken and desperate, she is forced to fight her past demons.Ruth Ruth has found peace, building a new life as an actress and surrounded by new friends. But still she longs to be with Ellen and Amy, after everything they endured together in the orphanage. Amy was shipped to Canada with hundreds of other orphans – what hope have they of finding her?One wish comes true when Ruth’s acting career leads her to Ellen. No sooner than has the dust settled, war is on the horizon. Friendship locked them into each other’s her hearts forever.Will they find Amy? Can the Orphanage Girls ever unite?

Read more less

There are lots of laughs at every level in Treehouse Tales: too SILLY to be told ... UNTIL NOW! From the bestselling Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton.Climb the storeys with thirteen, never-before-heard adventures starring Andy, Terry and their friends.Featuring laugh-out-loud stories such as:Terry and the Magic WandChair-up-your-nose DayThe Day Terry Flushed Me Down the ToiletThe Mystery Case of the Missing Doodles ... and many, many more!Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!

Read more less

'An invaluable collection' BBC'A seminal body of work that centres our voices authentically and unapologetically'Melissa Cummings-Quarry, co-author of Grown and co-founder of Black Girls Book ClubThe Colour of Madness is a groundbreaking anthology amplifying the voices of People of Colour and their experiences with mental health. In this compelling collection, edited by Dr Rianna Walcott and Dr Samara Linton, over seventy contributors share their stories, essays, poetry, short fiction and artwork. Showcasing the voices of those who have been ignored, this book brings solace to those who have shared similar experiences, and sheds light into the everyday impact of racism for those looking to further understand and combat this injustice.A vital and timely tribute to all those whose lives have been impacted by medical inequalities, this collection seeks to disrupt the whitewashed narrative of mental health in Britain and will help to positively transform the mental health and wellbeing of People of Colour.The book was first published in 2018. Editors Dr Samara Linton and Dr Rianna Walcott ended their relationship with their previous publisher in 2021 when the press was linked to a far-right group. The editors have since collaborated with a new publisher to present this refined edition complete with revised contributions, new contributors and powerful artwork.

Read more less

'A fantastic read. Mind bending, gut wrenchingly tense and one of the most original stories I’ve read in years. It was an absolute treat' - John Marrs, author of The VacationA New York Times Best Thriller Pick for 2022Bestselling author Adam Hamdy returns with The Other Side of Night, an utterly unforgettable tale of love, loss and redemption.When disgraced former police officer Harriet Kealty discovers a plea for help in the margins of a second-hand book, she sets out to unravel a mystery that quickly leads her to confront some uncomfortable ties to her own life, including her ex-lover Ben.Following the deaths of his close friends, Ben became an adoptive father to their orphaned son Elliot. But Harriet suspects that Ben knows more about these deaths than he’s willing to say…What starts as a simple investigation becomes something entirely different in this moving story that w

Read more less

From Sandie Jones, author of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick The Other Woman. The Trade Off an addictive, page-turning work of psychological suspense about how far a journalist will go to get the story. Everyone has a price. What's yours?Would you print a lie across a front page?For Stella, Deputy Editor of The Globe, the choice has always been clear. There is no stone she will leave unturned in her pursuit of the best story. It’s what she’s built her reputation on.For Jess, The Globe’s rookie reporter, the story stops when the truth does. But she knows that the dirty tricks of the tabloids will be hard to overturn.And when the subject of the story Jess is working on pays the ultimate price, she suspects that the paper may have had more to do with it than they’re letting on . . .What price would you pay to uncover the truth – if someone is prepared to kill t

Read more less

The Big Steps series is designed to help little ones cope with everyday experiences and important milestones. In Let's Brush Our Teeth, meet two cousins as they learn all about how to best brush their teeth!Follow the ups and downs of their journey, brought to life with fun flaps and mechanisms. Each page has helpful tips for parents and carers that are endorsed by The Good Toy Guide and leading Early Years Consultant, Dr Amanda Gummer. With delightful illustrations from Marie Kyprianou, Let's Brush Our Teeth is a brilliant first toothbrushing book, introducing it in a fun and relatable way.For more toddler tips read No More Nappies, Let's Wash Our Hands and No More Dummies.

Read more less

Inspired by real life stories of the Windrush Generation and her mother’s own experiences as a nurse coming to Britain from the Caribbean, Sarah Lee’s debut novel An Ocean Apart is a must for fans of Call the Midwife.'A love letter to the women who left behind everything to help heal our country and establish the NHS. I could not have loved this more and thought about it long after I turned the last page.' - Kate Thompson, author of The Little Wartime LibraryIt’s 1954 and, in Barbados, Ruby Haynes spots an advertisement for young women to train as nurses for the new National Health Service in Great Britain. Her sister, Connie, takes some persuading, but soon the sisters are on their way to a new country – and a whole new world of experiences.As they start their training in Hertfordshire, they discover England isn’t quite the promised land; for every door that’s opened to them, the sisters find many slammed in their faces. And though the girls find friendships with their fellow nurses, Connie struggles with being so far from home, and keeping secret the daughter she has left behind in search of a better life for the both of them . . .'A glorious triumph of a book full of characters that feel like real friends, so atmospheric, compelling and nostalgic, I adored it.' - Alex Brown, author of A Postcard from Italy

Read more less

Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's most popular authors, with a billion copies of her novels sold. Her international bestsellers include The Wedding Planner, Palazzo and Happiness. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood. Danielle divides her time between Paris and her home in northern California.

Read more less

Push, pull and slide the scenes to race around the dog park in Busy Puppies! Teach all sorts of puppies how to play fetch, learn new tricks and even make new waggy-tailed friends in this adorable book.Young children will love playing with this bright and colourful board book with gentle rhyming text and wonderful illustrations by Yi-Hsuan Wu. Part of the popular Busy Book series, this book is perfect for sharing with little dog-lovers.Listen along to an audio recording of this story by scanning the QR code on the back cover. Introduce your toddler to the Busy world around them with Busy Zoo, Busy Pets and Busy Baby Animals.

Read more less

'One of the greats' - Lucy Caldwell, author of Intimacies'Comic brilliance' - Sinéad Gleeson, author of Constellations'Ingenious' - The Irish Times'Daring, funny, heartbreaking' - ObserverFollowing the prize-winning Sweet Home, Wendy Erskine's Belfast is once again illuminated. Meet Drew Lord Haig, called on to sing an obscure hit from his youth at a paramilitary event. Meet Max as he recalls an eventful journey to a Christian film festival. And Mrs Dallesandro who dreams of being a teenager again as she sits in a tanning salon on her wedding anniversary. In these stories, Erskine's characters' wishes and hopes often fall short of their grasp. Brilliantly drawn, Dance Move is about the hugeness of life as seen through glimpses of the everyday.'A masterpiece' - David Keenan, author of Monument Maker'Wendy Erskine's debut, Sweet Home, was pitch perfect . . . Dance Move is equally brilliant' - The Daily Mail'Erskine's stories open slight, but they contain more than it seems possible for short stories to contain' - Keith Ridgway, author of Hawthorn & Child'She isn’t just one of the leading writers of short fiction at work today but one of the leading writers, period.' - Matt Rowland Hill, author of Original SinsAs Read on BBC Radio 4Shortlisted for the Edge Hill PrizeShortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards Short Story of the YearThe Irish Times Books of the Year 2022

Read more less

Lewis Carroll was the pen-name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. Born in 1832, Dodgson was a mathematics tutor at Christ Church College, Oxford, where he met Alice Liddell, daughter of the dean, and inspiration for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The book and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, have delighted children all over the world for 150 years. Sir John Tenniel was already a renowned cartoonist when he was invited to produce illustrations for Alice. His exquisite engravings are among the most iconic and best loved images in the world. Harry Theaker (1873-1954) was a celebrated Edwardian watercolour artist, illustrator of Charles Kingsley's The Water Babies. Diz Wallis is a critically acclaimed contemporary watercolourist, with clients as varied as Royal Mail and Transport for London.

Read more less

'Feel good stories to curl up with over Christmas . . . Escapist romance at its best' – Heat Magazine Set in a snow-covered Cotswolds village, The Christmas Postcards is a cosy, escapist festive delight about distant connections from Sunday Times bestselling author of The Stolen Hours, Karen Swan.'A romance you won’t be able to put down' – MetroThe right words can change everything . . .It had been a make-or-break winter holiday for their marriage, but Natasha and Rob’s rekindled romance is short-lived when their daughter’s beloved soft toy disappears on the journey home. As Natasha comforts her distraught child, she turns to social media for help. Miraculously, the toy is found, but it has become the lucky mascot of a man named Duffy, who is thousands of miles away trekking in Nepal.When Duffy promises to keep Natasha updated with pictures, a correspondence begins that soon becomes more meaningful. Sometimes, Natasha feels this stranger half way across the world understands her more than the man lying next to her.But as the weeks pass and Duffy heads deeper into the mountains, Natasha notices a change in him. Then, one day, the messages stop. Too late, Natasha wonders why he had ever needed a lucky mascot at all . . .'The queen of destination fiction' – Woman & HomeReaders are falling in love with The Christmas Postcards . . .'I was enthralled from the first pages' – 5* reader review'Definitely my favourite Karen Swan book so far' – 5* reader review'The story gripped me right from the start and still hasn't let me go' – 5* reader review'I read this in two sittings, I literally didn't want to put the book down' – 5* reader review'Addictive reading' – 5* reader review

Read more less

A first book of positive affirmations – perfect for building confidence and self-esteem in very young children.Every morning, we look into the mirror with Daddy. Together, we say words to help us feel proud and brave, powerful and strong...Brimming with positivity, I Love Me! is a fun and empowering book of affirmations to help little ones stand tall. Written by Marvyn Harrison (founder of Dope Black Dads) and with art by Diane Ewen (the award-winning illustrator of Floella Benjamin's Coming to England), this upbeat book is perfect for sharing, easy to put into practice, and celebrates the very best in all of us!With joyful, uplifting statements for each day of the week, it provides an enjoyable routine to help prepare young children for the wider world of nursery and school. The book also includes a bright, fold-out ending and tips for parents and carers.

Read more less

From Jennifer Ryan, the bestselling author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir, comes an unforgettable story inspired by the true events of a BBC-sponsored wartime cooking competition.‘The Great British Bake Off set in World War Two . . . an enchanting hug of a novel’ – Cathy Kelly, author of Other Women‘A gorgeous novel about making the best of things during difficult times, whilst celebrating the importance of sisterhood and friendship’ – Jill Mansell, author of Should I Tell You?Some wars will be fought at home . . .Two years into the Second World War, and German U-boats are frequently disrupting Britain’s supply of food. In an effort to help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio programme called The Kitchen Front launches a new cooking contest – and the grand prize is a job as the programme’s first-ever female co-host.For young widow Audrey, winning the competition could be a chance to pay off her husband’s debts and keep a roof over her children’s heads. However, her estranged sister, Gwendoline, is equally set on success even if her own kitchen maid, Nell, is competing against her. And then there is Zelda, a London-trained chef desperate to succeed in a male-dominated profession – and harbouring a secret that will change everything . . .

Read more less

Revolutionary France is full of blood and bite, as vampires plot for power. Featuring Genevieve Cogman's trademark wit and fast-paced plotting, Elusive is the second book in the Sunday Times bestselling Scarlet Revolution trilogy.Eleanor, once a lowly English maid, is now a member of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, know for their daring deeds and rescuing aristocrat vampires from the guillotine.Eleanor and the League are investigating the disappearance of Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, the notorious French statesman and diplomat. But they soon uncover two vampire parties feuding for power, and learn that Talleyrand''s disappearance is part of a bigger, more dangerous scheme one that threatens to throw France into bloody chaos . . .Perfect for fans of The Invisible Library series, Kim Newman and Gail Carriger, Elusive is the thrilling follow-up to Scarlet, a witty and inventive retelling of the beloved tale of the Sc

Read more less

The Big Steps series is designed to help little ones cope with everyday experiences in their lives. In Let's Wash Our Hands, meet two adorable toddlers who learn all about washing their hands and bath time! Follow the ups and downs of their journey, brought to life with fun flaps and mechanisms. Each page has really helpful tips for parents and carers that are endorsed by The Good Toy Guide and leading Early Years Consultant, Dr Amanda Gummer. With delightful illustrations from Marie Kyprianou, Let's Wash Our Hands is a brilliant way to introduce cleanliness in a fun and relatable way.For more toddler tips read No More Nappies, No More Dummies and I'm Starting Nursery.The Big Steps series has been endorsed and recommended by Dr Amanda Gummer's Good Toy Guide.

Read more less

Would You Rather . . . Sniff Ronaldo's stinky sock or chew Buffon's smelly glove?Pick your gaffer’s nose or be left on the substitutes’ bench forever?Lick your best mate’s football boots or wash your team’s kit all year?Kiss Harry Kane’s socks or wear Heung Min-Son’s boxers on your head for a day?Packed full of gross, silly and bonkers WOULD YOU RATHER questions about football! If you love the Match Annual then you'll love Would You Rather? brought to you by MATCH! the makers of the UK's #1 footy magazine. Perfect for any young footy fan looking for a laugh.

Read more less

Set in an alternative Edwardian England, this is a comedy of manners, manor houses, and hedge mazes – including a magic-infused murder mystery and a delightful queer romance.‘Lush historical fantasy . . . A delightful book, with richly developed characters’ – New York Times‘Mystery! Magic! Murder! . . . This book is a confection, both marvellous and light’ – Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of JanuaryFor fans of Georgette Heyer or Julia Quinn's Bridgerton, who'd like to welcome magic into their lives . . .Young baronet Robin Blyth thought he was taking up a minor governmental post. However, he's actually been appointed parliamentary liaison to a secret magical society. If it weren’t for this administrative error, he’d never have discovered the incredible magic underlying his world.Cursed by mysterious attackers and plagued by visions, Robin becomes determined to drag answers from his missing predecessor – but he’ll need the help of Edwin Courcey, his hostile magical-society counterpart. Unwillingly thrown together, Robin and Edwin will discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles.The Binding meets Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell in debut author Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light. Continue the thrilling series with A Restless Truth.‘A dazzling debut’ – Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun‘Prepare to fall in love with the gorgeous Edwardian setting, the sizzling character dynamics, and the murderous enchanted hedge maze’ – Emily Tesh, author of Silver in the Wood‘An absolute delight . . . If you ever wished Downton Abbey was sharper-edged and full of magic, this is the book for you’ – Kat Howard, author of An Unkindness of Magicians

Read more less

*Winner of the Crime Writers' Association New Blood Dagger Award 2023*Twelve year-old Esther Bianchi disappears on her way home from school in the small town of Durton – and the truth will not come easily. Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor is an atmospheric crime novel set in rural Australia.'A heart-wrenching mystery' – Jane Harper, author of The Dry'A stunning debut' - Ann CleevesTHE DETECTIVEAs the community is thrown into a state of grief and suspicion, Detective Sergeant Sarah Michaels begins her investigation into the disappearance of Esther Bianchi. She questions those who knew the girl, attempting to unpick the secrets which bind them together.THE MOTHERThe girl’s mother, Constance, believes that her daughter going missing is the worst thing that can happen to her. But as the search for Esther develops, she learns that things can always get worse.THE FRIENDSRonnie is Esther’s best friend and is determined to bring her home. So when her classmate Lewis tells her that he saw Esther with a strange man at the creek the afternoon she went missing, Ronnie feels she is one step closer to finding her. But why is Lewis refusing to speak to the police?And who else is keeping quiet about what happened to Esther?Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor is perfect for fans of Jane Harper's The Dry and Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End.

Read more less

*Winner of the CWA New Blood Dagger 2023*'A heart-wrenching mystery' – Jane Harper, author of The DryTwelve year-old Esther Bianchi disappears on her way home from school in the small town of Durton – and the truth will not come easily. Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor is an atmospheric crime novel set in rural Australia.Dirt town. Dirt and hurt – that’s what others would remember about our town . . .The DetectiveAs the community is thrown into a state of grief and suspicion, Detective Sergeant Sarah Michaels begins her investigation into the disappearance of Esther Bianchi. She questions those who knew the girl, attempting to unpick the secrets which bind them together.The MotherThe girl’s mother believes that her daughter going missing is the worst thing that can happen to her. But as the search for Esther develops, she learns that things can always get worse.The FriendsRonnie is Esther’s best friend and is determined to bring her home. So when her classmate Lewis tells her that he saw Esther with a strange man at the creek the afternoon she went missing, Ronnie feels she is one step closer to finding her. But why is Lewis refusing to speak to the police?And who else is keeping quiet about what happened to Esther?'I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough' - Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of We Begin at the End'A stunning debut' - Ann Cleeves

Read more less

This book will give you the tools to take the reins and steer your brain towards your goals. Informed by neuroscience and psychology, Braintenance aims to explain the inner workings of your brain to enable you to get your master controller onside when striving for new milestones.Our brains are prediction machines, constantly interpreting our environment to make sense of the world around us, but sometimes they make false assumptions. Braintenance will help you understand how this happens and explains the clear, practical steps we can take to correct it. From developing positive habits and losing bad ones, to setting and achieving your goals, the book will enable you to transform your life for the better.The more you understand about your thinking, the more control you can have over your life. Change is good, your brain just needs some convincing.

Read more less

'Lush illustrations with cut-out details and unfolding flaps take readers on a joyous journey through Donaldson’s rhyming text.' - GuardianA stunning book to encourage creativity, bursting with colourful landscapes to stimulate the imagination.Follow a little girl in Colours, Colours Everywhere as she paints her own adventure with her bright blue tree frog companion. With luscious green trees to climb and red hot air balloons to sail away in, young children will delight in the rhyming story and vibrant artwork while learning about different colours.A truly beautiful gift with flaps to lift and absolute must for the family bookshelf. From Julia Donaldson, bestselling author of The Gruffalo, and Sharon King-Chai, who together created the award-winning Animalphabet and Counting Creatures.

Read more less

Poetry Book Society Wild Card Winner of the Walt Whitman Award of the Academy of American Poets'It’s thrilling to discover such a staggeringly self-assured debut, to feel in the unmistakable presence of The Real Thing' Kaveh AkbarThe Yemeni American poet Threa Almontaser’s incendiary debut asks how mistranslation can be a form of self-knowledge and survival. A love letter to the country and people of Yemen, a portrait of young Muslim womanhood in New York after 9/11, and an extraordinarily composed examination of what it means to carry in the body the echoes of what came before, Almontaser sneaks artifacts to and from worlds, repurposing language and adapting to the space between cultures. Speakers move with the force of what cannot be contained by the limits of the American imagination; instead, they invest in troublemaking and trickery, navigate imperial violence across multiple accents and anthems, and apply gang signs in henna, utilizing any means necessary to form a semblance of home. Fearlessly riding the tension between carnality and tenderness in the unruly human spirit, The Wild Fox of Yemen is one of the most original and bold debuts in recent years.

Read more less

The Woolworths Saturday Girls is the seventh instalment in Elaine Everest's much-loved Woolworths series.1950. The Second World War is over and life has moved on for the Woolworth girls, Sarah, Maisie and Freda. In a new world the Woolworth women have high expectations of their daughters, wanting them to seize opportunities they didn’t have themselves. Ready to take on Saturday jobs at Woolworths, budding friends Bessie, Claudette, Clementine and Dorothy are faced with unforeseeable challenges as the real world comes into focus. Their bond can only be strengthened as they overcome the darkest times. Perhaps their lives are not as clear-cut as their mothers wished them to be . . .When Bessie finds love in the wrong crowd and falls pregnant, the image of her future and ambitions become skewed and she relies on the Saturday girls to help her see her problems through – but how can they find a home for the baby when it arrives? With wild imaginations, it is up to the Woolworth girls, new and old, to save the day and their futures.Can the Woolworth girls achieve their dreams in time for their futures to begin?

Read more less

A brilliant outing from one of the finest poets currently working in the English language. This is at once a sharply political and deeply personal book which explores just that intersection.‘Wide-ranging, sometimes anguished, her poems are fascinating and often beautiful, and certainly more than usually thought-provoking’ Guardian

Read more less

The Number One Sunday Times Bestseller and one of Barack Obama’s Favorite Books of 2022.From Hanya Yanagihara, author of the modern classic A Little Life, To Paradise is a bold, brilliant novel spanning three centuries and three different versions of the American experiment, about lovers, family, loss and the elusive promise of utopia.'Three stories far apart in space and time but each unique in their power to summon the joy and complexity of love, the pain of loss . . . It’s rare that you get the opportunity to review a masterpiece, but To Paradise, definitively, is one.' – The Observer'Awe-inspiring . . . The characters are so well drawn and the plot so well paced, I couldn’t put it down.' – Daily TelegraphIn an alternate version of 1893 America, New York is part of the Free States, where people may live and love whomever they please (or so it seems). The fragile young scion of a distinguished family resists betrothal to a worthy suitor, drawn to a charming music teacher of no means. In a 1993 Manhattan besieged by the AIDS epidemic, a young Hawaiian man lives with his much older, wealthier partner, hiding his troubled childhood and the fate of his father. And in 2093, in a world riven by plagues and governed by totalitarian rule, a powerful scientist’s damaged granddaughter tries to navigate life without him – and solve the mystery of her husband’s disappearances.These three sections are joined in an enthralling and ingenious symphony, as recurring notes and themes deepen and enrich one another: A townhouse in Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village; illness, and treatments that come at a terrible cost; wealth and squalor; the weak and the strong; race; the definition of family, and of nationhood; the dangerous righteousness of the powerful, and of revolutionaries; the longing to find a place in an earthly paradise, and the gradual realization that it can’t exist. What unites not just the characters, but these Americas, are their reckonings with the qualities that make us human: Fear. Love. Shame. Need. Loneliness.To Paradise is a fin-de-siecle novel of marvellous literary effect, but above all it is a work of emotional genius. The power of this novel is driven by Yanagihara’s understanding of the aching desire to protect those we love – partners, lovers, children, friends, family and even our fellow citizens – and the pain that ensues when we cannot.'This magisterial follow-up to A Little Life offers three books in one . . . Yanagihara weighs up damage and privilege - social, emotional, political, colonial in a gripping, immersive ride through alternative Americas.' – The Guardian 'Best Reads For Summer'

Read more less

Now a major new Netflix film from Noah Baumbach, starring Adam Driver and Greta GerwigHow strange it is. We have these deep terrible lingering fears about ourselves and the people we love. Yet we walk around, talk to people, eat and drink. We manage to function. The feelings are deep and real. Shouldn’t they paralyze us?Jack Gladney is the creator and chairman of Hitler studies at the College-on-the-Hill. This is the story of his absurd life; a life that is going well enough, until a chemical spill from a train carriage releases an ‘Airborne Toxic Event’ and Jack is forced to confront his biggest fear – his own mortality.White Noise is an effortless combination of social satire and metaphysical dilemma in which Don DeLillo exposes our rampant consumerism, media saturation and novelty intellectualism. It captures the particular strangeness of life lived when the fear of death cannot be denied, repressed or obscured and ponders the role of the family in a time when the very meaning of our existence is under threat.‘America’s greatest living writer.’ – ObserverPart of the Picador Collection, a series showcasing the best of modern literature.

Read more less

Jamaica Kincaid was born in St. John's, Antigua. Her books include At the Bottom of the River, Annie John, Lucy, The Autobiography of My Mother, and My Brother. She lives with her family in Vermont.

Read more less

The Sunday Times Thriller of the MonthExpertly researched and visionary in scale, international number one bestseller Ken Follett’s Never is more than a thriller. It imagines a scenario we all hope never comes true, one which will keep you transfixed until the final page . . .'Stunning . . . one of the most compelling reads of the year' – Daily ExpressA stolen US army drone.A shrinking oasis in the Sahara Desert.A secret stash of deadly chemicals.Each is a threat to global stability. Each can be overcome with only the highest levels of diplomacy. But when those in charge disagree and refuse to back down, an international chain reaction kicks off with potentially catastrophic consequences: a world edging closer to war . . .Now three people must work with the utmost skill to stop that from happening:A spy working undercover with jihadis.A brilliant Chinese spymaster.A US president beleaguered by a populist rival for the next election.The only question is – in a game of brinksmanship, can the inevitable ever be stopped?'Bold in scale and meticulously researched' – Sunday Times'Probably his best yet' - Stephen King'Urgent and fiercely compelling’ – Washington PostMore than 175 million copies sold worldwide. Published in over eighty territories and thirty-seven languages. The international no.1 bestselling phenomenon returns.

Read more less

'The most explosive, mind-blowing business book I've ever read' – Bradley Hope, New York Times bestselling author of Billion Dollar Whale'Jaw-dropping . . . well-told, well-structured and exquisitely reported' – Financial TimesDiscover the unauthorized, unvarnished story of famed Wall Street hedge-fund manager Ray Dalio.Ray Dalio is the billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund. In The Fund, Rob Copeland draws on hundreds of interviews with those inside and around the firm to reveal what really goes on with Dalio and his cohorts behind closed doors.Tracing more than fifty years of Dalio's leadership, The Fund peels back the curtain to reveal a rarefied world of wealth and power, where former FBI director Jim Comey kisses Dalio's ring, recent Pennsylvania Senate candidate David McCormick sells out, and countless Bridge

Read more less

A fun-filled sticker activity book based on the bestselling preschool classic, Dear Zoo, packed full of activities and games, plus over 200 stickers.Toddlers will be busy for hours with this fun sticker activity book, packed full of activities, colouring in and games that are specially designed for preschoolers. Match the zoo animals to their shadows, complete sticker jigsaws, patterns and more in this fun sticker activity book, perfect for holidays, birthdays and rainy days.Rod Campbell, the creator of preschool favourites including Oh Dear! and Noisy Farm, has been a trusted name in early learning for over forty years, and the perennial classic, Dear Zoo has been a firm favourite with toddlers and parents alike since its first publication in 1982. The Dear Zoo Sticker Activity Book is perfect for fans of the original lift-the-flap story – packed full of favourite zoo animals, plus over 200 stickers!

Read more less

In the follow-up to his New York Times bestseller Antoni in the Kitchen, Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski shares easy and delicious dinners for every night of the week.Let's Do Dinner is an invitation into Antoni's easy kitchen. Dinner with Antoni means satisfying meals full of lean protein and loads of vegetables, with splurges of carbs and decadence. Simple, yes, but always special. Antoni keeps shopping lists short and steps and pans to a minimum.Pulled chicken nachos, pasta carbonara with spring onions and peas, or pan-seared steak with harissa butter and crispy potatoes – it's all good for post-work evenings or casual entertaining. Antoni shows how to crank up the flavour, make exciting suppers from pantry staples, create new takes on classics by swapping in one surprising ingredient, and build a rousingly flavoured vegan grain bowl. Plus, he lets you in on the secret weapons in every kitchen that get great food on the table fast.

Read more less

Frank, funny and poignant, Single Bald Female by Laura Price is an unforgettable story of love, friendship, and embracing life after a shock diagnosis.'If you need something funny, moving, heartbreaking and magical, this is the one' - Daisy Buchanan, author of Insatiable 'Witty yet devastating' – ES Magazine'Every word of Single Bald Female rings true' – Lauren Bravo, author of PrelovedJessica Jackson has hit all her personal milestones for turning thirty – the career, the loving boyfriend and a cosy London flat they share with their cat. But a breast cancer diagnosis turns Jess’s world upside down, and her contented life implodes with it.Around her, her friends’ lives continue to follow the script, with the big white weddings and the baby scans. With her own future so uncertain, the only thing Jess is sure of is that she’s being left behind.But then she meets Annabel, an enigmatic twenty-seven year old with incurable cancer. While Annabel may not have long left, she understands much more about living than anyone Jess has ever met. And she’s determined to show Jess how to make every day count . . .'I read this in a single night - superb!' - Celia Walden, columnist and author of Payday'Life-affirming and uplifting' – Fabulous Magazine'Moving and beautiful' – Emma Gannon, author of Olive

Read more less

'Ground-breaking' – Daily Mail‘In explaining the rise to power of Kim Yo Jong, Lee displays his deep knowledge and understanding of North Korea’s extreme, ruthless and self-obsessed dynastic autocracy, the creators and rulers of a de-facto nuclear weapon state. Not a reassuring story’ – Sir John Scarlett, former Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6)Written by Dr Sung-Yoon Lee, a scholar and specialist on North Korea who has advised the US government, The Sister is a jaw-dropping account of the spectacular rise of Kim Yo Jong, de-facto deputy to her brother, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, and the most powerful woman in North Korea.In 2022, in a particularly fiery speech, Kim Yo Jong threatened to nuke South Korea, reminding the world of the dangers posed by her state. But how did the youngest daughter of Dear Leader Kim Jong Il, his ‘sweet princess’, become the ruthless

Read more less

'Grisly, addictive fun . . . I devoured it in 24 hours' – Emilia Hart, author of WeywardIn deepest winter, beware the coldest hearts . . .London, 1850. Constance Horton has disappeared.Maude, her older sister, knows only that Constance abandoned the apothecary they call home, and, disguised as a boy, boarded a ship bound for the Arctic. She never returned. ‘A tragic accident’, the Admiralty called it. But Maude Horton knows something isn’t right.When she finds Constance’s journal, it becomes clear that the truth is being buried by sinister forces. To find answers – and deliver justice for her sister – Maude must step into London’s dark underbelly, and into the path of dangerous, powerful men. The kind of men who seek their fortune in the city’s horrors, from the hangings at Newgate to the ghoulish waxworks of Madame Tussaud’s.It is a perilous task. But Maude has dangerous skills of her own . . .'Brilliant! Stuffed with adventure' - Stuart Turton, author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle'A gripping adventure story' - Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters'Victorian gothic at its very very best' - Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora

Read more less

The bestselling, prize-winning Adventures on Trains series embarks on a thrilling sixth adventure as Harrison Beck and Uncle Nat climb aboard the night train to Narvik, travelling to the Arctic Circle to see the northern lights for Christmas.'A thrilling and hugely entertaining adventure story' – David Walliams on The Highland Falcon Thief, the first journey in the series.As their train leaves Stockholm, Hal and Uncle Nat realize they’re being followed by a sinister figure, and Hal’s powers of observation are tested when Uncle Nat’s past comes back to haunt him. Journeying into the never ending night of the arctic winter, our railway detectives must outsmart an assassin in their most chilling adventure yet, in which nothing is as it seems.The Arctic Railway Assassin can be read as a stand-alone novel, or enjoyed as part of the award-winning Adventures on Trains series written by M. G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman. Join Hal and Uncle Nat on more stops in this thrilling series with: Murder on the Safari Star, Danger at Dead Man's Pass and Sabotage on the Solar Express.Praise for the series:'Like Murder on the Orient Express but better!' – Frank Cottrell-Boyce on The Highland Falcon Thief'A first class choo-choo-dunnit!' – David Solomons on Kidnap on the California Comet'A high-speed train journey worth catching . . .The best yet' – The Times on Murder on the Safari Star'This series just gets better and better' – Maz Evans on Danger at Dead Man's Pass

Read more less

This classic illustrated book version of the story behind the Oscar-nominated animated film Robin Robin, created by Aardman for Netflix is a real treat. Written by the film's directors and beautifully illustrated by Briony May Smith, this book is perfect for sharing with young children.The mouse family all love Robin, and she is so keen to fit in, she pulls her feathers into ears . . . but nothing can make a noisy, rather clumsy, bird good at sneaking crumbs for the family without disturbing the dreaded cat!Robin Robin is a warm and funny story to win the hearts of families everywhere.

Read more less

Robin Robin is a stunning picture book adaptation of the animation from Aardman and Netflix, perfect for Christmas and beyond! When an egg rolls out of its nest and into a rubbish dump, the little robin inside is discovered and raised by a loving family of burglar mice. As Robin grows up, her differences become more obvious and she starts to feel out of place in her mouse family. Not quite a bird and not quite a mouse, but full of determination. Robin sets out on an adventure to prove herself and – just maybe – get a sandwich. Robin Robin: The Official Book of the Film is based on the hit Netflix film from Aardman Animations, creators of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph. This heartwarming story features a cast of unforgettable characters including a treasure-hunting magpie (Richard E. Grant) and a thoroughly villainous cat (Gillian Anderson), and is full of excitement, daring escapades, and Christmas adventure.Featuring gorgeous artwork taken from the handcrafted stop-motion animation, and including lyrics to all the original songs, this charming, warm and witty story is perfect for picture book lovers and animation fans of all ages!

Read more less